초록 ▼

A reusable architectural wall is provided which provides a cost-effective space-dividing wall structure formed of internal support rails joined by a lightweight, cost effective facing panel on each panel side, which preferably is formed of standard architectural materials such as gypsum board, R-boa

A reusable architectural wall is provided which provides a cost-effective space-dividing wall structure formed of internal support rails joined by a lightweight, cost effective facing panel on each panel side, which preferably is formed of standard architectural materials such as gypsum board, R-board and the like. The wall is structurally rigid, field cuttable, installable horizontally or vertically and has a substantial acoustic reduction, cable carrying capacity, and HVAC capability.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A space-dividing architectural wall system comprising: a plurality of wall panels for defining work spaces in an open building area, said wall panels comprising a plurality of elongate internal support rails which extend lengthwise substantially in parallel wherein said internal support rails at

1. A space-dividing architectural wall system comprising: a plurality of wall panels for defining work spaces in an open building area, said wall panels comprising a plurality of elongate internal support rails which extend lengthwise substantially in parallel wherein said internal support rails at least comprise a pair of edge support rails which are spaced apart in a cross-wise direction and are disposed at lengthwise extending side edges of said wall panels, said wall panels further comprising opposite facing panels that are non-removably fastened to opposite surfaces of said edge rails to prevent movement of said edge support rails to define a structurally rigid tubular wall structure;said edge rails maintaining said facing panels in spaced relation and being sidewardly spaced apart in said cross-wise direction wherein said facing panels and said internal support rails form a rigid box-like structure with said internal support rails providing lengthwise rigidity and said facing panels providing lengthwise rigidity in addition to said internal support rails and providing crosswise rigidity to said wall panels;said edge support rails at the opposite side edges of said facing panels having a rail profile which forms structurally rigid joints between two serially-adjacent wall panels, each of said edge support rails including locking flanges along a length thereof, and at least one intermediate locking key being provided which snap lockingly engages said locking flanges along a longitudinal length of each of said edge support rails of said adjacent wall panels to join said adjacent wall panels together. 2. The wall system according to claim 1, wherein said locking flanges on each of said edge support rails are deflectable and said key includes projections which engage with said locking flanges on each of said edge support rails of said adjacent wall panels to rigidly secure said key to said edge rail of each said wall panel secured thereto. 3. The wall system according to claim 2, wherein said locking flanges are resiliently deflectable and are deflected by said projections to allow snap-fit engagement of said locking flanges with said projections. 4. The wall system according to claim 3, wherein said wall panels may be oriented in an upright horizontal orientation wherein a face-wise rigidity of said facing panels carries vertical loads cross-wise between said edge rails which extend horizontally, and may be oriented in an upright vertical orientation wherein the face-wise rigidity of said facing panels carries vertical loads in said longitudinal direction with said key respectively maintaining said wall panels vertically one above the other or horizontally one adjacent to the other. 5. The wall system according to claim 1, wherein said edge support rails are optionally engagable with at least one off-modular mounting rail that allows for the connection of furniture components thereto. 6. The wall system according to claim 5, wherein said mounting rail is engagable with an interconnected pair of two said edge rails of two serially-adjacent interconnected wall panels. 7. The wall system according to claim 6, wherein said mounting rail is snap-fittingly engaged in a space defined between said interconnected wall panels. 8. The wall system according to claim 7, wherein said mounting rail is fitted into engagement with said edge rails during interconnecting movement of said edge rails together. 9. The wall system according to claim 8, wherein said mounting rail seals a joint defined between said interconnected edge rails to define an acoustic seal. 10. The wall system according to claim 1, wherein said wall panels may be oriented in an upright horizontal orientation with said wall panels stacked one above the other and said key has an elongate rail configuration which maintains said wall panels stacked one above the other, said key configured to interchangeably interfit with said rail profile of each of said edge support rails of said adjacent wall panels. 11. The wall system according to claim 10, wherein said wall panels are stacked in a plurality of rows which are vertically juxtaposed and extend horizontally, each of said rows comprising a plurality of said wall panels wherein opposite ends of said wall panels abut and define vertically elongate panel joints. 12. The wall system according to claim 11, wherein said wall panels of said rows are vertically aligned such that said panel joints of each said row are vertically aligned with said panel joints of an adjacent said row, one said key being provided at each of said vertically aligned panel joints and spanning horizontally across said panel joints. 13. A space-dividing architectural wall system comprising: a plurality of wall panels for defining work spaces in an open building area, said wall panels comprising a plurality of elongate internal support rails which extend lengthwise substantially in parallel wherein said internal support rails at least comprise a pair of edge support rails which are spaced apart in a cross-wise direction and are disposed at lengthwise extending side edges of said wall panels, said wall panels further comprising opposite facing panels that are non-removably fastened to opposite surfaces of said edge rails to prevent movement of said edge support rails to define a structurally rigid tubular wall structure;said edge rails maintaining said facing panels in spaced relation and being sidewardly spaced apart in said cross-wise direction wherein said facing panels and said internal support rails form a rigid box-like structure with said internal support rails providing lengthwise rigidity and said facing panels providing lengthwise rigidity in addition to said internal support rails and providing crosswise rigidity to said wall panels;said edge support rails at the opposite side edges of said facing panels having a rail profile which forms structurally rigid joints between two serially-adjacent wall panels, said edge support rails including locking flanges along a length thereof, and at least one intermediate locking key being provided which engages said locking flanges along a longitudinal length of each of said edge support rails of said adjacent wall panels to join said adjacent wall panels together, wherein said wall panels may be oriented in an upright horizontal orientation with said wall panels stacked one above the other and said key has an elongate rail configuration which maintains said wall panels stacked one above the other, wherein said wall panels are stacked in a plurality of rows which are vertically juxtaposed and extend horizontally, each of said rows comprising a plurality of said wall panels wherein opposite ends of said wall panels abut and define vertically elongate panel joints, wherein said wall panels of said rows are horizontally offset such that said panel joints of each said row are vertically staggered with said panel joints of an adjacent said row, one said key being provided at each of said panel joints of at least one of said rows and spanning horizontally across said panel joints. 14. The wall system according to claim 11, wherein said wall panels define internal panel cavities which are defined between said edge support rails, wherein said wall panels define opposite open ends, said internal panel cavities being at least partially open between said opposite open ends which defining panel openings which open in a lengthwise direction of said edge support rails to provide lengthwise internal access to said panel cavities, wherein a plenum is provided at one end of said wall panels and is in open communication with said internal cavities to supply a source of conditioned air from said plenum to said internal cavities.