The present invention relates to a wall, which wall comprises an upper horizontal member to be fixed to a ceiling, a lower horizontal member to be fixed to a floor, and at least one panel provided between the upper horizontal member and the lower horizontal member. The invention in particular relates to such a wall which is or can be prefabricated from standard components.
It is noted that within the framework of the invention the wall is in particular a partition wall designed for partitioning off a space in a building that is accessible to persons. It is further noted that the panel according to the invention is preferably a glass panel or a panel of plastic material (for example Perspex). In other preferred variants, the panel is a wooden or steel panel.
Such a wall configured as a partition wall is generally known. The known partition walls, also called “system walls”, are used in various kinds of interior construction, for example in office buildings, airports, hospitals, industrial estate, public institutions, schools, hotels, cinemas and retail establishments. The glass panels in such partition walls are generally made up of two spaced panes, for example of hardened glass. Usually, such glass panels are heavy, however, so that mounting and removing the glass panel in the known partition wall (for example in the case of a broken pane) is a laborious and time-consuming job, in particular in the case of a floor and/or a ceiling that is not level. In addition, the glass panel in the known partition wall needs to be firmly anchored therein for safety reasons. However, the consequent use of all kinds of additional components is at odds with the preference for modular partition walls built up of standard components as regards dimensions and choice of materials.
The object of the invention is to improve the prior art, i.e. to provide an aesthetic partition wall, wherein the panel configured as a wall module can be mounted in a simple manner also between a floor that is not (entirely) level and a ceiling that is not (entirely) level. Another object of the invention is to make it possible to mount the panel in the wall in a simple manner, in spite of its dimensions and weight, anchor it and remove it therefrom again, if desired, without harming the modular structure of standard components of the partition wall.
In order to achieve that object, a wall of the kind described in the introduction is according to the invention characterised in that the lower horizontal member comprises at least three longitudinally extending, elongate profiles of U-shaped cross-section, wherein the first profile is fixed to the floor with a base part of its U-shaped cross-section, wherein the second profile is placed on the first profile, wherein base parts of the U-shaped cross-sections of the two profiles face away from each other, wherein the lower horizontal member further comprises a third profile of U-shaped cross-section provided between the first profile and the second profile thereof. As a result, unevennesses in the floor (i.e. in the case of a non-level floor) can be compensated in a simple manner, whilst the height of the lower horizontal member can be configured to be as small as possible. After all, the invention makes it possible to adjust the vertical positions of the first, the second and the third profile relative to each other in dependence on the floor, and subsequently fix the profiles in a desired position.
In a preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the upper horizontal member comprises at least three longitudinally extending, elongate profiles of U-shaped cross-section, wherein the first profile is fixed to the ceiling with a base part of its U-shaped cross-section, wherein the second profile is placed on the first profile, wherein base parts of the U-shaped cross-sections of the two profiles face away from each other, wherein the upper horizontal member further comprises a third profile of U-shaped cross-section provided between the first profile and the second profile thereof. As a result, unevennesses in the ceiling (i.e. in the case of a non-level ceiling) can be compensated in a simple manner, whilst the height of the upper horizontal member can be configured to be as small as possible. The legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the first, the second and the third profile of the upper horizontal member in particular comprise mating ribs which function to prevent the second profile and the third profile from falling down during mounting.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, base parts of the U-shaped cross-sections of the first and the third profile face away from each other. In particular, legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the third profile embrace legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the first profile, whilst legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the second profile embrace legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the third profile. The first, the second and the third profile are thus preferably telescopic, making it possible to compensate for unevennesses in the floor and/or the ceiling by telescoping the profiles in or out relative to each other. The relative vertical positions of the first, the second and the third profile can thus be adjusted and be fixed by means of spacer means between the profiles, such as spacer blocks.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, base parts of the U-shaped cross-sections of the first and the third profile face each other. Preferably, legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the first profile embrace legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the third profile, whilst legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the third profile in particular embrace legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the second profile. In this preferred variant, too, the first, the second and the third profile are preferably telescopic, making it possible to compensate for unevennesses in the floor and/or the ceiling by telescoping the profiles in or out relative to each other. The relative vertical positions of the first, the second and the third profile can thus be adjusted and be fixed by means of spacer means between the profiles, such as spacer blocks, in this variant as well.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the spacing between the base parts of the U-shaped cross-sections of the second and the third profile is adjustable. More in particular, instead thereof or in addition thereto, the spacing between the base parts of the U-shaped cross-sections of the first and the third profile is adjustable.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the base part of the U-shaped cross-section of the second profile comprises a springy clamping profile mounted thereon, wherein the panel comprises a lip fixed to the bottom edge thereof, which lip extends inward and which is clampingly provided between the base part of the U-shaped cross-section of the second profile and the springy clamping profile so as to connect the panel to the lower horizontal member and/or the upper horizontal member. This makes it possible in a simple manner to mount the panel in the wall (by moving the panel (in a vertical position thereof) in horizontal direction, as a result of which the lip is received in a slot of the clamping profile), anchor it therein and remove it again therefrom, if desired. The panel is preferably a glass panel, with the lip fixed to its bottom edge extending inward, i.e. toward the wall. Preferably, at least two panels are mounted on either side of the upper horizontal member and the lower horizontal member, which panels are clampingly provided between the upper horizontal member and the lower horizontal member. The use of a clamping profile makes it possible to give the wall any desired length, so that varying dimensions can be readily realised while using one (standard) clamping profile.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the lip fixed to the bottom edge of the panel and the lip fixed to the upper edge of the panel extend along the entire width of the panel.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the lip fixed to the bottom edge of the panel and the lip fixed to the upper edge of the panel are each provided with a profiled, longitudinal insert edge. The insert edges preferably comprise an upwardly sloping insert surface.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the lip fixed to the bottom edge of the panel and the lip fixed to the upper edge of the panel are glued to the panel at their longitudinal edges remote from the insert edges.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, longitudinal edges remote from the insert edges of the lip fixed to the bottom edge of the panel and of the lip fixed to the upper edge of the panel are flanged along at least part of their length, wherein flanged parts thereof extend into recesses in the panel. As a result, the lip is firmly anchored to the panel. In another preferred variant, said longitudinal edges remote from the insert edges are flanged along the entire length of the lips, wherein the longitudinal edges abut against the vertical side surface of the panel.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the clamping profiles of the second profiles of the lower horizontal member and the upper horizontal member each have a W-shaped cross-section. The clamping profiles preferably extend along the entire length of said second profiles. In another preferred variant, the clamping profile has a T-shaped cross-section.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, legs of the W-shaped cross-section are spring legs, wherein longitudinal edges of the legs are bent inwards. This makes it possible to achieve that mounting a panel will be easier than removing the same. The wall can thus be built up in a simple and quick manner, whilst the panel is nevertheless firmly attached.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the wall is provided with a door between a lower horizontal member and an upper horizontal member thereof, wherein the lower horizontal member and the upper horizontal member each comprise at least three longitudinally extending, elongate profiles of U-shaped cross-section, wherein the first profile is fixed to the floor with a base part of its U-shaped cross-section, wherein the second profile is placed on the first profile, wherein base parts of the U-shaped cross-sections of the two profiles face away from each other, wherein the lower horizontal member further comprises a third profile of U-shaped cross-section provided between the first profile and the second profile thereof, and wherein base parts of the U-shaped cross-sections of the first and the third profile face away from each other.
In another preferred embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the lower horizontal member and the upper horizontal member of the door have the same height as the corresponding horizontal members of the rest of the partition wall.
The invention also relates to a U-shaped cross profile for a wall according to the invention, which U-shaped cross profile comprises a base part, which base part
Such a U-shaped cross profile is quite suitable for building up a partition wall according to the invention. The locking projections extend in the longitudinal direction of the clamping profile and may for example be made up of folded-over longitudinal edges of the legs of the clamping profile. The locking projections are preferably configured so that inserting a lip of a panel will be easier than removing the same (snap locking projections). Advantageous embodiments of the clamping profile will be discussed in the description of the figures.
The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, in which:
a is a perspective partial view of a glass panel used therein and
In
With reference now to
Fixing the upper horizontal member 13 to the ceiling 12 is done in the same way as fixing the lower horizontal member 11 to the floor 10, and identical components are used (with the exception of the wedge-shaped blocks 20 and the spacer blocks 22). Reference is made to
As already noted before,
The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, but also extends to other preferred variants that fall within the scope of the appended claims. The clamping profile may for example comprise legs which are connected to the base part of the clamping profile via an elastic body (for example of rubber). The clamping force can in that case be provided by the elastic body.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2010367 | Feb 2013 | NL | national |
2010400 | Mar 2013 | NL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/NL2014/050119 | 2/27/2014 | WO | 00 |