Panel connector assembly for office partition panels

Abstract: The invention relates to a panel connector for office partition panels (26, 28, 30, 31) having rectangular panel frames (60) at side edges thereof, a connector assembly (38, 40, 41) for rigidly connecting the rectangular panel frames together at the side edges thereof, said connector assembly including upper and lower wedge blocks (70, 130) on the panel side edges and draw block assemblies (110, 260, 240) adapted to grip the wedge blocks (70, 130) and draw the wedge blocks (70, 130) of adjacent frames (60) together. The draw block assemblies comprise an upper draw block (110) above the upper wedge blocks (70); a lower draw block (260) below the lower wedge blocks (130); a draw tube (202) between the two draw blocks (110, 260); the draw tube (202) forming a spacer or corner between adjacent panels; and an adjustable coupler (90) to draw the upper and lower draw blocks (110, 260) together to bring corresponding wedge blocks (70, 130) on adjacent panels into tight and rigid relationship with the draw block assembly.

Description: This invention relates to a panel connector assembly for office panels. Office panels in open plan configuration are in common use. These panels are typically connected together through rigid connectors. Wedge and draw block connectors used in systems sold by Herman Miller, Inc. are disclosed and claimed in US-A 3 517 467. Ninety degree configurations, and three- and four-panel joints are made with rectangular spacer tubes in this system. A change of height between panels is accomplished also with the spacer tube. In such cases of change of height, special blocks are mounted to the spacer tube at the height of the shorter panel. Different tubes are required for each different configuration of panel connections. Whereas this system is technically effective, it requires a multitude of parts. The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a panel connector assembly which requires a smaller number of parts for different configurations of panel connections. The invention solves this problem by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous further developments are defined by the dependent claims. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the draw block assemblies comprise an upper draw block with an upper wedge-shaped surface, a lower draw block with a lower wedge-shaped surface and a connecting tube between the upper and lower blocks. An adjustable coupler draws the upper and lower draw blocks together to bring corresponding wedge blocks of adjacent panels into tight and rigid relationship with the connector assembly. The connecting tube can form a spacer or corner between adjacent panels. The connecting tube preferably is rectangular in cross sectional configuration. In this configuration of the connector assembly, the lower draw block is attached to the connecting tube and the upper draw block is adjustably connected to an upper portion of the connecting tube to draw the upper and lower blocks together as the upper draw block is adjusted toward the lower draw block. In a preferred embodiment, a threaded fastener attaches the upper draw block to the connecting tube. With the invention, the adjacent panel can be attached at 90° to each other through the connector assembly, the adjacent panels can be attached in line with each other through the connector assembly or the adjacent panels can be connected in three or four panel configurations with two of the panels connected at 90° to one another and at least two of the panels connected in line with each other. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a filler extrusion is mounted to side portions of the connecting tube between the upper and lower wedge blocks to fill in the space therebetween. Preferably, the filler extrusion is W-shaped in cross section. Further, a cover member is removably mounted to the connecting tube side portions without the filler extrusion to cover the connecting tube for cosmetic purposes. The cover members have an outer surface flush with an outer surface of adjacent panels. The cover members can be flat or L-shaped in cross section, the latter of which configuration is used to cover two sides of the connecting tube. The cover members are removably mounted to side portions of the connecting tube, preferably through inner fitting flanges on the cover member and the filler extrusion. Further according to the invention, a base cover connector comprises a base plate, a base cover and a central shaft. The base plate is mounted to a lower portion of the connecting tube, the central shaft is mounted to the base plate and extends downwardly therefrom and the base cover is mounted to the base plate and to the post, extending downwardly from a lower portion of the connecting tube. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a top cap is snapped onto the top of a connector assembly through a wedge block which is secured to the top of the tube. The invention provides a system for connecting together panels rigidly through a wedge block and draw block connector assemblies wherein many of the same parts can be used for many different configurations to achieve a technical advantage. Further, the same connecting tube can be used regardless of whether the connection is an in-line spacer, a right angle connection, a three-way connection or a four-way connection. The use of the removable filler extrusion, corner pieces, and cosmetic covers adapts a single, relatively inexpensive structural rectangular tube, to many different configurations. On the other hand, the filler extrusion, corner connector and cosmetic covers can be made inexpensively, but attractively, from extruded plastic. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of an open plan office furniture system incorporating panel connector assemblies according to the invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of panel side edges; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a tube connector system according to the invention, with portions of the tube connector system being partially broken away; FIG. 4 is a front elevation view in section of the tube connector system shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a top view of a two-way 90° panel connection utilizing the tube connector system shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and partially broken away; and FIG. 6 is a top view, partially in section, of a three-way 180° panel connection utilizing the tube connector system illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Referring now to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown an open plan office furniture system 20 which is formed by multiple work stations 22. The work stations 22 are comprised of office walls 24, which are formed by connecting together at side edges thereof, in various combinations, full sized panels 26, glazed panels 28, mid height panels 30, and waist height panels 31. Cabinets 32, shelves 34, and work surfaces 36 are attached to the full sized panels 26, mid size panels 30, and waist height panels 31 in cantilevered fashion. The different panels can be connected in a 90° two-way corner 38, a three-way corner 40, and a four-way corner (not shown), by means of a tube connecting system 41 which includes a connecting post 42. Electricity is provided to the panels by a lower horizontal electrical raceway 44, a vertical electrical channel 46, and an upper wire management channel 48. The panels 26 are connected to each other and to the glazed panels 28 through a linear wall panel connecting system 50. The full sized panels 26 are connected to the mid height panels 30 and to the waist height panels 31, and the mid height panels 30 are connected a waist height panels 31 through a change of height connector system 170. Likewise, the change of height connector system 170 connects a full size panel 26 to a waist height tube connector system 41'. Referring now to FIG. 2, two panels of equal height comprise upper wedge blocks 70, lower wedge blocks 130, hanger frames 150, and wall panels 52, 54. The upper wedge block 70 has a base 88 from which extend channel legs 72, a wedge surface 80, and a shaft guide extension 82. The channel legs 72 are formed by stop flanges 74 and channel flanges 76. A U-shaped channel 86 is formed by a base 88 and the channel flanges 76. Screw holes 84 pass through the base 88. A semi-annular shaft guide 78 is formed in the wedge surface 80, base 88, and shaft guide extension 82. The lower wedge block 130 has a base 142 with stop flanges 132, wedge surface 136, and shaft guide extension 140 extending therefrom. Through hole 138 passes through the base 142. A half-cylindrical shaft guide 134 is formed in the wedge surface 136, the base 142, and the rod guide extension 140. The frame hanger 150 is W-shaped in cross section and has a channel 156 formed between the two front surfaces 160. End slots 152 are spaced along the front surfaces 160. Side flanges 162 extend outwardly and backwardly from the front surfaces 160. Accessory slots 154 are spaced along the side flanges 162. Screw holes 158 are spaced along the back of the channel 156. The panels 52, 54 are comprised of a frame 60 at the edges of the panel, rectangular side faces 58, wire management channel 56, and a lower electrical raceway 64. The panel side faces 58 extend beyond the panel frame 60 to form an end channel 62. The upper wedge block 70, the frame hanger 150, and the lower wedge block 130, are inserted into the end channel 62 and fastened by screws 100. The frame 60 is formed from vertical stiles 61 and horizontal connectors 63, the latter of which forms the wire management channel 56. An upper wedge block 70 is pressed into the end channel 62 of the panels 52 and 54. The stop flanges 74 keep the upper wedge block 70 parallel to the panel side faces 58. Further the flanges 74 and 76 form with the side faces an elongated fabric channel 77 into which fabric which covers the faces 58 can be tucked and accumulated. The corners of the panels are a location where fabric is gathered. The channel 77 provides an area into which the gathered fabric can be tucked, accumulated and held. The channel flanges 76 create an extension of the wire management channel 56. Screws 100 pass through the screw holes 84 and fasten the upper wedge block 70 to the frame 60 of panels 52 and 54. The lower wedge block 130 is mounted in a manner similar to the upper wedge block 70. A lower wedge block 130 is pressed into the end channel 62 of the panels 52 and 54. The stop flanges 132 hold the lower wedge block parallel to the panel sides 58. Screws 100 pass through the screw holes 138 and fasten the lower wedge block 130 to the frame 60 of panels 52 and 54. The frame hanger 150 is placed into the end channel 62 and fastened to the frame 60 by screws 101. The faces of stop flanges 74, 132, for both the upper and lower wedge blocks 70, 130, lie in the same plane as the faces 160 of the frame hanger 150. FIG. 3 illustrates a panel spacer or corner connecting assembly 200 by which two, three, or four panels can be connected together at various right angles or in line with each other. The spacer connecting assembly 200 is comprised of: connecting tube 202, tube bracket 204, threaded upper wedge block 220, lower draw block 260, filler extrusion 250, upper draw block 110, fastening bolt 290, cosmetic cover 280, receiver base connectors 320, base cover connector 330, and base cover 350. The connecting tube 202 is an elongated square tube with screw holes 208. The tube bracket 204 is internal to the connecting tube 202 and has screw holes 206 and post opening 210. The threaded upper wedge block 220 is similar to the upper wedge block 70 in that it is comprised of a base 238, a channel wing 222, a stop flange 224, an channel flange 226, a wedge surface 228, and screw holes 234. However, the threaded upper wedge block 220 has an arcuate extension 230 which forms a threaded receiving opening 232 and a receiving flange 236 which extends from the base 238. The lower draw block 260 is similar to the lower wedge block 130 in that it is comprised of a base 270, stop flange 262, and screw holes 266. However, it has a wedge surface 268 which extends upwardly and outwardly from the base 270, and receiving flanges 264 and thus functions as a draw block. Screw holes 266 pass through the base 270. The filler extrusion 250 is generally W-shaped and has resilient spring like flanges 252 at both edges. The cosmetic cover 280 is comprised of a main body 286 which extends the height of the panel, an extension flange 282, and a hook flange 284. The cosmetic cover 280 is used for a two-way 90° panel connection. The receiver base connectors 320 have a main base 324 from which extend the C-shaped snap flanges 322. The C-shaped snap flanges extend the width of the main base 324. Two bases 324 are used at right angles to one another for a right angle connection. The post opening 328 is square and extends through the main base 324. The base cover connector 330 is comprised of an internally threaded upper shaft 332 which is separated from the central shaft 336 by the upper collar 334. The central shaft 336 is separated from the internally threaded lower shaft 340 by the lower collar 338. A hex nut 331 is threaded onto the central shaft 336 to retain the shaft 336 on the connecting tube 202. The base cover 350 has two sections, the upper decorative section 352 and the lower section 354. At the top of the upper section 352, an arcuate flange 356 extends outward. The bottom 358 of the base cover 350 has a square-shaped post opening 359. FIG. 4 illustrates the panel spacer connecting assembly 200 in section. The tube bracket 204 is placed inside the connecting tube 202 with the bracket screw holes 206 aligned with the tube screw holes 208. The upper wedge blocks 220 are then screwed into the tube brackets through the connecting tube screw holes 208 by screws 292. The same method is used to connect the lower draw block 260 to the connecting tube 202. The filler extrusion 250 is then adhered to the connecting tube 202 between the threaded upper wedge block 220 and the lower draw block 260 on each side of the connecting tube 202 where a panel connection is to be made. The connecting tube 202 is then connected to a wall panel 52. The draw surface 268 of the lower draw block 260 of the connecting tube 202 is hooked under the lower wedge block 130 of panel 52, bringing the draw surface 268 into contact with the complementary wedge surface 136 of the lower wedge block 130. The top of the connecting tube 202 is then abutted to the top of the panel 52. An upper draw block 110 is placed onto the wedge surfaces 228 and 80 of the threaded upper wedge block 220 and the upper wedge block 70. The fastening bolt 290 is inserted into the threaded opening 232 of the threaded upper wedge block after passing through the annular opening 112 of the upper draw block 70. The fastening bolt 290 is screwed into the threaded opening 232. As the fastening bolt 290 is tightened, the wedge surface 268 of the lower draw block 260 is drawn into contact with the wedge surface 136 of the lower wedge block 130. Similarly, the draw surfaces 114 of the upper draw block 110 are drawn onto the complementary wedge surfaces 80, 228 of the upper wedge block 70 and the threaded upper wedge block 220, respectively, connecting the connecting tube 202 to the panel 52. This process will be repeated for each panel that is connected by the connecting assembly 200. The threaded upper shaft 332 passes through the post opening 328 of the receiver base connector 320 and into the post opening 210 of the tube bracket 204. The lower shaft 340 of the base cover connector 330 is placed into the post opening 359 of the bottom 358 of the base cover 350. The arcuate flange 356 of the base cover 350 is then pressed into the C-shaped snap flange 322, thus fastening the base cover 350 to the connecting tube 202. A top cap 398 is removably mounted to the top of cosmetic cover 280 through retaining flanges 400 which have indented portions 402. The indented portions 402 are releasably received in the receiving grooves 240 of the upper wedge block 220. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a two-way 90° connection 38. The cosmetic cover 280 is snapped into place by the hook flanges 284. Each hook flange 284 snaps behind the resilient spring-like flange 252 of the filler extrusion 250 and the receiving flange 236 extending from the bases 236 of the threaded upper wedge block 220. The same connection method is used at the bottom of the panel and tube where the hook flange 284 snaps into the receiving flange 264 of the lower modified draw block 260. The extension flange 282 partially covers the threaded upper wedge block 220, frame hanger 150, and lower wedge block 260. The inside corner cosmetic cover 300 is comprised of two hook flanges 306, two faces 302, and two extension flanges 304. The interior corner cosmetic cover 300 is fastened to the connecting post 202 in the same manner as the two-way 90° cosmetic cover 280. The hook flanges 306 of the inside cosmetic cover 300 snap behind the resilient spring-like flange 252 of the filler extrusion 250 and into the receiving flanges 236, 264 of the threaded upper wedge block 220 and the modified lower draw block 260. The faces 302 extend the height of the panel 52. FIG. 6 illustrates a three-way connection in which the connection at the right is shown in section beneath the wedge blocks 70 and 220. The 180° cosmetic cover 312 is comprised of an extension flange 314 and a hook flange 316. The hook flange 316 snaps under and behind the resilient spring-like flange 252 of the filler extrusion 250 and into the receiving flanges 238, 264 of the threaded upper draw block 220 and the modified lower draw block 260. An inside corner cosmetic cover 300 is placed where needed as previously described. A fourth panel could easily be added by removing the 180° cosmetic cover 230 and fastening a threaded upper wedge block 220, filler extrusion 250, and a modified lower draw block 260 to the connecting post in its place. Then the fourth panel could be mounted to the connecting post as previously described. As can be seen from the foregoing, the panels can be connected together with a spacer in line with each other, at 90° angles to one another or any combination thereof for two, three and four panel joints.

Claims: A panel connector assembly (200) for office partition panels (52) having rectangular panel frames (60) at side edges thereof, for rigidly connecting each rectangular panel frame (60) to a connecting element (202) at the side edge thereof, said connector assembly including an upper wedge block (70, 220) and a lower wedge block (130) at the side edge of said panel frame (60) and an upper draw block (110) and a lower draw block (260) at the connecting element (202), said upper draw block (110) being adjustably connected to said connecting element (202) and said lower draw block (260) being adapted to be hooked under said lower wedge block (130) so that said upper and lower draw blocks (110, 260) are drawn together as said upper draw block (110) is adjusted toward the lower draw block (260), characterized in that said connecting element (202) is a connecting tube forming a spacer or corner between adjacent panels, that the threaded upper wedge block (220) and said lower draw block (260) are attached to the side edge of said connecting tube (202); and that said upper draw block (110) is adjustably connected to said threaded upper wedge block (220) and adapted to be placed onto the wedge surfaces (228, 80) of said upper wedge block (220, 70). A panel connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein adjacent panels (26) are attached at 90° to each other through the connector assembly (38). A panel connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein adjacent panels (26) are attached in line with each other through said connector assembly (40). A panel connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least three panels (26) are connected together at edges through a connector assembly (40); two of said panels are connected at 90° to one another and two of said panels are connected in line with each other. A panel connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a filler extrusion (250) is mounted to side portions of the connecting tube (202) between the upper wedge block (220) and the lower draw block (260). A panel connector assembly according to claim 5, wherein a cover member (280, 312) comprises an elongated corner connector adapted to be removably mounted to said connecting tube (202) between filler extrusions (250) on said connecting (202) tube at right angles with respect to each other. A panel connector assembly according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the filler extrusion (250) is W-shaped in cross section and fills the space between the upper wedge block (220) and the lower draw block (260). A panel connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a cover member (280, 312) is removably mounted to the connecting tube (202) side portions to at least partially cover the connecting tube (202). A panel connector assembly according to claim 8 wherein the cover members (280) have an outer surface flush with an outer surface of adjacent panels (52). A panel connector assembly according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the cover member (280) is L-shaped in cross section and covers two sides of the connecting tube (202). A panel connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and further comprising a base cover connector comprising a base plate (324), a base cover (350) and a central shaft (336), the base plate (324) being mounted to a lower portion of the connecting tube (202), the central shaft (336) mounted to the base plate (324) and extending downwardly therefrom and the base cover (350) extending downwardly from a lower portion of the connecting tube (202) and removably mounted to the base plate (324) and the central shaft (336). A panel connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the connecting tube (202) is rectangular in cross section.

Inventors: LOOMAN JAMES A, SCHUELKE DAVID J, LOOMAN, JAMES A., SCHUELKE, DAVID J.
Applicants: MILLER HERMAN INC, HERMAN MILLER, INC.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E04B2
IPC codes: E04B2