Panel-to-panel connectors for office partitions

• US 5,867,955 A
• Filed: 07/14/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Russell, Scott H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/892,010
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 52/239, 52/582.1, 52/284, 52/285.1, 52/285.2, 52/285.3
• US Class Current: 52/239
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence

Abstract

A partition system is provided for subdividing a building space. The partition system includes different partition panels interconnectable in one of in-line, "X", "T", or "L" shaped arrangements by a connection system that simulates a "post" type connection, but which does not include vertically extending upright components. The connection system includes vertically spaced joint brackets for connecting the panels in the selected arrangement. The joint brackets each have sides with threaded connectors and barbed notches on each side. Vertically spaced frame brackets are used to rigidly connect the frame sections to the joint brackets. Trim pieces are constructed to securely engage the barbed notches on unoccupied sides of the joint brackets when there is a gap formed by absence of a panel on the unoccupied sides.

Claims

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

a plurality of panels each defining vertical side edges and vertically spaced frame sections at the vertical side edges; and

a connection system for connecting the panels together around a post-simulating joint where the panels are selectively arrangeable in one of an in-line, "T" and "L" shaped arrangement, the connection system including;

vertical spaced joint brackets for selectively connecting the panels in the one selected arrangement, each joint bracket having sides with threaded connectors and barbed notches;

vertically spaced frame brackets connecting the vertically spaced frame sections to selected ones of the threaded connectors; and

trim pieces attached to the barbed notches on unoccupied sides of the joint brackets where there is no panel attached, the trim pieces each being shaped to aesthetically cover an open area between the panels on the unoccupied sides.

2. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the joint brackets comprise flat plates with the notches formed in the sides of the joint brackets.

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

4. The partition system defined in claim 3 wherein the sides of the joint brackets include a straight edge.

5. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein at least some of the frame sections of the panels are horizontally misaligned, and wherein at least one of the joint brackets has vertically spaced sides for connecting the horizontally misaligned frame sections.

6. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of panels includes first panels having a first thickness and second panels having a different thickness, and wherein the joint brackets are rectangularly shaped with dimensions corresponding to the first thickness and the different thickness.

7. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the frame sections include cantilevered end sections, and the frame brackets have tail sections configured to mateably engage the cantilevered end sections.

8. The partition system defined in claim 7 wherein the cantilevered end sections have an aperture, and wherein the tail sections have a finger for engaging the aperture.

9. The partition system defined in claim 8 wherein the cantilevered end sections each have a threaded hole, and wherein the tail sections have another hole that aligns with the threaded hole for receiving a fastener to secure the frame bracket to the cantilevered end sections.

10. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the trim pieces include a flat body and include protrusions extending from the body for frictionally engaging the barbed notches.

11. The partition system defined in claim 10 wherein the trim pieces including the protrusion comprise extruded polymeric material.

12. The partition system defined in claim 1 including a separate trim-supporting bracket configured to connect to an upright on the panels, the separate trim-supporting bracket having third connectors thereon for providing added support to the trim pieces at locations between the vertically spaced joint brackets.

13. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the vertically spaced frame sections are end sections of horizontally extending frame members that define channels for receiving the frame brackets.

14. A partition system comprising:

a pair of frames defining vertical side edges, the frames each having horizontal frame members and uprights spaced horizontally from the vertical side edges for supporting the horizontal frame members, the horizontal frame members having cantilevered end sections extending to the vertical side edges from the uprights;

frame brackets each having a tail end configured for rigid secure connection to a selected one of the cantilevered end sections and having an opposite end, the frame brackets each being a relatively flat part such that the tail end and the opposite end lie substantially in a common plane and are easily manufactured by a stamping operation; and

joint brackets having sides and apertures on each side for receiving fasteners to secure the opposite end to the joint bracket on a selected side.

15. The partition system defined in claim 14 wherein the joint bracket comprises a stamped, flat part.

16. The partition system defined in claim 15 wherein the joint bracket is also a stamped, flat part.

17. In a partition system for subdividing building space, the partition system including at least a first panel having a first partition frame with a first vertical side edge, and a second panel having a second partition frame with a second vertical side edge spaced horizontally from the first vertical side edge;

a connection system comprising;

joint brackets and frame-engaging brackets configured to attach partition frames to the joint brackets, the joint brackets each being a stamped flat part with straight side edges defining sides, each side having threaded holes and notches, each frame-engaging bracket including a tail end attached to one of the first and second frames, and further including cantilevered ends screw-attached to the threaded holes on the joint bracket.

18. The system defined in claim 17, including a vertically elongate trim piece engaging one of the notches to cover an open space between the first and second panels, the open space occurring when a particular one of the sides is unoccupied and not connected to any of the partition frames.