BRPI0904498A2 - security partition system and universal clamp for such a system - Google Patents

Abstract

SAFETY PARTITION SYSTEM AND UNIVERSAL CLAMP FOR SUCH SYSTEM. The present invention relates to a security partition system comprising a set of components comprising: a) a vertical pole having at least one vertical slot, b) a panel comprising uniformly spaced horizontal and vertical wires delimiting square openings, and c) a clip to connect the panel to the pole. The clip comprises: (i) a front plate having a finger extending backwards from one side thereof and being configured and sized to traverse the space between them and overlap the vertical wires delimiting one of the panel openings along an edge of the panel with the finger disposed outside said edge; (ii) a back plate configured and sized to traverse the space between them and overlap the horizontal wires delimiting the same panel opening; and (iii) a fastener for interconnecting and forcing the rear and front plates together, with the finger being received into a vertical slot in the post and thereby connecting the panel to the post.

Description

Report of the Invention Patent for "SECURITY DEPARTMENT SYSTEM AND UNIVERSAL CLIP FOR SUCH SYSTEM".

Background

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to security partition systems employing wire panels secured to and interconnected by vertical support posts, and specifically relates to a universal clip used to connect the panels to the support posts.

Description of the Prior Art

Conventional security partition systems are prefabricated with standard length wire panels. Wire panels have integral mounting clamps at their ends designed to mechanically interconnect into pre-positioned slots in the support posts.

Partition systems are typically shipped in a disassembled state, and are designed for erection on site. In-place space limitations may dictate that one or more of the panels be shortened. To do this it is necessary to trim and remove the end sections that load the universal clamps, leaving the panel edges peeled off without a means of securing the poles. Support.

The universal clamp of the present invention is designed to be secured, at the erection site, to the trimmed edge at both ends of a shortened panel to thereby serve as a means to connect the shortened panel to the support post.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, a safety partition system comprises a set of components, including a plurality of laterally spaced vertical support posts with vertical slits, and a plurality of panels comprised of uniformly spaced vertical horizons that delimit square openings. .The clips are for connecting the panels to the support posts. The clips include:

(i) a front plate configured and sized to traverse the space between them and overlap the vertical wires that delimit an opening along one edge of the panel, with a finger projecting at least one side of the front plate and being disposed outside the edge. of panel;

(ii) a rear plate configured and sized to span the space between and overlap the horizontal wires delimiting the same opening, with peripheral flanges on the rear plate coupling the horizontal arms; and

(iii) a fastener interconnecting and forcing the front and rear plates together, with the finger on the front plate received within the vertical slot of a support post to thereby establish a connection therebetween.

Preferably, the front plate is provided with fingers and both sides thereof, thereby adapting the clamp for attachment at any end of the panel. Each finger preferably has a hook shape for a mechanical coupling with the lower edge of the nostalgic vertical support slot.

The front plate is preferably provided with an additional coplanar Yacht flange adjacent to each finger, with an opening in the flangelateral through which a locking pin can be inserted and tapped into the vertical slot to retain the finger in mechanical coupling with the finger. bottom edge of the slot.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example section of a security partition system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the clamp;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Detailed Description

Referring initially to Figure 1, a security partition system according to the present invention is generally shown at 10. The system includes vertical posts 12a, 12b with vertical slots typically indicated at 14. A wire panel 16 traverses the space between the poles. The Panel comprises evenly spaced horizontal and vertical wires 18, 20 delimiting a square opening.

In Figure 1, the left side of panel 16 is shown equipped with permanently fixed standard clips 22 which serve to secure the panel to post 12a. However, because the distance "X" between the posts is less than the default panel length, the right side of the panel was cut off, resulting in the standard clamps on that side being removed with the trimmed panel segment. Clamps 24 according to the present invention provide a means for securing the trimmed edge of the panel to post 12b.

Referring further to FIGS. 2-4, it will be seen that each clamp 24 comprises a front plate 26 having at least one, and preferably two, fingers 28a, 28b extending rearwardly from each side. The front plate is configured and sized to traverse the space between and overlap the vertical wires 20 delimiting an opening along the trimmed edge of the panel. When the front plate is thus positioned, your finger 28b is disposed outside the trimmed panel edge. If the front plate were being positioned along the edge on the opposite side of the panel, then finger 28a would be disposed off this edge. The front plate thus adapts the clamp for universal application to a trimmed edge on each side of the panel.

A back plate 30 is configured and sized to access the space between and overlap the horizontal wires 18 which delimit the same opening. Front projecting flanges 32 on the rear plate are arranged to mechanically couple the horizontal wires 18.

A fastening means in the form of a threaded bolt 34 and a nut 36 serves to force the front and rear plates together to secure the clip 24 to the trimmed edge of the panel.

The fingers 28 are sized to enter the respective vertical slots 14 in the support posts 12a, 12b, and preferably have a hook shape to mechanically engage the lower edges of the slots.

The front plate 26 is preferably additionally provided with coplanar side flanges 38 adjacent to and above the fingers 28.

The flanges 38 have openings 40 designed to accept locking pins 42. The locking pins are inserted through the openings and are snapped into place within the slots 14 to thereby lock fingers 28 in mechanical coupling within the slots.

In light of the above, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that the clamps 24 of the present invention are readily attached to the trimmed sides of the panels, thus making it possible to accommodate shortening of the panel lengths in place. With finger 28 on both sides of the front plates 26, the clamps are designed for universal application to any panel edge.

Claims (6)

1. Security partition system comprising a set of components comprising: a) a vertical post having at least one vertical slot, b) a panel comprising uniquely spaced horizontal and vertical wires delimiting square openings and (c) a clamp for connecting said panel to said pole, said diagram comprising: (i) a front plate having a finger projecting backwards from one side thereof, said front plate being configured and sized to traverse the space between and superimposing the vertical wires deleting one of said openings along one edge of said panel, with the finger disposed outside said edge, (ii) a backplate configured and sized to span the space between and superimposing the horizontal wires delimiting said opening; and (iii) a securing means for interconnecting and forcing said rear and front plates together, said finger being received into said vertical slot to thereby connect said panel to said post. A safety partition according to claim 1, further comprising peripheral flanges projecting forward on said rear plate, said flanges being arranged to mechanically couple said horizontal wires. 3. Clamp for securing a panel comprising uniformly spaced horizontal and vertical wires defining square openings to a post having a vertical slot, said clamp comprising: (i) a front plate having a finger which protrudes backwards from one side thereof said front plate being configured and sized to traverse the space between them and overlap the vertical wires delimiting one of said openings along one edge of said panel with the finger disposed outside said one (ii) a back plate having forward projecting peripheral flanges, said back plate being configured and dimensioned to traverse the space between them and overlapping the horizontal wires delimiting said opening with said peripheral flanges mechanically coupling said horizontal wires; and (iii) a securing means for interconnecting and forcing said rear and front plates together, said finger being received into said vertical slot to thereby connect said panel to said post. A clamp according to claim 3, wherein said pad is provided with a further rearwardly projecting finger on its opposite side. A clip according to claim 3, wherein said hook shape is shaped and is configured for mechanical coupling with a lower edge of said slot. A clamp according to claim 3, wherein said slab is further provided with a coplanar side flange adjacent to said finger, said side flange having an opening through which a locking pin may be inserted into said slot for holding said finger in mechanical coupling with the lower edge of said slit.