EP0133269A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking mechanism for an office panel system
Assignee: Tandem Group Inc
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Filing: 1984-07-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A locking mechanism for joining first and second panels along facing sides, including a tubular member extending along the facing sides of the panels. A recess formed in each of the facing sides of the panels and with each recess of a depth to receive approximately half the width of the tubular member to have the tubular member substantially enclosed by the facing recesses. At least one locking member extending within each recess and with the locking members each having an enlarged head positioned within the recess. The tubular member including locking openings corresponding in number and position to the locking members and with the locking openings formed with an enlarged portion to receive the enlarged head of the locking member to have the enlarged head positioned within the interior of the tubular member. The locking openings formed with an elongated portion extending from the enlarged portion and with the width of the elongated portion smaller than the size of the enlarged head and with the tubular member moved axially to position the locking members within the elongated portions of the locking openings to have the enlarged heads captured within the tubular member to lock each of the panels to the tubular member.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman H. Bates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:59
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7422; E04B2/7425; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A locking mechanism for joining first and second panels along facing sides, including a tubular member extending along the facing sides of the panels, a recess formed in each of the facing sides of the panels and with each recess of a depth to receive approximately half the width of the tubular member to have the tubular member substantially enclosed by the facing recesses, at least one locking member extending within each recess and with the locking members each having an enlarged head positioned within the recess, the tubular member including locking openings corresponding in number and position to the locking members and with the locking openings formed with an enlarged portion to receive the enlarged head of the locking member to have the enlarged head positioned within the interior of the tubular member and with the locking openings formed with an elongated portion extending from the enlarged portion and with the width of the elongated portion smaller than the size of the enlarged head, and means for moving the tubular member axially to position the locking members within the elongated portions of the locking openings to have the enlarged heads captured within the tubular member to lock each of the panels to the tubular member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A locking mechanism for joining first and second panels along facing sides, including a tubular member extending along the facing sides of the panels, a recess formed in each of the facing sides of the panels and with each recess of a depth to receive approximately half the width of the tubular member to have the tubular member substantially enclosed by the facing recesses, at least one locking member extending within each recess and with the locking members each having an enlarged head positioned within the recess, the tubular member including locking openings corresponding in number and position to the locking members and with the locking openings formed with an enlarged portion to receive the enlarged head of the locking member to have the enlarged head positioned within the interior of the tubular member and with the locking openings formed with an elongated portion extending from the enlarged portion and with the width of the elongated portion smaller than the size of the enlarged head, and means for moving the tubular member axially to position the locking members within the elongated portions of the locking openings to have the enlarged heads captured within the tubular member to lock each of the panels to the tubular member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The locking mechanism of claim 1 wherein the tubular member is substantially rectangular and the recesses are also substantially rectangular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The locking mechanism of claim 2 wherein the tubular member is square.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The locking mechanism of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the locking members are formed as screws and with the panels formed with side rails and with the screws screwed into the side rails within the recesses formed in the side rails.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The locking mechanism of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enlarged heads of the locking members are formed as chamferred heads tapering back toward the recess from the largest dimension for the enlarged head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The locking mechanism of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongated portions of the locking openings are tapered to have the enlarged heads wedged into the elongated portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The locking mechanism of any one of the preceding claims, including two locking members located at top and bottom positions and with complementary locking openings at top and bottom positions of the tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The locking mechanism of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for moving includes an integral nut positioned at one end of the tubular member and a bolt extending through the panels to engage the nut and provide axial movement of the tubular member as the bolt is threaded into the nut.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The locking mechanism of claim 1 additionally including an end joint member including substantially the same recess and locking member as the panel members for locking to and finishing off an end of a panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The locking mechanism of any one of the preceding claims, additionally including an angle joint member including substantially the same recess and locking member as the panel members on at least two sides at an angle to each other and with the angle joint located intermediate the panels to lock the panels to the angle joint member and thereby position the panels at an angle to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The locking mechanism of any one of the preceding claims, additionally including a T-joint member including substantially the same recess and locking member as the panel members on three sides each at right angles to the adjacent side and with the T-joint located intermediate three panels to lock the panels to the T-joint member and thereby position the panels to form a T-arrangement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The locking mechanism of any one of the preceding claims, additionally including an intersecting joint member including substantially the same recess and locking member as the panel members on four sides each at right angles to the adjacent side and with the intersecting joint member located intermediate four panels to lock the panels to the intersecting joint member and thereby position the panels to form an intersecting cross.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The locking mechanism of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panels additionally include a hinged bottom cover extending along the bottom edge of the panels to provide access to a bottom cavity extending along the panels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
The locking mechanism of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panels are covered with an outer fabric and with the facing sides of the panels additionally including flexible molding located at outer edge portions of the facing sides and with the outer fabric folded around the outer edge portions to cover the molding and with the outer fabric and molding lightly compressed when the panels are locked together by the locking mechanism.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The locking mechanism of claim 14, wherein the molding is located in additional recesses in the facing sides and with the molding extending past the recesses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The locking mechanism of claim 14 or 15, wherein the outer fabric is locked in position by bead members which lock the fabric within additional recesses in the facing sides.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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