Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
DEMouNrrABLE PANEL SY~'rEM
sackqround of the Invention
This invention relates to a demountable panel
syst~m and relates particularly to a demountahle panel
system for use in partitloning for o~Eicss, schools, or
any other building structure. The invention also relates
to a system which facilitates workstatio~ design and
construction to indiviclual requirements but which also
allows changes to be made at any time.
Generally, partitions for offices and the like
are formed of ~ixed partition material which may be built
in situ or formed of prefabricated pan~ls and ~rected
on site. More recently, partitions have been formPd of
demountable partition panels which can be removed and
transported to another site as requir~d.
-Heretofore, demountable paFtitlons have been
expensive to install du~ to the relative high cost of
the materials used and the labour costs associated with
erection. Thu~, the demountable partltions were construct-
ed of solid panels with edging of metal, usually extruded
aluminium, which could be screwed or bolted together.
Cover strips covered th:e joining screws and could be
removed to enable the partitions to be removed when
necessary .
To reduce the costs of such demaunkable partitions,
cheap construction me~hods and cheap materials havo been
used However, thi~ has resulted in relat:Lvely light
weight partitions which are sub~ect to damage, structural
~ailure anci ~horten0d life,
It is there~ore desirable to provide a panel system
which can be used fo:r the construction of of~ice partition-
ing and ~he llke and which, when assembled, results in
a partition having strength, durability and sound absorp-
tion properties similar to that of fixed partitioning
35 but which is demountable and can pe readlly moved to
different locations.
Moclern office equipment and office layout designs
neecl to utilize the advantages of computers, word pro-
-1 -
9~
cessors and other similar ~quipment. For this purpose,
it has become common practice to develop workstations
for lndlvidual staff members, ~ach work8ta~ion being
individually designed in accordance with the working
requirements of the user~ Such workstations gen0rally
require a form of desk with either walls ~r low-level
partitions separating one work~tation ~rom another.
It is a desirable feature of the present lnvention
that such workstations can be constructed utilizing the
demountable panel system of the present in~ention.
It is also desirable that the panel sy~tem of
the invention is relatively economical to produce, is
simple to erect and is able to be moved ~rom place to
place and re-erected with the same or a different format.
Summar~ of the Invention
In accordance with one aspect of the presen~
invention there is provided a demountable panel for
assembly with other similar panels to form a partition
structure or workstation, said panel comprising a panel
member having at least opposed side edges defined by a
surround section of a shape to be secured to the panel
member, the surround section including leg means extendlng
along the length thereof to releasably engage cooparating
parts of a clip rail section, a flange on th0 clip rail
section extending generally in a direction perpendicular
to the plane o~ the panel memb~r, th~ 1ang~ having a
shape to snap-engage with a slmilar ~lange of ~he partltlon
structure or work~tation by an engaging movement p~rpendlc-
ular to the pan~l member.
The demountable panel of the inventlon is prefer-
ably used with other panel members and related par~s in
a system which may in~lude a number of panel members of
square or rectangular outline the perimeter of which is
formed by metal surround sections with coplanar legs
defining spaced recesses to receive and support spaced
lining material, such as~ plasterboard, plywood, particle-
board, glass or the like. If desired, the lining material
may be faced, such as with a fabric or other suit~ble
--2--
~¢~ 7
facing material.
The panel members are connected to each other
by utilizing the clip rail section which i5 releasably
engaged with the ~urround sections on at least the opposed
edges of the panel members. In one ~orm o~ the invention,
the clip rail sections are slidably engaged wi$h the
surround sections although in a most preferred arrangem~nt,
the clip rail sections are snap fitted to th surround
sections.
The flange on each clip rail section is preferably
resilient permitting snap engagement (in a lateral dir~c~
tion relative to the plane of the panel members) either
with an adjacent clip rail section fitted to an adjacent
panel member or to similar flanges on othex clip rail
sections fixed to structure members such as a post section
or a capping section or other demountable part used to
for~ a partition wall or workstation.
In constructing workstations of a variety of
designs and arrangements, it is necessary to support
horizontal work platformsl desk tops, drawer sets, equip-
ment supports and the like at desir~d locations. For
this purpose, the present invention provides fox a work-
station bracket having a head portion engageable wi~n
a channel formed when a surround section is engaged ~iith
a clip rail sectlon, the channel ~xte~ding the length
of the rel~vant ~ectlon, A mouth oE the channel i9
preferably de~ined on one ~ide by a nib part o~ ~he
surroùnd section. q1he head portion o~ th~ bracket include~
a shouldex enga~eable behind the n~b part p~aventlny
lateral disen~agement oE the head portion from the channel.
~he bracket ~urther includes a wall engaging pro~ection
spaced rom the head portion and arranged to engage the
channel wall opposite the nib part while the head portion
engages behind the nib part. The head part may also be
formed with a wall engaging shoulder to cause the bracket
tobe able to be firmly wedged within the channel.
~ rhe bracket according tq` this aspect of th~
invention can be located at any position along a channel
~L~''3~f)7
form~d by th~ surround ~ectlon ~nd olip rail ~ectlon.
In the preferred embodiments, a lockiny screw engages
through a lug on the braaket to bear again~it the wall
of the channel to hold the bracket in a wedged position
in the channsl with the channel wall engaging pro~ection
firmly contacting the channel wall while the head portion
is wedged between the nib part and the oppo6ed wall~
The bracket may have any suitable con~iguration
for supporting a workstation desk top, bench, item of
equipment or anything else which needs to be secured
relative to the panel system. Naturally, any number o~
brackets may be utilized ~in conjunction with the panel
system to build up a workstation of any suitable design.
In order that the invention is more readily under-
stood embodiments will now be desciribed with reference
to the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a demountable
panel system in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of a panel member
of the invention showing the surround section and a clip
rail section,
Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken along
thelines 3-3 of Figure 1,
Figure 4 is a sectional plan vlew taken aiong
the lines 4-4 of Figure 1,
Figure 5 is a ~ectlonal plan view taken along
the lines 5-5 of Flgur~
Figure 6 l~ a sectional plan view takan ~long
the lines 6 6 of Flgur~ 1,
Flgure 7 ls an elevational ssational view taken
along the lines 7-7 o~ Fiyure 6~
Figure 8 i~ a perspective view of a left-hand
workstation support bracket,
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines
9-9 of Figure 1,
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the
lines 10-10 of Figure 1, and
Figure 11 is a further sectional view taken alsng
--4--
0~ ~
the lines 11-1I o Figure 1.
Descr.~etion of the Preerred Embo~iment
The drawings herewith illustrate a demountable
panel system which comprises a number of panel members
generally of rectangular outline.
The individual panel members are formed with
spaced, parallel lining material such as plasterboard,
plywood, particle board, glass~ metalI plastlcs material
or the like. Any other suitable form of lininy material
may be used in the performance of the invention and, where
glass is used, either one or two sheets may be used as
required.
Figure 1 shows, for the purposes of illu~tration
of the features of this invention, a partition structure
which comprises a main, full height partition wall 13
and three-quarter height partition dividers 15 defining
workstation areas, in one of which is a work-top.20.
- The upper panel members 12 of the wall 13 and
the upper panel members 12 of the dividers 15 are formed
2u of a pair of glass sheetæ 21 while the lower panel member~
12 comprlse spaced plasterboard sh ets 14 with a facin~
of foam-backed fabric ma~erial 16. The fab~ic material
provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the panel
while the oam backing ensures that the fabric material
remains relatively smooth and pleasant to ~ouch.
As shown in the drawi.ngs~ the panel ~embers 12
are ~or~ied as a unitary construction with the per~ph~ral
edges of the spaced sheets 14, 16 sup~orted by ~urround
secti.on~ 17 whioh can be formed of extruded aluminiurn,
all~y, plas~ics material or other relatlvely rigid
material. The suxround sections 17 are formed with a
pair of spaced channels 18 to directly receive the sheets
14, as shown particularly in Figure 4, or to receive
glazing gaskets 19 which support qlass sheets 21 a~ shown
in Figures 2 and 3.
The surround sections 17 are further formed with
a nib part 22 of relatively thic~ material; the purpose
of which is hereinafter descr.ibed.
--5~
Each p~nel mern~er 12 m~y be lnk~,reng~ed with
another panel mem~er or with other panel 5ystem parts
through the use of clip rail sections 23 shown particularly
in Figure 2. Each clip rail section 23 is formed with
a pair of legs 24 having longitudinal cooperatin~ grooves
26 to receive ribs 27 on leg parts 28 of the surr~und
sections 17, The grooves 26 are preferably engaged with
the ribs 27 by longitudinal sliding to ensure that the
clip rail sections 23 are firmly secured to the surround
10 sections 17 against dis-engagement in a transverse
direction.
The clip rail section 23 is formed with a laterally
extending flange or tongue 29 havlng a "wave" or elongated
S configuration. The tongue 29 is so disposed as to be
lS engageable by a similar tongue 29 of an adjacent clip
rail section 23 to releasably lock two clip rail sections
together. The engaging movement is a movement perpendic-
ular to the plane of the panel members 12 to thereby snap
adjacent panel members together as shown in Figure 4.
Alternatively, a clip rail section 23 may be engaged with
an end cap 31 ~Figure 3) or a corner post 32 ~Figure 5)
or an intermediate post, which may be identical to a corner
post 32, as shown in Figure 6.
It will thus be seen that the structure o~ the
panel members, the surround sections 17 and the clip rail
sections 23 enable a number oi panel rnembers 1Z to be
interengaged with each other or with end caps 31 or posts
32 to form a panel system~ The provlsion o~ the toncJue
29 on the clip rail s~ctions 23 ~nsure~ eas~ o~ assembly
as weLl as dls-as~mbly o panel members with each other
and with the other various sections as illustrated.
A feature of the present in~sn~ion is the ability
to assemble the panel members 12 in any desir~d arrangement
to constitute partitioning or to form workstations of
any desired design or configuration. E~or ;this purpose
the clip rail section 23 is cons~-ucted with opposed
flanges 33 and leg parts 43 extending at right angles
thereto. When assembled with a surround section 17 , the
flanges 33 and leg parts ~3 combine with the base part
of the channels 18 and the nib part 22 to ~oxm a rec~ss
30 with a restricted mouth 36.
As seen in Figures 6, 7 and 8 work~tatlo~ bracket
37 is designed to engage within the rece~s 30 t~ support
workstation equipment such as desk tops, drawer s~ts and
the like from the panel assemblyO The workstation bracket
37 includes a head portion 38 which is engageable within
the recess 30 and has a width greater than the width o
the mouth 36 defined by the 1ange 33 apd nib part 2~,
At a lower end of the bracket 37 there is provided a
pointed projection 39 spaced some distance below the head
portion 38. The bracket 37 also includes a lug 41 having
a threaded screw 42 passing throuyh the mouth 36 and
adapted to engage on the rear wall of the recess 30 formed
by the leg part 43 of the clip rail sections 23.
In use, the brackek head por~isn 3~ is engaged
within the recess 30 through a cut-away portion 40 of
the nib part 22, shown in Figure 7. The head portion
3B, which is angled relative to the bracket 37, has opposed
corner.shoulders 35 and 45 which contact the nib part
22 and the opposed leg p~rt 43. In a loaded posi ion,
the point of projection 39 also engages the rear .wall
of the recess 30 Pormed by thc lcg part 43. Thus, thc
25 .bracket head 38 becomes l'wedged" within khe rec~ 30 to
pr~vent relative, vertical movement of ~he brack~t 37
while the projection 3g clCtS al~o to lock the bracket
37 in po~ltion and to reslst de~ormation of the recess
by the head portion 38. ~he nib part 22, being of
thickne3~ relatively greater than that of oth~r parts
of the surround sections 17 provides the strength necessary
to support the appropriate loadings on the ~racket 37.
The threaded screw 42 is movQd into engagement with the
leg part 43 to hold the bracket in the "wedged" position.
The bracket 37 may be used to support a desk ~op,
a computer stand, a set o~ drawers or any other item o~
equipment which is required to be. supported for use by
an operator~ Shelves and other items can also be supported
3~ 7
by appropriate bracket constructions,
The bracket 37 can he moved from its locked or
"wedged" position by releasing the screw 42 and liting
the body to move the sho~lders 35 and 45 and proj8cti~n
39 out of locking engagement with the walls o~ the recess
30. The bracket is then able to slide vertica~y ln the
recess 30.
Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, there i5
illustrated two panel members 1~, ~oth o~ which are formed
of fibrous plaster sheets 14 with foam backed fabric
material 16. The interconnection of thë two clip rail
sections 23 produces two recesses 30 on each' side with
which brackets 37 may be engaged.
Figure 5 shows two panel mem~ers having double
gla~ing 21 interconnected utilizing a post 32 as a corner
post. A corner cover 45 is clipped to the post 32, If
necessary for structural integrity, the post 32 may be
reinforced by an appropriate reinforcing member 46,
In Figure 6, there is shown three panel members
12 interconnected to each other using the post 32 enabling
the clip rail sections 23 to be connected thereto and
also having the open side,~overed with a cover strip 44.
Referring to Figure 9, there is illustrated a
section o~ a partitlon wall 13 which includes a pair of
opposed power cable ducts 47 which are incorporated within
the panel member 12 to enable power cablo~, t~lephone
cables, computer cables and the like to bo fed through
the pan'el member~ 12 to approprlate workstation~, tele-
~phones and power outlets. The power ducts 47 extend
generally horizontally and include a back-to-back'internal
duct members '48 which are fastened at each end to the
vertically extending surround sections o the relevant
panel. Each internal duct' member 48 includes three
compartments 49, 51 and 52 ~o separately contain 'the
individual cables for telephone, power and computers.
A front cover 53 is hingedly connected to a lower edge
54 to permit access ~o the cable~ duc-ts 49, 51 and 52~
Power outlets, computer connectors, telephone outlets
--8--
.~ .~
~ .
~2~
and the like are fixed to the duct member 4~ and opening~
are provided in the cover S3 to provide acces~ to those
outl~ts.
At the base of the panel member 12, a height
adjustment mechanism 58 incorporating a base 53 a threaded
post 61 and a nut 62 is positioned on a channel 63.
skirting section 64 engages with the ohannel 63~
In an alternative arrangement where the partition
wall 13 is to be supported on existing carpe~ 55, a simple
height adjusting foot 60 engages with the lowe~ surround
section and has a base 59 which rests directly on the
carpet 55 as shown in Figure 10.
The panel members o~ the pre~ent invention are
designed to be used as full height and hal~ height parti-
tions as well as for use as workstation panels. Inutilizing the panel members as full height partitions,
as shown in Figure 11 an upper facia member 56 may be
utilized over the upper surround section 17 and which
engages with the ceiling 57 of the area in which the
partition is to be installed. If desired, an appropriate
mastic sealing material 65 can be imposed between the
facia member 56 and the ceiling 57.
The panel system according to the present invention
is easily demountabl.e and, there~ore, movabl~ from place
~o pLace without struotural change in respect of thc
building in which the system has been installed. Reloca-
tion of power points, computer terminal outlets, telephone
outl.ets and the llke can be made slmply and without the
need to dismantle or reconstruct partitionæ or panel
members.
The panel system may be constructed utilizing
a variety`of different types of panel members interconnect-
ed horizontally and/or vertically with other panel members~
In some cases, a single panel memher 12 will incorporate
a lower part formed of plasterboar~d sheet material 14
or the like, an intermediate cable duct 47 and an u~per
part formed of single or double ~`glass sheets 21. The
particular design of the surround sections 17 is ~evised
_g_
J
to provide longitudinal semi-circular channels 66 to
receive fastening screws from other pàrts ~or posltively
securing parts together. Al~o, the leg parts 67 (Figure
2~ provide support ~or the recess base legs 43 o~ ~he
clip rail section 23.
,
''` ' ' '.
,
- 1 0 -
