Bracket arrangement for hang-on furniture unit

• US 5,437,426 A
• Filed: 06/25/1993
• Issued: 08/01/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: MacDonald, Douglas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAN, KO HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/082,599
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 248/222.1, 248/223.3, 248/250, 248/225.2, 248/247, 248/241, 248/243, 211/90, 211/94.5, 211/153, 211/192, 108/108, 108/110
• US Class Current: 248/222.13
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/408 with a security device
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/42 the shelf supports being cantilever brackets

Abstract

A furniture arrangement includes a hang-on furniture unit such as a worksurface, an upright support such as an office partition panel, and a system of brackets adapted to lockingly engage the upright support and support the hang-on furniture unit. The system of brackets includes a cantilever bracket with teeth adapted to engage slots in the upright support, and an upper edge for supporting the hang-on furniture unit. The system of brackets further includes a locking bracket adapted with second teeth, the first and second teeth being adapted to form an interlocking arrangement in the slots in the upright support. The locking bracket also includes a safety tab that engages a tab mount on the upper edge of the cantilever bracket, the safety tab being configured so that the second teeth must be properly located in the slots in order to allow the safety tab to engage the tab mount. The hang-on furniture unit is attached to the cantilever bracket and the locking bracket to form a rigid unit that cannot be inadvertently disengaged from the upright support. The locking bracket is reversible to minimize the number of parts that must be used.

Claims

1. A furniture arrangement comprising:

a hang-on furniture unit;

an upright support including slots adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit;

a cantilever bracket including first and second generally orthogonal edges, said first orthogonal edge including first teeth adapted to engage selected slots in said upright support, said orthogonal edge being adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit, said second orthogonal edge including a first retainer;

a locking bracket including a second retainer adapted to securely engage said first retainer to retain said locking bracket to said cantilever bracket, said locking bracket further including second teeth adapted to engage said selected slots in said upright support and form an interlocking arrangement with said first teeth when said second retainer is engaged with said first retainer, said first and second teeth extending in opposite directions so that said locking bracket and said cantilever bracket cannot be removed as a unit from said support; and

said cantilever bracket including a first attachment flange and said locking bracket including a second attachment flange for attachment to said hang-on furniture unit, said first attachment flange being substantially coplanar with said second attachment flange whereby said cantilever bracket and said locking bracket can be attached to said hang-on furniture unit to form an interconnected unit that is interlockingly retained to said upright support and thus which cannot be inadvertently disengaged from said upright support.

2. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second retainers includes an aperture for receiving the other of said first and second retainers.

3. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 2 wherein said locking bracket defines an L-shape when viewed from an end including a first leg and a second leg, said first leg including said second teeth and said second leg including said second attachment flange.

4. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 3 wherein said second leg defines a plane and said second retainer extends parallel said plane.

5. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said cantilever bracket is generally triangularly-shaped.

6. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking bracket defines an L-shape and includes a first leg including said second teeth and a second leg including said second attachment flange.

7. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking bracket is reversible and is configured so that said locking bracket can be mounted on either side of said cantilever bracket.

8. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said cantilever bracket includes a third edge connecting said first and second edges, said third edge including a tubular member formed therealong.

9. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 8 wherein said tubular member is integrally formed as part of said cantilever bracket.

10. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 9 wherein said cantilever bracket and tubular member are formed from a single blank of sheet metal.

11. A furniture arrangement comprising:

a hang-on furniture unit;

an upright support adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit;

a cantilever bracket including first and second generally orthogonal edges, said first orthogonal edge including first teeth adapted to engage said upright support, said second orthogonal edge being adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit, said second orthogonal edge including a first retainer;

a locking bracket including a second retainer adapted to securely engage said first retainer to retain said locking bracket to said cantilever bracket, said locking bracket further including second teeth adapted to engage said upright support and form an interlocking arrangement with said first teeth when said second retainer is engaged with said first retainer so that said locking bracket and said cantilever bracket cannot be removed as a unit from said support, one of said first and second retainers including an aperture for receiving the other of said first and second retainers, said locking bracket defining an L-shape when viewed from an end including a first leg and a second leg, said first leg including said second teeth, said second leg defining a plane and said second retainer extending parallel said plane;

said cantilever bracket including a first attachment flange and said locking bracket including a second attachment flange on said second leg for attachment to said hang-on furniture unit, whereby said cantilever bracket and said locking bracket can be attached to said hang-on furniture unit to form an interconnected unit that is interlockingly retained to said upright support and thus which cannot be inadvertently disengaged from said upright support, said cantilever bracket being generally triangularly-shaped; and

said locking bracket including third teeth positioned on an end opposite said second teeth, said third teeth being adapted to engage said upright support and form an interlocking arrangement with said first teeth, whereby said locking bracket is reversible and can be positioned on either side of said cantilever bracket.

12. A furniture arrangement as defined in claim 11 wherein a third edge of said cantilever bracket includes a tubular reinforcement.

13. A furniture arrangement comprising:

a hang-on furniture unit;

an upright support adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit;

a cantilever bracket including first and second generally orthogonal edges, said first orthogonal edge including first teeth adapted to engage said upright support, said second orthogonal edge being adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit, said second orthogonal edge including a first retainer;

a locking bracket including a second retainer adapted to securely engage said first retainer to retain said locking bracket to said cantilever bracket, said locking bracket further including second teeth adapted to engage said upright support and form an interlocking arrangement with said first teeth when said second retainer is engaged with said first retainer so that said locking bracket and said cantilever bracket cannot be removed as a unit from said support, said locking bracket defining an L-shape and having a first leg including said second teeth and having a second leg, said second retainer including a tab located proximate the intersection of said first and second legs; and

said cantilever bracket including a first attachment flange and said locking bracket including a second attachment flange on said second leg for attachment to said hang-on furniture unit, whereby said cantilever bracket and said locking bracket can be attached to said hang-on furniture unit to form an interconnected unit that is interlockingly retained to said upright support and thus which cannot be inadvertently disengaged from said upright support.

14. A furniture arrangement comprising:

a hang-on furniture unit;

an upright support adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit;

a cantilever bracket including first and second generally orthogonal edges, said first orthogonal edge including first teeth adapted to engage said upright support, said second orthogonal edge being adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit, said second orthogonal edge including a first retainer;

a locking bracket including a second retainer adapted to securely engage said first retainer to retain said locking bracket to said cantilever bracket, said locking bracket further including second teeth adapted to engage said upright support and form an interlocking arrangement with said first teeth when said second retainer is engaged with said first retainer so that said locking bracket and said cantilever bracket cannot be removed as a unit from said support, said locking bracket defining an L-shape and having a first leg including said second teeth and having a second leg, said second retainer including a tab located on one side of said first leg, said second leg being located on another side of said first leg opposite said one side; and

said cantilever bracket including a first attachment flange and said locking bracket including a second attachment flange on said second leg for attachment to said hang-on furniture unit, whereby said cantilever bracket and said locking bracket can be attached to said hang-on furniture unit to form an interconnected unit that is interlockingly retained to said upright support and thus which cannot be inadvertently disengaged from said upright support.

15. A furniture arrangement comprising:

a hang-on furniture unit;

an upright support adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit;

a cantilever bracket including first and second generally orthogonal edges, said first orthogonal edge including first teeth adapted to engage said upright support, said second orthogonal edge being adapted to support said hang-on furniture unit, said second orthogonal edge including a first retainer;

a locking bracket including a second retainer adapted to securely engage said first retainer to retain said locking bracket to said cantilever bracket, said locking bracket further including second teeth adapted to engage said upright support and form an interlocking arrangement with said first teeth when said second retainer is engaged with said first retainer so that said locking bracket and said cantilever bracket cannot be removed as a unit from said support;

said cantilever bracket including a first attachment flange and said locking bracket including a second attachment flange for attachment to said hang-on furniture unit, whereby said cantilever bracket and said locking bracket can be attached to said hang-on furniture unit to form an interconnected unit that is interlockingly retained to said upright support and thus which cannot be inadvertently disengaged from said upright support; and

said locking bracket defining an L-shape and having a first leg including said second teeth and having a second leg including said second attachment flange, said first leg including an end having said second teeth and including another end having third teeth configured as a mirror-image of said second teeth, and said second retainer being adapted to engage said first retainer from either side of said cantilever bracket, whereby said locking bracket is reversible.

16. In a furniture arrangement of the type including a hang-on furniture unit and an upright support therefor, the upright support having slots, the improvement of a mounting system, comprising:

a fastener for securing said hang-on furniture unit to said mounting system;

a cantilever bracket including first and second edges, said first edge including first engaging means for engaging selected slots in the upright support and said second edge being adapted to support the worksurface, said second edge including a first detachable retainer; and

a locking bracket including a second detachable retainer adapted to engage said first detachable retainer to retain said locking bracket to said cantilever bracket when the worksurface is secured to said cantilever bracket, said locking bracket including second engaging means for engaging selected slots in the upright support and further including a fastener-receiving flange which receives said fastener for securing said locking bracket to the worksurface, said second extending and engaging means engaging said selected slots in an Opposite direction from said first engaging means so that said second engaging means forms an interlocking arrangement with said first engaging means which locks said first engaging means on the slots when said first detachable retainer is engaged with said second detachable retainer, said interlocking arrangement preventing inadvertent dislodgement of said cantilever bracket and said locking bracket from the slots.

17. A mounting system of the type including a hang-on furniture unit and an upright support therefor, the upright support having slots, the improvement of a mounting system, comprising:

a fastener for securing said hang-on furniture unit to said mounting system;

a cantilever bracket including first and second edges, said first edge including first engaging means for engaging selected slots in the upright support and said second edge being adapted to support the worksurface, said second edge including a first detachable retainer; and

a locking bracket including a second detachable retainer adapted to engage said first detachable retainer to retain said locking bracket to said cantilever bracket when the worksurface is secured to said cantilever bracket, said locking bracket including second engaging means for engaging selected slots in the upright support and further including a fastener-receiving flange which receives said fastener for securing said locking bracket to the worksurface, said second engaging means forming an interlocking arrangement with said first engaging means which locks said first engaging means on the slots when said first detachable retainer is engaged with said second detachable retainer, said interlocking arrangement preventing inadvertent dislodgement of said cantilever bracket and said locking bracket from the slots, said locking bracket defining an L-shape that includes a first leg including said second engaging means and a second leg including said fastener-receiving flange.

18. A mounting system as defined in claim 17 wherein said second detachable retainer includes a tab located proximate the intersection of said first and second legs.

19. A mounting system as defined in claim 17 wherein said second detachable retainer includes a tab located on one side of said first leg, said second leg being located on another side of said first leg.

20. A mounting system as defined in claim 17 wherein said first engaging means includes first teeth, and said second engaging means includes second teeth and third teeth located at opposing ends of said locking bracket, said third teeth being configured as a mirror-image of said second teeth, said first and second detachable retainers being configured to engage with said locking bracket located on either side of said cantilever bracket, whereby said locking bracket is reversible.

21. A mounting system of the type including a hang-on furniture unit and an upright support therefor, the upright support having slots, the improvement of a mounting system, comprising:

a fastener for securing said hang-on furniture unit to said mounting system;

a cantilever bracket including first and second edges, said first edge including first engaging means for engaging selected slots in the upright support and said second edge being adapted to support the worksurface, said second edge including a first detachable retainer; and

a locking bracket including a second detachable retainer adapted to engage said first detachable retainer to retain said locking bracket to said cantilever bracket when the worksurface is secured to said cantilever bracket, said locking bracket including second engaging means for engaging selected slots in the upright support and further including a fastener-receiving flange which receives said fastener for securing said locking bracket to the worksurface, said second engaging means forming an interlocking arrangement with said first engaging means which locks said first engaging means on the slots when said first detachable retainer is engaged with said second detachable retainer, said interlocking arrangement preventing inadvertent dislodgement of said cantilever bracket and said locking bracket from the slots, said locking bracket being configured so that said locking bracket can be mounted on either one of an opposite sides of said cantilever bracket.

22. A mounting system for a furniture arrangement including a hang-on furniture unit and a support for the hang-on furniture unit, comprising:

a cantilever bracket adapted to support the hang-on furniture unit including means for securely releasably engaging the support and means for supporting the worksurface, said cantilever bracket including a tab mount; and

a locking bracket including a first leg positioned adjacent said cantilever bracket, a second leg extending perpendicular to said first leg, and a safety tab extending parallel said second leg for detachably engaging said tab mount, said locking bracket including means engaging the support for locking said cantilever bracket to the support and means for attaching to the hang-on furniture unit, said safety tab being configured so that said safety tab must be properly engaged with said tab mount and said means for locking must be properly engaged with the support in order to attached the worksurface to the cantilever bracket and the locking bracket, said means for engaging the support on said cantilever bracket and said locking bracket extending in opposite directions and forming an interlocking arrangement in the support.

23. A mounting system as defined in claim 22 wherein said locking bracket is configured so that said locking bracket can be mounted on either side of said cantilever bracket.

24. A mounting system as defined in claim 23 wherein one of said safety tab and said tab mount includes an aperture for engaging the other of said safety tab and said tab mount.

25. A system of brackets comprising:

a generally planar triangularly-shaped bracket including a first edge having downwardly oriented teeth thereon adapted to engage slots in a support, said triangularly-shaped bracket further including a second edge adapted to support a hang-on furniture unit, said second edge including a flange adapted for secure attachment to the hang-on furniture unit and also including a tab mount; and

an L-shaped bracket including a first leg having upwardly oriented teeth thereon adapted to engage slots in a support and further including a second leg adapted for secure attachment to the hang-on furniture unit, said L-shaped bracket including a safety tab defining an aperture for engaging said tab mount;

said safety tab, said upwardly oriented teeth and said second leg being located with respect to each other so that, when said safety tab is engaged with said tab mount, said upwardly oriented teeth are positioned for engagement with the slots in the support and said second leg is positioned for engagement with the worksurface.

26. A method comprising:

providing an upright support with slots, a cantilever bracket including first teeth adapted to engage the slots and extending in a first direction and further including a tab mount, a locking bracket including a safety tab adapted to engage the tab mount and further including second teeth adapted to engage the slots in a second direction opposite the first direction and form an interlocking arrangement with the first teeth, and a hang-on furniture unit including a fastener for securing said hang-on furniture unit to said locking bracket;

attaching the cantilever bracket to the upright support by engaging the first teeth in the slots in said first direction;

attaching the locking bracket to the upright support by engaging the second teeth in the slots in said second direction and attaching the locking bracket to the cantilever bracket by engaging the safety tab on the tab mount; and

attaching the hang-on furniture unit to the cantilever bracket and to the locking bracket using said fastener to form an interconnected unit, which interconnected unit cannot be inadvertently disengaged from the upright support due to the interlocking arrangement formed in the slots by the first and second teeth.