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US 11,111,716 B2Granted
Anti-float systems and methods
AssigneeModernfold, Inc.
InventorsMichael W. Beeler, Mark A. Johnson, Bradley A. Jones, Thomas L. Goldsmith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A movable wall system includes a plurality of movable wall panels including a first movable wall panel and a second moveable wall panel rotatably coupled together through at least one hinge. The movable wall system further includes a biasing system which biases the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel into an arrangement wherein a panel face of the first movable wall panel and a panel face of the second moveable wall panel are generally parallel.
Claims22
A movable wall panel system for suspension from an overhead track in an environment, the movable wall panel system comprising:
- a first movable wall panel including a first end and a second end spaced-apart from the first end, a first panel face and a second panel face spaced apart from the first panel face of the first moveable wall panel;
- a second movable wall panel rotatably coupled to the first movable wall, the second moveable wall panel including a first end and a second end;
- at least one hinge coupled to the first movable wall panel proximate the second end of the first movable wall panel and coupled to the second movable wall panel proximate the first end of the second movable wall panel, the first movable wall panel being rotatably coupled to the second movable wall panel through the at least one hinge;
- a top seal assembly coupled to a top portion of the first movable wall panel, the top seal assembly includes an upper portion that extends above a top edge of the first panel face of the first moveable wall panel and a lower portion that extends below the top edge of the first panel face of the first movable wall panel;
- a bottom seal assembly coupled to a bottom portion of the first movable wall panel;
- and
- an anti-float device operatively coupled to the first moveable wall panel and to the second moveable wall panel, the anti-float device is positioned lower than the lower portion of the top seal assembly, the anti-float device including a link extending from the second end of the first moveable wall panel to the first end of the second moveable wall panel in both a stacked configuration wherein the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel are generally parallel and overlapping and an extended configuration wherein the first movable wall panel and the second movable wall panel are generally parallel and non-overlapping.
4 more elements
A movable wall panel system for suspension from an overhead track in an environment, the movable wall panel system comprising:
- a first movable wall panel including a first end and a second end spaced-apart from the first end, a first panel face and a second panel face spaced apart from the first panel face of the first moveable wall panel;
- a second movable wall panel rotatably coupled to the first movable wall, the second moveable wall panel including a first end and a second end;
- at least one hinge coupled to the first movable wall panel proximate the second end of the first movable wall panel and coupled to the second movable wall panel proximate the first end of the second movable wall panel, the first movable wall panel being rotatably coupled to the second movable wall panel through the at least one hinge;
- a top seal assembly coupled to a top portion of the first movable wall panel, the top seal assembly includes an upper portion that extends above a top edge of the first panel face of the first moveable wall panel and a lower portion that extends below the top edge of the first panel face of the first movable wall panel;
- a bottom seal assembly coupled to a bottom portion of the first movable wall panel;
- and
- an anti-float device operatively coupled to the first moveable wall panel and to the second moveable wall panel, the anti-float device is positioned lower than the lower portion of the top seal assembly;
- wherein the second moveable wall panel includes a first panel face and a second panel face and the first moveable wall panel and the second moveable wall panel are biased by the anti-float device towards an arrangement wherein the first panel face of the first moveable wall panel is parallel to the first panel face of the second moveable wall panel when the first moveable wall panel is angled relative to the second moveable wall panel about the hinge by more than a first angle.
5 more elements
A movable wall panel system for suspension from an overhead track in an environment, the movable wall panel system comprising:
- a first movable wall panel including a first end and a second end spaced-apart from the first end, a first panel face and a second panel face spaced apart from the first panel face of the first moveable wall panel;
- a second movable wall panel rotatably coupled to the first movable wall, the second moveable wall panel including a first end and a second end;
- at least one hinge coupled to the first movable wall panel proximate the second end of the first movable wall panel and coupled to the second movable wall panel proximate the first end of the second movable wall panel, the first movable wall panel being rotatably coupled to the second movable wall panel through the at least one hinge;
- a top seal assembly coupled to a top portion of the first movable wall panel, the top seal assembly includes an upper portion that extends above a top edge of the first panel face of the first moveable wall panel and a lower portion that extends below the top edge of the first panel face of the first movable wall panel;
- a bottom seal assembly coupled to a bottom portion of the first movable wall panel;
- an anti-float device operatively coupled to the first moveable wall panel and to the second moveable wall panel, the anti-float device is positioned lower than the lower portion of the top seal assembly;
- wherein the anti-float device includes a biasing system having a primary biasing sub-assembly carried by the second moveable wall panel, and a secondary biasing sub-assembly carried by the first moveable wall panel, the primary biasing sub-assembly being positioned between the first panel face of the second moveable wall panel and the second panel face of the second moveable wall panel;
- and
- a link connecting the primary biasing sub-assembly to the secondary biasing sub-assembly, wherein the link is a flexible connector connecting the primary biasing sub-assembly to the secondary biasing sub-assembly, the flexible connector received through an opening in the second end of the first movable wall panel and an opening in the first end of the second movable wall panel;
- wherein the primary biasing sub-assembly includes a biasing member operatively coupled to the flexible connector to retract the flexible connector within the second moveable wall panel.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.