Primary and intermediate horizontal leveler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617743-B2
Application number	US-201414432999-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2014
Priority date	Aug 16, 2013
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Implementations of the present invention relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for constructing and installing architectural walls that are secured to a floor and/or a ceiling and include one or more leveling mechanisms. The leveling mechanisms may allow the architectural wall to be selectively adjusted vertically relative to the floor and/or ceiling so that a horizontal positioning of the wall may be achieved. The leveling mechanisms may also allow the architectural wall to fit securely to a floor and/or ceiling.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An architectural wall system comprising:
a lower frame;
an upper frame connected to the lower frame;
a wall connected to the upper frame; and
a horizontal leveler configured to be attached between a first end of the wall and a permanent structure, wherein the horizontal leveler allows a vertical position of the first end of the wall to be selectively adjusted at both a crude level and a fine level relative to the permanent structure, wherein the horizontal leveler comprises:
a connection block connected to the lower frame;
a leveling bracket connected to the upper frame;
a first bolt that extends through the upper frame and into a threaded hole in the connection block to connect the upper frame and the lower frame together; and
a second bolt that extends through the leveling bracket such that a distal end of the second bolt can engage the connection block.

2. The architectural wall system of claim 1 , wherein the lower frame is connectable to the permanent structure.

3. The architectural wall system of claim 1 , wherein adjustment of the second bolt relative to the leveling brackets adjusts the vertical position of the first end of the wall.

4. The architectural wall system of claim 1 , wherein the fine level of vertical position is adjusted between the upper frame and the lower frame.

5. The architectural wall system of claim 1 , wherein the crude level of vertical position is adjusted between the lower frame and the permanent structure.

6. The architectural wall system of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal leveler comprises an intermediate displacement mechanism configured to provide a displacement force between the upper and lower frame.

7. The architectural wall system of claim 6 , wherein the intermediate displacement mechanism comprises the first bolt and the second bolt, the second bolt being movable against the lower frame to provide the fine level adjustment between the upper frame and the lower frame.

8. The architectural wall system of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal leveler allows a second end of the wall to pivot up to about 6 inches of lateral displacement, wherein the second end of the wall is distal to the first end of the wall.

9. An architectural wall system comprising:
a wall;
an upper frame having a v-shaped bottom end;
a lower frame adjustably connected to the v-shaped bottom end of the upper frame; and
a horizontal leveler configured to adjust the leveling of the wall, the horizontal leveler comprising:
an intermediate displacement mechanism configured to provide a displacement force between the upper frame and the lower frame, wherein the intermediate displacement mechanism comprises:
a connection block connected to the lower frame;
a leveling bracket connected to the upper frame;
a first bolt that extends through the upper frame and into a threaded hole in the connection block to connect the upper frame and the lower frame together; and
a second bolt that extends through the leveling bracket such that a distal end of the second bolt can engage the connection block.

10. The architectural wall system of claim 9 , wherein the leveling bracket comprises a threaded hole through which the second bolt extends.

11. The architectural wall system of claim 9 , wherein the upper frame comprises an unthreaded hole through which the first bolt extends.

12. The architectural wall system of claim 9 , wherein adjusting how far the second bolt extends out of the leveling bracket adjusts leveling of the upper frame.

13. The architectural wall system of claim 9 , wherein the intermediate displacement mechanism comprises a piston, a spring, or a bushing.

14. The architectural wall system of claim 9 , wherein the permanent structure is a floor.

15. The architectural wall system of claim 9 , wherein the wall is connected to the upper frame.

16. The architectural wall system of claim 9 , wherein the horizontal leveler comprises an adjustable 3-point connection between the lower frame and a permanent structure.

17. The architectural wall system of claim 9 , wherein the v-shaped bottom end of the upper frame enables the upper frame to pivot laterally relative to the lower frame.

18. An apparatus for leveling an architectural wall, the apparatus comprising:
an upper frame having a first end and a second end;
a lower frame connected to the upper frame and having a first end and a second end, the lower frame being configured to adjustably connect the second end of the lower frame to a permanent structure; and
an intermediate displacement mechanism connecting the second end of the upper frame to the first end of the lower frame, wherein the intermediate displacement mechanism comprises:
a connection block connected to the lower frame;
a leveling bracket connected to the upper frame;
a first bolt that extends through the upper frame and into a threaded hole in the connection block to connect the upper frame and the lower frame together; and
a second bolt that extends through the leveling bracket such that a distal end of the second bolt can engage the connection block.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second end of the upper frame is v-shaped.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the upper frame is capable of supporting an architectural wall.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second end of the lower frame comprises a 3-point connection for connecting the lower frame to a permanent structure.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein (i) the first bolt extends through an unthreaded hole in the upper frame and into a threaded hole in the connection block, and (ii) the second bolt extends through a threaded hole in the leveling bracket.

23. A method for installing an architectural wall, the method comprising:
connecting a lower frame to a surface of a permanent structure;
crudely adjusting the connection between the lower frame and the surface of the permanent structure such that the lower frame stands about vertically;
connecting an upper frame to the lower frame by extending a first bolt through an unthreaded hole in the upper frame and into a threaded hole in connection block associated with the lower frame; and
finely adjusting the connection between the upper frame and the lower frame such that the upper frame is level, wherein finely adjusting the connection comprises extending a second bolt through a threaded hole in a leveling bracket associated with the upper frame and into contact with the connection block.

Assignees

• Dirtt Environmental Solutions

Inventors

• Brown Thomas Alfred
• Gosling Geoff W
• Smed Mogens F

Classifications

• E04B2/7422 Primary

  with separate framed panels without intermediary support posts · CPC title

• E04F21/1894

  Lever-type lifters gripping the bottom edge of wall panels (door lifters B66F15/00) · CPC title

• E04B2002/749

  Partitions with screw-type jacks · CPC title

• E04F21/1877 Primary

  Leveling devices · CPC title

• E04B2/56

  {Load-bearing} walls of framework or pillarwork; Walls incorporating load-bearing elongated members (E04B2/74, E04B2/88 take precedence; pillars E04C3/30) · CPC title