DE9301248U1 - Work furniture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a work furniture according to the preamble of claim 1.

There are various furniture systems and furniture programs with work furniture and in particular with work tables for offices and conference rooms and for laboratory, technical and computer workstations. In order to meet the requirements of the various workplaces, modular furniture systems have been developed. Although work furniture can be put together according to the modular principle according to the respective requirements and often also allows subsequent equipment, for example with a second level, to set up and install additional devices, for example power supply devices, ventilation devices and various laboratory devices, these well-known work furniture do not meet the constantly growing requirements for optimal flexible design and a distinctive aesthetic appeal, which arise in particular from ergonomics.

The invention is based on the object of creating a modular work furniture which can be assembled as an elegant office and conference table as well as a stable and visually appealing computer, laboratory and technician workstation and can be retrofitted or upgraded at any time in a particularly simple manner and whose work surface, in particular with regard to height, can also be adjusted to meet individual and ergonomic workplace requirements.

can be adjusted subsequently and with very little effort.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1. Useful and advantageous embodiments are contained in the subclaims and in the description of the figures.

According to the invention, in a work piece of furniture, the vertical profiles of the support feet each have a central interior in which an inner tube is arranged, which is connected to the respective associated support arm and can be adjusted vertically via a sliding guide in order to adjust the height of the table top. The work piece of furniture is provided with a table top resting on support arms in the area of its side edges and with support feet, which have vertical profiles arranged below the support arms with T-slots and interior spaces as well as horizontal foot extensions. Cable spaces can be formed in the area of the table top and/or the vertical profiles. To stabilize the vertical profiles, which are spaced almost as wide as the table, a cross member is provided in the rear area of the table top as a stiffening connection, which is connected to the vertical profiles and can be used as a horizontal cable duct or cable space.

The vertical profiles used are preferably extruded aluminum profiles, which enable connection to other components of the modular system. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the vertical profiles have an almost rectangular cross-section with beveled or rounded corner areas, with two T-slots in both side surfaces and with a T-slot in the front surfaces, with the side surfaces of the vertical profiles on the work furniture according to the invention running parallel to the side edges of the table top or in alignment with them. A centrally arranged—

The interior space expediently has a rectangular cross-section, just like the adjustable inner tube, which is made of steel in particular, whereby sliding surfaces, in particular made of plastic, can be applied to the inner tube to implement the sliding guide, for example via an adhesive or plug connection. These sliding surfaces also act in an advantageous manner as tolerance compensation. Perma sliding surfaces or vertical elements can also be used for the sliding guide, which, for example, protrude into the interior in a T-shape in such a way that the inner tube is guided in a sliding manner.

The height adjustment of the work furniture can be set up continuously or in intervals, for example in a grid dimension of 30 mm, and can be operated manually, for example with a crank, or with the help of a motor and with a spindle arranged in the lower area of the support feet or the vertical profiles or a cylinder-piston unit.

To enable convenient operation and handling of the height adjustment device, the manual or motor control is conveniently located at the front of the table and is easily accessible.

The cable duct cross member, which connects two parallel support feet arranged on both sides of the table top, is conveniently attached in the upper area of the vertical profiles of the support feet, preferably with fastening elements that are held in the T-slots of the vertical profiles.

In a stable design that is particularly suitable for technicians, IT or MSR workplaces, the work furniture is equipped with double support feet, which are connected to a common, e.g. tub-shaped, base for stabilization.

formed cross members. The cross member, which can also be used as a horizontal cable duct, connects vertical profiles arranged in pairs one behind the other and spaced apart across the entire width of the table with the double support foot arranged on the opposite side to form an extraordinarily robust substructure. The cable duct is in particular designed in a stepped trough shape and runs in a preferred design below the rear longitudinal edge of the table top, which is arranged as a first, front working level of the workstation and can be height-adjustable and, if necessary, also tilt-adjustable and/or displaceable forwards. The tilt adjustment can be achieved, for example, with the help of a swivel axis that interacts with the support arms in a connection area of the inner tube. Horizontal adjustability can be achieved using slide rails in the area of the support arms.

For the horizontal, trough-shaped cable duct support, a cover is provided that can be removable or swiveled open. A horizontal gap that extends over almost the entire cover for the inlet and outlet of cables and lines is equipped with a sealing cable duct, for example with double sealing lips or brush strips, so that an orderly cable routing to and from the devices in a workstation is guaranteed.

A gap in the area of a double support foot between the two vertical profiles arranged one behind the other and spaced apart, which is covered with a specially designed panel to improve the overall optical and aesthetic impression, is expediently used as a vertical cable duct. For a connection between the vertical and horizontal

For cable ducts, the cladding in the upper area is provided with an approximately triangular attachment, which can have a removable surface or predetermined breaking points for breaking through and for routing cables from the vertical to the horizontal cable duct.

The advantage is the possibility of using the vertical profiles, in particular the rear vertical profiles of the double support feet, to enlarge the work surface and to optionally equip the workstation with a second, rear-mounted work level in addition to the front, first work level and/or with a table structure as a third, higher level.

A work piece of furniture with a height and/or tilt-adjustable second level can be used in particular for CAD workstations, where the second level can be used to accommodate a monitor and can be adjusted according to individual requirements in terms of height and tilt.

A cross member running between the first and second levels is particularly advantageous for use as a cable duct for devices and equipment arranged on both levels.

To set up a third level, for example for an MSR workstation with measuring, control and regulation tasks or also to create a functional partition wall and the like, each rear vertical profile of a double support foot is provided with a self-centering extension in particular and a cross brace is attached to these upwardly extended cross profiles as a support level or as a storage shelf for holding various elements and/or devices.

It is advantageous to design an upper receiving level as a horizontal, upper cable duct, which has, for example, a housing base that can be swung downwards with holding or guide elements. In order to improve the usability or reading of the devices arranged on the third level, this can also be designed to be tilt-adjustable, with the usual devices being attached to or in the vertical profiles of the third level.

A table top that extends to the rear vertical profiles, which is intended as the first, front work level, is sensibly provided with complementary recesses to the cross-section of the vertical profiles in the area of the rear vertical profiles. When using the table top for a workstation without a table structure or without a third level, these recesses are expediently covered with a removable, for example, snap-in or insertable plate-shaped insert. The upper, open front sides of the vertical profiles are also provided with a plate-shaped cover cap that matches the outline of the vertical profiles to create an attractive design for the workstation, which can be pressed into the circular interior of the vertical profiles using pins, for example.

In an effective use of space, the essential devices such as power supply devices, transformers and the like are arranged in base cabinet units below the horizontal cable duct support, so that in particular the table top as the first, front work level can be kept as free of devices as possible. In the third work level, only the necessary devices, such as display devices, are to be installed.

In a further development, the work furniture comprises at least one table base to be arranged below the table top.

cabinet, in particular a rolling container, which can reach up to the table top and is provided with a complementary, for example step-shaped, cover area in a practical adaptation to a stepped, trough-shaped cable duct support. This design enables optimal positioning of a base cabinet or a rolling container in a particularly simple manner, whereby a fixation, for example with the help of a Velcro fastener, can also be provided on the rear cable duct support. The base cabinet or rolling container can be designed to accommodate various attachments depending on the workplace requirements, for example to accommodate open trays for office supplies in particular or for basket-like and/or matted attachments. If another table level, for example an extendable table level, is arranged below the table top, the rolling container has a correspondingly lower height. In a further design of the work furniture, attachable, so-called active edges are provided in the area of the front longitudinal edge of the table top, which are designed to accommodate additional storage options, for example insert trays.

The work furniture according to the invention can be arranged in a particularly simple and visually appealing configuration to form a corner combination. A corner table top is attached using retaining elements that are held in the T-slots of the vertical profiles. Support feet or double support feet equipped with removable and/or replaceable foot supports have proven to be advantageous, so that at least relatively long front foot supports can be avoided in the area of the corner combination or replaced with shorter foot supports. The insertion openings for the foot supports formed in the area of the base elements can be covered with cover elements.

The invention is further described below by way of example with reference to the drawing, which shows in a highly schematic representation:

Fig. 1a

to If a work furniture according to the invention in different variants;

Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section through a vertical profile of the work furniture according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an inner tube; Fig. 4 is a view according to arrow IV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view according to arrow V in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 a perspective view of an office corner combination with work furniture according to the invention, which is additionally provided with a base cabinet and a functional partition wall;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a work piece of furniture according to the invention equipped with three work levels;

Fig. 8 shows a section of Figure 7 in the area of a third working plane;

Fig. 9 a perspective view of a laboratory workstation with a first and third working level;

Fig.10 a side view of an office work furniture in the area of the rear longitudinal edge with a movable arrangement for small office items;

Fig. 11 a side view of a roll container as a movable base cabinet;

Fig. 12 is a view of a triangular cover of the vertical cable duct arranged in the area of a horizontal cable duct;

Fig. 13 a vertical section through a fastening element of the triangular cover along line A-A according to Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 a top view of a cover element of the vertical cable ducts in the area of the triangular cover and

Fig. 15 shows a vertical section through a third level of a work furniture according to the invention, designed as a horizontal cable duct.

Figures la to if show various examples of a work piece of furniture according to the invention, which is constructed in a modular manner and can be equipped with various components according to the intended use. Basically, a work piece of furniture 1 according to the invention has a table top 6 as the only or as a front, first work surface, which rests on wedge-shaped support arms 8 in the area of its side edges and is height and/or inclination adjustable and/or extendable forwards, for example 20 cm. The extendability can be achieved via sliding and guide elements between the underside of the table top 6 and the support arms 8.

The table top 6 is supported by support feet 2 connected to the support arms 8 or by double support feet 12, which are connected to at least one horizontal foot extension 30,

a base element 20 and a vertical profile 10. In an advantageous embodiment, the foot extension 30 is wedge-shaped, analogous to the support arm 8, which is almost the same length, and conveys a functionally and visually successful overall impression with T-slots 18 formed in the longitudinal direction on the vertical profiles 10 (see Fig. 2).

Fig. la shows a technician's workstation with a double support base 12 and a cross member 5 arranged as a load-bearing element and cross bracing and at the same time usable as a horizontal cable duct, which is designed in a stepped trough shape. The cross member 5 is fitted with lateral end faces (not shown) in the T-slots 18 (Fig. 2) of the side faces of the front vertical profiles 10 and the identically designed rear vertical profiles

11. The technician's workstation according to Fig. la has a particularly deep, height-adjustable table top 6 as a first working level and a table top 7 adjoining to the rear as a second working level, which is fixed via an angle element 3 rigidly or in a height-adjustable manner to the rear vertical profile 11, e.g. in its T-slots 19 (see Fig. 2). The double support foot

12 has, in addition to the front base element 20, a rear base element 21, which forms a unit with a base connector 22 and, together with the cable duct cross member 5, forms a stable substructure for the work furniture, in the exemplary embodiment for a technical workstation. The elements for adjusting the height of the table top 6 are covered in a form-fitting and detachable manner between the front vertical profiles 10 and the support arms 8 with a flexible sealing element, for example with a rubber bellows 9 or a rubber sleeve.

Fig. Ib shows, for example, a CAD workstation that also has a double support base 12 and a trough-shaped cable duct cross member 5. The first working level is

a front table top 6 is connected to the front vertical profile 10 in a height-adjustable manner, while a second, rear table top 7 is supported on a rear vertical profile 11 in a height- and tilt-adjustable manner via a visible inner tube 14 and a swivel axis 29. Analogous to the technician's workstation according to Fig. 1a, a horizontal cable duct cross member 5 is used to supply the devices present on both table tops 6, 7. A rear foot extension 31 is adapted to the depth of the second table top 7 and, like a front foot extension 30, is detachably attached to an associated base element 20 or 21, with the vertical profiles 10 or 11 being connected to these base elements 20 or 21.

Fig. 1c shows another technician's workstation, which essentially corresponds to the technician's workstation according to Fig. 1a, but has only a first working level in the form of a particularly deep table top 6 that extends beyond the rear vertical profiles 11.

Fig. Id shows an office and technician workstation with a table top 6 that is height-adjustable in steps, the height adjustment of which is described in connection with Figures 2 to 5.

The office work table shown in Fig. Ie is provided with a support base 2 with a front foot extension 30 and a short, rear foot extension 31. The table top 6 is height-adjustable, while a conference table according to Fig. If has a table top 6 resting rigidly on a support arm 8 and supported on support feet 2.

Fig. 2 shows in a horizontal section the design of the vertical profiles 10, 11 of the column feet 2 or the double column feet 12. The vertical profiles 10, 11 have an almost rectangular cross-section, which are provided with bevelled

Corner areas 23 between side surfaces running parallel and/or flush with the side edges of the table tops 6, 7 are provided with two T-grooves 18 each and shorter end surfaces with a T-groove 19 each. The corner areas 23 can also be rounded. In a central, almost rectangular interior space 16, an inner tube 14 (see Fig. 3 to 5) is guided in a height-adjustable manner via a spindle (not shown). Two spindles can also be provided, e.g. in the circular interior spaces 25 of the vertical profile 10, 11. The inner tube 14 is a steel tube and is designed to complement the interior space 16 of the aluminum extruded profile 10, 11. The steel inner tube 14 is adjusted vertically and in steps via a sliding guide, whereby a grid dimension is specified by the distance between holes 24 along the inner tube 14 and can be, for example, 30 mm. The inner tube 14 has an upper, enlarged connection area 17, which is provided with a circular hole 27 and an oval hole 28, which serve to connect to at least one spindle, for example operated with a crank or a motor, in an interior of the vertical profile 10, 11. A pivot axis 29 for an inclination-adjustable table top 7 (see Fig. 1b) can also be formed in the connection area 17. To guide the inner tube 14 in the interior 16, T-shaped sliding elements 26 projecting into the interior 16 are arranged, which can have separate sliding linings. Alternatively, sliding or permanent sliding surfaces can also be glued to the inner tube 14.

Figure 6 shows an office corner combination as a further example of a piece of work furniture that can be adapted to the workplace requirements and the room situation. The same reference numerals are used for identical features. Two table tops 6, which are connected and supported by support arms 8 with double support feet 12, can

can be adjusted in height. To form a third work level 33, which on the left work table 6 represents a functional partition wall 34 with a filing level 35 and horizontal grooves 36 for fastening various devices, e.g. lamps, display boards and the like (not shown), self-centering extensions 37 are attached to the rear vertical profiles 11 of the double support feet 12, the upper end faces of which are covered with a cover cap 38. In the area of the extension 37, a corresponding recess 32 is formed in the table top 6, which can be covered with a plate-shaped insert part (not shown) if necessary. A cable duct cross member 5 runs beneath the table top 6 in the rear area, which is connected to a vertical cable duct 13 formed between the front vertical profile 10 and the rear vertical profile 11 by a panel. Figure 6 illustrates the optically and aesthetically successful design of an office work table with an additional construction level 33. An additional level 33 is also mounted on the right-hand table top 6 via a schematically shown adapter 39, which is preferably attached in the rear area of the support arms 8. A corner plate 4 is attached via holding elements (not shown) that are held in the T-slots 18 of the vertical profiles 10, 11. The front foot supports removed from the front base elements 20 in the corner area are advantageous; they were detached from the base elements 20 to ensure the necessary legroom. Since this can be done in the working position of the work table, annoying foot supports can also be removed or replaced later. The insertion openings of the base elements 20 are covered with a cover element 15, which can contain a leveling screw. To accommodate office supplies, a table base cabinet 41 is arranged under the table top 6 of the left work table, the height of which at least in a rear area corresponds to the cable

channel cross member 5 is adapted. Figure 7 shows a technician's workstation with a table top 6 as the front, first work level, a rear table top 7 as a second work level and with a relatively high table structure as a third level 33, which is designed as an inclination-adjustable level 40 (see Fig.8) for built-in devices 42. The height-adjustable table top 6 is provided with two active edges 57 that can be attached near the side edges 43 for easily accessible accommodation of various work devices. The extensions 37, which are attached to the rear vertical profiles 11, extend beyond the pivoted built-in devices 42 and are provided with a cover cap 38. It is advantageous to design the upper, tilt-adjustable level 40 as an upper, horizontal cable duct 58 (see Fig. 15), which ensures invisible and protected cable routing to the devices on the third level.

Figure 9 shows a work piece of furniture with base cabinet units 44, which are arranged in the area of the double support feet 12 and are attached to the vertical profiles 10, 11 and which serve to accommodate the essential supply devices, so that only additional and in particular display devices can be arranged on the table top 6 and a relatively low third level 33, which is attached to correspondingly short extensions 37 of the rear vertical profiles 11. A panel attached in the area of a vertical cable duct 13 is provided with an upper triangular panel 45 (Fig. 12), which is provided with fastening elements 46 (Fig. 13) for detachable connection to the panel of the vertical cable duct 13 and with plug-in elements 47 for holding in a front T-slot 19 of the vertical profile 11. To cover the top of the vertical cable duct 13 of a work table, a plate-shaped cover element 48 (Fig. 14) is attached obliquely to the triangular panel 45, whereby a connection is made between the vertical cable ducts 13 and the horizontal

Cable duct cross member 5 can be produced by means of an opening 50 in the triangular cover 45, which is to be formed via predetermined breaking points 49 or a removable surface (Fig. 12).

Figure 10 shows a section of a rear area of a table top 6 in a side view, to which a hood-like arrangement 51, in particular for small office items, is clamped. This arrangement 51 can also be moved along the edge of the table top 6. Pivoting lamps and other table attachments and devices can be attached in an adjustable or pivotable manner using similarly designed movable table clamps.

A rolling container 53 shown schematically in Fig. 11 has a stepped cover area 52, which is adapted to the stepped trough-shaped design of the cable carrier cross member 5 and enables quick and easy positioning below a table top 6 by means of a stop.

Figure 15 shows a schematic vertical section through a third level 33, which is designed like a housing and as an upper, horizontal cable duct 58 with a housing base 54 that can be swung downwards. Guide elements within the cable duct 58 ensure that the cables and lines are held in a protected manner. In an advantageous design, the front and rear longitudinal edges of the cable duct 58 are rounded and wedge-shaped, analogous to the longitudinal edges of the table tops 6, 7.

Claims (1)

Weber & Heim _ ₁₆ . d-sooo Munich Hofbrunnstrasse German Patent Attorneys Telephone: (089)799047 European Patent Attorneys Telex: 5-2128 Fax: (0 89)7 9152 K727 EXPECTATIONS 1. Work furniture for office and technician workstations, with a table top (6) arranged on support arms (8) in the area of the side edges (43), with support feet (2;12) _/ which are connected to the support arms (8) or the table top (6) and have at least one vertical profile (10,11) with external T-slots (18,19) and internal cavities (16,25) as well as horizontal foot extensions (30,31), and with cable ducts in the area of the table top (6) and/or the vertical profiles (10,11), characterized in that at least the vertical profiles (10) assigned to the table top (6) have a telescopic height adjustment device (14,17) for the table top in their cavities (16,25) and that a horizontal cable duct (5) is provided as a stiffening connection between the vertical profiles (10) spaced apart in the width of the table. Work furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the telescopic height adjustment device (14, 17) is designed as an inner tube (14) which can be moved in the central inner cavity (16) via a sliding guide. 3- Work furniture according to claim 2, characterized in that double support feet (12) are provided, each with a front vertical profile (10) and a rear vertical profile (11) arranged at a distance and of identical design, and that a vertically adjustable inner tube (14) is arranged at least in the front vertical profiles (10). Work furniture according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inner tube (14), which is arranged in the interior (16) of the vertical profiles (10, 11) so as to be snapped into place in steps or continuously adjustable vertically, is provided with sliding surfaces, in particular made of plastic. 5. Work furniture according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that sliding elements (26) are formed for sliding guidance of the inner tube (14) in the interior (16) of the vertical profiles (10, 11). 6. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the table top (6) is height-adjustable with a control device arranged in the area of the front of the table and with a motor or manually operated. 7. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner tube (14) is connected to at least one spindle guided in an interior space (25) of the vertical profiles (10, 11) or to a cylinder-piston unit. 8. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the horizontal cable duct cross member (5) is trough-shaped and can be covered and is fastened in an upper region of the vertical profiles (10, 11). 9. Work furniture according to claim 8, characterized in that the trough-shaped cable duct cross member (5) has a pivotable one- or multi-part cover with sealing cable guide and is arranged below a rear area of the front table top (6) arranged as the first level and a further table top (7) arranged at the rear. 10. Work furniture according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one of the table tops (6, 7) is arranged so as to be height-adjustable and/or tilt-adjustable and/or horizontally displaceable. 11. Work furniture according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a pivot axis (29) is formed in a connecting region (17) of the inner tube (14) which interacts with the associated support arm (8) of the table tops (6, 7). 12. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a third level (33) is formed with the aid of attachable and in particular self-centering extensions (37) of the rear vertical profiles (11) and with a cross brace (40) arranged between the extensions (37) and fixable to them. 13. Work furniture according to claim 12, characterized in that a setting level (40) for devices (42) fixed as a third level (33) is designed in an inclination-adjustable manner and/or as an upper, horizontal cable duct (58) in the manner of a housing and is provided with cable guide elements (55) and with an adjustable, in particular pivotable, housing base (54). 14. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical profiles (10, 11) have an almost rectangular cross-section with bevelled or rounded corner areas (23), and that the interior (16) and the inner tube (14) have a rectangular, essentially complementary cross-section. 15. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trough-shaped cable duct cross member (5) is provided with a removable or pivotable one- or multi-part cover which has a horizontal gap for the inlet and outlet of the cables with a sealing cable feedthrough. 16. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a vertical cable duct (13) is formed between the front vertical profile (10) and the rear vertical profile (11) with the aid of a panel, which is provided with a triangular panel (45) in the area of the horizontal cable duct cross member (5), the triangular panel (45) having predetermined breaking points (49) or removable surfaces for an opening (50) for connecting the vertical cable duct (13) to the horizontal cable duct cross member (5). 17. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that underneath the front table top (6) base cabinet units (44) for accommodating equipment units are arranged and fastened in the area of the double support feet (12). 18. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that table base cabinets (41), in particular rolling containers (53), are arranged with a stepped cover area (52) adapted to the horizontal cable duct cross member (5) and that a front cover area is designed to accommodate attachments. 19. Work furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a corner combination with at least two work furniture items (1), the double support feet (12) of the corner plate (4) are designed with or without removable foot extensions (30, 31).