GB2518371A

GB2518371A - A removable sleeve for a partition

Info

Publication number: GB2518371A
Application number: GB1316581.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phidias Leonida; Simon Woods; Julian Grindall; Craig Jones
Original assignee: CRAIG JONES DESIGN Ltd; SCREEN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: CRAIG JONES DESIGN Ltd; SCREEN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2013-09-18
Filing date: 2013-09-18
Publication date: 2015-03-25
Also published as: GB201316581D0

Abstract

A removable sleeve 10 for wrapping around a partition comprising a flexible sheet with means to fasten two ends together to form a tubular body and means 20 for supporting an item on the partition. The fastening means may be a zip, poppers, press studs, hooks or a hook and loop arrangement. The item support may be defined by a pocket 20 which is arranged to support a tablet computer or smart phone 24 or may be a slit in the sheet or a magnet. The sheet may also have stiffening members. Also disclosed is a sleeve 10 and partition 30 arrangement wherein the sleeve 10 is less than half the length of the partition. The fastening means may be aligned with the lower edge of the partition to hide them and the partition may be attached to a desk 40. The sleeve 10 may provide item support means on two sides of the partition 30.

Description

A removable sleeve for a partition The present invention relates to a removable sleeve for a partition and an assembly comprising a removable sleeve wrapped around a partition. In particular, the present invention relates to a removable sleeve having means for releasably attaching one or more articles to the sleeve.

The use of partitions or screens to divide a space, such as an office space, into a number of different areas, is well known.

One particular type of partition can be used to separate a single desk or a number of desks into a number of individual workstations. The partition may sit on top of a desk or be secured to the edges of two adjacent desks. The partition may provide a privacy screen between two workstations and may also provide a support for various items. For example, it is known for one or more horizontal rails or grooves to be provided on a partition, from which items, such as small shelves and stationery holders, can be hung. However, providing such rails or grooves on a partition can be expensive and may not be aesthetically desirable in some situations.

A need therefore exists for an improved way of supporting items on a partition.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a removable sleeve for wrapping around a partition. The sleeve comprises a flexible sheet having first and second ends and fastening means for releasably fastening the first end to the second end to define an open-ended tubular body, and means for releasably supporting one or more items on the position.

The term removable sleeve' should be understood to mean that the sleeve can be repeatedly attached to a partition and then subsequently removed without damaging the sleeve or the partition.

The term partition' refers to any item used to separate one space from another, for example in an office environment. The partition could be in the form of a screen or board. The partition may be opaque, translucent or transparent.

Preferably, at least a portion of the partition is planar. The partition may be rectangular in shape, but other shapes are possible. The partition may be arranged so that is extends in the vertical direction. As discussed above, the partition may be secured to, or sit on, a desk or table. Alternatively, the partition may be free-standing on the ground, adjacent or not adjacent to a table or desk. A free-standing partition may be configured to rotate around a vertical axis. The terms desk' and table' should be understood to cover any item of furniture having a substantially horizontal surface upon which a user can work.

The term wrapping' should be understood to mean that the sleeve is placed around a portion of the partition. In other words, the sleeve surrounds (or encircles) a part of the partition.

The term flexible sheet' should be understood to refer to any sheet that can be folded at least once (without causing any damage to the sleeve). The sheet can contain a single piece of material or a number of different pieces of material (which may comprise one or more non-flexible piece of material), either connected in the same plane (e.g. end-to-end or side-to-side) or in parallel planes (i.e. in layers).

Where the sheet comprises more than one piece of material connected in the same plane, additional releasable fastening means may be provided to secure the first and second pieces of material together. For example, two zips may be provided to secure the first and second pieces of material together to form a sleeve having a tubular body. In use, a first piece of material may be adjacent one side of the partition and a second piece of material may be adjacent the other opposite side of the partition. The first and second pieces of material may be identical or may have different features. In use the first and second refastenable fastening means (e.g. zips) may be positioned along upper and lower edges of a partition.

The sheet may have a first edge along its first end and a second edge along its second end. The refastenable fastening means may only be provided on the first and second edges. The first edge may be parallel to the second edge The sheet may have first and second sides extending from the first end to the second end. The sheet may have a third edge along its first side and a fourth edge along its second side. The first and second edges may be parallel and the third and fourth edges may be parallel, e.g. the sheet may have a rectangular shape. The sheet may be elongated such that the first and second edges are shorter than the third and fourth edges, or vice versa. Alternatively, the sheet may be square.

In another embodiment, the sheet may have more than four edges and/or may not be rectangular.

The term releasably fastening' should be understood to mean that the first and second ends of the sheet can be fastened together using the fastening means and then separated, a number of times, without causing any substantial damage to the sleeve or the fastening means.

The term open-ended tubular body' should be understood to refer to any body that is hollow and has first and second open ends. In use, the body is wrapped around a partition, so that the partition extends out of both open ends.

The tubular body can have any cross-sectional shape.

The term releasably supporting' should be understood to mean that an item can be supported in some way on the partition using the support means and subsequently removed, a number of times, without causing any substantial damage to the item, the sleeve or the support means.

The releasable support means are configured to support one or more items on the partition using the sleeve. The item may or may not contact the partition.

The items to be attached to the sleeve can take a number of different forms.

For example, in an office environment, the items may be mobile phones (e.g. smart phones), tablet computers, business cards or stationery such as pens.

The present invention therefore provides a removable flexible sleeve that can be placed around a partition and upon which one or more items can conveniently be placed. The removable sleeve can be placed at any suitable position along an appropriately sized partition. The sleeve can be retrofitted to an existing partition. The use of such a sleeve means that the partition itself does not need to include any item support means. As such, the manufacture of the partition may be more simple and cheaper and the partition may be more aesthetically pleasing.

The sleeve may comprise a number of support means positioned on the sheet such that when the sleeve is wrapped around a partition, one support means will be located on one side of the partition and another support means will be located on the other side. If the partition is used to separate a desk or desks into two workstations, then an support means would therefore be present in each In one embodiment, the releasable support means may comprise first and second releasable support means located on either side of a centreline of the sheet. The centreline of the sheet extends parallel to and is equidistant from the first and second ends of the sheet. When wrapped around a partition, the releasable fastening means may be positioned under a lower edge of the partition and the centreline may be positioned on an upper edge of the partition.

Alternatively, the refastenable fastening means may be positioned along the upper edge of the partition. In either arrangement, the first and second releasable support means would then be located on opposite sides of the partition.

Alternatively, the releasable support means may only be provided on portions of the sheet that are intended to be on a single side of the partition.

The sheet may comprise a flexible material at least at the centreline of the sheet, so that the sheet can fold about this line.

The flexible material may comprise a fabric material. Alternatively, the flexible material may comprise other materials, such as rubbers, elastics, neoprene, foams, cardboard, plastics, leather or suede. The flexible sheet may comprise more than one different material, for example, the sheet may comprise two different flexible materials.

The sheet may comprise a rigid material in addition to any flexible material.

The rigid material may form planar sides of the sleeve, intended to be positioned against the planar sides of a partition. The rigid material may be secured to the flexible material in any suitable way, such as stitching, gluing or being placed in a pocket on the sheet.

The fastening means may comprise first and second complementary parts.

Alternatively, the fastening means may be provided by a single means that acts upon both the first and second ends, such as a strip of releasable adhesive.

The first and second complementary parts may be located along the first and second edges at the first and second ends of the sheet. Alternatively, the first and second complementary parts may be located inwardly of the first and second edges.

The fastening means may comprises a zip, a plurality of poppers, press-studs, toggles or hooks, or hook and loop fastening material (e.g. Velcro (RTM)).

The zip may comprise a tail, including the retainer box, that extends beyond the first and second edges of the sheet for ease of assembly of the zip when the sleeve is in place on a partition.

The hook and loop fastening material may comprise a hook tape and a loop tape positioned at the first and second ends. Alternatively, the loops may be provided by a material forming part of the sheet at the first or second end.

The releasable support means is preferably separate from the releasable fastening means, but embodiments can be envisaged where one part of the releasable fastening means, such as loop material, could also form a part of the releasable support means.

The releasable support means may comprise a piece of material secured to the sheet. The piece of material may be secured to an inner or an outer surface of the sheet. The piece of material may be secured directly to the sheet or may be secured indirectly to the sheet, i.e. to one or more intervening layers.

The piece of material may define a loop or pocket. An item may be held by or hung from the loop or placed in the pocket.

The piece of material may define a plurality of loops or pockets.

The piece of material may comprise an elongate strip of material, e.g. having a rectangular shape.

The piece of material may be flexible or non-flexible. It may be fabric or a formed material.

The releasable support means may comprise at least one pocket or a loop.

The releasable support means, such as a loop or pocket may be sized to support or hold any item of interest. For example, the releasable support means may hold a mobile phone, a tablet computer, an item of stationery such as a pen, or a business card. The releasable support means may receive the mobile phone or tablet computer itself, or part of a cover attached thereto, for example in such a way that the screen of the phone or tablet computer remains visible and accessible.

As discussed above, the pocket may be formed from a piece of material secured to an outer surface of the sheet. For example, a strip of material may be secured (e.g. by stitching) to an outer surface of the sheet in such a way that one or more pockets are formed between the strip of material and the sheet.

Alternatively, a pocket may be formed from a piece of material secured to an inner surface of the sheet, In order to access the pocket, an opening (e.g. a slit) may be formed through the sheet.

The piece of material (on the inner or outer surface) may define a plurality of pockets. The plurality of pockets may comprise two pockets of different sizes (for holding different sized items).

Alternatively, or additionally, the releasable support means may comprise an opening formed through the sheet (e.g. a slit), from which items can be hung.

Alternatively, or additionally, the releasable support means may comprise a magnet. The magnet may be secured to an outer or inner surface of the sheet. For example, a strip of magnetic material may be placed in a pocket formed by a piece of material secured to the inner surface of the sheet. The magnet may secure any item, comprising a ferromagnetic material, to the sleeve.

The sheet may comprise a stretchable material, e.g. elastic.

The sleeve may comprise one or more stiffening members secured to the sheet. The one or more stiffening members may comprise a strip of rigid material, such as plastic or metal.

One of the one or more stiffening members may extend in a direction parallel to the first and second edges of the first and second ends of the sheet and may be positioned equidistant from both the first and second edges. The stiffening member may be positioned on the centreline of the sheet. The stiffening member may be positioned such that it sits along an upper edge of a partition, in use. This may provide stability to the sleeve.

Alternatively, or additionally, one or more stiffening members may be secured along a third or fourth edge of the sheet.

The sheet may have a thickness of less than 1 cm or optionally less than 0.5 cm.

The present invention also extends to a partition assembly comprising a partition and a removable sleeve as described above (or claimed in any of the appended claims), with the sleeve being wrapped around the partition.

The partition may have any of the features described above. For example, the partition may be any type of screen or board that can be used to separate one space from another, for example in an office environment. The partition may extend in the vertical direction.

The partition assembly may further comprise one or more desks or tables.

The partition may extend above the desk(s) or table(s). The partition may be wholly positioned above the desk(s) or table(s), so that it does not extend below the

desk(s) or table(s).

The partition may be secured to or rest on the desk or table(s). For example, the partition may be secured to an edge of a desk. Alternatively, the partition may be free-standing on the ground adjacent to one or more desks or

tables.

As discussed above, the fastening means of the sleeve may be located on the sheet such that they can be aligned with a lower edge of the partition. This allows the fastening means to be at least partially hidden from normal view.

Alternatively, the fastening means may be aligned with an upper edge of the partition.

As discussed above, the partition may be generally rectangular in shape (possibly having rounded corners), but other shapes are possible.

The sleeve has a length extending along the axis of the tubular body of the sleeve. The sleeve's length may be less than that of the partition (extending in the parallel direction) so that the sleeve can be placed at a number of different positions along the partition. The sleeve's length may be less than 50% of that of the partition, or less than 33% or less than 25%.

The partition assembly may comprise a first releasable support means located on one side of the partition and a second releasable support means located on another side of the partition. As discussed above, this may be achieved by positioning the support means on either side of the centreline, which in use is intended to lie along an upper edge of the partition. Providing support means on both sides of the partition means that users in workstations on either side of the partition can both use the support means. Where the first and second releasable support means have a particular orientation, e.g. the opening of a pocket, the orientation of the first and second support means may be opposed (about the centreline) so that the support means can be used on opposite sides of the partition.

The sum of the height and the thickness of the partition may be approximately half the distance between the first and second ends of the sleeve.

This means that the centreline of the sleeve will lie along an upper edge of the partition and the first and second ends will lie along the lower edge. The term approximately half should be understood to mean within 10% of half As discussed above, a stiffening member may be provided along the centreline so that it rests upon the upper edge of the partition.

The partition may be any suitable size. For example, the partition may be between 50 and 200 cm long andlor between 30 and 100cm high and/or between 2 and 10cm thick. More preferably, the partition may be 70 and 180cm long and/or between 30 and 60 cm high and/or between 3 and 6 cm thick.

The partition may be opaque or translucent.

The partition may be made from a plastics material, such as polyurethane.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a partition assembly comprising a partition, a removable cover extending around at least one edge of the partition, wherein the cover comprises a flexible sheet and means for releasably supporting one or more items on the cover, and the cover has a length that is less than that of the edge of the partition, so that the cover can be placed at a plurality of different positions along the partition.

The partition may have any of the features described above.

The removable cover comprises a flexible sheet and/or one or more non-flexiable parts.

The removable cover may only extend around a single edge of the partition (e.g. an upper edge) and not around any other edges. For example, the cover may hang over the upper edge of the partition and its first and second ends may not be fastened together. Instead, the first and second ends may hang freely adjacent the lower edge of the partition, and may be weighted down e.g. by first and second rods secured to the first and second ends respectively.

Alternatively, the removable cover may comprise the removable sleeve as described above, i.e. the cover may comprise a flexible sheet and may in the form of an open-ended tubular body.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a removable sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a partition assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention including the sleeve of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a cut-away perspective view of part of a partition assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of a partition assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a side view of part of a removable sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a side view of part of another removable sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a side view of part of a partition assembly comprising the part of the sleeve of Fig. 6; Figure 8 is a schematic plan-view of a removable sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 9 is a view of a partition assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a removable sleeve 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sleeve 10 comprising a planar sheet 12 having a first end 13 and a second end 14. The sheet 12 is rectangular and has edges 15, 16, 17, 18. A zip 22 is provided along edges 15, 16 for releasably fastening the first and second ends 13, 14. The sheet 12 is flexible so that it can be folded about centreline 19. The sheet may comprises a fabric material, although other flexible materials will also be suitable.

Provided on the outer surface 1 2a are two pockets 20. The pockets 20 are each provided by stitching a piece of material to the outer surface 12a. In use, the pockets 20 can retain items such as mobile phones, stationery and tablet computers.

Figure 2 shows a partition assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The assembly 100 comprises the sleeve 10 of Fig. 1 wrapped around a partition 30. The partition 30 comprises a top edge 32, a bottom edge 34 and side edges 36, 38. The partition 30 is generally rectangular with rounded corners. The partition 30 extends vertically above a pair of adjacent tables 40, 42.

The partition 30 is secured to one or both of the tables 40, 42 via a pair of brackets 39. The partition 30 may be formed of polyurethane and may have a fabric skin (not shown).

In order to wrap the sleeve 10 around the partition 30, the centreline 19 of the sleeve 10 is aligned with the top edge 32 of the partition. The first and second ends 13, 14 of the sleeve 10 are pulled towards each other at the lower edge 34 of the partition and the zip 22 is fastened. Items, such as a mobile phone 24, can be placed in the pockets 20. The sleeve 10 may also have further pockets 20 on the opposite side of the partition 30 facing desk 42 (not shown).

Figure 3 shows part of a partition assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The assembly 100 comprises a sleeve 10 wrapped around partition 30. A tail 22a of zip 22 can be seen extending beyond the side edge 18 of the sleeve 10. This will assist the assembly of the sleeve 10 around the partition 30. A magnet 26 is secured to the inner surface of the sleeve 10 via stitching 27. Items having a ferromagnetic material (not shown) can be hung off the sleeve 10 via the magnet. A stiffening member 50 is secured to the inner surface of sleeve 10 along side edge 18 via stitching 51.

Figure 4 shows a partition assembly 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The assembly 100 comprises two partitions 30 on a desk 40, with the left-hand side partition 30 having a sleeve 10. The sleeve 10 comprises a pocket 20 and a stiffening member 52 secured to the upper edge of the sleeve 10 along centreline 19, The stiffening member 52 may be made of a plastics material and may provide stability to the sleeve 10.

Figure 5 shows part of sleeve 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. A length of material 28 is secured to the outer surface of a sleeve (not shown) via stitching 28a to define pockets 29a, 29b, 29c. Inserted in pockets 29a, 29b are pens 25, while pocket 29c is sized to receive a mobile phone (not shown).

Figure 6 shows part of sleeve 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The sleeve 10 comprises a pocket 60 defined by an opening 62 and a panel 65 (shown in outline) secured to an inner surface of the sleeve 10 via stitching 6t The opening 62 may be reinforced by a piece of card 64 stitched to the inside of the pocket 60 and stitching 63 around the opening 62.

Figure 7 shows part of a partition assembly 100 comprising the sleeve 10 of Fig. 6. The sleeve 10 is wrapped around a partition 30. The pocket 60 (Fig. 6) is holding a tablet computer 70 via a cover (not shown) of the tablet 70 being inserted into opening 62. The screen 72 of the tablet 70 is visible and accessible to a user.

Figure 8 shows a sleeve 10 in an open, laid out flat configuration. The sleeve has a pair of pockets 20a on one side of centreline 19 and another pair of pockets 2Gb on the other side. The pockets 20a have openings 21a which face the centreline 19 and are opposed to the openings 21b of pockets 20b. As such, when the sleeve 10 is wrapped around a partition (as shown in Figure 2), with the centreline 19 aligned with an upper edge of the partition, each opening 21a, 21b faces upwards.

Figure 9 shows part of an alternative partition assembly bOa. The partition 30a again extends in the vertical direction but is longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. The partition 30a can be considered to be an upright partition. The sleeve ba is wrapped around the partition 30a so that the zip 16 extends vertically along right hand edge SOb of partition 30a. The pocket 20 has an opening 20a extending horizontally. Also provided is a strip of material 23 defining three loops 23a for holding items such as pens. The partition 30a may be free-standing on the ground.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A removable sleeve for wrapping around a partition, the sleeve comprising: a flexible sheet having first and second ends and fastening means for releasably fastening the first end to the second end to define an open-ended tubular body; and means for releasably supporting one or more items on the partition.
2. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the releasable support means comprises first and second releasable support means located on either side of a centreline of the sheet, wherein the centreline extends parallel to and is equidistant from the first and second ends.
3. The sleeve of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet comprises a fabric material.
4. The sleeve of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fastening means comprises first and second complementary parts.
5. The sleeve of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second complementary parts are located along the edges of the first and second ends.
6. The sleeve of any preceding claim, wherein the fastening means Gomprises a zip, a plurality of poppers, press-studs, toggles or hooks, or hook and ioop fastening material.
7. The sleeve of any preceding claim, wherein the releasable support means comprises a piece of material secured to the sheet.
6. The sleeve of claim 7, wherein the piece of material defines a loop or a pocket.
9. The sleeve of claim 8, wherein the piece of material defines a plurality of loops or pockets.
10. The sleeve of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the releasable support means comprises at east one pocket.
11. The sleeve of any preceding claim, wherein the releasable support means is configured to support a tablet computer or a smart phone or a cover attached to a tablet computer or a smart phone.
12. The sleeve of any preceding claim, wherein the releasable support means comprises an opening formed through said sheet.
13. The sleeve of any preceding claim, wherein the releasable support means comprises a magnet secured to the sheet.
14. The sleeve of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more stiffening members secured to the sheet.
15. The sleeve of claim 14, wherein at least one stiffening member extends in a direction parallel to the edges of the first and second ends of the sheet and is equidistant from both of the edges.
16. A partition assembly comprising: a partition; and the removable sleeve of any preceding claim, the sleeve being wrapped around the partition.
17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the sleeve has a length extending along the axis of the tubular body that is less than that of the partition, so that the sleeve can be placed at a plurality of different positions along the partition.
18. A partition assembly comprising: a partition; and a removable cover extending around at least one edge of the partition, the cover comprising a flexible sheet and means for releasably supporting one or more items on the cover, wherein the cover has a length that is less than that of the edge of the partition, so that the cover can be placed at a plurality of different positions along the partition.
19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein said removable cover comprises the sleeve of any of claims ito 15.
20. The assembly of claims 16, 17 or 19, wherein the fastening means of the sleeve are aligned with a lower edge of the partition so that they are at least partially hidden from view
21. The assembly of claims 16, 17, 19 or 20, wherein the sum of the height and thickness of the partition is approximately half the distance between the first and second ends of the sleeve.
22. The assembly of any of claims 16 to 21, wherein the partition extends in the vertical direction.
23. The assembly of any of claims 16 to 22, further comprising a desk or table, wherein the partition extends above the desk or table.
24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the partition is secured to or rests on thedesk or table.
25. The assembly of any of claims 16 to 24, wherein the cover or sleeve comprises a first support means located on one side of the partition and a second support means located on another side of the partition.
26. The assembly of any of claims 16 to 25, wherein the partition is generally rectangular.
27. The assembly of any of claims 16 to 26, wherein the partition is between 50 and 200 cm long and/or between 30 and 100cm high and/or between 2 and 10 cm thick.
28. The sleeve or assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the sheet has a thickness of less than 1 cm or optionally less than 0-5 cm.
29. A sleeve substantially as herein described, and/or with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
30. An assembly substantially as herein described, and/or with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.