Modernfold, Inc.

N Douglas Owens

Thomas L Goldsmith

Jerald A McRoberts

John W Toma

Melvin W Tompkins

George E Fort

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.

Multi-program trolleys and switches

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.

Anti-stacking system for operable walls

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.

Track and trolley system for movable wall panels

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.

Track concealing system for operable walls

An automatic track switching stem is provided for a movable wall system having multiple wall panels ( ) supported by and movable along multiple paths defined by multiple track sections ( ) to predetermined configurations. The track switching system is operable by manually pushing each of the wall panels ( ) along the track sections. Multiple switch assemblies ( ) automatically direct each wall panel to an appropriate position based upon diverter means ( et al.) associated with the trolley assemblies ( et al.) for each wall panel. The switch assemblies include an array of vertically oriented plates (e.g., ) 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., ) that is situated at a predetermined lateral distance to engage a selected one of the switching plates. In one embodiment, each panel includes a lead trolley and a trailing trolley, with the vertical pin for each associated diverter means having different heights. The switching plates for different switch assemblies have heights calibrated to be engaged by only one of lead or trailing trolley.

Automatic track switching system for operable walls

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.

Linear motion trolley and track systems for operable walls

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.

Anti-float system for operable partitions

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.

Electrically operated drop seal for pass doors in operable walls

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. The expandable jamb also includes an actuator movable between a first position and a second position connected to both the first and second wall sections and a motor connected to the actuator such that operation of the motor causes the actuator to move between its first and second positions, thereby resulting in movement of the second wall section between its retracted and expanded positions, respectively. Use of the jamb results in an operable wall system which serves as a sound and light barrier between the rooms which the system divides and assists in flattening the wall panels. The jamb may also include a mechanism for sensing the pressure the jamb exerts on the surface in its expandable position, sealingly engages to result in a good seal and to avoid potential damage to the expansion mechanism, the wall panels or the walls.

Electrically operated expandable jamb for operable walls

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.

Electrically operated drop seal for operable walls

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. The biasing mechanism is operatively connected to the diverter such that, as the diverter is in or moving toward the selected diverter position, the biasing mechanism allows the diverter to move toward the non-selected diverter position upon application of a force against the diverter toward the non-selected diverter position.

Track switch for suspended movable wall panels

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. This permits the center panel to include a thresholdless pass door. In the preferred embodiment, each overhead support system comprises a distally variable, load bearing bias mechanism engaging the overhead panel support mechanism and the wall panel, whereby the overhead panel support mechanism bears an increasing load of the weight of the panel upon an increase in the distance between the overhead track and the wall panel.

Floor-supported movable wall panel with height adjustment system

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.

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Lynn, IN, United States of America

N Douglas Owens