Profiles for use with panel elements and the like and partitions emploing such profiles

Abstract

A partition including a panel element with a front face and a rear face separated by a dimension termed thickness. The front and the rear surfaces are delineated at least in part by an edge of the panel element. The partition further includes a profile with a ridge deployed substantially in abutment with the edge of the panel element, a substantially planar attachment surface integrally formed with the ridge and extending therefrom so as to be adjacent to the rear face, the attachment surface attached to the panel element, and a substantially planar flange surface integrally formed with the ridge and extending therefrom substantially parallel to the attachment surface and in a direction primarily away from the panel element so as to form a flange extending for at least about 1 cm beyond the edge of the panel element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A partition comprising: 
 (i) a panel element having a front face and a rear face separated by a dimension termed thickness, said front and said rear surfaces being delineated at least in part by an edge of said panel element; and    (ii) a profile having: 
 (i) a ridge deployed substantially in abutment with said edge of said panel element,  
 (ii) a substantially planar attachment surface integrally formed with said ridge and extending therefrom so as to be adjacent to said rear face, said attachment surface being attached to said panel element, and  
 (iii) a substantially planar flange surface integrally formed with said ridge and extending therefrom substantially parallel to said attachment surface and in a direction primarily away from said panel element so as to form a flange extending for at least about 1 cm beyond said edge of said panel element.  
   
     
     
         2 . The partition of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially planar flange surface forms a flange extending for at least about 2 cm beyond said edge of said panel element.  
     
     
         3 . The partition of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially planar flange surface forms a flange extending for at least about 4 cm beyond said edge of said panel element.  
     
     
         4 . The partition of  claim 1 , wherein said profile further includes an end wall integrally formed with said flange surface and extending substantially perpendicular thereto.  
     
     
         5 . The partition of  claim 4 , wherein said profile further includes a second substantially planar flange surface, a second ridge, and a second substantially planar attachment surface, connected to said end wall and configured for receiving an additional panel element substantially parallel to said panel element.  
     
     
         6 . The partition of  claim 1 , wherein said profile further includes a second substantially planar flange surface, a second ridge, and a second substantially planar attachment surface, configured for attachment to an additional panel element deployed non-parallel to said panel element, said planar flange surfaces being integrally formed so as to define a corner portion.  
     
     
         7 . The partition of  claim 6 , wherein said profile is referred to as said first profile and has an extensional direction, the partition further comprising a second profile configured for engaging said first profile and extending therefrom in a direction substantially perpendicular to said extensional direction.  
     
     
         8 . The partition of  claim 1 , wherein said profile has a closed form.  
     
     
         9 . A profile for use together with at least one panel element of a given thickness to form a partition, the profile comprising: 
 (i) a ridge for abutting the edge of the panel element;    (ii) a substantially planar attachment surface integrally formed with said ridge and extending therefrom so as to be adjacent to a rear face of the panel element for attachment thereto; and    (iii) a substantially planar flange surface integrally formed with said ridge and extending therefrom substantially parallel to said attachment surface and in a direction primarily away from said attachment surface so as to form a flange extending for at least about 1 cm beyond the edge of the panel element when in use.    
     
     
         10 . The profile of  claim 9 , wherein said substantially planar flange surface forms a flange extending for at least about 2 cm beyond said edge of the panel element.  
     
     
         11 . The profile of  claim 9 , wherein said substantially planar flange surface forms a flange extending for at least about 4 cm beyond said edge of the panel element.  
     
     
         12 . The profile of  claim 9 , further comprising an end wall integrally formed with said flange surface and extending substantially perpendicular thereto.  
     
     
         13 . The profile of  claim 12 , further comprising a second substantially planar flange surface, a second ridge, and a second substantially planar attachment surface, connected to said end wall and configured for receiving an additional panel element substantially parallel to the first panel element.  
     
     
         14 . The profile of  claim 9 , further comprising a second substantially planar flange surface, a second ridge, and a second substantially planar attachment surface, configured for attachment to an additional panel element deployed non-parallel to the first panel element, said planar flange surfaces being integrally formed so as to define a corner portion.  
     
     
         15 . The profile of  claim 9 , wherein said profile has a closed form.