Patent Application
20060254176
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a combinative partition.
2. Related Prior Art
In Taiwanese Patent 1223022,
Some problems have been encountered in the manufacturing and use of the conventional combinative partition. Firstly, the panels 1 tend to pivot relative to each other because each of them is connected with each flat element 21 by means of only one screw 201 or 202. The flat elements 21 are useless in keeping the panels 1 in an angle although the flat elements 21 extend in an angle. Secondly, the screws 201, 202 and 203 are exposed and are far from aesthetically pleasing. This unpleasing appearance might stop customers from buying the combinative partition. Thirdly, a cruciform combinative partition requires four seam elements 3, and this results in a high cost in the manufacturing thereof and causes troubles in the assembling thereof.
The present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
According to the present invention, a combinative partition includes at least two panels, a corner element, and a connector. Each panel includes a top cover installed thereon and a vertical edge element secured thereto. The corner element connects the top cover with the vertical edge element of each of the panels. The connector is connected with each of the corner elements in a non-pivotal manner so that the panels are kept at desired angles from one another.
The primary advantage of the combinative partition of the present invention is that the panels are kept at desired angles from one another.
Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings.
The present invention will be described through detailed description of embodiments referring to the drawings.
Referring to
Referring to
A seam element 50 is provided between at least two panels 10. The seam element 50 includes a screw hole 51 defined in each end thereof and a plurality of grooves 52 defined in and along the periphery thereof.
A ligament 13 includes two enlarged portions 131 extending in parallel to each other. One of the enlarged portions 131 is inserted into the groove 123 of each vertical edge element 12 while the remaining enlarged portion 131 is inserted into one of the grooves 51 of the seam element 50. Thus, the vertical edge element 12 is connected with the seam element 50. Although only one ligament 13 is shown, two ligaments 13 are used to connect a vertical edge element 12 with a seam element 50. One of the ligaments 13 is inserted into the grooves 123 and 51 from the top while the remaining ligament 13 is inserted into the grooves 123 and 51 from the bottom.
A corner element 20 is used to connect a top cover 11 with a vertical edge element 12. The corner element 20 includes a block 24, a horizontal insert 21 formed on the block 24 and a vertical insert 23 formed on the block 24. A screw hole 211 is defined in the horizontal insert 21. A groove 22 is defined in the block 24 opposite to the horizontal insert 21. The block 24 includes a boss 243 formed thereon, a screw hole 244 defined therein, two holes 26 defined therein, a plateau 241 formed thereon, and an aperture 242 defined in the plateau 241.
The horizontal insert 21 is inserted in one of the hole 111 of a top cover 11. Although not shown, a screw may be driven into the screw hole 211 through the top cover 11. The vertical insert 23 is inserted in one of the holes 121 of a vertical edge element 12. The groove 22 receives one of the enlarged portions 131.
A screw 25 is driven into the screw hole 122 through the aperture 242 in order to keep the corner element 20 in position.
A connector 30 is used to connect at least two panels 10. In the first embodiment, the connector 30 includes a central portion 32 and two terminal portions 31 extending from the central portion 32 at the right angle from each other. The central portion defines an aperture 321. Each terminal portion 31 defines a slot 314, an aperture 312, an aperture 313, two apertures 34, and a cutout 311.
The central portion 32 is installed on the seam element 50. Each terminal portion 31 is installed on the block 24. The slot 314 is aligned with the groove 22. The aperture 312 receives the boss 243. The aperture 313 is aligned with the screw hole 244. The apertures 34 are aligned with the holes 26. The cutout 311 receives the plateau 241.
A screw 53 is driven into the screw hole 52 through the aperture 321, and a screw 33 is driven into the screw hole 244 through the aperture 312 in order to keep theses elements connected with one another.
A corner cover 40 is used to cover a corner element 20. The corner cover 40 includes a plug 42 extending from a lower side thereof and two plugs 41 extending from the lower side. The plug 42 is fit into the groove 22 through a slot 314. The plugs 41 are fit into the apertures 26 through the apertures 34.
Referring to
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The primary advantage of the combinative partition of the present invention includes several advantageous features. Firstly, the panels 10 are kept at desired angles from one another. Secondly, the corner elements 20 are covered by means of the cover 40 that are aesthetically pleasing. Thirdly, only one seam element 50 is used for connection of several panels 10.
The present invention has been described through the detailed description of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.
