U.S. patent application number 12/574196 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-07 for modular wire partition.
Invention is credited to Ronald A. Young.
Application Number | 20110079761 12/574196 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43548806 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110079761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Young; Ronald A. |
April 7, 2011 |
MODULAR WIRE PARTITION
Abstract
A modular wire partition is disclosed for separating an interior
space from an exterior space. The partition comprises at least two
laterally spaced vertical posts defining a gap therebetween. Each
post has an inner surface facing the interior space, an outer
surface facing the exterior space, and a side surface facing the
gap. A wire mesh panel is configured and dimensioned to span the
gap. The panel is attached to the inner post surfaces and comprises
a parallel array of horizontal wires joined to an intersecting
parallel array of vertical wires, with the vertical wires having
intermediate sections projecting from adjacent horizontal wires.
The intermediate sections are aligned horizontally to define a
channel shaped reinforcing rib.
Inventors: |
Young; Ronald A.;
(Mooresville, NC) |
Family ID: |
43548806 |
Appl. No.: |
12/574196 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
256/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 17/161
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
256/24 |
International
Class: |
E04H 17/16 20060101
E04H017/16 |
Claims
1. A modular wire partition for separating an interior space from
an exterior space, said partition comprising: at least two
laterally spaced vertical posts defining a gap there between, each
of said posts having an inner surface facing said interior space,
an outer surface facing said exterior space, and a side surface
facing said gap; a wire mesh panel configured and dimensioned to
span said gap, said panel comprising a parallel array of horizontal
wires joined to an intersecting parallel array of vertical wires,
said vertical wires having intermediate sections projecting from
adjacent horizontal wires, said intermediate sections being aligned
horizontally to define a channel shaped reinforcing rib; and means
for attaching said panel to the inner surfaces of said posts.
2. The wire partition of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing rib is
arranged to project into said exterior space and is recessed
inwardly from a plane containing the outer surfaces of said
posts.
3. The wire partition of claim 1 wherein one of said horizontal
wires extends along the base of said reinforcing rib.
4. The wire partition of claim 1 wherein two of said panels are
arranged one above the other between said posts.
5. The wire partition of claim 4 further comprising a clip for
connecting the top horizontal wire of the lowermost of said panels
to the bottom horizontal wire of the uppermost of said panels.
6. The wire partition of claim 1 wherein said vertical wires are
welded to said horizontal wires at locations where they
intersect.
7. The wire partition of claim 5 wherein said clip comprises front
and rear flanges joined by and projecting in mutually spaced
parallel relationship from a bridging web, said front and rear
flanges being adapted to overlap said top and bottom horizontal
wires and to respectively face said exterior and interior spaces,
and fastening means protruding through said flanges to thereby
secure said clip in place.
8. The up as claims in claim 7 wherein one of said flanges and said
bridging web are slotted to receive vertical wires joined to said
top and bottom horizontal wires.
9. The up of claim 8 wherein said fastening means protrudes through
said flanges on one side of said vertical wires.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to modular wire partitions.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In conventional modular wire partitions, individual panels
are bordered along their peripheral edges by angles or other like
strengthening elements. In the past, such strengthening elements
have been considered necessary in order to provide the panels with
the required degree of rigidity and structural integrity, even
though they contribute disadvantageously to the overall costs of
the panels, and complicate installation of the partitions in
situations where space limitations require that the panels be cut
into shorter sections.
[0005] A primary objective of the present invention is to eliminate
the necessity of fabricating the panels with peripheral
strengthening elements,
[0006] A companion objective of the present invention is to provide
an improved means of interconnecting panels stacked one above the
other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, a modular wire
partition is adapted to separate an interior space from an exterior
space, The partition comprises at least two vertical posts defining
a gap therebetween. Each post has an inner surface facing the
interior space, an outer surface facing the exterior space, and a
side surface facing the gap.
[0008] A wire mesh panel is configured and dimensioned to span the
gap between the posts. The panel comprises a parallel array of
horizontal wires joined as by welding to an intersecting array of
parallel vertical wires. The vertical wires have intermediate
sections that project from adjacent horizontal wires and that are
aligned horizontally to define a channel shaped reinforcing rib.
The panel is attached to the inner surfaces of the posts.
Preferably, the reinforcing rib of the panel projects into the
exterior space and is recessed inwardly from a reference plane
containing the outer surfaces of the posts.
[0009] Other features and attendant advantages of the present
invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a modular wire
partition in accordance with the present invention, as viewed from
the interior space;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the modular wire
partition, as viewed from the exterior space;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a section of the modular wire
partition;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the
channel shaped reinforcing rib;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an interior perspective view on an enlarged scale
of the circled portion shown in FIG. 1; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exterior view of the components illustrated in
FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] With reference initially to FIGS. 1-3, a section of a
modular wire partition in accordance with the present invention is
shown at 10 separating an "interior space" from an "exterior
space". The partition includes at least two (three being shown)
vertical posts 12 defining a gap 14 therebetween. Each post has an
inner surface 12A facing the interior space, an outer surface 12B
facing the exterior space, and a side surface 12C facing the gap
14.
[0017] A wire mesh panel 16 is configured and dimensioned to span
each gap 14. As shown in FIG. 2, each panel comprises a parallel
array of horizontal wires 18 joined as be welding to an
intersecting parallel array of vertical wires 20. As can best be
seen by further reference to FIG. 4, the vertical wires 20 have
curved intermediate sections 22 projecting into the exterior space
from adjacent horizontal wires 18. The projecting intermediate
sections 22 are aligned horizontally to define a channel shaped
reinforcement rib generally indicated at 24. An additional
horizontal wire 18 preferably extends across the base of
reinforcement rib 24.
[0018] The reinforcement ribs 24 project into the exterior space
and as shown in FIG. 3, are recessed inwardly from a reference
plane "P" containing the outer surfaces 12B of the posts 12. The
reinforcement ribs 24 provide added rigidity and structural
integrity to the wire mesh panels, making it unnecessary to resort
to welded peripheral strengthening elements such as angles or the
like.
[0019] The wire mesh panels are attached to the inner surfaces 12A
of the posts 12 by connector elements 26, a non-limiting example of
which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,984, the description of
which is herein incorporated by reference.
[0020] In a typical installation, as depicted in FIG. 1, it is not
uncommon to arrange panels one above the other to achieve a desired
height for the enclosure. In accordance with the present invention,
and as can best be seen by further reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, mid
panel support clips 28 are provided for connecting the top
horizontal wire 18 of the lowermost panel of a given set of two
panels, to the bottom horizontal wire of the uppermost panel in the
set.
[0021] Each clip 28 comprises front and rear flanges 30, 32 joined
by and projecting in a mutually spaced relationship from a bridging
web 34. The front and rear flanges are adapted to overlap the
adjacent bottom and top horizontal wires 18 of a vertically stacked
set of two panels 16. Flange 30 faces the exterior space, and
flange 32 faces the interior space. Flange 32 and the bridging web
34 are slotted as at 36 to receive the vertical wires 20 projecting
from the horizontal wires overlapped by the clip. The flanges 30,
32 are additionally connected by a machine screw 38 or the like
fastened with a nut 40. The clips 28 add strength and security to
the upper and lower panels at locations between the posts 12.
[0022] The foregoing description has been set forth to illustrate
the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since further
modifications of the described embodiments incorporating the spirit
and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the
art, the scope of invention should be limited solely with reference
to the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
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