CONSOLE MODULE AND MODULAR CONSOLE SYSTEM

• US 20140124468A1
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evans Consoles Corporation (Evans Components Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Evans Consoles Corporation (Evans Components Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lundrigan, Shannon, Papic, Matko, Game, Richard, Yaskiw, Nick, Lewis, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,985,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/182
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0058 Horizontal connecting members without panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/021 Racks or shelf units A47B47/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/027 with frames only A47B47/0058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/028 with crossbars
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/03 with panels separate from the frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/045 with four vertical uprights
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0284 Cabinet systems consisting of stacked-and-linked uniform casings, each being a cabinet or drawer-holder, e.g. lockers, mail/file boxing systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/014 Corner connections for frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/301 mainly consisting of a frame onto which plates are mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/186 for supporting telecommunication equipment selecting apparatus H04Q1/02

Abstract

The present invention relates to console modules and modular console systems. In one aspect, a console module unit is provided comprising a frame, the frame comprising first and second spaced apart frame sections, each frame section comprising two spaced apart side supports and two spaced apart lateral supports, each lateral support disposed between and forming junctions with corresponding ends of the side supports, and a plurality of cross supports interconnecting the first and second frame sections, wherein at least one of the side, lateral, and cross supports is in the form of an extrusion, the extrusion defining at least one re-entrant channel extending in a direction of its longitudinal axis, the at least one re-entrant channel for receiving at least a portion of a coupler. In another aspect, a modular console system comprising at least two console modules is provided.

Claims

1. A console module unit comprising:

a self-supporting frame, the frame comprising;

first and second spaced apart frame sections, each frame section comprising two spaced apart side supports and two spaced apart lateral supports, each lateral support disposed between and forming junctions with corresponding ends of the side supports; and

a plurality of cross supports interconnecting the first and second frame sections, wherein there is at least one cross support extending between and joining each of the corresponding junctions of the first and second frame sections, the plurality of cross supports and the first and second frame sections forming the self-supporting frame,

wherein at least one of the side, lateral, and cross supports is in the form of an extrusion, the extrusion defining at least one re-entrant channel extending in a direction of its longitudinal axis, the at least one re-entrant channel for receiving at least a portion of a coupler.

2. The console module unit of claim 1 further comprising at least one brace support, the at least one brace support coupled to and extending between two opposing supports of the frame.

3. The console module unit of claim 2 wherein at least one of the at least one brace support is in the form of an extrusion.

4. The console module unit of claim 2 further comprising at least one box frame bracket, the at least one box frame bracket connecting the brace support to two other supports of the frame.

5. The console module unit of claim 4 wherein each of the brace support and the two other supports of the frame is in the form of an extrusion defining a re-entrant channel, and the box frame bracket is connected to each of the brace support and the two other supports of the frame by way of at least one coupler that engages the re-entrant channel of the respective support.

6. The console module unit of claim 5 further comprising at least one lateral brace support having a sheet-like form, the at least one lateral brace extending between and connected to two opposing supports of the frame, the at least one lateral brace contributing to the rigidity of the frame.

7. The console module unit of claim 5 further comprising at least one slat wall panel coupled to the frame.

8. The console module unit of claim 7 wherein the at least one slat wall panel extends between and is coupled to two opposing supports of the frame.

9. A modular console system comprising:

at least a first console module unit and a second console module unit, the first and second console module units each comprising;

a self-supporting frame, the frame comprising;

first and second spaced apart frame sections, each frame section comprising two spaced apart side supports and two spaced apart lateral supports, each lateral support disposed between and forming junctions with corresponding ends of the side supports; and

a plurality of cross supports interconnecting the first and second frame sections, wherein there is at least one cross support extending between and joining each of the corresponding junctions of the first and second frame sections, the plurality of cross supports and the first and second frame sections forming the self-supporting frame,

wherein the frame of the first console module unit is coupleable to the frame of the second console module unit by substantially aligning at least one support of the first console module unit with and adjacent to at least one support of the second console module unit, and connecting the at least one support of the first console module unit to the at least one support of the second console module unit by way of one or more couplers.

10. The modular console system of claim 9 wherein the at least one support of the first console module unit and the at least one support of the second console module unit are each in the form of an extrusion, the extrusion defining at least one re-entrant channel extending in a direction of its longitudinal axis,

and wherein the at least one support of the first console module unit and the at least one support of the second console module unit are coupled together by way of at least one coupling assembly.

11. The modular console system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the at least one coupling assembly comprises a bracket and at least first and second fasteners, the first fastener connecting the bracket to the support of the first console module, and the second fastener connecting the bracket to the support of the second console module.

12. The modular console system of claim 11 wherein the first fastener connects the bracket to the support of the first console module by engaging the re-entrant channel of the support of the first console module, and the second fastener connects the bracket to the support of the second console module by engaging the re-entrant channel of the support of the second console module.

13. The modular console system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the at least one coupling assembly is a latch.

14. The modular console system of claim 13 wherein the latch engages at least one of the support of the first and second console module units by engaging the at least one re-entrant channel of the at least one support.

15. The modular console system of claim 14 wherein the latch engages the support of both the first and second console module units by engaging the at least one re-entrant channel of each support.

16. The modular console system of claim 14 wherein the latch is selected from the group consisting of:

an over-center draw latch, an under-center draw latch, a cam latch, and a rotary action latch.

17. A console module unit comprising:

a self-supporting frame, the frame comprising;

first and second spaced apart frame sections, each frame section comprising two spaced apart side supports and two spaced apart lateral supports, each lateral support disposed between and forming junctions with corresponding ends of the side supports;

a plurality of cross supports interconnecting the first and second frame sections;

a pair of secondary side supports disposed outwardly and spaced away from a corresponding pair of side supports of the frame sections, and each being joined to its corresponding side support by way of one or more connectors,

wherein the plurality of cross supports, the first and second frame sections, the pair of secondary side supports, and the connectors form the self-supporting frame.

18. The console module unit of claim 17 wherein at least one of the side, lateral, cross, and secondary side supports is in the form of an extrusion, the extrusion defining at least one re-entrant channel extending in a direction of its longitudinal axis, the at least one re-entrant channel for receiving at least a portion of a coupler.

19. A modular console system comprising:

at least a first console module unit and a second console module unit, the first and second console module units each comprising;

a self-supporting frame, the frame comprising;

first and second spaced apart frame sections, each frame section comprising two spaced apart side supports and two spaced apart lateral supports, each lateral support disposed between and forming junctions with corresponding ends of the side supports;

a plurality of cross supports interconnecting the first and second frame sections; and

a pair of secondary side supports disposed outwardly and spaced away from a corresponding pair of side supports of the frame sections, and each being joined to its corresponding side support by way of one or more connectors,

wherein the plurality of cross supports, the first and second frame sections, the pair of secondary side supports, and the connectors form the self-supporting frame,

wherein the frame of the first console module unit is coupleable to the frame of the second console module unit by substantially aligning at least one support of the first console module unit with and adjacent to at least one support of the second console module unit, and connecting the at least one support of the first console module unit to the at least one support of the second console module unit by way of one or more couplers.

20. The modular console system of claim 19 wherein the at least one support of the first console module unit and the at least one support of the second console module unit are each in the form of an extrusion, the extrusion defining at least one re-entrant channel extending in a direction of its longitudinal axis,

and wherein the at least one support of the first console module unit and the at least one support of the second console module unit are coupled together by way of at least one coupling assembly.