U.S. patent application number 13/799646 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for office furniture system.
This patent application is currently assigned to KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL, INC.. Invention is credited to Jay M. Henriott, Samial K. Johnson, Keith E. Metcalf.
Application Number | 20140261100 13/799646 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51521569 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140261100 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Henriott; Jay M. ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
OFFICE FURNITURE SYSTEM
Abstract
An office furniture system for use in an open plan office
environment, the furniture system configured as a "hybrid" system
including features of both traditional partition systems and
contemporary desking or benching systems. In one configuration, one
or more work surfaces each include an electronic services bracket
mounted beneath the rear edge(s) thereof, and access covers for
providing selective access to electronic service modules mounted to
the bracket and disposed within a raceway space beneath the rear
edges of the work surfaces. The work surfaces may be associated
with a partition system or, alternatively, may be associated with a
desking arrangement. In another configuration, at least one
electronic services module is mounted beneath a horizontal frame
member of a partition, and work surface mounting brackets are used
to mount one or more work surfaces on one or both sides of the
partition. The work surfaces may include access covers to provide
selective access to access spaces adjacent the electronic services
modules.
Inventors: |
Henriott; Jay M.; (Jasper,
IN) ; Metcalf; Keith E.; (Jasper, IN) ;
Johnson; Samial K.; (Jasper, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
Jasper |
IN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Jasper
IN
|
Family ID: |
51521569 |
Appl. No.: |
13/799646 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/50.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 21/06 20130101;
A47B 2230/07 20130101; Y10T 403/7075 20150115; A47B 2220/00
20130101; A47B 2230/00 20130101; A47B 83/001 20130101; F16B 12/40
20130101; A47B 13/02 20130101; A47B 2083/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/50.02 |
International
Class: |
A47B 5/00 20060101
A47B005/00; A47B 21/06 20060101 A47B021/06 |
Claims
1. An office furniture system, comprising: a first horizontally
disposed work surface having an upper face, a lower face, and a
rear edge; a raceway space defined horizontally proximate said rear
edge of said first work surface; a vertically oriented office
furniture component disposed above said raceway space; an
electronic services bracket mounted to said lower face of said
first work surface, said bracket extending beneath said raceway
space; and at least one electronic services module mounted to said
bracket and disposed within said raceway space, said electronic
services bracket accessible from said upper face of said first work
surface; said rear edge of said first work surface horizontally
spaced from said first vertical side face of said partition to
define an access space between said raceway space and said rear
edge; and said first work surface further comprises an access cover
pivotably connected to said first work surface, said access cover
pivotable between a first position in which said access cover does
not obstruct said access space and said at least one electronic
services module is accessible from said upper face of said first
work surface, and a second position in which said access cover at
least partially obstructs said access space and said electronic
services module is substantially inaccessible from said upper face
of said first work surface, with a vertical gap present between
said access cover and said vertically oriented office furniture
component.
2. The system of claim 5, wherein said vertically oriented office
furniture component comprises a partition defining first and second
opposite vertical side faces and including a pair of vertical frame
members and at least one horizontal frame member connected to and
extending between said vertical frame members, said horizontal
frame member disposed above said raceway space.
3. (canceled)
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second
horizontally-disposed work surface having an upper face, a lower
face, and a rear edge, said first and second work surfaces disposed
on opposite sides of said vertically oriented office furniture
component with said raceway space defined horizontally between said
respective rear edges of said first and second work surfaces; said
electronic services bracket mounted to said lower faces of each of
said first and second work surfaces, said bracket extending beneath
and spanning said raceway space; and said at least one electronic
services module mounted to said bracket and disposed within said
raceway space, said at least one electronic services module
accessible from said upper faces of each of said first and second
work surfaces.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein said rear edges of said first and
second work surfaces are each horizontally spaced from said first
and second vertical faces of said vertically oriented office
furniture component to define respective first and second access
spaces between said raceway space and said rear edges, and said
first and second work surfaces each further comprise a said access
cover pivotably connected thereto, said access covers each
pivotable between said first and second positions.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein said vertically oriented office
furniture component comprises a screen, and said first work surface
is supported by at least one leg assembly.
7-9. (canceled)
10. An office furniture system, comprising: a partition defining
first and second opposite vertical side faces and including a pair
of vertical frame members supporting said partition from a floor,
and at least one horizontal frame member connected to and extending
between said vertical frame members, said horizontal frame member
spaced upwardly from the floor; at least one electronic services
module mounted beneath said horizontal frame member; a work surface
support bracket secured to said horizontal frame member and
extending outwardly of at least a first of said vertical side faces
of said partition; a first horizontally-disposed work surface
having an upper face, a lower face, and a rear edge, said first
work surface secured to said work surface support bracket with said
rear edge of said second work surface horizontally spaced from said
first vertical side face of said partition to define a first access
space; and a first access cover pivotably connected to said second
work surface, said first access cover pivotable between a first
open position in which said first access cover does not obstruct
said first access space and said at least one electronic services
module is accessible from said upper face of said first work
surface, and a first closed position in which said first access
cover at least partially obstructs said first access space and said
at least one electronic services module is substantially
inaccessible from said upper face of said first work surface, with
a vertical gap present between said first access cover and said
partition.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein said work surface support
bracket extends outwardly of each of said first and second vertical
side faces of said partition, said partition further comprising: a
second horizontally-disposed work surface having an upper face, a
lower face, and a rear edge, said second work surface secured to
said work surface support bracket with said rear edge horizontally
spaced from said second vertical side face of said partition to
define a second access space; and a second access cover pivotably
connected to said second work surface, said second access cover
pivotable between a second open position in which said second
access cover does not obstruct said second access space and said at
least one electronic services module is accessible from said upper
face of said second work surface, and a second closed position in
which said second access cover at least partially obstructs said
second access space and said at least one electronic services
module is substantially inaccessible from said upper face of said
second work surface.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein said horizontal frame member
includes first and second opposite sides having first and second
support flanges, respectively, and wherein: said first support
flange is disposed at a first, relatively higher vertical level;
and said second support flange is disposed at a second, relatively
lower vertical level.
13-16. (canceled)
17. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic services bracket
includes a plurality of spaced openings therein, said openings
providing access to an interior of said electronic services bracket
from beneath said first work surface.
18. The system of claim 1, wherein said access cover is mounted to
said first work surface via a plurality of hinges, said hinges
mounted within respective recesses disposed in lower faces of said
access cover and said first work surface.
19. The system of claim 1, wherein said access cover is mounted to
said first work surface via a plurality of hinges, and wherein at
least one of said hinges is a friction hinge including respective
plate portions frictionally engaged with one another.
20. The system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of
mounting brackets attached to said electronic services bracket,
said partition mounted to said mounting brackets.
21. The system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of
mounting brackets attached to said electronic services bracket,
said screen mounted to said mounting brackets.
22. The system of claim 10, wherein said electronic services
bracket includes a plurality of spaced openings therein, said
openings providing access to an interior of said electronic
services bracket from beneath said first work surface.
23. The system of claim 10, wherein said access cover is mounted to
said first work surface via a plurality of hinges, said hinges
mounted within respective recesses disposed in lower faces of said
access cover and said first work surface.
24. The system of claim 10, wherein said access cover is mounted to
said first work surface via a plurality of hinges, and wherein at
least one of said hinges is a friction hinge including respective
plate portions frictionally engaged with one another.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0002] The present disclosure relates to office furniture and, in
particular, relates to an office furniture system for use in an
open plan office environment.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Many known office furniture systems are based on traditional
partition systems, which include full height panels for use in
subdividing an open floor plan office space into substantially
private individual spaces such as cubicles, offices, meeting rooms,
and reception areas, for example.
[0005] Recently, many office furniture systems have been designed
in accordance with more spatially open aesthetics, and are based on
desking or benching systems and modular tables, for example, to
promote increased interaction and collaboration between office
workers.
[0006] What is needed in many office environments is a type of
"hybrid" office furniture system which combines beneficial features
of both traditional partition systems and current desking or
benching systems. For example, such a "hybrid" system may afford
workers some measure of privacy, such as in traditional partition
systems, yet promote easy reconfiguration in open office floor
plans as well as promote increased interaction among workers, such
as in current desking and benching systems.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present disclosure provides an office furniture system
for use in an open plan office environment, the furniture system
configured as a "hybrid" system including features of both
traditional partition systems and contemporary desking or benching
systems. In one configuration, one or more work surfaces each
include an electronic services bracket mounted beneath the rear
edge(s) thereof, and access covers for providing selective access
to electronic service modules mounted to the bracket and disposed
within a raceway space beneath the rear edges of the work surfaces.
The work surfaces may be associated with a partition system or,
alternatively, may be associated with a desking arrangement. In
another configuration, at least one electronic services module is
mounted beneath a horizontal frame member of a partition panel, and
work surface mounting brackets are used to mount one or more work
surfaces on one or both sides of the partition panel. The work
surfaces may include access covers to provide selective access to
access spaces adjacent the electronic services modules.
[0008] In one form thereof, the present disclosure provides an
office furniture system, including a first horizontally disposed
work surface having an upper face, a lower face, and a rear edge; a
raceway space defined horizontally proximate the rear edge of the
first work surface; a vertically oriented office furniture
component disposed above the raceway space; an electronic services
bracket mounted to the lower face of the first work surface, the
bracket extending beneath the raceway space; and at least one
electronic services module mounted to the bracket and disposed
within the raceway space, the electronic services bracket
accessible from the upper face of the first work surface.
[0009] In another form thereof, the present disclosure provides an
office furniture system, including a partition defining first and
second opposite vertical side faces and including a pair of
vertical frame members supporting the partition from a floor, and
at least one horizontal frame member connected to and extending
between the vertical frame members, the horizontal frame member
spaced upwardly from the floor; at least one electronic services
module mounted beneath the horizontal frame member; a work surface
support bracket secured to the horizontal frame member and
extending outwardly of at least a first of the vertical side faces
of the partition; a first horizontally-disposed work surface having
an upper face, a lower face, and a rear edge, the first work
surface secured to the work surface support bracket with the rear
edge of the second work surface horizontally spaced from the first
vertical side face of the partition to define a first access space;
and a first access cover pivotably connected to the second work
surface, the first access cover pivotable between a first open
position in which the first access cover does not obstruct the
first access space and the at least one electronic services module
is accessible from the upper face of the first work surface, and a
first closed position in which the first access cover at least
partially obstructs the first access space and the at least one
electronic services module is substantially inaccessible from the
upper face of the first work surface.
[0010] In a further form thereof, the present invention provides an
office furniture system, including a framework including a
plurality of vertical frame members and a plurality of horizontal
frame members, the framework defining opposite vertical side faces
and the vertical and horizontal frame members further defining a
framework interior; a first one of the vertical frame members
including opposite front and rear faces respectively facing the
vertical side faces of the framework; and a pair of opposite
interior faces respectively extending between the front and rear
faces, the interior faces each facing toward the framework
interior; at least one of the horizontal frame members comprising a
pair of end sections disposed in respective overlapping
relationship with the front and rear faces of the vertical frame
member; a first fastener extending through the end sections of the
first horizontal frame member and the front and rear faces of the
vertical frame member to rigidly connect the first horizontal frame
member and the vertical frame member; and a second fastener spaced
from the first fastener and extending through the first horizontal
frame member, the second fastener abutting one of the interior
faces of the vertical frame member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The above-mentioned and other features of the disclosure,
and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and
will be better understood by reference to the following description
of embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary office
furniture system for an open plan office environment in accordance
with the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a framework for
the office furniture system of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a horizontal frame
member;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective, partially exploded view showing a
connection between a horizontal frame member and a vertical frame
member at the end of a run of framework;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective, partially exploded view showing a
connection between a pair of horizontal frame members to a shared
vertical frame member at an intermediate position with a run of
framework;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG.
2;
[0018] FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a partition including
back-to-back work surfaces or, alternatively, including a single
work surface on one side of the partition;
[0019] FIG. 7b is a sectional view taken along line 7b-7b of FIG.
7a;
[0020] FIG. 7c is a sectional view taken along line 7c-7c of FIG.
7a;
[0021] FIG. 7d is a sectional view taken along line 7d-7d of FIG.
7a;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a starter bracket
secured to a storage component, to which a pair of horizontal frame
members may be attached to begin a run of framework;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a starter bracket
secured to a monolithic panel, to which a pair of horizontal frame
members may be attached to begin a run of framework;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the framework of a
"T-connection" at intersecting runs of panel framework;
[0025] FIG. 11 is a perspective, partially sectioned view showing a
benching assembly having an undersurface electrical assembly;
[0026] FIG. 12a is a perspective view of the benching assembly of
FIG. 11;
[0027] FIG. 12b is a sectional view taken along lines 12b-12b of
FIG. 12a;
[0028] FIG. 13a is a perspective view of a hinge assembly;
[0029] FIG. 13b is a perspective view of the underside of a work
surface having a pivoting access cover, including the hinge
assembly of FIG. 13a;
[0030] FIG. 14a is a perspective view of a corner work surface
unit, including a pair of pivoting access covers, with one of the
access covers shown in a partially opened position;
[0031] FIG. 14b is a perspective view of the underside of the
corner work surface unit of FIG. 14a;
[0032] FIG. 15a is a perspective view of a partition including a
floating electronic services structure mounted to a pair of
back-to-back work surfaces beneath a partition;
[0033] FIG. 15b is a fragmentary perspective view of a power pole
used in the partition of FIG. 15a;
[0034] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a partition including a
work surface support bracket mounted to the underside of the
partition and supporting a pair of back-to-back work surfaces
including access covers;
[0035] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a desking arrangement
showing a pair of leg assemblies;
[0036] FIG. 18a is a lower perspective view of portion of a
partition framework including an overhead cabinet;
[0037] FIG. 18b is a fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 18a;
and
[0038] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of a partition
framework including a tile assembly.
[0039] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out
herein illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and such
exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of
the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 1, an office furniture system 30 in
accordance with the present invention is shown, which is configured
in an open office plan environment and generally includes a central
primary partition 32, sometimes referred to as a spine partition,
which carries most or all of the electrical and/or data services
for the system 30. A plurality of secondary partitions 34 are
connected to, and extend from, the primary partition 32 to
selectively define individual office spaces 36, for example.
Finally, a number of different types of accessory components, such
as screens 38, work surfaces 40, and storage cabinets 42 may be
attached to the primary and/or secondary partitions 32 and 34.
Further features of the system 30 will be described in detail
below.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 2, a run of framework 50 of a partition is
shown, with the framework 50 and partition generally including
opposite front and rear vertical side faces 52 and 54 and opposite
end edges 56. A partition or framework interior 58 is defined
between horizontal and vertical frame members 60 and 62. Framework
50 generally includes a plurality of vertical frame members 62 and
a plurality of horizontal frame members 60 which together define a
plurality of framework sections 64 serially arranged along the
longitudinal extent of framework 50. The framework 50 may be
considered a "progressive" framework, in that adjacent neighboring
pairs of framework sections 64 share common vertical frame members
62 between sections 64. In this respect, framework 50 differs from
that of known partition systems which include individual
rectangular frame sections each including a pair of vertical frame
members and a pair of upper and lower horizontal frame members,
with adjacent framework sections connected by attaching adjacent
vertical frame members to one another along their vertical
edges.
[0042] Vertical frame members 62 may be height adjustable for
coarse adjustment relative to a floor surface by via telescoping
feet, for example, and/or may be height adjustable for fine
adjustment relative to a floor surface via threaded leveling
glides, for example. Vertical frame members 62 additionally
include, with further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, opposite front
and rear faces 66 and 68 respectively facing the front and rear
vertical side faces 52 and 54 of the framework 50 (FIG. 2).
Vertical frame members 62 also include a pair of opposite interior
faces 70a and 70b respectively extending between the front and rear
faces 66 and 68, with interior faces 70a and 70b each facing toward
(and in some instances, defining a boundary of) interior 58 of the
framework 50 (FIG. 2). Further, interior faces 70a and 70b may
additionally include ports 71 therein for passage of electrical
and/or data wires and cabling, for example.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 3, a horizontal frame member 60 is shown
which, in one embodiment, may be made of a single piece of
rectangular metal, such as steel, which may be cut and roll- or
bent-formed into the shape shown in FIG. 3 and further described
below. Each horizontal frame member 60 includes a generally
horizontal top flange 72 and a pair of vertical side flanges 74
defining lower channel 76. Tile support flanges 78 extend laterally
outwardly from each of side flanges 74, and include horizontal and
vertical components, with the horizontal components including
apertures for mounting work surface brackets thereto, as described
below. Top flange 72 may include one or more ports 80 for passage
of wiring and/or cabling, for example, as well a number of
apertures for securing brackets (not shown) for mounting electrical
harness assemblies and/or other electrical components within the
interior 58 of framework 50. Horizontal frame member 60 further
includes opposite end sections 82 each including a pair of vertical
plates 84 having a plurality of apertures 86 therein and including,
with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, horizontally-aligned first and
second apertures 86a and 86b (that is, apertures 86a and 86b are
have the same elevation) and a third aperture 86c in between and
vertically offset from first and second apertures 86a and 86b.
[0044] Referring back to FIG. 2, the same horizontal frame members
of FIG. 3 are used for both the upper and lower horizontal frame
members in the framework 50, with the upper and lower horizontal
frame members 60 disposed in 180.degree. rotationally opposite
positions with respect to one another about their longitudinal
axes. In the illustrated arrangement, channels 76 each open
outwardly (i.e., upwardly for the top frame member 60 and
downwardly for the bottom frame member 60), while the channels
formed by tile support flanges open inwardly (i.e., downwardly for
the top frame member 60 and upwardly for the bottom frame member
60). Horizontal frame members 60 are connected to vertical frame
members 62 as described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0045] Referring first to FIG. 4, a joint connection between a
lower horizontal frame member 60 and a vertical frame member 62 at
the end of a run of framework 50 is shown, it being understood that
the corresponding joint connection between an upper horizontal
frame member 60 and the same vertical frame member 62 is directly
analogous. Fasteners 90 used to secure horizontal frame member 60
to vertical frame member 62 each include two components, namely, a
first component 92 having a circular head 94 with a tool fitting
(shown in FIG. 4), a cylindrical shaft portion 96, and an
externally threaded end 98, and a second component 100 having a
circular head 102 with a tool fitting (shown in FIG. 5) and a
cylindrical shaft portion 104 which is internally threaded. The
shaft portions 96 and 104 of the fasteners 90 are sized to fit
closely within apertures 86a, 86b, and 86c of vertical plates 84 of
horizontal frame members 60 as well as within apertures 106 in
front and rear faces 52 and 54 of vertical frame member 62. In this
manner, when the fasteners 90 are inserted through respective sets
of aligned apertures of horizontal frame member 60 and vertical
frame member 62 are positively located with respect to one another.
Also, upon threading of externally threaded end 98 of first
component 92 within internally threaded shaft portion 104 of second
component 100, the circular heads 94, 102 of the components 92 and
100 are drawn tightly against vertical plates 84 of end sections 82
of horizontal frame member 60 to in turn draw vertical plates 84
into tight abutting engagement against the opposite front and rear
faces 66 and 68 of vertical frame member 62, respectively. With two
such fasteners used for each connection as shown in FIG. 4, a rigid
connection is established between horizontal frame member 60 and
vertical frame member 62.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 5, a joint connection is shown between a
pair of horizontally aligned horizontal frame members 60 and a
shared vertical frame member 62 between a pair of frame sections 64
of the partition system framework 50. The end edges 108 of
horizontal frame members 60 are disposed in direct abutment with
one another, and a pair of fasteners 90 are respectively used with
the endmost apertures 86a of end plates 84 of end sections 82 of
horizontal frame members 60 to secure same to vertical frame member
62 as described above with reference to FIG. 4. Additionally, the
intermediate, vertically offset apertures 86c of end plates 84 of
horizontal frame members 60 receive second sets of fasteners 90,
whose shaft portions 96 and 104 each directly contact and abut the
interior side faces 70a and 70b, respectively on the opposite sides
of the vertical frame member 62. The use of a first pair of
fasteners 90 inserted through both end sections 82 of horizontal
frame members 60 and vertical frame member 62, together with the
abutment of the end edges 108 of the aligned horizontal frame
members 60 and the further direct abutment of a second pair of
fasteners 90 against the interior faces 70a and 70b of vertical
frame member 62 provide a very rigid, moment-resisting connection
between the horizontal frame members 60 and the vertical frame
member 62. In particular, fasteners 90 received in apertures 86a
and through apertures 106 operate to rotatably fix end sections 82
to vertical frame member 62, while the abutment of fasteners 90
received through apertures 86c against faces 70a and 70b operate to
prevent downward rotation of end sections 82 (i.e., under weight
applied to horizontal frame members 60). The abutment of end edges
108 against one another provides further security against rotation
of horizontal frame members 60, in either direction.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 6, tiles 110 are captured between
vertically spaced pairs of tile support flanges 78 of the upper and
lower horizontal frame members 60. Tiles 110 may be decorative or
aesthetic tiles made of a suitable insulating or fabric-covered
material or alternatively may be acoustic tiles made of an
acoustic, noise-absorbing material or functional tiles including
functional features such as whiteboards or slat walls.
Additionally, tiles 110 may have a width which is greater than or
less than the width of each framework section 64, allowing the
widths of the tiles 110 to be selectively configured for functional
as well as decorative purposes.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 7a, a perspective view of a section of
system 30 is shown, generally including a partition and either a
single work surface 40 disposed on one side of the partition as
shown in FIG. 7b, or a pair of work surfaces 40 disposed in a
back-to-back arrangement on opposite sides of the partition as
shown in FIGS. 7c and 7d. In addition to being supported by the
partition, work surfaces 40 may also be supported by one or more
leg assemblies 112, as shown in FIG. 7a. As illustrated, the
partition may be formed from framework 50 and a pair of tiles
mounted thereto.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 7b, a single-sided work surface bracket
114 is shown, which generally includes an L-shaped insertion
section 116 for close-fitting receipt within the lower channel 76
of horizontal frame member 60 as shown. A series of fasteners 118
are used to secure bracket 114 to the tile support flange 78 of
horizontal frame member 60, and bracket 114 additionally includes a
work surface mounting portion 120 extending outwardly of the side
face of the partition, to which a work surface 40 may be mounted
using a series of fasteners 118. The L-shaped insertion section 116
of bracket 114 aids in counteracting the tendency of bracket 114 to
pivot or rotate due to the gravitational weight of work surface 40
imposed on mounting portion 120 of bracket 114. Alternatively or in
addition to the L-shaped insertion bracket, a supplemental leg
assembly 254 may be provided as shown in FIG. 17 and described in
detail below.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 7c, a double-sided work surface bracket
122 is shown, which is formed as an elongated bent steel member
which is centered with, and secured to, the pair of tile support
flanges 78 of horizontal frame member 60 via fasteners 118, with a
pair of work surfaces 40 respectively secured to opposite ends of
bracket 122 via a plurality of fasteners 118.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 7d, an alternative arrangement includes a
"high-low" horizontal frame member 60 which includes a first side
wall 74a having relatively greater vertical extent and a second
side wall 74b having a relatively lesser vertical extent, such that
opposite tile support flanges 78 of horizontal frame member 60 are
disposed at differing vertical levels. Additionally, electrical
services modules 130 may be secured to the underside of horizontal
frame member 60 via a suitable mounting arrangement for delivery of
electrical and/or data services beneath work surface 40 and, on one
side of the partition, one or more single-sided work surface
brackets 114 may be used in conjunction with one or more electrical
services modules 130 with the foregoing components mounted along
horizontal frame member 60 in a horizontally alternating manner.
Thus, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 7d, electrical and/or data
services are provided on one side of the partition via electrical
services modules 130 to the underside of work surface 40 while, on
the opposite side of the partition, a decorative or aesthetic tile
110 is provided having no access to electrical and/or data
services.
[0052] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, starter brackets 132 are shown,
which permit a run of framework 50 to interface with a permanent
wall, for example, or with a storage component 134, such as a
cabinet as shown in FIG. 8, a monolithic panel 136 as shown in FIG.
9. Referring to FIG. 8, each starter bracket 132 is structurally
analogous to a shortened vertical frame member 62, though further
includes a pair of laterally extending, vertical flanges 138 for
securing starter bracket 132 to a permanent wall or an office
furniture component, such as a storage component 134 in FIG. 8, via
a plurality of fasteners. Upper and lower horizontal frame members
60 may be secured to starter bracket 132 in the same manner as
described above with respect to FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 9, a
starter bracket 132 is shown secured to a monolithic panel 136, and
a pair of upper and lower horizontal frame members 60 may also be
secured to starter bracket 132 in a like manner.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 10, an off-module bracket 140 includes
upper and lower ends respectively fitted within tile support
flanges 78 of upper and lower horizontal frame members 60 of an end
partition framework 50, for example, in a similar fashion to the
securement of tiles 110 to support flanges 78 shown in FIG. 6 and
described above. The off-module bracket 140 is structurally
analogous to a shortened vertical frame member 62, and the upper
and lower horizontal frame members 60 of an intersecting run of
framework 50 may be attached to off-module bracket 140 via
fasteners 90 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 4 and described
above. Advantageously, the resulting "T"-connection shown in FIG.
10 allows intersecting runs of framework 50 to be secured to one
another while obviating the need for a vertical frame member 62 at
the junction point to extend to the floor surface, which provides a
more uniform and pleasing visual appearance. Several such
"T"-connections are shown in system 30 in FIG. 1.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 11, a "floating" electrical services
bracket 150 is illustrated in use with a desking or benching
arrangement which includes a pair of leg assemblies 112 each
including a horizontal beam 152 and a pair of vertical legs 154,
together with a pair of work surfaces 40 mounted to leg assemblies
112 in a back-to-back arrangement (only a portion of one of which
is shown for clarity). Further details of the desking system shown
in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/484,925, entitled Office Desking System, assigned to the
assignee of the present invention, the entire disclosure of which
is expressly incorporated by reference herein. Referring
additionally to FIG. 12b, electrical services bracket 150 may be
formed of a single monolithic piece of stamped and bent steel, for
example, and includes a central spine 160 disposed beneath a
raceway space 161, to which one or more electrical services modules
130 may be mounted, which are disposed within the raceway space
161.
[0055] Brackets 150 also include a pair of elongate mounting
flanges 162 for mounting beneath the lower faces 164 of work
surfaces 40 adjacent rear edges 166 of work surfaces 40 via
suitable fasteners as illustrated in FIG. 12b. Bracket 150
additionally includes a plurality of ribs 168 with openings
therebetween for permitting access to electrical services modules
130 and passage of cords and cabling beneath work surfaces 40. As
may be in FIG. 11, because bracket 150 is mounted to the lower
faces 164 of work surfaces 40, bracket 150 need not be mounted to
or directly supported by leg assemblies 112 of the desking
arrangement and, in this manner, bracket 150 "floats" beneath the
work surfaces 40.
[0056] A vertically-extending office furniture component may
optionally be disposed above bracket 150, with the vertical office
furniture component being, e.g., a partition as described further
below or, as shown in FIG. 11, a screen 170. Referring to FIG. 11,
a plurality of brackets 172, which may be identical to double-work
surface brackets 122 shown in FIG. 7c, are mounted in transverse
spanning arrangement along mounting flanges 162 of electrical
services bracket 150 via suitable fasteners, and screen 170 may be
captured along its lower edge by mounting clips 174 secured to
brackets 172.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 12a and 12b, work surfaces 40 may be
provided with access covers 180 hingedly attached to the rear edges
166 of work surfaces 40 for providing selective access to access
spaces 182 which are provided within electrical services bracket
150 horizontally adjacent the raceway space 161 in which electrical
services modules 130 are provided. For example, as shown in FIGS.
12a and 12b, respectively, access covers 180 may be pivoted from a
closed position, shown in solid lies in FIGS. 12a and 12b, in which
access covers 180 substantially inhibit access to access spaces 182
and the electrical services modules 130 and an open position, shown
in FIG. 16 (and in dashed lines in FIG. 12b, wherein cover 180 is
partially open), in which access covers 180 are opened to allow
ready access to access spaces 182 and the electrical services
modules 130. Additionally, when access covers 180 are in a closed
position, as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 12a and 12b, a small
clearance space may be provided between access covers 180 and
screen 170, for example, for routing of cords and cables C above
work surface 40 in the manner shown in FIG. 12b. Access covers 180
may be made of the same substrate material as work surfaces 40 and
therefore may have the same thickness as work surfaces 40. In one
exemplary embodiment, access covers 180 are flush with the working
surface of the adjacent work surface when in the closed position to
form an extension of the effective working space.
[0058] Referring to FIGS. 13a and 13b, an exemplary hinge 190 is
shown for hingedly mounting access covers 180 to work surfaces 40.
Hinge 190 generally includes a pair of first, horizontal plates 192
having openings for receipt of fasteners 118, which allow for
securing plates 192 within recesses 194 (FIG. 13b) respectively
disposed in work surfaces 40 and access covers 180. Hinges 190 also
include a pair of vertical, U-shaped plates 196, and a pair of
links 198 received within and connecting U-shaped plates 196. Links
198 are pivotally attached to one another at pivot point 200 and
also include opposite ends having pins 202 received within slots
204 of U-shaped plates 196. In this manner, when hinge 190 is
operated to move an access cover 180 with respect to the work
surface 40 to which it is attached, links 198 travel with respect
to plates 196 such that the pivot point 200 also travels. The
components of hinge 190 are also frictionally engaged with one
another such that movement of hinge 190 requires manual force and
hinge 190 is normally held in a given rotational position in the
absence of an applied force. Advantageously, the use of such
friction hinges 190 prevents access covers 180 from falling against
the upper face of work surface 40 by gravity and substantially
eliminates any potential for pinching of a user's fingers, for
example.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 14b, the use of discrete hinges 190
attached along the interface between a work surface 40 and its
pivoting access covers 180 at spaced intervals eliminates hindrance
of hinges 190 with one another at a junction between multiple
access covers 180. For example, referring to FIGS. 14a and 14b, a
work surface 40 adapted for use in a corner of system 30 includes a
pair of access covers 180 having 45.degree. mitered edges 210
adjacent one another, with hinges 190 adjacent the mitered edges
210 being spaced from the intersection of the mitered edges 210
with the corner of the work surface 40 as best shown in FIG. 14b.
This arrangement eliminates any interference at the corner of work
surface 40 which could occur with the use of piano hinges, for
example. In this manner, each of the access covers 180 may be
independently opened and closed relative to the other without
interference between the access covers 180, yet the access covers
180 may completely cover access spaces 182 along the edges of the
work surface 40 and at the corner of the work surface 40 where
access covers 180 intersect one another.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 15a, a configuration including a partition
together with a "floating" electronic services bracket 150 is
shown. In an analogous manner to the configuration shown in FIGS.
11 and 12, the electronic services bracket 150 is attached to the
lower faces 164 of a pair of back-to-back work surfaces 40, and a
partition is disposed above the raceway space 161 defined by
bracket 150. Work surfaces 40 may include access covers 180 for
selectively providing access to access spaces 182 defined between
raceway space 161 and respective front and rear side faces 52 and
54 of partition and rear edges 166 of work surfaces 40, thereby
selectively providing or restricting access to electronic services
modules 130 positioned within raceway space 161. Additionally, the
partition may include a power pole 212 extending from a ceiling
(not shown) to the upper portion of a vertical frame member 62 for
routing data and/or electrical cables into the partition framework
50.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 15b, power pole 212 may include two
interfitting components, namely, a relatively rigid base component
214 and a relatively resilient cover component 216. Base component
214 includes a base wall 218 and first and second side walls 220
terminating in beads 222, together with a divider wall 224
extending from base wall 218 between side walls 220. Cover
component 216 includes a base wall 226 together with a pair of side
walls 228 having elongated recesses 230 which are sized to fit
around beads 222 of base component 214 in a snap-fit manner. In
use, with cover component 216 disposed in the closed position shown
in solid lines in FIG. 15b, dividing wall 224 of base component 214
divides the interior of power pole 212 into a pair of separate
axially extending raceway spaces 232a and 232b for receipt of
electrical and data cords or cabling, respectively, with the
electrical cords/cabling and the data cords/cabling being separated
from one another for ease of installation, maintenance and/or
reconfiguration. Cover component 216 may be moved to an open
position, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 15b, by grasping side walls
228 of cover component 216 to slightly flex same, and then
selectively pivoting cover component 216 about one of the beads 222
of base component 214, with the side wall 228 of cover component
216 being released from the opposite bead 222 to thereby pivotally
open cover component 216. As will be apparent from the structure
described above, cover component 216 may be opened in either one of
two directions based on the selection of one or the other of beads
22 of base component 214 as the hinge for opening cover components
216.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 16, a further partition configuration is
shown which includes a work surface support bracket 240. The work
surface support bracket 240 includes a central section mounted
beneath a lower horizontal frame member 60 of the partition in the
same manner as the double-sided work surface bracket 122 of FIG.
7c, together with a pair of opposite longitudinal flanges 242
secured to the lower faces 164 of at least one work surface 40
adjacent the rear edge 166 of the work surface 40. A series of ribs
244 extend between the longitudinal central section and the
mounting flanges 242 of bracket 240 to allow passage of wires and
cabling. The mounting flanges 242 are vertically offset from the
central section of bracket 240 such that, with electrical services
modules 130 mounted to the top wall 72 of the adjacent lower
horizontal frame member 60 (FIG. 3) of framework 50, the work
surfaces 40 are spaced slightly above the horizontal level of the
electrical services modules 130. The foregoing configuration,
similar to those discussed above, also provides a pair of access
spaces 182 adjacent the vertical side faces 52 and 54 of the
partition, which access spaces 182 may be selectively accessed and
restricted via access covers 180 associated with work surfaces 40,
as described above. With the access covers 180 in their closed
positions (as shown for the left access cover 180 in FIG. 16), a
small clearance space exists to allow passage of cords from the
electrical services modules 130 above work surfaces 40.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 17, a pair of leg assemblies for a desking
arrangement similar to that of FIGS. 11a and 12 are shown. A first
leg assembly 250, similar to that of FIG. 12a, includes horizontal
member 152 and a pair of vertical legs 154, as well as a vertical
stanchion 252 having a structure analogous to that of vertical
frame member 62 described above with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and
5. A pair of horizontal frame members 60 may be secured to vertical
stanchion 252 via suitable fasteners in the manner shown and
described above with respect to FIG. 4. Additionally, an "h" leg
assembly 254 includes a vertical frame member 62, a horizontal
frame member 256 and a vertical leg 258, and a pair of horizontal
frame members 60 may be secured to vertical frame member 62 of leg
assembly 254 via suitable fasteners in the manner shown and
described above with respect to FIG. 4. Horizontal members 152 and
256 of leg assemblies 250 and 254 may be used to support work
surfaces 40 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 17 for
clarity).
[0064] Referring to FIGS. 18a and 18b, an overhead cabinet 42 is
shown which may be secured to framework 50 of a partition. Cabinet
42 includes a pair of end rails 260 which rest upon an upper
horizontal frame member 60 of framework 50, and a pair of brackets
262 which include first flanges 264 (FIG. 18b) with holes for
receipt of fasteners to secure same to end rails 260, as
illustrated. Brackets 262 also each include second flange 266
having clip 268 which engages tile support flanges 78 of an upper
horizontal frame member 60 in a clamping arrangement to secure
overhead cabinet 42 to the upper horizontal frame member 60. The
brackets 262 allow for longitudinal adjustment of the mounting
location of cabinet 42 to the upper horizontal frame member 60 such
that cabinet 42 may be located at any longitudinal position along
one or more of the horizontal frame members 60 in an "off module"
arrangement with respect to the framework 50 of a partition. In the
illustrated embodiment, a pair of brackets 262 are attached to each
of end rails 260, on either side of vertical frame member. Thus, a
total of four brackets 262 may be used to attach cabinet 42 to
framework 50 via frame member 60.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 19, a partition and tile assembly is
shown, including a pair of tiles 270 that may each include a first,
outer facing surface 272 and an opposite, inner facing surface 274,
together with a plurality of openings 276 extending through the
tile 270 between surfaces 272 and 274. One surface 272 may have a
first visual element, such as a color, pattern or texture, etc.,
while the opposite surface 274 may have a second, different visual
element, such as a color, pattern, or texture, etc. When a pair of
such tiles 270 are mounted to opposite sides of a framework section
64 of a partition, the inner facing surface 274 of one tile 270
will be visible through openings 276 from the outer facing surface
272 of the opposite tile 270, which provides a visually pleasing
"three-dimensional" effect due to the contrast in the color(s),
pattern(s), or texture(s) of the surfaces.
[0066] While this disclosure has been described as having exemplary
designs, the present disclosure can be further modified within the
spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore
intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the
disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application
is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as
come within known or customary practice in the art to which this
disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the
appended claims.
* * * * *