US 4,144,924 AGranted

Panel connector system

AssigneeSteelcase Inc.

InventorHarold L. Vanden Hoek

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Abstract

The specification discloses a panel system in which panels are joined by one (at an angle) or two (in a straight line) elongated, flexible hinge(s) which is secured to each of the panels to be joined by being clamped between the end of the panel and an end cover which is readily removable from the panel. The end cover and the end of the panel both include flanges which interengage. The flanges on the end of the panel are relatively short so that by sliding the end cover only a short distance vertically, one can either secure it in position or remove it. The end cover includes a top shoulder and the end of the panel includes a bottom shoulder between which the elongated flexible hinge member extends with its top edge generally adjacent or abutting the top shoulder and its bottom edge generally adjacent or abutting the bottom shoulder, such that two adjacent panels joined by the hinge are automatically properly aligned.

Claims38

Dependent claims

In a panel system in which at least two panels are joined together, with their end edges generally adjacent, by at least one elongated, longitudinally flexible hinge, the improvement comprising:

a removable end cover covering the end edge of each of said panels, said end cover including an inside surface facing said end edge of said panel;
at least two separate first flange means on said inside surface of said end cover, each having at least one end and at least one side edge, one said flange means being located towards the top thereof and one located towards the bottom thereof, each being set off from said inside surface to define a space between each said first flange means and said inside surface, said space being open at least at said end of said flange means and at least along said side edge of said flange means;
second flange means on said end edge of each said panel, one located towards the top thereof and the other located towards the bottom thereof at a distance corresponding to the distance between said first flange means on said end cover, each said second flange means having at least one end and at least one side edge, and each said second flange means being set off from said end edge to define a space between each said second flange means and said end edge, said space being open at least at said end of said flange means and along at least said side edge thereof:
said first flange means being slidably received behind said second flange means whereby said end cover can be secured to or removed from said end edge of its respective panel by sliding said end cover either in one vertical direction or the other, at least one of said first and second flange means being relatively short as compared to the overall height of said panel whereby the extent of said vertical movement required is relatively slight;
said end cover and said end edge of said panel including cooperating hinge receiving means which open in the vicinity of at least one vertical corner of said end edge;
said flexible hinge including a first portion positioned within said cooperating hinge receiving means on one of said panels, and thereby being clamped between said end cover and said end of said panel, said hinge including a second portion clamped within said hinge receiving means of the other of said panels, between its end cover and its end edge.

3 more elements

In a panel system in which at least two panels are joined together with their end edges generally adjacent by at least one flexible hinge, the improvement comprising:

a removable end cover covering the end edge of each of said panels;
releasable securing means securing said end cover to said end edge of said panel but facilitating removal thereof;
top shoulder means on one of said end cover and said end edge of said panel located generally towards the top of said edge of said panel;
bottom shoulder means on one of said cover and said end edge located generally towards the bottom of said end edge of said panel;
said flexible hinge extending generally the height of said panel and being approximately as long as the distance between said top and bottom shoulders, said flexible hinge including a top edge and a bottom edge;
said flexible hinge including a portion clamped between said end cover and said end edge of each said panel with said top edge near or abutting said top shoulder and said bottom edge near or abutting said bottom shoulder whereby said adjacent panels are aligned vertically relative to one another when said flexible hinge is clamped in position in each of said adjacent panels.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.