Patent ID: 8046962
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: E04B

Abstract:
1. An upright space-dividing wall panel, comprising: an upright inner rigid frame including a pair of upright edge rails disposed in sidewardly spaced relation for defining opposite upright edges of the frame, a top cross rail rigidly joined to and extending generally horizontally between upper ends of said upright edge rails, and a generally horizontally extending bottom member fixed to and extending between lower ends of said edge rails; at least one side cover attached to and covering each exposed side of said frame for enclosing said frame, said side cover defining an outer cover face which faces outwardly from said frame and an upper cover edge extending along said frame; a horizontally elongate one-piece structural top cap disposed above and seated on said top rail and extending lengthwise thereof along the full length of said frame; a plurality of threaded fasteners positioned in predefined mounting locations at spaced lengthwise intervals along said top cap and coupled between said top cap and said top rail for rigidly securing and seating said top cap on said top rail; said structural top cap having a top wall defining a bottom wall surface and a downwardly opening T-shaped channel extending lengthwise throughout the full length thereof, said T-shaped channel being centered along a lengthwise-extending central vertical plane of said top cap and being accessible solely from the bottom or ends thereof, said T-shaped channel being defined by channel walls projecting downwardly below said bottom wall surface; said structural top cap further having a downwardly protruding and downwardly opening channel structure which extends lengthwise of the cap and which creates a snug, nested, seated engagement with an upper part of said top frame rail, said channel structure includes a pair of side legs which are cantilevered downwardly from said top wall of said top cap below said bottom wall surface and which extend in parallel relationship lengthwise of said top cap, said side legs being sidewardly spaced apart outwardly of said T-shaped channel to permit the upper part of said top frame rail to nest upwardly therebetween, each said side leg of said channel structure including a stop spaced below said bottom wall surface of said top wall, said stop being disposed above and abutting downwardly against a top surface of said top rail when the latter is upwardly nested between said side legs such that said T-shaped channel is spaced upwardly above said top rail and said top surface of said top rail is spaced from and below said bottom wall surface in non-contacting relation; each said threaded fastener including an elongate threaded shaft having an enlarged head at an upper end thereof, said head being confined for lengthwise horizontal sliding movement within an enlarged upper channel part of said T-shaped channel, and said shaft protruding downwardly through a lengthwise-extending narrow mouth which upwardly accesses said upper channel part with said shaft protruding downwardly for engagement with said top rail at said predefined mounting location associated therewith to draw said top cap downwardly against said top rail.