Integrated reconfigurable wall system

• US 8,024,901 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Dirtt Environmental Solutions
• Original Assignee: Dirtt Environmental Solutions
• Inventors: Smed, Mogens, Gosling, Geoff
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US11/205,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,232 Days
• Field of Search: 522/381, 522/39, 522/42, 522/43, 522/431, 525/78, 525/821, 524/74, 524/76, 524/812, 524/82, 527/72, 527/73, 527/813, 521/263, 403/286, 403/297, 403/329, 403/397
• US Class Current: 52/238.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7424 Glazing details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/742 Details of panel top cap
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7462 using resilient connectors, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/749 Partitions with screw-type jacks

Abstract

A movable reconfigurable wall system having at least one module having a front and rear surface, the at least one module having: vertical end frames disposed at least at its side edges, each the vertical end frame having a vertically extending flange directed toward the front surface and a vertically extending flange directed toward the rear surface; a plurality of horizontal stringers affixed between the pair of vertical end frames; and an aesthetic surface affixed to the stringers; and a removable connecting strip, the connecting strip adapted to affix about one of the two flanges on one of the vertical end frames and join the one of the two flanges to a corresponding flange on one of a second module, a wall bracket, a finishing trim or a connection post.

Claims

1. A movable reconfigurable wall system comprising:

a) at least one wall module having a front and rear surface and top, bottom, right side and left side edges, said at least one wall module having;

i) a vertical end frame disposed adjacent to each of said right and left side edges, each vertical end frame having a first vertically extending flange and a spaced apart second vertically extending flange thereon, each of said first vertically extending flange and said second vertically extending flange having a beaded portion, the beaded portion on one of said first vertically extending flange or said second vertically extending flange extending toward the front surface of the wall module and the beaded portion on the other of said first vertically extending flange or said second vertically extending flange extending toward the rear surface of the wall module;

ii) a plurality of horizontal stringers affixed between said vertical end frames at said right and left side edges; and

iii) an aesthetic surface affixed to said stringers; and

b) a removable connecting strip having a pair of spaced apart flexible arms, each arm having a beaded portion thereon, the beaded portion of one of said arms being adapted to connect releasably to the beaded portion of one of said first vertically extending flange or said second vertically extending flange on said vertical end frame and the beaded portion of the other of said arms being adapted to connect releasably to the beaded portion of a corresponding opposed vertically extending flange on a separate vertical end frame of a second wall module, a wall bracket, a finishing trim or a connection post to hold one of said first vertically extending flange or said second vertically extending flange and said opposed vertically extending flange together, the beaded portions of said first vertically extending flange or said second vertically extending flange and said opposed vertically extending flange fitting inside the arms of said connecting strip to hold said first vertically extending flange or said second vertically extending flange and said opposed vertically extending flange together thereby releasably connecting said at least one wall module to the other of said second wall module, wall bracket, finishing trim or connection post.

2. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 1, wherein said connecting strip includes a spine adapted to fit between said first vertically extending flange or said second vertically extending flange and said opposed vertically extending flange.

3. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 2, wherein said connecting strip further includes a pair of flexible fin extensions extending opposite to said flexible arms for providing a seal.

4. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 1, wherein said aesthetic surface includes a tile panel on said front surface, said rear surface, or both said front surface and said rear surface.

5. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 4, wherein each said stringer includes one or more protrusions, said reconfigurable wall system further including tile clips for affixing tiles to said one or more protrusions.

6. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 1, wherein said aesthetic surface is a single divider selected from a group consisting of substrates consisting of glass, plastic, or wood and metal.

7. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 6, wherein said stringers and end frames include a channel for receiving said divider.

8. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 1, wherein said stringers include a cantilever channel stringer, said cantilever channel stringer having:

a central horizontally extending channel portion with a generally L-shaped slot, said L-shaped slot adapted to receive and engage a substantially L-shaped hook formed on a wall accessory;

an upper portion having a tile support;

a lower portion having a tile support; and

a pair of extending webs connecting said channel portion to said upper and a lower portion.

9. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises an extension frame, said extension frame including a pair of vertical extension end frames and at least one stringer, said extension frame being affixed atop of said at least one module with a spline on each end of said end frame.

10. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 1, wherein said aesthetic surface includes a slat wall, said slat wall having slats and slat wall channels for connection to slat wall accessories.

11. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 1, said system further comprising a levelling system having:

a universal foot;

a leveller capable of engaging said universal foot; and

a structural extrusion to engage surface of said at least one module, said structural extrusion connecting to said leveller, wherein said leveller provides the sole connection between said universal foot and said module.

12. The movable reconfigurable wall system of claim 11, wherein said leveller comprises:

a cylindrical internally threaded upper section;

an internally and externally threaded middle section, said external threads matching said internally threaded upper section; and

an externally threaded lower section, said externally threaded lower section matching internal threads of said middle section, wherein said middle section can be twisted to extend or contract said leveller.

13. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 11 further comprising a base trim, said base trim attaching to said universal foot.

14. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 1 further comprising a ceiling connection, said ceiling connection including:

a ceiling track affixed to a ceiling;

a horizontal upper section affixed to said module, said horizontal upper section adapted to fit about said ceiling track;

a flexible gasket affixed to said horizontal upper section and extending above said horizontal upper section to contact the ceiling.

15. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 1, wherein said wall bracket comprises:

an extrusion for connection to an existing wall in alignment with said end frame; and

first and second flanges on said extrusion corresponding to said first vertically extending flange and said second vertically extending flange on said end frame and arranged in opposition thereto.

16. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 1 further comprising a wall joint, said wall joint comprising a flexible gasket and a channel, said channel adapted to connect to a flange of said at least one module.

17. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one module includes curved stringers and curved aesthetic surfaces.

18. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 1, wherein said connection post includes at least two sides having vertically extending flanges thereon corresponding to and arranged in opposition to said first and second flanges on said end frame.

19. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 1, wherein said aesthetic surface includes a multimedia component.

20. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 19, wherein said multimedia component is a video monitor.

21. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 1, wherein said vertical end frame depth is extended to provide a deeper wall.

22. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 21, wherein said deeper wall is adapted to accommodate a rear-projection video system.

23. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 21, wherein said deeper wall is adapted to accommodate an integrated storage system.

24. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 1, further comprising a wall mounted module for mounting to an existing wall face, said wall mounted module having:

a) vertical end brackets disposed at least at its side edges, each said vertical end frame having a vertically extending flange directed away from said existing wall face;

b) a plurality of horizontal stringers affixed between said pair of vertical end brackets; and

c) an aesthetic surface affixed to said stringers.

25. The movable reconfigurable wall unit of claim 1, further comprising a furniture system connectable to said at least one module, the furniture system having:

a work surface, said work surface connectable to said stringers; and

furniture legs, said furniture legs connecting to said work surface at a first end and connecting to a threaded bolt at a second end opposite said first end, said threaded bolt allowing levelling of said work surface.