AU2005101037A4 - Frame Assembly For Furniture Structures - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 12596411 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s):

AUSTRALIA

Address for Service: Invention Title: Australian Workstation Manufacturers Pty Ltd 634 Botany Road, Alexandria, New South Wales 2015, DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 "Frame Assembly for Furniture Structures" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- P:\WPDOCSARSSPECIEI 259641 I.dc-20/12/05 -1- U FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR FURNITURE STRUCTURES The invention relates generally to frame assemblies suitable for use in the construction of furniture and is particularly suitable for use in furniture structures such as office workstations and partitions therefor.

t It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved frame assembly which Sreduces the number of components used in furniture structures such as workstation partitions and can also reduce the number of fastenings required in the assembly of such structures.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame assembly suitable for use in furniture structures such as workstation partitions and the like, the frame assembly including a plurality of elongated frame members having opposed end portions, at least said end portions having a hollow therein, the frame assembly including a plurality of connectors for joining together adjacent frame members so as to form a frame module each of said connectors including two legs, each leg being receivable within the hollow of one of the end portions of a respective one of the adjacent frame members.

In one form the legs of each said connector are configured so as to be a friction fit within the hollow of a frame member to hold the connector and frame members together.

Preferably each of the frame members are generally tubular members. The frame members may be formed from any suitable material and by any suitable manufacturing technique.

Preferably they are extruded metal elements formed from aluminium or the like.

Preferably each connector includes a body portion with the legs extending away from said body portion generally at right angles to one another.

Preferably the frame members have a side wall with an irregular shaped profile forming a plurality of internal cavities and the legs of the connector are complementary in shape so as to have projections which are receivable within the cavities.

P:\WPDOCSARSSPECIE1259641 I.doc-20/ -2- The frame assembly may include a plurality of frame modules operatively connected together to form the frame assembly. The frame module may be any suitable shape for example such as square or rectangular. Preferably each frame member has at one side one or more mounting flanges which are adapted to cooperate with clips on a panel to enable the panel to be retained on the frame module.

SThe frame members may further include location groove and ribs on one side of the member which can cooperate with grooves and ribs on other frame members or other elements of the structure.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in those drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a workstation partition having a frame assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the workstation partition shown in Figure 1 with some components omitted for the sake of clarification; Figure 3 is an exploded detail of a frame assembly according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating the connection of a frame member to a post which is a component of the workstation partition; Figure 5 is an end view of the arrangement shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating the connection of a frame member to an edge cover which is a component of the workstation partition; Figure 7 is an end view of the arrangement shown in Figure 6; PAWPDOCSARS'SPECII1259641 .do-20112'05 o -3- O Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a frame member according to one form; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a frame member according to another form; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the frame member shown in Figure 9 with rail components mounted thereon; Figure 11 illustrates the location of the frame member shown in Figure 9 with an edge cover being a component of the workstation partition; and Figure 12 illustrates the location of the frame member shown in Figure 9 with a post being a component of the workstation partition.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a structure in the form of a work station partition 62 which includes a post 63. The partition includes a frame assembly 10 which is better illustrated in Figure 2. One or more of the frame assemblies can be mounted to the post 63. The work station partition further includes an edge cover 64 (Figure 2) which can be fitted to one side of the frame assembly 10. End caps 65 and 66 as shown in Figure 2 are adapted to fit to the ends of the post 63 and edge cover 64 respectively. The work station partition 62 further includes panels 68 and 69 which can be fitted to the frame assembly.

The frame assembly 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes two frame modules 50 and 51 which include a plurality of frame members 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. At least some of the adjacent frame members can be connected together by means of connectors The frame members 12 to 18 are in the form of metal hollow tubular elements which may be formed by extrusion or any other suitable process. In the particular embodiment described, two different profiles of frame member are illustrated. The top frame member P;WPDOCS'ARSSPECIE 12596411 .doc-2012O05 -4- 12 has a profile as shown in Figure 8 and the other frame members 13 to 18 have a profile as shown in Figure 9.

As shown each profile 12 to 19 has an irregularly shaped side wall which forms of number S 5 of cavities internally of the profile. Each profile includes a side having mounting flanges _22 thereon which when the members are configured to form a module are adapted to cooperate with clips 80 on the panels 68 and 69 to enable the panels to be retained on the frame assembly. This will be described in more detail later. The profiles 13 to 19 further include a locating rib 20 and groove 21 on one side which if required can be used to correctly locate two components of the partition relative to one another where required.

This is shown in Figures 11 and 12.

The profile of the top frame member 12 includes longitudinally extending recesses 23 therein which serve as rails for mounting accessories thereto. The other frame members 13 to 19 are provided with recesses 33 which are adapted to receive accessory rails 72 therein.

The frame assembly further includes connectors 25 for joining adjacent frame members together. The connectors 25 are in the form of L-shaped members having two legs 26 and 27 disposed generally at right angles to one another. The legs 26 and 27 have a crosssection which is complementary in shape to that of the profiles so that they can be inserted into an end of the profile. The irregular cross sectional shape provides for additional frictional resistance between the connector and the profile when fitted together. The legs 26 and 27 also include raised sections 35 on the surface thereof to improve frictional engagement.

Each connector if required may have an adjustable foot member 28 mounted thereon.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the foot members 28 on the lower most connectors form feet for the partition.

A clip mounting aperture 29 is provided in the region of the junction of the corners.

P:\WPDOCSWRSPECIE239641 I.d.2012/05 Mounting clips 70 are provided for mounting the selected frame members to components O of the partition. The mounting clips include a leg 73 which is attached to the connector by fastener 75 which is received within mounting aperture 29. The clip further includes a lug 74 which can be positioned adjacent a portion of the component to hold the parts together.

_The panels 68 and 69 include panel mounting clips 80 thereon for releasably mounting the panels to the frame assembly. The panel mounting clips 80 include a body portion 78 and a retaining wheel 79 which can be forced over mounting rib to releasably retain the panel on the frame assembly.

The assembly of the present invention as described above exhibits many advantages over currently known arrangement. For example, it allows a partitioning system to be easily reconfigured, with minimal parts, and with ease of assembly and disassembly.

Furthermore, it is entirely stackable which permits the height to be adjusted up and down as desired, permits the panels to be changed (into fabric or glass) without altering the integrity of the system. Furthermore, approximately 75% of the system is held together by friction few screws, no dovetail joints etc). Finally, the hanging rail is able to slide in and out of the panels (unlike other hanging rails in partitions) which permits a choice of whether or not to have the rail, the powdercoat colour can be changed if necessary, and permits a desk and accessories to be hung off the rail.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. A frame assembly suitable for use in furniture structures such as workstation partitions and the like, the frame assembly including a plurality of elongated frame members having opposed end portions, at least said end portions having a hollow therein, Sthe frame assembly further including a plurality of connectors for joining together adjacent frame members so as to form a frame module each of said connectors including two legs, each leg being receivable within the hollow of one of the end portions of a respective one of the adjacent frame members.

2. A frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said connector includes a body portion with said legs extending away from said body portion generally at right angles to one another said legs of each said connector are configured so as to be a friction fit within the hollow of a frame member to hold the connector and frame member together.

3. A frame assembly according to any preceding claim wherein said frame members are generally tubular having side wall portions, said frame members including one or more mounting flanges on an outer surface of a side wall portion arranged so that when the frame members are arranged to form the frame module the mounting flanges are adapted to cooperate with clips on a panel to enable the panel to be retained on the frame module.

4. A frame assembly according to claim 3 wherein one or more said frame members include mounting recesses in an outer surface of a side wall portion arranged to receive an accessory rail therein. P \WPDOCS\ARS\SPECIE \2596411 .doc.20/1205 S-7- U A frame assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the frame members Shave a side wall with an irregular shaped profile forming a plurality of internal cavities and the legs of the connector are complementary in shape so as to have projections which are receivable within the cavities. t Dated this 20th day of December, 2005 SAUSTRALIAN WORKSTATION MANUFACTURERS PTY LTD By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE