US5347778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Partition joining system
Assignee: Globe Business Furniture Inc
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Filing: 1993-04-07
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Granted: 1994-09-20
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Expires: 2013-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A system for joining partitioning panels is simple to assemble and take down while effectively concealing the inter-panel connections and maintaining visual continuity of the panels. Attachment fittings are provided at the top and bottom corners of each panel and plate-like connector brackets are used to connect the fittings and assemble the panels either in line or at an angle. Snap-on covers are provided for the top attachment fittings which conceal the connector brackets and form a visual continuation of finishing strips which extend along the top edges of the panels.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Bray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:13
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7422; E04B2/7425; E04B2002/749
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A partition joining system comprising a plurality of rectangular partitioning panels each having top and bottom edge, top and bottom corners, a first attachment fitting on each top corner, a second attachment fitting on each bottom corner, and an edging means extending along the top edge of the panel and terminating at said first attachment fittings, the system further including a plurality of plate-like top connector brackets, each top connector bracket for releasably attaching to the first attachment fittings of a pair of adjacent panels to connect the top corners of the panels together and a plurality of bottom connector brackets, each bottom connector bracket for releasably attaching to the second attachment fittings of a pair of adjacent panels to connect the bottom corners of the panels together and wherein the panels further include a removable cover for each first attachment fitting adapted to fit onto the attachment fitting over a top connector bracket and form a visual extension of said edging means when a pair of panels are connected together as aforesaid, wherein each panel includes a frame having side tubes open at the top and bottom edges of the panel, wherein the first attachment fittings and the second attachment fittings each are a press fit in a respective end of one of said tubes, and wherein each first attachment fitting comprises a hub portion fitted in a respective open end of one of said tubes, a flange portion at the top edge of the panel adjacent said edging means, attachment means on said flange for a top connector bracket and connector means on said flange for the respective cover.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A partition joining system comprising a plurality of rectangular partitioning panels each having top and bottom edge, top and bottom corners, a first attachment fitting on each top corner, a second attachment fitting on each bottom corner, and an edging means extending along the top edge of the panel and terminating at said first attachment fittings, the system further including a plurality of plate-like top connector brackets, each top connector bracket for releasably attaching to the first attachment fittings of a pair of adjacent panels to connect the top corners of the panels together and a plurality of bottom connector brackets, each bottom connector bracket for releasably attaching to the second attachment fittings of a pair of adjacent panels to connect the bottom corners of the panels together and wherein the panels further include a removable cover for each first attachment fitting adapted to fit onto the attachment fitting over a top connector bracket and form a visual extension of said edging means when a pair of panels are connected together as aforesaid, wherein each panel includes a frame having side tubes open at the top and bottom edges of the panel, wherein the first attachment fittings and the second attachment fittings each are a press fit in a respective end of one of said tubes, and wherein each first attachment fitting comprises a hub portion fitted in a respective open end of one of said tubes, a flange portion at the top edge of the panel adjacent said edging means, attachment means on said flange for a top connector bracket and connector means on said flange for the respective cover.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a bolt projecting from said flange and wherein the top connector brackets have respective ends with apertures for engaging over the respective bolts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flange of each first attachment fitting includes ridges on opposite sides of the bolt defining a channel therebetween to receive a respective top connector bracket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connector means on each said flange comprises snap-in fittings located on opposite sides of said channel and wherein the respective covers have complimentary internal snap-in fittings and a stepped peripheral wall defining a slot to accommodate a top connector bracket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second attachment fittings each include an adjustable glide with a threaded stem for levelling the panels in situ, and wherein the bottom connector brackets comprise connector plates with apertures to be received on the stems of adjacent fittings, each stem further including a nut for tightening a connector plate against a body portion of the respective attachment fitting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom connector brackets include at least one linear top connector bracket and at least one linear bottom connector bracket for connecting a pair of panels together in line and edge to edge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom connector brackets include at least one angled top connector bracket and at least one correspondingly angled bottom connector bracket for connecting a pair of adjacent panels together at a right angle along a vertical line at inner corner edges of the respective panels wherein a rectangular-shaped vertically extending gap is formed between adjacent vertical edges of the panels, further wherein the system includes a profiled filler strip for positioning in said gap, and slide-in key strip means for attaching the filler strip to the panels and further wherein the angled top connector bracket includes an integral cap to fit over the top of said gap and form a visual bridge between the respective covers and edging means of the adjacent panels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom connector brackets include at least one T-shaped top connector bracket and at least one T-shaped bottom connector bracket for connecting three of the panels together at a T-junction with a vertically extending rectangular gap formed between adjacent vertical edges of the panels wherein the system further includes a vertical profile strip for closing said gap and wherein the T-shaped top connector bracket has an integral central cap for covering said gap and forming a visual bridge between the respective covers and edging means of the adjacent panels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the profile strip has vertically extending ridges adapted to fit resiliently in vertical slots in opposite side edges of a pair of said panels to hold the profile strip in place.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom connector brackets include at least one cruciform top connector bracket and at least one cruciform bottom connector bracket for connecting four of the panels together in a cruciform configuration with a rectangular vertical gap formed between adjacent vertical edges of the panels, and wherein the cruciform top connector bracket has an integral central cap for covering said gap and forming a visual bridge between the covers and edging means of the adjacent panels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edging means comprise a plastic edging strip and the covers comprise plastic covers having a profile conforming to the profile of the edging strip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edging means comprises a plastic edging strip having depending limbs gripping a top tube of said flame therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
175 words
A rectangular partitioning panel having top and bottom edges, top and bottom corners, a first attachment fitting on each top corner, a second attachment fitting on each bottom corner, edging means extending along the top edge of the panel and terminating at the respective first attachment fittings, first attachment means on each first attachment fitting for receiving a plate-like top connector bracket for attaching top corners of a pair of adjacent panels together, second attachment means on each second attachment fitting for receiving a bottom connector bracket for attaching bottom corners of the panels together, and a detachable cover for each first attachment fitting adapted to fit on the attachment fitting over a top connector bracket and form a visual extension of the edging means, wherein each first attachment fitting comprises a top flange adjacent said edging means, wherein the first attachment means comprises a bolt projecting from the flange and wherein the flange includes connection means on opposite sides of the bolt for receiving complimentary snap-in connection means located internally on the respective cover.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
175 words
A rectangular partitioning panel having top and bottom edges, top and bottom corners, a first attachment fitting on each top corner, a second attachment fitting on each bottom corner, edging means extending along the top edge of the panel and terminating at the respective first attachment fittings, first attachment means on each first attachment fitting for receiving a plate-like top connector bracket for attaching top corners of a pair of adjacent panels together, second attachment means on each second attachment fitting for receiving a bottom connector bracket for attaching bottom corners of the panels together, and a detachable cover for each first attachment fitting adapted to fit on the attachment fitting over a top connector bracket and form a visual extension of the edging means, wherein each first attachment fitting comprises a top flange adjacent said edging means, wherein the first attachment means comprises a bolt projecting from the flange and wherein the flange includes connection means on opposite sides of the bolt for receiving complimentary snap-in connection means located internally on the respective cover.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
A panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein the panel has a frame including top tubes and side tubes, wherein the edging means comprises an edging strip having depending limbs embracing the top tube, wherein the side tubes are open top and bottom and wherein the respective first and second attachment fittings are fitted in the open tops and bottoms of the side tubes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A panel as claimed in claim 13, including ridge means on opposite sides of said bolt defining a channel for receiving a top connector bracket and wherein the respective cover includes a stepped periphery defining a slot to accommodate the bracket.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein each second attachment fitting includes a level-adjusting glide on a threaded stem which forms the second attachment means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
248 words
A partition joining system comprising a plurality of rectangular partitioning panels each having top and bottom edges, top and bottom corners, a first attachment fitting on each top corner, a second attachment fitting on each bottom corner, and an edging means extending along the top edge of the panel and terminating at said first attachment fittings, the system further including a plurality of plate-like top connector brackets, each top connector bracket for releasably attaching to the first attachment fittings of a pair of adjacent panels to connect the top corners of the panels together and a plurality of bottom connector brackets, each bottom connector bracket for releasably attaching to the second attachment fittings of a pair of adjacent panels to connect the bottom corners of the panels together and wherein the panels further include a removable cover for each first attachment fitting adapted to fit onto the attachment fitting over a top connector bracket and form a visual extension of said edging means when a pair of panels are connected together as aforesaid, wherein each first attachment fitting comprises a flange portion at the top edge of the panel adjacent said edging means, attachment means on said flange for a top connector bracket and connector means on said flange for the respective cover, wherein the connector means on each said flange comprises snap-in fittings and wherein the respective covers have complimentary internal snap-in fittings and a stepped peripheral wall defining a slot to accommodate a top connector bracket.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
248 words
A partition joining system comprising a plurality of rectangular partitioning panels each having top and bottom edges, top and bottom corners, a first attachment fitting on each top corner, a second attachment fitting on each bottom corner, and an edging means extending along the top edge of the panel and terminating at said first attachment fittings, the system further including a plurality of plate-like top connector brackets, each top connector bracket for releasably attaching to the first attachment fittings of a pair of adjacent panels to connect the top corners of the panels together and a plurality of bottom connector brackets, each bottom connector bracket for releasably attaching to the second attachment fittings of a pair of adjacent panels to connect the bottom corners of the panels together and wherein the panels further include a removable cover for each first attachment fitting adapted to fit onto the attachment fitting over a top connector bracket and form a visual extension of said edging means when a pair of panels are connected together as aforesaid, wherein each first attachment fitting comprises a flange portion at the top edge of the panel adjacent said edging means, attachment means on said flange for a top connector bracket and connector means on said flange for the respective cover, wherein the connector means on each said flange comprises snap-in fittings and wherein the respective covers have complimentary internal snap-in fittings and a stepped peripheral wall defining a slot to accommodate a top connector bracket.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the attachment means comprises a bolt projecting from said flange and wherein the top connector brackets have respective ends with apertures for engaging over the respective bolts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the flange of each first attachment fitting includes ridges on opposite sides of the bolt defining a channel therebetween to receive a respective top connector bracket.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second attachment fittings each include an adjustable glide with a threaded stem for levelling the panels in situ, and wherein the bottom connector brackets comprise connector plates with apertures to be received on the stems of adjacent fittings, each stem further including a nut for tightening a connector plate against a body portion of the respective attachment fitting.
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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) | 1997-09-19 | 1998-03-21 | 1998-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-19 | 2002-03-21 | 2002-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-19 | 2006-03-21 | 2006-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |