AU617839B2

AU617839B2 - Partition system

Info

Publication number: AU617839B2
Application number: AU38836/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Edward Joseph O'Reilly
Original assignee: ANGLECHOICE Ltd
Current assignee: ANGLECHOICE Ltd
Priority date: 1988-08-18
Filing date: 1989-07-21
Publication date: 1991-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2009-07-21
Also published as: AU3883689A; GB8918813D0; GB2221938B; GB2221938A

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Form 617839

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int, Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: ANGLECHOICE LTD.

16 ST. MARTIN'S LE GRAND LONDON EC 1A 4EP UNITED KINGDOM Edward Joseph O'REILLY GRIFFITH HACK CO., 601 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

t B I Il Complete Specification for the invention entitled: PARTITION SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- 0 ()q8 Z10789 2 I I

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PARTITION SYSTEM This invention relates to a partition system and, in particular, to a partition system for dividing an office and fc2 also providing workstations within the -,t office.

JConventionally, offices are partitioned by full length partitions which extend from the floor to the roof to separate the office area from other offices and also to provide discrete offices within the office area. In modern office layouts it is usual to provide large open spaces in which work stations are provided for secretarial or clerical use. It is usual practice to -3provide discrete workstations which are arranged within the open space or merely abut the partitions which form the office area or discrete offices.

Thus, when workstations are located in the office it is common for a doubling up of partition walls particularly when the workstation abuts an existing partition wall.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved partition systen which can decrease the duplication between partitions which form office walls and workstation walls and also provide more flexibility in the K location of workstations.

The invention provides a partition system comprising a pair of end frames, one of the end frames being for receiving a first partition and the other of the end frames being for.receiving a second partition, a centre post for location between the pair of end frames and for Ii spacing the pair of end frames apart so that a space exists I between the pair of end fr:,mes, said centre post having at least one channel section, an elongate strip for location in the at least one channel section by sliding the elongate strip in the at least one channel section, said elongate strip having means accessible through said space for receiving a supporting member for supporting an article, and a joining means for joining said pair of end frame members to said centre post.

Since the joining mean8 includes the means for supporting a support member, the first and second partitions which may comprise full length partitions for separating an office space from other office spaces or for forming discrete offices within the office space, may be used to support suitable articles for forming a workstation. Such suitable articles may comprise benches, shelves and the like. Alternatively, the first and second partitions can be partitions of a workstation and the support means can be used to support benches, shelves, cupboards or the like within the workstation. Therefore, >$hp ok.: 4_ i 3a workstations can be provided on a partition for forming an office space for a discrete office and a doubling up of partition walls for forming workstations within an office is eliminated or greatly reduced. Furthermore, since all partitions which form the office space can be joined in accordance with this aspect of the

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r_ 4 invention, a considerable amount of options are available for providing workstations within the office.

Furthermore, the support member can be used to engage other partitions so that a number of workstations can be joined together.

Preferably the first and second partitions have end frame members which are coupled to board members for forming said partitions, said end frame members being joined by said joining means such that the end frame members are spaced apart and the joining means i entirely within the confines of said board bers, said support members extending outwardly fro the joining 000oo ao means through the space between th frame members.

Preferably the joini means comprises a centre 15 post which has a central mber and a pair of channel mei. rs arranged at e ends thereof, said pair of channel members ing for receiving said support means.

P erably said support means comprises a slotted it which slides into said pair of channel means to e retained thereby.

Preferably said joining means includes coupling Joln( Preferably the ouping means comprises a pair of clips which are received in third and fourth channels formed in said centre post and also within channels formed in said frame members to secure the frame members to the centre post and thereby secure the first and o* o second panel members together.

In a further preferred aspect of this invention, the invention may include a partition joint of the type disclosed in our copending Australian Patent Application No. 57365/86 and its corresponding British Application No. 8612220 (now Patent 2178458). In this preferred aspect the spring clip referred to in the copending applications extends between the centre post and one of said frame members.

0 s n a m e 0O 9 00 Inafrte reerd set fti inetin th ineto a nld apriinjito 5 A sacond aspect of this invention relates-to the provision of ducts within the partitio e partition system. The ob- this aspect of the inventio n o provide flexibility in the location of hPeera L -/Ae iueA-f-(oz ;Includes Thic 4 pct of the invention. may be said to reside in t for a partition system, said duct being no more that substantially half the thickness of a partition of the partition system such that the partition may include a single duct which has access from one side of the partition or dual ducts arranged back to back with Sone of the dual ducts being accessible from one side of the partition and the other of the dual ducts being t accessible from the other side of the partition.

Thus, since the ducts are no more than half the thickness of the partition, the partition can be divided c C with one or two ducts which are arranged back to back or, of course, no ducts at all. Thus, great flexibility is provided in arranging the ducts within the partition system of the invention.

,This aspect of the invention also provide a C t' partition system having at least one of the abovementioned ducts.

c Preferred embodiments of the invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of part of the partition system embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view similar to Figure 2 of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of yet a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view similar to Figure 4 of a still further embodiment of the inventi.rn; 1-, o Sr.T 6 Figure 6 is an end view of a partition including a pair of ducts; and Figure 7 is an end view of a partition having a single duct.

With reference to Figure 1 the partition system comprises at least two partitions 10 (only one of which is shown in Figure The partitions are formed by a pair of board members 12 and end frames 14 (only one of which is shown in Figure The board members 12 are secured to the end frames 14 to thereby join the board members 12 together. A suitable filler (not shown) may be provided between the board members 12 to assist in joining the board members 12 together as well as providing insulation of the like. The board members 12 may be covered with any suitable material or substance for decoration purposes or the like.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the end frames 14 comprise a central section 20 which has C-shaped end portions 22 which define a pair of channels 24 for receiving the board members 12. As shown in Figure 1 the channels 24 open to the in Figure i.

On the other side of the frame members the middle section is provided with a pair of L-shaped lugs 26 which define a narrow channel 28. Outwardly of the lugs 26 are second lugs 30 which, together with the lugs 26, define fastener receiving charnels 32. The walls of the lugs 26 and 30 which define the channels 32 may be curved to match the contour of a fastener such as a screw or bolt.

A channel 34 is also defined between each of the lugs 30 and inner side walls 34 of the square J C-shaped sections 32 which form the channels 24.

A pair of partitions made up of the frame 14 and board members 12 are joined together by a centre post and a clip member 52. The centre post 50 has a central section 54 and a pair of generally H-shaped end members 56. The H-shaped end members 56 are joined to

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i II 7 the central section 54 by the cross piece 58 of the H sections and inwardly extending leg members 60 of the H section form a pair of channel members 62 on either side of the central section 54.

The outwardly projecting ends of the leg members 60 of the H sections 56 are provided with generally square C-shaped members 64 which define channels 66. A support member 70 in the form of an s/otted e-rp (s gdi/ab/V pair elongate lit o clottaly received in one or bothof the channels 66 as shown in Figure 1. The support strip is provided with a plurality of apertures 72 which are accessible through the space between the C-shaped members 64 for receiving support members 76 such as brackets or S the like upon which benches, shelves, cupboards or the 15 like can be received. The central post 50 is slottably received into the end frames 14 by sliding the C-shaped member 64 on one side of the central post 50 into channels 34 of one of the frame members 14 and sliding the C-shaped channel 64 on the opposite side of the central post 50 into the corresponding channels on the t other of the end brackets 14 on the other of the partitions. The partitions are secuedl to the central post by the clip 52 by sliding one leg 52a cf the clip 52 tt into other channels 62 and the other leg 52b of the clip 52 into the channel 28 opposing the channel 62. A second clip member 52 identical to that described above 4 can be arranged in the other of the channels 62 and the channel 28 on the other of the frame members 14 of the other partition. Thus, the two partitions are securely securer together by location of the C-shaped members 64 in th(. channels 34 and also by means of the clips 52.

As is shown in Figure 2, when the partitions are secured together in the manner described above, a space is provided between the C-shaped sections 22 of the frame members through which the bracket 76 can project.

Thus, brackets can be engaged with slots 72 in the ^A A rr O 8 support strip 70 by merely passing the brackets through the space between the C-shaped sections 22 and engaging the bracket with one or more of the slots 72.

Preferably, the space between the sections 22 is relatively small but sufficiently large enough to easily engage the bracket 76 with the slot 72 in the strip As noted above, the brackets may be used to support a bench, cupboards, shelves or the like in order to form a workstation which is applied directly to the partitions 10. The partitions 10 may be full length partitions which are used to divide an office space and S, which thereby extend from the roof to the floor or alternatively may be shorter partitions which are not S' intended to divide a space but merely form a discrete V 15 workstation. If the partitions are partitions which t divide the office space, a duplication of partitioning J:t" l performing a workstation is avoided since a workstation can be built directly off the partitions which divide the office space. Furthermore, sinre many partitions will be used in forming an office space, a great degree of flexibility is provided for arrangement of workstations around the partitions and therefore within the office space. As will be more fully described hereinafter, the !t 1 bracket 76 may be so configured so as to join other partitions to the partitions 10 shown in Figure 2 to create workstations or to provide further internal walls.

I Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the i invention which is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that the frame members 14 are configured somewhat differently. In this embodiment the central post 50 is secured to the frame members 14 by SC of s howjj suitable means such as rivetsAor, more preferably, by ofr S-Aown) sliding the C-shaped sections 64 into channels 4 formed betwo+ sAoW oh between suitable LugsAprovided on each of the frame 9 members 14 to thereby join the frame members 14 and the partitions 10 together. The brackets 76 are formed in the same manner as described above Figure 4 is similar to the embodiment of Figure 3 except that the frame members 14 are intended to be held together by frictional engagement with the central post 50. The central post 50 is movable so as to release the partitions 10 from one another. The joint system for providing the releasable section is as disclosed in the abovementioned copending Australian and British patent applications. Since the joint system is fully described ip those applications, full details will not be given herein. However, suffice it to say that the clip which is coupled to one of the frame members 14 and to the central post 5-0. draws the central post 50 towards the t f frame member 14 to which it is connected when the frame member 14 is moved upwardly or downwardly (depending on the arrangement of the clip member) relative to the central post 50 so as to draw the central post 50 out of engagement with the other of the frame members 14 to 'Prelease the joint. Movement of the frame member 14 V 9 IL upwardly or downwardly in the opposite direction relative to the central post 50 causes the frame member 50 to move V in the opposite direction to engage both of the frame members 14 and join the partitions 10 together. As in -the earlier embodiments the brackets (not shown in Figure 4) can be engaged with the support strip Figure 5 shows an embodiment in which the joint of Figuie 4 is used in securing a further partition at right angles to the partitions 10 for separating workstations or providing a further wall. In this embodiment, the bracket 76 is L-shaped in configuration and iq frame member 14 is merely secured to the L-shaped bracket by rivets or other fasteners 90 in order to secure that frame member 14 to the partitions 10. The partition 10' is secured to that frame member 14 by means 10 of a further frame member 14 and the central post 50 in exactly the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 6 and 7 show end views or vertical cross-sections through a partition 10 in order to show the arrangement of a duct or ducts within the partitions.

The duct or ducts are used to house cables such as electrical cables, computer cables, telephone cables or the like within the partition system for use at the workstations or 4n the offices. The ducts 100 are no more than half the thickness of the partition 10 so that one of the ducts can be arranged between an upper panel member 12a and a lower panel member 12b on one side of IJ t 1 r the partition and, if desired, a second duct 100' can be 15 arranged between an upper panel section 12a' and a lower t, panel section 12b' of the partition 10. Thus, the ducts L t are arranged back to back and access to each duct is via respective sides of the partition 10. The ducts 10 have cover members 101 for closing the ducts and the ducts may be divided into spaces by internal walls 103 so that different types of cables can be arranged in different I, spaces within the ducts.

d i Figure 7 shows an embodiment wherein only one I.duct is provided and the opposite board member 12 is contiruous.

Since modification within the spirit and scope c, l of the invention may readily be effected by persons $,si skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

Claims

1. A partition system comprising a pair of end frames, one of the end frames being for receiving a first partition and the other of the end frames being for receiving a second partition, a centre post for location between the pair of end frames and for spacing the pair of end frames apart so that a space exists between the pair of end frames, said centre post having at least one channel section, an elongate strip for location in the at least one channel section by sliding the elongate strip in the at least one channel section, said elongate strip having means accessible through said space f or receiving a supporting member for supporting an article, and a joining means for joining said pair of end frame members to said centre post. The partition system according to claim 1, wherein said joining means comprise-s U-shaped clips and said end frames have lugs defining a channel for receiving one leg of one of the U-shaped clips and said centre post having a first pair of leg members which define a second channel for receiving the other leg of that U-shaped clip, 4 and the other of the end frames having second lugs defining a third channel for receiving a leg of another of said :U-shaped clips and said centre post having second leg members for defining a fourth channel for receiving the other leg of said another U-shaped clip.

3. The partition system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said centre post has a second channel, section for receiving a second elongate strip having means accessible through a second space between said end fra.-es for receiving a support member, said first and second channel sections each being defined by a pair of C-shaped sections on said centre post, each of said end frame members having a pair of centre post receiving channels for receiving one of the C-shaped sections of each pair of C-shaped sections on the centre post.

4. The partition system according to claim 3, wherein the centre post receiving channels are spaced outwardly of the joining means for joining said pdir of ond frame members to said centre post. 12 The partition system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said end frame members have a pair of partition member receiving channels which face away from said centre post, said first and second partitions being formed by respective pairs of partition members locatable in said partition member receiving channels.

6. The partition system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means accessible through said space comprises slots in said elongate strip, said slots being for receiving lugs on said support member to enable the support member to be supported on said strip.

7. The partition system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second partitions S.include a duct, said duct being nc more than substantially half the thickness of said first and second partitions such •that the first and second partitions may include a single I duct which has access from one side of the partition or r dual ducts arranged back to back with one of the dual ducts being accessible from one side of the partition and the other of the dual ducts being accessible from the other side of the partition.

8. A partition system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 20th DAY OF June 1991 V ANGLECHOICE LTD. By Its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent i Attorneys of Australia d