Glass partition systems

Abstract

Glass partition systems are designed to reduce sound transmission. The systems comprise an elongate member, glass stops, and a cap. They also optionally comprise one or both of seals and foam. These systems are advantageous when using double pane glass.

Description

GLASS PARTITION SYSTEMS

[0001] Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0002] This patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 63 / 554,639, filed on February 16, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

[0003] Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of glass partitions.

[0005] Background of the Invention

[0006] Glass partitions provide a well-known way to transform a space into an aesthetically pleasing environment. For example, they may be used as one or more walls of a room.

[0007] In systems that use glass partitions, one may include glass panels of different sizes, shapes, and materials to flexibly design rooms while balancing privacy and light. For example, dividing commercial and office interiors with European style glass partitions offers both highly desirable style and functionality.

[0008] However, when using glass partitions, obtaining a sufficient degree of blocking or dampening of the transmission of sound across the partition can be challenging. The present invention is directed to addressing this challenge.

[0009] Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present invention provides glass partition systems, which are systems that comprise or hold one or more glass panels. Through the use of these systems, one can divide spaces within a building or other structures while balancing privacy with aesthetics and, at the same time, preventing an undesirable level of sound from being transmitted across the partition.

[0011] According to a first embodiment, the present invention provides a glass partition system. This system comprises: an elongate member, which also may bereferred to as a track, wherein the elongate member comprises a first channel, a second channel, and a pocket, wherein the pocket is located between the first channel and the second channel and each of the first channel, the second channel, and the pocket spans at least substantially the length of, if not the entire length of, the elongate member; a first glass stop; a second glass stop; and a cap.

[0012] According to a second embodiment, the present invention provides another glass partition system. This system comprises a first elongate member, wherein the first elongate member comprises a first channel, a second channel, and a first pocket, wherein the first pocket is located between the first channel and the second channel, and each of the first channel, the second channel, and the first pocket spans at least substantially the length of the first elongate member, if not the entire length of the first elongate member; a first glass stop; a second glass stop; and a first cap; and a second elongate member, wherein the second elongate member comprises a third channel, a fourth channel, and a second pocket, wherein the second pocket is located between the third channel and the fourth channel and each of the third channel, the fourth channel, and the second pocket spans at least substantially the length of the second elongate member, if not the entire length of the second elongate member; a third glass stop; a fourth glass stop; and a second cap.

[0013] Optionally, in the systems of the present invention, the cap contains one or more openings. Additionally, in some embodiments, between the cap and the elongate member is a filler material such as foam.

[0014] Brief Description of the Figures

[0015] Figure 1 is a system of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 is a glass stop.

[0017] Figure 3 is a glass stop associated with an elongate member.

[0018] Figure 4 is a cap.

[0019] Figure 5 is a cap associated with an elongate member.

[0020] Figure 6 is a cap with holes.

[0021] Figure ? is the cap of figure 6 as associated with an elongate member that houses foam.

[0022] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, unless otherwise indicated or implicit from context, the details are intended to be examples and should not be deemed to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Additionally, features described in connection with the various or specific embodiments are not to be construed as not appropriate for use in connection with other embodiments disclosed herein, unless such exclusivity is explicitly stated or implicit from context.

[0024] The terms “about” and “approximately” mean an acceptable error for a particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which depends in part on how the value is measured or determined. In certain embodiments, the term “about” or “approximately” means within 1, 2, 3, or 4 standard deviations. In certain embodiments, the term “about” or “approximately” means within 30%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, or 0.05%, of a given value or range.

[0025] Headers are provided for the convenience of the reader and do not limit the scope of any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0026] Systems

[0027] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system for holding a panel such as a glass panel. The system comprises an elongate member, a first glass stop, a second glass stop, and a cap. These components may be assembled to retain panels along a surface, e.g., a floor, a ceiling, or a wall. Optionally, a second set of these components may be assembled and used to retain glass panels along a different edge, e.g., one assembly is located along the ceiling and another assembly is located along the floor. However, there is no requirement that two assemblies of thecomponents recited herein are used in combination with glass panels. Instead, one may use an assembly of the components recited herein along one surface, e.g., the floor and another assembly that is now known, or that comes to be known, along another surface of the structure, e.g., the ceiling.

[0028] Elongate Members

[0029] An elongate member 300, shown in cross-section in figure 3, is configured to receive two glass panels. In some embodiments, the elongate member comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of three substantially U-shaped channels that run the length or substantially the length of the elongate member. These channels may, for example, be parallel or substantially parallel.

[0030] Within an elongate member, there may be a first channel 310 and a second channel 320. Each of the first channel and the second channel is defined by an outer side wall, an inner side wall, and a base. Between the first channel and the second channel is another channel, which may be referred to as a pocket 330. The inner side wall of each of the first channel and the second channel is a side wall of the pocket. Each of the inside surface and outside surface of the base of the channels of the elongate member may independently be planar or substantially planar or partially or entirely concave or convex. In some embodiments, the bases of the first channel and the second channel are co-planar with each other, while none or only a portion of the base of the pocket is co-planar with the first channel and second channel. All of the channels may be open at one or both ends, or the first channel and the second channel may be open at one or both ends, thereby allowing for glass panels to be slid into and out of those channels, while the pocket may be open at both ends, closed at both ends, or open at one end and closed at the other end. Any closed end may, for example, be in the form of an end wall of the corresponding channel.

[0031] In some embodiments, the elongate member contains an element for facilitating attachment to a structure, such as a floor or ceiling. The element may, for example, be one or more holes or bores through which screws, nails, or other elements may be inserted.

[0032] In some embodiments, the elongate members are configured to allow for association with other components of the system. For example, the outer wall of eachof the first channel and second channel may contain a glass stop association element that is configured to facilitate association with a first glass stop 301 and a second glass stop 302, respectively. Thus, the first channel may comprise a first glass stop association element 311, and the second channel may comprise a second glass stop association element 321 that allows for the association of the elongate member with first glass stop 301 and second glass stop 302 respectively. As shown in in figure 3, each of the first glass stop association element and the second glass stop association element forms a bump or lip that is oriented toward the interior of the cavity of the first channel and the second channel respectively. These bumps or lips may run at least substantially, if not the entire length of the elongate member.

[0033] In some embodiments, each inner wall of the first channel and second channel, may contain a seal association element. Thus, the first channel may comprise a first seal association element 351, and the second channel may comprise a second seal association element 341 that allows for the association of the elongate member with a seal element, e.g., is configured to receive an end of a brush seal or bulb seal, the other end of which may be used to improve stability and retention of a glass panel.As shown in figure 3, each of the first seal association element and the second seal association element forms a cavity or receptacle that is oriented upward at an angle.

[0034] In some embodiments, the opposite side of each of the walls that forms the inner walls of the first channel and second channel, which is also a side wall of the pocket, comprises a cap association element that also opens upward at an angle. As shown in figure 3, there is a first cap association element 350 and a second cap association element 340. Each of the first cap association member and the second cap association element may form a cavity.

[0035] In some embodiments, the seal association elements and the cap association elements are cavities with walls and lips that are the same size and shape. In some embodiments, the seal association elements and the cap association elements are cavities with walls and lips, but the seal association elements differ from the cap association elements in either or both of size and shape.

[0036] Each of the first glass stop association element, the second glass stop association element, the first cap association element, the second cap association element, the first seal association element, and the second seal association elementmay, for example, run the length of the elongate member or substantially the length of the elongate member.

[0037] By way of example, an elongate member may be from about 5 cm to about 22 cm wide or from about 10 cm to about 16 cm wide. The elongate member may, for example, be from about 0.5 meters to about 8 meters long or from about 1 meter to about 6 meters long or from about 2 meters to about 4 meters long. The elongate member may, for example, be from about 1 cm to about 4 cm high or from about 2 cm to about 3 cm high.

[0038] In some embodiments, within an elongate member, all walls are the same height. In other members, the inner walls are higher than the outer walls. For example, the inner walls may be from about 10% to about 200% higher than the outer walls or from about 50% to about 150% higher than the outer walls or from about 80% to about 120% higher than the outer walls. In some embodiments, the inner walls are higher than the outer walls by about 10%, about 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, about 100%, about 110%, about 120%, about 130%, about 140%, about 150%, about 160%, about 170%, about 180%, about 190%, or about 200%.

[0039] Glass Stops

[0040] A glass stop 200, shown in figure 2, is an element of the system that helps to maintain a glass panel in a channel such as the first channel or the second channel. In some embodiments, a first glass stop is configured to reversibly associate with the first channel, and the second glass stop is configured to reversibly associate with the second glass stop. Two elements are configured to reversibly associate with each other if they may be attached to each other and separated from each other without undesirably diminishing the integrity or ability of either element to function in its intended manner. In some embodiments, the glass stops and elongate members are configured to be associated with each other without the use of additional hardware or tools. For example, they may snap together.

[0041] Each glass stop may comprise an elongate member association element 210 and a seal association element 220. As shown in figure 2 the elongate member association element is in the form of a clip that has a nub at the end of an arm. Theseal association element of the glass stop is in the form of a cavity with a lip for retaining elements in the cavity by causing the size of the opening to be less than the diameter of the widest part of the cavity. As shown in figure 3, the first glass stop 301 is associated with the first elongate member at a bulge in the first elongate member 311. Thus, a wall of the first glass stop hangs over the exterior of the outer wall of the first channel. Similarly, after the second glass stop has been snapped onto the elongate member, a wall of the second glass stop hangs over the exterior of the outer wall of the second channel.

[0042] By way of example, in some embodiments, each glass stop may be from about 0.5 cm to about 6 cm wide or from about 1 cm to about 4 cm wide. Each glass stop may, for example, be from about 0.5 meters to about 8 meters long or from about 1 meter to about 6 meters long or from about 2 meters to about 4 meters long. The glass stop may, for example, be from about 1 cm to about 4 cm high or from about 2 cm to about 3 cm high.

[0043] Caps

[0044] A cap 400 is designed to cover the pocket. Thus, it has a cover region 430 as well as side walls 410, 420 that contain pocket wall association elements. As shown in figure 4, the pocket wall association elements are oriented toward the exterior of the cap.

[0045] Turning to figure 5, a cap 500 is shown engaged with an elongate member 580. The pocket wall association elements 510, 520 are shown having been snapped in place at the cap association elements 540, 550, respectively, and the cover region of the cap 580 covers the pocket.

[0046] The cap runs the length of the elongate member or at least substantially the length of the elongate member. Its width may be as large as or slightly larger than the width of the pocket.

[0047] The cover region may be defined in part by the area of its inside surface, i.e., the surface proximate to the pocket. The cover region of the cap may be solid or contain one or more regularly or irregularly shaped openings. For example, when present, the openings may be in the shape of circles, ovals, ellipses, triangles, rectangles, such as squares, or other polygons or shapes that form bores from one sideof the cap to the other. The cap 600 of figure 6 shows openings 610 that run through the cover region. For reference, the pocket wall association elements 620, 630 are identified. For illustrative purposes, the footprint of the cap defined by the length and width of the upper surface of the caps is shown in figure 6 as substantially a square, but in practice the upper surface (top) and under surface (bottom) of the cap may be a rectangle or substantially a rectangle or any other regular or irregular shape in which the length is substantially longer than the width, and for example length is same as or substantially the same as the length of the elongate member with which it will be associated and the width of the under surface is same as or substantially the same as pocket that the cap will cover. In some embodiments, for each elongate member, there is one cap. In other embodiments, one may use a plurality of smaller caps, having shorter lengths, that are placed end to end along the corresponding elongate members. For example, one may align two to twenty or four to fifteen or six to twelve caps end to end to cover a pocket. When using a plurality of caps, in some embodiments, their combined length is the same as or substantially the same as that of the corresponding elongate member. When the system is designed to use a plurality of caps, optionally each cap is configured to reversibly associate with the elongate member, and each cap is capable of associating with its adjacent caps or caps, by for example, snaps and / or magnets.

[0048] When the cap contains openings such as bores from the top to the bottom of the cover region, the dimensions of the cover region will not change, but the area of the surface above the pocket will contain a first region that is solid and a second region that corresponds to the combined area in which there are openings regardless of whether those openings are contiguous. In some embodiments, the first area is the same as the second area, in other embodiments, the first area is at least 10% greater, at least 20% greater, at least 30% greater, at least 40% greater, at least 50% greater, at least 60% greater, at least 70% greater, at least 80% greater, at least 90% greater, or at least 100% greater than the second area. In some embodiments, the first area is no more than 10% greater, no more than 20% greater, no more than 30% greater, no more than 40% greater, no more than 50% greater, no more than 60% greater, no more than 70% greater, no more than 80% greater, no more than 90% greater, or no more than 100% greater than the second area. In some embodiments, the first area is between 10% and 50% of the total area or between 20% and 40% of the total area.In some embodiments, the second area is between 10% and 50% of the total area or between 20% and 40% of the total area.

[0049] Filler Material

[0050] In some embodiments, the systems of the present invention comprise a filler material. The filler material is a substance that is located in the pocket and has the ability to block the transmission of sound partially or completely and or to absorb sound partially or completely. The filler material may, for example, comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of foam, rubber or combinations thereof. The foam may, for example, be in the form of one or more regularly or irregularly shaped blocks or other shapes, or it may, for example, be a spray foam.

[0051] Examples of foam materials that may be of use in connection with the present invention include but are not limited to soundproof or sound control foams. In some embodiments, the foam is an open or closed cell polyethylene foam, polyurethane polyether foam, polyurethane polyester foam or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the foam has a density of from about 20 kg / m3to 40 kg / m3or from about 25 kg / m3to 30 kg / m3.

[0052] The elongate member houses the filler material, when present, beneath the cap in the pocket. In some embodiments, the filler material is affixed to the base of the pocket, by, for example, glue. In other embodiments, the filler material resides in the pocket but is not affixed thereto. In some embodiments, the filler material is affixed to the cap, by, for example, glue.

[0053] The filler material may be defined by the percent of the volume between the cap and base of the pocket that it occupies. In some embodiments, it occupies more than 10%, more than 20%, more than 30%, more than 40%, more than 50%, more than 60%, more than 70%, more than 80%, more than 90%, more than 95%, or more than 98% of the volume of the pocket. In some embodiments, it occupies, less than 100%, less than 98%, less than 95%, less than 90%, less than 80%, less than 70%, less than 60%, less than 50%, less than 40%, less than 30%, or less than 20% of the volume of the pocket. In some embodiments, the filler material occupies from about 50% to about 100%, or from about 60% to about 90%, or from about 70% to about

[0054] As shown in figure 7, a filler material 720 may reside in the pocket of an elongate member 710. A cap 730 covers the pocket and contains bores 740. This combination of a cap and filler material may be used to block and / or absorb sound. As with figure 6, the footprint of this assembly is shown with a cap that is substantially square and an elongate member that is wider than it is long. In practice, both the elongate member and the cap may be substantially longer than they are wide.

[0055] Seals

[0056] In some embodiments, the systems comprise seals. A seal is a material that contacts a side of a glass panel and helps to hold the panel in place. Further, in some embodiments, the seal also aids in the prevention of the transmission of sounds. By way of non-limiting examples, the seals may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of rubber. Non-limiting examples of seals are brush seals and bulb seals.

[0057] In some embodiments, for each of the first channel and the second channel, there are two seals. One end of each seal contacts a glass panel, and the other end resides either in the glass stop at the seal association element of the glass stop or in the respective channel at the seal association element of that channel. The seals may run at least substantially the length of the elongate member, if not the entire length of the elongate member.

[0058] Glass Partitions

[0059] The glass partition may, for example, comprise two glass panels. The glass panels may, for example, have planar faces that are rectangular in shape or in any other regular or irregular shape. The elongate members are configured to receive a glass panel in each of the first channel and the second channel. The glass may, for example, be clear, tempered, frosted, etched, or laminated. In some embodiments, one region of a first glass panel resides in the first channel of the elongate member and one region of a second glass panel resides in the second channel of the elongate member.

[0060] In some embodiments, each glass panel is a composite of a plurality of layers of glass and layers of laminate, e.g., three or more layers of glass and two or more layers of laminate. These composite glass panels may have an absence of air betweenlayers and may be used in combination with the elongate members of the present invention or with other assemblies for holding glass panels, for example, tracks that are configured to hold single pane glass or other assemblies for holding double pane glass that do not have all of the components of the present invention.

[0061] Assembled Systems

[0062] For ease of reading, the aforementioned systems are described with respect to the use of a single elongate member, two glass stops, four seals, a cap and optionally filler material. In combination, those systems may be associated with one end of each of two glass panels, for example, the bottom end or top end. However, in some embodiments, two sets of those components may be used, e.g., one proximate to the upper regions of the glass partitions and the other proximate to the lower regions of the glass partitions.

[0063] Figure 1 shows a cross section of this type of system of the present invention as assembled. A first glass panel 101 and a second glass panel 102 are oriented parallel to each other. The upper portion of each glass panel is proximate to a first elongate member 103 and the lower portion of each glass panel is proximate to a second elongate member 104. Via a plurality of screws, one of which is shown in the figure 106, the first elongate member is affixed to the ceiling 107, and via another plurality of screws, one of which is shown in the figure 108, the second elongate member is affixed to the floor 109. Optionally, elongate members are affixed to studsllO. Not shown, the elongate members extend lengthwise over the floor and the ceiling, and regularly or irregularly spaced screws may be used to affix them to the floor and the ceiling.

[0064] As shown, the glass panels are of a height that is smaller than the distance between the base of the first elongate member and the base of the second elongate member. At the upper end of the glass panels is a gap i.e., air, 131, 132 between the respective glass panel and the first elongate member. At the lower end of the glass panels are supports, e.g., blocks 133, 134 between the respective glass panel and the second elongate member.

[0065] Affixed to one side of the first elongate member is a first glass stop 111 and to the other side of the first elongate member is a second glass stop 112. Affixed to oneside of the second elongate member is a third glass stop 113 and to the other side of the second elongate member is a fourth glass stop 114. Not shown, the glass stops run the length of the elongate members.

[0066] Associated with each glass stop is a seal, e.g., a brush seal or a bulb seal 121, 122, 123, and 124. Not shown, the seals run the length of the elongate members. One end of each of these seals resides in a cavity of the respective glass stop, and the other end of these glass seals contacts a glass panel, running the length of the respective glass panel.

[0067] There is also a second set of seals, e.g., brush seals or bulb seals 161, 162, 163, and 164. Two of these seals are associated with, e.g., at one end reside in, a cavity of the first elongate member and the other two of these seals are associated with, e.g., at one end reside in, a cavity of the second elongate member. The other end of each of these seals contacts a glass panel, running the length the respective glass panel. Thus, for each seal that resides in a glass stop, there is a corresponding seal that resides in the elongate member and contacts a glass panel on the opposite face of the glass panel.

[0068] Between the first glass panel and the second glass panel is a gap, i.e., air. At the upper and lower end of this gap are pockets that are formed by the inner walls of the first channel and second channel of the first elongate member and the third channel and the fourth channel of the second elongate member respectively. A first cap 181 covers the pocket, which may be referred to as a first pocket, of the first elongate member and a second cap 182 covers the pocket, which may be referred to as a second pocket, of the second elongate member. Within the first pocket is a first filler material, 191 e.g., foam, and within the second pocket is a second filler material, 192 e.g., foam.

[0069] The elongate members, the glass stops, and the caps, may each independently be made from plastic, metal, a metal alloy or a combination thereof. Methods for making the components include, but are not limited to, die casting and injection molding as well as other methods that are now known, or come to be known, for making parts made from these types of materials.

[0070] By way of a non-limiting example, to assemble the systems of the present invention, one may affix the elongate members to the floor, ceiling, and walls, ifapplicable. Filler material, if used, may then be inserted, or it may have been preinserted throughout the pockets of the elongate members before affixing them to the floor, ceiling or wall. Next, one inserts the caps throughout the elongate members to cover the pockets.

[0071] Temporary glass stops with pre-inserted seals may be used to temporarily hold the glass in place. Next, one may place one or more rubber setting blocks in the floor track to cushion the glass. Then, one may set the glass in the desired channel of the elongate member onto the rubber setting block(s). Subsequently, one snaps on the temporary glass stops and levels the glass if necessary.

[0072] Once the glass is plumb / level, one inserts a full-length glass stop at each condition one at a time (e.g., ceiling, floor, wall) and removes the temporary glass stops.

Claims

ClaimsWe claim:

1. A glass partition system comprising:(a) an elongate member, wherein the elongate member comprises a first channel, a second channel, and a pocket, wherein the pocket is located between the first channel and the second channel and each of the first channel, the second channel and the pocket spans at least substantially the length of the elongate member;(b) a first glass stop;(c) a second glass stop; and(d) a cap, wherein the cap covers at least a portion of the pocket.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pocket is substantially U shaped.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises one or more openings.

4. The system of any of claims 1 to 3 further comprising a filler material, wherein the filler material is foam and is located in the pocket.

5. The system of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first glass stop comprises a first elongate member association element and the second glass stop comprises a second elongate member association element.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first channel comprises a first glass stop association element and the second channel comprises a second glass stop association element, wherein the first channel is capable of retaining association with the first glass stop and the second channel is capable of retaining association with the second glass stop.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a filler material, wherein the filler material is foam and the foam is located in the pocket.

8. The system of any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a first glass panel and a second glass panel.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a first glass panel and a second glass panel.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a seal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the seal is a brushed seal.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the seal is a bulb seal.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is a first elongate member and the pocket is a first pocket, and the system further comprises:(e) a second elongate member, wherein the second elongate member comprises a third channel, a fourth channel, and a second pocket, wherein the second pocket is located between the third channel and the fourth channel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the cap is a first cap, and the system further comprises:(f) a third glass stop;(g) a fourth glass stop; and(h) a second cap, wherein the second cap covers at least a portion of the second pocket.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a first glass panel and a second glass panel, wherein a) a first region of the first glass panel resides in the first channel and a second region of the first glass panel rides in the third channel; b) a first region of the second glass panel resides in the second channel and a second region of the first glass panel rides in the fourth channel; and c) wherein the first region of the first glass panel and the second region of the first glass panel are located at opposed ends of the first glass panel, and the first region of the second glass panel and the second region of the second glass panel are located at opposed ends of the second glass panel.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a first filler material and a second filler material, wherein the first filler material is located in the first pocket and the second filler material is located in the second pocket, and each of the first filler material and the second filler material comprises foam.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising: a) a first seal, wherein the first seal is located between the first glass stop and the first glass panel; b) a second seal, wherein the second seal is located between the second glass stop and the second glass panel; c) a third seal, wherein the third seal is located between the third glass stop and the first glass panel; and d) a fourth seal, wherein the fourth seal is located between the fourth glass stop and the second glass panel.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first seal, the second seal, the third seal, and the fourth seal is a brushed seal.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first seal, the second seal, the third seal, and the fourth seal is a bulb seal.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first glass panel and the second glass panel is laminated.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein both the first glass panel and the second glass panel are laminated.

22. The system of any of claim 1 to 3, wherein the cap covers the entire pocket.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising a filler material, wherein the filler material is located in the pocket.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the filler material is foam.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the foam is an open cell foam.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising a first glass panel and a second glass panel.

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