Pre-assembled internal frame for modular wall section

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12410611-B2
Application number	US-202318129681-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2023
Priority date	Apr 5, 2022
Publication date	Sep 9, 2025
Grant date	Sep 9, 2025

Abstract

A pre-assembled internal frame for a modular wall comprises a pair of vertical frame members. Each first flange of the vertical frame member has a pair of series of vertically arranged mounting openings, and each second flange has a single series. The vertical frame members are oriented to enable the frame to be arranged in an end to end junction with another frame with adjacent vertical frame members thereof abutting. This provides three of the series of vertically arranged openings on each side of the modular wall at the end to end junction. A fastener is positioned in a fastener receiving portion for fastening the horizontal frame member to the vertical frame members. The fastener receiving portions are recessed laterally inwardly from the first and second web sections for avoiding interference between adjacent fasteners when the frame is arranged in the end to end junction with another such frame.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A pre-assembled internal frame for a modular wall, comprising:
a pair of vertical frame members, each vertical frame member of the pair of vertical frame members having a central web extending in a depth direction of the pre-assembled internal frame between a first flange and a second flange, each of the first and second flanges extending laterally inwardly from the central web;
wherein the central web of each vertical frame member of the pair of vertical frame members has a stepped configuration comprising a first web section extending inwardly in the depth direction from the first flange, a second web section extending inwardly in the depth direction from the second flange and offset laterally from the first web section, and a transition web section extending laterally to connect the first and second web sections to create the stepped configuration and offset laterally the second web section from the first web section;
a plurality of horizontal frame members extending laterally between the vertical frame members of the pair of vertical frame members to connect the vertical frame members together;
wherein each said first flange has a pair of series of vertically arranged mounting openings, and each said second flange has a single series of vertically arranged mounting openings, and wherein the vertical frame members of the pair of vertical frame members are oriented in an inverted relationship with respect to one another such that (a) the first flange of one of the pair of vertical frame members and the second flange of the other of the pair of vertical frame members are positioned on one face of the pre-assembled internal frame and (b) the second flange of said one of the pair of vertical frame members and the first flange of said other of said pair of vertical frame members are positioned on an opposing face of the pre-assembled internal frame, thus enabling said pre-assembled internal frame to be arranged in an end-to-end junction with another of said pre-assembled internal frame with adjacent said vertical frame members of the pre-assembled internal frames at the end-to-end junction abutting and the first and second flanges of the abutting vertical frame members positioned adjacent one another on opposing sides of the modular wall so that the adjacent first and second flanges on each said opposing side of the modular wall include the pair of series of vertically arranged openings on the first flange and the single series of vertically arranged openings on the second flange to together provide three of the series of vertically arranged openings on each said opposing side of the modular wall at the end-to-end junction.

2. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of horizontal frame members includes at least one intermediate horizontal frame member spaced vertically from the top and bottom of the pre-assembled internal frame,
wherein each of the first and second web sections includes a fastener receiving portion, each said fastener receiving portion having a fastener receiving opening corresponding to an associated one of the at least one intermediate horizontal frame member and a fastener positioned therein for fastening the associated one of the at least one horizontal frame member to the vertical frame members of the pair of vertical frame members;
wherein said fastener receiving portions are recessed laterally inwardly from the first and second web sections for avoiding interference between adjacent fasteners when said pre-assembled internal frame is arranged in said end-to-end junction with another of said pre-assembled internal frame.

3. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of horizontal frame members further comprise a bottom horizontal frame member.

4. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of horizontal frame members further comprises a top horizontal frame member.

5. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of height adjusters on a bottom of said pre-assembled internal frame, each of the plurality of height adjusters having a floor engaging foot and being operable to extend the floor engaging foot downwardly to raise the internal frame and retract the foot upwardly to lower the pre-assembled internal frame.

6. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of height adjusters include a height adjuster mounted to a bottom end of each vertical frame member of the pair of vertical frame members.

7. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of height adjusters include height adjusters mounted to the bottom horizontal frame member.

8. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second web sections of the central web of each vertical frame member of the pair of vertical frame members has an intermediate wall portion extending between the recessed fastener receiving portion thereof and the transition web section, each of the intermediate wall portions having an elongated fastener receiving slot formed therethrough for receiving a fastener for connecting the vertical frame member to the adjacent vertical frame member of another said pre-assembled internal frame when arranged in the end-to-end junction, the fastener receiving slot being elongated in a vertical direction to accommodate a vertical variance.

9. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second web sections of the central web of each vertical frame member of the pair of vertical frame members has the intermediate wall portion with the elongated fastener receiving slot.

10. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first and second web sections of the central web of each vertical frame member of the pair of vertical frame members has an intermediate wall portion extending between the recessed fastener receiving portion thereof and the transition web section, each of the intermediate wall portions having an elongated fastener receiving slot formed therethrough for receiving a fastener for connecting the vertical frame member to the adjacent vertical frame member of another said pre-assembled internal frame when arranged in the end-to-end junction, the fastener receiving slot being elongated in a vertical direction to accommodate a vertical variance.

11. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second web sections of the central web of each vertical frame member of the pair of vertical frame members has the intermediate wall portion with the elongated fastener receiving slot.

12. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 1 , wherein the central web of each vertical member of the pair of vertical frame members has an elongated fastener receiving slot formed therethrough for receiving a fastener for connecting the vertical frame member to the adjacent vertical frame member of another said pre-assembled internal frame when arranged in the end-to-end junction, the fastener receiving slot being elongated in a vertical direction to accommodate a vertical variance.

13. The pre-assembled internal frame according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of height adjusters on a bottom of said pre-assembled internal frame, each plurality of height adjusters having a floor engaging foot and being operable to extend the floor engaging foot downwardly to raise the internal frame and retract the foot upwardly to lower the pre-assembled internal frame.

14. The pre-assemb

Assignees

• Fellowes Inc

Inventors

• Applegate Shawn M
• Egan Michael
• Losser James Edward
• Matlin Tai Hoon K

Classifications

• E04B2002/7466

  using hooks · CPC title

• E04B2/7425

  Details of connection of panels (E04B2/7427 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04B2/789

  of substantially U- or C- section · CPC title

• E04B2002/7483

  Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions · CPC title

• E04B2002/7487

  Partitions with slotted profiles · CPC title