Panel assembly including slat wall segment

• US 8,037,642 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Stachowiak, Anthony A., Nagel, Duane F., Battey, Joylene M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SADLON, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US11/714,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 248/220.41, 312/196, 312/223.3, 312/223.6, 52/29, 52/361, 52/364, 52/365, 52/366, 522/39, 522/207, 211/94.01
• 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 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20

Abstract

A multi-configurable furniture assembly including height adjustable legs, a height adjustable pedestal support structure, a variable height foot support for cabinets and shelves and a panel wall assembly where each of the separate assemblies have finished and high quality appearances after a configuration is constructed.

Claims

1. A panel assembly for use with a support configuration wherein the support configuration includes at least first and second spaced apart support members, the panel assembly comprising:

a substantially rigid backer member having oppositely facing front and rear surfaces, the backer member forming a channel in the front surface and supported by the support configuration; and

a slat wall segment having oppositely facing front and rear surfaces, the slat wall segment mounted in the channel with the front surface of the slat wall segment substantially flush with the front surface of the backer member;

at least first and second brackets that are supported by the first and second spaced apart support members, the backer member supported by the first and second brackets proximate the top and bottom edges, respectively, wherein the backer member is mounted to at least one of the first and second brackets via at least one perpendicular trajectory coupling component; and

at least one clip member mounted to the rear surface of the backer member proximate the top edge of the backer member, the clip member cooperating with the first bracket to secure the backer member to the first bracket wherein the perpendicular trajectory coupling component secures the backer member to the second bracket.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the slat wall segment is mounted in the channel via screws that extend through the rear surface of the backer member and are respectively received in a plurality of channels formed in the rear surface of the slat wall segment.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the backer member is substantially rectangular having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel first and second lateral edges, the slat wall segment is substantially rectangular having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel first and second lateral edges, the channel and the slat wall segment extend from the first to the second lateral edges of the backer member and wherein the top edge of the slat wall segment is substantially parallel to the top edge of the backer member.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the channel is spaced apart from the top and bottom edges of the backer member.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the support configuration includes at least first and second spaced apart support members, the assembly further including at least first and second brackets that are supported by the first and second spaced apart support members, the backer member supported by the first and second brackets proximate the top and bottom edges, respectively.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the perpendicular trajectory coupling component is one of a hook and loop connector assembly and a quick release tape.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first bracket includes at least first and second substantially parallel and spaced apart arm members and wherein the clip member is received between the arm members and is restrained by at least one of the arm members.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the first arm member includes substantially parallel and non-coplanar proximal and distal arm members where the distal arm member abuts the rear surface of the backer member forcing the clip member against the second arm member to restrain the top edge of the backer member.

17. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the first bracket has a configuration substantially identical to the second bracket.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein at least one perpendicular trajectory coupling component secures the rear surface of the backer member to the second bracket member.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the perpendicular trajectory coupling component is one of a hook and loop assembly and a quick release tape.

6. A panel assembly for use with a support configuration, wherein the support configuration includes at least first and second spaced apart support members, the panel assembly comprising:

a substantially rigid backer member having oppositely facing front and rear surfaces, the backer member forming a channel in the front surface and supported by the support configuration; and

a slat wall segment having oppositely facing front and rear surfaces, the slat wall segment mounted in the channel with the front surface of the slat wall segment substantially flush with the front surface of the backer member;

at least first and second brackets that are supported by the first and second spaced apart support members, the backer member supported by the first and second brackets proximate the top and bottom edges, respectively;

wherein the backer member is substantially rectangular having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and substantially parallel first and second lateral edges, the assembly further including screws that include heads and shafts to mount the brackets to the support members and wherein the heads of the screws that are used to mount the brackets to the support members face at least one of the rear surface and one of the edges of the backer member with associated shafts extending away from the backer member.

8. The assembly of claim 6 further including at least one clip member mounted to the rear surface of the backer member proximate the top edge of the backer member, the clip member cooperating with the first bracket to secure the backer member to the first bracket wherein the perpendicular trajectory coupling component secures the backer member to the second bracket.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the first bracket includes at least first and second substantially parallel and spaced apart arm members and wherein the clip member is received between the arm members and is restrained by at least one of the arm members.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the first arm member includes substantially parallel and non-coplanar proximal and distal arm members where the distal arm member abuts the rear surface of the backer member forcing the clip member against the second arm member to restrain the top edge of the backer member.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the first bracket has a configuration substantially identical to the second bracket.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one perpendicular trajectory coupling component secures the rear surface of the backer member to the second bracket member.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the perpendicular trajectory coupling component is one of a hook and loop assembly and a quick release tape.

14. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the backer member is mounted to at least one of the first and second brackets via at least one perpendicular trajectory coupling component.