Free-standing modular slat-wall system

• US 6,164,467 A
• Filed: 08/19/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spectra Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Spectra Products Corporation
• Inventors: Friday, Ronald J., DePottey, Daniel D., Uppalapati, Vaninath, Muellerleile, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/125,671
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 52/36.1, 52/36.5, 52/126.3, 52/243, 52/481.2, 52/489.2, 52/763, 52/36.4, 52/36.6, 52/551, 52/588.1, 160/135, 211/87.01, 211/94.01, 211/189, 211/94.02
• US Class Current: 211/189
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0846 Display panels or rails with elongated channels; Sliders, brackets, shelves, or the like, slidably attached therein

Abstract

A free-standing modular wall system (10, 110) utilizing a plurality of individual slat members (22) stacked vertically one upon the other to form panels (12, 14) and supported upon upright end members (20) having a foot or base (16, 116) whereby the resulting module may be moved from place to place and joined with other such modules to form a longer wall. Preferably, the slats (22) are formed of sheet metal and mounted on transverse hanger brackets (24), to which some or all of the slat members (22) may be either fixedly or movably by interlocking slidable engagement. Preferably, the panels, (12, 14) consisting of slats (22) and hanger brackets (24) are removably mounted upon the upright supports (20). The modular wall system units (10, 110) may either be single-faced or double-faced, i.e., may have only a single slat-wall panel (12, 14) or may have a pair of such panels disposed back-to-back, for use in installations where both sides are fully exposed.

Claims

1. A free-standing, modular slat-wall structure, comprising in combination:

at least two mutually spaced upright supports, each having foot structure for supporting it in an upright position;

a plurality of individual slat members stacked one upon another in generally vertical alignment, at least some of said slat members being fixedly secured together to form a unitary panel-like member; and

attachment apparatus for attaching said plurality of slat members to each of said at least two mutually spaced upright supports to form a free-standing slat-wall structure of a modular nature which is movable as a unit;

including a plurality of said vertically stacked slat members disposed on each of a pair of opposite sides of said upright supports, whereby said modular slat-wall structure is double-sided.

2. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said individual slat members is removably coupled to said fixedly secured slat members which form said unitary panel-like member.

3. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus hangs at least some of said slat members upon said upright supports with a removable connection, thereby making such slat members removable and interchangeable with other such slat members.

4. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus hangs said unitary panel-like member upon said upright supports with a removable connection, thereby making said member removable and interchangeable with other such panel-like members and with individual slat members.

5. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus includes an elongated member extending generally transversely across at least some of said slat members and contacting such slat members to support them in place relative to one another.

6. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 5, wherein said elongated member includes projecting portions which are engageable with said at least some of said slat members to support them in place.

7. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 5, wherein said elongated member includes hanger portions which are movably engageable with cooperating portions of said at least of some said slat members.

8. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 5, wherein said elongated member is fixedly secured to at least certain of said at least some of said slat members to form said unitary panel-like member.

9. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 8, including a mechanical fastening structure between said elongated member and said certain of said slat members to fixedly secure them together.

10. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 9, wherein said mechanical fastening structure comprises a weld.

11. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 9, wherein said mechanical fastening structure comprises an adhesive.

12. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 5, wherein said elongated member includes at least one of a pair of mutually engageable hanger structures and at least one of said upright supports includes the other of said pair of hanger structures, said pair of hanger structures when so engaged serving to support the slat members which are contacted and supported by said elongated member.

13. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said upright supports comprise a pair of back-to-back interconnected elongated members extending generally transversely across at least some of said slat members and contacting such slat members to support them in place relative to one another.

14. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, including a cover member extending vertically along and over the adjoining edges of at least said plurality of vertically stacked slat members, to cover and conceal such edges.

15. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 14, wherein said cover member extends along and over the adjoining edges of at least some of said vertically stacked slat members and their respective attachment apparatus and upright supports.

16. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, including a cap-like cover member extending along and over the top portions of said upright supports and vertically stacked slat members to substantially cover and conceal such top portions.

17. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said foot structure includes a leveler apparatus for adjusting the relative height of the associated upright support and structure connected thereto.

18. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said foot structure includes a glide element on its bottom for facilitating movement of the associated upright support and structure connected thereto.

19. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said foot structure includes a roller element on its bottom for facilitating movement of the associated upright support and structure connected thereto.

20. A free-standing, modular slat-wall structure, comprising in combination:

at least two mutually spaced upright supports, each having foot structure for supporting it in an upright position;

a plurality of individual slat members stacked one upon another in generally vertical alignment, at least some of said slat members being fixedly secured together to form a unitary panel-like member;

attachment apparatus for attaching said plurality of slat members to each of said at least two mutually spaced upright supports to form a free-standing slat-wall structure of a modular nature which is movable as a unit;

a deck-like panel extending between and substantially covering the foot structure of each of said at least two mutually spaced upright supports at a position below said vertically stacked slat members; and

wherein said deck-like panel includes portions which extend along the lowermost extremity of the lowermost slat member.

21. A free-standing, modular slat-wall structure, comprising in combination:

at least two mutually spaced upright supports, each having foot structure for supporting it in an upright position;

a plurality of individual slat members stacked one upon another in generally vertical alignment, at least some of said slat members being fixedly secured together to form a unitary panel-like member;

attachment apparatus for mounting said plurality of slat members upon said at least two mutually spaced upright supports to hang said slat members upon said at least two upright supports and form a free-standing slat-wall structure of a modular nature which is movable as a unit; and

a cover member extending vertically along and over the adjoining edges of at least some of said plurality of vertically stacked slat members, to cover and conceal such edges.

22. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 21, wherein said cover member extends along and over the adjoining edges of said at least some of said vertically stacked slats and of their respective attachment apparatus and upright supports.

23. A free-standing, modular slat-wall structure, comprising in combination:

at least two mutually spaced upright supports, each having foot structure for supporting it in an upright position;

a plurality of individual slat members stacked one upon another in generally vertical alignment, at least some of said slats being fixedly secured together to form a unitary panel-like member;

attachment apparatus for attaching said fixedly secured slat members to each of said at least two mutually spaced upright supports to hang said fixedly secured slat members upon said upright supports and form a free-standing slat-wall structure of a modular nature which is movable as a unit; and

a mechanical fastening structure between said attachment apparatus and at least one of said slat members to fixedly secure them together.

24. A free-standing, modular slat-wall structure, comprising in combination:

at least two mutually spaced upright supports, each having foot structure for supporting it in an upright position;

a plurality of individual slat members stacked one upon another in generally vertical alignment, at least some of said slat members being fixedly secured together to form a unitary panel-like member; and

attachment apparatus for attaching said plurality of slat members to each of said at least two mutually spaced upright supports to form a free-standing slat-wall structure of a modular nature which is movable as a unit; and

wherein at least one of said at least two upright supports and said attachment apparatus include mutually engageable elements for attaching the plurality of slat members of each of a pair of adjacent such modular slat-wall structures to the same upright support in close side-by-side relation, thereby linking such pair of adjacent modular slat-wall structures together and forming a longer resultant wall.

25. A free-standing, modular slat-wall structure, comprising in combination:

at least two mutually spaced upright supports, each having foot structure for supporting it in an upright position;

a plurality of individual slat members arranged one upon another in generally vertical alignment, at least some of said slat members being connected together to form a panel-like structure; and

attachment apparatus for attaching said slat members to each of said at least two upright supports to form a free-standing structure of a modular nature which is movable as a unit; and

wherein at least one of said at least two upright supports and said attachment apparatus include mutually engageable elements for attaching the plurality of slat members of each of a pair of adjacent such modular slat-wall structures to the same upright support in close side-by-side relation, thereby linking such pair of adjacent slat-wall structures together and forming a longer resultant wall.

26. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 25, wherein at least one of said slat members is removably connected to the others.

27. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 25, wherein said attachment apparatus mounts at least some of said individual slat members upon said upright supports with a removable connection, thereby making such slat members removable and interchangeable with other such slat members.

28. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 25, wherein said attachment apparatus includes an elongated member extending generally transversely across at least some of said slat members and contacting such slat members to support them in place relative to one another, and wherein said elongated member includes hanger portions which are engageable with cooperating portions of said at least some of said slat members to support them in place.

29. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 28, wherein said elongated member includes at least one of a pair of mutually engageable hanger elements and at least one of said upright supports includes the other of said pair of hanger elements, said pair of hanger elements when so engaged serving to support the slat members which are contacted and supported by said elongated member.

30. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 25, including a deck-like panel extending between and substantially covering the foot structure of each of said pair of mutually spaced upright supports beneath said vertically arranged slat members.

31. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 25, including a cover member extending vertically along and over the adjoining edges of at least said plurality of vertically arranged slat members, to cover and conceal such edges.

32. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 25, including a cap-like cover member extending along and over the top portions of said upright supports and said vertically arranged slat members to substantially cover and conceal such top portions.

33. An integrated unitary panel-like member for space-divider and display walls, comprising in combination:

a plurality of individual slat members stacked one upon another in generally vertical alignment;

connecting means extending generally transversely across said slat members and connected thereto to form an integrated unitary panel therefrom; and

attachment apparatus for attaching said unitary slat panel to a generally vertical support and securing the panel in place thereupon, whereby said panel comprises at least a segment of such a wall;

wherein said connecting means is mechanically secured to said slat members.

34. A unitary panel-like member as recited in claim 33, wherein said slat members are made of sheet metal.

35. A unitary panel-like member as recited in claim 33, wherein said connecting means is welded to said slat members.

36. A unitary panel-like member as recited in claim 33, wherein said connecting means and said attachment apparatus are fixedly secured together to form a unitary member.

37. A unitary panel-like member as recited in claim 33, wherein said attachment apparatus includes a hanger projection extending away from said slat members, for engaging a complementary receptacle on said generally vertical support.

38. A free-standing, modular slat-wall structure, comprising in combination:

at least two mutually spaced upright supports, each having foot structure for supporting it in an upright position;

a plurality of individual slat members stacked one upon another in generally vertical alignment, at least some of said individual slat members being fixedly secured together to form a unitary panel-like member;

attachment apparatus for attaching said plurality of individual slat members to each of said at least two mutually spaced upright supports to hang said at least some individual slat members upon said at least two upright supports and form a free-standing slat-wall structure of a modular nature which is movable as a unit;

wherein said attachment apparatus includes an elongated member extending generally transversely across at least some of said individual slat members and contacting such slat members to support them in place relative to one another; and

wherein said elongated member includes at least one of a pair of mutually engageable hanger structures and at least one of said at least two upright supports including the other of said pair of mutually removable and engageable hanger structures, said pair of mutually engageable hanger structures when mutually engaged serving to support the slat members which are contacted and supported by said elongated member.

39. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 38, wherein the pair of mutually engageable hanger structures are relatively removable.

40. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 39, wherein said at least one of said pair of mutually engageable hanger structures includes a downwardly depending flange and said other of said pair of hanger structures includes an opening;

and wherein said downwardly depending flange is configured to be inserted into the opening and slid downward therein to engage the flange with the opening.

41. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 38, wherein said elongated member includes projecting portions which are engageable with said at least some of said slat members to support them in place.

42. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 38, wherein said elongated member includes hanger portions which are movably engageable with cooperating portions of said at least of some said slat members.

43. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 38, wherein said elongated member is fixedly secured to at least certain of said at least some of said slat members to form said unitary panel-like member.

44. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 43, including a mechanical fastening structure between said elongated member and said certain of said individual slat members to fixedly secure them together.

45. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 44, wherein said mechanical fastening structure comprises a weld.

46. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 44, wherein said mechanical fastening structure comprises an adhesive.

47. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 38, including a deck-like panel extending between and substantially covering the foot structure of each of said at least two mutually spaced upright supports at a location below said vertically stacked slat members.

48. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 38, including a cover member extending vertically along and over the adjoining side edges of at least said plurality of vertically stacked slat members, to cover and conceal such edges.

49. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 48, wherein said cover member extends along and over the adjoining side edges of at least some of said vertically stacked slat member and their respective attachment apparatus and upright supports.

50. A modular slat-wall structure as recited in claim 38, including a cap-like cover member extending along and over the top portions of said upright supports and vertically stacked slat members to substantially cover and conceal such top portions.