Building outfitting system with common accessory-mounting feature

• US 6,807,776 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ludwig, James N., Mead, Karl J., Mueller, Karl H., Kelley, Dale T., Girdwood, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E
• Application Number:
  US10/113,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 52/361, 522/207, 522/39, 52/364, 52/368.5, 522/40, 522/41, 522/42, 522/43, 522/431, 52/362, 52/363.5, 52/366, 52/37, 52/38, 52/39, 52/791-79, 52/27--40, 160/371-381, 160/405, 160/130, 108/50.11, 108/51.11, 108/FOR.100, 108/153--15, 108/59, 108/60, 108/90, 108/91, 240/243.1
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• 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 96/1483 and radial arms
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7425 Details of connection of panels E04B2/7427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7453 with panels and support posts, extending from floor to ceiling
• 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 prefabricated system for outfitting a building space includes an architectural product (such as a full-height permanent building wall, a post-and-beam product with overhead frame, and a drywall-covered wall), a furniture product (such as a partial-height wall, a partition, and a desking system), and a plurality of accessories. The architectural product includes a structural member with horizontal and vertical accessory-mounting T-slots, and the furniture product includes structural trim pieces with identical vertical and horizontal accessory-mounting T-slots. The plurality of accessories are constructed to stably engage any of the accessory-mounting slots at a selected location along the slots. Some accessories can be attached to and extend between the two products, such as an accessory screen that extends between a post of a post-and-beam system and an end of a partition system.

Claims

1. A furniture system for dividing open office space and the like into individual workstations, comprising:

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

a prefabricated partition panel furniture arrangement including a plurality of individual panels detachably interconnected in a generally side-by-side relationship, and arranged to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said panels having a trim member including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 trim member;

a prefabricated post-and-beam furniture arrangement including a plurality of posts supported on a floor surface of the open office space in a generally vertical orientation and a plurality of beams supported on said posts in a generally horizontal orientation, and arranged on said posts to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said beams including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 one beam; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said trim member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said one beam, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be received within both to detachably mount said accessory either on said trim member or said one beam.

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

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said trim member and said one beam has at least one blind surface.

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

said anchor portion of said accessory is generally T-shaped to positively yet detachably support said accessory.

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

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

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

said accessory includes a plurality of accessories, each having a similarly configured anchor portion to attach to both said trim member and said one beam, and a differently configured accessory portion to variously equip said workstation.

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

said one of said beams is supported on said posts at an overhead height.

7. A furniture system as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said one of said beams is supported on said posts at a height below overhead to define a fence beam.

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

at least one of said workstations includes a generally horizontal worksurface supported at a predetermined height; and

said fence beam is supported at a height generally commensurate with the predetermined height of said worksurface.

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

said fence beam has a generally rectangular lateral cross-sectional configuration defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposite side faces.

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

said attachment slot on said one beam extends along one of said side faces of said fence beam.

11. A furniture system as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said attachment slot on said one beam extends along said top surface of said fence beam.

12. A furniture system as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said attachment slot on said one beam defines a first attachment slot; and

said fence beam includes a second attachment slot extending along said top surface of said fence beam.

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

said fence beam includes a third attachment slot extending along said bottom surface of said fence beam.

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

said fence beam includes a fourth attachment slot extending along the other one of said side faces of said fence beam.

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

said fence beam is at least in part supported by one of said posts having a height below overhead to define a short post.

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

said short post has a height slightly above the predetermined height of said worksurface.

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

said one of said panels includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposite side edges; and

said trim member extends along one of said side edges of said one panel.

18. A furniture system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said one of said panels includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposite side edges; and

said trim member extends along said top edge of said one panel.

19. A furniture system as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said accessories include a slatwall panel.

41. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said anchor portion of said accessory is generally T-shaped to positively yet detachably support said accessory.

42. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

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

43. A furniture 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 said trim member and said one beam, and a differently configured accessory portion to variously equip said workstation.

44. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said one beam is supported on said posts at a height below overhead to define a fence beam.

45. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said workstations includes a generally horizontal worksurface supported at a predetermined height; and

said one beam is supported at a height generally commensurate with the predetermined height of said worksurface.

46. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said one beam has a generally rectangular lateral cross-sectional configuration defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposite side faces; and

said attachment slot on said one beam extends along one of said side faces of said one beam.

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

said attachment slot on said one beam defines a first attachment slot; and

said one beam includes a second attachment slot extending along said top surface of said one beam.

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

said one beam includes a third attachment slot extending along said bottom surface of said one beam.

49. A furniture system as set forth in claim 48, wherein:

said one beam includes a fourth attachment slot extending along the other one of said side faces of said one beam.

50. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said one beam is at least in part supported by one of said posts having a height below overhead to define a short post.

51. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said one of said panels includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposite side edges; and

said trim member extends along one of said side edges of said one panel.

52. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said one of said panels includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposite side edges; and

said trim member extends along said top edge of said one panel.

53. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said accessory comprises one of a slatwall panel, a writable/erasable board, a privacy screen, a retractable door, a hook, a shelf, a worksurface, a lamp, a telephone support, a document holder, and a binder bin.

54. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said accessory is supported in a cantilevered fashion.

55. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, including:

a prefabricated building wall cover arrangement including a plurality of rigid cover sheets configured to be arranged in a generally side-by-side relationship over an associated building wall to cover the same and define at least a portion of one of said workstations, and at least one mounting member extending between said cover sheets, and adapted to support said cover sheets over the building wall;

said mounting member including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 mounting member; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said mounting member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said trim member and said beam, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be received within each to detachably mount said accessory either on said mounting member, said trim member or said beam.

56. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of said panels each include one of said trim member with said attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

57. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of said beams each include said attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

58. A furniture system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of said posts each include said attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

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

said accessories include a writable/erasable board.

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

said accessories include a privacy screen.

22. A furniture system as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

said accessories include a retractable door.

23. A furniture system as set forth in claim 22, wherein:

said accessories include a hook.

24. A furniture system as set forth in claim 23, wherein:

said accessories include a shelf.

25. A furniture system as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

said accessories include a worksurface.

26. A furniture system as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

said accessories include a lamp.

27. A furniture system as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

said accessories include a telephone support.

28. A furniture system as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

said accessories include a document holder.

29. A furniture system as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

said accessories include a binder bin.

30. A furniture system as set forth in claim 29, wherein:

at least one of said accessories is supported in a cantilevered fashion.

31. A furniture system as set forth in claim 30, including:

a prefabricated building wall cover arrangement including a plurality of rigid cover sheets configured to be arranged in a generally side-by-side relationship over an associated building wall to cover the same and define at least a portion of one of said workstations, and at least one mounting member extending between said cover sheets, and adapted to support said cover sheets over the building wall;

said mounting member including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, with a predetermined configuration to receive the anchor portion of one of said accessories therein for selectively mounting said one accessory at one of a variety of positions along said mounting member; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said mounting member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said trim member and said beam, such that said anchor portion of said one accessory can be received within each to detachably mount said one accessory either on said mounting member, said trim member or said beam.

32. A furniture system as set forth in claim 31, wherein:

said mounting member is disposed generally vertically between adjacent side edges of said cover sheet.

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

said mounting member has a generally T-shaped plan configuration with a flange portion thereof supporting said cover sheets and a web portion thereof captured between adjacent studs in the associated building wall.

34. A furniture system as set forth in claim 33, including:

fasteners attaching the side edges of said cover sheets with said flange portion of said mounting member.

35. A furniture system set forth in claim 34, including:

a cover detachably mounted on said mounting member and covering said fasteners.

36. A furniture system as set forth in claim 35, wherein:

said cover includes a retainer configured for reception in said attachment slot on said mounting member to detachably support said cover on said mounting member.

37. A furniture system as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

said cover sheets comprise drywall sheets.

38. A furniture system as set forth in claim 37, wherein:

a plurality of said panels each include one of said trim member with said attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

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

a plurality of said beams each include said attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

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

a plurality of said posts each include said attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

59. A furniture system for dividing open office space and the like into individual workstations, comprising:

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

a prefabricated partition panel furniture arrangement including a plurality of individual panels detachably interconnected in a generally side-by-side relationship, and arranged to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said panels having a trim member including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 trim member;

a prefabricated post-and-beam furniture arrangement including a plurality of posts supported on a floor surface of the open office space in a generally vertical orientation and a plurality of beams supported on said posts in a generally horizontal orientation, and arranged on said posts to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said posts including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 one post; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said trim member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said one post, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be received within both to detachably mount said accessory either on said trim member or said one post.

60. A furniture system as set forth in claim 59, wherein:

said anchor portion of said accessory is generally T-shaped to positively yet detachably support said accessory.

61. A furniture system as set forth in claim 59, wherein:

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

62. A furniture system as set forth in claim 59, wherein:

said accessory includes a plurality of accessories, each having a similarly configured anchor portion to attach to both said trim member and said one post, and a differently configured accessory portion to variously equip said workstation.

63. A furniture system as set forth in claim 59, wherein:

said one of said panels includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposite side edges; and

said trim member extends along said top edge of said one panel.

65. A furniture system as set forth in claim 59, wherein:

said accessory is supported in a cantilevered fashion.

66. A furniture system as set or in claim 59, including:

a prefabricated building wall cover arrangement including a plurality of rigid cover sheets configured to be arranged in a generally side-by-side relationship over an associated building wall to cover the same and define at least a portion of one of said workstations, and at least one mounting member extending between said cover sheets, and adapted to support said cover sheets over the building wall;

said mounting member including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 mounting member; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said mounting member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said trim member and said beam, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be received within each to detachably mount said accessory either on said mounting member, said trim member or said beam.

67. A furniture system as set forth in claim 59, wherein:

a plurality of said panels each include one of said trim member with said attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

68. A furniture system as set forth in claim 59, wherein:

a plurality of said posts each include said attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

64. A furniture system as set forth in 63, wherein:

said accessory comprises one of a slatwall panel, a writable/erasable board, a privacy screen, a retractable door, a hook, a shelf, a worksurface, a lamp, a telephone support, a document holder, and a binder bin.

69. A furniture system as set forth in 59, wherein:

a plurality of said beams each include said attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

70. A furniture system for dividing open office space and the like into individual workstations, comprising:

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

a prefabricated post-and-beam furniture arrangement including a plurality of posts supported on a floor surface of the open office space in a generally vertical orientation and a plurality of beams supported on said posts in a generally horizontal orientation, and arranged on said posts to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said beams including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 one beam;

a prefabricated building wall cover arrangement including a plurality of rigid cover sheets configured to be arranged in a generally side-by-side relationship over an associated building wall to cover the same and define at least a portion of one of said workstations, and at least one mounting member extending between said cover sheets, and adapted to support said cover sheets over the building wall;

said mounting member including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 mounting member; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said one beam is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said mounting member, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be received within each to detachably mount said accessory either on said one beam or said mounting member.

71. A furniture system as set forth in claim 70, wherein:

said anchor portion of said accessory is generally T-shaped to positively yet detachably support said accessory.

72. A furniture system as set forth in claim 70, wherein:

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

73. A furniture system as set forth in claim 70, wherein:

said accessory includes a plurality of accessories, each having a similarly configured anchor portion to attach to both said trim member and said one beam, and a differently configured accessory portion to variously equip said workstation.

74. A furniture system as set forth in claim 70, wherein:

said one beam is supported on said posts at a height below overhead to define a fence beam.

75. A furniture system as set forth in claim 70, wherein:

at least one of said workstations includes a generally horizontal worksurface supported at a predetermined height; and

said one beam is supported at a height generally commensurate with the predetermined height of said worksurface.

76. A furniture system as set forth in claim 70, wherein:

said one beam has a generally rectangular lateral cross-sectional configuration defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposite side faces; and

said attachment slot on said one beam extends along one of said side faces of said one beam.

77. A furniture system as set forth in claim 70, wherein:

said accessory comprises one of a slatwall panel, a writable/erasable board, a privacy screen, a retractable door, a hook, a shelf, a worksurface, a lamp, a telephone support, a document holder, and a binder bin.

78. A furniture system as set forth in claim 70, wherein:

said mounting member is disposed generally vertically between adjacent side edges of said cover sheet.

79. A furniture system as set forth in claim 78, wherein:

said mounting member has a generally T-shaped plan configuration with a flange portion thereof supporting said cover sheets and a web portion thereof captured between adjacent studs in the associated building wall.

80. A furniture system as set forth in claim 79, including:

fasteners attaching the side edges of said cover sheets with said flange portion of said mounting member.

81. A furniture system as set forth in claim 80, including:

a cover detachably mounted on said mounting member and covering said fasteners.

82. A furniture system as set forth in claim 81, wherein:

said cover includes a retainer configured for reception in said attachment slot on said mounting member to detachably support said cover on said mounting member.

83. A furniture system as set forth in claim 82, wherein:

said cover sheets comprise drywall sheets.

84. A furniture system for dividing open office space and the like into individual workstations, comprising:

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

a prefabricated post-and-beam furniture arrangement including a plurality of posts supported on a floor surface of the open office space in a generally vertical orientation and a plurality of beams supported on said posts in a generally horizontal orientation, and arranged on said posts to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said posts including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 one post;

a prefabricated building wall cover arrangement including a plurality of rigid cover sheets configured to be arranged in a generally side-by-side relationship over an associated building wall to cover the same and define at least a portion of one of said workstations, and at least one mounting member extending between said cover sheets, and adapted to support said cover sheets over the building wall;

said mounting member including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 mounting member; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said one post is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said mounting member, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be received within each to detachably mount said accessory either on said one post or said mounting member.

85. A furniture system for dividing open office space and the like into individual workstations, comprising:

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

a prefabricated partition panel furniture arrangement including a plurality of individual panels detachably interconnected in a generally side-by-side relationship, and arranged to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said panels having a trim member including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 trim member;

a prefabricated building wall cover arrangement including a plurality of rigid cover sheets configured to be arranged in a generally side-by-side relationship over an associated building wall to cover the same and define at lest a portion of one of said workstations, and at least one mounting member extending between said cover sheets, and adapted to support said cover sheets over the building wall;

said mounting member including an outwardly opening attachment slot extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, 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 mounting member; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said trim member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said attachment slot on said mounting member, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be received within each to detachably mount said accessory either on said trim member or said mounting member.

86. A furniture system for dividing open office space and the like into individual workstations, comprising:

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

a prefabricated partition panel furniture arrangement including a plurality of individual panels detachably interconnected in a generally side-by-side relationship, and arranged to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said panels having a trim member including a first accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, with a predetermined configuration to mate with the anchor portion of said accessory for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said trim member;

a prefabricated post-and-beam furniture arrangement including a plurality of posts supported on a floor surface of the open office space in a generally vertical orientation and a plurality of beams supported on said posts in a generally horizontal orientation, and arranged on said posts to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said beams including a second accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, with a predetermined configuration to mate with the anchor portion of said accessory for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said one beam; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said first accessory mount on said trim member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said second accessory mount on said one beam, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be mated with both to detachably mount said accessory either on said trim member or said one beam.

87. A furniture system as set forth in claim 86, wherein:

at least one of said posts includes at least one said second accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of die length thereof for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said one post.

88. A furniture system as set forth in claim 87, including:

a prefabricated building wall cover arrangement including a plurality of rigid cover sheets configured to be arranged in a generally side-by-side relationship over an associated building wall to cover the same and define at least a portion of one of said workstations, and at least one mounting member extending between said cover sheets, and adapted to support said cover sheets over the building wall;

said mounting member including a third accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, with a predetermined configuration to mate with the anchor portion of said accessory for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said mounting member; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said third accessory mount on said mounting member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said first accessory mount on said trim member and said second accessory mount on said beam, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be mated with each to detachably mount said accessory either on said mounting member, said trim member or said beam.

89. A furniture system as set forth in claim 88, wherein:

a plurality of said panels each include at least one of said trim member with said first accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

90. A furniture system as set forth in claim 89, wherein:

a plurality of said beams each include said second accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

91. A furniture system as set forth in claim 90, wherein:

a plurality of said posts each include said second accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

92. A furniture system as set forth in claim 91, wherein:

a plurality of said mounting members each including said third accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof.

93. A furniture system as set forth in claim 92, wherein:

said accessory includes a plurality of accessories, each having a similarly configured anchor portion to attach to both said trim member, said one beam, said one post, and said mounting member and a differently configured accessory portion to variously equip said workstations.

94. A furniture system as set forth in claim 93, wherein:

said accessory comprises one of a slatwall panel, a writable/erasable board, a privacy screen, a retractable door, a hook, a shelf, a worksurface, a lamp, a telephone support, a document holder, and a binder bin.

95. A furniture system for dividing open office space and the like into individual workstations, comprising:

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

a prefabricated partition panel furniture arrangement including a plurality of individual panels detachably interconnected in a generally side-by-side relationship, and arranged to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said panels having a trim member including a first accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, with a predetermined configuration to mate with the anchor portion of said accessory for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said trim member;

a prefabricated post-and-beam furniture arrangement including a plurality of posts supported on a floor surface of the open office space in a generally vertical orientation and a plurality of beams supported on said posts in a generally horizontal orientation, and arranged on said posts to define at least a portion of one of said workstations;

at least one of said posts including a second accessory mount extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof, with a predetermined configuration to mate with the anchor portion of said accessory for selectively mounting said accessory at one of a variety of positions along said one post; and

wherein

said predetermined configuration of said first accessory mount on said trim member is substantially identical with said predetermined configuration of said second accessory mount on said one post, such that said anchor portion of said accessory can be mated with both to detachably mount said accessory either on said trim member or said one post.