U.S. patent application number 09/755095 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-11 for modular partition.
Invention is credited to Chang, Ching-Chang.
Application Number | 20020088188 09/755095 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26056010 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020088188 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang, Ching-Chang |
July 11, 2002 |
Modular partition
Abstract
A modular partition includes a compartment frame located beneath
a lower horizontal strut of the partition. The compartment frame
has a vertical wall and side flanges extended from the vertical
wall to form separate cable shelves for holding cables inside in an
organized fashion to avoid interference. The compartment frame
further has two side panels each is pivotally engaged with a bulged
flange formed at the upper section of the compartment frame so that
the side panels may be opened or closed easily to facilitate cable
laying and rearrangement. A plurality of fastening elements are
provided to fasten the compartment frame with the partition struts
securely.
Inventors: |
Chang, Ching-Chang;
(Ping-Tung Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
26056010 |
Appl. No.: |
09/755095 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/238.1 ;
52/220.7; 52/239; 52/241; 52/242 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V 35/00 20130101;
F21V 33/0032 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/238.1 ;
52/239; 52/241; 52/242; 52/220.7 |
International
Class: |
E04C 002/52 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A modular partition, comprising: a partition panel bordered by
two vertical struts, a lower horizontal strut and an upper
horizontal strut; a compartment frame located beneath the lower
horizontal strut including a top channel, a vertical wall extended
downward from the top channel, a base channel located below the
vertical wall and an adjust screw engaged with a bottom wall of the
base channel; the top channel having a fastening trough which has a
plurality screw bores formed therein and two bulged flanges
extended outward from two opposite sides thereof, the vertical wall
having side flanges extended sideward at two opposite sides thereof
and being tilted slightly upward for forming cables shelves to hold
cables therein, the base channel having two latch flanges extended
outward at two opposite sides thereof; at least one fastening
element having a spherical bulged head located at the center
thereof and two screw apertures formed at two ends thereof for
engaging with the screw bores of the top channel; an upper panel
having a bottom trough mounted on the upper horizontal strut; and
two side panels each having a fastening slot located a connect
portion thereof for pivotally engaging with the bulged flange of
the top channel and a snap lug engageable with the latch flange of
the base channel; wherein the fastening element is capable of
engaging two adjacent compartment frames for forming a firm and
sturdy partition, and the side panel is capable of pivotally
opening from or closing to the compartment frame at either side for
laying cables in the cable shelves without interference among the
cables.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a modular partition and
particularly a partition that may be assembled, disassembled and
laying cables rapidly, and has separated cable shelves to
facilitate cable arrangement.
[0002] Conventional partitions now being commonly used (referring
to FIG. 1) are mostly designed for fast construction and
replacement. They usually have partition panels bordered by
vertical curve-shaped side frames to engage with curve-shapes slots
of adjacent partition panels. The assembly usually is
time-consuming and troublesome. Fabrication of the partition panels
and frames are also tedious. For instance, the engagement of
vertical and horizontal frames need separated fastening elements
which are difficult to use and not very strong even after fastened.
The cable compartment has two opposite U-shaped channels to
slidably engage with two extended edges of a stepwise side panel.
The cable compartment has no organizing features and often results
in chaotic cable laying and even cause interference among the
cables. When there is a need for cables rearrangement, the side
panel is difficult to remove and assemble. All this begs for
improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In view of the forgoing disadvantages, it is therefore an
object of this invention to provide an improved partition that has
modular partition struts and panels which may be assembled and
disassembled rapidly with less labor. A novel compartment frame is
provided below the lower partition strut that has separated cable
shelves to enable cables be laid and organized neatly and easily
without interference. The compartment frame further has snap type
side panels at both sides that may be opened or closed easily to
facilitate cable laying and arrangement. A novel fastening element
is provided to make fastening of vertical and horizontal partition
struts easily and securely.
[0004] In one aspect, the compartment frame of this invention has
side flanges extended sideward at two sides to divide the
compartment frame into a plurality of cable shelves for laying
cables in a organized fashion whereby to make cable arrangement and
maintenance much easier and also help to eliminate interference
between the cables. The compartment frame has side panels each has
a fastening slot which may pivotally engage with a bulged flange of
a top channel to facilitate opening and closing of the side panels.
This also helps to make cable rearrangement easier. The fastening
element has screw bores and spherical bulged head which may be
flexibly adapted to engage with other partition members
conveniently.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention, as well as its many advantages, may be
further understood by the following detailed description and
drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional partition,
including a cable compartment at the bottom.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of this invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottom compartment frame
of this invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective of this invention, after
assembly.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a bottom compartment frame of
this invention in use, with cables laid inside.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a sectional view according the FIG. 5, with one
side panel opened.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the modular partition
according to this invention includes vertical struts 41 and 42 of a
vertical partition border 4, horizontal struts 51 and 52 of a
horizontal partition border 5, a compartment frame 1 located
beneath the lower horizontal strut 51 and two side panels 2 for the
compartment frame 1.
[0013] The compartment frame 1 includes a top channel 10 which has
a fastening trough 100 with a plurality of screw bores 101 formed
therein, two bulged flanges 11 extended outward at two lateral
sides, a vertical wall 12, a base channel 13 located at the bottom
end of the vertical wall 12 and an adjust screw 13 engaged with the
base channel 13. The screw bores 101 may engage with the screw
apertures formed at two ends of a fastening element 103 which has a
spherical bulged head 102 extended from the center thereof for
engaging with a neighboring partition panel. Each bulged flange 11
may pivotally engage with a fastening slot 200 formed at a connect
portion 20 of the side panel 2. The vertical wall 12 has side
flanges 120 extended outward and tilted slightly upward to form
cable shelves for holding cables. The base channel 13 has two latch
flanges 130 extended sideward for snapping and engaging
respectively with a snap lug 21 formed on the side panel 2. The
adjust screw 14 may adjust the horizontal level of the compartment
frame 1.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 4 and 5, when this invention is assembled,
the fastening element 103 is disposed at the joint section of the
fastening trough 100 to fasten two adjacent compartment frames 1
securely. Then place the lower horizontal strut 52 on the top
channel 10 over the fastening trough 100 to erect the partition
panel above the compartment frame 1. Then dispose the fastening
element 103 on the lower horizontal strut 52. Thereafter, place an
upper panel 6 which has a bottom trough 60 over the upper
horizontal strut 51 to make the partition panel mounting on the
compartment frame 1 firmly and securely.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the side panel 2 may be
pivotally opened about the bulged flange 11 for laying or
rearranging cables 3 on the cable shelves formed by the vertical
wall 12 and side flanges 120. The side panel 2 may be closed by
engaging the snap lug 21 with the latch flange 130 formed at the
base channel 13. As shown in the figures, there are a plurality of
cable shelves formed in the compartment frame 1 whereby to enable
the cables 3 be held therein neatly in an organized way. This not
only makes cable wiring and arrangement easier, it also helps to
eliminate or reduce interference among the cables that might
otherwise happen.
[0016] In summary, this invention has the following advantages:
[0017] 1. The compartment frame at the lower portion of the
partition has a plurality of separate cable shelves at both sides
and a side panel at either side to cover the cable shelves. Cable
wiring and arrangement may be done neatly in an organized manner
rapidly. It also helps to reduce interference among the cables.
[0018] 2. Because of the novel features and construction of this
invention, the partition struts and panels may be mounted and fixed
on the compartment frame easily and securely. The side panel of the
compartment frame may be pivotally opened and closed easily for
cable wiring and arrangement. It is particularly helpful and may
save a lot of cost in the modern office environments where office
remodeling takes place frequently because of dynamic business and
technology changes.
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