GB2302885A

GB2302885A - Screens and connectors therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2302885A
Application number: GB9513512A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Treadwell
Original assignee: F C BROWN Co
Current assignee: F C BROWN Co
Priority date: 1995-07-03
Filing date: 1995-07-03
Publication date: 1997-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-03
Also published as: GB9513512D0; GB2302885B

Abstract

A screen system is provided in which the screens (8) are provided with edge connectors (10, 12). The edge connectors have elongate grooves (16) formed therein for accepting sight line closers (30) within the grooves. The sight line closer (30) can be moved to one of a plurality of positions in order to bring enlarged heads (32) of the sight line closers (30) into engagement with one another. The screens are held in fixed relationship to one another by screen connectors (40) located at either or both of the upper and lower edges of the screens.

Description

SCREENS AND CONNECTORS THEREFOR The present invention relates to screens and connectors for interconnecting such screens.

Screens may be used to form moveable partitions within a room, such as an office. The screens may be used to form cubicles. Some modular office systems are arranged such that the size of each cubicle is closely matched to the size of a piece of office furniture, such as a desk. It is generally intended that three of the sides of the desk should be in contact with the screens defining the cubicle and that the joins between adjacent screens should be closed such that there is no gap between adjacent screens.

A disadvantage of a modular office system of the type described above is that the distances between adjacent screens are not adjustable. Consequently, it can be difficult to arrange for electrical cables for devices such as lamps, telephones, and computers to pass between the screens and the side of the desk. Known office screen systems overcome this problem by providing full height spacer posts. However, these are relatively expensive. An office facilities manager is therefore faced with the choice of carrying many expensive components, or calling in the supplier of the screens and connectors, if he wishes to change the office layout.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a screen having at least one edge connector, the or each edge connector having a groove therein opening perpendicular to the edge of the screen for engaging a sight line closer such that the edge of the sight line closer can be positioned at any one of a plurality of positions within the groove so as to adjust the amount by which the sight line closer extends from the groove.

It is thus possible to allow the distance between adjacent screens to be varied by a small amount without giving rise to a visible gap between the screens.

Preferably, an edge connector is provided at each side of a screen and runs the whole height thereof.

Preferably, the groove is provided with a plurality of locating means therein for locating the sight line closer at a chosen lateral position with respect to the screen. The groove may, for example, when viewed in cross-section have portions of a first cross-section separated by regions of a reduced cross-section so as to define a series of open channels for engaging an enlarged portion of the sight line closer.

Alternatively, a plurality of key-way grooves may be provided at an angle to the groove for accepting one or more matching projections on the sight line closer so as to prevent relative lateral movement between the screen and the sight line closer.

Preferably, each sight line closer comprises an elongate member which, when viewed in plan view, carries a deformable head at one end thereof for abutting another sight line closer or part of an adjacent panel so as to close the gap between the adjacent panels.

Advantageously, the other end of the sight line closer carries one or more ribs, or a further enlarged region, for engaging with one or more of the key-way grooves or open channels provided within the or each edge connector.

Preferably, the or each sight line closer can engage one of the edge connectors at a first position such that the head of the sight line closer extends a first distance from the edge of the screen, and at a second position such that the head of the sight line closer is at a second distance from the edge of the screen, the second position being displaced from the first position by a distance equal to half of the thickness of the screen.

Preferably, facing edges of adjacent screens each have an edge connector and each screen carries a sight line closer such that the heads of the closers abut one another.

In an alternative arrangement, a first side of a sight line closer may be held within an edge connector of one screen, and a second side of the sight line closer may extend into the groove of an edge connector of the adjacent screen in a tongue and groove manner.

Preferably, at least the uppermost and lowermost sections of each edge connector have a locating recess open to the upper most and lower most surface, respectively, of the edge connector for receiving locating means of panel connectors therein. The panel connectors extend between at least one of the uppermost and the lowermost edges of adjacent panels to connect the panels to one another.

The panel connectors are relatively low cost items and only a stock of these need be kept in order to allow the office configuration to be changed at will.

It is thus possible to provide a screen system in which the distances between adjacent screens may be altered slightly in order to vary the effective length of one or more of the screens. This enables the sizes of cubicles formed by such screens to remain matched to the sizes of the corresponding desks, or for small gaps to be created between a screen and the side of a desk for allowing the passage of electrical connectors to desk top devices.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an edge connector for attachment to partitions, the edge connector having a first side for engaging an edge portion of a partition and a second side opposite the first side defining a groove opening perpendicularly to the edge of the screen for engaging a sight line closer, in which the sight line closer can be positioned at any one of a plurality of positions within the groove.

The present invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective schematic illustration of a cubicle formed around a desk; Fig. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view through an edge connector constituting an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a plan cross-section through the interface between adjacent screens secured close together; Fig. 4 shows the screens of Fig. 3 secured relatively far a part; Fig. 5 shows the screens of Fig. 4 arranged at right angles to one another; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the connector connecting the screens shown in Fig. 3, and Figure 6a shows a side view of the same connector; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the connector connecting the screens shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the connector connecting the screens shown in Fig. 5;; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a wall comprising four screens and having a right-angled bend therein; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a cubicle enclosing four desks and illustrating the generation of gaps for the passage of electrical cables; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a corner between two screens.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a cubicle 1 around a desk 2. In general, the length of the desk 2 is in multiple of the width W of the screens 4 such that the desk is a snug fit within the cubicle 1, each side of the cubicle is defined by side screens 6.

If two desks were positioned within the cubicle 1, then four screens 4 would be required to define the back wall of the cubicle 1, and the distance between the inwardly facing faces of the side screens 6 would be 4W. Each screen has a finite thickness T, and consequently the total width of a cubicle containing a single desk, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is 2(W+T).

The width of a single cubicle containing two desks 2 would be 2T + 4W. However, the space taken up by two adjacent cubicles one each containing a single desk 2 would be 3T + 4W. Thus, for a line of a given number of desks, the total length of the structure is dependent upon the number of partitions that are included therein. This requires the connections between the rear screens 4 to be of different distances in order to accommodate the extra thickness introduced by each side panel 6. The situation is further complicated if it is desired to leave a gap between the side edge of a desk 2 and a side screen 6 in order to allow for the passage of electrical cables. It is difficult to simply distort the screen to create the extra gap since the screen may be supported against such distortion by a desk in an adjacent cubicle.In order to generate such a gap special full height spacer posts are required. This can add considerably to the cost of forming a cubicle or modifying the existing cubicle plan.

Fig. 2 shows in plan view an edge connector constituting an embodiment of the present invention. The edge connector 10 has a pedestal 12 formed at a first end thereof for engaging with a matching recess within a screen 8. Alternatively, the edge connector can form an integral part of the screen and the pedestal 12 may act as a spacer defining the width of the screen and also as a point of attachment for panels forming the surface of the screen. The edge connector 10 is an elongate element of which runs the full length of each of vertical wall of the screen 8. The edge connector 10 tapers from the foot of the pedestal 12 towards a second end 14 of the connector 10. The tapered profile does not affect the operation of the connector 10, but does reduce the visual bulk of the screen and makes the edges thereof less obtrusive.A groove 16 extends from the second end 14 of the connector into the interior thereof. The groove 16 has a mouth region 18 whose width reduces with increasing distance from the open end of the groove before joining a portion of the groove having substantially constant width. Two pairs of aligned recesses 20 and 22 form locating channels (key-way grooves) for accepting a corresponding rib formed on a sight line closer.

The distance between the channels 20 and the channels 22 is equal to half the thickness T of the screen 8. The groove 16 (including the mouth portion 18) and the channels 20 and 22 extend throughout the entire length of the end connector 10. A locating recess 26 is provided at each end of the edge connector 10, i.e at the top and bottom of the screen.

However, given that it is convenient to form the edge connector in elongate strips and then cut it to match the height of each screen 8, the locating recess 26 can conveniently be formed as a passage extending the entire length of each edge connector 10.

In use, each edge connector 10 between adjacent screens cooperates with a sight line closer 30 as shown in Fig. 3 to close the gap between the screen. The sight line closer 30 is an essentially planar member extending the full height of each screen 8. A deformable head 32 is formed along one edge of each sight line closer 30. The head of one sight line closer faces towards the head of another sight line closer held in the adjacent screen, and the heads are forced into contact with one another. The formation of the heads 32 enables them to abut one another along the full length of the join between the panels, thereby closing a visual (and acoustical) path from one side of the screens to the other side thereof.

Ribs 36 are located in the vicinity of the second edge of each sight line closer and extend sideways from the surface of the sight line closer in order to engage within the pair of grooves 20 or the pair of grooves 22. It is thus possible to decide the amount by which the head 32 of the sight line closer 30 is to extend proud of the second end 14 of the edge connector 10. The sight line closer 30 is inserted into the groove 16 by sliding the sight line closer 30 longitudinally with respect to the groove 16 from one end of the groove.

Alternatively, the sight line closer may be inserted laterally through the mouth of the groove 16 if the edge connector 10 is made of a sufficiently flexible material in order to enable the groove 16 to open sufficiently to accept the ribs of the sight line closer 30 within the groove 16.

Adjacent panels do not have to be in line with one another, and indeed it is possible to create right-angled bends as illustrated in Fig. 5, or three-way 90" (Tee) or four-way 90" (Cross) connections between screens.

Figs. 6 and 6a illustrate a screen connector in plan and cross-sectional view, respectively, of the type used to connect the screens shown in Fig. 3. The screen connectors 40 are relatively low cost items and a plurality of connectors of different shapes can be held within the office in order to enable the screen configurations to be easily adapted. The screen connectors 40 may conveniently be formed from metal or a strong plastics. A relatively short connector is used to connect the screens shown in Fig. 3, whereas a relatively long connector (i.e longer than the short connector by an amount equal to the width of a screen) is used to connect the screens in Fig. 4 and a right-angled connector (as shown in Fig. 8) is used to connect the screens shown in Fig. 5. Tee and cross connectors (not shown) may also be used.

Using the connectors shown in Figs. 6 to 8, it is relatively easy to build a wall of screens as shown in Fig. 9. The wall comprises two arms each containing two screens 8. The join between adjacent screens within an arm is made using a short connector of the type shown in Fig. 6 and by positioning the sight line closers as shown in Fig. 3. The right-angled join between the arms is made using the connector shown in Fig. 8 and by positioning the sight line closers as shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 10 illustrates the formation of a cubicle containing four desks 46, 47, 48 and 49.

The end desks 46 and 49 are arranged with their long axes parallel to side screens 52 and 54 and with their short sides adjacent free standing screens 56 and 58. The tables 46 and 49 have a long dimension P and a short dimension M. The tables 47 and 48 are square and have sides of length M. The screens of the back wall 56, 58, 60 and 62 are designed such that, when all of the screens are interconnected using connections of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the distance between adjacent connections is M. A space of 0.5 T is required between each end screen 52 and 54 and the associated desk 46 and 49, respectively, for the passage of electrical cables. Thus the mid-line of each end screen 52 and 54 is separated from the end of the associated desk by a distance T.Consequently the length of the back wall comprising screens 56 to 62 has to be extended by a distance 2T in order to join with the end walls 52 and 54. The extension of the back wall can be performed in a number of ways. For example, the join between the end wall 52 and the free standing screen 56 may be made using ajoin as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8. A similar join may be made between the end wall 54 and the free standing screen 58. Such an arrangement provides the 0.5 T gap for electrical cables between each end wall and the associated desk. The join between the screen 56 and the screen 60 may be made using a connection as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, the join between the screen 60 and the screen 62 may be made using the connection as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7, and the final join between the screen 62 and the screen 58 may be made using the connection as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. Thus the length of the back wall is increased by 2T.

Fig. 11 shows a corner between two screens in greater detail. Furthermore, the figure shows the components in exploded form so as to clarify the interconnections between the components. In this embodiment, the connector 40 is sandwiched between a connector holder 70, provided at each end of the connector, and the end of the edge connectors 10.

The connector holder has a counter sunk portion 72 for accepting a screw which extends downward from the holder 70 through the respective eye 74 provided at each end of the connector 40 and into the recess 26 so as to secure the connector 40 to the edge connector 10.

The connector holders 70 may cooperate with structural aluminium elements 76 which serve to support accessories, such as baskets an shelves and give a neat appearance to the upper end and lower edges of each screen. The elements 76 may have an extending tongue 78 to engage a groove 80 within the screen.

The screens may be of different heights, for example, the end screens 52 and 54 may be desk mounted screens which are clamped to the desks 46 and 49, respectively. This prevents the base of the desk mounted screens from being attached to the base of the adjacent free standing screen, however the uppermost edges of the screens are arranged to occur at the same height such that these edges can be connected to one another using the connectors as illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8. However connectors between screens of different heights may also be made using converters which do not require the top or bottom edges of adjacent screens to align.

It is thus possible to provide a modular screen system for use in an office whereby the space occupied by each screen is adjustable to allow for the formation of working cubicles and gaps for the passage of cables and the like. Only a plurality of relatively inexpensive and easily changed screen connectors need be stored within the office in order to enable the screen configuration to be easily changed.

Claims

1. A screen having at least one edge connector, the or each edge connector having a groove therein opening perpendicular to the edge of the screen for engaging a sight line closer such that the sight line closer can be positioned at any one of a plurality of positions within the groove so as to adjust the amount by which the sight line closer extends from the groove.

2. A screen as claimed in claim 1, in which the groove is provided with a plurality of locating means for locating a sight line closer at a chosen lateral position with respect to the screen.

3. A screen as claimed in claim 2, in which the groove has portions of a first cross-section separated by regions of reduced cross-section so as to define a series of open channels for engaging an enlarged portion of a sight line closer.

4. A screen as claimed in claim 2, in which the groove has a plurality of key-way grooves for accepting one or more matching projections on a sight line closer so as to resist relative lateral movement between the screen and the sight line closer.

5. A screen as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sight line closer has a deformable head.

6. A screen as claimed in claim 5, in which the deformable head is arranged to abut another sight line closer or part of an adjacent screen, in use, so as to close a gap between adjacent screens.

7. A screen as claimed in claim 3 or 4 or claims 5 or 6 when dependent on claims 3 or 4, in which the sight line closer carries one or more ribs or an enlarged region for engaging with the key-way grooves or open channels provided within the or each edge connector.

8. A screen as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the or each sight line closer can engage a respective edge connector at a first position such that a head of the sight line closer extends a first distance from the edge of the screen, and at a second position such that the head of the sight line closer is at a second distance from the edge of the screen, the second position being displaced from the first position by a distance equal to half the thickness of the screen.

9. A screen as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least one of the uppermost and lowermost sections of each edge connector has a locating recess open to uppermost or lowermost surface, respectively, of the edge connector for receiving locating means of panel connectors therein.

10. A partition comprising a plurality of screens as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which, in use, facing edges of adjacent screens each have a edge connector and each carries a sight line closer such that heads of the sight line closers abut one another.

11. A partition comprising a plurality of screens as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which a sight line closer extends from one screen into the groove of an edge connector of an adjacent screen in a tongue and groove manner.

12. A partition comprising a plurality of screens as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which panel connectors extend between at least one of the uppermost and lowermost edges of adjacent screens to connect the screens to one another.

13. An edge connector for attachment to partitions, the edge connector having a first side for engaging an edge portion of a partition and a second side opposite the first side defining a groove opening perpendicularly to the edge of the screen for engaging a sight line closer, in which the sight line closer can be positioned at any one of a plurality of positions within the groove.