Wall mounted assembly

• US 9,072,381 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millerknoll Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Bates, Mark, Boyce, Andrew J., Kang, Chul Min, Katje, Michael J., Lyons, Susan R., Porter, Kurt E., Roetman, Jeffrey D., Sellers, Perry L., Zaccai, Gianfranco Dino
• Primary Examiner(s): WENDELL, MARK R
• Application Number:
  US14/174,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20140298732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 52/364, 52/366, 52/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/008 Suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/06 Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves A47B96/022 takes precedence; aspects of adjusting height or inclination A47B57/00 ; brackets for the display of articles A47F5/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/067 Horizontal rails as suspension means in a cantilever arrangement suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls A47B95/008
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/001 Wall mounting or suspension arrangements for blackboards or the like easels or stands A47B97/04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/00 Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks work tops A47B77/022
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/181 Anti-splash devices in sinks, e.g. splash guards jet regulators E03C1/08

Abstract

A wall assembly includes at least one horizontally extending rail having a rear surface adapted to engage the wall. A plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending stiles are coupled to the rail, with the stiles disposed forwardly of the rear surface of the rail. A plurality of interface components are coupled to the plurality of stiles. In various embodiments, the stiles may be interconnected to draw together adjacent interface components. The interface components also may include overlapping upper and lower edges. The stiles may be vertically and/or horizontally (laterally and longitudinally) adjustable relative to the rail. A lock member may be provided to secure at least one of the stiles to the rail. Various systems and methods of assembly and use are also provided.

Claims

1. A wall assembly for mounting to a wall comprising:

a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending rails adapted to be mounted to the wall, said rails each having a rear surface facing the wall and a front surface opposite said rear surface and adapted to face away from the wall, each of said rails comprising an upwardly opening channel;

a hanger comprising a downwardly facing tab received in said channel of at least one of said rails, wherein said hanger extends upwardly from said channel of said at least one rail, wherein said hanger has a top end spaced above an uppermost surface of said at least one rail; and

an interface component secured to said hanger, wherein said hanger is secured to a rear surface of said interface component, wherein said hanger is not visible from a front side of said interface component, said interface component disposed over at least a portion of said front surface of said at least one of said rails.

2. The wall assembly of claim 1 wherein said rails each comprise a downwardly opening channel opposite said upwardly facing channel.

3. The wall assembly of claim 1 wherein said rails each comprise a forwardly opening channel having a mouth, and a cover member disposed over said mouth, wherein each of said rails comprises an interior cavity.

4. The wall assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said rails comprises a pair of flanges defining said channel.

5. The wall assembly of claim 1 wherein said interface component comprises a whiteboard.

6. The wall assembly of claim 1 wherein said interface component comprises a display screen.

7. The wall assembly of claim 1 wherein said pair of rails comprises an upper rail and a lower rail, wherein said at least one of said rails comprises said upper rail, and wherein said hanger comprises a first hanger, and further comprising a second hanger comprising a downwardly facing tab received in said channel of said lower rail, wherein said interface component is secured to each of said first and second hangers.

8. The wall assembly of claim 1 wherein said interface component is disposed over at least a portion of said front surface of both of said pair of rails.

9. The wall assembly of claim 1 wherein said interface component comprises a storage component comprising a shelf.

10. A wall assembly for mounting to a wall comprising:

a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending rails adapted to be mounted to the wall, said rails each having a rear surface facing the wall and a front surface opposite said rear surface and adapted to face away from the wall, each of said rails comprising an upwardly opening channel, wherein said pair of rails comprises an upper rail and a lower rail;

a first hanger comprising a downwardly facing tab received in said channel of said upper rail;

a second hanger comprising a downwardly facing tab received in said channel of said lower rail;

a first interface component secured to said first hanger, said first interface component disposed over at least a portion of said front surface of said upper rail; and

a second interface component secured to said second hanger, said second interface component disposed over at least a portion of said front surface of said lower rail, wherein said second interface component is not disposed over said front surface of said upper rail.

11. A wall assembly for mounting to a wall comprising:

a structural wall having an outer surface;

a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending rails having a rear surface facing said outer surface of said structural wall, said pair of rails mounted to said wall, said pair of rails each having a front surface opposite said rear surface and facing away from said wall, each of said rails comprising an upwardly opening channel;

a hanger comprising a downwardly facing tab received in said channel of at least one of said rails, wherein said hanger extends upwardly from said channel of said at least one rail, wherein said hanger has a top end spaced above an uppermost surface of said at least one rail; and

an interface component secured to said hanger, wherein said hanger is secured to a rear surface of said interface component, wherein said hanger is not visible from a front side of said interface component, said interface component disposed over at least a portion of said front surface of said at least one of said rails.

12. The wall assembly of claim 11 wherein said rails each comprise a downwardly opening channel opposite said upwardly facing channel.

13. The wall assembly of claim 11 wherein said rails each comprise a forwardly opening channel having a mouth, and a cover member disposed over said mouth, wherein each of said rails comprises an interior cavity.

14. The wall assembly of claim 11 wherein each of said rails comprises a pair of flanges defining said channel.

15. The wall assembly of claim 11 wherein said interface component is disposed over at least a portion of said front surface of both of said pair of rails.

16. The wall assembly of claim 11 wherein said pair of rails comprises an upper rail and a lower rail, wherein said at least one of said rails comprises said upper rail, wherein said hanger comprises a first hanger and said interface component comprises a first interface component, and further comprising a second hanger comprising a downwardly facing tab received in said channel of said lower rail, and a second interface component secured to said second hanger, said second interface component disposed over at least a portion of said front surface of said lower rail.