Reversible panel arrangement

Claim 2

A panel comprising a frame having first and second side walls formed parallel to one another and defining a space therebetween, and an edge member secured to said frame between said first and second sidewalls, said edge member comprising: first and second flat exterior planar side surfaces formed parallel to one another and defining a space therebetween; an elongated section having in cross section a first planar flat surface extending from one of said flat exterior planar surfaces of said edge member inwardly into said space and being inclined at an acute angle with respect to said one of said planar side surfaces, a second planar flat surface extending from the other flat exterior planar surface of said edge member inwardly into said space between said surfaces of said edge member and being inclined at an acute angle with respect to said other palnar side surface, one of said first and second planar flat surfaces extending inwardly from its adjoining side surface toward said frame and the other of said planar flat surfaces extending inwardly into said space from its adjoining side surface away from said frame, and a third planar flat surface forming with the planar surface extending away from said frame a male portion and forming with the planar surface extending toward said frame a female portion, said male and female portions engaging corresponding male and female portions of a identical edge member to guide said corresponding planar inclined surfaces into closely abutting relationship.

Claim 3

An edge member according to claim 1, wherein the apex of the male portion (104) incorporates a channel (108) in which a seal (132) is located, which seal, when two edge members are in abutment, seals the male portion (104) relative to the female portion (106) of a similar edge member.

Claim 4

An edge member according to claim 2, wherein a channel-shaped portion (113) is formed in the base of said female portion (106) within which the seal (132) on a similar edge member is in use located.

Claim 5

An edge member according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ribs (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124) extending from said edge member inwardly of said side walls such that the edges of sheets of material (128, 130) may be retained between adjacent ribs.

Claim 6

An edge member according to claim 1, wherein the elongated section comprises a web member (188), the male and female portions (104, 106) being formed on one side of said web member and elongated T-section channels (192) for use in mounting one or more shelf brackets (200) to the edge member being provided on the other side of the web member (188), said channels (192) having each an elongated opening (212) formed in a side surface of the elongated section between an end of the side wall and an end of an L-shaped arm extending from the web member (188) at a point spaced inwardly from the side wall.

Claim 7

An edge member according to any one of claim 5 or 1, wherein the elongated section has a hollow internal space (218) and the female member (106) has its planar surfaces converging toward an elongated opening providing access to said hollow internal space.

Claim 8

A panel according to claim 1, wherein said panel is suspended from an overhead track (28) by a trolley (30), said trolley (30) including wheel carriage means enabling the trolley to move in at least two directions, the wheeled carriage means being attached to a body (42) provided with an aperture (46) through which panel suspension means (48) pass to enable rotation of said panel through 360° relative to the track, the body (42) being designed to enable limited angular movement of said panel suspension means relative to the body.

Claim 9

A panel according to claim 7, wherein the body is a generally cuboidal body (42), each vertical side of said body having a wheel (52, 54, 56, 58) rotatably mounted thereto.

Claim 10

A panel according to claim 8, wherein two generally parallel shoes (64, 66) are fixed to the base of the body (42), the lowermost faces of the shoes being in a plane slightly above the plane formed by the lowermost portions of the wheels.

Claim 11

A panel according to claim 9, further comprising a locking means including an actuating member (70) rotatably mounted in said panel and carrying two rotary members (74), each rotary member (74) being connected to a lever (86) to longitudinally displace the same, said lever being connected for limited relative movement to a rod (90), the rod being connected to a seal assembly (34), spring means (94) normally operating to retain said lever (86) and said rod (90) in a relatively fixed relationship, the displacement of lever (86) causing a displacement of the rod (90), which extends the seal assembly (34) from the panel to contact the track (28) or floor (29).

Claim 12

A panel according to claim 10, wherein four lever/rod arrangements are provided, two to act on an upper seal assembly (32) near the ends thereof, and two to act on a lower seal assembly (34) near the ends thereof, the spring means (94) associated with each lever/rod arrangement being adapted to enable each sealing member to adjust to relatively inclined surfaces by permitting relative movement of the rod and lever against the force of the spring.

Claim 13

A panel according to claim 10, wherein said actuating member (70) is actuable by rotating it about its axis by inserting a key into the member through an aperture in said edge member (36).

Claim 14

A panel according to claim 10, wherein said actuating member (70) is operated by a key insertable in an appropriate aperture in the sheet(s) of material (128, 130) cladding the panel frame (10).

Claim 15

A panel according to claim 10, wherein the panel is a door (146) and the actuating member is operated by a door handle.

Claim 16

A wall comprising a plurality of panels, each panel having a frame with first and second side walls formed parallel to one another and defining a space therebetween, and an edge member secured to said frame between said first and second sidewalls, said edge member for each panel comprising: first and second flat exterior planar surfaces formed parallel to one another and defining a space therebetween; an elongated section having in cross section a first planar flat surface extending from one of said flat exterior planar surfaces of said edge member inwardly into said space and being inclined at an acute angle with respect to said one of said flat exterior planar surfaces, a second planar flat surface extending from the other flat exterior planar surface of said edge member inwardly into said space between said sidewalls and being inclined at an acute angle with respect to said other flat exterior planar surface of said other member, one of said first and second planar surfaces extending inwardly from its adjoining side surface toward said frame and the other said planar flat surface extending inwardly into said space from its adjoining side flat exterior planar surface away from said frame, and a third planar flat surface forming with the planar surface extending away from said frame a male portion and forming with the planar flat surface extending toward said frame a female portion, said male and female portions engaging corresponding male and female portions of a indentical edge member of another panel member to guide said corresponding planar inclined surfaces into closely abutting relationship.

Claim 17

A wall comprising a plurality of panels, each panel having a frame with first and second side walls formed parallel to one another and defining a space therebetween, and an edge member secured to said frame between said first and second sidewalls, said edge member for each panel comprising: first and second flat exterior planar surfaces formed parallel to one another and defining a space therebetween; an elongated section having in cross section a first planar flat surface extending from one of said flat exterior planar surfaces of said edge member inwardly into said space and being inclined at an acute angle with respect to said one of said flat exterior planar surfaces, a second planar flat surface extending from the other flat exterior planar surface of said edge member inwardly into said space between said sidewalls and being inclined at an acute angle with respect to said other flat exterior planar surface of said other member, one of said first and second planar surfaces extending inwardly from its adjoining side surface toward said frame and the other said planar flat surface extending inwardly into said space from its adjoining side flat exterior planar surface away from said frame, and a third planar flat surface forming with the planar surface extending away from said frame a male portion and forming with the planar flat surface extending toward said frame a female portion, said male and female portions engaging corresponding male and female portions of a indentical edge member of another panel member to guide said corresponding planar inclined surfaces into closely abutting relationship.