Table with bracket-supported rear panel

• US 5,609,112 A
• Filed: 06/08/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Fraquelli, Roberto G., Meyer, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/488,490
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50, 108/153, 108/152, 108/90, 108/97, 108/98, 108/182, 312/257.1, 312/195, 312/196, 312/263, 312/265.5, 248/250, 248/235, 248/225.11
• US Class Current: 108/158.13
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/00 Writing-tables

Abstract

A table or desk is provided with a horizontally enlarged worksurface, and a bracket-supported rear panel arrangement can be readily mounted to a project upwardly along a rear edge of the worksurface. The panel arrangement includes a pair of upright brackets which have C-shaped lower parts which create a clamping engagement around the rear edge of the worksurface so that special constructional features on the worksurface are not required. The brackets have upright parts which project upwardly and, along rear vertical edges thereof, have attachment structure for permitting an upright panel to be attached thereto, which panel is then disposed directly adjacent the rear edge of the worksurface and projects upwardly and longitudinally thereof. The bracket includes first and second attachment structures associated therewith, with one attachment structure permitting a grid-like panel to be mounted thereon. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the grid-like panel, the second attachment structure permits a privacy screen or tack board to be attached to the brackets, the latter being spaced rearwardly of the location where the grid-like panel mounts.

Claims

1. In a freestanding desk or table having an enlarged worksurface defining thereon an enlarged and substantially horizontally planar upper surface, said worksurface defining thereon a horizontally and longitudinally extending rear edge, and an upright bracket-supported panel arrangement mounted on said worksurface and projecting upwardly therefrom in the vicinity of said rear edge, the improvement wherein said arrangement comprises:

at least two upright brackets removably attached to said worksurface adjacent the rear edge thereof in longitudinally spaced relation therealong;

a horizontally elongated upright panel fixedly but removably attached to said brackets so that said panel is disposed adjacent said rear edge and projects upwardly relatively to said upper surface;

each said bracket including a lower generally C-shaped mounting part which defines a generally horizontally and forwardly opening channel for accommodating therein a rear edge portion of said worksurface, said C-shaped mounting part having a clamping member movably mounted thereon for effecting clamping engagement of the rear edge portion of the worksurface within said channel;

said bracket also including an upright part which is fixed to said mounting part and is cantilevered upwardly above said upper surface, said upright part including a vertically extending support wall defining thereon a back edge which projects vertically upwardly relative to said worksurface in the vicinity of the rear edge thereof; and

first attachment parts provided on said support wall in vertically spaced relation along the back edge thereof for engagement with removable fastener means mounted on said panel for fixedly attaching said panel to said brackets so as to position said panel rearwardly of but adjacent said back edge of said support wall and with said panel extending horizontally between said brackets.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first attachment parts includes at least two studs which are fixed to and project horizontally rearwardly in cantilevered relation beyond said back edge and terminate in abutment surfaces at rear free ends thereof for abutment against a front face of said panel so that said panel is disposed rearwardly a predetermined distance from said back edge of said brackets.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said back edge of said brackets is approximately vertically aligned with the rear edge of said worksurface, and wherein a front surface of said panel fixedly attached to said back edge through said attachment parts is spaced a small horizontal distance rearwardly of the worksurface rear edge to define a downwardly opening clearance space therebetween.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said support wall defines second attachment parts on the back edge thereof for alternative supportive engagement with a further panel having a configuration which is different from that of said first-mentioned panel.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said second attachment parts include a plurality of notch-like recesses which open horizontally forwardly from the back edge of said support wall in vertically spaced relation therealong, and a second horizontally-elongated and vertically upright panel removably attached to the second attachment parts of said brackets, said second panel including a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally elongate rods which are rigidly joined together with the individual rods projecting into and being supported within the recesses which define said second attachment parts.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said first attachment parts includes at least two studs which are fixed to and project horizontally rearwardly in cantilevered relation beyond said back edge and terminate in abutment surfaces at rear free ends thereof for abutment against a front face of said first-mentioned panel so that said first-mentioned panel is disposed rearwardly a predetermined distance from said back edge of said brackets.

7. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first attachment parts include a plurality of notch-like recesses which open horizontally forwardly from the back edge of said support wall in vertically spaced relation therealong, and said panel being removably attached to the first attachment parts of said brackets, said panel including a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally elongate rods which are rigidly joined together with the individual rods projecting into and being supported within the recesses which define said first attachment parts.

8. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said upright part includes a front wall which projects vertically upwardly and is fixed to a front edge of said support wall, said front wall extending transversely in opposite horizontal directions from said vertical support wall and projecting vertically upwardly therealong so as to terminate in an upper free end.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said front wall is horizontally flat and cooperates with the vertical support wall so as to define a generally T-shaped horizontal cross-section.

10. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said front wall is generally V-shaped in horizontal cross-section and opens rearwardly relative to the worksurface, said vertical support wall being positioned interiorly of the V-shaped front wall and having a front edge fixed to said front wall substantially at an apex of the V-shaped cross-section with said vertical support wall projecting rearwardly therefrom so as to terminate at said back edge.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the V-shaped front wall at its upper free end defines thereon a horizontally enlarged support platform, and a horizontally enlarged shelf-like member positioned on top of and fixedly engaged with said support platform.

12. An upright bracket-supported panel arrangement mountable on a worksurface so as to project thereof upwardly therefrom in the vicinity of a rear edge thereof, said arrangement comprising:

at least two upright brackets for removable attachment to a worksurface adjacent a rear edge thereof;

a horizontally elongated upright panel fixedly but removably attached to said brackets so that said panel projects upwardly relatively to the work surface and extends longitudinally between said brackets;

each said bracket including a lower generally C-shaped mounting part which defines a generally horizontally and forwardly opening channel for accommodating therein a rear edge portion of the worksurface, said C-shaped mounting part having a clamping member movably mounted thereon for effecting clamping engagement of the rear edge portion of the worksurface;

said bracket also including an upright part which is fixed to said mounting part and is cantilevered upwardly, said upright part including a vertically extending support wall defining thereon a back edge which projects vertically; and

first attachment parts provided on said support wall in vertically spaced relation along the back edge thereof for engagement with removable fastener means mounted on said panel for fixedly attaching of said panel to said brackets so as to position said panel rearwardly adjacent said back edge.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein said first attachment parts includes at least two studs which are fixed to and project horizontally rearwardly in cantilevered relation beyond said back edge and terminate in abutment surfaces at rear free ends thereof for abutment against a front face of said panel so that said panel is disposed rearwardly a predetermined distance from said back edge of said brackets.

14. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said support wall defines second attachment parts on the back edge thereof for alternative supportive engagement with a further panel having a configuration which is different from that of said first-mentioned panel.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said second attachment parts include a plurality of notch-like recesses which open horizontally forwardly from the back edge of said support wall in vertically spaced relation therealong, and a second horizontally-elongated and vertically upright panel removably attached to the second attachment parts of said brackets, said second panel including a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally elongate rods which are rigidly joined together with the individual rods projecting into and being supported within the recesses which define said second attachment parts.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said first attachment parts includes at least two studs which are fixed to and project horizontally rearwardly in cantilevered relation beyond said back edge and terminate in abutment surfaces at rear free ends thereof for abutment against a front face of said first-mentioned panel so that said first-mentioned panel is disposed rearwardly a predetermined distance from said back edge of said brackets.

17. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said first attachment parts include a plurality of notch-like recesses which open horizontally forwardly from the back edge of said support wall in vertically spaced relation therealong, and said panel being removably attached to the first attachment parts of said brackets, said panel including a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally elongate rods which are rigidly joined together with the individual rods projecting into and being supported within the recesses which define said first attachment parts.

18. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said upright part includes a front wall which projects vertically upwardly and is fixed to a front edge of said support wall, said front wall extending transversely in opposite horizontal directions from said vertical support wall and projecting vertically upwardly therealong so as to terminate in an upper free end.

19. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said front wall is horizontally flat and cooperates with the vertical support wall so as to define a generally T-shaped horizontal cross-section.

20. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said front wall is generally V-shaped in horizontal cross-section and opens rearwardly relative to the worksurface, said vertical support wall being positioned interiorly of the V-shaped front wall and having a front edge fixed to said front wall substantially at an apex of the V-shaped cross-section with said vertical support wall projecting rearwardly therefrom so as to terminate at said back edge.

21. An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the V-shaped front wall at its upper free end defines thereon a horizontally enlarged support platform, and a horizontally enlarged shelf-like member positioned on top of and fixedly engaged with said support platform.