Movable wall having a plurality of movable panels and a runner rail for a movable wall

A movable wall system for use in buildings, said movable wall system comprising:

• a plurality of movable panels;
• a runner rail structure along which said plurality of movable panels runs;
• each of said panels comprising at least one suspension device to suspend each of said panels from said runner rail structure;
• said runner rail structure comprising a sole running surface;
• said at least one suspension device of each of said panels comprising:
• a runner roller;
• said runner roller being configured and disposed to run on said sole running surface to permit movement of each of said panels;
• a guide roller;
• and
• said guide roller being configured and disposed to guide said suspension device in said runner rail structure;
• said runner rail structure further comprising:
• a main track section;
• a first track extension;
• a second track extension;
• said main track section being joined with said first track extension at a junction area to permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said first track extension;
• said main track section being separated from said second track extension by a gap at said junction area;
• a mechanical track-switching arrangement being disposed adjacent said gap and being configured to be in one of:
• an actuated position and a non-actuated position;
• said non-actuated position being the position in which said track-switching arrangement does not bridge said gap between said main track section and said second track extension to permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said first track extension and to not permit said at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said second track extension;
• said actuated position being the position in which said track-switching arrangement bridges said gap between said main track section and said second track extension to permit said at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said second track extension and to not permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said first track extension;
• said mechanical track-switching arrangement comprising:
• a track portion being disposed a distance from said gap upon said mechanical track-switching arrangement being in said non-actuated position to not permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said second track extension;
• said track portion being configured to be pivoted into said gap to connect said main track section and said second track extension, and to bypass said first track extension upon said mechanical track-switching arrangement being actuated to permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said second track extension;
• said track portion being the sole track portion in said mechanical track-switching arrangement configured to bridge said gap to permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said second track extension;
• and
• a mechanical contact piece being configured and disposed to be one of (a) and (b):
• (a) contacted by said guide roller to actuate said mechanical track-switching arrangement to pivot said sole track portion into said gap to connect said main track section and said second track extension, and to bypass said first track extension to permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said second track extension;
• and
• (b) not contacted by said guide roller to not actuate said track-switching arrangement to permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said first track extension;
• and
• said guide roller of said at least one suspension device being configured and disposed to one of (a) and (b):
• (a) contact said mechanical contact piece upon said at least one suspension device entering said junction area to actuate said mechanical track-switching arrangement to pivot said sole track portion into said gap to connect said main track section and said second track extension, and to bypass said first track extension to permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said second track extension;
• and
• (b) not contact said mechanical contact piece upon said at least one suspension device entering said junction area to not actuate said track-switching arrangement to permit at least one of said panels to travel between said main track section and said first track extension.