Patent Application
20180274231
In general, the present invention relates to connector systems that are used to interconnect modular barrier panels. More particularly, the present invention relates to connectors that enable modular barrier panels to be interconnected at a variety of intersecting angles.
There are many modular barrier systems that are commercially available. Barrier systems include panels of different shapes and sizes that can be interconnected in a variety of ways. In this manner, the barrier panels can be used to create office cubicles, room dividers, clean rooms, and the like.
In a modular barrier system, the various wall panels are typically framed with metal frame elements. The metal frame elements that form the frame are manufactured by extrusion, wherein grooves extend along the length of each of the frame elements. When the various wall panels are connected together, the frame elements of the different wall panels abut. The frame elements are joined together by rigid mechanical connectors that engage the grooves in the adjacent frames. Such prior art modular barrier systems are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 8,839,592 to Foran, entitled “Dust Free Construction Barrier System”.
In many prior art barrier wall panels, the frame elements have a square or rectangular cross-sectional profile. The square shape provides the frame elements with flat surfaces. In this manner, when the frame elements of two wall panels are joined together, the frame elements can abut so that two of the flat surfaces lay flush against each other. This prevents any inadvertent openings from occurring along the joints.
The problem associated with modular barrier wall panels is that the square shape of the frame elements provide for flush connections only when the two wall panels are in-line or at a perpendicular. At all other orientations, the flat surfaces of the frame elements do not lay flush. Angled frame elements can usually be joined at their top ends and bottom ends, but they are not interconnected along their full lengths. As a result, gaps often occur in barrier systems along the joints where two wall panels meet at an acute or obtuse angle.
Small gaps along wall panel joints have little significance if the wall panel joints are being used to form office cubicles or similar structures. However, modular barrier systems are often used in industry to create clean rooms where even a small amount of contamination can be harmful. Likewise, hospitals use modular wall panels to create isolation zones and sanitary zones. Small openings along a joint can allow contamination to travel into, or out of, an isolation zone, therein negating the purpose of the modular barrier system.
A need therefore exists for a system and device that can join together two adjacent modular wall panels at a wide variety of angles, wherein the integrity of the joint is maintained regardless of the angle of connection. The need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.
The present invention is a connector that is used as part of a modular barrier system. The modular barrier system has a first modular barrier and a second modular barrier. The first modular barrier has a first frame element along one side. The first frame element also has a first slot that extends along its length between opposite ends. Likewise, the second modular barrier has a second frame element along one side. The second frame element has a second slot that extends along its length between opposite ends.
A flexible panel joins the two modular barriers together. The flexible panel has a first side edge and an opposite and parallel second side edge. The first side edge extends into the first slot of the first frame element and the second side edge extends into the second slot of the second frame element. The first side edge and the second side edge are enlarged and lock the first side edge and the second side edge into the first slot and the second slot, respectively. This joins the first modular barrier to the second modular barrier while enabling a wide range of orientations between the first modular barrier and the second modular barrier.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Although the present invention joint system can be embodied in many ways, the embodiment illustrated shows only a few embodiments of the joint system. The exemplary embodiments are selected in order to set forth some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.
Referring to
Referring to
A slot 24 is formed in each side surface 22 of each frame element 16. Each slot 24 is a T-slot or dovetail slot, wherein the slot 24 widens from a narrow entrance 25 on the face of the side surface 22 to a widened interior 27, as the slot 24 descends into the frame element 16. The slots 24 are typically used to anchor rigid connectors that extend between adjacent frame elements 16. However, in order for such rigid connectors to work, the slots 24 of two adjacent barrier panels 12A, 12B must have to be brought into abutment.
In the present invention system, the flexible connector panel 20 is provided. The flexible connector panel 20 has two parallel side edges 26, 28 that run the vertical length of the flexible connector panel 20. The flexible connector panel 20 has the same length as the modular barriers 12A, 12B it interconnects. In this manner, the flexible connector panel 20 is capable of covering the length of the entire joint between the modular barriers 12A, 12B.
The flexible connector panel 20 has a body 30 between the two side edges 26, 28 that is both solid and flexible. The body 30 can be generally planar. However, it is preferred that the body 30 have a serpentine profile, an accordion pleat profile, or is otherwise concertinaed so that the width W1 between the two side edges 26, 28 can be varied by applying opposing tension or compression to the side edges 26, 28.
The side edges 26, 28 of the flexible connector panel 20 each terminate with a flared border 32. The flared border 32 runs the length of the side edges 26, 28. Each flared border 32 is small enough to fit into the widened interior 27 of a slot 24, but is too large to pass through the narrow entrance 25 of the slot 24. The body 30 of the flexible connector panel 20 that is interposed between the flared borders 32 is preferably a panel of flexible plastic that has a gauge thickness small enough to enable the body 30 to pass through the narrow entrance 25 of any slot 24.
It will therefore be understood that the flexible connector panel 20 can join two modular barriers 12A, 12B together by sliding the flared borders 32 of the flexible connector panel 20 into the interior of the slots 24 on the modular barriers 12A, 12B to be joined. The body 30 of the flexible connector panel 20 extends through the narrow entrance 25 of the slots 24 and spans the width W1 between the modular barriers 12A, 12B. Due to the presence of the flared borders 32 in the slots 24, the side edges 26, 28 of the flexible connector panel 20 are mechanically connected to the opposing frame elements 12A, 12B along the entire length of the flexible connector panel 20. The body 30 of the flexible connector panel 20 is solid and creates an uninterrupted barrier that extends between the modular barriers 12A, 12B for the full length of the modular barriers 12A, 12B.
Referring to
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In the previous embodiments, the flexible connector panel 20 is shown directly interconnecting the peripheral frames of modular barriers. Referring to
During installation, the connector panel assembly 50 is placed between two modular barriers 56A, 56B. The frame elements 58A, 58B of the modular barriers 56A, 56B are brought into flush abutment with the frame elements 52, 54 of the connector panel assembly 50. The frame elements 58A, 58B of the modular barriers 56A, 56B are connected to the frame elements 52, 54 of the connector panel assembly 50 using traditional prior art connectors. The connector panel assembly 50 elastically bends and maintains an uninterrupted barrier between the two modular barriers 56A, 56B. The interconnection between the modular barrier panels 56A, 56B enables the angle between the two modular barrier panels 56A, 56B to be adjusted without compromising the integrity of the overall barrier system. Likewise, the distance between the two modular barriers 56A, 56B can also be selectively adjusted as the connector panel assembly 50 is stretched and compressed.
It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
