Wall panel with corner-connected open frame

Abstract

An upright space-dividing wall panel with a rigid interior frame, and a cover attached to the frame for covering the interior thereof. The frame includes a first pair of horizontal rails defining top and bottom sides, and a second pair of upright rails defining right and left sides. Corner members are disposed at the frame corners, with each corner member being rigidly joined between adjacent ends of the horizontal and upright rails. The corner member is a one-piece L-shaped member having a box-shaped corner block and horizontal and vertical leg parts cantilevered outwardly from respective transverse side faces of the corner block. Each side face defines a shoulder which surrounds the respective leg part. The leg parts are each telescoped into one end of a respective rail with a fixed engagement so that the rail abuts the respective shoulder.

1 . An upright space-dividing wall panel, comprising: 
 a rigid interior frame having a ring-shaped rectangular configuration;    said frame including a plurality of elongate rails including a first pair of substantially horizontal rails of identical cross section defining top and bottom sides of the frame and a second pair of upright rails of identical cross section defining right and left sides of the frame;    said frame including a plurality of identical corner members disposed respectively at the corners of the frame, each said corner member being rigidly joined between an adjacent end of one said horizontal rail and an adjacent end of one said upright rail;    said corner member comprising a monolithic one-pieced L-shaped member including a substantially box-shaped corner block and horizontal and vertical leg parts cantilevered outwardly from respective first and second transverse side faces of said corner block, each of said first and second side faces defining thereon a shoulder where the respective leg part joins to the corner block;    said horizontal leg part being telescoped into one end of one said horizontal rail so that a free end of said horizontal rail abuts the respective shoulder, and said vertical leg part being telescoped into one end of one said upright rail so that a free end of said upright rail abuts the respective shoulder;    said corner block having a recess formed therein and opening outwardly through third and fourth side faces thereof which are respectively parallel with said first and second side faces; and    said corner member also having an upright opening extending vertically through said fourth side face into and through said corner block and into said vertical leg part.    
   
   
       2 . A wall panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said upright opening is internally threaded over at least a portion of the length thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A wall panel according to  claim 2 , wherein a support foot is mounted on each corner member at each lower corner of said frame for supportive engagement with a floor, said support foot having an upright threaded shaft which is threadably engaged within the threaded portion of the upright opening of the respective corner member.  
   
   
       4 . A wall panel according to  claim 3 , including an upright extender panel mounted on top of and projecting upwardly from said interior frame, said extender panel including a connector block mounted on top of the corner block at each upper corner of said interior frame, a threaded fastener extending downwardly through the connector block and threadably engaged within the upright opening of the respective corner member for fixedly connecting the corner block thereto, and an inverted U-shaped extender frame positioned above said interior frame and having downwardly protruding vertical legs telescoped over and fixed to said connector blocks.  
   
   
       5 . A wall panel according to  claim 2 , including an upright extender panel mounted on top of and projecting upwardly from said interior frame, said extender panel including a connector block mounted on top of the corner block at each upper corner of said interior frame, a threaded fastener extending downwardly through the connector block and threadably engaged within the threaded opening of the respective corner member for fixedly connecting the corner block thereto, and an inverted U-shaped extender frame positioned above said interior frame and having downwardly protruding vertical legs telescoped over and fixed to said connector blocks.  
   
   
       6 . A wall panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said horizontal and vertical leg parts of each said corner member have a plurality of deformable ribs projecting outwardly from side surfaces thereof for creating a snug gripping engagement with the respective rail when telescoped therein.  
   
   
       7 . A wall panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal and vertical leg parts of each corner member have a plurality of depressions formed therein, and said rails where they telescope over said leg parts are deformed into the depressions to create a mechanical interlock.  
   
   
       8 . A wall panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess formed in said corner block opens inwardly from an outer transversely-extending corner edge for accommodating a panel connector therein, said recess opening through said third and fourth side faces of said corner block which are respectively parallel to said first and second side faces.  
   
   
       9 . A wall panel according to  claim 8 , wherein said recess includes a blind opening which is spaced inwardly from said third side face and which projects vertically away from said fourth side face and terminates at a closed end.  
   
   
       10 . A wall panel according to  claim 9 , wherein said recess includes a blocklike recess portion which opens outwardly through said fourth side face and which extends sidewardly from said blind opening and opens outwardly through said third side face, said recess portion being of lesser vertical depth than said blind opening.  
   
   
       11 . A wall panel according to  claim 10 , wherein said upright opening is positioned horizontally between said blind opening and said first side face.  
   
   
       12 . A wall panel according to  claim 1 , wherein each said frame rail comprises an elongate hollow tube of generally rectangular cross section defined by spaced parallel side walls joined transversely by inner and outer edge walls, the outer edge wall having a channel-shaped groove formed inwardly thereof and extending generally along the lengthwise-extending centerline thereof, said outer edge wall having a generally hat-shaped cross section.  
   
   
       13 . A wall panel according to  claim 12 , wherein each said side rail has a vertically elongate row of spaced slots formed in each said side wall closely adjacent the outer edge wall, and the hat-shaped cross section of said outer edge wall functioning as a light blocker between the slots formed in the spaced side walls.  
   
   
       14 . An upright space-dividing wall system comprising: 
 a pair of upright wall panels connected in edge-to-edge horizontally aligned relation;    each said wall panel including a rigid ring-shaped inner frame defined by substantially horizontal top and bottom rails, right and left upright side rails, and a corner member at each corner of said frame and rigidly joined to adjacent ends of said horizontal and upright rails;    each said corner member having a recess formed therein which opens both vertically and horizontally through respective exterior horizontal and vertical side faces of the corner member;    said recess including a blind opening which is spaced inwardly from the exterior vertical side face of the corner member and which projects vertically away from the exterior horizontal side face and terminates at a closed end;    a panel-to-panel connector for rigidly joining adjacent upper corner members of said pair of panels together;    said panel-to-panel connector including a rigid one-piece connecting member having a horizontally elongate top bridge part which at opposite ends is rigidly joined to first and second downwardly cantilevered leg parts, said first leg part having a length which substantially corresponds to the depth of the blind opening and which is of greater length than said second leg part;    whereby said panel-to-panel connector occupies the recesses defined in the adjacent upper corner members of the pair of panels with said bridge part extending sidewardly between the corner members and the leg parts being seated in the respective blind openings.    
   
   
       15 . A wall panel system according to  claim 14 , wherein the panel-to-panel connector includes a rotatable actuator shaft supported on and projecting vertically downwardly from the bridge part for disposition between adjacent and opposed upright edges of the pair of panels, and a clamping block threadably engaged on said shaft on a lower end thereof, said clamping block having opposite end portions positioned for engagement within openings formed in the adjacent upright frame rails.  
   
   
       16 . A wall panel system according to  claim 14 , wherein the top and bottom rails are of identical tubular cross section and are reversely vertically oriented; 
 wherein the right and left upright rails are of identical tubular cross section and are reversely horizontally oriented; and    wherein the corner members provided at each corner of the frame are identical one-piece members.    
   
   
       17 . A wall panel system according to  claim 16 , wherein the one-piece corner member is L-shaped and includes horizontal and vertical leg parts cantilevered outwardly from transverse sides of a box-shaped corner block.  
   
   
       18 . A wall panel system according to  claim 17 , wherein each said corner member has an upright opening extending vertically through said corner block and said vertical leg part, said upright opening being spaced from and independent of said recess.  
   
   
       19 . A wall panel system according to  claim 18 , wherein a floor-engaging support glide is mounted on the corner member at each lower corner of the frame, said glide including an upwardly protruding support stem which projects into and is stationarily engaged in the respective upright opening.  
   
   
       20 . A wall panel system according to  claim 17 , wherein an extender panel frame mounts on top of said inner frame and projects upwardly therefrom, and a fastening arrangement for rigidly coupling said extender frame to the corner members provided at the upper corners of the inner frame, said fastening arrangement including an elongate fastener which projects downwardly into the upright opening formed in the respective corner member.  
   
   
       21 . An upright space-dividing wall panel arrangement including an upright rigid frame having a cover panel attached thereto for at least partially enclosing the frame, said upright rigid frame comprising: 
 first and second elongate rail members disposed in sidewardly spaced but parallel relationship, and first and second elongate rail arrangements disposed in sidewardly spaced but parallel relationship, said first and second rail members extending substantially perpendicularly between said first and second rail arrangements with ends of said first and second rail members being rigidly joined to said first and second rail arrangements at connection points which define corners of an upright rigid frame having a ring-shaped rectangular configuration;    each of said first and second rail arrangements including third and fourth elongate rail members positioned in lengthwise aligned relationship with said third rail member defining one side of said frame and extending between two of said corners where the respective rail arrangement joins to said first and second rail members, and said fourth rail member being rigidly connected at the corner where said second and third rail members are joined, said fourth rail member projecting outwardly away from said latter corner in lengthwise aligned relationship with the respective third rail member;    each said corner as defined at one end of said second rail member being defined by a one-piece three-way connector having a generally T-shaped configuration, said three-way connector including a box-shaped junction block having first and second leg parts cantilevered outwardly in generally aligned relationship from opposite sides thereof, and also having a third leg part cantilevered outwardly from a further side thereof so that said third leg part protrudes generally perpendicularly with respect to said first and second leg parts, said junction block defining thereon an outwardly facing shoulder which is defined on the respective side face from which the respective leg part protrudes, said first and second leg parts being telescoped into hollow interiors of said third and fourth rail members so that the end of the respective rail members abut the respective shoulder, the third rail part being telescoped into a hollow interior of said second rail member so that the end of the second rail member abuts the respective shoulder, said leg parts being fixedly and securely engaged within the respective rail member to create a rigid connection therewith, said junction block being exposed when said leg parts are rigidly secured within the respective rail members; and    each said corner as defined by the connection between said first rail member and the other end of said third rail member including a one-piece connector which also includes a box-shaped junction block having at least two leg parts cantilevered outwardly from adjacent sides thereof in generally perpendicular relationship so that said leg parts are telescoped into and fixedly secured to the respective adjacent ends of the first and third rail members, the junction box of said last-mentioned connector also being exposed when the leg parts are secured to the respective rail members.    
   
   
       22 . A wall panel according to  claim 21 , wherein said first and second rail arrangements are oriented vertically and include a fifth elongate rail member which is disposed in lengthwise alignment with said third and fourth rail members and is positioned so that the third rail member is interposed between said fourth and fifth rail members, said fifth rail member having one end thereof rigidly joined to the corner defined by adjacent ends of said first and third rail members, and the connector defining said latter corner being a three-way T-shaped connector having a third leg part which is cantilevered outwardly from the respective junction block in lengthwise alignment with the respective first leg members so that the third leg member is telescopically engaged with and rigidly joined to the adjacent end of said fifth rail member so that the latter protrudes in aligned relationship with the third rail member.  
   
   
       23 . A wall panel according to  claim 22 , wherein said cover extends over the ring-shaped frame defined by said first, second and third rail members, and wherein an open region is defined below said second rail member and sidewardly between said fourth rail members.  
   
   
       24 . A wall panel according to  claim 22 , wherein said cover extends only over the interior of the ring-shaped frame defined by said first, second and third rail members, and wherein open regions are defined both upwardly above and downwardly below said frame and sidewardly between the fourth rail members and the fifth rail members.  
   
   
       25 . A wall panel according to  claim 21 , wherein the first and second rail arrangements are oriented generally vertically, wherein the connectors which define the corners between the adjacent ends of the first and third rail members have solely an L-shaped configuration for rigid engagement with solely the adjacent ends of the first and third rail members, wherein the fourth rail members are positioned vertically below the third rail members and protrude downwardly, and floor engaging supports joined to and carried by the lower ends of said fourth rail members.  
   
   
       26 . A wall panel according to  claim 21 , wherein the frame arrangement includes a fifth elongate rail which is sidewardly spaced from and extends parallel with said first and second rail members, said fifth rail member extending perpendicularly between said fourth rail members and being rigidly joined to the other ends of said fourth rail members to define corners of a second rectangular ring-shaped frame which is positioned directly sidewardly adjacent the first-mentioned ring-shaped frame, said first-mentioned and second ring-shaped frame sharing a common side as defined by said second rail member, and the corners defined at the adjacent ends of said fourth and fifth rail members being defined by connectors which are identical to the connectors which define the corners between said first and third rail members.  
   
   
       27 . A wall panel according to  claim 26 , wherein the connector which defines the corner between the first and third rail members and between the fourth and fifth rail members is defined by a one-piece L-shaped member having solely two leg parts cantilevered outwardly in perpendicular relationship from the respective junction block.  
   
   
       28 . A wall panel according to  claim 27 , wherein the frame is oriented so that the first, second and fifth rail members protrude vertically, and the first and second rail arrangements protrude generally horizontally so that the frame is disposed in an upright orientation, and wherein each of the connectors associated with corners of the frame which are defined by the lowermost one of said first and second rail arrangements each has a opening extending vertically thereof, and a threaded shaft of a foot support is engaged within the respective opening.  
   
   
       29 . An upright space-dividing wall panel, comprising: 
 a rigid interior frame having a ring-shaped rectangular configuration;    a cover arrangement attached to said frame for substantially covering the interior opening defined within said frame;    said frame including a plurality of elongate hollow rails of identical cross section including a first pair of substantially horizontal rails defining top and bottom sides of the frame and a second pair of upright rails defining right and left sides of the frame;    said frame including a plurality of identical corner members disposed respectively at the corners of the frame, each said corner member being rigidly joined between an adjacent end of one said horizontal rail and an adjacent end of one said upright rail;    said corner member comprising a monolithic one-piece L-shaped member including a substantially box-shaped corner block and horizontal and vertical leg parts cantilevered outwardly from respective first and second transverse side faces of said corner block, each of said first and second side faces defining thereon a shoulder which surrounds the respective leg part where it joins to the corner block;    said corner block also including a pair of substantially parallel third side faces which are defined on opposite sides of the corner block and extend transversely relative to said first and second side faces, said third side faces being generally vertically oriented;    said horizontal leg part being telescoped into one end of one said horizontal rail so that a free end of said horizontal rail abuts the respective shoulder, and said vertical leg part being telescoped into one end of one said upright rail so that a free end of said upright rail abuts the respective shoulder, each said leg part being fixedly secured to the respective rail when the corner part is telescopically engaged therein; and    each said rail having a pair of generally parallel side surfaces which are disposed on opposite sides of the respective rail and are substantially vertically oriented, said side surfaces being substantially vertically coplanar with the third side faces defined on the corner block when the rails are engaged over the respective leg parts and abutted against the respective shoulders.    
   
   
       30 . A wall system according to  claim 29 , wherein each said leg part is fixedly secured by means of a press fit.