Lock retainer for facilitating secured connection of adjacent wall frame elements, and associated modular wall frame system

A lock retainer for facilitating the secured connection of an adjacent pair of wall frame elements to one another by way of a lock cassette having an actuatable grip portion, the lock retainer comprising:

• a proximal portion defining a proximal end, a distal portion defining a distal end, and a retainer axis defined as extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a flange portion being disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, a cassette compartment extending along the retainer axis and configured to retainingly engage at least a portion of the lock cassette therein with the grip portion remaining outward of the proximal end, and a retainer detent moveable between a securing position and a releasing position;
• wherein the proximal portion is configured to be placed in mounted engagement with a retainer mounting aperture in a frame segment of a wall frame element;
• and
• wherein the retaining engagement is configured to obstruct relative translational movement between the lock cassette and the lock retainer along the retainer axis.

A modular wall frame system comprising:

• a first wall frame element including a first frame segment, the first frame segment being elongated along a first segment axis and including a first inboard face and a first outboard face, a retainer mounting aperture extending between the first inboard face and the first outboard face;
• a second wall frame element including a second frame segment, the second frame segment being elongated along a second segment axis and having a second outboard face with a lock engagement channel disposed inward thereof;
• a lock cassette having a grip portion and a grip actuation element, the grip portion being movable between a grip configuration and a neutral configuration by way of the grip actuation element;
• and
• a lock retainer including a proximal portion defining a proximal end, a distal portion defining a distal end, and a retainer axis defined as extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a flange portion being disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, a cassette compartment extending along the retainer axis;
• wherein
• (a) the cassette compartment is configured to retainingly engage at least a portion of the lock cassette therein with the grip portion projecting outward of the proximal end, the lock retainer and lock cassette thereby combining to define a lock subassembly, and
• (b) the lock subassembly is configured to be placed in removable securement with the first frame segment, whereat
• (i) the proximal portion is in received engagement with the retainer mounting aperture,
• (ii) the grip portion projects outward of the first outboard face, and
• (iii) the grip portion is configured to grippingly engage the lock engagement channel when the second outboard face is placed adjacent to the first outboard face and the grip portion is moved to the grip configuration.