Partition trim having functional aspects

• US 6,748,710 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ludwig, James N., Mead, Karl J., Mueller, Karl Heinz, Gresham, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDermott, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/113,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 522/42, 52/361, 523/64, 52/365, 522/871, 522/881, 527/161, 522/381, 522/39, 524/66, 524/68, 527/831, 160/135, 211/87.01, 211/94.07
• US Class Current: 52/242
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7418 Accessories supported on the free upper edge, e.g. auxiliary panels, noise abatement devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/742 Details of panel top cap
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7479 Details of connection of flexible sheets to frame or posts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7487 Partitions with slotted profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/749 Partitions with screw-type jacks

Abstract

A partition and wall system includes a partition with trim piece(s) securely attached to a top edge and vertical side edges of the partition. One or both of the trim piece(s) have a T-slot running along their length, to which accessories can be secured by use of T-fasteners that extend into the slot and engage blind surfaces at a bottom of the slot. The accessories include such things as screens, hooks, lights, panels, shelves, wire managers, utility-using devices, and the like, and can be easily arranged by office workers in optimal and customized arrangements, thus improving efficiency and adding function and value to the office arrangement.

Claims

1. In a reconfigurable partition system of the type having panels detachably interconnected to define individual workstations, wherein said panels include at least one frame with a top member, opposite end members and side faces enclosed by cover panels, the improvement of an apparatus for selectively accessorizing the workstations, comprising:

at least one accessory having an anchor portion thereof adapted to detachably mount said accessory on an associated one of said panels, and an accessory portion thereof configured to equip an associated one of the workstations;

an elongated top trim member extending along and aesthetically covering the top member of said frame, and including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along at least a substantial portion of the length of said top trim member, with a predetermined configuration to receive the anchor portion of said accessory therein for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said top trim member;

a first fastener member detachably yet rigidly attaching said top trim member to the top member of said frame;

an elongated end trim member extending along and aesthetically covering one of the end members of said frame, and including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along at least a substantial portion of the length of said end trim member, with a predetermined configuration to receive the anchor portion of said accessory therein for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said end trim member;

a second fastener member detachably yet rigidly attaching said end trim member to the one end member of said frame; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said top trim member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said end trim member, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be received within both to detachably mount said accessory either on said top trim member in a generally horizontal orientation or on said end trim member in a generally vertical orientation.

2. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said anchor portion of said accessory has an inverted T-shape to positively yet detachably mount said accessory on said one panel.

3. A partition system as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said top trim member and said end trim member is T-shaped, and sized to closely receive said anchor portion of said accessory therein.

4. A partition system as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said accessory includes a plurality of accessories, each having a similarly configured anchor portion to attach to both of said top trim member and said end trim member, and a differently configured accessory portion to variously equip the workstations.

5. A partition system as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said accessories include a hook having a hook-shaped free end thereof shaped to hang items thereon.

6. A partition system as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said hook includes a threaded base engaged by a similarly threaded nut to selectively clamp said hook on one of said top trim member and said end trim member.

7. A partition system as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said accessories include a privacy screen.

8. A partition system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said accessories include a marker board.

9. A partition system as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said accessories include a wire manager.

10. A partition system as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said attachment slot extends along a central portion of said top trim member.

11. A partition system as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said attachment slot extends along a central portion of said end trim member.

12. A partition system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said top member of said frame has a predetermined width; and

said top trim member has a width substantially commensurate with the predetermined width of said frame top member to fully cover the same.

13. A partition system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said one end member of said frame has a predetermined width; and

said end trim member has a width substantially commensurate with the predetermined width of said frame one end member to fully cover the same.

14. A partition system as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said frame has an open interior.

15. A partition system as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said frame is rigid, and includes a generally rectangular elevational shape.

16. A partition system as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said cover panels have a generally rectangular shape, and are detachably mounted on said frame.

17. A partition system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

each of said panels includes a rigid, rectangular frame with opposed end members adapted for detachable connection with the end member of an adjacent one of said frames.

18. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said top trim member and said end trim member is T-shaped.

19. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said accessory includes a plurality of accessories, each having a similarly configured anchor portion to attach to both of said top trim member and said end trim member, and a differently configured accessory portion to variously equip the workstations.

20. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said accessory comprises a hook having a hook-shaped free end thereof shaped to hang items thereon.

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

said hook includes a threaded base engaged by a similarly threaded nut to selectively clamp said hook on one of said top trim member and said end trim member.

22. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said accessory comprises a privacy screen.

23. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said accessory comprises a marker board.

24. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said accessory comprises a wire manager.

25. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said frame is rigid, has an open interior, and includes a generally rectangular elevational shape.

26. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said cover panels have a generally rectangular shape, and are detachably mounted on said frame.

27. A partition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

each of said panels includes a rigid, rectangular frame with opposed end members adapted for detachable connection with the end member of an adjacent one of said frames.

28. An apparatus for accessorizing a reconfigurable partition system of the type having panels detachably interconnected to define individual workstations, comprising:

at least one accessory having an anchor portion thereof adapted to detachably mount said accessory on an associated one of the panels, and an accessory portion thereof configured to equip an associated one of the workstations;

an elongated top trim member shaped to extend along and aesthetically cover a top frame member of the panel, and including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along at least a substantial portion of the length of said top trim member, with a predetermined configuration to receive the anchor portion of said accessory therein for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said top trim member;

a first fastener member adapted to detachably yet rigidly attach said top trim member to the top member of the frame;

an elongated end trim member shaped to extend along and aesthetically cover an end frame member of the panel, and including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along at least a substantial portion of the length of said end trim member, with a predetermined configuration to receive the anchor portion of said accessory therein for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said end trim member;

a second fastener member adapted to detachably yet rigidly attach said end trim member to the end member of the frame; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said top trim member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said end trim member, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be received within both to detachably mount said accessory either on said top trim member in a generally horizontal orientation or on said end trim member in a generally vertical orientation.

29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein:

said anchor portion of said accessory has an inverted T-shape to positively yet detachably support said accessory.

30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein:

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said top trim member and said end trim member is T-shaped, and sized to closely receive said anchor portion of said accessory therein.

31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein:

said accessory includes a plurality of accessories, each having a similarly configured anchor portion to attach to both of said top trim member and said end trim member, and a differently configured accessory portion to variously equip the workstations.

32. An apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein:

said accessories include a hook having a hook-shaped free end thereof shaped to hang items thereon.

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

said hook includes a threaded base engaged by a similarly threaded nut to selectively clamp said hook on one of said top trim member and said end trim member.

34. An apparatus as set forth in claim 33, wherein:

said accessories include a privacy screen.

35. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34, wherein:

said accessories include a marker board.

36. An apparatus as set forth in claim 35, wherein:

said accessories include a wire manager.

37. An apparatus as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

said attachment slot extends along a central portion of said top trim member and said end trim member.

38. In a reconfigurable partition system of the type having panels detachably interconnected to define individual workstations, wherein said panels include at least one frame with a top member, opposite end members and side faces enclosed by cover panels, the improvement of an apparatus for selectively accessorizing the workstations, comprising:

at least one accessory having an anchor portion thereof adapted to detachably mount said accessory on an associated one of said panels, and an accessory portion thereof configured to equip an associated one of the workstations;

an elongated top trim member extending along and aesthetically covering the top member of said frame, and including an attachment member extending along at least a substantial portion of the length of said top trim member, with a predetermined configuration to connect with the anchor portion of said accessory therein for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said top trim member;

a first fastener member detachably yet rigidly attaching said top trim member to the top member of said frame;

an elongated end trim member extending along and aesthetically covering one of the end members of said frame, and including an attachment member extending along at least a substantial portion of the length of said end trim member, with a predetermined configuration to connect with the anchor portion of said accessory therein for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said end trim member;

a second fastener member detachably yet rigidly attaching said end trim member to the one end member of said frame; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment member on said top trim member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment member on said end trim member, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be connected with both to detachably mount said accessory either on said top trim member in a generally horizontal orientation or on said end trim member in a generally vertical orientation.

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

said accessory includes a plurality of accessories, each having a similarly configured anchor portion to attach to both of said top trim member and sand end trim member, and a differently configured accessory portion to variously equip the workstations.

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

said accessories include a hook having a hook-shaped free end thereof shaped to hang items thereon.

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

said hook includes a threaded base engaged by a similarly threaded nut to selectively clamp said hook on one of said top trim member and said end trim member.

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

said accessories include a privacy screen.

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

said accessories include a marker board.

44. A partition system as set forth in claim 43, wherein:

said accessories include a wire manager.

45. A partition system as set forth in claim 44, wherein:

said frame has an open interior.

46. A partition system as set forth in claim 45, wherein:

said frame is rigid, and includes a generally rectangular elevational shape.

47. A partition system as set forth in claim 46, wherein:

said cover panels have a generally rectangular shape, and are detachably mounted on said frame.

48. A partition system as set forth in claim 47, wherein:

each of said panels includes a rigid, rectangular frame with opposed end members adapted for detachable connection with the end member of an adjacent one of said frames.