US 6,658,805 B1 · Panel arrangement

Abstract

A space-dividing wall panel system having a plurality of base panels which are serially connectable one with the other to define a vertically enlarged wall supported on a floor. Each base panel is defined by at least one horizontal box-beam rigidly connected to a pair of laterally spaced apart vertical uprights which are connected at the opposite ends of the box-beam and have a reduced thickness compared thereto. With this clearance between the faces of the box-beam and the uprights, the box-beam, cross rails at the ends of the uprights as well as additional extension panels are formed with longitudinally extending channels which are positioned free of interference with the vertical uprights and aligned with serially-adjacent channels of serially-adjacent wall panels. The channels provide a continuous linear track on the opposite sides of the upright which permit the connection of mounting hooks of furniture components and permit continuous, uninterrupted sliding or adjustment of the furniture components along the entire length of the aligned channels.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A space-dividing wall panel comprising:

a panel frame disposed in load-bearing engagement with a floor, said panel frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending uprights and an enlarged cross beam extending therebetween, said cross beam having opposite ends connected respectively to said uprights, each of said opposite ends of said cross beam having an end surface which is wider than said respective upright connected thereto and including a vertically elongate channel, each said channel extending vertically through said cross beam and including an open side which opens laterally from said cross beam, said cross beam including opposite side surfaces which face outwardly away from said wall panel and are spaced outwardly of said channels, each said upright being fixedly secured in a respective one of said channels through said open side thereof and being supported in said respective channel along the vertical length thereof, said uprights projecting vertically from said channels to define at least one hollow interior of said wall panel which is defined laterally by said uprights and by said cross beam that extends along one horizontal edge of said hollow interior, removable cover tiles being provided which are removably attached to said panel frame in a position offset vertically from said cross beam wherein said cover tiles overlie said hollow interior and define opposite exterior side surfaces of said wall panel.

A space-dividing wall panel comprising:

a panel frame disposed in load-bearing engagement with a floor, said panel frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending uprights and an enlarged cross beam extending therebetween, said cross beam having a rectangular beam frame and side panels which overlie opposite faces of said rectangular beam frame to define outward facing side surfaces of the cross member, said side panels being rigidly affixed to said beam frame such that said cross beam a rigid box configuration which is defined by said beam frame and said side panels independently of any connections between said cross beam and said uprights, said beam frame further including vertically elongate frame edges that define opposite ends which face sidewardly toward respective ones of said uprights, each said opposite end extending vertically between upper and lower beam edges of said cross beam which are vertically spaced apart to define a vertical length thereof and each said upright being connected to said respective end along said vertical length thereof to define a rigid connection along said vertical length and resist deflection of said upright, said uprights having sections which project vertically from at least one of said upper and lower beam edges to define a hollow open interior vertically adjacent to said cross beam, said wall panel including cover tiles which are removably connected to said panel frame so as to overlie and enclose said open interior.

A wall panel system comprising a plurality of space-dividing wall panels disposed serially next to each other in end-to-end relation, each of said wall panels having opposite side panel faces and comprising:

a panel frame disposed in load-bearing engagement with a floor, said panel frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending uprights and an enlarged cross beam extending therebetween wherein said cross beam has opposite ends, said cross beam having a rigid rectangular shape defined by end faces at said opposite ends and upper and lower horizontal beam edges which extend between said end faces, said cross beam having rigid vertical beam structure separate from said uprights which said vertical beam structure extends vertically between and terminates at said upper and lower edges and maintains said rigid rectangular shape independently of any connections between said cross beam and said uprights, said end faces being rigidly joined to respective ones of said uprights such that said cross beam provides rigid support to said uprights continuously along an entire length of said uprights extending between said upper and lower beam edges, said uprights projecting vertically away from said box beam to define at least one hollow interior of said wall panel which is defined laterally between said uprights and vertically adjacent to one of said upper and lower beam edges, removable cover tiles being provided which are removably attached to said panel frame to define an exposed exterior surface of said wall panel on at least one of said side faces thereof, at least one said cover tile overlying said hollow interior and at least a further said cover tile overlying said cross beam and having a vertical dimension proximate a vertical dimension of said cross beam so as to cover said cross beam.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Panel arrangement

Life of this patent

Panel arrangement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22