Utility panel system

• US 20040154233A1
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: George V. Weller, Ronald R. Hodges
• Inventors: Weller, George V., Hodges, Ronald R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,951,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7433 with panels and support posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 454/903 Flexible ducts used for carrying air

Abstract

A utility panel system is provided for open office spaces, and the like. Each utility panel has a relatively thick, skeleton-like frame, with a foot and opposite sides shaped for interconnection with like panel frames to create a substantially freestanding utility panel system. Cover panels are detachably connected to the opposite faces of each panel frame to enclose the same, and provide ready access to the panel interior. Horizontal utility troughs extend continuously between the opposite sides of each panel frame in a vertically stacked relationship. The utility troughs have open ends located at the opposite panel sides, and are positioned such that when adjacent utility panels are interconnected in a side-by-side relationship, the utility troughs are aligned to form multiple raceways. Panel connectors are provided to connect the utility panels with one or more of a variety of existing partition panels, such that the utility panels act as a spine which supplies utilities to the existing partition panels.

Claims

1. An upright partition for use in a modular office furniture system, the partition comprising:

a frame comprising;

at least two elongated internal frame members each having outward opposing faces defining spaced apart parallel forward and rearward planes when viewed from a side edge of the frame, the at least two frame members lying between the forward and rearward planes;

a plurality of elongated external frame members lying outboard of the forward and rearward planes, at least one of said external frame members being located along each said plane, each external frame member having an inward face and an outward face, the inward face of each external frame member engaging and being connected to at least some the associated outward faces of said internal frame members in an overlapping moment-resisting connection; and

a plurality of covers each connected to said frame and having an inner surface, whereby an internal cavity is defined inward of the outward faces of said external frame members, and at least one utility management path is defined outward of said outward faces of the internal frame members and inward of the inner surfaces of the covers.

2. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein each of external frame members are interconnected to each of the internal frame members by overlapping moment-resisting connections.

3. The upright partition defined in claim 2, wherein the internal and external frame members include sections with flat surfaces that abuttingly engage.

4. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said moment-resisting connections includes a weld for rigidly interconnecting the internal and external frame members.

5. The upright partition defined in claim 4, wherein said moment-resisting connections each include a weld securing the internal and external frame members together.

6. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein said covers each include connectors for releasably engaging one or more of the external frame members.

7. The upright partition defined in claim 6, wherein at least one of said covers includes a concave inner surface.

8. The upright partition defined in claim 7, wherein said at least one cover is pan shaped.

9. The upright partition defined in claim 7, wherein said at least one cover includes a main panel comprising sheet metal.

10. The upright partition defined in claim 7, wherein said at least one cover includes cover edges that are substantially flush with the outward faces of said external frame members.

11. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein at least some of said covers include metal providing electrical shielding for wires positioned in one of the first and second utility management paths.

12. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the internal frame members and the external frame members extend horizontally a width of the frame so that one frame member can be aligned with a corresponding horizontal portion of an adjacent partition.

13. The upright partition defined in claim 1, including a horizontally-extending panel-to-panel connector for interconnecting said frame with an adjacent partition.

14. The upright partition defined in claim 1, including a top panel assembly having a second frame which mounts to the top of said first-mentioned frame to extend the overall height of the upright partition.

15. The upright partition defined in claim 14, wherein the second frame includes connectors that mateably engage an upper end of one or more of said internal and external frame members.

16. The upright partition defined in claim 15, wherein said top panel assembly includes a subframe having at least one vertical frame member configured to telescopingly engage the upper end of said one frame member on the first mentioned frame.

17. The upright partition defined in claim 16, wherein said top panel assembly includes a sheet-like panel mounted on said subframe.

18. The upright partition defined in claim 1, including a panel connector attached to a vertical side edge of said frame for connecting an adjacent non-aligned partition.

19. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the internal and external frame members comprise tubular beams.

20. The upright partition defined in claim 19, wherein the plurality of external frame members each comprise tubular beams.

21. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of external frame members are spaced apart and define therebetween at least one continuous and substantially uninterrupted passageway extending from end to end of the external frame members, the uninterrupted passageway forming a part of said internal cavity.

22. The upright partition defined in claim 21, wherein said external frame members extend continuously between opposing edges of said frame.

23. The upright partition defined in claim 22, wherein said external frame members each define a continuous cross sectional shape.

24. The upright partition defined in claim 21, wherein the at least two internal frame members are spaced apart and define therebetween at least one continuous and substantially uninterrupted second passageway extending transversely to the first-mentioned passageway and from end to end of the internal frame members, the second passageway forming a part of said internal cavity.

25. The upright partition defined in claim 24, wherein said internal frame members extend continuously between opposing edges of said frame.

26. The upright partition defined in claim 25, wherein said internal frame members each define a continuous cross sectional shape.

27. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the internal and external frame members comprises an open channel that extends horizontally across the frame for supporting wires therein.

28. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of external frame members include pairs of parallel external frame members, at least one of said external frame members of each pair being connected to the associated outward opposing faces of each said internal frame member.

29. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein one of said internal and external frame members include at least three frame members that are spaced from each other at uniform intervals.

30. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein each said cover includes hook-shaped clips for releasably coupling to at least one said external frame member.

31. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein one of said internal and external frame members comprises a horizontal channel.

32. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said internal and external frame members is U shaped in cross section.

33. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein the internal frame members comprise channels.

34. The upright partition defined in claim 1, including releasable securing means on at least one of said internal and external frame members for securing said one frame member to frames of like partitions in a modular assembly.

35. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein one of the internal and external frame members includes a series of vertically disposed slots in their outward faces that are constructed to receive and support hooked connectors for suspending furniture components upon the one frame members.

36. The upright partition defined in claim 1, including a furniture component mounted on the frame.

37. The upright partition defined in claim 36, wherein the furniture component includes a binder bin.

38. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein said covers include a configured cover defining an aperture whereby wires and cables can pass between the internal cavity of the frame and equipment external to the partition.

39. The upright partition defined in claim 38, wherein said configured cover includes a flexible strip for aesthetically covering the aperture.

40. The upright partition defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said covers includes an electrical power outlet in an outward surface thereof.

41. The upright partition defined in claim 1, including cable support structure on said frame for supporting cables within said frame.

42. The upright partition defined in claim 41, wherein said cable support structure includes vertically extending cable-management members on one of said internal and external frame members.

43. The upright partition defined in claim 42, wherein said cable-management members include flanges on the internal frame members that define upwardly open pockets for receiving and holding cables therein.

44. The upright partition defined in claim 43, wherein said internal frame members define a channel including said flanges, said flanges including cutouts to permit convenient and managed ingress and egress of cables from the channels.

45. A partition system comprising at least two of the upright partitions defined in claim 1, the frames of said at least two upright partitions being preassembled separate units that are positioned adjacently and interconnected to form a wall covered by said plurality of covers.