Column mountable shelf for furniture systems

• US 5,950,371 A
• Filed: 06/06/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Bromberg, Joyce S., Rives, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilkens, Kevin D.
• Application Number:
  US08/871,094
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 52/36.4, 52/36.5, 52/36.6, 52/239, 52/741.1, 108/108, 108/110, 108/192, 108/193, 211/90.01, 211/90.02, 211/107, 248/220.42, 248/243, 403/252, 403/253, 403/254, 403/255
• US Class Current: 52/36.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/402 Hooks attached to a member embracing at least two sides of an upright, e.g. an angle bracket
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/20 Connections with hook-like parts gripping behind a blind side of an element to be connected
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/205 the hook being a separate retainer

Abstract

A furniture system for fitting-out a building room of the type having a generally open plan and having an associated floor surface includes an overhead framework including a plurality of horizontal beam segments interconnected to form a rigid structure configured to be spaced above the floor surface. A plurality of support columns, each has an upper portion connected with the overhead framework, and a lower portion shaped to abut the floor surface to support the overhead framework in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation above average user height. Each of the support columns further includes at least three vertical edges defining substantially planar faces therebetween. At least two of the vertical edges have a plurality of slots therein for supporting office furniture items and office accessories. A shelf is mounted to one of the support columns and is supported thereon. The shelf includes a frame having a plurality of hooks engaged in the slots of at least two of the vertical edges of the column and a shelf top affixed to and supported by the frame.

Claims

1. A 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 to form a rigid structure configured to be spaced above the floor surface;

a plurality of 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 support columns further comprising at least three vertical edges defining substantially planar faces therebetween, of which at least two of said vertical edges have a plurality of slots therein for supporting office furniture accessories; and

a shelf mounted to one of said support columns and supported thereon, said shelf comprising a frame having a plurality of hooks engaged in said slots of at least two of said vertical edges of said column, and a shelf top affixed to and supported by said frame, wherein said frame further comprises;

at least one primary support having a plurality of hooks at one end thereof wherein said hooks are engaged in said slots of a first vertical edge of said support column; and

two stabilizing supports, each of said stabilizing supports having a plurality of hooks at one end thereof and an abutting end at an opposite end thereof, wherein said hooks of a first and a second of said two stabilizing supports are engaged in said slots of a second and a third vertical edge of said support column respectively, each of said second and said third vertical edges of said support column being opposite one from the other, and each of said second and said third vertical edges being adjacent to said first vertical edge, and further wherein each of said abutting ends of said first and said second stabilizing supports abut and are affixed to said at least one primary support such that said frame is removable from said column only when said stabilizing supports are disassembled from said at least one primary support.

2. The furniture system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one primary support comprises a first primary support and a second primary support, each of said primary supports having a plurality of hooks at one end thereof wherein said hooks of said first primary support are abutted to said hooks of said second primary support and said abutted hooks are engaged in said slots of said first vertical edge of said support column.

3. The furniture system according to claim 2 wherein said top has a substantially tear-drop shaped planform with a flat base.

4. The furniture system according to claim 3 wherein said top further includes a notch at an apex of said tear-drop planform, wherein said notch receives at least a portion of said support column.

5. The furniture system according to claim 4 wherein said notch has a V-shape.

6. A shelf for mounting to a furniture support column of the type having a plurality of vertical edges, wherein each edge has a plurality of regularly spaced slots in vertical alignment therealong, said shelf comprising:

a frame having at least two vertical columns of a plurality of vertically aligned, regularly spaced hooks, said at least two vertical columns of said hooks horizontally disposed one from the other for engaging the vertical edges of the support column, wherein said frame includes at least one primary support having a plurality of hooks at one end thereof wherein said hooks are arranged to engage a set of regularly spaced slots in a first edge of the support column and two stabilizing supports, each of said stabilizing supports having a plurality of hooks at one end thereof and an abutting end at an opposite end thereof, wherein said hooks of a first and a second of said two stabilizing supports are arranged to engage like sets of regularly spaced slots in second and third edges of the support column respectively; and

a shelf top affixed to and supported by said frame.

7. The shelf according to claim 6 wherein said at least one primary support comprises a first primary support and a second primary support, each of said primary supports having a plurality of hooks at one end thereof wherein said hooks of said first primary support are abutted to said hooks of said second primary support and said abutted hooks are arranged to engage the slots of the first vertical edge of the support column.

8. The shelf according to claim 7 wherein said top has a substantially tear-drop shaped planform with a flat base.

9. The shelf according to claim 8 wherein said top further includes a notch at an apex of said tear-drop planform, wherein said notch receives at least a portion of said support column.

10. The shelf according to claim 9 said notch has a V-shape.

11. A method for mounting a shelf to a furniture support column of the type having a plurality of vertical edges and wherein each of the edges has a plurality of regularly spaced vertical slots, the method comprising the steps of:

engaging hooks affixed to one end of a primary support into the slots of a first of the vertical edges of the support column at a desired vertical position along the support column;

engaging hooks affixed to one end of a first stabilizing support into the slots of a second of the vertical edges of the support column at a vertical position substantially identical to the primary support, said second vertical edge adjacent to the first vertical edge;

abutting a second end of the first stabilizing support to the primary support;

fastening the second end of the first stabilizing support to the primary support;

engaging hooks affixed to one end of a second stabilizing support into the slots of a third of the vertical edges of the support column at a vertical position substantially identical to the primary support, the third vertical edge adjacent to the first vertical edge and substantially opposite the second vertical edge;

abutting a second end of the second stabilizing support to the primary support;

fastening the second end of the second stabilizing support to the primary support; and

fastening a shelf top to an upper portion of the first, the second, and the third supports.