US3160281A

US3160281A - Partition structure

Info

Publication number: US3160281A
Application number: US222890A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard R Ruhnke
Original assignee: GAREY CORP
Current assignee: GAREY Corp
Priority date: 1962-09-11
Filing date: 1962-09-11
Publication date: 1964-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-08

Description

Dec. 8, 1964 R. R. RUHNKE 3,

PARTITION STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 8, 1964 R. R. RUHNKE PARTITION STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1962 Iwm I/QP man Z United States Patent 3,160,281 PARTITION STRUCT Richard R'Ruhnke, Slrolrie, lib, assignor. to Garey (Zorporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 222,890 12 Claims. (Cl. 211-177) This invention relates'to a partition structure, and is particularly concerned with means for securing a plurality of base members together to form a platform of any desired length, and means for securing uprights to said platform.

The uprights are designed. for supporting a plurality of partitions to form a continuous wall. The partitions may support shelves upon which merchandise may be displayed. I

Partition structures of thetypewith which thepresent invention is concerned have heretofore been relatively expensive because considerable assembly work was required at the installation site. The uprights required to support the partition couldnot be assembled with the base members at the factory because. considerably more space would be requiredforshipping the components to the installation site. The uprights were welded to the base plates and therefore the base plates could not be secured to the platform exceptat the installation site.

In accordance with the present invention, adapter plates that do not project beyond the perimeter of the floor of the base 'member are secured to the sides of the base members at the factory. Adapter plates have inwardly and upwardly extending lips that provide a seat for securely holding the lower end of the upright. An unattached clamp plate positioned on the floor at the joint between adjacent base members forces adjacent edges of the base members together and holds them against accidental separation. Each upright is merely dropped into an opening provided therefor between the adjacent edges of adjoining base members. 1 y

The only operation performed with tools of any kind is at the outer ends of each series of base members forming a platform. At each of said outer ends of the installation, the end upright is secured against the outer end of the platform by a screw that is passed through registering apertures in theupright and is screwed into an aperture in the upper end of the adjacent adapter plate.

In the event any installation is to be remodeled, the present invention facilitates removal of any base member. After the uprights at opposite edges of a base member are lifted out of engagement with the adapter plate, the base member may be removed by lifting it vertically to disengage its side walls from the clamp plates holding it in place.

The structure by means of which the above mentioned and other advantages of the invention may be attained will be fully described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showinga preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a partially completed partition structure embodying the invention, in which sections of the partition structure are in various stages of assembly;

FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the adapter plate; I

FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of the clamp plate;

'FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view, taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken Y but spaced from said back section.

along the longitudinal center of the platform,but with the upright partition omitted; and

FIG. 7is a cross sectional view, taken along the line '7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings, a plurality of base members 2 are secured together in side by side relationship to form a platform of any desired length. The base members may be arranged in end to end relationship, if desired. The base member is preferably made of wood, but may be made of any suitable material or materials. Each base member comprises a horizontal panel 3, two

longitudinal side walls

4, 5, and two

end walls

6, 7. The side Walls and end walls are of uniform height and are secured to the underside of panel 3 in spaced relationship to the perimeter of the horizontal panel. The end walls are spaced uniformly from the perimeter of the horizontal panel 'so that the complete platform will have a uniform appearance when the base members are assembled in side by side relationship, regardless of whether corresponding ends 'of the base members are aligned. on the same sides of the platform. The side walls of each base member are also spaced uniformly from the perimeter of the panel 3, but this spacing may or may not be the same as the spacing of the end walls from the perimeter of the panel. The lower edge of each

side wall

4 and 5 is preferably recessed along the intermediate portion of its length, as indicated at 4, to facilitate handling the base members.

Each longitudinal edge of the horizontal panel 3 is provided with a notch 8 at its center. The notches are identical, and the base of each notch is flush with the outer surface of the adjacent

longitudinal wall

4 or 5.

.The notches are preferably rectangular so as to form a square opening 9 when two base members are secured in side by side relationship. A tubular upright 10 having a square cross section fits snugly in each opening h. If desired, the upright may have a cross section of any desired configuration, such as, for example, circular, oval or polygonal. The notches are preferably shaped to fit snugly around the perimeter of the upright.

An anchor plate 11, preferably having a height approximately equal to the height of centerportions of

side walls

4, 5 is secured to each of the side walls at its center portion. The anchor plate preferably is made of sheet metal bent along parallel lines to form a back section 12, two intermediate sections 13, two angular sections 14 and two outer sections 15. The intermediate sections 13 extend outwardly from the plane of the back section at the opposite edges of said back section. The angular sections 14 extend from the outer edges of intermediate sections 13 to the plane of said back section The outer sections 15 extend outwardly from the outer edges of angular sections 14 and are coplanar with the back section 12. The outer sections 15 are apertured, as indicated at 16, to receive bolts 17, by means of which the anchor plate is secured to one of the

walls

4, 5. A nut 18 is screwed on each bolt 17 to hold it in place.

The back section 12 and the two intermediate sections 13 cooperate to form a channel that preferably has a cross sectional area conforming to one half the perimeter of the upright It The channel is aligned vertically with notch 8, and the outer edge of the sheet metal defining the bend between each section 13 and the adjacent angular opening'9 and in the channels aligned vertically with said opening.

A lip 19, struck from the lower portion of back section 12 extends outwardly from the back section to form an upwardly extending pocket 20 adapted to receive the Patented Dec. 8, 1964 lower end of one wall of the tubular upright 10. Preferably the lip 19 extends upwardly at an angle to facilitate entry of the lower end of the upright and to provide a wedging action as the lower end of the tubular upright is moved downwardly into the oppositely disposed pockets. The free end of lip 19 is spaced from the plane of back section 12 a distance less than half the internal width of tubular upright 10 so that it does not interfere with the lip 'of the back section of the adjoining anchor plate, which must receive the lower end of the opposite wall of tubular upright 10. The spacing of the free end of 'lip 19 also permits it to enter the lower end of a tubular upright It? having half the width of upright 10. Uprights 10' are used at the outer end of each platform to enhance the appearance of said outer ends. Each upright 10 or 10' has a pair of aligned apertures 21 to receive a screw 22. The screw is passed through both apertures 21 and is screwed into a threaded aperture 23 in back section 12 to secure the end upright in proper position. Preferably the adjacent wall 4 or is provided with an aperture 24 aligned with

apertures

21 and 23 to receive the end of screw 22. Screws 22 are used only in connection with the end uprights on the platform. The intermediate uprights are securely held by the interengagement of lips 19 with the lower end of the upright.

Clamp plates 25 are positioned adjacent opposite ends of each pair of

walls

4 and 5 to facilitate assembling the base members 2 in side by side relationship. As shown in FIG. 1, a clamp plate is positioned at right angles to the longitudinal wall of one base member,and each clamp is adapted to engage the adjacent wall of the adjoining base members. Each clamp plate comprises a flat base 26 having an upstanding flange 27 at one end and a similar flange 28 at its opposite end. The flanges provide rigidity for the clamp plate.

The parallel spaced

lips

29, 30 are struck upwardly from base 26 to provide abutments adapted to engage the inner surface of one

wall

4 or 5 at two spaced points.

Abutments

29, 30 are arranged to extend longitudinally of base 26 to provide maximum resistance to the movement of the

wall

4, 5 toward flange 28. A lip 31 is struck upwardly from base 26 to form another abutment adapted to engage the outer surface of the wall engaged by the

abutments

29, 30. Although the

abutments

29, 30 and 31 are described as lips struck from base 26, it will be understand that they may be of any suitable form. For example, separate bars may be welded to base 26, a channel member of proper widthcould be welded to the base, or the base could be bent transversely to form an integral channel. As each base member 2 is secured to one side of a similar base member, a clamp plate is positioned under the outer wall of said base member adjacent each end thereof, with said outer wall resting on base 26 and engaging the

abutments

29, 30 and 31. Each anchor plate is thus held firmly in position without any fastening means securing it to base member 2 and with approximately half its widthprojecting outwardly of the wall engaged by said abutments.

A resilient strip 32 has one end portion 33 welded to.

The weight of the base member forces flange36v fiat against base 26, and the resilience of strip 32 causesthe abutment 35 to urge the newly added base member toward the adjoining base member until the adjacent edges of adjoining panels 3 abut. The resilient abutment 35 prevents lateral movement of said second base member outwardly from said first base member, and the abutment form a platform, the partition panels 37 may be mounted between the uprights in conventional manner, and a top molding 38 may be applied to the top edge of the panels to enhance the appearance of the complete structure.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described.

I claim:

1. A platform structure comprising a plurality of base members each having a horizontal panel and a pair of depending side walls, said base members being arranged in side by side relationship, and a plurality of clamp plates loosely mounted under said basev members to engage side walls of adjacent base members and thereby prevent relative lateral movement of said base member, the adjoining edges of adjacent horizontal panels abutting each other to conceal the clamp plates when said clamp plates engage side walls of adjacent base members.

2. A platform structure comprising a plurality of base members each having a horizontal panel and a pair of depending side walls, said base members being arranged in side by side relationship, and a plurality of unattached clamp plates, each of said clamp plates engaging the adjacent side walls of adjoining base members, each of said clamp plates having means urging one of said sidewalls toward the other to hold them against relative lateral displacement, with the adjoining edges of adjacent horizontal panels abutting each other.

I 3. A platform structure comprising a plurality of base members each having a horizontal panel and a pair of depending side walls, said base members being arranged in side by side relationship, and a plurality of clamp plates loosely mounted under said base members, each of said clamp plates having rigid spaced abutments engaging opposite surfaces of one side wall of one base member and a resilient abutment engaging one surface of the adjacent side Wall of the adjoining base member to urge said last. mentioned side wall toward said first mentioned side wall and prevent outward lateral displacement of said base members, with the adjoining edges of adjacent horizontal panels abutting eaeh other to conceal the. clamp plates in the assembled platform structure.

4. A platform structure comprising a plurality of base members each having a horizontal panel and a pair of depending side walls, means holding said base members against relative lateral displacement with adjacent side walls of, adjoining base members spaced apart, and an anchor plate mounted on the outer surface of each side wall, the anchor plates of adjacent side walls cooperating to receive and hold an upright therebetween.

5. A platform structure comprising a plurality of base members and a tubular upright projecting from adjoining base members, each of saidbase members having a horizontal panel and a pair of depending side walls, means holding said base members against relative lateral displacement with adjacent side walls of adjoining base members spaced apart, and an anchor plate mounted on theouter surface of each side wall, the anchor plates of adjacent side walls having upwardly extending lips adapted to project into the lower end of said tubular uprights, said lips cooperating to hold said upright between adjacent base members.

6. A platform structure comprising a plurality ofbase members each having a horizontal panel and a pair of depending side walls, means holding said base members against relative lateral displacement with said horizontal panels contiguous to each other, each of said panels having a notch in two opposite edges, and an anchor plate secured to each of said side walls adjacent said notches, each of said anchor plates having a channel aligned vertically with the adjacent notch, the anchor plates secured to adjacent side walls cooperating to receive and hold an upright therebetween.

7. A platform structure comprising a plurality of base members each having a horizontal panel and a pair of depending side walls, means holding said base members against relative lateral displacement with said horizontal panels contiguous to each other, each of said panels having a notch in two opposite edges, and an anchor plate secured to each of said side walls adjacent said notches, each of said anchor plates having a channel aligned vertically with the adjacent notch, and a lip projecting upwardly from each of said channels, said lips being engageable with an upright having its lower end inserted through the opening formed by said notches, to hold said upright.

8. A platform structure comprising a plurality of base members each having a horizontal panel and a pair of depending side walls, clamp plates loosely mounted under said base members, each of said clamp plates engaging adjacent side Walls of adjoining base members and holding said base members against relative lateral displacement with adjacent side walls of adjoining base members spaced apart, and an anchor plate mounted on the outer surface of each side wall, the anchor plates of adjacent side walls cooperating to receive and hold an upright therebetween.

9. A platform structure comprising a plurality of base members each having a horizontal panel and a pair of depending side walls spaced inwardly from the perimeter of said horizontal panel, each longitudinal edge of said panel having a notch extending inwardly to the vertical plane of the side Wall, each of said notches abutting the notch of an adjacent base member when two of said base members are juxtaposed, means holding adjacent base members in juxtaposed position, an anchor plate secured to each of said side walls, each of said anchor plates having a channel aligned with the adjacent notch, said channels cooperating to receive the lower end of an upright inserted through the opening formed by said abutting notches.

10. A platform structure comprising a plurality of base members each having a horizontal panel and depending side walls spaced inwardly from the perimeter of said horizontal panel, each longitudinal edge of said panel having a notch extending inwardly to the vertical plane of the side Wall, each of said notches abutting the notch of an adjacent base member when two of said base members are juxtaposed, clamp plates loosely mounted under said base members, each of said clamp plates engaging adjacent side walls of adjoining base members and holding them in spaced relationship, an anchor plate secured to each of said side walls with each of said anchor plates having a channel aligned with the adjacent notch, said channels cooperating to receive the lower end of an upright inserted through the opening formed by said abutting notches when two of said base members are juxtaposed.

11. A clamp plate for holding a pair of separate base members having depending side walls in side by side relationship, said clamp plate comprising a plurality of spaced rigid abutments adapted to engage opposite surfaces of one side wall of one of said base members and a resilient abutment adapted to engage the remote surface of the adjacent side wall of said other base member to urge said second base member toward said first base member and to prevent relative lateral outward movement between said base members.

12. An anchor plate having a vertical channel shaped to fit snugly around one-half the perimeter of a tubular upright, two coplanar sections spaced outwardly of the longitudinal edges of said channel, said sections being apertured to receive fastening means whereby said anchor plate may be secured to a vertical support surface, and a lip projecting upwardly from said channel adapted to extend into the lower end of a tubular upright fitted in said channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 588,195 Taylor Aug. 17, 1897 2,675,287 Sitler Apr. 13, 1954 2,682,087 Siering June 29, 1954 2,780,850 Liefi Feb. 12, 1957 2,991,889 Levy July 11, 1961 3,015,466 Levy Jan. 2, 1962 3,066,367 Garman Dec. 4, 1962

Claims

4. A PLATFORM STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF BASE MEMBERS EACH HAVING A HORIZONTAL PANEL AND A PAIR OF DEPENDING SIDE WALLS, MEANS HOLDING SAID BASE MEMBERS AGAINST RELATIVE LATERAL DISPLACEMENT WITH ADJACENT SIDE WALLS OF ADJOINING BASE MEMBERS SPACED APART, AND AN ANCHOR PLATE MOUNTED ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF EACH SIDE WALL, THE ANCHOR PLATES OF ADJACENT SIDE WALLS COOPERATING TO RECEIVE AND HOLD AN UPRIGHT THEREBETWEEN.