Enclosure assembly apparatus and method for forming same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11686089-B2
Application number	US-202217864501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2022
Priority date	Jun 7, 2019
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

An enclosure assembly apparatus can include a plurality of elements that can be arranged to facilitate positioning of an enclosure in a work space such as a room or floor of an office building or other building. Embodiments can be configured to facilitate relatively quick and level positioning of such an enclosure. Embodiments of the enclosure assembled via use of at least one embodiment of the enclosure assembly apparatus can be define a room, a meeting space, a privacy booth, a meeting cubicle, or other type of enclosure or work space within the room or floor of a building.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure assembly apparatus comprising:
a rail for attachment to a floor;
a rail connector comprising a first part and a second part, the first part being separable from the second part, and
the rail having a channel for facilitating attachment of the rail connector to the rail, the channel sized and configured so that the first part and the second part are positionable in the channel when separated such that the first part is positionable adjacent to the second part in the channel to form an assembled body of the rail connector; and
the rail having first and second sidewalls that extend from opposite sides of a bottom of the rail to define the channel, the first sidewall defining a first side slot that is in communication with the channel, the second sidewall defining a second slot that is in communication with the channel, a portion of the first part positionable within the first slot and a portion of the second part positionable within the second slot when the assembled body of the rail connector is formed.

2. The enclosure assembly apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first part and the second part define a top hole when the assembled body of the rail connector is formed.

3. An enclosure assembly apparatus comprising:
a rail for attachment to a floor;
a rail connector comprising a first part and a second part, the first part being separable from the second part, and
the rail having a channel for facilitating attachment of the rail connector to the rail, the channel sized and configured so that the first part and the second part are positionable in the channel when separated such that the first part is positionable adjacent to the second part in the channel to form an assembled body of the rail connector, wherein the first part and the second part define a top hole when the assembled body of the rail connector is formed;
the rail having sidewalls that extend from opposite sides of a bottom of the rail to define the channel, each sidewall defining a side slot that is in communication with the channel; and
a base element fastener extendable vertically through the top hole, a rail connector fastener extending horizontally between the first part and the second part for maintaining the assembled body of the rail connector in an assembled state.

4. The enclosure assembly apparatus of claim 3 , comprising:
a column mounting device having an opening;
a column connector having a first end for being received within the channel and a second end for being received within the opening of the column mounting device to attach the column mounting device to the rail.

5. The enclosure assembly apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the column connector is comprised of a plurality of interlockable parts to adjustably define a height of the column connector so the height of the column connector is adjustable.

6. The enclosure assembly apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each of the interlockable parts is positionable to lock the interlockable part to another one of the interlockable parts immediately adjacent to the interlockable part for direct attachment.

7. An enclosure assembly apparatus comprising:
a rail sized and configured for attachment to a floor;
a rail connector comprising a first part and a second part, the first part being separable from the second part;
the rail having a channel for facilitating attachment of the rail connector to the rail, the channel sized and configured so that the first part and the second part are positionable in the channel when separated such that the first part is positionable adjacent to the second part in the channel to form an assembled body of the rail connector;
the rail having first and second sidewalls that extend from opposite sides of a bottom of the rail to define the channel, the first sidewall and the second sidewall each defining a side slot that is in communication with the channel, the side slot of the first sidewall sized to receive a portion of the first part and the side slot of the second sidewall sized and configured to receive a portion of the second part;
the first part and the second part defining a top hole when the assembled body of the rail connector is formed, the top hole being sized and configured such that a base element fastener is extendable vertically through the top hole.

8. The enclosure assembly of claim 7 , comprising:
a rail connector fastener extending horizontally between the first part and the second part for maintaining the assembled body of the rail connector in an assembled state.

9. The enclosure assembly of claim 7 , comprising:
the base element fastener, the base element fastener extending through the top hole; and
a panel, the panel having a hole, the base element fastener extending into the hole for attachment of the panel to the rail.

10. The enclosure assembly of claim 9 , comprising:
a first column mounting device having an opening, the first column mounting device positionable adjacent a first end of the rail; and
a first column connector having a first end for being received within the channel adjacent the first end of the rail, the first column connector having a second end for being received within the opening of the first column mounting device to attach the first column mounting device to the rail.

11. The enclosure assembly apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first column connector is comprised of a plurality of interlockable parts to adjustably define a height of the column connector so the height of the column connector is adjustable.

12. The enclosure assembly apparatus of claim 7 , comprising:
a base element connector positioned adjacent a second end of the rail; the base element connector having a projection that extends vertically from a body for positioning within a base element for attachment of the base element to the rail; and
the base element connector also having a rail end connector positionable within the channel adjacent the second end of the rail for attachment of the base element connector to the rail.

13. A method for assembling an enclosure, comprising:
positioning a rail on a floor;
fastening the rail to the floor;
positioning a first part of a rail connector in a channel of the rail so that a portion of the first part extends into a first side slot defined by a first sidewall of the rail that extends from a bottom of the rail; and
positioning a second part of the rail connector in the channel of the rail so that a portion of the second part extends into a second side slot defined by a second sidewall of the rail that is opposite the first sidewall of the rail, the second sidewall of the rail extending from the bottom of the rail; and
wherein the positioning of the first part and the second part is performed such that a top hole of the rail connector is defined, the top hole being sized so that a base element fastener is extendible through the top hole.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
positioning the base element fastener adjacent to the first part and/or the second part during the positioning of the first part and the positioning of the second part so that when the top hole is formed, the base element fastener extends through the top hole.

15. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
attaching a column mounting device to a first end of the rail.

16. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
inserting the base element fastener into a hole of a panel or a hole of a base element for attachment of the panel or the base element to the rail.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising:
positioning a covering element along a gap defi

Assignees

• Knoll Inc

Inventors

• Mckenzie James Harrison
• Eldon James
• Mcclanahan David

Classifications

• E04B2002/7477

  Details of connections using screws or nails · CPC title

• E04B2/7427 Primary

  with adjustable angular connection of panels · CPC title

• E04B2002/7474

  using releasable connectors actuable with a key or a tool · CPC title