Top cap with snap-in accent strip for wall panels

• US 5,184,441 A
• Filed: 05/14/1991
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allsteel Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Balfanz, Glenn F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LENO, MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US07/699,886
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 52/823, 52/824, 52/716, 52/717.1, 52/718.1, 52/241, 52/238.1, 52/239, 52/284, 52/465, 52/239, 160/135, 160/351
• US Class Current: 52/241
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/043 Protecting rims, buffers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7416 with free upper edge, e.g. for use as office space dividers

Abstract

A top cap for attachment to and concealment of a wire channel along the tops of a wall panels. The top cap has a groove structure that inwardly engages the wire channel and outwardly forms a receiving groove snap-engageable to a detachable trim strip. The trim strip being field or factory installed and may be removed for replacement by other trim strips for achieving different aesthetic arrangements.

Claims

1. A top cap having a dome-like wall, opposingly directed engageable structures at opposite sides of said dome-like wall having an inwardly turned horizontal flange and an outwardly turned horizontal leg joined a leg having a bend therebetween for placement along side walls of a wire channel said legs and flanges forming a pair of oppositely directed groove means for receiving an extruded trim strip, said groove means having means for snap-engaging an extruded, and, extruded trim strips snap-engaged at both of said oppositely directed groove means for substantially the full length thereof and including snap-over barb means at one portion, and another portion being outwardly exposed and capable of providing a decorative appearance.

2. A detachable top cap assembly for concealing a channel means located along the top of a wall system, the top cap assembly comprising:

an elongate shell-like cap having inwardly turned horizontal flanges spaced from outwardly turned horizontal legs forming outwardly open grooves therebetween, said flanges and said legs being joined by bent leg portions integral therewith forming opposing means for detachable engagement, said outwardly turned legs including snap-over engageable means;

a channel means having a bottom wall and side wall means, the side wall means being detachably engaged along said opposing means for detachable engagement of said top cap, and being arranged within said shell-like cap for concealment, said side wall means including an outwardly angled wall portion and an inwardly angled wall portion; and

,

accent strip means removably snap-engaged at said grooves and extending outwardly therefrom.

3. The detachable top cap assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said channel means is an open top wire channel.

4. The detachable top cap assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said accent strip means comprises an extruded plastic material.

5. A detachable top cap assembly for concealing a channel means located along the top of a wall system, the top cap assembly comprising:

an elongate shell-like cap having inwardly turned flanges spaced from outwardly turned legs forming groove means therebetween and joined by bent leg portions integral therewith forming opposing means for detachable engagement at opposite sides of a channel means, said outwardly turned legs including snap-over engageable means;

a channel means having side wall means detachably snap-engaged along said opposing engagement means of said top cap and being arranged within said shell-like cap for concealment wherein said opposing engagement means are nested underneath and against the side wall means of the channel means; and

,

accent strip means removably snap-engaged at said groove means and extending outwardly therefrom.