GB2408986A

GB2408986A - A screen system

Info

Publication number: GB2408986A
Application number: GB0328944A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Payn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-12
Filing date: 2003-12-12
Publication date: 2005-06-15
Also published as: EP1541775A1; GB0328944D0; DE602004007602D1; EP1541775B1; ATE367490T1

Abstract

An office screen system has a plurality of units 1 and means for connecting them together 4. The units comprise a peripheral support frame 2 and screening infill. The frame 2 may be tubular and preferably comprises a bent metal tube having an inverted "U" shape creating two upright limbs which define opposite sides of the unit. The infill 3 may have insufficient rigidity to support itself and may be a sheet 3. The frame may have feet 5, wherein at least one foot 5 may be designed to engage with more than one frame of adjacent screen units. The frames preferably have internally directed flanges 2B to which the infill 3 is attached. Each frame may have holes in which are supported means for connecting the units together 4. The infill may be of relatively thin board, sheet metal, glass, plastic or textile material. The system allows the screens to be configured in a variety of different, potentially complex, configurations (figure 2).

Description

A SCREEN SYSTEM

This invention relates to office screens.

Traditionally, office screens, used for separating work areas in an openplan office, have consisted of a rigid panel of a material similar to that which might be used for the construction of partition walls between rooms. Wood-based materials have almost universally been used for example fibreboard, plywood, chipboard or block board. These rigid panels are often covered with decorative textile material which is folded over the edges of the panel and fixed in position eg with staples. Some form of trim or frame is then fitted around the panel to cover the edges of the fabric and the staples to give a neat appearance. The panel is usually provided with a foot structure so that it will stand upright.

With traditional screens of the aforementioned type, when it is desired to join together a number of screens, this has traditionally been done either by using brackets screwed into the top and bottom edges, which is unsightly, or some form of hinge structure screwed into the vertical edges of adjoining panels.

The inventor has now realised that, in the construction of an office screen, instead of using a rigid inner sheet to support an outer peripheral trim, it is possible to use a rigid outer frame to support the inner sheet. When this new principle is applied, it becomes possible to make the inner sheet of any material - 2 which provides the required screening and decorative effects without regard to its physical strength.

Accordingly, the invention provides a screen system for separating workareas in an office, the system comprising multiple screen units and means for connecting them together in a variety of different ways so as to form a screen having a desired configuration; characterized in that, each unit comprises a peripheral supporting frame and a screening infill supported at its edges by the frame.

By employing the invention, a number of limitations associated with traditional screens can simultaneously be solved.

Firstly, because the screening material does not have to be selfsupporting a wide range of aesthetically different materials can be used without limitation from structural requirements. Although it is possible to use rigid materials, the invention makes it possible to use thinner sheets because they do not need to be load-bearing. Also, it now becomes possible to use flexible sheets of decorative material such as metal, glass, plastics, or even woven or knitted textiles which could be stretched inside the supporting frame. Where individual work areas need to share a common source of light, it is possible to use translucent materials such as frosted glass, decorated clear plastics and translucent fabrics.

Alternatively the use of perforated or expanded sheets of metal or other 3 materials will allow sharing of light between work areas. Whatever infill material is used, it will normally be desirable for the frame to incorporate one or more inwardly extending flanges for attachment to the infill.

The invention also greatly simplifies the problem of connecting screen units together. Because there is a load-bearing outer frame for each unit it is relatively simple to provide a suitable linking device which attaches to the frame in a way which allows the frames easily to be connected together in a variety of different configurations,; and to be taken apart and reassembled in a different configuration. The linking device is preferably designed to be mounted in holes in the frame and a suitable linking device operating in this way is described in our copending patent application GB0320944.2 By using the invention it is possible to provide a screen which allows non-rigid materials to be used as a replacement for load-bearing panels previously used and thus give a greater degree of freedom in the selection of the screening material The supporting frame is preferably of a tubular structure, is preferably of metal and is preferably of circular oval or elliptical cross-section. A single piece of circular section metal tube can be bent, using commonly available methods into an attractive yet strong arched shape so as to form a frame from a single "U" shaped component. Alternatively, a number of tubular lengths can be made to fit - 4 together end to end. The tubular structure is preferably bored or punched with holes to give an anchorage for the linking devices which is strong and which allows a variety of different configurations to be employed with two, three or four units being connected together at a common "hub" point. s

Various ways of employing the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a front elevation view of a two unit screen system constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig 2 is a schematic horizontal cross-section through a screen system constructed in accordance with the invention showing a variety of different possible configurations: Fig 3 is a perspective view of a foot for supporting one leg of a screen unit of the type shown on Fig 1; Fig 4 is a perspective view of a foot for a joint between a pair of screen units; Fig 5 is a perspective view of a foot for a joint between three screen units to be arranged to form a "T" or a "Y" shape; - 5 Fig 6 is a perspective view of a foot for a joint between four screen units to be arranged to form an "X" shape Fig 7 is a perspective view of a foot similar to that of Fig 2 but for use when joining units which are not aligned with each other; Fig 8 is cross-section through a connecting bush forming part of a connecting device used to link screen units; Figs 9A and 9B shows how connecting bushes like that shown on Fig 7 are used to connect two screen units; Fig 10 shows how connecting bushes like that shown on Fig 7 are used to connect three screen units; and Fig 11 shows how connecting bushes like that shown on Fig 7 are used to connect four screen units.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a screen system comprising two identical units 1 each having a tubular metal frame 2 and an infill 3. The units are shown connected together by connectors 4 which clip into holes in the frame as will be described later. The frame has welded flanges 2B which are located on the inside of the inverted "U" shape defined by the frame. The infill 3 is connected - 6 by bolts (not shown) to the flanges 2B. The units 1 are supported by feet 5 which will be described in more detail later.

In this particular embodiment the infill 3 is made from a board which is S relatively thin as compared with the panels of traditional screens. This board 3 would not have sufficient strength to support itself in the upright position without the metal frame. Thus, in this structure the panel 3 is supported by the peripheral frame in contrast with former designs where the outer frame or trim was supported by the panel. For this reason, the panel 3 could be replaced by an entirely flexible sheet of fabric or plastics or a thin sheet of perforated or expanded sheet metal etc. Referring now to Fig 2 there is shown a schematic plan view of a screen system designed to illustrate the flexibility of the system. It will be seen that, because of the rounded cross-sections of the frames 2 they are able to nest together at various hub points. At point 6 two frames are linked together; at point 7 three are linked in a Y shape, at point 8 three are linked in a T shape; and at point 9 four are linked in an X shape.

The bottom ends of the screen units are linked and/or supported by special feet5. Fig 3 shows the simplest form of foot which comprises a base plate 5A to which a short tube 5B is welded. The tube 5B is of a diameter such as to fit snugly inside a tubular frame 2. - 7

Fig 4 shows a construction similar to Fig 3 but with two tubes for linking two units eg at point 6 on Fig 2.

Fig S shows a foot construction for linking three units. It can be used to support units at a variety of different angles eg in the shape of a "Y" as shown at 7 on Fig 2, or in the shape of a "T" as shown at 8.

The arrangement of Fig 6 is for linking four units eg as shown at hubpoint 9 of Fig 2.

Where a foot is used for linking together two units which are not aligned with each other, the base plate 5 is not needed because the non-linear arrangement itself provides the necessary degree of support. Therefore, at hub points like IS this, a foot construction such as shown on Fig 7 can be used, where the base plate5A serves only to join together the tubes SB and does not extend substantially beyond the perimeter of the tubes.

At each of the hub points 6, 7, 8 and 9, the screen units are connected, at about shoulder height, by the connecting bushes 4. A cross-section through one of these bushes is shown in Fig 8. Its exterior has a concave surface 4A shaped to conform to the convex curvature of the frames 2; whilst an inner bore 4B of the bush has a groove 4C for a purpose which will become apparent later. - 8

Figs 9 and 9A are detailed views of a connection formed by two bushes 4 attached to their respective tubes 2. Each bush 4 is anchored to an identical hole 2a of its associated tube by means of U-shaped clips 10 made from spring steel.

Each clip 10 has one arm which fits through the hole 2A and extends into the interior of the tube 2 whilst its other arm clips inside the bore 4B of the bush and fits into a recess 4C. Fig 9A shows how, in this way, one bush is clipped below the hole 2A whilst the other bush is similarly held in position above the corresponding hole of the other tube 2. This allows the two tubes to be to be presented to each other as shown in Fig 9B with the two bushes offset so that their internal bores are co-axial. They can then be connected together by a pin 11. A washer 12 fits between the bushes and the pin 11 is prevented from slipping out by a circlip 13. This arrangement allows the two panels to be positioned at a variety of different angles or in a straight line.

It is to be noted that, although the clip 10 holds the bush with a spring action against the tube, and although the effect of the curved surface 4A bearing against the curved surface of the tube provides some degree of rotational positioning, the bush can easily be twisted around by hand so as to point upwardly or downwardly as required. Only after the pin 11 has been inserted does the connection become secure. - 9 -

Referring now to Fig 10, this shows, in detail, the three-way connection, indicated generally at 7 in Fig 2. This three-way connection is essentially similar to the two-way connection but makes use of a second hole 2B for attachment of a third bush 4 attached to a third panel. The third bush is clipped at a position above the hole 2B. The distance between the holes 2A and 2B is equal to twice the length of a bush plus an allowance for a washer and the thickness of the spring clips. This allows the three bushes associated with respective panels to be offset relative to each other so that they can be aligned axially to receive a pin 11A. This pin 11A needs to be sufficiently long to pass through all three bushes Fig 11 is a detailed view of the four-way connection indicated generally at 9 on Fig 2. In this arrangement a fourth bush, associated with a fourth panel is clipped in position below its hole 2B so that all four bushes of respective panels can be aligned with each other with the interposition of washers and connected by a long hinge pin 11 B and circlip. - 10

Claims

Claims 1 A screen system for separating work-areas in an office, the

system comprising multiple screen units and means for connecting them together in a variety of different ways so as to form a screen having a desired configuration; characterized in that, each unit comprises a peripheral supporting frame and a screening infill supported at its edges by the frame.
2 A screen system according to claim 1 in which the supporting frame is tubular.
3 A screen system according to claim 1 or 2 in which the infill has insufficient rigidity to support itself.
4 A screen system according to any preceding claim in which the frame comprises a bent metal tube.
A screen system according to claim 4 in which the metal tube is bent into an inverted 'U' shape having two upright limbs defining opposite sides of the unit. - 11
6 A screen system according to any preceding claim comprising feet adapted to fit onto tubular frames to support the screen unit.
7 A screen system according to any preceding claim comprising means for connecting the units together in a number of different configurations at each junction between units.
8 A screen system according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 6 in which at least one foot is designed to engage with more than one frame of adjacent screen units.
9 A screen system according to any preceding claim in which each frame is provided with holes in which are supported the aforementioned means for connecting the units together.

l O A screen system according to any preceding claim 1 in which each frame has flanges by which the infill is attached to the frame.