Modular furniture system with wire management

• US 5,328,260 A
• Filed: 05/07/1991
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Beirise, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US07/696,510
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223, 312/107, 312/198, 312/194, 312/223.6, 312/196, 312/236, 312/108, 52/242, 108/50
• US Class Current: 312/223.6
• 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

An office furniture module comprising a body portion having a removable top portion adapted for mounting thereto in a spaced relationship with respect to an upper surface to define an upper horizontally extending passage way; one or more optionally removable upper insert panels adapted to be mounted between the removable top portion and the body portion; a bottom member also adapted for mounting to the body portion in a spaced relationship with respect to a lower end thereof to define a lower horizontally extending passage way between the bottom member and the lower end; and one or more optionally removable lower insert panels adapted to cover one or more respective openings in the body portion communicating with the lower horizontally extending passageway to enable the furniture module can be adapted for use with other like furniture modules to form a linearly extending course of furniture modules with horizontally extending passageways therethrough.

Claims

1. An office furniture system comprised of:

a plurality of like-sized furniture modules each module including;

first and second generally flat sides that can be positioned to face similar generally flat sides of adjacent like-sized furniture modules so as to form a linear course of furniture modules said first and said second flat sides each having an aperture located therein;

and further in which each furniture module in said course includes;

a cabinet portion; and

an open passageway located therewithin extending from said first flat side to said second flat side and located vertically adjacent to said cabinet portion, said open passageway alignable with at least one passageway in an adjacent like-sized furniture module so as to provide for an open passageway extending through said course via the apertures located in facing flat sides of adjacent modules for the distribution of cabling through, between and among said plurality of like-sized furniture modules;

an optional insert panel adapted to cover the aperture in one of said flat sides to close off said passageway when said one flat side serves as a terminus of said linear course of furniture modules; and

one or more fastening apparatus for mechanically fastening adjacent like-sized furniture modules to each other.

2. The office furniture system of claim 1 further including one or more work surfaces, each work surface extending from a location between said first flat side and second flat side of a furniture module in a direction generally perpendicular to said course.

3. The office furniture system of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more wall panel units; and

a connection apparatus for connecting said one or more wall panel units to one or more of said furniture modules.

4. The office furniture system of claim 1 in which said at least one open passageway in each furniture module comprises:

a lower passageway located generally along a lower end of each of said furniture modules, said lower passageway extending from said first flat side to said second flat side and alignable with a lower passageway in an adjacent like-sized furniture module so as to provide for an open lower passageway extending through said course for the distribution of cabling through, between and among said modules.

5. The office furniture system of claim 1 in which said at least one open passageway in each furniture module comprises:

an upper passageway located generally along a upper end of each of furniture module, said upper passageway extending from said first flat side to said second flat side and alignable with an upper passageway in an adjacent like-sized furniture piece so as to provide for an open upper passageway extending through said course for the distribution of cabling through, between and among said modules.

6. The office furniture system of claim 5 further comprising:

a lower passageway located generally along a lower end of each furniture module, said lower passageway extending from said first flat side to said second flat side and alignable with a lower passageway in an adjacent like-sized furniture module so as to provide for an open lower passageway extending through said course for the distribution of cabling through, between and among said modules.

7. An office furniture system comprised of:

a plurality of like-sized cabinet units each cabinet unit having

first and second generally flat sides that can be positioned to face similar generally flat sides of adjacent like-sized cabinet units so as to form a linear course of cabinet units, said first and said second flat sides each having an aperture located therein that extends substantially across said flat side;

and further in which each of said plurality of cabinet units in said course includes;

a cabinet portion extending from said first flat side to said second flat side; and

an open passageway located therewithin extending from said first flat side to said second flat side and located vertically adjacent to said cabinet portion, said open passageway alignable with at least one passageway in an adjacent like-sized cabinet unit so as to provide for an open passageway extending through said course for the distribution of cabling through, between and among said plurality of like-sized cabinet units; and

one or more fastening apparatus for fastening adjacent like-sized cabinet units to each other.

8. An office furniture module comprising:

a body portion having an upper surface, a first vertical side extending down from the upper surface, a second vertical side opposite from said first vertical side and extending down from the upper surface, and a rear vertical side connected to and extending from said first vertical side to said second vertical side, said rear vertical side also extending down from the upper surface;

a removable top portion adapted for mounting to said body portion in a spaced relationship with respect to said upper surface thereof to define an upper horizontally extending passage way located above said upper surface between said top portion and said upper surface;

a first optionally removable upper insert panel adapted to be mounted between said removable top portion and said body portion at a side thereof generally aligned with said first vertical side;

a second optionally removable upper insert panel adapted to be mounted between said removable top portion and said body portion at a side thereof oriented in the direction of said second vertical side and generally aligned therewith;

whereby the furniture module can be adapted for use with other like furniture modules to form a linearly extending course of furniture modules with the upper horizontally extending passageway of a furniture module communicating with the upper horizontally extending passageway of an adjacent furniture module for extending cabling therealong by the removal of facing upper insert panels of the adjacent furniture modules.

11. The office furniture module of claim 8 further comprising:

a lower end of said body portion located opposite from said upper surface;

a bottom member adapted for mounting to said body portion in a spaced relationship with respect to said lower end thereof to define a lower horizontally extending passage way above said lower end between said bottom member and said lower end;

a first optionally removable lower insert panel adapted to cover a first lower opening in said body portion in said first vertical side communicating with the lower horizontally extending passageway;

a second optionally removable lower insert panel adapted to cover a second lower opening in said body portion in said second vertical side communicating with the lower horizontally extending passageway;

whereby the furniture module can be adapted for use with other like furniture modules to form a linearly extending course of furniture modules with the lower horizontally extending passageway of a furniture module communicating with the lower horizontally extending passageway of an adjacent furniture module for extending cabling therealong by the removal of facing lower panel inserts of the adjacent furniture modules.

12. The furniture module of claim 11 further including:

a vertical wire channel located in said body portion and extending between and communicating with the upper horizontally extending passage way and the lower horizontally extending passage way whereby cabling can be extended from one passage way to the other passage way.

13. The furniture module of claim 12 in which said vertical wire channel is located at the intersection of said rear vertical side and one of said first and second vertical sides.

14. The furniture module of claim 11 in which said bottom member is removable.

9. The furniture module of 8 claim further comprising:

a horizontal work surface connected at a first end thereof to said body portion and extending from a location between said first vertical side and said second vertical side in a direction generally perpendicular to said rear vertical side.

10. The furniture module of claim 9 further comprising:

a work surface support connected to a lower side of said horizontal work surface at a second end thereof and extending downward.

15. An office furniture system comprised of:

a plurality of like-sized furniture modules each of said plurality of like-sized furniture modules comprising;

a body portion having an upper surface, a first vertical side extending down from the upper surface, a second vertical side opposite from said first vertical side and extending down from the upper surface, and a rear vertical side connected to and extending from said first vertical side to said second vertical side, said rear vertical side also extending down from the upper surface;

a removable top portion adapted for mounting to said body portion in a spaced relationship with respect to said upper surface thereof to define an upper horizontally extending passage way above said upper surface between said top portion and said upper surface;

a first optionally removable upper insert panel adapted to be mounted between said removable top portion and said body portion at a side thereof generally aligned with said first vertical side;

a second optionally removable upper insert panel adapted to be mounted between said removable top portion and said body portion at a side thereof oriented in the direction of said second vertical side and generally aligned therewith; and

one or more connection apparatus for connecting adjacent like-sized furniture modules to each other.

16. The office furniture system of claim 15 further including:

one or more wall panel units; and

a connection apparatus for connecting said one or more wall panel units to one or more of said furniture modules.

17. An office furniture module comprising:

a body portion having a lower end, a first vertical side extending up from the lower end, a second vertical side opposite from said first vertical side and extending up from the lower end, and a rear vertical side connected to and extending from said first vertical side to said second vertical side, said rear vertical side also extending up from the lower end;

a bottom member adapted for mounting to said body portion in a spaced relationship with respect to said lower end thereof to define a lower horizontally extending passageway located above said lower end between said bottom member and said lower end;

a first optionally removable lower insert panel adapted to cover a first lower opening in said body portion in said first vertical side communicating with the lower horizontally extending passageway; and

a second optionally removable lower insert panel adapted to cover a second lower opening in said body portion in said second vertical side communicating with the lower horizontally extending passageway;

whereby the furniture module can be adapted for use with other like furniture modules to form a linearly extending course of furniture modules with the lower horizontally extending passageway of a furniture module communicating with the lower horizontally extending passageway of an adjacent furniture module for extending cabling therealong by the removal of facing lower panel inserts of the adjacent furniture modules.

18. The furniture module of claim 17 in which said bottom member is removable.

19. An office furniture system comprised of:

a plurality of like-sized furniture modules as set forth in claim 17; and

one or more connection apparatus for connecting adjacent like-sized furniture modules to each other.

20. The office furniture system of claim 19 further including:

one or more wall panel units; and

a connection apparatus for connecting said one or more wall panel units to one or more of said furniture modules.