Panel assembly including side caps and panel retaining means associated therewith

Claim 2

For panel assemblies of the type including a pair of panels arranged in spaced relation, combined side cap and panel retaining means comprising: a pair of longitudinally extending side caps; corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within one of the pair of side caps and the opposite corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the other of the pair of side caps, said panels thereupon being in the spaced relation; a plurality of retaining means disposed along the one and the other side caps and supported thereby, each of which retaining means includes a resilient retainer intermediate the corresponding panel edges disposed with said side caps; a corresponding plurality of operator adjustable means in cooperative relation with the one and the other side caps and the resilient retainers, and adjusted to spread the retainers for abutting the corresponding panel edges disposed within said side caps for retaining the panels in the spaced relation; the one and the other side caps each include an inwardly extending wedge having end portions terminating in slots and a centrally disposed clearance hole; the corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the one of the pair of side caps being received by the slots in said one side cap, and the opposite corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the other of the pair of side caps being received by the slots in said other side cap; the resilient retainers being supported by the wedge intermediate the corresponding panel edges disposed within the one and the other side caps, said retainers including a centrally disposed threaded hole in substantial alignment with the clearance hole in the wedge; and each of the operator adjustable means includes an adjustable screw extending through the wedge clearance hole and in threaded engagement with the threaded retainer hole, and adjusted to spread the retainer.

Claim 3

Combined side cap and retaining means as described by claim 1, wherein: the resilient retainers have opposite end members which abut the corresponding panel edges when the retainers are spread by adjusting the operator adjustable means; each of the panels includes a dimple on the inside surface thereof and a corresponding node on the outside surface thereof; the area of the side cap slot adjacent the outside panel surface includes a recess corresponding to the panel node; and the opposite end members of the retainers are received by the respective panel dimples and the corresponding panel nodes are received by the respective side cap slot recesses.

Claim 4

Combined side cap and retaining means as described by claim 1, wherein: the resilient retainers have opposite end members which abut the corresponding panel edges when the retainers are spread by adjusting the operator adjustable means; and the end members carry serrations for biting into the corresponding panel edges.

Claim 5

For panel assemblies of the type including a pair of panels arranged in spaced relation, combined side cap and panel retaining means comprising: a pair of longitudinally extending side caps; corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within one of the pair of side caps and the opposite corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the other of the pair of side caps, said panels thereupon being in the spaced relation; a plurality of retaining means disposed along the one and the other side caps and supported thereby, each of which retaining means includes a resilient retainer intermediate the corresponding panel edges disposed within said side caps; a corresponding plurality of operator adjustable means in cooperative relation with the one and the other side caps and the resilient retainers, and adjusted to spread the retainers for abutting the corresponding panel edges disposed within said side caps for retaining the panels in the spaced relation; the one and the other side caps each include a pair of extending side members separated by a base member; the corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the one of the pair of side caps being disposed near the extending side members of said one side cap, and the opposite corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the other of the pair of side caps being disposed near the extending side members of said other side cap; each of the retaining means includes a wedge supported by the base members of the side caps and a centerally disposed clearance hole, and the resilient retainer of the retaining means supported by the wedge, said resilient retainer having a centrally disposed threaded hole in substantial alignment with the clearance hole in the wedge; and each of the operator adjustable means includes an adjustable screw extending through the wedge clearance hole and in threaded engagement with the threaded retainer hole, and adjusted to spread the retainer.

Claim 6

For panel assemblies of the type including a pair of panels arranged in spaced relation, combined side cap and panel retaining means comprising: a pair of longitudinally extending side caps; corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within one of the pair of side caps and the opposite corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the other of the pair of side caps, said panels thereupon being in the spaced relation; a plurality of retaining means disposed along the one and the other side caps and supported thereby, each of which retaining means includes a resilient retainer intermediate the corresponding panel edges disposed within said side caps; a corresponding plurality of operator adjustable means in cooperative relation with the one and the other side caps and the resilient retainers, and adjusted to spread the retainers for abutting the corresponding panel edges disposed within said side caps for retaining the panels in the spaced relation; the one and the other side caps each include a pair of extending side members separated by a base member; the corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the one of the pair of side caps being disposed near the extending side members of said one side cap, and the opposite corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the other of the pair of side caps being disposed near the extending side members of said other side cap; each of the retaining means includes a wedge supported by the base members of the side caps and a centerally disposed clearance hole, and the resilient retainer of the retaining means supported by the wedge, said resilient retainer having a centrally disposed threaded hole in substantial alignment with the clearance hole in the wedge; and each of the operator adjustable means includes an adjustable screw extending through the wedge clearance hole and in threaded engagement with the threaded retainer hole, and adjusted to spread the retainer.

Claim 7

Combined side cap and retaining means as described by claim 4, wherein: the retaining means are unitary members having a wedge portion supported by the side caps and a resilient retainer portion having end members extending beyond the ends of the wedge portion; and the end members carry serrations for biting into the corresponding panel edges.

Claim 8

Combined side cap and retaining means as described by claim 4, wherein: the resilient retainers have opposite end members which abut the corresponding panel edges when the retainers are spread by adjusting the operator adjustable means; and the end members carry serrations for biting into the corresponding panel edges.

Claim 9

Combined side cap and retaining means as described by claim 4, wherein: the retaining means are unitary members having a wedge portion supported by the side caps and a resilient retainer portion having end members extending beyond the ends of the wedge portion; and the end members carry serrations for biting into the corresponding panel edges.

Claim 10

Combined side cap and retaining means as described by claim 4, wherein: the resilient retainers have opposite end members which abut the corresponding panel edges when the retainers are spread by adjusting the operator adjustable means; each of the panels includes a dimple on the inside surface thereof and a corresponding node on the outside surface thereof; the area of the extending side member of the side cap near the outside panel surface includes a recess corresponding to the panel node; and the opposite end members of the retainers are received by the respective panel dimples, and the corresponding panel nodes are received by the respective extending side member recesses.

Claim 11

For panel assemblies of the type including a pair of panels arranged in spaced relation, combined side cap and panel retaining means comprising: a pair of longitudinally extending side caps; corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within one of the pair of side caps and the opposite corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the other of the pair of side caps, said panels thereupon being in the spaced relation; a plurality of retaining means disposed along the one and the other side caps and supported thereby, each of which retaining means includes a resilient retainer intermediate the corresponding panel edges disposed within said side caps; a corresponding plurslity of operator adjustable means in cooperative relation with the one and the other side caps and the resilient retainers, and adjusted to spread the retainers for abutting the corresponding panel edges disposed within said side caps for retaining the panels in the spaced relation; the one and the other side caps each include a pair of extending side members separated by a base member; each of the retaining means includes a wedge having extending side members forming slots, said slots being in the spaced relation, and a centrally disposed clearance hole; the corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the slots; the resilient retainers of the retainer means supported by the wedge and having a centrally disposed threaded hole in substantial alignment with the clearance hole in the wedge; each of the operator adjustable means includes an adjustable screw extending through the wedge clearance hole and in threaded engagement with the threaded retainer hole, and adjusted for spreading the retainers to abut the corresponding panel edges disposed within the slots for retaining the panels in the spaced relation; and the side caps being disposed over the wedges, with the wedges supported on the base member of the side caps.

Claim 12

For panel assemblies of the type including a pair of panels arranged in spaced relation, combined side cap and panel retaining means comprising: a pair of longitudinally extending side caps; corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within one of the pair of side caps and the opposite corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the other of the pair of side caps, said panels thereupon being in the spaced relation; a plurality of retaining means disposed along the one and the other side caps and supported thereby, each of which retaining means includes a resilient retainer intermediate the corresponding panel edges disposed within said side caps; a corresponding plurslity of operator adjustable means in cooperative relation with the one and the other side caps and the resilient retainers, and adjusted to spread the retainers for abutting the corresponding panel edges disposed within said side caps for retaining the panels in the spaced relation; the one and the other side caps each include a pair of extending side members separated by a base member; each of the retaining means includes a wedge having extending side members forming slots, said slots being in the spaced relation, and a centrally disposed clearance hole; the corresponding edges of each of the pair of panels disposed within the slots; the resilient retainers of the retainer means supported by the wedge and having a centrally disposed threaded hole in substantial alignment with the clearance hole in the wedge; each of the operator adjustable means includes an adjustable screw extending through the wedge clearance hole and in threaded engagement with the threaded retainer hole, and adjusted for spreading the retainers to abut the corresponding panel edges disposed within the slots for retaining the panels in the spaced relation; and the side caps being disposed over the wedges, with the wedges supported on the base member of the side caps.

Claim 13

Combined side cap and panel retaining means as described by claim 9, wherein: the pair of extending side members of the one and the other side caps terminate in ledges; and the side caps are snapped on the wedges so as to be disposed thereover, and retained thereon by the ends of the extending side members of the wedges being adjacent the corresponding side member ledges.

Claim 14

Combined side cap and panel retaining means as described by claim 9, wherein: the pair of extending side members of the one and the other side caps terminate in hooked ends; and the side caps are slided on the wedges so as to be disposed thereover, and retained thereon by the ends of the extending side members of the wedges being received by the corresponding side member hooked ends.

Claim 15

Combined side cap and retaining means as described by claim 9, wherein: the resilient retainers have opposite end members which abut the corresponding panel edges when the retainers are spread by adjusting the operator adjustable means; each of the panels includes a dimple on the inside surface thereof and a corresponding node on the outside surface thereof. the area of the wedge side member slot adjacent the outside panel surface includes a recess corresponding to the panel node; and the opposite end members of the retainers are received by the respective panel dimples, and the corresponding panel nodes are received by the respective wedge side member recesses.

Claim 16

Combined side cap and retaining means as described by claim 9, wherein: the resilient retainers have opposite end members which abut the corresponding panel edges when the retainers are spread by adjusting the operator adjustable means; and the end members carry serrations for biting into the corresponding panel edges.