GB2193514A

GB2193514A - Panel for connection to other panels by dumbell connectors in re-entrant grooves

Info

Publication number: GB2193514A
Application number: GB08619279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Thompson; Douglas Mervyn Wigfall
Original assignee: ALAN COOPER Ltd
Current assignee: ALAN COOPER Ltd
Priority date: 1986-08-07
Filing date: 1986-08-07
Publication date: 1988-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2006-08-07
Also published as: GB2193514B; GB8619279D0

Abstract

A panel (10) is provided which can be combined with comparable panels (10) in a variety of configurations to form a variety of screen arrangements. Each panel (10) has at least on a joined edge, an edge structure (15) which provides spaced re-entrant channels (21) which serve to unite the panel (10) to other panels (10) by receiving respective ends of dumbell cross section complementary strips (26, 27, 28, 29). Faces of structure (15) between channels (21) can be arranged in face-to-face relationship and pierced to allow cables to pass from panel to panel whilst cables remaining concealed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Panel This invention relates to a panel, particularly, but not exclusively for use in constructing screens in and around work stations and work areas, particularly in offices.

Panels for use in such screens need to be interconnectable in a variety of ways and at a variety of angles to adjacent panels to allow a wide range of screen configurations to be constructed using a minimum number of components.

Known panels have suffered from various disadvantages, for example a loose union between adjacent panels means insufficient rigidity to allow a work surface to be suspended from a panel and bear its working load. A hinged or pivotal union often means that cables cannot pass from the interior of one panel to another and remain hidden within the joint. Further, when panel edges are interconnected by fasteners such as brackets, light and draughts may affect the user, and it may be possible to see between adjacent panels, so reducing privacy.

An additional advantage of known panels is the phenomenon of "creep", which is exemplified by the situation wherein two adjacent panels, particularly two co-planar panels, are joined to a third panel at their joint, the overall length of these two panels increases due to their having to be separated to receive the third panel. If the third panel is merely butted against the two, it is necessary to provide specialised fastenings, and the passage of cables from the interior of one panel to the interior of the other can be unsightly and difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a screen panel wherein the above disadvantages are obviated or reduced.

Accordingly the invention provides a panel having at least one edge structure which provides longitudinally extending re-entrant channels, enabling a pair of such panels to be joined edge-to-edge in a plurality of configurations by means of a number of dumbell connectors engaging in selected ones of said channels.

The phrase "re-entrant channel" is intended to mean a channel which has an outer entrance portion and an inner main portion so arranged and connected that a complementary strip can be slid longitudinally to engage in the channel, but cannot be withdrawn transversely of the length of the channel. In its simplest form the re-entrant channel can have the entrance portion small in width and the main portion wider, a simple example being a Teeslot. Alternatively the two portions could be of equal width, but the main portion disposed at such an angle, say a right angle, to the entrance portion that lateral withdrawal is impossible.

The dumbell connectors can be one or more in number and each will be in the form of a strip (for example an extruded strip) having a central web dimensioned to be complementary with said entrance portions, and a pair of end portions complementary to said body portions.

The connectors can be substantially rigid for most purposes, but flexible connectors can be provided if desired.

Preferably one of said channels is provided at an apex of said edge structure and in the median plane of the panel. Advantageously there are three such channels, the other two being arranged one adjacent each panel face edge portion. The separation between the one channel and each of the other channels is the same. The second channels can each lie at an angle of 45" to the first channel.

In the above case the edge structure can be generally triangular, having one side abutting a body of the panel and having its other two sides disposed one between each said second channel and the one channel. Said other two sides can be at right angles to each other and at 45" to the major plane of the panel.

As an alternative the edge structure can have three or more faces making up its profile from side to side of the panel, a respective channel being provided at apices defined by the junctions between adjacent faces.

The invention also provides a panel having an edge structure which provides a plurality of flat planar faces, and means at edges of said faces enabling the panel to be secured to a number of similar panels with corresponding selected ones of said flat planar faces in abutting parallel relationship.

The invention further provides a combination of a pair of edge-joined panels, each having at its joined edge a structure which is hollow and provides a plurality of flat planar faces, cable from ducting within one of the panels passing into the interior of the edge structure of the one panel, through one of its flat planar faces, through a flat planar iace of the edge structure of the second panel into the interior of that edge structure and thence to ducting within the second panel, without said cable being visible from the exterior of either side of said screen.

Said two faces through which the cables pass can be in face-to-face abutting relationship. Alternatively, if said two faces are separated at an angle, a supplementary fillet can overlie the groove created between said faces to hide the cable.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figs. 1(a) to 1(f) are plan views of work station arrangements which can be generated using panels in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an edge structure of a Preferred panel of the invention; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how a pair of panels can be joined in-line; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing how three or four panels can be joined in a Tshape or an X-shape; Fig. 5 shows how two panels can be joined in an L-shape, and how cables can pass the so-formed joint; Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing how cables can be concealed; and Figs. 7 and 8 are respective schematic cross-sectional views showing alternative forms of edge profiles.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 a to 1 f it will be seen that panels 10 of the invention can be united to form a number of screened work stations surrounding a desk or comparable work surface, or actually providing a support structure from which a work surface can be at least partially supported. In addition, of course, panels can be used conventionally to define office areas, to provide "rooms" and spaces within a larger open-plan office. Each panel is not shown fully in the drawings, because it is basically conventional being rectangular, about two metres high and of variable width to suit various applications.

Turning now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that each panel 10 has a pair of vertical stiles 11 of generally channel-section steel some 80 cm in depth. These two stiles 11 are interconnected by four thinner rails 12 spaced from top to bottom of the panel 10. Adjacent each stile 12 on each face of the panel is a divided cable duct 13 closed by a lid 14. Such ducts 13 allow cables to pass from a horizontal duct (not shown) at the base of the panel 10 and within it to and from a similar horizpntal duct (again not shown) at just above desk level and to and from the tops of the panels 10 if lighting supported by the panels is to be supplied, or if power or other services are supplied from the ceiling.

Each vertical edge of the panel 10 has a structure 15 formed of an extrusion of plastics material or aluminium or the like. Structure 1 5 is hollow and has flanges 16 whereby it is secured to slide 12 and cover lips 1 7 which overlie edges of stile 12. The structure 15 has a pair of main flat planar wall faces 18 which are equal in width and disposed at 900 to each other and at 45" to the plane 19 of the panel 10. The-central apex 20 formed at the juncture of faces 18 is a location for a first connecting formation in the form of a reentrant channel 21 in the form of a Tee-slot whose axis lies parallel to plane 19. A pair of second identical connecting formations 22 are provided one at each inner edge of each face 18, each formation 22 lying at right angles to face 18.

Fig. 3 shows how two panels 10 can be joined in parallel in-line edge-to-edge relationship using a single dumbell connector 24 engaging in respective channels 21 in adjacent panels 10. Connector 24 can be a relatively rigid connector formed as an extrusion of plastics material and inserted into the adjacent channels 21 in three lengths each about 650 mm long, for ease of manipulation. Joints between panels formed in this way are substantially light-proof, draught-proof and "peekproof".

Fig. 4 shows how three panels 10 can be linked in a rectangular Tee configuration using three dumbell connectors 25, 26, 27, and how a four-way rectangular X-shaped connection can be formed using four dumbell connectors 26, 27, 28, 29.

Fig. 5 shows how two panels 10 can be joined at 90" and cables passed from one to the other via adjacent faces 18a, co-planar faces 1 8b forming a smooth attractive chamfered wall.

Fig. 6 shows how two panels 10 can be joined in parallel co-planar relationship and cables pass from one to the other and be hidden by a cover strip 30 shaped and dimensioned to engage channels 22.

Figs. 7 and 8 are schematic outline sketches illustrating how extruded edge structures 15 can be of different form being for example three-sided (Fig. 7) or four-sided (Fig. 8).

Other variations are possible. Walls of structures 1 5 can be concave and serve their purpose, but a flat planar wall is desirable. Channel shapes other than Tee-slots can be used.

Claims

1. A panel having at least one edge structure which provides longitudinally extending reentrant channels, enabling a pair of such panels to be joined edge-to-edge in a plurality of configurations by means of a number of dumbell connectors engaging in selected ones of said channels.

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each re-entrant channel has an entrance portion and a main portion of greater width than the entrance portion.

3. A panel as claimed in claim 2 wherein the channel is a Tee-slot.

4. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each re-entrant channel has an entrance portion and a main portion of equal widths, the main portion being disposed at such an angle to the entrance portion that lateral withdrawal is impossible.

5. A panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the main portion is at right angles to the entrance portion.

6. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each dumbell connectors is in the form of a strip having a central web dimensioned to be complementary to said entrance portions, and a pair of end portions complementary to said body portions.

7. A panel as claimed in claim 6 wherein the connectors are substantially rigid.

8. A panel as claimed in claim 6 wherein the connectors are flexible.

9. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one of said channels is provided at an apex of said edge structure.

10. A panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein said apex is in the median plane of the panel.

11. A panel as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein there are three such channels, the other two being arranged one adjacent each panel face edge portion.

12. A panel as claimed in claim 11 wherein the separation between the one channel and each of the other channels is the same.

13. A panel as claimed in claim 12 wherein the second channels each lie at an angle of 45" to the first channel.

14. A panel as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13 wherein the edge structure is generally triangular, having one side abutting a body of the panel and having its other two sides disposed one between each of said second channels and the one channel.

15. A panel as claimed in claim 14, wherein the other two sides are at right angles to each other and at 45" to the major plane of the panel.

16. A panel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the edge structure has three or more faces making up its profile from side to side of the panel, a respective channel being provided at apices defined by the junctions between adjacent faces.

17. A panel having an edge structure which provides a plurality of generally flat planar faces, and means at edges of said faces enabling the panel to be secured to a number of similar panels with corresponding selected ones of said faces in abutting parallel relationship.

18. A combination of a pair of edge-joined panels, each having at its joined edge a structure which is hollow and provides a plurality of flat planar faces, cable from ducting within one of the panels passing into the interior of the edge structure of the one panel, through one of its flat planar faces, through a flat planar face of the edge structure of the second panel into the interior of that edge structure and thence to ducting within the second panel, without said cable being visible from the exterior of either side of said combination.

19. A combination as claimed in claim 18 wherein said two faces through which the cables pass are in face-to-face abutting relationship.

20. A combination as claimed in claim wherein said two faces are separated and a supplementary fillet overlies a groove created on one side of the combination between said faces to hide the cable.

21. A panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A screen, comprising a number of united panels, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.