Modular desk system

• US 4,798,423 A
• Filed: 01/07/1987
• Issued: 01/17/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lacour Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lacour Incorporated
• Inventors: LaCour, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rendos, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US07/001,036
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 312/194, 312/195, 312/196, 312/208, 312/223, 312/7.2, 312/239, 312/257 R, 312/257 SM, D 6/421, D 6/422, D 6/423, D 6/424, D 6/425, D 6/426, D 6/427, D 6/428, 108/50
• US Class Current: 312/223.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/06 Desks with inlet and evacuation of air
• 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 desk system employs two work tops which are arranged so as to define a pair of back-to-back work stations. The work tops are cantileverd from a core, which is common to both of the work stations. A pedestal or an end panel supports the free end of each work top. The core has a substantially unobstructed, interior raceway for data, communication and electrical service lines and accessory equipment. The top of the core is substantially open so that a communication and data turret removably mounted on the core can be partially sunk into the raceway.

Claims

1. A desk system, comprising a core having an interior raceway, a substantially open top, a first face panel on one side of said core and a second face panel on an opposite side of said core;

a first work top extending outwardly from said one side of said core, said first work top having an inner edge which is directly supported by said first face panel;

a second work top extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core, said second work top having an inner edge which is directly supported by said second face panel such that said second work top is arranged in substantially back-to-back relationship with said first work top, whereby said first and second work tops define a pair of back-to-back work stations, said core being common to both of said work stations;

first supporting means extending downwardly from said first work top for supporting an outer portion of said first work top;

second supporting means extending downwardly from said second work top for supporting an outer portion of said second work top; and

covering means for covering said top of said core, said covering means including a turret which is common to both of said work stations and which is partially sunk into said raceway through said top of said core, said turret including housing means for housing computer data monitors such that at least one of said computer data monitors faces one of said work stations and at least another of said computer data monitors faces the other of said work stations and such that each of said computer data monitors extends below said first and second work tops to thereby reduce the distance that said turret projects above said work tops.

2. A desk system according to claim 1, wherein said housing means houses data and communication equipment.

3. A desk system according to claim 2, wherein said housing means includes a first upper chamber on one side of said turret for data equipment, including said at least one computer data monitor, a second upper chamber on an opposite side of said turret for additional data equipment, including said at least another computer data monitor, a first lower chamber on said one side of said turret for communication equipment, and a second lower chamber on said opposite side of the turret for additional communication equipment.

4. A desk system according to claim 3, wherein said turret includes a first access opening communicating between said raceway and said first and second upper chambers, whereby data service lines can run from said raceway to said first and second upper chambers, a second access opening communicating between said raceway and said first lower chamber, whereby communication service lines can run from said raceway to said first lower chamber, and a third access opening communication between said raceway and said second lower chamber, whereby communication service lines can be run from said raceway to said second lower chamber.

5. A desk system according to claim 3, wherein said first work top includes a cutout in an inner edge thereof and said second work top includes a cutout in an inner edge thereof.

6. A desk system according to claim 5, wherein said first lower chamber of said turret extends outwardly from said core into said cutout in said first work top and said second lower chamber of said turret extends outwardly from said core into said cutout in said second work top.

7. A desk system according to claim 1, further comprising first accessing means in said first face panel for accessing said raceway from said one side of said core and second accessing means in said second face panel for accessing said raceway from said opposite side of said core.

8. A desk system according to claim 7, wherein said top of said core includes a first opening located adjacent to one end of said core, a second opening located adjacent to an opposite end of said core, and a third opening located between said first and second openings, said third opening being sized and shaped so as to receive a portion of said turret which is sunk into said raceway.

9. A desk system according to claim 8, wherein said cord is a freestanding module.

10. A desk system according to claim 1, further comprising connecting means on one end of said core for connecting said desk system to another similar desk system in end-to-end fashion.

11. A desk system according to claim 10, further comprising another connecting means on an opposite end of said core for connecting said desk system to yet another similar desk system in end-to-end fashion.

12. A desk system according to claim 10, wherein said first and second work tops of each of said desk systems defines a work station, whereby said work stations are arranged in two back-to-back rows.

13. A desk system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second work tops are removably attached to said core, whereby said first and second work tops can be provided as individually replaceable modules.

14. A desk system according to claim 13, wherein said turret is removably mounted on said core, whereby said turret can be provided as an individually replaceable module.

15. A desk system according to claim 1, wherein said turret is supported by said core.

16. A desk system according to claim 15, wherein said first supporting means includes a first end panel positioned on one side of said core and extending downwardly from said first work top and said second supporting means includes a second end panel positioned on an opposite side of said core and extending downwardly from said second work top.

17. A desk system according to claim 15, wherein said first supporting means includes a first pedestal positioned on one side of said core and extending downwardly from said first work top and said second supporting means includes a second pedestal positioned on an opposite side of said core and extending downwardly from said second work top.

18. A desk system according to claim 1, wherein said turret is supported by said first and second work tops.

19. A desk system according to claim 18, wherein said first supporting means includes a first end panel positioned on one side of said core and extending downwardly from said first work top and said second supporting means includes a second end panel positioned on an opposite side of said core and extending downwardly from said second work top.

20. A desk system according to claim 18, wherein said first supporting means includes a first pedestal positioned on one side of said core and extending downwardly from said first work top and said second supporting means includes a second pedestal positioned on an opposite side of said core and extending downwardly from said second work top.

21. A desk system according to claim 1, wherein said housing means includes a first support surface on which said at least one of said computer data monitors rests and a second support surface on which said at least another of said computer data monitors rests, said first and second support surfaces sloping downwardly into said raceway from opposite sides of said turret and being spaced apart a distance sufficient to provide access to said computer data monitors from within said raceway.

22. A desk system according to claim 1, wherein said raceway is large enough to constitute a crawlspace.

23. A cluster of work stations, comprising a plurality of modular desk systems, each of said desk systems including a core having an interior raceway, a substantially open top, a first face panel on one side of said core and a second face panel on an opposite side of said core, a first work top extending outwardly from said one side of said core, said first work top having an inner edge which is directly supported by said first face panel, a second work top extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core, said second work top having an inner edge which is directly supported by said second face panel such that said second work top is arranged in substantially back-to-back relationship with said first work top, whereby said first and second work tops define a pair of back-to-back work stations, said core being common to both of said work stations, first supporting means extending downwardly from said first work top for supporting an outer portion of said first work top, second supporting means extending downwardly from said second work top for supporting an outer portion of said second work top, covering means for covering said top of said core, said covering means including a turret which is common to both of said work stations and which is partially sunk into said raceway through said top of said core, said turret including housing means for housing computer data monitors such that at least one of said computer data monitors faces one of said work stations and at least another of said computer data monitors faces the other of said work stations and such that each of said computer data monitors extends below said first and second work tops to thereby reduce the distance that said turret projects above said work tops, and connecting means for connecting at least some of said desk systems in end-to-end fashion, whereby said cluster of work stations includes two rows of back-to-back work stations.

24. A cluster of work stations according to claim 23, further comprising secondary turrets positioned on opposite sides of said primary turrets.

25. A cluster of work stations according to claim 24, wherein said secondary turrets include spanning turrets which span adjacent desk systems between said primary turrets thereof.

26. A cluster of work stations according to claim 25, wherein said secondary turrets include ending turrets at each end of said rows of back-to-back work stations.

27. A cluster of work stations according to claim 23, wherein said primary turret is mounted on said core between said first and second work tops.

28. A cluster of work stations according to claim 23, wherein said primary turret is mounted on said first and second work tops such that said primary turret bridges said raceway.

29. A cluster of work stations according to claim 23, wherein said housing means of each of said desk systems includes a first support surface on which said at least one of said computer data monitors rests and a second support surface on which said at least another of said computer data monitors rests, said first and second support surfaces sloping downwardly into said raceway from opposite sides of said turret and being spaced apart a distance sufficient to provide access to said computer data monitors from within said raceway.

30. A cluster of work stations according to claim 23, wherein said raceway of each of said desk systems is large enough to constitute a crawlspace.