Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Summary of the Invention
The invention provides a portable partition system
comprising only a plurality of planar, substantially inflexible,
independent, lightweight, self-contaIned display panel components
adapted to assume either an operative or inoperative mode, at
least one panel component having a multilateral peripheral
configuration including spaced substantially parallel front and
back sides having corresponding upright peripheral segments .
thereof cooperating to form a recessed pocket extending .-:.
substantially the full height of the panel component, and an ~ .
elongate support member of one piece construction formed of
substantially rigid material, said support member including an . ~.
inner portion fixedly accommodated within the elongate pocket and :--
substantially occupying same and an outer portion integral with :- -
said inner portion and protruding from an open side of said . ~
pocket, said outer portion having a substantially convex exterior .~ ~ .
surface on which is mounted a first attaching means, said outer
portion and first attaching means extending substantially the full
length and width of the pocket; a second panel component having an
elongate exterior surface portion on which is mounted a second ~.
attaching means; when in an operative mode, said one panel :-~
component assuming an upright abutting relation with said second
panel component whereby the first attaching means thereof is
pressed against the second attaching means of the second panel
component effecting a frictional inter-connectlon therebetween, ~:
said abutting panel components while interconnected forming an
- upright partition and being adapted to assume any selected upright
relative angular position, and when in an inoperative mode, said
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panel components being disconnected and independent of one another
and being adapted to assume a compact portable unit wherein the
independent panel components are arranged in stacked relation with
planar surfaces of the stacked panel components being in
proximate, superposed face to face relation.
The invention also provides a portable partition system
comprising at least a pair of adjacent display panel components
each being of lightweight construction and adapted to assume
either an operative or inoperative mode; when in an operative -
mode, said adjacent panel components forming an upright partition ~-
and having upright peripheral segments thereof in abutting
frictionally interconnected relation whereby said panel components
are adapted to assume any selected upright angular relative
positions, and when in an operative mode, said adjacent panel : :
components being disconnected and adapted to assume a compact ;.
portable unit wherein the disconnected panel components are -- ~.
independent of one another and arranged in stacked face to face ~ -
relation; each panel component including a planar substantially
inflexible center section having a pair of opposed upright -: :
inflexible peripheral segments, one segment being provided with an
exposed first attaching means extending the full length and width . :
thereof and the other segment being provided with an exposed : -
second attaching means extending the full length and width
thereof; when the adjacent panel components are in the operative
mode, the first attaching means of one adjacent panel component
frictionally interconnects with the second attaching means of the
other adjacent panel component, said interconnection extending ~ -
substantially the full height of the formed upright partition. :.
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In the disclosed improved partition system the
components thereof may vary in size and shape over a wide range. -
The system has a minimum number of components and may be readily
setup and disassembled by a single person. The partition system
forms a stable, attractive and utilitarian structure. It may be
dimensioned so as to form an educational, toylike system for
children which would enable them to develop their artistic and
fine motor skills in creating various structures. The panels
thereof may have surface areas of contrasting and/or coordinated ~ -
colors and/or textures thereby producing structures having an
aesthetic appeal which varies over a wide range.
Further and additional advantages will appear from the
description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.
DescriDtion of the Invention
For a more complete understanding of the invention
reference should be made to the drawings wherein Figures 1, la and
lb are perspective views of one embodiment of the improved
partition system shown in an operative mode and setup to form -~
various structures.
Figure lc is a fragmentary perspective view showing a
pair of panels of the improved partition system interconnected in
a T formation.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a
panel shown in Figure 1.
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Figures 3 and 4 are right and left side elevational
views, respectively, of the panel of Pigure 2.
Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective corner
view of the panel of Figure 2 with the attaching means thereof
removed.
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional vlews taken along llne
6-6 of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the partition system
of Figure 1 shown in an inoperative mode with the panels thereof
accommodated in a suitable carrying case, the latter belnq shown
in phantom lines.
Figure 8 ls an enlarged fragmentary perspective vlew
showing certain panels of the partitlon system of Fiqure l
arranged in stacked face to face relation. ~
Figure 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view -
of the center pair of panels of Figure 1 assembled in an abutting,
sub~tantially coplanar relatlon.
Flgure 9a ls similar to Figure 9 but showlng the
assembled panels in an angular relatlon.
Flgure 10 ls slmilar to Figure 9 but showing the panels
in a dlsas~embled relation.
Flgure 11 18 an enlarged front view of one embodiment of
a corner connecting piece for the panels of Figure 5.
Figures 12 and 13 are left and right side elevational
vlew~, respectively, of the connecting piece of Figure 11.
Flgure 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a ;~
panel which is dimen610ned for use as a component in an
educatlonal toylike system.
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Figures 15-17 are front elevational views of various
shape panels which may be components of the improved system.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to
Fiqure 1, one embodiment 20 of the improved partitlon system ls
~hown in an operative mode and forming a partltion or boothllke
structure I, as will be described more fully herelnafter. System
embodiment 20, a~ illustrated, includes four panels Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd
which are of similar construction. The number and configuration
of the panels comprising the syfitem may vary from that shown.
Each panel, as seen in Elgures 5 and 6, may include front and back
side sections 21, 22 respectively. The sections are of like
multilateral conflguration (e.g., rectangular) and may be formed
of thln, lightweight relatively stiff material. The ~ectlons are
maintained in a spaced, substantially parallel relation by a
lightweight spacer piece 23, which may be of a plastic or paper
honeycomb construction. Piece 23 18 preferably dimensloned
relative to sections 21 and 23 80 that a peripheral pocket 24 is
formed. The pocket 24 is the illustrated embodiment completely
~urrounds the periphery of spacer piece 23. The depth and width
of pocket 24 are such as to frlctionally accommodate a plurality
of sections 25 formlng a support member K, see Figure 6. If
desired, the sections 25 may be adhesively secured within pocket
24. The number of sections forming the support member K, normally
corresponds to the number of sides forming the periphery cf the
panel. Each support member section i~ preferably extruded from a
lightweight durable metal or plastic material. The ends of each
member ~ection 25 are normally ~ihaped ~o as to form a miter ~oint. ~ ;~
The ends of ad~acent support member sections 25 forming a miter --
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joint are interconnected by an angle connecting piece 26, see
Figures 11-13, as will be described more fully hereinafter.
A support member section 25, as seen more clearly in
cross-section in Figure 6, includes an inner portion 25a whlch ls
flxedly dlsposed wlthin the adjacent segment of the peripheral
pocket 24 formed in the panel. Integral wlth the inner portlon
25a and protrudlng outwardly from the panel pocket 24 ls an outer
portion 25b. The outer portion 25b preferably has an exposed --
concave (e.g. semi-cyllndrlcal) surface conflguratlon. The `-
~uncture J, between the inner and outer portlons, is set in, or
rece~sed, from the lateral side edges of the outer portion 80 that
supplemental pockets 27 are formed which accommodate the ad~acent
perlpheral edge~i of the front or back slde sectlon 21 or 22 of the
panel, see Flgure 6. Thus, the lateral sides of the outer portion
25b overlap a small part of the exposed surface of the
accommodated front and back sides 21, 22 of the panel. The
overlapping arrangement between the lateral side edges and the
front or back side serves a dual function, a) it provides a
flnished look to the panel, and b) lt enables the interconnected
ad~acent panel~ to assume any selected relatlve angular positlon. --
The exposed surface of the outer portlon of the support member K
serves also as a backlng or support for elther a flrst or second
attachlng element 28 or 30, respectlvely. Whlch attaching element
ls supported by the support member outer portions wlll depend upon
the locatlon of the support member sectlon on the panel perlphery.
The first and second attaching elements are of a non-adhesive
material, ~e.g. Velcro ~ ) wherein the attachlng elements are
compatlble and lnterlock wlth one another only when the elements
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are initially pressed together. No fastener~, clip5 or clamp~ are
required to maintain the panels in an interconnected relation, nor
is a tool required to press together the compatible attaching
elements of the ad~oining panels.
As seen in Figures 2-4, the first attachlng element 28
is located along the top and left side of the panel and the second
attaching element 30 is located along the bottom and right side of
the panel. If desired, the location or pattern of the first and
second attaching elements may vary from that cihown. For example,
one half the lengths of the left and right peripheral sides of the
panel may be provided with the first attaching element and the
other half provided with the second attaching element. Thus, when
ad~oining panels Pa-Pb, Pb-Pc or Pc-Pd are to be interconnected
in a side by side relation (Flgure 1), the first attaching element
28 of one panel contacts and interlocks with the compatible second
attachlng element 30 of the other adjoining panel. No
interconnection wlll occur between ad~oining panels, if like, non- -
compatible, attaching elements of the two panels are engaging one
another. In some installatlons, it may be de~irable to have some
of the panels arranged in vertically stacked relation ln which
case, the attaching elements located along the top and bottom of ~-
such panels would interlock with one another.
Becau~cie-the attaching elements are mounted on the
exterior rounded protruding surfaces of the outer portions 25b of
the ~upport member-sections 25, the lnterlocked compatible
attachlng elements of ad~oining panels remain in a securely
interlocked relation even though one of the ad~oining panels i8
ad~usted relative to the other panel to a celected position within
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an arc of approximately 360. In order for each panel to have an
esthetic appeal, it is preferred that the attaching element~ have -
a color which matches, or is coordinated with the color of the
exposed surface of the front æide 21 of the panel. As ~een ln
Figure 5, it may be desirable in some instances, to laminate a
decorative fabric or paper onto the expo~ed surface of the panel
front side and/or back ~ide. When the lamina is a fabric, it may
have a surface texture which i~ compatible with one of the
attaching elements provided on the other panels of the system and
thus, two panels may be interconnected in a T-formatlon as seen in
Figure lc.
The structural designs which mlght be created with the
four panels of the system 20 varies over a wide range. Figures 1,
la, lb and lc show but a few examples of these structural design~. ~
Figure 1 shows the four panels arranged in an upright side to slde ~;
relation and forming a boothllke partition or wall I. Such
partitions or walls are widely used in di~play booths at trade
shows and the like. -~
Figure la shows the four panels arranged ln a cross-like
conflguratlon II with one upright side edge of each panel being ~ ;
interconnected 80 as to provide a vertical axis V. In
configuration II the one upright ~ide edge of panel Pa, Pc would ~-
be provided with the first attaching element and the one upright
; ~ide edge of panel Pb, Pd would be provlded with the compatlble -
second attaching element. The structural deoign II i5 ~ ~
particularly ~uitable for use as an aisle dlsplay in a retail `- :
store and the like, where posters, pictures and advertising
llterature may be mounted thereon. -
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As shown in Figure lb, the four panels Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd
have been interconnected so as to form an upright column III.
Depending upon the height of the structure III, a table top 31,
shown in phantom lines, may be centrally positioned over the top
of the column III. Thus, in Cuch a structure the column III
functions as a table support. In addition, column III alone may
be used in schools and libraries for posting bulletins, notices,
messages, etc.
The use of such structural designs will vary and depend
upon the desire of user. In Figure 7 the panels are shown in an
inoperative mode and dlsposed within a lightweight carrying case
C. The carrying case may be of molded plastic or of a pliable
fabric or web of plastic. The case C may include one or more
handles H whlch facllitate manual transportatlon thereof. Prlor `
to positioning the panels in the carrying case, they are arranged -
in ~tacked, face to face, or superpo~ed, relation, see Flgure ~. -
It i8 preferred, when stacklng the panels, that the non-compatible
attaching elements of the panels be in contactlng relations. Once
the cased panel~ have been transported to a designated area, they
may be readily removed individually from the case and setup to
form the desired structural design. As previously mentioned, the
panels may be readily lnterconnected by initially presslng the
fir~t attaching element of one panel aqainst the second attaching
element of a second panel, see Flgure 9, or agalnst a compatlble
surface of the second panel, see Flgure lc. When the structural ~ -
deslgn ls to be dl~assembled, the ad~olnlng interconnected panels
are manually pulled apart, a~ ~hown ln Flgure 10.
The connector plece 26, as seen ln Flgures 11-13 1
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preferably of unitary construction. The cross-sectional
conflguration of the piece 26 is such that it will snugly fit into
the interior openings F formed in the support member sections -
which coact to form a miter joint at the peripheral corners of the
panel. The piece 26 as ~een in Figure 12 has an enlarqed side
edge 26a whlch subtends and supports the outer portion 25b of the
support member section, when the corner piece is assembled -
therewlth. The opposite edge 26b of the piece 26 engages the
inner bail segment 25c of the lnner portlon 25a of the support
member section. -
As aforenoted the improved portable partition system is
intended for use at trade-shows, conventions, retail ~tores,
schools, llbrarles and the like for dl~play and marketing
purpose~, it may also be utllized as an educational toy for
chlldren. In such cases, however, the scale as well as the welght
of the various components are significantly reduced. In addition
the perlpheral shapes of the varlous components may vary over a
wide range, as seen for example ln Figures 14-17. The component - -
or panel 31 ln Flgure 14 may have a square configuration, and the
center portion 31a thereof may be a ~ingle piece of pla~tic, -
composition board or the like. The center portion 31a may be - ~-
transparent, translucent or opaque and may be of one or more ~-
colors. The perlphery of the center portlon may be encompassed by
flr~t and second attachlng elements 31b and 31c arranged ln end to --
end relatlon. -
Flgure 15 shows a component 32 havlng an equal lateral
triangular perlpheral configuration. Two of the three perlpheral -
side~ may have a flr t attaching element 32a mounted thereon and
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the remainlng side may have a second attachlng element 32b mounted
thereon. -
Component 33, as seen in Figure 16 may have an octagonal
configuration with alternate ~ides having either flrst or ~econd
attaching elements 33a, 33b, re~pectively, mounted thereon.
In Fi~ure 17, a component 34 ig shown whlch has an
isosceles triangular configuration. In this construction, a first
attaching element 34a may be mounted on one of the equal sides and
one half of the hypotenuse and a second attaching element 34b on
the remaining peripheral portion~. -
The component may take other geometric forms not shown.
Thu~, with the ~maller, toyllke components, the child not only
learns to identify various geometric forms, but also improves his
or her fine motor ~kill~ by handling and manipulatlnq the various
components. Becauæe of simpliclty of constructlon, the connecting
and dlsconnectlng of component~ can be readlly performed with a
mlnlmum amount of manual effort.
When the components are ln an inoperative mode they may
be readily stacked ln face to face relation and easily aanually
carrled from place to place. The coaponents may be expedltiously
setup and dismantled without the need for any tools or the
services of a skllled mechanlc. The components are of slmple,
lnexpenslve, yet, sturdy construction and may be utlllzed for many ~
dlfferent functions. ~1
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