US3125193A

US3125193A - Movable partition systems

Info

Publication number: US3125193A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-17

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 D. A. BROWN ETAL MOVABLEI PARTITION SYSTEMS ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1964 Filed Jan. l2, 1962 Y En all March 17, 1964 D. A. BROWN ETAL. 3,125,193

MOVABLE PARTITION SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DONALD A. BROWN A-rToQNe/s.

LuclEN R. DowNmG, JR.

Mardi 17, 1.964 D. A. BROWN ETAL MovABLE PARTITION sysTEMs 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. l2, 1962 INVENTOR.

' DONALD A. BROWN LuclsN R. Dowmuc, JR. VBY www,

ATTORNEYS.

D. A. BROWN ETAL 3,125,193

MOT/ABLE PARTITION SYSTEMS March 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 12, 1962 y INVENTOR. Dow/n.0 ,4. BRaw/v v BY Luc/EN /Dow/vum, JR.

ATTORNEYS,

United States Patent O 3,125,193 MOI/ABLE PARTITION SYSTEMS Donald A. Brown, Westlake, and Lucien R. Downing, Ir.,

Sheffield Lake, Ohio, assignors to Donn Products incorporated, Westlake, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio` Filed ta-n. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 165,834 8 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates generally to improvements in movable partition systems and more particularly to an improved self-supporting frame for releasably supporting a panel to provide a movable partition.

In conventional movable partition systems the panel supporting frame is assembled by fastening a plurality of frame members in supporting relation to each other and to the panel. The load is distributed over all of the frame members and prevents independent removal of individual frame members or panels without dismantling the frame. The conventional frame is not self-supporting and requires independent fastening devices for assembly and disassembly. As a consequence, assembly and disassembly is a complex and time-consuming task and the cost of the partition is increased by the fastening devices required.

Briefly, in accordance with this invention, the cost of the partition and the complexity and time for assembly and disassembly are materially reduced by providing a self-supporting frame which can be readily assembled without independent fastening devices by means of releasable interlocking portions. The panels are freely supported by integral portions on opposed frame members which readily release the panels upon removal of one of such opposed frame members from the assembled frame. The removable panel supporting 4frame member carries extensible portions which releasably interlock with transversely disposed opposed frame members. As a result, none of the frame members is required to support or distribute any load except the panels which form the movable partition. The removable frame member can be multiplied successively along a multiple panel partition and permit selective assembly and disassembly of any panel set of the multiple panel partition.

In the annexed drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention which for exemplary purposes is adapted to be employed as a wall extending from the ceiling to the iloor. While it is shown in the preferred embodiment as a double wall, it is to be understood that the principles of this invention may be employed as well with single panel wall or partition members as well as double wall or partition members. Also, while the wall members shown in the annexed drawings have frame members which are atlixed, respectively, to the ceiling and to the floor, it is to be understood that the principles of the present invention are applicable as well to rail high partition members which extend only a portion of the distance from the floor to the ceiling.

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially cut-away movable partition system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the movable partition of FIG. 1 taken on the line 3--3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a partially assembled movable wall partition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially cut-away, perspective view, of certain components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of certain other components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

3,l25,l93 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 ice FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, partially cut-away and eX- ploded perspective View of components of a modification of a movable partition system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, partially cut-away, perspective view of components of another modification in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of one of the frame members of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the frame member of FIG. 9 taken on the line lil-10 thereof; and

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary, partially cut-away and sectioned, perspective view of components useful in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. l, there is here shown in elevation a fragmentary, partially cut-away view, of a section of a movable wall partition system ernbodying the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, there is provided a double wall movable partition system composed of a plurality of

front panel members

10 and 11 which may be of any convenient Prefabricated material such as dry-wall, plaster board, opaque or translucent plastic, plywood veneer, or the like. Back panels 12 and 13 (FIG. 2) may be of the same or different composition as

front panels

10 and 11.

Panels

10, 11, 12 and 13 may be cut to any desired height or width, and in the embodiment shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, a convenient Width is 24 inches, and the height is conveniently the distance between the ceiling and the iloor diminished by the height of an electric raceway 14 and the thickness of retaining metal parts as hereinafter described.

Secured to a fixed support, e.g. the ceiling, there is provided a frame member 16 which is conveniently a channel, the marginal edges of which have been bent to form

llanges

17 and 18. At convenient intervals longitudinally of the channel 16, tongues 19 may be formed, as by punching, to provide means receptive to a fastener such as screw 20 for fixing the channel 16 to the ceiling. Disposed in vertically spaced parallel relation from the frame member 16 is a second frame member 22 having a similar geometric configuration to the channel or frame member 16.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, frame member 22 is fixedly supported by spacer 23, which is in turn iixedly supported by channel 24 which is conveniently secured to the floor 25 by any convenient fastening means such as screw 26. By so relating frame member 22 and channel 24, there is provided an electrical raceway 14 for the inclusion of electrical wiring, outlets, etc. For many purposes, frame member 22 may be atlixed directly to the floor without the provision of the intermediate electrical raceway, the means of attachment to such iloor being substantially identical with that shown for frame member 16.

In order to provide vertical support for the panels, for example front and

back panels

10 and 12, there is provided a flanged panel support member 27 having upstanding

marginal flange portions

28 and 29 so adjusted and proportioned as to receive the lower edges of

panels

10 and 12 to prevent lateral displacement thereof. Support member 27 rests freely upon frame member 22, and is slidable relative to frame member 22. In order to prevent convergent movement of panels 1t) and 12 at the lower marginal portions thereof, there is provided a spacer member in the form of a spreader clip 30 having displaced

marginal flange portions

31 and 32 adapted to receive the lower edges of

panels

10 and 12 separated by a web spacing portion 33 therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the spacer member 3@ has a dimension between the marginal edges of the

depressed flange portions

31 and 32 which is slightly greater than the web portion of the llanged panel support member 27 so as to be frictionally retained thereby. The combination of the panel support member 27 and the spacer member 36 is such that they operatively coact to provide panel receiving grooves adapted to receive and retain the lower free edges of panel members and 12 to prevent lateral displacement thereof in the regions of such lower marginal edges. Panel members of different thicknesses are easily accommodated by adjusting the web spacing portion 33. It will be observed also that

panel members

16 and 12, for example, having different thicknesses may also be accommodated.

Support members 27 have a length which is generally less than the corresponding dimension of a panel member; being so proportioned to decoratively coact with the ange portion of a stud member 40 to the extent that it overlaps the panel member, e.g. panel member 10 as will be hereinafter described in greater detail. The outer surfaces of

upturned flange members

28 and 29 of support member 27 may, in certain applications, be finished so as to provide in combination with the outer surface of

panel members

10 and 12, for example, a completed decorative partition wall surface. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, anges 23 and 29 diverge slightly, and are thus able to receive and retain a metal base board or cover plate 34 on either side to cover the electrical raceway 14. Cover plates 34 are part of the final trim, and are removed before the partition system is itself moved to occupy the position of the dotted lines shown in FIG. 2 to allow for changing of

panels

10 and 12, for example, or to initiate removal of the entire partition assembly. Such movement depends upon the relative slidability of support member 27 over frame member 22. Spacer members may also conveniently be used at the upper marginal edges of

panels

10 and 12 to restrain lateral converging movement of the upper marginal portions of such panels.

The exemplary wall partions of the present invention in addition to utilizing the first pair of

frame members

16 and 22 disposed in vertically spaced parallel relation also utilize a second pair of vertical frame members and 41 disposed in parallel spaced relation transverse to the lirst pair of frame members for coaction therewith to form a regular geometric frame assembly which is adapted to receive and rigidly support a panel member or members therein. With reference to FIGS. l, 2 and 3, the second pair of frame members includes

vertical stud members

40 and 41 disposed in spaced parallel relation. FIGS. 9 and l0 show in greater detail such a stud member with features for releasably receiving and engaging opposite edges of a panel member, such as panel 10.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is provided a stud member of substantially I cross-section having an intermediate web portion with

transverse flange portions

51 and 52 along opposed marginal edges. The stud member shown in FIG. 9 and 10 is especially constructed to releasably receive and engage on each side one edge of each of two panel members, such as

panels

10 and 12, to form a double wall partition. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, this is accomplished by forming from the web portion 50 a plurality of detents, e.g. 55, 56, 57 and 5S. Such detents are formed in spaced parallel relation from the corresponding marginal flange portions 51 and 52 a distance at the web 56 which is substantially equal to the thickness of the corresponding edge of the panel or panels. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the pair of

detents

55 and 56 are struck in such a manner as to extend toward the viewer from the plane of the web 50, and the pair of

detents

57 and 58 are struck in the opposite direction away from the viewer. Thus, while alternate pairs of detents are deformed to opposite sides of the web 5t) in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and l0, any suitable pattern of deformation of the detents may be made to provide for releasable engagement of panel edges at both sides of the web portion 5t). Each extremity of the web 50 is cut-out as at 62 and 63 to' receive and engage a

corresponding frame member

16 and 22 respectively.

In order to facilitate movability of the partition section as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2, the detents in their preferred form are each further deformed towards their free extremities away from the corresponding ange portion to increase the spacing therebetween, as best shown in FIG. l0. The pair of

detents

60 and 61 are here shown in diverging relation with respect to the corresponding adjacent ange portions and towards their respective extremities. It has been found that such further deformation of the detents towards their extremities coacts with the corresponding panels to guide their edges into seating engagement against the web 56, and the resiliency of the detents aids not only in assembly of the partition section but also permits wider displacement of the partition section from the normal plane of the partition as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2 without injury to the panel members.

In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. l and 2, at least one of the second pair of frame members or studs 46 is provided with

movable extensions

65 and 66 for releasable interlocking coaction with the first pair of

frame members

16 and 22 as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. For convenience, like reference numerals will be used in FIGS. 5 and 6 to designate like parts appearing in FIGS. l, 2 and 3 and it will further be understood that the extension member 66 is identical to the member 65 which will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

Like the stud 40, the extension member 65 has a web portion 67 with

marginal flange portions

68 and 69. The extension member 65 is slidably retained in the upper extremity of stud 40 by interlocking coaction between the

flanges

68 and 69 thereof and reversely folded edges 70 and 71 of

anges

51 and 52 respectively of stud 4t?. In the preferred embodiment shown,

flanges

63 and 69 diverge slightly toward their free edges so that when inserted from the free upper extremity of stud 40 the diverging

flanges

68 and 69 will be slightly compressed by

flanges

51 and 52 of the stud 40.

Extension member 65 is also provided with a cut-out portion 72 in its web 67 dening legs 73 and 74 which are adapted to embrace frame member 16 and coact therewith when extended to restrain lateral movement of stud 40. When the

extension members

65 and 66 are retracted, stud member 46 may be displaced laterally and disengaged from frame 16. A laterally displaced portion of the web 67 at the inner extremity of the cut-out portion 72 coacts to limit extension 0f member 65 as well as to restrain lateral movement of stud 40 in the plane of the supported panels. Stop 75 may be reversely deformed from the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 so as to form an abutment for slidable member 65 against the corresponding cut-out portion 62 or 63 (FIG. 9) in web 50. In such position, the stop member 75 will not only serve to limit the amount of extension of slidable member 65 by abutment against frame member 16, but will also limit the extent of retraction of slidable member 65 by abutment against web 56. In order to facilitate sliding of

extension members

65 and 66, the

iianges

68 and 69 may be provided with apertures S6 and 81 respectively to receive a nail or other such tool by which the person installing the partition system may readily release stud member 40 with respect to frame member 16. As hereinbefore noted, extension member 66 has the identical structure with extension member 65 Vand is slidably seated in the lower extremity of stud il for interlocking releasable engagement with frame member 22 in the same manner as described above with respect to extension member 65.

FIGS. 4, 7, 8 )and ll illustrate various ways of enhancing the structural features iof the present invention in order to achieve additional useful and decorative eects. FIG. 7 shows a borrowed light assembly; FIG. 8 shows a standard base land door jamb assembly; FIG. 1l shows the details of a preferred setting for a transparent member such -as glass in an `adaptor for coaction in a partition wall; and FIG. 4 illustrates the use of stud members of the type shown in FIG. 9 without the

extension members

65 and 66.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 4, there is here shown a stud member 4001) interlocked over frame member 22 01) and releasably retaining a panel member 10 01). In order to provide for retention of the baseboard member 3401), there is conveniently provided a clip 82 of substantially L-shape over which the baseboard member 3401) may be hooked for retention thereon. The arrangement of FIG. 4 may be employed to provide a fixed section or sections in a wall partition system.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the structures of the present invention to accommodate transparent panels. There is here provided a stud member 40(b) releasably retaining panels (b) and 12(11). At a convenient level, another frame member 82 having the same configuration as stud member 40, has been disposed along the upper edges of the panels at right angles to stud member 40(b). superimposed over the exposed web portions S3 and 50 of members 82 and 40(b) respectively, are glazing

molding members

84 and 85 each having the same cross-sectional conguration. Molding 84 is thus provided with a `web portion 86 having a grouting receiving groove 87 formed integrally therein. The marginal edges of the molding 84 have been deformed toprovide marginal flanges 88 and S9 (FIG. ll). Flanges S8 and 89 are preferably provided with reversely folded portions 90 and 91, respectively, which are adapted to be snapped under and retained by the reversely folded edges of iiange portions 5101) and 52.(b). Groove 87 is, as indicated above, adapted to receive and retain grouting, different forms of which are shown in FIGS. 7 and l1.

In FIG. 7, the plastic grouting is composed of a pair of similarly shaped extruded

plastic members

93 and 94, each of which has a land or shoulder 95 adapted to serve as a seat for the edge of a glass panel 96.

Grouting members

94 and 93 have a generally L-shaped cross-sectional configuration, and are so proportioned with respect to the groove 87 and the thickness of the glass panel 96 that when in assembled condition, the thickness of the glass panel 96 is such as to exert compressive forces on

grouting members

93 and 94 thereby insuring strong frictional retention of the assembly by the groove 87.

Vertical stud 400) is provided with an extensible member 6701) of similar web and flange construction to member 67 with the exception that it is provided with a web flange 7501) for seating against and bolting to web 83 instead of a eut-out portion 72 and legs 73 and 74 as shownin FIG. 5.

In FIG. 11, a different form of plastic grouting is shown wherein the respective pair of grouting members have different cross-sectional configuration, but which coact together and with the glass panel 9601) to ixedly retain the glass panel 9601) in the groove S7. The interlocking grouting assembly is composed of a first extruded plastic grouting member 100 having a web 101, a glass engaging flange 102 formed from one marginal edge of said web 101, a groove engaging flange 103 formed at an opposed marginal edge of said web 101, a longitudinal shoulder 104 parallel to said opposed marginal anges 102 and 103, and an intermediately'disposed iiange member 105. Intermediate flange 105, which is also disposed in parallel spaced relationship with respect to flanges 102 and 103, is provided on one surface thereof with a longitudinal ridge 106 which is adapted to engage in interlocking relationship with a corresponding ridge 107 formed on the flange 108 of the coacting grouting member 109. Coacting grouting member 109 is also an extruded plastic material having a generally C-shape and comprising a web portion 110, marginal boundaries of which have been bent to form opposed parallel spaced anges 111 and 108. Flange 111 is adapted to engage the opposite side of glass panel 9601) in clamping relationship with flange 102 of grouting member 100. When glass panel 9601) is in position as shown in FIG. 11, the thickness of the glass panel 96 01) exerts a compressive force against the anges 102 and 111 which in turn further insures the stability of the interlocking relationship between ridges 106 and 107 above described. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the free edge of ange 103 may be bifurcated as shown at 112 to improve retention by the side wall of groove S7.

As previously noted, FIG. 8 illustrates the manner in which the structures of the present invention may be employed to provide for a door or passage-way through the partition wall. Accordingly, there is shown a stud member 40(c) disposed against a generally U-shaped door jamb 120, the web portion 121 of which is provided with a shoulder 122 to form a stop for a door (not shown). Door jamb member is conveniently affixed to stud member 40 by any suitable means such as a metal screw 123. Instead of a screw 123, the member 120 may be aixed by folding over detents,

e.g. detents

55 and 56 in FIG. 9 to engage and retain flanges 124 thereunder.

Assembly of the movable partition systems of the present invention is extremely simple and provides one of the major advantages of the system in reducing cost and time of installation. Installation of a movable partition from ceiling to oor is easily accomplished by first installing

frame members

16, 22 and 24 as shown in FIG. l. Frame member 24 need not be used and frame member 22 may be bolted directly to the floor unless it is desired to include an electrical raceway 14. When parallel

opposed frame members

16 and 22 have been placed, a terminal stud 41 is put into place. The terminal stud may be like the stud shown in FIG. 9 or may carry

extension members

65 and 66 which are positioned to interlock with

frame members

16 and 22, respectively. Thereafter, panel support members 27 is superimposed upon frame member 22, and the desirable number of spaced members 30 seated therein in the manner hereinbefore described.

Panel members

10 and 12 are then placed in position in the assembly and additional spacer members 30 disposed along with the upper marginal edges of the

panels

10 and 12.

Panels

10 and 12 are then seated against the web portion of stud 41, being guided into proper position by means of

detents

55 and 56. At this stage of assembly, the double wall partition, comprised of

panels

10 and 12 resting in support member 27, may be rotated through a few degrees as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2 to displace the assembly from the ultimate wall line which the partition is to follow. This is convenient in the nal assembly of the closing partition section and enables the preservation of a completely uniform and decorative wall surface without special treatment to accommodate the extremities of a partition section.

Stud member 40 may then be emplaced and seated against the free vertical edges of

panels

10 and 12, respectively.

Extension members

65 and 66 are retained in their retracted position until stud member 40 has been properly located between

frame members

16 and 22, at which time, by means of a suitable tool, the

extension members

65 and 66 are extended to embrace

frame members

16 and 22. This operation is repeated until a multiple section partition wall is completed; use being made of the removable feature of the panel panel members in order to secure the final enclosure of the partition section. When the panels and stud members are all in place, final trim members 34 and 42 may be added to complete the partition wall systems as best shown in FIG. l.

As indicatedabove, the partition wall system of the present invention need not be used solely for the purpose of dividing a given area, but may be used also as a wall finishing system. For example, it may be ern-` ployed as a wall nishing system for a recreation room where the original wall surface is concrete block, brick or other material of construction normally found in the basement of a family residence. In such event, it is not necessary to use a pair of panels l@ and 12, only one such surface being necessary. lt should also be pointed out that the positioning of the detents need not be precisely that which is shown in FIG. 9. Instead of having transversely aligned pairs of detents as shown in FIG. 9, the detents may appear in staggered relation, such as by the utilization of detents S and 53 and the omission of detents S6 and S7. While it is desirable that the detents shall be alternately deformed to opposite sides of the web Sti, in the case of a terminal stud member the detents may all be deformed to the same side of the web 50. Likewise, where only a single panel is to be used, a line of detents along the

vertical line detents

55 and 57 of FIG. 9 may be used, and detents in the position shown for detents 55 and 5S of FIG. 9 are entirely omitted.

When it is desired to remove the wall or partition system of the present invention, the process of assembly is merely reversed, and since Afor most purposes there are no nails,vbolts or the like holding the parts together, disassembly is very quickly effected without damage so that the same parts can be reused in reassembly of the partition system at a new location. This is accomplished by retracting the

extension members

65 and 66 on the stud 40 in FIG. 1 and removing the stud 4t) from the assembly; followed by removal of the panels and other parts. If desired, sections of a continuous partition wall system may be selectively removed to form doorways or to be replaced by another section.

Other modes of applying the principle of this invention may be employed instead of those specifically set forth above, changes being made as regards the details herein disclosed provided the elements set forth in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed.

It is, therefore, particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as the invention:

l. In a movable partition system having a pair of frame members disposed in spaced parallel relation, a second pair of frame members disposed in parallel spaced relation transverse to said rst pair of frame members and coacting therewith to form a regular geometric frame assembly adapted tot receive and removably support a panel member therein, the improvement wherein each of said second pair of `frame members includes a web having bilaterally extending flange portions along at least one marginal edge and having integral means for releasably receiving and engaging opposite edges of said panel member, respectively, and means slidably carried at at least one extremity fof said each of said second pair of frame members for releasable interlocking coiaction with the adjacent member of said iirst pair of frame members, said movable interlocking means including a member having a web including a cut-out portion of the web adapted to receive and engage the adjacent fname member of said first pair of frame members and coacting when extended to restrain movement transverse to the plane of said partition and when retracted to permit movement transverse to said plane.

2. The movable partition system of claim 1 wherein said releasable panel engaging means includes integral resilient detent means formed from said webs in spaced relation to each other along la `line parallel to the flange portions and spaced therefrom a distance at the Web substantially equal to the thickness of a panel member, each said detent means being deformed towards its extremity away from the adjacent flange portion to increase the spacing therebetween and thereby coact resiliently to guide the edge of a panel into seating engagement against the web.

3. In a movable partition system having a pair of frame .members disposed in spaced parallel relation, a

second pair of frame members disposed in spaced parallel relation transverse to said first pair of frame members and coacting therewith to form a regular geometric frame assembly adapted to receive and support a pair of panels in spaced parallel planes therein, the improvement which comprises each of said second pair of frame members including a web having parallel bilaterally extending flange portions along opposite marginal edges of the web and having integral means for releasably receiving and engaging opposite edges of each of said panel members, respectively, the panel engaging means on each of said second pair of frame members being spaced apart transverse to the plane of said panels to maintain said panels in spaced relation, and means slidably carried at each extremity of said at least one of said second pair of frame members for releasable interlocking coaction with the corresponding members of said first pair, each of said slidable interlocking means including a member having a web including a cut-out portion of the web adapted to receive land engage the adjacent frame member of said first pair of frame members and coacting when extended to restrain movement out of the plane of the partition and to provide a rigid panel supporting frame adapted to be movable disassembled npon release of said movable interlocking means.

4. The movable partition system of claim 3 wherein said releasable panel engaging means includes a plurality of integral detent means formed from said webs each in spaced relation from each other along lines parmlel to each of the corresponding ilange portions and spaced therefrom a distance at the web substantially equal to the thickness of the corresponding panel, said detent means each lbeing deformed towards their extremities away from the corresponding flange portions to increase the spacing therebetween and thereby coact to guide the edge of the corresponding panel into seating engagement against the web.

5. The movable partition system of claim 4 wherein said movable interlocking means includes a member having a web with flange portions at the marginal edges slidably seated on each extremity of said at least one of said second pair of frame members, said slidable members each having a cut-out portion of the web adapted to receive and engage the corresponding members of said rst pair of frame members and coacting when extended to restrain movement out of the plane of said portion and when retracted to permit removal of said at least one of said second pair of sai-d frame members and the panels from the formerly rigid fname assembly.

6. The movable partition system of claim 3 wherein said movable interlocking means includes a member slidably carried at each extremity of said at least one of said second pair of yframe members tand coacting Iwhen extended to restrain relative movement between said first pair of frame members and said at least one of said second pair of frame members, and when retracted to permit removal of said at least one `of said second pair of 'frame members and the panels from the formerly rigid frame assembly.

7. An extensible frame member for engaging and supporting one edge of a panel in la rigid frame assembly comprising a main web portion having parallel bilaterally extending marginal ange portions each monolateraliy extending parallel pair of which is adapted to coact as an abutment respectively for one side of a pair of panels disposed in spaced parallel planes, a plurality `of individual detent portions integrally formed from said web portion in spaced relation from each other along a line parallel to each flange portion and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the corresponding panel the detent portions adjacent each ange portion adapted to coact -as resilient abutments respectively for the other side of one of a pair of panels disposed 'm spaced parallel planes, yeach of said detent portions being deformed towards its extremity away from the corresponding flange portion to increase the spacing therebetween and thereby coact to guide the edge of the corresponding panel into seating engagement against the web portion, separate complementary slidable interlocking frame members and including a web having a cut-out portion of the web, and also including marginal flange portions slidably seated `in the main Web portion at at least one extremity and adapted to form a telescopically Yslidable extension thereof, the liange portions on said main Web portion having reversely bent edges for receiving and guiding the corresponding marginal ange portions on said separate frame members.

`8. The frame member of claim 7 wherein the web portion of each separate complementary frame member is bent out of the plane of the Web adjacent the innermost edge of said out out portion to provide a laterally extending stop member to restrain movement relative to a complementary frame member in a plane parallel to the plane of the web.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McElheny Feb. 27, Whittredge Nov. 22, Bohnsack Aug. 19, Snead Mar. 20, Robinson et al. Apr. 23, Manske May 7, Price Oct. 6, Venzie Apr. 27, De Vigier Apr. 22, Marshall Aug. 3, Englehart Sept. 4, Pollock Apr. 22, Levy Jan. 311, Foster May 30, Bohnsack Feb. 6,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 13,

Claims

1. IN A MOVABLE PARTITION SYSTEM HAVING A PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS DISPOSED IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION, A SECOND PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS DISPOSED IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATION TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS AND COACTING THEREWITH TO FORM A REGULAR GEOMETRIC FRAME ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND REMOVABLY SUPPORT A PANEL MEMBER THEREIN, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN EACH OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS INCLUDES A WEB HAVING BILATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTIONS ALONG AT LEAST ONE MARGINAL EDGE AND HAVING INTEGRAL MEANS FOR RELEASABLY RECEIVING AND ENGAGING OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID PANEL MEMBER, RESPECTIVELY, AND MEANS SLIDABLY CARRIED AT AT LEAST ONE EXTREMITY OF SAID EACH OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS FOR RELEASABLE INTERLOCKING COACTION WITH THE ADJACENT MEMBER OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS, SAID MOVABLE INTERLOCKING MEANS INCLUDING A MEMBER HAVING A WEB INCLUDING A CUT-OUT PORTION OF THE WEB ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND ENGAGE THE ADJACENT FRAME MEMBER OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF FRAME MEMBERS AND COACTING WHEN EXTENDED TO RESTRAIN MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO THE PLANTE OF SAID PARTITION AND WHEN RETRACTED TO PERMIT MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO SAID PLANE.