Connector apparatus for wall panels

Abstract

Connector apparatus for wall panels are disclosed herein. An example room divider includes a first curtain, a second curtain spaced from the first curtain, and a connector to couple the first curtain and the second curtain. The connector includes a first flange, a second flange and a web, the web lying between the first flange and the second flange such that the first flange, the second flange and the web overlap each other. A first pocket is defined by the first flange and the web, where the first curtain extends into the first pocket between the first flange and the web. A second pocket is defined by the second flange and the web, where the second curtain extends into the second pocket between the second flange and the web. A fastener coupled to the connector, where the fastener penetrates the first curtain, the second curtain, the web, the first flange and the second flange.

1 . A room divider, comprising:
 a first curtain;   a second curtain spaced from the first curtain; and   a connector to couple the first curtain and the second curtain, the connector including:
 a first flange, a second flange and a web, the web lying between the first flange and the second flange such that the first flange, the second flange and the web overlap each other; 
 a first pocket defined by the first flange and the web, the first curtain to extend into the first pocket between the first flange and the web; 
 a second pocket defined by the second flange and the web, the second curtain to extend into the second pocket between the second flange and the web; and 
 a fastener to be coupled to the connector, the fastener to penetrate the first curtain, the second curtain, the web, the first flange and the second flange. 
   
     
     
         2 . The room divider of  claim 1 , wherein the first curtain is spaced from the second flange, and the second curtain is spaced from the first flange. 
     
     
         3 . The room divider of  claim 1 , wherein the first curtain overlaps the second curtain to sandwich the web between the first curtain and the second curtain. 
     
     
         4 . A room divider, comprising:
 a first curtain having a first curtain edge and a first hem, the first curtain edge and the first hem being vertically elongate, the first hem being folded-over along a first crease that is vertically elongate, the first crease being proximate and substantially parallel to the first curtain edge;   a second curtain having a second curtain edge and a second hem, the second curtain edge and the second hem being vertically elongate, the second hem being folded-over along a second crease that is vertically elongate, the second crease being proximate and substantially parallel to the second curtain edge;   a connector comprising a first flange, a second flange and a web, the web lying between the first flange and the second flange such that the first flange, the second flange and the web overlap each other;   a first barb to extend between the first flange and the web;   a second barb to extend between the second flange and the web;   a first pocket defined by the first flange and the web, the first hem of the first curtain to extend into the first pocket between the first flange and the web such that the first hem engages the first barb; and   a second pocket defined by the second flange and the web, the second hem of the second curtain to extend into the second pocket between the second flange and the web such that the second hem engages the second barb.   
     
     
         5 . The room divider of  claim 4 , wherein the first barb extends from the first flange and protrudes toward the web, and the second barb extends from the second flange and protrudes toward the web. 
     
     
         6 . The room divider of  claim 4 , wherein the first curtain is spaced from the second flange, and the second curtain is spaced from the first flange. 
     
     
         7 . A room divider, comprising:
 a first curtain comprising a first core sandwiched between a first front cover and a first back cover, the first core being softer than both the first front cover and the first back cover, the first curtain having a first curtain edge that is vertically elongate, the first curtain having a first nominal curtain thickness spanning the first front cover, the first core and the first back cover;   a second curtain comprising a second core sandwiched between a second front cover and a second back cover, the second core being softer than both the second front cover and the second back cover, the second curtain having a second curtain edge that is vertically elongate, the second curtain having a second nominal curtain thickness spanning the second front cover, the second core and the second back cover, wherein both the first front cover and the second front cover face in a first direction;   a connector having a connector height, a connector width and a connector thickness, the connector being vertically elongate with the connector height being at least five times greater than the connector width and at least ten times greater than the connector thickness, the connector being of a material that is harder than a material of the first core and the second core;   the connector comprising a first flange, a second flange, a web, a first bend and a second bend, the web to lie between the first flange and the second flange such that the first flange, the second flange and the web overlap each other, the web to extend widthwise from the first bend to the second bend, the first bend connecting the first flange to the web, the second bend connecting the second flange to the web, the first flange terminating at a first flange edge that is vertically elongate and proximate at least one of the second bend and the web, the second flange terminating at a second flange edge that is vertically elongate and proximate at least one of the first bend and the web;   a first pocket defined by the first flange, the first bend and the web, the first curtain edge to extend into the first pocket such that the first front cover lies against the web, the first core being compressed by the first flange to provide the first curtain with a first localized compressed thickness that is less than the first nominal thickness of the first curtain; and   a second pocket defined by the second flange, the second bend and the web, the second curtain edge to extend into the second pocket such that the second back cover lies against the web, the second core being compressed by the second flange to provide the second curtain with a second localized compressed thickness that is less than the second nominal thickness of the second curtain.   
     
     
         8 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the connector has a first surface extending contiguously from the first flange edge, across the first flange, around the first bend, across the web, around the second bend, across the second flange and to the second flange edge; and   the connector has a second surface extending contiguously from the first flange edge, across the first flange, around the first bend, across the web, around the second bend, across the second flange and to the second flange edge, wherein the first curtain engages the first surface and is spaced from the second surface, and the second curtain engages the second surface and is spaced from the first surface.   
     
     
         9 . The room divider of  claim 8 , wherein the first surface is substantially parallel to the second surface, and the connector has a material thickness extending from the first surface to the second surface. 
     
     
         10 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein the first nominal thickness of the first curtain and the second nominal thickness of the second curtain is greater than the connector thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein the first curtain and the second curtain are substantially coplanar, and the web is angularly displaced out of coplanar alignment with both the first curtain and the second curtain. 
     
     
         12 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein the first curtain has a first hem at the first curtain edge, the second curtain has a second hem at the second curtain edge, the connector has a first barb at the first flange edge, the connector has a second barb at the second flange edge, the first barb engages the first hem, and the second barb engages the second hem. 
     
     
         13 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein the first curtain overlaps the second curtain to sandwich the web between the first curtain and the second curtain. 
     
     
         14 . The room divider of  claim 7 , further comprising a fastener penetrating the first curtain, the second curtain, the web, the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         15 . The room divider of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener is a rivet. 
     
     
         16 . The room divider of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener includes threads. 
     
     
         17 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein the first curtain edge extends vertically from a lower edge of the first curtain to an upper edge of the first curtain, the first curtain having a curtain height extending from the lower edge to the upper edge, wherein the connector height is substantially equal to the curtain height. 
     
     
         18 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein the first curtain edge extends vertically from a lower edge of the first curtain to an upper edge of the first curtain, the first curtain having a curtain height extending from the lower edge to the upper edge, the connector having a series of connector segments distributed vertically along the first curtain edge, the connector height being a cumulative stacked height of the series of connector segments, wherein the connector extends vertically over most of the curtain height. 
     
     
         19 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein the first core has a core thickness that is greater than a cover thickness of the first front cover. 
     
     
         20 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein the first core has a greater R-value than that of the first front cover. 
     
     
         21 . The room divider of  claim 7 , wherein the first core is more porous than both the first front cover and the first back cover. 
     
     
         22 . A room divider for use in a building having a building structure, the room divider comprising:
 a mounting flange attached to the building structure;   a first flange extending from the mounting flange;   a second flange extending from the mounting flange, wherein the first flange, the second flange and the mounting flange are a seamless unitary structure having an overall length;   a first pocket provided between and defined by the first flange and the second flange; and   a first curtain including a first core sandwiched between a first front cover and a first back cover,; the first core being softer than both the first front cover and the first back cover, the first curtain having a first curtain edge that extends over a first curtain edge length, wherein the overall length of the seamless unitary structure is substantially at least one of equal to or greater than the first curtain edge length, the first curtain having a first nominal curtain thickness spanning the first front cover, the first core and the first back cover, the first curtain edge extending into the first pocket such that the first front cover lies against the first flange, the first back cover lies against the second flange, and the first core is compressed between the first flange and the second flange to provide the first curtain with a first localized compressed thickness, the first localized compressed thickness being less than the first nominal thickness of the first curtain.   
     
     
         23 . The room divider of  claim 22 , wherein the first curtain hangs downward from the seamless unitary piece. 
     
     
         24 . The room divider of  claim 22 , wherein the first curtain edge defines a lowermost portion of the first curtain. 
     
     
         25 . The room divider of  claim 22 , wherein the first curtain edge extends substantially vertically. 
     
     
         26 . The room divider of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting flange is substantially parallel to the second flange. 
     
     
         27 . The room divider of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting flange is substantially perpendicular to the second flange. 
     
     
         28 . The room divider of  claim 22 , wherein the first curtain has a hem along the first curtain edge, and at least one of the first flange and the second flange includes a barb that engages the hem. 
     
     
         29 . The room divider of  claim 22 , further comprising a fastener to penetrate the first curtain, the first flange, and the second flange. 
     
     
         30 . The room divider of  claim 29 , wherein the fastener is a rivet. 
     
     
         31 . The room divider of  claim 29 , wherein the fastener includes threads. 
     
     
         32 . The room divider of  claim 22 , wherein the first core has a core thickness that is greater than a cover thickness of the front cover. 
     
     
         33 . The room divider of  claim 22 , wherein the first core has a greater R-value than that of the front cover. 
     
     
         34 . The room divider of  claim 22 , wherein the first core is more porous than both the front cover and the back cover. 
     
     
         35 . The room divider of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a third flange extending from the mounting flange such that the second flange in interposed between the first flange and the third flange;   a second pocket provided between and defined by the second flange and the third flange; and   a second curtain including a second core sandwiched between a second front cover and a second back cover, the second core being softer than both the second front cover and the second back cover, the second curtain having a second curtain edge that extends over a second curtain edge length, wherein the overall length of the seamless unitary structure is substantially equal to the second curtain edge length, the second curtain having a second nominal curtain thickness spanning the second front cover, the second core and the second back cover, wherein the second curtain edge extends into the second pocket such that the second front cover lies against the second flange, the second back cover—to lie against the third flange, and the second core is compressed between the second flange and the third flange to provide the second curtain with a second localized compressed thickness, the second localized thickness being less than the second nominal thickness of the second curtain.