Patent Publication Number: US-7213632-B1

Title: Portable folding room dividing partition

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to portable partitions for offices, homes and other buildings and more particularly to folding partitions and room dividers with wheels. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The folding partitions or room dividers that have been previously proposed are often somewhat unstable as they are being expanded from a collapsed condition, particularly when handled by inexperienced persons such as students in a school setting. Another shortcoming of prior folding partitions is their high cost which has been due in part to the need for different kinds of structural members in various parts of each panel as well as the complex hinge structures that are required. 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,009,930; 5,272,848; 5,214,885 and design 345,018 describe various forms of portable folding partitions with wheels but no provision is made for stabilizing panels at each end nor are handles provided for aligning the force exerted on the end panel in such as way as to help prevent the partition from tipping. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,848, the curved posts 15 and can function as a handle but this structure allows a force to be applied at one side out of alignment with the panel itself making it more likely for the partition to tip over. In addition, the patent requires a rod-like vertical upright member to be attached to the end panels which adds to production costs. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,885, the partition is held by a cabinet room divider which customers seldom want. 
   It is therefore one important object of the present invention to provide a portable folding room divider or partition with wheels that is more stable than previously available so that it can be easily and safely expanded following storage or collapsed to a folded condition by untrained persons including people who have had no previous experience handling a partition including high school students and other untrained individuals. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved folding partition in which the same structural members are used on the top, bottom and sides of each panel to form a frame around the edge of each panel and no rod-like vertical upright member needs to be attached to the ends of the end panels. 
   A further object is to provide a simple hinge structure that is low in cost and can be assembled or replaced if worn in seconds by unskilled workers. 
   Yet another object is to provide an improved portable folding room partition of the type described having wheels positioned to provide stable support for the partition and to find a way of securely mounting wheel spreaders in a manner that prevents structural elements from bending or gradually working loose. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable folding room divider with a stabilizing carrier panel at each end and a plurality of intermediate panels hingedly connected between the carrier panels and adapted to move when the carrier panels are manipulated by handles provided on the carrier panels. 
   Another object is to find a way to enable forces to be applied manually in a manner and location that enhances the stability of the partition in the process of expanding or collapsing the partition. 
   Yet another object is to allow the user to easily achieve a wall-effect by maintaining the panels in precise alignment. 
   These and other more detailed and specific objects of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following Figures and detailed description which illustrate by way of example but a few of the various forms of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention provides a portable folding room partition that has a plurality of articulated panels with wheels including two panels located at the ends of the partition which comprise carrier panels that serve as stabilizing elements for imparting movement to several intermediate panels as the partition is folded or unfolded. Each of the carrier panels includes a vertical end frame member having a horizontal spread end foot with wheels rigidly connected to its lower end. A pull handle is connected to each carrier panel in a position aligned over each spread end foot. The intermediate panels also have wheels and are hingedly connected to one another between the carrier panels to define the partition. Movement of the carrier panels by persons gripping the pull handles acts to spread or collapse the inactive intermediate panels while providing them with stabilizing support at each end. Since motion is imparted to them by the carrier panels, the intermediate panels can be thought of as inactive or idler panels. In a preferred form, each of the carrier panels has a pair of spaced apart spreaders. Both spreaders have a wheel at each end on opposite sides of the panel. Vertical frame elements on the side edges of each panel include a pair of longitudinal slots. Flexible polymeric hinges that are held in the slots along their edges bend to permit articulation of the panels relative to each other. Provision is also made for locking the panels in alignment with one another to provide a wall-effect. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view showing the invention as it is being expanded from a collapsed condition. 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view showing the invention further expanded relative to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the invention in a collapsed condition as it appears during storage. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the invention in a collapsed condition. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the invention in a fully expanded condition on a smaller scale than in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partial horizontal sectional view of the invention on a greatly enlarged scale relative to  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a section of flexible polymeric hinge material in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a greatly enlarged partial perspective view of a vertical frame element showing a section of polymeric hinge material connected thereto. 
       FIG. 8  is a partial side elevational view of the lower portion of a carrier panel partly in section. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view to illustrate the mounting of an end foot spreader. 
       FIG. 10  is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line  10 — 10  of  FIG. 4  on a larger scale. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded view showing the joint between a top frame member and a vertical frame member. 
       FIG. 12  is a partial plan view showing a moveable retaining member positioned between a pair of adjoining panels. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a moveable retaining member connected between a pair of adjoining panels for holding them in alignment and 
       FIG. 14  is a vertical sectional view taken on line  14 — 14  of  FIG. 13  on a larger scale. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Refer now to the Figures and particularly  FIGS. 1–3  that illustrate a partition  10  embodying the invention which is provided with a pair of stabilizing carrier panels  12  and  14  at the ends of the partition and a plurality of intermediate or inactive partitions  16 – 18  that are hingedly connected for articulation relative to one another to enable the partition  10  to be unfolded from a compact storage position ( FIG. 2 ) to an expanded condition ( FIGS. 1A and 1B ). Hinges between the panels are designated  19 . The carrier panels  12  and  14  are each provided with four wheels  20 , while the intermediate panels  16 – 18  are each provided with two wheels  22 . All of the wheels  20  and  22  can be caster wheels of any suitable commercially available construction. 
   Refer especially to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  which illustrate how the partition  10  is expanded from a collapsed position. It will be seen that the carrier panels  12  and  14  are each provided with a pull handle  24  on its outer or free edge. Each pull handle is a vertically disposed U-shaped handle member that is aligned in the plane of the carrier panel to which it is attached and extends outwardly. To expand the partition the handles  24  are grasped manually and are pulled apart as shown progressively in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  which illustrates the partition as it is being expanded from a more collapsed position ( FIG. 1A ) to a more expanded condition ( FIG. 1B ) by persons pulling on the handles  24 . It will be noticed by comparing  FIGS. 1A and 1B  that, with a force applied outwardly by means of the handles  24 , the carrier panels  12  and  14  as well as all four of the wheels  20  on each of the carrier panels  12  and  14  will be in alignment with each other and in alignment with the manual spreading forces  26  and  28 . Because of this alignment and the provision of four wheels on each of the carrier panels  12  and  14 , the partition is very effectively stabilized by the carrier panels as it is put in place. It was found that good stability could be achieved with the carrier panels without the necessity of providing more than two wheels  22  for each of the intermediate idler panels  16 – 18  thereby minimizing production costs. 
   By reference to  FIG. 3  it will be seen that the wheels  20  of the carrier panels  12  and  14  are mounted on the end of a horizontal spread end foot  30  typically 12–18 inches long as well as on a much shorter horizontal spread foot  32  typically about 5–10 inches long. Each of the intermediate idler panels  16 – 18  is provided with a short horizontal spread foot  34  typically 5–10 inches long to which the wheels  22  are connected. The horizontal spread feet are rigidly connected to the bottoms of the panels, e.g. by means of bolts or screws. The mounting of the horizontal spread end feet  30  at the ends of the carrier panels will be described more fully below. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  8  and  11 , it will be seen that each of the panels  12 – 18  includes a rectangular panel core  36  formed from stiff fibrous sheet material, e.g. a commercially available paper honeycomb sheet with decorative fabric covering sheets  38  ( FIG. 11 ). The core  36  is enclosed on all sides by a frame of four frame members ( FIG. 1B ) composed of identical material and includes horizontally disposed top and bottom frame members  40  and  42  and vertically disposed side frame members  44  and  46 . For clarity, parts  40 – 46  are numbered on only one panel in  FIG. 1B . All of the frame members  40 – 46  are composed of the same material with the same cross-sectional shape, in this case a metal, e.g. aluminum, extrusion as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 11  having a pair of laterally spaced apart parallel sidewalls  50  and  52  and end wall  53  to define an opening or space  54  therebetween to receive the core  36  and a pair of aligned centrally directed recesses  56  and  58  for receiving the ends of an L-shaped metal key  60  ( FIG. 11 ) for holding the frame members  40 – 46  in place around the core  36 . The key  60  can be locked in its assembled position by fasteners such as screws  62  which pass through openings  64  in the key  60  once in place within the recesses  56  and  58 . The ends of the sidewalls  50  and  52  are cut at a 45° angle to make a precise fit at each corner. The open ends of the frame members are preferably covered with a plastic corner cap  68  ( FIG. 8 ). Each of the frame members  40  and  42  is also provided on each edge of its end wall  53  with outwardly opening slots  70  and  72 . Both of the slots  70  and  72  have an enlarged central lumen  71  and an opening  73  ( FIG. 5 ) of a reduced cross-section relative to the lumen  71 . The axis  74  of each of the slots  70  and  72  preferably intersects a corner of the extrusions  40  and  42  and is oriented at a 45° angle to its walls. 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , the wheels of the intermediate panels such as panel  16  are supported at each end of a horizontal, relatively short spread foot  23  about 5–10 inches long which is secured to the bottom frame member  42  by one or more screws  25 . All of the wheels  20  and  22  are caster wheels which are each mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis shown at  27 . 
   The hinges  19  will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 5–7 . Each hinge  19  includes a flexible plastic strip or ribbon  80  which can be formed from an extrusion, for example of high density polyethylene, polypropylene or flexible polyvinyl chloride having a flat center section  82  which terminates along each edge in an enlarged longitudinally extending bead  84  that is of just the proper size to provide a sliding fit within one of the recesses  70  or  72 . It can be seen in  FIG. 5  that when the panels  12 – 18  are in alignment the flexible hinge elements  80  will be flexed to assume a C-shaped configuration. It will also be noticed that the flexible hinge strips  80  are in alternate positions on opposite sides of the panel proceeding from one end of the partition to the other while the slots opposite each of the strips  80  are empty. This enables the panels to articulate through an angle of 180°. The enlarged bead  84  along each edge of the flexible hinge strip  80  is securely held in one of the slots  70  or  72  due to the reduced size of the opening  71  which is somewhat less than the cross-section of the bead  84 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , once the flexible hinge strip  80  has been inserted, it is held in place at the end by a retainer such as a metal snap rivet  86 . While the flexible hinge strips can be cycled thousands of times, should they ever become worn or broken they can easily and quickly be replaced by removing the snap rivet  86  at one end withdrawing the hinge strip and replacing it by sliding in a new one in a matter of only a few seconds. Accordingly, the hinges  19  are durable, silent, low in cost and very easily installed or removed and replaced if necessary. In addition, the C-shaped outwardly bowed configuration of the strips as shown in  FIG. 5  gives the partition an attractive visual appearance in the hinge area. It will be noticed by comparing  FIGS. 5 and 7  that the identical structure of frame members  40 – 44  on all sides of each panel simplifies production since the frame members do not have to be oriented during assembly to place slots  70  or  72  in the right position to receive the hinge strips  80 ; there will always be a slot in the right position for one of the strips. The adjacent slot is simply left empty. This reduces production costs in three ways. It enables a single aluminum extrusion to be used on all sides of each panel without any requirement for special orientation during assembly, it enables the low cost flexible plastic material to be employed which is much less expensive than a metallic piano hinge and it enables hinges to be rapidly assembled or replaced by unskilled workers. 
   The mounting of the horizontal spread end foot  30  with wheels will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . To provide firm and secure support for the end foot  30 , a duplex mount is provided which comprises a duplex mounting plate  90  that has a pair of lateral arms  95  and  96  and a pair of longitudinal arms  93  and  94 . In a preferred form of the invention, a longitudinal mounting plate  92  is provided between the plate  90  and the partition  12  and  14 . The duplex mounting plate  90  is placed in contact with the end foot  30  and the longitudinal plate  92  which is above it. The plates  90  and  92  are positioned between the end foot  30  and the bottom frame member  42  substantially in alignment below the end upright  46 . The upper mounting plate  92  is aligned over the arms  93  and  94  and extends longitudinally of the lower frame member  42 . The lateral arms  95  and  96  are suitably secured to the spread end foot  30 , e.g. by welding, but preferably by fasteners such as laterally spaced apart bolts or screws  98  while both plates are secured to the bottom frame member  42  by longitudinally spaced apart bolts or screws  100  which are screw threaded into the lower frame member  42  and the key  60  ( FIG. 11 ) that is connected between adjacent frame members  42  and  46  thereby providing firm, stable and reliable support for the horizontal spread end foot  30  so as to prevent it from rocking from side to side or working loose. Refer now to  FIGS. 12–14 . 
   To achieve a wall-effect, a movable bridging element  102  is slidably mounted on the top of each panel  12 – 18  adjacent to each hinge  19 . The bridging element  102  is provided with internal projections  103  and  104  which are slidably mounted within the slots  70  and  72  ( FIG. 14 ) allowing the bridge  102  to be slid manually from an inoperative position  105  ( FIG. 13 ) to an operative position shown in solid lines in  FIGS. 12 and 13  extending across the hinge area  19 . By placing all of the bridge elements  102  in the operating position of  FIGS. 12 and 13 , all of the panels  12 – 14  will be in alignment giving the partition  10  the character of a flat wall. 
   It has been expensive in the past to build separate cubicles for different activities conducted in an office setting or in an educational or religious institution wherever a space must be divided quickly, e.g. for meeting. The present invention overcomes the problems associated with prior partitions partly because it is less expensive yet easy to set up and put away. Moreover, the novel hinge having a novel construction makes possible a low cost unit that can be quickly and inexpensively assembled. In addition, the carrier panels  12  and  14  provide sturdy support for intermediate panels  16 – 18 , especially when the panel is being expanded or collapsed. The hinges, in addition, are silent, inexpensive to produce and can be quickly assembled or replaced. The alignment of the handles  24  in the plane of the carrier panels  12  and  14  and directly over the plane of the wheels  20  at each end of the partition adds to the stability of the partition as the partition is expanded. It will be noted that the panels  12  and  14  themselves are aligned with the forces applied to the handles as they are being pulled apart and both sets of carrier wheels  20  will be aligned with the plane of the carrier panels as the partition is being unfolded ( FIGS. 1A and 1B ). 
   Many variations of the present invention within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art once the principles described herein are read and understood.