US 4,037,380 AGranted

Interior partition structure with resiliently-biased panels

OwnerGordon J. Pollockinventor

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Abstract

A multi-panel partition structure for creating a space enclosure in a building, which enclosure can be free-standing or have its terminal portions secured to the fixed walls of the building. The panels are mounted in coplanar abutting relationship between vertically extending, horizontally-spaced support posts and rest upon a base which extends between each pair of posts. A header-piece, which is fixed relatively to the upper end of the posts at a predetermined height, is provided with resilient spring means which bias the panels into yieldable abutment with the base. Resilient joint-sealing means between the laterally adjacent edges of the panels bias the panels into abutment with each other and with the support posts. The panels are not secured to each other nor to the base, head-piece or posts. The base, the head-piece and, preferably, the posts each comprise two telescopically overlapping portions which are slidably movable relatively to each other so as to permit proper positioning and leveling of the panels independently of the grade or tilt of the floor, walls or ceiling of the building.

Claims15

Dependent claims

In a multi-panel partition structure for creating an enclosure in an interior chamber of a building, the combination of a plurality of vertical support posts extending upwardly from the floor of the chamber in predetermined horizontally spaced relationship to define the peripheral outline of the partition structure, a panel-support base extending between each adjacent pair of said support posts and engaging the floor of the chamber, a plurality of vertically extending partition panels resting on said base in yieldably compressed co-planar abutting relationship with each other between said support posts, but free from securement or attachment with each other or with said posts whereby each of said panels is movable into or out of said partition structure independently of any other panel and without dissassembly of any other element of said partition structure, said panels having parallel top and bottom edges, a head-piece extending horizontally between said support posts and secured relatively thereto at a predetermined height, and spring means carried by said head-piece and operatively engaging the top edges of said partition panels to bias said panels into yieldable compression abutment with said base.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.