Spatial structure
The spatial structure addresses limitations in ceiling-sustaining designs by using bridge rails to facilitate smooth panel movement across support posts, enhancing flexibility and openness in interior space partitioning.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AU · AU
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- OKAMURA CORP
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing ceiling-sustaining spatial structures limit flexibility in partitioning interior spaces and hinder smooth movement of panels, especially at beam crossings, leading to a sense of stagnation and reduced openness.
A spatial structure design that includes bridge rails connecting adjacent guide rails across support posts, allowing moving panels to bypass these posts and move smoothly between guide rails, even at crossings, with features like 45-degree angles and symmetrical coupling.
Enables seamless panel movement across support posts, reducing stagnation and enhancing spatial flexibility, allowing panels to be used efficiently without obstructing the sense of openness.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
TITLE OF INVENTION: SPATIAL STRUCTURE TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a spatial structure, for example, a spatial structure for mainly partitioning an interior space such as an office and a showroom. BACKGROUND
[0002] As such a spatial structure, a ceiling-sustaining type spatial structure in which guide rails are provided along a plurality of beams that are horizontally attached to a ceiling and a plurality of moving panels or fixing panels are supported by the guide rails so that an interior space is partitioned is known. In such a ceiling-sustaining type spatial structure, since a height thereof depends on a height of the ceiling, a freedom degree is small, and it is not possible to correspond to changes in an operational environment, an operational mode, etc. Also, since a portion between a floor surface and the ceiling is partitioned by the panels, a sense of openness of the interior space is eliminated.
[0003] 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 In order to address such a problem, there is a spatial structure (moving partition device) as described in Patent JP 3740554 B, for example. With this spatial structure, by coupling upper portions of a plurality of support posts standing from a floor surface to each other by beams (coupling rods) to form a L shape, a T shape, and a quadrilateral shape in a top view, and supporting moving panels by guide rails that are provided along the beams, it is possible to partition an interior space into a square shape of a predetermined size.
[0004] In the spatial structure described in Patent JP 3740554 B, in a case where the moving panel is moved, the moving panel can be moved only linearly along the guide rails between the support post. Therefore, it is not possible to move a moving panel with a white board, for example, between the adjacent guide rails in a L shaped crossing portion or a T shaped crossing portion of the beams and make the moving panel serve for both the guide rails, and there is a need to support the plurality of moving panels by both the guide rails of the crossing portion. For example, in a case where the moving panel is supported by each of the guide rails of the T shaped crossing portion, a sense of stagnation of the interior space that is partitioned by the spatial structure is increased.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. It would be desirable to provide a spatial structure 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 in which a moving panel can bypass a support post and move to an adjacent guide rail in a crossing portion of beams. SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] A spatial structure according to the present invention is a spatial structure including a plurality of support posts; and a plurality of beams that couple upper portions of the support posts together such that the beams cross each other, wherein the spatial structure is configured for standing on its own and further includes a plurality of guide rails which are provided along the beams and by which a moving panel is movably supported, and two guide rails of the plurality of guide rails that are adjacent to each other across the support post in a crossing portion of the beams are connected by a bridge rail, wherein end portions of the two guide rails on a side of the crossing portion are continuously connected to opposite ends of the bridge rail at connection positions, and each of the two guide rails terminates at the respective end portion connected to the bridge rail such that the guide rail does not extend beyond the respective connection position along the beam.
[0007] According to the aforesaid feature of the present invention, it may be possible to make the moving panel bypass the support post and move to the adjacent guide rail via the 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 bridge rail in the crossing portion of beams. Thus, there is no need to support the moving panel by each of the adjacent guide rails, and it may be possible to make the moving panel serve for both the guide rails and partition an interior space without a sense of stagnation.
[0008] According to embodiments, the bridge rail is linearly built over the two guide rails that are adjacent to each other across the support post. According to this configuration, it may be possible to make the moving panel bypass the support post and promptly move between the two adjacent guide rails through a short route.
[0009] According to embodiments, the bridge rail is built by an angle of substantially 45 degrees with respect to the two guide rails that are adjacent to each other at right angles. According to this configuration, it may be possible to symmetrically couple the two adjacent guide rails via the bridge rail in the crossing portion of the beams. Thus, movement of the moving panel from the guide rail on one side to the guide rail on the other side may become smooth, and it may be possible to arrange the moving panel around the support post through the shortest route so that it looks well.
[0010] According to embodiments, the bridge rail is built over each pair of adjacent two of the guide rails provided in the 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 beams which are connected to the support post in three directions at least. According to this configuration, in a T shaped crossing portion or a crisscross crossing portion of the beams, it is possible to rotate the moving panel by 180 degrees and perform a switching operation between a front surface and a back surface.
[0011] According to embodiments, a dimension between two guide rollers of the moving panel to be guided by the guide rails and the bridge rail is equal to or smaller than an entire length of the bridge rail. According to this configuration, in the T shaped crossing portion or the crisscross crossing portion, an operation of reversing the front surface and the back surface of the moving panel and moving may be more easily performed. Also, it may be possible to support the moving panel only by the bridge rail and support the moving panel in a state of inclination with respect to the beams.
[0012] According to embodiments, the moving panel is brought into contact with a floor surface at substantially only a center part of a lower portion of the moving panel in the width direction. According to this configuration, contact resistance against the floor surface at the time of moving the moving panel along the bridge rail may be reduced. Thus, a direction shift in the crossing portion may become smooth. 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spatial structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view by the line A-A of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom view of an A portion of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom view of a B portion of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view in which the A portion of FIG. 1 is seen from the obliquely lower side. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view in which the B portion of FIG. 1 is seen from the obliquely lower side. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view at the time of moving a moving panel from a guide rail on one side to the side of the other crossing guide rail via a bridge rail in the A portion of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view at the time of moving the moving panel to the guide rail on the opposite side, the guide rail that opposes across a support post in the B portion of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view at the time of moving the moving panel to the guide rail on the opposite side, the guide rail that opposes across the support post so that the front 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 and back sides are reversed, similarly in the B portion of FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0014] A mode for carrying out a spatial structure according to the present invention will be described below on the basis of an embodiment. Embodiment
[0015] A spatial structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. It is noted that for convenience, the obliquely lower right side on a paper plane of FIG. 1 will be referred to as the front side, the obliquely upper left side will be referred to as the rear side, the obliquely upper right side will be referred to as the right side, and the obliquely lower left side will be referred to as the left side in the description. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a spatial structure 1 of the present embodiment is installed to stand on its own on a floor surface so that a large interior space such as an office and a showroom is partitioned into a square shape, and used for meetings, operation spaces, etc.
[0016] 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 The spatial structure 1 includes a frame body 2 installed to stand on its own on the floor surface. The frame body 2 includes six support posts 3 placed side by side at predetermined intervals on the front side, the rear side, the left side, and the right side with a vertical dimension which is lower than a ceiling surface, and seven beams 4 on the front side, the rear side, the left side, and the right side, the beams that couple upper end portions of the support posts 3 to each other at right angles so as to form a ladder frame shape in a plan view. The support posts 3 and the beams 4 are manufactured by extrusion molding of an aluminum material, etc., for example.
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 2, to a downward recess-shaped lower surface formed in a lower end portion of each of the beams 4, a guide rail 5 whose lower ends are bent in an inwardly opposing form, the guide rail having a downward U-shaped cross section is fixed by a plurality of screws 6. The guide rail 5 is manufactured by extrusion molding of an aluminum material, etc., for example. Two guide rails 5 that extend in a right to left direction on the front side and three guide rails 5 that extend in the front to rear direction are formed to have a length that is shorter than an entire length of the beam 4 by a desired dimension so as to connect bridge rails 13 to be described later (see FIGS. 3 and 4). It is noted that both side surfaces of each beam 4 in the 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 longitudinal direction are covered by cover members 7, 7 together with both side surfaces of the guide rail 5. However, it is also possible to omit such cover members 7.
[0018] Between each of the guide rails (not illustrated) attached to lower surfaces of the beams 4, 4 that extend in the right to left direction on the rear side and the floor surface, a plurality of fixing panels 8 each of which has an adjuster (not illustrated) at a lower end are erected. Also, between each of the guide rails (not illustrated) attached to lower surfaces of the beams 4, 4 that extend in the front to rear direction at both left and right ends and the floor surface, one fixing panel 8 is erected. It is noted that each fixing panel 8 can also be suspended on the guide rail movably.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 1, moving panels 9, 9 are movably supported by the two guide rails 5, 5 that oppose each other across the support post 3, the guide rails extending in the right to left direction on the front side. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 2, by securing lower ends of a pair of left and right support shafts 9b that are oriented in the up and down direction to an upper surface of a frame member 9a of the moving panel 9, and rollably fitting and inserting guide rollers 10 that are freely-horizontally rotatably attached to upper end portions of both the support shafts 9b into the 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 guide rail 5, the moving panel 9 is supported movably by the guide rail 5. It is noted that the moving panel 9 of the present embodiment is formed by attaching a white board 11 to the frame member 9a. However, a transparent or semitransparent glass panel, a moving panel whose color, pattern, design, etc., is different between a front surface and a back surface, etc., may be used. To a central portion in the width direction of a lower surface of the frame member 9a of the moving panel 9, a wheel 12 that is rotated in contact with the floor surface at the time of moving is attached. It is noted that a freely-horizontally rotatable caster may be attached in place of the wheel 12.
[0020] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, in terminal ends of the guide rails 5, 5 in a corner portion on the front left side of the frame body 2 (A portion of FIG. 1), that is, the terminal ends in the crossing direction of the adjacent guide rails 5, 5 attached to the two beams 4, 4 that are connected to the support post 3 at right angles in a L shape from two directions, both ends of the linear bridge rail 13 having the same sectional shape as the guide rail 5 are built to make an angle of 45 degrees in a plan view and a bottom view and to continue to the guide rails 5, 5. Upper surfaces of both end portions of the bridge rail 13 are fixed to lower surfaces of the beams 4 by screws 14. Lower end portions of the adjacent cover members 7, 7 are cut out so that the bridge rail 13 is 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 inserted. It is noted that the similar bridge rail 13 is also built over the guide rails 5 in a L shaped crossing portion on the right side.
[0021] Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, in terminal ends of the three guide rails 5 of a T shaped crossing portion in a central portion on the front side of the frame body 2 (B portion of FIG. 1), that is, the terminal ends in the crossing direction of the three adjacent guide rails 5 attached to the beams 4 that are connected to the support post 3 at right angles from three directions, both ends of the bridge rails 13, 13 that are similar to the above description are built to make an angle of 45 degrees in a plan view and a bottom view and to continue to the three guide rails 5.
[0022] In such a way, when the bridge rails 13 are built over the guide rails 5 in the L shaped crossing portion and the T shaped crossing portion of the beams 4, it is possible to move the moving panel 9 in the arrow directions of FIGS. 3 and 4. It is noted that as illustrated in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, an entire length of the bridge rail 13, that is, a dimension between both the end portions that continue to the guide rails 5, 5 is substantially equal to a dimension between centers of the guide rollers 10, 10 of the moving panel 9. However, the dimension between the guide rollers 10, 10 may be 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 smaller than the entire length of the bridge rail 13 by a predetermined dimension.
[0023] Next, a moving operation of the moving panel 9 will be described with reference to schematically plan views of FIGS. 7 to 9. As illustrated in FIG. 7, for example, when the moving panel 9 on the left side is moved to the L shaped crossing portion side of the A portion of FIG. 1, it is possible to make the moving panel 9 bypass the support post 3 and move from the guide rail 5 that is oriented in the right to left direction to the side of the guide rail 5 that is oriented in the front to rear direction via the bridge rail 13. Thereby, it is possible to change a position of the moving panel 9 from the front side to the left side and the rear side and use the white board 11.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG.8, when the moving panel 9 on the right side is moved to the T shaped crossing portion side of the B portion of FIG. 1 and make the moving panel 9 pass through the bridge rail 13 on the right side and the bridge rail 13 on the left side that continue to each other, it is possible to make the moving panel 9 bypass the support post and move to the side of the guide rail 5 on the opposite side, the guide rail that opposes across the support post 3. Thus, it is possible to change the position of the moving panel 9 from the right side to the left side and use the white board 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 11. At this time, since the dimension between the guide rollers 10 of the moving panel 9 is slightly shorter than the entire length of the bridge rail 13, it is possible to turn the moving panel 9 that is supported by the bridge rail 13 as a whole in the anti-clockwise direction with the guide roller 10 on the front side (on the right side in FIG. 8) as a fulcrum point. Thereby, it is possible to smoothly move the guide roller 10 on the rear side to the side of the bridge rail 13 on the left side. Also, since it is possible to more stably support the moving panel 9 by the bridge rail 13, it is also possible to use the white board 11 of the moving panel 9 in the corner portion in a state where the white board 11 is inclined by 45 degrees (see FIG. 6).
[0025] Also, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when the moving panel 9 on the right side is moved to the T shaped crossing portion side of the B portion of FIG. 1 and once moved to the side of the guide rail 5 that extends in the front to rear direction via the bridge rail 13 on the right side, and then switched back and moved to the opposing guide rail 5 side on the opposite side via the bridge rail 13 on the left side, it is possible to rotate the moving panel 9 by 180 degrees and make the front surface and the back surface reversed, and both surfaces of the white board 11 can be used.
[0026] 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 As described above, in the spatial structure 1 according to the embodiment, it is possible to make the moving panel 9 bypass the support post 3 and move to the adjacent guide rail 5 via the bridge rail 13 in the crossing portion of the beams 4. Thus, there is no need to support the plurality of moving panels 9 by the guide rails 5 of the crossing portion, and it is possible to make the moving panel 9 serve for both the guide rails and partition the interior space without a sense of stagnation.
[0027] Also, the bridge rail 13 is built over the guide rails 5, 5 of the crossing portion of the beams 4 by an angle of 45 degrees. Thus, it is possible to promptly move the moving panel 9 to the adjacent guide rail 5 through the shortest route. Also, it is possible to symmetrically couple the two adjacent guide rails 5, 5 via the bridge rail 13 in the crossing portion. Thus, movement of the moving panel 9 from the guide rail 5 on one side to the guide rail 5 on the other side becomes smooth, and it is possible to arrange the moving panel around the support post 3 through the shortest route so that it looks well.
[0028] Further, in the T shaped crossing portion of the beams 4, it is possible to rotate the moving panel 9 by 180 degrees and perform a switching operation between the front surface and the back surface. Thus, it is possible to use both the 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 surfaces of the white board 11 of the moving panel 9 at the time of a meeting, etc. Also, when a moving panel 9 whose color, pattern, design, etc., is different between a front surface and a back surface is used, it is possible to change patterns of the spatial structure 1.
[0029] Further, the wheel 12 is provided in the central portion in the width direction of the moving panel 9. Thus, contact resistance against the floor surface at the time of moving the moving panel 9 along the bridge rail 13 becomes small, and a direction shift in the crossing portion becomes smooth.
[0030] The embodiment of the present invention is described above based on the drawings. However, specific configurations are not limited to the embodiment, and the present invention also includes additions and changes within the range not departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0031] For example, in the embodiment described above, the beams 4 of the frame body 2 are coupled to each other so as to form a ladder frame shape in a plan view, and the bridge rail 13 is built in the L shaped crossing portion and the T shaped crossing portion. However, the beams 4 may cross each other in a crisscross form in the central portion of the frame body 2, and the bridge rail 13 may be built over the adjacent guide rails 5 in the crisscross crossing portion. 2023337580 17 Jun 2026
[0032] Also, in the embodiment described above, the fixing panels 8 are supported by the beams 4 on the rear side, the left side, and the right side. However, the moving panels 9 may be supported in place of the fixing panels 8. At this time, the bridge rails 13 may be built also over the adjacent guide rails 5 of the L shaped crossing portion and the T shaped crossing portion on the rear portion side.
[0033] Also, in the embodiment described above, the linear shape of the bridge rail 13 is exemplified. However, the shape may be a curved shape. Further, the example in which the bridge rail 13 is attached to be inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the guide rails 5 is described. However, the inclination angle is not limited to 45 degrees.
[0034] Further, in the embodiment described above, the beams 4 that extend in the right to left direction and the beams 4 that extend in the front to rear direction are coupled so as to cross each other at right angles. However, it is also possible to apply the present invention to a spatial structure in which beams are coupled so as to make an obtuse angle.
[0035] Also, in the embodiment described above, the dimension between the guide rollers 10 of the moving panel 9 is slightly shorter than the entire length of the bridge rail 13. However, 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 the present invention is not limited to this but, for example, even when both are the substantially same dimension, it is similarly possible to smoothly move the guide roller 10 on the rear side to the side of the bridge rail 13 on the left side, and it is also possible to use the white board 11 of the moving panel 9 in the corner portion in a state where the white board 11 is inclined by 45 degrees.
[0036] Also, in the embodiment described above, the white board is attached to the moving panel 9. However, another surface material such as a wooden board and a mesh plate material may be provided. Further, the surface material may have a front surface and a back surface that are different from each other.
[0037] Any reference to or discussion of any document, act or item of knowledge in this specification is included solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any of these matters or any combination thereof formed at the priority date part of the common general knowledge, or was known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.
[0038] For the avoidance of doubt, in this specification, the terms ‘comprises’, ‘comprising’, ‘includes’, ‘including’, or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, 2023337580 17 Jun 2026 such that a method, system or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed. REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0037] 1 Spatial structure 2 Frame body 3 Support post 4 Beam 5 Guide rail 7 Cover member 8 Fixing panel 9a Frame member 9 Moving panel 9b Support shaft 10 Guide roller 11 White board 12 Wheel 13 Bridge rail
Claims
1. A spatial structure, comprising:a plurality of support posts; anda plurality of beams that couple upper portions of the support posts together such that the beams cross each other,wherein the spatial structure is configured for standing on its own and further comprises a plurality of guide rails which are provided along the beams and by which a moving panel is movably supported, andtwo guide rails of the plurality of guide rails that are adjacent to each other across the support post in a crossing portion of the beams are connected by a bridge rail,wherein end portions of the two guide rails on a side of the crossing portion are continuously connected to opposite ends of the bridge rail at connection positions, and each of the two guide rails terminates at the respective end portion connected to the bridge rail such that the respective guide rail does not extend beyond the respective connection position along the beam.
2. The spatial structure according to claim 1,wherein the bridge rail is linearly built over the two guide rails that are adjacent to each other across the support post.2023337580 17 Jun 2026
3. The spatial structure according to claim 2,wherein the bridge rail is built by an angle of substantially 45 degrees with respect to the two guide rails that are adjacent to each other at right angles.
4. The spatial structure according to claim 1,wherein the bridge rail is built over each pair of adjacent two of the guide rails provided in the beams which are connected to the support post in three directions at least.
5. The spatial structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4,wherein a dimension between two guide rollers of the moving panel to be guided by the guide rails and the bridge rail is equal to or smaller than an entire length of the bridge rail.
6. The spatial structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5,2023337580 17 Jun 2026wherein the moving panel is brought into contact with a floor surface at substantially only a center part of a lower portion of the moving panel in the width direction.