Soffit assembly for moveable wall system and removal tool therefor

Abstract

A soffit assembly is for use with a movable wall system having a track. The soffit assembly includes a soffit attachment device having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is attachable to the track. A soffit snaps onto the second portion of the soffit attachment device such that the soffit at least partially conceals the track.

1 . A soffit assembly for use with a movable wall system, the movable wall system having a track, said soffit assembly comprising: 
 a soffit attachment device having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being attachable to the track; and    a soffit configured to be snapped onto said second portion of said soffit attachment device such that said soffit at least partially conceals the track.    
     
     
         2 . The soffit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion of said soffit attachment device includes a substantially horizontally-oriented section, said second portion of said soffit attachment device having a slot configured to slidingly receive said substantially horizontally-oriented section of said first portion.  
     
     
         3 . The soffit assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said substantially horizontally-oriented section of said first portion of said soffit attachment device includes a hump configured to retain said second portion on said first portion.  
     
     
         4 . The soffit assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second portion of said soffit attachment device includes two opposite edges, said soffit including two opposite side walls each having a respective distal end configured to be snapped onto a respective one of said opposite edges.  
     
     
         5 . The soffit assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said second portion of said soffit attachment device includes two opposite arms, said two opposite edges being on respective distal ends of said opposite arms.  
     
     
         6 . The soffit assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said soffit includes at least one projection configured to bias said opposite edges of said second portion of said soffit attachment device into engagement with said distal ends of said side walls of said soffit.  
     
     
         7 . The soffit assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient sweep configured to be attached to a movable wall and to be biased thereby against a bottom surface of said soffit.  
     
     
         8 . A soffit assembly for use with a movable wall system, the movable wall system having a track, said soffit assembly comprising: 
 a soffit bracket attachable to the track;    a soffit clip coupled to said soffit bracket; and    a soffit configured to be snapped onto said soffit clip such that said soffit at least partially conceals the track.    
     
     
         9 . The soffit assembly of  claim 8  wherein said soffit bracket includes a substantially horizontally-oriented section, said soffit clip having a slot configured to slidingly receive said substantially horizontally-oriented section of said soffit bracket.  
     
     
         10 . The soffit assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said substantially horizontally-oriented section of said soffit bracket device includes a hump configured to retain said soffit clip on said soffit bracket.  
     
     
         11 . The soffit assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said soffit clip includes two opposite edges, said soffit including two opposite side walls each having a respective distal end configured to be snapped onto a respective one of said opposite edges.  
     
     
         12 . The soffit assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said soffit clip includes two opposite arms, said two opposite edges being on respective distal ends of said opposite arms.  
     
     
         13 . The soffit assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said soffit includes at least one projection configured to bias said opposite edges of said soffit clip into engagement with said distal ends of said side walls of said soffit.  
     
     
         14 . The soffit assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a resilient sweep configured to be attached to a movable wall and to be biased thereby against a bottom surface of said soffit.  
     
     
         15 . A soffit arrangement for use with a movable wall system, the movable wall system having a track, said soffit arrangement comprising: 
 a soffit attachment device coupleable to the track;    a soffit including a side wall and a latch configured to be snapped onto said soffit attachment device such that said soffit at least partially conceals the track; and    an elongate soffit removal tool including a body disposed between a handle end and a hooked end, said hooked end being configured to engage said latch of said soffit while said body engages said side wall such that torque applied to said handle end may pry said latch of said soffit away from said soffit attachment device.    
     
     
         16 . The soffit arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the torque is applied to said handle end in a plane defined by said hooked end.  
     
     
         17 . The soffit arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein said tool defines a longitudinal direction and a latitudinal direction oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, said body of said tool having a plurality of surfaces at different respective positions in the latitudinal direction, said surfaces being selectively engageable with said side wall of said soffit.  
     
     
         18 . The soffit arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein said surfaces of said body of said tool are selectively engageable with said side wall of said soffit dependent upon a distance in the latitudinal direction between said latch of said soffit and said side wall of said soffit.  
     
     
         19 . The soffit arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein said body of said tool includes: 
 a base having a first of the surfaces; and    an engagement element having a second of said surfaces, said engagement element being movable relative to said base in the longitudinal direction.    
     
     
         20 . The soffit arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein said engagement element is slidably connected to said base.