US3516216A - Multisection hollow post construction - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1970 J, J, GALLQWAY 3,516,216

MULTI'SECTION HALLOW POST CONSTRUCTION Filed May 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 E25 IKE-=5 &f

JOA/A/ 1 652.4 owm United States Patent 3,516,216 MULTISECTION HOLLOW POST CONSTRUCTION John J. Galloway, Grand Blanc, Mich., assignor to The Engineered Products Company, Flint, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 3, 1968, Ser. No. 726,504 Int. Cl. E0411 2/62; E04c 3/32 U.S. Cl. 52731 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multiple section hollow column or post for supporting panel members and the like. The longitudinal sections forming the hollow post each have lug means on the exterior of the sections which engage and interlock with channel sections to form a self-supporting column or post. One or more of the channel sections is adapted to engage and support the edge of a panel member.

This invention relates to supporting columns or posts and more particularly to a hollow post formed from multiple interlocking sections.

In constructing glass panel partitions for counter tops and the like, it is usually necessary to provide several different types of panel support posts due to the various positions the panel members assume relative to the posts and depending on whether the post is an end post, corner post, intermediate post, etc. This requires the manufacturer and also the assembler of the panel members to carry a relatively large inventory of support posts.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a post which can be readily adapted to support panel members engaging the post at various positions about the periphery of the post.

Another object of this invention is to provide a post adapted to support panel members at various peripheral positions which can be fabricated and assembled from a. few standardized sections, thereby reducing the inventory requirements of the manufacturer and assembler.

Another object of this invention is to provide a post to support panel members at various peripheral positions which can be economically assembled from a few standardized sections.

Another object of this invention is to provide a post adaptable to support panel members at various peripheral positions having a few standardized sections which can be economically manufactured.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple section post construction the sections of which can be manufactured by piercing, shearing, and extrusion processes rather than machining processes and hence of economical construction.

Other objects and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description which discloses the manner and process of making and using the invention in the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out this invention.

In brief, the post of this invention is formed from a plurality of channel-shaped sections assembled to form a hollow column. Locking channel-shaped sections engage and interlock with lugs along the free edges of the post sections to provide a self-supporting post. The locking channel sections can be shaped to support a panel member.

Drawings accompany this disclosure and the various views thereof may be described as:

FIG. 1, a side elevational view of four posts each supporting a panel member or members at different peripheral positions on each of the posts.

FIG. 2, a sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3, a sectional view on line 33 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4, a sectional view on line 44 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5, a sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 1. FIG. 6, a sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 9. FIG. 7, a sectional view on line 77 of FIG. 9. FIG. 8, a sectional view on line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9, a vertical sectional view of a post according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings:

In FIG. 1, there is illustrated a partition comprising a plurality of posts designated generally as each with a cap 22 and a base plate 24 resting on a support such as .a counter top 26 and supporting panel members 28.

As shown in FIG. 2, when post 20 supports a single panel member 28 it is formed as a hollow column from two channel sections 30. Each channel section 30 is generally U-shaped with side walls 32 terminating in free edges 34. On the interior of each side wall 32 adjacent free edge 34 is a tab 35 forming a groove 37 which provides a mounting tab for base 24 as more fully explained hereinafter. On the exterior of each side wall 32 adjacent free edge 34 is a lug 36 which forms a reentrant groove 38. Channels 40, 41 with inwardly facing opposed ribs 42 engage reentrant grooves 38 to interlock with U- shaped sections 30 to forma self-supporting post. Locking channels 40, 41 preferably extend the full length of U-shaped sections 30 to cover and conceal the crack between free edges 34. Likewise, lugs 36 preferably extend the full length of channels 30 to provide maximum surface area contact between locking channels 40, 41 and U-shaped sections 30 for improved locking characteristics. Channel 41 is provided with flanges 44 which form a groove 46 to engage and support panel member 28, which for example may be a glass partition panel. As shown in FIG. 3, when post '20 is used to support two panel members 28 which are in line with each other two channels 41 are employed to look the two sections 30 together.

In FIG. 4, four generally V-shaped channel sections 48 with longitudinally extending and perpendicularly related side Walls 50 terminating in free edges 52 are interlocked by locking channels 41 to form a post 20 supporting four panel members 28. Each V-shaped section 48 is formed with a mounting tab 35 on the interior and a lug 36 on the exterior surface of each side wall 50 adjacent free edge 52. Lugs 36 form reentrant grooves 38 which engage and interlock with ribs 42 of locking channels 41 to provide a self-supporting post 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, one generally U-shaped section 30 can be assembled with two generally V-shaped sections 48 interlocked with one locking channel 40 and two locking channels 41 to form a post 20 for supporting two panel members 28 at a right angle to each other. Posts 20 of both FIGS. 4 and 5 ca nalso be used to support three panel members 28 by using three looking channels 41.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, base plate 24 is attached to the bottom of post 20 by self-tapping screws 54. Screws 54 extend upwardly through base plate 24 and engage the socket formed by opposed grooves 37 in inwardly extending mounting tabs 35 on sections 30 and 48; Locking channels 40, 41 and post sections 30, 48 rest on the top face of base plate 24 and panel members 28 extend through a slot 58 in base plate 24 to rest on support 26. Screws 54 also serve to urge post sections 30, 48 laterally away from each other and thus securely engage and interlock with locking channels 40, 41. Base plate 24 is mounted on support 26 by screws 56.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, cap 22 is provided with depending fingers 60 which slidably engage the inner faces of the side walls of post sections 30, 48. Fingers 60 are positioned on cap 22 so that there is a slight interference fit between fingers 60 and the inner faces of post sections 30, 48. A chamfer =62 is provided on fingers 60 to facilitate the entry of fingers 60 into post 20. This interference fit also urges post sections 30, 48 into a secure interlocking engagement with locking channels 40, 41. Preferably, post sections 48 and lockingchannels 40, 41 are formed so that there is a slight clearance 64 (FIG. 7) between the free edges of the post sections when the post sections and the locking channels are assembled in interlocking engagement. The slight clearance allows the post sections and the locking channels to be readily assembled and aligned before screws 54 and cap 22 are attached to the post sections to urge the sections into interlocking engagement.

It will be observed that the only types of sections required for the diiferent post constructions illustrated are generally U-shaped sections 30, generally V-shaped sections 48, locking channels 40 and locking channels 41. When lugs 36 and base mounting tabs extend longitudinally the entire length of the post sections, all of the components can be extruded from a metal such as aluminum which is relatively inexpensive when compared with machining operations. Hence the multiple section post 20 can be economically manufactured and assembled from a few standard, relatively inexpensive channel sections.

I claim:

1. A multiple section post comprising a plurality of channel sections each having a pair of side walls terminating in longitudinal free edges, said sections being assembled with said free edges of the side walls juxtaposed to form a hollow column, lug means on the outer face of each side wall adjacent the free edge thereof, channel-shaped locking members overlying the joint between said free edges and engaging said lug means for locking said sections together, mean forming an inward projec tion adjacent the free edges of each side wall, the projections adjacent juxtaposed free edges forming a socket therebetween and means extending into said sockets and tending to enlarge the sockets to thereby urge the channel sections into interlocking engagement with said locking members.

2. A multiple section post comprising a plurality of channel sections each having a pair of side walls terminating in free longitudinal edges, one of said sections comprising a generally U-shaped channel section having a base and two integral, longitudinally-extending and generally parallel spaced side walls projecting from said base, two of said sections comprising generally V-shaped channel sections each having two integral longitudinallyextending side walls disposed at substantially a right angle to each other, said three sections being assembled with said free edges of the side walls juxtaposed to form a hollow column, lug means on the outer face of each side wall adjacent the free edge thereof, channel-shaped locking members overlying the joint between said free edges and engaging said lug means for locking said sections together and means within said column urging said channel sections and said locking members into interlocking engagement.

3. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 in which there are two generally U-shaped channel sections each having a base and two integral, generally parallel, longitudinally extending, spaced side Walls projecting from one face of said base.

4. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 in which there are four generally V-shaped channel sections each having two integral longitudinally extending side walls at substantially a right angle to each other.

5. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 in which said lug means is an integral, longitudinally extending protrusion forming a groove the open side of which faces away from its associated free edge, said locking sections each having two integral, laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, opposed ribs projecting into said grooves for interlocking engagement therewith.

6. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 having a base plate closing one end of said column, said lastmentioned means comprising screws extending through said base plate and securing said base plate to said end of the column.

7. A multiple section post as defined in claim 6 wherein said base plate extends outwardly beyond the side walls of said channel sections, the outwardly extending portion of said base plate having openings therein to receive fastening elements for mounting said columns on a support.

8. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 Wherein said last-mentioned means comprises screws.

9. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned mean comprises screws extending axially into said sockets from one end thereof.

10. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said locking members includes a pair of spaced apart flanges extending parallel to said free edges and adapted to receive a panel member therebetween.

11. A multiple section post as defined in claim 10 wherein another of said locking members comprises a generally U-shaped channel having side walls with inwardly turned free edges engaging said lug means and having a base wall interconnecting the side walls of the locking channel and overlying the joint between the free edges of the channel sections.

12. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said sections comprises a generally U-shaped channel section having a base and two integral, longitudinally-extending, generally parallel spaced side walls projecting from one face of said base and two of said sections comprise generally V-shaped channel sections each having two integral longitudinally-extending side walls disposed substantially at a right angle to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 631,655 8/1899 Noble 52731 1,219,208 3/1917 Zahner et al. 52238 3,276,182 10/1966 Handley 52-731 3,312,034 4/ 1967 Steinmann 52731 3,349,532 10/1967 Dudotf 52238 X 3,358,410 12/1967 Dawdy et al 52-282 X PRICE C. FAW, J 11., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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