Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6802168
-
Patent Number
6,802,168
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, December 3, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 12, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 312 2655
- 052 361
- 052 288
- 052 286
- 052 2854
- 052 5821
- 052 5851
- 052 5921
- 052 271
- 052 378
- 052 578
- 160 135
- 160 2291
- 160 351
- 248 22451
- 248 22461
- 403 116
- 403 253
- 403 254
- 403 255
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A modular wall panel system in which individual panels are constructed with a lightweight aluminum frame. In a preferred embodiment, the frame is substantially filled with a foam core material and decorative display surfaces are affixed to opposite sides thereof. One edge of each panel contains a plurality of ball-shaped connector pins, while the opposite edge has a plurality of connector slots having a diamond configuration. A similar panel placed adjacent to the first panel may be mated thereto by engagement of the connector pins with respective connector slots in the other panel. The pins/slots are shaped and sized so that the connector pin may enter/exit the connector slot at a wide region thereof but not in the apex region thereof. Secure coupling with fast assembly/disassembly is thereby achieved, without tools or detachable components.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a modular wall panel system and, more particularly, to a modular wall panel system which allows for interconnection of adjacent panels without the need for tools and/or detachable parts.
Exhibits and displays have found wide usage in today's business and marketing environment, particularly with respect to businesses that participate in conventions, trade shows, seminars and other such events. Also, static or mobile exhibits and displays are used in places such as museums and building lobbies. Due to the nature of these applications, such exhibits and displays are typically assembled and disassembled by a limited number of persons within a limited period of time at the exhibition site. Thus, a basic design requirement of such portable display devices is a minimization of weight and structural complexity, coupled with a maximization of durability and aesthetic appearance. In the extremely competitive sales environments in which trade show exhibits are commonly used, the owner is usually not willing to sacrifice durability or aesthetic appearance.
The conventional tradeshow exhibit is a semi-permanent reusable display designed for long-term usage. These are generally custom fabricated, and are durable, allowing for frequent reuse. For transport, the displays must be broken down into numerous component parts, which are then crated for shipping. In a typical installation, such assemblies must be received at a proper loading dock and assembled by the exhibit site personnel. Frequently, only venue employees are allowed to unload and construct the exhibit display. This can dramatically increase the costs of setting up a large exhibit. Such costs are based upon the manpower required to unload and assemble the exhibit display and the time required for doing so Light, easily assembled panels minimize such costs.
There is a need for lightweight, custom designed, durable, aesthetic display systems that may be easily assembled and disassembled at exhibit trade shows. The present invention is directed toward meeting this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a modular wall panel construction in which one edge of a panel contains a plurality of tapered connector pins and the opposite edge has a plurality of tapered connector slots which in certain embodiments have a “diamond” or a “V” configuration. Two such panels may be interconnected by engagement of the connector pins of one panel with respective connector slots in the other panel. The pins/slots are shaped and sized so as to cooperate to draw adjacent panels together edgewise as the panels are interconnected. Secure coupling with fast assembly/disassembly is thereby achieved, without tools or detachable components.
Other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the following descriptions of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a panel of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a cross sectional view of the panel of
FIG. 1
taken along plane
2
—
2
and viewed in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 3
is a top plan view of the panel of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a left side elevational view of the panel of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
is an enlarged front elevational view of a connector pin of the panel of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 6
is an enlarged left side elevational view of a connector slot of the panel of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 7
is an enlarged front elevational view of the connector slot of FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
is an enlarged front elevational view of a locator pin of the panel of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 9
is an enlarged left side elevational view of a locator slot of the panel of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 10
is an enlarged front elevational view of the locator slot of FIG.
9
.
FIG. 11
is an enlarged elevational view of the connector slot of
FIG. 6
in which the connector pin of
FIG. 5
is received in the locked position.
FIG. 12
is an elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing connection between adjacent display panels.
FIG. 13
is a perspective view of another embodiment of a panel of the present invention.
FIG. 14
is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a male adapter plate for use with the panel of FIG.
13
.
FIG. 15
is a side elevational view of the male adapter plate of FIG.
14
.
FIG. 16
is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a female adapter plate for use with the panel of FIG.
13
.
FIG. 17
is a side elevational view of the female adapter plate of FIG.
15
.
FIG. 18
is an alternative embodiment of the connector slot of the left side of the panel of
FIG. 1
or the female adapter plate of FIG.
16
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
The present invention provides a modular panel wall system having individual wall panels that are light enough to be handled by a single person. The panels are approximately one half the thickness of conventional
4
″ thick panels, which saves space during shipping. Even so, the panels of the present invention are rigid, aesthetic and durable. Furthermore, the modular wall panels of the present invention include a system for interconnecting adjacent panels that does not require any tools or separate parts to effect the connection.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, there is illustrated an embodiment of a wall panel of the present invention, indicated generally at
10
. Each of the panels
10
has a frame formed from vertical support members
12
and horizontal support members
14
. Both the vertical support members
12
and the horizontal support members
14
are formed from aluminum. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical support members
12
are formed from substantially square aluminum tubing having dimensions of 2″×2″. Also in a preferred embodiment, the horizontal support members
14
are formed from 2″×3″ aluminum U-channel members. The horizontal cross members
14
are affixed to the vertical support members
12
by any convenient means, such as by welding. The use of aluminum in the frame construction of the modular panel
10
results in a modular panel that is light and thin, yet strong and rigid. The horizontal support members
14
are formed from U-channel material rather than from full tubes in order to further decrease the weight of the finished unit and facilitate their use as wire channels for carrying electrical wires associated with the display. The placement of the horizontal support members
14
is illustrated in the cross sectional view of FIG.
2
. The configuration of the vertical support members
12
is more clearly illustrated in the plan view of FIG.
3
.
The right side of each modular wall panel
10
is provided with two tapered pins
16
, specifically, ball connector pins, located near the upper and lower ends thereof. Furthermore, a locator pin
18
is coupled to the right side of the wall panel
10
substantially in the middle of the right hand vertical support member
12
. Referring to
FIG. 4
, each wall panel
10
further includes two connector slots
20
formed in the left hand vertical support member
12
thereof at generally the same vertical locations as the ball connector pins
16
. A locator slot
22
is formed in the left hand vertical support member
12
at the same vertical location as the locator pin
18
. As described in greater detail hereinbelow, and as illustrated generally in
FIG. 12
, the ball connector pins
16
are designed to fit in locking engagement with the connector slots
20
of an adjacent wall panel
10
. In a typical case where adjacent panels are designed to rest directly on a level surface, the nominal position of a given pin is offset vertically from the center of a corresponding slot in order to facilitate such locking engagement when the panels are interconnected. Likewise, the locator pins
18
are designed to engage the locator slot
22
of an adjacent wall panel
10
, although the locator pin does not fit in locking engagement with the locator slot. The use of the pins and complementary slots in the embodiment of the present invention allows for adjacent wall panels
10
to be coupled to one another without the use of any tools and without requiring separate parts which may become separated from the wall panels
10
. Furthermore, the connector pin/connector slot arrangement of the present invention allows for extremely quick assembly and disassembly of the exhibit display, dramatically reducing the costs associated with these operations.
With reference to
FIGS. 5-7
and
11
, the ball connector pin
16
and connector slot
20
engagement is illustrated in greater detail. The ball connector pin
16
is preferably formed from an aluminum spherical ball
24
and an aluminum spacer
26
that is generally disk shaped. One side of spacer
26
is flat to engage vertical support member
12
and the other side is concave to engage and mate with the surface of the spherical ball
24
. The ball
24
and spacer
26
each have a central bore
28
therethrough to receive and accommodate an alien head machine screw
30
that extends diametrically through the ball
24
and through the center of the spacer
26
. Ball connector pin
16
is joined to the vertical support member
12
by allen head machine screw
30
threadingly engaging a threaded insert
32
that is held in the vertical support member
12
by an interference fit with a mounting hole
34
formed for this purpose. The largest exterior dimension of the ball connector pin
16
is the diameter of the spherical ball
24
. The thickness of spacer
26
along the axis of the pin is about equal to the wall thickness of the vertical support member
12
having connector slot
20
.
The connector slot
20
is a tapered slot, specifically, a diamond-shaped slot, comprised of combined upper and lower triangular openings
36
joined at their bases and each defined by a pair of substantially straight side walls
40
,
42
and
44
,
46
, respectively, that converge toward oppositely extending upper and lower apexes
48
,
50
. The center width of the diamond slot
20
is chosen to be larger than the diameter of the spherical ball
24
of the ball connector pin
16
. The ball connector pin
16
may be inserted through the center region of the diamond connector slot
20
until the spherical ball connector pin
16
lies substantially within the vertical support member
12
. At this point the ball connector pin
16
may be slid toward the upper or lower apexes
48
,
50
wherein the spherical ball
24
of connector pin
16
is thereby locked within the connector slot
20
. If, for example, the pin in a first panel is nominally positioned below the center of its corresponding slot in an adjacent panel, the first panel is raised to allow insertion of the pin into the slot of the adjacent panel and the first panel is then lowered whereby the pin slides toward the lower apex
50
. Because the diameter of the spherical ball
24
of the ball connector pin
16
is larger than the converging width of the slot
20
toward the apexes
48
,
50
, the ball connector pin
16
is prevented from exiting the connector slot
20
when it is arranged at either the upper or lower portion of slot
20
. Thus, the two adjacent wall panels
10
are effectively locked together once the ball connector pin
16
has been properly inserted into the connector slot
20
.
FIG. 11
shows the position of the spherical ball
24
relative to connector slot
20
in the unlocked position (phantom lines) and the locked position (solid lines).
The spherical surface of ball
24
, adjacent spacer
26
, that faces vertical support member
12
diverges therefrom to form a cam surface that can engage the converging side walls
40
,
42
or
44
,
46
of connector slot
20
and draw adjacent panels
10
together as connector pin
16
is moved toward one apex
48
or the other apex
50
of slot
20
. Conversely, the spherical surface of ball
24
, adjacent spacer
26
, that faces vertical support member
12
can be said to taper toward support member
12
. The spherically curved surface of ball
24
interacting with the V-shape of one end of slot
20
causes a variable taper or wedging action that allows for easy initial alignment and engagement of the connector pin
16
and connector slot
20
, followed by a tight wedging action to hold adjacent panels
10
together. The angle of divergence of the spherical surface of ball
24
relative to vertical support member
12
decreases in the direction toward support member
12
, causing an increase in the wedging force against the side walls
40
,
42
or
44
,
46
.
Provision of mating ball connector pins
16
/connector slots
20
near the top and bottom of each modular wall panel
10
insures the panels
10
will be rigidly coupled together. Because both the ball connector pin
16
and the connector slot
20
are formed from similar aluminum materials, there is little if any appreciable wear on either member, virtually insuring the connector system of the present invention will outlast the useful life of the modular wall panel
10
.
As best illustrated in
FIGS. 8-10
, the locator pin
18
is formed from a generally cylindrical member
52
which is attached to the vertical support member
12
by an alien head machine screw
54
. The screw
54
threadingly engages a threaded insert
56
which is maintained in the vertical support member
12
by an interference fit with a mounting hole
58
formed therein for this purpose. The locator pin
18
has a constant diameter in a first portion
60
from its root through substantially about one half of its entire length, followed by a frusto-conical portion
62
that converges toward the free end of pin
18
. Furthermore, the locator slot
22
has substantially the same width throughout its entire length. The width of the locator slot
22
is chosen to be slightly larger than the width of the cylindrical portion
60
of the locator pin
18
. Therefore, the engagement of the locator pin
18
with the locator slot
22
does not result in any locking engagement between adjacent wall panels
10
. Rather, the locator pin
18
/locator slot
22
combination is provided merely as an alignment guide which facilitates the proper mating of the two ball connector pins
16
with their respective connector slots
20
.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the use of the specially shaped ball connector pin
16
and the connector slot
20
having a diamond shape allows for assembly and disassembly of adjacent wall panels
10
. For example, once the wall panels
40
are assembled, disassembly of the panels requires that one panel be raised vertically relative to its adjacent neighbor so that the ball connector pins
16
may be aligned with the wide center portion of the diamond connector slots
20
and removed therefrom.
As an alternative construction of panel
10
, another embodiment is formed from the same frame construction as the first embodiment wall panel
10
, and further includes the same ball connector pin
16
/connector slot
20
and locator pin
18
/locator slot
22
configuration. However, the spaces between adjacent horizontal support members
14
in the wall panel
10
are filled with 2″ thick cellulose foam material. The sections of foam are sized to substantially completely fill the space within the frame of the modular panel
10
, with the exception that the U-channels within the horizontal support members
14
remain unfilled. Both sides of the modular panel
10
are then covered with a decorative laminate material, such as plastic laminate commonly known in the art and manufactured by Formica®, Wilsonart®, etc. The outer laminate is coupled to the foam and/or frame of the modular panel
10
by any convenient means, such as a spray adhesive.
Because of the low density and high strength of the cellulose foam material, its addition to the structure of the modular panel
10
adds essentially no weight to the finished structure, however, it is very effective in providing rigidity to the entire structure. The foam material is especially useful in preventing deformation of the laminate material when subjected to forces perpendicular to its surface. Optionally, an elongate hole may be cut entirely through the modular panel
10
in order to provide a convenient hand hold for carrying the modular panel
10
. Because the modular panel
10
is light enough to be carried with one hand, the positioning of the hole substantially in the center of the modular panel
10
facilitates lifting and carrying of the panel. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the hole will not be seen in the final constructed exhibit display if graphics or other materials are mounted onto the modular panel
10
, as is usually the case.
Referring now to
FIGS. 13-17
, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the present invention that is particularly suited for adapting a typical wood panel to utilize the ball connector pin and diamond connector slot arrangement discussed above with respect to panel
10
.
FIG. 13
shows a typical nominal 1″×4″(¾″×3 ⅝″ actual dimensions) wood frame member
70
that would comprise one vertical support member of a typical wood panel. Such a panel can be adapted to incorporate the present invention by routing the face of the wood frame member
70
to form a recessed channel
72
preferably about 2″ wide, ⅛″ deep, and the height of the panel. A male adapter plate
74
or a female adapter plate
76
, either having a length substantially the same as the height of the panel, can be received and affixed within the recessed channel
72
so that the adapter plate
74
or
76
is flush with the original surface of frame member
70
. To effect this, the recessed channel
72
is routed to a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the adapter plate
74
or
76
.
With particular reference to
FIGS. 14-15
, a ⅛″×2″ male adapter plate
74
is shown. Connector pins
16
a
and locator pin
18
a
are affixed to adapter plate
74
in the same manner and in the same locations that connector pins
16
and
18
are affixed to vertical support member
12
as described above. In their configuration and construction, and manner of attachment to adapter plate
74
, connector pins
16
a
and locator pin
18
a
are substantially identical to the previously described connector pins
16
and locator pin
18
.
Referring now to
FIGS. 16-17
, a ⅛″×2″ female adapter plate
76
is shown. Connector slots
20
a
and locator slot
22
a
are formed in adapter plate
76
in the same manner and in the same locations that connector slots
20
and locator slot
22
are formed in vertical support member
12
as described above. In their configuration and construction, connector slots
20
a
and locator slot
22
a
are substantially identical to the previously described connector slots
20
and locator slot
22
in vertical support member
12
. Referring again to
FIG. 13
, because female, adapter plate
76
is backed by wood frame member
70
, recesses
78
are routed in the channel
72
of frame member
70
and aligned with connector slots
20
a
and locator slot
22
a
to provide clearance for the connector pins
16
a
and locator pin
18
a
to be received through female adapter plate
76
.
As shown in
FIG. 18
, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown that can be made substantially identical to any of the previously described embodiments except that the connector slots
20
b
are V-shaped at only one end, the opposite end of the slot being any shape that permits the ball connector pin
16
to pass through. The V-shaped end of the connector slot can be oriented upwardly or downwardly. If the V-shaped end of slot
20
b
is oriented downwardly as shown in
FIG. 18
, wherein the V-shaped end appears as an upright “V”, then the panel having the male connector pins
16
a
should be lifted relative to the other panel, the pins should be passed through the connector slots, and the panel with the connector pins
16
a
should be lowered to lock the panels together. If the V-shaped end of slot
20
b
is oriented upwardly, then the panel having the female connector slots
20
b
must be lifted relative to the other panel, the pins passed through the connector slots
20
b
, and the first panel with the connector slots
20
b
should be lowered to lock the panels together.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
Claims
- 1. A modular wall panel, comprising:a panel frame having first and second vertical support members; a plurality of connector pins coupled to the first vertical support member and extending from said panel frame substantially horizontally, each of the connector pins having a convex substantially spherical surface spaced from, facing, and diverging from said panel frame; a plurality of connector slots formed in the second vertical support member, each of the connector slots having a V-shaped portion, having a wide region of sufficient width to receive the connector pin therethrough, and converging to a width in said V-shaped portion sufficiently narrow to retain the connector pin therein; a locator pin coupled to the first vertical support member and extending substantially horizontally, the locator pin having a diameter; and a locator slot formed in the second vertical support member, the locator slot having a width that is larger than the diameter of the locator pin; wherein adjacent modular wall panels may be releasably coupled by vertically raising one panel with respect to the other panel until the connector pins of one of the panels are aligned with the wide region of the corresponding connector slots of the other of the panels, moving the panels toward each other and then vertically lowering the one panel to substantially a level of the other panel such that each of the connector pins is disposed within the V-shaped portion of the corresponding connector slot; and wherein the locator pin includes a first cylindrical portion and further comprises a machine screw extending longitudinally through the first cylindrical portion and threadingly engaging the first vertical support member, thereby coupling the locator pin to the first vertical support member.
- 2. A modular wall panel, comprising:a panel frame having first and second vertical support members; a plurality of connector pins coupled to the first vertical support member and extending from said panel frame substantially horizontally, each of the connector pins having a convex substantially spherical surface spaced from, facing, and diverging from said panel frame; and a plurality of connector slots formed in the second vertical support member, each of the connector slots having a V-shaped portion, having a wide region of sufficient width to receive the connector pin therethrough, and converging to a width in said V-shaped portion sufficiently narrow to retain the connector pin therein; wherein adjacent modular wall panels may be releasably coupled by vertically raising one panel with respect to the other panel until the connector pins of one of the panels are aligned with the wide region of the corresponding connector slots of the other of the panels, moving the panels toward each other and then vertically lowering the one panel to substantially a level of the other panel such that each of the connector pins is disposed within the V-shaped portion of the corresponding connector slot; and wherein each of the connector slots is diamond-shaped.
- 3. The modular wall panel of claim 2, further comprising:a locator pin coupled to the first vertical support member and extending substantially horizontally, the locator pin having a diameter; and a locator slot formed in the second vertical support member, the locator slot having a width that is larger than the diameter of the locator pin.
- 4. The modular wall panel of claim 2, wherein each of the connector pins comprise:a spacer having a diameter; and a sphere having a diameter greater than the diameter of the spacer.
- 5. The modular wall panel of claim 2, wherein the panel frame includes horizontal support members formed from U-shaped channel material.
- 6. The modular wall panel of claim 2, wherein each vertical support member includes a wood frame member and a plate affixed thereto, said plate of said second vertical support member having a plurality of diamond-shaped slots formed therein.
- 7. A modular wall panel, comprising:a panel frame having first and second vertical support members; a plurality of connector pins coupled to the first vertical support member and extending from said panel frame substantially horizontally, each of the connector pins having a convex substantially spherical surface spaced from, facing, and diverging from said panel frame; a plurality of connector slots formed in the second vertical support member, each of the connector slots having a V-shaped portion, having a wide region of sufficient width to receive the connector pin therethrough, and converging to a width in said V-shaped portion sufficiently narrow to retain the connector pin therein; a spacer having a diameter; and a sphere having a diameter greater than the diamter of the spacer; wherein adjacent modular wall panels may be releasably coupled by vertically raising one panel with respect to the other panel until the connector pins of one of the panels are aligned with the wide region of the corresponding connector slots of the other of the panels, moving the panels toward each other and then vertically lowering the one panel to substantially a level of the other panel such that each of the connector pins is disposed within the V-shaped portion of the corresponding connector slot; and wherein each of the connector pins further comprises a machine screw extending longitudinally through the spacer and sphere and threadingly engaging the first vertical support member, thereby coupling the connector pin to the first vertical support member.
- 8. A modular wall panel, comprising:a panel frame having first and second vertical support members; a plurality of connector pins coupled to the first vertical support member and extending from said panel frame substantially horizontally, each of the connector pins having a convex substantially spherical surface spaced from, facing, and diverging from said panel frame; and a plurality of connector slots formed in the second vertical support member, each of the connector slots having a V-shaped portion, having a wide region of sufficient width to receive the connector pin therethrough, and converging to a width in said V-shaped portion sufficiently narrow to retain the connector pin therein; wherein adjacent modular wall panels may be releasably coupled by vertically raising one panel with respect to the other panel until the connector pins of one of the panels are aligned with the wide region of the corresponding connector slots of the other of the panels, moving the panels toward each other and then vertically lowering the one panel to substantially a level of the other panel such that each of the connector pins is disposed within the V-shaped portion of the corresponding connector slot; and wherein the first and second vertical support members are formed from substantially square tubing.
- 9. The modular wall panel of claim 8, further comprising:a locator pin coupled to the first vertical support member and extending substantially horizontally, the locator pin having a diameter; and a locator slot formed in the second vertical support member, the locator slot having a width that is larger than the diameter of the locator pin.
- 10. The modular wall panel of claim 8, wherein the panel frame includes horizontal support members formed from U-shaped channel material.
- 11. The modular wall panel of claim 8, wherein each of the connector pins comprise:a spacer having a diameter; and a sphere having a diameter greater than the diameter of the spacer.
- 12. A modular wall panel, comprising:a panel frame having first and second vertical support members; and cooperating means including a taper for drawing adjacent panels toward each other, said means including a plurality of connector pins coupled to the first vertical support member and extending from said panel frame substantially horizontally; and a plurality of diamond-shaped connector slots formed in the second vertical support member; wherein adjacent wall panels may be releasably coupled by vertically raising one panel with respect to the other panel until the connector pins of one of the panels are aligned with the corresponding connector slots of the other of the panels, moving the panels toward each other and then vertically lowering the one panel to substantially a level of the other panel such that each of the connector pins is retained by the corresponding connector slot.
- 13. The modular wall panel of claim 12, wherein the connector pins of the cooperating means have a convex substantially spherical surface spaced from, facing, and diverging from said panel frame.
- 14. The modular wall panel of claim 12, wherein the connector pins of the cooperating means have a convex substantially spherical surface spaced from, facing and tapering toward said panel frame.
- 15. A modular wall panel, comprising:a panel frame having first and second vertical support members formed from substantially square tubing; and cooperating means including a taper for drawing adjacent panels toward each other, said means including a plurality of connector pins coupled to the first vertical support member and extending from said panel frame substantially horizontally; and a plurality of connector slots formed in the second vertical support member; wherein adjacent modular wall panels may be releasably coupled by vertically raising one panel with respect to the other panel until the connector pins of one of the panels are aligned with the corresponding connector slots of the other of the panels, moving the panels toward each other and then vertically lowering the one panel to substantially a level of the other panel such that each of the connector pins is retained by the corresponding connector slot; wherein the connector slots of the cooperating means have a V-shape having a wide region of sufficient width to receive the connector pin therethrough, and converging to a width sufficiently narrow to retain the connector pin therein.
- 16. The modular wall panel of claim 15, wherein the connector slots are diamond-shaped.
- 17. The modular wall panel of claim 15, wherein the connector pins of the cooperating means have a convex substantially spherical surface spaced from, facing, and diverging from said panel frame.
- 18. The modular wall panel of claim 15, wherein the connector pins of the cooperating means have a convex substantially spherical surface spaced from, facing and tapering toward said panel frame.
US Referenced Citations (23)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1137278 |
May 1957 |
FR |
6158754 |
Jun 1994 |
JP |