Method of connecting partitions

• US 6,167,676 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eldon, James B. III, Hobson, Phillip M., McClanahan, David D., Seiber, Charles A., Shipman, David A., Draudt, Gregg R., Lada, Christopher O., Minami, Don S., Luchetti, Robert J., Shaw, Benjamin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/335,373
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 522/39, 52/361, 52/364, 52/365, 52/366, 527/451, 527/451.3, 312/223.3, 312/245, 312/246
• US Class Current: 52/745.1
• 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 2/7424 Glazing details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7433 with panels and support posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7448 with separate framed panels without intermediary posts, extending from floor to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7453 with panels and support posts, extending from floor to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7455 Glazing details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7461 Details of connection of sheet panels to frame or 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 2002/747 using hook and loop-type fasteners
• 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 2002/749 Partitions with screw-type jacks
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/00 Stairways, ramps, or like structures mounting or marking-off stairways E04F21/26; of temporary use during building construction E04G27/00; means for facilitating access to swimming pools E04H4/144; means for facilitating access to swimming pools E04H4/144; appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00; Balustrades; Handrails ladders permanently attached to fixed structures E06C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/5045 specially adapted for furniture E06B3/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/13 Hook and loop type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/557 Expansible section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/591 : having operating mechanism

Abstract

A freestanding portable partition panel system is provided for open office spaces and the like. Each panel includes a skeleton-like frame having two vertical uprights positioned adjacent opposite side edges thereof, and at least two pairs of horizontal stringers attached to the outer faces of the uprights in a vertically spaced-apart relationship to rigidly interconnect the same. One or more horizontal rows of slots are defined in each of the stringers. Cover panels are detachably mounted thereon to provide ready access to the frame. The cover panels permit access to the slots, and special off-module connectors with hooks for engaging the slots are provided for interconnecting adjacent panels in off-module positions. The hooks of the connectors are engaged with selected slots to hold a first partition panel perpendicular to a second partition panel in an off-module position on its face.

Claims

1. A method for attaching a furniture unit to a partition having a frame with a horizontal row of slots, comprising the steps of:

providing a bracket having a hook constructed for insertion into a selected one of the slots in the horizontal row of slots of the partition, the hook being configured to move horizontally between an installation position and an interlocked position;

selectively inserting the hook into a selected one of the slots in the horizontal row of slots of the partition with the hook being positioned in the installation position;

moving the hook horizontally/laterally to the interlocked position;

attaching the bracket to the furniture unit; and

securing the hook in the interlocked position;

wherein the step of attaching the bracket to the furniture unit is performed after the step of inserting the hook into the selected one of the slots in the partition.

2. A method of connecting partition panels comprising steps of:

providing a first partition panel including a partition frame having upper and lower horizontal frame members, at least one of which includes a horizontal row of horizontally spaced and aligned discrete site locators, including at least one discrete site locator positioned between vertical side edges of the partition frame, the discrete site locators being configured and adapted to locate an off-module-located second partition panel along the partition frame at any one of a number of known locations characteristically without the need to measure to accurately locate the second partition panel;

accurately locating the off-module-located second partition panel on the first partition panel relative to a selected one of the discrete site locators;

providing partition-supporting brackets configured to selectively register on selected ones of the discrete site locators; and

selectively registering the partition-supporting brackets on selected ones of the discrete site locators.

3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the step of selectively registering includes disconnecting the partition-supporting brackets, relocating the partition-supporting brackets along the at least one frame member, and re-engaging the partition-supporting brackets at newly selected ones of the discrete site locators.

4. The method defined in claim 3, including a third partition panel aligned with and connected to the first partition panel, and wherein the discrete site locators are regularly spaced a unitary distance apart along a full length of the at least one frame member and across a full length of the third partition panel, and including a step of relocating the second partition panel to a location adjacent the third partition panel.

5. The method defined in claim 4, wherein the upper and lower frame members both include the discrete site locators, and the partition-supporting brackets include first and second brackets registering on the discrete site locators of the upper and lower frame members, and including attaching the first and second brackets to the upper and lower frame members.

6. The method defined in claim 5, wherein the discrete site locators are structural and configured and adapted to provide structural attachment to the partition frame by the partition-supporting brackets, and wherein the step of accurately locating includes attaching the partition-supporting brackets selectively to the discrete site locators for structural support.

7. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the discrete site locators comprise apertures in the partition frames, wherein the partition-supporting brackets include protrusions constructed to fit mateably into the apertures, and wherein the step of accurately locating includes extending the protrusions into selected ones of the apertures.

8. The method defined in claim 2, wherein at least some of the partition-supporting brackets are configured to engage the discrete site locators above an upper edge of the cover panel, and wherein the step of accurately locating includes extending the protrusions into selected ones of the discrete site locators above the upper edge.

9. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the first partition panel includes vertically spaced covers defining a slit therebetween, the slit providing access to the horizontally spaced and aligned discrete site locators during the step of accurately locating.

10. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the partition-supporting brackets are configured to frictionally and securely engage the discrete site locators, and the step of accurately locating includes securely engaging the brackets on selected ones of the discrete site locators.

11. The method defined in claim 10, wherein the partition-supporting brackets include at least one hook, and including a step of extending the hooks into a selected one of the discrete site locators.

12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the partition-supporting brackets includes a pair of opposing hooks movable in opposite directions, and the step of accurately locating includes moving the opposing hooks in opposite directions.

13. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the upper and lower horizontal frame members each includes one of the horizontal rows of discrete site locators, and including engaging top and bottom partition-engaging brackets on the first and second partition panels, respectively, to stabilize the second partition panel on the first partition panel.

14. A method of attaching furniture components to an existing partition having a horizontal row of slots that extend along a horizontal/lateral direction parallel a face of the existing partition, comprising steps of:

providing bracketry having hooks movable between an installation position where the hooks define a compact shape permitting selective insertion into the horizontal row of slots in the existing partition, and an interlocked position where the hooks define a modified shape for securely engaging selected ones of the slots;

positioning the bracketry for insertion including moving the hooks to the installation position, manipulating the bracketry to orient the hooks, and inserting the hooks into engagement with selected ones of the slots;

moving the hooks in a horizontal/lateral direction parallel the face of the existing partition to the interlocked position; and

fixing the hooks in the interlocked position.

15. The method defined in claim 14, including providing a furniture unit having a vertical side edge and attaching an end of the bracketry opposite the hooks to the vertical side edge of the second partition.

16. The method defined in claim 14, wherein the bracketry includes sliding plates and the hooks include oppositely facing hooks on the plates that move relative to each other when the plates are slidingly moved between the installation position and the interlocked position, and wherein the step of moving the hooks includes moving the hooks in opposite horizontal directions that are parallel the face of the existing partition.

17. The method defined in claim 16, wherein the step of fixing includes clamping the plates together to prevent sliding.

18. The method defined in claim 17, wherein the bracketry includes a threaded fastener, and wherein the step of fixing the bracketry includes extending the threaded fastener through the plates to secure the plates together.

19. A method of attaching an adjustable partition to an existing partition, where the existing partition defines a horizontal row of slots that extend horizontally/laterally across the existing partition, comprising:

providing brackets with hooks configured to engage selected ones of the slots;

attaching the brackets to the existing partition by engaging the hooks in selected slots at a selected location along the horizontal row of slots that is between vertical side edges of the existing partition;

providing the adjustable partition, the adjustable partition having a vertical side edge;

positioning the vertical side edge of the adjustable partition against a face of the existing partition at the selected location; and

attaching the brackets to the vertical side edge of the adjustable partition with the hooks facing horizontally/laterally in opposite directions, whereby the adjustable partition is securely attached and accurately positioned at the selected location.

20. The method defined in claim 19, wherein the brackets include first and second bracket members, each having at least one hook.

21. The method defined in claim 20, wherein the first and second bracket members are slidably interconnected.

22. A method for attaching a furniture unit to a partition having a frame with a horizontal row of slots, comprising the steps of:

providing a bracket having a hook constructed for insertion into a selected one of the slots in the horizontal row of slots of the partition, the hook being configured to move horizontally between an installation position and an interlocked position;

selectively inserting the hook into a selected one of the slots in the horizontal row of slots of the partition with the hook being positioned in the installation position;

moving the hook horizontally/laterally to the interlocked position;

attaching the bracket to the furniture unit; and

securing the hook in the interlocked position.

23. The method defined in claim 22, wherein the step of securing includes providing a second bracket having a protrusion, and including a step of attaching the second bracket to the furniture unit so that the protrusion prevents removal of the hook from the interlocked position.

24. The method defined in claim 23, wherein the protrusion comprises a second hook, and wherein the step of securing includes securing the first-mentioned hook and the second hook in opposing directions.

25. The method defined in claim 22, wherein the hook defines a thin vertical dimension so that the hook is constructed to be inserted through a thin vertical gap between vertically adjacent cover panels on the frame of the partition, and wherein the step of inserting the hook includes inserting the hook through the thin vertical gap.

26. A method for attaching a furniture unit to a partition having a frame with a horizontal row of slots, comprising the steps of:

providing a bracket having a hook constructed for insertion into a selected one of the slots in the horizontal row of slots of the partition, the hook being configured to move horizontally between an installation position and an interlocked position;

selectively inserting the hook into a selected one of the slots in the horizontal row of slots of the partition with the hook being positioned in the installation position;

moving the hook horizontally/laterally to the interlocked position;

attaching the bracket to the furniture unit; and

securing the hook in the interlocked position;

wherein the bracket includes a pair of slidably interconnected bracket members, and the step of inserting includes moving the bracket members relative to each other to the installation position.

27. The method defined in claim 26, wherein the first bracket member includes the first-mentioned hook and the second bracket member includes second hooks, the first and second hooks facing in horizontally opposite directions.