US3794281A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wall panel lateral support assembly and locking mechanism therefor
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1972-06-19
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A locking mechanism for securing a lateral support to a free standing wall panel in which a plurality of T-shaped connectors extending from the lateral support engage a complementary plurality of spaced slots in a slotted standard affixed to the wall panel by containing the partitions between the slots in the bottom recesses of the T-shaped connectors. The T-shaped connectors are locked into the spaced slots by means of a latch mechanism which when rotated causes a finger detent thereon to engage the side of one of the partitions opposite that side of the partition engaging the bottom recess of the T-shaped connector to thereby securely lock the partition between the finger detent and the adjacent T-shaped connector.
Inventors
- 👤 R Munsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:37
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B91/00; E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A mechanism for securing and locking a lateral support member to a free standing wall panel which mechanism includes; a slotted post on said free standing wall panel, said slotted post including a plurality of equidistantly spaced slots of predetermined length having partitions therebetween; a bracket adjustably secured to said lateral support; a plurality of equidistantly spaced T-shaped connectors extending from said bracket, said T-shaped connectors being insertable into said spaced slots and constructed and arranged through relative movement to confine the partitions between said slots within one side of said T-shaped connector; locking means having a finger detent thereon associated with and movable relative to said T-shaped connectors to cause said finger detent to enter a slot adjacent to one of said T-shaped connectors to thereby lock said partitions confined by said one T-shaped connector between said finger detent and said one Tshaped connector thereby prohibiting further relative movement between said lateral support member and said free standing wall panel; and a clamping bar adjustably securing said bracket to said lateral support, said clamping bar having a reduced central portion which overlies and retains said locking means for relative movement with respect to said bracket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A mechanism for securing and locking a lateral support member to a free standing wall panel which mechanism includes; a slotted post on said free standing wall panel, said slotted post including a plurality of equidistantly spaced slots of predetermined length having partitions therebetween; a bracket adjustably secured to said lateral support; a plurality of equidistantly spaced T-shaped connectors extending from said bracket, said T-shaped connectors being insertable into said spaced slots and constructed and arranged through relative movement to confine the partitions between said slots within one side of said T-shaped connector; locking means having a finger detent thereon associated with and movable relative to said T-shaped connectors to cause said finger detent to enter a slot adjacent to one of said T-shaped connectors to thereby lock said partitions confined by said one T-shaped connector between said finger detent and said one Tshaped connector thereby prohibiting further relative movement between said lateral support member and said free standing wall panel; and a clamping bar adjustably securing said bracket to said lateral support, said clamping bar having a reduced central portion which overlies and retains said locking means for relative movement with respect to said bracket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said locking means is L-shaped in cross-section with said finger detent extending from one end thereof and the other end thereof forming an actuating lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
135 words
A locking mechanism for selectively locking a first member to a second member; one of said first and second members including a plurality of linearly aligned slots therein spaced apart by partitions of uniform length; the other of said first and second members having bracket means adjustably secured thereto by a clamping bar, said bracket means having a plurality of linearly aligned T-shaped connectors extending therefrom constructed and arranged to be received into said plurality of slots and be retained at least partially behind said partitions; and a latch mechanism associated with said T-shaped connectors, said latch mechanism including a projecting finger movable into one of said slots adjacent a partition edge on the opposite side of the partition from its retained T-shaped connector to thereby prohibit relative movement between said first and second members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
A locking mechanism for selectively locking a first member to a second member; one of said first and second members including a plurality of linearly aligned slots therein spaced apart by partitions of uniform length; the other of said first and second members having bracket means adjustably secured thereto by a clamping bar, said bracket means having a plurality of linearly aligned T-shaped connectors extending therefrom constructed and arranged to be received into said plurality of slots and be retained at least partially behind said partitions; and a latch mechanism associated with said T-shaped connectors, said latch mechanism including a projecting finger movable into one of said slots adjacent a partition edge on the opposite side of the partition from its retained T-shaped connector to thereby prohibit relative movement between said first and second members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A locking mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said clamping bar includes a reduced central portion which overlies and retains said latch mechanism to said bracket for relative rotational movement therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A locking mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said latch mechanism is L-shaped in cross-section with said projecting finger extending from one end thereof with the other end thereof forming an actuating lever.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA779813A
Cited
US2962132A
Cited
FR1439548A
Cited
US3353684A
Cited
US3601432A
Cited
US3625372A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |