Modular room divider

Claim 2

A modular room divider comprising a plurality of interconnected divider modules, each of said divider modules includint an upstanding panel and two sets of hinge members, one of said two sets of hinge members being respectively fixedly mounted on said panel adjacent to each opposite side edge thereof, each of said sets of hinge members including two vertically spaced pairs of hinge elements, one of said vertically spaced pairs being female elements and the other of said pairs being male elements, the female elements at one side edge being horizontally aligned with the male elements at the other side edge and being located near the top of said panel, the others of said pairs of hinge elements being horizontally aligned and being located near the bottom of said panel, each of the vertically spaced pairs comprising a horizontally spaced pair of hinge elements respectively fixedly disposed adjacent to the two spaced-apart front and back surfaces of said panel, whereby one of said sets of hinge members is constructed and arranged complementary to the other of said sets of hinge members for coupling engagement to provide a pivotal coupling between adjacent modules, whereby each divider module may be simultaneously pivotally coupled at said two vertically spaced elevations to as many as two other divider modules at each side edge to form said room divider and to accommodate arrangement thereof in numerous different configurations.

Claim 3

The modular room divider set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the front and back surfaces of said panel is substantially rectangular with the opposite side edges thereof being disposed substantially vertically.

Claim 4

The modular room divider set forth in claim 1, wherein said panel has upper and lower surfaces each provided with a longitudinally extending groove therein, and further including upper and lower finishing strips for respectively covering the upper and lower surfaces of said panel, each of said finishing strips having a toothed attachment flange receivable in the adjacent groove for grippingly engaging said panel to securely hold said finishing strip thereon.

Claim 5

The modular room divider set forth in claim 1, and further including a plurality of terminal members equal in number to the free ends of the modules of said divider, each of said terminal members including an elongated body having two outer side surfaces spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the front and back surfaces of said panels, two spaced-apart hinge members respectively fixedly disposed adjacent to the two outer side surfaces of said terminal member, said hinge members being respectively constructed and arranged complementary to the hinge members on the free end of the adjacent module for engagement therewith, whereby the hinge members on the free ends of said modules may be covered and prevented from interfering with adjacent traffic.

Claim 6

The room divider module set forth in claim 1 and having two openings at the bottom of said panel respectively disposed adjacent to the opposite side edges thereof, a pedestal including a horizontally extending base having a flat bottom surface for supporting said pedestal on an underlying support surface and an attachment leg secured to said base intermediate the ends thereof and extending vertically upwardly, therefrom, said attachment leg being receivable in one of said openings in said panel for attachment thereto to support said panel a predetermined distance above an associated underlying support surface, whereby said divider module may be supported in a stable upright position on an underlying support surface by said support pedestal.

Claim 7

The room divider module set forth in claim 5, and further including an adjustable leveling member receivable in the other of said openings in said panel, said leveling member being extendable a variable distance below the bottom surface of said panel for engagement with the underlying support surface, whereby said leveling member cooperates with said support pedestal for maintaining said module in a substantially level upright position.

Claim 8

A modular room divider comprising a plurality of interconnected divider modules, each of said divider modules including an upstanding panel and a first set of hinge members and a second set of hinge members, said first set of hinge members being carried by said panel adjacent to one side edge thereof and including two vertically spaced pairs of hinge members, one of which pairs is male and the other of whiclh is female respectively disposed adjacent to the two spaced-apart front and back surfaces of said panel at vertically spaced elevations, said second set of second hinge members being carried by said panel adjacent to the opposite side edge thereof and including two vertically spaced pairs of hinge members, one of which pairs is male and the other of which is female respectively disposed adjacent to the two spaced-apart front and back surfaces of said panel at vertically spaced elevations, the female hinge members in said first set being disposed near the top of the panel and in horizontal alignment with and arranged complementary to the male hinge members in said second set, and the male hinge members in said first set being disposed near the bottom of the panel and in horizontal alignment with and arranged complementary to the female hinge members in said second set, whereby each divider module may be simultaneously pivotally coupled at two vertically spaced elevations to as many as two other adjacent divider modules at each side edge to form said room divider and to accommodate Arrangement thereof in numerous different configurations.

Claim 9

A modular room divider comprising a plurality of interconnected divider modules, each of said divider modules including an upstanding panel and a first set of hinge members and a second set of hinge members, said first set of hinge members being carried by said panel adjacent to one side edge thereof and including two vertically spaced pairs of hinge members, one of which pairs is male and the other of whiclh is female respectively disposed adjacent to the two spaced-apart front and back surfaces of said panel at vertically spaced elevations, said second set of second hinge members being carried by said panel adjacent to the opposite side edge thereof and including two vertically spaced pairs of hinge members, one of which pairs is male and the other of which is female respectively disposed adjacent to the two spaced-apart front and back surfaces of said panel at vertically spaced elevations, the female hinge members in said first set being disposed near the top of the panel and in horizontal alignment with and arranged complementary to the male hinge members in said second set, and the male hinge members in said first set being disposed near the bottom of the panel and in horizontal alignment with and arranged complementary to the female hinge members in said second set, whereby each divider module may be simultaneously pivotally coupled at two vertically spaced elevations to as many as two other adjacent divider modules at each side edge to form said room divider and to accommodate Arrangement thereof in numerous different configurations.

Claim 10

The room divider module set forth in claim 7, wherein each male hinge member includes a pintle, and each female hinge member includes a socket.

Claim 11

A modular room divider for partioning a room and mounting associated accessory equipment therein, said modular room divider comprising a plurality of interconnected divider modules, each of said divider modules including an upstanding panel body having two spaced-apart front and back surfaces, two hinging assemblies respectively connected to said panel body at the opposite side edges thereof, each of said hinging assemblies including an upright panel end member and a set of hinging members fixedly mounted on said end member, said panel end member being connected to the adjacent end of said panel body and having two spaced-apart front and back surfaces respectively disposed in use adjacent to the front and back surfaces of said panel body, at least one of the front and back surfaces of said panel end member being provided with a plurality of spaced-apart and vertically aligned mounting openings therein, the mounting openings in each end member being respectively disposed in use substantially in horizontal alignment with the mounting openings in the other end member on said module for cooperation therewith in receiving mounting members of the associated accessory equipment to support such equipment on said module, each said set of hinging members including two vertically spaced pairs of hinge elements, one of said vertically spaced pairs being female elements and the other of said pairs being male elements, the female elements at one side edge being horizontally aligned with the male elements of the other side edge and located near the top of said panel end member, the others of said pairs of hinge elements being horizontally aligned and being located near the bottom of said panel end member, each of the vertically spaced pairs comprising a horizontally spaced pair of hinge elements respectively fixedly disposed adjacent to the front and back surfaces of said panel end member, each of said sets of hinging members being constructed and arranged complementary to a corresponding hinging member on an adjacent module for coupling engagement therewith to provide a pivotal coupling therebetween, whereby each divider module may be simultaneously pivotally coupled to as many as two other divider modules at each side edge to form said room divider and to accommodate arrangement thereof in numerous different configurations while supporting associated accessory equipment thereon.

Claim 12

A modular room divider for partioning a room and mounting associated accessory equipment therein, said modular room divider comprising a plurality of interconnected divider modules, each of said divider modules including an upstanding panel body having two spaced-apart front and back surfaces, two hinging assemblies respectively connected to said panel body at the opposite side edges thereof, each of said hinging assemblies including an upright panel end member and a set of hinging members fixedly mounted on said end member, said panel end member being connected to the adjacent end of said panel body and having two spaced-apart front and back surfaces respectively disposed in use adjacent to the front and back surfaces of said panel body, at least one of the front and back surfaces of said panel end member being provided with a plurality of spaced-apart and vertically aligned mounting openings therein, the mounting openings in each end member being respectively disposed in use substantially in horizontal alignment with the mounting openings in the other end member on said module for cooperation therewith in receiving mounting members of the associated accessory equipment to support such equipment on said module, each said set of hinging members including two vertically spaced pairs of hinge elements, one of said vertically spaced pairs being female elements and the other of said pairs being male elements, the female elements at one side edge being horizontally aligned with the male elements of the other side edge and located near the top of said panel end member, the others of said pairs of hinge elements being horizontally aligned and being located near the bottom of said panel end member, each of the vertically spaced pairs comprising a horizontally spaced pair of hinge elements respectively fixedly disposed adjacent to the front and back surfaces of said panel end member, each of said sets of hinging members being constructed and arranged complementary to a corresponding hinging member on an adjacent module for coupling engagement therewith to provide a pivotal coupling therebetween, whereby each divider module may be simultaneously pivotally coupled to as many as two other divider modules at each side edge to form said room divider and to accommodate arrangement thereof in numerous different configurations while supporting associated accessory equipment thereon.

Claim 13

The modular room divider set forth in claim 9, wherein each male hinge element includes a pintle, and each female hinge element includes a socket, each of said sockets being constructed and arranged complementary to one of said pintles.

Claim 14

The module room divider set forth in claim 9, wherein each of said panel end members is removably attached to the adjacent side edge of said panel.

Claim 15

The room divider module set forth in claim 9, wherein each of said panel end members is substantially tubular in construction and generally rectangular in transverse cross section, each of said panel end members further including an end cap receivable in and closing the open ends thereof.

Claim 16

A room divider module for interconnection with associated like modules to form a modular room divider and to support associated accessory equipment thereon, said room divider module comprising an upstanding panel body having two spaced-apart outer side surfaces, first and second coupling assemblies respectively connected to said panel body at the opposite ends thereof, said first coupling assembly including a first upright panel end member and a pair of spaced-apart male hinge members carried by said end member adjacent to the upper end thereof and a pair of spaced-apart female hinge members carried by said end member adjacent to the lower end thereof, said second coupling assembly including a second uprighT panel end member and a pair of spaced-apart male hinge members carried by said second end member adjacent to the lower end thereof and a pair of spaced-apart female hinge members carried by said second end member adjacent to the upper end thereof, each of said panel end members being of hollow tubular construction and being substantially rectangular in transverse cross section, each of said panel end members being connected to the adjacent end of said panel body and having two spaced-apart outer side surfaces respectively disposed in use adjacent to the two outer side surfaces of said panel body, at least one of the outer side surfaces of each of said panel end members being provided with a plurality of spaced-apart and vertically aligned mounting openings therein, the mounting openings in said first end member being respectively disposed in use substantially in horizontal alignment with the mounting openings in said second end member for cooperation therewith in receiving mounting members of the associated accessory equipment to support such equipment on said module, the coupling members of each pair thereof being respectively fixedly disposed adjacent to the two outer side surfaces of the associated panel end member, each of said upper male hinge members being constructed and arranged complementary to one of sais upper female hinge members and each of said lower male hinge members being constructed and arranged complementary to one of said lower female hinge members, a support leg including a horizontally extending base member having a flat bottom surface for supporting said leg on an underlying support surface and an attachment member secured to said base member intermediate the ends thereof and extending vertically upwardly therefrom, said attachment member being receivable in the lower end of one of said tubular panel end members for attachment thereto with said base member extending laterally of said panel to support said panel in a stable upright position on the associated support surface, whereby said room divider module may be supported by said support leg in a stable upright position on an underlying support surface and may be simultaneously pivotally coupled to a plurality of associated divider modules to form a room divider and accommodate arrangement thereof in numerous different configurations while supporting accessory equipment thereon.

Claim 17

A room divider module for interconnection with associated like modules to form a modular room divider and to support associated accessory equipment thereon, said room divider module comprising an upstanding panel body having two spaced-apart outer side surfaces, first and second coupling assemblies respectively connected to said panel body at the opposite ends thereof, said first coupling assembly including a first upright panel end member and a pair of spaced-apart male hinge members carried by said end member adjacent to the upper end thereof and a pair of spaced-apart female hinge members carried by said end member adjacent to the lower end thereof, said second coupling assembly including a second uprighT panel end member and a pair of spaced-apart male hinge members carried by said second end member adjacent to the lower end thereof and a pair of spaced-apart female hinge members carried by said second end member adjacent to the upper end thereof, each of said panel end members being of hollow tubular construction and being substantially rectangular in transverse cross section, each of said panel end members being connected to the adjacent end of said panel body and having two spaced-apart outer side surfaces respectively disposed in use adjacent to the two outer side surfaces of said panel body, at least one of the outer side surfaces of each of said panel end members being provided with a plurality of spaced-apart and vertically aligned mounting openings therein, the mounting openings in said first end member being respectively disposed in use substantially in horizontal alignment with the mounting openings in said second end member for cooperation therewith in receiving mounting members of the associated accessory equipment to support such equipment on said module, the coupling members of each pair thereof being respectively fixedly disposed adjacent to the two outer side surfaces of the associated panel end member, each of said upper male hinge members being constructed and arranged complementary to one of sais upper female hinge members and each of said lower male hinge members being constructed and arranged complementary to one of said lower female hinge members, a support leg including a horizontally extending base member having a flat bottom surface for supporting said leg on an underlying support surface and an attachment member secured to said base member intermediate the ends thereof and extending vertically upwardly therefrom, said attachment member being receivable in the lower end of one of said tubular panel end members for attachment thereto with said base member extending laterally of said panel to support said panel in a stable upright position on the associated support surface, whereby said room divider module may be supported by said support leg in a stable upright position on an underlying support surface and may be simultaneously pivotally coupled to a plurality of associated divider modules to form a room divider and accommodate arrangement thereof in numerous different configurations while supporting accessory equipment thereon.