US3683100A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular wall and ceiling system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-11-04
•
Granted: 1972-08-08
•
Expires: 1990-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A suspended ceiling grid frame provides an upper support for prefabricated modular wall sections or panels that can be connected to the grid frame in different arrangements to provide the desired floor plan. An interfacing means on the top edges of the wall sections or panels secures them in place to the ceiling grid frame and allows the wall panels to be installed or removed rapidly with a minimum of labor. Electrical power lines and audio or video signal communication cables located above the ceiling grid may be connected to the interfacing means so that power or signal energy can be supplied to particular wall sections or panels capable of transmitting both signal and power energy from their interfacing means to either predesignated or randomly located outlets on the sides of the wall sections.
Inventors
- 👤 John V Deal
- 👤 Clive Nall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B3/00; H04B3/54; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H04B2203/00; H04B2203/54; H04B2203/5404; H04B2203/5416; H04B2203/5429; H04B2203/5441; H04B2203/5445; H04B2203/545; H04B2203/5462; H04B2203/5483; H04B2203/5491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In a building having structural sidewalls and a ceiling, an internal, changeable wall system comprising: a ceiling grid frame suspended at a predetermined distance downwardly from and supported by the building ceiling and to one or more of its structural walls, said grid frame being comprised of rigid members having a series of longitudinally spaced apart openings; a plurality of prefabricated wall panel members attached at predetermined locations to said grid frame to form vertical walls of space dividers in accordance with a desired floor plan, said wall panels having generally hollow cylindrical connector means mounted on and projecting upwardly from their top edge and expanding through said openings in said grid members, and means removably engaging said connector means for securing said panels to said grid frame but enabling them to be removed when it becomes necessary to alter the building floor plan.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a building having structural sidewalls and a ceiling, an internal, changeable wall system comprising: a ceiling grid frame suspended at a predetermined distance downwardly from and supported by the building ceiling and to one or more of its structural walls, said grid frame being comprised of rigid members having a series of longitudinally spaced apart openings; a plurality of prefabricated wall panel members attached at predetermined locations to said grid frame to form vertical walls of space dividers in accordance with a desired floor plan, said wall panels having generally hollow cylindrical connector means mounted on and projecting upwardly from their top edge and expanding through said openings in said grid members, and means removably engaging said connector means for securing said panels to said grid frame but enabling them to be removed when it becomes necessary to alter the building floor plan.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said frame members are metallic members having a pair of spaced apart vertical side portions interconnected by a horizontal web portion provided with said spaced apart openings, and horizontal flange portions extending outwardly from said side portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as described in claim 2 including ceiling panels and light fixtures supported on said horizontal flange portions of said metallic ceiling frame members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said panel comprises a pair of spaced apart outer skin members of rigid material fastened to peripheral frame members in a rectangular configuration, filler material within said frame members and between said skin members, and a rigid top edge member forming a longitudinal recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system as described in claim 3 wherein said top edge member is a rigid metallic member having vertical sides that lie flush against said outer skin members and a connecting horizontal web portion through which said connector means project.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system as described in claim 3 wherein said connector means on each said panel, each have a barrel portion with external threads, a tapered upper end, a nut threaded to said barrel portion and bearing against a ceiling frame member, and base means for said barrel portion anchored to said panel frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system as described in claim 3 including rigid metal edge members fixed to the adjoining vertical edges of two said panels, said edge members including central portions between vertical flanges forming a recess, and a vertical strip of resiliently yieldable material within said recess forming an acoustical joint between the adjoining panels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as described in claim 1 including a yieldable, resiliently deformable strip member between the top edge of each wall panel and the grid frame member to which it is connected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system as described in claim 1 including electrical receptacle means on the top edge of said wall panels, cable means above said ceiling grid frame for transmitting electrical power and having junction means for connecting it to said electrical receptacle means, and conductive core means within said wall panel for interconnecting said electrical receptacle means with an electrical outlet fixed to an outer surface of the panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as described in claim 9 wherein said electrical receptacle means and said connector means both are combined in generally cylindrical members that project upwardly from the top edge of each wall panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
A ceiling and wall system for buildings comprising: a grid of interconnected frame members adapted to be suspended above the building floor; cable means above said ceiling structure for supplying electrical power; a series of upright prefabricated demountable wall sections and connector means at the upper end of each wall section for attaching it to one of said frame members and for also connecting it to said cable means; means for transmitting electrical power through said wall sections; and electrical outlet means attached to the side of said panel sections for extracting electrical power originating from said cable means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
A ceiling and wall system for buildings comprising: a grid of interconnected frame members adapted to be suspended above the building floor; cable means above said ceiling structure for supplying electrical power; a series of upright prefabricated demountable wall sections and connector means at the upper end of each wall section for attaching it to one of said frame members and for also connecting it to said cable means; means for transmitting electrical power through said wall sections; and electrical outlet means attached to the side of said panel sections for extracting electrical power originating from said cable means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
115 words
A ceiling and wall electrical power and signal distribution system for buildings comprising: a gridlike ceiling structure comprised of interconnected frame members adapted to be suspended above the building floor; conduit means above said ceiling structure for supplying electrical power and signal energy; a series of upright wall members and connector means at the upper end of said wall member for attaching it to one of said frame members and including receptacle means for electrically coupling it to said conduit means; means for transmitting electrical power and signal energy internally through said wall members; and electrical outlet means attached to the side of said wall members for extracting electrical power originating from said conduit means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
A ceiling and wall electrical power and signal distribution system for buildings comprising: a gridlike ceiling structure comprised of interconnected frame members adapted to be suspended above the building floor; conduit means above said ceiling structure for supplying electrical power and signal energy; a series of upright wall members and connector means at the upper end of said wall member for attaching it to one of said frame members and including receptacle means for electrically coupling it to said conduit means; means for transmitting electrical power and signal energy internally through said wall members; and electrical outlet means attached to the side of said wall members for extracting electrical power originating from said conduit means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system as described in claim 12 wherein said wall member is a prefabricated wall panel having spaced apart outer sheet members, and said means for transmitting power and signal energy through said member is a central planar conductIve member covering an extensive area between said sheet members, so that said outlet means may be located anywhere within an area defined by said extensive area for extracting power or signal energy from said panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as described in claim 13 wherein said central planar conductive member has an area less than one-half of the panel itself and is located near the lower end thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system as described in claim 13 wherein said connector means for attaching each wall panel comprises a plurality of spaced apart cylindrical receptacles on the top edge of said wall panel, which extend upwardly through openings in said ceiling grid members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as described in claim 14 wherein said receptacles are generally cylindrical with external threads and a tapered upper end supporting a coaxial cable connector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as described in claim 15 wherein said conduit means includes a junction unit with coaxial connectors for said conduit means and said cylindrical receptacle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system as described in claim 16 wherein said junction unit includes a coupling capacitor for transmitting signal energy and a choke coil for transmitting low frequency power from said conduit means to said receptacle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system as described in claim 14 wherein said central planar conductive member is supported within a tank-like enclosure formed by thin walls of conductive material and located between outer structural skins of said wall panel, and a coaxial cable section connected from one said receptacle to said central planar member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as described in claim 19 wherein said coaxial cable section has a conductive outer shield which is grounded to said tank-like enclosure and a central core fixed to said central planar member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as described in claim 19 including layers of dielectric material within said tank-like enclosure on opposite sides of said central planar member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system as described in claim 21 wherein said electrical outlet means includes a signal outlet receptacle comprised of a monopole probe extending through an exterior skin of a said wall panel through an insulated opening in a wall of said tank-like enclosure and into said dielectric material, with its end spaced from said central planar member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system as described in claim 21 wherein said electrical outlet means includes a first conductor extending through an exterior skin, through an insulated opening on a wall of said tank-like enclosure and into contact with said central planar member, and a second conductor extending through an exterior skin and contacting a wall of said tank-like enclosure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
A prefabricated wall panel adapted for connection with a ceiling grid frame installed in a building comprising: a series of rigid frame members near the edges of said panel; a pair of parallel spaced apart external sheet members forming the sides of said panel and fixed to said frame members; a plurality of generally hollow cylindrical, spaced apart connector means fixed to and projecting upwardly from the top edge of said panel adapted to extend through openings in the ceiling grid frame for holding the wall panel in position thereon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
90 words
A prefabricated wall panel adapted for connection with a ceiling grid frame installed in a building comprising: a series of rigid frame members near the edges of said panel; a pair of parallel spaced apart external sheet members forming the sides of said panel and fixed to said frame members; a plurality of generally hollow cylindrical, spaced apart connector means fixed to and projecting upwardly from the top edge of said panel adapted to extend through openings in the ceiling grid frame for holding the wall panel in position thereon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wall panel as described in claim 24 including a rigid top edge member forming a longitudinal recess across the top of said panel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The wall panel as described in claim 26 wherein said top edge member is a rigid metallic member having vertical sides that lie flush against said outer skin members and a connecting horizontal web portion through which said connector means project.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
60 words
The wall panel as described in claim 27 wherein said connector means on each said panel comprises a plurality of generally cylindrical members, each having barrel portion with external threads, a tapered upper end, a nut threaded to said barrel portion and bearing against a ceiling frame member, and base means for said barrel portion anchored to said panel frame.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
133 words
A prefabricated wall panEl adapted for connection with a ceiling grid frame installed in a building comprising: a series of rigid frame members near the edges of said panel; a pair of parallel spaced apart external sheet members forming the sides of said panel and fixed to said frame members; a plurality of generally cylindrical, spaced apart connector means fixed to and projecting upwardly from the top edge of said panel adapted to extend through openings in the ceiling grid frame for holding the wall panel in position thereon, said connector means comprising a plurality of generally cylindrical members spaced apart and attached to the upper frame member of the panel, each cylindrical member also having means for connecting it to a coaxial cable supplying electrical power and signal energy to the panel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
133 words
A prefabricated wall panEl adapted for connection with a ceiling grid frame installed in a building comprising: a series of rigid frame members near the edges of said panel; a pair of parallel spaced apart external sheet members forming the sides of said panel and fixed to said frame members; a plurality of generally cylindrical, spaced apart connector means fixed to and projecting upwardly from the top edge of said panel adapted to extend through openings in the ceiling grid frame for holding the wall panel in position thereon, said connector means comprising a plurality of generally cylindrical members spaced apart and attached to the upper frame member of the panel, each cylindrical member also having means for connecting it to a coaxial cable supplying electrical power and signal energy to the panel.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
62 words
The wall panel as described in claim 25 including means located between said external sheet members forming a tank-like enclosure of relatively thin conductive material, a central planar conductive member supported within said enclosure, and a section of coaxial cable extending downwardly from one of said cylindrical connector members, through said panel and connected to said enclosure and said central planar member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The wall panel as described in claim 29 wherein said coaxial cable section has a conductive outer shield which is grounded to said tank-like enclosure and a central core fixed to said central planar member.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wall panel as described in claim 29 including layers of dielectric material within said tank-like enclosure on opposite sides of said planar member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3410042A
Cited
US3453790A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |