Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Multiroom or level – Partition secured to and crossed by preconstructed barrier
Patent
1997-06-19
1998-09-22
Smith, Creighton
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Multiroom or level
Partition secured to and crossed by preconstructed barrier
527822, 527921, 160236, E06B 312, E06B 900
Patent
active
058097155
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a panel for use as, for example, a partition or the like in an office room or the like.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
There is known a partition which comprises a self-standing frame having an opening into which a panel is detachably fitted. In particular, the panel is provided adjacent the upper and lower edges at the rear side thereof with elongated mounting members made of sheet metal, which engage the upper and lower edges of the opening of the frame thereby to fix the panel to the frame. In the partition of this construction, since the panel can be removed from the frame in a simple manner for easy exchange for different panels, the partition is available for use as a means which can conveniently be used for various purposes such as for changing the interior appearance of an office room by changing panel colors, or for adding to the function of the partition by fixing to it a panel having hooks to hang things on.
A panel of a conventional construction comprises a panel body made of sheet metal formed into a desired shape and a cladding sheet provided to cover the surface of the panel body. The panel body has its corners formed by shaping the sheet metal, while it is being bent or after it has been bent, in such a manner that the upper and lower edge portions of the sheet metal become continuous with the side edge portions thereof. When the edges are rounded to give good appearance to the panel, if the upper, lower and lateral side edge portions of the sheet metal are bent at the same time, it is difficult to form the corners of the panel into a proper shape and neatly finish the rounded portions of the cladding sheet which cover the corners. Therefore, practically the upper and lower edges or side edges alone can be rounded.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above problem, in accordance with the present invention, the corners of the panel are formed not by working a sheet metal but by providing each corner of the panel with a cutout, which is filled in by a separate member which can be molded with ease. When the crossing edge portions of a panel body are simultaneously rounded, by using such a separate member which can be shaped so as to be continuous to the edge portions of the panel body it is possible to effectively improve the quality of the finished corners of the panel body without complicating the manufacturing process of the panel.
The panel of the invention comprises a panel body made of a sheet metal by plastic deformation of the edge portions thereof, and a cladding sheet for covering the surface of the panel body, said panel body being provided at the corners thereof with a cutout, which is filled in by a corner member made of plastic material.
When the panel is to be removably fixed to the frame of a partition, in order to effectively prevent the number of component parts from increasing, the corner member may be formed with an integral engaging claw which engages the opening of the frame of the partition thereby to fix the panel to the frame removably therefrom.
In the panel of the above construction, when the upper, lower, and lateral side edge portions of the sheet metal of the panel body are simultaneously formed into a rounded shape, the corner members are interposed between the adjacent end portions of the upper, lower and lateral side edges so as to render the rounded surfaces of the end portions smoothly continuous, so that when the panel body is covered with a cladding sheet, it is possible to beautifully finish the curved portions of the cladding sheet at the corners of the panel body thereby to improve the design and appearance of the panel easily and effectively.
The panel of the invention of the above construction has the following effects and advantages.
First, the panel of the invention comprises a panel body, a cladding sheet provided at such a position as to cover the surface of the panel body, with a cutout provided at each corner of the panel body, and a corner member of resin provided to fill in the cutout. In thi
REFERENCES:
patent: 2681261 (1954-06-01), Blink
patent: 3075621 (1963-01-01), Attwood
patent: 3676279 (1972-07-01), Beaver
patent: 4067167 (1978-01-01), Anderson
Kokuyo Co. Ltd.
Smith Creighton
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