Panel fastening system for modular office furniture
AssigneeThe Marvel Group, Inc.
InventorJonathan Chee Yeen Chong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular office system incorporating wall panels with interlock edges to facilitate assembly. The substantially planar panels include a plurality of tabs extending from one side edge of the panel. The tabs are lockingly received within corresponding slots of an upright support member. To prevent disconnection of the panels, a retractable fastener bar can be selectively slid into locking engagement with the support member. The fastener bar is positioned within the panel and movable between a retracted position and an extended position engaging the upright support. A threaded fastener may be used to prevent sliding movement of the bar.
Claims19
In an assembly of planar members including a first planar member having a plurality of apertures and a second planar member having a corresponding plurality of tabs selectively lockingly received within said aperatures to connect said first planar member and said secured planar member, the improvement comprising:
- a fastening system for selectively preventing removal of said tabs from said apertures to secure said panels in contiguous relation, said fastening system including a selectively retractable locking member disposed within said second planar member and selectively extendable into an aperture of said first planar member non occupied by any of said plurality of tabs preventing movement of one of said panels relative to the other of said panels, said locking member including a locking tab longitudinally movable between a retracted position and an extended position protruding from an edge of said second planar member for mating insertion into said aperture of said first planar member.
A fastening system for construction of a modular office furniture assembly, said fastening system comprising:
- a first panel member having a plurality of apertures along an outer edge of said first panel member;
- a second panel member having a plurality of tabs selectively lockingly received within said apertures to join said first and second panel members;
- and
- a selectively retractable locking member disposed within said second panel member and selectively longitudinally movable between a retracted position within said second panel member and an extended position matingly engaging an aperture of said first panel member non occupied by any of said plurality of tabs such that removal of said tabs of said second panel member from said first panel member is prevented.
In an assembly of planar members including a first planar member having a plurality of apertures and a second planar member having a corresponding plurality of tabs selectively lockingly received within said apertures to connect said first planar member and said secured planar member, the improvement comprising:
- a fastening system for selectively preventing removal of said tabs from said apertures to secure said panels in contiguous relation, said fastening system including a selectively retractable locking member disposed within said second planar member and selectively extendable into an aperture of said first planar member non occupied by any of said plurality of tabs preventing movement of one of said panels relative to the other of said panels, said locking member including a locking tab longitudinally movable between a retracted position and an extended position protruding from an edge of said second planar member for mating insertion into said aperture of said first planar member;
- whereby said locking tab is removable from within said second planar member for repositioning such that said second planar member may be reoriented relative to said first planar member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.