U.S. patent number 3,849,950 [Application Number 05/337,284] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-26 for functional and decorative trim and support bracket structures.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Knoll International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Don C. Albinson, Charles R. Cawley, Jr, Richard Baier Hopkins, William I. Stephens.
United States Patent |
3,849,950 |
Albinson , et al. |
November 26, 1974 |
FUNCTIONAL AND DECORATIVE TRIM AND SUPPORT BRACKET STRUCTURES
Abstract
Structure serving as decorative trim and also to join panels
together and to provide a support for the "hanging" of an item
attached to an L-shaped support bracket. A base portion bears
against the top edge of one or more panels, and a flange portion
overlies the base portion. The upper and side surfaces of the
flange portion serve as the exposed decorative trim. The flange
portion has an outwardly and then downwardly extending outer part
on each side thereof which terminates above a support surface to
hold one leg of the L-shaped support bracket and to maintain the
other leg of that bracket resting on the support surface. A bracket
for supporting a shelf or the like is disclosed. The bracket
includes a first horizontally extending leg that is supported on
the top edge of one or more panels and which is held in place by
the base portion of the decorative trim/panel joining/hanging
support structure. A second downwardly extending leg is included
which fits between adjacent edges of panels. A third leg extends
horizontally away from the large exposed area of a panel.
Inventors: |
Albinson; Don C. (Coopersburg;,
PA), Stephens; William I. (Telford, PA), Cawley, Jr;
Charles R. (Barto, PA), Hopkins; Richard Baier
(Pennsburg, PA) |
Assignee: |
Knoll International, Inc. (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
26817358 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/337,284 |
Filed: |
March 2, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
119457 |
Mar 1, 1971 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/27;
D6/643 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
96/061 (20130101); A47B 95/04 (20130101); A47B
95/043 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
95/00 (20060101); A47B 95/04 (20060101); A47B
96/06 (20060101); E04h 001/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/27,582,584,285,241,238,239,300,274,38,36,477 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Faw, Jr.; Price C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cooper, Dunham, Clark, Griffin
& Moran
Parent Case Text
This is a division, of application Ser. No. 119,457 filed 1 Mar.
1971.
Claims
We claim:
1. Panel structure, comprising a pair of panels having abutting
edge portions, and a bracket for supporting a fixture, said bracket
comprising a vertically extending leg positioned between said
abutting edge portions, and means attached to said leg and
extending from said abutting edge portions for supporting a
fixture, said bracket including a horizontally extending leg
supported on the top edge of at least one of said panels.
2. A work station comprising at least two vertically disposed
panels that together bound a work area, each panel having a top
edge surface and a bottom edge surface, first panel joining means
attached to said panels only adjacent the top edge surfaces
thereof, and second panel joining means attached to said panels
only adjacent the bottom edge surfaces thereof, said first and
second panel joining means constituting the only means of joining
together said panels, in which said first panel joining means
includes means for securing a support bracket for support of the
bracket by the top edge surface of at least one of said panels, and
a support bracket resting on a part thereof on said top edge
surface and secured in plane by said securing means.
3. A work station according to claim 2, in which said first panel
joining means comprises a base portion that bears against the top
edge surface of at least one of said panels, and a flange portion
overlying the base portion, said flange portion having an outwardly
and then downwardly extending outer part which comprises said
securing means.
4. A work station comprising a panel structure having a top edge
surface, a trim structure comprising a base member that bears
against said top edge surface and a flange member extending from
above said top edge surface outwardly and downwardly and
terminating above said top edge surface, and a support bracket
resting on a part thereof on said top edge surface and held from
moving off said top edge surface by said flange member.
Description
BACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to furniture construction. More
particularly, it relates to structure that functions as decorative
trim while also serving to join panels together and to provide a
support for the "hanging" of an item attached to an L-shaped
support bracket. The invention also relates to a unique bracket for
supporting a shelf or the like.
This invention finds particular application in the office
landscaping field in which panel structures are used to define
various work areas. Various approaches have been taken in the past
to join together different panels to form an individual work
station. Most of the past approaches have proceeded on the basis
that it is necessary to have a complete interlocking of all panels
in an area encompassing a number of work stations. This approach is
undesirable inasmuch as it limits the flexibility of the system
once a number of work stations have become interconnected.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed toward the joining
together of panels in such a fashion as to maintain needed
flexibility while at the same time providing stable support for
adjacent panels in order to complete an individual work station.
The invention involves unique panel joining structure which serves
as decorative trim and also provides support for the "hanging" of
various items attached to L-shaped support brackets and which are
suspended from the top edge of one or more panels.
This novel decorative trim/panel joining/hanging support structure
includes a base portion that bears against the top edge of one or
more panels. A flange portion overlies the base portion and
includes outwardly exposed surfaces that serve as the decorative
trim. The flange portion has an outwardly and then downwardly
extending outer parts on each side thereof which terminates above
the top edge surface of one or more panels to hold, on either side
of the flange portion, one leg of the L-shaped support bracket and
to maintain the other leg of the bracket resting on the top edge
surface.
The present invention also involves a bracket for supporting a
shelf or the like. The bracket is adapted to have a major portion
thereof hidden by the decorative trim/panel joining/hanging support
structure just described as well as by the panels themselves,
inasmuch as part of the bracket is positioned between abutting
panel edges. The brakcet includes a first horizontally extending
leg that is supported on the top edge of one or more of the panels
and which is held in place by the base portion of the decorative
trim/panel joining/hanging support structure described above. A
second downwardly extending leg is positioned between adjoining
side edges of adjacent panels and is thereby mainly obscured from
view except for an exposed side edge of this downwardly extending
bracket leg. A third leg extends horizontally away from the large
area surface of one or more of the panels and serves as the support
for a shelf or the like. Thus this third leg, which may be
positioned a substantial distance down from the top edge of one or
more of the panles and which appears to emanate from a mid portion
of such panels, is nonetheless supported at the top edge by virtue
of the first and second legs just described.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide
better structure serving as decorative trim and/or panel joining
and/or hanging support structure.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved support
bracket for supporting a shelf or the like.
The invention will be more completely understood by a reference to
the following detailed description, which is to be read in
conjunction with the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work station involving three
joined-together panels and embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of a part of the work station of FIG. 1
showing the joining together of two adjacent panels;
FIG. 3 is a sectional vie wo of the structure of FIG. 2, taken
along the section 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the novel decorative trim/panel
joining/hanging support structure of the present invention included
at the free end of one panel;
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views of the structure of FIG. 4,
taken along the sections 5--5, 6--6 and 7--7 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention
involving decorative trim/panel joining/hanging support structure
in the joining together of two panels in a straight line
section;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the structure of FIG. 8, taken along
the section 9--9 in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing various embodiments
of the decorative trim/panel joining/hanging support structure of
the present invention;
FIG. 10a is a plan view of the decorative trim/panel
joining/hanging support structure used to form a T joint;
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the bottom of adjacent
panels joined together;
FIGS. 12 and 13 are sectional views showing the techniques of
hanging a shelf at different heights with respect to a panel; FIG.
12 is a sectional view taken along the section 12--12 in FIG.
1;
FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the section 14--14 in FIG.
1 showing the technique by which an item is "hung" in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a work station including support
brackets for supporting a shelf in accordance with the
invention;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of the structure
of FIG. 15, taken along the section 16--16 in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of part of the structure of FIG. 16,
taken along the section 17--17 in FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing functional and
decorative trim and a support bracket in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing another trim piece and
another support bracket in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1 a work station 20 formed from three panels 22,
24 and 26 is shown. The work station may include a writing surface
28 and a two-drawer filing module 30. The writing surface 28 is
supported by panels 22 and 26 as shown in detail in FIG. 12, to be
described later, while the storage module 30 is usually simply
placed beneath the writing surface 28 and against the panels 24 and
26. An item, such as a tack board 32, is mounted on the back panel
24 an d is suspended from the top of that panel as shown in detail
in FIG. 14, also to be described later. Hanging cabinets and/or
book shelves above the work surface may also be included, if
desired. Casters 34 or the like may be included at the bottom of
the panels 22, 24 and 26 as suitable support for the panels over a
floor.
FIGS. 2, 3 and 10 should be considered together; they show the
manner in which the panels 22 and 24 are joined together along the
top edges thereof. Structure serving as decorative trim and also to
join the panels 22 and 24 together and to provide a support for the
"hanging" of the tack frame 32 or other structure such as a cabinet
is shown. The structure involves a base portion 36; at the corner,
where the two panes 22 and 24 join, the base structure is comprised
of two base portions 36a and 36b. The base portion 36a bears
against the top edge of the panel 24, while the base portion 36b
bears against the top edge of the panel 22. A flange portion 38
overlies the base portion 36. Outwardly exposed surfaces 38a, 38b,
38c and 38d may be polished to provide the decorative trim aspect
of the element just described. This element is typically a
one-piece casting.
There are different shapes of base and flange portions depending
upon whether these elements are used to join two panels at a
corner, to join two panels in a straight line, or at a T, or to
terminate a panel. Thus, for example, base and flange portions 40
and 42 (typically one piece as noted above) in FIG. 10 are used to
join together two panels 24 and 24' in a straight line. Also in
FIG. 10 bridging element 44 is used to bridge base portions 36a and
40a in spanning the gap between the left and right-hand ends of the
panel 24. Similarly, bridging element 46 is used to span the gap
between base portions 36b and 48 between the left and right-hand
ends of the panel 22 shown in FIG. 10.
The flange portion of the decorative trim/panel joining/hanging
support structure of the present invention is best shown in FIG. 3.
There the bridging element 46 is shown in detail. At each side of
the flange portion there is an outwardly (46a) and downwardly (46b)
extending part. The downwardly extending part 46b terminates above
a support surface 22a which is the upper edge of the panel 22. The
briding element 46 also includes a second downwardly extending part
46c on each side theeof which engages the sides of the base portion
36b and which itself serves as a base portion. In this fashion the
briding element 46 is maintained in position against the base
portion 36b, particularly against the outer edges of that base
portion.
As shown in FIG. 10, and at the corner forming theejunction of
panels 22 and 24, holes are included in the base portions 36a and
36b (respectively holes 50a and 50b). These holes are aligned with
corresponding holes in the bridging elements 44 and 46
(respectively holes 52a and 52b). A screw 54 (FIG. 3) passes
through the holes 52b and 50b and engages a threaded fastening 56
in the panel 22.
In this fasion all the panels are joined together. It will be noted
that a base portion and a flange portion structure (albeit a
one-piece casting) is used throughout in the joining and ending of
all panels. At the corners, such as at the corner formed by the
joining of panels 22 and 24, the base and flange structures 36 and
38 may be integrally formed if desired, or individual pieces might
be employed if desired. The same is true with the joining of
adjacent panels in a straight line, as by the base and flange
portions 40 and 42, as well as the termination of a panel as by the
base and flange portions 48 and 49. Normally, bridging elements,
such as the bridging elements 44 and 46, are employed in the mid
regions of the top edges of the panels to conserve material.
In the figures, FIGS. 2 and 3 show the joining together of panels
at a corner, such as the corner formed by the panels 22 and 24.
FIGS. 4 and 7 show the termination of a panel, as at the right-hand
end of panel 22 (FIG. 10).
FIGS. 8 and 9 show the joining together of adjacent panels in a
straight line, as for example panels 24 and 24'. It will be noted
that in this case a foam-type substance 60 may be advantageously
positioned between adjacent panels. Such gasket material is
normally used at all joints between panels.
FIG. 10a shows the structure used to join together panels in a T
configuration, involving segment 40c.
FIG. 11 shows the joining together of panels at the bottom. The
joining structure is simply representative and could take the form
of the top trim structure just described. However, for purposes of
economy it is better to use the structure shown in FIG. 11 to save
material costs. All that is involved is simply strips of material
such as strips 61, 62, 64, 66 and 68 as well as a corner bracket
70. Flat strips, angle irons or channels may be used, as desired.
The strips and corner bracket are drilled as at 72, for example, to
permit a caster 34 to be held in place. Additional holes are
included such as the hole 76 to accommodate screws 74 which pass
upwardly through the strip or bracket and into the corresponding
panel to hold the strip or bracket in place.
FIGS. 12 and 13 show the support of the writing surface 28. For
this purpose an L-shaped bracket 80 is employed. The bracket
includes segments 80a and 80b. If the bracket 80 is positioned as
shown in FIG. 12 the writing surface 28 is maintained in a lower
one of two positions, while if the bracket 80 is positioned as
shown in FIG. 13, the writing surface 28 is positioned in a higher
one of these two positions. The bracket 80 is secured to the panel
22 and the writing surface 28 respectively by screws 82 and 84.
FIG. 14 shows how an item such as a tack board or cabinet, for
example, may be supported in place by the novel structure of the
present invention. A bracket 90 is employed which includes a
portion 90a affixed to the tack board 32 and L-shaped remaining
portions 90b and 90c. The portion 90c first behind downwardly
extending part 92b of flange portion 92. The section 90b of the
L-shaped bracket rests upon the top edges of the panel 24', which
top edge in this case acts as a support surface for this section of
the L-shaped bracket. Thus the bracket is supported at the section
90b, while the section 90c is prevented from moving outwardly by
the downwardly extending part 92b of the flange portion which
maintains the tack board in position. All that is required is a
simple pivoting of the tack board, to the position shown in dash
and dotted lines in FIG. 14, to remove or position the tack board
in place.
The advantages of the novel trim/panel joining/hanging support
structure just described is that the flange and base portions may
be made integral or separately as desired. It should be noted that
the abutting together of adjacent flange portions, for example,
flange portions 38 and 44 in FIG. 10 along a straight line 96 shown
in FIG. 2 prevents the pivoting of the flange portion 44. Hence,
only a single screw need be employed passing through hole 52a at
this end of the flange portion 44 to prevent such pivoting
movement; normally two screws at each end of the flange portion
would be required to prevent such pivoting movement.
It should also be noted that the base portion, e.g., the base
portion 36, is less in height than the corresponding flange portion
38 and is less in width than the flange portion. This provides for
the advantageous nesting of associated flange and base portions in
completing the decorative trim/panel joining/hanging support
structure of the present invention.
The drawings show illustrative forms. Further joints, such as +
shaped may be used, and joints at other than right angles are
possible.
FIGS. 15 to 19 show the details of a support bracket for supporting
a shelf or similar unit. In FIG. 15 three panels, 100, 102 and 104,
are shown maintained in position through use of the decorative
trim/panel joining/hanging support structure described above. A
shelf 106 is shown supported by brackets 108 and 110. FIGS. 16 and
17 show the details in which the right-hand bracket 110 in FIG. 15
is positioned in the space between abutting or adjoining edges of
panels 102 and 104. FIG. 18 shows the left-hand bracket 108 in FIG.
15. Because FIG. 18 is an exploded view, reference will be made to
that figure to explain the support brackets 108 and 110.
The left-hand support bracket 108 is, as shown in FIG. 18,
comprised of a first leg 108a which extends in the horizontal or X
direction. The leg 108a is for supporting the bracket from top edge
102a of panel 102. The leg 108a terminates in an upwardy extending
lip 108b; the lip 108b extends in the Y direction. A second leg
108c extends downwardly in the vertical or Y direction. The leg
108c is normally much longer than the leg 108a. The leg 108c
extends along side edge 102b of the panel 102 that adjoins a side
edge of panel 100. Thus the vertical leg 108c is positioned between
the adjoining or abutting edges of the panels 100 and 102, and is
completely concealed from view except for the edge 108d of this
vertical leg which is visible to an observer looking toward the
large area surface 102c of the panel 102. Positioned beneath the
vertical leg 108c is the gasket material 60 described above.
A third leg 108e extends outwardly in the Z direction away from the
large area surface 102c of the panel 102. The leg 108e serves as
the actual support for the shelf 106 and for this purpose includes
flanged portions 108f, 108g and 108h.
It will be noted from FIG. 18 that the horizontal leg 108a that is
supported on the top edge 102a of the panel is positioned within
decorative trim/panel joining/hanging support structure 112 shown
removed in FIG. 18. The trim piece 112 is as described above and
includes a base portion 112a that bears against top edge 102a of
the panel 102. The base portion 112a as shown in FIG. 18 is made up
of two flanged pieces 112a-1 and 112a-2. The horizontal leg 108a of
the support bracket fits between the flanges 112a-1 and 112a-2,
with the upwardly extending lip 108b bearing against the under
surface 112b of the trim piece. In this fashion the support bracket
108 is maintained in position. FIG. 17 shows the manner in which
the upwardly extending lip 110b of the support bracket 110 bears
against under surface 114b of trim piece 114.
FIG. 19 shows the details of a similar support bracket 118 adapted
to be positioned with respect to two panels 120 and 122 that join
in a straight line rather than at right angles as in the
construction of FIG. 15. For this purpose the bracket includes a
first leg 118a that extends horizontally in the X direction on both
sides of the vertical leg 118c (leg 118a need only extend on one
side of leg 118c). The leg 118a includes upwardly extending lips
118b-1 and 118b-2 that fit within trim piece 124 in the same
fashion as explained above with respect to the lips 108b and 110b.
In this case the vertical leg 118c of the support bracket is
positioned between the abutting edges of the two panels 120 and
122.
With respect to the support bracket, there are three basic
configurations just disclosed. The first is for a "left-hand"
bracket (bracket 108), the second is for a "right-hand" bracket
(bracket 110), and the third is for an "intermediate" (bracket 118)
that is adapted for use between two panels that abut in a stright
line. Other bracket configurations are possible departing from the
specific configurations shown in FIGS. 15 to 19. The brackets are
characterized by the fact that the actual article support portion
that is constituted by the third horizontal leg which extends in
the Z direction away from the large area surface of one or more
panels is positioned a substantial distance below the top edges of
these panels giving the illusion that the bracket itself is
"floating".
It should be realized that the invention is subject to
modification. The invention should be taken to be defined,
therefore, by the following claims.
* * * * *