INTERLOCKING TEMPORARY WALLS

Abstract

A temporary wall system providing wall panels with peripheral surface mounted roto-locks for linear combinations is provided. Hinged corner posts also, providing the roto-locks, enable selectively orienting wall panels transversely relative to each other. Each wall panel provides an internal strut structure for strengthening the wall panels.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to temporary wall systems and, more particularly, a system of decorative prefinished interlocking temporary wall panels, each wall panel having skeletal framing providing durability and structurally integrity.

Temporary wall systems are used to reconfigure space through sectioning and partitioning, thereby providing privacy, more efficient use, and/or a more creative presentation of the existing space. However, currently available devices and/or methods include various disadvantages and drawbacks, leaving a variety of commercial needs which have not yet been met.

One of the disadvantages is that current temporary wall systems are difficult and time-consuming to assemble or build. Many wall panels of current temporary wall systems are filled with corrugated cardboard, so it is hard to hang heavy things therefrom, and on cannot run electricity therethrough. Typical walls have a spline system that does not clamp the walls together enough to make them rigid. Finally, typical temporary wall systems are unattractive, offering very plain, office partition-like wall panels.

As can be seen, there is a need for a decorative prefinished interlocking temporary wall panels having skeletal framing, where adjacent wall panels are connecting by way of a rotary lock bolt mechanism, or roto-lock, and hinged corner posts for selectively orienting two or more wall panels in a transverse orientation relative to each other.

The roto-lock system of the present invention enables temporary configuration to go together with just one hex wrench—much faster than current temporary wall systems.

The wall panels embodied by the present invention are lightweight yet durable through an inner strut structure, keeping them substantially hollow so electric equipment can be run through them, but sturdy enough that a user can hang heavy objects from them. Furthermore, the wall panels can be bought with custom crates that are seamlessly wheel into an exhibit room.

Additionally, the wall panels may be prefinished and painted to custom colors. Moreover, wall panels can feature decorative molding for a much more distinctive look. Thus, the wall panels can be used in at least four different configurations. Again, the internal ribbing makes the wall panels durable and the roto-locking enables set up with no dust or noise, while each wall panel may provide an external display, whereby a large beautiful room can be built very quickly in different configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a wall system includes the following: a plurality of wall panels, each wall panel defined by a plurality of peripheral edges oriented orthogonal relative to a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface; and at least one male roto-lock and at least one female roto-lock along at least a respective peripheral edge of the plurality of peripheral edges.

In another aspect of the present invention, the wall system further includes the following: each wall panel having an internal struct structure, wherein the internal struct structure comprises and internal web having opposing ends; and protrusions extending from each end in opposite directions toward opposing longitudinal peripheral edges of the plurality of peripheral edges, wherein each roto-lock comprises a female component, a male component, and a service hole disposed along the rear surface or the front surface, wherein each female component comprises a first aperture and a second aperture parallel to and spaced apart from the first aperture; the first aperture disposed along the respective peripheral edge of the plurality of peripheral edges; and the second aperture disposed along a substrate of said respective peripheral edge; at least one hinged corner post, each hinged corner post interconnecting two wall panels of the plurality of wall panels in such a way so that selectively orienting the two wall panels transversely relative to each other wherein each hinged corner post having two or more roto-locks.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a decorative temporary wall panel of the present invention, showing a hinged corner post exploded and the internal struts structure shown in dash lines;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a hinged corner post panel of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a female roto-lock component of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating wall panels aligned at the corners and not overlapping;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use, illustrating the decorative temporary walls created by combing wall panels and hinged corner posts to create a room footprint, wherein the wing wall has an optional spread of 15 degrees or more relative to the central wall panels;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use, illustrating the decorative temporary wall with upper wall panels added to the room footprint, wherein 2′×8′ and 4×8′ wall panels are combined they make 10′ tall wall segments;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use, illustrating a traditional arrangement of the decorative temporary walls that can easily be assembled by two people or conveniently rearranged into other configurations; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating how the wing walls connect with the hinged corner posts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a temporary wall system providing wall panels with peripheral surface mounted roto-locks for linear combinations. Hinged corner posts also, providing the roto-locks, enable selectively orienting wall panels transversely relative to each other. Each wall panel provides an internal strut structure for strengthening the wall panels.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention may include a plurality of dimensioned and shaped wall panels 10, 20, 90 that can be combined in one of a plurality of combinations 40 depending on the footprint 140, thereby assembling innumerable configurations 160 of temporary wall systems. Each panel 10, 20, 90 may be generally planar and rectangular, though any shapes, uniform or irregular, as well as non-planar, can be used as long as the wall panels 10, 20, 90 function as disclosed herein. Some common wall panels 10, 20, 90 may be two feet by eight feet or for feet by eight feet.

Along a peripheral surface 30 one or more roto-lock components 50, 60 may be disposed, typically but not exclusively adjacent an end of the peripheral surface 30. The roto-lock components 50, 60 may include a male component 50 and a female component 60. The female component 60 may include two concentric elongated apertures: a first aperture 190 and a second aperture 170. The first aperture 190 is superficial relative the operative surface 110 or 30, while the second aperture 170 is substantially longitudinally shorter and typically communicates through to a substrate 192 of the operative surface 110 or 30. In certain embodiments, one or more holes 120 may be disposed within the first aperture 190 along the interior substrate 192 (exposed by the first aperture 190), adjacent the second aperture 170, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The male and female components 50 and 60 may provide operatively associated service holes 52 and 62, respectively, disposed on a surface 70 orthogonal to the operative surface 110 or 30—i.e., the front or rear-facing surface 70. A hex wrench may be inserted into the service holes 52 or 62 to turn the latch of the roto-lock, such as but not limited to a Southco™ R2-0267-02 concealed butt-joint panel fastening surface mount latch, locking it to the corresponding female latch. The carefully spaced peripheral surface mounted roto-locks 50 and 60 lock the wall panels 10, 20 together so that the wall panel corners align 130, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The wall panels 10 and 20 may be double sided walls constructed from ¼″ thick plywood or the like on a 1″×3″ frame having internal struts 180, 182 or ribbing. The internal struts 180, 182 may have an internal web 180 with opposing protrusions 182 extending from adjacent opposing ends of the internal web 180 toward the longitudinal surfaces 30.

Hinged corner posts 80 enable connecting wall panels 10 and 20 transversely relative to each other, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, thereby defining a so-called wing wall 90 thereto. The hinged corner positions 80 may provide roto-lock components 50, 60 spaced apart on operative surfaces thereof. The operative surfaces may define a L-shape, a V-shape or some other related shapes, so that the transversely oriented walls 10, 20 and 90 may be selectively pivoted relative to each other one of various angles of incidents 100, such as fifteen degrees as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The front/rear-facing exterior surfaces 170 may be framed with decorative molding on one side and plain plywood on the other. The decorative wall panels 10, 20 and 90 quickly and easily lock together to form attractive, unique configurations 160 that one or two users 150 can assemble, depending on the footprint 140.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A wall system, comprising:

a plurality of wall panels, each wall panel defined by a plurality of peripheral edges oriented orthogonal relative to a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface; and

at least one male roto-lock and at least one female roto-lock along at least a respective peripheral edge of the plurality of peripheral edges.

2. The wall system of claim 1, further comprising:

each wall panel having an internal struct structure.

3. The wall system of claim 2, wherein the internal struct structure comprises and internal web having opposing ends; and protrusions extending from each end in opposite directions toward opposing longitudinal peripheral edges of the plurality of peripheral edges.

4. The wall system of claim 3, wherein each roto-lock comprises a female component, a male component, and a service hole disposed along the rear surface or the front surface.

5. The wall system of claim 4, wherein each female component comprises a first aperture and a second aperture parallel to and spaced apart from the first aperture;

the first aperture disposed along the respective peripheral edge of the plurality of peripheral edges; and

the second aperture disposed along a substrate of said respective peripheral edge.

6. The wall system of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one hinged corner post, each hinged corner post interconnecting two wall panels of the plurality of wall panels in such a way so that selectively orienting the two wall panels transversely relative to each other.

7. The wall system of claim 6, further comprising:

each hinged corner post having two or more roto-locks.