Patent US1986027A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4712336A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4712336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interconnecting "full bleed" modular panel and connective hardware system to form a variety of exhibit and office interior enclosures
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-08-25
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Granted: 1987-12-15
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Expires: 2006-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A modular "full bleed" panel system with interchangeable interconnecting elements for creating display booths, room dividers and the like. The system comprises a series of modular panels of different shape, construction and function, together with a series of modular connector elements adapted to interconnect with each of said panels to form any of a variety of highly stable structures which present a visually unitary appearance and in which the connector elements are not significantly visible.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce E. Backer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:07
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/0004; F16B5/0032; E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/343; E04B1/34384; E04B1/344; E04B1/38; E04B1/48; E04B1/49; E04H; E04H1/00; E04H1/12; E04H1/1272
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
323 words
A modular full bleed panel and connective hardware system for which a variety of structures with shapes characteristic of wall segments, booths and the like may be rapidly assembled, said system comprising: (a) a plurality of full bleed panels of modular dimensions which may be connected vertically and horizontally, each panel comprising: (i) a substantially rigid internal frame fully covered on its visible surfaces, said frame having two opposite vertical edges extending from top to bottom of the panel; (ii) channel means fully recessed in each of said two opposite vertical edges of said frame for use in interconnecting the panels, each channel means being formed with openings at either end thereof, said openings being at the top and bottom of said panel respectively, and positioned to enable longitudinal alignment of corresponding channel means of two panels aligned vertically and substantially parallel alignment of corresponding channel means of two panels aligned horizontally; and (iii) stop means as part of each channel means, said stop means being spaced a predetermined distance from said openings at either end of said channel means; and (b) a plurality of modular connector means each of which is adapted for insertion into adjacent ends of said channel means of at least two adjacent panels aligned vertically or horizontally; each connector means comprising at least two elongated, substantially rigid vertical post members and a horizontal plate member cooperating therewith, each said post member having an end adapted to extend into an open end of one of said adjacent channel means, the distance each post can extend into said end of said channel means being defined by said stop means; the other end of each said post member cooperating with said plate member, said post members extending respectively into said adjacent channels of said adjacent panels to provide positive, substantially rigid or hinged vertical or horizontal alignment of said two adjacent panels by connection only through the ends of the channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
323 words
A modular full bleed panel and connective hardware system for which a variety of structures with shapes characteristic of wall segments, booths and the like may be rapidly assembled, said system comprising: (a) a plurality of full bleed panels of modular dimensions which may be connected vertically and horizontally, each panel comprising: (i) a substantially rigid internal frame fully covered on its visible surfaces, said frame having two opposite vertical edges extending from top to bottom of the panel; (ii) channel means fully recessed in each of said two opposite vertical edges of said frame for use in interconnecting the panels, each channel means being formed with openings at either end thereof, said openings being at the top and bottom of said panel respectively, and positioned to enable longitudinal alignment of corresponding channel means of two panels aligned vertically and substantially parallel alignment of corresponding channel means of two panels aligned horizontally; and (iii) stop means as part of each channel means, said stop means being spaced a predetermined distance from said openings at either end of said channel means; and (b) a plurality of modular connector means each of which is adapted for insertion into adjacent ends of said channel means of at least two adjacent panels aligned vertically or horizontally; each connector means comprising at least two elongated, substantially rigid vertical post members and a horizontal plate member cooperating therewith, each said post member having an end adapted to extend into an open end of one of said adjacent channel means, the distance each post can extend into said end of said channel means being defined by said stop means; the other end of each said post member cooperating with said plate member, said post members extending respectively into said adjacent channels of said adjacent panels to provide positive, substantially rigid or hinged vertical or horizontal alignment of said two adjacent panels by connection only through the ends of the channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A modular system as in claim 1 wherein said stop means is in each channel means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A modular system as in claim 2 wherein said horizontal plate is adapted to receive at least two posts in parallel relationship thereby to interconnect at least two panels with respective channel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A modular system as in claim 3 wherein said horizontal plate member is formed with two holes each adapted to receive one of said post member therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A modular system as in claim 4 wherein said horizontal plate member is formed of two hinged portions, each portion formed with one of said holes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A modular system as in claim 3 wherein said horizontal plate member is formed with three holes each adapted to receive one of said posts therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A modular system as in claim 6 wherein said horizontal plate member is formed of three sequentially hinged portions, each portion formed with one of said holes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A modular system as in claim 2 wherein said elongated, substantially rigid post comprises a flat bar having longitudinal blind slots opening into either end thereof, said blind ends of said slots abutting said stop means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A modular system as in claim 8 wherein said bar has a substantially rectangular cross section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A modular system as in claim 9 wherein said bar has a maximum uniform width in its central portion and tapers to a lesser width at its extremeties.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A modular system as in claim 9 wherein said bar is formed with at least one protuberance which engages the inside surface of said channel to cause said bar to fit securely in said channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A modular system as in claim 8 wherein said stop means comprises: a stop member; and a guide member spaced down said channel from said stop member, said slot in said bar closely engaging both said stop member and said guide member thereby to maintain said bar oriented parallel to the longitudinal dimension of said channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A modular system as in claim 8 wherein said horizontal plate member is adapted to receive at least two said bars in parallel relationship thereby to interconnect at least two panels with respective channel means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A modular system as in claim 13 wherein said horizontal plate member is formed with two holes each adapted to receive one of said bars therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A modular system as in claim 14 wherein said horizontal plate member is formed of two hinged portions, each portion formed with one of said holes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A modular system as in claim 13 wherein said horizontal plate member is formed with three holes each adapted to receive one of said bars therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A modular system as in claim 16 wherein said horizontal plate member is is formed of three sequentially hinged portions, each portion formed with one of said holes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
A modular system as in claim 2 wherein said connector means further comprises at least one connector member being formed with at least two of said parallel, elongated, substantially rigid post member connected at one end thereof to said horizontal plate and adapted to fit within said channel menas to interconnect said panels with said channel means on two adjacent panels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A modular system as in claim 18 wherein said post member on said connector member are hinged with respect to each other but maintain a parallel relationship.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A modular system as in claim 18 wherein said connector member is substantially rigid and said post member maintain a fixed parallel relationship.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A modular system as in claim 18 wherein said connector member comprises three portions adapted to interconnect at least three said panels with their respective channel means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A modular system as in claim 21 wherein said three portions of said connector member are sequentially hinged.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A modular system as in claim 18 wherein said posts comprise flat rectangular bars having longitudinal blind slots opening into either end thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A modular system as in claim 23 wherein each said bar has a maximum uniform width extending over a portion of its length adjacent the blind end of said slot and tapers to a lesser width at the open end of said slot.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
88 words
A modular system as in claim 2 wherein said horizontal plate further comprises at least one horizontal plate formed with at least one opening adapted to receive one first said post member, and at least one second said elongated, substantially rigid post member connected at one end to said horizontal plate and extending therefrom and adapted to fit within said channel means on one said panel, said first post member being adapted to extend through said opening and fit within said channel means on two adjacent said panels.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
A modular system as in claim 25 wherein the portion of said connector to which said second post member is mounted is hinged with respect to that portion formed with said opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A modular system as in claim 26 wherein each said post member comprises a flat rectangular bar.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A modular system as in claim 27 wherein each said bar has a maximum uniform width extending over a portion of its length adjacent the blind end of said slot and tapers to a lesser width at the open end of said slot.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
63 words
A modular system as in claim 2 wherein said post member has one end thereof arranged at an angle with respect to the other end, either end of said post member being adapted to fit within said channel means on two adjacent said panels to maintain said panels at such longitudinal angle, said post member abutting said stop means in said channel means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A modular system as in claim 1 wherein said stop means is at the end of said channel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
61 words
A modular system as in claim 30 wherein said connector means further comprises at least one connector member being formed with at least two of said parallel, elongated, substantially rigid post member connected at one end thereof to said horizontal plate and adapted to fit within said channel menas to interconnect said panels with said channel means on two adjacent panels.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
A modular system as in claim 31 wherein said post member on said connector member are hinged with respect to each other but maintain a parallel relationship.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A modular system as in claim 31 wherein said third connector member is substantially rigid and said post member maintain a fixed parallel relationship.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A modular system as in claim 31 wherein said connector member comprises three portions adapted to interconnect at least three said panels with their respective channel means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
A modular system as in claim 34 wherein said three portions of said connector member are sequentially hinged.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
A modular system as in claim 31 wherein said posts comprise flat rectangular bars or cylindrical rods.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
45 words
A modular system as in claim 36 wherein said post comprises a bar having a maximum uniform width extending over a portion of its length adjacent the blind end of said slot and tapering to a lesser width at the open end of said slot.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
86 words
A modular system as in claim 30 wherein said connector means further comprises said horizontal plate member formed with at least one opening adapted to receive one first said post member and at least one second said elongated, substantially rigid post member connected at one end thereof to said horizontal plate member and adapted to fit within said channel means on one said panel, said first post member being adapted to extend through said opening and fit within said channel means on two adjacent said panels.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
A modular system as in claim 38 wherein the portion of said plate to which said second post member is mounted is hinged with respect to that portion formed with said opening.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
A modular system as in claim 39 wherein each said post member comprises a flat rectangular bar or cylindrical rod.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
46 words
A modular system as in claim 40 wherein said post member comprises a bar having a maximum uniform width extending over a portion of its length adjacent the blind end of said slot and tapering to a lesser width at the open end of said slot.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
A modular system as in claim 1 wherein said panel includes means to pass electrical conduit therethrough.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
A modular system as in claim 42 wherein said panel is divided into upper and lower chambers to allow two different electrical systems to use the panel without interference.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
A modular system as in claim 42 wherein said panel has at least one hinged or removable surface to provide access to the panel interior.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-14 | 1991-06-15 | 1991-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-14 | 1995-06-15 | 1995-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-14 | 1999-06-15 | 1999-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |