US3877191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector assembly and support post
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1974-05-07
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1994-05-07
Abstract
Abstract An improved connector assembly and support post for connecting and supporting one or more space dividing panels of a space dividing panel system in which the upper connector element includes a sloped bore which defines in combination with a threaded post cap a converging annular connector hook receiving slot. The lower connector element of the support post is of two part construction with limited relative vertical movement permitted between the two parts to adjust for variations in support poles and space dividing panel dimensions thereby providing a firm and rigid interconnection between the space dividing panels and the support post.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Munsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:34
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7433; E04B2/7438; E04B2/7444
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
309 words
An improved connector assembly and support post for connecting and supporting one or more space dividing panels of a space dividing panel system, said improved connector assembly and support post comprising: a hollow tubular body member of predetermined length, a first plug-like connector element fitted within and closing off the top end of said hollow tubular body member, said first plug-like connector element having an aperture extending axially therethrough, said aperture including a wider upper end portion tapering at a slight angle inwardly to a narrower threaded bore portion, a threaded cap including an elongated threaded shank portion constructed and arranged to be received in said narrower threaded bore portion of said first plug-like connector element, said threaded shank and said wider upper end portion of said aperture forming an annular slot, a second plug-like member fitted within and closing off the bottom end of said tubular body member, said second plug-like member having a bore therethrough, said bore having at least two internal surfaces of differing diameters, a lower connector member having an annular slot in a horizontal surface thereof, and an elongated stud forming the core of said slot and extending for a substantial distance beyond the horizontal surface defined by the top edge of the outer wall of said slot, said elongated stud having at least two external surfaces of differing diameters and being constructed and arranged to be received in and extend through said Bore in said second plug-like member, means on one of said different external surfaces of said stud and complementary means on at least one of said different internal surfaces of said bore interacting to prevent relative rotational movement between said second plug-like member and said lower connector member, and means on said elongated stud retaining said stud within said bore in said second plug-like member while permitting limited axial movement therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
309 words
An improved connector assembly and support post for connecting and supporting one or more space dividing panels of a space dividing panel system, said improved connector assembly and support post comprising: a hollow tubular body member of predetermined length, a first plug-like connector element fitted within and closing off the top end of said hollow tubular body member, said first plug-like connector element having an aperture extending axially therethrough, said aperture including a wider upper end portion tapering at a slight angle inwardly to a narrower threaded bore portion, a threaded cap including an elongated threaded shank portion constructed and arranged to be received in said narrower threaded bore portion of said first plug-like connector element, said threaded shank and said wider upper end portion of said aperture forming an annular slot, a second plug-like member fitted within and closing off the bottom end of said tubular body member, said second plug-like member having a bore therethrough, said bore having at least two internal surfaces of differing diameters, a lower connector member having an annular slot in a horizontal surface thereof, and an elongated stud forming the core of said slot and extending for a substantial distance beyond the horizontal surface defined by the top edge of the outer wall of said slot, said elongated stud having at least two external surfaces of differing diameters and being constructed and arranged to be received in and extend through said Bore in said second plug-like member, means on one of said different external surfaces of said stud and complementary means on at least one of said different internal surfaces of said bore interacting to prevent relative rotational movement between said second plug-like member and said lower connector member, and means on said elongated stud retaining said stud within said bore in said second plug-like member while permitting limited axial movement therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved connector assembly and support post as defined in claim 1 wherein said slight tapering angle in said first plug-like connector is approximately 12*.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improved connector assembly and support post according to claim 2 wherein the outer wall of said annular slot in said lower connector member also slopes inwardly at an angle of approximately 12*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
An improved connector assembly and support post according to claim 1 wherein means on one of said different external surfaces of said stud and complementary means on at least one of said different internal surfaces of said bore interacting to prevent relative rotational movement therebetween includes splines on the larger diameter bore in said second plug-like member and splines on the larger diameter external surface on said elongated stud.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
221 words
An improved connector assembly and support post for retaining and supporting a space dividing panel system comprising: a vertically disposed tubular body member; a first two part connector assembly secured to the upper end of said tubular body member, said two part connector assembly including an aperture extending through one part thereof having an upper tapering portion and a threaded portion, said second part being a threaded bolt receiveable in said aperture and adapted to secure a connector hook from a space dividing panel in said tapered portion of said aperture; a second two part connector assembly secured to the lower end of said tubular body member, one part of said second two part connector including a bore therethrough having at least two different internal diameters forming a shoulder at their intersection, the other part of said second two part connector including a base portion and an elongated stud portion, said elongated stud portion having at least two different external diameters and extending through said bore, said base portion having an annular slot in the upper side thereof surrounding said elongated stud, said annular slot being constructed and arranged to receive a connector hook from a space dividing panel therein; and means on said stud and said bore restricting relative rotational movement between said parts while permitting limited axial movement therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
221 words
An improved connector assembly and support post for retaining and supporting a space dividing panel system comprising: a vertically disposed tubular body member; a first two part connector assembly secured to the upper end of said tubular body member, said two part connector assembly including an aperture extending through one part thereof having an upper tapering portion and a threaded portion, said second part being a threaded bolt receiveable in said aperture and adapted to secure a connector hook from a space dividing panel in said tapered portion of said aperture; a second two part connector assembly secured to the lower end of said tubular body member, one part of said second two part connector including a bore therethrough having at least two different internal diameters forming a shoulder at their intersection, the other part of said second two part connector including a base portion and an elongated stud portion, said elongated stud portion having at least two different external diameters and extending through said bore, said base portion having an annular slot in the upper side thereof surrounding said elongated stud, said annular slot being constructed and arranged to receive a connector hook from a space dividing panel therein; and means on said stud and said bore restricting relative rotational movement between said parts while permitting limited axial movement therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improved connector assembly and support post according to claim 5 wherein the upper tapering portion of said one part and the outer wall of the annular slot in the other part of said second two part connector slop inwardly at an angle of approximately 12*.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improved connector assembly and support post according to claim 5 wherein said means on said stud and said bore means on said stud and said bore restricting relative rotational movement between the parts while permitting limited axial movement therebetween includes circumferentially disposed intermeshing splines on each of said stud and said bore and resilient clip means associated with the end of said stud remote from said base portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
141 words
A length adjusting post bottom adaptor for space dividing panel systems comprising: a first member adapted to be forcibly fit into the bottom end of a panel supporting post, a bore extending through said first member having at least two different diameters defining a shoulder at their intersection; a second member constructed and arranged to be received in part in said bore having a base portion and a shank portion extending centrally therefrom and an annular recess in said base portion surrounding said shank portion, said shank portion having at least two dIfferent external diameters defining a shoulder at their intersection, said shank portion being of greater length than said bore in said first member and, means on said shank portion and said bore cooperating to permit limited axial movement between said first and second members while restricting rotational movement therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
141 words
A length adjusting post bottom adaptor for space dividing panel systems comprising: a first member adapted to be forcibly fit into the bottom end of a panel supporting post, a bore extending through said first member having at least two different diameters defining a shoulder at their intersection; a second member constructed and arranged to be received in part in said bore having a base portion and a shank portion extending centrally therefrom and an annular recess in said base portion surrounding said shank portion, said shank portion having at least two dIfferent external diameters defining a shoulder at their intersection, said shank portion being of greater length than said bore in said first member and, means on said shank portion and said bore cooperating to permit limited axial movement between said first and second members while restricting rotational movement therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A length adjusting post bottom adaptor for space dividing panel systems according to claim 8 wherein said shank portion includes a circumferential slot therein adjacent the end thereof remote from said base portion, and resilient clip means is releasably retained in said slot forming a stop and preventing withdraw of said shank portion from said bore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A length adjusting post bottom adaptor for space dividing panel systems according to claim 8 wherein a plurality of serrations on the larger diameter of said shank portion intermesh with a plurality of serrations on the larger diameter of said bore to thereby restrict relative rotational movement between said first and second members.
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) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |