PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE FOR BOARD PARTITIONS

Abstract

A seismic protective structure (100) for forming part of a board partition (190) and for limiting damage to the board partition (190) when a given level of seismic stress is appearing is described. The seismic protective structure (100) comprises at least one board (101) and support elements (102, 103) for positioning the board adjacent a neighboring wall and linking the board to the remainder of the board partition wall. The seismic protective structure (100) is adapted for, when a given level of seismic stress is appearing, intentionally causing damage of the at least one board (101) thereby releasing pressure from the remainder of the board partition(190).

Claims

1-2. (canceled)

3. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the stress inducing means (201) comprise at least one wedge (201) shaped and positioned for, upon a given relative movement of the track element (104) and the first support element (102), shifting between the first support element (102) and the board (101) for separating the board (101) from the first support element (102).

4. A kit according to claim 3, wherein the track element (104) is adapted in shape with a protrusion for spacing the board (101) and the first support element (102) with a gap for, upon a given relative movement of the track element (104) and the first support element (102), introducing the wedge (201) between the board (101) and the first support element (102).

5. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the first support element (102) comprises a weak portion for breaking of the first support element (102) upon a given level of seismic stress is appearing.

6. A kit according to claim 5, wherein the first support element (102) comprises two, optionally substantially symmetric, sub-elements glued to each other, and the weak portion corresponds with the gluing zone where the sub-elements are glued to each other.

7. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the track element (104) is adapted in shape with a protrusion for spacing the board (101) and the first support element (102) with a gap for, upon a given relative movement of the track element (104) and the first, support element (102), introducing the wedge (201) between the board (101) and the first support element (102), and the stress inducing means comprise comprises a stress inducing element mountable or mounted to the track for inducing a stress on the first support element (102), when the track is moving relatively with respect to the first support element (102) under influence of an earthquake.

8. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the first support element (102) comprises pressure inducing means deforming under influence of a given level of seismic stress on the partition board wall such that said deformed pressure inducing means induces a pressure on the at least one board for breaking the board.

9. A kit according to claim 16, wherein at least two of the pressure inducing means (201), the first support element (102) and the track element(104) are integrated in a single piece.

10. (canceled)

11. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the board (101) is connected through a rotating suspension (1901), with the second support element or a further board of the board partition (102).

12. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the board is a gypsum board (101).

13. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the first and second support elements element are substantially parallel.

14. A board partition (190) comprising a seismic protective structure formed from the kit according to claim.

15. A board partition according to claim 14, wherein said first and said second support element (102, 103) are substantially vertically mounted.

16. A kit of parts for constructing a seismic protective structure (100) for forming part of a board partition (190), the seismic protective structure (100) comprising: at least one board (101), a first support element (102) for connecting the at least one board (101) thereto and for positioning the at least one board (101) in the board partition adjacent an adjacent wall neighboring the board partition, a track element (104) being connectable to the adjacent wall neighboring the board partition (190), the track element (104) being adapted for moveably positioning the first support element (102) therein, a second support element (103) for linking the at least one board (101) with the remainder of the board partition (190), wherein the seismic protective structure (100) is adapted for, when a given level of seismic stress is appearing, intentionally causing damage of the at least one board (101) thereby releasing stress from the remainder of the board partition (190), the kit of parts comprises one or more of said track element, said first support element (102) and said at least one board (101), and wherein the kit of parts comprises furthermore stress inducing means (201) for, when mounted in the seismic protective structure, introducing, when a given level of seismic stress is appearing on the board partition (190), additional stress on the at least one board (101) and/or on the first support element (102) for causing the seismic protective structure (100) to damage before the rest of the board partition wall (190) breaks, and/or the at least one board (101) comprises a weaker portion such that, when a given level of seismic stress is appearing on the board partition (190), the board (101) will break at the weaker portion.

17-18. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] FIG. 1 provides a schematic top view of a protective structure in between a wall and the rest of the board partition in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 2 respectively FIG. 3 provides a schematic top respectively front view of a protective structure in between a wall and the rest of the board partition in accordance with a wedge based embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 4 provides a schematic top view of a protective structure in between a wall and the rest of the board partition after being damaged by an earthquake in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0058] FIG. 5 provides a schematic top view of a protective structure with boards only on one side of the board partition in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0059] FIG. 6 provides a schematic top view of another protective structure in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0060] FIG. 7 provides a schematic top view of another protective structure in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0061] FIG. 8 provides a schematic top view of a first support element with weak zone in accordance with one embodiment of the current invention.

[0062] FIG. 9 provides a schematic top view of a first support element with weak zone in accordance with another embodiment of the current invention.

[0063] FIG. 10 provides a schematic top view of a protective structure in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0064] FIG. 11 provides a schematic top view of a first stud and wedge in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0065] FIGS. 12A-12F each illustrate a schematic top view of possible embodiments of a wedge in accordance with the current invention.

[0066] FIGS. 13A and 13B each illustrate a schematic top view of an integrated track and wedge in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0067] FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 illustrates a schematic top view of a protective structure having an integrated track and wedge in undamaged and damaged state in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0068] FIG. 16 provides a schematic front view of a protective structure with hinged boards in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0069] FIG. 17 provides a schematic front view of a board partition wall. The board partition is on both sides protected by a protective structure in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.

[0070] The drawings are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes.

[0071] Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope. In the different drawings, the same reference signs refer to the same or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0072] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

[0073] Furthermore, the terms first, second and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0074] Moreover, the terms top, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

[0075] It is to be noticed that the term comprising, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression a device comprising means A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

[0076] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[0077] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0078] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0079] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

[0080] Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is made to damaging of a board, reference is made to breaking of the board, to pulling through of the fixing means through the board, etc.

[0081] Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is made to a board partition, reference is made to a wall made by placing boards on an underlying structure. Such an underlying structure may be based on wood, on metal studs or any other sufficiently strong structural supporting elements.

[0082] Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is made to a seismic protective structure, reference is made to part of the board partition which protects the rest of the board partition from breaking because of an earthquake.

[0083] Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is made to the rest of the board partition reference is made to all components of the board partition except for the components of the seismic protective structure.

[0084] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a system suitable for forming part of a board partition and for limiting the damage to a board partition in a building, when a given level of seismic activity occurs. In embodiments of the present invention this system is referred to as the seismic protective structure or the mechanical fuse. The seismic protective structure thus is the part of the board partition 190 that breaks because of seismic movements of the building.

[0085] In the first aspect, the present invention relates to a seismic protective structure for forming part of a board partition and for limiting damage to the board partition when a given level of seismic activity and thus seismic stress on the wall is appearing. The seismic protective structure according to embodiments comprises at least one board, a first, optionally substantially vertical, support element for connecting the at least one board thereto and for positioning the at least one gypsum board at the of the board partition adjacent an adjacent wall neighboring the board partition. The system also comprises a track element being connectable to the adjacent wall neighboring the board partition. The track element thereby is adapted for moveably positioning or guiding the first, optionally substantially vertical, support element therein. The first support element and the track element thus are not fixedly connected to each other and can move with respect to each other. According to embodiments, the present invention also comprises a second, optionally substantially vertical, support element for linking the at least one gypsum board with the remainder of the board partition wall. The seismic protective structure further is adapted for, when a given level of seismic stress is appearing, intentionally causing damage of the at least one gypsum board thereby releasing stress from the remainder of the board partition.

[0086] Although in the below embodiments, the invention is described with reference to gypsum boards and gypsum board partitions, the present invention is not limited thereto and other types of board material and board partitions are also envisaged.

[0087] By way of illustration, embodiments of the present invention not limited thereby, standard and optional details of the system and of standard and optional components thereof will further be described with reference to a number of drawings.

[0088] The protective structure can be obtained in a number of different embodiments, all resulting in the fact that the seismic protective structure 100 will break first, thus releasing the stress or pressure on the rest of the board partition wall.

[0089] In a first set of embodiments, the damage to the at least one gypsum board is caused by providing a weaker portion in the gypsum board. An example of such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 a seismic protective structure 100 being part of a gypsum board partition 190 is shown. One gypsum board 101 or, as shown in FIG. 1, a gypsum board 101, 106 at each side of the wall is fixed to a first support element 102 which is guided by or in a track element 104 which is connected to a neighbouring, exterior, structural wall 105. The width of the gypsum board used may for example be between 10 cm and 50 cm. The support element 102, further also referred to as stud 102, and typically is substantially vertically oriented, with reference to the floor level. In embodiments of the present invention the seismic protective structure 100 is connected with the rest of the gypsum board partition 109 by means of the second support element 103, also referred to as stud 103. When the structural wall 105 moves because of an earthquake, the seismic protective structure 100 will break as first. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that the rest of the board partition is prevented from being damaged by the breaking of the protective structure 100, thus releasing the pressure or stress from the rest of the board partition wall.

[0090] According to the present embodiments, the at least one gypsum board 101, 106 comprises a weak portion. Such a weak portion can be obtained in a plurality of ways, e.g. by cutting in or profiling the gypsum board 101, 106, e.g. providing locally a smaller thickness of the gypsum board 101, 106. Another possibility is to use weaker board material. It is an advantage of embodiments of the current invention that the protective board 101, 106 breaks before the non-protective part of the board partition breaks.

[0091] According to embodiments of the present invention, the track element 104 and the first support element 102 are positioned with respect to each other such that there can be an initial movement with respect to each other before stress is built up in the seismic protective structure. The latter results in the fact that damage can be avoided on the board partition and the seismic protective structure when only small seismic activityi.e. low level earthquakesis present. The allowed movement before stress is built up may be in the range of 1 cm.

[0092] In another set of embodiments, a stress inducing means is provided such that intentionally additional stress is provided in the seismic protective structure, resulting in intentionally damaging of the protective structure. This can be implemented in a variety of ways.

[0093] In some embodiments of the present invention the stress inducing means 201 is implemented as a wedge 201 provided in the seismic protective structure 100. The wedge 201 is constructed such that, when the track element 104 and the support element 102 move with respect to each other due to seismic activity, the wedge induces a force or stress on the protective structure 100, causing the protective structure 100 to break before the rest of the board partition breaks.

[0094] In some embodiments, the wedge 201 may be mounted on the track. The wedge may be positioned in such a way that movement of the wedge 201 occurs between the protective board 101, 106 and the first stud 102 forces the protective board 101, 106 to be detached 15 from the first stud 102. Detaching may for example be caused by the fixings (e.g. screws, glue) fixing the protective board 101, 106 to the first stud 102 being broken (e.g. pulled through the protective board 101, 106 in case of screws) by the force induced by the wedge 201. In embodiments of the present invention the wedge 201 may have a triangular cross-section, with the first side mountable against the structural wall 105, the second side mountable against the track 104, such that when moving, the corner between the second and third side moves between the protective board 101, 106 and the first stud 102. The angle between the second and third side can vary between 0 and 90 preferably between 45 and 90.

[0095] In some embodiments of the current invention the cross-section of the wedge 201 has a shape, such that when moving between the protective board 101, 106 and the first stud 102, it forces the protective board 101, 106 and the first stud 102 to be separated from each other. This can be a triangular form as described above but also any other suitable cross-section can be used. An exemplary embodiment of such a wedge is illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 2, FIG, 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate a part of a gypsum board wall having gypsum boards at both sides, whereas FIG. 5 illustrates a gypsum board wall with gypsum boards at only one side. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate a top view respectively a front view of the seismic protective structure. FIG. 4 how the wedge 201 breaks the protective board 101, 106 apart from the first stud 102.

[0096] It is an advantage of embodiments of the current invention that the gap created by breaking of the protective structure 100, protects the rest of the board partition from breaking. After breaking of the protective structure 100, no risk of buckling studs and falling of boards in the rest of the board partition exists anymore. It is an advantage of embodiments of the current invention that only the protective structure 100 needs to be replaced in case of breaking after an earthquake.

[0097] In FIG. 4 a first stud 102 and second stud 103, a track element 104 for guiding the first stud 102 and a wedge 201 connected to the structural wall 105 on a first side and connected to the track 104 on a second side can be seen.

[0098] The wedge corner between the second and third side will move between the first 102 stud and the protective board 101, 106 in case of an earthquake. In case of severe earthquakes it will detach and damage the gypsum board 101, 106 from the first stud 102 thereby releasing pressure from the rest of the board partition wall. When the gypsum board 101, 106 disconnects from the first stud 102, the first stud can freely move without applying a force on the second stud 103.

[0099] FIG. 5 illustrates embodiments of the present invention wherein only one side of the gypsum board partition is mounted with gypsum boards. In the figures a structural wall 105, a track 104, a wedge 201, a first stud 102, a single protective board 101 and a pull through screw are shown. When the structural wall 105 starts moving because of an earthquake, the wedge 201 will push the board away from the stud 102 thereby pulling the pull through screws through the protective board 101.

[0100] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the track element 104 is constructed such that when the protective board 101, 106 is mounted against the first stud 102, still place is present between the protective board 101, 106 and the first stud 102 for the wedge 201 to move in between them. Therefore a protrusion is introduced on the track element 104. The latter can be by providing a supplemental element or by specifically shaping the track element upfront. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the protrusion is introduced on the first support element 102. It serves the same functionality as the protrusion on the track element, namely to separate the first stud 102 and the protective board 101, 106 such that the wedge 201 can easily initiate moving in between them.

[0101] In some embodiments, the first support element 102 is a support element which is made weaker than the support elements used in the remainder part of the gypsum wall. Two examples of how the support element can be provided with a weaker portion are shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. In one embodiment the first stud 102 is a stud with two symmetric separable parts connected by glue 1001, the zone where the parts are glued being the weaker zone. In another embodiment, the first stud 102 is made weaker by introducing a weak point 1101 in the stud that breaks at a specific force level. In embodiments of the current invention the stud may be made of metal, e.g. steel, although embodiments are not limited thereto. In embodiments of the current invention the weak point 1101 is, a hole or a plurality of holes, or a perforation, or is created by using another type of material than the stud material.

[0102] In some embodiments of the present invention, especially when a first support element is used that comprises a weak portion, the seismic protective structure comprises a wedge 201 which is mounted inside the track 104. During an earthquake of a sufficient level, the wedge 201 mounted inside the track pushes against the first stud 102 thereby breaking the first stud 102 and as such separating the two parts of the first stud 102. After breaking the first stud 102, the force on the second stud 103 and the rest of the board partition is released. The pressure on the first support element 102 may additionally or alternatively also induce additional stress in the gypsum board, thus resulting in the breaking of the gypsum board. An exemplary embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 10, wherein a wedge shaped element in the track element 104 is provided that provides a pressure on the first support element 102 such that it will be separated in two parts as the glueing zone will break.

[0103] In another exemplary embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 11, the wedge 201 is inside the track 104 and forces the sides of the first stud 102 away from the protective board 101 when the wedge 201 is moving under influence of an earthquake. The first support element 102 is deformed thus causing damaging of the gypsum board. A high level earthquake will cause first stud 102 to be completely detached from the first protective board 101. FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the current invention whereby the track 104 has a wedge 201 with a triangular cross-section. When mounted, the first stud 102 is on the inside of the track 104 and the protective board 101 is on the outside of the track. When the track 104 is moving with regard to the first stud 102 and the protective board 101, the triangular shape of the wedge 201 will push the protective board 101 away from the first stud. If the displacement between the track 104 and the protective stud 102 is high enough the protective board 101 will be completely separated from the first stud 102. The cross-section of the wedge 201 not necessarily needs to be triangular. Any other shape of the cross-section enabling the wedge 201 to separate the first stud from the protective board is possible as an embodiment of the current invention.

[0104] FIG. 12 shows cross-sections of wedges 201 (a-f) that can be used in some embodiments according to the present invention. These wedges 201 can for example be mounted inside the track 104, against the structural wall 105, and push, during an earthquake, against the first stud 102 breaking it at a certain force or deforming it such that damage to the gypsum board is caused. It is an advantage of embodiments of the current invention that this force is below the force required to break the rest of the board partition wall, thus preventing the rest of the gypsum board partition to be damaged. As indicated above, the first stud 102 may be made weaker than the second stud 103.

[0105] FIG. 13 illustrates cross-sections of an integrated track 104 and wedge 201 according to some embodiments of the present invention. The track 104, being a guidance for the first stud 102, has a form such that during an earthquake it exercises a pressure on the first stud 102, causing the first stud 102 to break if the displacement of the track 104 with regard to the first stud 102 is high enough. The wedge 201 may have a triangular form (FIG. 13b) or may exist of several pressure points (FIG. 13a) or may have another form for efficiently breaking the first stud 102.

[0106] In an embodiment of the present invention, an example being illustrated in FIG. 14, the first stud 102 and the wedge 201 are integrated into one piece. During an earthquake, the gypsum board 101, 106 will move over the wedge 201. In case the earthquake's level is high enough, it will cause the protective board 101, 106 to break. This process is illustrated in FIG. 15. The integration of the 3 different parts has as advantage that mounting of the protective structure becomes easier and less error prone.

[0107] In an embodiment of the present invention, an example thereof illustrated in FIG. 16, the gypsum board 101 is connected with the second stud 103 such that it can rotate around an axis parallel with the axis of the second stud 103. Therefore a rotating suspension 1901 is foreseen. In embodiments of the current invention the rotating suspension 1901 may comprise an additional board fixed to the protective board 101 and another board fixed to the board on the other side of the second stud 103 to increase the strength of the suspension 109. The extra boards can be used as fixation points for a hinge. The ability of the gypsum board 101 of rotating prevents it from falling down when the connection between the first stud 102 and the gypsum board 101 is broken. When detached from the first stud 102 the gypsum board rotates by means of the rotating suspension 1901. It is an advantage of embodiments of the current invention that the protective board 101, after being disconnected from the first stud 102, does not fall on the ground.

[0108] In some embodiments of the present invention the gypsum board 101 is made of the same material as the other gypsum boards, resulting in the advantage that standard available gypsum boards can be used.

[0109] In yet other embodiments, the first support element is adapted for, upon a given level of seismic action, inducing a force on the at least one gypsum board. The first support element 102 therefore may be adapted with a stress inducing means that is deformable when a given level of seismic action occurs and that in deformed state provides a pressure on one or more gypsum boards and the one or more gypsum boards are broken.

[0110] As indicated, the board may be an edge board but does not need to be. In some embodiments, the system also may be introduced at another positionaway from the edge of the partition boardin the partition board for breaking a board at that other position preferentially over the other boards. Except for the change in position, the same principles and features apply.

[0111] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a board partition comprising a seismic protective structure as described in the first aspect. In advantageous embodiments, the board partition may comprise a seismic protective structure at both ends of the board partition. It is an advantage of embodiments of the current invention that the board partition comprising the protective structure separates two rooms effectively with regard to fire and with regard to acoustics. Since the board partition comprising the protective structure completely separates a place into two places no issue exists with regard to of fire safety and acoustic. By way of illustration, embodiments of the present invention not being limited thereto, an example of a board partition is shown in FIG. 17.

[0112] In a third aspect, the present invention relates a kit of parts for constructing or restoring a seismic protective structure as described above. The kit of parts comprises one or more of a track element, a first support element and at least one board. The kit of parts can for example also comprise a stress inducing means for, when mounted in the seismic protective structure, introducing, when a given level of seismic stress is appearing on the board partition (190), additional stress on the at least one board (101) and/or on the first substantially vertical support element (102) for causing the seismic protective structure (100) to damage before the rest of the board partition (190) breaks. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the board may comprise a weaker portion such that, when a given level of seismic stress is appearing on the board partition, the board will break at the weaker portion. The track element or the first support element may comprise the stress inducing means according to an embodiment as described for the first aspect.

[0113] In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for protecting a board partition against a given level of seismic stress, the method comprising using a seismic protective structure in the board partition such that, when a given level of seismic stress is appearing, damage is intentionally caused to at least one board of the seismic protective structure thereby releasing pressure from the remainder of the board partition. Furthermore also a method for restoring a board partition is disclosed, wherein the method comprises replacing one or more of the board and a first support element for restoring the board partition.