Interlocking frame construction

Claim 2

A tamperproof interlocking fRame construction for supporting a panel or the like comprising a pair of spaced apart posts, means along facing surfaces of said posts defining opposed channels for receiving opposite edges of a panel to be supported, a first rail member extending between said posts and defining a third channel for receiving a third edge of a panel, anchoring means for securing each end of said first rail member to a respective one of said posts, a second rail member extending between said posts at a location spaced from said first rail member and defining a fourth channel facing said third channel for receiving a fourth edge of a panel, connector means for securing each end of said second rail member to a respective one of said posts, and normally non-removable covering means for enveloping the otherwise exposed portions of said connector means to prevent tampering therewith and unauthorized removal of said second rail member, said anchoring means for each end of said first rail member including fasteners for securing said anchoring means to one of said rail members and said posts, the other of said rail members and said posts enveloping said fasteners upon being secured to said anchoring means to thereby render said fastener means normally inaccessible, said anchoring means further including for each end of said rail member an angle bracket, one leg of which is securable to said posts by said fasteners and the other leg of which includes along its side edges upwardly extending side portions which are lockingly engageable with inwardly extending shoulders at the mouth of a channel portion of said first rail member adjacent the end thereof for simultaneously securing said rail member thereto and enclosing said fasteners.

Claim 3

The interlocking frame construction of claim 1 wherein said means along facing surfaces of each of said posts defining opposed channels comprises for each of said posts an elongated channel member adapted to receive the edge of a panel and having a tongue extending longitudinally thereof and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the channel base, said tongue in cross-section flaring outwardly from said base to have a wedge shape which is slidably engageable within a complementary wedge shaped groove on said surface of its associated post.

Claim 4

The interlocking frame construction of claim 1 wherein said second rail member comprises an elongated bar having upwardly projecting side portions, and covering means for said connector means includes an elongated channel cover which is open mouthed with inwardly projecting reentrant flanges adjacent the mouth thereof and extends along said second rail member in covering relationship to said connector means at the locations at which said rail member is secured to said posts, the mouth thereof, said elongated bar side portions and said reentrant flanges on said cover having cooperating shoulders and grooves adapted to lockingly engage in a normally non-removable snapping fit to rigidly secure said cover to said bar.

Claim 5

The interlocking frame construction of claim 3 wherein one end of at least one of said posts is generally hollow for connection thereto of one end of said second rail member, said connector means being adapted to join concurrently to said post said end of said second rail member and the end of a similar rail member for an adjacent panel frame construction whereby said post and said connector means act as portions of both of said frame constructions.

Claim 6

The interlocking frame construction of claim 4 wherein said connector means comprises for each of said second and similar rail members a hanger having a first portion adjacent one end thereof secured to its respective rail member and a second portion angularly related to said first portion for insertion into said hollow end of said post with a side surface thereof frictionally engaging the interior surface of said hollow end, and a wedge having depending, opposed walls and adapted to be driven into said hollow end of said post between said second portIons of said hangers when both of the same are in said hollow end to force said side surfaces into tight frictional engagement with the interior surface of said hollow end, said opposed wedge walls and said hangers have cooperating projecting shoulders and recessed grooves adapted to lockingly engage when said wedge is positioned in said hollow end between said hangers to thereby hold said surfaces in tight frictional engagement and prevent withdrawal of said wedge.

Claim 7

A tamperproof interlocking frame construction for supporting a panel or the like comprising a pair of spaced apart posts, means along facing surfaces of said posts defining opposed channels for receiving opposite edges of a panel to be supported, a first rail member extending between said posts and defining a third channel for receiving a third edge of a panel, anchoring means for securing each end of said first rail member to a respective one of said posts, a second rail member extending between said posts at a location spaced from said first rail member and defining a fourth channel facing said third channel for receiving a fourth edge of a panel, connector means for securing each end of said second rail member to a respective one of said posts, and normally non-removable covering means for enveloping the otherwise exposed portions of said connector means to prevent tampering therewith and unauthorized removal of said second rail member, said means along facing surfaces of eahc of said posts defining opposed channels comprising for each of said posts an elongated channel member adapted to receive the edge of a panel and having a tongue extending longitudinally thereof and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the channel base, said tongue in cross-section flaring outwardly from said base to form a wedge shape which is slidably engageable within a corresponding wedge-shaped groove on said surface of its associated post.

Claim 8

A tamperproof interlocking frame construction for supporting a panel or the like comprising a pair of spaced apart posts, means along facing surfaces of said posts defining opposed channels for receiving opposite edges of a panel to be supported, a first rail member extending between said posts and defining a third channel for receiving a third edge of a panel, anchoring means for securing each end of said first rail member to a respective one of said posts, a second rail member extending between said posts at a location spaced from said first rail member and defining a fourth channel facing said third channel for receiving a fourth edge of a panel, connector means for securing each end of said second rail member to a respective one of said posts, and normally non-removable covering means for enveloping the otherwise exposed portions of said connector means to prevent tampering therewith and unauthorized removal of said second rail member, said means along facing surfaces of eahc of said posts defining opposed channels comprising for each of said posts an elongated channel member adapted to receive the edge of a panel and having a tongue extending longitudinally thereof and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the channel base, said tongue in cross-section flaring outwardly from said base to form a wedge shape which is slidably engageable within a corresponding wedge-shaped groove on said surface of its associated post.

Claim 9

A tamperproof interlocking frame construction for supporting a panel or the like comprising a pair of spaced apart posts, means along facing surfaces of said posts defining opposed channels for receiving opposite edges of a panel to be supported, a first rail member extending between said posts and defining a third channel for receiving a third edge of a panel, anchoring means for securing each end of said first rail member to a respective one of said posts, a second rail member extending between said posts at a location spaced from said first rail member and defining a fourth channel facing said third channel for receiving a fourth edge of a panel, connector means for securing each end of said second rail member to a respective one of said posts, and normally non-removable covering means for enveloping the otherwise exposed portions of said connector means to prevent tampering therewith and unauthorized removal of said second rail member, one end of at least one of said posts being generally hollow for connection thereto of one end of said second rail member, said connector means being adapted to join concurrently to said post, said end of said second rail member and the end of a similar rail member for an adjacent panel frame construction whereby said post and said connector means act as portions of both of said frame constructions, said connector means comprising for each of said second and similar rail members a hanger having a first portion adjacent one end thereof secured to its respective rail member and a second portion angularly related to said first portion for insertion into said hollow end of said post with a side surface thereof frictionally engaging the interior surface of said hollow end, a wedge having depending, opposed walls and adapted to be driven into said hollow end of said post between said second portions of said hangers when both of the same are in said hollow end to force said side surfaces into tight frictional engagement with the interior surface of said hollow end, said opposed wedge walls and said hangers having cooperating projecting shoulders aNd recessed grooves adapted to lockingly engage when said wedge is positioned in said hollow end between said hangers to thereby hold said surfaces in tight frictional engagement and prevent withdrawal of said wedge, said means along facing surfaces of each of said posts defining opposed channels comprising for each of said posts an elongated channel member adapted to receive the edge of a panel and having a tongue extending longitudinally thereof and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the channel base, said tongue in cross-section flaring outwardly from said base to form a wedge-shaped groove on said surface of its associated post.

Claim 10

A tamperproof interlocking frame construction for supporting a panel or the like comprising a pair of spaced apart posts, means along facing surfaces of said posts defining opposed channels for receiving opposite edges of a panel to be supported, a first rail member extending between said posts and defining a third channel for receiving a third edge of a panel, anchoring means for securing each end of said first rail member to a respective one of said posts, a second rail member extending between said posts at a location spaced from said first rail member and defining a fourth channel facing said third channel for receiving a fourth edge of a panel, connector means for securing each end of said second rail member to a respective one of said posts, and normally non-removable covering means for enveloping the otherwise exposed portions of said connector means to prevent tampering therewith and unauthorized removal of said second rail member, one end of at least one of said posts being generally hollow for connection thereto of one end of said second rail member, said connector means being adapted to join concurrently to said post, said end of said second rail member and the end of a similar rail member for an adjacent panel frame construction whereby said post and said connector means act as portions of both of said frame constructions, said connector means comprising for each of said second and similar rail members a hanger having a first portion adjacent one end thereof secured to its respective rail member and a second portion angularly related to said first portion for insertion into said hollow end of said post with a side surface thereof frictionally engaging the interior surface of said hollow end, a wedge having depending, opposed walls and adapted to be driven into said hollow end of said post between said second portions of said hangers when both of the same are in said hollow end to force said side surfaces into tight frictional engagement with the interior surface of said hollow end, said opposed wedge walls and said hangers having cooperating projecting shoulders aNd recessed grooves adapted to lockingly engage when said wedge is positioned in said hollow end between said hangers to thereby hold said surfaces in tight frictional engagement and prevent withdrawal of said wedge, said means along facing surfaces of each of said posts defining opposed channels comprising for each of said posts an elongated channel member adapted to receive the edge of a panel and having a tongue extending longitudinally thereof and projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the channel base, said tongue in cross-section flaring outwardly from said base to form a wedge-shaped groove on said surface of its associated post.