Flexible desk system

• US 5,975,657 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lacour Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lacour Incorporated
• Inventors: LaCour, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US08/939,176
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 312/196, 312/223.1, 312/223.3, 312/223.6, 108/60, 52/239, 52/36.1, 52/36.5, 52/36.4
• US Class Current: 312/196
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0078 Control consoles or desks
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems

Abstract

The desk system of the present invention includes a core having a raceway, a first work top, which extends outwardly from one side of the core so as to define a first work station, and a second work top, which extends outwardly from an opposite side of the core so as to define a second work station positioned opposite the first work station. A supporting panel is mounted on the core between the first and second work stations. The supporting panel has a pair of sides, each of which includes a mounting mechanism for mounting a plurality of accessories therefrom in a cantilevered fashion substantially above the raceway. One side of the supporting panel faces the first work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards the first work station, while the other side of the supporting panel faces the second work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend toward the second work station. In this manner, the supporting panel constitutes a mounting structure common to both of the work stations.

Claims

1. A desk system comprising a core which has an interior raceway extending longitudinally from one end of said core to an opposite end of said core, from one side of said core to an opposite side of said core and from a bottom of said core to a top of said core, said raceway being sized and shaped so as to constitute a crawlspace, said core including a first strut, which directly connects said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said one end of said core, and a second strut, which directly connects said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said opposite end of said core, said first and second struts being mounted to said core above said bottom of said core such that said first and second struts are suspended above a floor supporting said core, thereby accommodating floor-mounted equipment, said core including a third strut, which directly connects said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said one end of said core, and a fourth strut directly connecting said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said opposite end of said core;

a first work top extending outwardly from said one side of said core so as to define a first work station;

a second work top extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core so as to define a second work station positioned opposite said first work station, wherein said core and hence said raceway are common to said first and second work stations;

a supporting panel mounted on said core between said first and second work stations and suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway, said supporting panel being constructed as a single module and having first and second sides opposing one another, each of said first and second sides including mounting means for mounting a plurality of accessories therefrom in a cantilevered fashion substantially above said raceway, said first side of said supporting panel facing said first work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said first work station, said second side of said supporting panel facing said second work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said second work station, wherein said supporting panel constitutes a mounting structure common to said first and second work stations, said mounting means including first mounting means positioned on said first side of said supporting panel and second mounting means positioned on said second side of said supporting panel, said first mounting means including a first set of slats positioned on said first side of said supporting panel, said second mounting means including a second set of slats positioned on said second side of said supporting panel, each slat of said first and second sets of slats being sized and shaped so as to removably receive mating connectors provided on associated accessories, whereby the mating connectors can be selectively engaged with one of said slats of said first and second sets of slats to vary the position of their associated accessories, said slats of said first and second sets of slats extending on said first side and said second side, respectively, of said supporting panel in vertical arrays, whereby the vertical positions of the associated accessories can be raised by engaging their mating connectors with higher slats and lowered by engaging their mating connectors with lower slats; and

suspending means for removably suspending said supporting panel substantially above said raceway, said suspending means including a first support post and a second support post, both of which are removably mounted to said core, said supporting panel extending between said first and second support posts.

2. A desk system, comprising a core which has an interior raceway extending longitudinally from one end of said core to an opposite end of said core from one side of said core to an opposite side of said core and from a bottom of said core to a top of said core, said raceway being sized and shaped so as to constitute a crawlspace;

a first work top extending outwardly from said one side of said core so as to define a first work station;

a second work top extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core so as to define a second work station positioned opposite said first work station; and

a supporting panel mounted on said core between said first and second work stations and suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway, said supporting panel having first and second sides opposing one another, each of said first and second sides including mounting means for mounting a plurality of accessories therefrom in a cantilevered fashion substantially above said raceway, said first side of said supporting panel facing said first work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said first work station, and said second side of said supporting panel facing said second work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said second work station, wherein said supporting panel constitutes a mounting structure common to said first and second work stations.

3. The desk system of claim 2, further comprising a first face panel assembly removably attached to said one side of said core, said first work top being removably attached to said first face panel assembly, whereby said first work top can be detached from said first face panel assembly and removed from said core, or said first face panel assembly can be detached from said core and removed therefrom together with said first work top.

4. The desk system of claim 3, further comprising a second face panel assembly removably attached to said opposite side of said core, said second work top being removably attached to said second face panel assembly, whereby said second work top can be detached from said second face panel assembly and removed from said core, or said second face panel assembly can be detached from said core and removed therefrom together with said second work top.

5. The desk system of claim 2, wherein said supporting panel is constructed as a single module.

6. The desk system of claim 5, wherein said core and hence said raceway are common to said first and second work stations.

7. The desk system of claim 6, wherein said core includes a first strut directly connecting said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said one end of said core and a second strut directly connecting said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said opposite end of said core.

8. The desk system of claim 7, further comprising suspending means for removably suspending said supporting panel substantially above said raceway.

9. The desk system of claim 8, wherein said suspending means includes a first support post and a second support post, both of which are removably mounted to said core, said supporting panel extending between said first and second support posts.

10. The desk system of claim 9, wherein said mounting means includes first mounting means positioned on said first side of said supporting panel and second mounting means positioned on said second side of said supporting panel.

11. The desk system of claim 10, wherein said first mounting means includes a first set of slats positioned on said one side of said supporting panel;

and wherein said second mounting means includes a second set of slats positioned on said other side of said supporting panel.

12. The desk system of claim 11, wherein each slat of said first and second sets of slats is sized and shaped so as to removably receive mating connectors provided on associated accessories, whereby the mating connectors can be selectively engaged with one of said slats of said first and second sets of slats to vary the position of their associated accessories.

13. The desk system of claim 12, wherein said slats of said first and second sets of slats extend on said first side and said second side, respectively, of said supporting panel in vertical arrays, whereby the vertical positions of the associated accessories can be raised by engaging their mating connectors with higher slats and lowered by engaging their mating connectors with lower slats.

14. The desk system of claim 13, wherein said first and second struts are mounted to said core above said bottom of said core such that said first and second struts are suspended above a floor supporting said core, thereby accommodating floor-mounted equipment.

15. The desk system of claim 14, further comprising supporting means for supporting said first and second work tops directly from a floor on which said core sits.

16. The desk system of claim 15, wherein said supporting means includes a first supporting structure extending outwardly from said one side of said core so as to support said first work top thereon and a second supporting structure extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core so as to support said second work top thereon.

17. The desk system of claim 16, further comprising housing means for housing electronic equipment within said raceway.

18. The desk system of claim 9, wherein said supporting panel is sized and shaped so as to be removably inserted between said first and second support posts such that said supporting panel is removable or replaceable with an identical or similar panel.

19. The desk system of claim 18, wherein said first support post includes a first groove formed therein and sized and shaped so as to slidably receive one end of said supporting panel;

and wherein said second support post includes a second groove formed therein and sized and shaped so as to slidably receive an opposite end of said supporting panel.

20. The desk system of claim 19, wherein said first and second support posts are suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway.

21. The desk system of claim 20, wherein said first support post is mounted to said core adjacent said one end of said core;

and wherein said second support post is mounted to said core between said one end and said opposite end of said core.

22. The desk system of claim 21, wherein said first support post is sized and shaped so as to support a panel of a substantially identical desk system.

23. The desk system of claim 22, wherein said first support post includes a third groove formed therein opposite said first groove and sized and shaped so as to receive an end of a panel of a substantially identical desk system.

24. The desk system of claim 23, further comprising another panel supported on said core between said first and second work stations, said another panel extending between said second support post and said opposite end of said core and being suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway.

25. The desk system of claim 24, wherein said another panel is sized and shaped so as to be supported by said second support post and by a first support post of a substantially identical desk system.

26. The desk system of claim 25, wherein said second support post includes a fourth groove formed therein opposite said second groove, said another panel having one end, which is sized and shaped so as to be slidably inserted in said fourth groove, and an opposite end, which is sized and shaped so as to be slidably insertable in a groove of a first support post of a substantially identical desk system.

27. The desk system of claim 26, wherein said suspending means includes first and second base members extending between said one side and said opposite side of said core substantially above said raceway, said first and second support posts projecting vertically from said first and second base members, respectively.

28. The desk system of claim 27, wherein said suspending means includes a first longitudinal support member, which is attached to said first and second support posts and which extends substantially along said top of said core, for supporting said supporting panel thereon, and a second longitudinal support member, which is attached to said second support post and which extends from said second support post to said opposite end of said core along said open top of said core, for supporting said another panel thereon.

29. The desk system of claim 28, wherein said second longitudinal support member includes a free end positioned at said opposite end of said core and sized and shaped so as to be attachable to a first support post of a substantially identical desk system.

30. The desk system of claim 29, wherein said suspending means includes a first transverse support member, which is mounted to said core and which extends between said one side of said core and said opposite side of said core along said top of said core, for supporting said first longitudinal support member and hence said supporting panel thereon, and a second transverse support member, which is mounted to said core and which extends between said one side of said core and said opposite side of said core along said top of said core, for supporting said second longitudinal support member and hence said another supporting panel thereon.

31. The desk system of claim 30, wherein said first and second work tops extend outwardly from said supporting panel such that they close off said top of said core.

32. The desk system of claim 9, wherein said one side of said core includes a first header member, a first intermediate member and a first sill member;

and wherein said opposite side of said core includes a second header member, a second intermediate member and a second sill member.

33. The desk system of claim 32, wherein said first and second header members are positioned adjacent said top of said core;

wherein said first and second sill members are positioned adjacent said bottom of said core;

wherein said first intermediate member is positioned between said first header member and said first sill member; and

wherein said second intermediate member is positioned between said second header member and said second sill member.

34. The desk system of claim 33, wherein said core includes a first vertical member which is positioned adjacent said one end of said core and which is connected to said first header member, said first intermediate member and said first sill member, a second vertical member which is positioned adjacent said opposite end of said core and which is connected to said first header member, said first intermediate member and said first sill member, a third vertical member which is positioned adjacent said one end of said core and which is connected to said second header member, said second intermediate member and said second sill member, and a fourth vertical member which is positioned adjacent said opposite end of said core and which is connected to said second header member, said second intermediate member and said second sill member.

35. The desk system of claim 34, wherein said first vertical member is spaced from one end of said first header member, one end of said first intermediate member and one end of said first sill member;

wherein said second vertical member is spaced from an opposite end of said first header member, an opposite end of said first intermediate member and an opposite end of said first sill member;

wherein said third vertical member is spaced from one end of said second header member, one end of said second intermediate member and one end of said second sill member; and

wherein said fourth vertical member is spaced from an opposite end of said second header member, an opposite end of said second intermediate member and an opposite end of said second sill member.

36. The desk system of claim 35, wherein said first strut member is connected to said first and third vertical members;

and wherein said second strut member is connected to said second and fourth vertical members.

37. The desk system of claim 36, further comprising first and second rails for slidably mounting a first door on said core at said one side thereof and third and fourth rails for slidably mounting a second door on said core at said opposite side thereof, said first and third rails depending downwardly from said first and second intermediate members, respectively, and said second and fourth rails projecting upwardly from said first and second sill members, respectively.

38. The desk system of claim 37, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth rails includes a tongue, said first intermediate member including a first groove sized and shaped so as to removably receive said tongue of said first rail, said first sill member including a second groove sized and shaped so as to removably receive said tongue of said second rail, said second intermediate member including a third groove sized and shaped so as to removably receive said tongue of said third rail, and said second sill member including a fourth groove sized and shaped so as to removably receive said tongue of said fourth rail.

39. The desk system of claim 2, wherein said core is constructed from a plurality of extrusions which are substantially identical to each other in construction.

40. The desk system of claim 9, further comprising a first face panel assembly, which is attached to said one side of said core, and a second face panel assembly, which is attached to said opposite side of said core.

41. The desk system of claim 40, wherein said top is substantially open;

and wherein said first and second work tops extend outwardly from said first and second face panel assemblies, respectively, so as not to obstruct said top of said core and hence said raceway, whereby said raceway is accessible through said top.

42. The desk system of claim 41, wherein said first and second work tops are spaced outwardly from said first and second face panel assemblies, respectively, so as to form first and second equipment bays, respectively, above said first and second face panel assemblies, respectively.

43. The desk system of claim 42, wherein said first and second equipment bays are sized and shaped so as to receive a plurality of additional accessories, each of which rests on a corresponding one of said first and second face panel assemblies.

44. The desk system of claim 43, wherein said additional accessories include a plurality of telephone turrets.

45. The desk system of claim 44, wherein said additional accessories include a plurality of work top extensions.

46. The desk system of claim 40, further comprising a platform, which extends from said first side of said supporting panel towards said first work station, for mounting electronic equipment thereon substantially above said raceway.

47. The desk system of claim 46, wherein said platform includes a leg depending therefrom and having a free end supported on said core.

48. The desk system of claim 47, wherein said core includes a bar, which extends between said one end of said core and said opposite end of said core and which is positioned between said supporting panel and said first face panel assembly;

and wherein said free end of said leg is supported from said bar.

49. The desk system of claim 47, further comprising a bracket mounted on said first face panel assembly, said free end of said leg being supported from said bracket.

50. The desk system of claim 40, wherein said supporting panel extends from said one end of said core to said opposite end of said core.

51. The desk system of claim 50, wherein said first support post depends from one end of said supporting panel;

and wherein said second support post depends from an opposite end of said supporting panel.

52. The desk system of claim 51, wherein said first support post is attached to said first strut;

and wherein said second support post is attached to said second strut.

53. The desk system of claim 52, wherein said first and second support posts are mounted above said bottom of said core such that they are suspended above a floor supporting said core, whereby said core can accommodate floor-mounted equipment.

54. The desk system of claim 52, wherein said first and second support posts terminate at said bottom of said core such that they are supported from a floor supporting said core.

55. A desk system comprising a core which has an interior raceway extending longitudinally from one end of said core to an opposite end of said core, said core including a first strut, which directly connects one side of said core to an opposite side of said core along said one end of said core, and a second strut, which directly connects said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said opposite end of said core;

a first work top extending outwardly from said one side of said core so as to define a first work station;

a second work top extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core so as to define a second work station positioned opposite said first work station, wherein said core and hence said raceway are common to said first and second work stations;

a supporting panel mounted on said core between said first and second work stations and suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway, said supporting panel being constructed as a single module and having first and second sides opposing one another, each of said first and second sides including mounting means for mounting a plurality of accessories therefrom in a cantilevered fashion substantially above said raceway, said first side of said supporting panel facing said first work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said first work station, and said second side of said supporting panel facing said second work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said second work station, wherein said supporting panel constitutes a mounting structure common to said first and second work stations; and

suspending means for removably suspending said supporting panel substantially above said raceway, said suspending means including a first support post and a second support post, both of which are removably mounted to said core, said supporting panel extending between said first and second support posts, said supporting panel extending from said one end of said core to said opposite end of said core, said first support post depending from one end of said supporting panel and being attached to said first strut, said second support post depending from an opposite end of said supporting panel and being attached to said second strut;

a first face panel assembly attached to said one side of said core; and

a second face panel assembly attached to said opposite side of said core.

56. The desk system of claim 55, wherein said first and second support posts are mounted above a bottom of said core such that they are suspended above a floor supporting said core, whereby said core can accommodate floor-mounted equipment.

57. The desk system of claim 55, wherein said first and second support posts terminate at a bottom of said core such that they are supported from a floor supporting said core.

58. A desk system comprising a core which has an interior raceway extending longitudinally from one end of said core to an opposite end of said core, said core including a first strut, which directly connects one side of said core to an opposite side of said core along said one end of said core, and a second strut, which directly connects said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said opposite end of said core;

a first work top extending outwardly from said one side of said core so as to define a first work station;

a second work top extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core so as to define a second work station positioned opposite said first work station, wherein said core and hence said raceway are common to said first and second work stations;

a supporting panel mounted on said core between said first and second work stations and suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway, said supporting panel being constructed as a single module and having first and second sides opposing one another, each of said first and second sides including mounting means for mounting a plurality of accessories therefrom in a cantilevered fashion substantially above said raceway, said first side of said supporting panel facing said first work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said first work station, and said second side of said supporting panel facing said second work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said second work station, wherein said supporting panel constitutes a mounting structure common to said first and second work stations;

suspending means for removably suspending said supporting panel substantially above said raceway, said suspending means including a first support post and a second support post, both of which are removably mounted to said core, said supporting panel extending between said first and second support posts, said supporting panel being sized and shaped so as to be removably inserted between said first and second support posts such that said supporting panel is removable or replaceable with an identical or similar panel, said first support post including a first groove formed therein and sized and shaped so as to slidably receive one end of said supporting panel, said second support post including a second groove formed therein and sized and shaped so as to slidably receive an opposite end of said supporting panel, said first and second support posts being suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway, said first support post being mounted to said core adjacent said one end of said core, said second support post being mounted to said core between said one end and said opposite end of said core, said first support post being sized and shaped so as to support a panel of a substantially identical desk system located adjacent to said core, said first support post including a third groove formed therein opposite said first groove and sized and shaped so as to receive an end of a panel of a substantially identical desk system located adjacent to said one end of said core; and

another panel supported on said core between said first and second work stations, said another panel extending between said second support post and said opposite end of said core and being suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway, said another panel being sized and shaped so as to be supported by said second support post and by a first support post of a substantially identical desk system located adjacent to said opposite end of said core, said second support post including a fourth groove formed therein opposite said second groove, said another panel having one end, which is sized and shaped so as to be slidably inserted in said fourth groove, and an opposite end, which is sized and shaped so as to be slidably insertable in a groove of a first support post of a substantially identical desk system located adjacent to said opposite end of said core, said suspending means including first and second base members extending between said one side and said opposite side of said core substantially above said raceway, said first and second support posts projecting vertically from said first and second base members, respectively, and said suspending means including a first longitudinal support member, which is attached to said first and second support posts and which extends substantially along an open top of said core for supporting said supporting panel thereon, and a second longitudinal support member, which is attached to said second support post and which extends from said second support post to said opposite end of said core along said open top of said core for supporting said another panel thereon.

59. The desk system of claim 58, wherein said second longitudinal support member includes a free end positioned at said opposite end of said core and sized and shaped so as to be attached to a first support post of a substantially identical desk system located adjacent said opposite end of said core.

60. The desk system of claim 59, wherein said suspending means includes a first transverse support member, which is mounted to said core and which extends between said one side of said core and said opposite side of said core along said open top of said core, for supporting said first longitudinal support member and hence said supporting panel thereon, and a second transverse support member, which is mounted to said core and which extends between said one side of said core and said opposite side of said core along said open top of said core, for supporting said second longitudinal support member and hence said another supporting panel thereon.

61. The desk system of claim 60, wherein said first and second work tops extend outwardly from said supporting panel such that they close off said open top of said core.

62. A desk system comprising a core which has an interior raceway extending longitudinally from one end of said core to an opposite end of said core, said core including a first strut, which directly connects one side of said core to an opposite side of said core along said one end of said core, and a second strut, which directly connects said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said opposite end of said core, said one side of said core including a first header member, a first intermediate member and a first sill member, said opposite side of said core including a second header member, a second intermediate member and a second sill member;

a first work top extending outwardly from said one side of said core so as to define a first work station;

a second work top extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core so as to define a second work station positioned opposite said first work station, wherein said core and hence said raceway are common to said first and second work stations;

a supporting panel mounted on said core between said first and second work stations and suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway, said supporting panel being constructed as a single module and having first and second sides opposing one another, each of said first and second sides including mounting means for mounting a plurality of accessories therefrom in a cantilevered fashion substantially above said raceway, said first side of said supporting panel facing said first work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said first work station, and said second side of said supporting panel facing said second work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said second work station, wherein said supporting panel constitutes a mounting structure common to said first and second work stations; and

suspending means for removably suspending said supporting panel substantially above said raceway, said suspending means including a first support post and a second support post, both of which are removably mounted to said core, and said supporting panel extending between said first and second support posts.

63. The desk system of claim 62, wherein said first and second header members are positioned adjacent a top of said core;

wherein said first and second sill members are positioned adjacent a bottom of said core;

wherein said first intermediate member is positioned between said first header member and said first sill member; and

wherein said second intermediate member is positioned between said second header member and said second sill member.

64. The desk system of claim 63, wherein said core includes a first vertical member which is positioned adjacent said one end of said core and which is connected to said first header member, said first intermediate member and said first sill member, a second vertical member, which is positioned adjacent said opposite end of said core and which is connected to said first header member, said first intermediate member and said first sill member, a third vertical member, which is positioned adjacent said one end of said core and which is connected to said second header member, said second intermediate member and said second sill member, and a fourth vertical member, which is positioned adjacent said opposite end of said core and which is connected to said second header member, said second intermediate member and said second sill member.

65. The desk system of claim 64, wherein said first vertical member is spaced from one end of said first header member, one end of said first intermediate member and one end of said first sill member;

wherein said second vertical member is spaced from an opposite end of said first header member, an opposite end of said first intermediate member and an opposite end of said first sill member;

wherein said third vertical member is spaced from one end of said second header member, one end of said second intermediate member and one end of said second sill member; and

wherein said fourth vertical member is spaced from an opposite end of said second header member, an opposite end of said second intermediate member and an opposite end of said second sill member.

66. The desk system of claim 65, wherein said first strut member is connected to said first and third vertical members;

and wherein said second strut member is connected to said second and fourth vertical members.

67. The desk system of claim 66, further comprising first and second rails for slidably mounting a first door on said core at said one side thereof and third and fourth rails for slidably mounting a second door on said core at said opposite side thereof, said first and third rails depending downwardly from said first and second intermediate members, respectively, and said second and fourth rails projecting upwardly from said first and second sill members, respectively.

68. The desk system of claim 67, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth rails includes a tongue, said first intermediate member including a first groove sized and shaped so as to removably receive said tongue of said first rail, said first sill member including a second groove sized and shaped so as to removably receive said tongue of said second rail, said second intermediate member including a third groove sized and shaped so as to removably receive said tongue of said third rail, and said second sill member including a fourth groove sized and shaped so as to removably receive said tongue of said fourth rail.

69. A desk system comprising a core which has an interior raceway extending longitudinally from one end of said core to an opposite end of said core, said core including a first strut, which directly connects one side of said core to an opposite side of said core along said one end of said core, and a second strut, which directly connects said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said opposite end of said core;

a first work top extending outwardly from said one side of said core so as to define a first work station;

a second work top extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core so as to define a second work station positioned opposite said first work station, wherein said core and hence said raceway are common to said first and second work stations;

a supporting panel mounted on said core between said first and second work stations and suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway, said supporting panel being constructed as a single module and having first and second sides opposing one another, each of said first and second sides including mounting means for mounting a plurality of accessories therefrom in a cantilevered fashion substantially above said raceway, said first side of said supporting panel facing said first work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said first work station, and said second side of said supporting panel facing said second work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said second work station, wherein said supporting panel constitutes a mounting structure common to said first and second work stations;

suspending means for removably suspending said supporting panel substantially above said raceway, said suspending means including a first support post and a second support post, both of which are removably mounted to said core, said supporting panel extending between said first and second support posts;

a first face panel assembly attached to said one side of said core; and

a second face panel assembly attached to said opposite side of said core, said first and second work tops extending outwardly from said first and second face panel assemblies, respectively, so as not to obstruct an open top of said core and hence said raceway, whereby said raceway is accessible through said open top.

70. The desk system of claim 69, wherein said first and second work tops are spaced outwardly from said first and second face panel assemblies, respectively, so as to form first and second equipment bays, respectively, above said first and second face panel assemblies, respectively.

71. The desk system of claim 70, wherein said first and second equipment bays are sized and shaped so as to receive a plurality of additional accessories, each of which rests on a corresponding one of said first and second face panel assemblies.

72. The desk system of claim 71, wherein said additional accessories include a plurality of telephone turrets.

73. The desk system of claim 72, wherein said additional accessories include a plurality of work top extensions.

74. A desk system comprising a core which has an interior raceway extending longitudinally from one end of said core to an opposite end of said core, said core including a first strut, which directly connects one side of said core to an opposite side of said core along said one end of said core, and a second strut, which directly connects said one side of said core to said opposite side of said core along said opposite end of said core;

a first work top extending outwardly from said one side of said core so as to define a first work station;

a second work top extending outwardly from said opposite side of said core so as to define a second work station positioned opposite said first work station, wherein said core and hence said raceway are common to said first and second work stations;

a supporting panel mounted on said core between said first and second work stations and suspended substantially above said raceway so as not to significantly obstruct said raceway, said supporting panel being constructed as a single module and having first and second sides opposing one another, each of said first and second sides including mounting means for mounting a plurality of accessories therefrom in a cantilevered fashion substantially above said raceway, said first side of said supporting panel facing said first work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said first work station, and said second side of said supporting panel facing said second work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said second work station, wherein said supporting panel constitutes a mounting structure common to said first and second work stations;

suspending means for removably suspending said supporting panel substantially above said raceway, said suspending means including a first support post and a second support post, both of which are removably mounted to said core, said supporting panel extending between said first and second support posts;

a first face panel assembly attached to said one side of said core;

a second face panel assembly attached to said opposite side of said core; and

a platform extending from said first side of said supporting panel towards said first work station for mounting electronic equipment thereon substantially above said raceway, said platform including a leg depending therefrom and having a free end supported on said core.

75. The desk system of claim 74, wherein said core includes a bar, which extends between said one end of said core and said opposite end of said core and which is positioned between said supporting panel and said first face panel assembly;

and wherein said free end of said leg is supported from said bar.

76. The desk system of claim 74, further comprising a bracket mounted on said first face panel assembly, said free end of said leg being supported from said bracket.

77. A desk system comprising a core which has an interior raceway extending longitudinally from one end of said core to an opposite end of said core;

a first work top extending outwardly from one side of said core so as to define a first work station;

a second work top extending outwardly from an opposite side of said core so as to define a second work station positioned opposite said first work station;

a supporting panel mounted on said core between said first and second work stations, said supporting panel having first and second sides, each of said first and second sides including mounting means for mounting a plurality of accessories therefrom in a cantilevered fashion substantially above said raceway, said first side of said supporting panel facing said first work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said first work station, and said second side of said supporting panel facing said second work station such that accessories mounted therefrom extend towards said second work station, wherein said supporting panel constitutes a mounting structure common to said first and second work stations; and

a first face panel assembly removably attached to said one side of said core, said first work top being removably attached to said first face panel assembly, whereby said first work top can be detached from said first face panel assembly and removed from said core, or said first face panel assembly can be detached from said core and removed therefrom together with said first work top.

78. The desk system of claim 77, further comprising a second face panel assembly removably attached to said opposite side of said core, said second work top being removably attached to said second face panel assembly, whereby said second work top can be detached from said second face panel assembly and removed from said core, or said second face panel assembly can be detached from said core and removed therefrom together with said second work top.