Method of connecting partitions
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for attaching a furniture unit to a partition having a frame with a horizontal row of slots, comprising the steps of:
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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.
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2. A method of connecting partition panels comprising steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for attaching a furniture unit to a partition having a frame with a horizontal row of slots, comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for attaching a furniture unit to a partition having a frame with a horizontal row of slots, comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification