Cubicle assembly

May 6, 1941.

T. F. ANDERSON 2,240,484

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY

Original Filed Dec. 19, 193s 3 Sheets-Sheet 1

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May 6, 1941. τ. f. anderson 2,240,484

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed Dec. 19, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

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May 6, 1941.

T. F. ANDERSON

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY

2,240,484

Original Filed Dec. 19, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3

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BY attorney

Patented May 6, 1941

2,240,484

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,240,484

CUBICLE ASSEMBLY

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

Original application December 19,1938, Serial No.

246,634. Divided and this application December 9, 1939, Serial No. 308,360

Claims. (Cl. 189—34)

This invention relates to an improved cubicle assembly, and more particularly to a cubicle assembly providing one or more separate compartments for individual use. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 246,634, filed December 19, 1938.

In accordance with my invention, a cubicle assembly 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 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 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 struck. Each upright is held in rigid erect position by means of improved floor fastening devices concealed when erected with an attractive floor shoe which telescopes over the upright, the lower edge of the floor shoe snugly seating against the building floor. The floor fastening devices have means incorporated therewith for leveling the uprights to take care of floor irregularities.

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 one form of my construction, the partition panels extend into a corresponding recess provided in the supporting upright and are secured to the upright by concealed fastening means.

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 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.

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 constructed of relatively few parts and substantially entirely of sheet metal and sheet metal strips and can therefore be economically con10 structed 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.

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 from stamped metal or a one-piece casting 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, preference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a horizontal floor plan view of the cubicle assembly as it would appear when assembled along two building walls;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cubicle assembly;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the supporting upright next adjacent the building wall as shown in Fig. 2, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the supporting upright and wall bracket secured thereto, this view being taken along line 4—4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the supporting upright shown in Fig. 3, this view being taken along line 5—5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the supporting upright and partition panel removed from the building wall, this view illustrating means for connecting these parts together; .

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the supporting upright showing the par-

2,240,484 tition panel securing means associated therewith;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the partition panel, having associated therewith means for attaching the same to the supporting upright; 5

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the supporting upright and floor base;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view through the partition panel attached to the supporting upright shown in Fig. 9, this view showing further details 19 of the supporting upright, partition panel and the floor base construction;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of supporting upright floor securing means; and 15

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of a further modified form of supporting upright floor securing means.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw- 20 ings and the specification.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a plurality of spaced supporting uprights a are provided defining door openings therebetween. Partition panels b extend between the supporting up- 25 rights 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 brackets h and to the wall w by suitable wall brackets i. The lower 30 end of each supporting upright sets within a floor base or shoe e, which seats against the floor of the building, each supporting upright being firmly and rigidly secured to the building floor by means of fastening devices which will hereinafter be described. 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 supporting uprights a formed from sheet metal, which have 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 flanges 3 extending along the two vertical edges and the top horizontal edge of the facing sheets, which flanges when assembled together are substantially in abutment, as shown in Figs. 4 to 10 inclusive. 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 outturned as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. An edging strip 5, which may have either a straightline or curvilinear exterior contour, as desired, serves to cover and conceal the flanges , 3 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 the vertical and top horizontal ⁷⁰edges of the facing sheets I and 2 are held together in rigid assembly and provided with an attractive finishing edge. The lower end of each of the facing sheets Ϊ and 2 may be provided with inturned flanges 10. Suitable insulating mate- ⁷³ rial, such as fiberboard i 2, may be positioned between the facing sheets 1 and 2 before they are assembled together, so that a substantially soundproof construction is provided.

The lower end of each of the supporting uprights a is rigidly secured to the building floor by means of a floor device illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3, 4, 9 and 10. The floor securing devices comprise a heavy bar 32 positioned within the supporting upright and welded to the inturned flanges 10 thereof. An aperture 33 is provided in each end of the bar 32 through which a threaded floor stud 34 extends. The lower end of each stud 34 may be fixedly secured to an expansion shield 35 inserted in a suitable hole 36 in the floor F, locked in place by hardenable material as cement. The floor stud 34 is provided with a supporting nut 37 threaded to the stud, upon which the end of the bar 32 rests. A lock nut 38 threaded to the stud 34 and superimposed above the bar 32, may be screwed into clamping engagement therewith. The nuts 37 and 38 provide means whereby the upright a may be raised and lowered upon the paired studs 34 to level the same and to overcome irregularities in the building floor. This floor securing device rigidly maintains the supporting upright a in fixed unyielding position and particularly resists any movement of the upright, as shown in Fig. 10, to the left or right. The .partition panel b, as shown in Fig. 10, when secured to the upright and to the building wall, prevents any possible movement of the upright to or from the building wall. The f acing sheets I and 2 of the supporting upright a may be cut away as at 3,9 to permit easy access to the lock nuts 37 and 38 before the base molding e has been placed in position.

The lower end of the supporting upright a is telescoped into the base molding or floor shoe e before attachment of the supporting uprights to the floor securing devices. The floor shoe has a telescoping movement over the lower end of the supporting upright so that it may be placed in raised position, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 5, to permit attachment of the floor securing devices. When the attachment has been made, the floor shoe is brought into seating contact with the building floor, completely concealing the lower end of the supporting upright and its securing devices. The floor shoe e may be formed from stamped sheet metal, may be formed as a metal casting or forging, or may be made of other material of suitable decorative design. The floor shoe may be shaped as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, comprising a vertically continuous wall portion 40, an outwardly flared continuous hip portion 4 i, and a continuous downwardly extending leg portion 42 which seats against the building floor. The wall portion 40 may be provided with a continuous intumed lip 43 at the upper end thereof, which snugly abuts against the supporting upright a. The floor shoe thus provides auxiliary means to further hold the supporting upright in erect position.

The supporting uprights a may be so spaced as to define door openings therebetween, between which a hinged 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 wall forming panel member. Substantial saving in materials and labor, and a sturdier and more attractive construction is thus provided. Each

2,240,484 3 floor shoe e can be formed as a metal stamping or casting which offers little or no obstruction to the propel’ cleaning of the building floor, and having concealed therein unusually strong and sturdy means for securing the supporting up- 5 rights a to the building floor.

The supporting upright which is adjacent the building walls, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, may be secured to the building wall w by means of a pair of spaced wall brackets j of generally U-shaped 10 form. Each bracket j may comprise a base portion 20 which seats against the building wall and is secured to the building wall by suitable wall screws 2 i. The wall bracket j is provided with a pair of spaced leg portions 22 formed as an 15 integral part of the base portion 20, these leg portions 22 being stiffened and braced by webs 23. The leg portions 22 are spaced apart a distance to receive the supporting upright a therebetween, these parts being secured together by a 20 threaded cap screw and cap nut s. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 4 that one side of the base portion 20 of the wall bracket j extends a distance beyond the adjacent leg portion 22, providing a firm and rigid base which seats against 25 the building wall and holds the supporting upright a secured thereto in rigid position.

To stiffen the construction a channel-shaped reinforcing member may be positioned within the supporting upright a adjacent each wall 30 bracket j, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The leg portions 15 of the reinforcing member lie against the inside face of the facing sheets f and 2 and are preferably welded thereto. The leg portions IS are connected by the web portion IT. A 35 headed screw and cap nut s extends through the leg portion 22 of the wall bracket, through the facing sheets I and 2, and through the leg portions 16 of the reinforcing member, thus rigidly securing the supporting upright a to the wall w. ⁴⁰The adjacent edge of the supporting upright a may be held sufficiently spaced from the building wall to permit easy cleaning thereof.

The individual cubicles are formed by partition panels b secured along one vertical edge to the 45 supporting uprights a and along the other edge to the building wall w. As shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 7 and 10, the partition panels b are formed from a pair of spaced facing sheets 45 and 4S having insulation 12 therebetween. 50 The top and bottom horizontal edges thereof may be formed by providing inwardly extending 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 55 spot or seam welded together as at x, as shown in Fig. 10. The free edges 48 of the flanges 47 are outturned so as to receive in the space 4S provided therebetween the inturned edges 50 of the metal edging strip 51. The edging strips 51 provide a finished and artistic edging for the partition panels which meet at the corners thereof in a smooth mitered joint. The rear vertical edge of the partition panel b, as shown more particularly in the right hand side of Fig. 2, may be 65 similarly formed and covered by an edging strip 51. The partition panels b thus present a finished appearance similar to the uprights a. The vertical edge of the partition panel b adjacent the supporting upright a may extend into a re- 70 cess provided in the supporting upright a, as shown in Fig, 7. 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 75 spaced a distance apart to snugly receive the edge of the partition panel.

The front vertical edge of the partition panel b is provided with an inset channel, shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and 8. This channel has the leg portion 53 thereof welded to the adjacent facing sheets 45 and 46. The channel is provided with a web portion 54 connecting the leg portions 53. This edge of the partition panel b extends into the recess provided in the supporting upright a, shown more particularly in Fig. 7. The recess thus provided is such as to snugly receive the adjacent vertical edge of the partition panel b. In the construction shown in Fig. 6 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 55 to receive the adjacent end of the edging strip 51.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, 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 comprises a U-shaped element having leg portions 5S seating within and against the inside face of the channel leg portions 53 and secured thereto as by welding. A web portion 57 connects the leg portions 56 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 58 seating within and welded to the inturned flanges 8 of the facing sheet 2. The male clip is provided with a web portion 59 which connects the leg portions 58, the upper end of which is partly cut away so that the upper ends of the leg portions 58 terminate in upwardly projecting male elements 68 behind which the web portion 57 of the female clip attached to the partition panel b may be inserted, so that the rear edge 61 of the male elements 60 seat against the inside face of the web portion 57, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 6. 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 57 of the female clip attached thereto seats behind the rear edge 61 of the male elements 60 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 by an upward lift exerted on the partition panel.

The rear vertical edge of the partition panel b 60 may be secured in spaced relationship to the adjacent wall w by means of suitable wall brackets i which may be made similar to wall brackets j, heretofore described.

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 panel receiving recess therein. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the male clips o are directly secured to the facing sheet 2 by means of suitable headed metal screws 65 which are screwed into tapped holes provided in the facing sheet 2. The male clips o and the female clips p, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, may be constructed similarly to those heretofore described.

2,240,484

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. 9 5 and 10. The stiffening bracket h is provided with outwardly flared wing portions 66 which seat against the inside surface of the facing sheet 2 of the supporting upright a. A stiffening channel having spaced leg portions 67 and connecting web 10 portion 68 is preferably inserted within the upper end of supporting upright a to· brace and stiffen the construction. The leg portions 67 seat against the inside face of the facing sheets I and 2 respectively and are preferably welded thereto. 15 Metal screws 68' extend through the wing portions 66 of the connecting bracket and are screwed into tapped holes provided in the facing sheet 2 and the adjacent leg portion 67 of the stiffening bracket. The stiffening bracket is provided with 20 a saddle portion 68 lying at right angles to and secured to the wing portions 66, the saddle portion having downwardly extending leg portions 79 between which the upper end of the partition panel b telescopes. The saddle portion 99 is given 25 a decorative rounded contour, and, as shown in Fig. 9, the end of the edging strip 5i may be arranged so· as to abut the end 71 of the saddle portion 69 of this connecting bracket h. The leg portions 70 may be connected to the partition 30 panel b extending therebetween by one or more head screws and cap nuts.

There is shown in Fig. 11 a further means for securing the supporting upright a to a concrete floor. In this form the expansion shields 35 are 35 inserted In a hole 36 provided in the building floor F. A stud 72 is screwed into the expansion shield 35 and is secured at its upper end by means of lock nuts 73 and 74 to a further modified form of floor clamp 75. This floor clamp comprises a 40 base portion 76 having an aperture at each end thereof through which a stud 72 extends and socket portion 77 at each end thereof into which the lower end of a stud 78 is threaded. The floor clamp 75 is buried in the finished concrete floor .45 F' before the same is poured. The stud 78 projects through an aperture provided in a bar 79 fixedly secured to· the lower end of the supporting upright a and is held thereto by means of the lock nuts 89 and 81. The facing sheets i and 2 50 of the supporting upright a are cut away as at 39 to permit free manipulation of the lock nuts 73 and 74 and the whole is encased within a baseboard or trim strip e.

There is. shown in Fig. 12 a further means 55 for securing the supporting upright a to a wood floor, comprising joists 85, primary base flooring 86, and finished flooring 87. In this form of the invention, a floor clamp 83 is provided positioned between the base flooring go 86 and the finished flooring 87, which clamp is secured to the base flooring 86 and the joists 85 by sturdy wood screws or bolts 89. A floor clamp 88 comprises a base portion 9 i having a threaded lug poi-tion 92 at each end thereof extending ₆₅downwardly and into which the studs 93 are secured. Studs 93 are secured to the supporting upright a by means of a heavy bar 79 welded to the inturned flanges id thereof. The studs 93 are fixedly secured to the supporting upright a 70 by means of lock nuts 73 and 74. The supporting upright a is cut away as at 82 at the edges thereof to permit free manipulation of the lock nuts 80 and 81, and a baseboard trim strip e is used to enclose the same. 75

In the postless type cubicle construction above described, the partition uprights are so rigidly secured to the building floor that lateral bracing and head rail stiffeners are wholly unnecessary. This is particularly desirable 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 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, is fully solved when the concealed floor fastenings of the type above described are employed.

It will be understood that the uprights a may be made in heights ranging from three feet to seven feet or more, depending upon the use to which they are to be put. The partition panels b may also be suspended any desired distance from the building floor with their upper edges arrang-ed in line with the top edge of the uprights a.

My improved cubicle assembly can be made and fabricated at the plant from a minimum of parts and at relatively low 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.