GB2468914A - Dividing systems using magnetic connection of panels - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises an interior or exterior space dividing system, comprising one or more panels with a front 38 and a rear face 40, at least one first side 42 incorporating a magnet 44 and/or one or more panels incorporating a wall formed primarily of extruded material with multiple chambers. The dividing system may include a top end featuring a further magnetic portion. The dividing system may further comprise a foot portion which is releasable attachable within at least one hollow chamber. There may be a metallic connector portion being sized to abut at least three magnetic sides of separate panels. The system may preferably be made of polycarbonate material. A further independent claim is made for an interior or exterior space divider comprising a panel portion with a wall made of fluted plastics materials and at least one foot attached to said wall, said foot being configured to secure said panel in and upwardly standing position.

Description

PMDNG SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS THEREOF

Field of the Invention

The invention concerns dividing panels and systems.

Review of Art known to the Applicant and problems to be solved Contemporary architecture favours "open plan" internal spaces because it allows for easy changes in the layout of the spaces thereby facilitating changes of use within a given space, without the need for structural change.

There are two widely recognised ways of effecting such changes. The first is through the installation of partitioning or curtain walling. This is a permanent division method that generally necessitates anchoring with fixings into either the floor and! or the ceiling.

Because specialist labour is required for competent installation, putting in partitioning is comparatively expensive. Because of its permanence, or semi-permanence, partitioning may subsequently prove to be inflexible and undesirable.

The second method is the use of screens or dividers. These are generally free standing divisions that either do not require (or only require minimal) fixing into the building fabric.

They allow the temporary or semi-permanent manipulation of space to suit a particular purpose. Whilst such methods are commonly employed there has so far been very little design evolution in the manufacture of screens. )n order to be cost effective the materials chosen in typical screen manufacture have subsequently led to restricted finishes and detailing along with limited product function&ity. In particular: * Particle board panel construction creates excessive screen weight thereby creating health and safety liability when handling arid being costly to transport; * Woven fabric surface coverings commonly used for surface finishing of screens do not enable "wipe down" cleaning, effectively harbouring the dust and germs that gather throughout a lifetime of use; * The fabric surface finish also negates the use of such screens for the division of food areas, medical facilities, child play facilities and cleanroom areas; * The fabric surface finish has limited decoration opportunities, generally being mono-colour and restricted to a range of fabric colours; * Junction detail between screens can prove difficult to use and does not facilitate easy and quick rearrangement of screen layouts; * The particle board does not aUow the penetration of drawing pins and the fabric surface covering does not enable the adhesion of adhesive notelets, both attachment devices being common to workspace environments; * The particle board can "settle or bow" if leaned against a wall or not kept flat in storage, the panel will then retain the curve which has been set into it and be unsightly and difficult to (ink to other panels if later used.

ft is amongst the objects of the inventions described herein to come to a solution to these and other problems.

Summa' of the invention n a first broad, independent aspect, the invention comprises an interior or exterior space dividing system, comprising one or more panels with a front and a rear face at least one first side incorporating a magnet and/or one or more panels incorporating a wall formed primarily of extruded material with multiple chambers.

The provision of a magnetic room division system allows for quick and easy assembly of the system. Such quickness and ease ultimately makes the system more flexible, because it is more inviting to fine tuning and alteration. n particular, the self-alignment feature facilitates this.

The magnet may be preferably exposed. The magnet may be integral to the paneL The magnet may be covered.

Using magnetic connection means provides a hard wearing solution to issues of connectivity, where other connection means, such as those for example, made of plastics, may fatigue and break.

The feature of hollowness is advantageous, and in particular is advantageous over particle board and chipboard panel screen structures, in that it provides a high strength to weight ratio, i.e. high rigidity with low weight. The integral reinforcing ribs and adjacent connecting walls provide high beam strength within the panel and will ensure straightness is maintained when used in a vertical (self supporting) panel format. The sheet material is also unlikely to settle or distort when being stored.

Further, low weight ensures that even the largest panel is well within manual handling directives and so is safe to be lifted or be repositioned by unskilled users.

In a first subsidiary aspect, the invention further comprises at (east one second side Incorporating a material suitable to be attracted to a magnet.

In a second subsidiary aspect, said panel forms a wall which is made of extruded material with multiple chambers.

In a third subsidiary aspect, the invention further comprises an, in use, top end featuring a further magnetic portion.

The provision of a magnetic portion in the top end, allows for "accessories" to the divider to be mounted on the top of the panel, or securely laid over or hung from it.

In a fourth subsidiary aspect, the invention further comprises at [east one foot portions, wherein at [east one chamber is open and sized and shaped to receive a portion of said foot, whereby said foot is releasably attached to said paneL Advantageously, therefore, the site of attachment of the foot portion to the panel portion ties between the two faces.

This militates against the interruption of any surface design by attachment means.

Where the panel portion is of a substantially hollow, multiply chambered design, the provision of such attachment means synergistically takes advantage of that feature.

In a fifth subsidiary aspect, said second side of the panel also incorporates a magnet.

This increases the connection opportunities available to the user. Clearly, in embodiments where only one end is magnetic, the end must be used to connect to a non-magnetic end if a connection is to be made at all. Providing two magnetic ends provides possibilities for inserting junctioning pieces and for making Loops with the panel portions.

In a sixth subsidiary aspect, the invention further comprises at least three panels and a metallic connector portion, said metallic connector portion being so sized as to abut against at least three magnetic sides of three separate panels.

The provision of a separate connector portions, or junctioning pieces, allows for the making of junctions between multiple magnetic ends. This increases dramatically the formations which may be made with the room dividing system.

In a seventh subsidiary aspect at least a portion of the panel wall consists of fluted plastics material.

In an eighth subsidiary aspect, said material is polycarbonate.

The use of a fluted plastic material, and in particular fluted polycarbonate sheeting, for example of the sort used for roof lights and conservatory roof construction, provides several advantages. The panel may be of multi-wall sheeting. It may be of structured potycarbonate. It may be of hexagonal cross-section.

A smooth plastics surface may be easily cleaned by wiping down in contrast to, for example, fabric dividers, which tend to retain dirt and are difficult to clean.

A further, key advantage is that a smooth plastics face surface enables the printing of designs, and in particular the digital printing of designs onto the panel face. The options for unique or repetitive decorative finishing using a method such as this are many.

Fluted Polycarbonate sheeting conforms to European Standards S EN 1023 parts 1-3 for office furniture screens and so is an appropriate material for such use.

Polycarbonate also advantageously provides high performance in resistance to the spread of flame.

In addition, the polycarbonate material advantageously facilitates the use of drawings pins and post-it notes.

The invention also comprises any interior or exterior space dividing system and/or a divider and/or a divider component substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and drawings.

In a second broad, independent aspect, the invention comprises an interior or exterior space divider comprising a panel portion with a wall made of fluted plastics materials and at least one foot attached to said wall, said foot being configured to secure said panel in and upwardly standing posftion.

Preferably, when, in use, the panel portion is attached to the foot portion, the panel portion is raised from the ground by 3-13 mm. The provision of this slight elevation advantageously altows for cables and wires to be run under the panel portions.

Preferably, at east one of the panel portions further comprises a demountable fascia.

Preferably, at [east a part of at least one panel is smooth.

The demountable fascia option aUows for the changing of surface patterns, or provide a covering of a different material-for example, a pinboard or a whiteboard.

Within the ambit of the inventive concept, the idea of a panel made of a material such as fluted polycarbonate, but without necessarily having the magnetic connection means, is also contemplated.

Brief description of the drawings

is Figure 1 is a perspective view of a junctioning method of the invention Figure 2 is a cross-sectional top view of a part of a dividing system of the invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional top view of a part of a further dividing system of the invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional top view of a part of a still further dividing system of the invention.

Figure 5 is an exploded side view of a still further dividing system of the invention.

Figure 6 is a side view of a stilt further dividing system of the invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a still further dividing system of the invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a still further room dividing system of the invention.

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a still further room dividing system of the invention.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a stiU further room dividing system of the invention.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a junctioning method of the invention.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Figure 1 shows a room dividing system, indicated generally at 2. The room dividing system 2 comprises a first panel portion 4 and a second panel portion 6. In both cases only a part is shown. The first panel portion has attached to it a potycarbonate fluted plastic extrusion 8 (the chambers are not shown in the figure for clarity). Similarly the second panel portion has a second plastic extrusion 10 attached to it. Said plastic extrusions 8 and 10 have jaw portions 12 and 14. Each plastic extrusion 8 and 10 has a pair of opposing jaw portions, of which anyone in each case is visible. Said jaw portions 12 and 14 are so arranged as to form a frictional fit on a tongue and groove interlock with link piece 16. Piece 16 is of an l" shape, generally. This is to say that it comprises an elongate portion 18 at either end of which is a wider portion 20 and 22. These wider portions 20 and 22 are so shaped and sized as to form a frictional fit with the inside edges of jaw portions 12 14 (opposing jaws not shown) of plastic extrusions 8 and 10. The notable drawback of the room dividing system of the prior art 2 is that when assembled the sides of the elongate piece 18 are exposed.

At figure 2 is shown a room dividing system of the invention indicated generally at 30.

The room dividing system 30 comprises a first panel portion 32 and a second panel portion 34. The first and second panel portions 32 and 34 are illustrated in such a way as to show particular features of the invention; in an exaggerated manner and only a part of each panel portion 32, 34 is shown.

First and second panel portions 32 and 34 are substantially hollow and multi-chambered.

In the embodiment shown, both panel portions 32 34 are made substantially of fluted polycarbonate sheeting 36, although other hollow multi-chambered materials may be used, or the panel portions 32 34 may be made completely of polycarbonate sheeting. In other embodiments it may be the case that only a portion of one of the panel portions is made of fluted polycarbonate sheeting, but it is advantageous as discussed in the foregoing specification to maximise the usage of polycarbonate sheeting. Notably the panel portions 32 34 each have a first face 38, and a second face 40. These faces 38 40 are substantially smooth. The term "substantially smooth" is taken to indude the slight indentations present on the surface of fluted polycarbonate structures. This smoothness allows for the printing of a variety of aesthetically pleasing pictures and patterns on the paneLs. In this embodiment each of first panel portion 32 and second panel portion 34 has a first magnetic end 42 abutting each of first face 38 and second face 40. As would be expected of the end of a panel generally said first magnetic end 42 is elongate, being in use of greater height than width. In this embodiment the construction of the the first magnetic ends 42 of both first panel portion 32 and second panel portion 34 are similar in structure, which is to say that each comprises a magnetic extrusion 44 held to the rest of its respective panel portion 32 and 34 by an adhesive bead 46. In this embodiment magnetic extrusion 44 is of a shape which can generally be described as a "U-shaped".

Also, in this embodiment, magnetic extrusion 44 is encased by encasing portion 48.

Encasing portion 48 is only present in some embodiments but provides the aesthetic advantage of allowing for the continuity of any image, which may be printed or otherwise placed onto either a first face 38 or second face 40. Encasing portion 48 may be made of fluted polycarbonate or any other material chosen by the skilled man. Encasing portion 48 may be hollow, solid and moulded around magnetic extrusion 44 or may be hollow and filled in by another material known to the skilled man.

At figure 3 is shown an alternative embodiment of first panel portion 4, wherein the encasing portion 48 has been replaced by an extension of first face 38 and second face 40, allowing for direct contact of the magnetic extrusion 44, which here extends so it substantially forms a plane with face end 50 of first face 38 and face end 52 of second face 40. By setting magnetic extrusion 44 into the cut edge of the panel portion 32 it becomes possible to achieve a junction of less than 1mm In width and will therefore not interfere with the appearance of the panel 32's decorative faces 38 and 40 or detract from anything which may be printed thereon as and when panel junctions occur and their planes are aligned.

This method of junctioning panel portions is equally applicable to other screen panel media and should not be seen as being exclusive to the fluted potycarbonate embodiment described here. Other panel construction methods such as sandwich panel constructions could equally benefit from the magnetic self aligning junctioning system described above.

The process of mounting the magnetic extrusion 44 into the edge of a panel portion 32 and 34 with accuracy and with correctly matched polarity enables the magnetic junction to be self aligning when magnetic attraction occurs at the meeting of the panel edges.

This characteristic is highly beneficial to the user as it facilitates quick assembly and virtually effortless alignment.

At figure 4 is shown a variation n the construction of the panel portions. Here first panel portion 60 comprises a first magnetic end 62 and a second end 64. The second end may be of a material suitable to be attracted to a first magnetic end 66 of a second panel portion 68. ft may for example be a portion or layer incorporating ferrite, whereby the edge would be attracted to a magnet. Alternatively, the panel may do away with the second end portion 64 and simply present a non-magnetic edge of the panel. Notably the second panel portion 68 has both a first magnetic end 66 and a second magnetic end 70.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a room dividing system 78. As shown here, a room dividing system can be a single panel portion 80. Said panel portion 80 is shown in cross sectional form in order to illustrate two features. The first feature is a top end 82 featuring a further magnetic portion. Said top end 82 takes the form of a strip allowing for the attachment of various items such as dry white panels, magnetic pin boards, fast note rails and auditory or visual systems to the top of the panel portion 80.

Also present in this embodiment of the room dividing system 78 are a first foot portion 84 and a second foot portion 86. The foot portions 84 and 86 may be releasable attached to the panel portion 80. This is achieved by fitting spigot 94 into spigot provision 88. Spigot provision 88 is essentially a channel in the panel portion 80, which is made in fluted polycarbonate. This may either be a simple channel or take the form of a fitted sheath or such like, aiding alignment and grip. This lodging of spigot 94 in spigot provision 88 enables a ridged fitting of foot portion 84 perpendicular to the length of the panel portion 80, cost effectively ensuring a very strong attachment without any obstruction of the external decorattive visual surface of the room dividing system 78. Also illustrated in this figure are two different configurations of foot. in first foot 84, spigot 94 and pad 90 are attached to one another via attachment means 92, which in this instance is a bolt, in contrast the second foot portion 86 features a spigot 94 welded to pad portion 90.

At figure 6 is shown a further embodiment of the room dividing system 100. This embodiment of the room dividing system 100 comprises a panel portion 102 a first foot portion 104 and a second foot portion 106. The panel portion 102 comprises a demountabte fascia 108. The demountabe fascia is affixed to the panel portion 102 via a plurality of the press-studs 110 which in this embodiment roughly follow the perimeter of the panel portion 102 but may be arranged in another way. Equally press-studs 110 may be substituted with other means of attaching the fascia 108. These may include a fastener which may for example take the following forms: filamentary touch to dose pads, magnetic sheet, adhesive, and static ding.

Figure 7 shows a room dividing system indicated generally at 30 comprising a first panel portion 32 and a second panel portion 34. The first panel portion 32 is separate from the second panel portion 34. if they are brought into contact for very close relationship the two will become aligned due to the mutual attractions of the first magnetic end 42 and second magnetic end 62.

At figure 8 is shown a further configuration of a room dividing system 30. Here is shown a first panel portion 150, a second panel portion 152 and a third panel portion 154. }n the diagram they are apart by they may be joined together via metallic connector portion 156.

Notably, metallic connector portion 156 shown here is of a cuboid shape allowing it to take up to four panel portions. Clearly other shapes with different numbers of facets, will be known to the skilled man. Foot portion 84 may either by freestanding or affixed to a floor, for example by adhesive or by bolts.

The potycarbonate panel may be suitable for printing with a digital printer or other suitable print delivery method. The panel may be a white or opaque panel, a semi-translucent panel, a translucent panel. It may be pre-treated prior to printing with a primer layer.

The panel may consist only of an extruded sheet of plastics material with fluted portions, a foot and an attachment means to secure it to a neighbouring panel.

Claims (11)

1. C LA MS1. An interior or exterior space dividing system, comprising: one or more panels with a front and a rear face; at least one first side incorporating a magnet andfor one or more pane(s incorporating a watt formed primarily of extruded material with multiple chambers.
2. 2. A dividing system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one second side incorporating a material suitable to be attracted to a magnet.
3. 3. A dividing system according to claim 1, wherein said panel forms a wafl which is made of extruded material with multiple chambers.
4. 4. A dividing system according to either claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an, in use, top end featuring a further magnetic portion.
5. 5. A dividing system according to any of the previous claims, further comprising at east one foot portions, wherein at least one chamber is open and sized and shaped to receive a portion of said foot, whereby said foot is releasably attached to said panel.
6. 6. A dividing system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said second side of the panel also incorporates a magnet.
7. 7. A dividing system according to any of the preceding claims comprising at least three panels and a metallic connector portion, said metallic connector portion being so sized as to abut against at least three magnetic sides of three separate panels.
8. 8. A dividing system according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least a portion of the panel wall consists of fluted plastics material.
9. 9. A dividing system according to claim 7 wherein said material is polycarbonate.
10. 10. A interior or exterior space dividing system and/or a divider and/or a divider component substantiay as described herein with reference to and as iiustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and drawings.
11. 11. An interior or exterior space divider comprising a paneE portion with a waU made of fluted ptastics materiais and at least one foot attached to said wall, said foot being configured to secure said panel in and upwardly standing position.