Modular Furniture System

• US 20070204537A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Royston Hamilton LLC
• Original Assignee: Fisher Hamilton LLC (Hamilton Scientific, LLC)
• Inventors: Michaud, Maurice, Bastian, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/220.700
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems

Abstract

A modular furniture system includes a framework assembly comprising vertical and horizontal frame members that can be shared by back-to-back workstations. The vertical and horizontal frame members are configured to facilitate routing of various utility service lines through the framework assembly to locations near the workstations. In another embodiment, a horizontal frame member facilitates routing of electric service wires to outlets near the workstations, while concealing fasteners and other structure of the outlets.

Claims

1. A modular furniture system, comprising:

first and second work surfaces defining respective first and second workstations, said first and second work surfaces being oriented back-to-back;

a common framework comprising a pair of vertical frame members configured to support said first and second work surfaces; and

at least one utility service line routed through at least a portion of said framework.

2. The modular furniture system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said vertical frame members comprises:

an elongate tubular section defining an interior channel therethrough and an open side that facilitates accessing said interior channel; and

a selectively removable panel covering said open side to enclose said interior channel.

3. The modular furniture system of claim 2, wherein said panel is mechanically coupled to said elongate tubular section without fasteners extending therebetween.

4. The modular furniture system of claim 3, further comprising an end cap removably coupled to a terminal end of said elongate tubular section, said end cap configured to engage and retain said panel proximate said open side of said elongate tubular section.

5. The modular furniture system of claim 2, further comprising at least one partition disposed in said interior channel of said at least one vertical frame member and extending along at least a portion of said elongate tubular section, said partition defining discrete passages along said interior channel.

6. The modular furniture system of claim 5, wherein said partition is selectively removable from said interior channel.

7. The modular furniture system of claim 5, wherein said at least one partition defines at least three discrete passages along said interior channel.

8. The modular furniture system of claim 5, further comprising electric service wires and data service wires disposed within said at least one vertical frame member, said electric service wires being contained within at least one of said discrete passages and said data service wires being contained within at least one other one of said discrete passages.

9. The modular furniture system of claim 8, wherein said selectively removable panel is removable to permit access to said data service wires while said electric service wires remain covered by said partition.

10. The modular furniture system of claim 9, wherein said partition is selectively removable from said interior channel to permit access to said electric service wires.

11. The modular furniture system of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one first plurality of apertures on said at least one vertical frame member and positioned adjacent said first workstation for mounting accessories to said at least one vertical frame member;

at least one second plurality of apertures on said at least one vertical frame member and positioned adjacent said second workstation for mounting accessories to said at least one vertical frame member;

a first wall structure within said interior channel and adjacent said first plurality of apertures to limit the egress of fastening structure through said first plurality of apertures into said interior channel; and

a second wall structure within said interior channel and adjacent said second plurality of apertures to limit the egress of fastening structure through said second plurality of apertures into said interior channel.

12. The modular furniture system of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one gas service conduit disposed within said at least one vertical frame member; and

at least one gas service port provided on said at least one vertical frame member and fluidly coupled to said gas service conduit.

13. The modular furniture system of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one of electric service wires and data service wires disposed within said at least one vertical frame member;

said gas service conduit being disposed in one of said passages and at least one of said electric service wires and said data service wires being disposed in at least one other one of said discrete passages.

14. The modular furniture system of claim 1, wherein said at least one vertical frame member is configured to receive at least one utility service line from a location spaced from a terminal end of said at least one vertical frame member.

15. The modular furniture system of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one end cap coupled to said terminal end of said at least one vertical frame member and receiving said at least one utility service line therethrough.

16. The modular furniture system of claim 1, wherein said common framework further comprises:

at least one horizontal frame member extending between said pair of vertical frame members and having first and second opposed sides, said first side generally facing said first workstation and said second side generally facing said second workstation; and

at least one of a first electric service outlet and a second electric service outlet associated with said horizontal frame member;

said first electric service outlet being associated with said first side of said horizontal frame member and facing said first workstation; and

said second electric service outlet being associated with said second side of said horizontal frame member and facing said second workstation.

17. The modular furniture system of claim 16, wherein said at least one first and second electric service outlet is mounted within said horizontal frame member by fasteners such that said fasteners are concealed from view externally of said horizontal frame member.

18. The modular furniture system of claim 16, further comprising first and second electric service outlets associated with said horizontal frame member.

19. The modular furniture system of claim 18, wherein said first and second service outlets are mounted within said horizontal frame member by fasteners such that said fasteners are concealed from view externally of said horizontal frame member.

20. The modular furniture system of claim 17, wherein said horizontal frame member comprises:

an elongate tubular member defining an interior channel therealong and having an open side for accessing said interior channel; and

first and second outlet support members configured to mount said at least one first and second electric service outlets;

said first and second outlet support members being coupled together for movement toward and away from each other between a first position wherein said outlet support members are insertable into said interior channel through said open side of said horizontal frame member, and a second position wherein said first and second outlet support members are captured within said interior channel of said horizontal frame member.

21. The modular furniture system of claim 20, wherein said first and second outlet support members are slidably coupled together for movement toward and away from each other.

22. The modular furniture system of claim 20, further comprising a horizontal frame member cover removably mounted to said elongate tubular member and covering said open side.

23. The modular furniture system of claim 1, further comprising at least one electric service outlet associated with at least one of said vertical frame members.

24. A modular furniture system, comprising:

a framework comprising at least one horizontal frame member, said horizontal frame member having first and second oppositely disposed sides;

at least first and second workstations disposed on opposite sides of said horizontal frame member with said first workstation facing said first side and said second workstation facing said second side;

at least one first electric service outlet disposed on said first side of said horizontal frame member and facing said first workstation; and

at least one second electric service outlet disposed on said second side of said horizontal frame member and facing said second workstation.

25. The modular furniture system of claim 24, wherein said first and second electric service outlets are mounted within said horizontal frame member by fasteners such that said fasteners are concealed from view externally of said horizontal frame member.

26. The modular furniture system of claim 25, wherein said horizontal frame member comprises:

an elongate tubular member defining an interior channel therealong and having an open side for accessing said interior channel; and

first and second outlet support members configured to mount said first and second electric service outlets;

said first and second outlet support members being coupled together for movement toward and away from each other between a first position wherein said outlet support members are insertable into said interior channel through said open side of said horizontal frame member, and a second position wherein said first and second outlet support members are captured within said interior channel of said horizontal frame member.

27. The modular furniture system of claim 26, wherein said first and second outlet support members are slidably coupled together for movement toward and away from each other.

28. The modular furniture system of claim 26, further comprising a horizontal frame member cover removably mounted to said elongate tubular member and covering said open side.

29. The modular furniture system of claim 26, comprising:

at least one first outlet aperture in said first side of said tubular member;

at least one second outlet aperture in said second side of said tubular member;

said at least one first electric service outlet being supported by said first outlet support member in alignment with said first outlet aperture; and

said at least one second electric outlet being supported by said second outlet support member in alignment with said second outlet aperture;

said first and second electric service outlets being positioned adjacent said first and second outlet apertures, respectively, when said outlet support members are moved to said second position.

30. A modular furniture system, comprising:

a work surface defining a workstation; and

a framework comprising a pair of vertical frame members configured to support said work surface,

wherein at least one of said vertical frame members comprises;

an elongate tubular section defining an interior channel therethrough and an open side that facilitates accessing said interior channel; and

a selectively removable panel covering said open side to enclose said interior channel.

31. The modular furniture system of claim 30, further comprising at least one partition disposed in said interior channel of said at least one vertical frame member and extending along at least a portion of said elongate tubular section, said partition defining discrete passages along said interior channel.

32. The modular furniture system of claim 31, wherein said partition is selectively removable from said interior channel.

33. The modular furniture system of claim 31, further comprising electric service wires and data service wires disposed within said at least one vertical frame member, said electric service wires being contained within at least one of said discrete passages and said data service wires being contained within at least one other one of said discrete passages.

34. The modular furniture system of claim 33, wherein said selectively removable panel is removable to permit access to said data service wires while said electric service wires remain covered by said partition.

35. The modular furniture system of claim 34, wherein said partition is selectively removable from said interior channel to permit access to said electric service wires.

36. The modular furniture system of claim 31, further comprising:

at least one gas service conduit disposed within said at least one vertical frame member; and

at least one gas service port provided on said at least one vertical frame member and fluidly coupled to said gas service conduit.

37. The modular furniture system of claim 36, further comprising:

at least one of electric service wires and data service wires disposed within said at least one vertical frame member;

said gas service conduit being disposed in one of said passages and at least one of said electric service wires and said data service wires being disposed in at least one other one of said discrete passages.

38. The modular furniture system of claim 30, wherein said at least one vertical frame member is configured to receive at least one utility service line from a location spaced from a terminal end of said at least one vertical frame member.

39. The modular furniture system of claim 34, further comprising:

at least one end cap coupled to said terminal end of said at least one vertical frame member and receiving said at least one utility service line therethrough.