Patent ID: 6108989
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: E04B,E05C,E05D,E05Y,Y10T

Abstract:
A movable wall comprising:a plurality of panels;a rail to guide said plurality of panels along a given path;said plurality of panels comprising connecting structure to connect said plurality of panels to said guiding rail;said plurality of panels being disposed and configured to move along said guiding rail;each of said plurality of panels having a base;at least one locking device to lock at least one of said plurality of panels into the floor and to lock said at least one of said plurality of panels into an adjacent one of said plurality of panels;each said at least one locking device comprising a first portion and a second portion;said first portion of one of said at least one locking device being disposed in said base of one of said plurality of panels;said second portion of said one of said at least one locking device being disposed in said base of an adjacent one of said plurality of panels;said one of said at least one locking device being disposed and configured to automatically lock said one of said plurality of panels into the floor and also to automatically lock said one of said plurality of panels into said adjacent one of said plurality of panels upon contact of said first portion of said one of said at least one locking device with said second portion of said one of said at least one locking device;said first portion of said at least one locking device and said second portion of said at least one locking device comprising, upon engagement, structure to lock said one of said plurality of panels into the floor and also structure to lock said one of said plurality of panels into said adjacent one of said plurality of panels upon contact of said first portion of said one of said at least one locking device with said second portion of said one of said at least one locking device;only one of said first portion and said second portion comprising a projecting part extending from its corresponding panel;the other of said first portion and said second portion comprising a non-projecting receiving portion disposed totally within its panel and configured to receive said projecting part of said one of said first portion and said second portion;said guiding rail being configured to be disposed on a ceiling of a room;said base portion of each of said plurality of panels being configured to be disposed adjacent a floor of a room;each of said plurality of panels comprising a first edge and a second edge;said first edge and said second edge of each of said plurality of panels being disposed substantially transverse to the floor;said plurality of panels comprising:a first end panel;said second edge of said first end panel being configured to be disposed adjacent a wall;said first edge of said first end panel comprising a first portion of one of said at least one locking device;a second end panel;said second edge of said second end panel being configured to be disposed adjacent a first edge of an adjacent one of said plurality of panels; andsaid second edge of said second end panel comprising a second portion of one of said at least one locking device;said plurality of panels further comprising at least one interior panel;said at least one interior panel being disposed between said first end panel and said second end panel;said first edge of each of said at least one interior panel being configured to be disposed adjacent a second edge of an adjacent panel of said plurality of panels;each of said at least one interior panel comprising said first portion of a corresponding first one of said at least one locking device disposed in said first edge of said panel;each of said at least one interior panel comprising said second portion of a corresponding second one of said at least one locking device disposed in said second edge of said panel;said first portion of said at least one locking device comprising a locking bolt; andsaid locking bolt being configured and disposed to automatically lock said one of said plurality of panels into the floor.