Desk arrangement

• US 6,176,561 B1
• Filed: 06/04/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Simmons, Chris, Fookes, Tim, Marschand, Bret, Roels, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/326,187
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.6, 312/223.3, 312/223.1, 312/194, 312/195, 312/196, 312/111, 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 522/207, 522/90, 522/871, 522/881
• US Class Current: 312/223.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables

Abstract

A desk or worksurface arrangement is provided which has a cable management slot along a back edge of the worksurface wherein removable end caps enclose the opposite ends of the slot. The caps retain cabling within the cable management slot but are removable without tools to permit the cabling to be slid out of the slot or past horizontally to an adjacent desk. The end caps may also be fixedly attached to a vertical storage unit to connect the vertical storage unit to the top of the desk arrangement while permitting the vertical storage unit to be removed from the desk without requiring tools.

Claims

1. A desk arrangement comprising:

a worksurface support which is disposed in load bearing engagement with a floor, said worksurface support including a cable channel which extends horizontally therethrough along a lateral length of the desk arrangement, said cable channel including opposite open ends which open horizontally from the opposite ends of the desk arrangement to permit cabling to enter and exit said cable channel through said open ends, said cable channel further including an open upper side along the longitudinal length of said cable channel which permits cabling to be laid vertically therein;

a horizontally enlarged worksurface which is vertically supported on said worksurface support in vertically spaced relation from the floor, said worksurface including a horizontally elongate slot which opens vertically through said worksurface and extends between opposite end edges of said worksurface, said slot opening downwardly into said open upper side of said cable channel to permit cabling to be laid vertically into said cable channel through said slot; and

at least a pair of end caps which are insertable into said slot to enclose opposite ends of said slot, each of said end caps being disposed in said slot to confine vertical cabling within said slot and horizontal cabling within said cable channel, said end caps being removable to permit movement of said cabling upwardly from said cable channel or sidewardly from said slot.

2. A desk arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said end caps are insertable downwardly into said slot into engagement with said worksurface.

3. A desk arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said slot extends laterally along a back edge of said worksurface such that said slot is disposed vertically above said open upper side of said cable channel and said end caps project rearwardly from said back edge of said worksurface in cantilevered relation.

4. A desk arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said back edge of said worksurface is disposed forwardly of a back edge of said worksurface support.

5. A desk arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a horizontally elongate support rail is connected to said back edge of said worksurface adjacent to said slot, office equipment being provided in slidable engagement with said support rail so as to be horizontally slidable along said worksurface, said office equipment including cabling which extends vertically downwardly into said cable channel through said slot.

6. A desk arrangement according to claim 1, wherein cap connectors are mounted to an edge of said worksurface adjacent said slot, each said end cap being slidable downwardly into secure engagement with a corresponding one of said cap connectors.

7. A desk arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a connection is defined between each of said cap connectors and said end cap corresponding thereto which is free of separate fasteners.

8. A desk arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said desk arrangement includes a vertical storage unit which is supported on an upper side of said worksurface, said end caps being connected to opposite ends of said vertical storage unit and projecting downwardly therefrom wherein said vertical storage unit is connected to said worksurface by said fastener free connection defined between said end cap and said connector corresponding thereto.

9. A desk arrangement comprising:

a worksurface supported on a base, said worksurface being horizontally enlarged and including a mounting edge which extends laterally between opposite end edges of said worksurface, said mounting edge including a plurality of connectors secured thereto and having a corresponding plurality of connection blocks which are supported on said worksurface by said connectors, said connection blocks and said connectors being removably joined together by a slot and rib connection defined therebetween wherein said connection blocks are secured to said worksurface by downward sliding of said connection blocks vertically into engagement with said connectors; and

a vertical cabinet unit which is supported on top of said worksurface, said vertical cabinet unit including a bottom edge supported on said worksurface and projecting upwardly therefrom, said connection blocks being connected to said bottom edges so as to project downwardly therefrom, said vertical storage unit being secured to said worksurface by downward sliding of said connection blocks into engagement with said corresponding connectors.

10. A desk arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said connection blocks and said connectors are defined by a plastic material, one of said connection blocks and said connectors including vertically elongate ribs and the other of said connection blocks and said connectors including vertically elongate slots which slidably receive said ribs therein to define said slot and rib connection.

11. A desk arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said vertical cabinet unit includes laterally spaced apart stiles which extend downwardly to define said bottom edges, said stiles including front edges which are spaced from said connector block in a first direction wherein said cooperating slots and ribs bind when a tipping force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit in said first direction.

12. A desk arrangement according to claim 11, wherein each said connection block is mounted to said bottom edge of said vertical cabinet unit proximate a lower corner thereof.

13. A desk arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said connection blocks are connected to said bottom edges by fasteners.

14. A desk arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said vertical cabinet unit includes laterally spaced apart stiles which extend downwardly to define said bottom edges, said stiles including front edges which are spaced from said connector block in a first direction wherein said cooperating slots and ribs bind when a tipping force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit in said first direction.

15. A desk arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said slots and ribs are disengagable when a vertical lifting force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit but are fixed together when a tipping force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit in a direction oriented generally parallel to said worksurface.

16. A desk arrangement comprising:

a worksurface supported on a base, said worksurface being horizontally enlarged and including a mounting edge which extends laterally between opposite end edges of said worksurface, said mounting edge including a plurality of connectors secured thereto and a corresponding plurality of connection blocks which are supported at said worksurface by said connectors, said connection blocks and said connectors being removably joined together by a fastener free connection which is free of separate independent fasteners therebetween; and

a vertical cabinet unit which is supported on top of said worksurface, said vertical cabinet unit including a bottom edge supported on said worksurface and projecting upwardly therefrom, said connection blocks being connected to said bottom edge so as to project downwardly therefrom, said fastener free connection permitting said connection blocks to be moved vertically relative to said connectors to permit engagement and disengagement thereof wherein said vertical storage unit is secured to said worksurface by downward sliding of said connection blocks into engagement with said corresponding connectors, said fastener free connection preventing disengagement of said connection blocks and said connectors when a transverse force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit in a forward direction.

17. A desk arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said vertical cabinet unit includes a front edge disposed adjacent to said worksurface, said connection blocks being spaced rearwardly of said front edge.

18. A desk arrangement according to claim 17, wherein said front edge defines a pivot point about which said vertical storage unit tends to pivot when said transverse force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit, said connection blocks and said connectors preventing pivoting of said vertical storage unit about said pivot point.

19. A desk arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said fastener free connection is defined by cooperating slots and ribs which are vertically elongate.

20. A desk arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said connection blocks and said corresponding connectors are formed of plastic.