Furniture system (pathways-spaceframe)

• US 5,899,025 A
• Filed: 03/22/1996
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Forslund, Carl V. III, Casey, Daniel S., Dykstra, Ronald A., Greenberg, Peter C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yip, Winnie S.
• Application Number:
  US08/621,164
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 52/220.7, 52/36.1, 52/36.6, 52/126.1, 52/239, 52/241, 52/243, 52/730.1, 160/135, 160/351, 312/223.6, 312/242, 108/50.02
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7453 with panels and support posts, extending from floor to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring

Abstract

An integrated prefabricated furniture system is provided for fitting-out a building room of the type having a generally open plan interior and having at least one utility source. The furniture system includes a plurality of horizontal beam segments interconnected in an end-to-end fashion to form a rigid overhead framework configured to be positioned above the floor surface. A plurality of overhead support columns each have an upper portion rigidly connected with the overhead framework, and a lower portion shaped to support the overhead framework on a floor in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation above average user height. Each of the overhead support columns includes an interior support structure in a generally X-shaped plan-form defining vertical raceways between adjacent legs of the cross-section. Each support column also includes four vertical edges forming substantially planar faces therebetween, of which at least one of the vertical edges has a plurality of slots for supporting office furniture items and office accessories.

Claims

1. An integrated prefabricated furniture system for fitting-out a building room of the type having a generally open plan and having an associated floor surface, comprising:

an overhead framework comprising a plurality of horizontal beam segments interconnected in an end-to-end fashion to form a rigid structure configured to be spaced above the floor surface; and

a plurality of freestanding overhead support columns, each having an upper portion connected with said overhead framework, and a lower portion shaped to abut the floor surface and thereby support said overhead framework in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation above average user height, each of said overhead support columns further comprising an interior support structure, said interior support structure comprising at least two vertically separated sections, each said section extending radially outward from a center thereof and terminating to define at least three vertical edges forming substantially planar faces therebetween, and vertical rails affixed at said edges maintaining said sections in vertical separation, wherein at least one of said vertical rails has a slots therein for supporting office furniture items and office accessories.

2. The furniture system according to claim 1, wherein:

said vertical rails each comprise a U-shaped rail having flanges connected by a web.

3. The furniture system according to claim 1, wherein:

said interior support structure forms parallel vertical raceways between said vertical edges for routing utility conduits.

4. The furniture system according to claim 3, wherein:

said parallel vertical raceways in said support columns have cross-over portions intermediate to ends of said support column so that the utility conduits can be routed from one of said vertical raceways to an adjacent said vertical raceway.

5. The furniture system according to claim 4, wherein:

said vertical rails comprise a U-shaped rail having flanges connected by a web.

6. The furniture system according to claim 3, wherein:

said vertically separated sections define therebetween a beltway at an intermediate portion of said support column on at least one of said planar faces such that utilities routed within said support column can be terminated at said beltway for access by a user.

7. The furniture system according to claim 6, wherein:

an upper portion of at least one of said faces of said column defines an aperture adapted to communicate with utility raceways on associated furniture system panels.

26. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 1 wherein:

ends of said corner rail flanges are bent away from an interior portion of said U-shape such that adjacent said flange ends of adjacent corner rails are essentially coplanar.

8. An integrated prefabricated furniture system for fitting-out a building room of the type having a generally open plan and having an associated floor surface, comprising:

an overhead framework comprising a plurality of horizontal beam segments interconnected in an end-to-end fashion to form a rigid structure configured to be spaced above the floor surface; and

a plurality of freestanding overhead support columns, each having an upper portion connected with said overhead framework, and a lower portion shaped to abut the floor surface and thereby support said overhead framework in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation above average user height, each of said overhead support columns further comprising an interior support structure, said interior support structure extending radially outward from a center thereof and terminating to define at least three vertical edges forming substantially planar faces therebetween, said interior support structure further including vertical U-shaped rails;

each said vertical U-shaped rail forming sa id vertical edges having rail flanges connected by a web, wherein each said vertical U-shaped rail defines an open interior portion that faces away from an interior portion of said support column, and said rail flanges each include flange ends bent away from said interior portion of said U-shaped rail such that adjacent said flange ends of adjacent rails are essentially coplanar.

9. An integrated prefabricated furniture system for fitting-out a building room of the type having a generally open plan and having an associated floor surface, comprising:

an overhead framework comprising a plurality of horizontal beam segments interconnected in an end-to-end fashion to form a rigid structure configured to be spaced above the floor surface;

a plurality of freestanding overhead support columns, each having an upper portion connected with said overhead framework, and a lower portion shaped to abut the floor surface and thereby support said overhead framework in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation above average user height, each of said overhead support columns further comprising an interior support structure, said interior support structure extending radially outward from a center thereof and terminating to define at least three vertical edges forming substantially planar faces therebetween, said interior support structure further forming vertical parallel raceways between said vertical edges for routing utility conduits and having cross-over portions intermediate to ends of said support column so that the utility conduits can be routed from one of said vertical raceways to an adjacent said vertical raceway; and

a plurality of U-shaped vertical rails forming said vertical edges, each U-shaped rail having flanges connected by a web and defining an open interior portion that faces away from an interior portion of said support column, and said rail flanges each include flange ends bent away from said interior portion of said U-shape rail such that adjacent flange ends of adjacent rails are essentially coplanar, wherein at least one of said vertical rails has a slots therein for supporting office furniture items and office accessories.

10. An integrated prefabricated furniture system for fitting-out a building room of the type having a generally open plan interior and having at least one utility source comprising:

an overhead framework comprising a plurality of horizontal beam segments interconnected in an end-to-end fashion to form a rigid structure configured to be positioned above the floor surface; and

a plurality of freestanding overhead support columns, each having an upper portion connected with said overhead framework, and a lower portion thereof shaped to abut the floor surface and thereby support said overhead framework in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation above average user height, wherein said overhead support columns further comprise an interior support structure including at least two vertically separated sections forming parallel vertical raceways for routing utility conduits therein from the at least one utility source in the building room, and vertical rails affixed to edges of said sections maintaining said sections in vertical separation.

11. The furniture system according to claim 10, wherein:

each said support column defines cross-over portions that extend between said vertical raceways intermediate to ends of said support column so that utility conduits can be routed from one of said vertical raceways to an adjacent vertical raceway.

12. The furniture system according to claim 11, wherein:

at least one of said support columns has a utility in-feed, said in-feed aligned with the at least one utility source in the building room.

13. The furniture system according to claim 10, wherein:

said support columns each further defines a beltway at an intermediate portion of at least one of said vertical raceways such that utilities routed within said support column can be terminated at said beltway for use by a user.

14. The furniture system according to claim 13, wherein:

each said support column defines cross-over portions that extend between said vertical raceways intermediate the length of said support column so that utility conduits can be routed from one of said vertical raceways to an adjacent vertical raceway.

15. The furniture system according to claim 14, wherein:

at least one of said support columns has a utility in-feed, said in-feed aligned with the at least one utility source in the building room.

16. The furniture system according to claim 13, wherein:

at least one of said support columns includes a face at said upper portion; and

said face defines an aperture therethrough adapted to communicate with utility raceways in associated furniture system panels.

17. The furniture system according to claim 16, wherein:

each said support column defines cross-over portions extend between said vertical raceways intermediate to ends of said support column so that utility conduits can be routed from one of said vertical raceways to an adjacent vertical raceway.

18. The furniture system according to claim 17, wherein:

at least one of said support columns has a utility in-feed, said in-feed aligned with the at least one utility source in the building room.

19. An integrated prefabricated furniture system for fitting-out a building room of the type having a generally open plan interior including freestanding panels or wall mounted panels of the type having horizontally extending utility raceways positioned along an upper portion thereof and having at least one utility source comprising:

an overhead framework comprising a plurality of horizontal beam segments interconnected in an end-to-end fashion to form a rigid structure configured to be positioned above the floor surface; and

a plurality of freestanding overhead support columns, each of said columns having an upper portion thereof connected with said overhead framework, and a lower portion thereof shaped to abut the floor surface and thereby support said overhead framework thereon in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation above average user height wherein each of said overhead support columns further comprises a plurality of interior vertical raceways each comprising at least two vertically separated sections for routing utility conduits, and a beltway at an intermediate portion of each said support column, said beltway defined by said vertically separated sections of said raceway such that utilities routed within said support column can be terminated at said beltway for access by a user, said section maintained in vertical separation by vertical rails affixed to edges thereof.

20. The furniture system according to claim 19, wherein:

at least one of said support columns has a utility in-feed, said in-feed aligned with the at least one utility source in the building room.

21. The furniture system according to claim 19, wherein:

at least one of said support columns includes a face at said upper portion; and

said face includes an aperture therethrough adapted to communicate with the horizontally extending utility raceways in the furniture system panels.

22. An overhead support column for use in furniture systems to support an overhead framework above a floor surface comprising:

an interior support structure comprising at least two vertically separated sections, each said section extending radially outward from a central vertical longitudinal axis thereof and of a length to support the overhead framework at a predetermined elevation above average user height;

at least three vertical edges at ends of said radially extending interior support structure forming substantially planar faces between adjacent ones of said vertical edges, of which at least one of said vertical edges has a plurality of slots therethrough for supporting furniture items and accessories; and

a vertical rail affixed to each of said edge to maintain said sections in vertical separation.

23. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 22 wherein said interior support structure further comprises:

a vertical central tube; and

star elements fastened to said central tube and radiating therefrom to said edges such that a cross-section of said column is formed in a star-like pattern.

25. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 22 wherein:

said plurality of slots are a plurality of uniform evenly spaced slots through said connecting web in said corner rail extending the length of said corner rail.

24. An overhead support column for use in furniture systems to support an overhead framework above a floor surface comprising:

an interior support structure extending radially outward from a central vertical longitudinal axis thereof and of a length to support the overhead framework at a predetermined elevation above average user height; and

at least three vertical edges at ends of said radially extending interior support structure forming substantially planar faces between adjacent ones of said vertical edges, of which at least one of said vertical edges has a plurality of slots therethrough for supporting furniture items and accessories, wherein said at least three vertical edges comprise at least three parallel U-shaped vertical corner rails arranged in a vertical column forming a polygon and fastened to said interior support structure, one of said vertical corner rails rail being positioned at each corner of said polygon and extending a length of said support column, said U-shaped rails comprising side flanges and an orthogonal web connecting said flanges wherein said web faces said interior support structure.

27. An overhead support column for use in furniture systems to support an overhead framework above a floor surface comprising:

an interior support structure extending radially outward from a central vertical longitudinal axis thereof and of a length to support the overhead framework at a predetermined elevation above average user height, said interior support structure including a vertical central tube and star elements fastened to said central tube and radiating therefrom to said edges such that a cross section of said column is formed in a star-like pattern; and

at least three vertical edges at ends of said radially extending interior support structure forming substantially planar faces between adjacent ones of said vertical edges, of which at least one of said vertical edges has a plurality of slots therethrough for supporting furniture items and accessories, wherein said at least three vertical edges each comprises a parallel U-shaped corner rail, said corner rails arranged in a vertical column forming a polygon and fastened to said interior support structure, one said corner rail being positioned at each corner of said polygon and extending a length of said support column and fastened to said star elements, said U-shaped rails comprising side flanges and an orthogonal web connecting said flanges wherein said web faces said interior support structure.

28. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 27 wherein:

said plurality of slots are a plurality of uniform evenly spaced slots through said connecting web in said corner rail extending a length of said corner rail.

29. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 28 wherein:

ends of said corner rail flanges are bent away from an interior portion of said U-shape such that adjacent said flange ends of adjacent corner rails are essentially coplanar.

30. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 29 wherein:

each star element is a generally V-shaped element comprising two legs joined at a lower apex wherein said apex of said V-shape is fastened to said central tube and said legs of said V-shape radiate to adjacent flanges of adjacent corner rails forming generally V-shaped channels between adjacent corner rails, and said legs are fastened to said corner rails such that adjacent legs of adjacent star elements are in a parallel spaced apart relationship, said spaced apart relationship being defined by said U-shaped corner rail.

31. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 28, wherein:

a horizontal bottom plate conforming to said polygonal shape of said support column is fastened to a bottom end of said support column, said bottom plate having holes positioned at the bottom of at least two essentially opposite generally V-shaped channels for mounting said support column to a floor.

32. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 31 further comprising:

vertical mounting plates at a top end of said column extending between and fastened to adjacent said bent flange ends of adjacent said corner rails, said plates being adapted for mounting a horizontal beam thereto.

33. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 32 wherein:

said support column comprises two sets of star elements, one set proximate to an upper portion of said support column and a second set proximate to a lower portion of said support column, said sets being vertically spaced apart.

34. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 33 further comprising:

an upper central tube, and a lower central tube, each said tube comprising a set of star elements at an upper tube end and a set of star elements at a lower tube end, said central tubes being vertically displaced from one another and having a common vertical longitudinal axis.

35. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 34 further comprising:

plates at an intermediate point of said support column corresponding to said vertical position on said support column wherein said central tubes are displaced one from the other, said plates extending between and fastened to adjacent said bent flange ends of adjacent said corner rails.

36. The support column for use in furniture systems according to claim 31 further comprising:

cover elements extending between adjacent corner rails for covering said generally V-shaped channels, said cover elements further comprising resilient fingers for engaging said corner rails.

37. A column and beam system for open office plans and for routing of electrical utilities, comprising:

a horizontal beam adapted to distribute electrical utilities therethrough;

a connector fastened to each end of said horizontal beam, each said connector adapted for routing electrical utilities therethrough and having one mounting face; and

a support column at each end of said horizontal beam and fastened to said mounting face, said support column vertically positioning the horizontal beam above a floor surface to permit passage of people under the horizontal beam, each of said columns comprising;

four substantially parallel U-shaped corner rails positioned in a vertically square arrangement and running a length of said support column, said corner rails comprising side flanges and a web connecting said side flanges and being arranged such that said web faces an interior portion of said support column;

a central square tube interior to said support column and equi-spaced from said corner rails and parallel thereto, diagonals of a cross-section of said tube being coincident with diagonals of said square arrangement formed by said corner rails;

two sets of star elements, one set proximate to an upper portion of said support column and a second set proximate to a lower portion of said support column, said star element sets being vertically spaced apart wherein each of said star elements is fastened to a face of said central tube, each of said star elements radiating from a point proximate to a vertical edge of said tube to said corner rail and parallel to one of said diagonals, wherein said tube, said star elements and said corner rails form four vertical generally V-shaped channels around said central tube;

vertical mounting plates at a top end of said support column extending between and fastened to adjacent flanges of adjacent corner rails, said plates having an aperture therein for routing the electrical utilities from said column to said beam and being adapted for mounting said mounting face of said connector thereto;

a bottom plate fastened to a bottom of the post, said plate having holes positioned at said bottom of two opposite generally V-shaped channels for mounting to a floor, said bottom plate formed to maintain the remaining two said V-shaped channels open at said bottom; and

at least one plate at an intermediate point of said column, said plate extending between and fastened to adjacent corner rails, said plate being adapted for mounting utility receptacles thereto.

38. The column and beam system according to claim 37, wherein said connector comprises:

a vertical plate fastened to said vertical mounting plate on said column; and

a support bar extending from a face of the vertical plate opposite said connector mounting face and fastened to said horizontal beam end.

39. The column and beam system according to claim 38, wherein the horizontal beam comprises:

an upper cap;

a lower cap; and

a central vertical web connecting the upper cap and the lower cap, said vertical web comprising two spaced apart walls forming an interior portion of said vertical web, said interior portion in communication with said aperture in said vertical mounting plates of said column for routing the electrical utilities therethrough.

40. The column and beam system according to claim 39, wherein ends of upper cap comprise vertical flanges substantially coplanar with the beam end and wherein said horizontal beam further comprises:

a horizontal receptacle at each end of said beam positioned at a lower portion of said interior portion of said vertical web and aligned with a longitudinal axis of said beam for telescopically receiving said connector support bar.

41. The column and beam system according to claim 40, wherein:

said vertical plate of said connector is fastened to said vertical mounting plate on said support column;

said vertical flange of said end of said beam top is fastened to said connector vertical plate; and

said connector support bar is telescopically received in said horizontal receptacle at said end of said beam and fastened therein.

42. The column and beam system according to claim 41, wherein said horizontal beam further comprises:

apertures through said walls of said web for distributing electrical utilities therefrom.

43. The column and beam system according to claim 42, wherein:

at least one aperture through said walls of said beam web is adapted to receive a power distribution block from a power distribution system.

44. The column and beam system according to claim 43, wherein said horizontal beam further comprises:

at least one J-shaped channel depending from said lower cap of said beam for hanging office accessories, office tools and the like therefrom.

45. The column and beam system according to claim 41, wherein said horizontal beam further comprises:

two horizontal beams abuttingly joined at one end and each beam joined to a column at an opposite end.

46. The column and beam system for according to claim 45, wherein said butt joint of said abutting beams further comprises:

a connector bar telescopically received in said horizontal end receptacle of each beam and fastened therein; and

said end flange of each beam top cap fastened to adjoining said end flange of said other beam.

47. The column and beam system for according to claim 46, wherein said horizontal beam further comprises:

apertures through said walls of said web for distributing electrical utilities therefrom.

48. The column and beam system according to claim 47, wherein:

at least one aperture through said walls of said beam web is adapted to receive a power distribution block from a power distribution system.

49. The column and beam system for according to claim 48, wherein said horizontal beam further comprises:

at least one J-shaped channel depending from said lower cap of said beam for hanging office accessories, office tools and the like therefrom.

50. The column and beam system according to claim 48, wherein said horizontal beam further comprises:

cover elements extending between said top cap and said bottom cap and further comprising resilient legs for engaging said top cap and said bottom.