Vertically folding wall partitions
AssigneeRailtech Ltd.
InventorJ. Mark McDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vertically foldable wall partition comprises a plurality of panels mounted to a number of horizontally spaced-apart vertically foldable skeleton framework. Each skeleton framework includes a number of pivotally interconnected arms which are adapted to be successively folded in a predetermined sequence. The sequential folding is controlled by a lifting mechanism. The vertically foldable wall partition further includes a universal sealing member which can be either used as an end seal or as a hinge seal.
Claims12
A vertically folding wall partition comprising a vertical series of similar pairs of panel assemblies, said vertical series including an uppermost panel assembly pivotally connected to an overhead support structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, each pair of adjacent panel assemblies in said vertical series being pivotally connected by a horizontal joint for allowing relative pivotal movement therebetween, each panel assembly including top and bottom panels pivotally related to one another at opposed horizontal edges thereof for pivotal movement between an unfolded position in which said top and bottom panels extend substantially in a common vertical plane and a folded position in which said top and bottom panels extend laterally outwardly of said common vertical plane in an opposed surface-to-surface stacked relationship;
- a moving mechanism for displacing said vertically folding wall partition between a retracted raised, storage position and a deployed, unfolded, wall-forming position, said moving mechanism engaging at least a selected one of said joints and a bottom end of a lowermost panel assembly of said vertical series to successively fold said panel assemblies in a folding sequence starting with a first panel assembly located immediately above said at least one selected joint.
A method of lifting a wall partition composed of a series of vertically foldable pairs of wall segments, said series having a lowermost and an uppermost pair of wall segments, comprising the steps of:
- lifting said lowermost pair by folding said selected pair of wall segments from an extended position to a collapsed position thereof, wherein said selected pair is the first pair folded when the wall partition is lifted and is folded by applying a lifting force at a joint between said selected pair and an adjacent pair of foldable wall segments depending therefrom;
- and subsequently folding said lowermost pair of wall segments to a collapsed position thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.