Electricity: conductors and insulators – Overhead – Towers – poles or posts
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-04-17
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Overhead
Towers, poles or posts
C052S220700, C052S238100, C174S0450TD
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218612
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to panel partition systems that are commonly used in office environments and the like.
Many common panel partition systems that are used in office environments include a number of partition panels that are arranged to define various work stations. When the panels are placed in position, a panel connector will typically be interposed between a side edge of one panel and a side edge of an adjacent panel, to couple two adjacent panels together. These panels are also typically provided with a wire-way within the panel to provide communication and power connections at the work space. The wire-way is often positioned along the bottom edge of the panels. Thus, the connector between the panels typically extends between the top of the wire-way and the top of the panels, so the connector will not block or obstruct the wire-way passage between the panels. Because of this common arrangement, additional cover pieces are required to enclose the wire passage space that is defined below the panel connector and between the panels, where wiring and the like extend between the wire-ways of adjacent panels. These cover pieces are small to cover the small gap between the adjacent panel wire-ways, and typically do not conveniently fit tightly and securely. Rather, the small covers often become displaced or broken, as is the nature of small parts. Thus, because of the use of these small covers, the visual impression presented at the floor level of commonly known panel partition systems is a patchy or broken up appearance of a small cover filling a gap between larger, adjacent covers.
Another feature of commonly known panel partition systems is the use of “knock-out” panels along wire-way covers to provide access opening through the cover to the wiring or other conduits that extend through the wire-way. These have proven fairly successful for initial setup and installation of commonly known panel partition systems. The knock-out wire-way access does not lend itself to reconfiguration, however. Once the knock-out portion of the wire-way cover is removed, there is no provision for replacing it. Thus, if a power or communication jack, for example, is relocated, then either a dead jack or other plug must be left in the original location, or an unsightly potentially hazardous hole is left in the wire-way cover.
Finally, the common practice of placing the wire-way along the bottom edge of the partition panel provides a structural challenge in terms of providing standing strength to support the panel above, and in terms of maximizing the passageway available for wiring and the like. Most significantly, providing adequate bending strength has traditionally been provided by narrowing the width of the wire-way passage to provide a required width of a structural member, thereby restricting the size of wiring or conduit that will pass through the wire-way.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A modular panel partition system according to the invention addresses several failings of previously known partition panels, including those failings that are identified above, with a panel partition system that has a first panel and a second panel, each panel having opposing first and second edges that are adapted to releasably couple with a panel connector. Each panel extends from a bottom edge to an opposing top edge and has an upper portion and an adjoining lower portion that extends between the upper portion and the bottom edge to define a wire-way to pass conduits into and through the panels. The panel connector has an elongated one-piece body that defines a post, has a first side that is adapted to releasably couple with an edge of a panel, has a second side that is adapted to releasably couple with an edge of a panel, and has an aperture that extends through each of the first and second sides of the panel connector. The aperture is positioned on the panel connector to align with the wire-way and is adapted to pass conduits through the aperture, between the panels. The panel connector is interposed in abutting engagement between the adjoining edges of two adjacent panels to connect the adjacent panels. The one piece post extends from the bottom edge of the panels to the top edge of the panels.
In other aspects of the invention, the panel connector has a bottom end at the bottom edge of the panels and the aperture may extend through the bottom end. The panel connector may have a third or more sides to connect three or more adjacent panels. Further, the post may be hollow and adapted to pass conduits through the hollow portion.
In another aspect of the invention, the wire-way includes a perimeter picture frame with a top plate and an opposing bottom plate, the top and bottom plates extending generally between the side edges of the panel with the bottom plate being located at the bottom edge. Two Z-shaped end supports extend between the top and bottom plates. One of the end supports is located near one of the side edges and the other end support is located near the other side edge. Further, each Z-shaped end support may have a web portion with two opposing edges, may have a first flange at one of the edges, that is generally perpendicular to the web and extends in a first direction, and may have a second flange at the other web edge, that is generally perpendicular to the web and extends in a second direction that is generally opposite to the first direction. Also, the web may be aligned within about forty-five degrees of a center line that extends between the two side edges of the panel. The picture frame top plate is connected to the panel upper portion and the picture frame hangs generally downward from the upper portion to the bottom edge.
In yet another aspect of the invention, each panel includes two support glides that are connected with the upper portion and extend beyond the bottom edge to support the panel above a supporting floor. One of the support glides is located near one of the panel edges and the other support glide is located near the other panel edge. The support glides extend from the upper portion to beyond the bottom edge, so the panel stands upon the glides, with the picture frame hanging generally downward from the upper portion, without providing generally vertical structural support of the upper portion.
Each wire-way has a cover panel that extends between the upper portion and the bottom edge and between the two side edges of the panel. The cover panel has an interior surface and an opening that extends through the cover panel to provide access and connection with conduits that may pass through the wire-way. The cover panel also has a sliding cover that abuts the inner surface and slides between a closed position in which the slide cover overlays and closes the opening, and an open position in which the slide cover does not obstruct the opening.
These and other features, objects, and benefits of the invention will be recognized by one having ordinary skill in the art and by those who practice the invention, from the specification, the claims, and the drawing figures.
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McKitrick Mark A.
Middleton David V.
Patel Dhiru R
Reichard Dean A.
Waters John A.
Waters & Morse P.C.
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