GB2180209A - Furniture system - Google Patents

Abstract

A furniture system suitable for a range of settings, including workshops, salons and offices, comprises at least one overhead member (6) defining an elongated channel, fixing members (8) which can befitted in the channel in a number of positions along its length, furniture units (9) each suspended from one or more of the fixing members (8) and means to secure the fixing members in the different positions. In a preferred form of the system, (as shown), the channels are arranged as several pairs of parallel channels and the furniture units (9) are each suspended from fixing members (8) located in pairs of channels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Furniture system The present invention is a novel system forfurnishing interiors of a wide range of types, including work.

shops, hairdressing and beauty salons, open-plan offices and reception areas.

When interio rs of such types are first desig ned, a degree of inflexibility of the layout tends to occur, either because fixed items offurniture predetermine the layout or because more mobile items are not designed for use in a range of positions. Not only is this inflexibility undesirablefor both aestheticandfunc- tional reasons but also it can lead to uneven wear on carpeting or otherfixtures. Forthese reasons, the present invention has as an objectthe provision ofa novel system offurnishing which is flexible in installation, is adaptable to a wide range of different work settings and can lead to reduced wear, or more even wear, ofthe floor-covering involved.

The furniture system according to the present invention comprises at least one overhead member defining an elongated overhead channel, a plurality of fixing members adapted to fit within said channel in a number of different positions along its length, a pluralityoffurniture units each suspended from one or more of said fixing members, and means to secure said fixing members in said different positions.

Thus, by means ofthe present invention, it is pos sidle to furnish an interior, to a greater or lesser ex- tent, with items of furniture which can interchangeably be suspended from above in a range of different positions of suspension, thereby achieving a high degree offlexibility offurniture layout and consequent convenience.

The overhead member defining an elongated overhead channel may itself be shaped to form a channel or may be aligned with a second member so asto define a channel between them. Preferably at least two such channels are provided, parallel to each other, and each unit offurniture may then besuspended from these two channels simultaneously. It is particularly preferred that several such pairs of parallel channels be provided within the interior concerned, so that the flexibility in siting a given piece of furniture may extend not joust along the length ofthe channels but also laterally from one pair of channels to another such pair.

The channels may be located close up against the ceiling or interior roof of the work area but are prefer- ably spaced from said ceiling or roof. Thus the overhead member defining each channel may be a decorative beam spaced from the ceiling or roof or may be a component of a newly-installed or existing false ceiling. By spacing the memberfrom the ceiling or roof in this way, the channels may be made more ac cessibleforchanging the position ofthefurniture.

Such spacing may also allow of an aesthetically more attractive design overall.

Thefixing memberswhichfitwithinthechannel or channels may conveniently be generally flat in shape, such thattheir least dimension may be only slightly less than the width ofthe channel. Thusthe members may be rectangular, regular, polygonal, elliptical or circular in elevation, dependant in part upon functional but also on aesthetic considerations, and relatively shallow in thickness. Adjustment of the position of the furniture may then merely entail sliding the fixing member along the channel. In turn, the channel or channels are preferably continuous and of uniform cross-section but a discontinuous channel is also acceptable, provided that it affords a number of positions for locating the fixing members.

The furniture units may be decorative orfunc tonal. us the system can be applied to vertical display panels (for advertising orforcarrying other information),to mirrors, to various forms of work surface and to seating. The manner of suspension may be flexible, resilient or rigid. For example, for display panels, mirrors or even seating, a flexible suspension arrangement may be preferred or acceptable.

On the other hand, when the furniture item includes a work surface, a rigid suspension arrangement is in general more convenient. With such considerations in mind, stability may be imparted to the suspended unit by providing a connection to at least two fixing members aligned in the same channel. In apart- icularly preferred form of the invention a unit offurni tureissuspendedfromthreefixing members in spaced alignment in one channel andthreefixing members in an adjacent channel.

As indicated, the fixing members are designed to besecurableina number of different positions along the length of each channel. At its simplest, it is sufficientto provide a number, preferably a large number, of holes along the length ofthe channel and fixing means, such as bolts, to secure the fixing members thereto. Thus the holes maybescrew- threaded and the bolts may be designed to engage the th reads or a Iternatively the holes may be u n- threaded and the bolts may then be secured therein with nuts,forexamplewing-nuts. In another form of the invention, the fixing members carry springloaded studs, which are adapted to project into the selected holes associated with the channel. Other fixing means, including removable clips or brackets, may be used if desired.

The items offurnitureto which the system according to the invention is applicable cover a wide range.

Indeed, depending only upon the strength ofthe overhead members, the invention may be applied to any conventional item offurniture, adapted as described above. As well as the items already mentioned, stacks of shelving or open orclosed cupboards may be featured in the system. The invention is, however, particularly applicable in situations where several identical units of furniture are to be located throughout a work space. Such situations are typified by workshops, drawing offices and in particular hairdressing and beauty salons. In such settings, it may be desired to move work surfaces or otherfeatures, for example mirrors, to different locations and to add or remove extra items according to current workload and/or staffing.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 illustrates, in elevation from one side, one embodiment of the present invention incorporating a mirror unit suitable for a hairdressing salon; Figure 2 is a front elevation ofthe form ofthe inventin shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of three of the mirror units of Figures 1 and 2 installed in a hairdressing salon.

Referring to the drawings, an overhead support structure for the furniture system comprises a number of open beams 4 each constructed of pairs of upper angle sections 5 and lower angle sections 6 braced apartbytubularstruts 7. Each pair of angle sections 6 defines between these sections a channel running the length ofthe beam. The beams 4 extend in spaced parallel pairs along the inner ceiling ofthe salon as shown in Figure 3.

Within each channel 6 are located fixing members in the form of discs 8, which in groups of three, as shown in Figure 1, su pport one side of a mirror unit 9.

The mirror unit support structure consists, at each side ofthe mirror unit, of a disc 10, which foraesth- etic reasons is ofthe same diameter as the discs 8, connected rigidly to the three associated discs 8 by three suspension rods 11. The mirror unit is bridged across by a cylindrical member 12 ofthe same dia- meterasthediscs 1 0,the mirror itself being retained within a frame 13 oftubular cross-section. Adjacent to the edge ofthe mirror unitare shelves 14, which serveto carry hairdressing equipment currently in use atthe specific unit.The unit is symmetrical about the plane ofthe mirror (which latter is in fact a sandwich of two outwa rdly-facing mirrors), so that either orbothfacesoftheunitcan be used at one time.

The lower angle sections 6 of each beam 4are perforated throughout their length with holes at a 500 mm spacing and the respective discs 8 of each unit are similarly spaced. The discs 8 secured tothe angle sections 6 corresponding to a selected position ofthe mirror unit by bolts 15 passing through these holes.

As is clearly shown in Figure 3, each mirror unit9 can be secured in a wide range of positions along the length of each beam 4, each pair of beams may supporttwo or more such units, and units may easily be moved to new positions on the same pair of beams orto a laterally-displaced position on another pair of beams.

Claims (15)

1. Afurniture system comprising atleastone overhead member defining an elongated overhead channels, a plurality of fixing members adapted to fit within said channel ion a number of different positions along its length, a plurality offurniture units each suspended from one or more of said fixing members, and means to secure said fixing members in said dif- ferent positions.

2. Afurniture system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each overhead channel is defined by two aligned overhead members.

3. Afurniture system as claimed in either ofthe preceding claims, comprising at least one pair of said overhead chan nels, the two cha nnels of each pair being parallel to each other.

4. Afurnituresystem as claimed inanyofthepreceding claims, wherein said overhead channels are spaced from the ceiling or roof.

5. Afurnituresystem as claimed in anyofthe preceding claims, wherein the fixing members are generally flat in shape, their least dimension being slightly less than the width of the channel.

6. Afurnituresystem as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fixing members are in the form of discs.

7. Afurniture system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the furniture units are sus pendedfromthefixing members by a flexible suspension.

8. Afurnituresystem as claimed in claim 7, wherein the furniture units comprise display panels andlor mirrors.

9. Afurniture system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the furniture units are suspended from the fixing members by a rigid suspension.

10. Afurniture system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each unit is connected to at least two fixing members aligned in afirstchannel and also to at least two fixing members aligned in an adjacent channel disposed parallel to the first channel.

11. Afurniture system as claimed in either of claims 9 and 10, wherein thefurniture units comprise work surfaces.

12. Afurnituresystem as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each overhead channel is provided with a number of holes along its length, corresponding to positions for securing the fixing members.

13. Afurniture system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fixing members are securable by bolts engaging said securing holes.

14. Afurniture system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fixing members carry spring-loaded studs, adapted to project into said securing holes.

15. Afurniture system substantially as here- inbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.