Frameless glass mounting system

• US 9,169,640 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Jeffers, Robert E., Fink, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/912,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20130326976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 521/261, 521/263, 521/264, 522/381, 522/39, 52/361, 522/046.7, 522/047.1, 256/24, 256/25, 472/92, 472/94
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0077 Lighting for furniture, e.g. cupboards and racks
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7416 with free upper edge, e.g. for use as office space dividers
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7422 with separate framed panels without intermediary support posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7424 Glazing details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7418 Accessories supported on the free upper edge, e.g. auxiliary panels, noise abatement devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7461 Details of connection of sheet panels to frame or posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions

Abstract

A frameless mounting system for glass or the like includes one or more bracket assemblies that adjustably interconnect a sheet of material along an upper edge of an existing partition system. The bracket assemblies permit the sheet of material to be adjusted upwardly or sidewardly to align the sheets of material with adjacent sheets of material. Furthermore, the sheets of material can be tilted as required to align adjacent sheets. The sheet of material is preferably transparent glass, but may comprise various other materials such as polymers, translucent materials, frosted, or opaque materials.

Claims

1. An extension system for adjustably supporting a sheet of material along an upper edge of a freestanding partition system, the extension system comprising:

a sheet of material, defining generally vertical opposite side faces, generally horizontal upper and lower edges, and generally vertical opposite side edges, wherein the sheet of material is configured to be positioned adjacent vertical side edges of adjacent sheets of material that are spaced apart to define gaps therebetween, each gap defining a dimension, and wherein the sheet of material defines a first horizontal position in a first direction along the lower edge, and a second horizontal direction that is transverse to the first direction;

a support assembly, the support assembly including at least two spaced apart brackets, each bracket having a horizontally extending base wall and a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending side walls to define a U-shaped cross section forming a central channel that opens upwardly along top edges of the side walls of each bracket, the central channels opening in opposite horizontal directions at opposite vertical edges of the side walls of each bracket, the horizontally extending base wall of each bracket extending horizontally outwardly in opposite directions to form tabs that project outwardly away from the opposite vertical edges of the side walls, wherein the tabs are configured to engage an upwardly facing surface of a freestanding partition system, and wherein the brackets engage the sheet of material adjacent the lower edge thereof and support the sheet of material in a generally upright position relative to the support assembly, the support assembly including movable adjustment members that permit the sheet of material to be adjustably retained at first and second selected horizontal positions relative to the base walls, a selected vertical position relative to the base walls, and a selected angular position relative to the base walls whereby the positions of the sheet of material can be adjusted relative to an upper edge of a freestanding partition system, such that the dimensions of the gaps between adjacent sheets of material are substantially the same, and whereby the sheet of material can be horizontally and vertically aligned with adjacent sheets of material.

2. The extension system of claim 1, including:

a pair of elongated trim pieces engaging the support assembly and forming an elongated opening therebetween that receives a lower edge portion of the sheet of material and wherein the elongated trim pieces extend along opposite sides of the sheet of material above the brackets.

3. The extension system of claim 2, wherein:

the movable adjustment members engage the opposite side faces of the sheets of material adjacent the lower edges thereof.

4. The extension system of claim 3, wherein:

the movable adjustment members comprise at least one pair of clamp members engaging the opposite side faces of the sheets of material.

5. The extension system of claim 4, wherein:

the support assembly includes at least one threaded member threadably engaging each bracket, the threaded members moving horizontally relative to the brackets upon rotation of the threaded members, and wherein the threaded members generate forces that clamp the clamp members against the opposite side faces of the sheets of material.

6. The extension system of claim 4, including:

spring clips disposed on the clamp members; and

wherein;

the elongated trim pieces define lower edges that adjustably engage the spring clips whereby vertical positions of the elongated trim pieces can be adjusted.

7. The extension system of claim 1, wherein:

the sheets comprise light-transmitting material.

8. The extension system of claim 1, wherein:

the sheets comprise a substantially transparent material.

9. An extension system for adjustably supporting at least one sheet of material along an upper edge of a freestanding partition system, the extension system comprising:

at least one sheet of material defining opposite side faces, upper and lower edges, and opposite side edges extending between the upper and lower edges;

at least one support assembly including a base portion configured to engage a freestanding partition system, and wherein the at least one support assembly engages the at least one sheet of material adjacent the lower edge thereof and supports the sheet of material in a generally upright position relative to the support assembly, the at least one support assembly including at least first and second movable adjustment members that permit the at least one sheet of material to be shifted in opposite side-to-side directions that are transverse to the lower edge of the sheet, and wherein the at least first and second adjustment members adjustably retain the at least one sheet of material at a selected one of a plurality of horizontal side-to-side positions relative to the base portion, a selected vertical position relative to the base portion, and a selected angular position relative to the base portion, whereby the at least one support assembly is configured to permit the position of the at least one sheet of material to be adjusted relative to an upper edge of a freestanding partition system to thereby align the at least one sheet of material with adjacent sheets of material, and;

a pair of elongated trim pieces disposed above and engaging the at least one support assembly and forming an elongated opening therebetween that receives a lower edge portion of the sheet of material.

10. The extension system of claim 9, wherein:

the base portion of the at least one support assembly comprises a bracket.

11. The extension system of claim 10, wherein:

the bracket includes an upwardly-opening channel, and wherein at least a portion of the lower edge of the at least one sheet of material is received in the upwardly-opening channel.

12. The extension system of claim 11, wherein:

the at least first and second movable adjustment members engage the opposite side faces of the at least one sheet of material adjacent the lower edge thereof.

13. The extension system of claim 12, wherein:

the movable adjustment members comprise at least one pair of clamp members engaging the opposite side faces of the at least one sheet of material.

14. The extension system of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one support assembly includes at least first and second threaded members threadably engaging the bracket, the first and second threaded members moving horizontally relative to the bracket upon rotation of the treaded members, and wherein the threaded members are configured to generate forces that clamp the clamp members against the opposite side faces of the at least one sheet of material.

15. The extension system of claim of claim 13, including:

spring clips disposed on the clamp members; and

wherein;

the elongated trim pieces define lower edges that adjustably engage the spring clips whereby vertical positions of the elongated trim pieces can be adjusted.

16. An extension system for adjustably supporting a sheet of material in an upright position on an upper edge of a freestanding partition system, the extension system comprising:

a sheet of material defining opposite side faces, upper and lower edges extending along a length of the sheet, and opposite side edges extending between the upper and lower edge to define a generally quadrilateral perimeter;

a support assembly configured to support the sheet of material on a partition frame in an upright position, wherein the support assembly includes a bracket having an upwardly opening channel and a pair of tabs extending outwardly in opposite directions directly below the lower edge of the sheet of material along the length of the sheet, wherein the tabs are configured to engage an upwardly facing horizontal upper surface of a partition system to thereby support the bracket on a partition system, and wherein at least a portion of the lower edge of the sheet of material is disposed in the channel, the support assembly including at least one clamp engaging the opposite side faces of the sheet of material and adjustably securing the sheet of material to the bracket such that an angular position of the sheet of material relative to the bracket can be adjusted and the angular position of the sheet of material relative to the bracket can be fixed at a selected angular position.

17. The extension system of claim 16, wherein

the bracket includes first and second upwardly extending portions that are spaced apart whereby the upwardly opening channel is formed between the first and second upwardly extending portions.

18. The extension system of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one clamp includes threaded members that threadably engage at least one of the first and second upwardly extending portions of the bracket.

19. The extension system of claim 18, wherein:

the support assembly includes at least two threaded members that are vertically spaced apart such that rotation of the two threaded members causes horizontal movement of the two threaded members to thereby permit adjustment of an angular positon of the sheet of material.

20. The extension system of claim 19, wherein:

the support assembly includes a pair of vertically spaced apart threaded members threadably engaging the first upwardly extending portion of the bracket.

21. The freestanding partition system of claim 20, wherein:

the pair of vertically spaced apart threaded members comprises a first pair of threaded members; and

including;

a second pair of vertically spaced apart threaded members threadably engaging the second upwardly extending portion of the bracket.