Partition construction including removable cover panels

• US 5,802,789 A
• Filed: 12/17/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Mead, Karl J., Grabowski, Daniel, Miller, Scott M., Jeffers, Robert E., Hager, Allen C., Goodman, Steven F., Jonker, Kurt A., DuBuis, Melissa A., Brickner, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US08/767,817
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 52/239, 52/238.1, 52/243, 52/36.1, 52/36.6, 52/656.1, 52/656.2, 52/656.9, 52/271, 52/592.6, 52/486, 52/489, 52/487, 52/478, 52/397, 52/726, 52/242, 52/241, 403/231, 403/230, 403/375, 160/135, 160/351
• US Class Current: 52/239
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7462 using resilient connectors, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7474 using releasable connectors actuable with a key or a tool
• 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 2002/749 Partitions with screw-type jacks

Abstract

A partition panel includes a partition frame with a planar face having clip-receiving apertures for supporting cover panels and bracket-receiving apertures for supporting furniture components. A pair of cover panels configured to cover the partition frame include side edges that define a gap therebetween for providing access to the bracket-receiving apertures when the cover panels are attached to the partition frame. Clips on the cover panels are constructed to releasably engage the clip-receiving apertures for retaining the cover panels on the partition frame in a coplanar arrangement. The clips each include an antidislodgement tooth for interlockingly engaging a back surface of the face when the clips are engaged with the clip-receiving apertures, and further include a release tab that is depressible to move the tooth to a disengaged position for releasing the clip from the associated clip-receiving aperture. The clips are located at a position spaced away from the gap and behind the cover panels so that the clips are not visible through the gap from a position in front of the cover panels. A flexible strip is attached to one of the cover panels for covering the gap when the cover panels are attached to the partition frame in a coplanar and adjacent position thereon.

Claims

1. A partition panel comprising:

a partition frame having a planar face with clip-receiving apertures and bracket-receiving apertures, the planar face having a back surface;

a pair of cover panels configured to cover the partition frame, the cover panels including side edges that define a gap therebetween and provide access to the bracket-receiving apertures when the cover panels are attached to the partition frame;

clips releasably engaging the clip-receiving apertures and retaining the cover panels on the partition frame in a coplanar arrangement, the clips each including an antidislodgement tooth interlockingly engaging the back surface when the clips are engaged with the clip-receiving apertures, and further including a release tab that is depressible to move the tooth to a disengaged position wherein the clips are released from the clip-receiving apertures; and

a flexible strip attached to one of the cover panels and covering the gap when the cover panels are attached to the partition frame in a coplanar and adjacent position thereon.

2. The partition panel defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible strip includes an attachment leg engaging one of the cover panels and a flexible section engaging the other of the cover panels.

3. The partition panel defined in claim 2 wherein the flexible section comprises a curved wall section.

4. The partition panel defined in claim 3 wherein the flexible strip comprises a dual durometer extrusion.

5. The partition panel defined in claim 4 wherein the cover panel includes a marginal frame, and wherein the attachment leg has an enlarged section frictionally engaging a recess in the marginal frame.

6. The partition panel defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible strip comprises a dual durometer extrusion.

7. The partition panel defined in claim 1 therein the cover panel includes a marginal frame, and wherein the flexible strip includes an attachment leg that frictionally engages the marginal frame of the cover panel.

8. The partition panel defined in claim 1 wherein the clips are positioned behind the cover panel to which the clips are attached in a location that is not directly accessible nor visible through the gap.

9. The partition panel defined in claim 1 wherein the release tab extends forwardly beyond a front surface of the face when the tooth engages the back surface.

10. A partition panel comprising:

a partition frame having a planar face with a horizontal row of bracket-receiving apertures

a pair of cover panels attached to the partition frame, the cover panels including top and bottom edges that define a gap therebetween and provide access to the bracket-receiving apertures;

a flexible strip attached to one of the cover panels and covering the gap and the bracket-receiving apertures; and

a bracket having a connector portion shaped to depress the flexible strip and to engage selected ones of the bracket-receiving apertures to support furniture components on the partition frame.

11. The partition panel defined in claim 10 wherein the flexible strip includes an attachment leg engaging one of the cover panels and a flexible section engaging the other of the cover panels.

12. The partition panel defined in claim 11 wherein the flexible section comprises a curved wall section.

13. The partition panel defined in claim 12 wherein the flexible strip comprises a dual durometer extrusion.

14. The partition panel defined in claim 13 wherein the cover panel includes a marginal frame, and wherein the attachment leg has an enlarged section frictionally engaging a recess in the marginal frame.

15. The partition panel defined in claim 10 wherein the flexible strip comprises a dual durometer extrusion.

16. The partition panel defined in claim 10 wherein the cover panel includes a marginal frame, and wherein the flexible strip includes an attachment leg that frictionally engages the marginal frame of the cover panel.

17. A partition panel comprising:

a partition frame having a planar face with clip-receiving apertures and bracket-receiving apertures, the planar face having a back surface;

a pair of cover panels configured to cover the partition frame, the cover panels including side edges that define a gap therebetween and provide access to the bracket-receiving apertures when the cover panels are attached to the partition frame; and

clips releasably engaging the clip-receiving apertures and retaining the cover panels on the partition frame in a coplanar arrangement, the clips each including a tooth interlockingly engaging the back surface when the clips are engaged with the clip-receiving apertures, and further including a release tab that is depressible to move the tooth to a disengaged position wherein the clips are released from the clip-receiving apertures, the clips being located at a position spaced away from the gap and behind the cover panels so that the clips are not visible through the gap from a position in front of the cover panels.

18. The partition panel defined in claim 17 wherein the clips are positioned behind the cover panel to which the clips are attached in a location that is not directly accessible nor visible through the gap.

19. The partition panel defined in claim 17 wherein the release tab extends forwardly beyond a front surface of the face when the tooth engages the back surface.

20. A method comprising steps of:

providing a partition frame having a planar face with clip-receiving apertures and bracket-receiving apertures, the planar face having a back surface;

providing a pair of cover panels releasably attached to the partition frame and covering the partition frame, the cover panels including side edges that define a gap therebetween and provide access to bracket-receiving apertures when the cover panels are attached to the partition frame, the cover panels each including clips releasably engaging the clip-receiving apertures and retaining the cover panels on the partition frame in a coplanar arrangement, the clips each including a tooth interlockingly engaging the back surface when the clips are engaged with the clip-receiving apertures, and further including a release tab that is depressible to move the tooth to a disengaged position wherein the clips are released from the clip-receiving apertures, the clips being located at a position spaced away from the gap and behind the cover panels so that the clips are not visible through the gap from a position in front of the cover panels;

providing a tool constructed to extend through the gap and extend behind a selected cover panel to engage the release tab on a selected clip;

depressing the release tab of the selected clip to release the associated tooth from engagement with the back surface of the partition frame;

sliding the tool along the gap to a next one of the clips; and

repeating the steps of depressing and sliding until the clips of the cover panel are disengaged from the partition frame.