EP0504533B1 - Modular, structural office system - Google Patents

Abstract

Modular office construction system, characterised in that it is composed of the necessary and sufficient number of elements or modules, assembled under the action of gravity, each corresponding to a specified function, namely the work surface function, the rest/storage function and the rest/guide-conductor function, the guide-conductor function being performed by a column (1B) forming, on a lower fraction of its height, a rest for a corner of a single platform serving as the work surface (9), above the level of which, on an upper fraction (8), it gives access to the set of various conductors feeding the equipment placed on the said platform, the said platform comprising on each side of the said column a wing (2) (3), the end of which rests on a chest (1C) (10) performing the rest function and moreover capable of performing the storage function, the juxtaposition of at least two such identical platforms along any two of their respective sides with a view to extending the structure to assemblies of unlimited dimensions being achieved by sharing at least one rest module, the said elements being linked to one another by means for positioning and for holding in position via gravity ensuring the correspondence of the respective volumes by their natural mutual adaptation. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a new modular office construction system, applicable in particular to the production of quality sets of "landscapes" from a number of standard models assembled in an appropriate manner.

Such systems already exist in large numbers. They have in common the disadvantage of having a very large number of different modules, this resulting from the need for the user to use, for each dimension and arrangement provided in a set, a different module specially provided for such a dimension or such a provision. Thus, known systems commonly use a considerable number of components, for example five hundred, which makes the management of such systems extremely cumbersome and complicated. This is all the more true in the case where a company offers its customers several different systems. In addition, the assembly of these modules together often calls for organs that are not very complicated, at least involving skilled labor costs and consuming a lot of time.

The present invention eliminates these two major drawbacks, thanks to a new design of the system using two concepts, which, although they may seem obvious, have never been sufficiently taken into account.

• la fonction plan de travail,
• la fonction appui,
• la fonction rangement,
• la fonction guidage des conducteurs.

The first notion is that a set, whatever its shape and dimensions, in fact only fulfills a very limited number of functions, namely:

• the worktop function,
• the support function,
• the storage function,
• the conductor guidance function.

Consequently, the first basic idea of the invention is to limit the number of modules to those which are each necessary and sufficient to fulfill each of these functions, or even two simultaneous functions.

The second notion is that, by means of passive means for holding in place, natural gravity, that is to say the weight of a first module, is generally sufficient to couple it to a second module situated below the first.

Consequently, the second basic idea of the invention is to eliminate any means of assembling the modules together, such assembly being done by simple positioning and gravity.

• un premier module remplissant la fonction de plan de travail, comportant une face supérieure plane et une face inférieure plane, et présentant une première et une seconde aile latérales et une section de raccordement angulaire desdites ailes, lesdites ailes et ladite section angulaire constituant ensemble une surface de travail,
• un deuxième module de support sous forme de caisson constituant une unité de rangement,
• un troisième module de support sous forme de caisson constituant une unité de rangement, et
• un quatrième module sous forme de colonne se prolongeant jusqu'au-dessus de la face supérieure du premier module pour permettre le passage des conducteurs alimentant le matériel situé sur ladite face supérieure.

An attempt in this direction is found in document EP-A-0 307 620, of which FIG. 6 represents, in a certain way, a transformable office furniture, comprising four modules, namely

• a first module fulfilling the worktop function, comprising a planar upper face and a planar lower face, and having first and second lateral wings and an angular connection section of said wings, said wings and said angular section together constituting a surface of work,
• a second support module in the form of a box constituting a storage unit,
• a third support module in the form of a box constituting a storage unit, and
• a fourth module in the form of a column extending above the upper face of the first module to allow the passage of the conductors supplying the equipment located on said upper face.

The invention aims at an improvement to such an office furniture, aiming to allow, with the same number of modules, the creation of assemblies having even more variety and originality, by means of modules of different shape and positioning means. and keeping in place simpler and authorizing such assemblies, by simple turning and / or pooling of the first module of several juxtaposed pieces of furniture.

• le premier module est sous forme d'un plateau unique utilisable rectoverso dont un coin de ladite section angulaire constitue un pan coupé,
• le deuxième module de support présente une surface supérieure destinée à supporter l'extrémité de ladite première aile du premier module,
• le troisième module de support présente une surface supérieure destinée à supporter l'extrémité de ladite seconde aile du premier module,
• le quatrième module présente une surface horizontale plate destinée à supporter le coin à pan coupé de ladite section angulaire du premier module,
• la juxtaposition d'au moins deux tels plateaux identiques le long de deux quelconques de leurs extrémités respectives en vue de l'extension de la structure à des ensembles de dimensions non limitées se faisant avec mise en commun d'au moins un module de support,
• lesdits modules étant assemblés les uns aux autres par des moyens de positionnement et de maintien en place par gravité.

To this end, the invention is characterized in that, in an office furniture of the aforementioned type,

• the first module is in the form of a single plate which can be used rectoverso, a corner of said angular section of which constitutes a cutaway,
• the second support module has an upper surface intended to support the end of said first wing of the first module,
• the third support module has an upper surface intended to support the end of said second wing of the first module,
• the fourth module has a flat horizontal surface intended to support the cutaway corner of said angular section of the first module,
• the juxtaposition of at least two such identical plates along any two of their respective ends with a view to extending the structure to sets of unlimited dimensions being made with the pooling of at least one support module,
• said modules being assembled to each other by means of positioning and holding in place by gravity.

• une zone à relativement grande profondeur destinée à recevoir notamment le matériel informatique devant lequel l'utilisateur devra pouvoir manipuler des documents,
• une zone à largeur moyenne constituant le bureau proprement dit, et sur laquelle l'utilisateur "travaillera",
• et une zone de plus faible largeur sur laquelle seront disposés téléphone, corbeilles de documents, petit matériel de bureau et analogues.

According to a preferred but not compulsory embodiment of the invention, said tray offers work areas each adapted to a "sub-function", such sub-functions also being limited in number and being reduced to:

• a relatively deep area intended to receive in particular the computer equipment in front of which the user must be able to handle documents,
• a medium width zone constituting the office proper, and on which the user will "work",
• and a narrower area on which telephone, document baskets, small office equipment and the like will be placed.

For this purpose, the plate is asymmetrical, its two wings having different widths and connecting to a central zone bearing on the support column / guide-conductors, while the ends of the wings will rest on support modules whose the depth will correspond to the width of each wing.

If a wing is "terminal", that is to say constitutes one end for the assembly, the width of the support module may be relatively narrow, provided that it can still be used as storage.

If a wing is "terminal", that is to say constitutes one end for the assembly, the width of the support module may be relatively narrow, provided that it can still be used as storage.

If a wing is connected to another wing belonging to a neighboring platform, the width of the support module must be double, and distributed between the two wings. Such a "double" support model could also be the single support module used in the system, in which case a terminal wing could either completely cover it, or cover only one half, the other half. being covered by a shelf, an auxiliary tray or the like.

Each support module can be fitted out appropriately to fulfill the storage function: drawers, doors, shelves, hanging files and the like.

The support column / conductor guide module is a vertical prism having, at the height of the upper face of the support modules, a notch intended to receive the angle of the plate which therefore finds its support therein and extends above the tray by a portion to which all the conductors intended to supply the devices carried by the tray are guided, and on the front face of which are mounted the sockets necessary for this purpose.

The assembly of a tray to the next to achieve a landscaped set can be done on any couple of sides having the same length or width, with or without turning the tray, usable double-sided, to create sinuous shapes. It can also be done only on the two opposite sides of a support / guide column, in which case the two plates will be "head to tail".

A particular interest in these assemblies according to the invention is that they offer the possibility of creating a very large number of work stations on a relatively small area of the premises.

As has been explained, the whole assembly is kept as immobile as a mono-block by the simple weight of the plates on the support modules. However, in the context of the invention, provision is made to equip the plate and the support modules with positioning and holding means ensuring the correspondence of the respective volumes by their natural mutual adaptation. These positioning or holding elements in place may be nipple / bowl pairs, or pegs crossing the plate to come in support housing. Such means have the advantage of only intervening by simple gravity, requiring no tools.

Of course, optional additional accessories may optionally be associated with the basic module described above, such as folding accordion panels that can be deployed to close a space between support modules and the like.

• les figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D représentent l'ensemble des modules nécessaires et suffisants selon l'invention pour réaliser un ensemble de base, pouvant être associés à d'autres ensembles identiques, pour former un ensemble complet de toute configuration souhaitée,
• la figure 2 représente une telle association de deux ensembles de base, réunis de manière à donner un aspect sinueux à l'ensemble final et comportant les modules de base illustrés aux figures 1A à 1D.

The invention will now be described in a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

• Figures 1 A , 1 B , 1 C , 1 D represent the set of modules necessary and sufficient according to the invention to produce a basic set, which can be associated with other identical sets, to form a complete set of any desired configuration,
• 2 shows such a combination of two basic sets, together so as to give a serpentine appearance in the final set and having the basic modules shown in Figures 1 A to 1D.

Figure 1 A shows a tray 1 A completing the worktop function throughout and consisting of two rectangles 2 and 3 together at right angles by a rectangle 4 having a cut in 5. One side of the rectangle 4 is notched so that the three elements, 2, 3 and 4, which are of course made in the form of a single plate, have a curved notch 6 which will constitute the location of the user.

The width L of the rectangle 2 is greater than the width 1 of the rectangle 3 in this preferred embodiment. It is understood, however, that in a simpler embodiment the widths l and L can be equal.

Figures 1 C and 1 D represent two support modules, this number being made necessary because the widths l and L are different.

The two modules 1 C and 1 D have the form of boxes whose depth is respectively equal to the width L and to the width l of the two rectangles 2 and 3.

Finally, FIG. 1B represents a column 1B of prismatic shape, the lower part 7 of which is of square section, while the upper part 8 is of triangular section, thus defining a horizontal surface 9 on which the cutaway 5 of the tray 1 A.

According to a variant, the column 1B may have at the height of the plate a peripheral groove whose height is very slightly greater than the thickness of the plate, while the plate has instead of a cutaway 5 a notch corresponding to the section of the column.

With this minimum number of modules, it is possible according to the invention to constitute an unlimited number of assemblies having all the desired configurations and dimensions.

Such an assembly is shown by way of example in FIG. 2.

We find in Figure 2 the four modules 1 A , 1 B , 1 C , 1 D shown individually in Figures 1 A to 1 D. the rectangle 2 of the tray 1A resting on the entire width of the support module 1 C while that the end of rectangle 3 rests on half the width of module 1 D.

The cutaway 5 of the tray 1 A is placed as described above on the horizontal half-section 9 of the column 1B .

The second element identical to the previous one and which is associated with it in the inverted position in FIG. 2 likewise comprises a plate 11 A , a column 11 B and a support box 11 C , but on the other hand shares the other box 1D with l 'previous assembly by the narrow end 13, while the wide end 12 rests on half the width of the box 11 C.

The other half of this width is occupied by a shelf designated by 20 and which constitutes one of the optional elements of the assembly.

As seen on the whole drawing, a user located in the notch 6 of the plate 1 A , can take three positions in front of three different work zones: if he stands in front of zone 4, which is the deepest up to the cutaway 5, he may have before him computer equipment and the documents necessary to use it.

If he stands in front of position 2, he has in front of him a work surface similar to a normal office, while he can use the narrower position 3 to place files or a telephone or any other office equipment.

The inversion between the work plan 1A and the work plan 11A is done by simple reversal of one of these two work plans, which makes it possible to give the assembly of FIG. 2 the sinuous appearance that the 'we see.

Of course, an infinity of other assemblies are possible with an infinite number of similar assemblies, and it should be noted that neither the dimensions nor the relative arrangements of said elements are affected by the extremely reduced number of modules used to constitute them.

It should be repeated, as already mentioned above, that the asymmetrical shape of the plates 1 A and 11 A is not an obligation, and that one could have fully symmetrical plates in which case the number of modules would be further reduced, since the modules 1 C and 1 D would then be identical.

The modules 1 C and 1 D can be arranged in storage with drawers as shown in FIG. 1 C or with doors that can be seen in FIG. 1 D or with any customary arrangement in the office industry.

The immense advantage of the system according to the invention is therefore to comprise only three, or at most four, modules of very great simplicity of construction and of easy assembly, since the simple weight of each worktop is sufficient to immobilize the support modules on which they are placed.

Due to this simplicity of design and construction, the system according to the invention is exceptionally inexpensive to build and to assemble. It should also be noted that by this very design, it is very easy to transform an already existing assembly by adding other assemblies or by modifying the arrangement of the elements, since no assembly and disassembly of assembly members n 'is to be expected.

Instead of assembling two plates along one side of one of the rectangles 2 and 3 to form a continuous surface, one can also assemble two plates by the cut sides 5, in which case, instead of a simple pan cut, it will be advisable to practice in the angle 5 a square notch coming to slip in a slit having the thickness of the plate of the column 1 B , this slit being practiced on each side of each opposite edge of the column 1B , this double slot then replacing the triangular bearing surface 9.

It is obvious that the description which has just been given by way of example has no limiting character, all the variants being able to be conceived while remaining within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (8)

1. Item of transformable office furniture, comprising of four modules, notably of which are

   - a primary module fulfilling the function of a work surface, comprising of a flat upper face and a flat lower face, and presenting a primary and a secondary lateral wing and an angular connecting section for the purpose of joining the afore mentioned wings, with the afore mentioned wings and angular section constituting, in conjunction with each other, a work surface,

   - a second supporting module in the form of a box unit which constitutes a filing unit,

   - a third supporting module in the form of a box unit which constitutes a filing unit, and

   - a fourth module in the form of a column which extends to above the underside face of the upper surface of the primary module so as to allow for the passage of such conductors as necessary for carrying current to equipment situated on the afore mentioned upper surface,
   characterised in that

   - the primary module is in the form of a single plate (1A) which is reversible and allows either surface to be used and with the corner of the afore mentioned angular constituting a cut edge,

   - the second supporting module (1C) presents an upper surface that is destined to support the extremity of the afore mentioned first wing (2) of the primary module,

   - the third supporting module (1D) presents an upper surface that is destined to support the extremity of the afore mentioned second wing (3) of the primary module,

   - the fourth module (1B) presents a flat horizontal surface (9) that is destined to support the cut edged corner (5) of the afore mentioned angular section of the primary module,

   - the juxtaposition of at least two of such identical plates along the entire length of either of their two respective extremities in view of the extension of the structure for the purpose of creating structures, the dimensions of which are limitless, is achieved by the joining together with at least one supporting module (1C or 1D,

   with these module being assembled one against the other by means of being placed in position and thereafter being maintained in position by the force of gravity.
2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the two wings (2,3) of the surface (1A) are both of different width (I, L), with the box units serving to support the extremities (1C, 1D) presenting depths that are equal to these respective widths.
3. System according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the width of each box unit being equal to twice that of the corresponding supporting surface of a plate, the remaining available surface is used to act as a support for the extremity of a second juxtaposed plate, for the purpose of thereby placing a shelving unit or similar, or for the purpose of thereby placing a second secondary plate.
4. System according to one of either of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the afore mentioned column (1B)is a prism with a square base (7) with the upper part (8) of which is situated above the lower surface of the plate being channelled out on a diagonal in such a way so as to thereby constitute a triangular supporting surface (9) upon which the corresponding corner (5) of the afore mentioned plate (1A) is destined to rest, with this corner presenting a cut edge, the length of which is equal to the diagonal of the afore mentioned square.
5. System according to any one of the claims 2 to 3, characterised in that the afore mentioned column presents, to the height of the plate, a peripheral rib the height of which is very slightly greater than the width of the plate, whilst the plate presents on its corresponding angle a slot that corresponds to the dimension and to the form of the horizontal section of the column.
6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a panel in the form of an accordion curtain is attached between two supporting modules, in such a way as to constitute a skirt, the length of which may be adjusted.
7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means for placing in position and maintaining the elements in place are constituted by a stud/recess coupling, with the two elements of which being respectively fashioned in the plate and the supporting module or the reverse.
8. System according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the means for placing in position and maintaining the elements in place are constituted by pins which pass completely through a hole in the plate so that they may arrive at a housing in the corresponding supporting element.

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