| US 7,565,772 B2 | ||
| Knock-down portable partition system | ||
| Michael L. Waalkes, East Grand Rapids, Mich. (US); Marcus K. Pressnell, Athens, Ala. (US); Mark T. Slager, Caledonia, Mich. (US); Michael R. Shields, Greensboro, N.C. (US); Brian J. Kane, San Francisco, Calif. (US); Robin Christopher, Athens, Ala. (US); Dennis J. Boyle, Palo Alto, Calif. (US); Charles A. Seiber, Belmont, Calif. (US); Peter N. Skillman, San Carlos, Calif. (US); Joseph Chang, Grand Rapids, Mich. (US); and Richard S. Hand, Grand Rapids, Mich. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Steelcase, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 27, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/44,843. | ||
| Application 09/558753 is a division of application No. 09/060913, filed on Apr. 15, 1998, granted, now 6,098,358. | ||
| Application 11/044843 is a continuation of application No. 10/179607, filed on Jun. 25, 2002, granted, now 6,910,306. | ||
| Application 10/179607 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/829028, filed on Apr. 09, 2001, granted, now 6,442,909. | ||
| Application 09/829028 is a continuation of application No. 09/407520, filed on Sep. 28, 1999, granted, now 6,301,846. | ||
| Application 09/407520 is a continuation in part of application No. 08/914664, filed on Aug. 19, 1997, granted, now 6,009,675. | ||
| Application 09/407520 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/243915, filed on Feb. 03, 1999, granted, now 6,079,173. | ||
| Application 09/243915 is a continuation in part of application No. 08/856995, filed on May 15, 1997, granted, now 5,899,035. | ||
| Application 09/243915 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/044843, filed on Jan. 27, 2005. | ||
| Application 11/044843 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/827153, filed on Apr. 05, 2001, granted, now 6,546,684. | ||
| Application 09/827153 is a continuation of application No. 09/558753, filed on Apr. 21, 2000, granted, now 6,276,103. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/033884, filed on Dec. 24, 1996. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0144855 A1, Jul. 07, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. E04C 2/52 (2006.01); E04F 19/00 (2006.01); E04B 2/74 (2006.01); E04H 1/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 52—36.1 [52/238.1; 52/239; 52/36.4; 52/36.5; 52/36.6; 52/27; 52/220.2] | 20 Claims |
| 1. A partition, comprising:
a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart upright posts having vertical front, rear and side faces, and including a vertical
row of openings through the front and rear faces for supporting hang-on accessory units;
vertically spaced-apart upper and lower beams extending between the posts and defining an internal space;
first threadless quick connectors interconnecting the posts and beams to form a partition frame defining front and rear faces;
a first utility support member extending horizontally between the posts above the upper beam for routing utility lines along
an upper portion of the partition;
a second utility support member extending horizontally between the posts, the second utility support member positioned between
the upper and lower beams;
second threadless quick connectors interconnecting the posts and the first and second utility support members;
wherein at least one of the first and second threadless quick connectors includes a movable member that slidably engages the
posts and a selected one of the upper and lower beams and the first and second utility support members;
a plurality of cover panels overlying at least a portion of the posts and beams so as to substantially cover the front and
rear faces of the partition frame and closing off the internal space;
at least one power line extending through the internal space; and
at least one electrical power receptacle positioned vertically adjacent the second utility support member wherein the power
receptacle is electrically connected to the power line and faces outwardly to provide an external electrical power outlet.
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