Panel/room divider system

Abstract

A jointing assembly for a panel screen or room divider system comprising a first frame member ( 10 ) with a longitudinally extending recess ( 16 ) having a narrow slot ( 17 ), wherein a tenon-piece ( 14 ) is received. The tenon-piece engages with a slot-like recess ( 19 ) formed in a second frame member ( 12 ). The screen or room-divider further comprises at least one panel member ( 40 ) having a flange on its edge, which is slidably engageable within a recess ( 24 ) of the second frame member ( 12 ). The screen or room-divider comprises at least two vertical frame members ( 10, 80 ) each provided with recesses formed therein and at least two linking members ( 87 ) with flanges shaped to fit within the recesses. The end surfaces of the linking members are inclined tending to produce a wedging action when positioned end to end.

1 . A jointing assembly for a panel screen or room divider system, the jointing assembly comprising a first frame member ( 10 ) having formed therein a longitudinally extending recess ( 16 ) having a relatively wide transverse portion communicating with the exterior of the frame member ( 10 ) through a relatively narrow slot ( 17 ); and a tenon-piece ( 14 ) comprising a base portion ( 22 ) so shaped as to be a close sliding fit in the transverse portion of the recess ( 16 ) in the first frame member ( 10 ); characterised in that the tenon piece ( 14 ) comprises a tenon which projects from the base portion ( 22 ) of the tenon-piece ( 14 ) through the relatively narrow slot ( 17 ) formed in the first frame member ( 10 ) when the base portion ( 22 ) is received in the transverse portion of the recess ( 16 ) formed therein; the tenon ( 20 ) being relatively narrow in a direction transverse to the slot formed in the first frame member and relatively wide in a direction parallel to the said slot ( 16 ) and being engageable with a slot-like recess ( 26 ) formed in a second frame member ( 12 ) to secure the second frame member to the first frame member.  
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the first frame member ( 10 ) is provided with at least one lip ( 18 ) projecting therefrom and extending parallel to the narrow slot ( 17 ) which forms part of the longitudinally-extending recess ( 16 ) formed therein; the lip ( 18 ) being engageable with the second frame member ( 12 ), in use, to prevent transverse or rotational movement thereof relative to the first frame member ( 10 ).  
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 1  or  2  in which the first frame member ( 10 ) is provided with two or more such longitudinally extending recesses ( 16 ) so that it is engageable with a corresponding number of tenon-pieces ( 14 ), the tenons ( 20 ) of which project from the first frame member ( 10 ) in different directions.  
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the first frame member ( 10 ) is provided with a channel for receiving a cable or cables.  
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the first frame member ( 10 ) is formed of extruded aluminium.  
     
     
         6 . A screen or room-divider comprising a jointing assembly according to any preceding claim.  
     
     
         7 . A screen or room-divider comprising at least one panel member ( 40 ) having a flange ( 45 ) formed along an edge thereof and slidably engageable within a longitudinally extending recess of a frame member; the screen or room-divider being characterised in that the flange ( 45 ) extends along the whole of the length of said edge of the panel member ( 40 ) so that, when engaged in the recess ( 16 ) it forms a continuous mechanical joint between the panel ( 40 ) and said frame member ( 10 ).  
     
     
         8 . A screen or room-divider according to  claim 6  and further comprising at least one panel member ( 40 ) having a flange ( 45 ) formed along an edge thereof and slidably engageable within the longitudinally extending recess ( 16 ) of the first frame member ( 10 ).  
     
     
         9 . A screen or room divider according to  claim 7  or  8  wherein the panel ( 40 ) comprises a panel core ( 42 ) having an edge member ( 44 ) secured along an edge of the core ( 42 ), the flange ( 45 ) being carried by the edge member ( 44 ).  
     
     
         10 . A screen or room divider according to  claim 9  in which the edge member ( 54 ) is provided with a barbed portion ( 56 ), the barbed portion ( 56 ) engaging in a slot ( 53 ) formed along a peripheral edge of the panel core ( 52 ) to secure the edge member ( 54 ) thereto.  
     
     
         11 . A screen or room divider according to  claim 7  or  8  wherein the panel ( 40 ) is formed by moulding and the flange ( 45 ) is formed integrally therewith.  
     
     
         12 . A screen or room divider according to  claim 9  or  10  wherein the panel ( 40 ) is provided with edge members ( 44 ) extending around the whole periphery of the panel so as to form a continuous frame around the panel ( 40 ).  
     
     
         13 . A screen or room divider according to any of  claims 6  to  12  including at least one spacer member locatable within the longitudinally-extending recess ( 16 ) formed in a first frame member ( 10 ) to space said second frame members ( 12 ) and/or said panels ( 40 ) from one another along the length of the first frame member ( 10 ).  
     
     
         14 . A screen or room divider according to any of  claims 6  to  12  further comprising at least one linking member ( 85 ) engageable in the longitudinally extending recess ( 16 ) formed in the first frame member ( 10 ) and having means for engagement in the longitudinally extending recess of a further similar first frame member ( 10 ) to secure said two first frame members ( 10 ) together.  
     
     
         15 . A screen or room divider according to any of  claims 6  to  14  comprising at least two vertical frame members ( 10 ) each provided with a longitudinally extending keyhole cross-section recess ( 16 ) formed therein and at least two linking members ( 87 ) each having a pair of opposed flanges so shaped as to fit within the keyhole cross-section recesses ( 16 ) of the frame members when positioned adjacent one another to link one to the other; the end surfaces of the linking members ( 87 ) being inclined so that when two linking members ( 87 ) are positioned end to end within the longitudinally extending recesses of the frame members they tend to produce a wedging action and, hence, a firm joint between the adjacent frame members.  
     
     
         16 . A screen or room divider comprising at least two vertical frame members ( 10 ) each provided with a longitudinally extending keyhole cross-section recess ( 16 ) formed therein and at least two linking members ( 87 ) each having a pair of opposed flanges so shaped as to fit within the keyhole cross-section recesses ( 16 ) of the frame members ( 10 ) when positioned adjacent one another to link one to the other; the screen or room-divider being characterised in that the end surfaces of the linking members ( 87 ) are inclined so that when two linking members ( 87 ) are positioned end to end within the longitudinally extending recesses ( 16 ) of the frame members ( 10 ) they tend to produce a wedging action and, hence, a firm joint between the adjacent frame members.  
     
     
         17 . A screen or room-divider according to  claim 15  or  16  in which the frame members ( 10 ) are provided with means for securing end caps for closing the open ends of the longitudinally extending recesses ( 16 ) formed therein and, hence, to encourage the wedging together of the at least two linking members ( 87 ).  
     
     
         18 . A screen or room divider according to  claim 17  in which the end caps are secured to the frame members by means of a screw thread so that as the end caps are screwed onto the frame members ( 10 ) they act on the linking members ( 87 ) to wedge them together.