초록 ▼

A quick attachment system is disclosed. A first connector portion is defined along a surface of the first member and a second connector portion is defined along a surface of the second member. The first connector portion comprises a protrusion of the surface of the first member. The second connector

A quick attachment system is disclosed. A first connector portion is defined along a surface of the first member and a second connector portion is defined along a surface of the second member. The first connector portion comprises a protrusion of the surface of the first member. The second connector portion comprises a detent of the surface of the second member. The first and second connector portions may mate with and engage one another to secure the first member against the second member. A modular frame unit comprises first and second channel members defining first connector portions along lengths thereof and a joinder channel member defining second connector portions along a length thereof. Each of the second connector portions is configured to mate with one of the first connector portions to join the joinder channel member with the first and second channel members.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A multiple connection method for sections of modular frames, the method comprising: providing a plurality of sections of modular frame, each section comprising a pair of parallel rigid upright members, each upright member defining a plurality of locations along a height dimension thereof, anda pl

1. A multiple connection method for sections of modular frames, the method comprising: providing a plurality of sections of modular frame, each section comprising a pair of parallel rigid upright members, each upright member defining a plurality of locations along a height dimension thereof, anda plurality of resilient U-shaped channel segments, each U-shaped channel segment having a longitudinal dimension, a substantially planar web, and opposite first and second flanges extending along opposite longitudinally extending edges of the web,each U-shaped channel segment being fixed at one of the locations between the pair of upright members with the longitudinal dimension of the segment extending substantially perpendicular to the height dimension of the pair of upright members,each flange of each U-shaped channel segment defining at least one first mating connector portion along the longitudinal dimension of the U-shaped channel segment;positioning at least two sections in adjacent, spaced apart relationship to one another with at least one segment of said plurality of U-shaped channel segments in longitudinal alignment with another segment of said plurality of U-shaped channel segments;providing a resilient U-shaped joinder channel having a longitudinal dimension, a substantially planar web, and opposite first and second flanges extending along opposite longitudinally extending edges of the web, each flange of the joinder channel defining a plurality of second mating connector portions at spaced apart locations along the longitudinal dimension of the joinder channel; orienting the joinder channel to extend longitudinally between a pair of longitudinally aligned U-shaped channel segments;wherein adjacent channel segments and a corresponding joinder channel are capable of slight resilient deformation, such that upon mating, the flanges of the joinder channel may be slightly deformed and/or the flanges of the adjacent channel segments may be slightly deformed either to allow the joinder channel to surround the flanges of the adjacent channel segments or to allow the flanges of the adjacent channels to surround the joinder channel thereby establishing an at least partial frictional connection; andmating, via a positively engaging snap fit, at each longitudinal end of the joinder channel, at least one second mating connector portion of each flange of the joinder channel with a respective first mating connector portion of a corresponding flange of an adjacent, longitudinally aligned U-shaped channel segment to secure the joinder channel in a longitudinally end-to-end configuration between corresponding U-shaped channel segments of two modular frame sections, thereby releasably joining via the snap fit the at least two U-shaped channel segments to form a modular frame. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each provided plurality of U-shaped channel segments of each provided section further comprises a first segment and a second segment, each first segment being disposed proximate, but offset from, a first end of the associated pair of upright members and each second segment being disposed proximate, but offset from, an opposite second end of the associated pair of upright members. 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the operation of positioning a lower end of each upright member of each section against a track. 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the operation of adjusting a leveling device disposed at each lower end of each upright member. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the snap fit connection is accomplished by mating an annular, flared lip defining the first mating connector portion with a through hole defining the second mating connector portion. 6. The method of claim 5 further including the operation of inserting a fastener through at least one mated first and second connector portion. 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the operation of, for each mated first and second connector portion, urging the first and second connector portion toward registration by engaging the first connector portion with a recesses defined along the distal edge of the joinder channel flange corresponding to the second connector portion. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second mating connector portions defined along each joinder channel and U-shaped channel segment are spaced approximately equally along respective longitudinal dimensions of the joinder channel and segment. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the modular system is a free-standing modular wall system. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more U-shaped channel segments is rotatably fixed at a location between the pair of upright members or is rotatably fixed to a U-shaped channel segment fixed between the pair of upright members. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal alignment of U-shaped channel segments is an end-to-end alignment, an angled alignment, a perpendicular alignment, a T-alignment, an orthogonal alignment, or a combination of those alignments. 12. A modular construction system useful in fabricating a frame, the modular construction system comprising: a plurality of modular units, each unit comprising: a pair of parallel rigid upright members, each upright member defining a plurality of locations along a height dimension thereof;a plurality of resilient U-shaped channel segments, each U-shaped channel segment having a longitudinal dimension, a substantially planar web, and opposite first and second flanges extending along opposite longitudinally extending edges of the web,each U-shaped channel segment being fixed at one of the locations between a pair of upright members with the longitudinal dimension of the segment extending substantially perpendicular to the height dimension of the upright members,each flange of each U-shaped channel segment defining at least one first mating connector portion along the longitudinal dimension of the segment; anda plurality of resilient U-shaped joinder channels, each joinder channel having a longitudinal dimension, a substantially planar web, and opposite first and second flanges extending along opposite longitudinally extending edges of the web,each flange of each joinder channel defining a plurality of second mating connector portions at spaced apart locations along the longitudinal dimension of the joinder channel;wherein adjacent channel segments and a corresponding joinder channel are capable of slight resilient deformation, such that the flanges of the joinder channel may be slightly deformed either to allow the joinder channel to surround the flanges of the adjacent channel segments or to allow the flanges of the adjacent channel segments to surround the joinder channel thereby establishing an at least partial frictional connection; and wherein at each longitudinal end of each joinder channel, at least one second mating connector portion of each flange snap fits and positively engages a respective first mating connector portion of the corresponding flange of a segment to releasably secure via the snap fit the joinder channel in a longitudinally end-to-end configuration between corresponding U-shaped channel segments of two modular units. 13. The modular construction system of claim 12, each plurality of U-shaped channel segments of each modular unit further comprising a first segment and a second segment, each first segment being disposed proximate, but offset from, a first end of the associated pair of upright members and each second segment being disposed proximate, but offset from, an opposite second end of the associated pair of upright members. 14. The modular construction system of claim 13, each segment being offset from a respective end of its associated pair of upright members a distance between 1 and 6 inches. 15. The modular construction system of claim 14, each modular unit further comprising a leveling device disposed at the second end of the pair of upright members. 16. The modular construction system of claim 12, wherein each first mating connector portion comprises a first through hole having an annular, flared lip protruding outwardly from a perimeter of the hole. 17. The modular construction system of claim 16, wherein each second mating connector portion comprises a second through hole sized and shaped to receive and engage the annular, flared lip of a corresponding first mating connector portion within the second through hole. 18. The modular construction system of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of recesses defined along each distal edge of each joinder channel flange, each recess being configured to engage one of the first connector portions defined along the segments and to direct the engaged first mating connector portion toward registration with a second mating connector portion defined along the joinder channel. 19. The modular construction system of claim 18, each recess being aligned laterally outwardly from a second mating connector portion along a corresponding joinder channel flange. 20. The modular construction system of claim 19, each distal edge of each joinder channel flange defining an outward flare. 21. The modular construction system of claim 12, wherein the first and second mating connector portions defined along each joinder channel and U-shaped channel segment are spaced approximately equally along respective longitudinal dimensions of the joinder channel and segment. 22. The modular construction system of claim 12, wherein the first and second mating connector portions comprise a snap fit connector selected from the group consisting of a tongue and groove, a hole, a hollow, a mortise, a cutout, a notch opening, an orifice, and a groove. 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second mating connector portions comprise a snap fit connector selected from the group consisting of a tongue and groove, a hole, a hollow, a mortise, a cutout, a notch opening, an orifice, and a groove. 24. The modular construction system of claim 12 wherein the modular system is a free-standing modular wall system. 25. The modular construction system of claim 12 wherein one or more U-shaped channel segments is rotatably fixed at a location between the pair of upright members or is rotatably fixed to a U-shaped channel segment fixed between the pair of upright members. 26. The modular construction system of claim 12 wherein the longitudinal alignment of U-shaped channel segments is an end-to-end alignment, an angled alignment, a perpendicular alignment, a T-alignment, an orthogonal alignment, or a combination of those alignments.