Cubicle assembly

May 6, 1941

T. F. ANDERSON

CUBICLfc ASSEMBLY

Filed Dec. 19, 1938

2,240,482

Sheets-Sheet 1

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ATTORNEY

May 6, 1941.

T. F. ANDERSON

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY

Filed Dec. 19, 1938

2,240,482

Sheets-Sheet 2

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ATTORNEY

May 6, 1941.

2,240,482

T. F. ANDERSON

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY

Filed Dec. 19, 1938

Sheets-Sheet 3

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May 6, 1941.

T. F. ANDERSON 2,240,482

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY

Filed Dec. 19, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4

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May 6, 1941. τ. _F anderson 2,240,482

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 19, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5

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May 6, 1941. τ. _F anderson 2,240,482

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY

Filed Dec. 19, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6

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BY

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Patented May 6, 1941

2,240,482

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,240,482

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY

Thomas F. Anderson, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Sanymetal Products Co., Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation-of Ohio

Application December 19, 1938, Serial No. 246,634 (Cl. 189—34) constructed of relatively few parts and substantially entirely of sheet metal and sheet metal strips and can therefore: be economically constructed with a minimum of labor and material, and when thus constructed can be quickly erected in the location where it is to reside without requiring special fitting. The cubicle assembly can easily be taken down, stored in a minimum of space, and re-erected in another location substantially without damage to the building and without requiring refitting of the parts.

A further important feature of my improved cubicle assembly is that the uprights and panels thereof are insulated and cushioned against noise and vibration. The supporting uprights and partition panels can be given any desired color and finish, either in contrast to or in harmony with the floor shoes and supporting brackets which may be economically made as one piece castings suitably plated with chromium, nickel, or other plating finish, or if desired they may be merely painted or lacquered. The cubicle assembly when erected offers a minimum of obstruction to cleaning and washing of the building floors and walls, and the flush compartments of the cubicle assembly may also be easily washed and cleaned. The construction as a whole is unusually attractive in appearance and can be advantageously used in financial, business and professional establishments where appearance is important.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will in part be pointed out and in part become apparent in connection with the following detailed description of certain illustrative forms of construction, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improved cubicle assembly, showing particularly the arrangement of the supporting upright, floor shoes, head rail, partition panels and doors for each cubicle;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal floor plan view of the cubicle assembly as it would appear when assembled along two building walls;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the cubicle assembly showing particularly the supporting upright and the partition panel used to divide the assembly into separate cubicles;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken through a pair of supporting uprights and an intervening door panel, this view also showing a fragmentary portion of a partition panel, this view being taken on line 4—4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional

12' Claims.

This invention relates to an improved cubicle assembly, and more particularly to a cubicle assembly providing one or more separate compartments for individual use.

In accordance with my invention, a cubicle as-; 5 sembly is provided which comprises a plurality of spaced uprights which form both the supporting framework and the front wall panels of the cubicle assembly. The supporting uprights are placed adjacent the building walls and at· the: 1Ό corner and between door openings of the cubicle assembly so as to provide convenient, door openings therebetween into which a door may be swingably mounted. The uprights are characterized by the fact that they present smooth and 15 flush wall surfaces on both sides thereof, which are free from dirt-collecting cavities and projections. The supporting uprights may also contain sound-deadening insulation so that the partition uprights transmit little or no sound when^: 20 struck. The uprights are held in rigid erect position by floor securing means concealed within an attractive floor shoe into which the lower end of the upright is telescoped and . secured. The floor securing means is so constructed that no^: 25 additional reinforcing, framing around the cubicle assembly is necessary. If desired, however, an attractive head rail, which is also substantially flush with the exterior surface of the supporting uprights, may be provided. 30

Partition panels divide the assembly into separate cubicles. The partition panels also present flush wall surfaces and may be held in suspended position between supporting uprights and the building wall by suitable supporting brackets. In; 35 one form of my construction, the partition panels extend into a corresponding recess provided in the supporting upright and are seated within a cushioning strip formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material, so as to eliminate sound 40 and vibration and provide a substantially tight joint between.

My improved cubicle assembly may be made of such size as the use to which it is to be put requires and may be constructed and assembled to 45 provide convenient and attractive toilet cubicles, telephone booths, shower stalls, dressing rooms, hospital cubicles and privacy booths for use in business, financial and professional establishments. 50

Among the features and advantages of my improved cubicle assembly is the provision of structural parts which present substantially flush wall surfaces which are highly sanitary and can be easily cleaned and maintained. The assembly is: 55

2,240,482 view through the cubicle assembly, this view being taken along line 5—5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view through the supporting upright, head rail and floor shoe, and a fragmentary side elevational view of a partition panel showing the manner of attaching the partition panel to the upright, this view being taken along line 6—6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the head rail supporting upright, and saddle member which connects the same, this view also showing a portion of the partition panel in cross-section as the same appears when looking in the direction’ of the arrow 7—7 on Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the supporting upright and the partition panel showing cushioning means which may be positioned between the same to reduce noise and vibration;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a cubicle assembly of somewhat modified construction and in which the head rail has been eliminated;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the supporting upright next adjacent the building wall as shown in Fig. 9, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the supporting upright and wall bracket secured thereto, this view being taken along line I i—I I of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the supporting upright shown in Fig. 10, this view being taken along line 12—12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view through the supporting upright and partition panel removed from the building wall, this view illustrating particularly modified means for connecting these parts together;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the supporting upright showing the partition panel securing means associated therewith;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the partition panel, having associated therewith means for attaching the same to the supporting upright;

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the supporting upright, this view showing a floor base of somewhat modified construction; and

Fig. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the partition panel attached to the supporting upright shown in Fig. 16, this view showfurther details of the supporting upright, partition panel and the floor base construction.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and the specification.

Referring more particularly to the cubicle assembly shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, a plurality of spaced supporting uprights a are provided defining door openings therebetween. Partition panels b extend between each supporting upright a and the interior wall of the building, to define individual cubicles or compartments. .These partition panels are secured to the supporting uprights a by suitable angle members h and to the wall w by suitable wall brackets i. The lower end of each supporting upright sets within a floor base or shoe e, which is firmly secured in the floor of the building, floor shoe e is. connected to the supporting upright a in a firm manner so as to hold the supporting upright in rigid upstanding position. The spaced supporting uprights a are connected together by a continuous head rail c formed of metal tubing, suitable saddle members f of attractive design being provided for this purpose. Each end of the head rail c is connected to the adjacent building wall w by a suitable wall socket member g. The structural parts of my improved cubicle assembly are made substantially entirely of sheet steel so formed and constructed as to present a highly attractive appearance, substantially free from dirt collecting cavities and projections. The cubicle assembly can be easily cleaned and maintained, can be erected substantially without disfiguration of the building walls, is substantially soundproof and fireproof, can be economically constructed and assembled, and it may be assembled and disassembled and moved to other locations with ease and facility.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of a supporting upright a formed from sheet metal which has flush exterior faces which are free from dust-collecting projections and crevices. Each upright a is formed from an outside facing sheet i and an inside facing sheet 2 which are suitably spaced apart and which are provided with inturned vertically extending flanges 3, which when assembled together are substantially in abutment, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The adjacent flanges may be strip or spot welded together at the points marked x. The free edge portions 4 of the flanges 3 are outtuxned as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. An edging strip 5 which may have either a straight line or curvilinear exterior contour, as desired, serves to cover and conceal the flanges 7 and the adjacent vertical edge portions 4 thereof. The edging strip 5 is provided with inturned edge portions 6 which seat within a recess provided between the outward edges 4 of the inturned flanges 3. Thus both vertical edges of the facing sheets I and 2 are held together in rigid assembly and provided with an attractive finished edge.

Suitable insulating material, such as fiberboard 12, may be positioned between the facing sheets I and 2 before they are assembled together, so that a substantially sound-proof construction is provided. The lower end of each of the facing sheets 1 and 2 may be provided with inturned flanges 10 and the upper end of the facing sheets 1 and 2 may be provided with inturned flanges 11, so as to stiffen the construction and seal the insulating material 12 therebetween.

The lower end of each of the supporting uprights a is set within a hollow floor base or floor shoe e, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 6, which floor shoe is provided with a base portion 20 and a surrounding wall portion 21 defining therein a receiving pocket or cavity 22 of such size as to snugly receive the lower end of the supporting upright a. The floor shoe may be provided with an outwardly flared foot portion 23 which rests on the building floor. Suitable expansion bolts, floor screws or other means 15 extending through the base portion 28 may be provided to firmly fix the floor shoe to the building floor. The supporting upright is connected to the wall portions 21 of the floor shoe by means of suitable finished bolts s which may comprise a screw 24 having a decorative head portion 25, which extends through a suitable opening in one of the side wall portions of the floor shoe and through the supporting up2,240, right. A decorative cap nut 26 extending through the opposite wall portion 21 of the floor shoe is threaded onto the threaded portion 24 of the screw. By manipulating the cap nut 2S and the headed portion 25 of the screw, these 5 parts may be firmly secured together. One or more cap screws, preferably two, are provided for securing the supporting upright to the floor shoe.

The supporting uprights a may be so spaced as: to define door openings therebetween, between which a hinge door d is mounted. It will thus be noted that supporting uprights a in effect form both a supporting framework and the front wall panel of the cubicle. Heretofore it has been customary to provide two supporting posts between each door opening which are connected by a wallforming panel member. Substantial saving in materials and labor, and a more sturdy and more attractive construction is thus provided. Each floor shoe e can be formed as a metal casting which offers little or no obstruction to the proper cleaning of the building floor, and which provides unusually strong and sturdy means for securing the supporting uprights a to the building floor.

A head rail c extends over and is connected to the spaced supporting uprights a, the ends of the head rail c being secured to the building wall w by means of wall sockets or brackets g. The head rail c may be formed as a hollow metal tubing of any desired cross-sectional contour. As shown more' particularly in Fig. 6, the head rail c is formed from a single piece of sheet metal bent to provide a member of hollow rectangular cross-section defining side wall surfaces 30, a smooth and continuous horizontal wall surface 31. The inturned flanges 32 may be butt or seam welded together so as to form a solid and completely enclosed tube. It is understood that the hollow head rail c may be so arranged that the inturned seam-welded flanges 32 form the top or bottom surface of the head rail, as desired.

The upper end of each supporting upright a may be secured to the head rail c which rests on the upper end thereof, by means of one or a pair of saddle brackets / which may be made of a decorative design so as to present an attractive appearance. The saddle member j is generally U-shaped in cross-sectional contour, comprising side wall portions 34 which snugly fit over the side wall portions 30 of the head rail, and a connecting top wall portion 35 which fits over the top wall portion 31 of the head rail. The lower ends 36 of the side wall portions 34 of the U-shaped saddle member may, if desired, be flared outwardly or otherwise shaped to snugly fit over the facing panels I and 2 of the supporting member. A headed screw and cap nut assembly s may be provided to secure the upper end of the supporting uprights a to the saddle member /. The side wall portions 34 of the saddle member may be embossed as at 37 and may be: otherwise cut and shaped to give it an attractive appearance. The saddle member f may be made of a relatively stiff steel strip which may be surface coated or given a metallic finish in harmony with or in contrast to the finish of the supporting uprights a.

The section of the head rail shown in Fig. 3 extends at right angles to that section of the head rail shown in Fig. 1. These sections may be held together by welding or metal screws where they meet at the corner. The free end of the head rail section shown in Fig. 1 and the free end of the head rail section shown in Fig. 3 are secured to the adjacent wall surface w by a wall socket g, which may be constructed from a single casting similar to the floor shoe e, the wall socket g having an interior cavity of a size and shape to snugly receive the free end of the head rail, which parts may be secured together by a threaded head bolt and cap nut s.

The supporting upright which is adjacent the building wall, as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 4, may be secured to the building wall w by means of a pair of spaced wall brackets j of generally U-shaped form. Each bracket j may 15 comprise a base portion 40 which seats against the building wall and is secured to the building wall by suitable wall screws 41. The wall bracket j is provided with a pair of spaced leg portions 42 formed as an integral part of the base portion 20 40, these leg portions 42 being stiffened and braced by webs 43. The leg portions 42 are spaced apart a distance to receive the supporting upright a therebetween, these parts being secured together by a threaded cap screw and 25 cap nut s. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 4 that the base portions 40 of the wall bracket j extend a distance beyond the leg portions 42, providing a firm and rigid base which seats against the building wall and holds the support30 ing upright a secured thereto in rigid position.

The individual cubicles are formed by partition panels b secured along one vertical edge to the supporting uprights a and along the other edge to the building wall w. As shown more particu35 larly in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the partition panels b are formed from a pair of spaced facing sheets 45 and 46, having insulation 12 therebetween. The top and bottom horizontal edges thereof may be formed by providing inwardly extending 40 flanges 47, extending inwardly from each of the facing sheets 45 and 46 so that they abut, and at their points of abutment may be spot or seam welded together as at x, as shown in: Fig. 7. The free edges 48 of the flanges 47 are outturned so 45 as to receive in the space 49 provided therebetween the inturned edges 50 of the metal edging strip 51.. The edging strip 51 provides a finished and artistic edge for the partition panels. The rear vertical edge of the partition panel b, as ₅₀ shown more particularly in the right hand side of Fig. 5, may be similarly formed and covered by an edging strip 51 having inturned portions 50 which seat within the space or groove 49 provided between the free outturned edges 48 of the _gg inturned abutting flanges 47 of the facing sheets 45 and 46, the abutting flange 47 being welded together as at x. The vertical edge of the partition panel b adjacent the supporting upright a extends into a recess provided in the supporting ₆₀ upright a, as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 5. This vertical edge of the partition panel b may be provided with inturned flanges 52 extending inwardly from the facing sheets 45 and 46, and this vertical edge is encased within a _6g U-shaped strip 53 formed of resilient material such as rubber. The panel receiving recess is provided by cutting facing sheet 2 of the supporting upright a and then bending the metal to provide inturned vertical flanges 8 which are ₇₀ spaced a distance apart to- snugly receive the cushioning strip 53. The inner facing sheet 2 of the upright a is also provided with inturned flanges 9 spaced a distance apart to receive the top and bottom edges of the partition panel b 75 and provide a seat therefor. It will be appre:0,482

-device 77 and the latch hook 78 also form no part of this invention and therefore need not here be specifically described.

There is shown in Fig. 9 a cubicle assembly of 5 somewhat modified construction, in which the head rail is eliminated. The supporting uprights a' are arranged in spaced relationship to define door openings therebetween, each supporting upright a’ being supported from the building floor and held in rigid upright position by a floor shoe e. Partition panels b' are held in suspended position by attaching means connecting one vertical edge thereof to the supporting uprights a', the other vertical edge being connected to the build15 ing wall w by the wall brackets i.

The supporting uprights a’, as more particularly shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, comprise spaced facing sheets 1 and 2 having the vertical edges thereof turned inwardly to provide abut20 ting flanges 3, which are welded together at x, as shown in Fig. 11. The free edges 4 of the inturned flanges 3 are rebent outwardly, providing a space 7 therebetween which receives the inturned edges 6 of the edging strip 5. The top horizontal edge of the supporting upright a is likewise provided with inturned abutting flanges 3 welded together at x and having the free edges. 4 thereof turned outwardly defining therebetween a space 7 which receives the inturned edges 6 of the edging strip 5. The vertically extending edging strips 5 and. the horizontally extending edging strip 5 meet at the corner in a mitered joint, producing a finished edging around the vertical and top edges of the supporting upright. Suitable insulating material 12 may be positioned between the facing sheets i and 2 to deaden sound and eliminate vibration.

The lower end of the supporting upright extends into the floor shoe e, which has heretofore been described. The lower edge of the supporting upright a’ may be reinforced by inserting therein a U-shaped reinforcing member having leg portions 13 thereof seating against and welded to the inside face of the facing sheets ! and 2, the leg portions 13 being connected by the web portion 14.

The supporting upright a' which is adjacent the building wall w is fixed in spaced relationship thereto by suitable wall brackets j'. Each wall bracket j' comprises a base portion 44 having spaced leg portions 42 extending therefrom, between which the adjacent edges of the supporting upright a' may extend. The wall bracket j’ shaped as illustrated in Figs. 10,11 and 12, differing from the wall bracket j heretofore described in having the base portion 44 projecting beyond, only one of the leg portions 42. To stiffen the construction a channel shaped reinforcing member may be positioned within the supporting upright 60 a' adjacent each wall bracket j'. The leg portions 16 of the reinforcing members lie against the inside face of the facing sheets I and 2 and are preferably welded thereto. The leg portions 16 are connected by the web portion 17. A headed 65 screw and cap nut s extends through the leg portion 42 of the wall bracket, through the facing sheets’ 1 and 2, and through the leg portions 16 of the reinforcing member, thus rigidly securing the supporting upright a' to the wall w. The adja70 cent edge of the supporting upright a' may be held sufficiently spaced from the building wall to permit easy cleaning thereof.

Partition panels b' extending from the supporting uprights a' to the building wall w define 75 cubicles or compartments therebetween. . Each

2,2 dated that the inturned flanges 8 and 9 are so spaced as to snugly receive the U-shaped cushioning strip 53 therein. The leg portions 54 of the cushioning strip 53 extending slightly beyond the inner face of the facing sheet 2, giving the interior wall surface of the compartment a finished and attractive appearance. The cushioning strip 53 serves as a sound deadener and absorbs noise.

An upper and lower angle bracket h, as shown 10 more particularly in Figs. 6 and 7, may be provided for securing the vertical edge of the partition panel b to the supporting upright a. The angle bracket h may be provided with a leg portion 56 which seats against the inside face of the interior wall sheet 2 and is secured thereto by a suitable metal screw 57. A horizontally extending leg portion 58 extending from the vertical leg portion 56 is given a generally concave surface so as to snugly conform to the edge surface of the partition panel. The horizontal leg portion 58 of this angle bracket h is secured to the partition panel b by means of a suitable metal screw 59.

Each wall panel b as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 5 is secured to the building wall w 25 by means of a pair of U-shaped brackets i each comprising a base portion 60 and spaced leg portions 61 which are so spaced as to snugly receive the adjacent vertical edge of the partition panel b. These brackets may be secured to the adja- 30 cent vertical edge of the partition panel b by means of a cap screw and cap nut s. The wall bracket i is secured to the building wall w by means, of a wall screw 62 which extends through the base portion 60 and into the building wall. 35 The base portion 60 may extend laterally beyond the leg portions 6i to provide a firm and rigid base. It will be noted by referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, that the rear vertical edge of the partition panel may be spaced from the 40 building wall w a sufficient distance to permit thorough cleaning and washing of the surface of the building wall.

The doors D positioned between the supporting uprights a are more particularly illustrated in 45 Figs. 1, 4 and 5. The doors may be made from facing sheets 65 and 66 having insulation 12 therebetween, the vertical and horizontal edges of each of the facing sheets 65 and 66 being provided with inturned flanges 67. The flanges 67 50 are provided with edge portions 68 turned inwardly of the door and are spaced apart to receive the juxtaposed legs 69 of an edging strip 70. The edging strip 76 may be formed of metal having a generally rounded exterior surface portion 55 71 and inwardly bent portions 72 which terminate in the leg portions 69. The free edges of the leg portions 69 are provided with outturned lips 73 which seat over the inturned edges 68 of the panel flanges 67. The lip portions 73 of the edging strip 70 engage the inturned edges 68 of the panel flanges 67, holding the facing sheets 65 and 66 firmly together in fixed spaced relation. The edging strip 70 preferably extends entirely around the door, as shown in Fig. 1, forming mitered joint 74 at the corners.

Each door D is pivotally mounted on one of the supporting uprights a by an upper hinge structure 75 and a lower hinge structure 76 which form no part of this invention. A latch device 77 is secured to the free edge of the door by means of a headed screw and cap nut s, the latch device 77 engaging a companion latch hook 78 attached to the edge of the adjacent supporting upright a. The structural details of the latch

2,240,482 of the partitions panels b' may comprise spaced facing sheets ¢5 and 46 having the upper and lower horizontal edges and the rear vertical edge turned inwardly to provide abutting flanges 47, which are welded together at x. The free edges 48 of the flanges 47 are turned outwardly and spaced from the flanges 47 so as to provide a recess 49 therebetween to receive the inturned edges 52 of the edging strip 50. Thus, both the upper end lower horizontal edges and the rear vertical edge present a finished appearance, the edging strips meeting at the upper and lower rear corners in a mitered joint.

The front vertical edge of the partition panels b' is provided with an inset channel, shown more particularly in Figs. 13, 15, 16 and 17. This channel has the leg portion 81 thereof welded to the adjacent facing sheets 45 and 46. The channel is provided with a web portion 82 connecting the leg portions 81. This edge of the partition panel b’ extends into a corresponding recess provided in the supporting upright a’, shown more particularly in Fig. 4. This recess is defined by the vertically extending inturned flanges 8 provided on the inner facing sheet 2. The recess thus provided is such as to snugly receive the adjacent vertical edge of the partition panel b'. In the construction shown in Figs. 9 and 13, the top horizontal edging strip 51 of the partition panel b' extends substantially flush with the top horizontal edging strip 5 of the supporting upright a', the horizontal edging strip 5 being notched out as at 83 to receive the adjacent end of the edging strip 51.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 13 to 15, the partition panel b' may be connected to the supporting upright a' by means of a cooperating male clip o and a female clip p. Each female clip is provided with leg portions 84 seating within and against the inside face of the channel leg portions 81' and secured thereto as by welding. A web portion 85 connects the leg portions 84 and provides a strap which is hooked over a channel shaped male clip secured to the inturned flanges 8 of the facing sheet 2 of the supporting upright a'. The male clip is provided with leg portions 87 seating within and welded to the inturned flanges 8 of the facing sheet 2. The male clip is provided with a web portion 86 which connects the leg portions 87, the upper end of which is partly cut away so that the upper ends of the leg portions 87 terminate in upwardly projecting male elements 88 behind which the web portion 85 of the female clip attached to the partition panel b’ is adapted to be inserted, so that the rear edge 89 of the male elements 88 seat against the inside face of the web portion 85, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 13. The partition panel b’ can thus be easily and quickly attached to the supporting upright a' by inserting the adjacent vertical edge of the partition panel in the recess provided therefor in the supporting upright, and thereafter driving the partition panel downwardly until the web portion 85 of the female clip attached thereto seats behind the rear edge 89 of the male elements 88 of the male clip attached to the supporting upright. A firm and rigid assembly of these parts is thus provided. The partition panel b' can also be easily and quickly detached from the supporting upright.

The rear vertical edge of the partition panel b’ may be secured in spaced relationship to the adjacent wall w by means of suitable wall brackets i of the character heretofore described.

.40 s

If desired, the adjacent vertical edge of partition panel b’ may be directly secured to the inside surface of the facing sheet 2 of the supporting upright without the provision of a panelreceiving recess therein. As shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the male clips o are directly secured to the facing sheet 2 by means of suitable headed metal screws 105 which are screwed into tapped holes provided in the facing sheet 2. The male clips o and the female clips p, shown in Figs. 16 and 17, may be constructed similarly to those heretofore described.

Where the front vertical edge of partition panel b' abuts against the facing sheet 2 of the supporting upright a', it may be desirable to connect these members at the upper edge thereof by a suitable stiffening bracket h', as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The stiffening bracket h' is provided with outwardly flared wing portions 106 which seat against the inside surface of the facing sheet 2 of the supporting upright a’. A stiffening channel having spaced leg portions 92 and connecting web portion 93 is preferably inserted within the upper end of supporting upright a' to brace and stiffen the construction. The leg portions 92 seat against the inside face of the facing sheets I and 2 respectively and are preferably welded thereto. Metal screws 1Θ7 extend through the wing portions 106 of the connecting bracket and are screwed into tapped holes provided in the facing sheet 2 and the adjacent leg portion 92 of the stiffening bracket. The stiffening bracket is provided with a saddle portion lying at right angles to and secured to the wing portions 106, the saddle portion comprising downwardly extending leg portions 108 between which the upper end of the partition panel b’ telescopes. The leg portions 198 are connected by web portion 109 which extends over the upper horizontal edge of partition panel b'. The web portion 103 is given a decorative rounded contour, and as shown in Fig. 16, the end of the edging strip 51 may be arranged to abut the end 110 of the web portion 109 of the connecting bracket h'. The leg portions 108 may be connected to the partition panel b' extending therebetween by one or more head screws and cap nuts.

In the postless type cubicle construction, it is often desirable to eliminate the lateral bracing or head rail. This is particularly true where the cubicle is to be installed in factories and public places where such head rail might present •an undesirable interfering obstruction, or in schools where children are inclined to use such lateral bracing' and head rail as a chinning bar to their injury. Where no head rail is used, the problem is immediately presented of making a satisfactory rigid connection to· the supporting floor so that the partition provides a strong and sturdy construction, which will remain firm and rigid under long continued usage and abuse.

I have illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17 a cubicle construction which is free from any lateral bracing or head rail and which combines means for rigidly and fixedly securing the same to the building floor. The floor securing device here shown comprises a horizontally extending plate portion 94 having downturned edge portions 95 which seat within a stiffening channel positioned within the lower horizontal edge of the supporting upright a'. This stiffening channel comprises leg portions 90 welded to the adjacent facing sheets I and 2, and a web portion 91 connecting the leg portions 90. The lower ends 3' of the inturned flanges 3 and the lower ends 5'

2,240,482 of the edging strip 5 seat upon an outwardly flared foot portion 9S extending laterally from the downtumed portions 95 of the base plate 94. The base portions S5 rest upon one or more stacked shims 97, securing the base plate 94 5 rigidly to the floor. By reason of the fact that the base plate 94 snugly telescopes into the reinforcing channel provided in the supporting upright, the supporting upright is rigidly held from any lateral shifting movement. 10

The base foot portions 93 of the base member 94 and the shim and floor bolt assemblies may be concealed and housed within a continuous floor molding formed from sheet metal, casting, forging or other material of suitable decorative de- 15 sign. This floor molding may take the form as shown in Figs. 16 and 17 comprising a vertical continuous wall portion 100, an outwardly flared continuous hip portion 101, and a continuous downwardly extending leg portion i 02 which 20 seats against the building floor. The wall portion 100 may be provided with a continuous inturned. lip 103 at the upper edge thereof, which snugly abuts against the supporting upright a' positioned therein and further holds the sup- 25 porting upright in direct position.

It is now seen that a cubicle assembly has been provided in which the usual supporting posts and connecting wall panels have been combined into a flush supporting upright which has all 30 the strength. and rigidity required and which, furthermore, may be insulated to deaden sound. The supporting uprights may be fixedly secured to the floor by a floor securing device concealed in an attractive floor shoe or molding into which 35 the lower end of the supporting upright telescopes. The upper end of the supporting uprights may, if desired, be connected to a head rail by means of saddle straps of attractive design, or, if desired, the head rail may be 40 eliminated since the floor shoe is so constructed and connected to the supporting upright that further support for the supporting upright is not needed. ’ The partition panels which divide the space into separate cubicles are also so con- 45 structed as to present flush wall surfaces which are sanitary, can be easily cleaned, and which may be provided with sound-deadening insulation. The vertical and horizontal edges of both the supporting upright and the partition panel 50 may be provided with edging strips which give these members an attractive finished appearance and which permit low cost assembly thereof. The partition panels may, if desired, be recessed into the supporting uprights with a rubber 55 cushioning strip provided therebetween to further deaden the sound and provide a substantially tight joint therebetween. The partition panels may be connected to the supporting uprights by cooperating male and female clips to permit rapid 60 assembly and disassembly of these parts. The partition panels may be secured to the building wall by suitable wall brackets which give strength and rigidity to the construction.

The floor shoes e’, wall shoes g, the panel- 65 securing brackets h and h', the panel wall brackets i, and the upright supporting wall brackets j and may each be formed of a onepiece casting. These may be chromium or nickelplated or given a dull finish either in harmony 70 with or in contrast to the lacquered finish of the supporting uprights a and a’ and the partition panels b and V. The saddle straps / may be formed as a metal casting or may be made from a steel band suitably chromium-plated or other- 75 wise finished. The. doors d are also of flush construction and the door hinge and door latch hardware may be made to harmonize with the architectural lines of the cubicle assembly.

My improved cubicle assembly can be made and fabricated at the plant from a minimum of parts and at relatively lo-w cost, and can be quickly assembled and erected in the building where it is to be located. My cubicle assembly can also be quickly taken down, moved to and erected in another location quickly and expeditiously and without damage thereto since only a relatively few screws hold the entire assembly together. My improved cubicle assembly is admirably adapted for use as toilet stalls, shower stalls, dressing rooms, telephone booths, hospital cubicles, and privacy booths in business, financial and professional establishments where privacy is desired.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein, and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.