Partition construction and trim system therefor

• US 5,839,240 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Palermo, William H., Draudt, Gregg R., Desmit, Steven D., Mead, Karl J., Elsholz, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/686,913
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 52/242, 52/287.1, 52/288.1, 52/290, 52/716.1, 52/718.04, 52/718.06, 52/800.17, 52/800.18, 52/802.1, 52/126.3, 52/220.7, 52/241
• US Class Current: 52/242
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7433 with panels and support posts
• 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: E04B 2002/749 Partitions with screw-type jacks

Abstract

A partition system for subdividing a building space includes a partition frame including a top frame member and intermediate frame members, cover panels releasably attached to the partition frame to cover the partition frame, and a floor channel including an upwardly facing channel for supporting the partition frame. An upper trim system includes a top cap configured to engage and cover the top frame member, and further includes an end cap configured to engage and cover an end of the intermediate frame members, and still further includes a corner piece for aesthetically interconnecting the top cap and the end cap. A lower trim system includes an elongated base trim side piece attached to the floor channel for covering a lower portion of the partition frame, and further includes a base trim end shoe attached to the partition frame for covering an end of the frame along the building floor. In a preferred form, the partition frame includes at least two horizontal frame members having cantilevered ends with notches formed therein. The end cap has a body configured to cover a vertical side edge of the partition frame at the ends. The end trim cap further has legs configured to engage the notches in the ends of the at least two horizonal frame members to retain the end cap to the partition frame. In a preferred form, the notches include barbs to fricitonally retain the legs. The partition frame includes a leveler attached to a bottom of the partition frame for leveling the partition frame. The base trim end piece includes a spring clip for holding the base trim piece to the partition frame proximate the building floor. The spring clip slidably vertically engages the base trim end piece so that the base trim end piece can be adjusted downwardly adjacent the building floor even when the leveler is adjusted to change a height of the partition frame.

Claims

1. A partition system for subdividing a building space comprising:

a partition frame including at least two horizontal frame members having cantilevered ends with notches formed therein; and

an end trim cap having a body configured to cover a vertical side edge of the partition frame at the ends and further having legs configured to engage the notches in the ends of the at least two horizonal frame members to retain the end cap to the partition frame.

2. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the notches include barbs to fricitonally retain the legs therein.

3. The partition system defined in claim 2 wherein the notches include opposing barbs.

4. The partition system defined in claim 3 wherein the end trim cap includes a pair of spaced apart legs for engaging the notches.

5. The partition system defined in claim 1 including at least one extender bracket attached to the partition frame and positioned between the at least two horizontal frame members, the at least one extender brackets having an end providing notches for engaging the legs on the end trim cap to retain the end cap to the partition frame.

6. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the end trim cap is an extrusion and has a constant cross section.

7. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the end trim cap includes concavely angled surfaces forming a telescopingly engageable track adjacent the legs on an underside of the end trim cap for engaging a mating trim piece.

8. A trim system for a portable partition panel comprising:

a base trim end shoe configured for attachment to a lower end of the partition panel proximate a building floor to aesthetically cover the lower end, the base trim end shoe including an outer panel with top and bottom edges forming a telescopingly engageable track on an inner surface of the outer panel; and

a spat having a blade connector configured to telescopingly engage the track and having an outer panel section adapted to aesthetically cover a lower side and corner of the partition panel proximate the lower end, whereby the base trim end shoe and the spat, when interconnected, are adapted to cover the lower end, a lower corner and the lower side of the partition panel, the blade connector including detents for frictionally engaging the base trim shoe.

9. The trim system defined in claim 8 wherein the top and bottom edges include inwardly facing L shaped flanges defining top and bottom portions of the track.

10. A trim system for a portable partition panel comprising:

a base trim end shoe configured for attachment to a lower end of the partition panel proximate a building floor to aesthetically cover the lower end, the base trim end shoe including an outer panel with top and bottom edges forming a telescopingly engageable track on an inner surface of the outer panel;

a spat having a blade connector configured to telescopingly engage the track and having an outer panel section adapted to aesthetically cover a lower side and corner of the partition panel proximate the lower end, whereby the base trim end shoe and the spat, when interconnected, are adapted to cover the lower end, a lower corner and the lower side of the partition panel;

the top and bottom edges including inwardly facing L shaped flanges defining top and bottom portions of the track; and

the blade connector including at least two blades located in a common plane and defining at least one slot therebetween, and the base trim shoe including T shaped members located between the top and bottom edges for engaging the at least one slot to retain the spat to the base trim shoe along an intermediate portion thereof.

11. A trim system for portable partition panels comprising:

a partition frame;

a leveler attached to the partition frame for leveling the partition frame;

a base trim end piece for mateably covering a lower end of the partition panel along a building floor; and

a spring clip for holding the base trim piece to the partition frame proximate the building floor, the spring clip slidably vertically engaging one of the partition frame and the base trim end piece so that the base trim end piece can be adjusted downwardly adjacent the building floor even when the leveler is adjusted to change a height of the partition frame.

12. The trim system defined in claim 11 wherein the spring clip is L shaped.

13. The trim system defined in claim 12 wherein the spring clip slidably engages the base trim end piece.

14. The trim system defined in claim 13 wherein the base trim end piece includes a vertical track, and wherein the spring clip slidably engages the track.

15. The trim system defined in claim 14 wherein the spring clip includes a resilient arm for resiliently frictionally engaging the partition frame to retain the base trim end piece to the partition frame.

16. A trim system for covering a partition, the partition including a partition frame having a horizontal top edge and a vertical side edge forming a corner, the trim system comprising:

a top cap adapted to engage the partition frame and cover the horizontal top edge, the top cap having a first end;

an end cap adapted to engage the partition frame and cover the horizontal top edge, the end cap having a second end; and

a corner piece configured to join the first and second ends to aesthetically cover the corner, the corner piece including a male connector configured to mateably engage a first mating connector on one of the first and second ends, and including a female connector configured to mateably receivingly engage a second mating connector on the other of the first and second ends, wherein the male connector comprises at least one relatively thin blade having an obliquely angled side surface, and the first mating connector comprises a pair of protruding ridges with a mating angled surface configured to telescopingly engage the thin blade.

17. The trim system defined in claim 16 wherein the male connector comprises a pair of parallel legs.

18. The trim system defined in claim 17 wherein the legs engage the end cap.