Patent ID: 6267169
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: E05D,E05Y,E06B

Abstract:
A vertically folding wall partition comprising a vertical series of similar pairs of panel assemblies, said vertical series including an uppermost panel assembly pivotally connected to an overhead support structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, each pair of adjacent panel assemblies in said vertical series being pivotally connected by a horizontal joint for allowing relative pivotal movement therebetween, each panel assembly including top and bottom panels pivotally related to one another at opposed horizontal edges thereof for pivotal movement between an unfolded position in which said top and bottom panels extend substantially in a common vertical plane and a folded position in which said top and bottom panels extend laterally outwardly of said common vertical plane in an opposed surface-to-surface stacked relationship; a moving mechanism for displacing said vertically folding wall partition between a retracted raised, storage position and a deployed, unfolded, wall-forming position, said moving mechanism engaging at least a selected one of said joints and a bottom end of a lowermost panel assembly of said vertical series to successively fold said panel assemblies in a folding sequence starting with a first panel assembly located immediately above said at least one selected joint.