FOLDING SCREEN

Abstract: An arrangement for interconnecting such folding screen elements (1, 2) as comprise oppositely facing screen wall surfaces (3, 20) which are united by edge surfaces (4) extending along the edges of the folding screen elements is provided with pivot means in the region of the vertical edge surfaces (4) of the folding screen elements (1, 2) for pivotal interconnection of adjacent folding screen elements (1, 2). Each pivot means includes at least two pivot elements on each one of two mutually adjacent folding screen elements (1, 2). The pivot elements are located at opposing corner regions between an edge surface (4) and an adjacent screen wall surface (3, 20). Corresponding pivot elements on the adjacent folding screen elements are interconnectible for the formation of a pivot between the adjacent folding screen elements. The pivot elements are provided with cogged portions (12) with cogs (13) which extend slightly outside parts of the edge surface (4) located in the corner region, and the screen wall surface (3, 20) and which engage with and roll against one another.

Description: FOLDING SCREEN TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an arrangement for interconnecting such folding screen elements as comprise oppositely facing screen wall surfaces which are united by edge surfaces extending along the edges of the folding screen elements, the folding screen elements being, in the region of their vertical edge surfaces, provided with pivot devices for the pivotal interconnection of adjacent folding screen elements. BACKGROUND ART Folding screen elements of the type intimated by way of introduction occur in many different versions and embodiments and are employed in office environments for dividing up a large space or open plan office into smaller units. For example, the folding screen elements may be constructed from partitions which can be employed for supporting shelves, worktops or the like but which just as well may only serve the function of a noise barrier, privacy screen or the like. Normally, these folding screen elements are placed standing on the floor and are interconnected by the intermediary of connection devices which as a rule are designed so that at least different stepwise angular positions between adjacent folding screen elements can be created. Separate adjustment or coupling parts, often one per intended adjustment position, are normal. There also exist in the art such folding screen elements as are continuously pivotal in relation to one another, the vertical and mutually meeting edges of the folding screen elements being, for example, arched in the form of a semi¬ circular arc and clad with Velcro tape® material so that they can roll against one another while at the same time being held together. Irrespective of how the folding screen elements are designed and how their interconnection devices are constructed, it is important that the modular length that a folding screen element represents is not changed when the folding screen elements are pivoted in relation to one another, in particular placed at a right angle to one another. The reason for this is that if such a change of the modular length were to occur, components included in a larger system such as worktops, shelves, drawer units and the like could not be combined with folding screen elements other than in certain limited situations. In folding screen elements having the semi-circular arched vertical edges, this condition is not met, since the modular length increases by roughly half of the thickness of the folding screen element on pivoting of one folding screen element in relation to another from one position at a right angle between the folding screen elements to a position in which the folding screen elements are in planar alignment with one another. PROBLEM STRUCTURE The present invention has for its object to devise the arrangement intimated by way of introduction such that it permits pivotal interconnection of adjacent folding screen elements without their modular length being affected by pivotal movements between the folding screen elements. The invention further has for its object to devise the arrangement such that it is simple and economical to manufacture, that it is aesthetically pleasing and that it affords a high degree of mechanical strength. Furthermore, the present invention has for its object to realise an arrangement that eliminates the need for complicated adjustment fittings, large numbers of assembly parts such as screws etc. SOLUTION The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the arrangement is characterized in that each pivot device includes two pivot elements on each one of two mutually adjacent folding screen elements, the pivot elements being located at opposing corner regions between one edge surface and adjacent screen wall surfaces; and that corresponding pivot elements on the adjacent folding screen elements may be interconnected for the formation of a hinge or pivot between the adjacent folding screen elements. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the pivot elements include cogged portions provided with cogs which slightly project outside parts of the edge surface located in the corner region and the screen wall surface, and that the cogged portions on two adjacent folding screen elements are disposed, under mutual engagement, to roll against one another on relative pivoting of the folding screen elements. A second embodiment of the arrangement according to the present invention is suitably also characterized in that the pivot elements include annular or sleeve-shaped parts which have centre axes which coincide with the corner line between the edge surface and the adjacent screen wall surface, or which are located slightly outside these surfaces, and the annular or sleeve-shaped parts on adjacent folding screen elements are collapsible to coaxial inter¬ relationship where they form a common pivot channel for accommodating a pivot pin. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of two folding screen elements prior to their interconnection; Fig. 2 is a schematic top plan view of the folding screen elements of Fig. 1, in the interconnected state at right angles to one another; Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2 in which the folding screen elements have been pivoted slightly towards one another; Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2, the folding screen elements having been pivoted through 90° so that they lie in a plane with one another; Fig. 5 shows an upper corner piece for a folding screen element; and Fig.6 shows a lower corner piece for a folding screen element. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In Fig. 1, which shows, schematically and in perspective, two folding screen elements prior to their interconnection, reference numerals 1 and 2 relate to these two folding screen elements. The folding screen elements 1 and 2 have a modular length L which may vary from folding screen element to folding screen element, so as to form series of different modular lengths. For example, the modular lengths may amount to 60, 80, 100 or 120 cm. This modular length is maintained unchanged according to the present invention, irrespective of the mutual pivotal position between two interconnected folding screen elements. Thus, the folding screen elements 1 and 2 have the same modular lengths in Figs. 2 and 4. The folding screen element 1 has mutually parallel screen wall surfaces, in Fig. 1 the front and rear sides, in which the front side carries reference numeral 3 and the rear side reference numeral 20 (see Figs, 2-4). Further, the folding screen element 1 has edge surfaces, namely two preferably mutually parallel vertical edge surfaces 4 and 5, and two preferably mutually parallel upper and lower edge surfaces 6 and 7, respectively. The edge surfaces 4-7 interconnect the two outfacing screen wall surfaces 3 and 20, in which event the angles between the screen wall surfaces and the vertical edge surfaces 4 and 5 are preferably right angles. Furthermore, the angles between the upper and lower edge surface 6 and 7, respectively, are preferably right angles, so that the folding screen elements will thereby be rectangular in configuration. The folding screen element 1 is constructed around an interior framework which, at its corners, has upper corner pieces 8 and lower corner pieces 9. For interconnecting and pivoting two adjacent folding screen elements 1 and 2 in relation to one another, the vertical edge surfaces 4 and 5 are provided with pivot devices for pivotal connection of the folding screen elements 1 and 2. Each one of these comprises at least two pivot elements on each one of the folding screen elements 1 and 2, in which reference numeral 10 relates to the upper pivot element and reference numeral 11 to the lower pivot element. The pivot elements 10 and 11 are located at opposing corner regions 14 between one edge surface 4 and adjacent screen wall surfaces 3 and 20, respectively. Further, the upper pivot elements 10 on adjacent folding screen elements 1 and 2 are, at their front sides 3, interconnectible for the formation of a hinge or pivot between the folding screen elements. Correspondingly, the lower pivot elements 11 at the front sides 3 of the folding screen elements are pairwise interconnectible for the formation of hinges or pivots between the folding screen elements. Alternatively, the upper pivot elements 10 at the rear sides 20 of the folding screen elements 1 and 2 are interconnectible with one another for the formation of a pivot. In a corresponding manner, the lower pivot elements 11 at the rear sides 20 of the folding screen elements 1 and 2 are interconnectible with one another for the formation of a pivot. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the pivot elements 10 and 11 at the rear side 20 of the folding screen elements 1 and 2 are interconnectible with one another so that the folding screen element 1 will be pivotal in a counterclockwise direction in relation to the folding screen element 2 from the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 via an intermediate position according to Fig. 3 to a position according to Fig. 2 pivoted through 90°. Further pivoting of the folding screen element 1 past the position according to Fig. 2 may also be realised until the folding screen elements lie alongside one another. Correspondingly, the folding screen elements 1 and 2 are interconnectible via the pivot elements 10 and 11 at the front sides 3 of the folding screen elements, in which event the direction of pivot will be the opposite to that illustrated in Figs.4, 3 and 2. Each pivot element 10 and 11 has a cogged portion 12 where the cogs extend slightly outside the corner region between an edge surface 4 and an adjacent screen surface 3 or 20. On combining these cogged portions 12 together and pivoting of the folding screen elements in relation to one another, the cogged portions 12 will roll against one another along their respective pitch circles. The cogged portions 12 have cogs 13 disposed along circle sectors which at least extend sufficiently far about a corner portion to permit at least 90° pivoting of the folding screen elements in relation to one another, but preferably such a large angle of pivot as 180°. The cogs 13 are suitably of an axial length which is greater than, preferably of the order of magnitude of between 2 and 5 times the outer diameter of the cogged portion 12. The cogged portion has a centre axis which is substantially parallel with the corner line 14 between the edge surface 4 and the adjacent screen wall surface 3 or 20. Moreover, the cogged portion 12 has a pitch circle which is located such that it is approximately tangential to the screen wall surface 3 or 20 and the edge surface 4 which converge in the corner line 14. Possibly, the pitch circle may extend somewhat outside these surfaces. Each cogged portion 12 has a central and axially directed bore 15 which is intended for accommodating coupling means (not shown on the Drawings) which have pivot pins disposed in the bores 15. These pivot pins are disposed a slight distance from one another and are parallel with one another and extend out from a common connection portion. The pivot pins are hereby insertible in the axial direction in the bores 15 on mutually engaging pivot elements 10 and 11, respectively, so that these are kept at a predetermined distance from one another while maintaining full pivot action. In its simplest form, the coupling means may be in the form of a U- shaped yoke or fork in which the prongs constitute the above-mentioned pivot pins. The cogged portions 12 are suitably of one piece manufacture with the above-mentioned corner pieces 8 and 9. In this instance, the upper cogged portions (the pivot elements 10) are disposed on the upper corner pieces 8, while the lower cogged portions (the lower pivot elements 11) are disposed in a corresponding manner on the lower corner pieces 9. The corner pieces 8 and 9 have inwardly projecting pins 16 and 17, or other connecting devices for engagement and securement in those profiles from which the outer frame of the folding screen elements 1 and 2 are constructed. In order to prevent two closely adjacent folding screen elements 1 and 2 from being displaced mutually in the vertical direction if their feet were to be incorrectly adjusted or if the floor on which they were placed is not flat, it is appropriate to provide at least one of the mutually cooperating pairs of pivot elements 10 or 11 on closely adjacent folding screen elements with arrest means 18 and 19 which are designed to prevent axial displacement between cooperating pivot elements. It will be apparent from Fig. 6 that the arrest means 18 and 19 are placed on the lower corner pieces 9 and thereby on the lower pivot elements 11. The arrest means comprise a radially projecting annular portion 18 whose plane is approximately at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the bore 15. The projecting portion 18 which extends radially outside the pins of the cogs 13 may be accommodated in a corresponding groove 19 in a cooperating pivot element 11. The upper corner pieces 8 may possibly also be provided with arrest means. DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT As an alternative to the cogged portions, it is possible according to the invention to place, at the corner pieces 8 and 9, annular or sleeve-shaped parts which have centre axes which are parallel with the corner lines 14 and which are located on these or outside the edge surface 4 and the screen wall surface 3 or 20 which converge in the corner line. The annular or sleeve- shaped parts have a through channel. Further, the annular or sleeve-shaped parts are, on closely adjacent folding screen elements 1 and 2, disposed in the axial direction alternatingly with one another, whereby the annular channels of the annular or sleeve-shaped parts may be brought into coaxial relationship with one another so that a common pivot channel is formed for accommodating a pivot pin. In the foregoing, it has been presupposed that the pivot elements 10 and 11 are disposed on the corner pieces 8 and 9. However, according to the invention this is not necessary, but the pivot elements may be placed anywhere at all throughout the entire length of the corner lines 14 of the folding screen elements 1 and 2. Furthermore, there may be provided in one and the same vertical edge surface 4, more than four pivot elements 10 and 11 so that, for example, a pair of pivot elements is placed approximately at the centre of the edge surface counting in the vertical direction. Further modifications are conceivable without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended Claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An arrangement for interconnecting such folding screen elements (1, 2) as comprise oppositely facing screen wall surfaces (3, 20) which are united by edge surfaces (4-7) extending along the edges of the folding screen elements, the folding screen elements being, in the region of their vertical edge surfaces (4, 5), provided with pivot devices for the pivotal interconnection of adjacent folding screen elements, characterized in that each pivot device includes at least two pivot elements (10, 11) on each one of two mutually adjacent folding screen elements (1, 2), the pivot elements being located at opposing corner regions (14) between one edge surface (4) and an adjacent screen wall surface( 3, 20); and that corresponding pivot elements (10, 11) on the adjacent folding screen elements may be interconnected for the formation of a pivot or joint between the adjacent folding screen elements. 2. The arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the pivot elements (10, 11) comprise cogged portions (12) which have cogs (13) which extend slightly outside parts of the edge surface (4) located in the corner region (14) and the screen wall surface (3 or 20); and that the cogged portions on two adjacent folding screen elements (1, 2) are disposed, under mutual engagement, to roll against one another on the relative pivoting of the folding screen elements. 3. The arrangement as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the cogged portions (12) have cogs (13) at least along circle sectors which surround a corner portion between the edge surface (4) and the adjacent screen wall (3, 20), the cogged portion (12) having a centre axis which is substantially parallel with the corner line (14) between the edge surface (4) and the screen wall surface, and the cogged portion having a pitch circle which is approximately tangential to, or which extends slightly outside the edge surface and the screen wall surface. 4. The arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each pivot element (10, 11) and cogged portion (12), respectively, has a bore (15) whose centre axis is substantially parallel with the corner line (14) between an edge surface (4) and an adjacent screen wall surface (3, 20), the bores in two mutually cooperating pivot elements and cogged portions, respectively, being disposed for accommodating coupling means interconnecting the pivot elements and cogged portions, respectively. 5. The arrangement as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the coupling means have two pivot pins which are in parallel spaced-apart relationship with one another for accommodation in the bores (15). 6. The arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one of the mutually cooperating pairs of pivot elements (10, 11) on adjacent folding screen elements (1, 2) have arrest means which are disposed to prevent axial displacement of the pivot elements relative to one another in relation to the pivot axis between the folding screen elements (1, 2). 7. The arrangement as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that said arrest means include a radially projecting portion (18) on the one pivot element, said projecting portion being accommodatable in a corresponding, circumferential groove (19) on the other pivot element. 8. The arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the pivot elements (10, 11) comprise annular or sleeve-shaped portions which have centre axes which coincide with the corner line (14) between the edge surface (4) and the adjacent screen wall surface (3) or which are located somewhat outside these surfaces; and that the annular or sleeve-shaped portions on adjacent folding screen elements (1, 2) are interconnectible into coaxial relationship with one another where they form a common pivot channel for accommodating a pivot pin.

Inventors: EKBOM ARNE, EKBOM, ARNE
Applicants: EKBOM ARNE, KINNARPS AB, EKBOM, ARNE
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E04B2
IPC codes: E04B2