Separable post/panel system - Patent Review 5377466

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an interior upright space-dividing wall system having first and second portable upright wall panel assemblies joined in end-to-end relationship, each said wall panel assembly including upright end edges defined at least in part by vertically elongate end members, and an upright support assembly joined to each end edge of each said panel assembly, said support assembly including a foot portion on a lower end thereof adapted for supportive engagement with a floor, and said support assembly including a vertically elongate support member having generally parallel and sidewardly spaced vertically elongate sidewalls each having a plurality of hanger-receiving openings therein, the hanger-receiving openings in each said sidewall being disposed in vertically spaced relationship so as to define a generally vertically elongate row, wherein the improvement comprises said support member has pluralities of first and second hooks fixed thereon and respectively defining first and second vertically-extending rows which are horizontally spaced apart, said first and second hooks being substantially identical and projecting in horizontal cantilevered relationship from said support member in opposite and outward directions relative to one another, each said end member having a plurality of hook-receiving slots formed therein and disposed in vertically spaced relationship along a vertically extending row, said first hooks of a first said support assembly projecting into said slots of the end member of said first panel assembly for directly fixedly but releasably connecting said first panel assembly to said support assembly.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said support member includes a generally imperforate intermediate wall which has opposite edges thereof rigidly and fixedly joined to the respective sidewalls with said intermediate wall being disposed between the sidewalls so that the hanger openings in one said sidewall are effectively isolated from the hanger openings in the opposite sidewall.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said support member is of a generally Z-shaped cross section and includes a cross wall which extends diagonally between and is fixedly and rigidly joined to opposite edges of the sidewalls, said cross wall being imperforate so as to isolate the hanger-receiving openings in one sidewall from the hanger-receiving openings in the other sidewall, each sidewall having a free edge which is remote from the edge to which the cross wall is joined, said first hooks being integral with and projecting horizontally outwardly from the free edge of a first said sidewall, said second hooks being integral with and projecting outwardly from the free edge of the second said sidewall.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said first and second hooks are each of generally T-shaped vertical configuration and include a base portion which projects horizontally from the sidewall and which terminates in a vertically projecting head portion having upper and lower hook parts which are respectively cantilevered upwardly and downwardly from the base portion.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein said second hooks project through and are engaged within the slots formed in the end member of the second panel assembly for creating a direct rigid but separable connection therewith, said first and second panel assemblies defining channels extending vertically along the end edges thereof and spaced inwardly from vertical side surfaces of the panel assemblies so that the support member is effectively confined within the opposed channels when the support member is rigidly joined to the first and second panel assemblies, said panel assemblies having end surfaces spaced a small horizontal distance apart so as to define a narrow vertically elongate gap therebetween which aligns with the row of hanger-receiving openings in the sidewalls of the support member.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein the support member includes pluralities of third and fourth hooks which are vertically spaced apart and respectively disposed within horizontally spaced rows which extend in generally parallel relationship vertically along the support member, said third and fourth hooks being cantilevered horizontally so as to project outwardly away from one another in opposite directions, said third and fourth hooks being joined to and projecting outwardly away from the other side edge of the first and second sidewalls respectively, whereby said first and third hooks are generally vertically coplanar and project horizontally outwardly away from one another in opposite directions, and said second and fourth hooks are generally vertically coplanar and project horizontally outwardly away from one another in opposite directions.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein each said end member has two vertically extending rows of said hook-receiving slots formed therein in sidewardly spaced relationship, the slots of said two rows respectively receiving therein said first and third hooks for fixedly but releasably joining said first panel assembly to said support member.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second panel assemblies are disposed in generally perpendicularly relationship to one another and respectively have first and second said end edges which are disposed in closely adjacent relationship to one another to define a corner, said first support assembly being fixedly and directly connected to the end member of said first end edge by said first hooks, a second said support assembly which is identical to said first support assembly, said second support assembly having said first hooks thereon directly engaged with the end member of said second end edge, and a vertically elongate corner member for fixedly but releasably coupling said first and second support assemblies together, said corner member having two rows of vertically-spaced openings formed therein in horizontally sidewardly spaced relationship with said two rows of openings being elongate vertically, and said second hooks as associated with each of said first and second support assemblies being fixedly and directly engaged with one of the rows of openings in the corner member.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said second hooks have downwardly cantilevered hook parts which engage the openings in the corner member for limiting upward movement of the corner member relative to the support assemblies, and said corner member being free of direct vertical support with the floor.

10. A system according to claim 8, including alignment means cooperating between said corner member and said first and second support assemblies for maintaining vertical alignment between said first and second panel assemblies, said alignment means permitting transfer of vertical loads from one said support assembly through said corner member to the other said support assembly.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said alignment means incudes a pair of alignment members provided on said corner member and defining a horizontally outwardly opening slot therebetween, one alignment member of said pair being fixed to the corner member and the other alignment member of the pair being relatively vertically movable, each said support assembly having an alignment element fixed thereto and projecting horizontally outwardly for engagement between the alignment members of the corner member, and adjustment means associated with the movable alignment member for fixedly but releasably clamping the alignment elements on the support assemblies between the pair of alignment members.

12. In an interior upright space-dividing wall system having first and second portable upright wall panel assemblies joined in end-to-end relationship, said first and second panel assemblies respectively having first and second vertically elongate end edges disposed in closely adjacent relationship with said first and second panel assemblies projecting in generally perpendicular relationship to one another, and first and second identical support post assemblies respectively cooperating with said first and second end edges, each said support post assembly having a foot portion on a lower end thereof adapted for supportive engagement with a floor, the improvement comprising first hook-and-slot means cooperating directly between said first support post assembly and said first end edge for creating a fixed but releasable connection of said first post assembly to said first panel assembly, second hook-and-slot means cooperating between said second post assembly and said second end edge for creating a fixed but releasable connection of said second panel assembly to said second post assembly, a vertically elongate corner connector positioned closely adjacent and generally between said first and second post assemblies, said corner connector being free of direct supportive engagement with the floor, third hook-and-slot means cooperating directly between said corner connector and said first support post assembly for creating a fixed but releasable connection therebetween, and fourth hook-and-slots means cooperating directly between said corner connector and said second post assembly for creating a fixed but releasable connection therebetween.

13. A system according to claim 12, including alignment means cooperating between said corner connector and said first and second support post assemblies for maintaining vertical alignment between said first and second panel assemblies, said alignment means permitting transfer of vertical loads from one support post assembly through said corner connector to the other support post assembly.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said alignment means includes a pair of vertically spaced alignment plates provided on said corner connector and defining a horizontally opening slot therebetween, one alignment plate of said pair being fixed to the corner connector and the other alignment plate of the pair being vertically movable, each said support post assembly having an alignment member fixed thereto and projected horizontally outwardly for engagement between the alignment plates of the corner connector, and means associated with the movable alignment plate for fixedly but releasably securing the alignment members on the support post assemblies between the pair of alignment plates.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein said first, second, third and fourth hook-and-slot means respectively include pluralities of first, second, third and fourth hooks, said first and third hooks being fixedly associated with said first support post assembly, said second and fourth hooks being fixedly associated with said second support post assembly, each of said first and second end edges having pluralities of slots therein which respectively cooperate with said first and second hooks, and said corner connector having pluralities of slots therein which cooperate with said second and third hooks.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein each of said first and second hook-and-slot means includes two sidewardly-spaced vertically extending rows of hooks fixed to the respective support post assembly and engaged within two sidewardly-spaced vertically extending rows of slots provided in the respective vertical end edge of the respective panel assembly, each of said third and fourth hook-and-slot means including two sidewardly-spaced vertically extending rows of hooks fixedly associated with the respective support post assembly with only a single one of said latter rows of hooks being engaged within a single row of slots as provided on and extending vertically of the corner connector.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said corner connector is of a generally L-shaped horizontal cross section, and wherein each said support post assembly includes a vertically elongate support member which is of a generally Z-shaped horizontal cross section and has said hooks fixed thereon.

18. A system according to claim 17, including alignment means cooperating between said corner connector and said first and second support post assemblies for maintaining vertical alignment between said first and second panel assemblies, said alignment means permitting transfer of vertical loads from one support post assembly through said corner connector to the other support post assembly.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the support member includes generally parallel sidewalls joined by an intermediate cross wall extending generally diagonally therebetween so as to define the generally Z-shaped horizontal cross section, said intermediate cross wall being imperforated to create a sound barrier, the two rows of hooks as associated with each of said first and second hook-and-slot means being fixed to and projecting outwardly from vertical edges of said sidewalls, and each said sidewall having a vertically extending row of vertically-spaced hanger-receiving openings extending therethrough with direct sound communication between the hanger-receiving openings in the opposed sidewalls being interrupted by said intermediate cross wall.

20. A system according to claim 16, including a third panel assembly disposed generally in horizontal alignment with said first panel assembly and defining thereon a third end edge which is disposed adjacent and in opposed relationship to said first end edge, a third support post assembly which is identical to said first and second support post assemblies being positioned adjacent and cooperating with said third end edge, fifth hook-and-slot means cooperating between third end edge and said third support post assembly for fixedly but releasably coupling said third support post assembly to said third panel assembly, said fifth hook-and-slot means being identical to said first hook-and-slot means, a second corner connector identical to said first-mentioned corner connector and positioned adjacent and coupled between said second and third support post assemblies, and sixth hook-and-slot means cooperating between said second corner and said third support post assembly for fixedly but releasably joining same directly together, said sixth hook-and-slot means being identical to each of said third and fourth hook-and-slot means, and said second corner connector having a second row of slots therein engaged with the remaining row of hooks provided on said second support post assembly and defining part of said fourth hook-and-slot means.

21. In an interior upright space-dividing wall system having at least first and second portable upright panel assemblies joined in aligned end-to-end relationship, said first and second wall panel assemblies respectively having first and second upright end edges disposed in directly adjacent and opposed relationship, said end edges each defining therein a vertically elongate channel which extends substantially throughout the vertical height of the panel assembly and opens horizontally inwardly of the respective end edge with said channel being spaced inwardly from opposite side surfaces of the respective panel assembly, and a vertically elongate support post assembly positioned within and extending vertically along the opposed channels defined in said opposed first and second end edges with said support post assembly being fixedly coupled to each of said first and second panel assemblies, said support post assembly having a support foot provided on a lower end thereof and adapted for direct supportive engagement with a floor, wherein the improvement comprises said support post assembly includes a vertically elongate support post which is of a generally Z-shaped horizontal cross section having generally parallel and sidewardly spaced first and second side legs joined by an intermediate leg which extends transversely between and is fixedly joined to the parallel side legs, said side legs and said intermediate leg all being vertically elongate and extending throughout a majority of the height of the panel assemblies, each said side leg having a plurality of vertically spaced and vertically elongate hanger-receiving openings formed horizontally therethrough with the openings in each side leg being substantially vertically aligned along a generally vertically extending row, said intermediate leg being substantially of imperforate construction to create a sound barrier between the openings in the opposed side legs, the row of openings in each side leg being accessible for receiving hangers associated with accessories which mount adjacent said panel assemblies, the opposed end edges having opposed end surfaces which are spaced horizontally a small distance apart to define a narrow vertically extending gap therebetween which is aligned with the adjacent row of openings to provide access thereto by the hangers.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein each of said first and second side legs has first and second vertically extending side edges disposed adjacent the first and second end edges respectively, said intermediate leg extending between and being fixedly adjoined to said first sidewall adjacent the edge thereof and to said second sidewall adjacent the second side edge thereof, the second side edge of said first sidewall being free and having a plurality of first hooks projecting horizontally therefrom in cantilevered relationship and being engaged within slots defined in said first end edge, and the first side edge of said second sidewall being free and having a plurality of second hooks projecting horizontally therefrom and being engageable within slots formed in said second end edge, each plurality of hooks and the associated slots being disposed in