U.S. patent number 3,809,449 [Application Number 05/290,777] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-07 for foundation framework for metal office furniture.
This patent grant is currently assigned to All-Steel, Inc.. Invention is credited to Donald V. Beaver.
United States Patent |
3,809,449 |
Beaver |
May 7, 1974 |
FOUNDATION FRAMEWORK FOR METAL OFFICE FURNITURE
Abstract
A foundation framework for office furniture desks, tables and
the like comprising a torsionally rigid top structure, a pair of
torsionally rigid panel leg structures supporting either end of the
top structure and disposed in parallel spaced relation adjacent
either end of the top structure and extending transversely thereof,
a pair of spaced apart brackets on the upper edges of each panel
leg structure that are secured by screws to the top structure, and
a tie plate, such as a back panel, secured between the top
structure and the panel leg structures and extending normally of
same, at each end of the top structure to make the panel leg
structure resistant to hinging action relative to the top
structure. This basic foundation framework may be used as such to
provide tables, or augmented by the application to same of
standardized furniture forming components to provide desks of
various types, bookcases, filing cabinets, and the like.
Inventors: |
Beaver; Donald V. (Brookfield,
IL) |
Assignee: |
All-Steel, Inc. (Aurora,
IL)
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Family
ID: |
26763993 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/290,777 |
Filed: |
September 21, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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80835 |
Oct 15, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/194 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
96/205 (20130101); A47B 17/003 (20130101); A47B
96/201 (20130101); A47B 2200/0028 (20130101); A47B
13/003 (20130101); A47B 2013/006 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
96/00 (20060101); A47B 17/00 (20060101); A47B
96/20 (20060101); A47b 096/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/194-196,257
;248/188 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Mann, Brown, McWilliams &
Bradway
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of my application Ser. No.
80,835, filed Oct. 15, 1970 (now abandoned).
Claims
1. In metal office furniture, a foundation framework therefor
comprising:
a torsionally rigid top member having oppositely extending
ends,
said rigid top member being supported by a pair of torsionally
rigid unitary planar panel leg structures disposed in spaced apart,
substantially parallel relation,
one of said panel leg structures being adjacent one end of said top
member and the other of said panel leg structures being adjacent
the other end of said top member,
each of said panel leg structures comprising:
a pair of generally rectilinear support legs on which said
framework rests and a quadrilateral panel member disposed between
said legs and rigidly connected thereto,
said panel members each defining upper and lower generally
rectilinear horizontal side portions and vertically disposed
generally rectilinear end portions,
with said legs of each panel member being respectively secured to
the respective end portions of same in overlying relation thereto
in the plane of the respective panel members,
said panel members each comprising a pair of spaced apart metallic
sheets, reinforcing means interposed between said sheets, and means
for bonding said sheets and reinforcing means together for making
said sheets of the respective panel members resistant to torsional
forces applied to same through the legs thereof,
said reinforcing means comprising structural reinforcing metallic
channel members and having extended flat areas in face-to-face
relation with both said sheets and made fast thereto at such areas
by said bonding means, said reinforcing members extending parallel
to said side portions of the respective panel members,
said panel members each including adjacent their upper side
portions a pair of brackets fixed thereto and spaced apart
longitudinally of the respective panel members and each having a
portion that is disposed between said panel members which is in
substantial abutting relation to said top member,
means for making the respective bracket member portions fast to
said top member,
a back plate extending normally of said panel leg structures and
said top member,
and screw and nut means for further connecting the respective panel
leg structures to said top member utilizing said back plate,
said screw and nut means comprising:
nut means anchored in said reinforcing means adjacent said upper
and lower side portions of said panel members,
screw means connecting said back plate to said nut means anchored
in the respective panel member reinforcing means,
and screw means connecting said back plate to said top member in
bracing relation therewith at a position spaced from the respective
panel members and intermediate same to provide a three point tying
connection between said back plate and the respective panel leg
structures,
whereby said panel member sheets act as stressed skins for
resisting torsion applied to the respective panel leg structures by
said support legs, and said back plate may be relatively non rigid
from a torsional standpoint and yet make said panel leg structures
fast against hinging
2. The framework set forth in claim 1 wherein:
3. The framework set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said back plate is formed with right angle flanging about its
perimeter,
said screw means of said screw and nut means being operably
associated with
4. The foundation framework set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said structural reinforcing member flat areas that are in
face-to-face relation with the inwardly facing sheets of said panel
members are welded thereto,
and said structural reinforcing member flat areas that are in
face-to-face relation with the outwardly facing sheets of said
panel members are bonded thereto by an adhesive,
whereby the outwardly facing sheets of each panel member present an
outwardly facing surface free of weld distortion.
Description
This invention relates to a unitary panel leg construction for
office furniture and the like, and to a method of making same.
Office furniture such as desks, tables, and chairs are frequently
subject to stresses acting laterally of the length thereof to
tending to twist them out of line, make them "walk" across the
floor or both. The leverage that such forces act through in
connection with office furniture of standard heights results in
distortion and displacement of the furniture legs with the
resulting weakening of an uneven support for the furniture. This is
particularly a problem in contemporary style furniture wherein the
simplicity of design requires that reinforcement structures for the
legs be minimized.
A principal object of this invention is to provide a unitary panel
leg arrangement for office furniture and the like and a method of
making same.
Another principal object of the invention is to provide a unitary
panel leg arrangement for office furniture that may be employed as
desired with desks, tables and credenzas, and the like, of various
sizes and heights and requires only a simple back plate or gusset
plate to secure it in operating relation with the top of the piece
of furniture involved.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a leg arrangement for
office furniture that has significant resistance against twist and
"walking," that involves simple structural elements that may be
readily secured together and in a manner which does not leave weld
marks or the like that would distract from the aesthetics of the
final product, that is adapted for usage in a wide variety of
furniture constructions, and that is economical of manufacture,
convenient to apply, and long lived and multi-ultilitarian in
character.
Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become
apparent from a consideration of the application drawings and the
following detailed description.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a table
arrangement in accordance with this invention and made up of a pair
of the panel leg arrangements of this invention joined together by
a back plate;
FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of the arrangement of FIG. 1 in
which the back plate is replaced by a pair of gusset plates that
secure the panel legs to the table top;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one of the panel legs of
this invention, illustrating the left hand panel leg construction
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3A is a fragmental exploded perspective view illustrating a
detail of the connection of the individual legs into each panel leg
construction;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inner pan of the panel arrangement and
the parts that are affixed thereto by welding;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the subassembly shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical cross-sectional view taken substantially
along line 6--6 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a bottom edge view of the panel employed in the panel leg
construction, prior to application of the legs thereto;
FIGS. 8 and 9 are top and side edge views, respectively, of the
panel of FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a double pedestal desk arranged in
accordance with this invention;
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the basic desk
components and framing elements embodied in the desk of FIG.
10;
FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic fragmental perspective view illustrating
a flush type back panel application in accordance with this
invention;
FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a single pedestal
desk provided with a right-hand L-extension or return in accordance
with this invention;
FIG. 14 is a fragmental exploded perspective view illustrating the
application of the L-return to the panel leg and desk top adjacent
same; and
FIG. 15 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the manner of
securing the L-return flush back plate to the lower portion of the
panel leg adjacent same.
However, it is to be understood that the specific drawing
illustrations provided are supplied primarily to comply with the
requirements of the Patent Code, and that the invention may have
other specific embodiments which are intended to be covered by the
appended claims.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Reference numeral 10 of FIG. 1 generally indicates a table arranged
in accordance with this invention and comprising a pair of
torsionally rigid panel legs 12 and 14, a back plate 16 that may be
non-rigid in nature from a torsional standpoint, and a torsionally
rigid table top 18 that is shown in phantom only.
The basic arrangement of the panel legs 12 and 14 is illustrated in
the showing of FIG. 3 wherein it will be seen that each panel leg
comprises inner and outer pans 20 and 22, reinforcing channel
members or stiffeners 24, 26 and 28, vertically disposed mounting
members 30 and 32, and legs 34 and 36.
Generally speaking, the invention contemplates that the reinforcing
channel members or stiffeners 24, 26 and 28, and the mounting
members 30 and 32, will be fixed to and within the inner pan 20, as
by spot welding the respective members 24, 26 and 28 where
indicated at 38 in FIG. 4, and by spot welding the respective
mounting members 30 and 32 where indicated at 40 in FIG. 4, to form
a subassembly 41. The mounting members each carry an angle bracket
42 that is adapted to be secured to the table top 18, and an angle
bracket 44 that is adapted to be secured to the angle bracket 46 of
the respective legs 34 and 36.
The outer pan 22 is bonded to the subassembly 41 to form a panel
construction 48, in accordance with this invention, by employing a
suitable adhesive in a relatively narrow band between the
respective members 24, 26 and 28 and the pan 22. One suitable
adhesive is the two-part room temperature curing adhesive EC-2158
made by 3M Company, and it is preferred that the bonding band
between the parts indicated be about 1 inch wide and 5 - 10 one
thousandth inch in thickness.
As indicated in the drawings, the pans in panel 48 are spaced from
each other about the margin of the panel, but are welded together
at spaced points thereabout as at 51 (as by employing TIG
welding).
The panel construction 48 after completion has secured thereto the
legs 34 and 36, to form the basic panel leg arrangement, by
employing the screws 50 and 52 to make the appropriate connection
between the respective legs 34 and 36 and the respective mounting
members 30 and 32.
The panel leg 14 is made in a similar manner, and the two panel
legs 12 and 14 are connected together by back plate 16 employing
suitable screws 56 and 58 to secure the respective ends of the back
plate 16 to the respective panel legs.
The panel legs 12 and 14 and back plate 16 are then secured to the
table top 18 by employing appropriate screws 60 to secure the back
plate to the table top, and screws 62 to secure the brackets 42 of
the panel legs to the table top 18. It will be noted that the
screws 56, 58 and 60 at each end of the table provide a simple but
effective three point connection between the panel leg, back plate
and table top.
In the embodiment 10A of FIG. 2, the back plate 16 is omitted in
favor of a pair of gusset plates 70, with the respective screws 56,
58 and 60 making the same sort of three point connection between
the panel legs, gusset plates and table top at each end of the
table.
The resulting structure provided by tables 10 and 10A provides a
rigid basic furniture framework framework that may be used as
illustrated or augmented by the application thereto of standardized
furniture forming components to achieve different types of
furniture selections, as suggested hereinafter.
It is to be understood that the tables 10 and 10A that are
illustrated are merely examples of the various types of furniture
that can be constructed employing the panel legs 12 and/or 14, the
back plate 16 or the gusset plates 70, and a suitable top that may
be of any conventional construction. For instance, a double
pedestal desk 51 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) may be formed by employing
panel legs 12 and 14 at either end of the piece of furniture, with
a desk pedestal 53 of the type shown in Abrahamson U.S. Pat. No.
3,125,387 also at either end of the piece of furniture and secured
to the respective panel legs, and torsionally rigid desk top 18A,
which may be of the general type shown in Grube U.S. Pat. No.
2,911,274, channels 55 and 57 of the type shown in Abrahamson U.S.
Pat. No. 3,125,387, being applied to the undersurface of the top
18A for securing the pedestals (and a center drawer assembly, if so
desired) to the desk top. A back plate 16A that is generally
similar to that of FIG. 1 and secured in overlying relation to the
pedestals 53 may be employed to complete the desk.
Similarly, panel legs 12 and 14 in shortened form transversely of
the table 18 may be employed together with a back plate 16, or a
pair of gusset plates 70 in association with a suitable credenza
top as the top 18, to provide a credenza construction.
The basic panel leg construction provided by this invention insures
that the two legs are securely connected together to act in unison,
and that when the panel leg unit is mounted in place, its legs will
remain fixed with respect to same. The legs are held firmly against
both twisting tendencies and walking tendencies.
The strength of the resulting construction appears to be due to the
fact that the pans 20 and 22 are so fastened in place that the
strength of the sheets forming the pans becomes available to resist
torsional stresses and thus become structural members arranged to
act as stressed skins to provide twisting strength to the panel.
Furthermore, since the reinforcing and mounting members are welded
only to the inner pan 20, the outer pan 22 is free from welding
deformations and thus provides an aesthetically attractive
outwardly facing surface for the panel leg without having to
machine pan 22.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
The pans 20 and 22 are of substantially identical constructions,
each being of the dished shape that is indicated. Pan 20 comprises
planar wall 80 of generally quadrilateral configuration
(rectangular in the illustrated embodiment) and including about its
edges the respective top and bottom walls 82 and 84 and the
respective side walls 86 and 88. The wall 80 of the inner panel 20
is formed with spaced openings 90 and 92 (see FIG. 4) to receive
the respective brackets 42, and spaced openings 94 and 96 to
receive the respective mounting screws 56.
The pan 22 similarly comprises wall 100 that has formed about its
side edges the top and bottom walls 102 and 104, and side walls 106
and 108. The side walls 86 and 88, 106 and 108 of the respective
panels 20 and 22 are notched as at 110 and 112 to receive the
respective screws 50.
The reinforcing channel members or stiffeners 24, 26 and 28
preferably have the channel-shaped cross-sectional configurations
indicated in FIGS. 3 and 6 wherein it will be noted that the
central member 26 is of hat shaped dual external wing flange
cross-sectional configuration while the members 24 and 28 are of
single external wing flange cross-sectional configuration. Thus, it
will be seen that member 24 comprises a web 120 separating the side
walls 122 and 124, with the side wall 122 being formed with wing
flange 126 projecting externally of member 24 and side wall 124
being formed with regular flange 128 that projects internally of
member 24.
Similarly, the member 28 comprises web 130 separating side walls
132 and 134, with the side wall 132 being formed with a external
wing flange 136 and side wall 134 being formed with regular or
internal flange 138.
Member 26 comprises web 140 separating side walls 142 and 144 each
including an external wing flange 146 and 148, respectively.
Prior to application to pan 20, member 24 has applied thereto, as
by welding at 151 (see FIG. 4) weld nuts 153 that have their
respective threaded openings 155 aligned with suitable holes 157
formed in the flange 128. Similarly, member 28 has applied thereto,
as by welding at 159, weld nuts 161 that have their respective
threaded openings 163 aligned with suitable holes 165 formed in
wall 134.
As indicated in FIG. 4, the members 24 and 28 are fixed to the wall
80 of pan 20 by having their wing flanges 126 and 136 spot welded
thereto where indicated at 38. The member 26 is affixed to pan 20
by having its wing flanges 146 and 148 spot welded thereto where
indicated at 38. As further indicated by FIG. 4, the members 24, 26
and 28 are disposed in parallel spaced apart relation and extend
short of the side walls of the respective pans 20 and 22 to provide
a space 149 to permit the respective members 30 and 32 to be
received between the respective pan side walls and the adjacent
ends of the respective members 24, 26 and 28.
As indicated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the mounting members 30 and 32
are of similar right and left hand construction, and each comprise
a web 150 separating side walls 152 and 154, with the respective
side walls 152 and 154 being flanged as indicated at 156 and 158.
The respective angle brackets 42 are applied to the upper ends of
the members 30 and 32, as by being welded thereto in any suitable
manner. Each bracket 42 comprises angled portions 160 and 162, with
the respective portions 160 being affixed in place to the
respective webs 150 as by welding, and the respective portions 162
being formed with a suitable opening 164 to receive a mounting
screw 62.
The respective members 30 and 32 have affixed thereto at their
lower ends the respective angle brackets 44, each of which
comprises angled portions 170 and 172, with the respective angle
portions 170 being affixed to the respective web portions 150 of
the respective members 30 and 32 as by welding. The angle portion
172 on each bracket 44 is formed with a pair of threaded screw
receiving openings 174 (see FIG. 5) that receive the respective
screws 52. (Alternately weld nuts similar to weld nuts 153 and 161
may be here employed.)
The side walls 154 of the mounting members 30 and 32 each have
affixed thereto a weld nut 167 with its threaded opening 171 in
alignment with suitable screw receiving openings 169 formed in the
respective walls 154, which in turn are to be aligned with the
recesses 110 and 112 of the pans when members 30 are mounted in
position. The lower side walls 84 and 104 of pans are notched in a
manner similar to notches 110 and 112 to accommodate the screws 52
and 58, as indicated at 179 and 180 in FIG. 3. Members 30 and 32
are spot welded to pan 20 as by having their webs spot welded
thereto as at 40.
As already indicated, pan 22 is secured to pan 20 by adhering same
to stiffeners 24, 26 and 28, and this is done by applying the
indicated adhesive along the webs 120, 130 and 140 of these members
where indicated at 182 in FIG. 6, and then pressing pan 22
thereagainst to complete panel 48. As true flatness of panel 48 is
an essential of this invention, the subassembly 41 and pan 22 are
preferably applied to a suitable press for compressing them
together under suitable compressive forces. In a commercial
embodiment of the invention this is done in a platen press, and the
room temperature cure adhesive EC-2158 is employed, which requires
the thus assembled parts of panel 48 to be held under pressure from
about six to about eight hours.
Legs 34 and 36 are more or less conventional in nature, they being
formed from tubing of square cross-sectional configuration and
being provided with a suitable adjustable foot 190 at their lower
ends. Legs 34 and 36 thus each define planar side walls 192, 194
and 196 and 198, and in the present arrangement, the wall 198 is
formed with a key hole slot 200 having its larger portion 202
proportioned to pass the head 203 of the respective screws 50,
while the narrow portion 204 of the slot 202 has a width sufficient
to freely pass the shank 205 of the respective screws 50 while
retaining the respective screw heads 203.
Alternately, a slot extending from the upper ends of the respective
leg sides 198 longitudinally of the respective legs to the location
of slot portion 204 and having the width of slot portion 204, may
be employed for the same purpose.
Legs 34 and 36 below the key hole slot 202 have applied thereto the
respective brackets 46 each comprising a leg clip 209 formed with
right angled flange 211 (see FIG. 3A) that fits into slot 213 of
the respective legs and an opening 210 to receive the screw 52 at
each end of the respective panel legs 12 and 14.
After the members 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 have been affixed to the
pan 20 of the respective panel legs 12 and 14, and the pan 22 has
in turn been affixed to the respective reinforcing members 24, 26
and 28 in the manner indicated, the legs 34 and 36 are applied to
the respective panels 48 (to form the panel legs 12 and 14) by
mounting the brackets 46 in place on each leg (as by inserting
flange 211 thereof into the leg slot 213 and pivoting same to bring
flange 211 against wall 198) and applying the respective screws 50
to the respective panel weld nuts 167; the screws 50 are turned
into place sufficiently so that when their heads 203 are passed
through the wide portions 202 of the respective key hole slots 200,
where slots 200 are used, they will engage the inside surfaces of
the respective leg walls 198 if the leg is moved to dispose the
screw shanks 205 in the narrow portions 204 of slots 200. It is
then merely necessary to move the respective legs 34 and 36
upwardly of the respective panel legs 12 and 14 to dispose the
screw shank 205 in the leg slot narrow portion 204, and to bring
the bracket arm of bracket 46 having the hole 210 formed therein
against the panel leg bottom wall 84 and 104, after which the
respective screws 52 are applied through the respective holes 210
and into the aligned holes 174 of the respective brackets 44 to
secure the respective legs 34 and 36 to the respective panel legs
12 and 14. The proportioning of parts is preferably such that this
brings the tops of the legs 34 and 36 in alignment with the top
walls 82 and 102 of the respective pans 20 and 22, and disposes the
leg side walls 198 in firm engagement with the pan walls 86, 106
and 88, 108, respectively. Shoulders 215 of clips 209 lock against
the wall 198 of the respective legs to provide a light stable
attachment, with flange 211 locking against the inside of wall
198.
The extra opening 174 of brackets 44 may be employed to anchor a
back plate 16 or other office furniture components to the
respective panel legs 12 and 14 (see FIGS. 12 and 15).
Prior to the application of legs 34 and 36 to the respective panel
legs, the panel legs may be painted and run through a conventional
paint bake cycle for aesthetic purposes. It will be noted that the
outwardly facing surface of the respective pans 22 presents a good
surface for painting without having to machine same to obtain an
unmarred surface.
The back plate 16 is more or less conventional in nature and
comprises a rectilinear wall 220 bounded by upper wall 222, side
walls 224 and 226, and bottom wall 228. Top wall 222 is formed with
appropriate openings 230 to receive the respective screws 60 that
secure the back plate to the taple top or the like, while the side
walls 226 are formed with suitable openings 231 to receive the
respective screws 56 that are applied to the weld nuts 153 of the
respective panel legs 12 and 14 that are employed to mount the back
plate in place. As indicated in FIG. 1, the weld nuts 153 of the
respective panel legs 12 and 14 are disposed in opposed pair
relation to provide an opposed pair of nuts at either side of the
table as viewed in FIG. 1. The back plate 16 may be secured to
either of these opposed pairs.
The gusset plates 70 in the form of FIG. 2 each comprise a
triangular shaped plate construction including upright wall 240,
top wall 242 and side wall 244, with the top wall 242 and the side
wall 244 being joined by diagonal wall 246. Top wall 242 is formed
with opening 230 to receive the screw 60 that is to secure gusset
plate 70 to the table top, while the side wall 244 is formed with
opening 231 to receive the screw 56 that cooperates with a selected
weld nut 153.
Back plate 16 has affixed to its wall 228 a mounting plate 235 (see
FIG. 6) formed with a suitable hole 237 to receive the screw 58
that is applied to a selected weld nut 161. Gusset plate 70 is
formed with a similar plate 235A that is angled for application to
the diagonal wall 246, as indicated in FIG. 2.
It is preferred from the standpoint of strength, fabrication of
flat panels, rigidity and impact resistance, that the pans 20 and
22 and stiffeners 24, 26 and 28 be formed from 22 gauge steel
sheeting, and that the mounting members 30 and 32 be formed from 16
gauge steel.
As it is considered critical that the respective panel leg units be
as flat as possible, it is preferred that after the respective pans
20 have been applied to the subassemblies 41, the resulting panel
assembly be applied to a suitable platen press for application
thereto of compressive force for the period of cure required by the
adhesive employed. Where the indicated adhesive EC-2158 is
employed, a 6 to 8 hour cure at room temperature is required, and
during this cure the panels should remain under a pressure in the
range of from about one to about 10 pounds per square inch (but the
application of heat will shorten the cure time
proportionately).
Alternately, where a high temperature cure is desired, adhesive
EC-2214, made by 3M Company, is preferred, with the respective
panels being applied to a heated platen press under pressure
conditions of approximately one to ten pounds per square inch for
one minute at 400.degree. F.
It will be apparent that panel legs 12 and 14 are interchangeable,
and that the back plate 16 or gusset plates 70, may be applied to
either opposed set of weld nuts 153 and 161. Furniture made
employing the panel legs and back plates of this invention may be
varied as to height, length, and width by varying the dimensions of
the panel legs, back plates, and legs 34 and 36 as desired.
It will be seen that panel legs 12 and 14 in effect provide a pair
of rigid chassis forming structures that serve as the foundation
for selectively forming furniture units by securing thereto or
suspending therefrom basic furniture components or subassemblies,
such as desk and/or bookcase pedestals, back plates, table tops,
L-returns (full height or drop height), and file cabinets, by
suitably connecting same employing the screw and nut type
connections that have been described, and as indicated more
specifically in FIGS. 10 - 15. The panel legs as connected together
by a back plate and top on their equivalents serve as the main load
resisting structures of the resulting unit, and provide the
purchase for securing in place the furniture components or
subassemblies that are desired.
FIGS. 10 - 15 illustrate examples of several different office
furniture units which include the basic panel leg arrangement of
this invention, and are made up from selected standardized and
matched components that are arranged to provide maximum flexibility
and versatility in the selections permitted, in accordance with the
general thesis of said Abrahamson patent.
In the double pedestal desk 51 of FIG. 10, the basic components
involved are the panel legs 12 and 14, a desk top 18A, pedestals 53
at the left and right hand sides of the desk, a set of front and
rear mounting channels 55 and 57 (see FIG. 11) that are secured to
the top 18A by suitable screws (not shown), and to which the
forward and rearward ends of the respective pedestals 53 are
secured by suitable fasteners such as the "swing nut" fasteners 59
that are shown at 142 in said Abrahamson patent, and a back plate
16A that is secured between the panel legs 12 and 14 and in
overlying relation to the pedestals at the rear of the desk.
Operably associated with the specific desk 51 that is illustrated,
is a standardized lock filler device or unit 63 of the type
described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,937 of Bruce O. Buhrmaster and
John P. Ericson, granted July 28, 1970, comprising a filler channel
or panel 65 provided with a lock indicated at 67 which operates a
slide bar 69 that is operably associated with the pedestal drawer
locking devices indicated at 71 to simultaneously lock or unlock
the drawers 73 that are part of one of the pedestals 53, and the
drawers 75 that are part of the other pedestal 53.
In the specific office furniture unit illustrated in FIGS. 10 and
11, the pedestals are notched or recessed across their tops where
indicated at 241 and 243 to receive the mounting channels 55 and 57
so that the tops of the pedestals will be substantially flush with
the bottom of desk top 18A and with the notches or recesses 241
having a configuration complementing the undersurface of the lock
device filler panel member 77, and intention being that when the
office furniture unit 51 is assembled, the filler panel member 77
will be resting on the principal surfaces defining the notches or
grooves 241, and the upper flange 79 of the filler panel member
will be disposed in substantial juxtaposition with the office unit
top. It will thus be seen, therefore, that the grooves or notches
241 of the respective pedestals 53 each comprise an upper abutment
surface portion 245 against which the attachment flange portion 81
of filler panel 77 rests, and a lower abutment surface portion 247
against which the lower flange portion 83 of filler panel 77
rests.
In the assembled relation, the forward mounting channel 55 rests on
top of the mounting flange 81 of filler panel 77. As indicated, the
mounting channels 55 and 57 are secured to the respective pedestals
by fasteners of the type shown in said Abrahamson patent in which
the threaded member associated with same passes through suitable
openings 249 formed in the respective pedestals as well as suitable
openings 251 formed in the mounting flange 81 of the filler panel
member. Openings 251 are suitably spaced lengthwise of the lock
filler device 63 to provide the desired selectivity of attaching
same to the office furniture unit. Said U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,937 may
be referred to for further details concerning lock device 63 and
its manner of association with drawing locking arrangements 71.
As part of the assembly operation of desk 51 in accordance with
this invention, the angle brackets 42 of the respective panel legs
12 and 14 are received within the ends of the respective channel
members 55 and 57, and are secured to the desk top 18A by suitable
screws 62 that pass through appropriately located holes in the
respective members 55 and 57. As indicated in FIG. 4, the angle
brackets 42 are associated with the respective panel legs 12 and 14
such that their portions 162 are disposed sufficiently below the
top walls 82 of the panel leg pans so that the said walls 82 may be
placed into engagement with the undersurface of the desk top with
the angle brackets 42 located as indicated.
At the outer corners 260 and 262 of the respective pedestals 53,
the respective pedestals are affixed to the respective panel legs
12 and 14 by employing the respective angle brackets 264 which are
secured to the lower corner portions of the pedestal by suitable
screws 266; the angled arm 268 of the respective angle brackets is
secured to the respective openings 174 of the respective panel legs
by a suitable screw 270, which openings 174 may be either threaded
or equipped with a weld nut (as already indicated). This connection
to the pedestals is the same at the front corners 260 and rear
corners 262 at both ends of the desk.
The back plate 16A is flush mounted with respect to the ends of the
panel legs, as distinguished from the recess mount. The back plate
16A includes an upper flange 261 secured to the pedestals in any
suitable manner, and that is secured to rear channel 57 at the
midlength of the desk by the clip 286 and associated screw devices
59 and 288 that are indicated in FIGS. 12 and 14; flange 261 fits
in slot 263 of the respective pedestals. Back plate 16A also
includes lower flange 261A that engages under the rear of the
respective pedestals and at its ends is anchored to the panel legs
12 and 14 by being interposed between the brackets 264 and the
respective pedestals at the pedestal corners 262.
In the showing of FIG. 12, a table 18B of the flush back panel
mount type is illustrated, with the showing being of one corner of
the table in inverted position. Panel leg 12 has its angle bracket
42 disposed within the adjacent end 280 of mounting channel 282
that is similar to the channels 55 and 57 and is affixed to top 18B
by suitable screws (not shown) applied to selected channel holes
284 (bracket 42 also being fixed to top 18B by a suitable screw).
The back plate 16B has its upper flange 222B secured to the channel
282 by a suitable clip 286 that is secured to the flange 222B by a
suitable screw 288 and to channel 282 by a swing nut type fastener
59. The lower flange 228B of the back plate has an angle bracket
290 affixed thereto by suitable screws 292, with angle bracket 290
being formed with a downwardly indented arm 294 that rests against
the underside of panel leg 12 walls 84 in alignment with the
adjacent openings 174 of the panel leg to receive suitable screw
296 to fix the back plate 16B in braced relation with the panel
leg. The other end of the back plate is secured to the other panel
leg (not shown) in a similar manner.
In the showing of FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, single pedestal desk 300 is
arranged in the manner described in connection with the showing of
FIGS. 10 and 11 except that the left hand pedestal 53A is of the
two drawer type and right hand pedestal is omitted, as suggested in
the description pertaining to these figures. The L return 302
comprises a panel leg 14C secured to a top 18C and flush mount back
plate 16C in the manner suggested by FIG. 12 (see FIG. 14), with
pedestal 304 being applied to the top and panel leg 14C in the
manner suggested in FIG. 11.
Referring to FIG. 14, the top 18C of L return 302 is secured to the
top 18A of the desk 300 by securing a mounting bracket 306 to
channel member 55 employing several of the swing nut fasteners 59;
mounting bracket 306 is formed to define a depending flange portion
308 formed with holes 310 adapted to receive suitable screws 312
which in turn are received in the respective arms 314 of angle
clips 316 that are secured to the respective channel members 55A
and 57A of the L return 302.
The back panel 16C of the return L is anchored to the panel leg 14
by the arrangement indicated in FIG. 15, in which a mounting
bracket 320 secured to flange 228C of the back plate 16C by
suitable screws 322 is formed to include an arm 324, which includes
a lateral extension or strap portion 326 formed to receive a
suitable screw 328 that is applied to the adjacent opening 174 of
panel leg 14.
With respect to the individual panel legs, while the securement of
pan 22 to pan 20 by the hereindisclosed adhesive method is
preferred, where the outside appearance of pan 22 is not important,
pan 22 may be spot welded to stiffeners 24, 26 and 28, but this
should be done while holding pan 22 compressed against assembly 48
to achieve the necessary flatness. Likewise, the connection between
pans 20 and 22 and members 24, 26 and 28 may be entirely by way of
the adhesive connection described in connection with pan 22 where
spot welding is to be avoided.
It will thus be seen that the invention provides, in addition to
the specific features herein disclosed, a basic way of constructing
office furniture in which a foundation framework or chassis is
provided that comprises a rigid top structure and a pair of torsion
resisting, or torsionally rigid, panel leg structures supporting
either end of the top structure that are connected by tie plate
means which may be relatively non-rigid in nature from a torsional
standpoint. The arrangement is such that these basic parts of this
foundation framework or chassis are secured together in a simple
but effective manner that comprises employing a pair of screws and
cooperating brackets for each panel leg for securing the respective
panel legs to either end of the top, and a back panel (of either
the flush or the recessed type) or a pair of angle brackets or
gusset plates that make a three point screw type connection between
the respective panel legs and the top in either end of the top for
securing the panel legs against hinging action relative to the top
under forces tending to move the framework endwise of same. This
basic foundation framework or chassis may be used as such, or
augmented by the application to same of standardized furniture
forming components of the type hereindisclosed to provide the
various types of office equipment herein referred to. The result is
that the construction of office furniture is reduced to a minimum
number of components that are secured together in a simple but
effective manner that permits a wide area of choice as to what the
end product may be, but starting from a basic foundation framework
or chassis that is common to all the furniture units so
constructed.
The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to
explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not to be
limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so
limited, since those skilled in the art who have the disclosure
before them will be able to make modifications and variations
therein without departing from the scope of the invention.
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