JP2010121439A - Security partition system and universal clip for such system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a universal clip for connecting the panels trimmed at site to struts and a security partition system. <P>SOLUTION: This security partition system 10 includes a panel 16 comprising at least one vertical post 12b having a vertical slot 14 and evenly spaced horizontal and vertical wires 18, 20 bordering square openings and clips 24 for connecting the panel to the post 12b. The clip includes: a front plate having a finger projecting rearwardly from one side thereof and being configured and dimensioned to span the gap between and overlap the vertical wires 20 bordering one of the panel openings along an edge of the panel 16, with the finger arranged outside of the edge; a back plate configured and dimensioned to span the gap between and to overlap the horizontal wires 18 bordering the same panel opening; and a fastener for interconnecting the back and front plates together, with the finger being received in the vertical slot 14 in the post to thereby connect the panel 16 to the post 12b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a security partition system that uses a wire panel secured to and thereby interconnected to a vertical post, and more particularly to a universal clip used to connect the panel to the post. .

  Conventional security partition systems are built using standard-length wire panels. The wire panel has an integral mounting clip at its end designed to mechanically engage with a pre-placed slot in the post.

  Partition systems are usually designed to be shipped in a disassembled state and assembled on site. Due to space limitations at the site, one or more panels may be instructed to be shortened. To do so, it is necessary to trim and remove the end portion with the integral mounting clip, so that the trimmed panel edge has no means to attach to the column.

  The universal clip of the present invention is designed to be attached to the trimmed edge of either end of the shortened panel at the assembly site, thereby functioning as a means to connect the shortened panel to the column. Is done.

  In accordance with the present invention, a security partition system comprises a plurality of laterally spaced vertical struts having vertical slots and a plurality of equally spaced horizontal and vertical wires in contact with a square opening. And a component assembly including a panel.

  The clip functions to connect the panel to the column. The clip is (i) a front plate configured and dimensioned to extend into a gap between vertical wires in contact with an opening along the edge of the panel and to overlap the vertical wire, wherein the fingers are at least one of the front plates. A front plate that protrudes from one side and is arranged outside the edge of the panel; and (ii) a back that is configured and dimensioned to span a gap between and overlap the horizontal wire in contact with the same opening The peripheral flange on the back plate is a fastener that mechanically engages the horizontal wire, and (iii) interconnects the front and back plates and urges them together. A fastener on which the fingers on the front plate are received in the vertical slots of the struts, thereby establishing a connection between them.

  Preferably, the front plate is provided with fingers on both sides thereof, so that the clip is adapted to be attached to either end of the panel. Each finger is preferably hook-shaped to mechanically engage the bottom edge of the vertical slot of the post.

  The front plate is preferably provided with an additional coplanar side flange adjacent to each finger, the side flange being provided with an opening through which a stop pin is inserted, suitable in a vertical slot. Tapped in place, and the fingers are mechanically engaged and held with the 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.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of exemplary portions of a security partition system according to the present invention. It is an exploded three-dimensional view of a clip. It is sectional drawing seen from the line 3-3 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

  Referring initially to FIG. 1, a security partition system according to the present invention is generally designated 10. The system typically includes vertical struts 12a, 12b with vertical slots indicated at 14. The wire panel 16 extends into the gap between the columns. Panel 16 includes equally spaced horizontal and vertical wires 18, 20 that contact a square opening.

  In FIG. 1, the left hand side of the panel 16 is shown as having a standard permanent mounting clip 22 that functions to secure the panel 16 to the post 12a. However, since the distance "X" between the posts is smaller than the standard length of the panel 16, the right hand side of the panel 16 is trimmed and the standard clip on that side is removed from the trimmed panel portion. The clip 24 according to the present invention provides a means for securing the trimmed edge of the panel to the post 12b.

  2-4, it can be seen that each clip 24 includes a front plate 26 having at least one, and preferably two, fingers 28a, 28b protruding rearward from each side. The front plate 26 is configured and dimensioned to span the gap between the vertical wires 20 in contact with the openings along the trimmed edges of the panel 16 and to overlap the vertical wires 20. When the front plate 26 is arranged in this way, its fingers 28b are arranged outside the trimmed panel edge. If the front plate 26 is positioned along the trimmed edge on the opposite side of the panel 16, then the fingers 28a are arranged outside that edge. Thus, the front plate 26 adapts the clip 24 for general application to the trimmed edges on either side of the panel 16.

  The back plate 30 is configured and dimensioned so as to extend into the gap between the horizontal wires 18 in contact with the same opening and to overlap the horizontal wires 18. A forwardly projecting peripheral flange 32 on the back plate 30 is arranged to mechanically engage the horizontal wire 18.

  Fasteners in the form of screws 34 and nuts 36 function to help bring the front plate 26 and back plate 30 together, thereby attaching the clip 24 to the trimmed edges of the panel 16.

  The fingers 28 are sized to enter the individual vertical slots 14 of the struts 12a, 12b and are preferably hook-shaped to mechanically engage the bottom edge of the slots 14.

  The front plate 26 is preferably further provided with a coplanar side flange 38 adjacent to and above the fingers 28. The flange 38 has an opening 40 designed to receive a stop pin 42. The stop pin 42 is inserted through the opening 40 and is tapped in place in the slot 14 so that the finger 28 is mechanically engaged and secured in the slot 14.

  In view of the foregoing, it will now be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the clip 24 of the present invention can be easily attached to the trimmed side of the panel 16, thereby allowing for on-site shortening of the length of the panel 16. It will be obvious. By using fingers 28 on both sides of the front plate 26, the clip 24 is designed for general application to the edge of either panel 16.

  10 security partition systems, 12 vertical struts, 14 vertical slots, 16 wire panels, 18 horizontal wires, 20 vertical wires, 24 clips, 26 front plates, 28 fingers, 30 back plates, 32 perimeter flanges, 38 side flanges, 42 retaining pins .

Claims (6)

(A) a vertical post having at least one vertical slot;
(B) a panel comprising equally spaced horizontal and vertical wires in contact with a square opening;
(C) a clip for connecting the panel to the support,
(i) Configuration and dimensions having fingers projecting rearward from one side thereof, extending into a gap between the vertical wires in contact with one of the openings along the edge of the panel, and overlapping the vertical wires With the front plate,
(ii) a back plate that is configured and dimensioned to extend into a gap between the horizontal wires in contact with the one opening and overlap the horizontal wires;
(iii) a fastener that interconnects the back and front plates and urges them together;
Having a clip, and
With
A security partition system comprising a component assembly, wherein the fingers are received in the vertical slots, whereby the panel is coupled to the post.   The security partition system of claim 1, further comprising a forwardly projecting peripheral flange on the backplate, the flange being arranged to mechanically engage the horizontal wire. A clip for attaching a panel composed of equally spaced horizontal and vertical wires defining a square opening to a post having a vertical slot,
(i) Configuration and dimensions having fingers projecting rearwardly from one side thereof, extending into a gap between the vertical wires in contact with one of the openings along the edge of the panel and overlapping the vertical wires And the front plate, wherein the fingers are arranged outside the edge,
(ii) having a peripheral flange projecting forward, extending in a gap between the horizontal wires in contact with the one opening, and being configured and dimensioned to overlap the horizontal wire; A mechanically engaged back plate;
(iii) a fastener that interconnects the back and front plates and urges them together;
With
A clip, wherein the finger is received in the vertical slot, whereby the panel is connected to the post.   The clip according to claim 3, wherein the front plate is provided with another finger protruding rearward on the opposite side.   The clip of claim 3, wherein the finger is hook-shaped and configured to mechanically engage a bottom edge of the slot.   The front plate is further provided with a coplanar side flange adjacent to the finger, the side flange having an opening, through which a stop pin is inserted into the slot, and the finger is The clip of claim 3, wherein the clip is held in mechanical engagement with the bottom edge of the slot.

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