US4021973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Partition system
Assignee: Interstate Industries Inc
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Filing: 1976-05-27
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Granted: 1977-05-10
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Expires: 1996-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A partition system comprising a fixed standard and upstanding acoustical panels, with brackets affixed to the standard for securement of the panels thereto and for support of shelves and desk tops adjacent the panels. Connecting hardware securing panels to the brackets and standard is hidden from view. Panel faces are covered with fabric sheets, and panel frames are formed with outwardly directed channels accommodating splines wedging perimetric edge portions of the fabric sheets therewithin.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R. Hegg
- 👤 Kenneth E. Reinhard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:16
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G5/00; E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7433; E04B2/7438; E04B2/744; E04B2002/7479; E04B2002/7483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
In a partition system comprising an elongated standard including a central hub and a plurality of wall means extending radially outwardly of said hub, said wall means defining a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending keyways generally coextensive with the standard, each said keyways including an elongated hollowed out inner chamber and an elongated passageway narrower than said inner chamber and communicating therewith, said passageway opening radially outwardly of the standard, an upstanding panel, and securement means for releasably securing said panel to the standard; the improvement wherein said securement means comprises a bracket including a pair of elongated spaced parallel rails adapted for cooperative slidable longitudinal insertion within a corresponding pair of said inner chambers of the keyways in the standard, said bracket further including a yoke joining said rails, said yoke being formed with a transverse through opening; pin means and means detachably affixing said pin means to the standard, said pin means being adapted to project through the opening in said yoke; and clip means affixed to an end face of said panel, said clip means being adapted to engage siad pin means releasably, thereby to secure the panel to the standard.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a partition system comprising an elongated standard including a central hub and a plurality of wall means extending radially outwardly of said hub, said wall means defining a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending keyways generally coextensive with the standard, each said keyways including an elongated hollowed out inner chamber and an elongated passageway narrower than said inner chamber and communicating therewith, said passageway opening radially outwardly of the standard, an upstanding panel, and securement means for releasably securing said panel to the standard; the improvement wherein said securement means comprises a bracket including a pair of elongated spaced parallel rails adapted for cooperative slidable longitudinal insertion within a corresponding pair of said inner chambers of the keyways in the standard, said bracket further including a yoke joining said rails, said yoke being formed with a transverse through opening; pin means and means detachably affixing said pin means to the standard, said pin means being adapted to project through the opening in said yoke; and clip means affixed to an end face of said panel, said clip means being adapted to engage siad pin means releasably, thereby to secure the panel to the standard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
160 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wall means in said standard define at least three longitudinally extending keyways, and wherein the pin means in said securement means comprises a shaft passing through the through opening in said bracket, a flange projecting radially outwardly of the shaft and having a principal face paralleling and in abutment with an outer face of the yoke of said bracket, and a projection on an outwardly directed end of said shaft, said projection being adapted releasably to engage the clip means affixed to said panel to secure said panel to said standard; said improvement further comprising a key including a boss adapted for slidable insertion lingitudinally within an inner chamber of a keyway bridged by said bracket, and a lug affixed to said boss and adapted to extend through a passageway of said third keyway, said lug including attachment means adapted to mate releasably with the shaft of said pin means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement as set forth in clain 2, wherein said pin means comprises a screw fastener having threads between said flange and an inwardly directed end thereof, and wherein said attachment means on said lug comprises an outwardly opening transverse bore having screw threads adapted to mate releasably with the threads on said screw fastener.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement as set forth in clain 2, wherein said pin means comprises a screw fastener having threads between said flange and an inwardly directed end thereof, and wherein said attachment means on said lug comprises an outwardly opening transverse bore having screw threads adapted to mate releasably with the threads on said screw fastener.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said boss has a transverse dimension greater than the width of each passageway in said standard.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the standard comprises a generally cylindrical extruded metal post having a generally cylindrical hollowed out central hub coaxial and coextensive with said standard, each said wall means being generally T-shaped in transverse cross-section and comprising a head portion spaced from said hub, and a neck portion intermediate said hub and said head portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said standard comprises twelve wall means defining twelve symmetrically arranged, radially outwardly opening keyways, said standard thereby being adapted to interconnect a plurality of upstanding panels in a wide variety of preselectable angular relationships.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said panel comprises a fabric sheet covering an outer principal surface thereof; a frame generally circumscribing said fabric sheet, said frame defining a channel opening outwardly thereof; and a resilient spline wedged within said channel together with perimetric edge portions of said fabric sheet, whereby said fabric sheet is readily manually replaceable upon disengagement of said spline from said channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said rails in said bracket has a transverse dimension greater than the width of each passageway in said standard, and wherein the yoke of said bracket is generally U-shaped in transverse cross-section and includes a pair of longitudinally extending arms adjoining said rails, each said arms passing through a passageway in the standard, and a longitudinally extending bight portion connecting said arms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 8, wherein at least one of said arms defines a vertical row of slots adapted to receive shelf hooks, whereby said bracket is adapted to support a shelf proximate said panel in several different preselected positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1980-05-09 | 1980-11-08 | 1981-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-09 | 1984-11-08 | 1985-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-09 | 1988-11-08 | 1989-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |