GB2240557A - Partitioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system of partitioning comprising a primary mounting member (10), such as a generally H-section member, and a complementary mounting member, for example a glazing bar (12) snap-fitted to the H-section member by mutual engagement of mounting elements on each. The mounting elements on the H-section member (15) are provided on the lateral web or base of the channels of the H-section member. In this way, the deflection of the walls of the H-section member by snap-fitting the glazing bar is minimised. Additional mounting members, such as glazing beads, (20. 22 Fig. 5, not shown), are mounted by means of further mounting elements, located on the side walls of the channel of the H-section member, whereby the glazing beads co-operate with the glazing bar (and the glass) in the usual way. <IMAGE>

Description

PARTITIONING SYSTEMS This invention relates to partitioning systems, and more particularly to the combination of a primary mounting member (for example a generally H-section member) and a first complementary mounting member (for example glazing bar) for a system of partitioning or partition walling or the like.

In my prior British patent GB 2157336 I have disclosed and claimed a system of partitioning or partition walling having notable advantages including the provision of a double clipping action whereby, for example, both a glazing bar and its associated glazing beads can be snap-fitted into one side of the H-section member. The glazing bar is located wholly within the confines of the channel section of the H-section member. As a result, the edges of structures connected to the panel in question of the partitioning system, can adopt a proper positional relationship with respect to the H-section member. In this way, cumulative spacial requirements from panel-to-panel in a partition walling system do not occur.

However, further improvements to the system disclosed in my prior patent have now been made which address themselves to the following aspects of the performance of my prior system.

A first technical requirement in this respect is to reduce the tendency, in use, for shoulders to be produced when the glazing bar, for example, is fitted into the main H-section mounting member. It will be understood, of course, by virtue of the very fact that these structures fit together by a snap-fit clipping action, that a degree of deflection of the H-section member is inherent in fitting the glazing bar to it. This deflection causes some difficulties. For example, depending upon production tolerances, the deflection may produce visible shoulders or protruding portions of the H-section member in the finished product ie the partition walling. While this is not mechanically a problem, it has significant visual aspects from the customer acceptance point of view.

A related factor is that the deflection of the Hsection member by insertion of the glazing bar, on one side of the H, causes outward deflection of the channel section at that side of the H, and, as will be appreciated, corresponding inward deflection of the walls of the channel section at the other side of the H, accordingly. This has implications for the fitting of, for example, the glass and its glazing beads on that other side of the H.

The above factors lead to some difficulties in relation to production. There is a need to keep tolerances within very tight limits. The shape of the H-section makes it quite a complex extrusion to produce in itself anyway.

The above-identified consequences of production tolerances results in a need to keep these within very tight limits and this applies both to the main mounting member or Hsection itself, and also its associated structures, for example the glazing bars and glazing beads.

All in all, there is a need for improvements in relation to one or more of the above and other factors identified herein, and it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in one or more of these respects, or generally.

According to the invention there is provided the combination of a primary mounting member and a first complementary mounting member as claimed in the accompanying claims.

In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a combination of a primary mounting member and a first complementary mounting member in which the H-section primary mounting member has inner mounting elements on its central transverse web, which inner mounting elements serve to cooperate with those of a glazing bar, which fits thereto by a snap-fit or clipping action, whereby the deflection of the H-section member associated with fitting the glazing bar produces zero or negligible deflection of the walls of the H-section member.

In a further preferred embodiment, there is provided the combination of a primary mounting member and a first complementary mounting member. The primary mounting member is in the form of a generally H-section member and the first complementary mounting member. is in the form of a glazing bar. The combination is used in a system of partitioning or partition walling or the like. The primary mounting member comprises a first channel section, on one side of the H-section. The first channel section has first mounting elements in the channel section. These are for engagement with, and to locate, the complementary mounting member (the glazing bar), so that a main component or body of the latter can extend laterally across the channel section.The primary mounting member (the H-section member) also has a second channel section which itself comprises its own second mounting elements, to cooperate with other complementary mounting members, for example glazing beads.

The first mounting elements, in the first channel section of the H-section member comprise inner mounting elements to engage and locate the first complementary mounting member (the glazing bar), and outer mounting elements disposed at opposite sides of the first channel section (in the H-section member) on the walls defining the first channel section. This permits there to be mounted in the first channel section a further complementary mounting member or members, for example glazing beads, simultaneously with the glazing bar. These further complementary mounting members are mountable outwardly with respect to the glazing bar and are retained by the outer mounting elements and project outwardly therfrom.

In this preferred embodiment, the structure is characterised by the feature that the inner mounting elements are provided on a part of the structure of the primary mounting member (the H-section member) other than the walls defining its first channel section. As a result, outward deflection of the structure of the first channel section in accommodating the glazing bar causes minimal or less outward deflection of the walls of the first channel section, as compared with the deflection of same if the inner mounting elements were provided. on the walls of the first channel section.

Also in the preferred embodiment, the inner mounting elements are provided on a base wall of the first channel section. The inner mounting elements project outwardly from the base wall as seen in a cross-section through the primary mounting member. The complementary mounting member has corresponding complementary mounting elements projecting outwardly therefrom, as seen in cross-section, to engage the inner mounting elements of the first channel section.

The first complementary mounting member, including its mounting elements, is generally of channel-shaped crosssect ion. The inner mounting elements of the H-section member and the complementary mounting elements of the glazing bar define, when in use in their engaged condition, with the adjacent portions of the structures on which they are mounted, a cavity within the combination, to receive structural steel members or the like to provide fireresistant strength.

The first complementary mounting member (for example the glazing bar) is of such dimensions relative to the first channel section (of the H-section member) and its associated first mounting elements, that the first complementary mounting member can be located relative to the first channel section so that at least the main component or body of the first complementary mounting member extends laterally between opposite sides of the channel section and is located within or largely within the first channel section. Such location of the first complementary mounting member, within or largely within the first channel section, permits the edges of structures connected thereto to be positioned within or at the periphery of the first channel section for proper positional relationship with respect to the primary mounting member.

The main component or body of the first complementary mounting member (for example the glazing bar) is located, in the assembled condition of the cotpbination, wholly within the first channel section, and the outer mounting elements of the first channel section remain accessible for cooperative engagement with the further complementary mounting members (such as glazing beads).

The complementary mounting member may comprise a glazing bar or infill having a longitudinally extending glazing support member, such as a T-rail, and in the assembled condition of the combination the T-rail may be located within the confines of the channel section.

Where the primary mounting member is of a H-section, it may be provided with a generally T-section glazing support bar or rail mounted on the base of the second channel section.

The primary mounting member may comprise a further channel section inclined, for example, at about a right angle with respect to the first channel section.

In the preferred embodiment, the outer mounting elements are provided directly on the inner side walls of the first channel section.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Fig 1 shows a section through a first embodiment of a primary mounting member; Fig 2 shows a section through a second embodiment, and Fig 3 likewise a third embodiment; Fig 4 shows a section through a complementary mounting member, to cooperate with the primary mounting members of Figs 1 to 3; Fig 5 shows a section through a further complementary mounting members in the form of glazing beads; and Fig 6 shows a section through the assembly of the primary mounting member of Fig 1 with the complementary mounting member of Fig 4.

As a preliminary point, I wish it to be understood that this present specification represents a description of a development with respect to the disclosure in my abovementioned prior British patent GB 2157336. Therefore, I hereby direct reference to the description and drawings contained in that prior specification and specifically reserve the right to import disclosure into the present application from the prior specification where necessary or desirable.

As shown in Fig 1, a primary mounting member 10 is in the form of a generally H-section member, and is constructed for use with a first complementary mounting member, for example a glazing bar 12, as shown in Fig 4, in a system of partitioning or partition walling or the like, of the kind commonly used in office buildings.

Primary mounting member 10 comprises a first channel section 14 having first mounting elements 15 in the channel section for engagement with and to locate the first complementary mounting member 12, so that a main component or body 16 of the complementary mounting member extends laterally across the channel section 14.

Primary mounting member 10 also has a second channel section 18 which itself comprises second mounting elements 19 to cooperate with complementary mounting members, for example the glazing beads, 20, 22 seen in Fig 5.

The first mounting elements 15 comprise inner mounting elements 24, to engage and locate the first complementary mounting member 12, and outer mounting elements 26 disposed at opposite sides of the first channel section on the walls 30 defining that section. The arrangement is such, as shown in Fig 12, that, when the complementary mounting member 12 is in its assembled position within first channel section 14 on primary mounting member 10, the main component or body 16 of the complementary mounting member is so-positioned relative to the outer mounting elements 26, that there can be mounted in the first channel section 14, a further complementary mounting member or members (for example the glazing beads 20, 22 seen in Fig 10), simultaneously with the complementary mounting member 10.

It will be noted that the glazing channels or beads 20, 22 of Fig 10 have mounting elements 28 which are suitably profiled, with a chevron-shaped cross-section, to enter a corresponding recess 31 defined in the outer mounting elements 26.

It can now be seen that the inner mounting elements 24 are provided on a part of the structure of the primary mounting member 10, other than the walls 30 defining the first channel section 14. In this way, outward deflection of the structure thereof, in accommodating the complementary mounting members, causes minimal outward deflection of the walls of the first channel section, or less of such deflection than if the inner mounting elements 24 were themselves provided on the walls of the first channel section for engagement, for example, with the ends of the main body 16 of complementary mounting member 12.

The inner mounting elements 24 are, in this embodiment, provided on the base wall 32 of the first channel section 14, and project outwardly from the base wall, as seen in cross-section.

As shown in Fig 4, the first complementary mounting member has its corresponding complementary mounting elements 34 projecting outwardly from the main body 16 thereof, to engage the inner mounting elements 24 of the first channel section 14. Fig 6 shows how these structures fit together. Each of the mounting elements 34 has a projecting stop member 36 to define the fitted and engaged position shown in Fig 12, by abutment with the end face of the inner mounting elements 24.

As can be well seen in Fig 4, the first complementary mounting member 12, including its mounting elements 34, is generally of channel-shaped cross-section. The side walls 38 defining this channel section 40 (and which thus support the mounting elements 34), together with the corresponding (though much shallower in depth) walls 42 supporting the inner mounting elements 24 of channel section 14, together with their associated structures 16 and 32 define, when in use in their engaged position, a cavity 44 within the combination (of the members 10 and 12), to receive structural steel members or the like (not shown) to provide fire-resistant strength.

Fig 6 also shows the fact that the glazing bar 12 fits entirely within the first channel section 14, so that the T-rail 46 lies wholly within that channel section. It will be noted that the second channel section 18 is provided with its own T-rail 48 which has a similar spacial relationship to base wall 32 and the second mounting elements 19, as does T-rail 46 to its main body member 16 and the outer mounting elements 26, in the assembled condition seen in Fig 6.

In this embodiment, it will be noted that the profiles of the mounting elements 24, 34 and 26, 28, and indeed the recesses 31, are such that a camming action is provided to initiate deflection of the structures prior to same snapfitting into their engaged positions. The ease with which the relevant small degree of deflection is achieved is facilitated by the fact that the mounting elements are themselves located at the outer side of their respective longitudinally-extending walls 38 and 42. The location of the latter on the web or base wall 32 of primary mounting member 10 ensures that a minimal degree of deflection of the side walls 30 of that mounting member occurs as a result of fitting the glazing bar 12.

The primary mounting member 10 and its complementary mounting member 12, and indeed the associated other complementary mounting members 20, 22 are produced by extrusion, using techniques which are now well established for products of this kind, the primary mounting member being of aluminium and the other mounting members being of a suitable plastics material.

In use, the mounting members are snap-fitted in the manner already discussed above, and illustrated in Fig 6.

Glazing materials (not shown) are supported on the T-rails and held in position by the glazing channels shown in Fig 5, which are a snap-fit into second channel section 18, between the second mounting elements 19 and the T-rail 48.

Lips 50 seat against the glazing material. Substantially the same arrangement and assembly is adopted on the other side where the glazing material is seated on T-rail 46.

In the embodiment of Fig 2, a primary mounting member 60 is otherwise constructed as in the embodiment of Fig 1, but is provided with bracing webs 62 to stiffen the structure of the side walls 64 of the first channel section 66. This embodiment otherwise is constructed and functions as described above for the embodiment of Fig 1.

In the embodiment of Fig 3 there is provided a primary mounting member 70 having three channel sections 72, 74, 76. Each of these is constructed to cooperate with complementary mounting members, as in the embodiment of Fig 1. For this purpose there are provided inner 78 and outer 80 mounting elements, in much the same relative dispositions as in the embodiment of Fig 1. The outer mounting elements 80 in the present embodiment are mounted on respective webs 82.

As regards the inner mounting element 78, these are shown in position for the channel section 74. For the channel sections 72 and 76, there is merely indicated the approximate positions of the inner mounting elements, their structure being as shown for the channel section 74.

The mode of use of the inner mounting elements 78 in relation to the complementary mounting member 12 shown in Fig 4 is substantially as described above with reference to Figs 1 and 2. The primary mounting member 70 forms a 3way connecting member and can be provided with a complementary mounting member in the form of a straight infill, as shown at 84 in Fig 3, to blank-off any one or more of the channel sections. The straight infill has mounting elements 86 to cooperate with the outer mounting elements 80 of the channel sections, in the manner already described above. Other similar complementary mounting members may be provided eg a curved infill and a door frame member.

Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention are the following. Firstly, considerable modification of the details of the structure, arrangement and exact positioning of the inner mounting elements could be provided. Thus, their positions on the base structures of the channel sections could be varied. Also, the profiles of the mounting elements themselves could be modified . Naturally, the provision of inner and outer mounting elements can be adapted to a whole varity of different forms of primary and complementary mounting members for a variety of different paritioning or partition walling systems.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS:

1 The combination of a primary mounting member (10) (for example a generally H-section member) and a first complementary mounting member (for example a glazing bar (12)) for a system of partitioning or partition walling or the like, said primary mounting member comprising a first channel section (14) having first mounting elements (15) in said channel section for engagement with and to locate said complementary mounting member so that a main component or body (16) of said complementary mounting member extends laterally across said channel section, and said primary mounting member also having a second channel section (18) which itself comprises second mounting elements (19) to cooperate with complementary mounting members (for example glazing beads (20,22)), said first mounting elements comprising inner mounting elements (24) to engage and locate said first complementary mounting member, and outer mounting elements (26) disposed at opposite sides of said first channel section on the walls (39) defining said section so that there can be mounted in said first channel section a further complementary mounting member or members (for example glazing beads (20,22), simultaneously with said first complementary mounting member (for example a glazing bar), said further complementary mounting member or members being mountable outwardly with respect to said first complementary mounting member and being retained by said outer mounting elements and projecting outwardly therefrom;; characterised in that said inner mounting elements (24) are provided on a part (32) of the structure of the primary mounting member other than said walls (30) defining the first channel section (14), whereby outward deflection of the structure thereof in accommodating said complementary mounting member (10) causes minimal outward deflection of the walls of said first channel section or less such deflection than if said inner mounting elements were themselves provided on the walls of said first channel section.

2 The combination of claim 1 characterised in that said inner mounting elements (24) are provided on a base wall (32) of said first channel section (14).

3 The combination of claim 2 characterised in that said inner mounting elements project outwardly from said base wall as seen in cross-section through said primary mounting member.

4 The combination of claim 3 characterised in that said first complementary mounting member has corresponding complementary mounting elements (34) projecting outwardly therefrom, as seen in cross-section, to engage said inner mounting elements of said first channel section.

5 The combination of claim 4 characterised in that said first complementary mounting member (12), including its mounting elements, is generally of channel-shaped cross-section.

6 The combination of claim 4 or claim 5 characterised in that said inner mounting elements of said primary mounting member, and said complementary mounting elements of said complementary mounting member, define, when in use in their engaged condition, with the adjacent portions of the structures on which they are mounted, a cavity (44) within said combination, to receive structural steel members or the like to provide fire-resistant strength.

7 The combination of any one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that said first complementary mounting member (12) is of such dimensions relative to said first channel section (14) and its associated first mounting elements that said first complementary mounting member can be located relative to said first channel section so that at least said main component or body of said first complementary mounting member extends laterally between opposite sides of said channel section and is located within, or largely within, said first channel section, said location of said first complementary mounting member within, or largely within, said first channel section, permitting the edges of structures connected thereto to be position within or at the periphery of said first channel section for proper positional relationship with respect to said primary mounting member.

8 The combination of claim 7 characterised in that said main component or body of said first'complementary mounting member (12) is located, in the assembled condition of the combination, wholly within said first channel section, and said outer mounting elements remain accessible for co-operative engagment with said further complementary mounting members (such as glazing beads).

9 The combination of any one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that said complementary mounting member comprises a glazing bar having a longitudinally extending glazing support member, such as a T-rail, and in the assembled condition of the combination said T-rail is located within the confines of said first channel section.

10 The combination according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said primary mounting member is generally H-shaped in section with said channel sections arranged back-to-back.

11 The combination of any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said second channel section is provided with a generally T-section glazing support bar or rail mounted on the basis of said second channel section.

12 The combination of any one of the preceding claims character ised in that said primary mounting member comprises at least one further channel section inclined with respect to said first channel section and being of similar construction thereto.

13 The combination of claim 12 characterised in that said further channel section is inclined at about a right angle with respect to said first channel section.

14 The combination according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said outer mounting elements are provided directly on the inner side walls of said first channel section.

15 The combination of a primary mounting member and a first complementary mounting member for a system of partitioning or partition walling or the like, substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompany drawings.

16 A primary mounting member for a combination according to any one of the preceding claims.