Multidirectional connecting device

• US 6,146,046 A
• Filed: 12/16/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase SA (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase SA (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oberle, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/930,417
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 403/169, 403/170, 403/174, 403/178, 403/217, 403/231, 403/403, 312/265.1, 312/265.4, 312/223.6, 312/223.3, 312/196, 108/50.02, 108/155, 108/158, 108/156
• US Class Current: 403/170
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/02 Underframes
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/003 made of metal
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2230/03 Nodal three-dimensional corner pieces for desks
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/67 Rigid angle couplings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/341 Three or more radiating members

Abstract

A multidirectional connecting device for assembling and mutually securing furniture parts, e.g., for modular landscaped offices essentially consisting of horizontal work surfaces, underframes and vertical panels or elements arrangeable in a plurality of configurations. The device comprises a central portion (1) with at least one horizontal planar surface located underneath at least one work surface (13), said central portion (1) being provided with vertical surfaces to which are connected projections (2, 3) engaging other supporting elements of the work surface (13), as well as at least one arm (4) that ends in a raised portion (7) for supporting at least one vertical element (14). Said device is adjacent to a corner of the work surface (13).

Claims

1. A multidirectional connecting device for assembling and interlocking pieces of furniture of the type used in modulable open-plan offices, which includes horizontal working surfaces, sub-frames and panels or vertical components adapted to be fitted together according to multiple configurations, comprising a central plate having at least one horizontal flat surface situated under at least one working surface of a horizontal panel, said central plate being provided with vertical faces, a pair of pegs extending from one vertical face, the device being situated in the vicinity of an angle of the at least one working surface wherein one of said pegs is in the form of a beam having a prismatic configuration for cooperating with a section fitting into said beam and the other of said pegs being adapted to cooperate with other supporting components of the at least one working surface, and at least one arm extending from the other vertical face of said central plate and ending in a raised plate designed to support at least one vertical component.

2. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 1 wherein the said section can be attached to said beam via an attachment means which enables the relative position of the two components to be adjusted.

3. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 2 wherein said attachment means comprises at least one screw which can be screwed into an orifice in the beam, the configuration of said orifice being oblong to enable the relative position of the pieces of furniture and said beam to be adjusted before attachment.

4. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 3, wherein one of the pegs is divided into two branches, each of the two branches adapted to cooperate with an identical shaped section into which each branch can be inserted.

5. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 4, wherein the two branches differ in length and are provided with orifices adapted to cooperate with the means of attachment of the horizontal panel which is to be attached.

6. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 1 wherein one of the pegs is divided into two branches, each of the two branches adapted to cooperate with an identical shaped section into which each branch can be inserted.

7. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 6, wherein the two branches differ in length and are provided with orifices adapted to cooperate with the attachment means of the horizontal panel which is to be attached.

8. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the arm ending in the raised plate is arranged so that an upper horizontal surface of said plate is substantially level with the upper surface of the horizontal panel.

9. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 8, wherein each arm connecting the raised plate to the central plate has a curved shape, extending below the level of the horizontal flat surface of the central plate, except by the end of said arm leading to the raised plate.

10. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 8, wherein said arm ending in the raised plate is divided into two branches and is deployed symmetrically on either side of a middle vertical plane.

11. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 10, wherein each arm connecting the raised plate to the central plate has a curved shape, extending below the level of the horizontal flat surface of the central plate, except by the end of said arm leading to the raised plate.

12. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 8, wherein said upper surface of the plate is provided with embossed areas enabling vertical components of the vertical panel type or small columns to be installed.

13. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 12, wherein said arm ending in the raised plate is divided into two branches and is deployed symmetrically on either side of a middle vertical plane.

14. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 13, wherein each arm connecting the raised plate to the central plate has a curved shape, extending below the level of the horizontal flat surface of the central plate, except by the end of said arm leading to the raised plate.

15. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 12, wherein each arm connecting the raised plate to the central plate has a curved shape, extending below the level of the horizontal flat surface of the central plate, except by the end of said arm leading to the raised plate.

16. The multidirectional connecting device according to claim 12 wherein the embossed areas comprise orifices.