Movable screen assembly

Abstract

A movable screen assembly is disclosed, the screen assembly having three panels with top, bottom and side frame members. At each corner of each panel is a corner connector and adjacent corner connectors are attached by a joining element. Each corner connector includes a post, a slot and a geometric region around each post. The joining element includes two end portions, each with a different geometry. One end portion is received by the slot and allows rotation around a post. The other end portion is received by another slot and does not allow rotation around a post. Each corner connector includes a base and a cover. All bases are identical but covers vary as a function of whether a caster is attached to the corner connector or whether a joining element is connected.

1 . A movable screen assembly comprising: 
 at least two panels, each of said panels having a top, a bottom and two side portions;    a horizontal frame member connected to each of said panel top and bottom portions;    a vertical frame member connected to each of said panel side portions;    at least two corner connectors, each corner connector being connected to a respective one of said two panels, and each connector corner including two spaced apart posts with each post being surrounded by a congruent geometric region; and    a joining element connected to said two connector corners, said joining element having two end portions, each of said end portions including an opening to receive a respective one of said two posts of a corner connector, one end portion having a first geometric edge shape and the other of said end portions having a second and different geometric edge shape wherein one corner connector of said two corner connectors is in a fixed position relative to said joining element and the other of said two corner connectors is pivotal about an axis coincident with a longitudinal axis of one of said two posts thereby allowing movement relative to the fixed position corner connector.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 each of said corner connectors includes a wall spaced partially around each of said two posts; one end portion of said two end portions of said joining element includes an edge to abut said wall around one of said two posts and the other end portion of said two end portions of said joining element is movable along said wall around the other of said two posts.  
 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein: 
 said other of said two corner connectors is pivotal along an arc of about 135 degrees.  
 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein: 
 said other of said two corner connectors is movable from a parallel alignment with said one of said two corner connectors to a position being separated by an obtuse angle.  
 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein: 
 each of said two corner connectors has a curved outer surface.  
 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 each of said two corner connectors includes a base and a cover.  
 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein: 
 said two spaced apart posts of each of said corner connectors extend from said cover and are received within openings within said base.  
 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  wherein: 
 each of said bases include a slot bordered by a back wall.  
 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  wherein: 
 each slot and back wall are disposed around post receiving openings in said base; and  
 one end portion of said two end portions of said joining element includes an edge to abut said back wall and be constrained thereby and the other end portion of said two end portions is movable along said back wall.  
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein: 
 said other of said two corner connectors is pivotal through an arc of about 135 degrees.  
 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 each of said corner connectors include passages for receiving horizontal and vertical frame members.  
 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein: 
 each of said corner connectors includes fastener receiving openings for allowing said horizontal and vertical frame members to be restrained.  
 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein: 
 at least one of said at least two corner connectors includes an opening for receiving a stem of a caster.  
 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein: 
 each of said corner connectors includes a wall spaced partially around each of said two posts; and  
 one end portion of said two end portions of said joining element includes an edge to abut said wall around one of said two posts and the other end portion of said two end portions is movable along said wall around the other of said two posts.  
 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein: 
 said other of said two corner connectors is pivotal along an arc of about 135 degrees.  
 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein: 
 said other of said two corner connectors is movable from a parallel alignment with said one of said two corner connectors to a position being separated by an obtuse angle.  
 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16  wherein: 
 each of said two corner connectors includes a base and a cover.  
 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  wherein: 
 said two spaced apart posts of each of said corner connectors extend from said cover and are received within openings within said base.