U.S. patent number 3,924,369 [Application Number 05/391,307] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-09 for adjustable modular partition system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to M. C. Guarino Associates, Inc.. Invention is credited to Frank Cacossa, Michael C. Guarino.
United States Patent |
3,924,369 |
Guarino , et al. |
December 9, 1975 |
Adjustable modular partition system
Abstract
An adjustable modular partition including at least three layers
of interconnected fire-resistant and sound-deadening material with
adjusting means located thereon to adjust the vertical height of
the partition module to accommodate various vertical dimensional
differences in a room. Each module is provided with means for
interconnection with an adjacent module with similar adjusting
structure to accommodate vertical variations and dimensions. The
structure for interconnecting adjacent modules and the respective
adjusting structure also has sound-deadening and fire-resistant
qualities to maintain the integrity of the partition system.
Minimal connecting apparatus is required to install the partition
in fixed position within a room. The adjustable structure includes
a U-shaped channel adapted to be mounted to the floor and to
receive the bottom of the partition. A W-shaped channel is provided
and is adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and to receive the top
of the partition therein. Vertical variation structure is provided
in at least one of the U-shaped channel and the W-shaped channel so
as to cooperate therewith in retaining the partition in fixed
position with respect to the floor and ceiling.
Inventors: |
Guarino; Michael C. (Rumson,
NJ), Cacossa; Frank (Livingston, NJ) |
Assignee: |
M. C. Guarino Associates, Inc.
(Belleville, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
26985960 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/391,307 |
Filed: |
August 24, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
327609 |
Jan 26, 1973 |
3866370 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/126.3; 52/241;
52/220.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
2/7403 (20130101); E04B 2/822 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
2/82 (20060101); E04B 2/74 (20060101); E04B
002/82 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/241,238,615,309,122,220,623,627 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Faw, Jr.; Price C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and
Kurucz
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of our earlier filed
application Ser. No. 327,609 filed on Jan. 26th, 1973, now U.S.
Pat. No. 3,866,370 for Adjustable Modular Partition, the contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
We claim:
1. An adjustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first material so that said first
material is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-reistant and sound-deadening material
on the sides of said second material distal from said first
material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
a fourth layer of a fourth fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said third material distal from said
second material so that said first, second and third material are
located therebetween;
means for fastening said four layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistive qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said four layers
therein a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of said four layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the four
layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and ceiling;
and
glass fiber insulation material being in said U-shaped channel.
2. An adjustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first material so that said first
material is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said second material distal from said
first material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
a fourth layer on a fourth fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said third material distal from said
second material so that said first, second and third material are
located therebetween;
means for fastening said four layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistive qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said four layers
therein a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of said four layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the four
layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and ceiling;
and
the U-shaped channel including a pair of opposing side walls
extending upwardly from a central base, a divider member being
mounted in the U-shaped channel in spaced position with respect to
the base and connected to the interior surface of each of the pair
of opposing side walls thereby forming a conduit between the
divider and the base and the divider being mounted so as to form a
vertical support for the four layers of the partition.
3. An adjustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first material so that said first
material is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said second material distal from said
first material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
a fourth layer of a fourth fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said third material distal from said
second material so that said first, second and third material are
located therebetween;
means for fastening said four layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistive qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said four layers
therein a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of said four layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the four
layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and ceiling;
each of the opposed vertical sides of the partition module
containing a vertical recess adapted to receive a portion of a
vertical spline member therein, another portion of each spline
member being positioned in a corresponding recess in another
partition module to thereby interconnect adjacent partition modules
to form a modular wall partition system of desired length; and
a clip being mounted at each adjoining edge of a pair of partition
modules, the clip including a longitudinal strip positioned along
the portions of the adjoining modules adjacent to the adjoining
edge, a perpendicular extension which extends between the abutting
edges of the exposed layer of the module, and a locking tab which
is substantially perpendicular to the extension and engages with a
mating interior surface on the partition to hold the strip in the
desired location.
4. An adjustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first layer so that said first layer
is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said second material distal from said
first material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
means for fastening said three layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistant qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and a ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said three layers
therein, a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of the three layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the
three layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and
ceiling; and
glass fiber insulation material being in said U-shaped channel.
5. An adjustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first layer so that said first layer
is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said second material distal from said
first material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
means for fastening said three layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistant qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and a ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said three layers
therein, a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of the three layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the
three layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and
ceiling; and
the U-shaped channel including a pair of opposing side walls
extending upwardly from a central base, a divider member being
mounted in the U-shaped channel in spaced position with respect to
the base and connected to the interior surface of each of the pair
of opposing side walls thereby forming a conduit between the
divider and the base and the divider being mounted so as to form a
vertical support for the three layers of the partition.
6. An adjustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first layer so that said first layer
is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said second material distal from said
first material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
means for fastening said three layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistant qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and a ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said three layers
therein, a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of the three layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the
three layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and
ceiling;
each of the opposed vertical sides of the partition module
containing a vertical recess adapted to receive a portion of a
vertical spline member therein, another portion of each spline
member being positioned in a corresponding recess in another
partition module to thereby interconnect adjacent partition modules
to form a modular wall partition system of desired length; and
a clip being mounted at each adjoining edge of a pair of partition
modules, the clip including a longitudinal strip positioned along
the portions of the adjoining modules adjacent to the adjoining
edge, a perpendicular extension which extends between the abutting
edges of the exposed layer of the module, and a locking tab which
is substantially perpendicular to the extension and engages with a
mating interior surface on the partition to hold the strip in the
desired location.
7. An ajustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first material so that said first
material is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said second material distal from said
first material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
a fourth layer of a fourth fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said third material distal from said
second material so that said first, second and third material are
located therebetween;
means for fastening said four layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistive qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said four layers
therein a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of said four layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the four
layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and ceiling;
and
glass fiber insulation material being in said W-shaped channel.
8. An adjustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first layer so that said first layer
is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said second material distal from said
first material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
means for fastening said three layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistant qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and a ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said three layers
therein, a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of the three layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the
three layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and
ceiling; and
glass fiber insulation material being in said W-shaped channel.
9. An adjustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first material so that said first
material is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said second material distal from said
first material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
a fourth layer of a fourth fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said third material distal from said
second material so that said first, second and third material are
located therebetween;
means for fastening said four layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistive qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said four layers
therein a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of said four layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the four
layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and ceiling;
and
insulation material being in at least one of said U-shaped and
W-shaped channels.
10. An adjustable modular partition comprising:
an inner layer of a first fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material having opposing sides;
a second layer of a second fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on each side of said first layer so that said first layer
is located therebetween;
a third layer of a third fire-resistant and sound-deadening
material on the sides of said second material distal from said
first material so that said first and second material are located
therebetween;
means for fastening said three layers together to form a partition
module with high sound-deadening and fire-resistant qualities;
adjustable means on said partition module positioned so that when
said partition module is substantially vertically located between a
floor and a ceiling, the adjustable means can be shifted to provide
engagement between the top and bottom of the partition module and
the ceiling and floor respectively;
said adjustable means including a U-shaped channel adapted to be
mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of said three layers
therein, a W-shaped channel adapted to be fastened to a ceiling and
to receive the top of the three layers therein, and vertical
variation means in at least one of said U-shaped channel and
W-shaped channel so as to cooperate therewith in retaining the
three layers in fixed position with respect to the floor and
ceiling; and
insulation material being in at least one of said U-shaped and
W-shaped channels.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present system incorporates various modifications in the system
as described in the above referenced previously filed application.
The system is directed toward a structure in which the vertical
dimension is adjustable and variable thus making installation
possible without the necessity of cutting or other on-site
adjustments. A minimal amount of hardware is required for
connection between modules on the floor and the ceiling. Sound
transmission class and fire endurance rating of the system is at an
optimum level. Assembly and disassembly of the partition system is
such that a versatile and low cost modular partition system is
provided which can be easily and quickly assembled and
disassembled.
The system as described above and in our previously filed
application clearly defines advantageous systems over those
presently available. Further modifications are incorporated in the
present structure which also increase the ease of assembly and
disassembly without having a deleterious effect on the sound and
fire resistance ability of the modules and retaining the low cost
features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the above background in mind, it is among the primary
objectives of the present invention to provide an adjustment
mechanism which decreases the time required for assembly and which
permits assembly of the partitioning system with a minimal amount
of attachment hardware. Additionally, the internal components of
the layered partition add to the simplicity of construction while
retaining the desired fire and sound ratings. A connection
arrangement between modules is provided which facilitates quick
assembly as does the adjusting and mounting means for the panels in
order to insure proper and fast alignment between modules as a
partition is erected.
In summary, a partition system is provided with a module including
a combination of layers of different physical properties which
cooperate with one another to provide a partition module for
connection with other partition modules which have increased fire
resistance and sound deadening properties. Each partition includes
an inner layer of a first fire resistant and sound deadening
material having opposing sides. A second layer of a second fire
resistant and sound deadening material is on each side of the first
material so that the first material is located therebetween. A
third layer of a fire-resistant and sound-deadening material is on
the side of the second material distal from the first material so
that the first and second materials are located therebetween. If
desired, a fourth layer may be located on the exterior sides of the
third layer. Fastening means are provided to fasten the layers
together to form the partition module and adjustable means are
provided on the partition module so that when the module is
substantially vertically located between a floor and ceiling. The
adjustable means can be shifted to provide engagement between the
top and bottom of the partition module and ceiling and floor
respectively. The adjustable means includes a U-shaped channel
adapted to be mounted to the floor and to receive the bottom of the
layers of partition therein, a W-shaped channel is adapted to be
fastened to a ceiling and to receive the top of the layers of the
partition therein. Vertical or variation means is in at least one
of the U-shaped channel and W-shaped channel so as to cooperate
therewith in retaining the module in fixed position with respect to
the floor and ceiling.
With the above objectives in mind, reference is had to the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modular partition
system of the invention mounted within a room;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a partition module of the
system;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view thereof taken
along the plane of line 3--3 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top sectional view thereof;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an assembly of a pair of partition
modules of the invention; and
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end view of an alternative embodiment
thereof showing a hollow bottom conduit for permitting passage of
wires therethrough.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 2, each partition module 20 includes a center core
21 which may be of gypsum or other conventional substitute.
Sandwiching core 21 are a pair of opposed fiberglas panels 22 of
bonded glass fibers in board form (as shown) each of which has its
opposed vertical ends incased in appropriate J-channels 23.
Additionally, naturally any conventional substitute insulating
sound deadening material such as rockwool can be used in place of
the fiberglass. This is true on every instance where fiberglass is
employed in the present system. Any conventional material such as a
rigid metal or plastic can be used for the J-channels. Sandwiching
the panels 22 are a pair of outer sideboards 24. Gypsum board or
another conventional expedient can be used for forming sideboards
24. Core 21, panels 22 and sideboards 24 can be connected by a
conventional type of fastener such as an epoxy resin or by screws
or other well known expedients.
A W-channel top cap 25 is provided for communication with the top
of the layers of the module. Top cap 25 can be connected to a
ceiling in a conventional fashion such as by bolts or screws as
shown in FIG. 3 where top cap 25 is mounted to ceiling 26. The top
cap is a W-shaped channel 27 of a conventional metal to achieve the
proper rigidity. The W-shape forms a pair of spaced chambers 28
which are open upward and a center chamber 29 which is open in a
downward direction. An insulation material such as fiberglas as
glass fibers in mat form (as shown) is provided in chambers 28 to
insulate the module in an upward direction with respect to the
ceiling. The center chamber 29 is adapted to receive an upward
projecting portion of core 21 so as to form a channel to capture
the layers of the fastened module at their upper ends. Appropriate
recesses are provided in the upper surface of the interconnected
layers of panel to receive the wall portions of top cap 25 which
form chambers 28.
The bottom of the layers of the module are positioned in a U-shaped
channel 31 which may be similarly of a conventional metal or
plastic material as top cap 25 and which is mounted in a
conventional fashion to a floor 32. U-shaped channel 31 includes a
longitudinal base 33 and a pair of opposing upstanding sides 34.
The layers made up of core 21, panels 22 and sideboards 23, and
optionally an outer coating layer 46, are positioned with their
lower portions housed within U-shaped channel 31 and the side walls
34 in abutting side-by-side relation thereto. For height
adjustment, an appropriate number of shims 35 are positioned on the
base 33 of U-shaped channel 31 between the side walls 34 and
beneath the bottom extremity of the layers of the module. The
number of shims is determined by the difference in ceiling to floor
height at a particular location. In this manner, adjustment is
accomplished so that the panels are in a proper fitting
relationship between the floor and the ceiling without the
necessity of any additional hardware. Alternatively or
additionally, the shims could be designed to fit in top cap 25 for
adjustment purposes.
An alternative embodiment of U-shaped channel 31 is shown as
U-shaped channel 31a in FIG. 6. In that embodiment, a divider panel
36 is mounted on a pair of opposing ribs 37 extending from the side
walls 34a of channel 31a so as to be vertically intermediate the
height of the side walls. Divider 36 is of a strong enough material
such as metal or plastic similar to the remainder of the channel to
support the partition layers and appropriate shims 35 and acts
similarly as base 33 in the previously discussed embodiment.
Resultant conduit 38 between base 33 and divider 36 provides a
means to transmit wires 39 or other similar materials through the
partition. To facilitate mounting of U-channel 31a to the remainder
of the partition, a pair of side clips 40 are provided in
engagement with side walls 34 so as to assist in supporting the
side walls in holding the remainder of the partition in place.
To complete assembly of the modules into a wall structure, several
additional elements are employed. A spline 41 is utilized to
interconnect the panels in a side-by-side relationship. Each spline
41 is a vertically positioned rectangular shaped piece of material.
Gypsum board has been found to work satisfactorily as the spline
material. The seam between adjoining modules is covered by an
appropriate T-joint 42. When the wall partition ends intermediate
the distance the two opposing walls, an appropriate end cap 43 is
provided. The end cap may be of a vinyl material on any other well
known substitutes.
The modular system of the present invention is useful in forming
partitions within an enclosed space as depicted in FIG. 1.
Alternatively, it can be used to form closets and storage areas or
for forming an interior wall system for a room within a
building.
For purposes of discussion in this disclosure, the partition system
will be utilized to form a modular partition within a room as
depicted in FIG. 1. Each module 20 is formed by adhering the
interior layer 21 between the two panels 22. Panels 22 are capped
by J-channels to assist in rigidifying and protecting the exposed
edges. The core 21 is narrower than the two adjacent panels 22 so
that opposed vertical recesses 44 are provided to facilitate
interconnection between panels. Each recess 44 is designed to
receive a portion of a spline 41. Adhered by an appropriate
adhesive to the exposed outer surfaces of panel 22 are the
sideboards 24. Dimensionally the sideboards 24 are substantially as
wide as the panels 22 with the J-channels affixed thereto. Panels
22 are vertically shorter than core 21 and sideboards 24 and
thereby form the two recesses needed to receive the downwardly
extending portions of W-shaped top cap 25. As discussed above, the
interconnection between the layers can be achieved by means of an
appropriate adhesive or by bolting or screwing the elements
together. An example of an appropriate locking screw 45 is depicted
in FIG. 4. The screw interconnects an outer shell 46 to sideboards
24 and J-channel 23 attached to panel 22. The outer covering 46 is
an optional plastic coating utilized to enhance the longevity,
sound and fire ratings of the module 20. Layer 46 can be plastic or
even a paint layer which gives the desired effect and adheres to
the outer surface of sideboard 24.
The actual assembly of the partition 47 within room 48, as depicted
in FIG. 1, and in greater detail in FIG. 5, includes the following
steps. The room includes a floor 33, a ceiling 26 and a pair of
opposing walls 48' and 49.
A length of top cap 25 at least as long as one partition module 20
is mounted to the ceiling and in abutting relationship with the top
of wall 48'. In vertical alignment with this length of top cap 25
is a U-shaped base channel 31. Base channel 31 is mounted to floor
33 and abuts wall 48'. The mounting of the top cap which is
basically a W-shaped channel as discussed above and the U-shaped
channel is accomplished by means of any conventional expedient such
as bolting or screwing the structures to the floor and ceiling in
the desired position. The proper height of the partition is then
adjusted by means of inserting appropriate shims 35 within the
U-channel. A half width spline 41 is then inserted into the
appropriate receiving channels in the top cap and U-channel base
and is slid into abutment with wall 48'. The interconnected layers
of the modules are then inserted as a unit into the top cap and
U-channel through the appropriate recesses which mate with the
projecting portions of the panel until the half spline is received
within an appropriate recess 44 in the module. If desired, the
shims 35 may be fixed in position by an appropriate adhesive.
In those instances where the top cap and U-channel correspond in
length to a single module, a second U-shaped channel 33 and top cap
25 are then mounted to the floor and ceiling respectively in
alignment with the first U-channel 31 and top cap 25. As discussed
above, a separate top cap 25 and U-channel 31 can be employed for
each panel or, alternatively, the top cap and U-channels can be
made longer than an individual panel so as to be usable with more
than one adjoining panel.
A full size spline 41 is then introduced between the second top cap
and U-channel through the appropriate recesses and is slid into
receiving recess 44 in the first panel which is designed to receive
a portion of the spline 41.
Another interconnected arrangement of layers to be used for a
module is then inserted into the appropriate recesses in the second
top cap 25 and U-channel 31 in the same manner as the first panel
had been inserted until the leading recess 44 engages with the
exposed portion of the full spline 41. However, prior to complete
interengagement and mating of the panels, the adjoining edge or
seam between the panels is covered by T-joint 42. The base 50 of
T-joint 42 forms a vertical strip overlapping the two adjoining end
portions of the adjacent panels so as to cover the exposed seam
therebetween. Extending into the seam is a projection 51 which is
long enough to accommodate the width of the sideboard 24. A tab 52
then extends perpendicular to projection 51 so as to combine with
projection 51 and base 50 of T-joint 42 to provide an accommodating
recess for the leading edge of sideboard 24. The J-channel 23 and
the configuration of panel 22 mate so as to form an indentation 53
which permits tab 52 to extend therein. Once the T-joint is in
position, the second group of panels for the second module 20 can
be fully inserted into abutment with the receiving surfaces on
spline 41, T-joint 42 and the first module 20. In this manner, each
adjoining module 20 has its seam covered by a T-joint 42. No spline
attachments are needed. The top cap and U-shaped channel act to
hold the modules in position along with the opposing walls of the
room or the end cap.
Any number of modules 20 can be interconnected in the same sequence
to form an entire partition 47 across a room 48 as depicted in FIG.
1. However, if it is desired to end the partition before it has
completed an entire wall-to-wall extension within a room, an
appropriate end cap 43 can be provided. As discussed above, the end
cap 43 can be metal or plastic and is designed to protect the end
of the partition from any damage or other deleterious effects. The
end cap 43 can be of a three-piece design as depicted in FIG. 4
wherein the two end clips 54 are U-shaped in configuration and
designed to cap sideboards 24 and the central clip 55 is of a
larger U-shaped configuration so as to encompass spline 41 and two
adjacent panels 22 with their J-channels 23 attached. A one-piece
end cap 43 can also be readily envisioned to encompass the entire
exposed vertical edge of the partition 47. End cap 43 is mounted to
the floor and ceiling in a conventional fashion such as by screws
or bolts.
It should be kept in mind that appropriate shims 35 are applied to
each individual module 20 as it is installed so that vertical
adjustment can be achieved across the entire width of partition 47.
It should also be noted that the alternate form of U-channel 31a
can be substituted for channel 31 as desired across the width of
partition 47. A module of four layers or three layers can be
utilized in the same manner with the same construction steps as
discussed above. Of course, the width of the room determines the
number and size of panels to be utilized.
Thus, the above discussed objectives of the invention, among
others, are effectively attained.
* * * * *