Mobile partition device

Abstract

The present invention provides a movable partition device that prevents the lower end of a panel from contacting the floor surface when it moves, even if the rail bends downward, and allows multiple panels to be moved to their fixed positions to partition a large space without obstruction. [Solution] A movable partition device 1 for dividing a large space into predetermined sizes, comprising a rail 2 installed on the ceiling side and a plurality of panels 3 that can move along the rail 2 to the center, wherein the height dimension of the panel 3 positioned in the center of the rail 2 is shorter than the height dimension of the panels 3 positioned at both ends of the rail 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a movable partition device that partitions an indoor space into a predetermined size by moving a plurality of panels along rails.

Background Art

[0002] When partitioning a large space such as a convention hall into a predetermined size, as described in Patent Document 1 for example, a movable partition device (movable wall) is used which includes rails installed on beam members supporting the ceiling of a roof, and a plurality of panels movable along the rails.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since large-scale facilities such as convention halls are constructed outdoors, it is conceivable that during snow accumulation on the roof or the like, the beam members supporting the ceiling of the roof and the long rails supported by the beam members may bend downward toward the central portion. In the movable partition device described in Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to the bending of the rails, and all panels have the same height dimension. Therefore, when the rails bend downward, there is a risk that the lower ends of the panels will come into contact with the floor surface when moving the plurality of panels toward the central portion of the rails, making it impossible to move the plurality of panels to their fixed positions, or creating gaps between adjacent panels arranged in series. In order to prevent the rails from bending, it is also conceivable to support multiple positions of the rails with support columns erected on the floor surface, but erecting such support columns on the floor surface gives rise to the problem that the support columns obstruct passage when the panels are stored and the indoor space is opened up.

[0005] This invention was made in view of these problems, and aims to provide a movable partition device that prevents the lower end of a panel from contacting the floor surface when the panel moves, even if the rail bends downward, and that allows multiple panels to be moved to their fixed positions to partition a large space without any problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the movable partition device of the present invention is A movable partition device for dividing a large space into predetermined sizes, It comprises a rail installed on the ceiling side and a plurality of panels that can move along the rail to the central part, The rail is characterized in that the height dimension of the panel positioned in the center of the rail is shorter than the height dimension of the panels positioned at both ends of the rail. This feature prevents the lower end of the panel, which moves towards the center of the rail, from contacting the floor even if the rail installed on the ceiling sags downward due to snow accumulation on the roof. As a result, multiple panels can be moved to their designated positions, allowing large spaces such as convention halls to be partitioned without any problems.

[0007] The height dimensions of the aforementioned multiple panels are characterized by being stepped in length from both ends of the rail towards the center. This feature allows multiple panels to be positioned along the curved shape of the rail, and when there is little or no distortion, the distance between the bottom edge of each panel and the floor can be minimized.

[0008] The aforementioned plurality of panels are characterized in that they are formed to the same height dimension at predetermined intervals of adjacent panels. This feature allows for the production of panels in batches of a predetermined number, each with different heights arranged in a stepped pattern. This reduces the cost of panel manufacturing and also facilitates panel management, transportation, installation, and maintenance.

[0009] The aforementioned panels, in predetermined intervals, are characterized in that the number of panels for each interval is set according to the degree of rail deflection. This feature allows multiple panels to be moved smoothly to the center of the rail, appropriately responding to the degree of rail deflection (inclination).

[0010] The aforementioned rail is characterized by having a movement-preventing means provided in the center of the rail to prevent the panel from moving beyond the center of the rail. This feature allows multiple panels moving from both sides of the rail towards the center to be stopped in the middle of the rail, making the installation of multiple panels and the partitioning of large spaces easier.

[0011] The movable partition device is equipped with storage compartments on both ends of the rail for storing the panels. This feature eliminates the need to move the panels left or right beyond the center of the rail, and reduces the energy required to move the panels even when the center of the rail sags downwards. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a movable partition device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged front view of a portion of a movable partition device. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the left half of the rail, showing the partitioned state created by multiple panels when the rail is bent. [Figure 4] This is a front view of multiple panels of a movable partition device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a front view of multiple panels of a movable partition device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The embodiments for implementing the movable partition device of the present invention will be described below based on examples. [Examples]

[0014] A mobile partition device according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The mobile partition device 1 is intended to partition a large space such as a large-scale convention hall constructed outdoors into predetermined sizes, and comprises an elongated hollow rail 2, a plurality of panels 3 whose upper end portions are movably suspended and supported in the left-right direction by the rail 2, and storages 4, 4 for the panels 3 arranged on both end sides of the rail 2, wherein the plurality of panels 3 can be moved from both left and right sides of the rail 2 to a center line CL. The rail 2 is installed across a beam member 5 that is elongated in the left-right direction and supports the ceiling of the roof via a plurality of support rods 6.

[0015] As shown in an enlarged view in Figure 2, the upper end portion of each panel 3 is provided with a pair of left and right rod members 7, 7 facing upward, and a pair of rollers 8 spaced apart in the width direction (front-rear direction) of the rail 2 are attached to the upper end portions of both rod members 7. The rod members 7, 7 are loosely fitted into a longitudinally continuous opening formed in the central portion of the bottom wall 2a of the rail 2, and the pair of rollers 8 are configured to travel in the longitudinal direction along the upper surface of the bottom wall 2a that faces across the opening.

[0016] At the lower end portion of the panel main body 30 constituting the panel 3, there is provided a fillet 9 that can be advanced downward by operating an operation unit (not shown) to close the gap between the floor surface F and the lower end of the panel main body 30. Note that by similarly providing the fillet 9 at the upper end portion of the panel main body 30, the gap between the rail 2 and the upper end of the panel main body 30 may be closed. On the right side surface of each panel 3, a protruding strip 10 is formed, and on the left side surface, a recessed strip 11 is formed, each extending continuously in the vertical direction. By fitting these protruding strips 10 and recessed strips 11 to the recessed strips 11 and protruding strips 10 of the adjacent panels 3, sound leakage and light leakage are prevented.

[0017] At the central portion of the rail 2, a stopper 12 serving as a movement prevention means for the panels 3 is fixed to the upper surface of the bottom wall 2a. The roller 8 of the leading panel 3 moving toward the central portion of the rail 2 abuts against this stopper 12, thereby preventing the leading panel 3 from moving beyond the center line CL of the rail 2 to the opposite side. Although FIG. 2 shows the stopper 12 for the left-side panel 3, a stopper (not shown) that prevents the leading right-side panel 3 from moving beyond the center line CL to the opposite side is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 2a at the central portion of the rail 2. Providing such a stopper 12 allows the plurality of panels 3 moving from both sides of the rail 2 toward the central portion to be stopped at the center line CL of the rail 2, which facilitates the installation work of the plurality of panels 3 and the partitioning work of a large space.

[0018] The left and right storage hangars 4 are provided with two parallel storage rails (not shown) that are continuous with the ends of the rail 2 and oriented in a direction perpendicular to the rail 2, and are configured such that the plurality of panels 3 that have moved to both ends of the rail 2 can be sequentially turned by 90 degrees and stored. The plurality of panels 3 stored in the left and right storage hangars 4 are each turned by 90 degrees one by one and pulled out onto the rail 2, and the leading panel 3 is moved to the center line CL of the rail 2 and stopped, whereby a large space such as a convention hall can be partitioned into a predetermined size. In the present embodiment, the number of the left and right panels 3 sandwiching the center line CL of the rail 2 is, for example, 25 each, and the total of 50 panels 3 can partition a large space such as a convention hall into a predetermined size. Since the storage hangars 4 are provided on the left and right sides, there is no need to move the panels 3 left and right beyond the center of the rail 2, and the energy required to move the panels 3 can be reduced even when the center of the rail 2 is deflected downward.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3, the height dimension (vertical dimension) of multiple panels 3 moving along the rail 2 on the left side of the center line CL is sequentially shortened in a stepped manner from the end of the rail 2 towards the center. Although not shown in the figure, the height dimension of each panel 3 moving along the rail 2 on the right side of the center line CL is also sequentially shortened in a stepped manner from the end of the rail 2 towards the center. Here, the height dimension of panel 3 is the height dimension of the panel body 30 excluding the upper and lower fillets 9,9.

[0020] In this way, by sequentially shortening the height of multiple panels 3 in a stepped manner from the ends of the rail 2 towards the center, even when the beam 5 and the rail 2 installed on the beam 5 sag downward toward the center due to snow accumulation on the roof, the lower ends of each panel 3 moving toward the center line CL are prevented from contacting the floor surface F. Therefore, multiple panels 3 can be moved toward the center from both the left and right directions of the rail 2, allowing large spaces such as convention halls to be partitioned without hindrance. Note that although Figure 3 shows the rail 2 sagging in a pseudo-straight manner from the ends toward the center, even if the rail 2 sags in a curved manner, the lower ends of multiple panels 3 can be moved toward the center of the rail 2 without contacting the floor surface F. [Examples]

[0021] Figure 4 shows a movable partition device according to Embodiment 2, in which the height dimensions of multiple (25) panels 3 are shortened in a stepped manner at predetermined intervals of 5 panels. In the movable partition device of Embodiment 2, even if the rail 2 bends downward toward the center, the lower ends of the multiple panels 3 can be moved to the center of the rail 2 without contacting the floor surface F. Furthermore, since panels 3 with different height dimensions in a stepped manner can be manufactured in batches of predetermined numbers, the manufacturing cost of the panels 3 can be reduced, and the management, transportation, installation, and maintenance of the panels 3 can be made easier. [Examples]

[0022] Figure 5 shows a movable partition device according to Embodiment 3, in which the number of panels 3 is set according to the degree of deflection (inclination) of the rail 2. In this embodiment, for example, 25 panels 3 are divided from the end of the rail 2 toward the center into a group of 6 panels (A) with a standard maximum height dimension, a group of 2 panels (B), three groups of 3 panels each (C), and two groups of 4 panels each (D), and the height dimension of these panel groups is shortened in a stepped manner.

[0023] When the roof and beams 5 sag due to snow accumulation, the degree of sagging of the rail 2 is small at both ends and in the center, while the change in the longitudinal direction of the rail 2 is large in the intermediate section between these ends and the center (the shoulders in the sagging curve). In other words, it sags more rapidly compared to the ends and in the center, and when viewed from the front, the rail 2 may sag like the cross-sectional shape of a flanged bowl. Therefore, to accommodate this degree of sagging, increasing the number of panels in the panel group (A) at the ends of the rail 2 and the two panel groups (D) in the center, and decreasing the number of panels in the intermediate section (shoulders) (B) and (C), the change in the longitudinal direction of the rail 2 at the lower end of panel 3 becomes larger in those areas (panel groups (B) and (C)), allowing for appropriate sagging even in areas where the rail 2 sags more rapidly, and bringing the lower ends of each panel 3 as close as possible to the floor surface F, resulting in a better appearance.

[0024] Furthermore, multiple panels 3 can be positioned along the deflection shape of the rail 2, and when there is little or no distortion, the distance between the lower end of each panel 3 and the floor surface F can be minimized, resulting in a better appearance and reducing the effort required to extend the fillet 9.

[0025] As described above, in all of the movable partition devices according to Examples 1 to 3, even if the rail 2 bends downward toward the center, it is possible to prevent the lower end of each panel 3 from coming into contact with the floor surface F, and multiple panels 3 can be moved to their fixed positions to partition large spaces such as large convention halls without any problems.

[0026] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and additions and modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included.

[0027] For example, in Embodiment 2, the panels 3 are shortened in a stepped manner every five panels, but of course, the number of panels can be appropriately changed depending on the length and degree of deflection of the rail 2, the width dimension of the panels 3, etc. In Embodiment 3 as well, the number of panels 3 in each panel group can be appropriately changed in accordance with the length and degree of deflection of the rail 2, the width dimension of the panels 3, etc.

[0028] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a stopper 12 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 2a of the rail 2 to prevent the panel 3 from moving beyond the center of the rail 2, and the roller 8 is made to come into contact with it. However, the rod member 7 to which the roller 8 is attached may be made to come into contact with the stopper 12, or a stopper may be provided on the lower surface of the rail 2, and the leading panel 3 itself may come into contact with this stopper. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0029] 1. Movable partition device 2 rails 3 Panels 4 Hangar 5 Beam material 6 Support rod 7 Rod member 8 Laura 9. Closure member 10 raised stripes 11 Concave 12. Stopper (means of preventing movement) 30 Panel Unit

Claims

1. A movable partition device for dividing a large space into predetermined sizes, It comprises a rail installed on the ceiling side and a plurality of panels that can move along the rail to the central part, A movable partition device characterized in that the height dimension of the panel positioned in the center of the rail is shorter than the height dimension of the panel positioned at both ends of the rail.

2. The movable partition device according to claim 1, characterized in that the height dimensions of the plurality of panels are shortened in a stepped manner from both ends of the rail towards the center.

3. The movable partition device according to claim 2, characterized in that the plurality of panels are formed to the same height dimension at predetermined intervals of adjacent panels.

4. The movable partition device according to claim 3, characterized in that the number of panels for each predetermined number of units is set in accordance with the degree of deflection of the rail.

5. The movable partition device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a movement-preventing means is provided in the center of the rail to prevent the panel from moving beyond the center of the rail.

6. The movable partition device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable partition device is provided with storage compartments for storing the panels on both ends of the rail.

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