JPH0319532Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a panel stiffening device for connecting the interconnections of a pair of partition wall panels of the type used in "open plan" offices, for example in forming a series of partition wall panels in the formation of a corridor wall. Particularly useful for aligning panels.

U.S. Patent No. 3,762,116 (Anderson et al.)
An improved partition wall panel system is disclosed. In this system, the partition wall panels are interconnected and supported by cylindrical columns that allow the wall panels to be positioned at multiple angles relative to each other, providing great flexibility in office design. However, because the wall panels are not fixed in place to the cylindrical posts, the panels on each side of the intermediate posts must be in precise alignment to keep the partition wall panels in a straight line for long stretches. Even if you try to line them up, they may become slightly wavy. Further pushing on the wall panel may cause it to deviate slightly from its original correct alignment, creating a wavy appearance.
Not only is it preferable to align adjacent wall panels in a straight line, it may be important to maintain the orthogonal angular relationships between adjacent wall panels as precisely as possible, and the angles between the panels of the above devices may be free. This feature can be problematic when adjacent wall panels need to be aligned exactly at right angles.

The panel stiffening device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,654 (Anderson et al.) is capable of maintaining stiff alignment of adjacent partition wall panels interconnected by cylindrical struts. A disadvantage of Anderson's idea is that it requires more time to install on-site when it becomes necessary to incorporate rigid tie-down devices into the wall panel system at certain column connections. More specifically, it is necessary to drill holes in the panel frame and insert a plurality of screws into these holes in the rigid body to secure the rigid body to an adjacent panel. Office set-up time could be significantly reduced if panels could be properly stiffened using struts without costly manual labor.

Accordingly, the present invention comprises two or more partition wall panels having at least one upper frame member provided with a pair of parallel grooves in the upper surface and connecting means provided at each end of the panel; a cylindrical support configured to interconnect and support the two or more partition wall panels and having a threaded hole at its top end; a hub portion having a tapered through hole; and the hub portion. stiffening means with at least one pair of more outwardly extending leg portions, each of said leg portions having a pair of parallel elongated rib members extending along a lower surface thereof, said elongated rib members extending from said frame; arranged and configured to engage the parallel groove in the member and further extending through the hub portion of the rigid connection means to seat the elongated rib firmly within the groove of the frame member of the panel; comprising post cap means secured to threaded holes in said cylindrical support to retain and maintain two or more partition wall panels in aligned relationship, the post cap having a complementary tapered portion and a threaded portion; There is a panel stiffening device for this purpose.

The panel rigid connection device of the present invention allows adjacent partition wall panels to be rigidly connected at right angles to each other without damaging the appearance of rigidly connected joints compared to connections in wall devices that do not require rigid connection. In addition to connecting to
To enable precise alignment of an elongated series of partition wall panels. Furthermore, when it is desired to reassemble the partition wall panels into a different office arrangement, the rigid connections can be disassembled and reassembled very quickly and easily.

Preferably, each of the leg portions of the stiffening means includes a plurality of detents extending laterally therefrom, the leg portions having a panel top trim member resting thereon and releasably retained on the top end of the panel by the detents. Ru.

In other embodiments of the invention, two, three or four leg sections extend from the hub section of the rigid body, with the two leg sections arranged in a straight line or the two leg sections arranged at right angles to each other. or two leg sections may be arranged in a straight line with a third leg section perpendicular to these two leg sections, or four leg sections may be arranged at 90 degrees to each other. can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Common reference numbers indicate identical parts across the several figures. 1 and 2 illustrate a rigid partition wall panel system including a pair of partition wall panels 10 interconnected and supported by cylindrical struts. The partition wall panel 10 includes a tubular frame member 14 generally surrounding a panel bulkhead 16 of, for example, plywood or a similar product.
Each side of 6 is provided with a fiberglass insert 18 coated with cloth 20 and in some cases with decorative plastic laminate. The panel frame according to the present invention includes spaced apart parallel grooves 22 at least at its top end. These grooves preferably extend completely around the circumference of the panel and are useful in conjunction with the panel rigidity of the present invention, as well as securing the fabric cover 20 therein by plastic splines (not shown). It can also be used for

A slotted vertical member 24 is secured to the lateral edge of the wall panel 10, and the member 24 is provided with a hook-like connector. Hook-like connectors 26 on the side edges of the wall panels cooperate with the upper ends 28 of the tubular struts 12 (which have an annular ring shape) to interconnect and interconnect the partition wall panels, as best shown in FIG. I support this. It is apparent that a similar hook-like connector is used at the bottom of the panel adjacent the bottom end of the column to connect the wall panel to the cylindrical column as disclosed in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 3,762,116. If desired, the cylindrical strut 12 may be shielded from view using a strut cover 30 of the type disclosed in pending U.S. Patent Application No. 582,207 (filed February 21, 1984). .

The panel rigid body (generally designated 32) consists of a central hub portion 34 and a pair of laterally extending leg portions 36. Hub portion 34 has a tapered bore 38 that extends through hub portion 34 and is disposed over a threaded hole 40 in the top of cylindrical post 12 . The underside of each leg portion 36 includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel, elongated ribs 42 extending slightly more than half the length of the leg portion 36. Additionally, each leg portion 36 includes detents 44 along its side edges, and these detents 44
serves to retain the trim or edge cover 46 on the top of the panel. The threaded post cap or hub screw 48 consists of a threaded shank portion 50 and a tapered head portion 52.
The head portion 52 is complementary to the rigid tapered bore 38. Post cap or hub screw 48
includes a tool receiving hole 54 at its upper end to facilitate fixation of the rigid body 32 to columns and panels.

As can be seen from the above description, the panel rigidity of the present invention can be quickly and easily installed in a partition wall panel system to stiffen and strengthen the interconnection between two adjacent partition wall panels. When this rigid body is installed in a wall panel system, the hub portion 38 is mounted on the cylindrical column 12 and the ribs 42 are received in the parallel grooves 22 in the panel frame member 14. A post cap or hub screw 48 is then inserted into the hole 38 in the hub portion of the rigid body and threaded into the threaded hole 40 in the upper end of the post 12, quickly attaching the adjacent partition wall panel in the rigidly connected position. Fix it. When the panel top trim or edge cover 46 is pushed over the leg portions 36, the detents 44 hold the cover thereon, providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the rigid wall panel system. For panel connections in equipment where rigid connections are not used, simply use conventional panel clips to hold the panel top cover 46, and for wall panel systems using rigid connections or non-rigid connections. Unify the appearance.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the rigid body 32 of the present invention. A single support can hold four panels at right angles as shown in Figure 7, or two panels at right angles as shown in Figure 8, or two panels in a straight line as shown in Figure 9. and place the third panel at right angles to this.
It will be clear from these figures that the rigid body of the invention can be used.

The panel rigid body of the present invention is preferably manufactured from die cast aluminum or annealed investment cast steel to reduce the weight of the panel rigid body without reducing its intended effect as shown in FIG. A hollow structure having reinforcing ribs 56 may also be used.

As is clear from the above description, the rigid panel body of the present invention pushes the ribs 42 of the rigid panel body into slots in the frame of the panel and quickly fixes the ribs with threaded column caps or hub screws 48. To quickly and easily attach panel rigid bodies to partition wall panels of various geometrical relationships by simply Such a simple and easy operation greatly reduces the time required to rigidify the partition wall panel system, since there is no need to insert multiple screws or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rigidly connected wall panel system, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rigidly connected wall panel system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rigidly connected wall panel system of FIG. 1. Side view of the panel rigid body of the system, Figure 4 is a top view of the rigid body, Figure 5 is a bottom view of the rigid body, Figure 6 is an end view of the rigid body, Figures 7, 8 and 9. 1 is a perspective view of a rigid panel body used in each of the embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 10... Panel, 12... Support, 14... Frame,
22...Groove, 26...Connection, 32...Rigid body, 3
4... Hub part, 36... Leg part, 38... Tapered hole, 40... Screw hole, 42... Rib, 48...
...Hub screw.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. In a panel rigidity device for maintaining two or more partition wall panels in an aligned relationship, each of the panels and at least one upper frame member provided with a pair of parallel grooves on the upper surface. two or more partition wall panels having connecting means provided at the ends thereof and arranged to interconnect and support the two or more partition wall panels via the connecting means and at the top ends thereof; a cylindrical support having a threaded hole therein; a rigid connection means having a hub portion having a tapered through hole; and at least one pair of leg portions extending outwardly from the hub portion; a pair of parallel elongate rib members extending along a lower surface, the elongate rib members being arranged to engage the parallel grooves in the frame member and further extending through the hub portion of the rigid coupling means; , a complementary tapered portion and threading secured to a threaded hole in the cylindrical support so as to hold the elongated rib firmly seated within the groove of the frame member of the panel; A panel stiffening device comprising strut cap means having a section. 2. Each leg of the stiffening means includes a plurality of detents extending laterally therefrom, and a panel top trim member resting on the leg and releasably retained thereon by the detents. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in: 3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the four leg portions extend from the hub at 90° from each other. 4. Three leg portions extend from the hub portion such that two leg portions are aligned in a straight line and a third leg portion extends perpendicularly to the other two leg portions. The device according to item 1 or 2. 5. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two leg sections extend from the hub section, said two leg sections extending at right angles to each other.