Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1058371
~his invention ~elates to partition interconnector assemblies.
Heretofore,'the ~oinder'of panels to form offîce partitions was
accomplished ~y rigid non-flexible structures which did not accommodate
many desired'layouts for office arrangements formed'by the'partitions.
Tongue and groove arrangements and slotted tubular encasements gave a
minimum flexibility and adaptability for the provision of offices of
different shapes and sizes. The structures'were quite limited and many t
desired`types of layouts could not be'accomplished. Furthermore, the
rigid ~oinders were unattractive and costly. Only set predetermined
patterns could be'made which were then necessarily rigidly maintained in
position. There have been no practical suggestions in the'office parti-
tion or kindred arts which propose a solution to the foregoing problems.
Several years ago, there was a structure presented'in United
States Patent No. 2,978,020 issued' 4 April, 1961 to Paulsrude
which provided a flexible connection between slats of
a multiple slat-type folding door. The provision was merely such that
each slat could be connected to the'other in a predetermined way to accom-
plish the accordion-type folding of the door itself. In this construction,
each slat of the door abutted'the ad~acent slat and movement therebetween
20 was limited to a range measured in degrees whereby there was no flexibility
for use other than for the'purpose disclosed which was for a folding door. ~`
The slots to accommodate the'hinge shown in this patent were provided
within the slats of the door itself which wag a costly and involved proce-
dure. As a consequence, there has been no disclosure other than a direct
connection between slats in a special door panel structure. There was no
provision of an intermediate self-contained unit which can be interchange-
ably and flexibly mounted on a panel-partition arrangement to afford and
provide an infinite variety of shapes and arrangements for an office or
the like.
The present invention provides a connecting means to form an
interconnector assembly which is flexible and adaptable in its ability to
provide an almost infinite variety of shapes and layouts for rooms
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r~ lOS8371
accomplished by.joining o~fice partition panels together. In accomplish-
ing this result t~e'connecting means provides, in effect, a universal
connection. The interconnector asgembly in one aspect comprises a sub- :
stantially rigid base or support member or plate provided at or near the
lateral ends thereof with outwardly pro~ecting sleeve portions. The
intermediate portion of the'support.plate forms a central web between the
sleeves. The sleeve portions are provided with a vertical slot extending
from the'aperture within the sleeve to the exterior of the sleeve. This
support unit is adapted to be:.secured to the lateral end portions of a
panel used to form office partitions or it may be secured'to any suitable
cap member placed'over the corresponding end portions of the partition
panels.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a flexible mem-
ber is conjointly provided which`'may be of any suitable resilient or
flexible material such as, for example,'rubber or flexible plastic. This
member comprises a flexible web'whose site edges are formed into enlarged
or bulbous portions extending substantially the entire length of each
side of the intermediate web. The bulbous portion which may be of any
suitable desired enlarged'edge or bead cross-sectional shape is of a size
20 whose outer diameter is substantially the same as the inner diameter or . ''
the sleeve portion. In turn, the'sleeve aperture will have a cross-
sec~ional shape complemental to that of the flexible web bulbous or
enlarged edge or bead. Thus, a corresponding enlarged or bulbous portion
at the edge of the'web'is accommodated within one of the apertures in the
sleeve and the adjacent portion of the central flexible extent of the web
disposed between the enlarged edges is accommodated within the adjacent
slot formed in the sleeve member which communicates with that aperture.
The supporting member'is affixed'to the'lateral edge of one panel of an
office partition. The other enlarged portion or edge of the flexible web .~-
3~ member is similarly accommodated'within the sleeve member of another ':~
support member secured'to the adjacent edge of another panel of an office .:
partition. 'By this means, two panels may be secur'ed together'in lateral
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~OS8371
end adjacency with a completely flexible and ada~table connection formed by
the connecting means provided as desired at each such ends of the adjacent t
panels. Intermediate panels may be secured together by the same device or
a simple fixed connection may be used.
By one broad aspect of this invention, then, an office partition
interconnector assembly is p~ovided comprising a solid unitary support memr
ber having a main web means defining a continuous enclosing main boundary
surface of selective cross-sectional profile provided along one surface por~
tion thereof constituted as a rearward continuous surface portion with par-
10 tition pane] engaging means for fixedly rr~ounting the support member on one
partition panel and provided at another surface portion thereof oonstituted
as a forward continu~us surface portion with selectively positioned edge re- r
taining external channel means mcluding cooperating spaced apart ~all means
independently projecting externally forwardly outwardly fr~m the main boun-
dary surface of the main web means at such forward surface portion and ex-
tending beyond the profile of the adjacent surface portion of the support
member thereat and defining a channel insert slot therebetween, and a flexi- r
ble ~^7eb having an enlarged edge at one side thereof in continuous integral
coextensive relation there~7ith for operative inserti~n bet~7een the
20 cooperating wall r~ans of the edge retaining channel means of the support
member and attachment ~eans at the other side thereof for attaching the web
to another partition panel thereby to provide an interposed oonnection be-
tween such panels to form an office partition.
In one variant, another edge retaining channel means is provided on
the support member for receiving a corresponding enlarged edge of another t~
flexible web operatively inserted therein for attachment of another such
partition panel thereat.
In another variant, the enlarged edge of the flexible web is of
bulbous bead edge croqs-æectional oonfiguration and the edge retaining ch~nnel
, .
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~058;~71
means has a channel aperture of cDmplemental bulbous cross-sectional configur- I
ation. L
In another variant, the support member is substantially rigid and ~^
the flexible web is resiliently displaceable out of its normal plane.
In yet another variant, the partition panel engaging means includes
a backing surface for operatively engaging a lateral end of the adjacent
partition panel.
In still another variant, the partition panel engaging means in-
cludes a backing surface, and a separate intervening abutment spacer is pro-
10 vided having a backing surface engaging side and a partition panel engaging
side, the abutment spacer being connected at the backing surface engaging
side hhereof to the backing surface and being mountable at the
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105~33~1
partition panel engaging side thereof on the lateral end of the adjacent
partition panel.
In a still further variant, the support member is in the form
of a block and the partition panel'engaging means includes a backing sur-
face for operatively engaging a lateral end of the adjacent partition
panel and containing locating means for locating the backing surface on
such lateral end of the ad~acent partition panel, especially where the I
block is an extension end cap block intermediately provided'with external
auxiliary attachment means for removably attaching auxiliary means thereat.
In a further variant, the support member is in the'form of a
bilateral support member provided with a pair of spaced apart edge retain-
ing channel means pro~ecting outwardly and each correspondingly containing
an outwardly directed communicating slot, and the flexible web is in the
form of a bila~eral flexible web~provided with a pair of opposed enlarged
edges one of which is operatively inserted in one of the edge retaining
channeI means and the other of which is operatively insertable in.one
corresponding edge retaining channel means of another such support member
on such other partition panel'for attaching the flexible web to such
other partition panel thereby to provide an interposed connection between
such panels to form an office partition, especially wherein a central
cover strip'is removably disposed in overlying relation between the out-
wardly projecting edge retaining channel means and in substantially
rsised flush relation therewith medially of the corresponding outwardly
directed communicating slots, and wherëin screw accommodating attachment
means are provided in the support member intermediate the outwardly pro-
jecting edge retaining channel means and in underlying relation beneath :
the central cover strip for attaching the support member to the ad~acent
partition panel.
~n a variation thereof, the partition panel engaging means
includes a backing surface ~or operatively engaging a lateral end of the
adjacent partition panel'and containing locating means for locating the
backing surface on such lateral end of the'adjacent partition panel.
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S8371
In another variation~ a selectively offset bilateral angularadapter.plate is provided having a pair of opposed retention edges at the
corresponding sides thereof one of w~ich is operatively inserted in the
other edge retaining channel means of the support member and the other of
which is operatively insertable in the'other corresponding edge retaining
channel means of such other support member on such other partition panel
when the partition panels are disposed at a selectively offset angular
planar disposition with respect to each other, especially wherein the
intermediate breadth between the opposed retention edges of the adapter
10 . plate is larger than the'corresponding intermediate breadth between the
opposed enlarged edges of the'flexible web.
In a further variant, the assembly includes a vertically elon-
gate and substantially rigid bilateral support member having partition
panel engaging means which incluaes a backing surface for operatively
engaging a lateral end of one partition panel for fixedly mounting the
support member on such partition panel, and further having a pair of
spaced apart edge retaining channel means pro~ecting outwardly from the
support member and each correspondlngly containing an outwardly directed
communicating slot, and a vertically elongate flexible web substantially
resiliently displaceable out of its normal plane and having a pair of : .'
'opposed enlarged edges at the sides thereof one of which is operatively ~.
inserted in one of the edge retaining channel means through the corres-
ponding communicating slot and the other of which is operatively insértable
in one corresponding edge retaining channel means of another such support
member on another partition panel for attaching the flexible web to such
other partition panel thereby to provide an interposed connection between
such panels to form an office partition.
In a variation thereof, a separate intervening abutment spacer
is provided having a backing surface engaging side and a partition panel
30'. engaging side, the abutment spacer'being connected at the backing surface
engaging side thereof to the backing surface of the'partition panel engag-
ing means of the support member'and being mountable at the partition panel
S83~1
engaging side thereof on the lateral end of the adjaGen~ partition panel.
In still anot~er variation, the support member is in the form
of a vertically elongate solid block and the backing surface of the par-
tition panel engaging means contains locating means for locating the
backing surface on such lateral end of the adjacent partition panel.
In yet another variation, a vertically elongate central cover
strip is removably disposed in snap fit overlying relation bçtween the
outwardly projecting edge retaining channel means and in substantially
raised flush relation therewith medially of the corresponding outwardly
directed com~unicating slots, especially wherein screw accommodating
attachment aperture means are providet in the support member intermediate
the outwardly pro~ecting edge retaining channel means and in underlying
relation beneath the central cover strip for attaching the support member
to the ad~acent partition panel.
In still another variation, the backing surface of the partition
engaging means contains vertically elongate rib locating means for loca-
ting the backing surface on such lateral end of the ad~acent partition
panel.
In yet another variation, a vertically elongate selectively
offset bilateral angular adapter plate is provided having a pair of
opposed retention edges at the corresponding sides thereof one of which
is operatively inserted in the other of the edge retaining channel means
of the support member and the other of which is operatively insertable in
the other corresponding edge retaining channel means of such other suppor~
member on such other partition panel when the partition panels are dis-
posed at a selectively offset angular planar disposition with respect to
each other, the intermediate breadth between the opposed retention edges
of the adapter plate being selectively larger than the corresponding
intermediate breadth between the opposed enlarged edges of the flexible
web in dependence upon the offset angular planar disposition of the par-
tition panels.
In another variant, the office partition interconnector
lOS8371
assembly includes two office partiti.on panels, two vertically.elongate
and substantially rigid bilateral.support ~embers, and having panel
engaging means w~ich includes'a backing surface operatively engaging a
lateral end of a corresponding one of the partition panels and fixedly
unting the particular support member'thereon, and each further ha.ving
a pair of spaced apart edge retaining channel means projecting outwardly
from the'support member'with the edge retaining channel means each corres-
pondingly containing an outwardly directed communicating slot, and two
vertically elongated flexible webs, each substantially resiliently dis-
placeable out of its normal plane and having a pair of opposed enlargededges at the sides thereof, one of the enlarged edges of one of the flex-
ible webs being operatively inserted in one of the edge retaining chamlel
means through the corresponding communicating slot of one of the support
members and the other of such enlarged edges being inserted in one of ~ .
the edge retaining channel means through the corresponding communicating
slot of the other of the support members, and one of the enlarged edges
of the other of the flexible web being operatively inserted in the other
of the edge retaining channel means through the corresponding communica-
ting slot of such one of the support members and the other of such
enlarged edges being inserted in the'other of the edge retaining channel
means through the corresponding communicating slot of the other of the
support members thereby to provide an interposed connection between such
panelR to form an office partition.
In still another variant, the assembly includes a plurality of
at .east three office partition panels in radially disposed adjacency
about a common center point, a corresponding plurality of at least three
vertically elongate and substantially rigid bilateral support members,
each having partition panel engaging means which inciudes a backing sur-
face operatively engaging the radially inward adjacent lateral end of a
corresponding one of the partition panels and fixedly mounting the parti-
cular support member thereon, and each further having a pair of spaced
apart edge retaining channel'means pro~ecting outwardly from the support
- ~ ~058371
member with the edge retaining channel means each correspondingly containing
an outwardly directed ccmmunicating slot, and a corresponding plurality of
at least three vertically elongated fle~ible ~bs, each substantially re- ~:
siliently displaceable out of its normal plane and having a pair of opposed
enlarged edges at the sides thereof, the enlarged edges of each of the flexi- -
ble webs being operatively inserted in the radially adjacent edge reta ming
channel means through the corresponding communicating slots of corresponding
radially adjacent support members on correspondingly radially adjacent par-
tition panels thereby to provide an interposed common connection among such
panels to fonm an office partition.
In another aspect of this invention, an office partition inter-
connector asse~bly is provided aomprising an office pætition panel, a separ-
ate and independent solid unitary support member having a solid main ~eb
means defining a continuous enclosing main boundary surface of selective
cross-sectional profile provided along one surface portion thereof aon-
stituted as a rear~7ard contmuous surface portion with pætition panel en-
gaging means fixedly mounting the support member on the partition panel and
provided at an~ther surface portion thereof aonstituted as a fonzard con-
tinuous surface portion with selectively positioned edge retaining external
channel means including cooperating spaced apart ~7all means independently
projecting externally fonwardly out~rdly from the main boundary surface of
the main web means at such forward surface portion and independently exkend-
ing externally fon~ardly outwardly beyand the profile of the adjacent sur-
f~ce portion of the support member thereat and defining a channel insert
slot ther~bet~7een, and a fle~ible web having an erlarged edge at one side k
thereof in cDntinu~us integral coextensive relation ~here~7ith for operative
in~ertion [in] be~7een the cooperating wall means of the edge receiving
channel means of the su?nort member and attachment means at t~e other side
thereof for attaching ~he web to another partition panel there~y to provide
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- ~058371
an interposed ~onnection between .such panels to ~rr an office partition.
In a variant of this aspect, an edge retaining channel means is ;
provided on the su-J~ort ~e~her for receiving a corresponding enlarged edge
of another flexible web operatively inserted therein for ~ttachment of
another such partition panel thereat.
In another variant, the enlarged edge of the flexible ~leb is of
bulbous bead edge cross-sectional configuration and the edge retaining chan- --
nel means has a channel aperture of complcmental bulkous cross-sectional
configuration.
In yet another variant, the support member is substantially rigid
and the flexible web is resiliently displaceable out of its normal plane.
In still ano'her variant, the partition panel engaging means in-
cludes a backing surface for operatively engaging a lateral en~ of the
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105~3371
adjacent partition panel.
In a still furt~er'variant, the'partitlon panel engaging means
includes a backing surface, and a separate intervening abutment spacer
is provided having a bac~ing surface engaging side and a partition panel
engaging side, the abutment spacer'being connected at the backing surface
engaging side thereof to the backing surface and being mounted at the
partition engaging side thereof on tbe lateral end of the'par,tition panel.
In a still further variant, the'support member is in the form
of a block and the partition panel'engaging means includes a backing sur-
face operatively engaging the lateral end of the partition panel andcontaining locating means for locating the backing surface on such lateral
end of the partition panel, especially wherein the block is an extension
end cap block intermediately provided with external auxiliary attachment
means for removably attaching auxiliary means thereat.
By another variant, the support memb'er is in the form of a
bilateral support mem~er provided'with a pair of spaced apart edge retain-
ing channel means each correspondingly containing an outwardly directed
communicating slot, and the flexible web is in the form of a bilateral
flexible web provided with a pair of opposed enlarged edges one of which
is operatively inserted in one of the edge retaining channel means and
the other of which is operatively insertable in one corresponding edge
retaining'channel means'of another such support member on such other
partition panel for attaching the'flexible web to such other partition
panel thereby to provide an interposed connection between such panels to
form an office partition. -
By'still another variant of this aspect, the assembly includes
two office partition panels disposed at a selectively offset angular
planar disposition with respect to each other, two vertically elongate
and substantially rigid bilateral suppbrt members, each having partition
panel engaging means fixedly mounting the particular support member on the
lateral end of a corresponding one of the partition panels, and each
further having a pair of spaced apart edge retaining channel means with
.'
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-- ~058371
the edge retaining channel means each correspondingly containing an out-
wardly directed commnnicating.slot, a vertically~:elongate flexible web
substantially resiliently displaceable out of its normal plane and having
a pair of opposed enlarged'edges'at the'sides thereof one of which is ~.
operatively inserted'in one of the'edge retaining channel means through
the corresponding communicating slot of one of the support members and the
other of which is inserted in one of the'edge retaining channel means
through the corresponding communicating slot of the other of the'support
members, and a vertically elongate selectively offset bilatéral angular
adapter plate having a pair of opposed retention edges at the correspon-
ding sides thereof one of which is operatively inserted in the'other edge
retaining channel'means through the'corresponding communicating slot of
such one of the support members and the other of which is operatively
inserted in the other of the edge' retaining channel'means through the
corresponding slot of the other'of the'support members, the intermediate
breadth between the opposed retention edges of the adapter'plate being
selectively larger than the corresponding intermediate breadth between
the opposed enlarged edges of the flexible web in dependence upon the off-
set angular planar disposition of the'partition panels, thereby to provide
an interpo~ed angular connection between such panels to form an office
partition.
In yet another'variant of this aspect, the assembly includes
two office partition panels, two vertically elongate and substantially ''
rigid bilateral support members, each having partition panel engaging
means fixedly mounting the particular support member on the lateral end
of a corresponding one of the'partition panels, and each further having a
pair of spaced apart edge retaining channel means with the edge retaining
channel means each correspondingly containing an outwardly directed com-
municating slot, and two vertically elongate flexible webs, each substan-
tially resiliently displaceable out of its normal'plane and having a pair
of opposed enlarged edges'at the sides'thereof, one of the enlarged edges
of one of the'flexible webs being operatively inserted in one of the edge
- .
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~ 1~358371
.. .
retaining channel means through tlLe corresponding communicating slot of L
one of the support members and the other of such enlarged edges being
inserted in one of the edge retaining channel means through the corres-
ponding communicating slot of the other of the support members, and one
of the enlarged edges of the other of the flexible webs being operatively
inserted in the other of the edge retaining channel means through the
corresponding communicating slot of such one of the support members and ~
the other of such enlarged edges being inserted in the other of the edge r
retaining channel means through the corresponding communicating slot of
the other of the support members thereby to provide an interposed connec- L
tion between such pane~s to form an office partition.
~n,still another variant of this aspect, the assembly includes
a plurality of at least three office partition panels in radially dis-
posed adjacency about a common center point~ a corresponding plurality of
at least three vertically elongate and substantially rigid bilateral
support members, each having partition panel engaging means fixedly
mounting the particular support member on the radially inward ad;acent ;r~
lateral end of a corresponding one of the partition panels, and each ~f
further having a pair of spaced apart edge retaining channel means with
the edge retaining channel means each correspondingly containing an out-
wardly directed communicating slotS and a corresponding plurality of at
least three vertically elongate flexible webs, each substantially
resiliently displaceable out of its normal plane and having a pair of
opposed enlarged edges at the sides thereof, the enlarged edges of each L
of the flexible webs being operatively inserted in the radially adjacent ~ .
edge retaining channel means through the corresponding communicating slots
of corresponding raidally ad;acent support members on correspondingly
radially adjacent partition panels thereby to provide an interposed common
connection among such panels to form an office partition.
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lOS8371
By another aspect of this invention, an office partition inter~
connector asse~bly i8 provided comprisin~ a solid unitary support member hav- L
ing a main web means defining a continuous enclosing main boundary surface b
of selective cross-sectional profile provided along one surface portion
thereof constituted as a re~r~ard continuous surface portion with partition
panel engaging means for fixidly mDunting the support memher on one partition
pan-l and provided at another surface portion thereof constituted as a for- s
ward continuous surface portion with selectively positioned edge retaining r
external channel means including cooperating spaced apart wall means inde-
pendentlv projecting externally forwardly outwardly from the main boundary
surface of the main web means at such forward surface portion and independent-
ly extending externally forwardly outwardly bey~nd the perimetric profile of
the adjacent surface portion of the support member thereat and defining a
channel insert slot therebetween, a flexible web having an enlarged edge at
one side thereof in continuous integral coextensive relation therewith for
operative insertion bet~een the cooperating wall means of the edge re-
taining channel neans of the support member and attachment means at the other r
side thereof for attaching the web to another partition panel thereby to
provide an interposed connection bet~een such panels to form an office par- r
tition, and a cap in an end of the support member provided with means engage-
able within the channel retaining means for maintaining the flexible web in
position against vertical m~vement in the edge retaining channel means.
By still another aspnct of this invention, one office partition in-
terconnector assembly is provided comprising an office panel, a separate and
independent solid unitary support member having a main ~eb means defining a
continuous enclosing main boundary surface of selective cross-sectional pro-
file provided along one surface portion thereof constituted as a rearward
continuous surface portion with partition panel engaging means fixedly mDunt-
ing the support member on the partition panel and provided at another surface
- 1~ -
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105837~ 1
portion thereof constituted as a fon~ard continuous surface portion with
selectively positioned edge retaining external channel sleeve means includ- ~
ing cooperating spaced aF~rt corresFondingly oppositely curved ~all means L
independently prvjecting externally forwardly ou~Yardly from the main
boundary surface of the main ~Yeb me~ns at such fonYard surface portion and
independently extending externally forwardly outwar~ y beyond the perimetric
profile of the adjacent surface Fortion of the support member thereat and
defining a correspondingly rounded channel Lnsert slot therebetween, a flexi-
ble web having an enlarged correspondingly complementally rounded edge at
lO one side thereof in continuous integral coextensive relation thereYith for
operative insertion bet~een the cooperating wall means of the edge re-
ceiving channel sleeve means of the supFort member and attachment means at
the other side thereof for attaching the web to another partition panel
thereby to provide an interposed connection bet~leen such panels to form an
office partition, and a cap at an end of the support member pro-
vided with means disposed within the edge receiving channel sleeve means to
prevent vertical movement of the flexihle web.
In the event the panels are to be secured together in co-planar
or tandem relationship, it is only necessary to form the flexible web con-
20 nection between both sleeves of a support member on one end of a panel with
both sleeves of a corresponding support me~ber on the end of an adjacent
panel. This connection would provide for the joinder of panel members to-
gether in a straight line layout to thus form a wall portion by neans of the
office partition.
It will be understood, however, that a large variety of forms of
partition layouts may be accomplished with the use of these flexible and r-
adaptable oonnectors. For example, three such connectors may be secured to-
gether in mDre or less triangular fonm by merely connecting the sleeve of
one support member to another by means of the flexible member or web in
n _ 13 -
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, . ., :. .: ,
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1058371
sequence in the form of a triangle using the corresponding flexible web in
essence as the joinder.
The connectors may be formed into a rectangle or square, if
desired, by maXing the same edge-to-edge connection of the oorrespondiny
sleeves of the support n~bers thn~ugh tùe web
r
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~:
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~1 1058371 :
connections in rectangular form. Thus, in the ultimate assembly,
an infinte variety of shapes may be used depending on the pre-
determination of the user seeking particular sizes and shapes of
¦ offices. In addition, should the shape and size of a room be
l¦ required to be changed for any reason, this too can be accomplishe
simply be detaching themember parts from each other and re-
assembling them in any other desired form.
! In addition, the connectors can be provided with caps at
¦ the top and bottom which have means for accommodation within the
~10 ¦channels of the connector. The caps prevent any inadvertent move-
; ¦ ment of the web of the connector out of the channels in either an
I upward or downward direction.
t ~ ---
: J Fig. 1 is a perspective vi~w-fff the iatercon~eetor-'of~'an,aspect of
~he present invention showing the support member and the flexible
web in separated form;
Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of the panels for
1 an office wall partition joined together in side-by-side relation-
; ship by the interconnector of an.asp,ect.o~ the present iriyention;
~; Fig. 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
. Fig. 4 is a partial side view of a set of panels with
l~ l the interconnector having an optionalIy increased thickness and
,,10 also showing an end cap for maintaining the web of the connector
- lagainst movement disposed apart from t~e connector and in
dotted lines in position at the bottom end of the connector.
'~ Fig. 5 i8 a top plan v$ew''~f the interconnector of'an aspect of'the j
. ! ! _
i~present invention assembled in triangular form with the panels of '
the office partitions extending outwardly therefrom;
, Pig. 6 is a.top view of the in'terconnectors of an aspect of the '.
,; ,, . I
I;present imTention secured to panels forming office partitions
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105~371
:,
disposed at right angles to each okher and showing m solid lines a cover
strip 7~3mber disposed over the central portion of the su~port member, and in
` dotted lines an alternative adapter plate or cover for the exterior of the
., .
? unit, and
Fig. 7 shcws a top view of a mDdified block form of the support
member of the interconnector of an aspect of the present invention. t
As shown in the drawings, a new and unique interoonnector for
office partitions is provided by an aspect of the present lnvention. The
~' interconnector 10 comprises two components ~7hich when joined together form
10 a 7~dule which, in a relatively inexpensive way, enables the erection of a
., .
substantially infinite variety of shapes and arrangements of panel partitions
for offices. In essence, this module consists in a son~7hat rigid vertically
elongate solid unitary support member 11 which as shown in Figs. 1-3 has a
relatively thin central web or intermediate portion 12. At or near the edges
of the support m~mber 11, are outwardly extending receptive or edge retain-
ing channel means 13 and 14 which, as shcwn, comprise sleeve portions or
,; ~
oooperating spaced apart wall means havLng central apertures 15 and 16. Ex- r
tending from the central apertures to the outside of the sleeve portions 13
and 14 are communicating slots 17 and 18 which extend vertically along the
20 sleeve portion or set of cooperating wall means correspondingly as illus-
; trated. A panel engaging backing surface 19 is provided on the rear of the
,; . .
support member 11. Thus, support m3mber 11 has a solid main web means, here
~; constituted by intermediate portion 12, defining a aDntinuous enclosing main
boundary surface of selective cross-sectional profile, which is provided
.,; .
along its rearward continuous surface portion with partition panel engaging
means via backing ~face 19, and at its forward continuous surface portion
Y with edge retaining channel means 13 and 14. Each channel means includes
cooperating spaced apart wall means which independently pr~ject externally
forwardly outwardly from the main boundary surface of the main web means at
such forward surface portion and extend beyond the profile of the adjacent
15 -
.....
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surface portion of the support mem~er ll thereat and define the channel in-
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.: sert slot 17 and 18 therebetween as the case may be. The other component
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of the mDdule forming the interconnector of the present invention comprises
- a corresponding vertically elongate flexible member or web 20 having a cen-
.~ tral or intermediate web portion 21 and t~Jo enlarged or buIbous kead type
.~ : edge portions 22 and 23. Flexible web 20 is preferabl~ substantially re-
.. siliently displaceable out of its normal plane.
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To assemble the interconnector of an aspect of the present invention
it is only necessary to secure the suppor~ member 11 as a
separate unit via its rear or panel engaging backing surface 19
~` !i to the existing lateral side edge or cap 25 of a partition panel
¦ member 26 used to ultimately form office partitions when joined
;.. j jto other panel members. The securement of the support member
¦to the panel member may be made by any one of numerous well-known
,~......... arrangements and is clearly illustrated as a screw connection
,.I via support member screw accommodating aperture 27 and screw 27a
i.`l in Figs. 3 and 6. When the support member 11 is thus in position,
: the flexible member 20 is attached thereto by inserting the
, . large bead edge portion 22 into thé aperture 16 in the sleeve 14.
,. ¦The portion of the web 21 immediately adjacent the enlarged
,~ pOr~icn22 is accommodated within the communicating slot 18. To
~'~ 15 connect two panels together along a straight line as. shown in
. Figs. 2 and 3, the other enlarged or bulbous edge 23 of the
flexible member 20 is inserted into the aperture 16' within the .
;.::..~' . sleeve 14' of the like support member ll' which is affixed to the
next adjacent panel 26'. The portion of the web 21 which is
immediately adjacent to the enlarged portion 23 is then accommo-
¦ dated within the slot 18' of the receptive or edge retaining
channel means or sleeve 16'. ; .
~:~ j A similar connection is made between the enlarged portion 22'
~, ~of the other flexible member or web 20' and the sleeve 13,
~25 . !aper~ure 15 and slot 17 of the support member 11 on one panel 26 a~d
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for the engagement of the enlarged or bulbous portion 23' in the
aperture 15' of the sleeve 13~ and slot 17~ of the like support
.~ ~member 11~ on the other panel 26', as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.iThus, the panels may be joined together with facility and dis-
!patch in a completely flexible connecting manner. An appropriate
¦top cap or cover (not shown) may be fitted onto the top end of the
connection to close the opening thereat, for instance of a shape
conforming to the top opening as shown in Fig. 3 which is bounded
¦by parts 11, 11', Z0 and 20'.
;~ To facilitate the construction, the support members ll and
¦L1' may be secured to the panels before shipment or immediately
;` lupon delivery thereof whereupon the size and shape of office
desired may be provided only by the inter-engagement of the
flexible member 20 with the sleeves of the support mëmbers on the
, 15 various panels provided for this purpose.
~ By the optional provision of the central locating rib l9a, ¦
., the support member 10 may be readily located on the adjacent panel -
;~ ¦end and preferably accommodated in the optional upholstered
double welt 28 disposed in the panel end groove 29.
While the enlarged edges 22 and 23 are preferably in the
¦form of bulbous or round bead edge cross-sectional configuration
' ,and the corresponding edge retaining channel means 15 and 16 have
,!channel apertures of complemental bulbous cross-sectional con-
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~ figuration, any desired cross-sectional shape may be suitably
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¦1 ueed s~ch a~., for ~xample, :m oval, triarlSular, rectang~llar or ~>ther~ol/gD=.il
¦shape so long as the enlarged web edge in question is retained
operatively in the sleeve channel means.
.lso, although less preferred, hook-shaped or U-shaped or
IlV-shaped cross sectional configurations may be provided for the
¦enlarged edges 22 or 23, preferably with the free end portion
thereof being resiliently compressible inwardly toward the
. Iremainder of such enlarged edge portion so as to close the
. intermediate space hounded therebetween for facilitating insertion
lO longitudinally through the sleeve aperture 15 or 16, as the case
may be, in the manner in which the. preferred enlarged bulbous
. bead type edge portions are normally inserted, or even to enable
sùch resiliently compressible portion to be sna.p fitted into the
. appropriate sleeve aperture directly radia.lly inwardly via the
:~ 15 . corresponding communicating slot 17 or 18. Once inserted, the t
~; appropriate cross sectional configuration of the resultant en-
. larged edge portion 22 or 23 will sufficiently extend and engage
.:;. the surrounding surface of the particular sleeve aperture so as to
.` prevent disengagement thereat.
~ 20 In this regard, it will be realized that although preferred,
.~ the enlarged edges of the flexible web and the sleeve apertures
o~the support member.need not be.exactly complemental in cross
. I sectional configuration, since these parts need only removably
connectingly coact to permit their operative interlocking engage-
'-i25 ~Iment without objectionable play when the panels are inter-
connected thereby.
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As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the arrangement may`comprise
three corresponding support members lla, llb and llc inter-
connected in a more or less triangular disposition via inter-
~vening flexible webs 20a, 20b and 20c, in a manner similar to
~the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the difference being thbinclusion of a third support member and accompanying flexible
web. Of course, additional interconnector combination components
may be appropriately provided by simple insertion operatively
.. into the interconnector assembly system to provide a square or
other polygonal configuration. In each instance, although not
~; shown, the particular support member will be connected to the
lateral end of a corresponding partition panel thereat similar
to the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 to provide a layout in which
the various panels extend radially or angularly outwardly from
the central common connecting point.
An optional feature of increasing or adjusting the distance
between a particular support member and the lateral end of ~he
corresponding partition panel comprises the insertion there-
between of a separate selectively dimensioned or distancing
~20 intervening abutment spacer or block 31 having an appropriate
backing surface engaging side 32 and partition panel engaging
side 33. ~s shown in Fig. 5, bac~ing surface engaging side 32
! f appropriate conforming shape is connected to the backing.
surface of the appropriate support member lla and partition panel
~5 ,'engaging side 33 is mountable on the lateral end of the adjacent
partition panel. The latter arrangement is shown more clearly
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--~ in Fig. 4 where the abutment spacer 31 is interposed operatively
between support member lla and partition panel 26'o The same re-
lationship would exist regarding the end to end tandem disposition
of the panels shown in Fig. 3, i.e. when an intervening abutment
¦ spacer 31 is inserted at the interconnector thereat. -
I As also shown in Fig. 4, a cap 21a is locatable at the
; Ibottom and top of the interconnectorO As illustrated, the cap 21a
j is disposed at the bottom of the connector. However, it will be
understood that a similar cap can be located at the top of the
connector. The cap 21a comprises a flat plate 21b and-sidewalls
21co A front wall 21d is also provided to cover the upper portion
or lower portion of the connector. Two prongs 21e and 21f are
; carried by the plate 21b and are insertable in the channels 15 and t
~ of the connector where they are frequently maintained in
position. This structure prevents the web 20a of the connector
from riding downwardly and out o its connecting position once
the parts are assembled. A similar cap at the top prevents any
movement o~ the web 20a in an upward direction which movement
might cause the web to become dislocated~
In Fig. 6, a.further feature of an aspect of the invention is shown
with respect to the covering of the central web portion of the
support member such as when appropriate screws 27a, such as self-
tapping screws, are inserted through screw accommodating apertures
27 for mounting the appropriate support member onto the end cap
11 or lateral end portion 25 of the corresponding partition panel 26. ! :
In this regard, the central cover strip 51, preferably of rigid
plastic material and containing bilateral end prongs or flanges,
, of conforming arcuate shape, may be removably snap fitted or
friction fitted in overlying relation between the corresponding
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sleeve portions of the support member so as to be disposed in
substantially raised flush relation therewith medially of the
corresponding outwardly directed connecting slots in the sleeve
apertures. Where a pair of partition panels 26 and 27' is main-
I tained in angular disposition with respect to each other, the
; ¦cover arrangement shown in Fig. 6 is desirable, the additional
partition panel 26~ similarly being provided with a central cover
strip 51~ in removable disposition in engagement with the sleeve
portions of the support member 11' thereat. This will provide an
attractive finished design for the interconnector combination.
Of course, a single common flexible web 20 is used in
~he Fig. 6 arrangement to complete the selective angular panel
~` interconnector combination desired in contrast to the pair of
;t;~,''.~ flexible webs used in the Fig. 3 arrangement to provide a tandem
,r,~15 panel interconnector combination and the plurality of flexible
~, webs used in the Fig. 5 arrangement to provide a seIective corre-
~t . sponding plurality radial panel interconnector combination.
,~ . A~~a f~rther feature.. of an aspect of the invention, in place of t~e
central cover strips 51 al~d ~1~, a substantially offset bilateral
520 angular adapter plate or cover 61, shown in phantom in Fig. 6,
~; may be utilized. In this regard, adapter plate 61 is provided
~` with a pair of opposed retention edges 62 and 63 at the corre-
¦sponding sides thereof each of which is appropriate operatively
~: I inserted in the corresponding unused sleeve aperture of the
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~25 Isupport members ll and 11' as shown. Such retention edges 62 i
and 63 may be of similar construction and cross sectional con-I -
figuration to the enlarged edges 22 and 23 of the flexible web
~20, but preferably will be in the form of a V-shaped end con-
figuration or flange permitting simple longitudinal insertion
~. 30 Il into the corresponding sleeve aperture, or even snap fit insertion
r-a 1, directly radially-inwardly thereinto via the communicating slot
~i j, therealong. - 21 -
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1l In this arrangement, the adapter plate 61 will cover over
¦ithe exposed portions of and complete the interconnector combina-
¦¦tion to provide an alternative attractive finished design. It
will be seen that the intermediate breadth between the edges 62
!1 and 63 of adapter plate 61 is selectively larger than t~e
corresponding intermediate breadth between the enlarged edges of
~; I flexible web 20 as shown in Fig. 6 in dependence upon the
selective offset angular planar disposition of partition panels
26 and 26'.
,.~ 10 ~i-g. 7 shows an alternate emb~diment of~an aspect of the~i~vention~ln
providing the support member in t4e form of an extension end cap
-~ block 70 suitably accommodated on the lateral end porti'on of the
~partition panel 80. Specifically, block support member portion
71 is provided in similar manner to the construction shown ln
',; 15 Fig6. 1 to 3 with intermediate portion 72 and outwardly extending
;.; edge retaining channel means 73 and 74 comprislng the sleeve
, portions and containing central apertures 75 and 76, in turn
provided with outwardly extending communicating slots 77 and 78.
, The panel engaging means of the support member block 70 includes
backing surface 79 for operatively engaging the lateral end
; portion 81 of par~tion panel 80, with the support member block
¦ being additionally provided with bilateral locating means or
ribs 79a and 79b for locating backing surface 79 on the lateral
,~end portion 81 of such panel. Appropriately, panel 80 is cor- ! :
~25 .Irespondingly provided with end extensions 82a and 82b for
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i~ overlapping disposition with locating ribs 79a and 79b to
complete the interconnecting mounting of-the arrangement.
;., I An optional furt~er feature of-~n aspect of~the invention comprise6 the
inclusion of external auxiliary attachment means 91 and 92
' !intermediately on the external side walls of the block between
.
;~ ~the sleeve portions and the backing surface for removably
attaching auxiliary elements thereat such as hanging brackets,
or other appropriate modules or units, or the like. The
, auxiliary attachment means 91 and 92 may take the form of vertical
;~ T-shaped slots of the conventional type. The embodiment of Fig. 7
~' lends itself to attachment of the support member block 70 onto
~; the appropriate partition panel 80 by adhesive bonding between
~' backing surface 79 and the lateral end 81 of the partition panel.It will be appreciated that in accordance with one broad
~ature Df ~n a~pect of the invention, the office partiZ~ion-interconnector
assembly comprises a support member having partition panel
engaglng means for fixedly mounting the support member on a
partition panel as well as edge retaining channel means pro-
ecting outwardly from the support member~ together with a
flexible web having an enlarged edge at one side thereof for
operative insertion in the edge retaining channel means of the
support member and attachment means at the other side thereof for
¦attaching the web to another partition panel thereby to provide
~lan interposed connection between the panels to form an office
~i25 l'partition~
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j In accordance with a further br~ad feature of an aspect of the invention
the office partition interconnector assembly comprises an office
¦Ipartition panel, e.g. of the con~entional unmodified type, and
~¦separate therefrom an independent support member having partition-
1! panel engàging means fixedly mounting the support member, on the
¦Ipartition panel as well as the edge retaining channel means7
Iltogether with such a flexible web.
¦¦ Appropriately, of course, the particular interconnector
construction will be bilateral so that another edge retaining
channel means or sleeve will be provided on the support member
for receiving a corresponding enlarged edge of another flexible
' !web operatively inserted thereinto for attachment of an~ther
partition panel thereat.
The support member is preferably formed of substant;ally
- 15 rigid plastic material and the flexible web is preferably formed
of resiliently flexible material permitting displacement of such I
web out of this normal plane, such parts being suitably provided
as extruded elements. Advantageously, the alternate modifications
shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7 permit adjustments of the dimensions
of the arrangement by the inclusion of an appropriate selectively
dimensioned separate intervening abutment spacer or extension
end cap block construction, while the alterna~e cover strip and
~ angular adaptor plate features shown in Fig. 6 permit attractive
!!completion and covering of associated parts to provide an
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1058371
attractive finished arrangement. The support member, flexible
web, cover strip and angular adaptor plate, as well as the
abutment spacer and extension end cap block support member form,
lare all preferably vertically elongate parts readily provided
¦as extruded elements of suitable plastic material.
Thus, the arrangement of Fig. 3 provides an end to end or
¦ tandem coplanar disposition of interconnected panels while that
in Fig. 5 provides a plurality of such panels in radially dis-
posed adjacency about a corresponding center point defined by
the appropriate interconnector combination thereat, where as
the embodiment of Fig. 6 permits selective offset angular planar
disposition of such panels with respect to each other, thereby
, making possible an infinite variety of layouts for office
partitions in practice. Advantageously, such arrangements are
readily assembled, and even disassembled in the case wkere
changes in office layouts are desired, all with a minimum of
, effort while employing inexpensive and durable parts or modules
of simple and practical interchangeable design. Indeed, such
parts of~ th~ interconnector assembl~ of an aspect o~-the`~nvention may be
appropriately utilized with suitable existing partition panels
generally without the need for modifying such panels to
accommodate the desired interconnection.
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