Connector apparatus for wall panels

A room divider, comprising:

• a first curtain having a first curtain edge and a first hem, the first curtain edge and the first hem being vertically elongate, the first hem being folded-over along a first crease that is vertically elongate, the first crease being proximate and substantially parallel to the first curtain edge;
• a second curtain having a second curtain edge and a second hem, the second curtain edge and the second hem being vertically elongate, the second hem being folded-over along a second crease that is vertically elongate, the second crease being proximate and substantially parallel to the second curtain edge;
• a connector comprising a first flange, a second flange and a web, the web lying between the first flange and the second flange such that the first flange, the second flange and the web overlap each other;
• a first barb to extend between the first flange and the web;
• a second barb to extend between the second flange and the web;
• a first pocket defined by the first flange and the web, the first hem of the first curtain to extend into the first pocket between the first flange and the web such that the first hem engages the first barb;
• and
• a second pocket defined by the second flange and the web, the second hem of the second curtain to extend into the second pocket between the second flange and the web such that the second hem engages the second barb.

A room divider, comprising:

• a first curtain comprising a first core sandwiched between a first front cover and a first back cover, the first core being softer than both the first front cover and the first back cover, the first curtain having a first curtain edge that is vertically elongate, the first curtain having a first nominal curtain thickness spanning the first front cover, the first core and the first back cover;
• a second curtain comprising a second core sandwiched between a second front cover and a second back cover, the second core being softer than both the second front cover and the second back cover, the second curtain having a second curtain edge that is vertically elongate, the second curtain having a second nominal curtain thickness spanning the second front cover, the second core and the second back cover, wherein both the first front cover and the second front cover face in a first direction;
• a connector having a connector height, a connector width and a connector thickness, the connector being vertically elongate with the connector height being at least five times greater than the connector width and at least ten times greater than the connector thickness, the connector being of a material that is harder than a material of the first core and the second core;
• the connector comprising a first flange, a second flange, a web, a first bend and a second bend, the web to lie between the first flange and the second flange such that the first flange, the second flange and the web overlap each other, the web to extend widthwise from the first bend to the second bend, the first bend connecting the first flange to the web, the second bend connecting the second flange to the web, the first flange terminating at a first flange edge that is vertically elongate and proximate at least one of the second bend and the web, the second flange terminating at a second flange edge that is vertically elongate and proximate at least one of the first bend and the web;
• a first pocket defined by the first flange, the first bend and the web, the first curtain edge to extend into the first pocket such that the first front cover lies against the web, the first core being compressed by the first flange to provide the first curtain with a first localized compressed thickness that is less than the first nominal thickness of the first curtain;
• and
• a second pocket defined by the second flange, the second bend and the web, the second curtain edge to extend into the second pocket such that the second back cover lies against the web, the second core being compressed by the second flange to provide the second curtain with a second localized compressed thickness that is less than the second nominal thickness of the second curtain.

A room divider for use in a building having a building structure, the room divider comprising:

• a mounting flange attached to the building structure;
• a first flange extending from the mounting flange;
• a second flange extending from the mounting flange, wherein the first flange, the second flange and the mounting flange are a seamless unitary structure having an overall length;
• a first pocket provided between and defined by the first flange and the second flange;
• and
• a first curtain including a first core sandwiched between a first front cover and a first back cover,;
• the first core being softer than both the first front cover and the first back cover, the first curtain having a first curtain edge that extends over a first curtain edge length, wherein the overall length of the seamless unitary structure is substantially at least one of equal to or greater than the first curtain edge length, the first curtain having a first nominal curtain thickness spanning the first front cover, the first core and the first back cover, the first curtain edge extending into the first pocket such that the first front cover lies against the first flange, the first back cover lies against the second flange, and the first core is compressed between the first flange and the second flange to provide the first curtain with a first localized compressed thickness, the first localized compressed thickness being less than the first nominal thickness of the first curtain.