System for the partition of spaces

Abstract

A system for the partition of a space that has a ceiling includes at least one partition wall that partitions the space and has at least one planar element and a system connecting it to the ceiling. Such system and the upper peripheral edge of the planar element include male and female elements. The connecting system further includes at least one elastomeric element interposed between the female and the male elements, which deforms upon the coupling of the male and female elements and frictionally acts against them to prevent the planar element from falling down by gravity, without the need for additional support in the lower part of the planar element.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A system for partition of a space that includes a ceiling, comprising:
 a partition wall configured to partition the space and comprising a planar element that has at least one upper peripheral edge and a pair of outer faces; and   connecting means that removably connect the planar element to the ceiling,   wherein the connecting means comprises at least one male element, the upper peripheral edge of the planar element comprising a longitudinal concavity defining at least one female element having a shape causing the at least one male element, once engaged with the at least one female element, to be interposed between the pair of outer faces of the planar element,   wherein the connecting means further comprise at least one elastomeric element interposed between the at least one female and the at least one male elements, the at least one female or the at least one male elements and the at least one elastomeric element being configured to cause the at least one elastomeric element to deform upon a coupling of the at least one male element with the at least one female element, thereby causing the at least one elastomeric element to frictionally act against the at least one female and the at least one male elements and to prevent a falling down by gravity of the planar element from the connecting means without a need of additional support in a lower part of the planar element, and   wherein the connecting means comprise:   a longitudinal supporting profile defining a second axis and having a first portion adapted to be coupled to the ceiling and a second portion comprising at least one seat for connection with the planar element;   at least one connecting profile comprising a first end adapted to be integrally coupled with the planar element to define a unitary assembly, the at least one connecting profile including a second end adapted to be removably engaged with the at least one seat so as to mount/dismount the unitary assembly onto/from the longitudinal supporting profile, the first end of the at least one connecting profile comprising the at least one male element.   
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 33 , wherein the at least one female and at least one male elements have elongated shapes defining a first axis. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 33 , wherein the at least one elastomeric element comprises a main body and a plurality of lips which extend transversely with respect to the main body to come in contact with at least one of the at least one female and at least one male elements to frictionally act thereon. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 35 , wherein the main body defines the first axis, the plurality of lips having a converging shape toward the main body so as to promote insertion of the at least one elastomeric element in the at least one female element and to prevent a removal therefrom. 
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 35 , wherein the at least one elastomeric element comprises a plurality of first grooves facing the at least one male element, the at least one male element having respective second grooves adapted to interact with the first grooves so as to increase a mechanical grip between the at least one male element and the at least one elastomeric element. 
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 35 , wherein the at least one female element has a first pair of longitudinal side walls facing each other, the at least one male element comprising a corresponding second pair of side walls adapted to remain faced against the first pair of longitudinal side walls, the at least one elastomeric element being interposed between the first and the second pairs of the longitudinal side walls. 
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 38 , wherein the main body of the at least one elastomeric element comprises a third pair of longitudinal walls adapted to remain interposed between the first and the second pairs of longitudinal side walls, the lips extending transversely with respect to the third pair of longitudinal walls to come in contact with the first pair of longitudinal side walls. 
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 33 , wherein the at least one elastomeric element is configured so that the planar element and the at least one connecting profile remain mutually spaced apart when the at least one elastomeric element is interposed therebetween. 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 33 , wherein the second end of the at least one connecting profile and the at least one seat of the second portion of the longitudinal supporting profile are configured so to reciprocally slide along a direction essentially parallel to the second axis after reciprocal engagement. 
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 33 , further comprising at least one blocking element adapted to act upon the longitudinal supporting profile and the at least one connecting profile to maintain a reciprocal engagement of the at least one seat of the second portion of the connecting means and the second end of the at least one connecting profile when the at least one seat and the second end are reciprocally engaged. 
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 42 , wherein the at least one blocking element is removably snap coupled to the longitudinal supporting profile so as to enable a selective engagement/disengagement of the at least one seat of the second portion of the longitudinal supporting profile and of the second end of the at least one connecting profile. 
     
     
         44 . The system according to  claim 42 , wherein the at least one blocking element comprises at least one curved portion acting on the at least one connecting profile to prevent a reciprocal sliding along a direction substantially perpendicular to the second axis of the at least one connecting profile and of the second portion of the longitudinal supporting profile. 
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 33 , further comprising:
 the longitudinal supporting profile defining the second axis having the first portion integrally coupled with the ceiling and the second portion integrally coupled with the planar element, the first portion and the second portion being reciprocally slidable between a distal position and a proximal position; and   elastic counteracting means acting on the first and second portions to maintain the the second portion in an operative position interposed between the distal and the proximal positions.   
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the elastic counteracting means comprise at least one first spring operatively connected to the first and the second portions, the at least one first spring being configured to be elongated when the first and second portions are in one of the distal or the proximal positions and to be compressed when the first and the second portions are in another one of the distal or the proximal positions. 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 46 , wherein the elastic counteracting means comprise at least one second spring operatively connected to the first and the second portions, the at least one second spring being configured to be compressed when the first and the second portions are in one of the distal or the proximal positions and to be elongated when the first and the second portions are in another one of the distal or the proximal positions.