US3180459A - Demountable sectional partition - Google Patents

Description

April 27, 1965 E. c. LISKEY, JR 3,180,459

DEMOUNTABLE SECTIONAL PARTITION Filed June 12, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. ERNEST C. USKEY, JR

April 27, 1965 E. C. LISKEY, JR'

DEMOUNTABLE SECTIONAL PARTITION s Sheets-Sheet 2 P Fl.

A 29 1/25 l u 50 a L "A L s E g i :1 1 l H! E i!" 29 u I i 29 A 0} b 5+ L gl l l b H 5 bl b F|G.6 f I i I I I 59 i 5 y raj: i2? 7' 5i" 1 l b r 25 v 40 v INVENTOR.

ERNEST C. LISKEY, JR.

A TTORNE Y April 27, 1955 E. c. LISKEY, JR 3,180,459

DEMOUNTABLE SECTIONAL PARTITION Filed June 12, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ERNEST c. LlSKEY, JR.

' ATTORNEY United States Patent a it 3,180,459 DEMOUNTABLE SECTIONAL PARTITION Ernest C, Lislrey, .In, Severna Park, Md assignor to Liskey Aluminum, Inc., Glen Burnie, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed June 12, 1962, Ser. No. 201,954 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) The present invention relates to an improved partition construction, for dividing a floor area into separate rooms and/or separate cubical spaces or the like, which construction is characterized by its simplicity and the ease with which it permits the partition to be erected, dismantled and/ or modified at any desired portion thereof.

Hitherto, various similar partition constructions have been proposed, but these, for the most part, have been of the progressive type where each panel is interlocked with the adjacent panel or to a supporting post or column in a manner which does not permit removal or replacement of the individual panels independently of another without disassembling the whole or a substantial portion of the partition.

The main object of this invention is the provision of an improved relatively inexpensive partition of simplified, yet sturdy, construction, comprising an assembly of preformed interfitted units, including alternate supporting posts and panels releasibly interlocked, which permits any tier of panels to be removed or replaced, or the partition arrangement to be modified, without dismantling or reioving any adjacent tier of panels; and, which, further, permits the partition assembly to be erected on the site, where it is to be used, or to be modified by maintenance personnel instead of skilled carpenters or metal-workers.

A particular object of the invention is the provision of a partition having the features just defined, that may be of different typesi.e. including railhigh, bank-high, cornice-high or floor-to-ceiling-highby the use of basic structural aluminum extruded components, solid and/or glazed panels, or a combination of both, and various fasteners, these various items being converted to form the various types of sturdy partition assemblies.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved latch means carried mounted in the side channels of each partition panel-frame and normally biased outwardly therefrom to project into and engage in spaced openings on the opposing faces of adjacent supporting posts to firmly hold its panel in place, ensuring a tight joint between the adjacent posts and the panel and, at the same time, providing the optimum of vertical support for the panel. The latch means is ,so designed that removal of the panel is achieved by raising it slightly and withdrawing it laterally from between the adjacent components of the partition system; and the panel may be replaced by a reverse order of movements.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of this invention will become apparent from the fol lowing description.

The invention resides in the sundry details of construction and the novel arrangement or organization more fully described herein as this specification proceeds and by which these objects and advantages are attained.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention in its several embodiments as now devised:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a six-panel cornicehigh partition constructed in accordance with the present invention, the four panels to the right being closed to the ceiling by filler-panels and being closed at the base of the partition, while the two panels at the left of the partition are only cornice-high and open at the base of the partition;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of another type of partition construction with the components of and in accordance with the present invention and is composed of IiglhhAS Patented Apr. 27, F355 (from left to right) a rail-high section, a low bank-high section and a taller bank-high section, all being open at their bases;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the taller bank-high partition constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the partition of this invention taken substantially on line 4-4 of either FIGURES 1, 2 or 3 and illustrates certain details of the construction of a partition panel, of its supporting posts and of the latch means removably binding and supporting the panels to said posts;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are sectional views taken substantially on line 55 and line 6--6, respectively, of FIGURE 4 to illustrate the detail of construction and the manner of mounting the latch means in the panel frame, as well as the manner the latch means cooperates with the supporting posts;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevation of a so-called solid core partition panel, in which portions have been broken away to illustrate the manner the core is framed, the manner the frame members are secured together and the position of the latch-means for securing the same to supporting posts;

FIGURES 8 and 9 are sectional views taken substantially on line 88 and line 9-9 of FIGURE 7, respectively, to show in detail the corner clips which secure the extruded panel framing members together;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the corner clips for holding framing members together.

The several arrangements of partitions, illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, have been selected to indicate the versatility of the structural components which constitute the present invention and which comprises essentially spaced posts 25 supporting panels P releasibly latched, as at L, to and between them. As shown, these panels P may be of various heights, may be of the opaque-solid type or of the glazed type or a combination of both, may have open bases (as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3) or closed bases or a combination of open and closed bases (as shown in FIGURE 1) may be rail-topped 60 or cornice-topped 61, may have filler-panels 7%) with glazed or opaque sections extending from the cornice 61 to the ceiling and, further, may be provided with a door-frame 8G and door 81.

Since an important feature of this invention is the provision of a sturdy partition that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, as well as to erect, remove or modify by unskilled personnel and requiring few, if any, exposed screws or fasteners for fastening or holding the component parts together, all of said component parts, except the panel cores, doors and their hardware, supporting-post pedestals, coil springs and screws, are provided from appropriate lengths of framing members of different cross-sectional shapes of extruded aluminum (normally called shapes in the industry) of proper thickness, so as to be rigid, and of dimension to interfit one with the other in a telescopic overlapping manner as will give rigidity to the structure when assembled. These extruded members may be satin-anodized or have their outer exposed surface coated With a suitable pigmented coating and all are designed to accommodate electrical or telephone wiring within them. Such a construction requires few screws that may be readily tapped through the material, and those that are required are merely for retaining parts in position and are usually located at inconspicuous places which will not be observed.

The posts 25, which are rectangular (preferably square) in cross-section, are formed from two lengths of a single extruded L-shape a (see FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4), the inner side-face of one flange of said L-shape being formed with a dove-tail groove 26 along its free angularly projecting rib 27 having a dove-tail projection 28 extending along the outer face of said rib and complemental with the groove 26. Thus, two lengths of the shape a may be positioned so that their dove-tail projections 28 will slide longitudinally into the dove-tail grooves 26 with. a tight fit to provide each rectangular post 25. This is a very inexpensive and facile Way of forming the hollow posts 25, which must be punched on its several faces at intervals of from 12" to 18" apart'to provide keeper-opening 29 to receive and retain of the panel P.

The lower ends of the posts 25 are preferably supported on pedestals 35, which are suitably adjustable for the purpose of levelling the partition, due to irregularities in the floor or other supporting surfaces and, further, to afford a broad foot means for anchoring the posts against lateral movement.

The partition panels, particularly the main panels generally designated P, carry in each of their side edges the spring-loaded latches L by which the panels are releasibly supported and held in firm abutting connection with the adjacent posts 25 and are insertable and removable from the posts by a simple relative longitudinal sliding movement.

These panels may be of solid opaque material, as panels 38 in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, or of a combination of solid opaque and translucent material, as panels 39 in FIG- URES 2 and 3, or entirely of translucent material, but, in any case, the panel-material is rimmed by a rectangular frame 4% which releasably supports the panel-material and which detachably connects the panel-material to posts 25. The solid panelling material may be constructed of sheet material about 1% inches thick, and consists of wood veneer or standard wood-fiber hardboard bonded.

to each side face of a sound insulating core. The face of the hardboard may also be finished with selected photographic wood-grain finishes or with alkyd enamel or lacquer or other suitable coatings. The panelling material may also be of glass, fiberglass or other polyesters which may be either transparent or translucent.

The panel-frames 40 for each panel P, having a single panel section (either solid or glazed), comprises two lengths of a channel or U-shape metallic extrusion b, one

length ofan H-shape metallic extrusion c of about the same width as the frame-member b and one length of a wider H-shape metallic extrusion d, the frame members or extrusions b, c and 41 being ofa length as will form a rectangular frame, when assembled as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7. Should the panel comprise both a solid section and a glazed section (as shown in portions of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3), then the panel-frame 40 will require another length of the H-shape extrusion d, as shown in FIGURE 12, in addition to those just mentioned.

The U-shape extrusion b is formed with a rib [2 pro jecting laterally inwardly from an immediate portion of each of its legs for a distance and in substantially the same plane as to be spaced from each other and from the bottom or close-side of the U-shape channel-like member The ribs b provide abutment surfaces against which corner clips 41 react. The wide 'HSl1ape extrusion d is similarly provided with ribs d on both sides of medial connecting webw and the narrower H-shape member c is formed with similarly spaced and inwardly extending ribs along one pair only of correspondingly spaced edges, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 7.

the latch-means is inserted for a measured distance into each end of two lengths of frame-members b with said leg lying Within the passage between the'ribs'b' and the bottom of the channel-shaped frame-members b, and fastened in posi tion by screws 42. One or more screws 42 are threaded through the legs of the clip 41 to bear against the bottom of the channel or web w ofsaid frame-members b, c and d and, thus, bind the legs of the clips 41 against the adjacent rib b, c or d, The open channel side of these two frame-members b are then fitted to each side edge, respectively, of the panel-material until the latter abuts the ribs b, while the other leg of the-clip 41 projects into a passage between ribs 0' and d and the webs w of the bottom and top frame members 0 and d. When the four frame-members are firmly in. position with all joints square and in contact, the screws 42 on the leg of the clip extending inthe frame-members c and d are tightened to bind the clips thereto and form a firm panel.

The right-angular corner clips 41 are stamped from an extruded L-shaped bar of aluminum, each leg being formed with a pair of spaced reinforcing ribs 45. The width of each clip 41 is at least greater than the-distance between the abutment rib b, c and d for the purpose above indicated. In stamping out the clips 41, their sideedges are notched or reduced for a distance on both sides of the angle, as at 46, to permit this portion of the clip to extend through the spaces between the spaced abutment ribs b, c and d and, thus, allow the position of the clips to be adjusted as may be required with rereinforcing ribs 45 to receive the self-tapping screws 42.

spect to the frame-members b, c, and a'; and, at the same time, openings 47 are provided in the areas between the It will be noted, particularly from FIGURES 4, 6 and I 7, that the flat bottom wall of the channel-shaped side frame-members b are outmost at the side edgesof the panels P, so as to present a fiat smooth extended bearing surface against the similar flat surface of'the adjacent panel-supporting posts 25 to provide a firm connection with the posts when the latches L are engaged therewith.

The'latches 'L are positioned in and along the side frame members 17 of the panels P about 12 to 20 inches apart and are of a very simple and improved construction which maybe adjusted as required and permits the panels to be In framing solid panel-material 38, as particularly shown in FIGURES 7 to 10, the open channel side of a length framemember c and d are applied to the bottom and top edges, respectively, of. the panel-rnaterial to fittedly embrace said material which extends for a con- 7 52a and extending parallel with the latter and offset up- 7 firmly connected to the supporting posts 25 and discon nectedtherefrom by a movement longitudinal of the posts and while in contact with the posts. Hence, a panel can be inserted intosupported latched position and removed from that positionwithout moving or disturbing the two adjacent posts which support a panel.

Each latch L comprises a detent 50, which, in elevation, is a severed section of an extruded aluminum bar having the cross-sectional shape or configuration shown in FIG- URE 6. When so severed, the detent 5i) comprises a rectangular body of less thickness than width. The front face of this detent body 50 is;rabbetted across two oppo: site marginal edge portions to form upper and lower stopflanges 51 and 52, respectively, projecting beyond adjacent shoulders 51a and 52a extending at right angles to said flanges and of a thickness or height corresponding to the thickness of the edge of the opening 53 in the framemember b. i g

The'area of the outerfront surface of the detent 5i),

between't-he shoulders 51a and 52b and projecting'beyond the plane of these shoulders, is canted or beveled upwardly to the upper'shoulder 51a,-thus giving a nose-like profile to the detent 5h as canbe clearly seen in FIGURE 6. The underside of this nose-like projection is formed with an inverted groove 54 between its tip and the shoulder wardly from it. As seeninFIGURE 6, the width of the bottom of the groove 54 corresponds to the thickness of the edge of the keeper-openings 29 in the post 25, which co-actwiththe detent 50, and" the anterior wall of the groove 54. converges tothe bottom wall of said groove while its posterior wall is at right angles to the shoulder 52a to lie flush with the outer surface of the side framemember b, when in its normally projected position.

Also, as can be clearly seen from FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, each detent 50 is mounted in an opening 53 in the closed or bottom wall of the channel-shaped panel-frame member b. The area of the nose-like portion of the detent between the shoulders 51a and 520, which extends into and through the opening 53, is dimensioned to substantially fill said opening 53 with just enough clearance to allow the detent to fulcrum at its upper end and with the stop- flanges 51 and 52 engageable with the marginal edge portions of the opening 53 to limit the outward movement of the detent through said opening. It is preferred that the openings 53 and the detents 50 be as wide as possible to provide large bearing surfaces at 4-1:: and 29a to afford stability against flexibility of the interconnection between the panels P and the posts 25.

The detent 50 is yieldably held in position by a helical compression spring 55 interposed between the detent and retainer plate 56 positioned in back of the detent and spanning the abutment rib b of the panel side-frame member b. The intermediate portion of the plate 56 is olfset outwardly and projects between the abutment ribs b to provide a seat 564: for one end of said spring opposite the groove seat Stia in the detent 50 and between which the spring 55 reacts. The retainer plate 56 has a finger 57 extending from an edge of its offset portion and projecting loosely into a narrow slot 58, extending across the upper end of the back face of the detent 50 to positively retain it in operative position when fulcruming. The retainer plate 56 is held firmly in position by screws 59 which are threaded in the plate 56 and bearing on the frame member b to move the ends of the plate 56 in binding engagement with the abutment ribs b.

In order to firmly set a panel P in place between two properly positioned supporting posts 25, it is only necessary that the panel be inserted between the posts with their detents 50 depressed against the bias of their springs 55 to lie entirely within the opening 53 in the panel side-frame member b and positioning the panel so that the detents will be an inch or so above the keeper-openings 29 of the posts which the respective detents 50 are to engage. Hence, the detents will remain depressed within their openings 53 by engaging against the side surfaces of the posts; and, then, by sliding the panel downwardly and longitudinal of the posts-after having aligned the panel with the poststhe detents will be brought opposite the keeper-openings 29 in the posts and will then be projected into the said keeper-openings by the spring 55 with the shoulders 51a and 52a lying in alignment with the edges of the openings 53; and, as the panel moves further downwardly, the edge 29a of the keeper-openings 29 will enter the slot 54 and become seated at the bottom of the slot 54, thus firmly and securely supporting and fastening the panels in position.

Should it become desirable to disconnect or remove a panel from position, it is only necessary to exert an upward force on the panels, which will cause them to slide upwardly and move the groove 54 of the detent out of engagement with the keeper-edge 29a; and further upward movement will cause the edge 2% of the keeper-openings 29 to engage and ride upon the beveled or canted surface of the detent 50 depressing the detent into its retaineropening 53 and fully within the confines of the panel; whereupon, the panel can be moved from between the posts and may be reinserted in the reverse manner.

Rail-high and bank-high partitions, as shown in FIG- URE 2, are usually finished or topped by an extruded shape forming a relatively thin cap-rail 60, which is fitted over the top frame-member d of the panels P like a frictional flanged-lid. The cap-rail oil is preferably of a length to extend over and cover the upper edges of all panels P and posts 25 on the same level.

Cornice-high partitions, shown on the left side of FIG- URE l and in FIGURE 3, are capped by a cornice 61 6 of larger and bolder proportions than the cap-rail 60 and this is a length of extruded aluminum, forming a deep rigid channel in cross-section and thicker than the panels P and the posts 25, to fit over and protrude laterally for a considerable distance beyond them. The outer face of the bottom wall of the channel has a pair of spaced and depending flanges extending lengthwise thereof to embrace and telescope over and against the outer side Walls of the top frame-member d of the panel framing 40 and of the posts 25 with a frictional binding fit, thus producing an intermediate offset-molding effect between the panel frame 40 and the outer face of the cornice 61.

To convert a cornice-higl1 partition into a ceiling-high partition, filler or transom panels (FIG. 1) are inserted between the cap-rail 60 or the cornice member 61 and ceiling-seal strip 66, which is secured against the ceiling, and between the stiles 68, which in effect form vertical extensions of each post 25.

From the above description of the several forms of partitioning that can be effected in accordance with applicants present invention, it will be notml that the panels can be readily assembled in position between said posts and any of said panels can be removed readily and individually from assembled position without disturbing the remainder of the partition construction and that the paneling material is always protected by the metal frame which carries the weight of the panels all of which may be assembled very quickly with the assistance of unskilled help to form a rigid, sturdy partition structure.

Having thus described the invention, in the manner in which the same is to be performed, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction herein defined and illustrated, but may be modified and/ or varied within. the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed, as new and to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A demountable partition structure comprising alternating partition panels and supporting posts detachably connected thereto, the adjacent posts and panels having substantially flat side surfaces of predetermined width in abutting face-to-face engagement; latch means at spaced intervals along said opposing surfaces, each of said latch mean including a detent movably mounted in and normally biased to project for a limited distance through a retaining opening in one of said opposing surfaces and being depressible into said retaining opening to permit said opposing surfaces to be brought into engagement; a keeper-opening in the other of said surfaces receiving said detent therein, said detent having a latching part fitting over an edge of the keeper-opening and supporting and firmly holding the panels to the posts and having a camming surface to engage an opposite edge of the keeper-opening and depress the detent within its retaining opening, upon the reverse relative movement of said posts and panels, for disconnecting the panels from it supporting post or posts.

2. A demount-able partition structure comprising a plurality of spaced supporting posts, panels disposed between the posts, the adjacent posts and panels having substantially flat side-by-side abutting surfaces of predetermined width to provide substantial bearing area; a plurality of latch means disposed at spaced intervals along said opposing surfaces releasibly connecting said posts and panels together, each of said latch means including a yieldably mounted detent within a side edge portion of its panel and normally projected through an opening in said abutting surface thereof, and being depressible wholly within the confines of said panel, means limiting the projection of said detent through said opening, a keeper-opening in said surface of the post for each detent receiving said detent therein, said detent being projected in said keeper-opening by its bias and having a grooved surface straddling an edge of the keeperopening that supports the panel on the post and binds their abutting surfaces together, said grooved surface being brought into engagement with the lower edge. of said keeper-opening, when said surfaces of the post and panel are movedtrelatively andlongitudinally with respect to each other, and having a camming surface to engage an opposite edge of the keeper-opening for depressing said detent Within the confines of the panel upon a reverse movement of said members, whereby the panel may be disconnected frorn'the posts.

3. A demountable partition structure comprising alternating partition panels and polygonal supporting posts, the said panels being disposed between said posts and detachably connected thereto, each panel including a selected panelling-material and enclosed in a rimming metal frame, the side members of said frame having substantially flat edge surfaces of substantial width and outwardly spaced from the panelling-material and engaging face-to-face with a face of said posts, said fiat edge surfaces having openings therein at spaced intervals along I eir lengths; a rigid detent member disposed in each of the spaces between said rimming frame and said panelling-material and having aportion projecting through one of said openings inthe'rimming frame and having stop members engaging the edge of the opening to limit the outward movement of-the detent through said opening; a retainer plate adju-stably mounted in each of said spaces and a compression spring seated between the retainer plate and the detent normally urging the detent through said opening; a keeper-opening in said surface of the post for each detent receiving said' detent therein, said detents being projected into said keeper-openings by their bias, said detents, each having a grooved surf-ace straddling an edge of the keeper-opening that supports the panel on the post and binds their abutting surfaces together, said grooved surface being brought into engagementf with the lower edge of said keeper-opening,

- When said surfaces of the post and panel are moved relatively and longitudinally with respect to each other,

and having a camming surface to engage an opposite edge of the keeper-opening for depressing said detent within the confines of the panel UIPOH a reverse movement of said members, whereby the panel may be disconnected from the posts. a

4. A partition structure set forth in claim 3, further 8 V characterized by the retainer plate having afin'ger projecting toward one end of the detent andloosely engaging in a slot thereinproviding a' fulcrum for thedetent when the same is depressed and holding the detent in position with respect to its retaining opening.

5 A demountable partition structure comprising alternating partition, panels and supportingpost detachably connectml togetheneach panel including a portion of a panelling-material enclosed in a rimming metal frame, said rimming frame including lengths of rigid channelshaped metal having their channeled faces receiving and embracing the edge portions, respectively, of the panelling-material and concealably and detachablyconnected together, latch means located at spaced intervals along the vertical side members of said rimming frame engaging in keeper-dpenings in said posts holding the panels firm ly to the posts, each latch means including a outwardly spring-pressed detent mounted in a retaining-opening in said side frame'members and rdepressible Within said opening against its bias, and a surface on said detent to engage With an edge ofsaid keeper-opening, when the panel is moved relative to the post in one direction, for depressing said detent and releasing said panel therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 443,322 12/90 Kinnear 189-87 559,335 4/96 Kindl 189-41 842,330 1/07 McCormick -80 983,673 2 11- 1,565,309 12/25 Daykin et al. 189-36 2,048,153 I 7/36 Wollaeger a 189-85 2,057,204 10/36 Peck et al 189-85 2,380,692 7/45 Gunnison 50-80 2,714,432 8/55 Blanchard 189-78 3,031,049 4/62 Somville 189-78 3,047,112 '7/62 Tvorik et al. 189-87 RICHARD w. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner. JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION STRUCTURE COMPRISING ALTERNATING PARTITION PANELS AND SUPPORTING POSTS DETACHABLY CONNETED THERETO, THE ADJACENT POSTS AND PANELS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SIDE SURFACES OF PREDETEMINED WIDTH IN ABUTTING FACE-TO-FACE ENGAGEMENT; LATCH MEANS AT SPACED INTERVALS ALONG SAID OPPOSING SURFACES, EACH OF SAID LATCH MEANS INCLUDING A DETENT MOVABLY MOUNTED IN AND NORMALLY BIASED TO PORJECT FOR A LIMITED DISTANCE THROUGH A RETAINING OPENING IN ONE OF SAID OPPOSING SURFACES AND BEING DEPRESSIBLE INTO SAID RETAINING OPEING TO PERMIT SAID OPPOSING SURFACES TO BE BROUGHT INTO ENGAGEMENT; A KEEPER-OPENING IN THE OTHER OF SAID SURFACES RECEIVING SAID DETENT THEREIN, SAID DETENT HAVING A LATCHING PART FITTING OVER AN EDGE OF THE KEEPER-OPENING AND SUPPORTING AND FIRMLY HOLDING THE PANELS TO THE POSTS AND HAVING A CAMMING SURFACE TO ENGAGE AN OPPOSITE EDGE OF THE KEEPER-OPENING AND DEPRESS THE DETENT WITHIN ITS RETAINING OPENING, OPEN THE REVERSE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID POSTS AND PANELS, FOR DISCONNECTING THE PANELS FROM ITS SUPPORTING POST OR POSTS.

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