Patent GB-437129-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to partition structures
IPC: E04B2/78
Filed: 1934-05-12
Abstract: 437,129. Partitions; mouldings; door and window frames. SNEAD & CO., Pine Street, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Snead, W. S.) May 12, 1934, No 14417. Convention date, May 12, 1933. [Classes 20 (iii) and 20 (iv)] A partition comprises a plurality of similar panel units having means for connecting them together in longitudinally spaced relation, and inset means for covering the spaces between the units are so disposed that the exposed surface of the cover means lies in the same plane either as the whole exposed surface of the panel units or as the adjacent exposed surface only of the units. Each panel unit A comprises, as shown in Fig. 1, a pair of end uprights 24 of substantially channelshape in cross-section, cross-rails 25, 26, 27 of hollow cross - section, double opaque panels 19 in its lower portion, intermediate double glass panels 21 and upper double glass panels 20. The uprights 24 are tied together by rods extending inside the cross-rails, and the uprights and cross-rails are also connected by plates 29, Fig. 3, fitting inside the ends of the rails and apertured to engage tabs 31 projecting from the uprights. Pairs of panel-receiving grooves are provided in the side faces of the uprights 24 and in the top and bottom faces of the rails. The intermediate rails 26 are provided, as shown in Fig. 3 with removable side covers 34 adapted to be snapped into place to permit the glass panels 20, 21 to be readily removable. The glass panels 20, 21 seat on wood strips 20<a>, 21<a> in the grooves in the rails. The rails 26 are formed of two channel-shaped sheet-metal members welded together, and the rails 25, 27 may be of similar form or of two parts connected together by top and bottom seams to form a box-section. The panels 19 consist of insulating board 36 faced with metal 37 and provided with tapering edges to enter the grooves in the uprights and rails. At the base the panels 19 fit grooves in rails 40 secured between the uprights by tie rods 28<a>, and such rails, and the faces of the panels are engaged by the sides of channelshaped base strips 50. The panel units A are connected, as shown in Fig. 5, by plate clips 52 having slots 53 for frictionally engaging inturned flanges 54 on adjacent uprights 24. Tongues 55 on the clips 52 engage with, and align, adjacent uprights, and the spaces between adjacent uprights are closed by cover plates 58 having spring portions 57 for engaging tongues 56 on the clips. Alternatively, the cover plates may be provided with spring edge portions to snap over rounded portions on the uprights. Adjacent uprights 24 are adapted to straddle flat cross-shaped plates anchored to the floor. The partition is completed at the top by filler sections D of insulating board, which engage grooves in the cross-rails 27 and are secured to a ceiling strip 43. The panels are additionally supported by channel-shaped extensions 44 wedged to the uprights 24 and anchored to the ceiling. Adjacent a main wall, the partition is constituted by a filler section C, Fig. 1, consisting of double metalfaced panels 45 extending from the floor to the top rail 27. The panels 45 engage along one edge with grooves formed between two interfitting channel members disposed against the wall and at the opposite edge fit grooves in an upright 24. A door unit B, Fig. 1, comprises uprights 87 similar to the uprights 24, and cross-rails 88, 89 arranged to accommodate a fan-light 23. The uprights 87 and rail 88 are fitted with special frame members 90 welded to these members and shaped to form an abutment for the door as shown in Fig. 13. The rails 88, 89 and uprights 87 are also fitted with frame members which are adapted to serve as abutments for the fanlight and are positioned so as to allow the latter to pivot centrally about a horizontal axis. At corners, two panel units are disposed at right-angles as shown in Fig. 5, and angle plates 72 are arranged so that upstanding ears 73 thereon fit between the inturned flanges 54 of adjacent uprights 24 and are clamped in place by screws 74 engaging the ears 73 and screw-threaded into clamp plates 65 at the rear of the flanges 54. An angular plate 77 to cover the corner is provided with flanges 78 to engage the edges of the angle plates 72. Where two partitions meet or cross, the plate members 52 connecting adjacent panel units of one partition are provided with upstanding ears fitted with screws which engage clamp plates for securing the adjacent upright of the other partition. In the modification shown in Fig. 16, the glazed portions of the units are of single form, in which case each end upright 24 is fitted above the cross-rail 25<a> with an auxiliary frame 104, Fig. 17, provided with a single groove for receiving the glass panels ; and the upper face of the rail 25<a> and both faces of the rail 26<a> may be similarly fitted with an auxiliary frame or they may be constructed with a single groove. The glass panels are secured in the frames 104, Fig. 17, by glazing strips 104<a> having portions 104b adapted for snap engagement with ribs 104<c> on the frames 104 In a further modification shown in Fig. 19, the partition consists of opaque panels 105 extending between the bottom rail 40 and a hollow top rail 106 connected between the end uprights. The panel units are braced internally by hollow cross-rails 107 tied between the uprights. To provide a flush surface for the whole partition, the panels are peripherally recessed to receive the outer walls of the uprights, the cover plates between the units and the outer faces of the cross-rails 107. The section adjacent a main wall is provided with the metal facing bent so as to form a tongue at the rear of the panel for engaging clips carried by the upright. The top rail may, alternatively, be formed of two U-shaped members welded together to form pockets 136, 137 for receiving the main panels 105 and the top filler panels 42 as shown in Fig. 26, and the metal facing of the panels 105 is extended and bent to fit over upstanding flanges 139 of the top rail. In such a construction, the upper edges of the panels may be fitted with spring clips for securing a hollow picture moulding. In all the constructions, an additional cover plate 69, Fig. 1, is fitted over the cover plate 58 at the base.