Structure for assembling and disassembling partition members

A screening for separating a protected area from a more accessible area includes a plurality of vertical supports with panels retained between the supports. The upper or lower ends of the panel are retained on pivot pins while the end of the panel opposite the pivot pins is removably locked to the support. The locking structure includes a latch that can be released from a position outside the enclosure and a lock that is lockable and unlockable from inside the enclosure. When the lock is actuated, the latch cannot be unlatched until the lock is subsequently unlocked.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Industrial sites, such as factories and the like, may have a large portion of the floor area that contains equipment that presents a danger to unwary bystanders. The equipment may be in the form of machines that would endanger inexperienced or inadequately attired personnel, high voltage equipment, or toxic chemicals or compound. The structure that encloses such restricted areas must be sufficiently strong to provide an adequate barrier to prevent unauthorized entry, and yet the enclosure must be reasonably attractive. Furthermore, such structures are subject to damage from vehicles and the like operating inside and outside the protected area, and therefore the panels of the enclosure must be replaceable. In many cases the enclosure surrounds machinery or equipment that requires little attention, and the replaceable panels permit entry into the protected area without requiring a more expensive door panel. Space limitations may also prohibit the installation of a door that swings open. It is therefore desirable that the panels be easily replaced. Once installed, however, the panels must be resistant to tampering from unauthorized personnel, particularly personnel outside the protected area.

To provide for easy replacement of the panels that make up a partition, it has become customary to provide a locking device for locking and unlocking a panel between parallel support members where operation of the lock requires a tool. Where the tool is a readily available such as an Allen wrench, an unauthorized personnel with access to such a tool can easily compromise the barrier and obtain unauthorized access to a restricted area. It is desirable therefore to provide an assembly device with a latch that will latch the parts together but can be easily unlatched to replace a panel. It is also desirable to provide a lock reachable only from within the protected area to prohibit the undesired unlatching of the panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention is embodied in a screening for separating an inner protected area from a more accessible area. The screening includes a plurality of equally spaced vertical supports with each support securely fastened to a floor. Between each pair of adjacent vertical supports is a removable panel. Each panel has an inner surface directed toward the protected area and an outer surface directed toward the accessible area, and further has parallel opposing sides. The panel also has an upper attachment member on each of the two sides for attaching to complementary upper attachment members on the vertical supports and has a lower attachment member on each of the sides for attachment to lower attachment members on the vertical supports.

One of the mated pairs of upper and lower attachment members includes a pivot pin such that the panel is pivotable about such pins while the other mated pairs of upper and lower attachment members remain unattached to each other. The other of the mated pairs of attachment members includes a latch for retaining the attachment member of the panel in latched relationship to the attachment member of the vertical support.

In accordance with the invention, the latch can be unlatched for removing and replacing a panel. The latch also includes a lock for selectively locking and unlocking the latch between a locked condition in which the latch cannot be readily unlatched and an unlocked condition in which the latch is readily unlatchable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, a screening for isolating a protected area from a more accessible area includes a plurality of spaced apart vertical supports, two of which are depicted and bear indicia numbers10,12with the supports10,12positioned to define the outer perimeter of the area to be enclosed. Between each pair of adjacent supports10,12is a panel14that is removably retained between the adjacent supports10,12by virtue of a pair of upper attachment members16,18on opposite sides20,22of the panel14engaging upper attachment members24,26on each of the vertical supports10,12respectively. Similarly, the panel14has lower attachment members28,30on opposite sides20,22thereof that engage associated lower attachment members32,34on the adjacent support member10,12respectively.

As best shown inFIGS. 2,3, and4, the upper attachment members16,18, of which member16is representative of both, are positioned on opposite sides of the panel14. Each upper attachment member16includes a mounting plate35from which projects a cylindrical peg36from each plate35, and at the end of each peg36is a disc-shaped enlarged head38. The pegs36on opposite sides of the panel14are received in a vertically oriented U-shaped groove40in each of the upper attachment members24,26of the support members10,12.

The upper attachment members24,26are identical to each other and member24is therefore representative of both. Each of the attachment members24,26has a generally rectangular body39with a rear surface41attachable by any suitable means to one of the support members10,12. The U-shaped groove40has an outer portion42having parallel walls43,45that are spaced apart a distance that is greater than the diameter of the peg36but less than the diameter of the disc-shaped head38. Spaced from the outer surface48of the attachment member24is an inner portion46of Groove40, the parallel sides of which are spaced a distance apart that is greater than the diameter of the enlarged head38such that when the peg36of the attachment member24will slide between the sides of the outer portion42of the groove40and the enlarged head38of the peg36is receivable in the inner portion46of the groove40to thereby retain the upper ends of the panel14to the adjacent support members10,12. With the panel14attached to the upper attachment members24,26and the pegs36restrained in the U-shaped groove40, the lower end of the panel14can be pivoted about the pegs36until the lower attachment members28,30of the panel14engage the lower attachment members32,34of support members10,12.

The lower attachment members28,30of panel14are received in the lower attachment members32,34on supports10and12, and the mated pair of member28on panel14and member32on support10are representative of both mated pairs of attachment members28-32and30-34. Accordingly, the elements of the mated pair of members28-32will be described with the understanding that the elements of mated pair30-34are identical.

Referring toFIGS. 5,6, and7, the lower panel attachment member28includes a planar mounting plate50suitable for attachment to one of the sides20,22of the panel14. The method of attachment of the plate50to the side20,22is not part of the invention, however, such attachment should be tamperproof using methods well known in the art such that the attachment member28cannot be removed by one outside of the barrier using simple tools such as a screwdriver or a wrench. Extending perpendicular to the surface of the plate50is a cylindrical shaft52, and at the outer end of the shaft52is an enlarged head54. The enlarged head54has a semi-cylindrical forward end56adapted to be received in an indentation in lower attachment member32of the vertical support10as is further described below. Rearward of the semi-cylindrical forward end56are opposing cutouts58,60adapted to receive a latch pin from the lower attachment member32as is also further described below. Rearward of the cutouts58,60are opposing parallel surfaces57,59, and rearward of the parallel surfaces57,59are opposing ramped surfaces62,64that flare outward of each other and form sharp intersections61,63with their adjoining surfaces57,59respectively. Rearward of the ramped surfaces is a transverse rear surface66.

Referring toFIGS. 8 and 8A, lower attachment member32has a rectangular body with a mounting side68attachable to a surface of one of the support members10,12, an exposed side70opposite the mounting side68and a forward side72having an indentation74therein for receiving the shaft52and enlarged head54of the lower attachment member28,30of a panel14. Extending into the forward side72and adjacent the indentation74is a rotatable forward actuator76having an aperture78therein shaped to receive a tool, such as a hex Allen wrench as depicted inFIG. 8. Opposite the forward side72is a generally planar rearward side80, and extending through the rearward side80is a second rotatable rearward actuator82. The rearward actuator82has a centrally located aperture84therein shaped to receive a second tool, which may be the same as the tool insertable in aperture78, or may be different from the tool insertable in aperture78for operating the forward actuator76. In the embodiment depicted, aperture84of actuator82is adapted to receive an elongate tool with a triangular cross-section. According, in this embodiment the Allen wrench used to operate the forward actuator76cannot be used to operate the rearward actuator82.

The lower attachment member32also has generally planar ends86,88each of which is equally spaced from the indentation74. Since the ends86,88are equal distant from indentation74member32can be attached to support10with end88extending upward, or it may be attached to support12with end86extending upward. Accordingly, attachment members32,34are identical to each other as opposed to being mirror images of one another. The mounting side68of the member32is attachable to one of the supports10,12using tamperproof methods known in the art such that attachment member32cannot be disconnected from its associated support using ordinary tools such as screw drivers and wrenches.

Referring toFIGS. 9,10, and11, the lower attachment member32has an inner cavity for receiving removable parts therein. To create the cavity, attachment member32has a mounting panel90, the rearward surface of which is the mounting side68of the member32and the forward surface92has cutouts therein as further described below. Positioned above the mounting panel90is a outer panel94, the outer surface of which is the exposed surface70of the member32and the inner surface96of which has cutout portions as described below which complement the cutouts in the forward surface92of the mounting panel90. Accordingly, when the outer panel94is assembled over the mounting panel90, the cutouts in surface92mate with the cutouts in surface96to form the cavity within the attachment member32.

As shown inFIG. 10, the mounting panel90has a centrally located cutout97in surface92which does not penetrate to the mounting side68. Cutout97has opposing sides98,99that are generally perpendicular to surface70and to forward side72of member32, and sides98,99extend across the center of panel90with the ends thereof intersecting and forming a semi-cylindrical outer wall100that is spaced a short distance from rearward side80. Opposite outer wall100, sides98,99define diverging surfaces102,103which connect to forward side72and thereby form a mouth for the indentation74. Sides98,99are spaced apart a distance that is greater than the width of the enlarged head54of the attachment member28on the panel14for receiving enlarged head54therebetween. The diverging surfaces102,103are shaped complementary to the ramped surfaces62,64of attachment member28.

As shown inFIG. 11, the outer panel94has a cutout104that is complementarily shaped to cutout97; however, cutout104has portions thereof that penetrate through the body of outer panel94from inner surface96to exposed surface70. The portion of cutouts104that penetrate surface70forms a slot in surface70with parallel sides105,106spaced apart a distance that is smaller than the width of the enlarged head54of member28, but larger than the cylindrical shaft52to which the head54is attached. A shoulder107surrounds slot105,106and the portion of cutout104that does not penetrate surface70is enlarged by shoulder107to inner walls108,109positioned complementarily to sides98,99and diverging surfaces102,103of cutout97in panel90. Accordingly, when the outer panel94is mated to the mounting panel90, the cutouts97and104will mate and form the indentation74which will receive the enlarged head54of an attachment member28and the shaft52will be received in the slot105,106defined by the shoulder107. Also, when the enlarged head54of attachment member28is received in the indentation74with semi-cylindrical forward end56abutting the semi-cylindrical outer wall100of attachment member32, the ramped surfaces62,64of attachment member28will abut against the complementary shaped diverging surfaces102,103of attachment member32. The complementary surfaces62,102and64,103will obstruct access to the latch pin by a tool, not shown, because the tool will be unable to negotiate around either of the sharp intersections61,63to reach a latch pin114as is described below, to compromise the latch.

Referring further toFIGS. 10 and 11, attachment member32also includes a vertically extending groove110in surface92of mounting panel90and a complementary vertical groove111in the inner surface96of outer panel94that extends parallel to the forward and rearward sides72,80and intersect the indentation74for receiving the slideable latch pin114.

Referring toFIGS. 9,12,13,18,20, and21, the slideable latch pin114has an elongate body with an angled engagement end116that extends into the indentation74, and opposite the engagement end116is a small diameter mounting peg118around which is fitted one end of a coil spring120. The opposite end of the coil spring120abuts a blind wall122in panels90and94that extends across one end86of the member32. The spring120therefore urges the angled engagement end116of the latch pin into the indentation74. The latch pin114is longitudinally moveable within the cavity formed by mated grooves110,111from a first position with the coil spring120compressed and the engagement end116withdrawn from indentation74(as shown inFIG. 20) to a second position with the coil spring120extended and the engagement end extending into indentation74for latching to connector28(as shown inFIG. 21). The angled engagement end116is directed toward the forward surface72of attachment member32such that the entry of enlarged head54into the indentation74will cause the enlarged head54to contact the angled surface116and urge the latch pin114against coil spring120.

Extending from opposite sides of the central shaft of the latch pin114are first and second cam followers124,126. As best shown inFIG. 13, cam followers124,126are axially aligned with each other along a central axis123that is perpendicular to the axis125of the latch pin114, but is spaced from axis125and does not intersect axis125.

Referring toFIGS. 9,10,11, and14-17, the forward surface92of the mounting panel90also has aligned opposing cutouts112and113on opposite sides of latch groove110. The inner surface96of the outer panel94similarly has complementary cutouts127,129on opposite sides of latch groove111. The mated cutouts112,129rotatably receive a first cylindrically shaped forward actuator76and mated cutouts113,127rotatably receive a second cylindrically shaped rearward actuator82.

Referring toFIGS. 10 through 15, the forward actuator76has an exposed surface77adapted to be coplanar with side72of attachment member32, a parallel opposite wall131, a cylindrical outer wall133and a longitudinal axis129. Aperture78extends into exposed surface77and is adapted to receive an operating tool, not shown, for rotating forward activator76. Extending outward of wall131is a cam128that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis129. Extending around a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical wall133of forward actuator76is an arcuate flange132that is adapted to fit within an arcuate groove137around cutout112in the forward surface92of mounting panel90for retaining the forward actuator76within the body of the attachment member32. It should be noted that surface96of panel94does not have an arcuate groove complementary to groove137. In the preferred embodiment, the arcuate flange132defines an arc of one hundred and five degrees. Accordingly, when the forward actuator76is received in the aperture formed by complementary grooves112,129with the arcuate flange132fitted into groove137, the forward actuator76is rotatable through an arc of seventy-five degrees. The cam128of actuator76is positioned with respect to the arcuate flange132such that the cam128will engage cam follower124of the latch pin114as the actuator76is rotated. Rotation of the forward actuator76in one direction will urge the follower124and latch pin114against the spring120and draw the angled end116thereof out of the indentation74to thereby release an enlarged head54of an attachment member28entrapped in the indentation74and unlatching the latch.

Referring toFIGS. 9,10,11,12,13,16,17,20, and21, rearward actuator82also has a cylindrically shaped body135with a rearwardly facing surface137having aperture84therein for receiving a tool, not shown, for rotating the actuator, where the tool received in aperture84is different from the tool received in aperture78of the forward actuator76. The actuator82further has an opposing surface134, and extending axially outward of the opposing surface134is a projection136. The projection136is defined by an arcuate outer wall138that is a projection of a portion of the cylindrical body135of the actuator82, and a generally planar inner wall142that defines a cord across the surface134and connects to opposite ends of the arcuate wall138. The inner wall142further has shoulders140,141at the ends thereof for trapping cam follower126as is further described below. The rearward actuator82also has an arcuate flange144extending around a portion of the cylindrical body135thereof which is adapted to fit within an arcuate groove146in the forward surface92of mounting panel90for retaining the rearward actuator82within the aperture formed by the mated cutouts113,127. Surface96of panel94does not have a groove complementary to groove146in surface92. In the preferred embodiment, the arcuate flange144defines an arc of ninety degrees such that the rearward actuator82is rotatable within the aperture formed by cutouts113,127through ninety degrees. The arcuate flange144is oriented with respect to the projection136such that when the flange144is received in the groove146, rotation of the rearward actuator82through ninety degrees will cause the projection136to rotate from a first position, as shown inFIG. 20, where it is adjacent to cam follower126and will not interfere with cam follower126to a second position, best shown inFIG. 21, in which wall142of the projection136obstructs the movement of cam follower126and thereby prevents the retraction of the latch pin114against the spring120locking the latch pin114in a latching position. Accordingly, rotation of the rearward actuator in one direction locks the latch pin114in the latching condition and rotation of the rearward actuator82in the opposite direction releases the lock and allows the latch pin114to be retracted upon actuation of the forward actuator76. Shoulders140,141on opposite sides of wall142are adapted to contact cam follower126and prevent the cam follower126from rotating the rearward actuator82and thereby moving wall142out of its obstructing position.

The rearward actuator further includes a cylindrical blind hole148extending radially into the cylindrical body135perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof into which is received a coil spring150and a ball bearing152. The coil spring150will accordingly urge the ball bearing152against the surface of the cutout113. In the preferred embodiment, the cutout113in surface92includes a pair of spaced apart flats154,156positioned to be engaged by ball bearing152at opposite ends of the rotation of the rearward actuator82. Accordingly, the completion of a full rotation of rearward actuator82in one direction will result in a click as ball bearing150engages one flat154indicating the end of the such rotation, and completion of rotation of the actuator82in the opposite direction will result in a second click as ball bearing contacts flat156.

Referring toFIG. 8A, the rearward actuator82has a marking153on the outer surface thereof and the rearward surface80of attachment member32also has markings155and157thereon near the rearward actuator82. The marking153is positioned to align with marking155when the rearward actuator is in the locked condition and align with marking157when the rearward actuator82is in the unlocked condition.

The outer panel94is secured against the forward surface92of the mounting panel90by any suitable means known in the art, such as connectors or an adhesive to retain the parts permanently assembled such that the lower attachment members32,34cannot be readily compromised by separating the panels90,94.

Laws that regulate the barriers defining restricted areas require that the enclosure cannot be compromised by a person standing outside of the enclosure using commonly available tools such as screw drivers, wrenches, or Allen wrenches. The legal requirements may be met by providing a locking device accessible from outside the enclosure where the locking device is only operable using a specially made tool, such as the triangularly shaped tool required to operate the rearward actuator82as depicted in the drawings. Many prior art panels are removable from outside of the barrier using such specially made tools. Alternately, the laws permit the removal of a panel of a barrier by a person positioned inside the barrier using commonly available tools, and accordingly, a rearward actuator82that receives an Allen wrench would meet this requirement. The inner and outer actuators76,82provided on the attachment members32,34enable a user to chose either of these embodiments for locking a panel14between supports10,12. Alternately, a user can employ the structure depicted in which the outer actuator76is operable using a standard tool such as an Allen wrench and the inner actuator82is only operable using a specially designed tool. The locking device of the present invention therefore offers several levels of security to potential users. At the least secure level both actuators76,82may be operable by the same tool, which may be a commonly available tool such as an Allen wrench. At a more secure level the actuators76,82may require different tools, and at a most secure level, one of the tools may not be a commonly available tool.

Referring toFIG. 1, when the panel14is assembled between support members10,12and the cylindrical pegs36and disc-shaped heads38of the upper attachment members are received in the vertically oriented grooves40of the upper attachment members24,26, the lower end of the panel14can swing freely about the cylindrical pegs36. The panel14can therefore be rotated about the pegs36until the shaft52and enlarged head54of the lower attachment members32,34are engaged in the indentations74of the lower attachment members32,34. As the enlarged head54of members28,30move into the indentation74of the lower attachment members32,34, the enlarged head54will contact the angled end116of the latch pin114and the enlarged head54will urge the latch pin114against the spring120. Further movement of the large head54into the indentation74results in the angled end116of the latch pin dropping into one of the cutouts58,60behind the enlarged head54thereby latching the lower end of the panel14between support members10and12.

Once panel14has been latched between support panels10and12, a suitable key for operating the rearward actuator82can be inserted into aperture84and turned through ninety degrees to lock the lower attachment members28, of panel14into the attachment members32,34of the supports10,12. Thereafter, an Allen wrench or other readily available tool cannot be used to rotate the forward actuators76to unlock the panel14. Furthermore, an unauthorized member positioned outside of the protected area who has access to the appropriate tool receivable in the rearward actuator82cannot use the tool to remove a panel14because the rearward actuator82is only accessible from within the protected area. Accordingly, mere possession of the appropriate tool to operate rearward actuator82will not enable one to obtain access to the protected area. Where it becomes necessary to replace one of the panels14, an authorized person within the protected area can use the appropriate tool receivable in aperture84to rotate the rearward actuator82and unlock the lower attachment units32,34. Thereafter, a more readily available tool, such as an Allen wrench, receivable in apertures78, can be used to unlatch each of the lower attachment members32,34and remove and replace a damaged panel14.

In the embodiment described above, the upper attachment members16,18and24,26have been described as including pegs36on the panel14and grooves40on support members10,12; however, it should be appreciated that the pegs36could be positioned on the support members10,12and the grooves40on the panel14without departing the invention. Similarly, lower attachment members28,30of panel14could be reversed with the lower attachment members32,34of support members10,12. That is, latching members32,34could be placed on panel14with the shaft52and enlarged head54placed on support members10,12without departing from the invention. Finally, the mated pairs of upper attachment members16,18and24,26can be reversed with the mated pairs of lower attachment members28,30and32,34so that the upper end of panel14pivots on pegs36at the lower end of the panel14and the latches32,34are positioned above the pegs36.

As can be seen, the present invention permits ready replacement of panels14by authorized personnel but prevents an unauthorized person that is outside the protected area from compromising the lock of the invention, even if the unauthorized person possesses the appropriate tool to unlock the rearward actuator82.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a single embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore the intent of the appended claims to cover all such modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.