Abstract:
The invention relates to a basic module, which can for instance be of a substantially rectangular shape and where there at opposite ends of the module outwardly extending protrusions for releasable engagement with co-operating openings in adjacent modules are provided. It is thereby possible by using the modules according to the invention to form for instance a partition and by proper choice of modules (for instance relating to colour, choice of material and other characteristics) to form partitions or the like having desirable design and application related characteristics (for instance acoustical characteristics).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a basic module for a modular screen, which for instance can be assembled to form a flexible partition, the extent, appearance and characteristics of which can be changed according to specific requirements by choosing appropriate modules. The invention furthermore relates to a screen composed of a plurality of modules according to the invention and to a method of forming a screen. The invention furthermore relates to the use of said modules, system and method for attaining given, desired design effects, functional effects and for providing the possibility to apply acoustic control of a room or local areas within a room, for instance around a work place. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a basic module that is formed such that a plurality of modules can easily be assembled to larger units, for instance a partition. By applying modules of different colours, materials (or covered by different materials) or other characteristics many different appearances of the unit can be attained, which may be of interest at least from a design point of view. Furthermore, a partition according to the invention can by proper choice of materials be given desirable acoustical properties and it may thus be used for acoustical control of a room. Furthermore, the unit according to the invention—or the individual modules according to the invention—can by proper choice of materials be used as a bulletin board. According to a specific embodiment of the invention the modules are made of a textile provided on both opposing sides of a core of a suitable thickness, for instance 10 to 20 mm, made of PE foam, which is a flameproof and closed-cell foam material. It is, however, understood that also other materials could be used for composing the modules according to the invention and that these also as an alternative could be made in one piece—for instance without upholstering—of a suitable material, provided that this had or was given the necessary flexibility in regions of the module that must be bendable. 
         [0003]    The said objects are according to the invention attained by a basic module having for instance a substantially rectangular shape, even though many other shapes would also be conceivable, where at opposing ends of the module outwardly extending protrusions are provided, which can be brought into releasable engagement with co-operating openings in adjacent modules, which openings according to a preferred embodiment are provided centrally in the module. 
         [0004]    In order to assemble and retain a plurality of said modules in a total assemblage of modules, for instance to form a partition as described above, the modules can furthermore be provided with through openings, through which a support structure for instance consisting of wires, cables, rods or belts, etc. can be passed, such that the individual module is supported at its position in the system of modules. 
         [0005]    For assembling a total system, such as a partition, said outwardly extending protrusion is on certain modules provided on end portions of the module that is displaced laterally relative to the module, said end portions being foldable in such a manner that a substantially unbroken edge region of the system, for instance a partition, is attained. The present invention thus relates to both of these basic forms of modules and the corresponding total systems that can be assembled from these modules. 
         [0006]    The present invention furthermore relates to a method of providing a surface, for instance a partition, where the method basically comprises the following steps:
       (a) provision of a plurality of central modules comprising a central body and protrusions extending in an outward direction from said body and through openings provided through said body;   (b) assembling said surface by bringing said protrusions on each individual of said central modules into releasable engagement with said openings in adjacent modules.       
 
         [0009]    The invention furthermore relates to the use of said modules, system and method for attaining given, desired design effects, functional effects and for providing the possibility to apply acoustic control of a room or local areas within a room, for instance around a work place. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the figures, where 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a basic module according to an embodiment of the invention shown in plane view and as a schematic, perspective view; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows schematic perspective views of end modules (left and right) according to an embodiment of the invention, from which it appears that the two outwardly extending protrusions at one end of the module are provided displaced relative to the main body of the module; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic, perspective view of a section of a system of modules according to an embodiment of the invention illustrating engagement between the individual modules and an example of a support structure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic, perspective view of a partition composed of modules according to an embodiment of the invention, where the upper portion of the partition is provided with said end modules, which upon bending provide a substantially unbroken edge portion of the partition; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic, perspective view of a section of the edge region of a partition according to the invention, such as shown in  FIG. 4 , the figure serving to illustrate the bending of end portions of the modules; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a plane view of a first module according to a second embodiment of the invention referred to as a main module; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a plane view of a second module according to a second embodiment of the invention referred to as a side module; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows a plane view of a third module according to a second embodiment of the invention referred to as a top and bottom module; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows a plane view of a fourth module according to a second embodiment of the invention referred to as a corner module; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic, plane view of a surface formed by modules according to the invention and forming a wall or partition including a door opening; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  shows a plane view of a portion of a surface formed by modules according to the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  shows a plane view of a corner portion of a surface formed by modules according to the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a schematic representation of a suspension of a module according to the invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  illustrates schematically curved portions of a surface formed by modules according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    In the following, a more detailed description of embodiments of the module according to the present invention is given and of a system composed of such modules, by which a partition is formed. It should, however, be noted that a person skilled in the art would be able to conceive other embodiments of the basic inventive idea and that such alternative embodiments are regarded as being within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims and technical equivalents of these. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1  there is thus shown an embodiment of a basic module according to the invention generally referred to by reference numeral  1  and comprising a central main body  3 , which, in the shown embodiment, is provided with a number of thicker, for instance upholstered areas  2 , either on one of the substantially plane sides of the module or on both of these. Centrally in the module there is provided openings  9  for releasable engagement with corresponding means in adjacent modules. These corresponding means are in the shown embodiment the outwardly extending protrusions  4 ,  5  provided along the end portions of the module, which protrusions may also comprise thicker portions/upholstered portions on one or both sides as indicated by reference numeral  6  in  FIG. 1 . According to a preferred embodiment, said protrusions are thicker or provided with upholstered regions on one side and substantially planar on the other, opposing side, as indicated by reference numeral  10 , such that two of these protrusions, when the modules are assembled to form a system, can abut against each other in a face-to-face relationship along the planar surfaces. When modules are assembled to form a system, a given protrusion  4 ,  5  is passed through a corresponding opening  9  in an adjacent module, which is made possible by the flexibility of the materials used and the protrusion thereby locks releasably in the opening by engagement between the recesses  8  with the corresponding edge portions of the openings  9 . Furthermore, the module according to the shown embodiment is provided with through openings  7  for passage of the above mentioned support structure, which will be shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 2  there is shown left and right end modules  11  and  12 , respectively, according to an embodiment of the invention used for providing said substantially unbrokenly extending side portions of for instance a partition. How this is accomplished will be described in connection with  FIG. 5 . 
         [0028]    The left and right end modules are in the shown embodiment mirror symmetric and both comprise a central body  3 . The end modules differ from the module described in connection with  FIG. 1  primarily in that the end modules  11 ,  12  laterally displaced at one end of the module are provided with an edge region  14 , on which there is provided outwardly extending protrusions of the same kind as described previously. The lowermost (as seen in the figure) of these protrusions  16  is placed so that by bending the edge region  14  inwardly over the modules  11 ,  12  it can be passed through a corresponding opening  18  in the module, while the upper protrusion can be passed through an opening in an adjacent module, as shown more clearly in  FIG. 5 . Apart from said differences the end modules  11  and  12  essentially comprise the same features as the central modules  1 , described in connection with  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 3  there is shown a schematic perspective view of a section of a system  24  of modules according to an embodiment of the invention, which among others illustrates the engagement between the individual modules and an example of a support structure. This support structure consists in the shown embodiment of the system according to the invention of a number of horizontally extending cables or the like  25  that are mutually connected with hook-like members  28 , whereby a fixed skeleton for the system of modules is formed. The individual cables  25  are passed through the openings  7  in the modules. In the figure, the system is furthermore shown suspended at reference numeral  26 . The shown section of the system comprises three rows R 1 , R 2  and R 3  of modules arranged above each other, said modules being connected with each other in such a manner that they partially overlap each other in a manner corresponding somewhat to the tiles on a roof. It appears from  FIG. 3  that the outwardly extending protrusions  4  and  5  of a given module are passed through corresponding openings  9  in the modules placed behind and in front of the given module, respectively. In this manner there is formed a substantially continuous surface of modules (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). This surface can be planar, but due to the flexibility of the modules it is also possible to construct different forms of curved surfaces. 
         [0030]    An example of a system according to the invention constructed in principle as shown in  FIG. 3  is illustrated in  FIG. 4  that shows a schematic, perspective view of a partition  27  formed by modules according to an embodiment of the invention, where the uppermost part of the partition is provided with said end modules  11  and  12  comprising edge regions  14  that by bending provide a substantially unbroken edge portion of the partition. The partition  27  constitutes in the shown example a substantially planar face of modules, outwardly from which face said outwardly extending protrusions used for attachment of the modules to adjacent modules as shown in  FIG. 3  extend. Such a partition, composed of modules according to the invention, can by proper choice of modules (for example in relation to choice of material, the composition of the individual module, colour etc.) be given a lot of different characteristics, both relating to appearance, but also relating to acoustical characteristics etc. as mentioned initially. 
         [0031]    The provision of an essentially unbroken edge region of the system by means of the end modules  11  and  12  shown in  FIG. 2  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , which shows a schematic, perspective view of a section of the edge region of a partition as for instance shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  thus serves the purpose of illustrating the bending of the end regions of the modules in order to provide the edge region. 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIG. 5  there are shown two of the central modules  1  described in connection with  FIG. 1 . These are in  FIG. 5  shown as a relatively light lower module  1 ′ and a relatively dark upper module  1 ″. Furthermore,  FIG. 5  shows two end modules, illustrated by dots and short lines, respectively, and comprising the reference numerals  11  (the main body),  14  (said edge region) and  15  and  16  (the protrusions extending in an outward direction from the edge region). As illustrated by the arrows A and B in  FIG. 5 , the edge regions are folded such that they overlap partially the outermost region of the corresponding end module, and the protrusion  16  is passed in a backward direction (as seen in the figure) through the corresponding opening  18  in the end module  11 . The protrusion  5  on the central module  1 ″ is likewise passed in a backward direction through this opening  18 . The protrusion  15  on the lowermost end module  11  (shown with short lines) is passed in a forward direction (as seen in the figure) through the lowermost opening  18  in the uppermost end module, which also applies to the protrusion  4  of the central (light) module  1 ′. In the manner illustrated, the substantially unbroken edge region of the system or partition is formed, which edge region is thus defined by the bent edge portions  14  and the corresponding end portions of the end modules. 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 6  there is shown a basic module according to a second embodiment of the invention generally referred to by reference numeral  29 . This module resembles the one shown in  FIG. 1  to a large extent except for the upper edge portion  29 ″, which resembles the lower edge portion  29 ′ as opposed to the module shown in  FIG. 1 , where the upper edge portion is straight. Features of the modules shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6  are otherwise designated by identical reference numerals. 
         [0034]    An end (or side) module according to a second embodiment of the invention and corresponding essentially to the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  is in  FIG. 7  generally referred to by reference numeral  30 . The upper edge portion  30 ″ differs from the corresponding portion in the module shown in  FIG. 2  in that the upper edge portion  30 ″ of the module according to the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  resembles the lower edge portion  30 ′, i.e. the upper edge portion  30 ″ is not straight as in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 8  there is shown a top or bottom module according to the second embodiment of the invention generally indicated by reference numeral  31 . The use of this module for forming a partition is shown in  FIG. 10 . In this module the upper edge portion  31 ″ is straight as opposed to the lower edge portion  31 ′. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 9  there is shown corner modules  32 ,  33  according to the second embodiment of the invention by means of which it is possible to form a substantially 90 degrees corner portion of for instance a partition, as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIG. 10  there is shown a schematic, plane view of a surface  34  in a room, comprising a door opening  35 , where the surface is formed by modules according to the invention. The main part of the surface  34  is formed by the modules according either to  FIG. 6  or  FIG. 1  indicated by reference numerals  1 ,  29 , which modules are termed main modules. However, the top portions, bottom portions, end or side portions and corner portions are formed by top and bottom modules  31 , side modules  11 ,  30  and corner modules  32 ,  33 , respectively. As it appears from  FIG. 10 , the various modules according to the invention make it possible to form a surface with substantially straight edge portions that can be adapted to the desired dimensions of walls, etc. of a given room, which surface can even comprise openings in the surface, such as the door opening  35  illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIG. 11  there is shown a plane view of a portion of a surface formed by main modules  29  according to the invention. 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIG. 12  there is shown a plane view of a corner portion of a surface comprising the four different modules  29  (main),  30  (side),  31  (top) and  32 ,  33  (corner) according to the invention. 
         [0040]    With reference to  FIG. 13  there is shown a schematic representation of suspension means for a module (or system) according to the invention. Thus,  FIG. 13  shows a module  31  (and adjacent modules, not shown in  FIG. 13 ) suspended from for instance a wire  26 , as for instance shown in  FIG. 3 , which wire  26  is connected via a cable tensioner  36  to a wire  37 , which wire is attached to a supporting structure, for instance to a ceiling. 
         [0041]    Finally with reference to  FIG. 14  there is shown schematic views seen from above of systems of modules according to the invention, illustrating the possibility of forming curved portions of surfaces by the modules according to the invention. Different curvatures are designated by reference numerals  38 ,  39 ,  40 ,  41  and  42 .