FR2822660A1 - OFFICE FURNITURE ARRANGEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an arrangement of the type comprising a stack of sections (32I, 34, 36, 38, 32S) among which at least one assembling section (34, 36) comprises a tenon (54, 60) whereon is vertically nested a mortise (64) belonging to an element (66) for mounting a vertical panel (10), and of the type wherein the mounting element (66) comprises, radially outwards on the side opposite to the mortise (64), a vertical mounting housing (82) with C-shaped cross section wherein is received the vertical edge (16, 18) of the panel, and of the type comprising linking means between the vertical panel (10) and the mounting element (66). The invention is characterised in that said linking means comprise at least a vertical rib (76) which is formed on one of the two opposite walls of the mounting housing (76) which is received clearance-free in a matching vertical groove (84) formed in one of the two opposite side surfaces (20) of the panel edge.

Description

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 The present invention relates to an arrangement of furniture.

 It relates more particularly to an arrangement of office furniture making it possible to arrange, by dividing it, an office space by realizing therein separate zones separated by partitions or small partitions consisting essentially of solid vertical panels, opaque, glazed or semi -vitrés.

 Such arrangements must be modular using a reduced number of components and must be able to be implemented in the simplest possible manner using a reduced tool.

 They must also be removable to allow re-arrangements and / or modifications of existing arrangements by reusing the various components.

 In addition, they must be able to be used without modification of the office space which is most generally constituted by a tray of offices, the floor of which is used as the sole support for the arrangements, the design of which is such that it allows their realization and their set up by a simple laying on the ground where they are supported by gravity.

 Thus, according to a known design, use is made of pairs of vertical posts, or columns, between which a partition extends in the form of a vertical panel which provides the connection between the two posts or columns, as well as the geometry of the whole, and in particular its balance. The columns can also allow connection with assembly kits making it possible to carry out more complex arrangements associating for example horizontal work trays with, if necessary, additional base elements.

 In this case, the quality of the basic assemblies consisting of a pair of columns and a panel of

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 connection between these two columns to which it is fixed and with respect to which it occupies a determined vertical position, is decisive for the good geometry, the balance and the solidity of the assembly.

 In addition, a column must be able to be associated with several panels which extend vertically according to various angular orientations around the vertical axis of the column.

 To this end, an arrangement of furniture, in particular office furniture, has already been proposed, of the type comprising at least one column made up of a stack of sections, angularly orientable around the axis of the column, among which at least one assembly section which comprises a tenon, of radial orientation, on which is vertically fitted a complementary mortise belonging to a mounting element of a vertical panel, adjacent to the column and which extends over at least part of the height of the column, and of the type in which the mounting element comprises, radially outwards opposite the mortise, a vertical mounting housing with a generally C-shaped horizontal section, which is delimited transversely by two parallel and opposite vertical walls belonging to two parallel wings of the mounting element and in which the vertical edge of the panel is received, and of the type comprising connecting means between e the vertical panel and the mounting element.

 The column comprises several so-called assembly sections, each comprising a tenon, and the assembly is tightened axially by a central threaded tie rod of the column so as to constitute a rigid assembly with groups of tenons having the same angular orientation. The tenons of the same group are engaged in a mounting element produced in the form of a section of profile which thus comprises, over its entire height, a mounting housing in which is received the vertical edge of a partition panel .

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 According to a known design, the edge of the panel is fixed inside the mounting housing by fixing means such as nails and screws which are received var example in the vertical edge of the panel edge.

 In addition to using specific fixing means and requiring corresponding tools, this design requires fixing the profile on the vertical edge of the panel before assembling the panel on the column using tenons and mortise.

 In addition, it does not guarantee a correct geometry or sufficient rigidity of the assembly consisting of a pair of columns with an intermediate panel between them fixed to the two columns according to this technique.

 In order to overcome these drawbacks, the invention provides an arrangement of the type mentioned above, characterized in that the connecting means between the vertical edge of the panel and the mounting element comprise at least one vertical rib which is formed on the one of the two opposite walls of the mounting housing, and which is received without play in a complementary vertical groove formed in one of the two opposite lateral faces of the edge of the panel.

 Thanks to this design, each panel is placed in the mounting housing in a vertical sliding movement from top to bottom during which the rib is introduced into the complementary groove.

Advantageously, the connecting means comprise at least one other rib formed on the other of the two opposite walls of the mounting housing which is received in another complementary vertical groove formed in the other of the opposite lateral faces of the edge of the vertical panel, the two ribs preferably being opposite and aligned in a plane perpendicular to the opposite faces of the panel
Thus, the assembly does not require any tools and the connection by ribs and grooves guarantees a perfect geometry

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 of the connection, in particular when the two opposite vertical edges of the panel are connected to two parallel columns because it is possible to easily produce in the factory a panel comprising parallel grooves.

 The panel can be put in place after the column is erected, by introducing it vertically from top to bottom.

 The mounting element is preferably a profile which extends substantially over the entire height of the panel and the column comprises at least two assembly sections whose tenons are angularly aligned and are received in the mortise of the profile.

 The connection of the panel with the mounting element assembled to the column can be completed by means which determine the vertical position of the panel relative to the column and which also immobilize the mounting profile in height.

axiales opposées, et la colonne comporte un bras radial inférieur de support sur lequel prend appui un chant inférieur du panneau , - le bras inférieur de support comporte un talon, radialement intérieur, qui prend appui verticalement vers le bas sur un tronçon inférieur, de la colonne ; - le bras inférieur de support comporte un talon, radialement intérieur, qui est emboîté axialement entre deux tronçons consécutifs, inférieur et supérieur, de la colonne ; - le talon du bras inférieur de support est emboîté axialement entre un tronçon inférieur et un tronçon supérieur d'assemblage dont le tenon est reçu axialement vers le bas dans une encoche complémentaire formée dans la face supérieure du talon ; - la face supérieure du talon comporte au moins un doigt For this purpose, according to other characteristics of the invention: - the mounting housing is open at its ends

opposite axial, and the column has a lower radial support arm on which bears a lower edge of the panel, - the lower support arm has a radially inner heel which bears vertically down on a lower section, column ; - The lower support arm has a radially inner heel which is fitted axially between two consecutive sections, lower and upper, of the column; - the heel of the lower support arm is fitted axially between a lower section and an upper assembly section, the tenon of which is received axially downwards in a complementary notch formed in the upper face of the heel; - the upper face of the heel has at least one finger

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 positioning and holding which is axially fitted upwards inside the mounting housing; - Said lower section is a lower support washer for the lower axial edge of the next upper section of the column; - The arrangement comprises an upper radial arm for closing the open upper end of the profile mounting housing; - the upper closing arm has a radially inner heel which is fitted axially between an upper section and the upper end of the mounting profile, the lower face of the heel has at least one positioning and retaining finger which is fitted axially towards the bottom inside the mounting housing; - Said upper section is an upper washer for clamping the stack of sections of the column.

- la figure 6 est une vue en perspective de dessus du bras Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an elevational view of an example of arrangement of office furniture in accordance with the teachings of the invention, the central column of which is shown partially in axial section; - Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the central part of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a large-scale view of the lower central part of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a large-scale view of the upper central part of Figure 2; - Figure 5 is a perspective view from below on a large scale of a lower radial support arm;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of the arm

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de support de la figure 5 ; - la figure 7 est une vue en perspective de dessus à grande échelle d'un bras radial supérieur de fermeture ; - la figure 8 est une vue en perspective de dessous du bras de support de la figure 7 ; - la figure 9 est une vue en section par un plan horizontal médian d'un tronçon d'assemblage ; - la figure 10 est une vue similaire de celle de la figure 9 qui représente un agencement selon l'invention pour un panneau mince, notamment un panneau de vitrage ; - la figure 11 est une vue en perspective d'une rondelle inférieure ou supérieure d'appui et/ou de serrage ;

- la figure 12 est une vue en perspective d'un tronçon d'assemblage comportant un tenon radial d'assemblage ; et - la figure 13 est une vue en perspective d'une rondelle intermédiaire comportant un tenon radial d'assemblage.

support of Figure 5; - Figure 7 is a perspective view from above on a large scale of an upper radial closing arm; - Figure 8 is a perspective view from below of the support arm of Figure 7; - Figure 9 is a sectional view through a median horizontal plane of an assembly section; - Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 9 which shows an arrangement according to the invention for a thin panel, in particular a glazing panel; - Figure 11 is a perspective view of a lower or upper support and / or clamping washer;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view of an assembly section comprising a radial assembly post; and - Figure 13 is a perspective view of an intermediate washer comprising a radial connection pin.

 In the description which follows, identical, similar or analogous components will be designated by the same reference numbers.

 The arrangement according to Figure 1 comprises two vertical partitions 10 each of which is constituted for example by an opaque panel of agglomerated material 12 with two outer layers of melamine material 14. The panel 10 is delimited by two vertical edges 16 each of which has a song vertical 18 of transverse orientation perpendicular to the two parallel and opposite flat outer faces 20 of the panel 10 (see FIG. 9).

 The panel 10 is also delimited by a convex rounded upper edge 22 and by a concave rounded lower edge 24 with ends whose edge 26 is horizontal. (see figure 3).

 The arrangement also includes three vertical columns, two lateral end columns 28 and a central column 30 located between the two partitions 10.

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 The two lateral columns 28 are generally similar in design to that of the central column 30 which will now be described in detail.

 Column 30, according to a known general design, consists of a vertical stack of sections, of number and types variable depending on the application, the stack being tightened axially to form a column.

 Among the different types of sections capable of constituting a column, there are (successively from bottom to top, considering column 30): - the lower washer 321 for support and tightening (see also FIG. 11); - the tubular cylindrical section of assembly 34 (here eight in number) with radial assembly post (see also FIG. 12); - the intermediate assembly washer 36 (here five in number) with radial assembly pin (see also Figure 13); the smooth tubular cylindrical section 38 of length (here five in number); - And an upper support and tightening washer 32S whose design is identical to that of the lower washer 321.

 Each washer 321 or 32S is an openwork annular disc of symmetrical design with respect to a median horizontal plane and delimited axially by two parallel and opposite plane faces 40 and by a smooth outer circular edge 42.

Each of the faces 40 comprises a series of four relief centering studs 44 which are designed to be received axially inside, with centering by their radially external edges 46, of the external tube of an assembly section 34.

 Each assembly section 34 is a part of generally tubular shape which comprises an inner tube 46 and an outer tube 48 coaxial connected together by radial webs 50.

 The inner cylindrical surface 52 of the outer tube 48

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 constitutes the centering surface for the edges 46 of the pads 44.

 The assembly section 34 comprises an assembly stud 54 which projects radially outward from the external cylindrical surface 56 of the external tube.

 In section through a horizontal plane, the stud 54 has a lying T section and it extends vertically substantially over the entire height of the section 34 delimited by its opposite annular edges 58.

 Each intermediate washer 36 is of identical design to that of a support washer 321, 32S and it further comprises a radial stud 60 of shape and dimensions similar to those of the stud 54.

 Each smooth tubular cylindrical section 38 of length is a simple tube whose diameter of the external surface 62 is substantially equal to that of the external surface 42 of the intermediate washer 36 and of the external surface 56 of the assembly section 34, while the external diameter of each end washer 321 or 32S is slightly greater as can be seen in Figures 3 and 4.

 The pins 54 and 60 are designed to be received in a complementary mortise 64 formed in a mounting profile 66.

 The mounting profile 66 is a vertical element whose section, by a horizontal plane, is constant over its entire height. This section is generally constituted by two substantially parallel and opposite wings 68 which extend in substantially radial vertical planes.

 The two wings 68 are interconnected by a transverse web 70.

 The radially inner vertical edges 72 of the wings 68 determine the profile of the mortise 64.

 In the vicinity of its radially outer vertical edge 74, each wing 68 has a vertical rib 76 which extends, from the face or internal wall 78 of the wing 68,

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transversalement vers l'intérieur dans un plan perpendiculaire au plan radial médian"P"de symétrie du profilé de montage 66.

transversely inwards in a plane perpendicular to the median radial plane "P" of symmetry of the mounting profile 66.

 The profile thus comprises two opposite and aligned ribs 76 whose edges 80 facing each other are spaced by a determined distance D1.

 These ribs 76 constitute connecting means between the mounting profile 76 and the vertical edge 16 of the panel 10, 12 which is received radially inside the housing 82, of section in C, delimited by the wings 68 and the internal veil 70.

 These connecting means comprise grooves 84, complementary to the ribs 76, which are formed in the external lateral faces 20 of the panel 10.

 The bottoms of the grooves 84 are separated by a distance D2 very slightly less than the distance D1.

 Thus, it is possible to mount the panel 10,12 in the mounting profile 66 by inserting, axially or vertically, its edge 16,18 inside the housing 82 the ribs 76 and the grooves 84 performing an assembly of the type to tenons 76 and mortises 84 ensuring precise positioning and geometry of the panel 12 relative to the profile 66, and therefore relative to the column 30 due to the dimensional precision of the various components and of the assemblies and assemblies.

 Each profile, like the grooves 84, being open axially at its two ends, and in particular lower, it is necessary to provide means for axially immobilizing the profile 66 relative to the column 30 and the panel 10,12 relative to the profile 66 .

 To this end, the arrangement comprises, for each panel 10, a lower radial arm 861 for support carried by the column 30.

 As can be seen in Figures 3.5 and 6, the arm 861 comprises a main body 881 elongated in the radial direction and generally of horizontal orientation, with a face

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 upper horizontal plane 901 which constitutes a support plane on the one hand, radially outward, for the horizontal lower edge 26 of the panel 10,12 and, on the other hand, radially outward, for the edge d 'lower end 921 of the profile 66. The body 881 has vertical holes 941 for the passage of possible locking screws, not shown, which may be necessary in the event of excessive weight or effort.

 The radially inner end 961 of the body 881 of the arm 861 is shaped as a heel which has a notch 981 complementary to the lower end of the tenon 54 so that, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the heel 961 is fitted and clamped axially between the upper face 40 of the lower washer 321, on the one hand, and the assembly section 34 and the lower edge 92 of the profile 66 on the other hand.

 The upper face 901 of the lower radial arm 861 comprises a pair of positioning fingers 1001 which extend axially upwards and are fitted inside the profile 66 in the housing 82 between the internal faces 78 and the external faces 20 of the panel 10.

 As a variant, it is not compulsory for the lower section located immediately above the washer 321 to have a lug which is fitted into the notch 981. Indeed, the fitting of the fingers 1001 into the profile and the support of the heel 961 on the washer 321 are sufficient, with the axial tightening to ensure the fixing and the stability of the assembly.

 By way of a variant not shown, each finger 1001 can be double to be received on either side of the veil 70.

 The axial tightening of the heel 961 results from the final axial tightening of all the stacked sections of the column 30 which is ensured by means of a threaded tube, not shown, which is screwed down on a screw 102 which is carried by an internal disc 104 welded to the inside of a lower leg 106 on which the column 30 is supported by means of the lower face 40 of the washer

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 lower 321.

 The upper end of the threaded tube extends opposite the central hole of the upper washer 32S and it receives a tightening screw, not shown, the head of which bears indirectly on the upper face 40 of the upper washer 32S to cause a tightening by axial approximation of the two end washers 321 and 32S.

 More specifically, the head of the upper screw is received in a housing 112 formed in a tightening plug 114 whose annular lower edge 116 is in axial abutment against the upper face 40 of the upper washer 32S, while the head of the screw is supported on the drilled bottom 118 of the housing 112.

 The head of the screw, not shown, has a shape complementary to that of the housing 112, so that the plug 114 constitutes a tightening handle which the user can rotate by its external surface 120. Thus, the tightening of the The entire column can be carried out without any special tool.

 For tightening the stacked sections 34, 36 and 38, the washer 32S is in axial support against the free upper edge of the last section (upper) 38, while the lower annular edge of the last section (lower) 34 is in axial support on the upper face of the lower washer 321.

 To strengthen the assembly of the profile 66 on the column 30 and the assembly without play of the panel 10,12 in the profile, there is provided a radial upper arm 86S whose design is generally similar to that of the lower support arm 861 , its different functional parts being designated by the same reference numerals, indexed "1".

 As can be seen by comparing Figures 3 and 4, the upper arm 86S is shorter than the lower radial arm 861 and it has a notch 108S at its outer radial end for the passage of the edge 16 of the panel 10,12.

 As a variant not shown, the

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 short upper arm 86S by a long arm identical to the lower arms so as to trap the panel 10 vertically downwards and upwards.

 During axial tightening, the two washers 321 and 32S axially tighten the heels 961 and 96S which tighten the profile 66.

 As can be seen in FIG. 10, the design according to the invention can be applied, with the same standard profile, to a panel whose thickness is reduced, and / or to a glazed panel.

 Indeed, a frame 110 can be arranged along the vertical edges 16, 18 of the panel 10, by being fixed for example by gluing.

 Framing uprights can also, if necessary, surround the upper and lower edges of the glazed panel.

 Each panel can also be double, that is to say made up of two adjacent panels trapped simultaneously in a profile.

 Insofar as the panel 10 is placed vertically between two columns 28 and 30 previously erected, and if the height of the panel to be produced is such that the height under the ceiling does not allow this vertical introduction from top to bottom, it is good understood possible to make the panel 10 in several vertically superimposed parts, that is to say stacked and in vertical support on the lower arms 861 through the lower part.

Claims (15)

1. Arrangement of furniture, in particular office furniture, of the type comprising at least one column (30) consisting of a stack of sections (321, 34,36, 38,32S) which can be angularly oriented around the axis of the column , among which at least one connecting section (34,36) which comprises a tenon (54,60), of radial orientation, on which is vertically fitted a complementary mortise (64) belonging to a mounting element (66) a vertical panel (10,12), adjacent to the column and which extends over at least part of the height of the column, and of the type in which the mounting element (66) comprises, radially towards the exterior opposite the mortise (64), a vertical housing (82) for mounting in C section, which is delimited transversely by two parallel and opposite vertical walls (68,78) and in which the vertical edge is received (16,18) of the panel, and of the type comprising means of connection between the vertical panel (10, 12) and the element mounting ment (66), characterized in that these connecting means comprise at least one vertical rib (76) which is formed on one of the two opposite walls (78) of the mounting housing (82) and which is received without clearance in a complementary vertical groove (84) formed in one of the two opposite lateral faces (20) of the edge of the panel.  2. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connecting means comprise at least one other rib (76) formed on the other of the two opposite walls (78) of the mounting housing (82) which is received in another complementary vertical groove (84) formed in the other of the opposite lateral faces of the edge of the vertical panel.  3. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the two ribs (76) are opposite and aligned in a plane perpendicular to the opposite faces (20) of the panel. <Desc / Clms Page number 14>  4. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting element is a mounting profile (66) which extends substantially over the entire height of the panel (10).  5. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the column (30) comprises at least two connecting sections (34,36) whose tenons (54,60) are angularly aligned and are received in the mortise (64) of the profile (66).  6. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting housing (82) is open at its opposite axial ends, and in that the column (30) comprises a lower radial arm (861) for support on which rests a lower horizontal edge (26) of the panel.  7. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower support arm (861) comprises a heel (961), radially inside, which bears vertically downwards on a lower section (321), of the column (30 ).  8. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower support arm (861) comprises a heel (961), radially inner, which is axially fitted between two consecutive sections, lower (321) and upper (34), the column (30).  9. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the heel (961) of the lower support arm (861) is fitted axially between a lower section and an upper section of assembly whose tenon (54) is received axially towards the low in a complementary notch (981) formed in the upper face (901) of the heel (961).  10. Arrangement according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the upper face (901) of the heel (961) comprises at least one finger (1001) of <Desc / Clms Page number 15>  positioning and holding which is axially fitted upwards inside the mounting housing (82).  11. Arrangement according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that said lower section is a lower washer (321) bearing for the lower axial edge of the next upper section (34) of the column (30).  12. Arrangement according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises an upper radial arm (86S) for closing the open upper end (92S) of the mounting housing (82).  13. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper closing arm (86S) comprises a heel (96S), radially inside, which is fitted axially between an upper section (32S) and the upper end (92S) of the mounting profile (66).  14. Arrangement according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the lower face (90S) of the heel (96S) comprises at least one finger (100S) for positioning and holding which is fitted axially downwards at the inside the mounting housing (82).  15. Arrangement according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that said upper section is an upper washer (32S) for clamping the stack of sections of the column (30).