Work space management system

• US 5,038,539 A
• Filed: 08/21/1989
• Issued: 08/13/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Stumpf, William E., Kelley, James O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/396,931
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 52/28, 52/36, 52/238.1, 52/239, 52/474, 52/483, 108/109, 211/187, 211/193, 211/208, 211/88, 211/182, 211/103, 211/190, 312/242, 312/245, 312/282, 312/350
• US Class Current: 52/239
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/006 having an incorporated display screen
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/01 Office wall with desktop function
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7405 with free upper edge, e.g. for use as office space dividers
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• 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: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels

Abstract

A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising a wall system having a rigid framework formed of rigid rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area, wire management elements secured to the frames for communication and power wiring and a plurality of selectively relocatable modular tiles removably hanging on the frames. Some of the wire management elements are secured to the bottom or baseline of the frames and some of the wire management elements are removably secured to a waistline or midportion of at least some of the frames. The frames can extend to a waist height, a seated height, to a standing or full floor to ceiling height in a modular stepped fashion. Decorative and functional modular tiles are sized to fit on the frames to substantially cover the frames, and are independently and removably mounted thereto. The tiles are of equal height and of variable modular width to cover the frames. Further, the tiles are easily mounted to and removed from the frames so that the tiles are relocatable and interchangeable with one another within the same frame and among the different frames for ease of customizing work stations within the system. The work space management system provides an architectural wall partition system with flexibility for interchangeable tile panels for different decorative effects and various functional features. The tiles can be painted, fabric, or vinyl covered, or can comprise acoustical tiles, window tiles, work-in-process rail tiles, lighting tiles, tackable tiles, marker tiles, data display tiles, display tiles, shelf tiles, open pass-through tiles, wire management tiles, mail tiles, storage tiles, heater tiles, and cooling and air circulation tiles.

Claims

1. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames, said tile-receiving means comprising openings in the face of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles having an attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to said frames for ease of placement on and removal from said frames, said attaching means on said tiles comprising projections which fit within said openings;

said tiles being mounted to the outer faces of both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface and other of said tiles having a structure to serve a function other than decorative in the work area defined by said framework and tiles;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or functional, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted within the same frame or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

2. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles of relatively equal modular size and substantially common height, with each of said tiles having an attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to said frames for ease of placement on and removal from said frames;

attaching means comprising a spring clip for engaging said receiving means on said frame, whereby said tile can be removed at least in part by pulling outwardly on said tile and mounted at least in part by moving said tile toward and into contact with said frame;

said tiles being mounted to the outer faces of both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface and other of said tiles having a structure to serve a function other than decorative in the work area defined by said framework and tiles;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or functional, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted within the same frame or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

3. A work space management system according to claim 2 wherein said frames have a vertical row of slots in the face thereof and near the edges thereof for receiving bracket hooks to suspend functional components from said frames;

and said tiles have a width slightly less than the width of said frames so that said tiles, when mounted on said frames, extend to a point short of said vertical row of slots to leave the same exposed.

4. A work space management system according to claim 2 wherein said tile-receiving means comprises openings in the face of said frames and said attaching means on said tiles further comprises hooks which fit within said openings.

5. A work space management system according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said outer tiles has a hard outer surface on which an erasable medium can be applied and erased to thereby form a marker surface.

6. A work space management system according to claim 2 wherein the tiles in each frame are in horizontal juxtaposition, thereby forming a strong horizontal line with said tiles.

7. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles of relatively equal modular size and substantially common height, with each of said tiles having an attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to said frames for ease of placement on and removal from said frames;

said tiles being mounted to the outer faces of both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface and at least one other of said tiles forms a rail tile having a plurality of horizontal rails on which work tools can be mounted;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or rail tile, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted on the same or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

8. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles of relatively equal modular size and substantially common height, with each of said tiles having an attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to said frames for ease of placement on and removal from said frames;

said tiles being mounted to the outer faces of both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface and at least one other of said tiles comprising a housing, a shelf-forming means and means for pivotably mounting the shelf-forming means to the tile housing for movement between a vertical position flush with adjacent tiles and a horizontal position wherein said shelf-forming means serves as a support surface;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or shelf tile, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted on the same frame or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

9. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles of relatively equal modular size and substantially common height, with each of said tiles having an attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to said frames for ease of placement on and removal from said frames;

said tiles being mounted to the outer faces of both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface;

at least two other tiles forming open tiles, mounted to opposite sides of one of said frames in parallel juxtaposition thereto and having openings therethrough in registry with each other to provide an opening through said rigid framework;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or open tiles, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted on the same frame or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

10. A work space management system according to claim 9 and further comprising a shelf extending through the openings in the open tiles and mounted to a bottom portion thereof to form a shelf beneath said openings.

11. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles of relatively equal modular size and substantially common height, with each of said tiles having an attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to said frames for ease of placement on and removal from said frames;

said tiles being mounted to the outer faces of both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface and at least one other of said tiles forming a heater tile and having a heating element embedded therein;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or heater tiles, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted on the same frame or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

12. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

at least one of said frames having a substantially open central portion;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles of relatively equal modular size and substantially common height, with each of said tiles having an attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to said frames for ease of placement on and removal from said frames;

said tiles being mounted to the outer faces of both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface and at least one other of said tiles comprising a cabinet which extends into said at least one frame with a substantially open central portion;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or cabinet, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted on the same frame or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

13. A work space management system according to claim 12 wherein said cabinet has a back wall and side walls, a top and bottom wall defining an open front, and a door mounted in the open front.

14. A work space management system according to claim 13 wherein the door on the open front is pivotably mounted to the top wall of the cabinet for vertical swinging motion with respect to the top wall, said side walls, at the front edges thereof, slanting downwardly and outwardly so that said front door is mounted at an acute angle to the vertical, and a ledge positioned on the bottom of said front door whereby said front door can serve as a display shelf.

15. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles of relatively equal modular size and substantially common height, with each of said tiles having an attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to said frames for ease of placement on and removal from said frames;

said tiles being mounted to the outer faces of both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface and at least one other of said tiles comprises a display shelf which extends downwardly and outwardly, and has a lip at the bottom portion thereof for supporting articles to be displayed;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or display shelf tile, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted on the same frame or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

16. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles of relatively equal modular size and substantially common height, with each of said tiles having an attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to said frames for ease of placement on and removal from said frames;

said tiles being mounted to the outer faces of both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface;

at least one other tile is an illumination tile and has illumination means mounted thereon for illuminating an area adjacent thereto;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or illumination tile, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted on the same frame or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

17. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and receiving means on said opposite sides of said frames;

a plurality of interchangeable tiles of relatively equal modular size and substantially common height, with each of said tiles having attaching means cooperating with said receiving means on said frames for removably mounting said tiles to both sides of said frames in juxtaposed parallel relationship for ease of placement on and removal from said frames;

said attaching means comprising a spring clip engageable with said receiving means by substantially horizontal movement of said tile toward said frame and removable from said frame by substantially horizontal movement away from said frame;

said attaching means and said receiving means further comprising hook means for mounting said tile on said receiving means for rotation of said tiles outwardly about an axis, said hook means being spaced from said spring clip whereby said tiles can be mounted and removed randomly and independently without disturbing adjacent tiles;

said tiles having a width substantially equal to the width of the frames to which said tiles are mounted and have a height such that at least two of said tiles are mounted in vertical juxtaposition on each of said frames;

some of said tiles having a decorative surface and at least one other of said tiles having a structure to serve a function other than decorative in the work area defined by said framework and tiles;

whereby said tiles, whether decorative or functional, can be selectively interchanged easily and quickly with tiles mounted on the same frame or with tiles mounted on different frames within the system.

18. A work space management system according to claim 17 wherein said spring clip is mounted to an upper portion of said tile and said tile is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on said hook means.

19. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides and receiving means;

a plurality of interchangeable tile modules, at least two of said tile modules each having a light transmitting pane;

means on said tile modules cooperating with said receiving means for removably mounting said tile modules to the outer faces of said frames so that said tile modules can be easily mounted to and demounted from said frames;

each of said frames having a plurality of said tile modules mounted on each side of said frames, with the two light transmitting tile modules mounted on opposite sides of one of said frames in facing parallel juxtaposition, said one frame having a substantially open central portion, whereby said pair of light transmitting tile modules forms a window through said one frame.

20. The work space management system of claim 19 wherein each of the light transmitting panes is clear.

21. The work space management system of claim 19 wherein each of the light transmitting pane tile modules includes casement means, each casement means comprising vertical and horizontal trim portions which cooperate with the vertical and horizontal trim portions of the casement means of a light transmitting pane tile module mounted on the opposite side of said one frame in facing parallel juxtaposition to hide the internal surfaces of the frame from view through the light transmitting panes.

22. The work space management system of claim 21 wherein each of the light transmitting panes is clear.

23. A work space management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid structural framework formed of rigid structural rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;

each of said frames having outer faces on opposite sides and receiving means;

a plurality of interchangeable tile modules, at least one pair of said tile modules having a rectangular opening with trim means along the top, bottom and two sides of the opening to form an open tile module;

at least one light transmitting pane;

means on said tile modules cooperating with said receiving means for removably mounting said tile modules to the outer faces of said frames so that said tile modules can be easily mounted to and demounted from said frames;

each of said frames having a plurality of said tile modules mounted on each side of said frames, with the pair of open tile modules mounted on opposite sides of one of said frames in facing parallel juxtaposition, said one frame having a substantially open central portion, and said light transmitting pane mounted between said pair of open tile modules, whereby said pair of open tile modules and said light transmitting pane form a window through said one frame.

24. The work space management system of claim 23 wherein the one light transmitting pane is clear.