TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to internal partitions in buildings, and in particular, but not limited to, buildings of the type having horizontal concrete dividers between storeys, the dividers being prone to move relative to stationary partition elements. Ordinarily the partition elements comprise non-structural walls and ceilings used to divide the internal space within a building. Movement of these elements not only may damage them but also other parts fitted to them such as cupboards, light fittings etc.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Stationary partition elements are usually non-structural and may be damaged by movement of structural dividers. The dividers are prone to move in response to normal building movement and also in response to geo-shocks including earthquakes. Depending on the severity of the movements damage will vary, but even with relatively small movement and vibrations, unsightly cracks in partition elements may appear suddenly or gradually. It would be desirable to keep non-structural elements stationary as the building moves.

[0003] It has been proposed to cater for this movement in order to protect non-structural walls. Examples are in the following: PCT/AU2018/000047 and PCT/AU2020/000060 to the present applicant; US 4,037,380; US 7,624,549; US 8,495,844; DE 2836126; FR 2863284; US 20060032157; US 9,719,253; US 20050120661 ; US 8,458,972. There are many more examples. It is an object of the present invention to provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

OUTLINE

[0004] In one aspect the invention resides broadly in a limited universal movement mounting for a stationary partition element, typically a wall or ceiling, to a structural divider, and comprising a first component adapted to be joined or connected to the structural divider and a second component adapted to be joined or connected between the first component and the stationary partition element and being adapted to firstly, aid in operative positioning of the stationary partition element and secondly, to provide an effective amount of isolation and damage protection to the stationary partition element from movement in any direction of the structural divider within a predetermined range of movement of the structural divider. Typically, the second component includes a resilient damper element.

[0005] The aid in operative positioning of the stationary partition element typically comprises a relationship between the second element and the stationary partition element that serves to maintain an associated partition in a generally vertical or horizontal attitude.

[0006] An effective amount of isolation and damage protection to the stationary partition element will depend on the types of materials, configurations, thicknesses and other factors employed in the components and a partition and the amount of force that may still be tolerated. It should be understood that the expression stationary partition element also includes more than just a single element in a partition, some elements may tolerate force applied to them more than others and still others, damage may be hidden from view while to others it may be readily seen. Damage may be indirectly transmitted to an element through another element that remains undamaged. The degree of isolation from movement does not mean total isolation but means that which is effective in the circumstances.

[0007] Generally speaking, in any circumstance there will be a balance point thereof where the second component’s positioning of the partition element and its ability to isolate the partition element will have a sweet spot and then a range of less optimal variables in materials, configurations, thicknesses and other factors either individually or in combination that will eventually result in failure.

[0008] The first component is typically adapted to move in concert with the structural divider. It preferably employs at least one fastener, typically heavy duty, directly into the structural divider. The second component is typically adapted to ordinarily hold the partition element in its normal operative position, but then respond to movement of the structural divider, usually indirectly through the first component, without that movement or the force derived from that movement being transferred to the stationary partition element. Thus the fastener and part connected to it, follows the first component, through a range of its own response to that movement. Preferably, the response is by way of absorption and/or relative movement between the second component and the stationary partition element. Preferably, the response is to follow the first component and aid restoration of the mounting to a starting position. This means that although the second component may be pliant and deform, it tends to restores itself while still following the first component. In one embodiment the second component is separate and unconnected to any partition element. Although unconnected, where a vertical partition is concerned the second component is arranged to keep the vertical partition in vertical attitude by coacting parts of the second component and the partition element coacting to support and retain the partition element in its associated partition in vertical attitude. In one preferred example, the partition element has parts in register with the second component which together effectively provide laterally spaced apart engagements for vertical alignment. In one form the second component includes a filling of material pliantly changing shape or flexing in between parts of the partition element in response to movement of the structural divider. In one particular example the second component has a curved section that just touches the partition element, preferably on a tangent. Typically the second component operates resiliently against housing which may or may not move with the structural divider. The housing may move in concert with the structural divider. This is preferred where the partition is a horizontal partition as in a ceiling. The housing is preferably circular and fixed to the structural divider with the second component attached directly or indirectly to the ceiling and flexibility mounted in the housing to flex in response to movement so that the ceiling remains substantially stationary. The housing may be fixed relative to the partition so that the second component moves with the structural divider within the housing. This particularly applies to walls where the housing is an elongated wall track.

[0009] It will be appreciated from the above that in another aspect there is provided a stationary partition element adapted for coaction with a first and second component of respective spaced limited universal movement mounts, the stationary partition element comprising an elongate rail having spaced apart holes, each hole being adapted for freely passing a respective first component of a respective limited universal movement mount for operative movement of the first component within the respective hole. In a further embodiment the rail has bilateral parts coacting with the second component to aid in keeping the partition element vertical. The rail may be of any suitable cross-section including U and T shapes, the T-shape catering for a narrow partition and a wider second component and wider range of movement. The second component preferably fits inside the rail and extends axially along the rail. The rail may be a channel or top track of wall assembly, the track having a top inside surface in register with the second component, the second component having a medial rebate forming a gap between the second component and the stop inside surface so that the second component may flex upward against the top inside surface of the track. The holes of the stationary partition element may comprise cut outs to facilitate selective removal of the cut outs to form the holes at selected positions along the elongated rail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a part cutaway view of wall frames employing a hanger according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a part section illustrating a hanger applicable to Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a part view in perspective from below showing a hanger according to the embodiments of Figure 1 and Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an underside view;

Figures 5A through to 5D are respective, perspective,; top, side and end views of a hanger member according to the preferred embodiment of Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 6 is another embodiment employing the hanger member of Figure 5A through to 5D in another application;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a hanger assembly using the hanger member shown in Figures 5A to 5D prior to being used in the application of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a part side view of the application of the assembly of Figure 7 in use;

Figure 9 is a drawing similar to the previous drawings with a slightly modified compression zone member;

Figure 10 is another embodiment employing an alternative compression zone;

Figure 11 and 12 are perspective drawings showing alternative top tracks; and

Figure 13 is a cutout used in the tracks of Figures 11 and 12 ;

Figure 14 through 17 illustrate flexure of the rebated embodiment as depicted in phantom in

Figures 8 and 10;

Figure 18 is a cutaway view showing embodiment of the invention where the teachings herein are applied to a ceiling hanger;

Figure 19 is an imploded view illustrating an embodiment of the type shown in Figure 17;

Figure 20 through 24 illustrates a bridging element and housing suitable for use in the embodiment of Figures 18 and 19;

Figure 25 illustrates the melting of the bridge element under fire conditions. METHOD OF PERFORMANCE

[0011] Referring to the drawings and initial to Figures 1 through 4 there is illustrated in cut away a horizontal concrete divider 10 and parts of partitions, in this case studs 11 and top rails, in this case U-profiled tracks 12, the top tracks being spaced from an underside 13 of the divider 10 by a flexible spacer 14. Any form of partition may be employed; it does not have to be based on stud walls. The partitions include stationary partition elements in this case the tracks 12 which are to remain stationary relative to the movement of the divider 10. If the tracks are stationary then the other parts of the partitions are protected. Figures 18-25 describe application of the invention to movement relative to a ceiling partition. In each case there is included a resilient damper element between the structural divider and the partition to damp movement to inhibit damage to the partition in vertical and 360 degrees in the horizontal direction resulting in limited universal movement, in the examples a range of 50mm is provided, that is, this is 25mm in any direction from a selected centre position at the time of installation. Thus the invention aids in setting an initial or neutral position ready for later movement.

[0012] The top tracks 12 are fastened to the concrete 10 by limited universal movement mountings being spaced hanger assemblies 15 which include a first component of the mounting, which in this case is a screw fastener 16, which is rigid with the divider 10 and moves in concert with the divider 10. In the vicinity of each fastener 16, each top track has a hole 17 adapted for the fastener 16 to freely pass through, each hanger assembly 15 has a second component of the mounting being a hanger member 18.

[0013] The hanger member 18 is slidably mounted within the track 12, the tracks 12 comprise stationary partition elements, the hanger member 18, hole 17 and fastener 16 being arranged so that in response to movement of concrete divider 10, the hanger member is operable to extend, tilt, rotate, slide, compress, flex or otherwise absorb mechanical shock and vibration so that the stationary partitioning elements remain stationary relative to the divider 10, in this case within limits defined by the radius of holes 17 and the types of materials, configurations, thicknesses and other factors employed in the components and partitions and the amount of force that may still be tolerated if and when any deflection occurs. The fastener may also move up and down through the hanger 18. [0014] The tracks 12, in this case comprise a channel 19 and the hanger member 18 is an elongate elastic body of general figure 8 or lemniscate form, adapted to be slidably fitted into the channel 19 between side walls 20 and 21 , which walls and figure 8 form co-act within the walls of the channel fitting to each wall on a tangent. The hanger member 18 has a central hole 22 for passage of the fastener 16 and a narrow medial region 23 between lobes 24 and 25. The lobe width “x” is slightly larger than the inner wall spacing between walls 20 and 21 for tightly sliding in between the walls 20 and 21 , in this case there is a slotted compression zone 26 in each lobe using inclined slot 27 into holes 38. This arrangement aids in positioning hanger members within the track channel before the tracks are inverted and raised, so this frictional hold serves to aid applying the screw fasteners into the concrete divider. The lobes effectively infill the channel to aid keeping partitioning vertical.

[0015] The hanger member is made from material that may slide and flex in response to the fastener moving within hole 17. Since the fastener moves in concert with divider 10 for the dominant components of movement, being firstly up and down movement to the hanger will slide to move up and down, for and sideways component it will flex, for any axial in the plane of the partition it will slide and for lesser movement components including torsion and tilting movement, since it is unconnected to the track it will absorb these movements as well. Thus it will cater for all possible movements of the fastener 16 and the track 12 will remain stationary.

[0016] In the illustrated embodiment an optional return spring 28 returns the hanger member 18 to its seated position in the channel. A fingered metal plate 28 having opposed fingers 29 is an optional fail-safe in the event of fire where the hanger member 18 might be burnt out, in which case the fingers 29 with the impinge on back wall 30 of the track 12 and ensure the track remains hung. The fingers also serve to keep the plate in alignment as they project into the hanger member V-shaped holes 39 to block any rotation of the plate.

[0017] It will be appreciated that the hanger member serves both to hang, clamp and retain the partition in a vertical attitude. In Figures 1 to 7 the hanger member clamps the back wall 30 of the track 12 against the flexible material 14.

[0018] Figures 6-9 illustrates an embodiment employing hanger member 18 and fastener 16 where the spacer 14 is omitted and a sleeve 31 is employed to set the distance of the back wall 30 from the underside 13 of divider 10. Like numerals illustrate like features. [0019] In Figure 10 there is a hanger member and again like numbers illustrate like features. In this case there is no slotted compression zone, the compression zones 33 in lobes 34 are afforded by bifurcations defining opposed ens 35 and 36 connected by a bridge 37 outboard of a crescent moon shaped apertures 38 so that the ends 35 and 36 may compress slightly to aid positioning in the channels previously described and also infill the space between the channel walls. The v-shaped openings 39 and hole 22 serve the same purpose as in the previous embodiments.

[0020] The capacity of the second component will depend on the types of materials, configurations, thicknesses and other factors employed in the second component and its coacting with a partition element and the amount of force catered for in any deflection of the structural divider, the design of the materials, configurations, thicknesses will be highly variable and optimising these will be largely ordinary experiment of trial and error.

[0021] Generally speaking, where the tracks 12 are completely rigid then the hanger member will have a certain flexibility. If they are made from material that has some give and restores itself then the hanger member may be less flexible and have more capacity to absorb and restore.

[0022] The second component will usually be of unitary integral construction from a suitable plastics material and the wall thickness may be varied depending on the type of material to control the amount of flex and compression.

[0023] There need not be a compression zone. The material may be quite rigid and the relative tolerances of the track and the hanger ends may enable close friction but still slide fitting. It may compress just on the contact region where the second component is touching the partition element.

[0024] Where a narrow section 23 is employed the resistance to flex by reason of the narrow section 23 will depend again on choice of material and the mechanical arrangement that permits flexing. For example, instead of a narrow arc-like medial section there may be slots.

[0025] The skilled person will, without any invention, understand how to create many different variations that have the same function. For example, although the drawings herein illustrate a sophisticated “best method” a second component comprising a simply configured rectangular elastic plug infill between walls 20 and 21 with a central fastener 16 passing through hole 17 and unconnected to the track 12 would work. The fastener in this case may have a sleeve and washers so that the infill will slide, compress and restore in the same way as broadly described.

[0026] Likewise variations in the partition element will result in changes to the mount. There may be different arrangements for different track profiles, the mount may fit inside a groove, between ribs and so on. Examples are given above of cross-sections including U and T shapes. In the case of the T-shape the second component may be designed to slide endwise into the crossbar section of the T-shaped profile. This could be a tight but slidable “positioning” fit in two directions relying on vertical movement of the fastener up and down rather than any vertical movement of the second component.

[0027] In another variation the tracks 12 and the holes 17 may be incorporated in a form of universal track with selectable holes as set spacing to accommodate different track and fastener requirements and spacings in the one track. For example Figure 11 illustrates a track 40 having a back or web section 41 and side walls 42 and 43 shown in phantom to illustrate that these are variable so that the track profile is variable in shape and having holes 17 spaced along the track 40 at a single stud spacing and a double stud spacing so that in the double stud case fasteners could be employed at alternate or say every 4th stud and so on depending on local needs and building regulations. This allowance would not be at the expense of weakening the tracks, the meta thickness could be increased if added strength was required. Another example is in figure 12 wherein this case, the track has a back 45 which in this case has alternate holes 17 and slots 46. In this case the slots may be used to secure an outer wall where movement in the plane of the wall may be taken up in up and down and and back and forth along the slot whereas the same “universal” track may be used by virtue of the holes 17 to accommodate partitions and dividers as depicted in Figure 1 , thus only a single inventory of tracks is required to cover both instances.

[0028] In other variations Figure 8 and 10 show in phantom a recess so that when fitted, the hanger member is spaced from the back of the track so there is a gap allowing for uplift and flexing of the hanger, in Figure 8 this gap is about 4mm in a 15mm thick hanger. Figure 10 illustrates this rebate which extends between the broken lines at 49-52. The tracks in Figures 11 and 12 may have slots some of which are shown in phantom at 53 running along the side walls 42 and 43 to provide for further adjustment or movement. Figure 13 illustrates a cutout form for making holes 17. So the holes 17 may be provided by 7mm cut out quadrants 54 and 3mm wide connectors 55, a 10mm hole 56 is provided so that the upper slab may be marked at the required centres while holding the track in position. Then the track may be taken down and the connectors cut the metal section 57 removed, the hangers and fasteners assembled in the track being self held by the frictional engagement between hanger and track. It is then just a simple exercise to fix the track using the fasteners.

[0029] Referring now to Figures 14 through 17 there is illustrated a further embodiment where the second component configures a hanger assembly 58 and a track 59 of the type of employing the art and form of Figure 14 forming hole 17. The hanger 58 is of the form illustrated in plan in Figure 10 and has an upward facing rebate 60 as previously referred to in relation to broken lines 42-52 in Figure 10. This rebate permits resilient flexing of the hanger 58 in response to movement of the structure 10. This flexing is illustrated in Figures 16 and 17. It is noted that in the embodiment of Figure 15 through 17 that the side walls 61 and 62 of track 59 have inward ribs 63 and 64 which serves to retain the hanger 58 in its operation position. Since the hanger is flexible it simply clips into position so those ribs are made to project enough to enable a hard insertable clip action. It will be appreciated that friction holding as in the previous embodiment is also applicable. However, a form of track or housing configuration that achieves the objective of relative movement may be used. The example of a simple channel is non-limiting and more complex arrangements may be completed. For example there may be a housing that has downward projection that locates a smaller second component so that it does not reach the outer walls 61 and 62 but in effect is indirectly the same by reason of some intermediate part. The top wall 64 may have a stepped portion creating an inner channel and the hanger may fit inside this channel while the wall components 65 and 66 fit in the main channel.

[0030] The invention has general application to relative movement with regards to any partition and while the above has been in regard to vertical partition or walls the following example is in relation to horizontal partition, including ceilings, where the track housing the hanger is effectively replaced by a circular housing for the hanger.

[0031] Referring to Figure 18 there is illustrated an embodiment 67, in this example it is shown used with a bracket 68 and a hook 69 for suspended ceiling (not shown). The screw fasteners 70 are equivalent to the fasteners 16 in so far as they secure the housing 71 to the structural body 10, the housing 71 has an enlarged hole which generally speaking is the same size and permits the same move as the holes 17. [0032] Inside the housing 71 is a resilient hanger 73 which has flexible resilient blades 74 which in response to movement of the structure 10 in principle is the same using the hanger 18 responds to the same movement.

[0033] The assembly also has a washer 75, a threaded socket 76 and a bolt 77. The hole 72 in Figure 17 is about 30 mm in diameter and the bolt 17 is an 8mm bolt. The hole 78 in Figure 18 may be chosen to suit the expected range of movement hence another hole size is shown in phantom at 79.

[0034] The housing 71 has an inner wall 80 and the ends 81 of the blades impinge against this wall for resilient movement within the housing. The housing screws 70 and therefore housing 71 moves in concert with structural body 10 just the same as do the fasteners 16 of the previous embodiments so the operative principle is the same as it promote flexing of the hanger blades just as the hanger of the previous embodiment also flexes with the movement of the structural body.

[0035] Figure 24 shows the hanger 73 collapses during a fire so that washer 75 is larger than the hole 78 so that the integrity of the fixing to the structural 10 is retained.

[0036] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set out in the appended claims.