Patent Description:
Today, office spaces can be built by using pre-fabricated partition wall systems or by using removeable partition systems (such as free-standing room dividers). These ways of building office spaces require skill and takes a considerable time to build or have less beneficial acoustic, fire and/or thermal insulation properties. Further, when the office space needs to be altered or is removed, the walls are constructed and built in such a way that the wall is at least partly destroyed when taken down and can therefore not easily be reused.

It would therefore be beneficial to have partition walls that can be easily demounted and reused.

In view of that stated above, the object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome one or more of the above-identified limitations of the prior art. In particular, it is an object to provide a demountable and reusable wall partition system.

To achieve at least one of the above objects and also other objects that will be evident from the following description a demountable wall partition system having the features defined in claim <NUM> and a method for installing a demountable wall partition system having the features defined in claim <NUM> are provided according to the present invention. Preferred embodiments will be evident from the dependent claims.

More specifically, there is provided according to a first aspect of the present invention a demountable wall partition system comprising a first and second demountable partition panel having a front surface, a rear surface and side edges connecting the front surface and the rear surface, the demountable partition panel comprising a board having a rear surface forming to the rear surface of the demountable partition panel, at least one panel mount bracket connected to the board and protruding from the rear surface, wherein the at least one panel mount bracket comprises a first end flange extending in a first flange plane parallel with the rear surface of the board, and a second end flange. The first and second demountable partition panels are arranged spaced apart with the rear sides facing each other such that the at least one panel mount bracket of the respective first and second demountable partition panel form at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets, wherein the at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets are connected to each other by means of the flange connection element which is connected to the second end flanges of the at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets such that the flange connection element is supported by the at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets. The board of at least one of the first and second demountable partition panel is a gypsum board and more preferably a reinforced gypsum board.

Hereby, a demountable wall partition system is provided in which a partition panel may easily be demounted with maintained integrity and thus also reused.

The partition panel is provided with at least one panel mount bracket protruding from the rear surface of the board and connectable to the panel mount bracket of an opposing partition element. Thus, the partition panel may easily be used for erecting a partition wall and may subsequently, if need arises, be demounted from the partition wall and reused.

The second end flange is connected to the second end flange of the panel mount bracket of the opposing demountable partition panel by means of a flange connection element. Hereby, the partition panel may be reliable connected to, and subsequently if necessary disconnected from an opposing partition panel.

The first end flange of the panel mount bracket may be attached to the rear surface of the board. The use of a board thus facilitates secure attachment of the panel mount bracket to the rear surface of the board, for instance by means of screws. Alternatively, the end flange may be embedded in the board or, in case the partition panel comprises several boards, sandwiched between two boards.

The demountable partition panel may comprise an edge cover at least partly covering the side edges. The provision of the edge cover may protect the side edges of the demountable partition panel during handling and transportation. The edge cover may be configured to form a frame structure, thereby providing additional rigidity to the partition panel. The edge cover may comprise an L-shaped profile extending along one of the side edges. The L-shaped profile may comprise a flange extending in parallel with the one side edge and having a width which is smaller than a thickness of the demountable partition panel. Hereby, the L-shaped profile may be arranged with one flange extending in parallel with and attached to the rear surface of the board, while the other flange extends in parallel with the side edge providing protection thereto without being visible from the front surface of the demountable partition panel.

The demountable partition panel may comprise an additional board facing a front surface of the board. Hereby, the demountable partition panel may have sandwiched structure improving acoustical properties of the demountable partition panel. The additional board may be glued to the board.

The demountable partition panel may comprise a gasket arranged on the panel mount bracket and configured for engagement with the panel mount bracket of an opposing demountable partition panel. The provision of a gasket may reduce transmission of sound through a partition wall comprising the demountable partition panel.

The second end flange of the at least one panel mount bracket may extend in a direction having a component being perpendicular to the rear surface of the board. Further, the second end flange may extend from a first position towards a second position, corresponding to a free end of the second end flange, the second position being spaced apart from the rear surface of the board, wherein a distance between the rear surface and the second position is greater than a distance between the rear surface and the first position. Hereby, the at least one panel mount bracket of the partition panel may be connected to an aligned panel mount bracket of an opposing partition panel by means of a flange connection element gripping over the respective free end of the second end flanges thereby securing the relative position of the two partition panels in both lateral and vertical direction.

The demountable partition panel may comprise a plurality of panel mount brackets distributed on the rear surface in a spaced apart manner.

The flange connection element may be an elongated profile configured to receive the second end flanges of the pair of aligned mount brackets. Hereby, the flange connection element may be shaped as a slide profile configured to be slid over the second end flanges for connecting the pair of aligned panel mound brackets to each other. The elongated profile may have a c-shaped cross section.

A gasket may be arranged between the pair of aligned panel mount brackets. Herby, transmission of sound trough the wall partition system may be reduced.

The demountable wall partition system may further comprise an insulating material arranged in a void formed between the first and second demountable partition panels. The provision of insulating material in the void may improve the acoustical properties of the wall partition system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for installing a demountable wall partition system is provided. The method comprises arranging a first and second demountable partition panel as described above such that the panel mount bracket of the first demountable partition panel opposes the panel mount bracket of the second demountable partition panel thereby forming at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets and connecting the flange connection element to the second end flanges of the at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets such that the flange connection element is supported by the at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets.

Throughout this application a reinforced gypsum board is to be understood as a gypsum board or plasterboard that can be reinforced with a backing lamina or without a backing lamina. The reinforced gypsum board may comprise more than <NUM> wt% gypsum and, relative to the gypsum, at least <NUM> wt% fibres (e.g. glass fibres) embedded in the set gypsum core and at least <NUM> wt% polymeric additive. The polymeric additive may comprise starch or synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl acetate. The board may comprise multiple different types of polymeric additive. The reinforced gypsum board may also comprise between <NUM> and <NUM> %-by-weight calcium sulphate dihydrate, between <NUM> and <NUM> %-by-weight of paper fibres. The reinforced gypsum board may be a gypsum fibre board.

All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

<FIG>, to which reference is made, illustrates a demountable partition panel <NUM>.

The demountable partition panel <NUM> has a front surface <NUM>, a rear surface <NUM> and side edges <NUM> that connect the front <NUM> and rear surface <NUM>.

The demountable partition panel <NUM> comprises a board <NUM> and in the shown embodiment it is thus the board <NUM> that forms the front surface <NUM>, the rear surface <NUM> and the side edges <NUM> connecting the front <NUM> and rear surface <NUM> of the panel <NUM>.

The demountable partition panel <NUM> also comprises at least one panel mount bracket <NUM> connected to the board <NUM> and configured for connection to a panel mount bracket <NUM> of an opposing demountable partition panel <NUM>.

The connection may be made by means of a flange connection element <NUM>.

The at least one panel mount bracket <NUM> comprises a first end flange <NUM> extending in a first flange plane parallel with and attached to the rear surface <NUM> of the board <NUM>. The at least one panel mount bracket <NUM> further comprises a second end flange <NUM> configured to be connected to a second end flange of a panel mount bracket of an opposing demountable partition panel, and in the shown embodiment, the second end flange is configured to be connected to the second end flange of the opposing demountable partition panel by means of the flange connection element <NUM>.

By having the panel mount bracket <NUM> attached to the board <NUM> a simple, durable and stable demountable wall partition panel <NUM> is provided. This allows for easier installation, demounting and reusability of the demountable wall partition panel <NUM>. The demountable wall partition panel <NUM> reduces time, waste and any on-site preparations for constructing temporary walls for offices or rooms.

The board <NUM> can ba any type of board <NUM> that allows for the attachment of the panel mount bracket <NUM> to the board <NUM> by for example gluing or screwing. The board <NUM> could in some examples be a board <NUM> that has an average screw pull-out strength of more than <NUM> N. The board <NUM> may for example be a reinforced gypsum board <NUM> or a reinforced gypsum board <NUM> having an average screw pull-out strength of more than <NUM> N. It would normally not be possible to attach the panel mount bracket <NUM> to a standard gypsum board by screwing the panel mount bracket <NUM> to the standard gypsum board due to the friability of standard gypsum boards.

The demountable partition panel <NUM> may have a width between <NUM>-<NUM>, or more preferably between <NUM>-<NUM>, such as a standard board width. Additionally, since the panel mount bracket <NUM> is attached to the rear surface <NUM> of the board <NUM>, the front surface <NUM> is untouched and can be customized according to any need. The panel mount bracket <NUM> can be made of metal such as galvanized steel and/or aluminium, composite materials and/or of plastic.

The panel mount bracket <NUM> can be pre-attached to the board <NUM> when for example producing the demountable partition wall panel <NUM> in a production line. The panel mount bracket <NUM> can also be attached when building the wall for the office or room. The attachment of the panel mount bracket <NUM> to the board <NUM> can be by use of glue, screws, nails, tape or any other suitable attachment method. The panel mount bracket <NUM> may also be integrated into the the slurry when forming the board <NUM>. The panel mount bracket <NUM> may also be embedded between for example two boards <NUM> by having the first flange <NUM> arranged between the two boards <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> sticking out on the back side of one of the boards <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the demountable partition panel <NUM> may comprise a plurality of panel mount brackets <NUM> distributed on the rear surface <NUM> in a spaced apart manner. The panel mount brackets <NUM> may be arranged in such a way that gives most stability to a wall system <NUM> comprising two or more demountable partition panels <NUM>. The panel mount brackets <NUM> may also be arranged in such a way to accommodate placement of technical components such as switches, sockets and/or steering. The panel mount brackets <NUM> may also be arranged in such a way to accommodate wiring or other components that should run behind the demountable partition panel <NUM>.

The demountable partition panel <NUM> may have an edge cover <NUM>, also illustrated in <FIG>. The edge cover <NUM> covers at least partly the side edges <NUM>. By at least partly covering the side edges <NUM> of the partition panel <NUM>, the partition panel <NUM> is protected from accidently being damaged during storing, handling or transportation. The edge cover <NUM> may also only cover some of the side edges <NUM>, such as a bottom and top side edges <NUM>. The edge cover <NUM> is in some example made up by several edge cover elements or the edge cover <NUM> can be made up by one coherent edge cover element. The edge cover <NUM> may also form a frame structure. The edge cover <NUM> may form the frame structure as fitted separate edge cover elements <NUM> or as a single frame element edge cover <NUM>. The frame structure improves stability and/or durability of the demountable partition panel <NUM>.

The edge cover <NUM> may have a length between <NUM>-<NUM> or any length for fitting around the partition panel <NUM> or at least parts of the partition panel <NUM>. The edge cover <NUM> may also be long enough to cover a plurality of partition panel <NUM>. For example the edge cover <NUM> may be made to cover a side edge <NUM> facing a floor and the edge cover <NUM> may then adapted in length to cover two partition panel <NUM> placed next to each other.

The edge cover <NUM> comprises in some examples an L-shaped profile extending along at least one of the side edges <NUM>. The L-shaped profile comprises one flange <NUM> extending parallel to one side edge <NUM> and has a width CW smaller than a thickness BT of the partition panel <NUM>. By having the width CW of one flange <NUM> being smaller than the thickness BT of the partition panel <NUM>, the front surface <NUM> is free from any edge cover <NUM> and thus clean and ready to be customized as desired. Also, the edge cover <NUM> will be less visible.

The other flange of the L-shaped profile may be attached to the rear surface <NUM> by glue and/or screw. The width CW and/or height of the L-shaped profile may be between <NUM>-<NUM>, more preferably between <NUM>-<NUM>. The L-profile may also comprise pre-drilled holes for easier attachment by screws to the board <NUM>.

The edge cover <NUM> may also completely cover the side edges <NUM> and thus being visible and contacting both the front and rear surface <NUM>, <NUM>.

The demountable partition panel <NUM> comprises in some examples an additional board <NUM> facing the front surface <NUM> of the board <NUM>, illustrated in <FIG>. The demountable partition panel may thus be provided with a sandwich structure. By adding the additional board <NUM> the demountable partition panel <NUM> can be further improved or customized. For example the additional board <NUM> may be adapted for better sound proofing or have better resistance against fire and/or moisture or other desired structural features. The additional board <NUM> may also improve the structural strength and/or durability of the demountable partition panel <NUM>. The additional board <NUM> my be a board and/or a standard board. The demountable partition panel <NUM> may comprise more elements and/or boards than the board <NUM> and the additional board <NUM>.

In some examples the board <NUM> and the additional board <NUM> are glued together. The board <NUM> and the additional board <NUM> may be glued together in a uniform or a non-uniform application of the glue. Other examples of connecting the board <NUM> and the additional board <NUM> together may be by using tape. The board <NUM> and the additional board <NUM> my also be hold together by the the edge cover <NUM> completely covering the side edges <NUM> and thus being visible and contacting both a front surface of for example the additional board <NUM> and the rear surface of the board <NUM>. The board <NUM> and the additional board <NUM> may also be glued to the edge cover <NUM>. The board <NUM> and the additional board <NUM> may also be glued to the edge cover <NUM> and between the board <NUM> and the additional board <NUM>.

In an example the demountable partition panel <NUM> comprises a gasket <NUM> arranged on the panel mount bracket <NUM> and configured to abut the panel mount bracket of an opposing demountable partition panel. The gasket <NUM> acts as a sound isolating member between the two panel mount brackets and their respective demountable partition panels.

In some examples the second end flange <NUM> of the at least one panel mount bracket <NUM> extends in a direction having a component being perpendicular to the rear surface <NUM> of the board <NUM>, illustrated in e.g. <FIG>. By extending the second end flange <NUM> perpendicular to the rear surface <NUM>, the panel mount bracket <NUM> is formed such that the flange connection element connects and secures together two panel mount brackets <NUM> and their respective partition panel <NUM>. The panel mount bracket <NUM> may also be shaped as illustrated in <FIG> and the difference from for example 5A is that that the second end flange <NUM> also extends parallel to the rear surface <NUM> as for the first end flange <NUM>. The flange connection element <NUM> in 5B may thus simply be clamped or fitted to secure two panel mount brackets <NUM> together.

The second end flange <NUM> may extend in the direction perpendicular to the rear surface <NUM> from a first position towards a second position corresponding to a free end of the second end flange <NUM>, wherein the second position is spaced apart from the rear surface <NUM> but still closer to the rear surface <NUM> than the first position as illustrated in e.g. <FIG>. Such a configuration of the second end flange <NUM> enables connection of a pair of aliged panel mount brackets <NUM> by means of the flange connection element <NUM> gripping over the free ends of the second end flanges <NUM>, thereby securing the connection of the pair of aliged panel mount brackets <NUM> in both a lateral and vertical direction. The flange connection element <NUM> and/or the panel mount bracket <NUM> may be shaped to exert a force such as a spring force on the panel mount bracket <NUM> and/or the flange connection element <NUM>, improving the connection between the two panel mount brackets <NUM>. For example, illustrated in <FIG> is a panel mount bracket <NUM> being shaped such that the second end flange <NUM> is curved such that a force is exerted on the connection element <NUM> as well as the second end flange <NUM> being substantially perpendicular to the rear surface <NUM>. Alternatively the second end flange <NUM> may be completely perpendicular.

It would also be possible to shape the panel mount bracket <NUM> and the flange connection element <NUM> to be geometrically fitted to each other as for example illustrated in <FIG>. In 5D the flange connection element <NUM> has a H-profile shape and the panel mount bracket <NUM> is shaped to fit with one side of the H-profile. The panel mount bracket <NUM> and the flange connection element <NUM> may also be shaped as female/male connection.

Illustrated in <FIG> is a demountable wall partition system <NUM>. The demountable wall system <NUM> comprises a first and a second demountable partition panel <NUM>,<NUM>'. The first and second demountable partition panels <NUM>, <NUM>' are arranged spaced apart with the rear sides <NUM>,<NUM>' facing each other such that the at least one panel mount bracket <NUM>, <NUM>' of the respective first and second demountable partition panel <NUM>. <NUM>' form at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>'. The demountable wall system <NUM> further comprises the flange connection element <NUM> connecting the at least one pair of aligned mount brackets <NUM>,<NUM>'.

By using two demountable wall partition panels <NUM>,<NUM>' and arranging the two demountable wall partition panels <NUM>,<NUM>' such that at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets <NUM>,<NUM>' is formed, it is possible to quickly and easily errect a partition wall, and the partition wall may easily be demounted into demountable partition panels <NUM>, <NUM>' that may be reused. The demountable wall partition system <NUM> may comprise a plurality of these first and second demountable partition panels <NUM>,<NUM>' arranged next to each other forming a continuous partition wall structure.

The flange connection element <NUM> may be an elongated profile configured to receive the second end flanges <NUM>, <NUM>' of the pair of aligned mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>'. In an example the elongated profile has a C-shaped cross section. The flange connection element <NUM> may have any length. The length of the flange connection element <NUM> may for instance be long enough to cover at least two adjacent pairs of aligned mount brackets <NUM>,<NUM>', illustrated in <FIG>.

Two adjoining flange connection elements <NUM> may as illustrated in <FIG> form a joint at a common pair of aligned panel mount brackets <NUM>, thereby improving the rigidity of the demountable wall partition system <NUM>.

The flange connection element <NUM> may be shaped, for example the elongated C-shaped profile, such that the flange connection element can be slid over and connecting the second end flanges <NUM>, <NUM>' of the pair of aligned mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>'. The slidable flange connection element <NUM> facilitates assembly of the demountable wall partition system <NUM> since any person could simply slide the flange connection element <NUM> from an open side of the demountable wall partition system <NUM>, in between the demountable partition panels <NUM> to connect them.

The flange connection element <NUM> may in other examples have a length and being arranged such that the flange connection element <NUM> partly covers and connects the second end flanges <NUM>, <NUM>', illustrated in e.g. <FIG> illustrates how the flange connection element <NUM> starts at a top corner of a wall assembled by several demountable partition panels <NUM> and runs downward over a first pair of second end flanges <NUM>, <NUM>' of a pair of aligned mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>' and midway to a second pair of second end flanges <NUM>, <NUM>' of the pair of aligned mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>'. The flange connection element <NUM> may also be a clip or have a length that is smaller than a width of the second end flanges <NUM>, <NUM>'.

As discussed above, the gasket <NUM> may be arranged between the pair of aligned panel mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>', illustrated in <FIG>. The gasket <NUM> may be pre-attached to one of the second end flanges <NUM>, <NUM>' by for example glue or the gasket <NUM> may be arranged in between the panel mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>' when assembling the demountable wall partition system <NUM>. The size of the gasket <NUM> may be varied depending on for example a desired acoustic dampening between the first and second demountable partition panels <NUM>, <NUM>'.

<FIG> illustrates the demountable wall partition system <NUM> in place between a ceiling and a floor and having two pairs of aligned mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>' at different heights. Attaching the demountable wall partition system <NUM> may be performed with runners attached to the ceiling and/or floor. Other ways of securing the wall from movement and maintaining the office area could be with brackets or block in the ceiling and/or on the floor.

The demountable wall partition panels <NUM>, <NUM>' are installed or assembled into the demountable wall partition system <NUM> by arranging a first and a second demountable partition panel <NUM>, <NUM>' such that the panel mount bracket <NUM> of the first demountable partition panel opposes the panel mount bracket <NUM>' of the second demountable partition panel <NUM>'. This can for example be done by standing the first demountable partition panel <NUM> on the floor of the office space being constructed in an upright manner more or less in a perpendicular direction to the floor of the office space. Next to the first demountable partition panel <NUM> is the second partition panel <NUM>' then also raised in an upright direction, being more or less perpendicular to the floor of the office space such that the pane mount brackets <NUM>,<NUM>' are opposing each other. As discussed above, the first and second panel mount brackets <NUM>,<NUM>' may abut each other or there may be a slight gap in between the first and second panel mount brackets <NUM>,<NUM>', or the gasket <NUM> may be arrganged between the first and second panel mount brackets <NUM>,<NUM>'.

The first and second panel mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>' are then connected by means of the flange connection element <NUM>. This connection can be done by sliding, as disucussed above, or clamping the flange connection element <NUM> with the first and second panel mount brackets <NUM>,<NUM>'. The connection by the flange connection element <NUM> holds together the first and second partition panels <NUM>,<NUM>' in the upright position and so that they are not separated from each other but forms separate inner wall portions. The panel mount bracket <NUM> of the first demountable partition panel may be level with and/or directly opposed to the panel mount bracket <NUM>' of the second demountable partition panel <NUM>'.

The demountable wall partition system <NUM> comprises in some examples an insulating material arranged in the void between the first and second demountable partition panels <NUM>,<NUM>'. The insulating material may be arranged in bags and which then can easily be put in the void but also removed later for reuse. It is also additionally possible to run other types of installations in the void such as electrical, plumbing, data and so on, alone or in combination with the insulating material.

Illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> are two examples of how to possibly arrange the demountable partition panels <NUM>, <NUM>' for accommodating different room layouts and/or accounting for already existing structural elements in a building. <FIG> illustrates that the demountable partition panels <NUM>, <NUM>' can be arranged more or less perfectly opposite each other when forming the wall. <FIG> illustrates another setup wherein the demountable partition panels <NUM>, <NUM>' are arranged in an off-set pattern, but still with the panel mount brackets <NUM>, <NUM>' opposite each other, to accommodate a fixed structural element such as an outer wall of the building that the demountable wall partition system <NUM> is being built in. Other arrangements are of course possible such as for example demountable partition panels <NUM>, <NUM>' having different widths and/or height.

Claim 1:
A demountable wall partition system (<NUM>) comprising
a first and a second demountable partition panel (<NUM>, <NUM>'), and
a flange connection element (<NUM>),
wherein each of the a first and a second demountable partition panel (<NUM>,<NUM>') has a front surface (<NUM>,<NUM>'), a rear surface (<NUM>,<NUM>') and side edges (<NUM>) connecting the front surface (<NUM>,<NUM>') and the rear surface (<NUM>,<NUM>'), and comprises a board (<NUM>,<NUM>') having a rear surface (<NUM>,<NUM>') forming the rear surface (<NUM>,<NUM>') of the associated demountable partition panel (<NUM>,<NUM>') and at least one panel mount bracket (<NUM>,<NUM>') connected to the board (<NUM>,<NUM>') and protruding from the rear surface (<NUM>,<NUM>'), the at least one panel mount bracket (<NUM>, <NUM>') comprising a first end flange (<NUM>) extending in a first flange plane parallel with the rear surface (<NUM>,<NUM>') of the board (<NUM>,<NUM>'), and a second end flange (<NUM>),
wherein the first and second demountable partition panels (<NUM>, <NUM>') are arranged spaced apart with the rear sides (<NUM>, <NUM>') facing each other such that the at least one panel mount bracket (<NUM>, <NUM>') of the respective first and second demountable partition panel (<NUM>, <NUM>') form at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets (<NUM>, <NUM>'),
wherein the board (<NUM>) of at least one of the first and second demountable partition panel (<NUM>,<NUM>') is a gypsum board and more preferably a reinforced gypsum board,
characterized in that
the at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets (<NUM>, <NUM>') are connected to each other by means of the flange connection element (<NUM>) which is connected to the second end flanges (<NUM>) of the at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets (<NUM>, <NUM>') such that the flange connection element (<NUM>) is supported by the at least one pair of aligned panel mount brackets (<NUM>, <NUM>').