IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0595123
(2006-11-09)
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등록번호 |
US-7707795
(2010-06-03)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Yu, Shawn
- Gingrich, Bryan
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Flynn, Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
24 |
초록
▼
An upright space-dividing wall panel having an inner rigid frame. The frame is of an open ring-shaped construction utilizing detachable corner gusset structures for rigidly joining the transverse frame rails together, thereby providing the frame with a high degree of flexibility with respect to asse
An upright space-dividing wall panel having an inner rigid frame. The frame is of an open ring-shaped construction utilizing detachable corner gusset structures for rigidly joining the transverse frame rails together, thereby providing the frame with a high degree of flexibility with respect to assembly thereof.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. In an upright space-dividing wall panel having an upright rigid frame, said frame having a rectangular ring-shaped configuration defined by a pair of sidewardly spaced and generally parallel elongated upright rails, and generally parallel and vertically spaced top and bottom
What is claimed is: 1. In an upright space-dividing wall panel having an upright rigid frame, said frame having a rectangular ring-shaped configuration defined by a pair of sidewardly spaced and generally parallel elongated upright rails, and generally parallel and vertically spaced top and bottom elongate rails extending generally horizontally between said upright rails wherein said upright rails and said top and bottom rails are joined together by corner connections, and a detachable gusset structure at each said corner connection rigidly joining one end of each said top and bottom rail to a respective one of said upright rails to define a respective one of said corner connections, comprising the improvement wherein: said gusset structure comprising a pair of first and second gusset members positioned in sidewardly adjacent relationship at a corner region between transversely intersecting first and second said rails for rigidly clamping said first and second rails together to define a respective one of said corner connections; said first and second rails each having a plurality of first and second slots formed therein and respectively disposed within first and second sidewardly-spaced rows which extend in a lengthwise direction of the respective rail; each said gusset member having first and second rail engaging structures disposed adjacent marginal edge portions thereof which extend in right angled relationship to one another; each said rail engaging structure including a plurality of outwardly-protruding cantilevered fingers disposed in sidewardly spaced relation and oriented for insertion into the slots associated with one of the rows on one of said first and second rails wherein said first and second rail engaging structures permit installation of each said gusset structure at any of said corner connections; said first gusset member being positioned at said respective corner connection adjacent one side of said first and second rails so that the fingers on the respective first and second rail engaging structures are engaged within the slots associated solely with the first row of the respective first and second rails; said second gusset member being positioned at said respective corner connection adjacent the other side of said first and second rails so that the fingers on the respective first and second rail engaging structures are engaged within the slots associated with solely the second row of the respective first and second rails; and said gusset structure including a manually-activated fastening structure co-acting between said pair of sidewardly adjacent gusset members for drawing the gusset members toward one another to cause the fingers on said first and second gusset members to clampingly engage the first and second rails therebetween. 2. A wall panel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rows of slots as formed in each of said first and second rails are disposed adjacent opposite sides of the frame, and wherein the gusset member includes a main platelike body which is vertically oriented when positioned within the corner between the intersecting first and second rails and has the respective first and second rail engaging structures fixedly associated with and extending lengthwise along the perpendicularly extending marginal edge portions thereof, and the plurality of cantilevered fingers associated with each of said rail engaging structures being angled sidewardly relative to the vertical orientation of the main body so that the fingers have at least a partial sideward orientation as they project through the respective slots associated with the respective rail. 3. A wall panel according to claim 2, wherein the cantilevered fingers associated with said first gusset member of said pair are formed as generally L-shaped hooks, and wherein the cantilevered fingers associated with the second gusset member of said pair are formed as generally straight tabs. 4. A wall panel according to claim 3, wherein the straight tabs as associated with said second gusset member have a taper associated with at least one side edge thereof for effecting a wedging engagement with the respective rail when inserted into the respective slot. 5. A wall panel according to claim 4, wherein the cantilevered fingers associated with each of said gusset members protrude sidewardly in generally perpendicular relationship relative to the main plate-like body. 6. A wall panel according to claim 5, wherein the first and second rails are defined by hollow metal tubes having a generally square cross-section, each said tube having first and second exterior side walls which define opposite sides of the tube and respectively define opposite exterior side surfaces of the frame, said first and second rows of slots being formed in the first and second exterior side walls respectively. 7. A wall panel according to claim 6, wherein each said rail engaging structure comprises a channel which is elongated generally along a respective marginal edge of the main body and opens sidewardly relative thereto, said channel having an outer wall which defines said plurality of sidewardly spaced cantilevered fingers, said channel having a base wall which is positioned to overlap a respective exterior wall of the tube when the fingers are positioned to penetrate through the respective slots. 8. A wall panel according to claim 1, wherein each said gusset member includes a main body defined by a generally vertically-oriented platelike member which is positioned within the corner between said first and second rails, said first and second rail engaging structures being integrally and monolithically joined to and extending along perpendicularly extending edge portions of said main platelike member, said fingers all being oriented in angled relationship in the same sideward direction relative to a vertical orientation of the main platelike member. 9. A wall panel according to claim 8, wherein all of the fingers are oriented so as to be angled sidewardly at an angle of about 45° relative to the vertical orientation of the main platelike member so that the fingers of the opposed gusset members, when engaged with the respective rail, effect opposed clamping of the rail therebetween and wedging of the respective rail toward the gusset members. 10. A wall panel according to claim 9, wherein the rails comprise metal tubes having a cross-section which approximates a square, and wherein the slots defining the first and second rows are formed in said tube in close proximity to adjacent corners of the square, and wherein said rail engaging structures when engaged with the slots do not protrude outwardly beyond the exterior surface of the frame. 11. A wall panel according to claim 10, wherein the tube has the lengthwise extending corners thereof flattened to define narrow flat corner surfaces which angle between larger flat side surfaces of the tube, said slots being formed through said narrow angled corner surfaces. 12. A wall panel according to claim 10, wherein each of the rail engaging structures has at least one base flange which is inwardly cantilevered from the respective marginal, edge portion in generally perpendicular relationship to the vertical orientation of the main platelike member, said base flange being positioned adjacent the respective cantilevered fingers for being disposed in supportive engagement with an opposed exterior surface of the rail due to the latter being wedged downwardly toward the base flange by the clamping fingers. 13. A wall panel according to claim 12, wherein the fastening structure includes a manually rotatable screw which cooperates between and has a threaded engagement with a threaded part associated with one of said gusset members for drawing the sidewardly adjacent gusset members toward one another in response to rotation of the screw. 14. A wall panel according to claim 13, wherein the screw is positioned generally between the main platelike members associated with the first and second gusset members and is oriented so that the rotational axis of the screw extends generally within an upright plane as defined between vertical planar boundaries of the frame, said screw having an enlarged tool-engaging head which is readily accessible from either side of the frame for engagement with a suitable tool. 15. A wall panel according to claim 14, wherein the sidewardly adjacent gusset members define thereon an opposed pair of cantilevered inclined flanges which angle inwardly toward one another to define a generally V-shaped configuration, and said connecting structure including a connecting plate which extends between and creates a sliding wedge-cooperating engagement with the opposed pair of cantilevered flanges, and said screw projecting through said connecting plate and co-acting therewith to effect drawing of the opposed inclined flanges toward one another to effect clamping engagement of the tabs with the rails. 16. A wall panel according to claim 1, wherein said first gusset member is engagable to said first and second rails in the absence of said second gusset member to maintain said first and second rails in initial engagement, and said second gusset member is engagable to said first and second rails with said first gusset member engaged with said first and second rails in said initial engagement. 17. A wall panel according to claim 1, wherein said upright rails and said top and bottom rails have opposite rail faces on opposite sides of said frame, wherein said gusset structure maintains said opposite rail faces substantially coplanar with each other. 18. A wall panel according to claim 17, wherein said first and second slots in said rows are formed through said upright rails proximate said opposite side faces, and said fingers project inwardly into said first and second slots from an exterior side of said side faces. 19. In an upright space-dividing wall panel having an upright rigid frame, said frame having a rectangular ring-shaped configuration defined by a pair of sidewardly spaced and generally parallel elongated upright rails, and generally parallel and vertically spaced cross rails extending generally horizontally between said upright rails wherein said upright rails and said cross rails are joined together by corner connections, and a detachable gusset structure rigidly joining one end of each said cross rail to a respective one of said upright rails to define a respective one of said corner connections, comprising the improvement wherein: said gusset structure comprising a pair of first and second gusset members positioned in sidewardly adjacent relationship at a corner region between transversely intersecting first and second said rails for rigidly clamping said first and second rails together to define a respective one of said corner connections; said first and second rails each having a plurality of first and second slots formed therein and respectively disposed within first and second sidewardly-spaced rows which extend in a lengthwise direction of the respective rail; each said gusset member having first and second rail engaging structures disposed adjacent marginal edge portions thereof which extend in right angled relationship to one another; each said rail engaging structure including a plurality of outwardly-protruding cantilevered fingers disposed in sidewardly spaced relation and oriented for insertion into the slots associated with one of the rows on one of said first and second rails, each said gusset member including a main body which is vertically oriented when positioned within the respective corner connection between the intersecting first and second rails, and the plurality of cantilevered fingers associated with each of said rail engaging structures being angled sidewardly relative to the vertical orientation of the main body so that the fingers have at least a partial sideward orientation as they project through the respective slots associated with the respective rail, at least said second gusset member being removably engagable with said first and second rails while said first gusset member is disposed in engagement with said intersecting first and second rails; said first gusset member being positioned at said respective corner connection adjacent one side of said first and second rails so that the fingers on the respective first and second rail engaging structures are engaged within the slots associated solely with the first row of the respective first and second rails; said second gusset member being positioned at said respective corner connection adjacent the other side of said first and second rails so that the fingers on the respective first and second rail engaging structures are engaged within the slots associated with solely the second row of the respective first and second rails; and said gusset structure including a manually-activated fastening structure co-acting between said pair of sidewardly adjacent gusset members for drawing the gusset members toward one another to cause the fingers on said first and second gusset members to clampingly engage the first and second rails therebetween. 20. A wall panel according to claim 19, wherein said cantilevered fingers associated with said first gusset member of said pair are formed as generally L-shaped hooks, and wherein the cantilevered fingers associated with the second gusset member of said pair are formed as generally straight tabs. 21. A wall panel according to claim 19, wherein each said main body has terminal side edges extending at right angles to each other and respectively defining said first and second rail engaging structures, the cantilevered fingers associated with the first and second gusset members of said pair are formed as generally straight tabs which each project sidewardly along a respective one of said side edges and are insertable from an exterior of said first and second rails into said respective slots thereof so as to be engagable with said slots when said first and second rails are disposed in abutting intersecting relation. 22. A wall panel according to claim 19, wherein the first and second rails are defined by hollow tubes having a generally square cross-section having a hollow interior, each said tube having first and second exterior side walls which define opposite sides of the tube and respectively define opposite exterior side surfaces of the frame, said first and second rows of slots being formed at corners of the first and second exterior side walls respectively and said fingers being inserted into said slots from an exterior thereof such that said fingers project into said hollow interior. 23. In an upright space-dividing wall panel having an upright rigid frame, said frame having a rectangular ring-shaped configuration defined by a pair of sidewardly spaced and generally parallel elongated upright rails, and generally parallel and vertically spaced cross rails extending generally horizontally between said upright rails wherein said upright rails and said cross rails are joined together in abutting intersecting relation by corner connections, and a detachable gusset structure rigidly joining one end of each said cross rail to a respective one of said upright rails to define a respective one of said corner connections, comprising the improvement wherein: said gusset structure comprising a pair of first and second gusset members positioned in sidewardly adjacent relationship at a corner region between transversely intersecting first and second said rails for rigidly clamping said first and second rails together to define a respective one of said corner connections; said first and second rails each having a plurality of first and second slots formed therein and respectively disposed within first and second sidewardly-spaced rows which extend in a lengthwise direction of the respective rail; each said gusset member having first and second rail engaging structures disposed adjacent marginal edge portions thereof which extend in right angled relationship to one another; each said rail engaging structure including a plurality of outwardly-protruding cantilevered fingers disposed in spaced relation along said marginal edge portion and oriented for insertion into the slots associated with one of the rows on one of said first and second rails wherein said plurality of said fingers of said first rail engaging structure solely engage said slots of said first rail and said plurality of said fingers of said second rail engaging structure solely engage said slots of said second rail; said first gusset member being positioned at said respective corner connection adjacent one side of said first and second rails so that the fingers on the respective first and second rail engaging structures are engaged within the slots associated solely with the first row of the respective first and second rails; said second gusset member being positioned at said respective corner connection adjacent the other side of said first and second rails so that the fingers on the respective first and second rail engaging structures are engaged within the slots associated with solely the second row of the respective first and second rails, said fingers of at least said first gusset member being sidewardly projecting tabs which are insertable in said slots of said second row of said first and second rails when said first and second rails are disposed in abutting intersecting relation; and said gusset structure including a manually-activated fastening structure co-acting between said pair of sidewardly adjacent gusset members for drawing the gusset members toward one another to cause the fingers on said first and second gusset members to clampingly engage the first and second rails therebetween. 24. A wall panel according to claim 23, wherein the tabs as associated with said first gusset member have a taper associated with at least one side edge thereof for contacting a respective edge of said slot receiving said tab for effecting a drawing engagement with the respective rail when inserted into the respective slot to draw said first and second rails together. 25. A wall panel according to claim 24, wherein the first and second rails are defined by hollow tubes having a generally square cross-section and hollow interior, each said tube having first and second exterior side walls which define opposite sides of the tube and respectively define opposite exterior side surfaces of the frame, said first and second rows of slots being formed in corners of the first and second exterior side walls respectively and said tabs projecting through said slots into said hollow interior.
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