Support rail assembly for office accessories

• US 6,435,461 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Byrne, David, West, Daniel C. K., Brinks, Kevin L., Wayner, Robert, Mitchell, Edward, Roels, Ricky D., Saylor, Charles, Phillips, Sheldon, Compton, Cheryl C.
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, ANITA M
• Application Number:
  US09/579,092
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 248/200, 248/121, 248/122.1, 248/126, 248/201, 248/231.61, 248/231.71, 248/298.1, 211/94.01, 211/162, 211/133.1, 211/128.1, 108/50.14
• US Class Current: 248/231.71
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/033 with parts added to the original furniture to enlarge its surface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment

Abstract

A support rail assembly for positioning work-related accessories adjacent a worksurface such as a table. The rail assembly includes a horizontally elongated rail supported in upwardly spaced relationship from the worksurface by a support arm or stanchion. The rail defines therein an elongate slot which permits the mounting of accessories in various positions on the rail which are convenient to the user. The rail is supportable from either the rear edge of a worksurface or may be cantilevered forwardly from a wall adjacent the worksurface or from a wall panel to which the worksurface is attached.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a worksurface having longitudinally extending front and rear edges and defining thereon an enlarged upper surface;

a horizontally elongated support rail defining a pair of slots in communication with one another and opening outwardly through a common access opening;

an office-type accessory supported entirely on said support rail so as to be free of supportive engagement with the worksurface, said accessory having a mounting part which projects through said access opening and into one of said slots to releasably secure said accessory to said support rail;

a support arm disposed adjacent the rear edge of the worksurface for stationarily positioning said support rail above the worksurface so as to extend generally along the rear edge thereof, said support rail being slidably mountable on an upper end of said support arm; and

a mounting arrangement for removably mounting said support arm adjacent the rear edge of the worksurface.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said slots and said access opening extend along substantially the entire lengthwise extent of said support rail such that said accessory is positionable at any desirable location therealong.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support rail defines front and rear legs each defining one of said slots therein, said rear leg and the respective slot projecting generally horizontally and said front leg and the respective slot projecting forward and angling downwardly from a junction with said rear leg such that said front and rear legs together define a downwardly-opening, shallow V-shape configuration with said access opening extending longitudinally along said junction.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said front and rear legs and the respective slots together define an included angle of greater than 90°

such that said accessory is positionable in either a generally horizontal orientation upon said mounting part thereof being inserted into said slot of said rear leg or in an angled position upon said mounting part thereof being inserted into said slot of said front leg.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support rail defines front and rear legs each defining one of said slots therein, said front and rear legs each including a pair of opposed and spaced-apart top and bottom walls connected to one another by an edge wall extending therebetween, said edge wall of said front leg defining a forwardmost extent of said support rail and said edge wall of said rear leg defining a rearwardmost extent of said support rail, said top, bottom and edge walls of the respective front and rear legs together defining the respective said slot.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said access opening is defined by adjacent and opposed free edges of said top walls of said front and rear legs.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said accessory comprises a document support tray having a base wall, and said mounting part includes a stiff but resiliently deflectable flange which is secured to and cantilevered downwardly from said base wall for projection into said one slot.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said mounting part includes a generally vertically oriented leg part which projects downwardly from said base wall and is connected at a lower end thereof to said mounting flange to space same vertically downwardly from said base wall.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support rail has longitudinally extending front and rear edges and a pair of end edges extending transversely relative thereto, one of said support rail and said support arm mounting thereon an elongate mounting member which extends in the longitudinal direction of said support rail and the other of said support rail and said support arm defining therein a channel for slidably receiving said elongate mounting member, said channel being open at opposite ends thereof generally adjacent said end edges of said support rail, and said elongate mounting member being slidably and sidewardly insertable into said channel through one of said open ends thereof to releasably but fixedly secure said support rail to said support arm.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said support rail has a bottom portion having said elongate mounting member projecting downwardly therefrom, and said upper end of said support arm defines therein said channel and includes a mounting plate, said mounting plate being disposed in supportive engagement with said bottom portion of said support rail.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said elongate mounting member includes a rod-shaped portion and an elongate rib extending along the length of said rod-shaped portion for mounting said rod-shaped portion to said bottom portion, said rib having a smaller cross sectional size than said rod-shaped portion, said channel opening upwardly through a mouth having a smaller cross sectional size than said channel, said rod-shaped portion being slidably disposed within said channel and said rib extending downwardly through said mouth to secure said support rail to said support arm.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein said upper end of said support arm defines therein said channel and includes and front and rear mounting plates disposed on opposite sides of said channel, said channel opening upwardly through a mouth defined between inner opposed longitudinal edges of said mounting plates, said support rail having front and rear legs each defining one of said slots therein, said elongate mounting member projecting downwardly from said support rail for engagement within said channel, and said front and rear mounting plates being respectively disposed in supportive engagement with said front and rear legs of said support rail.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support rail is mounted on a forwardmost end of said support arm, and said mounting arrangement is disposed at a rearwardmost end thereof and is adapted for securing said support arm to an upright wall member disposed closely adjacent the rear edge portion of the worksurface.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said mounting arrangement includes a support bracket fixed to said rearwardmost end of said support arm, said support bracket including at least one hook projecting outwardly therefrom for engagement within a slot formed in a rigid upright member a space dividing-wall panel system.

15. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support rail is releasably fastened to said upper end of said support arm, said mounting arrangement including a base portion fixed to a lower end of said support arm which bears upon the upper surface of the worksurface and a generally vertically-oriented mounting part fixed to said base portion and overlying the rear edge portion of the worksurface, said mounting part being snugly engaged within an upwardly-opening channel defined adjacent the rear edge portion of the worksurface to secure said support arm thereto.

16. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting arrangement includes an L-shaped bracket defined by a first part positioned adjacent said rear edge of said worksurface and a second part projecting under said worksurface, said support arm defining a rearwardly opening recess therein in which a clamping member is disposed, said clamping member being connected to said first part of said mounting arrangement and disposed in opposed spaced-apart relation with said second part such that said rear edge is sandwiched between said clamping member and said second part to fasten said support arm to said worksurface.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said second part mounts thereon a threaded fastener having a lower end configured for gripping by a hand or a tool and an upper end which is movable into engagement with a lower surface of said worksurface through manipulation of said lower end so as to exert a downwardly directed force on said clamping member.

18. A support rail assembly for use with a worksurface having an enlarged upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a front edge portion adjacent a user and a rear edge portion remote from the user, said assembly comprising:

an elongate support rail adapted for mounting an accessory thereon;

an upright support arm having an upper end releasably connected to said support rail to stationarily position said support rail above the worksurface and generally along the rear edge portion thereof and a lower end which bears upon the upper surface of the worksurface;

a mounting arrangement for securing said support arm and said support rail to the worksurface, said mounting arrangement including;

a mounting structure having a first leg portion which overlies the rear edge portion of the worksurface and a second leg portion fixed to said first leg portion and projecting from a lower end thereof so as to extend under the worksurface, one of said support arm and said first leg portion mounting thereon a pin which projects outwardly therefrom and the other of said support arm and said first leg portion defines therein a slot in which said pin engages; and

a fastening member associated with said second leg portion and being adjustable to exert a generally downwardly directed force on said first leg portion which in turn exerts a downwardly directed force on said support arm through the engagement of said pin in said slot to fixedly but releasably secure said support arm and said support rail to the worksurface.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein said fastening member threadingly engages with said second leg portion and has an upper end for engagement with the lower surface of the worksurface and a lower end configured for gripping by a hand or tool, said fastening member being rotatable to bring said upper end thereof into clamping engagement with the lower surface of the worksurface.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein said lower end of said support arm defines a bottom wall and a rearwardly opening recess above said bottom wall, and a clamping member projects generally horizontally into said recess and is supported on said bottom wall, said first leg portion of said mounting structure having said pin cantilevered outwardly therefrom, said pin being engaged within said slot which is defined in said clamping member such that upon rotation of said fastening member, said first leg portion exerts a downwardly directed force on said clamping member to effectively clamp said bottom wall of said support arm between said clamping member and the upper surface of the worksurface.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein a pair of said pins project outwardly from said first leg portion and a pair of said slots are defined in a rear side of said clamping member, said slots each having a keyhole shape and said pair of pins being engaged within the respective slots to releasably fasten said clamping member to said first leg portion.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein one of said support rail and said support arm mounts thereon an elongate mounting member which extends in the longitudinal direction of said support rail and the other of said support rail and said support arm defines therein a channel for slidably receiving said elongate mounting member to mount said support rail on said support arm.

23. The assembly of claim 18 wherein said support arm has a generally arcuate configuration so as to project forwardly from the rear edge of the worksurface toward the front edge thereof, said first leg portion having a minimal thickness to permit insertion of same between the rear edge of the worksurface and an upright wall member positioned closely adjacent the rear edge of the worksurface.

24. An office accessory arrangement for use with a worksurface having an enlarged upper surface, said arrangement comprising:

an elongate support rail configured to mount an office-type accessory thereon so as to be free of supportive engagement with the worksurface; and

a pair of uprights supported on the upper surface of the worksurface in sidewardly spaced relation from one another, said uprights having upper ends configured for slidably releasably supporting said support rail thereon to position same in upwardly spaced relation from the upper surface of the worksurface, and lower ends which mount thereon respective base portions which project generally horizontally and forwardly from said lower ends and bear upon the upper surface to support the respective uprights in a freestanding manner on the worksurface without the need for positive attachment thereto, each said base portion defining an upwardly opening recess therein adjacent a rear end thereof, said lower ends of said uprights being fixed within the respective recesses.

25. The arrangement of claim 24 wherein said uprights each include a body part which has an arcuate configuration as defined between said upper and lower ends such that said upper end of the respective said upright is spaced vertically from and horizontally forwardly offset relative to said lower end with the respective said base portion projecting forwardly from said lower end and slightly horizontally beyond said upper end of the respective said upright.

26. A support rail assembly for use with a worksurface having a generally horizontally enlarged upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, a front edge portion adjacent a user and a rear edge portion remote from the user, said assembly comprising:

an Elongate support rail adapted for mounting an office-type accessory thereon;

an upright support structure having an upper end slidably and releasably connected to said support rail and a lower end which bears upon the upper surface of the worksurface, said support structure defining a recess therein which opens generally sidewardly and rearwardly toward the rear edge portion of the worksurface;

a clamping arm which projects generally horizontally into said recess of said upright support structure; and

a mounting bracket having a first leg which at one end is releasably engaged with said clamping arm and overlies the rear edge portion of the worksurface, and a second leg which is joined to an opposite end of said first leg and projects partially under the worksurface, said second leg rotatably mounting thereon an elongate fastening member which is adjustable so as to exert a generally downwardly directed force on said clamping arm to secure said upright support structure and said support rail to the worksurface.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein said upright support structure includes a bottom generally horizontal wall which is disposed closely adjacent the upper surface of the worksurface and defines the lower extent of said recess, said clamping arm being supported on said bottom wall and clamping same against the upper surface of the worksurface upon actuation of said fastening member.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein said first leg is vertically oriented and said second leg is horizontally oriented and is spaced vertically downwardly from the lower surface of the worksurface, said fastening member being threadedly supported on said second leg in an upright manner and having a lower end nonrotatably mounting thereon an enlarged knob for manipulating said fastening member and an upper end mounting thereon a plate defining an upper surface which bears against the lower surface of the worksurface upon tightening of said fastening member.

29. The assembly of claim 27 wherein said clamping arm defines a rear side which is disposed in juxtaposed relation with a forwardly facing surface of said one end of said first leg and which defines therein at least one slot, and said one end of said first leg mounting thereon a pin member which is cantilevered horizontally outwardly therefrom and engages within said slot to secure said first leg and said clamping arm to one another.

30. The assembly of claim 27 wherein one of said clamping arm and said first leg defines therein an opening and the other of said clamping arm and said first leg includes a projection cantilevered outwardly therefrom and engaging within said opening to releasably fasten said clamping arm to said mounting bracket.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein said clamping arm is disposed in opposed, spaced-apart relation with said second leg such that said bottom wall and the rear edge portion of the worksurface are sandwiched between said clamping arm and said second leg.

32. The assembly of claim 31 wherein a pair of said openings are defined in a rearwardly facing side of said clamping arm and a pair of said projections are cantilevered from a forwardly facing side of said first leg, said openings having a keyhole shape and said projections comprising pins with enlarged heads which engage within the respective openings to releasably secure said clamping arm to said first leg.

33. The assembly of claim 26 wherein said upright support structure has a pair of side walls which are joined to one another at front upright edges thereof and which diverge away from one another as same project rearwardly from said front edges, and a bottom wall extending transversely between lower edges of said side walls which is disposed closely adjacent the upper surface of the worksurface and defines the lower extent of said recess, said clamping arm being supported on said bottom wall and clamping same against the upper surface of the worksurface to secure said upright support structure and said rail thereto.

34. A workstation arrangement comprising:

an elongate support rail adapted for mounting an office accessory thereon;

a support arm having a first end slidably and releasably connected to said support rail and a second end positioned on a worksurface, said support arm defining a lower wall and a recess disposed above said lower wall which opens sidewardly;

a clamping element disposed within said recess of said support arm; and

an L-shaped mounting bracket which overlies an edge portion of the worksurface and having a first part fixed to said clamping element and a second part fixed to said first part and disposed in spaced-apart opposed relation with said clamping element such that said lower wall and the edge portion of the worksurface are disposed between said clamping element and said second part to fixedly secure said support arm to the worksurface.

35. The arrangement of claim 34 further including a worksurface defining upper and lower oppositely facing surfaces and an edge portion which adjoins said upper and lower surfaces, said clamping element and said second part sandwiching said lower wall of said support arm and said edge portion of said worksurface therebetween and said first part overlying a generally upright surface of said edge portion.

36. The arrangement of claim 35 wherein said second part mounts thereon an elongate clamping member having one end configured for manipulation by a hand or a tool and an opposite end which engages the lower surface of said worksurface, said clamping member being adjustable to move said opposite end into clamping engagement with said lower surface.

37. The arrangement of claim 34 wherein said clamping element is releasably fastened to said first part by a pin-slot arrangement.

38. The arrangement of claim 34 wherein one of said clamping element and said first part defines an opening therein and the other of said clamping element and said first part mounts thereon a pin-shaped fastening member which engages within said opening to releasably connect said clamping element to said mounting bracket.