GB1460321A - Furniture systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1460321 Desks with cabinets; furniture frames and joints STEELCASE Inc 31 May 1974 [1 June 1973] 24200/74 Heading A4H and A4U A furniture system comprises at least two end panels 12; a plurality of top surfaces 10 of different lengths; a plurality of different storage cabinets 14, 16; first releasable securing means on each top surface and on the panels for releasably securing any one of the top surfaces between the panels; second releasable securing means on the cabinets and on each top surface for releasably suspending any one or more of the cabinets from any one of the top surfaces whereby a plurality of different types of furniture such as desks, book shelves, can be assembled. The cabinets such as 14, 16 differ in dimensions and/or functions. The panels 12 are - secured to top 10 by screws (52), Fig. 7 (not shown). The drawers units 14 are suspended from the top 10, which is either horizontal or tilted, by front bolts (141), Fig. 18 (not shown) and at the rear by a hanger (120), Figs. 16, 17, (not shown) on the unit 14 engaging a top or bottom rail (131 or 132) on top 10, as in Specification 1460322. Each panel 12 comprises sheet metal inner and outer walls 24, 26 and base 22 welded together flat inner wall 24 including a peripheral flange 32, and outer wall 26 including an outwardly formed central portion 34, a flat portion 36 and peripheral flange 35. Parts 35, 36 and 34 form a wiring channel. The panel also includes a peripheral trim strip 40, an access opening in strip 40 and flange 32 being closed by a plug (46), Fig. 11 (not shown). Base 22 includes levelling devices (28), Figs. 7, 12 (not shown). Each panel 12 includes a removable sheet metal cover 20, cover 20 including upper and lower tabs 82, 78 engaging in slots 60, 64 in the panel 12, upper tabs 82 being provided on a slide bar 86 biased to the locked position by a spring 110. Lock release actuators 100 on bar 86 are accessible on removal of the trim plug (46). Each tab 82 has two shoulders 98 (96), Fig. 10, (not shown) at different distances from the bar 86 so that the panel 20 can be mounted further inwardly when upholstered (see Fig. 15B, not shown). When the cover 20 is not upholstered, to ensure a snug fit an extrusion 130 is used. The cover 20 can be adjusted to be a snug fit relative to panel 12 by bending a bridge (64b), Fig. 20, (not shown) between slot 64 and a slot 64a therebelow, bending tabs (140), Fig. 19, (not shown) on side flanges 35 of panel 12 which bear against side flanges 66 of cover 20, and bending the edges of slots 60. A modified panel (12'), Fig. 13, (not shown) may also mount a storage unit (10") by screws (52"), and two such storage units (16, 16'), Fig. 14, (not shown) may also be screwed together. The various parts may be based on 5" modules. The system may include space divider panels (212, 212a), Fig. 21, (not shown).