Connector for partition system

• US 6,009,676 A
• Filed: 08/10/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Feldpausch, Michael J., Hofman, William K., Feldpausch, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, KEVIN DOUGLAS
• Application Number:
  US09/132,129
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 52/36.1, 52/36.4, 52/36.5, 52/36.6, 52/239, 52/281, 52/284, 52/481.2, 52/582.1, 52/745.1, 52/745.13
• 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 system includes a first partition having a face and a horizontal row of slots accessible through the face, and a second partition having an abutting end adapted to be positioned adjacent the face. The first partition includes a frame and covers on the frame that define a horizontally extending gap for accessing the slots. A connector for interconnecting the abutting end to the face includes a one-piece U-shaped clip having a pair of legs forming a first end with opposing hooks configured to securely horizontally engage the slots in the face, and having an intermediate section forming a second end configured to securely engage the abutting end. The intermediate section is resilient such that the legs can be flexed together to an install position for insertion into a selected slot and can be flexed apart to a retaining position where the hooks are positioned to securely engage the selected slot in the first partition. The intermediate section and the legs form an interior space therebetween shaped to closely receive a fastener when the legs are in the retaining position so that the existence of the fastener between the legs prevents the legs from being moved to the install position. A method is also defined related to the above.

Claims

1. In a partition system including a first partition having a face and a horizontal row of slots accessible through the face, a second partition having an abutting end positioned adjacent the face, and a connector securing the abutting end to the face, the connector comprising:

a one-piece clip having a pair of legs forming a first end with opposing hooks securely engaging the slots in the face and having an intermediate section forming a second end securely engaging the abutting end, the intermediate section being resilient such that the legs can be flexed together to an install position for insertion into a selected slot and can be flexed apart to a retaining position where the hooks are positioned to securely engage the selected slot in the first partition, the intermediate section and the legs forming an area for receiving a fastener to secure the clip to the second partition.

2. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the hooks include a notch with a width that securely engages a frame member on the partition.

3. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the hooks are planar and lie in a common plane.

4. The partition system defined in claim 3 wherein the intermediate section is planar and extends parallel to the common plane.

5. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the partition includes a frame and covers on the frame that define a horizontally-extending thin gap for accessing the slots, and wherein the first end includes a horizontal section that spaces the hooks from the second end so that the first end extends through the thin gap between covers on the partition.

6. The partition system defined in claim 5 wherein the second end includes a vertical section that extends below the gap when the hooks are installed in the selected slots.

7. The partition system defined in claim 1 wherein the area comprises an interior space located between the legs that closely receives a shaft of the fastener when the legs are in the retaining position, so that the existence of the shaft between the legs prevents the legs from being moved to the install position.

8. The partition system defined in claim 7 including the fastener, and wherein the shaft of the fastener has a diameter, and wherein the legs and the intermediate section include opposing inner edges defining a constant width less than the diameter but having at least one enlarged recessed area receiving the shaft of the fastener.

9. The partition system defined in claim 7 wherein the intermediate section forms a U-shaped section with the legs.

10. The partition system defined in claim 9 wherein the hooks are planar and lie in a common plane.

11. The partition system defined in claim 10 wherein the intermediate section is planar and extends parallel to the common plane.

12. The partition system defined in claim 11 wherein the hooks include a notch with a width that securely engages opposite surfaces of a frame member on the partition.

13. The partition system defined in claim 12 wherein the partition includes a frame and covers on the frame that define a horizontally-extending gap defining a thin vertical dimension for accessing the slots, and wherein the first end includes a horizontal section that spaces the hooks from the second end so that the first end is configured to extend through the gap between covers on the partition.

14. The partition system defined in claim 13 wherein the second end includes a vertical section that extends below the gap when the hooks are installed in the selected slots.

15. The partition system defined in claim 14 wherein the shaft of the fastener has a diameter, and wherein the legs and the intermediate section include opposing inner edges defining a constant width less than the diameter but having at least one enlarged recessed area receiving the shaft of the fastener.

16. A method of attaching a second partition to an existing first partition having a face and a horizontal row of slots accessible through the face, comprising steps of:

providing a second partition having an abutting end adapted to be positioned adjacent the face;

providing a one-piece connector for securing the abutting end to the face, the connector including a pair of legs forming a first end with opposing hooks configured to securely engage the slots in the face and having an intermediate section forming a second end configured to securely engage the abutting end, the intermediate section being resilient;

flexing the legs together to an install position for insertion into a selected slot in the first partition and thereafter inserting the legs into the selected slot;

flexing the legs apart to a retaining position and securely engaging the hooks with the first partition, the intermediate section and the legs forming an interior space therebetween shaped to closely receive a shaft of a fastener; and

inserting a shaft of a fastener through the interior space to prevent the legs from being moved to the install position.

17. The method defined in claim 16 wherein the step of inserting includes extending the fastener into secure engagement with the second partition.

18. The method defined in claim 17 wherein the first partition includes a partition frame and covers on the partition frame, the covers including upper and lower edges defining a horizontally-extending thin gap, and wherein the step of inserting the legs includes extending the hooks through the horizontally-extending thin gap.

19. The method defined in claim 18 wherein the step of flexing the legs apart includes resting an L-shaped section of the legs on the upper edge of a lower one of the covers.

20. The method defined in claim 19 wherein the steps of flexing the legs together and apart includes moving the legs in a horizontal plane while positioned in the thin gap.

21. In a partition system including a first partition having a face and a horizontal row of slots accessible through the face, a second partition having an abutting end positioned adjacent the face, the first partition including a frame and covers on the frame that define a horizontally extending thin gap for accessing the slots, and a connector interconnecting the abutting end to the face, the connector comprising:

a one-piece U-shaped clip having a pair of legs forming a first end with opposing hooks securely engaging the slots in the face and having an intermediate section forming a second end securely engaging the abutting end, the intermediate section being resilient such that the legs can be flexed together to an install position for insertion into a selected slot and can be flexed apart to a retaining position where the hooks securely engage the selected slot in the first partition, the intermediate section and the legs forming an interior space therebetween that closely receives a fastener when the legs are in the retaining position so that the existence of the fastener between the legs prevents the legs from being moved to the install position; and

wherein the first end includes a horizontal section that spaces the hooks from the second end so that the first end extends through the thin gap between covers on the partition, and wherein the hooks define a thin vertical profile constructed to fit into the thin gap, and the intermediate section flexes in a manner moving the hooks horizontally.

22. The partition system defined in claim 21 wherein the second end includes a vertical section that extends below the gap when the hooks are installed in the selected slot.

23. The partition system defined in claim 22 wherein a shaft of the fastener has a diameter, and wherein the legs and the intermediate section include opposing inner edges defining a constant width less than the diameter but having at least one enlarged recessed area shaped to closely receive the shaft of the fastener when the legs are in the retained position.