Movable partitions, header assemblies for movable partitions, and methods of forming header assemblies for movable partitions

• US 8,316,914 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
• Original Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Craig, Knight, Tracy M., Dickenson, Jaren R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David
• Application Number:
  US12/510,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20110024061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 160/199, 160/206, 160/126, 16/874.R, 16/94.R, 16/94.D, 16/95.R, 16/95.D, 16/96.R, 16/96.D, 52/39
• 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 and a drive member therein;

a first channel coupled to the central channel on a side thereof and configured to receive slide mechanisms or rollers attached to individual panels associated with a first side of the foldable partition;

a second channel coupled to the central channel on another side opposite the first channel and configured to receive slide mechanisms or rollers attached to individual panels associated with a second side of the foldable partition;

a first support bracket attachment feature on an outer surface of the first channel;

a second support bracket attachment feature on an outer surface of the second channel;

a first track support bracket including a first track attachment feature configured to couple with the first support bracket attachment feature, wherein at least one of the first track attachment feature and the first support bracket attachment feature comprises a first slot complementary to and configured to receive at least a portion of the other of the first track attachment feature and the first support bracket attachment feature, and wherein the first track support bracket includes a portion configured to extend horizontally between the first track attachment feature and an end of the first track support bracket opposite the first track attachment feature; and

a second track support bracket including a second track attachment feature configured to couple with the second support bracket attachment feature, wherein at least one of the second track attachment feature and the second support bracket attachment feature comprises a second slot complementary to and configured to receive at least a portion of the other of the second track attachment feature and the second support bracket attachment feature, wherein the second track support bracket includes a portion configured to extend horizontally between the second track attachment feature and an end of the second track support bracket opposite the second track attachment feature, and wherein the first track support bracket and the second track support bracket are configured to vertically support the central channel, the first channel, and 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 the 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.

28. The overhead track of claim 1, wherein each of the first track attachment feature and the first support bracket attachment feature comprises a first slot configured to receive at least a portion of the other of the first track attachment feature and the first support bracket attachment feature, and wherein each of the second track attachment feature and the second support bracket attachment feature comprises a second slot configured to receive at least a portion of the other of the second track attachment feature and the second support bracket attachment feature.

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, wherein the drive member channel is defined by sidewalls configured to cover at least three sides of a drive member when a drive member is received 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, 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 soffit attachment feature on each of the outer surface of the first channel and the outer surface of the second channel;

a track support bracket coupled to each of the support bracket attachment features, wherein each of the track support brackets includes a central portion configured to couple with a fastener configured to vertically support the overhead track, and wherein each of the track support brackets further includes a soffit coupling feature opposite a side of the track support bracket coupled to the support bracket attachment feature; and

a soffit comprising a first attachment feature attached to each of the soffit attachment features of the overhead track and a second attachment feature configured to mate with the soffit coupling features of the track support brackets.

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 soffit coupling feature of each of the track support brackets is configured to mate with the second attachment feature of the soffits to restrain lateral displacement of the overhead track.

10. The header assembly of claim 9, wherein the soffit coupling feature of the track support brackets is mated to the second attachment feature of the soffits with at least one clip.

11. The header assembly of claim 7, 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.

12. The header assembly of claim 11, wherein the clipping members comprise a wall piercing feature configured to penetrate at least partially into an adjacent wall.

13. The header assembly of claim 7, 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.

27. The header assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one clip comprises an s-clip.

14. 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;

a track support bracket coupled to each of the support bracket attachment features along a first side of the track support bracket, wherein the track support bracket comprises a soffit coupling feature along a second side of the track support bracket opposite the first side thereof; and

a fastener element coupled to each track support bracket between the first side and the second side of the track support bracket and coupled to an overhead support member to vertically support the elongated overhead track; and

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

15. The movable partition system of claim 14, wherein the header assembly is attached to at least one of an overhead support member and a plurality of walls.

16. The movable partition system of claim 14, 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.

17. The movable partition system of claim 16, wherein each soffit is further mated to the support brackets coupled to each of the track support bracket attachment features.

18. The movable partition system of claim 16, 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.

19. 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;

positioning a portion of a first attachment feature on a first outer surface of the overhead track within a first slot of a first track attachment feature of a first track support bracket to attach the first track support bracket to the overhead track;

positioning a portion of a second attachment feature on a second outer surface of the overhead track opposite the first outer surface within a second slot of a second track attachment feature of a second track support bracket to attach the second track support bracket to the overhead track;

vertically supporting the overhead track with the first track support bracket and the second track support bracket from an overhead support structure; and

attaching a soffit to the overhead track.

20. The method of claim 19, 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.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein attaching the soffit to the overhead track comprises attaching a first attachment feature of the soffit to a soffit attachment feature on at least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the overhead track.

22. The method of claim 21, 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.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising coupling the track support bracket to the soffit.

24. The method of claim 19, 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.

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

positioning an overhead track including a drive member channel inside a central channel thereof within a longitudinally extending space between a first wall and a second wall;

attaching a track support bracket to the overhead track;

attaching a soffit to the overhead track; and

disposing a retainer member having a generally c-shaped cross-section proximate the overhead track with one end of each retainer member positioned adjacent a portion of the track support bracket to apply force thereto and another end positioned adjacent a portion of the soffit to apply a force thereto.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising positioning a drive member within the drive member channel, wherein at least three sides of a cross-section of the drive member are covered by sidewalls defining the drive member channel.