AU665471B2 - Office furniture and fittings - Google Patents

Description

r? 'r 665471

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

S

Name of Applicant Actual Inventor(s) Address for Service CODD; Edwin Thomas ANSTEY; Kenneth David CODD; Edwin Thomas and ANSTEY; Kenneth David GRANT ADAMS COMPANY Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 9 National Mutual Centre 144 Edward Street BRISBANE QLD 4000

AUSTRALIA

'OFFICE FURNITURE AND FITTINGS' Invention Title Details of Associated Provisional Applications Numbers PL6212 The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to me.

i: 2 TITLE: 'OFFICE FURNITURE AND FITTINGS' BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to office furniture and fittings. The invention is particularly suitable for, but not limited to, office work stations.

PRIOR ART In recent years, there has been a move away from small discrete offices to an open-plan style, where the workers are provided with work stations of different layouts to suit their particular jobs.

With increasing reliance of communications, eg. telephones, facsimiles and computer terminals, a major problem has been the provision of the electrical supply, telephone and computer network services (eg.

wires/cables) to, and within, the work stations.

In the so-called first generation systems, the wires/cables were fed through the panels, which required holes to be provided (or drilled) through the studs/stiles.

In the second generation systems, the wires/cables are laid in ducts at floor level. This is an improvement, but difficulty then arises in accommodating the wires/cables between the ducts and the i tlr 25 telephones/computers etc.

SUMMAARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION S.It is an object of the present invention to provide work stations which enable the services (ie.

wires/cables) to be easily concealed.

It is a preferred object to provide work stations which are readily adjustable, but the adjustable mountings are concealed.

It is a further preferred object to provide work stations where adjacent modules are easily interconnected and the modules can be of selected heights.

3 It is a still further preferred object to provide work stations where cover strips can be "snapped on" and secured by concealed strips, and the panels are easily removed for access to the utilities (or replacement).

Other preferred objects will become apparent from the following description.

In one aspect, the present invention resides in a module for a work station or the like including: a peripheral frame defined by a pair of vertical stiles interconnected by top and bottom rails; at least one panel releasably mounted -a the frame in spaced relationship to the stiles; and at least one work surface mounted on the frame, wherein: the stiles have at least one row of slots concealed behind the panel(s); and the work surface is supported on brackets which pass between the stiles and sides of the panel(s) S 20 of adjacent modules, the brackets having offset formations to engage the slots behind the panel(s).

Preferably, the offset formations have a dog- S..leg configuration in plan view.

Preferably, at least one service support means is adjustably mounted on the frame to enable the services to be laid between the frame and the panel(s).

Preferably, at least one cover strip is 00 releasably connected to the top rail or a stile by clip means, the cover strip concealing the gap between the 30 frame and the panel(s).

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°Preferably, at least one shelf- or cupboard unit has bracket means engageable with the slots for releasable mounting of the unit(s) on the f:ame, the slots being concealed behind the unit(s).

Preferably, the stiles are provided with two i L- a, i 4 rows of slots, the brackets being preferably engageable with the outer row of slots.

Pre ferablv,;, the stiles of adjacent modules are bolted together to secure the modules, or the stiles are secured to vertical plates on corner connector brackets.

Two or more trays or channels may be provided, within the modules to support the services, preferably supported on transverse brackets extending through the slots in the stiles.

Preferably, the panels have lower brackets releasably engageable in the slots in the stiles and upper brackets preferably releasably engageable with the stiles (or top rail) via magnets.

Preferably, extension modules, to increase the height of the work stations, have frames of inverted Ushape, the stiles having spigots engageable in sockets at the upper ends of the stiles of the peripheral frames.

resdesina work station. incorporating at least one of the modules hereinbef ore described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG 1 is a top plan view of a typical double work station in accordance with the invention; FIG 2 is a perspective view of a standard module (and an extension module) with the panels J ~removed;, FIG 3 is a section end view of a cable tray; FIG 4 is a front view of the tray; FIG 5 is a part-sectional plan view of a pair of modules; FIG 6 is a part-sectional end view of a module; FIG 7 is a sectional plan view of a Y-joint between three modules; FIG 8 is a sectional view on line A-A in FIG 7; FIG 9 is a sectional plan view of a 135" joint between two modules; FIG 10 is a sectional plan view of a T-joint between three modules; and FIG 11 is a sectional plan view of a 90° joint between two modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG 1, the two work statio.s r 10A have a common dividing "wall" 11 (eg. 1300mm or I *15 1700mm high), front walls 12, 12A, end walls 13, 13A and I feature wall 14. Each work station has a pair of Sadjustable work benches 15, 15A and at least one shelf 'unit 16, 16A or cupboard unit 17. The work station has an extension work bench 18. The walls 11, 12, 12A, 13, 13A and 14 all comprise at least one module (preferably 900mm x 900mm), the front walls 12, 12A each comprising two interconnected modules topped with extension modules (eg. 900mm x 400mm).

Referring now to FIG 2, a standard module S 25 (eg. 900mm x 900mm) has vertical stiles 21, 22 connected by a top rail 23 and bottom rail 24, the latter having adjustable feet 25, Each stile 21, 22 has two rows of slots 26 in its two outer faces for the purposes to be hereinafter described.

30 An extension module 30 (eg. 900mm x 400mm) has Svertical stiles 31, 32 and a top plan 33, where the stiles 31, 32 have spigots 34, 35 engageable in the open ends of the stiles 21, 22. Two rows of slots 36 are provided in the stiles 31, 32.

To support the services 40, eg. electrical cables 41, telephone cables 42 and computer cables 43, 'i' pr 6 respective cable trays (or channels) 44 are supported within the frame of each module 20 on brackets 45 which extend through aligned pairs of slots 26 in the stiles 21, 22 (see FIG The floors 46 of the trays 44 are relieved at each end to receive the respective stiles and holes 47 through the floors above the services to be fed vertically up through the modules. (It is preferable that the different services be laid separately in the bottom rail 24 and the cable trays 44.) As shown in FIG 5, adjacent modules 20 in a wall are bolted together with bolts 48 passing through aligned holes (not shown) in the adjacent stiles 21, 22.

At the end of a wall, a cover strip 50 (eg. an aluminium extrusion) is secured to the adjacent stile 15 21, 22 by a series of spring steel clips 51 releasably 44 engageable in the cover strip 50 and about the stile 21, ,22. (A similar cover strip 52 (and clips) can be provided along the top of a wall) supported by the top rail 23, 33.) The module 20 has a pair of trim panels provided with a suitable decorative finish. A pair of tA 3 bottom support brackets 61 and their legs 62 are engaged in slots 26 in the stiles 21, 22 (see FIG Top Ssupport brackets 63 incorporate magnet catches which engage the top rail 23. As shown in FIG 6, the trim panels 60 can be swung outwardly and then lifted to be released from the frame to enable access to the cable o trays 44 (and the services therein).

As shown in FIG 5, the trim panels 60 overlie the stiles 21, 22 so that the slots 26 are not visible.

To support the work benches, a bracket 70 has a dog-leg portion 71 to pass between the adjacent trim panels 60 and engage the outer row of slots 26 in the stile 21, 22. It is noted that the connection of the brackets 70 to the stiles 21, 22 is also concealed by the trim panels a L r too.

of.t9 A.9* .4 9 to* 7 Referring now to FIGS 7 and 8, three wails are connected in a joint 80 wherein the stiles 21, 22 of the modules 20 are bolted to three vertical plates 81-83 interconnected by at least two T-brackets 84. Cover strips 85, 86 (of extruded aluminium) conceal the gaps between the plates 81-83 and provide an attractive appearance.

Referring now to FIG 9, a 135 joint 90 has vertical plates 91, 92 to which the stiles 21, 22 are bolted, being interconnected. by spaced horizontal. tubes 93, the joint being completed by cover strips 94, (which are snapped on to tche plates 91, 92 and releasably secured by rubber strips 96).

A T-joint 100 (see FIG 10) has vertical-plates 101-103 to which the stiles 21, 22 are bolted, being interconnected by spaced T-tubes 104, the joint being completed by cover strips 105, 106.

A 90' (or elbow) joint 110 (see FIG 11) has vertical plates 111, 112 connected by tubes 113 and 20 cover strips 114, 11,5.

When extension modules 30 are used, the joints 80, 90, 100, 110 and vertical plates and cover strips) of appropriate height will be employed.

By the use of L-shaped brackets, similar to 25 the brackets 61, the shaft units 16, 16A and cupboard units 17 can be releasably mounted on the stiles 21, 22, the back walls thereof being partially recessed relative to adjacent trim panels Horizontal trays along the rear of the work benches can carry the services 40 fron the modules to the service outlets (eg. GPO's, computer terminals, telephones, etc.).

It will be readily apparent to the skilled.

addressee that the present invention has the following advantages, inter rlia: the space between the trim panels and the 1 r 1 rV 1;: tf stiles and the adjustable cable trays allow the simple, efficient supply of services to the work stations; easy access is available to the services for maintenance/repair; the brackets, with their dog-leg portions, enable the holes in the stiles to be concealed behind the panels; the trim panels can be easily changed/replaced; decorative cover strips can be easily fitted to the ends and tops of the walls; the walls can be of modular lengths (eg.

600, 900, 1200, 1500mm) and heights (eg. 900, 1300, 1700mm); 15 a wide range of plans can be easily provided.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from scope of the present invention defined 20 in the appended claims.

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Claims (7)

1. A module for a work station or the like including: a peripheral frame defined by a pair of vertical stiles interconnected by top and bottom rails; at least one panel releasably mounted on the frame in spaced relationship to the stiles; and at least one work surface mounted on the frame, wherein: the stiles have at least one row of slots concealed behind the panel(s); and the work surface is supported on brackets which pass between the stiles and sides of the panel(s), of adjacent modules, the i acket- having offset formations to engage the slots behind the panel(s).

2. A module according to Claim 1 wherein: the offset formations have a dog-leg configuration in plan view.

3. A module according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 tit 20 wherein: at least one surface support means is i A adjustably mounted on the frame to enable the services to be laid between the frame and the panel(s). A module according to Claim 3 wherein: the service support means includes at least i one tray or channel provided within the module to i support the services, each tray or channel being supported on transverse brackets extending through the slots in the stiles. A 30 5. A module according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 i wherein: A, at least one cover strip is releasably connected to the top rail or a stile by clip means, the cover strip concealing the gap between the frame and the panel(s).

6. A module according to any one of Claims 1 to i A I; wherein: at least one shelf- or cupboard unit has bracket means engageable with the slots for releasable mounting of the unit(s) on the frame, the slots being concealed behind the unit(s).

7. A module according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein: the stiles are provided with two rows of slots, the brackets being engageable with the outer row 10 of slots.

8. A module according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein: the panels have lower brackets releasably Sengageable in the slots in the stiles and upper brackets S, 15 releasably engageabie with the stiles or the top rail via magnets. S9. A work station incorporating at least one of the modules defined in any one of claims 1 to 8. A work station according to claim 9 wherein: the stiles of adjacent modules are bolted together to secure the modules, or the stiles are secured to vertical plates on corner connector brackets.

11. A work station according to claim 9 or claim and further including: at least one extension module to increase the height of the work station having a frame of inverted U- shape, with stiles having spigots engageable in sockets °at the upper ends of the stiles of the peripheral frame. .4$4* hi m m*~ 1 11 TITLE: 'OFFICE FURNITURE AND FITTINGS' ABSTRACT: Work stations (10, 10A) are erected from modules (20, 30) where the basic module (20) has a peripheral frame incorporating vertical stiles (21, 22), each having two rows of slots (26). Panels (60) are mounted in spaced relationship from the stiles (21, 22) by brackets (61, 63) and cable trays (44) allow the services (40) to be laid between the stiles (21, 22) and the panels The work benches (15, 15A) and shelf units (16, 16A) and cupboard unit (17) are supported by brackets (70) which have a dog-leg portion (71) to enable the brackets to pass between adjacent panels 15 and engage the slots (26) in the stiles (21, 22) concealed behind the panels !4 I ,l t j I