19)
`United States Patent
`{it} Patent Number:
`4,493,174
`Arens
`45) Date of Patent:
`Jan. 15, 1985
`
`
`[54] DISMOUNTABLE ROOM PARTITION
`7
`[75]
`Inventor: Robert A, Arens, Candia, N.H.
`[73] Assignee: Artafax Systems Limited, Inc.,
`Manchester, N.H.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 385,681
`.
`[22] Filed:
`Jun, 7, 1982
`[$1]
`Int. C1) wesasasssoveavenvecesvesancsavensvene FO4H 1/00
`
`[82] US. C1, eececcerereteeneenenrcnetie 52/243; 52/221;
`[58] Field of Search
`50/090,98anom31
`52/727160/135, 351; 4287100
`[56]
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
` .. 32/243 X
`
`3,513,606
`571970 Jones...
`+ 32/483
`
`3,571,999
`3/1971 Downing
`174/48
`
`3,856,981 12/1974 Boundy ......
`
`ees
`ee io acneS *
`
`: 52/DIG. BX
`4,028,8855
`6/1977 PrSeef
`sssseesanunenene 52/71
`"£OT337 9/1977 Bergstrom
`
`
`
`we 160/351
`4,068,700
`1/1978 Legler.....
`4,090,335 5/1978 Curatolo onsen 52/DI1G. 13 X
`
`4,118,903 10/1978 Coulthard occ 52/36
`
`4,134,564
`1/1979 Hanna...
`248/243
`
`2/1981 Presby ........
`4,250,676
`. $2/222
`4,373,570 2/1983 Nussdorfetal. .....
`.. 160/352
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1031531 10/1975 Canada essences 20/22.1
`
`so
`1032723
`5/1976 Canada..
`
`7300610 12/1974 Sweden .....
`632034 9/1982 Switzerland .
`Primary Examiner—Car) D. Friedman
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Hayes, Davis & Soloway
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A knock-down room divider construction comprises a
`series of separate posts and panels which are mutually
`releasably engageable. Each post comprises a rigid core
`member covered on its outer surface with a fastening
`fabric which is complementary to a second fastening
`fabric on the vertical edge of a panel section. By having
`the panels and supporting posts as separateunits, a ligh-
`ter constructionis possible and there is a greater flexibil-
`ity in geometry and arrangement of the room partition.
`17 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
`
`
`
`PRIORART_00000209
`
`Petitioner Chanel, Inc. Exhibit 1013
`Page 1
`
`Petitioner Chanel, Inc. Exhibit 1013
`Page 1
`
`

`

`‘USS. Patent — Jan. 15, 1985
`
`4,493,174
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PRIORART_00000210
`
`Petitioner Chanel, Inc. Exhibit 1013
`Page 2
`
`Petitioner Chanel, Inc. Exhibit 1013
`Page 2
`
`

`

`1
`
`4,493,174
`
`DISMOUNTABLE ROOMPARTITION
`
`2
`DESCRIPTION
`With reference to FIG. 1 illustrated is a series of
`INTRODUCTION
`panels 13 supported byaseries of posts 11 and 12, While
`the posts are preferable circular so as to permit unlim-
`This invention is concerned with a dismountable or
`ited geometry in the placement ofthe panels thereabout
`temporary room partition or divider as may be used to
`as is shown by post 12 other shapes can be used such as
`make booths for a trade show,to divide workstations in
`hexagonal or the square shape shown for post 11. These
`an office or to provide temporary surfaces for displays
`posts can terminate as of at with means for spacing the
`such as an art exhibition. In brief compass this invention
`posts from the wall or floor although they can, of
`provides a room divider consisting of the basic elements
`course, rest directly on the floor. If desired, the posts
`ofa post and panel several of which are in combination
`can have a plate or like member16 affixed to the bottom
`to be self-standing. Alternately, the posts may be fitted
`to set off or define room space as desired. The post and
`top and bottom with bolts 40, springs or the like for
`panel are mutually engageable along elongated edges
`pressure fitting between the floor and ceiling as shown
`thereof. When used in series a post in the central portion
`in FIG. 5.
`ofthe series will support two or more panels. The panel
`Panels 13 can be of any desired construction. If only
`comprises a major surface which may be curvilinear or
`visual blocking is required, then they can be ofa light-
`flat and covered on its intended vertical edge with a
`weight foam plastic. They can have more substance by
`first fastening fabric. The post consists of an elongated
`being laminated such as to be able to support the attach-
`member covered on its outer surface with a second
`ment of surface mountings thereon suchas is illustrated
`fastening fabric complementary to the first fastening
`at 15. Quite often it is desired that the panels should be
`fabric and mutually releasably engageable therewith.
`of sound-deadening material such as an epoxyfiberglass
`This permits the panel to be temporarily adhered to the
`composite or laminate. The construction of such panels
`post and then to be readily detached to take apart the
`is known and any oneof the several types commercially
`partition when desired.
`available can be used in the practice of this invention.
`PRIOR ART
`Whatis required is that the elongated edge of the panel
`must be capable of accepting a fastening fabric which
`mates in a releasable engageable manner with the com-
`plementary fabric on the surfaces of the posts 11 and 12.
`With reference to FIG. 2 a post covered with a fabric
`is indicated generally at 21. In the broken away portion
`of the figure can be seen the fabric covering 22 disposed
`about the outer surface of a core member 23. The core
`member may be of any suitable rigid material such as
`extruded aluminum or vinyl pipe. Wood would also be
`satisfactory. The fabric is preferably an elastic fabric in
`the form of a sleeve which is drawn tightly over the
`core member 23 with sufficient length being left so as to
`be able to turn the ends into the inside of the core mem-
`ber as is illustrated. While fabric 22 can be adhesively
`secured to the core member, normaily this is not neces-
`sary if the fabric is stretched tightly over the core mem-
`ber and secured at the ends.
`One wayof securing the fabric at the ends of the core
`memberis to insert a plug 24 with the force fit so as to
`securely hold the turned in ends of fabric sleeve 22.
`Optimally, plug 24 can be glued in place or held with a
`mechanical fastener. Fabric sleeve 22 can be formed in
`any suitable manner. It can be knit as such as from a
`double-knit synthetic felt fabric in the manner of mak-
`ing a sock orit can be stitched from a flat sheet of nylon
`pile or the like.
`Fabric 22 may also comprise one of a pair of mutually
`engageable and releasable fastening fabrics such as
`those identified as Velcro fabrics.
`Plug 24 can have an extension of 25 to space the post
`from the floor. This can be integral with the plug or can
`be a screwed on attachment.
`If the core 23 is hollow,it can also be used to supply
`services such as wiring. Asillustrated, an electric line 27
`is carried through the core and exits at an open 26 pro-
`vided in the wail 23 of the core. Opening 26 could be
`provided with a suitable receptacle 42 as shown in FIG.
`6.
`
`“ao
`
`ntA
`
`The most pertinent references knownto the inventor
`at present are Canadian Pat. No. 1,031,531 issued May
`23, 1978 in the name of Torsten Bergstrom and assigned
`to Formfac International AB, Sweden and Canadian
`Pat. No. 1,032,723 issued June 13, 1978 in the name of
`George Legler and assigned to Precision Manufactur-
`ing Inc.—Fabrication Precision Inc. of Canada.
`These patents disclose room partition panels held
`togehter at their ends by complementary fastening tapes
`on each vertical edge. However, the end post-vertical
`fastening surfaces are integral with the panels and not
`separate as in the present invention. The panels are
`necessarily therefor of heavier, more expensive con-
`struction and as one end of a panel must be provided
`with a male fastening fabric and the other with a female
`fastening fabric a great deal of flexibility is lost in the
`employment of the panels.
`DRAWINGS
`
`40
`
`The single sheet of drawing consisting of four figures
`attached hereto illustrate the major aspects of the pres-
`ent invention.
`In the Drawing:
`FIG.1 illustrates a series of panels and posts of this
`invention as may be used to define a corner within a
`larger open room area;
`FIG.2 is an illustration, in part broken away, of one
`form of post member that can be used in the practice of
`this invention;
`FIG.3 is an illustration of one form of a panel mem-
`ber which can be used in the practice of this invention;
`and
`FIG.4 is a view of a portion of a sheet used to form
`the panel member of FIG.3.
`FIG.5 is an illustration of another form of post mem-
`ber that can be used in the practice ofthis invention; and
`FIG.6 is an illustration similar to FIG. 2 ofstill an-
`other form of post member in accordance with this
`invention.
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`FIG.3 illustrates a panel construction which is pre-
`ferred because ofits simplicity of manufacture. It con-
`sists of two sheets of suitable material 31 and 32, the line
`
`PRIORART_00000211
`
`Petitioner Chanel, Inc. Exhibit 1013
`Page 3
`
`Petitioner Chanel, Inc. Exhibit 1013
`Page 3
`
`

`

`of separation between the two which is visible to the
`eyes being shown at 33. On the elongated edge of the
`panel usually the one intended to be vertically placed,
`there is attached a strip of fabric 34 as by means of
`staples 35 or by an adhesive. Fabric 34 is of one of a pair
`of mutually engageable and releasable fastening fabrics,
`e.g. a so-called Velcro fabric.
`One of the sheets 31 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4
`without the fabric 34 being attached thereto. Usually
`the outer surfaces of sheets 31 and 32 will be covered
`with a fabric for the sake of appearance as well as per-
`haps for structural strength. Such a fabric is shown at
`33. It has been found that it is easier from a manufactur-
`ing standpoint to use two sheets as is shown in FIG.3 to
`support the fabric 33 and to turn the fabric around the
`edge of the sheet as is shown at 32 and terminate it
`there, fastening it to the sheet by means of a suitable
`adhesive ortape. This is easier than attempting to cover
`a single panel and to attempt to do a smooth job of
`concealing the fabric edges.
`Fabrics 22 and 34 are complementary and will mutu-
`ally engage each other. Thus it can be seen that all that
`is necessary in order to put the posts and the panels in
`place is to bring the twointo firm contact allowing the
`fabrics to engage. With the Velcro-type of fastener, one
`of the fabrics will comprise the looped female portion of
`the fabric and the other will comprise the hooked male
`portion. Alternatively, a single Velcro-type fabric of
`the “male” or “hook” type can be used as fabric strip 34,
`for engaging with fabric 22 formed of a pile or felt
`fabric.
`The panels of course may be placed in any position on
`the post so that their upswing from the floor can be
`readily set and/or permitting one panel to be secured at
`a height differentfrom its neighbors for aesthetic rea-
`sons. While full panels are shown, the panels can be
`sectioned horizontally, for example, with two or more
`panels being required to make any one wall section.
`It is also within the scope of the present invention to
`connect panel 13 to a wall, bookcase or a piece of furni-
`ture, the latter being provided with a complementary
`fastening fabric type for engaging with fabric 34. Also,
`if desired, fixtures such as picture hooks, shelves or the
`like may be provided with a complementary fastening
`fabric tape for engaging with fabric 22 or with fabric 34
`so as to permit mounting of the fixtures on a panel or
`post. Still other changes will be obvious to one skilled in
`the art.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A divider construction comprising a post and a
`panel mutually releasably engageable along elongated
`edges thereof;
`said panel comprising a major surface having an elon-
`gated edge covered at least in part with a first
`hooked. fiber fabric, and
`said post comprising a rigid elongated core member
`comprising a hollow tube, said member firmly cov-
`ered on its outer surface with a looped fiber fabric
`complementary to said hooked fiber fabric and
`mutually releasably engageable therewith, said
`
`3
`
`ok9
`
`i ta
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`33
`
`40
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`45
`
`50
`
`53
`
`60
`
`4,493,174
`
`4
`loopedfiber fabric comprising an elastic pile or felt
`fabric sleeve pulled over said core and firmly af-
`fixed to the ends of said core by means of the ends
`of said sleeve being turned into the ends of the core
`and secured with end plugs.
`2. The construction of claim 1 wherein said panei is
`curved and is of a lightweight foamed plastic.
`3. The construction of claim 1 wherein said panel is
`flat and is of a sound insulating material.
`4. The construction of claim 3 wherein said panei is
`fabric covered and is capable of accepting surface
`mountings thereon.
`5. The construction of claim 1 wherein said post and
`panel are part of a series, the panels of which are to be
`placed vertically and each of which panels is covered at
`least in part with said hookedfiber fabric along a major
`portion of the length of both of the intended vertical
`edges thereof.
`6. The construction of claim 1 wherein said post is
`square in cross section.
`7. The construction of claim 1 wherein said post is
`circular in cross section.
`8. The construction of claim 1 wherein said looped
`fiber fabric comprises a double knit synthetic felt fabric,
`and said hooked fiber fabric comprises a Velcro-type
`hooked fibric.
`9. The construction of claim 1, wherein said end plugs
`include. means. for positioning said core relative to a
`floor.
`10. The construction of claim 1 wherein said panel
`has extended flat fabric covered surfaces on either sides
`and consists of two aligned sheets affixed one to the
`other on one of the major surfaces of each sheet, the
`fabric covering on each ofsaid sheets extending around
`the edges thereof and terminating, said hooked fiber
`fabric affixed on at least one edge of said panel and
`covering at least in part the line of separation between
`said sheets.
`11. The support of claim 1, wherein said sleeve com-
`prises a hooked fiber fabric.
`12. A support comprising an elongated member com-
`prising a hollow tube, said membertightly covered with
`a sleeve of an elastic pile or felt fabric affixed at the end
`of said elongated member by means of end plugs engag-
`ing and holding the ends ofsaid sleeve turned into the
`ends of said member, said pile or felt fabric being one
`member of a pair of complementary fabrics mutually
`releasably engageable.
`13. A support according to claim 12, wherein said
`hollow tube is square in cross-section.
`i4. A support according to claim 12, wherein said
`hollow tube is circular in cross-section.
`15. The support of claim 12, wherein said sleeve com-
`prises a looped fiber fabric.
`16. The construction of claim 1, wherein said end
`plugs are forcefitted in the ends of said core.
`17. The support of claim 12, wherein said end pings
`are force fitted in the ends ofsaid hollow tube.
`*
`=
`*
`*
`*
`
`65
`
`PRIORART_00000212
`
`Petitioner Chanel, Inc. Exhibit 1013
`Page 4
`
`Petitioner Chanel, Inc. Exhibit 1013
`Page 4
`
`