Patent ID: 6516566
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: E05D,E05F,E05Y,Y10T

Abstract:
An automatic movable partition system comprising:at least one partition element comprising a panel support structure and a panel; said panel being configured and disposed to hang from said panel support structure; a housing comprising an extruded alloy material to minimize weight of said housing and having a minimized cross-sectional profile; said housing having a hollowed interior housing components of said automatic movable partition system, said components comprising: said panel support structure; said panel support structure comprising a roller; at least one drive mechanism comprising a motor, a pinion and a toothed belt to supply force to move said at least one partition element on said guide rail; an auxiliary drive to supply auxiliary force; a sensor system to sense a location of said at least one partition element and to provide sensor signals to control operation of said at least one drive mechanism; and a power supply to supply power to said at least one drive mechanism, said sensor system, and said auxiliary drive; said housing being configured to be mounted on a building structure; said housing comprising a cover frame and a one-piece base frame; said cover frame being removably connected to said base frame to enclose the interior of said housing and to permit access to the interior of said housing; and said base frame comprising: an elongated portion being disposed vertically and having a first end and a second end opposite said first end; a first leg being disposed horizontally and connected at a right angle to said first end of said vertical elongated portion; a second leg being disposed horizontally and connected at a right angle to said second end of said vertical elongated portion; said vertical elongated portion, said horizontal first leg, and said horizontal second leg having a profile being substantially C-shaped in cross-section; a support leg being disposed between and connected to said vertical elongated portion and said horizontal second leg to form a structure having a cavity; said support leg comprising a first end portion being connected to said vertical elongated portion and a second end portion being connected to said horizontal second leg; the connection between said first end portion of said support leg and said vertical elongated portion being disposed a predetermined distance vertically away from the connection of said horizontal second leg and said vertical elongated portion, and the connection between said second end portion of said support leg and said horizontal second leg being disposed a predetermined distance horizontally from the connection of said horizontal second leg and said vertical elongated portion; said structure having said cavity being configured to maximize stability and torsional stiffness of said base frame and to maximize available space in the interior of said housing to permit the housing of said components of said automatic movable partition system; said first end portion of said support leg is disposed at a right angle to said vertical elongated portion; said second end portion of said support leg is disposed at a right angle to said horizontal second leg; and said support leg comprises: a curved, first section connected to and generally disposed transverse to said first end portion of said support leg; a second section connected to and extending horizontally away from said first section of said support leg; a third section connected to and disposed transverse to said second section of said support leg; a fourth section connected to and disposed transverse to said third section of said support leg; and said fourth section is connected to and disposed transverse to said second end portion of said support leg.