Stackable wall panel assembly and connector therefor

• US 6,820,388 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Millerknoll Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, David B., Newhouse, Thomas J., Van Weiren, Steven M., Dinneweth, Mark James, Verkaik, Thomas L., Breuker, Kevin Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): SLACK, NAOKO N
• Application Number:
  US10/806,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• Field of Search: 52/361, 522/39, 522/81, 522/91, 524/812, 525/841, 527/261, 522/33, 446/106
• US Class Current: 52/223.7
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/003 Combinations of clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/12 using toggle links
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/742 Details of panel top cap
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7479 Details of connection of flexible sheets to frame or posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7487 Partitions with slotted profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/749 Partitions with screw-type jacks

Abstract

A stackable wall panel assembly includes a lower wall panel having a top, a bottom, vertically extending ends and opposite sides and an upper wall panel having a top, a bottom, vertically extending ends and opposite sides. A lower connector post is connected to the lower wall panel and an upper connector post is connected to the upper wall panel. A draw rod connects the lower connector post to the first upper connector post, with a spacer post disposed therebetween.

Claims

1. A stackable wall panel assembly comprising:

a lower wall panel comprising a top, a bottom, vertically extending opposite ends, and opposite sides;

an upper wall panel comprising a top, a bottom, vertically extending opposite ends, and opposite sides, said bottom of said upper wall panel disposed above said top of said lower wall panel;

a lower connector post connected to said lower wall panel;

an upper connector post connected to said upper wall panel;

a spacer post disposed between said lower connector post and said upper connector post; and

a draw rod connecting said upper connector post and said lower connector post, said draw rod extending through said spacer post and clamping said spacer post between said upper connector post and said lower connector post.

2. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said spacer post is attached to at least one of said lower connector post and said upper connector post independently of said clamping of said spacer post between said lower connector post and said upper connector post with said draw rod.

3. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said spacer post and said upper connector post has at least a first and second opening, wherein said draw rod is disposed through one of said first and second openings in each of said spacer post and first upper connector post.

4. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 3 wherein said lower connector post has at least a first and second opening, wherein a fastener is disposed in said other of said first and second openings in said spacer post and engages said other of said first and second openings in one of said lower connector post and said upper connector post, wherein said spacer post is attached to one of said lower connector post and said upper connector post.

5. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 4 wherein said upper connector post has a pair of said at least said first and second openings disposed adjacent opposite ends of said upper connector post.

6. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper connector post comprises at least four openings formed in one end thereof.

7. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper connector post comprises a first upper connector post, said draw rod comprises a first draw rod, and said spacer post comprises a first spacer post, and further comprising a second upper wall panel comprising a top, a bottom, vertically extending opposite ends, and opposite sides, wherein said second upper wall panel is supported above said first upper wall panel, a second upper connector post connected to said second upper wall panel, a second spacer post disposed between said first and second upper connector posts, and a second draw rod connecting said first and second upper connector posts, said second draw rod extending through said second spacer post and clamping said second spacer post between said first and second upper connector posts.

8. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 7 wherein said second spacer post is attached to said second upper connector post independently of said clamping of said second spacer post between said first and second upper connector posts.

9. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 7 wherein each of said second spacer post and said second upper connector post has at least a first and second opening, wherein said second rod is disposed in one of said first and second openings in each of said second spacer post and said second upper connector post.

10. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 9 wherein a fastener is disposed in said other of said first and second opening in said second spacer post and engages said other of said first and second opening in said second upper connector post, wherein said second spacer post is attached to said second upper connector post.

11. The stackable wall panel assembly of claim 9 wherein said second upper connector post has a pair of said at least said first and second openings disposed adjacent opposite ends of said second upper connector post.

12. A connector post for a stackable wall panel assembly including a lower wall panel and an upper wall panel disposed above the lower wall panel, the connector post comprising:

a lower connector post adapted to be connected to the lower wall panel;

an upper connector post adapted to be connected to the upper wall panel;

a spacer post disposed between said lower connector post and said upper connector post; and

a draw rod connecting said upper connector post and said lower connector post, said draw rod extending through said spacer post and clamping said spacer post between said upper connector post and said lower connector post.

13. The connector post of claim 12 wherein said spacer post is attached to at least one of said lower connector post and said upper connector post independently of said clamping of said spacer post between said lower connector post and said upper connector post with said draw rod.

14. The connector post of claim 13 wherein each of said spacer post and said upper connector post has at least a first and second opening, wherein said draw rod is disposed through one of said first and second openings in each of said spacer post and first upper connector post.

15. The connector post of claim 13 wherein said lower connector post has at least a first and second opening, wherein a fastener is disposed in said other of said first and second openings in said spacer post and engages said other of said first and second openings in one of said lower connector post and said upper connector post, wherein said spacer post is attached to one of said lower connector post and said upper connector post.

16. The connector post of claim 15 wherein said upper connector post has a pair of said at least said first and second openings disposed adjacent opposite ends of said upper connector post.

17. The connector post of claim 12 wherein said upper connector post comprises at least four openings formed in at least one end thereof.

18. The connector post of claim 12 wherein said upper connector post comprises a first upper connector post, said draw rod comprises a first draw rod, and said spacer post comprises a first spacer post, and further comprising a second upper connector post disposed above said first connector post, a second spacer post disposed between said first and second upper connector posts, and a second draw rod connecting said first and second upper connector posts, said second draw rod extending through said second spacer post and clamping said second spacer post between said first and second upper connector posts.

19. The connector post of claim 18 wherein said second spacer post is attached to said second upper connector post independently of said clamping of said second spacer post between said first and second upper connector posts.

20. The connector post of claim 18 wherein each of said second spacer post and said second upper connector post has at least a first and second opening, wherein said second rod is disposed in one of said first and second openings in each of said second spacer post and said second upper connector post.

21. The connector post of claim 20 wherein a fastener is disposed in said other of said first and second opening in said second spacer post and engages said other of said first and second opening in said second upper connector post, wherein said second spacer post is attached to said second upper connector post.

22. The connector post of claim 20 wherein said second upper connector post has a pair of said at least said first and second openings disposed adjacent opposite ends of said second upper connector post.