MOVABLE PARTITIONS, HEADER ASSEMBLIES FOR MOVABLE PARTITIONS, AND METHODS OF FORMING HEADER ASSEMBLIES FOR MOVABLE PARTITIONS

• US 20110024061A1
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
• Original Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
• Inventors: Knight, Tracy M., Dickinson, Jaren R., Bell, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 8,316,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/199
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0652 Tracks E05D15/063 - E05D15/0647 and E05D15/0656 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0686 Tracks E05D15/0665 - E05D15/0682 and E05D15/0691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/684 Rails
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/702 Spindles; Worms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/20 characterised by the movement transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/416 against fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/142 Partition walls

Abstract

Movable partitions and movable partition system include a header assembly and a movable partition. The header assembly may comprise an elongated overhead track including a first channel, a second channel, and a central channel between the first and second channels. A plurality of support bracket attachment features may be included with at least one support bracket attachment feature on each of an outer surface of the first channel and an outer surface of the second channel. A support bracket may be coupled to each of the support bracket attachment features. The movable partition may comprise a plurality of panels connected to one another with hinge-like member and may be suspended from the overhead track. Embodiments of overhead tracks and methods of forming header assemblies are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An overhead track, comprising:

a central channel configured to receive at least one roller for a foldable partition therein;

a first channel coupled to the central channel on a side thereof;

a second channel coupled to the central channel on another side opposite the first channel; and

a support bracket attachment feature on an outer surface of the first channel and an outer surface of the second channel.

2. The overhead track of claim 1, further comprising a soffit attachment feature on the outer surface of the first channel and the outer surface of the second channel.

3. The overhead track of claim 1, further comprising at least one drive member channel positioned inside the central channel and configured to receive a drive member therein.

4. The overhead track of claim 3, wherein the at least one drive member channel is configured to receive a drive member configured as one of a rack or a chain.

5. The overhead track of claim 1, further comprising at least one alignment groove formed in a surface of at least one of the central channel, the first channel and the second channel.

6. An overhead track, comprising:

a central channel configured to receive at least one roller for a foldable partition therein;

a first channel coupled to the central channel on a side thereof;

a second channel coupled to the central channel on another side opposite the first channel; and

a drive member channel inside the central channel and configured to receive a drive member therein.

7. A header assembly for a movable partition comprising:

an overhead track comprising a first channel, a second channel, a central channel between the first channel and the second channel, and a support bracket attachment feature on each of an outer surface of the first channel and an outer surface of the second channel; and

a track support bracket coupled to each of the support bracket attachment features.

8. The header assembly of claim 7, wherein the support bracket attachment features comprise a hook-shaped member defining a slot, and wherein the track support brackets comprise a hook-shaped track attachment feature disposed into a slot defined by the hook-shaped member of the support bracket attachment features.

9. The header assembly of claim 7, wherein the overhead track further comprises a soffit attachment feature on each of the outer surface of the first channel and the outer surface of the second channel, and further comprising a soffit comprising a first attachment feature attached to each of the soffit attachment features.

10. The header assembly of claim 9, wherein the soffit attachment features comprise a hook-shaped member defining a slot, and wherein the soffits comprise a hook-shaped first attachment feature disposed into the slot defined by the hook-shaped member of the soffit attachment feature.

11. The header assembly of claim 9, wherein the track support brackets comprise a soffit coupling feature configured to mate with a second attachment feature of the soffits to restrain lateral displacement of the overhead track.

12. The header assembly of claim 11, wherein the soffit coupling feature of the track support brackets is fixedly mated to the second attachment feature of the soffits.

13. The header assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a wall trim attachable to an adjacent wall and configured to receive and support a portion of each soffit; and

a clipping member coupled to each track support bracket and comprising a retention leg configured to exert a force on the portion of the soffit supported by the wall trim.

14. The header assembly of claim 13, wherein the clipping members comprise a wall piercing feature configured to penetrate at least partially into an adjacent wall.

15. The header assembly of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of retainer members comprising a c-shaped cross-section, each retainer member disposed with one end positioned adjacent a portion of one of the track support brackets to apply a force thereto and with another end adjacent a portion of one of the soffits to apply a force thereto.

16. A movable partition system comprising:

a header assembly, comprising;

an elongated overhead track comprising a first channel, a second channel, and a central channel between the first channel and the second channel;

a plurality of support bracket attachment features, at least one support bracket attachment feature on each of an outer surface of the first channel and an outer surface of the second channel; and

a track support bracket coupled to each of the support bracket attachment features; and

a movable partition comprising a plurality of panels connected to one another with hinge-like members and suspended from the overhead track.

17. The movable partition system of claim 16, wherein the header assembly is attached to at least one of an overhead support member and a plurality of walls.

18. The movable partition system of claim 16, further comprising:

a plurality of soffit attachment features, at least one soffit attachment feature on each of the outer surface of the first channel and the outer surface of the second channel; and

a soffit attached to each of the soffit attachment features.

19. The movable partition system of claim 18, wherein each soffit is further mated to the support brackets coupled to each of the track support bracket attachment features.

20. The movable partition system of claim 18, further comprising:

a wall trim attached to an adjacent wall and configured to receive and support a portion of each soffit thereon; and

a clipping member coupled to each track support bracket and comprising a retention leg configured to exert a force on the portion of the soffit supported by the wall trim, and a wall piercing feature penetrating at least partially into the adjacent wall.

21. A method of forming a header assembly for a movable partition, the method comprising:

positioning an overhead track within a longitudinally extending space between a first wall and a second wall;

attaching a track support bracket to the overhead track; and

attaching a soffit to the overhead track.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein attaching the track support bracket to the overhead track comprises attaching a track attachment feature of the track support bracket to a support bracket attachment feature of the overhead track.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein attaching the track attachment feature of the track support bracket to the support bracket attachment feature of the overhead track comprises disposing a hook-shaped track attachment feature into a slot defined by a hook-shaped track support bracket attachment feature.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein attaching the soffit to the overhead track comprises attaching a first attachment feature of the soffit to a soffit attachment feature of the overhead track.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein attaching a first attachment feature of the soffit to a soffit attachment feature of the overhead track comprises disposing a hook-shaped first attachment feature into a slot defined by a hook-shaped soffit attachment feature.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising coupling the track support bracket to the soffit.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

attaching a wall trim to a wall and positioning a portion of the soffit over a portion of the wall trim; and

retaining the soffit in contact with the wall trim with a clipping member coupled to the track support bracket.