Partition structures and frame elements therefor

• US 4,905,428 A
• Filed: 11/16/1988
• Issued: 03/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Christopher C. Sykes
• Inventors: Sykes, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Creighton
• Application Number:
  US07/271,920
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 52/220, 52/221, 52/239, 52/243, 52/481, 52/578, 52/582, 52/126.4, 52/126.7, 52/126.5, 52/126.6, 160/135, 160/351, 160/40, 160/43
• US Class Current: 52/126.4
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/745 Glazing details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/82 characterised by the manner in which edges are connected to the building; Means therefor; Special details of easily-removable partitions as far as related to the connection with other parts of the building
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring

Abstract

Partition structure has a rigid rectangular frame and rigid rectangular panels received in openings on opposite sides of the frame, with a small clearance between the edges of the panel and the frame. One panel edge is pivotally connected to the frame. The opposite edge of the panel is held securely on the frame by a resilient U-shaped catch received in a slot in a lip on the frame extending rearwardly of the panel. The tongue can be deflected inwardly to free the shoulder from the lip by introducing a thin-bladed tool through the clearance between the panel edge and the frame, so that the panel can then be rocked outwardly about the pivotal connection to an open position. A secure engagement of the panels on the frame is obtained, so that cables or other electrical equipment are securely housed within the partition. By using a small clearance between the panel at the frame, the tongues holding the panels in place are practically indiscernible and the panel securing arrangement is rendered tamper proof. There are also disclosed frame elements and partition structures arranged for stacking of mocular frame elements one on another, for connection of structures at angles to form corner units, for support of electrical cables within the frame elements, for attachment of the upper end of a partition to a ceiling, and for levelling of a frame element on an uneven floor.

Claims

1. A partition structure comprising a rigid rectangular frame element formed by peripheral rails defining a rectangular opening therein;

at least two opposing ones of said rails each having a lip on each side of the rail directed inwardly toward the opening;

a pair of rigid rectangular panels dimensioned to fit snugly into the openings on the outer sides of the lips on respective opposite sides of the frame element leaving a small clearance between the rails and the panel edges;

each panel having means for pivotally connecting one edge thereof to one lip and preventing disengagement from the lip by outwardly pulling on the panel edge;

the opposite lip having in it a slot parallel to the panel edge; and

the panel having a resilient U-section tongue connected on its rear face and normally received in the slot, with a shoulder on the tongue engaging the inner side of the lip and preventing disengagement from the lip by outwardly pulling on the panel edge, the tongue being exposed through said small clearance whereby it may be engaged by a thin-bladed tool inserted through said clearance and may be deflected inwardly to free the shoulder from the lip and allow the edge of the panel to be rocked outwardly from the frame element about said pivotal connection.

2. A partition structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tongue has a second shoulder opposing the first-mentioned shoulder, said second shoulder engaging the outer side of the lip, and a recess between the shoulders receiving the edge of the lip.

3. A partition structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said shoulders and recess define a rectangular section channel snugly receiving the edge of the lip.

4. A partition structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said rails has an opening therein for introducing a current carrying electrical cable into the interior of the structure.

5. A partition structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally connecting comprise a hook-shaped projection on the rear side of the panel, and a slot in the said one lip receiving said hook-shaped projection.

6. A partition structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said opposite lip is provided with at least one further slot parallel to the panel edge and spaced from said first-mentioned slot, and said panel has at least a further resilient U-section tongue connected on its rear face for each said further slot, each such further tongue received in its respective slot and having a shoulder engaging the inner side of the lip to prevent disengagement of the panel edge on an outward pull thereon except when the tongue is resiliently deflected inwardly by application of a thin-bladed tool introduced through said clearance.

7. A connectible frame element for a partition structure comprising a rigid rectangular frame formed by two opposing side rails and upper and lower horizontal rails at least one of which is of rectangular channel section with the opening of the channel facing outwards, and an abutment shoulder extending inwardly into the channel on each channel side;

and a frame interconnector comprising a resiliently compressible channel section member dimensioned to be introduced in inverted position within said horizontal channel section rail and having an outwardly extending engaging rib on the free end of each channel side, said rib in a normal position engaging respective abutment shoulders of the channel of the rail to prevent withdrawal from the rail and the interconnector member being laterally compressible to allow said rib to move past the shoulders and allow introduction of the interconnector; and

releasable connector means for connecting the interconnector member to the channel rail of a second frame element similar to the first-mentioned frame element when superimposed therein; and

wherein said frame elements each have an edge flange extending laterally outwardly from the free end of the channel side of each channel rail, the edge flanges of said second frame element seating on the edge flanges of the first-mentioned frame element.

8. A frame element as claimed in claim 7 wherein the interconnector member is dimensioned so that its channel bottom extends into the channel of the horizontal rail of said second frame element when in said normal position.

9. A frame element as claimed in claim 8 wherein an intermediate portion of each channel side of the interconnector member is thickened to provide a land abutting the inner sides of the free ends of superimposed channel rails of the first mentioned and second frame elements when in said normal position.

10. A frame element as claimed in claim 7 wherein each horizontal channel rail has an inwardly entrant channel section depression in its channel bottom opening to the outer side of the channel bottom, and the releasable connector means comprise a tensile member having a shank threaded into a threaded aperture in the channel bottom of the interconnector member and passing through an opening in the inwardly entrant channel of said second frame element, and an enlarged head engaging the channel bottom of the inwardly entrant channel.

11. A corner partition structure comprising first and second rigid rectangular frame elements each having at least one side rail formed with an opening receiving a threaded connector member;

and a corner connector comprising a short length of an extrusion which is multiply lobed in cross section, each lobe having a channel section recess with serrated inner sides, the threaded connector of each frame element threadedly engaging a respective serrated recess.

12. A partition structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein each lobe comprises in cross-section a narrow intermediate portion and a wider end portion having said recess therein.

13. A partition structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein each lobe has a rectangular stub flange on each side of the recess, and each frame element has a rectangular groove along each side snugly locating said flanges therein.

14. A partition structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein the corner connector has said lobes disposed to form a uniformly cruciform cross section.

15. A partition structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein said corner connector has three lobes disposed 120°

apart in cross section.

16. A cable housing frame element for a partition structure comprising a rigid rectangular frame formed by two opposing side rails and upper and lower horizontal rails at least one of which is formed with a channel section recess opening toward the interior of the frame element and having a projection extending inwardly from each side thereof;

and an extruded resilient plastics material cable carrier having in cross section an upper end with laterally outwardly and downwardly extending wings each formed with a shoulder which in a normal position snap couples in the recess and engages the upper side of a respective one of said projections to resist withdrawal, and each wing extending outwardly from the recess to allow the wings to be grasped and laterally compressed to allow withdrawal from the recess, and a lower portion having an upwardly open channel for receiving electrical cables.

17. A frame element as claim in claim 16 wherein the lower portion of the cable carrier has in its lower surface a channel section recess similar to the recess in said one rail, whereby the upper end of a similar cable carrier can be snap coupled therein.

18. A frame element as claimed in claim 16 wherein each projection is of rectangular section and each wing has a rectangular section groove therein, one edge of which defines said shoulder, said groove snugly receiving said projection.

19. A ceiling connectible frame element for a partition structure comprising in combination a rigid rectangular frame formed by two opposing side rails and upper and lower horizontal rails at least one of which is formed with a channel section recess opening to the outer side of the frame, and a resilient channel section ceiling connector member having a flange extending inwardly from each channel side whereby the flanges can resiliently grip the outer sides of a rectangular section ceiling bar intended to be secured to the ceiling at the point where the frame element is to be connected to the ceiling, and parallel lower side surfaces which snugly engage the inner sides of the channel of said horizontal rail, so that the connector can be slipped downwardly relative to the ceiling bar from an upper assembly position allowing the channel of said one rail of the frame element to be positioned under the connector member to a lower anchoring position wherein said side surfaces engage on the sides of the channel of said horizontal rail.

20. A frame element as claimed in claim 19 wherein each flange extends inwardly downwardly into the channel of the connector member.

21. A frame element as claimed in claim 19 wherein the lower side surfaces of the connector member are formed by the side surfaces of a rectangular section depression formed in the channel bottom of the connector member.

22. A base frame element for a partition structure comprising a rigid rectangular frame formed from opposing side rails and upper and lower horizontal rails, the lower rail provided at longitudinally spaced points with leveller means comprising a threaded opening adjacent the lower side of the rail, a threaded shank engaging said opening and having a free end adjacent the lower side of the rail and a tool engaging head having planar vertically extending tool engaging surfaces disposed above the opening wherein said lower rail has a channel section recess facing toward the outer side of the frame element and having a projection extending inwardly from each side, and said threaded opening is provided by a flat sided threaded member non-rotatably located in the recess with its flat sides engaging the sides of the channel.

23. A frame element as claimed in claim 22 wherein the flat sided member is a hexagonal nut.