Portable wall system and related methods

Abstract

A modular wall system may include a plurality of wall panels each having at least one slot along an outer edge thereof, and at least one connector. The connector(s) may include a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, and a head connected to the distal end of the handle and comprising opposing pairs of first prongs facing away from one another. The head may be configured to be positioned within the slots of a first pair of the wall panels with their outer edges adjacent one another, and each pair of first prongs may be configured to engage a respective slot of one of the adjacent wall panels when the proximal end of the handle is rotated.

1 . A modular wall system comprising:
 a plurality of wall panels each having at least one slot along an outer edge thereof; and   at least one connector comprising
 a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, and 
 a head connected to the distal end of the handle and comprising opposing pairs of first prongs facing away from one another; 
   wherein the head is configured to be positioned within the slots of a first pair of the wall panels with their outer edges adjacent one another, and wherein each pair of first prongs is configured to engage a respective slot of one of the adjacent wall panels when the proximal end of the handle is rotated.   
     
     
         2 . The modular wall system of  claim 1  wherein the head further comprises a respective second prong between the first prongs of each pair of first prongs, and wherein the second prongs are shorter than the first prongs. 
     
     
         3 . The modular wall system of  claim 1  wherein each wall panel comprises a core and a frame coupled along outer edges of the core, and wherein the slot is defined in the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The modular wall system of  claim 3  wherein the core comprises foam. 
     
     
         5 . The modular wall system of  claim 3  wherein the frame comprises fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). 
     
     
         6 . The modular wall system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one slot comprises a plurality of spaced apart slots along the outer edge of each panel. 
     
     
         7 . The modular wall system of  claim 1  wherein the outer edge of each panel has sides orthogonal to one another, and wherein the at least one slot comprises at least one respective slot on each side of the outer edge for connecting the first pair of the wall panels in-line or orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The modular wall system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one connector comprises a plurality thereof; and further comprising a door frame having at least one respective slot on a side thereof for receiving the head of a respective connector. 
     
     
         9 . The modular wall system of  claim 8  wherein the door frame has a plurality of keyhole slots on at least one side thereof; and further comprising:
 a door panel; and 
 at least one hinged bracket connected to the door panel and comprising a respective support member configured to slidably engage each keyhole slot on the door frame. 
 
     
     
         10 . The modular wall system of  claim 8  wherein the door frame comprises a pair of opposing vertical sides each with a respective track adjacent a bottom thereof, and a threshold having opposing ends slidably connected to respective tracks. 
     
     
         11 . A connector for a plurality of wall panels each having at least one slot along an outer edge thereof, the connector comprising:
 a handle having a proximal end and a distal end; and   a head connected to the distal end of the handle and comprising opposing pairs of first prongs facing away from one another;   wherein the head is configured to be positioned within the slots of a first pair of the wall panels with their outer edges adjacent one another, and wherein each pair of first prongs is configured to engage a respective slot of one of the adjacent wall panels when the proximal end of the handle is rotated.   
     
     
         12 . The connector of  claim 11  wherein the head further comprises a respective second prong between the first prongs of each pair of first prongs, and wherein the second prongs are shorter than the first prongs. 
     
     
         13 . A method for connecting a plurality of modular wall panels each having at least one slot along an outer edge thereof, the method comprising; and
 positioning at least one connector within the slots of a first pair of the wall panels with their outer edges adjacent one another, the at least one connector comprising a handle having a proximal end and a distal end and a head connected to the distal end of the handle and comprising opposing pairs of first prongs facing away from one another; and   rotating the proximal end of the handle to cause each pair of first prongs to engage a respective slot of one of the adjacent wall panels.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the head further comprises a respective second prong between the first prongs of each pair of first prongs, and wherein the second prongs are shorter than the first prongs. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein each wall panel comprises a core and a frame coupled along outer edges of the core, and wherein the slot is defined in the frame. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the at least one slot comprises a plurality of spaced apart slots along the outer edge of each panel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the outer edge of each panel has sides orthogonal to one another, and wherein the at least one slot comprises at least one respective slot on each side of the outer edge for connecting the first pair of the wall panels in-line or orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the at least one connector comprises a plurality thereof, and further comprising positioning the head of a respective connector within a slot of a door frame on a side thereof for connection to at least one of the wall panels. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the door frame has a plurality of keyhole slots on at least one side thereof; and further comprising connecting at least one hinged bracket to the door frame with a plurality of support members carried by the hinged bracket and configured to slidably engage each keyhole slot on the door frame, the hinged bracket further having a door panel connected thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the door frame comprises a pair of opposing vertical sides each with a respective track adjacent a bottom thereof; and further comprising slidably connecting opposing ends of a threshold each to a respective track.