Patent ID: 7707795
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: E04B,Y10T

Abstract:
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.