Modular furniture

• US 5,094,174 A
• Filed: 06/10/1991
• Issued: 03/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Duncan, Terence M., Nelsen, Randall P., Slager, Mark T., Deimen, Michael L., Kent, Royal A., Maas, Thomas R., Wurth, Michael E., Mullen, Jon R., Klipa, Edmund X., Pearson, Alan L., Parker, Linda M., DeDamos, Craig S., Grund, Gary H., Varellas-Olree, Carolyn M., Humphrey, Charles G., Wilcox, Gale F., Paulsen, James G., Feutz, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ASCHENBRENNER, PETER
• Application Number:
  US07/712,958
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50, 108/90, 108/153, 108/149, 312/194, 312/208, 312/223
• US Class Current: 108/153.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/033 with parts added to the original furniture to enlarge its surface
• 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 2200/0013 Desks with central bearing beams
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0085 Supplementary support fixed on the edge of a desk or table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0086 Supplementary support fixed to the extension of a table leg
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/01 Office wall with desktop function
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 63/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, specially adapted for storing books, documents, forms, or the like
• 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 freestanding modular furniture arrangement is provided to create workstations in open office plans, and other similar applications. Each furniture unit includes a worksurface with capped cutouts in the rear corners to mount overhead cabinets, privacy screens, and other furniture accessories. A mounting rail extends continuously along the rearward edge of each worksurface, and is capable of removably supporting therein a plurality of different amenities, such as bookshelves, CRT stands, fans, task lamps, etc., so as to permit a worker to personalize his or her own workstation. A removable stanchion permits certain convertible amenities to be supported either freestanding on the worksurface, or along the rear of the worksurface on the mounting rail. An L-shaped intermediate leg is available to support the worksurface in a cantilevered fashion to facilitate unfettered task chair movement along the forward edge of the worksurface.

Claims

1. A modular furniture arrangement, comprising:

at least one worksurface panel;

at least one back panel;

at least two supports connected with said worksurface panel and said back panel to form a modular, freestanding furniture unit supported by said supports on a floor surface;

at least one overhead unit;

at least two rigid posts, having lower ends thereof adapted for connection with at least one of said supports and said back panel, and upper ends thereof adapted for connection with said overhead unit;

at least two mounting apertures disposed through said worksurface panel adjacent opposite rear corners thereof;

each of said mounting apertures being shaped to receive an associated one of said posts therethrough;

at least two caps, each being shaped to close at least a portion of an associated one of said mounting apertures;

means for detachably supporting each of said caps on said worksurface panel over an associated one of said mounting apertures;

means for detachably and rigidly connecting the lower ends of said posts with said one of said supports and said back panel in a manner such that said posts extend upwardly from said furniture unit in a generally vertical orientation;

means for rigidly connecting the upper ends of said posts with said overhead unit, whereby to mount said overhead unit on said furniture unit, said caps are removed from said worksurface panel, said posts are inserted through said mounting apertures, the lower ends of said posts are securely fastened to said one of said supports and said back panel, and the upper ends of said posts are securely fastened to said overhead unit.

2. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said mounting apertures comprise arcuate cutouts at the opposite rear corners of said worksurface panel which extend between a rear edge and opposite side edges of said worksurface panel, and are bounded generally by an associated one of said supports and said back panel.

3. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said posts have an L-shaped plan configuration with opposite flanges positioned adjacent to an associated one of said supports and said back panel.

4. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 3, including:

at least one cover shaped to enclose an associated one of said posts and form a utility way therein between said worksurface panel and said overhead unit.

5. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said post upper ends are attached adjacent to a rear edge of said overhead unit to support the same in a cantilevered fashion over said worksurface panel.

6. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 5, including:

at least one privacy screen having first fastening means positioned adjacent opposite sides thereof for mounting said screen on said furniture unit; and

second fastener means positioned on opposite sides of said furniture unit, and accessible through the mounting apertures in said worksurface panel;

said second fastener means releasably engaging said first fastener means to detachably mount said privacy screen on said furniture unit in a generally vertical orientation adjacent the rear edge of said worksurface panel.

7. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 6, including:

at least two removable grommet covers, each being shaped to selectively cover an associated one of said second fastener means.

8. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said caps and said grommet covers are shaped to mate and collectively cover substantially all portions of the arcuate cutouts in said worksurface panel.

9. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 8, including:

a plurality of different amenity units, each having a lower end thereof with means for mounting the same on said furniture unit, and an upper end thereof with means for equipping said furniture unit;

a mounting rail connected with and supported by said furniture unit, and extending generally continuously along the rear edge of said worksurface panel;

said mounting rail including a plurality of substantially identical apertures spaced generally regularly along the length of said mounting rail, and positioned fore-to-aft between said back panel and the rear edge of said worksurface panel;

said apertures being shaped to closely receive therein the mounting means on the lower ends of any one of said amenity units to securely yet removably mount the same therein, whereby one or more of said amenity units can be arranged and detachably mounted in said mounting rail substantially anywhere along the rearward edge of said worksurface panel to personalize said furniture unit.

10. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said supports include at least one end panel shaped for connection with an end portion of said worksurface panel, and supporting the same.

11. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said supports include at least one intermediate support shaped for connection with an end portion of said worksurface panel, and supporting the same.

12. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said intermediate support has an inverted, generally L-shaped, side elevational configuration including a lower end adapted to abut the floor surface, and an upper arm connected with the end portion of said worksurface panel, whereby said intermediate support supports said worksurface panel on the floor surface in a cantilevered fashion, with the space disposed underneath said worksurface panel adjacent to said intermediate support being generally open and unobstructed to facilitate unfettered task chair movement along the forward edge of said worksurface panel.

13. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

at least one of said amenity units includes a stanchion at the lower end thereof with said mounting means thereon;

said stanchion including means for detachably connecting the same with the upper end of said one amenity unit;

said upper end of said one amenity unit including a base shaped for abuttingly supporting said one amenity unit on said worksurface panel, whereby said one amenity unit can be supported either freestanding on said worksurface panel or connected with said stanchion and mounted on said mounting rail above said worksurface panel to permit personalization of said furniture unit.

14. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said posts have an L-shaped plan configuration with opposite flanges positioned adjacent to an associated one of said supports and said back panel.

15. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 14, including:

at least one cover shaped to enclose an associated one of said posts and form a utility way therein between said worksurface panel and said overhead unit.

16. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said post upper ends are attached adjacent to a rear edge of said overhead unit to support the same in a cantilevered fashion over said worksurface panel.

17. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, including:

at least one privacy screen having first fastening means positioned adjacent opposite sides thereof for mounting said screen on said furniture unit; and

second fastener means positioned on opposite sides of said furniture unit, and accessible through the mounting apertures in said worksurface panel;

said second fastener means releasably engaging said first fastener means to detachably mount said privacy screen on said furniture unit in a generally vertical orientation adjacent the rear edge of said worksurface panel.

18. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 17, including:

at least two removable grommet covers, each being shaped to cover an associated one of said second fastener means.

19. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, including:

a plurality of different amenity units, each having a lower end thereof with means for mounting the same on said furniture unit, and an upper end thereof with means for equipping said furniture unit;

a mounting rail connected with and supported by said furniture unit, and extending generally continuously along a rear edge of said worksurface panel;

said mounting rail including a plurality of substantially identical apertures spaced generally regularly along the length of said mounting rail, and positioned fore-to-aft between said back panel and the rear edge of said worksurface panel;

said apertures being shaped to closely receive therein the mounting means on the lower ends of any one of said amenity units to securely yet removably mount the same therein, whereby one or more of said amenity units can be arranged and detachably mounted in said mounting rail substantially anywhere along the rearward edge of said worksurface panel to personalize said furniture unit.

20. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

at least one of said amenity units includes a stanchion at the lower end thereof with said mounting means thereon;

said stanchion including means for detachably connecting the same with the upper end of said one amenity unit;

said upper end of said one amenity unit including a base shape for abuttingly supporting said one amenity unit on said worksurface panel, whereby said one amenity unit can be supported either freestanding on said worksurface panel or connected with said stanchion and mounted on said mounting rail above said worksurface panel on said mounting rail to permit personalization of said furniture unit.

21. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said supports comprises an intermediate support having an inverted, generally L-shaped, side elevational configuration with a lower end adapted to abut the floor surface, and an upper arm connected with said worksurface panel adjacent a side edge thereof, whereby said intermediate support supports said worksurface panel on the floor surface in a cantilevered fashion, with the space disposed underneath said worksurface panel adjacent to said intermediate support being generally open and unobstructed to facilitate unfettered task chair movement along a forward edge of said worksurface panel.

22. A modular furniture arrangement, comprising:

at least one worksurface panel;

at least two supports connected with said worksurface panel to form a modular, freestanding furniture unit supported by said supports on a floor surface;

at least one overhead unit;

at least two rigid posts, having lower ends thereof adapted for connection with said supports, and upper ends thereof adapted for connection with said overhead unit;

least two mounting apertures disposed through said worksurface panel adjacent opposite rear corners thereof;

each of said mounting apertures being shaped to receive an associated one of said posts therethrough;

at least two caps, each being shaped to close an associated one of said mounting apertures;

means for detachably supporting each of said caps on said worksurface panel over an associated one of said mounting apertures;

means for detachably and rigidly connecting the lower ends of said posts with said supports in a manner such that said posts extend upwardly from said furniture unit in a generally vertical orientation;

means for rigidly connecting the upper ends of said posts with said overhead unit, whereby to mount said overhead unit on said furniture unit, said caps are removed from said worksurface panel, said posts are inserted through said mounting apertures, the lower ends of said posts are securely fastened to said supports, and the upper ends of said posts are securely fastened to said overhead unit.

23. A modular furniture arrangement, comprising:

at least one worksurface panel;

at least two supports connected with said worksurface panel to form a modular, freestanding furniture unit supported by said supports on a floor surface;

at least one overhead unit;

at least two rigid posts, having lower ends thereof adapted for connection with said furniture unit, and upper ends thereof adapted for connection with said overhead unit;

said posts each including first and second flanges fixedly interconnected along a common edge with free edges thereof spaced apart to define an open face therebetween, and a cover detachably connected with said flanges, and enclosing at least a portion of said open face to create a vertical channel in each of said posts through which utilities may be routed;

at least two utility apertures disposed through said worksurface panel adjacent opposite rear corners thereof;

at least two caps, each being shaped to close at least a major portion of an associated one of said utility apertures;

means for detachably supporting each of said caps on said worksurface panel over an associated one of said utility apertures;

means for rigidly connecting the upper ends of said posts with said overhead unit;

means for detachably and rigidly connecting the lower ends of said posts with said furniture unit when said caps are removed from said worksurface panel, such that said posts extend upwardly therefrom in a generally vertical orientation, and the vertical channel in each of said posts is generally aligned and communicates with an associated one of the utility apertures in said worksurface panel to facilitate routing utilities throughout said modular furniture arrangement.

24. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 23, wherein:

said posts have an L-shaped plan configuration with the free edges of said first and second flanges being turned inwardly to facilitate attachment of said cover thereto.

25. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

said post upper ends are attached adjacent to a rear edge of said overhead unit to support the same in a cantilevered fashion over said worksurface panel.

26. A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 25, including:

at least one back panel; and

at least one brace connecting said back panel with one of said supports;

said brace including first and second flanges fixedly interconnected along a common edge and between which first and second flanges is defined a vertical channel that is generally aligned and communicates with an associated one of said utility apertures to route utilities therethrough and into the vertical channel in an associated one of said posts.

27. In a modular furniture arrangement of the type including worksurface panels, supports, back panels, and overhead units which are variously interconnected to create a desired furniture unit, the improvement of a transaction post construction therefor, comprising:

at least two rigid posts, each having a lower end thereof adapted for connection with at least one of an associated one of said supports and an associated one of said back panels, and an upper end thereof adapted for connection with an associated one of said overhead units;

at least one of said worksurface panels having at least two mounting apertures therethrough positioned adjacent opposite rear corners thereof, and each mounting aperture being shaped to receive an associated one of said posts therethrough;

at least two caps, each being shaped to close an associated one of said mounting apertures;

means for detachably supporting each of said caps on said one worksurface panel over an associated one of said mounting apertures;

means for detachably and rigidly connecting the lower ends of each of said posts with at least one of said one support and said one back panel in a manner such that said posts extend upwardly from said furniture unit in a generally vertical orientation;

means for rigidly connecting the upper ends of said posts with said associated overhead unit, whereby to mount said one overhead unit on said workstation, said caps are removed from said one worksurface panel, said posts are inserted through said mounting apertures, the lower end of each of each of said posts is securely fastened to at least one of said one support and said one back panel, and the upper ends of said posts are securely fastened to said overhead unit.