CA2248428A1

CA2248428A1 - Space divider panel

Info

Publication number: CA2248428A1
Application number: CA 2248428
Authority: CA
Inventors: Scott Gammon; Paul Rossiter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-09-25
Filing date: 1998-09-25
Publication date: 2000-03-25

Abstract

A lightweight panel for use in modular and free standing office landscape systems. When assembled with other panels, they form free standing partitions, which can be arranged and rearranged into a variety of layouts. Panels can be interconnected in a variety of positions to create a wide variety of panel layouts. There are four types of panels, constructed in each their own way. All the panel types are symmetrical and can be used in any orientation. This is accomplished through the use of the same structural elements on each corner of the panel and along all four sides of the panel.
These structural elements are the connection points to which connectors are affixed in order to attach panels together in an assembly. All panel types have these characteristics in common; the center core of the panel is hollow and can remain as such or can be filled with a material to provide additional structure and/or sound absorption/reflective characteristics, a channel surrounding the perimeter to allow for connectors and trim to affix to the edge of the panel, a flat outer surface onto which a covering may be placed to cover the outer surface of the panel, a channel or edge hidden from the outer surface so that the edge of the covering may be finished by wrapping around the edge or fitting into the channel to complete the finished look of the outer surface, a location along the edge of the panel to insert or screw a glide, and at all four corners of the panel, a connection device to allow for panels to be connected together. The first panel type being a single symmetrical part, plastic molded panel with finished outer surfaces, and molded in any height and width. The second panel type being a two piece panel, having both parts produced from the same mold and being of the same structure. The methods of affixing the two halves includes snap fits, adhesives such as glue or tape, mechanical fasteners such as screws, bolts or staples, and welding. The third type is a single plastic molded part acting as the perimeter frame and having two outer surface panels affixed to the outside perimeter of the frame on both sides, to create a finished structural panel. The panels can be affixed using either adhesives, mechanical fasteners, snap fits, and/or welding. The fourth type of panel being a two piece panel, having both parts of different structure, and produced from different molds. The methods of affixing the two halves includes snap fits, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and/ or welding.

Description

SYMMETRICAL PANEL
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates to simple light weight panel constructions, frame assemblies having connections to secure components to a perimeter frame of the panel and means to secure said panels in various arrangements in an office landscape.
Modern office landscaping systems, be they free standing or modular, typically comprise a panel with a structural frame enclosing a core. In these constructions, all loads are resolved within the frame, which consists typically of wood or metal encasing a core usually having acoustic absorption properties. In larger panels, the frame may require substantial cross-bracing to maintain panel rigidity. This construction adds weight and reduces space for core material, thus reducing performance if the core material is acoustical in nature.
Panel frames are typically made from wood or steel. Wood frame components require substantial processing before they can be assembled into panel frames.
In both cases the resultant panel is of considerable weight, and this imposes extra requirements and costs on the design of related components. This increased weight also increases the complexity of the system since heavy panels require strong fastening systems to hold them in place. The high weight and complex fastening systems also increase the diff=iculty in assembling and configuring the system.
The panels usually are constructed with flat o.' <;urved cores surrounded by a perimeter frame. Typically, the panels are assembleu and interco~anected in an edge to edge relationship to form an office workspace environment with combinations of continuous walls and corner joints. Common connection systems, where a vertical edge is constructed with a male connection frame member which engages a vertical female frame member along the longitudinal axis on the adjacent edge are limited to configurations with standard panel sizes and set angles as disclosed for example by U. S.
Pat. Nos. 5,054,255 and Can. Pat. Nos. 2,090,386. A significant drawback to this type of panel connection system is that panels must always be disposed in a similar manner thus limiting the flexibility of the system and any reconfiguration thereof.
In further typical office systems, changes in directions require the addition of transition posts to effect the angle change. While these posts offer limited flexibility, each variation of post must be fabricated, inventoried, and stored thus requiring extensive labour and cost to reconfigure such systems, reference being had to U.S. panel Pat. No.
4,101,838.
As noted above, most panels are constructed with a perimeter frame around the acoustic core. Typically the frame members are inter connected through means of a corner connector. These corner connections tend to be permanent and do not enable disassembly without damaging the adjacent frame members. This results from the corner connector having barbs which "lock" in the hollow cavities into which they are inserted.
Examples of this type of component are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,255.
The penalty for this type of construction is that it limits re-sizing of the panels during reconfiguration of the system.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
This is a lightweight panel for use in modular and free standing office landscape systems. When assembled with other panels, they form free standing partitions, which can be arranged and rearranged into a variety of layouts. Panels can be interconnected in a variety of positions to create a wide variety of panel layouts. There are four types of panels, constructed in each their own way. All the panel types are symmetrical and can be used in any orientation. This is accomplished through the use of the same structural elements on each corner of the panel and along all four sides of the panel.
These structural elements are the connection points to which connectors are aWxed in order to attach panels together in an assembly. All panel types have these characteristics in common; the center core of the panel is hollow and can remain as such or can be filled with a material to provide additional structure and/or sound absorption/reflective characteristics, a channel surrounding the perimeter to allow for connectors and trim to affix to the edge of the panel, a flat outer surface onto which a covering may be placed to cover the outer surface of the panel, a channel or edge hidden from the outer surface so that the edge of the covering may be finished by wrapping around the edge or fitting into the channel to complete the finished look of the outer surface, a location along the edge of the panel to insert or screw a glide, and at all four corners of the panel, a connection device to allow for panels to be connected together.
The objective of this invention is to alleviate the disadvantages of the prior systems as noted in the background of invention summary and to provide a partition panel as described hereafter.
The invention in one aspect relates to a partition panel of generally rectangu:ar outline having a plurality of edges and corners, with four potential types of constructions.
The first type, named panel type l, of construction method is a one piece plastic part, molded with the intent of having all of its required functional characteristics produced into the part in one process. The process being one of injection molding, rotational molding, blow molding, vacuum forming, or compression molding.
The second type, named panel type 2, of construction method is a two piece plastic panel utilising two parts of the same construction and form, and attaching them together with one or more of the following methods of attachment; adhesives, mechanical fasteners, or welding. The assembly can require more parts than just the two halves of the panel, where an additional four plastic parts may be required as the corner connection devices in a scenario where they are not molded into the panel halves.
The third type, named panel type 3, of construction method using a one piece plastic molded perimeter frame where two panel substrates are required to be affixed to both sides the perimeter frame to complete the structural requirements for the panel. The panel substrates may be of varying materials, and may be affixed with a range of methods including adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and welding, or snap fits.
The fourth type , named panel type 4, of construction method using two halves of different construction methods having both panel halves not of the same form or profile.
A variety of methods are used to affix the two halves together; adhesives, mechanical fasteners, welding, andlor snap fits.
A number of marketing advantages are created by these panel types such as the turnaround time for delivery of finished product is much less than traditional panels that have many pieces to be assembled before shipment; the lightweight panels allow for ease of transportation and installation at the final location, as well as the requirement for less packaging material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
Fig. l is a perspective view of a single walled panel produced as one single symmetrical part. The technology used to obtain this may be rotational molding, injection molding, compression molding or vacuum forming.
Fig.2 is a perspective view of a single symmetrical walled panel variation of type 1 involving a number of cavities along the four edges of its rectangle, used as a variable connecting cavities to assemble a number of panels.
Fig.3 is a perspective view of a variation of type 1 panel involving a single molded panel with four plastic corner connection devices affixed to the four corners, with said corner connection devices described in Fig.15b.
Fig.4 is a perspective detail of a variation of panel type 1 with no distinctive openings or protrusions from any of the four edges of the panel, for use as connection devices for panel to panel connections. The connecticr: devices do not require said connection devices for the required panel to panel connections.
Fig.S is a perspective detail of a variation of panel type 1 with no distinctive openings or protrusions from any of the four edges of the panel, for use as connection devices for panel to panel connections. The connection devices do not require said connection devices for the required panel to panel connections.
Fig.6 is a section view of a typical type 1 panel with hollow core showing a panel edge trim engaging with the frame, and illustrating the optional panel face covering that can be affxed to the outer face of the panel.
Fig.7 is a partially exploded section view of a variation of a type 1 panel showing the engaging of a mechanical staple or glue to affix the panel covering.
Fig.8 is a perspective view of a variation of panel type 2 showing the two half panel parts, having one rotated 180 degrees, and then requiring adhesive to affix the two halves of the panel.
Fig.9 is a perspective view of a variation of panel type 2 involving one half panel rotated 180 degrees, and using snap fits and/or adhesive to affix the two halves.
Fig.10 is a perspective detail of Fig.9 illustrating how the two halves are located in relation to one another.

Fig. 11 is a section view of a typical type 2 panel illustrated in Fig.8 and Fig.9.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a variation of type 2 panel assembled with mechanical fasteners and having four additional plastic molded corner pieces added to the assembly.
Fig. 13 is a perspective of a variation of panel type 2 with the two halves affixed with snap fits, requiring that one half be rotated 180 degrees, and 4 plastic molded corner pieces be added to the assembly.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a variation of type 2 panel illustrating two half panels affixed with adhesive, and involving 4 molded plastic corner connection devices added to the assembly.
Fig. 15a is a detailed perspective view of the position of said plastic molded corner connection device, during the assembly of the panel.
Fig. 15b is a detail perspective of said plastic molded corner showing the embossment with threaded inserts for threading screws and glides.
Fig.16 is a perspective exploded view of a variation of type 3 panel with integrated connection embossments on the corners.
Fig. 17 i~ a partially ~ ploded section view oftypical type 3 panel illustratia.g the method of assembly for applying the panel to the frame and the outer covering to the panel assembly.
Fig. 18 is a partially exploded perspective view of a variation of panel type including a variation on the connecting devices along the four edges of the panel.
Fig. 19 is a partially exploded section view of a variant of panel type 3 illustrated in fig.18, showing the variety of methods to adhere the panel substrate to the frame, as well as adhering the panel covering and the perimeter edge trim.
Fig. 20 is a variation of panel type 4 showing a perspective exploded view using snap fits with integrated connection devices.
Fig. 21 and Fig. 22 illustrate the assembly of the panels. Each panel can be orientated in any direction as well as added at a later time without removing any of the existing panels.
Fig. 23 and Fig. 24 illustrate the flexibility of producing eight distinctive layouts using the same six panels of one size with four panel of another size Fig.25, Fig.26, Fig.27, Fig.28, Fig.29, Fig.30 illustrate five distinctive layouts using eight panels of one size, two panels of one size, and eight panels of one size.

Claims

1. A panel that is symmetrical that can be used or assembled with other panels in any orientation. The panel has no left, right, top, bottom, front or back orientation.

2. A panel can be placed in any particular location in a wall or panel partition layout with no regard to a bottom, middle or upper layers of panels.

3. The same structural and design elements are located at each corner of the panel.

4. The same structural and design elements are located along each of the four edges of the panel.

5. A panel of type 1 being a single plastic molded panel with finished outer surfaces.

6. A panel of type 2 being a two piece panel, having both parts produced from the same mold and being of the same structure.

7. A panel of type 3 being a single plastic molded part acting as the perimeter frame and having two outer surface panels affixed to the outside perimeter of the frame on both sides, to create a finished structural panel.

8. A panel of type 4 being a two piece panel having both parts of different structure and produced from different production molds.

9. The methods of affixing the two halves of panel types 2,3, and 4, as referred to in claims 6,7,and 8 respectively, includes snap fits, adhesives such as glue or tape, mechanical fasteners such as screws, bolts, and staples, and welding as a final method of adhesion.

10. The design of all panel types as referred to in claims 5,6,7, and 8 are lightweight due to the common structure as being a single walled panel with a hollow interior core.

11. The design of panel types 1,2,3,and 4 have a recessed channel surrounding the perimeter to allow for connectors and trims to affix to the edge of the panel, a flat outer surface onto which a covering may be placed to cover the outer surface of the panel, a channel or edge hidden from the outer surface so that the edge of the covering may be finished by wrapping around the edge or fitting into the channel to complete the finished look of the outer surface, a location along the channel of the panel to insert or screw a glide

12. The design of panel types 1,2,3,and 4 allow for the addition or injection of various materials in the hollow interior core of the panel to provide additional panel structure, different sound absorption characteristics (NRC), and sound reflective (STC) characteristics. The addition or injection of these potential materials can be done in the process of producing the panel, or as a secondary operation after the panel has been produced.

13. The universal nature of the panel, having all edges the same, allow for an infinite number of panel arrangements, or layouts.

14. The design of the panel types 1,2,3,and 4 is such that it is not size dependant, and an infinite range of panel sizes can be produced.

15. The connecting points are designed such that they allow easy removal and installation of panel connectors, thus allowing for ease of reconfiguration of panel layouts.

16. Panel types as referred to in claim 5,6,7,and 8 have a groove or flat surface along the edge of the panel to wrap the covering onto in order to finish the edge of the covering to maintain a clean appearance to the panel.