Partition construction including interconnection system and removable covers

• US 5,816,001 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Feldpausch, Michael J., Goodman, Steven F., Musculus, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, KEVIN DOUGLAS
• Application Number:
  US08/687,724
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 52/36.1, 52/36.4, 52/36.5, 52/36.6, 52/220.7, 52/239, 52/281, 52/284, 52/474, 52/479, 52/481.1, 52/481.2, 52/483.1, 52/489.1, 52/489.2, 52/653.1, 52/656.1, 52/775, 52/781, 108/106, 108/107, 108/108, 312/265.2, 312/265.3
• US Class Current: 52/239
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/425 introduced by a vertical pivoting movement
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/04 Partition walls adjustable A47B57/58
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/06 Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves A47B96/022 takes precedence; aspects of adjusting height or inclination A47B57/00 ; brackets for the display of articles A47F5/08
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7433 with panels and support posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7453 with panels and support posts, extending from floor to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7462 using resilient connectors, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7466 using hooks
• 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 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/5045 specially adapted for furniture E06B3/52 takes precedence

Abstract

A partition construction includes a partition frame having opposing vertical edges and upper and lower frame members each defining a repeating pattern of configured apertures and holes extending horizontally between its vertical side edges. The configured apertures are "+" or "T" shaped, and include at least a smaller lower section and an enlarged middle section. Cover panels are attachable to the partition frame by top locator/connectors that engage the smaller lower section of selected apertures in the upper frame member, and by bottom connectors that engage an upper one of the holes in the lower frame member. The cover panels are shaped to leave the enlarged middle section of the configured apertures open, so that they can receive a component-supporting bracket or an off-module partition supporting bracket to the primary partition frame. A U-shaped "off-module" connector is provided having a pair of hooked legs for engaging a selected one of the apertures in the enlarged middle section thereof, and a rear section configured for connection to the end of an off-module partition frame. The partition frame includes a pair of leveling members each including downwardly disposed end sections. A floor channel is provided having a locking wall spaced above a floor-engaging wall. The locking wall includes key hole apertures having a large end for vertically receiving the end sections of the leveling members and further having a small end for horizontally receiving the end sections of the leveler. The locking wall includes marginal material around the small end for engaging a recess on the end sections of the leveler to retain the leveler in the key hole apertures.

Claims

1. A partition system comprising:

a frame having a pair of closely spaced apertures; and

a cover panel having a locator tab engaging one of the pair of apertures and an antidislodgement tab separate from the locator tab and spaced therebelow engaging the other of the pair of apertures, respectively, the locator tab and the antidislodgement tab both projecting outwardly from the cover panel and both being configured to engage the frame from a front of the frame, the cover panel further including a body covering the frame when the cover panel is attached to the frame, the antidislodgement tab being configured to fit into the other of the pair of apertures from the front of the frame after the locator tab is engaged in the one of the pair of apertures as the cover panel is rotated about the locator tab from an angled position on the frame to a vertical position against the frame.

2. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the locator tab is hook shaped.

3. The partition system defined in claim 2 wherein the antidislodgement tab extends horizontally and linearly.

4. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the locator tab and the antidislodgement tab comprise bent flanges integrally formed from a single section of sheet material.

5. A partition construction comprising:

a first partition frame having opposing vertical side edges and at least an upper and a lower horizontal frame member extending between the vertical side edges, each of the upper and lower frame members each defining a row of apertures spaced horizontally apart, some of the apertures in the upper row being formed as part of a configured aperture defining a smaller-sized lower section and an enlarged upper section connected to the lower section;

a cover panel including a covering part shaped to cover at least a portion of the partition frame, the cover panel including a pair of upper connectors engaging the smaller-sized lower section of selected ones of the configured apertures while providing access to the enlarged section of the configured apertures in the row of apertures, the cover panel further including a lower connector retaining a bottom portion of the cover panel to the lower frame member;

whereby the enlarged section of the configured apertures in the upper frame member is accessible and engageable by a bracket for supporting a furniture component even when the cover panel is attached to the partition frame.

6. The partition construction defined in claim 5 including third apertures located below the configured apertures in the upper frame member.

7. A partition frame comprising:

a pair of tubular uprights that are spaced apart, each having opposing spaced apart faces and also top and bottom ends;

at least one pair of hat-shaped channels positioned on opposite sides of said tubular uprights and at a common height, the hat-shaped channels extending horizontally and including a pair of notches receiving half of the tubular uprights, each of the hat-shaped channels including a center flange and a pair of wing flanges that are parallel but non-coplanar with the center flange, the center flange abutting the tubular uprights at the notches and the wing flanges being cut away at the notches, the wing flanges of the hat-shaped channels being secured together and each center flange secured to the tubular uprights to form a rigid construction.

8. The partition frame defined in claim 7 including a top frame member and a bottom frame member extending horizontally and connecting the top ends and the bottom ends, respectively.

9. The partition system defined in claim 7 wherein center flanges of the hat-shaped channels define a horizontally-extending row of slots.

10. The partition system defined in claim 7 wherein the hat-shaped channels include side flanges that extend perpendicularly between edges of the center flange and the wing flanges, the notches extending at least partially into the side flanges.

11. The partition system defined in claim 10 wherein the notches extend completely through the side flanges and to the center flange.

12. A partition construction comprising:

a first partition frame having opposing vertical edges and at least one elongated horizontal frame member extending between the vertical edges, the at least one horizontal frame member defining a row of apertures spaced horizontally apart, the apertures defining a smaller-sized lower section and an enlarged upper section connected to the lower section;

a cover panel having a covering part shaped to cover at least a portion of the partition frame, and a pair of connectors attached to the covering part and engaging the smaller-sized lower sections of selected ones of the apertures, the covering part providing access to the enlarged section of the apertures in the row of apertures when attached to the partition frame; and

a bracket having a front section engaging a selected one of the enlarged sections of the apertures, the bracket also having a laterally extending rear section adapted to support one of a furniture component and another partition frame.

13. The partition construction defined in claim 12 wherein some of the apertures have a T shaped section.

14. The partition construction defined in claim 12 wherein some of the apertures are plus shaped.

15. The partition construction defined in claim 12 wherein the horizontal frame member includes a vertical planar flange forming a side of the frame member, the apertures being located in the vertical planar flange.

16. The partition construction defined in claim 12 wherein the horizontal frame member includes slots along with the row of apertures, the slots and the apertures forming a repeating pattern across a length of the horizontal frame member so that the cover panels can be selectively located on the horizontal frame member.

17. A partition construction comprising:

a first partition frame having opposing vertical edges and at least one elongated horizontal frame member extending between the vertical edges, the at least one horizontal frame member defining a row of accessible apertures spaced horizontally apart, the first partition frame further including at least one cover panel partially covering the at least one horizontal frame member but providing horizontal access to said row of apertures;

a second partition frame having a vertical side edge positioned proximate the first partition frame in an off-module position between the vertical edges of the first partition frame, the second partition frame including at least another horizontal frame member having an end positioned proximate the at least one horizontal frame member; and

a U-shaped off-module connector having a pair of legs defining a pair of horizontally facing opposing hooks engaging a selected one of the apertures and a rear section connecting the legs, the rear section being connected to the vertical side edge of the second partition frame.

18. The partition system defined in claim 17 wherein said legs and said rear section lie in different planes.

19. The partition system defined in claim 17 wherein said legs are movable between a frame-engaged position and a frame-disengaged position.

20. The partition system defined in claim 17 wherein said rear section is resilient.

21. The partition system defined in claim 20 wherein said legs define a space therebetween for closely receiving an attachment screw for attaching the off-module connector to the second partition frame such that the legs are held apart by the attachment screw and cannot be released from the selected one aperture.

22. The partition system defined in claim 21 wherein said legs and said rear section lie in different planes.