Portable wall system and method of installing same

In a modular wall system comprising a plurality of modules adapted to extend between the floor and the ceiling of a room, each module comprising

• a panel having top and side edges and a bottom edge supported on the floor,
• a post telescoped over each of said side edges,
• a ceiling channel telescoped over the panel top edge and upper portions of said posts, said channel having a top wall and side walls depending from said top wall,
• at least one of said channel side walls having a longitudinally extending upwardly and outwardly opening groove adapted to be engaged for moving the channel toward the panel top edge,
• a floor channel telescoped over the bottom of said panel and having a bottom wall against the panel bottom edge and side walls projecting upwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the panel, at least one of said floor channel side walls having a longitudinally extending downwardly and outwardly extending groove adapted to be engaged for lifting the module from the floor, and
• spring means supporting said ceiling channel on at least one of said side posts and resiliently spacing said channel top wall from said panel top edge, said ceiling channel being movable toward said panel against the force of said spring means whereby to reduce the height of the module for installation and removal of same in a wall system.

A modular wall system comprising a plurality of modules adapted to extend between the floor and the ceiling of a room, each module comprising

• a panel having top and side edges and a bottom edge supported on the floor,
• a post telescoped over each of said side edges,
• a ceiling channel telescoped over the panel top edge and the upper portions of said posts, said channel having a top wall and side walls depending from said top wall, and
• spring assembly means directly interconnecting said ceiling channel and at least one of said side posts and resiliently spacing said channel top wall from said panel top edge, said ceiling channel being movable toward said panel against the force of said spring assembly means whereby to reduce the height of the module for installation and removal of same in a wall system,
• said spring assembly means comprising a rod secured to and extending downwardly from the underside of said ceiling channel top wall, support means secured to the inner side of one of said side posts for guiding vertical movement of said rod, a spring compressed between said support means and said rod for urging the latter in the upward direction, and stop means on said rod adapted to abut said support means and limit upward movement of said rod and said ceiling channel.

A modular wall system comprising a plurality of modules adapted to extend between the floor and the ceiling of a room, each module comprising

• a panel having top and side edges and a bottom edge supported on the floor,
• a post telescoped over each of said side edges,
• a ceiling channel telescoped over the panel top edge and the upper portions of said posts, said channel having a top wall and side walls depending from said top wall, at least one of said side walls having external engagement means adapted to be engaged for moving the channel toward the panel top edge comprising a longitudinally extending upwardly and outwardly opening groove adjacent the lower edge of the side wall, and
• spring assembly means directly interconnecting said ceiling channel and at least one of said side posts and resiliently spacing said channel top wall from said panel top edge, said ceiling channel being movable toward said panel against the force of said spring assembly means whereby to reduce the height of the module for installation and removal of same in a wall system.

A modular wall system comprising a plurality of modules adapted to extend between the floor and the ceiling of a room, each module comprising

• a panel having top and side edges and a bottom edge supported on the floor, said panel top edge being spaced a fixed distance above the floor when the module rests on the floor in an upright position,
• a post telescoped over each of said side edges,
• a ceiling channel telescoped over the panel top edge and the upper portions of said posts, said channel having a top wall and side walls depending from said top wall, and
• spring assembly means directly interconnecting said ceiling channel and at least one of said side posts and resiliently spacing said channel top wall from said panel top edge, said ceiling channel being movable toward said panel against the force of said spring assembly means whereby to reduce the height of the module for installation and removal of same in a wall system,
• said spring means comprising a spring and an adjustable stop coacting with said spring for limiting expansion of the spring and thereby limiting movement of said ceiling channel outwardly from said panel whereby to establish a predetermined spacing between said channel top wall and said panel top edge, said ceiling comprising longitudinally extending strip means having side edges, said ceiling channel top wall having laterally spaced vertically extending guide means engageable with said strip side edges whereby to laterally stabilize said module and to longitudinally align same with other modules in the system.