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US 6,000,180 AGranted
Partition system with removable cover panels
AssigneeSteelcase Inc.
InventorsSteven F. Goodman, Kenneth D. Brickner, Allen C. Hager, Daniel V. Constantino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A partition construction includes a partition frame having a frame member. A cover panel covers a side of the partition frame. The partition includes a connection system on the cover panel that releasable attaches the cover panel to the partition frame. The connection system includes a plurality of top clips on the cover panel adjacent an upper edge that positively engage the partition frame. The connection system further includes a plurality of bottom fingers extending below a lower edge of the cover panel and engaging at least a selected one of a lower cover panel and a frame member located below the cover panel in a juxtaposed relationship.
Claims32
A partition construction, comprising:
- a partition frame;
- upper and lower cover panels covering a side of the partition frame;
- a connection system on the upper cover panel releasable attaching the upper cover panel to the partition frame including:
- a plurality of top clips on the upper cover panel adjacent an upper edge of the upper cover panel that positively engage the partition frame;
- and
- a plurality of bottom fingers, at least one of which is movably mounted to said upper cover panel and shifts between an extended position relative to said upper cover panel, wherein said bottom finger extends below a lower edge of the upper cover panel and engages at least a selected one of the lower cover panel and the partition frame at a location below the upper cover panel, and a retracted position relative to said upper cover panel wherein said bottom finger is disengaged from said lower cover panel and said partition frame.
3 more elements
A partition construction, comprising:
- a partition frame;
- upper and lower cover panels covering a side of the partition frame;
- a connection system on the upper cover panel releasable attaching the upper cover panel to the partition frame including:
- a plurality of top clips on the upper cover panel adjacent an upper edge of the upper cover panel that positively engage the partition frame;
- a plurality of bottom fingers extending below a lower edge of the upper cover panel that engage at least a selected one of the lower cover panel and the partition frame at a location below the upper cover panel;
- and
- said bottom fingers movably mounted to the upper cover panel adjacent a lower edge thereof, the fingers being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and wherein the bottom fingers are pivotably mounted such that the fingers are rotatable about an axis that is substantially orthogonal to a front surface of the upper cover panel.
4 more elements
A partition construction, comprising:
- a partition frame;
- upper and lower cover panels covering a side of the partition frame;
- a connection system on the upper cover panel releasable attaching the upper cover panel to the partition frame including:
- a plurality of top clips on the upper cover panel adjacent an upper edge of the upper cover panel that positively engage the partition frame;
- and
- a plurality of bottom fingers extending below a lower edge of the upper cover panel that engage at least a selected one of the lower cover panel and the partition frame at a location below the upper cover panel, and wherein the partition frame includes a horizontal base member extending along a floor, and the lower cover panel includes a plurality of bottom fingers that are pivoted sidewardly, the lower cover panel abutting the base member adjacent a lower edge of the lower cover panel and retained thereto by at least one clip.
3 more elements
A partition construction, comprising:
- a partition frame having a frame member including a plurality of clip-receiving openings adjacent an outer surface of the frame member;
- a first cover panel supported on and covering a portion of a front of the partition frame, and having an inner surface in abutment with said outer surface of said frame member;
- a second cover panel located vertically adjacent the first cover panel, the second cover panel having a plurality of transversely-oriented resilient clips, and having at least one finger spaced from the clips and extending between and abutting at least a selected one of said first cover panel and said outer surface of the frame member and releasable retaining the second cover panel to the frame member;
- wherein the second cover panel includes a plurality of bottom fingers extending below a lower edge of the second cover panel and between the first cover panel and a frame member of the partition frame located generally below the second cover panel and abutting said inner surface of said first cover panel and said outer surface of said frame member;
- and
- wherein the bottom fingers are movably mounted to the second cover panel adjacent a lower edge thereof, the fingers being movable relative to the second cover panel between an extended position and a retracted position.
3 more elements
A partition construction, comprising:
- a partition frame having a frame member including a plurality of clip-receiving openings adjacent an outer surface of the frame member;
- a first cover panel supported on and covering a portion of a front of the partition frame;
- a second cover panel located vertically adjacent the first cover panel, the second cover panel having a plurality of transversely-oriented resilient clips, and having at least one finger spaced from the clips that abuts the outer surface of the frame member and releasable retains the second cover panel to the frame member;
- the second cover panel including a plurality of bottom fingers extending below a lower edge of the second cover panel and between the first cover panel and a frame member of the partition frame located generally below the second cover panel;
- the bottom fingers movably mounted to the second cover panel adjacent a lower edge thereof, the fingers being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein
- the bottom fingers are pivotably mounted such that the fingers are rotatable about an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the second cover panel.
3 more elements
A partition construction, comprising:
- a partition frame including vertically spaced-apart upper and lower horizontal frame members, said lower horizontal frame member defining an outer surface;
- upper and lower cover panels, each defining an inner surface and covering a side of the partition frame, the upper cover panel including a plurality of tabs extending below a bottom edge of the upper cover panel that are closely received between said inner surface of said lower cover panel and said outer surface of said lower horizontal frame member to thereby retain the bottom edge of the upper cover panel to the partition frame.
A partition construction, comprising:
- a partition frame including vertically spaced-apart upper and lower horizontal frame members;
- upper and lower cover panels covering a side of the partition frame, the upper cover panel including a plurality of tabs extending below a bottom edge of the upper cover panel that are closely received between the lower cover panel and the lower horizontal frame member to thereby retain the bottom edge of the upper cover panel to the partition frame;
- and
- tabs that are elongated and have a substantially flat shape with a curved end portion, wherein the tabs are pivotably mounted and are movable between an extended position wherein the tabs extend below a bottom edge of the upper cover panel, and a retracted position wherein the tabs are positioned above a bottom edge of the upper cover panel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.