US3039569A - Partition construction - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1962 J. A. BOHNSACK PARTITION CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 8, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fa/777 f7. af/sac/ ATTORNEYS June 19, 1962 J. A. BoHNsAcK PARTITION CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1956 INVENTOR/ f/727 )4. M/Uac BYCFA-M Edna-L 1- CLT-L ATTORNEYS June 19, 1962 1 A, BOHNSACK 3,039,569

PARTITION CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1956 F|e.|2 #2 Fiana- 2 160 160 l //f Il 154/; ,162

mm ,jfl m 15a ATTORNEYS June 19, 1962 .1. A` BoHNsAcK 3,039,569

PARTITION CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 8, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Flam- 3,4 ii i l L If l N V EN TOR. Jain EM/)sack BYSMM ,I

CPU-L ATTORNEYS United States Patent O Filed Allg. 8, 1956, Ser. No. 602,793 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) The present invention relates to a partition wall construction.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a partition Wall construction which can be utilized in lieu of a conventional plaster wall construction and which has the fundamental advantage over the plaster Wall construction in that it can be readily disassembled `and then reassembled -at another location or in another area, as required.

Another object is the provision of a partition wall construction which can be readily assembled at the installation site with a minimum amount of effort and requires a minimum amount of fabrication to be performed at the installation site.

Another object is the provision of a partition wall construction utilizing panel units which can be shipped cornpletely assembled from the factory and which are reversible end for end for use at the installation site.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best modes presently contemplated of carrying out the invention:

FIG. l is a view in elevation illustrating a partition wall construction utilizing the partition assembly units of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation, similar to FIG. l, and on enlarged scale, taken along a joint between adjoining partition assembly units, parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. l;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a corner construction formed by the partition assembly units of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the interlocking of a pair of partition panels which define a partition unit;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view illustrating a panel su-pport bracket and an associated structural member of the partition unit;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bafe support member utilized at the upper end of the panel units;

FIG. ll is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an aligning clip interposed in the joint between a pair of partition assembly units;

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a structural member used in connection with an end filler assembly;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary View similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates a modification at the joint between a pair of partition assemblies;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. l;

FIG. l5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG.y l;

3,039,569 Patented June 19, 1962 FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 16--16 of FIG. 1;and

FIG. l7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the connection of 4the door jamb or frame to the floor.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. l illustrates a partition wall construction 20 erected in accordance with the present invention on a -oor F and extending laterally from a structural wall W. As here shown, the partition wall 20 is constituted by a plurality of panel assembly units 22 each of which is completely assembled at the factory and shipped to the installation site ready for installation thereat. The wall construction 20 also includes an end filler assembly 24 erected at the installation site between the endmost panel assembly unit 22 and the structural wall W of the building in which the wall is being erected. The Wall also includes a door assembly 26 and a transom partition assembly 28 above the door assembly. As here shown, the partition wall construction 20 extends above a dropped ceiling 30, provision being made for -a sound proofing battle 33 interposed between the upper end of the panel wall construction and the structural ceiling 35 of the building in which the partition wall construction 20 is being erected. All the component parts of the partition wall construction 20 are formed preferably of low carbon steel or other suitable material.

Each panel assembly unit 22 is constituted by a pair of complementary panels or panel members 32 and 32 which are interlocked at their opposite ends and which are closed at the tops and bottoms thereof. As best seen in FIGS. 2-5, 8 and ll, each panel 32 is constituted by a sheet member which is crimped or bent back along each. of its longitudinal end portions, as at 34, and is then bent outwardly to form Ia transversely extending portion 36 the end of which is retlexed as at 38. Consequently, it will be Iapparent that along each side end thereof each panel 32 is provided with a longitudinally extending end portion 36, said end portions 36 being interconnected by a side Wall 40. When a pair of panels 32 are assembled to form a panel `assembly unit 22, the rellexed portions 38 at the opposite ends of each panel 32 are in abutment with the corresponding rellexed portions 38 of the opposing panel so that the panel assembly unit is provided with opposing side Wall 40--40 and the opposing end walls of each panel assembly unit is constituted by the inturned portions 36 of each panel 3'2 paired and aligned with the similar inturned portions on the opposing panel 32.

Provision is made to lock the opposing pairs of panels 32 so that the walls 49 thereof are maintained in opposition, forming the side walls of the panel assembly unit 22, and the end wall portions 36 are also maintained in opposition so that the end wall portions 36 of each panel 32 are paired and locked with the similar inturned end portions 36 of the associated panel 32 to form an end wall 42 for each panel assembly unit 22 so as to provide the latter with a pair of opposing side walls 40-40 `:and a pair of opposing end walls 42-42. Each panel 32 is provided at the inner surface of the end wall portion 36 thereof with at least a pair of locking members 44 spaced longitudinally thereof. As here shown, each locking member 44 is substantially H-slraped in formation and has a transverse dimension which exceeds the width of the associated end wall portion 36. More specifically, and as best shown in FIG. 3, each locking element 44 is suitably secured, preferably by spot welding, to the inner surface of the end wall portion 36, in abutment with the associated side wall 40, so that the vertically extending portion 46 of each locking member 44, which is remote from the associated side wall 40, projects beyond the `associated reilexed end 38 of the end wall portion 36. The opposing free ends 48-48 of the vertical por- 3 tion 46 are curled or bent upwardly, as best shown in FIG. 8.

In `order to interlock two panels 32, a pair of such panels are disposed in opposition, `as illustrated in FIG. 8, being offset longitudinally in the direction of the end portions 36 thereof. The panels are then moved toward each other in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows 49 and 50, so that the curled locking parts 48 thereof interlock as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this connection, it will be noted that the associated or companion locking parts 44 of paired end portions 36 of a paired set of panels 32 are offset laterally of each other as illustrated in FIG. 3. The space between a pair of interlocked panels 32-32 is filled with suitable sound insulating material, such as, for example yand not by way of limitation, rock wool or the like, as indicated at 54.

In order to complete the panel assembly unit 22, provision is made for a pair of channel members 'S6- 56 to form the upper and lower walls of the panel assembly unit. As previously indicated, the opposite ends of the panel assembly unit are closed by the interlocked end portions 36-36 which form the opposite end walls of the panel assembly unit and the top and bottom of the assembly unit are closed by the channel members 56-56 which form the upper and lower walls thereof. Each channel member 56 is inserted in position between the opposing side walls 40 of the panel members 32-32 as best illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower channel member being suitably secured, as by spot welding, at the bottoms of said wall, and the upper channel members 56 being similarly secured at the upper ends of said walls. Consequently, it will be apparent that the channel members 56-56 close the panel assembly unit 22 at the top and bottom thereof. It will be noted that when the channel members are secured in position the webs 58-58 thereof are in opposition and the opposing flanges 64I-60 thereof extend in a direction outwardly of the panel assembly unit 22. Each flange terminates in an inwardly directed portion 62. The web 58 of each channel member 56 is notched at each end thereof, as at 64, to provide a passageway for wires or cables through the hollow panel assembly 22. In addition, each inturned flange 62 is notched, as at 66, adjacent each end thereof, the purpose of which will presently appear.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that each panel assembly unit 22 is exactly the same at both the top and bottom thereof, as well as at each end thereof, so that each assembly unit is completely reversible top for bottom, or end for end, whereby to greatly simplify the use or assembly thereof in the wall partition construction 20, as well as to greatly increase the vers-atility thereof.

The partition wall construction also includes a base assembly 68 which extends laterally from end of the door 26, as will be apparent from FIG. 1. The base assembly 68 comprises a channel shaped base securing rnember 70 and a pair of base closure mem-bers 72-72. The base securing member 70 is constituted by a channel member having a web 74 which is secured to the floor F by suitable securing means, as by the nails 76. Pursuant to an important feature of the present invention, the upwardly directed opposing flanges 78-78 of the channel member 70 are toed inwardly of the web 74. For example, and not by way of limitation, each ilange 78 may be toed inwardly from vertical disposition thereof, viewing FIG. 3, by about five to seven degrees. Each base closure or side member 72 is constituted by an elongated member which is crimped or inwardly turned at the upper edge thereof, as at 80, and at the lower edge thereof is also crimped, as at 82, and then is looped and downwardly directed, as at 84, so as to define an integral clip 86. The channel member 70 has greater rigidity than the side members 72 so that when the latter are clipped onto the toed in flanges 78, as illustrated in FIG. 3, there results an inwardly directed or twisting force in each of the side members 72, as hereinafter described in detail.

Pursuant to an important aspect of the present invention, provision is made to vertically plumb or align each panel assembly unit 22. In this connection, provision is made in the base assembly 68 for a pair of mounting brackets or vertically adjustable support members 81 for each panel assembly unit 22. Each bracket 81 is an integral member having a pair of opposing side walls 83-83 which flare upwardly from a bottom wall 85, an end wall 88 extending upwardly from the bottom Wall 85 and between the side walls 83. The bottom wall is provided with a tapped opening 90 for a threaded bolt 92. The end wall 88 is provided with a cut-out 94 to allow the passage therethrough of wires, cables, etc. At the free or upper end thereof, each `side wall 83 is bent laterally outwardly, as at 96, and upwardly, as at 98, to dene a ledge or shoulder 100. In order to mount the support brackets 8-1, provision is made for the plates 102 which are received within the base channel 70, being disposed on the web thereof, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Said plates 102 are apertured, as at 104, to receive the lower end of a bolt 92 which is threadedly engaged in the tapped apertures 90 of the bracket 81, it being understood that the bolts are free to rotate in the apertures 104 in the plates 102. Where the plates 102 are used at the joint between a pair of panel assembly units 22, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each plate 102 will have a pair of apertures 104 to accommodate the bolts of the adjacent brackets 81.

In order to assemble the brackets and the panel assembly unit, the shoulders of each bracket are first passed through the notches or cut-out 66 provided in the channel member 56, at the bottom of the panel assembly, until the shoulders clear the flanges `62, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the bracket then being urged inwardly of the notched end 66 of the companion channel member 56 so that the .shoulders 100 are engaged on the inturned edges 62. With a bracket `81 provided at each end of a panel assembly unit 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be apparent that by rotation of the bolt 92 by any convenient means, the panel at the associated end thereofm-ay be raised or lowered as required by the resultant raising or `lowering of the bracket 31. This is accomplished with at least one of the base closure members 72.removed from the base so that access may be had `to the panel bracket bolt.

In order to align adjacent panel assembly unit 2'2 at the joint therebetween, provision is made for the continuous alignment channel 106 which is inserted in the joint 108, between the pair of adjacent panel assembly units 22, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. In order to line up and stiften each joint provision is made for the members which are provided at the top of each joint 108 between a pair of adjoining panel assembly units (FIG. l0). As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a member 110 is mounted over the adjacent top corners of panel assembly units 22 at each joint 108, the members 110 each including a pair of opposing flanges 112-112 which overlie the opposing side walls 40-40 of each panel assembly unit at the upper corner thereof. In addition, the channel shaped members 110 are also provided with intermediate U-shaped seat defining portions 114, the function of which will presently appear.

As previously indicated, an end filler 24 is provided between each masonry wall W and the adjacent end of the adjacent panel assembly unit 22. The end ller assembly 24 comprises a channel shaped member 116 (FIG. 6) for securement to the masonry wall W, a clip carried by channel 118 for securement to the adjacent end of the endmost panel assembly unit 22 and a pair of closure panels 12d-120.

The channel member 116 extends substantially for the full height or Vertical dimension of the wall construction 20 and the web 122 thereof is suitably secured to the wall W, as by the securing elements 124. The member 116 is provided with the outwardly extending sides 126-126 which extend from the Web 122 and which are formed, at their free end thereof, into the integral clips 128-128. The vertical channel or post 118 also extends substantially for the full length or height of the wall construction and is secured to the adjacent end of the endmost panel assembly unit 212, as by the securing elements 130, which extend through the apertures 132 provided in the web 134 of the member 118 and which are threadedly engaged in the adjacent end wall of the adjacent panel assembly unit 22, as best illustrated in FIG. 6. The web 134 is also provided with the cut-outs 13S-138 for mounting a clip 140 on the channel member 118 which clips extend in a direction opposite the direction of extension of the side flanges 142-142 of the member 118.

Each panel 1'20 of the end filler assembly 24 is provided at one vertical end thereof with a formation 144 extending from a crimped-over portion 146, which formation is complementary to the clip 140. At the other end 147 thereof, the panel 120 is adapted for engagement in the integral clip 128 provided on the channel member 116, as hereinafter described in detail.

Provision is also made for a corner post panel assembly 150 (FIG. 7) where the partition wall construction 20 requires a corner to be formed therein. The corner post assembly 150 interconnects two panel assembly units 22 which are disposed at right angles to each other. The corner post assembly 150 comprises a pair of complementary rignt angle panels 152 and 154 each of which is formed at its longitudinal edges in exactly the same manner, as the previously described planar panels 40. In this connection, therefore, it will be noted that each of the right angular panels 152 and 154 is crimped, as at 34, and is provided with the end wall portion 36 between the crimped portion 34 and the reflexed portion 38 at the inner surface thereof, each end wall portion 38 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced locking elements 44, as previously described with connection to the planar panels 32, and it will be understood that the locking elements 44 of the adjacent end wall portions 36-36 of the right angular panels 152 and 154 interlock in the same manner, as previously described in connection with the planar panel 32-32. The corner post assembly 150 is closed at the top and the bottom thereof with a channel member 56, as previously described, which however is right angular in formation so as to conform to the assembly 158. A pair of panel support brackets 81 are utilized, as previously described, to support the corner post assembly 150 with the provision to plumb the latter. The elements 166 are utilized, as previously described, in the joint between each end of the corner panel assembly 150 and the adjacent planar panel assembly unit 22 to vertically align each end of the corner post assembly 150 and the adjacent planar panel assembly unit 22. Where the corner post assembly 150 is utilized the base members 68 are extended to enclose the assembly 150 at the bottom thereof, in the same manner as previously described, the adjacent ends of the angularly disposed base element 68 at each side of the corner post assembly being mitered as at 156.

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of partition construction showing a modified joint 108A formed between two panel assembly units so as to obviate the use of a separate vertical aligning member 186. As here shown, each panel assembly unit 22A is constituted by a pair of opposing panels 1611-160. Each panel 160 has a side wall portion 162, an end wall portion 164, at one end thereof, and an end wall portion 166, at the other end thereof. The end wall portion 164 is joined to the side wall 162 by a crimped portion 168 which lies within the plane of the side wall 162 and which extends substantially across the joint 108A, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The end wall portion 164 terminates at the free end CTI thereof in a reflexed tongue 169. At the other end thereof, the side wall 162 is interconnected with the end wall portion 166 by an inwardly offset crimped portion 170 and the free end wall portion 166 is reflexed as at 172. When a pair of panel assembly units 22A are joined to each other, as in FIG. 13, it will be noted that each crimped portion at the end of one assembly unit 22A is disposed inwardly of and abuts the crimped portion 168 of the adjacent panel assemb-ly 22A so that each joint 108A is constituted by a pair of crimped portions 168 which lie within the frame of the side walls 162 of the panel assembly units and are abutted at their inner surfaces by the shorted crimped portions 170. This provides for the automatic vertical alignment of adjacent panel assembly units at the joint 108A therebetween. in addition, it will be noted that each tongue 169 extends into the joint 108A between the opposing tongue 169 of the adjacent panel, with which it is in sliding abutment and the crimped portion 168 of the adjacent panel assembly unit. Therefore, it will be understood that each crimped portion 168 and associated tongue 169 and the end wall portion 166 extending therebetween forms a groove for the tongue 169 of the adjacent panel assembly unit 22A to provide in effect a tongue and groove connection between each panel assembly unit 22A and its adjacent panel at the joint therebetween. In View of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the construction of the joint 108A is such that in addition to vertically aligning adjacent panel assembly units 22A, it prevents the panel assembly units from moving out of the joint, and said joint cannot be pulled apart due to the tongue and groove arrangement thereof.

The door assembly 26 is of conventional construction and is illustrated and described herein only to the extent of showing its incorporation into the panel wall construction 20. The door assembly 26 comprises a door 180 which is mounted by a door frame or jarnb 182. The door jamb 182 comprises the opposing vertical door frame sections 184 and 186 which are interconnected at the upper ends thereof by a transom section 187 on which there is mounted the transom panel assembly 28. The transom panel assembly 28 is of the same construction as the panel assembly unit 22, the only difference being that the height or length thereof is shorter. As best seen in FIG. 16, the transom panel assembly 28 terminates at the bottom thereof in the previously described channel member 56 which is suitably secured between the opposing side walls 413-40 thereof. The head jamb 188, is of conventional construction, being provided with a door stop 198 and having the crimped portions 192-192 which terminate in the inwardly directed anges 194. It will be noted that the transom panel assembly 28 is mounted between the crimped portions 192, being suitably secured thereon, and rests upon the inturned flanges 194.

As best illustrated in FIG. 15, the opposite ends of the transom -panel assembly 28 are inwardly offset, as at 196-196. Each of the vertically extending jamb sections 184 and 186 is provided with a plurality of horizontal straps i198 at the interior thereof and the uppermost straps 198A extend upwardly of the associated jamb section into the transom panel 28, as best illustrated in FlGS. 1 and 15. In the transom panel a winged retained member 200 is suitably secured to the inwardly offset portions of opposing side walls 40--40, such as by spot welding and straps 198A are secured to member 200 as by screws 202. Members 280 are similarly secured to jambs 184 and 186 and straps 198 are secured thereto, as by screws 202. Consequently, it will be apparent that the strap 198A secured to a member 20() extends into the transom panel 28, as shown in FIG. l5. The opposite ends 196 of the transom panel assembly 28 are secured in position by being forced between each win-g 264 of the retainer member 20)l and the adjacent crimped portion 34 of the adjacent panel assembly unit 22, as illustrated in FIG. l5, whereby to secure the transom Z panel assembly 2S to the adjacent panel assembly unit 22 and to close the latter at the opposite ends thereof.

Each of the upright jambed sections 184 and 186 is secured in position at the lower end thereof by means of a floor clip 206 which is suitably secured to the floor, as by the securing element 238. The iloor clip is provided with upstanding wings 21u-21@ which extend into the upright jamb section 182 or 184 in the usual manner. The straps 1% function as spreader and serve as aligning devices between the door jamb and the adjacent panel assembly, as best illustrated in FIG. 14, it being noted that the adjacent panel assemblies are inserted into the adjacent door jamb sections 184 and 186 which are retained in spread condition for said reception by the spreader elements 19S.

In erecting the partition wall construction 20, the various panel assemblies are all completely fabricated at the factory and illed with rock wool, the transom panel 28 also being fabricated at the factory and filled with rock wool. The channel members 70 are first secured to the oor, it being noted that one channel member is provided on each side of the door assembly 26 and extends from the door to the filler assembly 24. The various panel assembly units 22 are then erected in position on their bracket supports 81, the joints between the panel assembly units being covered by the channel members 1'10. At the joint between each panel section, the continuous vertical alignment elements `106 are inserted to provide for the vertical alignment of the panel assembly units and the support brackets are vertically adjusted by means of the bolts 92 for plumbing the panel assembly units so that they are all level and at an even height. The door frame or jamb is erected, each of the vertical sections 184 and 186 thereof being mounted over a iloor clip 296 and receiving the adjacent end of the adjacent panel assembly unit 22, the transom assembly 28 being inserted into the head jamb 188 the opposite ends of the transom section being engaged with the adjacent ends of the adjacent panel assembly unit 22, as illustrated in FG. 15. The end iiller assemblies 24 are erected at each end of the wall construction 20, where required. The channel or anchoring member 116 is secured to the adjacent wall, and the post 118 is erected in opposition thereto, being secured to the adjacent end wall of the adjacent panel section. The side walls or panels 120 of the end filler panel assemblies are then cut to size, at the installation, the planar ends thereof being inserted into the clips into the channel member 116 and the walls then being urged inwardly to be engaged by the clip 140, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Thereafter, the base members 72 are installed, `being cut to size so as to extend from the door frame 182 to the opposite structural wall W so as to cover the bottoms of the various panel assembly units 22., as well as the end filler assembly 24, each base member 72 being engaged over the toed in flange 78 of the base panel ymember 76 and applying an inward force, at the upper end thereof, against the side walls of the various panel assemblies. A sound barrier of suitable material, for example and not by way of limitation, gypsum board, is mounted over the partition wall assembly 2i! being received in the seat portions 1,14 of the joint liners and stiffening members 11i), the barrier B extending from the seats of said members to the structural ceiling 35, as best illustrated in FIGS. l and 3. Thereafter, the assembly may be completed by securing angle members 212, as shown in FlG. 3, to the opposite sides of the partition wall construction 2t? and erecting a dropped ceiling C which is supported by said angle members.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that the only fabrication that is required at the installation site is the cutting of the end filler side members 12d to the required size, and the cutting of the `base side members 72 to the right size so that they will also extend over the end filler assembly 24. The finished construction will. provide a substantially rigid and neat appearing wall which may be readily disassembled, when required and re-erected at another installation site.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I `claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a partition wall construction having a plurality of wall panels forming a partition wall, a base assembly for said wall panels comprising a base member having a bottom and opposed upstanding ilanges extending longitudinally of the partition wall at opposite sides, respectively, of said wall below said panels and inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other, supporting means for said panels mounted on said bottom of the base member supporting the lower ends of the panels above said flanges, and longitudinally extending side members mounted on said flanges, respectively, and having upper portions extending upwardly beyond said panel supporting means and overlapping the lower marginal edge portions of said panels at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said inclined flanges of said base member engaging the lower marginal edge portions of said side members inwardly of said side members and resiliently holding said upper portions of said side members in engagement with said lower marginal edge portions of said panels.

2. ln a partition wall construction having a plurality of wall panels forming a partition wall, a base assembly for said wall panels comprising a base member having a bottom and opposed upstanding flanges extending longitudinally of the partition wall at opposite sides, respectively, of said wall below said panels and inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other, supports for said panels mounted on said bottom of the base member in longitudinally spaced relation and extending upwardly beyond said iianges for supporting the lower ends of said panels above said flanges, and longitudinally extending side members mounted on said anges, respectively, and having upper portions extending upwardly beyond said panel supports overlapping the lower marginal edge portions of said panels at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said side members having lower inverted U- portions in which said upwardly inclined ilanges of said base member are resiliently engaged, respectively, said upwardly inclined anges cooperating with said U-portions of said side members for resiliently holding said upper portions of said side members in engagement with said lower marginal edge portions of said panels.

3. In a partition wall construction having a plurality of wall panels forming a partition wall, a base assembly for said wall panels comprising a base member having a bottom and opposed upstanding flanges extending longitudinally of the partition Wall at opposite sides, respectively, of said wall below said panels and inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other, supports for said panels mounted on said bottom of the base member in longitudinally spaced relation and extending upwardly beyond said anges for supporting the lower ends of said panels above said flanges, and longitudinally extending side members mounted on said flanges, respectively, and having upper portions extending upwardly beyond said panel supports overlapping the lower marginal edge portions of said panels at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said side members having lower inverted U-portions in which said upwardly inclined flanges of said base member are resiliently engaged, respectively, said upwardly inclined flanges cooperating with said U- portions of said side members for resiliently holding said upper portions of said side members in engagement with said lower marginal edge portions of said panels, said side members, the bottom of said base member, and the lower ends of said panels dening a wiring space in the base assembly below said panels.

4. In a partition wall construction having a plurality of Wall panels forming a partition wall, a base assembly for said wall panels comprising a base member having a bottom and opposed upstanding ilanges extending longitudinally of the partition Wall at opposite sides, respectively, of said Wall below said panels and inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other, supporting means for said panels mounted on said bottom of the base member supporting the lower ends of the panels above said anges, and longitudinally extending side members mounted on said anges, respectively, and having upper portions extending upwardly beyond said panel supporting means and overlapping the lower marginal edge portions of said panels at the opposite sides, respectively, of the Wall, said inclined anges of said base member engaging the lower marginal edge portions of said side members inwardly of said side members and resiliently holding said upper portions of said side members in engagement with said lower marginal edge portions of said panels, each of said panels comprising laterally spaced confronting companion side walls which are reversely bent inwardly at their vertical ends, the inwardly bent part of each of the companion side walls of each unit having, in integral relation, a portion which lies parallel to the side of the side wall and a lateral portion which is spaced inwardly of the adjacent end of the side wall and extends to a point midway of the space between the companion side walls and is secured to the lateral portion of the reversely bent part of the companion side wall, and forms with said bent part of the companion side wall a vertical recess which confronts a similar recess in an adjacent panel section, there being a vertical extending aligning means disposed in said confronting recesses for aligning the panel sections with each other on said base, said vertically extending aligning means comprising a stud removably disposed in said confronting recesses and having a vertical web disposed transversely of said side walls for substantially the full thickness of the panel sections at their recessed ends and having ilanges extending from the opposite sides respectively of said web in said confronting recesses and engaging the adjacent parallel reversely bent portions, respectively, of said side walls of the adjacent panel sections.

5. In a partition wall construction having a plurality of wall panels forming 'a partition wall, a base assembly for -said wall panels comprising a base member having a bottom and opposed upstanding flanges extending longitudinally of the partition wall at opposite sides, respectively, of said wall below said panels and inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other, supports for said panels mounted on said bottom of the base member in longitudinally spaced relation and extending upwardly beyond said flanges for supporting Ithe lower ends of said panels above said flanges, and longitudinally extending side members mounted on said flanges, respectively, and having upper portions extending upwardly beyond said panel supports overlapping the lower marginal edge portions of said panels at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said side members having lower inverted U-portions in which said upwardly inclined anges of said base member are resiliently engaged, respectively, said upwardly inclined anges cooperating with said U-portions of said side members for resiliently holding said upper portions of said side members in engagement with said lower marginal edge portions of said panels, each of said panels comprising laterally spaced confronting companion side walls which are reversely bent inwardly `at their vertical ends, the inwardly bent part of each of the companion side panels of each unit having, in integral relation, a portion which lies parallel to the side of the wall and a lateral portion which is spaced inwardly of the adjacent end of the wall and extends to a point midway of the space between the companion walls and is secured to the lateral portion ofthe bent part of the companion Wall, and forms with said bent part of the companion wall a vertical recess which confronts a similar recess in an adjacent panel section, said lateral portion of the bent part terminating in a ange which abuts the corresponding flange on the lateral portion of the companion confronting side wall, and a vertical stud removably positioned in said vertical recess in releasable engagement with said parallel portions of the inwardly bent parts of said side walls of adjacent panel sections in said confronting recesses thereof for aligning adjacent unit panel sections with each other on said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,720 Siegmund Feb. 26, 1901 1,630,857 Meyercord May 31, 1927 2,001,574 Jacobson May 14, 1935 2,015,754 Koenig Oct. 1, 1935 2,097,697 Marks Nov. 2, 1937 2,143,288 Stolz Ian. 10, 1939 2,244,649 Carpenter et al. June 3, 1941 2,399,151 Tickle Apr. 23, 1946 2,664,182 Williams ,Dec. 29, 1953 2,678,116 Gruber -..May 11, 1954 2,766,488 Danielson Oct. 16, 1956 2,766,855 Johnson Oct. 16, 1956

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