Furniture accessory supporting system

• US 6,568,335 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grabowski, Daniel, Hamilton, John R., Ludwig, James N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/882,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20020189506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/42, 108/27, 108/60, 108/156, 312/223.3, 312/223.6, 312/195, 312/194, 312/196, 52/362, 52/364, 248/250
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• 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 2200/0085 Supplementary support fixed on the edge of a desk or table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels

Abstract

An office desking system includes a worksurface and an accessory system configured for flexible and adjustable attachment to an edge of the worksurface. The accessory system includes C-shaped clamps with legs and an intermediate section forming a cavity for engaging the edge. Each of the legs and the intermediate section have an attachment feature, such as threaded holes, with the top leg potentially including two attachment features. Accessories such as upright slatwall panels, upright erasable panels, upright tackable panels, upright screens, shelves, downwardly-extending modesty panels, “full height” up-and-down screens, and wire managers are attachable to one or more of the attachment features, in various combinations, to provide a useful and flexible accessory system.

Claims

1. A desking system for use in an interior office environment having a floor, said desking system comprising:

a worksurface panel having an upper substantially planar surface and a lower substantially planar surface and an edge disposed between said upper and lower surfaces;

a support structure attached to said worksurface panel and positioning said worksurface panel above the floor;

at least one clamping device secured to said worksurface panel proximate said edge of said worksurface panel, said clamping device having an upper clamp element positioned proximate said upper surface and a lower clamp element positioned proximate said lower surface;

said clamping device having at least three attachment features;

a first support extending from a first one of said attachment features, said first support secured to a first substantially vertically oriented planar member positioned above said upper surface;

a second support extending from a second one of said attachment features, said second support secured to a second substantially vertically oriented planar member positioned below said lower surface; and

an accessory secured to a third one of said attachment features.

2. The desking system of claim 1, wherein said accessory is a shelf.

3. The desking system of claim 1, wherein said accessory is a cable management device.

4. The desking system of claim 1, wherein said first support and said second support are positioned substantially co-linearly.

5. The desking system of claim 1, further comprising a second clamping device having at least three attachment features and third and fourth supports attached to said second clamping device and respectively secured to said first and second vertically oriented planar members.

6. A desking system for use in an interior office environment having a floor, said desking system comprising:

a worksurface panel having an upper substantially planar surface and a lower substantially planar surface and an edge disposed between said upper and lower surfaces;

a support structure attached to said worksurface panel and positioning said worksurface panel above the floor;

at least one clamping device secured to said worksurface panel proximate said edge of said worksurface panel, said clamping device having a plurality of attachment features;

a first substantially vertically oriented substantially planar screen securable to said clamping device in first and second positions, each of said first and second positions being located outwardly proximate said edge of said worksurface panel, wherein when said first screen is located in said first position, a majority of said first screen is located below said worksurface panel and wherein when said first screen is located in said second position, a majority of said first screen is located above said worksurface panel;

a second substantially vertically oriented substantially planar screen securable to said clamping device in third and fourth positions, said third position placing said second screen above said worksurface panel inwardly of said edge of said worksurface panel and said fourth position placing said second screen below said worksurface panel inwardly of said edge of said worksurface panel.

7. The desking system of claim 6, wherein placement of said first screen in said first position and of said second screen in said third position positions an upper edge of said first screen at a height which is above a lower edge of said second screen and wherein placement of said first screen in said second position and of said second screen in said fourth position positions a lower edge of said first screen at a height which is lower than an upper edge of said second screen.

8. The desking system of claim 6, wherein said second screen comprises a wire rod frame and a fabric covering.

9. The desking system of claim 6, wherein said first screen is positioned sufficiently rearwardly of said worksurface panel edge to permit the passage of a conventional electrical power plug between said first screen and said worksurface panel edge.

10. The desking system of claim 9, wherein said second screen is spaced from the worksurface panel at a distance which is sufficiently large to permit the passage of a conventional electrical power plug between said second screen and said worksurface panel.

11. A desking system for use in an interior office environment having a floor, said desking system comprising:

a worksurface panel having an upper substantially planar surface and a lower substantially planar surface and an edge disposed between said upper and lower surfaces;

a support structure engaging and attached to said worksurface panel and adapted to position said worksurface panel above the floor;

at least one clamping device engaging and secured to said worksurface panel proximate said edge of said worksurface panel by a first fastener, said clamping device having a plurality of attachment features;

a shelf having a support, said support engaging and secured to said clamping device at one of said attachment features by a second fastener so that said shelf is disposed at height above and at an orientation substantially parallel to said worksurface panel; and

a substantially vertically oriented substantially planar screen;

said screen engaging and secured to said clamping device by a third fastener at one of said attachment features.

12. The desking system of claim 11, wherein said screen comprises a support extending upwardly from said clamping device and said screen is disposed proximate a rear edge of said shelf and a substantial portion of said screen is disposed at a height above said shelf.

13. The desking system of claim 11, wherein said screen is disposed outwardly of said worksurface panel edge.

14. The desking system of claim 11, wherein said screen comprises a support extending downwardly from said clamping device.

15. A desking system for use in an interior office environment having a floor, said desking system comprising:

a worksurface panel having an upper substantially planar surface and a lower substantially planar surface and an edge disposed between said upper and lower surfaces;

a support structure attached to said worksurface panel and positioning said worksurface panel above the floor;

at least one clamping device secured to said worksurface panel proximate said edge of said worksurface panel, said clamping device having a plurality of attachment features;

a first substantially vertically oriented substantially planar screen secured to said clamping device in a position located outwardly proximate said edge of said worksurface panel and wherein said first screen is positioned sufficiently rearwardly of said worksurface panel edge to permit the passage of a conventional electrical power plug between said first screen and said worksurface panel edge;

a second substantially vertically oriented substantially planar screen securable to said clamping device in a position placing said second screen inwardly of said edge of said worksurface and wherein said second screen is spaced from the worksurface panel at a distance which is sufficiently large to permit the passage of a conventional electrical power plug between said second screen and said worksurface panel;

and wherein a substantial portion of said first screen is located on a first side of said worksurface panel and said second screen is located on the opposite side of said worksurface panel.

16. The desking system of claim 15, wherein said substantial portion of said first screen is located above said worksurface panel and said second screen is located below said worksurface panel.

17. The desking system of claim 15, wherein said substantial portion of said first screen is located below said worksurface panel and said second screen is located above said worksurface panel.

18. The desking system of claim 17, wherein said second screen includes a plurality of slats for attaching accessories to said second screen.

19. The desking system of claim 17, wherein said second screen includes a tackable portion.

20. An accessory apparatus configured to releasably engage an edge of a worksurface comprising:

at least one C-shaped clamping member having top and bottom legs and an intermediate section defining a cavity, the cavity being shaped and adapted to receive the edge of the worksurface, the clamping member including a pressure foot for engaging the edge to secure the clamping member in a selected position;

a first attachment feature on one of the top leg, the bottom leg, and the intermediate section, and a second attachment feature on another of the top leg, the bottom leg, and the intermediate section; and

a first accessory attached to the first attachment feature and a second accessory attached to the second attachment feature.

21. The accessory apparatus defined in claim 20, including a third attachment feature on another of the top leg, the bottom leg, and the intermediate section, and a third accessory attached to the third attachment feature.

22. The accessory apparatus defined in claim 21, wherein the first, second and third attachment features are on the top leg, the bottom leg, and the intermediate section, respectively.

23. The accessory apparatus defined in claim 21, wherein the first, second, and third accessories include an upwardly-extending panel that extends above the clamping member, a modesty panel, and a shelf.

24. An accessory system configured and adapted for attachment to an edge of a worksurface, the accessory system comprising:

an accessory mounting system including at least one C-shaped clamp with legs and an intermediate section forming a cavity for engaging the edge of a worksurface, each of the legs and the intermediate section having an attachment feature; and

accessories including an upright functional panel, a screen panel, and a functional device attachable to one or more of the attachment features, in various combinations, to provide a useful and flexible system.

25. The accessory system defined in claim 24, wherein the attachment features each include threaded holes.

26. The accessory system defined in claim 24, wherein one of the legs includes a second attachment feature.

27. The accessory system defined in claim 24, wherein the upright functional panel includes an upright erasable panel, and further including an upright tackable panel, a shelf, and a downwardly-extending modesty panel, and wherein the functional device includes a wire manager.