Console with positionally independent upper and lower halves

• US 6,990,909 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evans Consoles Corporation (Evans Components Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Evans Consoles Corporation (Evans Components Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gosling, Geoff, Colin, Blehm
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/272,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.3, 312/257.1, 312/265.4, 312/223.6, 312/265.1, 312/194, 312/195, 312/196, 312/107, 312/108, 312/111, 108/50.02, 108/92, 108/102, 108/50.01, 52/361, 52/365, 52/364, 522/39
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0078 Control consoles or desks
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems

Abstract

A console structure for supporting equipment thereon, comprising a lower base structure; an upper turret structure supported on the base structure; the turret structure being independently laterally positionable relative to the base structure.

Claims

1. A console structure for supporting equipment thereon, comprising:

a lower base structure comprising at least one base module, each base module comprising two spaced apart frame ends, an upper stringer connected to and disposed between said frame ends and a lower stringer connected to and disposed between said frame ends to be substantilly parallel to and below said upper stringer, said at least one base module being adapted for connection to another said base module for increasing the length of said console structure;

an upper turret structure supported on said base structure said turret structure comprising two spaced apart upper frame ends, each upper frame end having an upper and a lower end and a beam member connected to and disposed between said upper frame ends adjacent said upper ends thereof;

said turret structure being independently laterally positionable relative to said base structure wherein said lower end of each upper frame end is connectable to said upper stringer of said base module anywhere along the length of said upper stringer between said frame ends whereby said turret structure can be supported by a single said base module or by separate base modules connected end to end.

2. The console structure of claim 1, wherein said base modules can be connected side to side to increase the depth of said console structure.

3. The console structure of claim 2, wherein base modules connected side by side to one another can each independently support said turret structure thereon.

4. The console structure of claim 1, wherein said upper stringer includes one or more detentes formed therein adapted for connection to said lower end of each said upper frame end for positioning of each said upper frame end at predetermined point along said upper stringer corresponding to the location of said detentes.

5. The console structure of claim 4 wherein the lower end of each said upper frame end includes downwardly extending protrusions shaped to engage said detentes in said upper stringer for connection thereto.

6. The console structure of claim 5 wherein each frame end of said base module has an upper and a lower end, said upper end including an upwardly opening recess formed therein, and said lower end including a downwardly opening recess formed therein, said recesses being sized and shaped to respectively receive thereinto said upper and lower stringers.

7. The console structure of claim 6 wherein said upper and lower recesses include registration means therein for engaging and thereby positioning said stringers in said recesses.

8. The console structure of claim 7 wherein said registration means comprise flanges that fit into and engage correspondingly shaped slots in said upper and lower stringers.

9. The console structure of claim 8 wherein said stringers are preformed with holes for fasteners used to connected equipment supporting fitments and other structural components of said console structure to said stringers.

10. The console structure of claim 9 wherein said stringers are preformed with apertures therein for the passage of cabling through said stringers.

11. The console structure of claim 1, wherein said base modules can be connected at an angle to one another to define a bend in said console structure.

12. A method of positioning a turret structure relative to one or more base structure, said turret and base structre forming part of an equipment console used to support pieces of work station equipment, comprising the steps of:

forming the turret and base structures as discrete module, said base structure comprising ar least one base module, each base module comprising two spaced apart frame ends, an upper stringer connected to and disposed between said frame ends and a lower stringer connected to and disposed between said frame ends to be substantially parallel to below said upper stringer, said at least one base module being adapted for connection to another said base module for increasing the length of said console structure, said turret structure comprising two spaced apart upper frame ends, each upper frame end having an upper and a lower end and a beam member connected and disposed between said upper frame ends adjacent said upper ends thereof; and

forming the turret structure to be connectable to said structure at any point along the length of one of said base structure or straddling base structure arranged in end to end alignment with one another, wherein said lower end of each upper frame end is connected to said upper stringer of said base module anywhere along the length of said upper stringer between said frame ends whereby said turret structure can be supported by a single said base module or separate base module connecred end to end.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said upper stringer includes formed therein a plurality of spaced apart connecting points for said lower end of each said upper frame end, whereby connecting points can be chosen corresponding to the length and placement of said turret structure relative to said base structure or structures.

14. A method for the assembly of a framework for a console structure using discrete modules, comprising the steps of:

forming one or more base modules of a predetermined length, height and depth, each said base module comprising two spaced apart frame ends, an upper stringer connected to and disposed between said frame ends and a lower stringer connected to and disposed between said frame ends to be substantillay parallel to and below said upper stringer, said at least one base module being adapted for connection to another said base module for increasing one or both of the length and depth of said console structure;

forming one or more turret modules of a predetermined length, height and depth, each said one or more turret modules comprising two spaced apart upper frame ends, each upper frame end having an upper and a lower end and a beam member connected to and disposed between said upper frame ends adjacent said upper ends thereof;

assembling said base modules into a console base of predetermined length, height and depth; and

connecting said one or more turret anywhere along the length of said base module, whereby said lower end of each upper frmae end is connectable to said upper stringer of said module anywhere along the length of said upper stringer between said frame ends whereby said one or more turret modules can be supported by a single said base module or by separate modules connected end to end or side by side.