Iron sheet panel with horizontal groove for interior space partitioning

• US 7,921,615 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unifor S.P.A. (Molteni & C. S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Unifor S.P.A. (Molteni & C. S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Picchio, Cesare
• Primary Examiner(s): A; Phi Dieu Tran
• Application Number:
  US11/970,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20080202039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 522/381, 522/39, 524/812, 521/691.3, 526/510.1, 526/510.9, 211/94.01, 211/162
• US Class Current: 52/238.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/008 Suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0846 Display panels or rails with elongated channels; Sliders, brackets, shelves, or the like, slidably attached therein
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/74 Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge framed panels E04C2/38
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions

Abstract

An improved panel is disclosed. The panel is of the type for use with a bracket and which, in use: forms a wall surface as part of an assembly for partitioning or dividing a space; defines a horizontal groove; and is adapted to releasably, securely, receive, via the horizontal groove, said bracket. The improvement comprises a metal sheet and a metal bolster. The metal sheet has a front and a rear face, the front face defining said wall surface in use and said sheet defining a horizontal slot in use. The metal bolster is secured to the rear face of said metal sheet to define, in combination with the metal sheet, said horizontal groove.

Claims

1. An improved panel for use with a bracket and which, in use, forms a wall surface as part of an assembly for partitioning or dividing a space, defines a horizontal groove and is adapted to releasably, securely, receive, via the horizontal groove, said bracket, wherein the improvement comprises:

a metal sheet having a front and a rear face, the front face defining said wall surface in use and said sheet defining a horizontal slot in use; and

a metal bolster secured to the rear face of said metal sheet to define, in combination with the metal sheet, said horizontal groove, wherein the bolster defines;

upper and lower planar portions abutting the sheet on opposite upper and lower sides of the slot;

upper and lower curved portions presenting, towards one another, spaced-apart convex surfaces, the upper curved portion extending from the upper planar portion and the lower curved portion extending from the lower planar portion; and

a channel portion defining a concave surface extending from the upper curved portion to the lower curved portion;

wherein the upper and lower planar portions and the channel portion are formed by bending or folding from a single piece of sheet metal.

2. A panel according to claim 1, wherein the metal is ferrous metal.

3. A panel according to claim 1, wherein,

in use, the slot at least partially divides the sheet into upper and lower sections;

and

the bolster includes a pair of planar portions connected one to each of the upper and lower sections, in flanking relation to the slot; and

a bridge portion extending between the planar portions.

4. A panel according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the slot partially divides the sheet into upper and lower sections.

5. A panel according to claim 1, wherein the bolster has a longitudinal axis which is orientated horizontally in use and wherein, when viewed in profile, the bolster appears substantially in the form of an omega.

6. A panel according to claim 1, wherein the bolster has a longitudinal axis which is orientated horizontally in use and wherein, when viewed in profile in use, with the front face presenting to the right of the viewer,

the upper planar portion and the upper curved portion define a J-shape;

the channel portion defines a C-shape; and

the lower planar portion and the upper curved portion define an upended J-shape.

7. A panel according to claim 1, further comprising an upper flange and a lower flange extending rearwardly, from upper and lower edges, respectively, of the sheet in use, to respective rear edges.

8. A panel according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of lips extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from the rear edges of the lower and upper flanges.

9. A system for forming part of a wall surface of an assembly for partitioning or dividing a space and for suspending a cupboard from said wall surface, said system comprising:

a panel including a metal sheet and a metal bolster, the metal sheet having a front and a rear face, the front face defining said part of said wall surface in use and said sheet defining a horizontal slot in use, and the metal bolster being secured to the rear face of said metal sheet to define, in combination with the metal sheet, said horizontal groove, wherein the bolster defines;

upper and lower planar portions abutting the sheet on opposite upper and lower sides of the slot;

upper and lower curved portions presenting, towards one another, spaced-apart convex surfaces, the upper curved portion extending from the upper planar portion and the lower curved portion extending from the lower planar portion; and

a channel portion defining a concave surface extending from the upper curved portion to the lower curved portion; and

a bracket adapted to be releasably, securely, received, via the horizontal groove, by said panel, and to have secured thereto said cupboard.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein, in use, the slot at least partially divides the sheet into upper and lower sections;

and the bolster includes a pair of planar portions connected one to each of the upper and lower sections, in flanking relation to the slot; and

a bridge portion extending between the planar portions.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the bolster has a longitudinal axis which is orientated horizontally in use and wherein, when viewed in profile, the bolster appears substantially in the form of an omega.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein the bolster has a longitudinal axis which is orientated horizontally in use and wherein, when viewed in profile in use, with the front face of the panel presenting to the right of the viewer,

the upper planar portion and the upper curved portion define a J-shape;

the channel portion defines a C-shape; and

the lower planar portion and the upper curved portion define an upended J-shape.

13. A system according to claim 9, wherein the panel further comprises an upper flange and a lower flange extending rearwardly, from upper and lower edges, respectively, of the sheet in use, to respective rear edges.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the panel further comprises a pair of lips extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from the rear edges of the lower and upper flanges.

15. A system according to claim 9, wherein the bracket is an aluminum extrusion having, when in use and when releasably, securely, received, via the horizontal groove:

a hook portion wrapped around the upper curved portion; and

a hanger plate portion extending downwardly from the hook portion and abutting the wall surface.

16. A system according to claim 9, wherein the bracket has a support position, whereat it is securely received, via the horizontal groove, by said panel, and, from the support position, can be released from the panel by pivoting the lower end of the bracket away from the panel.