Reconfigurable system for subdividing building space and having minimal footprint

• US 5,970,662 A
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Inventors: Friedman, Frank, Corcorran, Sean M., Mead, Karl J., King, Jonathan J., Seiber, Charles Anthony, Arko, Robert P., Siebert, Paul B., Segal, Leon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DORSEY, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US09/178,266
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 52/36.1, 52/36.6, 52/239
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0069 with rack
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/01 Office wall with desktop function
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/425 introduced by a vertical pivoting movement
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/02 Shelves movable shelves coupled to doors A47B96/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/022 Single-corner shelves; Brackets therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/04 Partition walls adjustable A47B57/58
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/06 Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves A47B96/022 takes precedence; aspects of adjusting height or inclination A47B57/00 ; brackets for the display of articles A47F5/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/067 Horizontal rails as suspension means in a cantilever arrangement suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls A47B95/008
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7422 with separate framed panels without intermediary support posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7487 Partitions with slotted profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/5045 specially adapted for furniture E06B3/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/20 Connections with hook-like parts gripping behind a blind side of an element to be connected

Abstract

A system for subdividing a building space into work areas includes interconnectable partition panels, each having an internal frame with a plurality of horizontal frame members located at predetermined heights. The horizontal frame members each have at least one horizontal row of slots, and at least one of the horizontal frame members is located slightly above an optimal worksurface height for supporting an interactively used datum shelf. Furniture components are attachable to the horizontal frame members at selected horizontal positions, including the datum shelf, an undershelf storage unit, and an upper storage unit. A mobile furniture unit is provided having a worksurface located at an optimal worksurface height, the worksurface having a cantilevered edge section that can be extended partially under the datum shelf at a selected optimal depth for coordinated and efficient use of the datum shelf concurrent with using the worksurface. The furniture unit is constructed to maximize floor space and storage within an office area or work area while maintaining a minimum footprint. Further, the furniture unit allows user reconfiguration and provides for maximum work efficiency and adaptability. Also, the work area defined by the instant construction is noticeably open and spacious, even where the actual work area size is less than traditional office sizes, such as where the work area size is equal to or less than 6 feet by 6 feet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for subdividing a building space, comprising:

a partition panel including a horizontal frame member located between a top and a bottom of the partition panel;

a datum shelf including a bracket for supporting the datum shelf on the partition panel, the bracket engaging the horizontal frame member and holding the datum shelf in a cantilevered position outwardly therefrom at a predetermined shelf height; and

a portable furniture unit having a worksurface positioned at a predetermined optimal worksurface height which is at most a few inches below the shelf height, the shelf height and the worksurface height being related so that the datum shelf is located vertically proximate the worksurface so that a worker can readily reach papers and other articles on the datum shelf with comfort and efficiency while working at the worksurface, the bracket characteristically having a relatively short vertical dimension such that the worksurface can be selectively positioned under and along the datum shelf substantially against the partition panel or spaced therefrom to optimize the available space on the worksurface and to simultaneously optimize a relation of papers and other articles on the datum shelf to work being done on the worksurface; and

a panel-mounted second shelf aligned with the datum shelf, the second shelf being configured to telescopingly receive the datum shelf and the datum shelf being horizontally adjustably supported on the partition panel to thus permit horizontal adjustment thereof into the second shelf, whereby an overall amount of work area can be adjusted while using the datum shelf and the second shelf by telescopingly adjusting the datum shelf into or out of the second shelf.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 including a lower storage unit located under the datum shelf, the lower storage unit having a top defining an open space with the datum shelf, and wherein the worksurface includes a cantilevered marginal edge configured to extend under the datum shelf into the open space.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the furniture unit comprises a wheeled table having laterally extending feet that extend a horizontal distance short of a perimeter defined by the cantilevered marginal edge.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the datum shelf is flat such that the worksurface and the datum shelf are both optimally suited for performing tasks associated with paperwork, and wherein the datum shelf is located about 21/2 inches to 3 inches higher than the worksurface to create an optimal working relationship between papers stored on the datum shelf and other papers being used on the worksurface.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the datum shelf extends less than 16 inches from an exterior surface of the partition panel, and wherein the datum shelf is substantially longer in length and shorter in depth than the worksurface, so that the worksurface can be optimally positioned under and along the datum shelf to facilitate a worker selectively working at different depths and at different longitudinal positions along the partition panel.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the bracket supporting the datum shelf is generally tubular and defines a horizontally extending channel for receiving and communicating wires along an exterior of the partition panel under the datum shelf.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the bracket supporting the shelf is elongated and is manufactured to have a continuous cross section.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 including a bumper supported under the datum shelf and attached to the partition panel, the bumper being configured to engage the portable furniture unit to prevent damage to the worksurface from contact with the bracket or the partition panel.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 1 including a wire management trough attached underneath the datum shelf.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein the wire management trough is attached at a rear of the datum shelf to the shelf brackets.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 1 including a chair, and wherein the worksurface height is located above the chair at a location suitable for use by a seated user sitting on the chair, and wherein the shelf height of the datum shelf facilitates easy access by the seated user to items on the datum shelf without the need for the seated user to stand up or stretch in an undesirable manner.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the worksurface height at an elevated location adapting the worksurface for use by a standing user.

13. A method of subdividing a building space, comprising steps of:

providing a space-dividing construction including a plurality of interconnected partition panels subdividing the building space into a plurality of work areas;

attaching elongated datum shelves to the partition panels at a predetermined shelf height;

providing a portable worksurface having a length that is significantly shorter in length than the datum shelves and that is movable around the work areas, the portable worksurface having a worksurface height chosen for work efficiency and the shelf height of the datum shelves positioning the datum shelves proximate but spaced above the worksurface and within a few inches thereof, so that the datum shelves are accessible by a worker sitting at and working on the portable worksurface; and

manipulating the portable worksurface to an optimal depth and an optimal position along the datum shelves for work efficiency to work with particular items stored on the datum shelves.

14. The method defined in claim 13 wherein the datum shelves and worksurface are both flat and optimally suited for supporting papers and for performing tasks associated with paperwork, and wherein the step of manipulating includes arranging papers on the datum shelves for optimal workflow along the datum shelves.

15. An apparatus for subdividing a building space, comprising:

a partition panel having a frame including at least a lower horizontal frame member, a mid-level horizontal frame member, and an upper horizontal frame member, each of which define at least one horizontal row of uniformly spaced discrete attachment sites;

a datum shelf adjustably supported at least partially by the mid-level horizontal frame member;

a lower storage unit adjustably positioned below the datum shelf including a top spaced below the datum shelf;

an upper storage unit adjustably attached to at least the upper horizontal frame member; and

the datum shelf, the upper storage unit, and the lower storage unit each releasably engaging selected ones of the discrete attachment sites on their respective horizontal frame members, whereby the entire system is readily horizontally adjustable and reconfigurable to create a customized work area particularly adapted in size, shape, and arrangement for optimal work area efficiency.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 15 including a movable furniture unit constructed to be easily moved in multiple directions and having a worksurface and wherein the datum shelf is flat such that the worksurface and the datum shelf are both optimally suited for performing tasks associated with paperwork, and wherein the datum shelf is located about 21/2 inches to 3 inches higher than the worksurface to create an optimal working relationship between papers stored on the datum shelf and other papers being used on the worksurface.

17. An apparatus for subdividing a building space, comprising:

a partition panel including a horizontal frame member located between a top and a bottom of the partition panel;

a datum shelf including a bracket for supporting the datum shelf on the partition panel, the bracket engaging the horizontal frame member and holding the datum shelf in a cantilevered position outwardly therefrom at a predetermined shelf height; and

a portable furniture unit having a worksurface positioned at a predetermined optimal worksurface height which is at most a few inches below the shelf height, the shelf height and the worksurface height being related so that the datum shelf is located vertically proximate the worksurface so that a worker can readily reach papers and other articles on the datum shelf with comfort and efficiency while working at the worksurface, the bracket characteristically having a relatively short vertical dimension such that the worksurface can be selectively positioned under and along the datum shelf substantially against the partition panel or spaced therefrom to optimize the available space on the worksurface and to simultaneously optimize a relation of papers and other articles on the datum shelf to work being done on the worksurface.

18. An apparatus for subdividing a building space, comprising:

a partition panel forming part of a work area and including a horizontal frame member located between a top and a bottom of the partition panel, the horizontal frame member defining a horizontal row of uniformly spaced discrete attachment sites;

a datum shelf including a bracket adjustably engaging selected ones of the discrete attachment sites for horizontally adjustably supporting the datum shelf on the partition panel, the bracket engaging the horizontal frame member to hold the datum shelf in a cantilevered position outwardly therefrom at a predetermined shelf height; and

a portable furniture unit having a worksurface positioned at a predetermined optimal worksurface height which is at most a few inches below the shelf height, the shelf height and the worksurface height being related so that the datum shelf is located vertically proximate the worksurface so that a worker can readily reach papers and other articles on the datum shelf with comfort and efficiency while working at the worksurface, whereby the datum shelf can be optimally positioned along the partition panel for work efficiency and also the worksurface can be selectively positioned under and along the datum shelf substantially against the partition panel or spaced therefrom to optimize the available space on the worksurface and to simultaneously optimize a relation of papers and other articles on the datum shelf to work being done on the worksurface.