Patent ID: 7966778

Claim:
A device for the earthquake-resistant mounting of a partition between a floor ( 2 ) and a ceiling ( 4 ), said partition having a framework comprised of a lower rail ( 8 ) and an upper rail ( 10 ) that are substantially horizontal and configured to connect to substantially vertical uprights for connecting the upper and lower rails, the framework configured to fixably connect with a covering ( 6 ), the device comprising: a slide ( 18 ) of profiled section, having arms ( 22 ) forming a substantially U-shaped section and configured to be joined to the upper rail ( 10 ); a top runner ( 30 ) comprised of a rail with two side flanges ( 36 ) extending parallel to and within the arms ( 22 ) of the U-shaped section of the slide ( 18 ) such that the slide ( 18 ) and the top runner ( 30 ) are movable relative to each other in a vertical direction, the top runner being configured to be fixed to the ceiling ( 4 ); and reversible snap-fitting means between the slide ( 18 ) and the top runner ( 30 ), the snap-fitting means comprised of first and second matching bosses ( 26 , 38 ), the first boss projecting inward respective of the flanges ( 36 ) of the top runner, and the second boss projecting inward respective of the arms of the slide, wherein the slide ( 18 ) and top runner ( 30 ) are each mounted to move relative to each other in a vertical direction, wherein the first boss ( 26 ) is configured, in a resting position, to locate in the second boss ( 38 ), and wherein the slide ( 18 ) comprises, at free ends of each of the arms ( 22 ) of the U-shaped section, a rim ( 24 ) extending outwardly of the U of the U-shaped section, substantially perpendicular to the arms ( 22 ) of the U.