TELESCOPIC END PANEL FOR A MOBILE PANEL WALL

Abstract: A telescopic end panel for a mobile panel wall comprises a vertically slidable pressure bar (2) at the top edge of the telescopic end panel, and a vertically slidable pressure bar (4) at the bottom edge of the telescopic end panel, a horizontally slidable shut-off construction (6) at one vertical edge of the telescopic end panel, and three rotatably mounted gear segments (8, 9 and 10) which through rotation can be brought into mesh with each other in such a way that when the telescopic end panel (1) is being closed the horizontally slidable shut-off construction (6) is moved outwards first, and then the vertically slidable pressure bars (2 and 4) are moved outwards, while when the telescopic end panel is being opened the pressure bars (2 and 4) are moved inwards first, and then the shut-off construction (6) is moved inwards.

Description: Title: Telescopic end panel for a mobile panel wall The invention relates to a telescopic end panel for a mobile panel wall, comprising: a vertically slidable pressure bar at the top edge of the telescopic end panel, a vertically slidable pressure bar at the bottom edge of the telescopic end panel, a horizontally slidable shut-off construction at a vertical edge of the telescopic end panel, and means for making the pressure bar and the shut-off construction move outwards. A construction for moving the pressure bars and the shut-off construction independently of each other is known. For this purpose, the pressure bars are eccentrically connected by means of rods to a first rotating disc, and the shut-off construction is eccentrically connected by means of articulated forks and articulated rods to a second rotating disc. Two openings are cut out in the panel, through which openings a control handle can be inserted, in order to turn the rotating discs. The correct sequence for closing the telescopic end panel is to move the shut-off construction outwards first, and only then to move the pressure bars outwards. If the reverse order is followed, the telescopic end panel is not pressed away widthwise, and there is also a risk that a sliding bar which is fitted in the pressure bars and is carried along by the outward moving shut-off construction in order to shut off the rectangular spaces above and below the shut-off construction will become caught up in the carpet or on the ceiling, in which case a connecting pin can break off. A second disadvantage is the presence of two operating openings in the telescopic end panel, while in the ordinary panels only one operating opening is cut out in the side in order to allow pressure bars to be moved outwards and inwards by means of a handle (the ordinary panels do not have a horizontally slidable shut-off construction) . Although telescopic end panel constructions with a single operating opening for moving pressure bar and shut-off constructions are known, they operate with a so-called link jack, the operation of which is slow, while the construction is expensive. The object of the invention is to provide a construction of the type mentioned in the preamble which does not have the disadvantages of the abovementioned known telescopic end panels. According to the invention, to this end the telescopic end panel mentioned in the preamble is characterized in that the abovementioned means consist of three rotatably mounted gear segments which through rotation can be brought into mesh with each other in such a way that when the telescopic end panel is being closed the horizontally slidable shut-off construction is moved outwards first, and then the vertically slidable pressure bars are moved outwards, while when the telescopic end panel is being opened the pressure bars are moved inwards first, and then the shut-off construction is moved inwards. The pressure bars are hingedly connected to rods which are eccentrically and hingedly connected to a first gear segment, and the shut-off construction is hingedly connected to two sets of link mechanisms, which are in turn hingedly connected to rods which are in turn eccentrically and hingedly connected to a second gear segment, while the third gear segment is placed between the first and second gear segments and can be rotated by means of a control handle. The control handle can be pushed directly onto the segment through a sealable recess. The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures. Figure 1 shows a view of the interior of a telescopic end panel of normal width designed according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a view of the interior of a telescopic end panel of relatively small width designed according to the invention. Figures 3a to 3e show five views of the control mechanism during closing and opening of the telescopic end panel. The telescopic end panels shown in Figures 1 and 2 in the closed position connect to a pressure bar 2 on the rail 3, to a pressure bar 4 on the floor 5 and to a shut-off construction 6 on a wall 7- The pressure bars 2 and 4 are movable vertically, and the shut-off construction 6 is movable horizontally. At hand height of the telescopic end panel three gear segments 8, 9 and 10 are rotatably mounted on a fixed girder. In fact, each gear segment consists of two identical parts between which there is some space. Two rods 11 and 12 are hingedly and eccentrically connected to the gear segment 8. The other ends of said rods 11 and 12 are hingedly connected to two sets of link mechanisms 13a, 13b, l4a, l4b. Two rods 17 and 18 are also hingedly and eccentrically connected to the gear segment 10. The other ends of said rods are hingedly connected to a part 19a, 19 respectively belonging to the top and the bottom pressure bar 2, 4 respectively. The gear segment 9 lying between the other two can be rotated by means of a control handle. In the plating (not shown) of the telescopic end panel 1 is a sealable recess through which the control handle can be pushed directly onto the shaft 20 of the gear segment. Starting from the open position and rotating the gear segment 9 in the direction of the arrow (Figure 3a) , thus anticlockwise, first sets the gear segment 8 in rotation, which leads to a movement of the rods 11 and 12 in the direction of the arrows in Figure 3b, in which case the vertical shut-off construction 6 is moved outwards horizontally by means of the link mechanisms 13a, l4a; 13b, l4b. On further rotation of the gear segment 9, the toothing of said segment 9 goes into mesh with the toothing of the gear segment 10, with the result that the rods 17 and 18 move in the direction of the arrows in Figure 3c, thereby causing the pressure bars 2 and 4 to slide outwards and go tightly into engagement with the rail 3 and the floor 5 respectively. The telescopic end panel is then situated in the closed position. During the horizontal sliding out of the shut-off construction 6 the. latter has taken sliding bars 21a, 21b with it out of the pressure bar,' in order to produce a suitable closure also at the top and bottom side of the shut-off construction 6. In order to open the telescopic end panel, the gear segment 9 is rotated in the direction of the curved arrow in Figure 3d. Starting from the situation in Figure 3c, the gear segment 10 is driven first, and the pressure bars 2 and 4 are pulled in (Figure 3d) . The gear segment 8 is then rotated (Figure 3e) , in which case the vertical shut-off construction 6 is pulled in, so that the original situation of Figure 3a is reached again. During the inward movement of the shut-off construction 6 the sliding bars 21a and 21b are pushed back into the pressure bars 2 and 4 again. The main advantages of the construction described are: 1. When the telescopic end panel is being closed the shut-off construction 6 is slid out first, followed by the pressure bars 2 and 4, while when it is being opened the pressure bar is slid in first, followed by the shut-off construction. Mistakes are impossible. Soundproofing is automatically ensured on 3 sides. Damage due to, for example, the sliding bar 21b becoming caught up in the carpet is out of the question. 2. Only one sealable opening is needed in the telescopic end panel in order to slide both the pressure bars 2 and 4 and the shut-off construction 6 in and out by means of a handle. 3. Sliding the shut-off construction 6 and the pressure bars 2 and 4 in and out can be carried out very quickly in a single movement. Only a rotation of segment 9 through 360° is needed for both closing and opening. 4. The present construction is simple and cheap.

Claims: Claims 1. Telescopic end panel for a mobile panel wall comprising: a vertically slidable pressure bar (2) at the top edge of the telescopic end panel, a vertically slidable pressure bar (4) at the bottom edge of the telescopic end panel, a horizontally slidable shut-off construction (6) at one vertical edge of the telescopic end panel, and means for making the pressure "bar and the shut-off construction move outwards and inwards, characterized in that the abovementioned means consist of three rotatably mounted gear segments (8, 9. 10) which through rotation can be brought into mesh with each other in such a way that when the telescopic end panel (1) is being closed the horizontally slidable shut-off construction (6) is moved outwards first, and then the vertically slidable pressure bars (2, 4) are moved outwards, while when the telescopic end panel is being opened the pressure bars (2, 4) are moved inwards first, and then the shut-off construction (6) is moved inwards. 2. Telescopic end panel according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pressure bars (2, 4.) are hingedly connected to rods (17, 18) which are eccentrically and hingedly connected to a first gear segment (10), and in that the shut-off construction (6) is hingedly connected to two sets of link mechanisms (13a, l4a, 13b, l4b) , which are in turn hingedly connected to rods (11, 12), which are in turn eccentrically and hingedly connected to a second gear segment (8) , and in that the third gear segment (9) is placed between the first and second gear segments (10 and 8) and can be rotated by means of a control handle.

Inventors: VERTON LEENDERT AARNOUD, VERTON, LEENDERT, AARNOUD
Applicants: ESPERO BV, VERTON LEENDERT AARNOUD, ESPERO B.V., VERTON, LEENDERT, AARNOUD
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E04B2
IPC codes: E04B2, E06B7