US4185422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Free standing wall
Assignee: Ready Metal Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 1977-10-03
•
Granted: 1980-01-29
•
Expires: 1997-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A wall structure for merchandise display in a retail store or the like that stands free of attachment to any fixed element of the building such as floor, ceiling or wall. The wall of the invention may be set up in a variety of forms such as rectangular, zigzag, linear, polygonal, etc., and comprises in all arrangements uprights providing corner units and spacer struts for supporting display panels. To said uprights are secured by quick-detachable means upper and lower stringers, the interconnecting elements being preferably in the form of simple channel members. The corner units comprise structural shapes with detachable corner covers to enhance appearance. Means for detachably mounting panel members is provided in the form of grooved channel members in opposed, spaced relation on the uprights. An important feature is great reduction in on-site labor, with consequent installation economies, made possible in part by welded units for corners and other upright assemblies to which top and bottom stringers may be quickly assembled and disconnected. In elongated wall structures where added structural support is desired, I provide extended, ceiling attachable uprights.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Radek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:07
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7422; E04B2/7425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A modular structural assembly comprising a vertical post having an attachment member adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof for connecting a horizontal stringer to each member, (a) said post comprising a bar of Z-shaped cross-section having a pair of spaced parallel walls with a diagonal web extending between the laterally displaced opposite edges of said walls, and transverse flanges extending inwardly from the opposite free edges of said parallel walls, (b) each of said attachment members comprising a short horizontal channel section, having spaced vertical flanges and a horizontal intermediate web, penetrating said diagonal web and integrally connected therewith at the intersecting joint adjacent to each end of said post and having limited lengths thereof projecting from the opposite sides of said diagonal web beyond said transverse flanges, (c) at least one of said lengths having a keying aperture in the diagonal web adjacent the free end thereof, and (d) a horizontal channel member adapted to be disposed in nesting relation with respect to each of said short channel sections, and having coupling means adjacent the ends thereof for detachable engagement with the keying apertures in adjacent attachment members on the same level to form upper and lower stringers between adjacent vertical posts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A modular structural assembly comprising a vertical post having an attachment member adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof for connecting a horizontal stringer to each member, (a) said post comprising a bar of Z-shaped cross-section having a pair of spaced parallel walls with a diagonal web extending between the laterally displaced opposite edges of said walls, and transverse flanges extending inwardly from the opposite free edges of said parallel walls, (b) each of said attachment members comprising a short horizontal channel section, having spaced vertical flanges and a horizontal intermediate web, penetrating said diagonal web and integrally connected therewith at the intersecting joint adjacent to each end of said post and having limited lengths thereof projecting from the opposite sides of said diagonal web beyond said transverse flanges, (c) at least one of said lengths having a keying aperture in the diagonal web adjacent the free end thereof, and (d) a horizontal channel member adapted to be disposed in nesting relation with respect to each of said short channel sections, and having coupling means adjacent the ends thereof for detachable engagement with the keying apertures in adjacent attachment members on the same level to form upper and lower stringers between adjacent vertical posts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said attachment members has a short portion of said channel section projecting from one side of said diagonal web and a longer portion projecting from the other side thereof, and wherein said keying aperture is in the horizontal web of said longer portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the intersecting joint between the diagonal web and short horizontal channel section is a welded junction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A plurality of modular structural units as defined in claim 1, disposed adjacent to and in alignment with each other to form the framework of a planar wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A plurality of modular structural units as defined in claim 2, disposed angularly with respect to each other and diverging from the juxtaposed short portions of said short horizontal channel sections to form the framework of angularly disposed planar walls, and a vertically extending cover between the outer walls of adjacent vertical posts and the inner juxtaposed sides of the posts adjacent to the transverse flanges for concealing the junctions between said angularly disposed attachment members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, including a bridging member extending between the juxtaposed short portions of said horizontal channel sections to reenforce the joint therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said keying aperture is of keyhole outline and the coupling member cooperating therewith is a headed bolt in threaded engagement with the web of said last-mentioned horizontal channel member constituting the respective horizontal stringer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including cover members adapted to be mounted on the opposite sides of adjacent vertical posts between the parallel walls thereof, each of said members having a depressed medial guideway for retaining the opposite vertical edges of a wall panel adapted to be disposed between adjacent vertical posts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the parallel walls of said vertical posts have a plurality of spaced vertical slots along the length thereof for the selective reception of shelf-supporting brackets therein, with said slots being clear of the cover members in engagement with said parallel walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lengths of said short horizontal channel section projecting from the opposite sides of said web are substantially equal, each being provided with a keying aperture therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
175 words
A modular structural assembly comprising a vertical post having an attachment member adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof for connecting a horizontal stringer to each member, (a) said post comprising a bar having a pair of spaced parallel walls with a transverse web extending therebetween, (b) each of said attachment members comprising a short horizontal channel section having spaced vertical flanges and a horizontal intermediate web penetrating said transverse web and integrally connected therewith at the intersecting joint adjacent each end of said post and having limited lengths thereof projecting from the opposite sides of said transverse web, (b) at least one of said lengths having a keying aperture in the horizontal web adjacent the free end thereof, and (d) a horizontal channel member adapted to be disposed in nesting relation with respect to each of said short channel sections, and having coupling means adjacent the ends thereof for detachable engagement with the keying apertures in adjacent attachment members on the same level to form upper and lower stringers between adjacent vertical posts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
175 words
A modular structural assembly comprising a vertical post having an attachment member adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof for connecting a horizontal stringer to each member, (a) said post comprising a bar having a pair of spaced parallel walls with a transverse web extending therebetween, (b) each of said attachment members comprising a short horizontal channel section having spaced vertical flanges and a horizontal intermediate web penetrating said transverse web and integrally connected therewith at the intersecting joint adjacent each end of said post and having limited lengths thereof projecting from the opposite sides of said transverse web, (b) at least one of said lengths having a keying aperture in the horizontal web adjacent the free end thereof, and (d) a horizontal channel member adapted to be disposed in nesting relation with respect to each of said short channel sections, and having coupling means adjacent the ends thereof for detachable engagement with the keying apertures in adjacent attachment members on the same level to form upper and lower stringers between adjacent vertical posts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2994413A
Cited
US3101817A
Cited
FR1311348A
Cited
US3272582A
Cited
US3416270A
Cited
US3513606A
Cited
US3712003A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-01-28 | 1983-07-30 | 1984-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-01-28 | 1987-07-30 | 1988-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-01-28 | 1991-07-30 | 1992-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |