Partition construction including removable cover panels
First Claim
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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A partition panel comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A partition panel comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A partition panel comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method comprising steps of:
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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.
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Specification