Partition structures and frame elements therefor

• US 5,062,246 A
• Filed: 02/26/1990
• Issued: 11/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Christopher C. Sykes
• Inventors: Sykes, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Creighton
• Application Number:
  US07/484,520
• Time in Patent Office: 617 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
• US Class Current: 52/126.4
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7424 Glazing details
• 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 modular 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. 5

Claims

1. A modular partition structure comprising a plurality of rectangular frame elements formed by peripheral rails defining rectangular openings of uniform size therein, a plurality of rectangular panels of uniform size attaching to said frame elements substantially to fill said openings, and at least one of said frame elements being provided with a service cross beam for carrying electrical and telecommunication service members, said beam extending across an intermediate portion of one of said openings and connected at opposite ends to opposite peripheral rails of the frame element, and including a narrow panel attaching to said cross beam and to a peripheral rail of the frame element parallel thereto and substantially filling the space therebetween, and a cover plate attaching to and covering said cross beam, wherein said cross beam is of generally I-section with the upright of said I disposed parallel to the plane of the frame element, wherein said beam offers a channel section recess on each face of the frame element.

2. A partition structure as claimed in claim 1 comprising attachment means supporting said uniform panels on said peripheral rails with said panels extending on the outer side of said cross beam, whereby each opening of said frame element having the cross beam may be provided selectively either with one of said uniform panels substantially filling said opening or with said narrow panel and said cover plate.

3. A partition structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each end of said I-section is provided on each side with an end flange extending in the pane of the frame element, said end flanges having slots formed therein for connection of the edges of said narrow panel thereto.

4. A partition structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cover plate is resilient and snap fits between said end flanges of said I-section beam.

5. A two high modular partition structure comprising in combination a frame element having two vertical side rails, a horizontal top rail and a horizontal central rail connecting between the side rails, a horizontal bottom cross beam connecting between the side rails for carrying sockets or receptacles, and an intermediate horizontal cross beam disposed between the top and central rails and connecting at each end to said side rails for supporting sockets and receptacles, cover plates for connecting to said bottom and intermediate horizontal cross beams, a plurality of uniform sized rectangular panels for attaching to said frame element outwardly of said cross beam substantially to fill the openings between said top and central rails and between said central rail and the bottom cross beam, and a cover panel for attaching to said frame element and narrower than said uniform sized panels to fill the opening between the intermediate cross beam and the top rail, whereby the opening between the top rail and the central rail can have applied to it selectively (a) one of said uniform sized rectangular panels or (b) a dover plate and said narrower cover panel and, wherein said horizontal bottom cross beam and intermediate horizontal cross beam are each of generally I-section with the upright of said I disposed parallel to the plane of the frame element, whereby each said beam offers a channel section recess on each face of the frame element.