Partition system including transaction top

• US 5,836,112 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Dammermann, Kurt P., Lindale, Michelle L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kent, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALLO, LAURA ANTOINETTE
• Application Number:
  US08/853,889
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 52/36.4, 52/36.5, 52/36.6, 52/239, 52/481.2, 52/489.1, 52/489.2, 52/241, 108/137
• US Class Current: 52/36.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/02 releasably mounted on the bedstead or another item of furniture
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7422 with separate framed panels without intermediary support posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions

Abstract

A partition system includes a partition having a top frame member with opposing sides. The sides include a row of component-supporting apertures that extend from end-to-end of the partitions. A transaction top is attachable to a top of the partition through use of brackets that are selectively engageable with the apertures, thus positioning the transaction top anywhere along a top of the partition, even in positions where the transaction top spans between in-line or perpendicularly connected partitions. The brackets engage the underside of the transaction top, and support the top above the partition. Unused slots under the transaction top remain accessible for use. Also, removable cover panels on the partitions are removable without disassembling the transaction top.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a partition including a frame;

a transaction top positioned above the frame; and

brackets attaching the transaction top to the frame, the frame including a top horizontal frame member with opposing apertured sides defining a plurality of attachment sites configured to receive the brackets in a plurality of horizontally spaced locations, the brackets being engaged with the frame in selected ones of the attachment sites.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the attachment sites are apertures.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the apertures include spaced apart and horizontally aligned slots.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein the slots are spaced horizontally apart and form a row extending a full length of the top horizontal frame member.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the attachment sites include at least three horizontally spaced positions.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the apertured attachment sites are spaced apart horizontally on the frame.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 including cover panels removably attached to the frames.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the cover panels are configured to be removable from the partition from under the transaction top without disassembling the transaction top from the frame.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein unused ones of the attachment sites are accessible under the transaction top for attachment of other furniture components.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the frame includes cover-supporting apertures separate from the attachment sites for attachment of cover panels thereto, and including cover panels adapted to releasably engage the cover-supporting apertures.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a partition including front and rear faces and including a frame having a top horizontal frame member with a plurality of front and rear apertures on the front and rear faces and accessible through the front and rear faces; and

a transaction top including front and rear brackets constructed to engage selected ones of the front and rear apertures.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein the front and rear apertures define a plurality of discrete attachment sites each spaced apart by a unitary uniform dimension.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 12 including a furniture component mounted to selected ones of the front apertures and located under the transaction top.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein the apertures define a horizontal row of apertures spaced uniformly apart and extending a fall length of the frame.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein the front and rear brackets include hooks for engaging the front and rear apertures on the frame.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 11 including cover panels removably attached to the frame under the transaction top.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein the frame includes cover-supporting connectors for supporting the removable cover panels, the cover-supporting connectors being separate from the front and rear apertures.

18. A method including steps of:

providing a partition including a frame having a top horizontal frame member;

providing a transaction top for positioning above the frame;

providing brackets for attaching the transaction top to the frame;

selectively attaching the brackets to the frame at a desired location, the desired location being selected from a plurality of discrete positions defined along front and rear sides of the frame member; and

attaching the transaction top to the brackets, thus securing the transaction top in a desired selected location on the frame.