Modular interior furnishing system

• US 6,220,186 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1998
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Usm Holding AG
• Original Assignee: USM U Scharer Sohne AG (Usm Holding AG)
• Inventors: Scharer, Alexander, Baeriswyl, Florin
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/194,017
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/64, 108/153.1, 108/158.12, 108/158.13, 312/195, 312/196, 312/194, 312/257.1, 312/223.3
• US Class Current: 108/153.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/54 consisting of clamping means, e.g. with sliding bolts or sliding wedges fixed on cords or the like A47B43/006
• 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 87/02 stackable ; stackable and linkable by means of separate corner elements being in common with both the vertical and horizontal parts, e.g. corner bars for panels, nodes for rods A47B47/0016, A47B47/0025

Abstract

The invention concerns a modular interior furnishing system comprising a plurality of different functional units, such as carcasses, work-surfaces, partition panels, lighting members, display shelves, etc., and at least one integral statically portative construction element. The construction element takes the form of a free-standing vertical closed rectangular frame. A stand extending perpendicular to the frame plane on the underside of the frame and/or a corner connection to a second adjacent frame is used for stabilizing the construction element in the vertical position. The functional units are installed such that they engage through the plane formed by the frame. The frame comprises vertical longitudinal struts with grooves or ribs for securing the functional units at the selected height. Ducts and grooves are provided in the frame for stowing cables. Preferably, the corner connections have an angular grid such that adjacent frames can be interconnected at angular positions which can be selected but whose dimensions are predetermined. Preferably, for stabilizing purposes, a carcass is fitted in the lowermost region of the frame.

Claims

1. A modular interior furniture add-on system comprising:

a plurality of functionally different units,

at least one uniformly designed structural element having a static load-bearing capacity;

said at least one structural element is a vertical, closed rectangular frame defining a plane of the frame;

said frame essentially consists of two vertical support posts and two tie bars horizontally connecting the vertical support posts;

a bottom support element oriented perpendicular to the plane of the frame attached to a lower surface of the frame for supporting the frame, a corner joint for connecting the frame to an adjacent other frame;

the functional units being mounted to the frame so that they project through a plane defined by the frame;

each at least one structural element forms a stand-alone frame that is independent with respect to its vertical support posts and its horizontal tie bars from any neighboring frame; and

corner connection means for connecting two neighboring stand-alone frames, at the corner joint so that they can be loosened as required.

2. The modular interior add-on system according to claim 1, wherein the two vertical support posts of the frame have means for fastening the functional units at any selected height.

3. The modular interior add-on system according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes conduits for cables and/or wires.

4. The modular interior add-on system according to claim 1, wherein the frame has an S-shaped or Z-shaped profile.

5. The modular interior add-on system according to claim 4, wherein a screw assembly is provided to connect the two tie bars with a hollow section of the vertical support posts.

6. The modular interior add-on system according to claim 1, including a chassis having two bar sections spaced and connected to each other in the middle of the bar sections so as to form an H-shaped design in a plane that is vertical to the frame plane.

7. The modular interior add-on system according to claim 1 wherein several different elements with various fixed angles can be connected to the corner connection means to ensure the connection of neighboring frames at selected angle positions.

8. The modular interior add-on system according to claim 1, wherein at least one—

preferably modular—

carcass can be installed in a bottom area of the frame as a functional unit.

9. The modular interior add-on system according to claim 8, wherein the carcass is supported on a chassis.

10. The modular interior add-on system according to claim 1, wherein work surfaces, separating wall boards, lighting fixtures, reflector elements, anti-glare elements, presentation racks, monitor fastening devices and/or equipment fastening devices can be used as functional units.

11. The modular interior furniture add-on system according to claim 1, wherein the functionally different units are selected from the group consisting of tables, shelves and containers.

12. The modular interior furniture add-on system according to claim 1, wherein the corner connection means can be loosened if required even if the frame is already mounted on the bottom support element.

13. The modular furniture add-on system according to claim 1, wherein the tie bars are attached to the ends of the support posts to form corners of the rectangular frame.