US20160348359A1

US20160348359A1 - Partitioning wall module of a partitioning wall

Info

Publication number: US20160348359A1
Application number: US15/169,193
Authority: US
Inventors: Jan-Gerd Behrens
Original assignee: Dormakaba Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: Dormakaba Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 2015-06-01
Filing date: 2016-05-31
Publication date: 2016-12-01
Also published as: EP3101190B1; DE102015108660A1; EP3101190A1

Abstract

A partitioning wall module of a partitioning wall for covering an opening in a building structure includes a module frame made from at least two vertical profiles and at least two horizontal profiles. One covering panel is attached on both sides to the module frame. Each of the horizontal profiles includes a contacting section disposed at each end, which is in attaching contact with one counter-contacting section of a vertical profile in a sectionwise positive attaching contact for attaching the horizontal profiles to the vertical profiles.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. DE 102015108660.3, filed on Jun. 1, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a partitioning wall module of a partitioning wall for covering an opening in a building structure as well as to a method for mounting a partitioning wall module according to the present disclosure.

BACKGROUND

It is known to intend to configure large spaces in building structures to be partitionable. Usually, partitioning walls are provided as mobile partitioning wall systems for this purpose, for subdividing a large space into corresponding smaller units by means of individual partitioning wall modules. In particular said smaller units are separated, respectively uncoupled from each other not only visually, but also acoustically. For this purpose, conventional partitioning wall modules are provided in a standardized manner and they are uniformly manufactured. Usually, such partitioning wall modules are equipped with a module frame, which is provided with covering panels on both sides. Obviously additional insulation for enhanced acoustic uncoupling may be provided between the covering panels, namely within the module frame.
Conventional solutions for partitioning wall modules are disadvantageous in that usually they are very expensive in manufacturing. Moreover, an appropriate width and thereto related a weight of the partitioning wall modules are difficult to reduce. This circumstance is based in particular on the fact that the module frame is required to have a high stability, in order to provide the required stability both during the static application situation and during the movement into the desired separating position.
Therefore, it the present disclosure overcomes the above-described disadvantages. Particularly, the present disclosure further improves the manufacturing of the partitioning wall module in a cost-efficient and simple way.

SUMMARY

The above problem is solved with a partitioning wall module of a partitioning wall for covering an opening in a building structure, including a mobile frame made from at least two vertical and two horizontal profiles, wherein respectively one covering panel is attached on both sides to the module frame, wherein the horizontal profiles include a contacting section at each end, which, with respectively one counter-contacting section of a vertical profile is in at least sectionwise positive attaching contact for an attachment of the horizontal profiles to the vertical profiles.
The above problem is also addressed with a method for mounting a partitioning wall module having the features of the wall module and including the following steps: contacting the contacting sections of the horizontal profiles with the counter-contacting sections of a vertical profile, configuring at least one sectionwise form closure for an attaching contact between the contacting sections and the counter-contacting sections, contacting the still free contacting sections with the counter-contacting sections of a further vertical profile, and configuring at least one sectionwise form closure for an attaching contact between the contacting sections and the counter-contacting sections. Features and details, described in conjunction with the inventive partitioning wall element, are also valid in conjunction with the inventive method and respectively vice versa, such that mutual reference is made with respect to the disclosure of individual aspects of the disclosure.
According to the disclosure, a partitioning wall module is intended for a partitioning wall for covering an opening in a building structure. For this purpose, the partitioning wall module includes a module frame made from at least two vertical profiles and at least two horizontal profiles. In this case, respectively one covering panel is attached on both sides of the module frame. An inventive partitioning wall module is distinguished in that the horizontal profiles have a contacting section at each end, which section, at least sectionwise, is respectively in a positive attaching contact with a counter-contacting section of a vertical profile for the attachment of the horizontal profiles to the vertical profiles.
The inventive partitioning profile includes a basic structure. A module frame is provided, which dictates a frame structure for allowing to guarantee an appropriate attachment of the covering panel. In particular vertical profiles and horizontal profiles are provided for constructing the module frame. The terminology of vertical profile refers to the vertical arrangement of the vertical profile in the installation situation. In the same way, the terminology of the horizontal profile refers to an installation situation of the horizontal profile in horizontal direction. Accordingly, the module frame is in particular configured in such a way that, once the vertical profiles are connected to the horizontal profiles in the installation situation, they are positioned essentially at a right angle to each other.
With the intention to be able to provide the necessary connection between the vertical profiles and the horizontal profiles, according to the disclosure, now correlations between the contacting sections and the counter-contacting sections are intended. Each one of the horizontal profiles is equipped with a contacting section at the respective end. As the horizontal profiles, just the same as the vertical profiles, are usually configured with a corresponding longitudinal extension, they have two ends with a corresponding sum of two contacting sections. The same applies to the vertical profiles, which likewise include a counter-contacting section at least at the respective end.
Unlike the complicated attachment of individual profile sections at a module frame according to the state-of-the-art, according to the disclosure now the correlation of contacting sections and counter-contacting sections is intended. They correlate in a manner that they provide the attaching contact for the horizontal profiles to be attached to the vertical profiles by means of an at least sectionwise positive forming contact. Said positive contact may be established in the most different ways. For example, fitting the contacting section and the counter-contacting section into each other at least sectionwise will provide the desired form closure for the attachment. Obviously, also an additional action will lead to realize or else reinforce said form closure. For this purpose, one possible solution, for example, involves having the contacting section configured in a link-plate-shaped style and inserting it into a link-plate slot in the counter-contacting section. Already by means of said inserting, the at least sectionwise form closure is provided for the attachment. With the intention to even further improve the attachment situation, now for example a plastic deformation of the contacting section in the shape of the link-plate is possible for being able to achieve in this way an even further improved form closure and thereby a higher stability of the module frame.
As can be seen already at this point in time, in this case, it is irrelevant, whether or not the contacting section or the counter-contacting section includes an appropriate configuration. The decisive fact is the cooperation between the two structural components, namely the contacting section and the counter-contacting section such that in this way the at least sectionwise positive attachment functionality is given. Therefore, in the context of this application any description of a correlation between the contacting element and the counter-contacting element is applicable in the reverse form, such that, obviously, the kinematic reversal includes the same functionality within the scope of the present application.
While conventional solutions for partitioning wall modules required providing a high amount of expense with regard to the attachment of the individual profile sections to each other, according to the disclosure, a simple fitting into each other is sufficient for achieving the attachment. Also configuring an additional step of action for performing a bending, for example for improving the form closure, is realized at a considerable lesser expense, when compared to the known screwing or even welding of the module frames. In addition to reducing the expense and the amount of time for manufacturing the module frames linked thereto, according to the disclosure, the complexity of the overall structure is reduced. In particular standardized and moreover also smaller structural components may be provided for forming the module frame of an inventive partitioning wall module. In addition to standardizing and the cost savings linked thereto, it will be possible in this way to likewise provide smaller and lighter partitioning wall modules. This refers in particular to the thickness of the partitioning wall module such that a reduction of the thickness of the module frame is followed by a reduction of the thickness of the partitioning wall module. Last but not least, the reduction of the geometrical dimensions and of the weight results in that an increased load volume of the newly designed and inventive partitioning wall module may be transported.
It may be advantageous, if, in the inventive partitioning wall module, the contacting sections of all horizontal profiles are configured to be identical to each other and/or the counter-contacting sections of all vertical profiles are configured to be identical to each other. This means that a still further simplified construction type of all the profiles of the module frame is provided. In particular, the vertical profiles and/or the horizontal profiles may be employed in this way in both orientations in an identical manner. This circumstance likewise results in that all contacting sections may be brought into the inventive at least sectionswise positive attaching contact with all counter-contacting sections. Thus, the applicability of the correlation between different horizontal profiles and different vertical profiles is even further increased. In particular, not only the counter-contacting sections as well as the contacting sections, but also all horizontal profiles, respectively all vertical profiles are configured to be identical or substantially identical. However, differences may exist, in particular, with regard to the longitudinal extension and therefore to the geometrical dimensions of the horizontal profiles respectively of the vertical profiles.
It may be likewise advantageous, if, in the inventive partitioning wall module, the contacting sections are configured as contacting link-plates, which extend through the counter-contacting sections in the shape of link-plate slots, in order to form a sectionwise form closure for the attachment. This arrangement is a particularly simple and inexpensive embodiment for contacting sections and counter-contacting sections. A link-plate in the sense of this embodiment includes in particular a flat, elongate extension with a planar top side as well as a planar bottom side. A corresponding link-plate slot forms a complementary contour for said link-plate such that inserting the link-plate into the link-plate slot is possible with very little play around the link-plate. In this case, it is in particular question of a clearance fit, which provides the desired form closure as a plug-in connection. As will be explained below, said sectionwise form closure may be even further improved with regard to the stability, by the subsequent insertion by means of an action, such as a plastic deformation. In this embodiment, the configuration of the contacting sections, respectively of the counter-contacting sections is made possible by a manufacturing process of sheet metal cutting or stamping.
It is likewise advantageous, if, in an inventive partitioning wall module, at least one of the contacting sections includes a bending region, which, by means of the plastic deformation, forms the attaching form closure. This should be understood as the bending region, in particular with reduced cross-section, being disposed between the terminal section of the contacting section and the basic body of the horizontal profile. In the event now, for example after inserting according to the above section, a force is applied into a link-plate slot, a plastic deformation may be realized within the bending region. In particular the action of folding based on a rotary movement is given such that a part of the contacting section is bent upwards, while simultaneously another part of the contacting section is bent downwards. This is in particular realized about an angle between 30° and 90° such that in this way the form closure is even further reinforced, and in particular a securing of the contacting section is given against removal from the contacting section. Even though this results in an additional, however, simple processing step and moreover performed without any tools, when mounting the module frame, and further in enhanced safety and in an increased stability of the overall partitioning wall module.
Another advantage is realized, if in an inventive partitioning wall module each vertical profile includes at least two vertical telescopic sections, which overlap each other in the longitudinal extension direction of the vertical profile, wherein the length of overlapping is configured to be variable. For example, U-profiles may be then slid-into each other in the vertical profile for forming the vertical telescopic sections in this manner. Depending on the current situation, in particular depending on the height of the room in the building structure, this features allows for performing an adaption of the longitudinal extension of the vertical profiles. In the same manner, likewise a lengthening of the covering panels may be realized, in order to be able to perform the desired adaptation even on-site at the construction site for the partitioning wall module. Obviously, additional attachment means may be provided in order to connect the individual vertical telescopic sections to each other in the desired longitudinal-extension-relative-position. Last but not least, it is conceivable that, via the correlation of different counter-contacting sections of the vertical profiles, affixing the vertical telescopic sections in relation to each other is automatically performed by means of inserting the contacting sections. In other words, corresponding counter-contacting sections overlap the individual vertical telescopic sections in different correlations to each other such that here a union of functions may be achieved.
Furthermore, it is advantageous, if, in an inventive partitioning wall module, between an upper horizontal profile, which forms the upper termination of the module frame, and a lower horizontal profile, which forms the lower termination of the module frame, a third horizontal profile is disposed and is attached to the vertical profiles for stabilizing the module frame. While basically the module frame may include a simple rectangle, providing a third and centrally disposed horizontal profile further increases the stability. In this case, the central horizontal profile may have a parallel or substantially parallel orientation and in particular with regard to the geometrical extension thereof, it may be configured identical or substantially identical to the other two horizontal profiles. However, it may be likewise conceivable that a lined-up and thereby slanted orientation of the central horizontal profile provides an even stronger stabilization effect for the module frame. Additionally, also a mounting interface may be provided in the central horizontal profile with the intention to attach thereto or to support for example mechanical units in the shape of an adjusting mechanism. Such an adjusting mechanism may have advantages, if for example sealing lips in a retracted position and in a protruded position are to be variably supported.
Furthermore, it is advantageous, if, in an inventive partitioning wall module, in the upper horizontal profile at least three bearing interfaces are configured for the attachment of suspending devices for the mobile suspension of the partitioning wall module at a ceiling of a building structure. Usually, one or two of said bearing interfaces are actually employed. In particular in embodiments of a heavy partitioning wall module, the requirement may be given that respectively one suspending device be attached to two bearing interfaces. Thereby, a simple displacement functionality, which moreover has little friction in the running tracks, may be provided for the partitioning wall module in associated running tracks. However, as an alternative, in the same technical embodiment of the module frame, the suspension with a single suspending device is conceivable. The latter is in particular configured as central suspension such that the corresponding central disposition of the third bearing interface allows for slanting the partitioning wall module when suspending it. This is in particular advantageous for a particularly simple and inexpensive configuration of the track system with regard to the bearing position of the partitioning wall in the track system. Said individual bearing interfaces may be configured as holes, preferably also as oblong holes, for allowing to provide a corresponding additional fine adjustment of the relative positioning of the individual suspending devices.
Another advantage is realized, if, in an inventive partitioning wall module, at least the upper horizontal profile has a profile nose, into which the covering panel is hooked by means of hook devices. Said profile nose may include, for example, a latching projection or of a cut-out from a corresponding U-profile. The hook device of the covering panel may include, for example, an inverted U-profile, with the intention to be hooked in a corresponding simple, inexpensive and quick manner into the associated profile nose. In addition to reducing the mounting expense, in the same manner, a self-stabilizing arrangement may be achieved by means of the proper weight of the covering panel. The covering panel may even have additional plastic material strips, which, after hooking into the profile nose, allow for providing a corresponding contacting towards the module frame, and are configured in particular in an acoustically uncoupling manner.
It is likewise advantageous, if, in an inventive partitioning wall module, the vertical profiles include a latching element for latching of latching noses of vertical sealing strips for the attachment of said vertical sealing strips to the vertical profiles. In particular, said latching elements are configured over the entire longitudinal extension of the vertical profiles. Advantageously, the same applies to the entire longitudinal extension of the sealing strips with regard to the configuration of the latching noses. Thus, by a simple latching, respectively snapping on, the respective sealing strip may be attached. Said sealing strips may be provided in particular with magnetic bands having the purpose of engaging in an even better connection with the neighbouring partitioning wall module according to the principle of tongue and groove. In particular, the sealing strips acoustically uncouples two spatial areas in a building structure.
Furthermore, it may be advantageous, if, in an inventive partitioning wall module, respectively one horizontal sealing lip be disposed at an upper horizontal profile and at a lower horizontal profile, in particular in a deployable manner, for sealing the partitioning wall module against the ceiling and/or the floor of the building structure. This means that after the partitioning wall module reaches the final covering position thereof, for example by means of an adjusting mechanism, said sealing lips may be deployed. In this case, it is question of a vertical deploying movement. In other words, the sealing lips are now pressed upwards against the ceiling and downwards against the floor of the building structure, with the purpose, in addition to a stabilizing effect of the partitioning wall module, even further improving the acoustic uncoupling of the two spatial areas, which are separated from each other.
Likewise a subject matter of the present disclosure is a method for mounting an inventive partitioning wall module, including the following steps:

- contacting of contacting sections of the horizontal profiles with the counter-contacting sections of a vertical profile,
- configuring at least one sectionwise form closure for an attaching contact between the contacting sections and the counter-contacting sections,
- contacting the still free contacting sections with the counter-contacting sections of a further vertical profile,
- configuring at least one sectionwise form closure via an attaching contact between the contacting sections and the counter-contacting sections,

By employing an inventive partitioning wall module, the inventive method offers the same advantages as those explained in detail in relation to the inventive partitioning wall module. Obviously, in addition also the steps of suspending the covering panels may be provided. In this case, the order in which the attaching contact will be realized is essentially irrelevant. Therefore, the vertical profile may be already completely connected, and subsequently the connection to the second side with the second vertical profile will be provided. Also, at first all plug-in steps between the contacting sections and the counter-contacting sections may be completed, for being able to finally complete the final action for example of bending the individual contacting sections about the bending regions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, features and details of the disclosure will result from the following description, in which, reference being made to the drawings, exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a partitioning wall module,

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of a horizontal profile according to FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of a vertical profile according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, which represent a partitioning wall module 10 with two vertical profiles 30 according to FIG. 3 and three horizontal profiles 40 according to FIG. 2. In the following, for allowing for a better understanding, the mounting is explained according to the individual mounting steps in relation to all three Figures.
A vertical profile 30 is provided in a first step such that now altogether three horizontal profiles 40 according to FIG. 2 may be inserted with link-plate-shaped contacting sections 42 into associated link-plate slots as the counter-contacting sections 32. Already at this point, by the insertion, a corresponding positive and thereby attaching contact is established between the contacting sections 42 and the counter-contacting sections 32. Subsequently, at the opposite end of the horizontal profiles 40, a second vertical profile 30 is disposed in the same manner such that finally, in particular by means of additionally bending the individual contacting sections 42 about a bending region 44, a further reinforcement of the positive attachment situation may be achieved.
As soon as this module frame 20 has been essentially completed in this manner, further adjusting mechanisms or individual constructional components may be mounted. In particular at the top side and at the bottom side of the module frame 20, now a sealing lip 80 will be attached, which in this embodiment, is configured to be retractable and deployable by means of a scissor-arm mechanism.
In the following, the sealing strips 70 of the two vertical profiles 30 are latched via associated latching noses 72 in the corresponding latching elements 36 of the vertical profiles 30. In this case, it is question of tongue and groove systems allowing for providing the best possible acoustic sealing also in the vertical orientation of the partitioning wall module.
In the following, at the top side of the module frame 20, it will be decided, which of the bearing interfaces 46 will be employed. It will be in particular decided between the two exterior bearing interfaces 46 for a double suspension and the central bearing interface 46 for an individual central suspension.
Finally the covering panels 50 may be hung on both sides, wherein in particular a corresponding hook device 52 can be hung into the associated profile noses 48 according to FIG. 2. Said hanging is simple, quick and inexpensive and the stabilization is in particular realized by means of the proper weight of the covering panel 50.
The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present disclosure exclusively based on examples. Obviously, individual features of the embodiments, as long as they are technically reasonable, can be freely combined with each other without leaving the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A partitioning wall module of a partitioning wall for covering an opening in a building structure, the partitioning wall module comprising a module frame made from at least two vertical profiles and at least two horizontal profiles, wherein respectively one covering panel is attached on both sides to the module frame, wherein the horizontal profiles each include a contacting section disposed at each end, which, with respectively one counter-contacting section of a vertical profile, is in an at least sectionwise positive attaching contact for an attachment of the horizontal profiles to the vertical profiles.

2. The partitioning wall module according to claim 1, wherein the contacting sections of the horizontal profiles are configured to be identical with each other and/or the counter-contacting sections of the vertical profiles are configured to be identical to each other.

3. The partitioning wall module according to claim 1, wherein the contacting sections are configured as contacting link-plates, which extend through the counter-contacting sections in the shape of link-plate slots for forming a sectionwise form closure for the attachment.

4. The partitioning wall module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the contacting sections includes a bending region, which, by means of a plastic deformation, forms the attaching form closure.

5. The partitioning wall module according to claim 1, wherein each vertical profile includes at least two vertical telescopic sections, which overlap each other in the longitudinal extension direction of the vertical profile, wherein the length of overlapping is configured to be variable.

6. The partitioning wall module according to claim 1, wherein between an upper horizontal profile, which forms an upper termination of the module frame, and a lower horizontal profile, which forms a lower termination of the module frame, a third horizontal profile is disposed and attached to the vertical profiles for stabilizing the module frame.

7. The partitioning wall module according to claim 6, wherein in the upper horizontal profile are configured at least three bearing interfaces configured for attachment to the suspending devices for the mobile suspension of the partitioning wall module to a ceiling of the building structure.

8. The partitioning wall module according to claim 6, wherein at least the upper horizontal profile includes a profile nose, which is hung into the covering panel by means of hook devices.

9. The partitioning wall module according to claim 1, wherein the vertical profiles include a latching element configured for latching at least one latching nose of at least one vertical sealing strip such that the at least one vertical sealing strip is attached to at least one of the vertical profiles.

10. The partitioning wall module according to claim 1, wherein at an upper horizontal profile and at a lower horizontal profile respectively one horizontal sealing strip is disposed, in particular in a deployable manner, for a sealing of the partitioning wall module against the ceiling and/or the floor of the building structure.

11. A method for mounting a partitioning wall module having the features of claim 1, including the following steps:

contacting the contacting sections of the horizontal profiles with the counter-contacting sections of a vertical profile,

configuring at least one sectionwise form closure for an attaching contact between the contacting sections and the counter-contacting sections,

contacting the still free contacting sections with the counter-contacting sections of a further vertical profile, and

configuring at least one sectionwise form closure for an attaching contact between the contacting sections and the counter-contacting sections.