Wall panel partition system

In a partition frame for reconfigurable office partitions and the like, the improvement comprising:

• at least one rigid stile disposed in a normally vertical orientation, and including first and second channels extending longitudinally therealong and being shaped to receive utilities therein through outwardly opening sides;
• said outwardly opening sides of said first and second channels being juxtaposed in opposite directions to facilitate routing utilities therein along opposite faces of said frame;
• said first and second channels positioned in a side-by-side relationship;
• said stile including a side wall common to and separating said first and second channels;
• said first and second channels having a substantially identical configuration to receive similar utilities therein;
• first and second ones of said stiles extending along opposite sides of said frame;
• said first and second stiles each including an inwardly projecting mounting flange defining a pocket therebetween adapted to receive a core panel therein;
• a top cross-member disposed in a normally horizontal orientation, and extending between and connected to said first and second stiles;
• a bottom cross-member disposed in a normally horizontal orientation, and extending between and connected to said first and second stiles;
• a core panel mounted in said pocket, and having a solid interior construction providing a sound barrier;
• at least one cover panel detachably mounted on said frame, and enclosing at least a portion of opposite faces of said frame;
• and
• a floor track shaped to be supported along a floor surface, and in combination with a ceiling track shaped to be supported along a ceiling surface;
• and wherein said frame is prefabricated and supported between said floor track and said ceiling track with a base portion operably connected with said floor track and a top portion spaced vertically apart from said ceiling track;
• and
• a variable height panel support extending between and connected with said frame top portion and said ceiling track;
• said variable height panel support being vertically adjustable and including a lock which rigidly retains said panel support at a selected height.

In a partition frame for reconfigurable office positions and the like, the improvement comprising:

• at least one rigid stile disposed in a normally vertical orientation, and including first and second channels extending longitudinally therealong and being shaped to receive utilities therein through outwardly opening sides;
• said outwardly opening sides of said first and second channels being juxtaposed in opposite directions to facilitate routing utilities therein along opposite faces of said frame;
• and
• a variable height panel support mounted on an upper portion of said frame, said variable height panel support being vertically extensible, and including a lock which rigidly retains said variable height panel support at a selected height.

A movable panel system for reconfigurable office partitions and the like, comprising:

• a base shaped to be supported along a floor surface;
• a top shaped to be supported along a ceiling surface;
• a plurality of prefabricated, rigid frames, each supported between said base and said top, and including at least two rigidly interconnected stiles disposed in a normally vertical orientation, and extending along opposite sides thereof, to define a pocket therebetween, and a core panel mounted in said pocket;
• said core panel having a solid interior construction providing a sound barrier, and said stiles each including at least one channel extending longitudinally therealong shaped to receive utilities therein through outwardly opening sides, said frames disposed side-by-side and rigidly interconnected along opposite sides to form joints, said frames forming a partition, with adjacent pairs of said stiles of adjacent frames positioned side-by-side at said joints;
• and
• at least one cover panel detachably mounted on each said frame, and enclosing at least a portion of opposite faces of each said panel.

A movable panel for reconfigurable office partitions and the like, comprising:

• a base shaped to be supported along a floor surface;
• a top shaped to be supported along a ceiling surface;
• a prefabricated, rigid frame, supported between said base and said top, and including at least two rigidly interconnected stiles disposed in a normally vertical orientation, and extending along opposite sides thereof, to define a pocket therebetween, and a core panel mounted in said pocket;
• said core panel having a solid interior construction providing a sound barrier, and said stiles each including at least one channel extending longitudinally therealong shaped to receive utilities therein through outwardly opening sides;
• at least one cover panel detachably mounted on said frame, and enclosing at least a portion of opposite faces of said panel;
• at least two cross-members extending between and connected to said stiles in a vertically spaced apart relationship;
• said channel comprising a first channel;
• and said stiles each including a second channel extending longitudinally therealong in a side-by-side relationship, said second channel being shaped to receive utilities therein through an outwardly-opening side;
• said outwardly-opening sides of said first and second channels being juxtaposed in opposite directions to facilitate routing utilities therein along opposite faces of said frame;
• and
• a variable height panel support extending between and connected with an upper portion of said frame and said top;
• said upper portion of said frame being spaced vertically apart from said top;
• said variable height panel support being vertically adjustable and including a lock which rigidly retains said variable height panel support at a selected height.

A movable panel for reconfigurable office partitions and the like, comprising:

• a base shaped to be supported along a floor surface;
• a top shaped to be supported along a ceiling surface;
• a prefabricated, rigid frame, supported between said base and said top, and including at least two rigidly interconnected stiles disposed in a normally vertical orientation, and extending along opposite sides thereof, to define a pocket therebetween, and a core panel mounted in said pocket;
• said core panel having a solid interior construction providing a sound barrier, and said stiles each including at least one channel extending longitudinally therealong shaped to receive utilities therein through outwardly opening sides;
• at least one cover panel detachably mounted on said frame, and enclosing at least a portion of opposite faces of said panel;
• and wherein
• said core comprises sheet metal.

In a movable partition panel of the type having a bottom, a top, opposite first and second faces, and opposite sides adapted for detachable connection with like panels, the improvement comprising:

• a first channel extending continuously from said bottom to said top in a normally vertical orientation defined by a closed rear side wall shaped to receive utilities therein with an open outwardly oriented side through which utilities are inserted into said first channel;
• a second channel extending continuously from said bottom to said top in a normally vertical orientation defined by a closed rear side wall shaped to receive utilities therein with an open outwardly oriented side through which utilities are inserted into said second channel;
• and wherein
• said first and second channels are oriented in opposite directions, such that said first channel opens toward said first face, and said second channel opens toward said second face thereby permitting utilities to be routed vertically along both faces of said panel, said first and second channels positioned adjacent a selected opposite side.

In a movable partition panel of the type having a bottom, a top, opposite first and second faces, and opposite sides adapted for detachable connection with like panels, the improvement comprising:

• a first channel extending continuously from said bottom to said top in a normally vertical orientation defined by a closed rear side wall shaped to receive utilities therein with an open outwardly oriented side through which utilities are inserted into said first channel;
• a second channel extending continuously from said bottom to said top in a normally vertical orientation defined by a closed rear side wall shaped to receive utilities therein with an open outwardly oriented side through which utilities are inserted into said second channel;
• and wherein
• said first and second channels oriented in opposite directions, such that said first channel opens toward said first face, and said second channel opens toward said second face thereby permitting utilities to be routed vertically along both faces of said panel;
• said first and second channels positioned in a side-by-side relationship;
• said panel includes a sidewall common to and separating said first and second channels;
• said first and second channels have a substantially identical configuration to receive similar utilities therein;
• said partition panel including a panel frame having first and second stiles extending along opposite sides of said frame;
• and wherein
• said first and second channels are disposed in each of said stiles.

A reconfigurable office partition system, comprising:

• a floor track shaped to be supported along a floor surface;
• a ceiling track shaped to be supported along a ceiling surface;
• a plurality of prefabricated, rigid frames, supported between said floor track and said ceiling track, each including:
• at least two stiles disposed in a normally vertical orientation, and extending along opposite sides thereof;
• said stiles each including at least one channel extending longitudinally therealong and being shaped to receive utilities therein through outwardly opening sides;
• said stiles defining a pocket therebetween;
• a core panel mounted in said pocket, and having a solid interior construction providing a sound barrier;
• a plurality of connectors detachably interconnecting said frames in a side-by-side relationship;
• and
• a plurality of cover panels detachably mounted on said frames, and enclosing opposite faces of said panels.

A movable panel for reconfiguring floor-to-ceiling office partitions and the like, comprising:

• a floor track shaped to be supported on a floor surface;
• a ceiling track shaped to be supported on a ceiling surface, and defining between said ceiling track and said floor track a floor-to-ceiling height;
• a prefabricated rigid panel frame supported in a normally vertical orientation between said floor track and said ceiling track, and having a predetermined height less than said floor-to-ceiling height;
• said panel frame having a base portion operably connected with said floor track, and a horizontally extending rigid frame member defining a top side edge of the panel frame;
• said top side edge spaced vertically apart from said ceiling track to define an upper space between said ceiling track and said top side edge;
• a variable height pane support extending between and connected with said panel frame top portion and said ceiling track;
• said variable height panel support being vertically adjustable and including a lock which rigidly retains said variable height panel support at a selected height;
• a lower cover panel detachably connected with at least one of said panel frame and said panel support and enclosing an associated portion of the same, said lower cover having an upper edge adjacent said top side edge;
• and
• an upper cover panel vertically juxtaposed above said lower cover panel and closing off said upper space, said upper cover panel having a lower edge vertically adjacent said upper edge of said lower cover panel.

A movable panel for reconfiguring floor-to-ceiling office partitions and the like, comprising:

• a floor track shaped to be supported on a floor surface;
• a ceiling track shaped to be supported on a ceiling surface, and defining between said ceiling track and said floor track a floor-to-ceiling height;
• a prefabricated rigid panel frame supported in a normally vertical orientation between said floor track and said ceiling track, and having a predetermined height less than said floor-to-ceiling height;
• said panel frame having a base portion operably connected with said floor track, and a top portion spaced vertically apart from said ceiling track;
• a variable height panel support extending between and connected with said panel frame top portion and said ceiling track;
• said variable height panel support being vertically adjustable and including a lock which rigidly retains said variable height panel support at a selected height;
• at least one cover panel detachably connected with at least one of said panel frame and said panel support and enclosing an associated portion of the same;
• said panel frame including at least two stiles disposed in a normally vertical orientation and extending along opposite sides of said panel frame;
• said stiles each including at least one channel extending longitudinally therealong and being shaped to receive utilities therein through an outwardly-opening side;
• said panel frame including at least two cross-members extending between and connected to said stiles in a vertically spaced-apart relationship to define with said stiles a pocket therebetween;
• and
• a core panel mounted in said pocket, and having a solid interior construction providing a sound barrier.