Partition trim with insert

Abstract

A partition includes a top edge and vertical end edges covered by trim pieces. One or more of the trim pieces include an elongated base member made of durable material, such as metal, with side flanges defining a longitudinal channel. A strip insert is positioned in the channel where it is protected by the side flanges. When both top and end edges of a partition are covered, the end of one protrudes across an end of the other, with the side flanges of the protruding portion being radiused to prevent formation of a sharp corner. The insert can be aesthetic, such as wood, brushed metal, painted sheet, plastic, or light-transmissive glass or plastic, or the insert can be functional, such as tackable material, erasable markerboard material, a light-transmissive “light-pipe” material, or a mating “U” channel defining a hidden passageway on the base member for wire management.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A partition system comprising: 
 a partition having a top edge and vertical end edges; and    a trim piece attached to at least one of the top edge and end edges, the trim piece including an elongated base member with side flanges defining a channel running longitudinally along said at least one edge, and an insert positioned in the channel.    
     
     
         2 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert is protected by the side flanges.  
     
     
         3 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the base member is made of a structural material that is highly durable and scratch-resistant, and wherein the insert is made of a softer material subject to objectional wear and damage.  
     
     
         4 . The partition system defined in  claim 3 , wherein the base member is made of metal and the insert is made of non-metallic material.  
     
     
         5 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises wood.  
     
     
         6 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a plastic strip.  
     
     
         7 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a light-transmitting material.  
     
     
         8 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert has an exterior show surface treated, shaped and colored separate from the base member for visual aesthetics.  
     
     
         9 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a material selected to provide a function.  
     
     
         10 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the channel has a limited depth and a width that extends substantially an entire width of the top edge of partition, and wherein the insert fills the channel.  
     
     
         11 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the trim piece is attached to the top edge of the partition, and the insert includes an upwardly-exposed visible surface.  
     
     
         12 . The partition system defined in  claim 11 , wherein the top surface of the insert is coplanar with top edges of the side flanges on the base member.  
     
     
         13 . The partition system defined in  claim 11 , including a second trim piece on one of the end edges having a substantially similar cross section to the first-mentioned trim piece.  
     
     
         14 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert has a width that is about equal to a width of the partition.  
     
     
         15 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert has a non-rectangular cross section and is shaped to provide a function.  
     
     
         16 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the base member is made of a material that is substantially harder than the insert.  
     
     
         17 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the base member includes an interior surface opposite the insert, and including connectors engaging the interior surface for retaining the base member to the partition.  
     
     
         18 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the side flanges include rounded corners that extend around centerpoints lying on the side flanges, respectively.  
     
     
         19 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert is attached to the base attachment by adhesive.  
     
     
         20 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insert is attached to the base attachment mechanically.  
     
     
         21 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , including a second partition and a second trim piece attached to the second partition, the first-mentioned and second top trim pieces each having ends coming together to form a linearly aligned joint, the first-mentioned and second top trim pieces each having a body section and a pair of protruding flanges, the second top trim piece additionally having a pair of locators shaped to engage the pair of protruding flanges on the first-mentioned trim piece, with engagement of the pair of locators on the pair of protruding flanges causing alignment of the body sections in a vertical direction on both front and rear edges of the first-mentioned and second top trim pieces, and with engagement of at least one of the locators on one of the pair of free ends causing alignment in a horizontal forward/rearward direction perpendicular to the faces of the partitions.  
     
     
         22 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , including a second trim piece attached to another one of the top and end edges, the first-mentioned and second trim pieces each defining longitudinal passageways open into each other and that communicate.  
     
     
         23 . The partition system defined in  claim 22 , wherein the first-mentioned and second trim pieces are attached to the top and end edges of the partition, respectively, and form a corner of the partition, the first-mentioned and second trim pieces forming outwardly-open channels that extend around the corner.  
     
     
         24 . The partition system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the base member and the insert are made from different materials.  
     
     
         25 . A trim system for a partition, comprising: 
 an elongated base member having opposing first and second surfaces, connectors on the first surface configured and adapted for releasable attachment to a partition frame, and spaced-apart flanges on the second surface defining at least one longitudinal channel extending along the second surface; and    an elongated insert shaped to fit in the channel in a visible position where the insert is at least partially protected by the flanges.    
     
     
         26 . The trim system defined in  claim 25 , wherein the elongated insert has an exposed surface subject to objectionable damage and wear when in an exposed position in a work environment, the insert being shaped to fit within the channel in a position where the exposed surface of the insert is protected by the flanges.  
     
     
         27 . The trim system defined in  claim 26 , wherein the channel defines a depth, and the insert includes an exposed surface that is at or below a top of the channel.  
     
     
         28 . In a partition system including a partition having front and rear faces and having top and end surfaces, and a top trim piece and an end trim piece covering the top and end surfaces, respectively, an improvement comprising: 
 the top and end trim pieces each having ends forming a corner, the top trim piece having at least one top flange that extends upwardly and terminates in a first free edge, and the end trim piece having at least one side flange that extends laterally and terminates in a second free edge, at least one of the top flanges and one of the end flanges having outer surfaces being coplanar with each other and defining a vertical plane that extends parallel the front face; one of the top and end flanges having a protruding portion that extends onto the end of the other of the top and end flanges at the corner, the protruding portion being radiused at the corner about a centerpoint lying on the plane, such that a continuous surface is formed around the corner by a length of the top flange, by a length of the end flange, and by a radiused part of the protruding portion.    
     
     
         29 . In a partition system including first and second partitions each having a face and having aligned first and second top surfaces, and including a trim system having first and second top trim pieces aesthetically covering the first and second top surfaces, respectively, and that are also aligned, an improvement in the trim system comprising: 
 the first and second top trim pieces each having ends coming together to form a linearly aligned joint, the first and second top trim pieces each having a body section and a pair of protruding flanges, the second top trim piece additionally having a pair of locators shaped to engage the pair of protruding flanges on the first trim piece, with engagement of the pair of locators on the pair of protruding flanges causing alignment of the body sections in a vertical direction on both front and rear edges of the first and second top trim pieces, and with engagement of at least one of the locators on one of the pair of free ends causing alignment in a horizontal forward/rearward direction perpendicular to the faces of the first and second partitions.    
     
     
         30 . The partition system defined in  claim 29 , wherein the locators engage free ends of the protruding flanges on the first trim piece.  
     
     
         31 . The partition system defined in  claim 29 , wherein the locators also are configured to and do engage to set longitudinal spacing of the first and second top trim pieces.  
     
     
         32 . The partition system defined in  claim 29 , wherein the first and second trim pieces each include an outwardly facing recess.  
     
     
         33 . The partition system defined in  claim 32 , wherein the outwardly facing recess on each of the first and second trim pieces align to form a continuous recess along the first and second partitions.  
     
     
         34 . In a partition system including a partition having opposing faces and having a top surface and a vertical end surface forming a corner, and including a trim system having top and end trim pieces aesthetically covering the top and end surfaces, respectively, an improvement in the trim system comprising: 
 the top and end trim pieces each having ends coming together to form a corner joint, the top and end trim pieces each having a body section and a pair of flanges with free ends that extend perpendicularly to the body section toward an interior of the partition;    the pair of flanges on the top trim piece being located to avoid interference with the pair of flanges on the end trim piece, but being located to closely engage end surfaces therewith so that the two pairs of flanges overlappingly engage and accurately locate the top and end trim pieces in a direction perpendicular to the faces of the partition, such that the top and end trim pieces are accurately aligned in the perpendicular direction and with the faces of the partition at the corner joint;    the pair of flanges on the top trim piece being cut short and being shaped to engage an undersurface on the body section of the end trim piece, and the pair of flanges on the end trim piece being cut short and shaped to engage an undersurface on the body section of the top trim piece, such that outer surfaces of the top and end trim pieces form an accurate corner without excessive overlap or extension of either of the top and end trim pieces, whereby sharp and undesirable protruding edges and misalignment of the top and end trim pieces are eliminated at the corner joint.    
     
     
         35 . The partition system defined in  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the top and end trim pieces defines an outwardly facing recess shaped to receive an insert.  
     
     
         36 . The partition system defined in  claim 35 , wherein the top and end trim components both define an outwardly facing recess.