Abstract: A multi-program trolley and track switch system is provided for a movable wall system having multiple panels supported and movable along multiple paths defined by multiple track sections. Switch assemblies automatically direct each wall panel to a predetermined wall forming location based on the arrangement of guide plates in the each switch assembly and the configuration of a diverter element associated with each trolley. Each switch assembly includes an array of vertically oriented guide plates offset at different lateral distances from the track path. Each trolley includes a side diverter element that is positioned a predetermined lateral distance from the trolley centerline to engage a pre-selected switch guide plate. In one embodiment, lead trolleys have only a side diverter element while trailing trolleys have both a side diverter element and a center diverter element.

Abstract: A multi-program trolley and track switch system is provided for a movable wall system having multiple panels supported and movable along multiple paths defined by multiple track sections. Switch assemblies automatically direct each wall panel to a predetermined wall forming location based on the arrangement of guide plates in the each switch assembly and the configuration of a diverter element associated with each trolley. Each switch assembly includes an array of vertically oriented guide plates offset at different lateral distances from the track path. Each trolley includes a side diverter element that is positioned a predetermined lateral distance from the trolley centerline to engage a pre-selected switch guide plate. In one embodiment, lead trolleys have only a side diverter element while trailing trolleys have both a side diverter element and a center diverter element.

Abstract: The present invention involves a trolley for use in movable wall panel system having auxiliary wheels positioned on opposite sides and opposite ends of the trolley. The movable wall panel system includes multiple wall panels supported by a pair of trolleys that are movable along an overhead track having X-intersections. Each trolley is engageable to the movable wall panel by a hanging device. Each trolley includes four main rotatable trolley wheel assemblies that engage and move within the overhead track. The trolley further includes two rotatable auxiliary wheels each having a diameter that is substantially smaller than the diameter of the main wheel assemblies. The auxiliary wheels are also substantially smaller in width than the main wheel assemblies. The trolley has a plate and the auxiliary wheels attach to the plate by a spacer plate.

Abstract: The present invention involves a four (4) wheel trolley used in a track and trolley system which allows the trolley to move smoothly along a track, bear and carrying heavy movable wall panels, and minimize the stacking depth of the movable wall panels when such panels are stored. The trolley includes trolley discs that define an outer circumferential groove. The outer circumferential grooves allow the trolley discs to maintain a lubricant reserve so that the trolley discs may move smoothly along the track. While the trolley may carry heavy loads, because of its relatively small size, the trolley minimizes the stacking depth of movable wall panels in their storage positions.

Abstract: A track and trolley system for a movable wall system including a plurality of wall panels, including a track mounted to a ceiling with the track including a pair of rails, and a trolley operatively engaging said track. The wall panels are disposed in an open space and are capable of being moved into one of a variety of positions to separate the open space into smaller spaces. The trolley includes at least four wheels and an elongate member projecting downwardly between the wheels and coupled to one of the wall panels; each wheel includes a circumferential groove having an arcuate cross-section sufficiently larger than the rails to define a lubrication zone between the rails and the wheels. The wheels and rails comprise a metallic material such as steel, for increased strain tolerances.

Abstract: An anti-stacking system for an operable wall includes a guide rail mounted on or adjacent to the track so that the guide rail is engaged by panel orienting members attached to the trolley bolt. The guide rail may be mounted on the track or to the track suspending brackets. In a preferred embodiment, the guide rail is integral with the track. Panel orienting members that engage the guide rails are mounted to the bolts of the trolleys, which bolts in turn are fixed rotationally to the panels. At designated areas in the room, the track is free of the guide rail to allow stacking of the wall panels when not in use. In wall forming areas, the panel orienting members engage the guide rails so as to cause the trolley bolts, and thus the panels, to be properly rotated into a proper wall-forming arrangement and to remain in the wall forming arrangement until moved to a storage area.

Abstract: A track and trolley system for movable wall panels including a track having upper and lower flanges, the upper and lower flanges being horizontally and vertically displaced from each other and defining a channel therebetween, the upper and lower flanges each having a disc-supporting surface; a carrier shaft disposed between the flanges and adapted to engage the wall panel; and a trolley having upper and lower discs rotationally mounted on the shaft, the upper and lower discs each having a lower surface supported on the disc-supporting surfaces of the upper and lower flanges, respectively, and each of the upper and lower discs including an outer edge and a center, each of the lower surfaces sloping upwardly from the outer edge toward the center, each of the lower surfaces including a contact portion adjacent the outer edge and engaging the disc-supporting surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a track concealment system for use with a movable wall system having movable walls, a track and a trolley. The invention includes a pair of panels, each sized to conceal a portion of the track, and a pair of brackets each having a first portion attachable to the track and a second portion configured to support an edge of a corresponding panel. When supported by the second portion, the panels are arranged such that the edge of said panel is adjacent the connecting member thereby concealing the track.

Abstract: An automatic track switching stem is provided for a movable wall system having multiple wall panels (22) supported by and movable along multiple paths defined by multiple track sections (26-32) to predetermined configurations. The track switching system is operable by manually pushing each of the wall panels (22) along the track sections. Multiple switch assemblies (50, 70, 80) automatically direct each wall panel to an appropriate position based upon diverter means (115 et al.) associated with the trolley assemblies (85 et al.) for each wall panel. The switch assemblies include an array of vertically oriented plates (e.g., 255, 256, 257) that are each offset at different lateral distances from the track path. The diverter means for each trolley assembly includes a vertical pin (e.g., 123) that is situated at a predetermined lateral distance to engage a selected one of the switching plates.

Abstract: A track and trolley system that allows wall panels to be moved with a minimum amount of friction is disclosed. The track has first and second flanges vertically and horizontally spaced relative to each other. First and second discs are supported on a shaft in vertical spaced relation. One of the discs engages one of the flanges on one side of the shaft and the other disc engages the other flange on the other side of the shaft. Each disc is independently rotatable in opposite directions. The disc-supporting surface of the flanges includes a plurality of upwardly concave regions with each region formed with a different radius. The disc is sized so that the outer edge of the disc lower surface contacts the outermost upwardly concave region of the flange. The lower side of the discs is angled slightly upward from the outer edge toward the center.

Abstract: A track and trolley system for an operable wall panel which provides for linear motion. The track is mountable to a ceiling of a room and includes first and second surfaces. The trolley is attachable to the operable wall panel and includes first and second rotatable wheels that respectively engage the first and second track surfaces. The outer radial peripheries of the rotatable wheels and the engaged track surfaces are complementarily structured and arranged to limit movement of the first and second rotatable wheels relative to the surfaces of the track in the direction in which the axis of rotation of the track extends, while allowing the wheels to rotate about their axes of rotation and roll along the track surfaces.

Abstract: An anti-stacking system for an operable wall includes a guide rail mounted on or adjacent to the track so that the guide rail is engaged by panel orienting members attached to the trolley bolt. The guide rail may be mounted on the track or to the track suspending brackets. In a preferred embodiment, the guide rail is integral with the track. Panel orienting members that engage the guide rails are mounted to the bolts of the trolleys, which bolts in turn are fixed rotationally to the panels. At designated areas in the room, the track is free of the guide rail to allow stacking of the wall panels when not in use. In wall forming areas, the panel orienting members engage the guide rails so as to cause the trolley bolts, and thus the panels, to be properly rotated into a proper wall-forming arrangement and to remain in the wall forming arrangement until moved to a storage area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a track concealment system for use with a movable wall system having movable walls, a track and a trolley. The invention includes a pair of panels, each sized to conceal a portion of the track, and a pair of brackets each having a first portion attachable to the track and a second portion configured to support an edge of a corresponding panel. When supported by the second portion, the panels are arranged such that the edge of said panel is adjacent the connecting member thereby concealing the track.

Abstract: An anti-float system for operable partitions in a movable wall system. The anti-float system includes first and second camming assemblies, each including a trolley camming surface, cooperatively positioned along the operable partition track. Preferably both of the trolley camming surfaces are spring biased to camming positions where they define a passageway through which a portion of the trolley passes when the trolley moves along the track. The passageway is narrower than the width of the trolley portion. When the trolley portion enters the passageway while traveling in the wall extending direction, the trolley portion engages the trolley camming surfaces and forces the surfaces outward from their camming positions against a resistance provided by the biasing springs in order for the trolley to pass. The camming assemblies are also movable from a camming alignment to a retracted alignment when the trolley portion travels in the wall stacking direction through the passageway.

Abstract: An electrically operated drop seal assembly for a pass door in an operable wall. The drop seal assembly includes an actuator which is selectively movable by a motor between a first position and a second position. The assembly also includes a retractable drop seal which is movable between a retracted position spaced from the floor over which the pass door is suspended and a sealed position in sealing engagement with the floor. A coupling of the drop seal assembly converts movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position into movement of the retractable drop seal from the retracted position to the sealed position. The assembly also includes a pass door opening activated retractor for raising the retractable drop seal from the sealed position when the pass door is moved relative to the operable wall from a closed position to an opened position.

Abstract: An electrically actuated, expandable wall jamb for an operable wall system. The expandable jamb includes a first wall section having an inward edge for connection to a stationary wall and an outward edge opposite the inward edge. The jamb also includes a second wall section slidably movable with respect to the first wall section. The second wall section includes a sealing edge for sealing engagement with a vertical structure and is movable between a retracted position in which the sealing edge is proximate the outward edge of the first wall section and a sealed position in which the sealing edge extends outward from the outward edge of the first section.

Abstract: A drop seal assembly for a movable wall panel, the wall panel being situated in a room having a ceiling and a floor such that the wall panel is supported from the ceiling and is suspended above the floor. The drop seal includes a motor and an actuator operatively connected to the motor and movable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position in response to the operation of the motor. The drop seal also includes a mechanism, such as a compression spring, connected to the actuator and a retractable seal connected to the spring such that when the actuator is in its first position, the seal does not engage the floor, and when the actuator is in its second position, the seal engages the floor, the spring biasing the seal toward the floor to effectively seal the panel against the floor.

Abstract: A track switch for use with a track intersection for movable wall panels wherein the track intersection has a first track path and a second track path for the movable wall panels to traverse. The switch includes an actuator movable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position upon actuation by a power source. The switch also includes a diverter operatively connected to the actuator and selectively movable between a first diverter position defining the first track path and a second diverter position defining a second track path. Movement of the actuator between the first and second actuator positions causes the diverter to move between the first and second diverter positions, respectively. The actuator includes a biasing mechanism for biasing the diverter toward the selected diverter position.

Abstract: A floor supported movable wall panel system comprises a movable wall panel having opposing sides, an aperture in at least one of the opposing sides, a floor support assembly engagable with a floor, the assembly comprising a floor engaging mechanism, a support mechanism upwardly extending from the floor engaging mechanism and intermediate the opposing sides, the support mechanism supporting the wall panel, the support mechanism including an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical distance between the floor and the wall panel, and the adjustment mechanism being located so as to be accessible through the aperture. A resilient, flexible, retractable seal substantailly covers at least one aperture, so that the adjustment mechanism may be accessed through the aperture by retracting the seal to expose the aperture. A wall panel may be hingedly connected on each side of a wall panel, and the center panel may be supported by an overhead support system, such as a dolly.

Abstract: A track and trolley system that allows wall panels to be moved with a minimum amount of friction is disclosed. The system includes a track having a first rail, a second rail which is higher than the first rail, and a trolley having two drive wheels that engage the rails via annular track engaging surfaces of different diameters. Each drive wheel is independently rotatable in opposite directions. The system further includes a wall panel mount assembly haivng a housing integral with a movable wall panel and slide pads at track intersections to reduce the vertical elevational drop of a trolley when it moves across a track intersection.