Interlock for wall panel system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention may be summarized as comprising an interlock system for engaging adjacent vertical frame members in a wall panel system comprising a past-center latching device cooperative with keyhole-shaped openings in the webs or faces of the vertical frame members.
The past-center latch device provides a pivotal latch bracket with a threaded dowel freely held therein and receiving therethrough the threaded end of a bolt, preferably a carriage bolt.
The domed head of the carriage bolt is sized in proportion to a circular aperture of the keyhole-stamped openings formed on the frame members to be insertable therethrough.
The carriage bolt head is integrally formed with a square or otherwise polygonal nut portion capable of non-rotational receipt within elongate slots of the keyhole-shaped opening.
In that way the latch bracket may rotate said threaded dowel without rotating the head of the carriage bolt whereby to draw two adjacent engaged vertical panel members together.
The latch bracket is ultimately pivoted past-center to cam against the web of the respective frame member thereby securing it to the adjacent frame member holding the carriage bolt nut portion thereat.
A washer may also be arranged on the carriage bolt and forced evenly against the web of the frame member by camming surfaces of the latch bracket whereby to distribute the force evenly and assure a tight engagement without deforming the surface of the web.
The inventive interlock system requires only a single fastener between adjacent frame members when used in cooperation with, for example, a conventional hook and slot engageable element usually formed at the lower ends of standard tubular vertical frame members of a wall panel system.
The latch bracket has a generally channel shape with side webs that taper away from camming edges thereof at either side of the channel.
After the latch bracket is tightened against the washer by threading down along the carriage bolt, the latch bracket is rotated, forcing the camming edges against the washer to complete the interlock between the frame members