Furniture system

• US 6,170,200 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Inventors: Draudt, Gregg R., Bodden, Kurt S., Cornell, Paul T., Luchetti, Robert J., Zimmer, Linda K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/384,185
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 52/64, 522/39, 522/431, 524/812, 522/207, 52/361, 406/05, 406/06, 406/11, 406/17, 404/88--91, 160/351, 160/377, 160/196.1, 160/193
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/827 Partitions constituted of sliding panels
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2406 Connection nodes
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2472 Elongated load-supporting part formed from a number of parallel profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0733 for corners
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/1272 Exhibition stands
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/903 consisting of arcuate wings revolving around a parallel axis situated outside the wing, e.g. a cylindrical wing revolving around its axis E06B3/906 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0068 Modular articulated structures, e.g. stands, and articulation means therefor

Abstract

A furniture system is particularly adapted to support group activities in open plans, and the like. A plurality of columns support an overhead framework on the floor of a building in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation, generally above average user height. A plurality of individual panels are provided, wherein each panel is constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user. A hanger arrangement is associated with the overhead framework, and cooperates with connectors on the panels to detachably suspend the panels at various locations along the overhead framework. The panels are manually reconfigurable between many different arrangements to efficiently and effectively support different group activities. Preferably, the panels are capable of providing a partitioning function to visually divide at least a portion of the workspace, and/or a display function to facilitate group communications.

Claims

1. A knock down furniture system particularly adapted to support temporary group activities in open plans, and the like, comprising:

an overhead framework comprising a plurality of substantially like frame segments detachably interconnected in an end-to-end fashion to form a rigid structure configured to be positioned above an open floor surface of an associated building room;

a plurality of overhead columns disposed in a generally vertical orientation, each said column having an upper portion thereof detachably connected with said overhead framework, and a lower portion thereof shaped to abut the floor surface of the building room, and thereby support said overhead framework thereon in a freestanding fashion within the building room at a predetermined overhead elevation;

a plurality of individual panels, at least one of which is constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user, and includes a connector detachably connecting the same with said overhead framework in a manner in which said panel hangs downwardly from said overhead framework in a generally vertical orientation, and is readily and easily manually removable therefrom by the user; and

a hanger supported on said overhead framework, and cooperating with said connector of said one panel for detachably suspending said one panel at various locations along said overhead framework.

2. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said overhead framework has a closed top plan shape defining a frame perimeter.

3. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said overhead framework includes at least one substantially rigid cross beam extending interior at said frame perimeter, and having

opposite ends thereof detachably connected therewith.

4. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said cross beam spans between said frame perimeter without any intermediate support.

5. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

at least one said cross beam includes a hanger to removably support said panels thereon.

6. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 5, including:

a plurality of beam connectors detachably interconnecting said frame segments, said columns and said cross beam to facilitate the quick and easy assembling and disassembling of said furniture system for transport and reconfiguration.

7. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said beam connectors include;

at least one in-line connector detachably interconnecting adjacent perimeter frame segments in an end-to-end relationship;

at least one T-connector detachably interconnecting two adjacent perimeter frame segments and an associated cross beam; and

at least one X-connector detachably interconnecting interior ends at said cross beam.

8. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said hanger comprises an inverted T-shaped edge of said overhead framework, with a pair of upstanding flanges along opposite sides thereof on which said connector on said panels is abuttingly supported to removably hang said panels along opposite sides of each portion of said overhead framework.

9. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said overhead framework includes a plurality of said cross beams arranged in a mutually intersecting relationship, and interconnected with said frame perimeter to form an overhead framework from which said panels may be hung at various locations thereon.

10. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said columns and said overhead framework include wire routing channels for routing wires therealong to equip said furniture system with power wiring and signal wiring.

11. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said wire routing channels physically separate power wiring from signal wiring to avoid electrical interference therebetween.

12. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said columns and said overhead framework have detachable covers to vary an exterior appearance of said furniture system.

13. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said overhead framework includes provisions to detachably mount task lighting thereon.

14. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said columns include an adjustable lower portion to maintain said framework in a substantially horizontal plane.

15. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said overhead framework is configured to permit said panels to be removably hung therefrom and reconfigurable between at least a first arrangement wherein said panels contribute to defining a workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate at least one adult user therein for selected activities, and a second arrangement wherein at least some of said panels are removed from said overhead framework and stored to permit free movement through the workspace.

16. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said overhead framework is configured to permit said panels to be removably hung therefrom and reconfigurable between at least a first arrangement wherein said panels define a group workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate a plurality of adult users therein for communal communications and actions, and a second arrangement wherein said panels subdivided the group workspace into at least two sub-group workspaces which are at least spatially and visually distinct from one another, and are sufficiently large to accommodate at least one adult user therein for breakout-type communications and actions.

17. A knock down furniture system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said frame segments are sufficiently short to permit transportation in a conventional building elevator.

18. A furniture system particularly adapted for use in open plans, and the like, comprising:

an overhead support configured to be positioned above an open floor surface of an associated building room;

a plurality of overhead support columns, each having an upper portion thereof connected with said overhead support, and a lower portion thereof shaped to abut the floor surface of the building room, and thereby support said overhead support thereon in a freestanding fashion within the building room at a predetermined overhead elevation;

at least one panel constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user, and including a connector mounted thereon connecting the same with said overhead support in a manner in which said panel hangs downwardly from said overhead support in a generally vertical orientation;

a hanger slide associated with said overhead support, and cooperating with the connector of said panel to permit said panel to be manually slid horizontally along said overhead support;

a plurality of said panels, each including associated connectors which cooperate with said hanger slide of said overhead support to permit each of said panels to be individually slid sideways along said overhead support;

wherein

said hanger slide and said panel connectors are detachable one from the other thereby permitting each of said panels to be manually, bodily removed from said overhead support to facilitate configuring and reconfiguring said panels; and

said hanger slide comprises an inverted T-shaped rail extending substantially continuously along a lowermost edge of said overhead support, with a pair of upstanding flanges along opposite sides thereof forming a pair of adjacent hanger rails on which said detachable connectors on said panels are abuttingly supported to removably hang said panels along both sides of each portion of said overhead support.

19. A furniture system as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

an upper portion of said panel connector is shaped to be received by one of said hanger rails, and a lower portions is shaped to receive an upper edge of one of said panels.

20. A furniture system as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

said upper portion of said panel connector includes a first anti-friction glide mounted on one side thereof to permit said panel to be hung from either hanger rail of said overhead support.

21. A furniture system as set forth in claim 20, wherein:

said upper portion of said panel connector includes a second anti-friction glide mounted to an opposite side as said first anti-friction glide to permit said panel to be hung from either hanger rail of said overhead support or to present alternate faces of said panel to a desired portion of said furniture system.

22. A furniture system as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

At least one of said anti-friction glides has a linear slot extending along a lowermost portion of said anti-friction glide and receives therein an upper edge of one of said upstanding flanges of said T-shaped rail.

23. A furniture system as set forth in claim 22, wherein:

said linear slot faces downwardly and substantially parallel with said upper edge of said panel.

24. A furniture system as set forth in claim 23, wherein:

said anti-friction glides are fabricated from an anti-friction material.

25. A furniture system particularly adapted to support group activities in open plans, and the like, comprising:

an overhead support disposed in a generally horizontal orientation;

a plurality of overhead support columns disposed in a generally vertical orientation;

each of said columns having a lower portion thereof adapted to abut a floor surface of an associated building room, and an upper portion thereof connected with said overhead support to rigidly interconnect the same, such that said columns are adapted to be freestanding on the floor surface and support said overhead support within the building room at a predetermined overhead elevation, with the floor surface beneath said overhead support being generally unobstructed;

at least one partition panel shaped to visually divide one portion of the building room from another portion thereof, and being constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user;

said partition panel including a connector mounted thereon which detachably connects the same with said overhead support in a manner in which said partition panels hangs downwardly from said overhead support in a generally vertical orientation, and is readily and easily manually removable therefrom by the user;

at least one display panel adapted to present information thereon, and having a generally rigid, lightweight construction which permits easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user, said display panel includes a connector mounted thereon which detachably connects the same with said overhead support in a manner in which said display panel hangs downwardly from said overhead support in a generally vertical orientation, and is;

readily and easily removable therefrom by the user; and

a hanger supported on said overhead support, and detachably engaging said connectors of said panels to permit each of said panels to be manually lifted and detachably hung directly on said overhead support at various locations therealong.

26. A furniture system as set forth in claim 25, including:

a plurality of said partition panels; and

wherein;

said overhead support is configured to permit said partition panels to be removably hung therefrom and reconfigurable between at least a first arrangement wherein said partition panels contribute to defining a workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate at least one adult user therein for selected activities, and a second arrangement wherein at least some of said partition panels are removed from said overhead support and stored to permit free movement through the workspace.

27. A furniture system as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

said overhead support is configured to permit said partition panels to be removably hung therefrom and reconfigurable between at least a first arrangement wherein said partition panels define a group workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate a plurality of adult users therein for communal communications and actions, and a second arrangement wherein said partition panes subdivide the group workspace into at least two subgroup workspaces, which are at least spatially and visually distinct from one another, and are sufficiently large to accommodate at least one adult user therein for breakout-type communications and actions.

28. A furniture system as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

said overhead support includes a substantially rigid frame, having a closed, top plan perimeter.

29. A furniture system as set forth in claim 28, wherein:

said overhead support further includes at least one substantially rigid cross beam extending interior of the perimeter of said frame, and having said hanger means to facilitate configuring and reconfiguring said partition panels thereon.

30. A furniture system as set forth in claim 29, wherein:

said cross beams are supported by said frame, and span between the perimeter thereof without any intermediate support.

31. A furniture system as set forth in claim 30, wherein:

said overhead support includes a plurality of said cross beams arranged in a mutually intersecting relationship, and interconnected with said frame to form an overhead framework from which said panels may be hung at various locations thereon.

32. A furniture system as set forth in claim 31, wherein:

said panels are each shaped with a lowermost edge thereof spaced above the floor surface a predetermined distance when hung anywhere along said overhead framework.

33. A furniture system as set forth in claim 32, wherein:

said hanger and said panel connector are configured to permit said panels to be manually slid horizontally along said overhead support to facilitate configuring and reconfiguring said panels.

34. A furniture system as set forth in claim 33, wherein:

said overhead support and said columns are detachably interconnected to facilitate quickly and easily assembling and disassembling said furniture system at different locations.

35. A furniture system as set forth in claim 34, wherein:

said columns and said overhead support are configured to route wires therealong to equip said furniture system with power wires and signal wires.

36. A furniture system as set forth in claim 35, wherein:

said columns and said overhead support are configured to physically separate power wires from signal wires to avoid electrical interference therebetween.

37. A furniture system as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

said columns and said overhead support have detachable covers to vary the exterior appearance of said furniture system.

38. A furniture system as set forth in claim 37, wherein:

said overhead support includes task lighting detachably mounted thereon.

39. A furniture system as set forth in claim 38, wherein:

said overhead support has top and bottom horizontally oriented sides, and opposite vertically oriented sides; and

said hanger is positioned along at least one of said vertically oriented sides of said overhead support.

40. A furniture system as set forth in claim 39, wherein:

said hanger is positioned along both of said vertically oriented sides of said overhead support to facilitate hanging said panels along opposite side faces of said overhead support.

41. A furniture system as set forth in claim 40, wherein:

said hanger comprises an inverted T-shaped rail extending substantially continuously along a lower most edge of said overhead support, with a pair of upstanding flanges along opposite sides thereof on which said connector on said panels is abuttingly supported to removably hang said panels along opposite sides of each portion of said overhead support.

42. A furniture system as set forth in claim 41, wherein:

said overhead support comprises a plurality of separate, substantially identical beam segments having opposite ends thereof detachably interconnected at said columns.

43. A furniture system as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

said beam segments have exterior ends thereof connected with oppositely positioned ones of said columns.