SUICIDE PREVENTION WALL MOUNTING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wall fixing system for the detachable fixing of wall or door panels (1) for suicide prevention, comprising: - a support profile (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), on which a wall or door panel (1) can be fixed; and - a first set of coupling means (3; 4), comprising a first (3) and a second (4) coupling element which can be connected to each other by means of a magnetic attraction force, the first coupling element (3) being able to be fixed against a support structure (5) and the second coupling element (4) being provided on the support profile (2), the first (3) and the second (4) coupling element being detachable from each other by a displacement of the coupling elements (3;4) relative to each other in a downward direction of movement along the longitudinal direction (L) in which the support profile (2) extends, and the first set of coupling means (3; 4) comprising retaining means (6; 7) which are provided to prevent the first coupling element (3) from moving relative to the second coupling element (4) in any direction deviating from said downward direction of movement. Figures for the abbreviation: Figure 3;

Description

Title of the invention: SUICIDE PREVENTION WALL MOUNTING SYSTEM

[0001] The present invention relates to a wall fixing system for the detachable fixing of wall or door panels, comprising a support profile extending in a longitudinal direction, on which a wall or door panel can be fixed, and a first set of coupling means, comprising a first and a second coupling element which can be connected to each other by means of a magnetic attraction force, the first coupling element being able to be fixed against a support structure and the second coupling element being provided on the support profile.

[0002] The wall fixing system according to the present invention relates more particularly to a wall fixing system for suicide prevention by hanging. This wall fixing system is more specifically suitable for application on partitions, security doors, bathroom doors, shower doors and shower enclosures which are indirectly fixed to or against a supporting structure.

[0003] The wall-mounting system according to the invention is intended for use, inter alia, in psychiatric centers, hospitals, and centers for people with mental disabilities, or other suitable locations for mental health care. Such institutions, which often house patients with mental disorders, must be designed in such a way that patients do not come into contact with objects with which they could injure themselves or attempt suicide.Similarly, doors and / or partitions used in such institutions, such as a bathroom door or shower screen, must be manufactured in such a way that the risk of injury or suicide attempts is minimized, for example by ensuring that the doors or partitions do not have sharp edges, do not have protruding parts from which a rope or cord can be hung, are strong enough so that no part can be torn off... .

[0004] More particularly, the problem of the present invention relates to the prevention of suicide attempts by making it impossible for a patient to commit suicide by using the upper edge of a door and / or wall as a means of attachment to fix an object such as a cord or rope.

[0005] A known solution to this problem lies in providing, in these institutions, doors with an inclined upper edge, such that when a If a patient tries to hang an object, such as a rope, from the upper edge, the object slides down due to the slope, making suicide attempts with such an object much more difficult. While these doors are effective, a significant drawback is that they do not close completely, constantly reminding patients that they are in a mental health facility, which can lead to increased agitation. This solution also requires a complicated additional processing step in the manufacturing of the door and / or partition.

[0006] Another known solution, shown in US patent 2011225886, involves the use of a door whose upper edge has a sensing mechanism designed to detect when the upper edge of the door is stressed by the patient's weight, due to the patient hanging from the upper edge of the door. When the mechanism detects this weight, the upper edge of the door lowers, resulting in a sloping upper edge, as discussed above. Although patients have more privacy with such a lowering door, the mechanism is very complex and adapting it to any type of door or wall is not straightforward.

[0007] Another known solution, shown in US patent 2009293364, involves the use of a slightly inflated door and / or panel, for example, made of vinyl or other materials. This door is so light that it can be suspended using a fastening method such as Velcro strips. Because this fastening is so minimal, sufficient pressure on the upper edge of the door will cause it to detach from this fastening method, making it impossible for the patient to lean on it. The problem here again lies in the fact that the doors and / or panels must be specifically adapted for use in such a system, which is very complicated, since these doors must be specifically manufactured from a very lightweight material so that they can be suspended with minimal force.Furthermore, the sight of these doors will constantly remind patients that they are staying in a mental health care institution, as a result of which they will become agitated more quickly.

[0008] The object of the present invention relates to a simple wall fixing system for door or wall panels, which is easier to mount and which allows standard door and / or wall panels to be fixed simply to a support structure, this wall fixing system being provided in such a way that it becomes impossible for a patient to attempt suicide using the upper edge of the standard door and / or wall panel.

[0009] The objective of this invention is achieved by a wall fixing system for the detachable fixing of wall or door panels, comprising:

[0010] - a support profile extending along a longitudinal direction, on which a A wall or door panel can be attached; and

[0011] - a first set of coupling means, comprising a first and a second coupling element which can be connected to each other via a magnetic attraction force, the first coupling element being able to be fixed against a support structure and the second coupling element being provided on the support profile,

[0012] the first and second coupling elements being detachable from each other by a displacement of the coupling elements relative to each other in a downward direction of displacement in accordance with the longitudinal direction in which the support profile extends and the first set of coupling means comprising retention means provided to prevent the displacement of the first coupling element relative to the second coupling element in any direction deviating from said downward direction of displacement.

[0013] Such a wall fixing system allows a desired wall or door panel to be detachably fixed to a supporting structure without having to adapt the wall or door panel itself, which was often necessary with prior art. This reduces costs and also makes it much easier to replace existing doors and / or partitions with a more secure fixing system.

[0014] Since the coupling elements can be magnetically connected to one another and these coupling elements are equipped with retaining means that allow only a specific movement of the coupling elements relative to each other, it is possible to implement a simple mechanism that ensures that the door or wall panels can only be detached from the support profile in the longitudinal direction. This has the significant advantage that, when the door or wall panels detach from the support structure or wall, there is no risk of the often heavy panels falling on the patient and causing injury. According to the present invention, the retaining means are designed such that only a downward movement can detach the first and second coupling elements from each other.Therefore, it is only when someone exerts a sufficiently large downward force on a door or wall panel that is fixed to the support profile (for example, due to a person's own weight when that person attempts suicide using a rope attached to the door or wall panel) that the first and second coupling elements detach from each other, whereupon the support profile (together with the wall or door panel attached to it) will also detach.

[0015] The retaining means are preferably complementary (cooperating with each other). More specifically, the retaining means comprise male and female retaining means, with the male retaining means provided on one coupling element and the female retaining means provided on the other coupling element. The male and female retaining means are preferably integral parts of the coupling elements in question. Preferably, in the coupled state of the coupling elements, the male retaining means grip the female retaining means. Preferably, the male retaining means comprise at least one protrusion and the female retaining means comprise at least one retaining edge behind which the protrusion of the male retaining means can grip.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the wall-mounting system according to the invention, the first and second coupling elements detach from each other when the force exerted along the direction of movement on the first set of coupling means exceeds the magnetic attraction force between the first and second coupling elements. The force exerted is preferably a vertical force. As a result, the wall or door panels will not fall or detach during normal use, but when a patient attempts to suspend their weight from the panel, the panel will detach. The limiting value (critical or minimum stress) at which the exerted force exceeds the magnetic attraction force is preferably less than the patient's body weight.For example, when used in facilities where children are treated, a lower limit value should preferably be chosen. A preferred critical load is 40 kg (400 N). When determining the limit value, the weight of the door or wall panel and the support profile must also be taken into account.

[0017] In a more preferred embodiment, one coupling element comprises a magnetic element having a permanent magnet, and the other coupling element comprises a magnetically attractive material. In particular, the magnetic element and the magnetically attractive material have the same shape, preferably a block shape. Preferably, in the coupled state, the magnetic element of one coupling element and the attractive material of the other coupling element are positioned in line with each other, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the support profile. Preferably, in the coupled state, there is direct contact between the magnetic element and the magnetically attractive material. An air gap or an intermediate space may also be provided between the magnetic element and the magnetically attractive material.By varying the distance between the magnetic element and the magnetically attractive material, the force of magnetic attraction. can also be adapted. In another embodiment, the intermediate space (or air gap) can be filled with a non-magnetic intermediate material.

[0018] The permanent magnet is preferably made of neodymium, but a permanent magnet made of another suitable material can also be used. Due to its high energy density, neodymium has the advantage that the volume of the magnetic element can be limited. This magnetic element is preferably a sandwich element, with the permanent magnet placed between two metal pole plates. The sandwich structure adapts the magnet's field strength, such that a very strong field is present at a close distance from the permanent magnet and a much weaker field at a greater distance. As a result, the magnetic force between the coupling elements is higher, and the permanent magnet better meets safety requirements due to the weaker field at long distances. The magnetic element is also preferably coated with a coating, and more preferably with an epoxy coating.Such a coating protects the magnetic elements against corrosion. This is especially necessary when used in humid environments, such as a bathroom, because otherwise the magnetic assembly will rust much more quickly.

[0019] The other coupling element, which is implemented as a counter-pole, preferably comprises a metallic element, such as an iron element. This other coupling element is preferably manufactured as a contact plate, although this is not a requirement. Preferably, the housing (the body) of the first and second coupling elements, in which either the magnetic element or the attractable magnetic material is placed, is made of a non-magnetic material, such as a synthetic material.

[0020] The support profile of the wall mounting system is preferably made of a synthetic material or metal, such as stainless steel. The door and / or wall panels can be hinged to this support profile using a suitable hinge system. Preferably, one end of the support profile, especially the upper end, is angled so that objects slide along this end.

[0021] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the wall mounting system according to the invention, said system further comprises a second set of coupling elements, including a third and a fourth coupling element, the third coupling element being able to be fixed against a support structure and the fourth coupling element being provided on the support profile, the second set of coupling means comprising retaining means provided to prevent displacement of the third coupling element relative to the fourth coupling element in any direction deviating from the downward direction of movement. By using a second set of coupling elements, the fall of the support profile, in combination with the door panels, onto a patient will be further prevented. Alternatively, the wall-mounting system may also include more than two sets of coupling elements, each performing the same function as the second pair. Preferably, the third and fourth coupling elements are of identical construction to the first and second coupling elements, except for the presence of the magnetic element or magnetically attractive material.

[0022] In practice, the second set of coupling means is not magnetically attracted to one another. However, the second set of coupling means can be made magnetically attracted to each other by placing a magnetic element on one coupling element and a magnetically attracted material on the other coupling element. In this way, the limit value described above can be substantially increased.

[0023] The invention is now further explained with the aid of the detailed description below of some preferred embodiments of a wall-mounting system according to the present invention. The purpose of this description is solely to give explanatory examples and to indicate other advantages and features of the invention and therefore cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the scope of the invention or of the patent rights claimed in the claims.

[0024] The detailed description refers by means of reference numerals to the attached drawings, which represent:

[0025] - Figure 1: A schematic representation of the operating principle of the wall fixing system, [Fig. 1a] showing a door panel mounted via the wall fixing system and [Fig. 1b] showing the situation when a vertical load, which is greater than the magnetic attraction force between the two coupling elements, is exerted on the wall panel, as a result of which the door panel detaches from the support structure;

[0026] - [Fig.2]: a perspective representation of a door panel fixed using a wall mounting system according to the invention;

[0027] - [Fig.3]: a perspective representation of the system shown in [Fig.2], showing the door panel in the state not mounted on the wall fixing system, following which the first and third coupling elements, fixed against the support structure, are visible;

[0028] - [Fig.4]: an internal face of the support profile in which the second and the fourth coupling element are arranged;

[0029] - [Fig. 5]: a detailed representation of a part of the support profile, namely the part where the second coupling element is located;

[0030] - [Fig.6]: a first embodiment of the first coupling element;

[0031] - [Fig.7]: a second embodiment of the first coupling element;

[0032] - [Fig.8]: a perspective representation of the third coupling element;

[0033] - [Fig.9]: a perspective representation of the fourth coupling element;

[0034] - [Fig. 10]: a perspective representation of the third and fourth elements mating in the mated state.

[0035] The present invention relates to a wall-mounting system for suicide prevention, intended for the detachable attachment of wall or door panels (1), comprising: a support profile (2) extending along a longitudinal direction (L) onto which a wall or door panel (1) can be attached, and at least a first set of coupling means (3; 4) that can be connected to each other by means of a magnetic attraction force. The wall or door panels are connected to the support profile (2) by means of a known linking system, such as, for example, a hinge mechanism.

[0036] The first set of coupling means (3; 4) comprises a first (3) and a second (4) coupling element, the first coupling element (3), as can be seen in Figures 1b and 3, being able to be fixed against a support structure (5), such as a support wall, and the second coupling element (4), as can be seen, among other things, in Figures 4 and 5, being mounted on the support profile, preferably by means of bonding or another suitable joining technique. The support profile is preferably a U-shaped support profile, made of a synthetic material or of metal, such as stainless steel.

[0037] According to this invention, the first (3) and second (4) coupling elements can be detached from each other by moving the coupling elements (3; 4) relative to each other in a downward direction. This direction of movement is along the longitudinal direction (L) in which the support profile (2) extends. A wall-mounting system thus implemented ensures that a door or wall panel connected by it detaches when a critical load, as shown in [Fig. 1a], is applied to the door or wall panel in question. The critical load is generally a vertical load. For determining the critical load, the weight of the door panel and the support profile must be taken into account, as well as a certain margin, so that the door panel (1) does not detach under the slightest load.By default, the weight of a door panel and a support profile is approximately 15 kg. Allowing for some margin, it can be stated that... A critical load of 40 kg (400 N) can be accepted as the standard setting, referred to as Fmax. Therefore, as long as the vertical load on the door panel (1), which is fixed to the support profile, is less than Fmax, the door panel remains in its normal operating condition, i.e., fixed against the support structure. As soon as a vertical load on the door panel (1), preferably on its upper edge, is equal to or greater than Fmax, the door panel (1) detaches from its support structure (5).

[0038] According to the invention, the first set of coupling means (3; 4) further includes retaining means (6; 7), which are provided to prevent the displacement of the first coupling element (3) relative to the second coupling element (4) in any direction deviating from said downward direction of displacement, such as for example a perpendicular, inclined or radial direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the support profile (2).

[0039] The retaining means (6; 7) of the first and second coupling elements are shown in Figures 5 to 7 and comprise male retaining means (6) and female retaining means (7), the male retaining means (6) being provided on one coupling element, in this case the second coupling element (4), and the female retaining means (7) being provided on the other coupling element, in this case the first coupling element (3). The male and female retaining means are preferably integral parts of the coupling elements in question. Preferably, in the coupled state of the coupling elements, the male retaining means (6) grip in and / or behind the female retaining means (7).

[0040] As shown in [Fig. 6], the first coupling element (3) is a body, preferably made of synthetic material, having a flat base (14) and two vertical side walls (15) extending transversely across the base (14). In the space between said side walls (15) is placed a block-shaped magnetic element (10) in the form of a permanent magnet, called a contact magnet, preferably a neodymium magnet. Such magnets have the advantage of exhibiting a strong magnetic field in the immediate vicinity, which decreases rapidly with increasing distance. They also exhibit a low magnetic field, preferably of 0.5 mT (millitesla), consequently belonging to the lowest class and also complying with the safety guidelines imposed for magnetic products, and no declaration of the presence of magnets or of the wall-mounting system in question is required.The residual space between said side walls may remain free or, in another embodiment (cf. [Fig.7]), may be filled, so that a first solid coupling element (3) is made.

[0041] The first coupling element (3) can be fixed against a support structure (5) via the base (14), for example using a screw connection. At this Finally, the base can be provided with one or more threaded passages to facilitate its attachment. In the first coupling element (3) shown, the two side walls, as can be seen in figures 6 and 7, are provided with a recess resulting in a retaining edge (9), which forms the female retaining means (7), is formed on the two side walls.

[0042] As shown, among other things, in [Fig. 5], the second coupling element (4) is also a body, preferably made of synthetic material, having a flat bottom and two vertical side walls extending transversely across the bottom. A magnetically attractive block-shaped element (11), in the form of a metallic block, preferably a block made of iron, is placed in the space between said side walls. The remaining space between the vertical side walls may remain free or, in another embodiment, may be filled, so that a second solid coupling element is formed.

[0043] The second coupling element (4) can be fixed in the support profile (2), among other ways by means of its base, which can for example be achieved by means of gluing. As can be seen in [Fig. 5], the two side walls are provided on one face with a projection (8) which forms the male retaining means (6) and, in the coupled state of the first set of coupling means, the two projections (8) of the second coupling element (4) grip behind the retaining edge(s) of the first coupling element (3).

[0044] In the embodiment shown, the first coupling element (3) is provided with a magnetic element (10) and the second coupling element (4) is provided with a magnetically attractive material (11). In this way, the first (3) and second (4) coupling elements are connected to each other with a certain attractive force in the coupled state. Of course, the reverse is also possible, namely that the first coupling element is provided with a magnetically attractive material and the second coupling element is provided with a magnetic element. The strength of the magnet will be chosen according to the critical load, determined beforehand, that the wall mounting system must be able to withstand at a minimum.

[0045] The first (3) and second (4) coupling elements can be detached from each other when the force exerted in the direction of movement on the first set of coupling means—in practice, this will be a downward force exerted on the door, known as the vertical load—or on the door panel (1) which is connected to the support profile—is greater than the magnetic attraction force between the first (3) and second (4) coupling elements. As a result, the wall or door panels (1) will not fall or detach during normal use, but if a patient attempts to hang their weight on the door panel (1), this panel detaches. The limit value (critical stress or minimum stress) at which the exerted force becomes greater than the magnetic attraction force is preferably less than the patient's body weight. For example, when used in facilities where children are treated, a lower limit value should preferably be chosen.

[0046] For the stability and proper functioning of the system, a second set of cooperating coupling elements (12; 13) is provided, comprising a third (12) and a fourth (13) coupling element. The third coupling element (12) is fixed against a support structure (5) (see [Fig. 3]), and the fourth coupling element (13) is provided on the support profile (2) (see [Fig. 4]). This second set of coupling means is shown in [Fig. 10] and also includes retaining means (6; 7) designed to prevent the third coupling element from moving relative to the fourth coupling element in any direction other than downward. These coupling elements are made of synthetic material.

[0047] As can be seen in Figures 8 to 10 in the appendix, the third (12) and fourth (13) coupling elements are constructed in the same way as the first (3) and second (4) coupling elements, respectively. They have the same characteristics as the first (3) and second (4) coupling elements, respectively, with the exception of the magnetic element (10) or the magnetically attractive element (11). In practice, the first set of coupling elements, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], is provided on the upper face of the support profile, and the second set of coupling elements is provided on the lower face of the support profile.

Claims

Demands

1. A wall fixing system for the detachable fixing of wall or door panels (1), comprising: - a support profile (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), on which a wall or door panel (1) can be fixed; and - a first set of coupling means (3; 4), comprising a first (3) and a second (4) coupling element which can be connected to each other by means of a magnetic attraction force, the first coupling element (3) being able to be fixed against a support structure (5) and the second coupling element (4) being provided on the support profile (2), characterized in that the first (3) and the second (4) coupling element are detachable from each other by a displacement of the coupling elements (3;4) one relative to the other in a downward direction of movement in accordance with the longitudinal direction (L) in which the support profile (2) extends and in that the first set of coupling means (3; 4) includes retaining means (6; 7) which are provided to prevent the first coupling element (3) from moving relative to the second coupling element (4) in any direction deviating from said downward direction of movement.

2. Wall fixing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first (3) and the second (4) coupling element are detachable from each other when the force exerted in the direction of movement on the first set of coupling means (3; 4) is greater than the magnetic attraction force between the first (3) and the second (4) coupling element.

3. Wall fixing system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining means (6; 7) are complementary retaining means (6; 7), comprising male retaining means (6) and female retaining means (7), the male retaining means (6) being provided on one coupling element and the female retaining means (7) being provided on the other coupling element.

4. Wall fixing system according to claim 3, characterized in that the male retaining means (6) comprise at least a projection (8) and the female retaining means (7) include at least one retaining edge (9) behind which the projection (8) can grip.

5. Wall fixing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one coupling element comprises a magnetic element (10) having a permanent magnet and the other coupling element comprises a magnetically attractive material (11).

6. Wall fixing system according to claim 5, characterized in that in the coupled state, the magnetic element (10) and the magnetically attractive material (11) are positioned in line with each other, viewed along the longitudinal direction (L) of the support profile.

7. Wall fixing system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the permanent magnet is a neodymium magnet.

8. Wall fixing system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the magnetically attractive material (11) is a metal, preferably iron.

9. Wall fixing system according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the magnetic element (10) is provided with a coating layer, preferably an epoxy coating layer.

10. Wall fixing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one end of the support profile (2) is made in an inclined manner.

11. A wall fixing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system further comprises a second set of coupling elements (12; 13), comprising a third (12) and a fourth (13) coupling element, the third coupling element (12) being able to be fixed against a support structure (5) and the fourth coupling element (13) being provided on the support profile (2), the second set of coupling means (12; 13) comprising retaining means (6; 7) which are provided to prevent the movement of the third coupling element (12) relative to the fourth coupling element (13) in any direction deviating from said downward direction of movement.

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