Patent Publication Number: US-6218612-B1

Title: Modular panel partition system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation in part application of now abandoned, provisional U.S patent application Ser. No. 60/013,414, entitled MODULAR PARTITION SYSTEM and filed on Mar. 14, 1996 by M. McKitrick and D. Middleton, the disclosure of which is incorporated here by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to panel partition systems that are commonly used in office environments and the like. 
     Many common panel partition systems that are used in office environments include a number of partition panels that are arranged to define various work stations. When the panels are placed in position, a panel connector will typically be interposed between a side edge of one panel and a side edge of an adjacent panel, to couple two adjacent panels together. These panels are also typically provided with a wire-way within the panel to provide communication and power connections at the work space. The wire-way is often positioned along the bottom edge of the panels. Thus, the connector between the panels typically extends between the top of the wire-way and the top of the panels, so the connector will not block or obstruct the wire-way passage between the panels. Because of this common arrangement, additional cover pieces are required to enclose the wire passage space that is defined below the panel connector and between the panels, where wiring and the like extend between the wire-ways of adjacent panels. These cover pieces are small to cover the small gap between the adjacent panel wire-ways, and typically do not conveniently fit tightly and securely. Rather, the small covers often become displaced or broken, as is the nature of small parts. Thus, because of the use of these small covers, the visual impression presented at the floor level of commonly known panel partition systems is a patchy or broken up appearance of a small cover filling a gap between larger, adjacent covers. 
     Another feature of commonly known panel partition systems is the use of “knock-out” panels along wire-way covers to provide access opening through the cover to the wiring or other conduits that extend through the wire-way. These have proven fairly successful for initial setup and installation of commonly known panel partition systems. The knock-out wire-way access does not lend itself to reconfiguration, however. Once the knock-out portion of the wire-way cover is removed, there is no provision for replacing it. Thus, if a power or communication jack, for example, is relocated, then either a dead jack or other plug must be left in the original location, or an unsightly potentially hazardous hole is left in the wire-way cover. 
     Finally, the common practice of placing the wire-way along the bottom edge of the partition panel provides a structural challenge in terms of providing standing strength to support the panel above, and in terms of maximizing the passageway available for wiring and the like. Most significantly, providing adequate bending strength has traditionally been provided by narrowing the width of the wire-way passage to provide a required width of a structural member, thereby restricting the size of wiring or conduit that will pass through the wire-way. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A modular panel partition system according to the invention addresses several failings of previously known partition panels, including those failings that are identified above, with a panel partition system that has a first panel and a second panel, each panel having opposing first and second edges that are adapted to releasably couple with a panel connector. Each panel extends from a bottom edge to an opposing top edge and has an upper portion and an adjoining lower portion that extends between the upper portion and the bottom edge to define a wire-way to pass conduits into and through the panels. The panel connector has an elongated one-piece body that defines a post, has a first side that is adapted to releasably couple with an edge of a panel, has a second side that is adapted to releasably couple with an edge of a panel, and has an aperture that extends through each of the first and second sides of the panel connector. The aperture is positioned on the panel connector to align with the wire-way and is adapted to pass conduits through the aperture, between the panels. The panel connector is interposed in abutting engagement between the adjoining edges of two adjacent panels to connect the adjacent panels. The one piece post extends from the bottom edge of the panels to the top edge of the panels. 
     In other aspects of the invention, the panel connector has a bottom end at the bottom edge of the panels and the aperture may extend through the bottom end. The panel connector may have a third or more sides to connect three or more adjacent panels. Further, the post may be hollow and adapted to pass conduits through the hollow portion. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the wire-way includes a perimeter picture frame with a top plate and an opposing bottom plate, the top and bottom plates extending generally between the side edges of the panel with the bottom plate being located at the bottom edge. Two Z-shaped end supports extend between the top and bottom plates. One of the end supports is located near one of the side edges and the other end support is located near the other side edge. Further, each Z-shaped end support may have a web portion with two opposing edges, may have a first flange at one of the edges, that is generally perpendicular to the web and extends in a first direction, and may have a second flange at the other web edge, that is generally perpendicular to the web and extends in a second direction that is generally opposite to the first direction. Also, the web may be aligned within about forty-five degrees of a center line that extends between the two side edges of the panel. The picture frame top plate is connected to the panel upper portion and the picture frame hangs generally downward from the upper portion to the bottom edge. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, each panel includes two support glides that are connected with the upper portion and extend beyond the bottom edge to support the panel above a supporting floor. One of the support glides is located near one of the panel edges and the other support glide is located near the other panel edge. The support glides extend from the upper portion to beyond the bottom edge, so the panel stands upon the glides, with the picture frame hanging generally downward from the upper portion, without providing generally vertical structural support of the upper portion. 
     Each wire-way has a cover panel that extends between the upper portion and the bottom edge and between the two side edges of the panel. The cover panel has an interior surface and an opening that extends through the cover panel to provide access and connection with conduits that may pass through the wire-way. The cover panel also has a sliding cover that abuts the inner surface and slides between a closed position in which the slide cover overlays and closes the opening, and an open position in which the slide cover does not obstruct the opening. 
     These and other features, objects, and benefits of the invention will be recognized by one having ordinary skill in the art and by those who practice the invention, from the specification, the claims, and the drawing figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view-of a connection between two adjoining panels of a modular partition system according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 (is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner connector post of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a first alternative connector post; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second alternative connector post; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a third alternative connector post; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partially exploded, cross-sectional view of a lower portion of a partition panel of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view of the lower portion of the panel of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a side-elevational view of a wire-way frame assembly of the panel of FIG. 6, showing an optional wire-way partition tray in phantom; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line XII—XII of FIG. 8, showing the partition tray in a first installation position; 
     FIG. 10 is the view of FIG. 9, showing the partition tray in a second installation position; 
     FIG. 11 is the view of FIG. 9, showing the partition tray in an installed position; 
     FIG. 12 is the view of FIG. 9 with the optional partition tray omitted. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A modular panel partition system according to the invention includes a plurality of partition panels  20  (FIG. 1) that are interconnected with a plurality of panel connectors, including connecting posts  22 . Each panel  20  has a first side edge  24 , an opposing second side edge  26 , a bottom edge  28  and an opposing top edge  30 . The modular partition system is assembled by positioning a first partition panel  20  and an adjacent, second partition panel  20  and interconnecting the first side edge  24  of the first panel  20  and the second side edge  26  of the second panel  20  with a connecting post  22 . Each of the first edge  24  of the first panel  20  and the second edge  26  of the second panel  20  may be connected with the panel connecting post  22  by conventionally known methods, including, but not limited to, the use of a tiebar  32  as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,997, entitled Panel Joint and issued on Mar. 4, 1969, to R. L. Propst, et al., now expired. 
     For user convenience, each partition panel  20  includes a lower portion  34  that is adjacent the bottom edge  28  and that defines a wire-way to pass conduits into and through the partition panel  20  (FIGS. 1,  6  and  7 ). The conduits may include wiring and fiber optics for communication and data transfer, electrical power wiring, and other cabling, for example. The conduits may also include such items as hydraulic and pneumatic piping or hoses, for example. 
     The connecting post  22  is sized in length to extend from about the bottom edge  28  of the panels  20  to the top edge  30  (FIG.  1 ). The connecting post  22  is, therefore, provided with a conduit passage  38  (FIG. 2) through the connecting post, at a bottom end  40  of the connecting post, to pass conduits through the post, from one panel  20  to an adjacent panel  20 . Previous common practice limits the connector to extend only between the top edge  30  of the panel  20  and the lower portion  34  of the panel  20 . Prior known connectors do not extend into the wire-way that is defined by the lower portion  34  of the panel. Thus, the connecting post  22  of the present invention is different from the common practice because, among other features, it extends through the wire-way from about the bottom edge  28  of the partition panel  20 , to the top edge  30 . Use of the panel connecting post  22  enhances the overall modular partition system by eliminating several wire-way cover components between adjacent partition panels  20 , thereby providing a cleaner, more attractive appearance, among other features. 
     As shown in the drawing FIGS. 1 and 2, the panel connecting post  22  is a corner post to connect two adjacent partition panels  20  at a corner. Thus, the connecting post  22  is generally trapezoidal shaped in cross section with opposing end walls  42  and  44  to attach to the partition panels  20  as is discussed in greater detail above. The end walls  42  and  44  are interconnected by opposing inner and outer walls  46  and  48 , respectively. Also as discussed above, the connecting post  22  extends through the wire-way that is defined in the lower portion  34  of the partition panel  20 , and is, therefore, provided with a conduit or wire-way passage  38 , through the connecting post at the lower end  40  of the post. For further user convenience, the connecting post  22  may be formed with a passage  50  that extends along the length of the post and is adapted to have conduits extend through the passage  50 . 
     The panel connecting post  22  may be made of any suitable construction and most preferably comprises a one piece, extruded member. The post  22  may also be formed of any suitable material, including, plastics, wood, and metal for example. Most preferably, panel connecting post  22  is formed as an aluminum alloy extrusion with 6063-T5 aluminum. This construction has been found to provide desirable user and production qualities in an extruded panel connecting post  22 . More particularly, when using this construction, the opposing end walls  42  and  44  may be made with an about 0.062 inch (1.5 mm) thickness and a width between the inner and outer walls that corresponds to the thickness of the associated partition panels  20  (typically on the order of about 1.75 inches or 4.44 mm). The inner wall  46  may also be formed with a thickness of about 0.062 inches (1.6 mm), with an about 0.375 inch (9.5 mm) interior radius of arc and edge flanges extending about 0.25 inches beyond the opposing end walls  42  and  44 . The outer wall  48  may also be made with a thickness of about 0.062 inches (1.6 mm) and a 2.25 inch (57.1 mm) interior radius of arc. 
     Of course, not all the joints or connections between adjacent partition panels  20  will be in the form of a corner between two panels. Thus, alternative configurations of the panel connecting post  22  are desired and may be provided as shown in the drawing FIGS. 3 through 5, for example. 
     A first alternative connecting post  54 , shown in FIG. 3, provides an in line connection between two adjacent, generally coplanar partition panels  20 . The connecting post  54  has opposing end walls  56  that are interconnected with opposing side walls  58 . The connecting post  54  may also be constructed as an extruded aluminum alloy member similar to the panel connecting post  22 , discussed in greater detail above. 
     A second alternative connecting post  64 , shown in FIG. 4, provides a T-shaped connection between three adjacent partition panels  20 . The connector post  64  has three end walls  66  that are interconnected with a sidewall  68  and inner walls  70 , as shown. The connecting post  64  may also be constructed as an extruded aluminum alloy member similar to the panel connecting post  22  discussed above. 
     A third alternative connecting post  74 , shown in FIG. 5, provides for interconnection among four adjacent, generally perpendicular partition panels  20 . The connector post  74  has four end walls  76  that are interconnected with curved inner walls  78 , as shown. The connecting post  74  may also be constructed as an extruded aluminum alloy member as is discussed above regarding the partition panel connecting posts  22 ,  54  and  64 . 
     Turning to the partition panels  20  in greater detail, and the drawing FIGS. 6 through 12, each partition panel  20  has a lower portion  34  that defines a wire-way to pass conduits into and through the partition panel  20 , as discussed above. More particularly, the wire-way is defined by a wire-way frame  80  that is made up of a top plate  82 , a bottom plate  84 , and two end supports  86  (FIG.  8 ). The top and bottom plates  82  and  84  are generally lengths of about 0.06 inch (1.5 mm) thick cold rolled steel hat channel. Thus, in cross section, each of the top and the bottom plates  82  and  84 , respectively, has a generally U-shaped center channel or crown portion  90  with outwardly extending brim flanges  92  (FIGS.  6  and  8 ). The crown  90  is most preferably about 0.805 inches (20.4 mm) wide and about 0.385 inches (9.8 mm) deep. Each brim flange  92  extends about 0.444 inches (11.3 mm) away from the center channel or crown  90 . Further, the brim flanges  92  are not square with the crown  90 , but are bent at an about eighty-seven degree angle relative to the crown, to capture a cover plate as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     Each end support  86  is an about 5.35 inch (135.9 mm) length of 0.045 inch (1.1 mm) thick steel Z-channel (FIGS.  6 - 12 ). Thus, the end support  86  is formed with a pair of flanges  94  that extend about 0.615 inches (15.6 mm) in opposite directions from opposing ends of an about 1.2 inch (30.5 mm) deep web portion  96  to provide a conduit passage past the end supports  86  for about 0.625 inch (15.9 mm) diameter conduits, and to provide a support tab  98  for an optional wire-way divider panel (discussed further below). A pair of about 2.225 inch (56.5 mm) by 0.31 inch (7.9 mm) notches  100  are cut into each of the two opposing flanges  94 . The notches  100  are spaced about 0.3 inches (7.8 mm) from opposing ends of the end support  86  to leave an about 0.3 inch support tab  98  generally centered along the length of each of the two opposing flanges  94  of the end support  86 , between the notches  100 . 
     As can be seen in drawing FIGS. 6 and 8, the top and bottom plates  82  and  84 , respectively, are oriented with the open side of the crowns  90  facing one another, and are spaced apart with a pair of end supports  86  seated in the opposing crowns  90 . An end support  86  is installed at each of the two opposing ends of the top plate  82  and the bottom plate  84 . The end of the end support  86  is seated in the crown  90  of each of the top and bottom plates  82  and  84  respectively. The end support  86  is positioned in the crown  90  by rotating the end support  86  to abut the ends of the flanges  94  against the sides of the U-shaped center channel or crown  90  (FIGS.  9 - 12 ). With the end support  86  so positioned, at the end of the respective top plate  82  or bottom plate  84 , the end support  86  is welded to the respective top plate or bottom plate. 
     The assembled wire-way frame  80  is attached at the bottom of the partition panel by screws, rivets or other conventional method, to define the panel lower portion  34  and the wire-way for conduit passage into and through the panel  20  (FIGS.  6  and  7 ). The panel does not, however, stand on the wire-way frame  80 . Rather, the panel  20  stands on adjustable glides  104  that have a broad head  106  and a long, threaded shaft  108 . Each of the top plate  82  and bottom plate  84  of the wire-way frame  80  is provided with a glide hole  110  near each of the two end supports  86  (FIGS.  9 - 12 ). The glide hole  110  is an elongated or ovoid aperture to minimize potential for transferring lateral forces to the glide  104  by the wire-way frame  80 , when the glide is positioned in the glide holes  110 . 
     As just suggested, the glides  104  are inserted into the glide holes  110  and extend through the lower portion  34  of the partition panel  20  as defined by the wire-way frame  80 . The glides  104  are received by threaded nuts  112  in the panel  20  (FIGS.  6  and  7 ). Thus, the vertical loads of the panel  20  are transmitted through the nuts  112  and the glides  104  to a floor or the like that the modular partition system stands upon. The wire-way frame  80  is actually suspended and hangs down from the partition panel  20 . The wire-way frame  80  does not receive vertical loading. 
     The sides of the wire-way are closed by cover panels  120  (FIG.  6 ). The cover panels  120  are channel members made of about 0.045 inch (11.4 mm) thick steel. Each cover panel  120  has a body portion  122  that is about 5 inches (127 mm) high and has a length to match the width of the partition panel  20 . The cover panel  120  has two flanges extending along the length of the cover panel  120  at each of two opposing edges of the cover body  122 . A double thickness bottom flange  126  is formed by bending an about 0.632 inch (16.1 mm) wide flange portion back upon itself to result in a flange of about 0.4 inches (10.2 mm) wide. The top flange  124  is a single thickness portion that extends about 0.358 inches (9.1 mm) and is bent over to define an angle of about 79.6 degrees between the top flange  124  and the cover body  122 . 
     To provide power and communication access, for example, to a user of the modular partition system, an elongated opening  130  (FIGS. 1 and 7) is generally centered in a lower half of the cover panel  120  and a second opening  132  is positioned adjacent an end of the opening  130  and located generally in an upper half of the cover body  122 . This specific arrangement is desirable in providing power and communication access, for example, on opposing sides of the partition panel  20 . As seen in drawing FIGS. 1 and 7, an array of power outlets  136  may be positioned in the lower opening  130 , while an array of communication outlets  138  may be positioned in the upper opening  132 . To conveniently provide power on both sides of the partition panel  20 , the array of power outlets  136  may be a symmetrical block that presents an identical array of outlets  136  on each of the two opposing sides of the partition panel  20 . Thus, centering the block of outlets along the width of the panel  20  and centering the lower opening  130  allows the use of a single, interchangeable cover panel  120  for each of the two opposing sides of the partition panel  20 , rather than having a separate cover panel for each of the two sides of the partition panel  20 . Further, the position of the upper opening  132  relative to the lower opening  130  provides an identical presentation of the power and communication outlet arrays on each side of the partition panel  20 . 
     If one or both of the upper opening  132  and lower opening  130  in the cover panel  120  are not used, a slide cover  140  (FIGS. 1,  6  and  7 ) is provided to overlay and close the respective unused opening or openings. The slide cover  140  is an about 0.035 inch (0.9 mm) thick metal panel having a length to cover at least both of the upper opening  132  and lower opening  130  in the cover panel  120 , and a height that is sized to allow the slide cover  140  to slide freely between the top and bottom flanges  124  and  126 , respectively, of the cover panel  120 . The slide cover  140  is placed against the body portion  122  of the cover panel  120 , between the top end bottom flanges  124  and  126 , respectively. 
     With the slide cover  140  positioned in the cover panel  120 , the cover panel may be set over the wire-way frame  80  on one or the other side of the partition panel  20  (FIG.  6 ). The top flange  124  of the cover panel  120  overlays the corresponding brim flange  92  of the top plate  82 . The cover panel  120  is pressed downward and inward to lay the bottom flange  126  of the cover panel  120  over the corresponding brim flange  92  of the bottom plate  84 , resulting in the respective brim flanges  92  of the top plate  82  and the bottom plate  84  being captured between the top flange  124  and the bottom flange  126  of the cover panel  120 . With the cover panel  120  assembled to the wire-way frame  80 , as just described, it is noted that the respective brim flanges  92  of the top plate  82  and the bottom plate  84  abut the slide cover  140  and hold the slide cover  140  in sliding engagement against the cover panel body  122 . The slide cover  140  may be slid along the cover panel  120  to reveal or conceal the lower opening  130  and upper opening  132 , individually or together, depending on whether they are being used or left blank. 
     In some installations of the modular partition system, it will be desirable to divide the wire-way into an upper wire-way  144  (FIG. 8) and a lower wire-way  146 . This may be accomplished with an optional wire-way divider panel  150  (FIGS.  8 - 11 ), similar to the top plate  82  and bottom plate  84  of the wire-way frame  80 , the divider panel  150  may also be a length of about 0.06 inch (1.5 mm) thick cold rolled steel hat channel, similar to the top plate  82  and bottom plate  84 , discussed above. The divider panel  150  is, however, notched at each end to go around the threaded shaft  108  of each support glide  104  and the end supports  86  of the wire-way frame  80 . One end of the divider panel  150  has a relatively shallow notch  152  that is sized in length to clear the glide  104  and end support  86  at one end of the wire-way frame  80 . The opposing end of the divider panel  150  is provided with a longer notch  154  that is about twice as long as the notch  152  at the other end of the divider  150 . The longer notch  154  is sized to facilitate installation and removal of the divider panel  150 . 
     To install the optional wire-way divider panel  150 , a cover panel  120  is removed from one side of the wire-way frame  80 . The longer notch  154  of the divider panel  150  is placed around the glide  104  and end support  86  at one end of the wire-way frame  80  (FIG.  9 ). The divider panel is slid around the glide  104  and end support  86  until the shaft  108  of the glide  104  is seated in the bottom of the notch  154 , so the opposing end of the divider panel  150  can swing past the shaft  108  of the glide  104  at the opposite end of the wire-way frame  80  (FIG.  10 ). The divider panel  150  is then aligned with the wire-way frame  80  by sliding the divider panel to seat the glide  104  and end support  86  in the short notch  152  (FIG.  11 ). The cover panel  120  may be reinstalled as discussed in greater detail above. The removal of the optional wire-way divider panel  150  is substantially the reverse of the process of installation, just described. 
     It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art and by those who practice the invention, that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed concept. The scope of protection afforded is to be determined by the claims and by the breadth of interpretation allowed by law.