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US3871144A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Modular environment structuring apparatus
Assignee: FORM SPACE CORP
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Filing: 1973-09-28
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1993-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A modular environment structuring apparatus including post means, panel means and connector means is disclosed. The connector means is formed with a rigid, high strength, metallic connector portion which is adapted to releasably interlock with a high strength, metallic keyway. The connector portion further includes spacer and load bearing means adapted to space the post and panel from each other. The spacing and the construction of the spacer and load bearing means enables insertion of a load supporting bracket between the post and panel for support of the transverse shear load on said bracket by the spacer and load bearing means of the connector. The connector means is preferably formed as a metallic strip, which may be integrally formed with the panel or embedded in the side rail of a wooden panel, and the metallic strip has connector portions extending outwardly of the strip in aligned and registered relation to keyways formed in a tubular metallic post.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin Rudin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:36
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B57/00; A47B57/30; A47B57/40; A47B57/42; E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7433; E04B2/7437; E04B2002/7483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
In a modular environment structuring apparatus including a tubular metallic post, panel means and connector Means formed to secure said post to said panel means, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of rigid, high strength, metallic keyways formed in said post; b. a plurality of rigid, high strength, metallic connector portions extending outwardly from a common metallic strip forming said connector means, said metallic strip being carried by said panel means; c. said connector portions and said keyways being positioned in aligned and registered relation and formed for relative movement into and out of interengagement and being cooperatively formed to secure said connector portions in said keyways against removal therefrom under normal loading forces; and d. said connector portions being further provided with spacer and load bearing means formed to engage said post means and said panel means and to hold the same in spaced apart relation adjacent said connector portions, said spacer and load bearing means being further formed for support of loading forces applied by a bracket inserted between said post means and said panel means adjacent said connector portion and for transfer of said loading forces to said high strength metallic keyways and the remainder of said connector means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a modular environment structuring apparatus including a tubular metallic post, panel means and connector Means formed to secure said post to said panel means, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of rigid, high strength, metallic keyways formed in said post; b. a plurality of rigid, high strength, metallic connector portions extending outwardly from a common metallic strip forming said connector means, said metallic strip being carried by said panel means; c. said connector portions and said keyways being positioned in aligned and registered relation and formed for relative movement into and out of interengagement and being cooperatively formed to secure said connector portions in said keyways against removal therefrom under normal loading forces; and d. said connector portions being further provided with spacer and load bearing means formed to engage said post means and said panel means and to hold the same in spaced apart relation adjacent said connector portions, said spacer and load bearing means being further formed for support of loading forces applied by a bracket inserted between said post means and said panel means adjacent said connector portion and for transfer of said loading forces to said high strength metallic keyways and the remainder of said connector means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, said strip is formed as a U-shaped channel mounted to extend vertically along an edge of said panel with said connector portions being secured to the base of said channel and projecting outwardly of said edge and the legs of said channel extending toward and secured to said panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein, said legs of said U-shaped channel extend into slots in said edge of said panel and said base of said channel is mounted in a recess in said edge of said panel to a depth causing the outside surface of said base to be flush with said edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, said spacer and load bearing means on each of said connector portions is formed as a cylindrical portion positioned in abutting relation to said strip, and each of said connector portions further includes a neck portion of a diameter less than said cylindrical portion extending outwardly thereof and terminating in an enlarged head portion having a shoulder facing said strip and adapted for interengagement with an oppositely facing shoulder in said keyway.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein, head portion is chamfered at the front and rear edges thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 4 and at least one metallic bracket means is mounted between said post means and said panel means adjacent said spacer and load bearing means and adapted for and mounted in engagement with said cylindrical portion, said bracket means being formed with stop means to limit rotation about said cylindrical means, said stop means and said cylindrical portion cooperating to secure said bracket means to said connector means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |