U.S. patent number 3,593,475 [Application Number 04/794,077] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-20 for partition system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Glen O'Brien Movable Partition Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to David H. LaGue.
United States Patent |
3,593,475 |
LaGue |
July 20, 1971 |
PARTITION SYSTEM
Abstract
A partition system extending between a floor surface and a
ceiling surface comprises a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced
wall-defining panel units extending between upright joint-framing
members which engage facing edge portions of adjacent panel units.
Snap-on retainer-cover members are mounted on the joint framing
members and engage the facing edge portions of the adjacent panel
units. Ceiling, floor, and end framing members engage and position
upper, lower, and end edge portions, respectively, of the panel
units. The edge member at the ceiling surface receives and retains
a resilient clip therein which cooperates with the ceiling edge
member to engage and retain the upper edge portions of the panel
units.
Inventors: |
LaGue; David H. (Kansas City,
MO) |
Assignee: |
The Glen O'Brien Movable Partition
Company, Inc. (Kansas City, MO)
|
Family
ID: |
25161627 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/794,077 |
Filed: |
January 27, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/241; 52/461;
52/481.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
2/7457 (20130101); E04B 2/825 (20130101); E04B
2002/7462 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
2/82 (20060101); E04B 2/74 (20060101); E04b
002/28 (); E04b 002/78 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/241,242,481,463,464,238 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
UNITED STATES GYPSUM PUBLICATION, Industrial Sales Dept. 300 West
Adams St., Chicago, IL MP-135 "USG E-Z Wall Movable Partition" page
1 copy received June 28, 1960 52-238.
|
Primary Examiner: Murtagh; John E.
Claims
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A partition system comprising:
a. a plurality of spaced joint framing members each having a web
portion extending between spaced substantially parallel
flanges;
b. a plurality of retainer-cover members each mounted on and spaced
from said respective flanges of said joint framing members;
c. cooperating interengaging means on an exterior surface of said
flanges of said joint framing members and on an interior surface of
each of said retainer-cover members for positioning and retaining
said retainer-cover members in spaced relation with said respective
flanges of said joint framing members;
d. edge framing members cooperating with said joint framing members
and said retainer-cover members mounted thereon to form a
framework;
e. a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced substantially parallel
wall-defining panel units each having peripheral edge portions
thereof engaging said framework, said panel unit edge portions
being in clamping engagement between said flanges of said joint
framing members and said adjacent retainer-cover members;
f. said partition extending between a floor and a ceiling and the
edge framing at the ceiling being a ceiling edge framing member and
including a channel-shaped member having a web portion engaging the
ceiling and flanges depending from opposite edges of said web
portion and resilient means mounted within said channel-shaped
member for retaining said panel unit edge portions in clamping
engagement with interior surfaces of said flanges,
g. said resilient means is an elongate resilient clip having a
plate portion and a pair of laterally spaced legs extending from
said plate portion, said legs being positioned to engage said edge
portions of said panel units and retain same within said
channel-shaped member;
h. retaining means on said interior surfaces of said flanges of
said channel-shaped member for engaging opposite edge portions of
said plate portion of said resilient clip thereby retaining same
within said channel-shaped member;
i. said plate portion of said resilient clip has opposite edge
portions extending outwardly and downwardly from said plate portion
for engaging said retaining means; and
j. said laterally spaced legs of said clip are outwardly bowed
whereby said legs each resiliently retain one of said panel unit
edge portions between said respective interior surface of said
flanges of said channel-shaped member.
2. A partition system comprising:
a. a plurality of spaced joint framing members each having a web
portion extending between spaced substantially parallel
flanges;
b. a plurality of retainer-cover members each mounted on and spaced
from said respective flanges of said joint framing members;
c. cooperating interengaging means on an exterior surface of said
flanges of said joint framing members and on an interior surface of
each of said retainer-cover members for positioning and retaining
said retainer-cover members in spaced relation with said respective
flanges of said joint framing members;
d. edge framing members cooperating with said joint framing members
and said retainer-cover members mounted thereon to form a
framework;
e. a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced substantially parallel
wall-defining panel units each having peripheral edge portions
thereof engaging said framework, said panel unit edge portions
being in clamping engagement between said flanges of said joint
framing members and said adjacent retainer-cover members;
f. said partition extending between a floor and a ceiling and the
edge framing at the ceiling being a ceiling edge framing member and
including a channel-shaped member having a web portion engaging the
ceiling and flanges depending from opposite edges of said web
portion and resilient means mounted within said channel-shaped
member for retaining said panel unit edge portions in clamping
engagement with interior surfaces of said flanges,
g. said resilient means is an elongate resilient clip having a
plate portion and a pair of laterally spaced legs extending from
said plate portion, said legs being positioned to engage said edge
portions of said panel units and retain same within said
channel-shaped member;
h. retaining means on said interior surfaces of said flanges of
said channel-shaped member for engaging opposite edge portions of
said plate portion of said resilient clip thereby retaining same
within said channel-shaped member; and
i. said laterally spaced legs of said clip each have a gradually
reducing thickness from a fixed end at said plate portion toward a
free end whereby flexibility thereof is increased and a portion of
said plate portion between said legs is moved into contact with
said web portion of said channel-shaped member when said legs each
engage said edge portions of said panel units.
3. A partition system comprising:
a. a plurality of spaced joint framing members each having a web
portion extending between spaced substantially parallel flange
members, said flange members being in opposed relation and having
outwardly facing surfaces;
b. a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced substantially parallel
wall-defining panel units each having marginal edge portions
thereof engaging said outwardly facing surfaces of said framing
members;
c. each framing member having spaced wall members substantially
coextensive in length with the framing member and extending from
the flange members between edges of the panel units and adapted to
be engaged thereby and form a separator therefor, said wall members
having outer edge portions angled in outwardly converging relation
and terminating substantially in the plane of outer surfaces of the
wall panels engaging the framing member flanges to form a reduced
width portion between said wall members;
d. an elongate retainer-cover member spanning the space between
adjacent wall panels for the length thereof and having marginal
portions overlying and engaging the adjacent marginal portions of
said wall panels;
e. spaced flange members integral with said retainer-cover members
and extending longitudinally for the length thereof, said spaced
flange members having opposed portions angled outwardly to a line
of greater spacing and then inwardly to an area of lesser spacing
whereby said flange members are insertable between the terminating
portions of the wall member with the line of greater spacing moving
therebetween to effect an interengagement that retains the cover
members in engagement with the wall panels to clamp same against
the outwardly facing surfaces of the flanges of the framing
members, the spacing between outer surfaces of said angled opposed
portion at the retainer-cover being less than the said reduced
width portion between the wall members whereby the edge portions of
the wall members are substantially against the cover member.
4. A partition system comprising:
a. a plurality of spaced joint framing members each having a web
portion extending between spaced substantially parallel
flanges;
b. edge framing members cooperating with said joint framing members
to form a framework;
c. a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced substantially parallel
wall-defining panel units each having peripheral edge portions
thereof engaging said framework;
d. a plurality of retainer-cover member each mounted on and spaced
from said respective flanges of said joint framing members and
having marginal portions overlying adjacent marginal portions of
the panel unit whereby the panel unit edge portions are between the
retainer-cover members and the flanges of the joint framing
members;
e. means retaining said retainer-cover members to the joint framing
members to clamp the panel edge portions against the flanges of the
joint framing members;
f. said edge framing members being channel-shaped and having a web
portion with flanges depending from opposite edges of the web
portions in overlying relation to adjacent panel margins;
g. resilient means in the form of an elongate resilient clip having
a plate portion and a pair of laterally spaced legs extending from
said plate portion, said legs being bowed whereby each resiliently
engage one of said panel unit edge portions between interior
surfaces of the flanges of the channel-shaped member to retain said
clip within the channel-shaped member;
h. retaining means on said interior surfaces of said flanges of
said channel-shaped member;
i. said plate portion of said resilient clip having opposite edge
portions extending outwardly and downwardly from the plate portion
and engaging said retaining means on said flanges of said
channel-shaped member to retain said resilient clip within said
channel-shaped member and thereby secure said channel-shaped member
to the panel units.
Description
The present invention relates generally to partition systems, and
more particularly to novel post or joint framing members and novel
edge framing members cooperating therewith to position and retain
peripheral edges of laterally spaced wall-defining pairs of panel
units.
The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a
partition system having novel snap-on panel retainer-cover members
which are interengageable with joint framing members for retaining
facing edge portions of wall-defining panel units; and to provide
such a partition system with novel ceiling edge framing members
having a resilient clip received and retained therein for
cooperatively retaining upper edge portions of the panel units.
Other objects of the invention are: to provide a partition system
having framing members which display plain, attractive, and simple
lines and which provide finished joints and edges; to provide such
a partition system wherein the framing members may be simply and
readily assembled and disassembled without damage to the components
thereof; to provide such a partition system wherein the framing
members are extrusions of simple shape and have novel
interengageable connecting parts; to provide such a partition
system wherein a minimum of labor and tools are required for
assembly and disassembly; to provide such a partition system which
is easily adapted to building construction wherein there are minor
misalignments of structural elements such as columns, walls,
floors, ceilings, and the like; to provide such a partition system
which is substantially rigid when assembled into a completed wall;
and to provide novel framing members for such a partition system
which are economical to manufacture, assemble, disassemble, and
maintain.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent
from the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein are set forth by way of illustration
and example certain embodiments of this invention.
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a partition system having framing
members therein embodying features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2, FIG. 1,
showing a joint framing member and interengaging snap-on
retainer-cover members.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the partition system
taken on line 3-3, FIG. 1, showing a ceiling edge member and a
resilient panel unit retaining clip therein.
FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4, FIG. 1,
showing an end edge framing member and wall-defining panel units
retained therein.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a modified
joint framing member and a modified snap-on retainer-cover member
interengaged therewith.
Referring more in detail to the drawings:
The reference numeral 1 generally designates a partition system
wherein a wall extends between a floor surface 2 and a ceiling
surface 3, with the wall having a plurality of pairs of laterally
spaced wall-defining panel units 4 extending between upright posts
or joint framing members 5 which engage facing edge portions 6 of
adjacent panel units 4. Snap-on retainer-cover members 7 are
mounted on the joint framing members 5 and engage the facing edge
portions 6 of the adjacent panel units 4 and retain same in
clamping engagement between the joint framing member 5 and the
snap-on retainer-cover members 7. Ceiling, floor, and end edge
members 8, 9, and 10, respectively, engage and position upper,
lower, and end edge portions 11, 12, and 13, respectively, of the
panel units 4, thereby cooperating with the joint framing members 5
and the snap-on retainer-cover members 7 to position and retain
peripheral edges of the panel units 4. The ceiling edge member 8
receives and retains a resilient clip 14 which cooperates with the
ceiling edge member 8 to engage and retain the upper edge portions
11 of the panel units 4.
Each joint framing member 5 is an extruded member with portions
thereof of suitable cross section and the joint framing members 5
are preferably H- or I-sections with substantially parallel-spaced
flanges 15 connected by a web portion 16 extending therebetween.
The flanges 15 each have an exterior face or surface 17 parallel
with the plane of the wall, and positioned to be engaged by the
facing edge portions 6 of the panel units 4. Each joint framing
member 5 has longitudinally extending pairs of mounting ribs 18 and
19 integral with the flanges 15 and extending outwardly from the
respective exterior surfaces 17 of each of said flanges 15. The
mounting ribs 18 and 19 of each pair are laterally spaced and
terminate in outer edge portions 20, with said edge portions of
each pair of mounting ribs extending outwardly and inwardly in
converging relation, to thereby narrow the spacing between the
outer edge portions 20 of the laterally spaced mounting ribs 18 and
19.
The outer or free edges of the edge portions 20 of the mounting
ribs 18 and 19 are spaced from the exterior surface 17 of the
respective flange 15 a distance substantially corresponding to the
thickness of the wall panel unit 4, with edges of the facing edge
portions 6 of the wall panel units 4 adapted to engage the mounting
ribs 18 and 19.
Each of the snap-on retainer-cover members 7 is preferably an
elongate structure formed by extrusion, with an elongate platelike
cover member 21 and a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally
extending fastening structures for engaging the outer edge portions
20 of the mounting ribs 18 and 19, with an interference that
retains the respective snap-on retainer-cover member 7 in place. In
the illustrated form, the fastening structure is a pair of snap-on
ribs 22 and 23 extending from an interior face or surface 24 of the
platelike cover member 21 and substantially centered between side
edges 25 thereof. The snap-on ribs 22 and 23 are positioned to be
inserted between the mounting ribs 18 and 19 and retained in
interengagement therewith. In the illustrated structure, the
snap-on ribs 22 and 23 have diverging portions 26 and 27,
respectively, extending outwardly from the interior face or surface
24 and inwardly converging portions 28 and 29 forming the outer
edge portions of the snap-on ribs 22 and 23, respectively.
Exterior surfaces of the outwardly diverging portions 26 and 27 of
the pair of snap-on ribs 22 and 23 are spaced apart a greater
distance than the distance between corresponding interior surfaces
of the outer edge portions 20 of the pair of mounting ribs 18 and
19, whereby the side edges 25 of the plate member 21 of the snap-on
retainer 7 are moved into retaining engagement with adjacent edge
portions 6 of the adjacent panel units 4.
It is preferable that the platelike cover member 21 have a slightly
arcuate cross section and that the plate member 21 be of a
yieldable material, such as aluminum, vinyl, rubber, or the like,
whereby, when the outwardly diverging portions 26 and 27 are
retained between the outer edge portions 20 of the mounting ribs 18
and 19, the platelike cover member 21 will assume an arcuate shape
having a shorter radius, whereby the opposite side edges 25 thereof
clampingly engage the facing edge portion 6 of the panel units 4
and retain same between the exterior surface 17 of the joint
framing member flanges 15 and the respective snap-on retainer-cover
member 7.
It is noted that the free edges of the inwardly converging portions
28 and 29 of the snap-on ribs 22 and 23 are spaced closer together
than the free ends of the edge portions 20 of the mounting ribs 18
and 19, whereby, when the snap-on ribs 22 and 23 are inserted
between the mounting ribs 18 and 19, the mounting ribs 18 and 19
are spread apart sufficiently to permit the snap-on ribs 22 and 23
to be inserted therebetween.
The ceiling edge member 8 is a channel-shaped member having a web
portion 30 with spaced flanges 31 and 32 extending from opposite
edges of the web portion 30. Each of facing interior surfaces 33
and 34 of the flanges 31 and 32, respectively, have aligned
serrated portions 35 for engaging and retaining the resilient clip
14, as later described. The web portion 30 of the channel-shaped
ceiling member 8 has a recess 36 in an exterior surface 37 of the
web portion 30, and is adapted to receive and retain a suitable
sealing material 38. The exterior surface 37 of the web portion 30
engages the ceiling surface 3 and the sealing material 38 is placed
in the recess 36 and engages the ceiling surface 3.
The resilient clip 14 is preferably an elongate structure formed by
extrusion, with an elongate plate portion 39 having opposite edge
portions 40 and 41 engageable with the serrated portions 35 in the
facing interior surfaces 33 and 34 of the flanges 31 and 32,
respectively. The plate portion 39 has a pair of laterally spaced
longitudinally extending pair of legs 42 and 43 extending outwardly
from the plate portion 39, and the legs 42 and 43 are positioned to
engage and retain the upper edge portions 11 of the panel units 4
between the flanges 31 and 32, respectively.
The legs 42 and 43 are outwardly bowed, whereby said legs 42 and 43
each engage and retain a respective upper edge portion 11 in
clamping engagement with the interior surfaces 33 and 34,
respectively. In the illustrated structure, the legs 42 and 43 each
have outwardly diverging portions 44 and 45 extending outwardly
from the plate portion 39, and the legs 42 and 43 have inwardly
converging portions 46 and 47, respectively. The legs 42 and 43
each have a gradually reducing thickness from a fixed end of the
outwardly diverging portions 44 and 45 toward a free end of the
inwardly converging portions 46 and 47, whereby the legs 42 and 43
are flexible, and the portion of the plate portion 39 between the
legs 42 and 43 will be moved into contact with an interior surface
48 of the web portion 30 of the ceiling edge member 8 when the legs
42 and 43 each engage the respective upper edge portion 11 of the
panel units 4.
It is preferable that the resilient clip 14 be an extruded member
of substantially uniform cross section and be of a yieldable,
resilient material, such an vinyl, rubber, or the like, whereby the
legs 42 and 43 will be biased toward the facing interior surfaces
33 and 34 of the flanges 31 and 32 when in engagement with the
upper edge portions 11 of the panel units 4.
To install the resilient clip 14 in the ceiling edge member 8, the
legs 42 and 43 are moved toward each other to bow the portion of
the plate portion 39 between the legs 42 and 43, thereby moving the
opposite edge portions 40 and 41 thereof toward each other, to
permit same to move past the serrated portions 35 on the facing
interior surfaces 33 and 34, and releasing the legs 42 and 43
allows the opposite edge portions 40 and 41 to move outwardly and
be retained within the serrated portions 35 of the ceiling edge
member 8.
The floor edge member 9 is a channel-shaped member having a web
portion 49 engaging the floor surface 2 and flanges 50 and 51
extending upwardly from opposite edges of the web portion 49. The
lower edge portions 12 of the panel units 4 engage exterior
surfaces 52 and 53 of the flanges 50 and 51, respectively, and a
suitable base member such as a cove base 54 is secured on the lower
edge portion 12, to provide a finished appearance thereto.
It is preferable that the base 54 be of a suitable resilient
material such as rubber, vinyl, or the like and have a suitable
adhesive on the back thereof to engage an exterior or exposed
surface of the lower edge portions 12 of the panel units 4.
The end edge member 10 is a channel-shaped member having a web
portion 55, adapted to engage a vertical surface such as a wall,
column, or the like. The web portion 55 has a recess 56 in an
exterior surface 57 for receiving and retaining sealing material
58. Flanges 59 and 60 extend outwardly from opposite edges of the
web portion 55 and a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally
extending legs or ribs 61 and 62 extend outwardly from an interior
surface 63 of the web portion 55 and are spaced from the flanges 59
and 60, respectively, a distance corresponding to the thickness of
the end edge portion 13 of the panel units 4.
FIG. 5 illustrates a modified snap-on retainer-cover member 64
mounted on opposite sides of a modified joint framing member 65.
The modified joint framing member 65 is an extruded member, with
portions thereof of suitable cross section and preferably H- or
I-sections, with substantially parallel spaced flanges 66 connected
by a web portion 67 extending therebetween. The flanges 66 each
have opposed exterior surfaces 68 parallel with the plane of the
wall. The modified joint framing member 65 has longitudinally
extending pairs of mounting ribs 69 and 70 integral with the
flanges 66 and extending outwardly from the respective exterior
surfaces 68 of each of said flanges 66. The mounting ribs 69 and 70
of each pair are laterally spaced and terminate in thickened outer
edge portions 71, with said edge portions 71 of each pair extending
inwardly from facing surfaces 72 of the mounting ribs 69 and 70, to
thereby narrow the spacing between the facing surfaces 72.
The free edge of the outer edge portions 71 of the mounting ribs 69
and 70 are spaced from the surface 68 of the respective flange 66 a
distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of a wall
panel unit 4 adapted to engage said surface 68 at the sides of the
pair of mounting ribs 69 and 70.
Each modified snap-on retainer-cover member 64 is an extruded
member with an elongate arcuate platelike cover member 73, with a
pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending fastening ribs
illustrated as snap-on ribs 74 and 75 extending from an interior
face or surface 76 of the cover member 73, and substantially
centered between side edges 77 thereof. The snap-on ribs 74 and 75
are positioned to be inserted between the mounting ribs 69 and 70
and in interengagement therewith, with an interference that retains
the snap-on panel retainer 64 in place. In the illustrated
structure, the snap-on ribs 74 and 75 each have enlarged outer end
portions 78 extending outwardly from exterior surfaces of the
snap-on ribs 74 and 75.
Exterior surfaces of the enlarged outer end portions 78 of the
snap-on ribs 74 and 75 are spaced apart a greater distance than the
distance between corresponding interior surfaces 72 of the enlarged
outer edge portions 71 of the pair of mounting ribs 69 and 70,
whereby opposite edges of the cover member 73 are moved into
retaining engagement with adjacent edge portions 6 of the adjacent
panel units 4.
It is preferable that the cover member 73 be of a suitable
yieldable resilient material, such as vinyl, aluminum, or the like
whereby when the enlarged end portions 78 of the snap-on ribs 74
and 75 are positioned between the outer edge portions 71 of the
mounting ribs 69 and 70, the cover member 73 will assume an arcuate
shape of a reduced radius, whereby the opposite side edges 77
thereof will clampingly engage the facing edge portions 6 of the
panel units 4 and retain same between the exterior surface 68 of
the respective flange 66 of the joint framing member 65.
It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described
certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to these
specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown,
except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.
* * * * *