Method of configuring walls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9840841-B2
Application number	US-201514903035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2015
Priority date	Feb 20, 2014
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A method of configuring a modular wall having a plurality of different types of interchangeable wall modules with different types of compatible connection components, each connection component being configured to align with another connection component at an interface to form an interface connection for securing the connection components together with one or more universal connection interface members. The modular wall system is configured for on-demand reconfiguration without laborious alteration to aspects of the walls system, modules, and components thereof. Reconfiguration of modules is facilitated by removing the universal connection interface member from the interface connection, thereby releasing the attachment mechanism and allowing rearrangement of the module(s). Replacement of the universal connection interface member secures the reconfigured modules in place in the rearranged wall system.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of assembling a wall system comprising:
providing a plurality of modules configured to be arranged into a modular structure, wherein each module comprises at least one connection element configured to be attached to a connection element of another module;
aligning a connection element of a first module with a connection element of a second module at a connection interface such that a c-shaped interface channel of the connection element of the first module and a c-shaped interface channel of the connection element of the second module form an interface channel when aligned; and
reversibly securing the first module to the second module by means of a connection interface component that is symmetrically x-shaped, having four opposed channel engagement elements that align the connection interface component into the interface channel such that an interface component attachment member of the first module, and an interface component attachment member of the second module are coupled between pairs of the opposed engagement elements, wherein the connection interface component is oriented in a vertical or horizontal direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connection element comprises a longitudinally elongated support member extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the support member having a rigid or semi-rigid configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the connection interface component is used to reversibly secure the first module to the second module while oriented in a vertical direction, the connection interface component may also be used to reversibly secure the first module to a third module while in a horizontal direction.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the connection elements of the first and second module form a cantilever channel when aligned; and
the cantilever channel extends longitudinally across an outer side edge of the connection elements.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface channel extends through an inner portion of the secured first and second modules.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one connection element comprises one or more tile receiving channels, the method further comprising securing or reversibly securing a tile at least partially within at least one of the one or more tile receiving channels.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the one or more tile receiving channels is recessed into a surface of the corresponding connection element.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the one or more tile receiving channels is disposed at least partially on a surface of the corresponding connection element, the surface comprising one or more protruding channel members extending therefrom.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connection element comprises one or more tile attachment members, the method further comprising securing or reversibly securing a tile to the one or more tile attachment members.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection elements comprise a connection component or a frame element, each being universally compatible with and attachable to other connection components or frame elements.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least the first module comprises opposing first and second connection components positioned on opposite ends of the first module.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first module further comprises opposing first and second frame elements attached to and extending between first and second connection components on opposite ends thereof, the first module further comprises at least one tile.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first module further comprises at least one tile disposed between the opposing first and second frame elements and between the opposing first and second connection components.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first and second frame elements and the first and second connection components at least partially bound the at least one tile.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching at least one tile to the at least one connection element of the first module.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tile comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a transparent material, a translucent material, an opaque material, a polymeric material, wood, plastic, metal, fabric, textile, fiber, fiberglass, plaster, drywall, glass, and resin.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tile substantially conceals at least a portion of the corresponding connection element from at least one vantage point.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tile is attached to or positioned at least partially between opposing first and second connection elements positioned on opposite ends of the module.

19. A method of reconfiguring an assembled wall system comprising:
disabling a module securing mechanism such that first and second modules of a modular structure are unsecured one from another; and
altering the configuration of the modular structure,
wherein:
the first and second modules each comprise at least one connection element configured to be attached to a connection element of another module at a connection interface, and
altering the configuration of the modular structure comprises aligning respective connection elements of two adjacent modules at a connection interface and reversibly securing the two adjacent modules together by means of a connection interface component that is symmetrically x-shaped, having four opposed channel engagement elements such that an interface component attachment member of the first module, and an interface component attachment member of the second module are coupled between pairs of the opposed engagement elements.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising enabling a module securing mechanism such that modules of the modular structure are secured one to another, wherein enabling a module securing mechanism comprises enabling the disabled module securing mechanism.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein enabling a module securing mechanism comprises enabling the disabled module securing mechanism.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein altering the configuration of the modular structure comprises one or more steps selected from the group consisting of: removing one or more modules from the modular structure, adding one or more new modules to the modular structure, replacing one or more modules of the modular structure with one or more new modules, shuffling the respective positions of two or more modules, changing the orientation of at least one module, changing the horizontal relationship between two or more modules, changing the vertical relationship between two or more tiles, changing the horizontal position of one or more modules, changing the vertical position of one or more modules, rotating one or more modules, and turning one or more modules.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein altering the configuration of the modular structure comprises one or more steps selected from the group consisting of: changing the horizontal relationship between two or more modules, changing the vertical relationship between two or more tiles, changing the horizontal position of one or more modules, changing the vertical position of one or more modules, inverting one or more modules, rotating one or more modules, and turning one or more modules.

24. The method of

Assignees

• Dirtt Environmental Solutions

Inventors

• Gosling Geoff
• Smed Mogens F
• Harris Patrick John

Classifications

• E04B2002/7461

  Details of connection of sheet panels to frame or posts · CPC title

• E04B2002/7462

  using resilient connectors, e.g. clips · CPC title

• E04B2/7457

  with wallboards attached to the outer faces of the posts, parallel to the partition (E04B2/7459 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04B2/7407

  assembled using frames with infill panels or coverings only; made-up of panels and a support structure incorporating posts (E04B2/78 and E04B2/80 take precedence) · CPC title

• E04B2/7425 Primary

  Details of connection of panels (E04B2/7427 takes precedence) · CPC title