Panel system

• US 20060236625A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allen C. Hager, David J. Battey, Dean K. Hubbard, Douglas B. Macdonald, Mark T. Slager, Robert E. Jeffers, Roy W. Fink, Steven E. Sanders, Steven J. Throndset
• Original Assignee: Allen C. Hager, David J. Battey, Dean K. Hubbard, Douglas B. Macdonald, Mark T. Slager, Robert E. Jeffers, Roy W. Fink, Steven E. Sanders, Steven J. Throndset
• Inventors: Battey, David J., Slager, Mark T., MacDonald, Douglas B., Jeffers, Robert E., Hager, Allen C., Throndset, Steven J., Fink, Roy W., Sanders, Steven E., Hubbard, Dean K.
• Application Number:
  US11/438,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20060236625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/239
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7418 Accessories supported on the free upper edge, e.g. auxiliary panels, noise abatement devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7446 Post-like profiles for connecting panels at an angle
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7462 using resilient connectors, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7487 Partitions with slotted profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/749 Partitions with screw-type jacks

Abstract

An office panel partition includes a panel frame having at least two uprights and a horizontal structural member rigidly interconnecting the uprights. The panel frame has a first side and a second opposite side, and the panel frame defines at least four apertures on the first side thereof. The partition also includes a cover member having a major planar surface defining an exterior surface of the partition. The cover member includes at least four projections that are removably insertable into the at least four apertures to removably secure the cover member to the frame. The apertures are arranged in at least two vertically spaced horizontal rows and at least two horizontally spaced vertical columns. The apertures in a first one of the columns have different horizontal dimensions than those of the apertures located in the other of the columns. Each of the projections has a range of lateral positions when inserted into a respective one of the apertures. The range of lateral positions provided by the apertures in the first one of the columns is less than the range of lateral positions provided by the apertures in the other row of the columns. The apertures located in a first one of the rows has vertical dimensions that are different than those located in the other of the rows. The range of vertical positions provided by the apertures in the first one of the rows is less than the range of vertical positions provided by the apertures in the other of the rows.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. In a panel system having a plurality of panels detachably interconnected to partition open floor space into individual workstations, the improvement comprising:

at least one rigid panel frame having opposed vertical side faces, and a generally rectangular shape defined by first and second horizontally spaced apart vertical frame members and first and second vertically spaced apart horizontal frame members extending between and rigidly interconnecting said first and second vertical frame members;

said panel frame having a plurality of first apertures for supporting cover panels thereon, and a plurality of second apertures for supporting accessories thereon;

at least one cover panel shaped to enclose at least a portion of one of said side faces of said panel frame, and operatively engaging at least one of said first apertures for mounting said cover panel on said panel frame;

at least one accessory operatively engaging at least one of said second apertures for mounting said accessory on said panel frame; and

at least one intermediate beam extending between and having opposite ends thereof detachably connected with either said first and second vertical frame members or said first and second horizontal frame members at a selected location;

said intermediate beam having a plurality of third apertures shaped similar to said first apertures for supporting cover panels thereon, and a plurality of fourth apertures shaped similar to said second apertures for supporting accessories thereon.

38. A panel system as set forth in claim 37, including:

means for rigidly, yet detachably, connecting said opposite ends of said intermediate beam with said panel frame.

39. A panel system as set forth in claim 38, wherein:

said connecting means is configured to mount said intermediate beam at multiple positions on said panel frame to accommodate different applications.

40. A panel system as set forth in claim 39, wherein:

said connecting means includes a plurality of fifth apertures extending along at least one of said first and second vertical frame members and said first and second horizontal frame members.

41. A panel system as set forth in claim 40, wherein:

said connecting means further includes hooks disposed at said opposite ends of said intermediate beam and shaped for close reception in said fifth apertures on said panel frame.

42. A panel system as set forth in claim 41, wherein:

said intermediate beam extends generally horizontally between said first and second vertical frame members and is operably mounted thereon.

43. A panel system as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

said first apertures in said panel frame include a series of similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along a central portion of said first horizontal frame member and a central portion of said second horizontal frame member.

44. A panel system as set forth in claim 43, wherein:

said third apertures in said intermediate beam comprise two series of mutually parallel, similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along said intermediate beam in vertical registry with said slots of said first apertures in said first and second horizontal frame members.

45. A panel system as set forth in claim 44, wherein:

said second apertures in said panel frame include a series of similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along an upper edge of said first horizontal frame member and a lower edge of said second horizontal frame member.

46. A panel system as set forth in claim 45, wherein:

said fourth apertures in said intermediate beam comprise a series of similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along a central portion of said intermediate beam in vertical registry with said slots of said second apertures in said first and second horizontal frame members.

47. A panel system as set forth in claim 46, wherein:

said cover panel includes rearwardly projecting connectors releasably received in aligned ones of said first apertures to detachably support said cover panel on said panel frame.

48. A panel system as set forth in claim 47, wherein:

said intermediate beam defines a structural beam; and

including

at least one nonstructural beam extending between and having opposite ends thereof detachably connected with said first and second vertical frame members;

said nonstructural beam having a plurality of sixth apertures shaped similar to said first apertures for supporting cover panels thereon.

49. A panel system as set forth in claim 48, wherein:

said nonstructural beam includes hooks disposed at said opposite ends thereof shaped for close reception in said fifth apertures on said panel frame.

50. A panel system as set forth in claim 49, wherein:

said cover panel defines an upper cover panel having a horizontally extending lower edge; and

including

a lower cover panel having a horizontally extending upper edge spaced apart from said lower edge of said upper cover panel to define a horizontally elongated gap providing access to said fourth apertures in said intermediate beam.

51. A panel system as set forth in claim 50, wherein:

said structural beam includes a flexible tab disposed adjacent said hooks which engage said fifth apertures on said panel frame to prevent inadvertent disengagement of said hooks.

52. A panel system as set forth in claim 51, wherein:

said first and second vertical frame members have a substantially identical size and shape.

53. A panel system as set forth in claim 52, wherein:

said first and second horizontal frame members have a substantially identical size and shape.

54. A panel system as set forth in claim 37, wherein:

said intermediate beam extends generally horizontally between said first and second vertical frame members and is operably mounted thereon.

55. A panel system as set forth in claim 37, wherein:

said first apertures in said panel frame include a series of similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along a central portion of said first horizontal frame member and a central portion of said second horizontal frame member.

56. A panel system as set forth in claim 37, wherein:

said third apertures in said intermediate beam comprise two mutually parallel, similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along said intermediate beam.

57. A panel system as set forth in claim 37, wherein:

said second apertures in said panel frame include a series of similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along an upper edge of said first horizontal frame member and a lower edge of said second horizontal frame member.

58. A panel system as set forth in claim 37, wherein:

said fourth apertures in said intermediate beam comprise a series of similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along a central portion of said intermediate beam.

59. A panel system as set forth in claim 37, wherein:

said cover panel defines an upper cover panel having a horizontally extending lower edge; and

including

a lower cover panel having a horizontally extending upper edge spaced apart from said lower edge of said upper cover panel to define a horizontally elongated gap providing access to said fourth apertures in said intermediate beam.

60. A partition panel for dividing floor space, comprising:

at least one rigid panel frame having opposed vertical side faces, and a generally rectangular shape defined by first and second horizontally spaced apart vertical frame members and first and second vertically spaced apart horizontal frame members extending between and rigidly interconnecting said first and second vertical frame members;

said panel frame having a plurality of first apertures for supporting cover panels thereon, and a plurality of second apertures for supporting accessories thereon;

at least one cover panel shaped to enclose at least a portion of one of said side faces of said panel frame, and operatively engaging at least one of said first apertures for mounting said cover panel on said panel frame;

at least one accessory operatively engaging at least one of said second apertures for mounting said accessory on said panel frame; and

at least one intermediate beam extending between and having opposite ends thereof detachably connected with either said first and second vertical frame members or said first and second horizontal frame members at a selected location;

said intermediate beam having a plurality of third apertures shaped similar to said first apertures for supporting cover panels thereon, and a plurality of fourth apertures shaped similar to said second apertures for supporting accessories thereon.

61. A panel as set forth in claim 60, including:

means for rigidly, yet detachably, connecting said opposite ends of said intermediate beam with said panel frame.

62. A panel as set forth in claim 61, wherein:

said connecting means is configured to mount said intermediate beam at multiple positions on said panel frame to accommodate different applications.

63. A panel as set forth in claim 62, wherein:

said connecting means includes a plurality of fifth apertures extending along at least one of said first and second vertical frame members and said first and second horizontal frame members.

64. A panel as set forth in claim 63, wherein:

said connecting means further includes hooks disposed at said opposite ends of said intermediate beam and shaped for close reception in said fifth apertures on said panel frame.

65. A panel as set forth in claim 64, wherein:

said intermediate beam extends generally horizontally between said first and second vertical frame members and is operably mounted thereon.

66. A panel as set forth in claim 65, wherein:

said first apertures in said panel frame include a series of similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along a central portion of said first horizontal frame member and a central portion of said second horizontal frame member.

67. A panel as set forth in claim 66, wherein:

said third apertures in said intermediate beam comprise two series of mutually parallel, similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along said intermediate beam in vertical registry with said slots of said first apertures in said first and second horizontal frame members.

68. A panel as set forth in claim 67, wherein:

said second apertures in said panel frame include a series of similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along an upper edge of said first horizontal frame member and a lower edge of said second horizontal frame member.

69. A panel as set forth in claim 68, wherein:

said fourth apertures in said intermediate beam comprise a series of similarly shaped, horizontally elongated slots extending along a central portion of said intermediate beam in vertical registry with said slots of said second apertures in said first and second horizontal frame members.

70. A panel as set forth in claim 69, wherein:

said cover panel includes rearwardly projecting connectors releasably received in aligned ones of said first apertures to detachably support said cover panel on said panel frame.

71. A panel as set forth in claim 70, wherein:

said intermediate beam defines a structural beam; and

including

at least one nonstructural beam extending between and having opposite ends thereof detachably connected with said first and second vertical frame members;

said nonstructural beam having a plurality of sixth apertures shaped similar to said first apertures for supporting cover panels thereon.

72. A panel as set forth in claim 71, wherein:

said nonstructural beam includes hooks disposed at said opposite ends thereof shaped for close reception in said fifth apertures on said panel frame.

73. A panel as set forth in claim 72, wherein:

said cover panel defines an upper cover panel having a horizontally extending lower edge; and

including

a lower cover panel having a horizontally extending upper edge spaced apart from said lower edge of said upper cover panel to define a horizontally elongated gap providing access to said fourth apertures in said intermediate beam.

74. A panel as set forth in claim 73, wherein:

said structural beam includes a flexible tab disposed adjacent said hooks which engage said fifth apertures on said panel frame to prevent inadvertent disengagement of said hooks.

75. A panel as set forth in claim 74, wherein:

said first and second vertical frame members have a substantially identical size and shape.

76. A panel system as set forth in claim 75, wherein:

said first and second horizontal frame members have a substantially identical size and shape.