U.S. patent number 3,927,924 [Application Number 05/473,820] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-23 for panel joining and work surface support apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Herman Miller Inc.. Invention is credited to James O. Kelley.
United States Patent |
3,927,924 |
Kelley |
December 23, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Panel joining and work surface support apparatus
Abstract
A space-dividing furniture system including brackets for
supporting a work surface panel along and over the top edge of
movable partitions, upstanding furniture support members or other
system components, each bracket also joining one component to
another component along the edge of the component. Three
embodiments of the bracket are disclosed including one for
supporting a plurality of abutting work surface panels along
several abutting components, a second for supporting a single work
surface panel over one component which abuts other components and a
third for supporting a work surface panel at the end of a component
which is covered with an edge finishing strip component.
Inventors: |
Kelley; James O. (Spring Lake,
MI) |
Assignee: |
Herman Miller Inc. (Zeeland,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
23881125 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/473,820 |
Filed: |
May 28, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/263; 312/327;
312/140.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
87/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
87/00 (20060101); A47F 009/00 (); A47B
047/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/140.1,140.2,140.3,140.4,140,263,313,327 ;52/36,301,262
;24/81B,259SG |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Price, Heneveld, Huizenga &
Cooper
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or
property is claimed are claimed as follows:
1. In a space-dividing furniture system having a first component
and a second component adapted to be affixed to said first
component, each of said components including end edges, a top edge,
and side surfaces extending between said end edges, and means for
locking said components together at said end edges to form a
space-dividing arrangement, said system also including a work
surface panel; the improvement comprising:
an integral bracket including joining means integral therewith for
engaging said locking means and securing said components together
and support means integral with said joining means for engaging the
underside of said work surface panel and supporting said work
surface panel along, over at least a portion of the top edge of,
and outwardly of at least one of said side surfaces of at least one
of said components;
said joining means engaging said locking means intermediate said
end edges thereby securing said components together only from
between said end edges;
said support means including at least one outward extension adapted
to underly, contact, and support said work surface panel at points
spaced outwardly from said top edge and outwardly of said one side
surface of said one component to stabilize said work surface panel
in a predetermined plane; and
attaching means on said bracket for affixing said bracket to said
work surface panel to stabilize said work surface panel at a
predetermined position within said predetermined plane, said
bracket together with said attaching means preventing movement of
said work surface panel in any two opposite directions.
2. The bracket means of claim 1 wherein said support means include
outward extensions extending outwardly of both side surfaces of
said one component for engaging the undersides of said work surface
panel outwardy of both side surfaces of said one component.
3. The bracket means of claim 2 wherein said outward extensions
include attaching means for securing said work surface panel
thereto on both sides of said one component.
4. The bracket means of claim 2 wherein said joining means include
two sides and a top surface, said, outward extensions including
arms each having a top surface and extending outwardly from either
side of said joining means, said top surfaces of said arms and
joining means lying in a common plane adapted to be flush with the
top edge of said component for supporting said work surface panel
when said bracket is assembled with said component.
5. The bracket of claim 4 wherein said arms are elongated in a
direction generally transverse said side surfaces of said
components and include flanges extending transverse to the
direction of elongation, said flanges including top surfaces flush
with said common plane and apertures therethrough for receiving
securing means forsaid work surface panel.
6. The bracket means of claim 1 wherein said joining means include
inclined surfaces on the bottom of said joining means thereof
extending upwardly and inwardly toward one another forming a
generally V-shaped pocket for wedging together corresponding
surfaces on the locking means of said components; means defining an
aperture extending downwardly through said V-shaped pocket for
receiving a rod securing said bracket means to said components.
7. The bracket means of claim 6 wherein said joining means include
two sides; said support means including a pair of outward
extensions, each extension being an arm extending outwardly from
one side of said joining means, each of said arms including
attaching means for securing said arms to said work surface
panel.
8. The bracket means of claim 7 wherein said arms extend
rectilinearly outwardly in opposite directions from said joining
means; said attaching means including means for securing a pair of
work surface panels generally horizontally over said components in
edge-to-edge abutment.
9. The bracket means of claim 7 wherein said arms extend from
opposite sides of said joining means in generally opposite
directions, said arms being offset laterally from the center of
said joining means.
10. The bracket means of claim 1 wherein said second component
includes a hollow edge-finishing strip adapted to be secured along
one end edge of said first component; said joining means includes
an inclined surface extending upwardly and inwardly for securing
said bracket to said locking means and a downwardly extending
flange including at least one downwardly projecting tooth for
engaging and retaining said finshing strip, said flange providing
and extension of said finishing strip at the end thereof; means
defining an aperture extending downwardly through said joining
means for receiving a rod securing said bracket means to said
components.
11. The bracket means of claim 10 wherein said joining means
include two sides; said support means including a pair of outward
extensions, each extension being an arm extending outwardly from
one side of said joining means, each of said arms including
attaching means for securing said arms to said work surface
panel.
12. The bracket means of claim 11 wherein said arms extend from
opposite sides of said joining means in generally opposite
directions, both of said arms being offset laterally from the
center of said joining means.
13. Space-dividing furniture apparatus comprising the combination
of a first component and a second component adapted to be affixed
to said first component, said components each having end edges, a
top edge, and side surfaces extending between said end edges and
means for locking said components together at said end edges; a
separate work surface panel; bracket means for joining said
components together and for supporting said separate work surface
panel along and over at least a portion of said top edge of at
least one of said components; said bracket means including means
extending outwardly of one side surface of said one component for
engaging the underside of said work surface panel outwardly of said
one side surface of said one component and joining means integral
with said outwardly extending means for engaging said locking means
and securing said components together; said joining means including
fastening means for engaging said locking means intermediate said
end edges for securing said components together only from between
said end edges; said bracket means also including means engaging
said work surface panel for supporting at least a portion of said
panel which lies between planes defined by said joined end edges of
said components generally at the same level as at least a portion
of said top edge of said one component.
14. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 13 wherein said
components each comprise a portable partition, said locking means
including wedge members secured to said end edges of each of said
partitions; said fastening means engaging said wedge members and
drawing together and securing said partitions in edge-to-edge,
abutting relationship.
15. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 13 wherein said
first component is a portable partition; said second component
including an edge-finishing strip fitted alonng one of said end
edges of said partition; said locking means including wedge members
on said one edge of said partition and on said strip; said
fastening means engaging said wedge members and drawing together
and securing said strip to said edge of said partition.
16. Space-dividing furniture apparatus comprising the combination
of a first component and a second component adapted to be affixed
to said first component, said components each having end edges, a
top edge, and side surfaces extending between said end edges, and
means for locking said components together at said end edges; a
separate work surface panel; bracket means for joining said
components together and for supporting said separate work surface
panel along and over at least a portion of said top edge of at
least one of said components; said bracket means including means
extending outwardly of one side surface of said one component for
engaging the underside of said work surface panel outwardly of said
one side surface of said one component and joining means integral
with said outwardly extending means for engaging said locking means
and securing said components together; said second component
includes an edge-finishing strip fitted against said generally
vertically extending edge of said first component, a hinge secured
to and extending along the length of said strip, and a third
component secured to said hinge along the generally vertically
extending edge of said third component; said locking means
including wedge members on said edge of at least the first of said
first and second components; said joining means having means for
engaging said wedge members and drawing together and securing said
strip and hinge to said edge of said first component.
17. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 16 wherein said
third component is a movable partition which is hingedly secured to
said edge-finishing strip.
18. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 16 wherein said
first component includes a pair of upstanding furniture support
posts, said bracket means supporting said work panel over and
between said posts; said third component including a partition
hingedly secured to said edge-finishing strip.
19. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 13 wherein said
fastening means include inclined surfaces on the bottom of said
joining means extending upwardly and inwardly toward one another
forming a generally V-shaped pocket for wedging together
corresponding surfaces on the locking means of said components;
means defining an aperture extending downwardly through said
V-shaped pocket for receiving a rod securing said bracket means to
said components.
20. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 19 wherein said
outwardly extending means include an arm extending outwardly from
each side of said joining means, each of said arms including means
for securing said arms to said work surface panel.
21. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 20 wherein said
arms extend rectilinearly outwardly in opposite directions from
said joining means; said securing means including means for
securing a pair of work surface panels generally horizontally over
said components in edge-to-edge abutment.
22. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 20 wherein said
arms extend from opposite sides of said joining means in generally
opposite directions, said arms being laterally offset from the
center of said joining means.
23. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 20 wherein said
arms and joining means include top surfaces lying in a common
plane, said plane being flush with said top edge of said one
component for supporting said work surface panel on said top
surfaces.
24. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 13 wherein said
second component includes an edge-finishing strip fitted along one
of said end edges of said first component; said fastening means
includes an inclined surface extending upwardly and inwardly for
securing said bracket to said locking means and a downwardly
extending flange including at least one downwardly projecting tooth
for engaging and retaining said finishing strip, said flange
providing an extension of said finishing strip at the end thereof;
means defining an aperture extending downwardly through said
joining means for receiving a rod securing said bracket means to
said components.
25. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 24 wherein said
outwardly extending means include an arm extending outwardly from
each side of said joining means, each of said arms including means
for securing said arms to said work surface panel.
26. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 25 wherein said
arms extend from opposite sides of said joining means in generally
opposite directions, said arms being laterally offset from the
center of said joining means.
27. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 25 wherein said
arms and joining means include top surfaces lying in a common
plane, said plane being flush with said top edge of said one
component for supporting said work surface panel on said top
surfaces.
28. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 13 wherein said
components are supported generally vertically; said outwardly
extending means including means for supporting said work surface
panel generally perpendicular to said vertically extending
components.
29. The space-dividing furniture apparatus of claim 13 wherein said
components are supported generally vertically; said outwardly
extending means include an arm extending from said joining means
outwardly of each of said side surfaces of one of said components,
each of said arms including means for securing said arms to said
work surface panel; said arms supporting said work surface panel
generally perpendicular to said components.
30. In a space-dividing furniture system having a first upstanding,
space-dividing component including a top surface, end edges, and
side surfaces extending between said end edges, at least one of
said end edges including first locking means extending therealong
for locking said component to an end edge of of a second
space-dividing component, said second space-dividing component
being an edge finishing means for decoratively covering at least a
portion of said vertically extending edge and including second
locking means therealong for securing it to said first
space-dividing component, the improvement comprising bracket means
for engaging and supporting a work surface panel along, over the
top edge of, and outwardly of at least one side surface of said
first space-dividing component; said bracket means including
capping means integral with said bracket means for capping and
finishing a portion of said one end edge and securing means
engaging said first and second locking means intermediate said one
end edge of said first space-dividing component and said
edge-finishing means for securing said first space-dividing
component and edge-finishing means together only from between said
one end edge and edge finishing means.
31. The bracket means of claim 30 including support means extending
outwardly of said one side surface of said first space-dividing
component for engaging the underside of the work surface panel
outwardly of said one side surface of said first space-dividing
component.
32. The bracket means of claim 30 including support means extending
outwardly of either side surface of said first space-dividing
component for engaging the underside of the work panel on either
side of said first space-dividing component; said support means
including means for securing the work surface panel thereto.
33. The bracket means of claim 30 wherein said bracket means
includes a support arm extending therefrom outwardly of either side
surface of said first space-dividing component and engaging the
underside of said work surface panel for support thereof.
34. The bracket means of claim 33 wherein said capping and
finishing means include a flange covering a portion of said one end
edge; said securing means include a wedge member adapted to engage
said first locking means and a tooth extending from said flange and
engaging said second locking means of said edge-finishing means for
retention thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to space-dividing furniture systems and,
more particularly, to apparatus for joining a plurality of
space-dividing furniture components such as movable partitions,
furniture support members or the like while supporting work surface
panels, countertops, ledges, or other capping structure along the
tops of those furniture components.
Space-dividing, furniture partition systems generally include
movable partitions or panels which are secured together in various
arrangements to enclose or divide predetermined spaces in a larger
room or office. Frequently, such movable panels have extended
upwardly to the ceilings of the room or office or at least to high
levels. Such movable partition systems have also been adapted to
support desk tops, shelving, cabinets, or the like in a hanging,
cantilevered manner along the sides of the upstanding panels.
More recently, a demand has arisen for greater flexibility in the
use of such partition systems. It has been discovered that to
provide such flexibility, it is desirable to arrange several
furniture components in individual, self-supporting work station
areas or units formed from variously configured movable partitions
or panels including generally horizontal work surfaces supported
along the top edges of such panels. A simple, inexpensive bracket
apparatus which enables the assembly of such arrangements is the
subject of this invention. The apparatus provides the ability to
secure many movable partitions or other components together while
simultaneously supporting a capping or work panel over the top of
those panels. In a typical arrangement, the brackets may be
assembled with several partitions to form a nurse station in a
hospital, a reception desk in an office, an information desk in a
store, shopping center, school, or the like and even a laboratory
unit or station for schools and industry. Thus, the present
invention greatly enhances the usefulness of partition systems by
providing a simplified means for increasing available working space
when such partition systems are assembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide
apparatus for securing useful working surfaces along the tops of
movable partitions, panels, furniture support members or other
movable, upstanding, space-dividing furniture components which are
arranged to divide larger areas into smaller working units or
areas. The apparatus includes several forms of a bracket used to
join at least one of such components to another of such components
or to edge-capping means for covering and finishing exposed edges
of such components. While rigidly and securely joining such
components and/or edge-finishing means, the brackets simultaneously
provide support for work panels, countertops, ledges, or other
capping structure along the tops of one or more of the furniture
components. The brackets can be readily disassembled from the
remainder of the space-dividing furniture system and are generally
inconspicuous when assembled with the furniture components.
In accordance with the invention, a bracket means is provided
especially adapted for use in space-dividing furniture systems or
arrangements of the type including at least one movable furniture
component adapted to be secured or affixed to a second component.
The components may be selected from the group including upstanding,
space-dividing partitions or panels, upstanding furniture support
members or posts, and the like. As used and defined here, the term
"component" also includes edge-finishing strips or members designed
to cover exposed edges of partitions, support posts, or the like.
Each of the components include at least one generally vertically
extending side edge. The side edge includes means for locking
together at least one of the components with a second component at
that side edge. The bracket means engages and supports a work
surface panel, countertop, ledge, or other capping panel or
structure along, over, and on at least one side of the top edge of
at least one of the components. Included in the bracket means are
joining means integral therewith for engaging the locking means to
secure at least one component to another component. Also included
in the bracket means are support means integral with said joining
means and extending outwardly of at least one side of said one
component for engaging the underside of the work surface panel on
that one side of the one component.
Preferably, three embodiments of the bracket are provided which may
be jointly or severally combined with such space-dividing furniture
components to form a space-dividing arrangement. In one embodiment,
the bracket includes wedge surfaces for joining one component to
another component in vertical, edge-to-vertical edge, abutting
relationship and support arms extending outwardly of either side of
the components for supporting the work surface panel over the top
edges thereof. In another embodiment, the support arms are offset
from the wedge surfaces for supporting a single work surface panel
over one of a plurality of furniture components secured together in
an arrangement. Yet another embodiment of the bracket means
provides a means for finishing and covering a portion of an exposed
edge of a furniture component as well as means for securing
edge-finishing strips or members along the remainder of the exposed
edge. Hinge means may also be included with the edge-finishing
strips to movably secure other furniture components thereto.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the
invention will become more apparent from a study of the following
description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work station in which movable
partitions are secured together with a work surface panel or ledge
supported along the top thereof by the bracket apparatus of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the work station shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of another space-dividing
furniture arrangement utilizing another embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, broken, perspective view of the work
station shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating two embodiments of the
bracket apparatus in combination with movable partitions and work
surface panels supported thereover;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating yet another
space-dividing furniture arrangement using the present
invention;
FIG. 6 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the bracket
apparatus;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the bracket shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an end elevation of the bracket of FIGS. 6 and 7;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the component joining means of the
first bracket embodiment taken along plane IX--IX of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a support arm of the first
bracket embodiment taken along plane X--X of FIG. 6;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of furniture components and work
surface panels secured together with the bracket embodiment shown
in FIGS. 6-10;
FIG. 12 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the
bracket;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the bracket shown in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is an end elevation of the bracket shown in FIGS.
12-13;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along plane XV--XV of FIG.
12;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along plane XVI--XVI of FIG.
13;
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of furniture components and a work
surface panel secured together with the bracket shown in FIGS.
12-16;
FIG. 18 is a side elevation of a third embodiment of the
bracket;
FIG. 19 is a plan view of the bracket shown in FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is an end elevation of the bracket shown in FIGS. 18 and
19;
FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along plane XXI--XXI of FIG.
18;
FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along plane XXII--XXII of FIG.
18;
FIG. 23 is a sectional view of furniture components secured to an
edge-finishing strip while a work surface panel is supported
thereover by the bracket means illustrated in FIGS. 13-17; and
FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along plane XXIV--XXIV of FIG.
23.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIGS. 1-5
illustrate exemplary space-dividing furniture arrangements
utilizing the present invention. In FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a plurality
of generally rectilinear partitions or panels 10 are secured
together in generally upstanding, vertical, edge-to-edge, abutting
relationship with other curved partitions or panels 12. A
rectilinear, generally planar work surface panel, countertop,
ledge, or other capping panel 14 is secured over the top edge 18 of
rectilinear panel 10 and extends on either side thereof. Curved,
generally planar work surface panels 16 are secured in edge-to-edge
abutting relationship with work panels 14 over the top edges 18 of
curved partitions 12. Embodiment 40 (FIGS. 6-10) and embodiment 90
(FIGS. 18-22) of the bracket apparatus of the present invention are
used to secure together both the partitions 10 and 12 and capping
work panels 14 and 16 over the top edges 18 of those panels as is
best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4.
Panels or partitions 10 and 12 may be any type of partition panels
including wood, composite, or honeycombed structure with wood
veneers, or the like. Each partition includes two side surfaces and
two generally vertically extending edges 17 as well as top edges
18. As is best seen in FIG. 24, each generally vertically extending
edge 17 of panels 10 and 12 includes an elongated, corrugated
locking or formed profile strip 20 secured against a protective
strip or channel 22 having outwardly extending flanges 23. At the
upper end of strip 20 is a wedge block or member 25 having inclined
surfaces 24 at its upper end (FIGS. 11, 17, and 23) which cooperate
with wedging surfaces on the brackets of the present invention to
secure the panels to one another.
As is also shown in FIG. 24, an edge-finishing strip 26 is secured
along any of the exposed vertical edges 17 when the partitions 10
and 12 are assembled into space-dividing arrangements. Finishing
strip 26 includes a corrugated, vertically extending locking or
formed profile strip 28, a protective bumper strip or end cap 30
formed from rubber or plastic, all of which are secured into a unit
as shown in FIG. 24. At the lower end of corrugated strip 28, as
well as at the lower end of locking strip 20, are wedge blocks or
members similar to members 25 including inclined surfaces of the
type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,430,997 or 3,517,467 assigned to
the same assignee as the present invention, the disclosures of
which are incorporated by reference herein. The upper end of strip
26 is cut along a plane generally at right angles to the direction
of elongation of the strip to cooperate with the lower edge of
embodiment 90 of the bracket apparatus as shown in FIGS. 23 and
24.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, embodiment 60 of the present bracket may
be utilized to join several of the partition panels 10 and 12
together while securing a work surface panel or capping panel 14
over the top edge 18 of but one of those panels, intermediate the
ends of the other panels.
As shown in FIG. 5, embodiment 90 of the bracket may also be used
to support a work panel or capping panel 14 between two upstanding
furniture support members or post 35 which themselves support
another desk or working surface 36 therebelow. The furniture
support posts 35 are space-dividing components including side
surfaces and top edges. Posts 35 may be combined with other movable
partitions 10 or 12 or furniture support members 35 by locking
strips similar to that shown at 20 in FIG. 24 and secured along
their exposed vertical edges. Alternatively, (FIG. 5 and in phantom
in FIG. 24) panels 10 or 12 are hingedly secured to post 35 by
means of elongated hinges 38 having one hinge flange 39a secured to
the finishing strip which is locked to post 35 and the other flange
39b secured to another finishing strip locked to the vertical edge
of the hinged panel 10 or 12. As shown in FIG. 3, bracket 90 and
strip 26 may be substituted for bracket 60 such that end partition
10' can be hingedly secured to partition 10 supporting panel 14.
Similarly, other components, such as a pair of posts 35 may also be
hingedly secured together.
Accordingly, the several embodiments 40, 60, and 90 of the present
bracket apparatus can be used to form an infinite variety of
space-dividing arrangements utilizing furniture components of the
type shown at 10, 12, 26, and 35 in FIGS. 1-5 while simultaneously
supporting work surface panels or capping panels 14 and 16 over the
top edges thereof. In the preferred embodiments, panels 14 and 16
are supported by the bracket apparatus generally perpendicular to
the vertically extending components. Thus, the work surface panels
are generally horizontal atop and over the component top edges.
Referring to FIGS. 6-10, embodiment 40 of the component securing
and cap-supporting bracket includes a central joining member or
block 42 and a pair of outwardly extending work surface panel
support arms 44a and 44b extending in opposite directions from
either side of block 42. Although bracket 40 may be made solid, it
is preferably cast from aluminum and includes hollow areas 45 in
arms 44 corresponding to the core areas of the mold. Arms 44 are in
alignment with the center line of block 42 and respectively include
flanges 46a and 46b extending transversely to the direction of
elongation of bracket 40 at the ends of the arms. Joining member 42
includes inclined wedge surfaces 48 and 50 extending upwardly and
inwardly which meet along a central line 52 for engaging the
inclined surfaces 24 of wedge members 25 in the manner described
above. The top surfaces of block 42, arms 44, and flanges 46 all
lie in a common plane for engaging the undersurface of the work
panel or capping panels 14 and 16 and supporting that undersurface
flush with the top surfaces 18 of partitions 10, 12, or furniture
post 35. The common plane is perpendicular to the vertically
extending components in the preferred embodiment although other
angles may also be used for slanting the panels 14 and 16 for
various purposes. A central aperture 54 extends downwardly through
block 42 for receiving a securing rod 59 (FIG. 11) to hold bracket
40 in engagement with the wedge members 25 when the furniture
systems are assembled. Flanges 46 include apertures 56 extending
therethrough for receiving screws, bolts, or other securing means
for holding work panels 14 and 16 rigidly in place. Slots 58 extend
vertically on either side of block 42 and on either side of the
bracket 40 for receiving flanges 23 of protective strips 22 when
the bracket 40 is secured between two furniture components in a
manner illustrated in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the length of block 42
matches the internal dimension of strips 22.
As is illustrated in FIG. 11, the joining block 42 of bracket 40 is
received between the two vertically extending edges 17 of
partitions 10, 12 including protective strips 22 with the wedge
surfaces 48, 50 engaging inclined surfaces 24 of wedge members 25.
An elongated rod or bolt 59 extends downwardly through aperture 54
of block 42 and engages a wedge member at the bottom of locking
strips 20 in the manner described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,430,997 and
3,517,467. A threaded member 59' at the top of rod 59 is tightened
such that the wedge member at the bottom of the partitions is
forced upwardly while the joining block 42 is pulled downwardly.
Such pulling action draws the partitions together both at their
tops and bottoms via the inclined, mating surfaces and securely
fastens the components together. Arms 44 extend on either side of
the partitions to support the abutting ends of two work panels 14
which meet over the joint area between partitions 10 and 12. Each
end of each of the panels 14 is secured to arms 44a and 44b with
appropriate screws received through apertures 56.
As shown in FIGS. 12-16, a modified embodiment 60 of the brackets
includes a joining member or block 62 similar in all respects to
the joining member 42 of bracket 40. Thus, block 62 includes
inclined wedge surfaces 64 and 66 and a central rod or
bolt-receiving apertures 68. Bracket 60 is also preferably cast
from aluminum.
The primary difference between embodiments 60 and 40 of the bracket
is that arms 72a and 72b of bracket 60 are offset from the center
line of block 62 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Arms 72a and 72b
include portions 74a and 74b extending outwardly from either side
of block 62 at an angle thereto and merge into portions 76a and 76b
which extend parallel with one another along a common line but in
opposite directions from one another. Each arm is hollow as at
areas 78 because of molding and includes an aperture 80 at the end
thereof for receiving screws or other securing means for attaching
work or capping panels 14 or 16. Again, as with bracket 40, the top
surfaces of arms 72 and block 62 are aligned in a common plane
which is flush with the top surfaces 18 of furniture components 10,
12, or 35 for supporting work panels 14 and 16 across those top
surfaces and on either side of the furniture components. In the
preferred embodiment, the common plane is perpendicular to the
vertically extending components although it may be formed at other
angles. Slots 82 are provided for receiving the flanges 23 of
protective strip 22 when the bracket is assembled between two
components in the manner described in connection with bracket
40.
As shown in FIG. 17, the joining member 62 of bracket 60 engages
the upper inclined surfaces 24 of wedge members 25 on two abutting
panels 10 while an elongated rod or bolt 84 extends downwardly
between strips 20 for engagement with a lower wedge block in the
manner described above with bracket 40 in FIG. 11. The offset arms
72 of bracket 60 extend inwardly under the end edge of capping
panel 14 and then outwardly to areas adjacent the side edges
thereof to support that panel without exposing the arm structure to
a person viewing the space-dividing furniture arrangement.
Referring to FIGS. 18-22, the final embodiment 90 of the present
bracket apparatus includes a central joining member or block 92
including a downwardly extending finishing flange 94 and an
upwardly and inwardly extending inclined wedge surface 96 generally
opposing flange 94 (FIG. 21). As is seen in FIG. 18, wedge surface
96 includes surfaces 96a and 96b with central section 96c cut away
to allow passage of a securing rod or bolt. Alternatively, the
lower edge 97 (FIG. 18) of wedge surface 96 may be continuous with
section 96c being cut out of the interior of flange 94 only. The
exterior shape of the surface 93 of the exposed portion of flange
94 matches the shape of end cap 30 on edge-finishing strip 26 such
that when bracket 90 is combined with the strip and secured to a
panel 10 to support a work panel 14 thereover as shown in FIG. 23,
flange 94 extends upwardly from edge-finishing strip 26 forming a
finishing and edge-covering member for the upper portion of the
vertical edge.
Extending downwardly from the bottom of flange 94 are two generally
triangularly shaped teeth 98 joined by an integral web 99. A
central circular aperture 100 extends downwardly through the center
of joining block 92 for receiving an extended rod or bolt to secure
the bracket 90 to the panel and edge-finishing strip. As will be
understood from FIG. 24, downwardly extending teeth 98 are received
in the internal spaces of corrugated or formed profile strip 28.
This holds and retains the edge-finishing strip 26 against the
locking strip 20 on the vertical edge of the panel or partition
when wedge surfaces 96 engage the inclined surfaces 24 of the wedge
member 25.
Extending outwardly from either side of joining block 92 are
support arms 102a and 102b which, as in embodiment 60 of the
bracket, are offset from the center line of the joining block. Arms
102 include portions 104a and 104b extending at an angle to the
sides of the joining block which portions merge into portions 106a
and 106b which extend generally in opposite directions but parallel
to one another along a line which is offset to one side of the
center line of the block 92. Arms 102 include hollow portions 108
formed by the mold cores when bracket 90 is cast preferably from
aluminum. At the end of each arm 102 is a securing aperture 110 for
receiving screws or other securing means to secure a work panel or
capping panel 14 or 16 to the arm. Vertical slots 111 receive
flanges 23 of protective strip 22 when bracket 90 secures finishing
strip 26 to locking strip 20. As with brackets 40 and 60, the top
surfaces of joining block 92 and arms 102 lie in a common plane
which is flush with the top surface 18 of a panel to which the
bracket is secured for supporting work panel 14 thereover (FIG.
23). Preferably, this plane is perpendicular to the vertically
extending components, but may be at other angles.
As will be understood from FIGS. 23 and 24, bracket 90 is secured
against the vertical edge 17 of a panel 10, 12 or furniture support
post 35 via the engagement of wedge surface 96 with the inclined
surface 24 of wedge member 25. Flange 94 extends downwardly to the
upper end of edge-finishing strip 26 with the downwardly extending
teeth 98 and web 99 extending into the corrugated strip 28 thereof
the retain the entire strip against the vertical edge of the
partition. A rod 112 extends downwardly through aperture 100 along
the entire vertical edge of the partition into engagement with a
wedge block at the bottom of the partition between the wedge
members and locking strips 20 and 28 in the manner described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,430,997 and 3,517,467 described and incorporated
by reference above. Arms 102 extend outwardly on either side of the
partition and support work panel 14 across and over top edge 18 of
partition 10 on either side of the partition. The offset nature of
arms 102a locates them behind the end edge of work panel 14 making
them virtually inconspicuous to a viewer of the assembled
space-dividing furniture system. Flange 94 thereby forms a
continuation of edge-finishing strip 26 such that the finished edge
is rounded under the end edge of work panel 14.
Therefore, the present bracket apparatus in its various embodiments
40, 60, and 90 provides a means for both joining movable partitions
or upstanding furniture support members or other components while
at the same time supporting a work surface panel or capping panel
over one or more of those partitions or members. In certain forms,
the bracket also provides a means for finishing and capping at
least a portion of the vertically extending edges of such furniture
components.
As will be appreciated, brackets 40, 60, and 90 may be constructed
to include arms extending on but one side of the components which
they fasten together. In such a case, the capping panels 14, 16
would extend over the top of the component and be secured by
suitable means to the top or other portion of the panel itself
while the arm provided on the bracket supported the cantilevered
portion of the bracket.
While several forms of the invention have been shown and described,
other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments shown in the
drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes
and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is
defined by the claims which follow.
* * * * *