GB2530008A

GB2530008A - Furniture assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2530008A
Application number: GB1412808.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Wilson
Original assignee: CAPS GROUP ASSOCIATES Ltd
Current assignee: CAPS GROUP ASSOCIATES Ltd
Priority date: 2014-07-18
Filing date: 2014-07-18
Publication date: 2016-03-16
Also published as: GB201412808D0

Abstract

A furniture assembly 10 including an inner unit 12 which is suitable for the connection of services such as data and power and suitable for deployment in a desired location, and an outer unit 14 mountable thereon once deployed. Preferably the assembly is a desk. Preferably a forming unit 16 of similar dimensions to the inner unit is provided on which the outer unit can be constructed, held and transported. Preferably the former unit is collapsible. Also claimed is a method for locating an inner unit in a desired location, connecting services thereto and subsequently locating the outer unit on the inner unit. The assembly allows connection of power and data to furniture during construction, with the outer units fitted only once construction is completed, such that minor damage to the inner unit does not affect the form or function of the completed assembly.

Description

Furniture Assembly This invention concerns a furniture assembly, and also a method of forming a furniture assembly.

A wide range of furniture such as for instance check in desks are required for airports, train stations and other similar institutions. It is often required to install such furniture during construction or refurbishment of such institutions. This is particularly the case as during the construction! refurbishment it is necessary to provide all the electrical and data and any other services connections to such furniture.

Location of the furniture in situ during construction/refurbishment can be problematic, and particularly as such furniture can become damaged during the construction/refurbishment phase. For instance damage can occur by various construction or refurbishment activities such as installing screens, fixing ceilings or installing flooring. It is also common practice for desks to be used as hiding places for contractors' tools and materials which can for instance damage interiors of furniture or any covering applied thereto.

If such furniture is damaged this can cause significant problems when it is required to handover such buildings. An example would be to bring in specialists to repair the furniture and sometimes replace part or all of the furniture which has been damaged. Such work may be necessary when only very short timescales are available if at all, in view of the desire to meet deadlines for the completion of the construction or refurbishment work. This can produce difficulties, hassle and extra expense for the parties carrying out the final stages of the construction or refurbishment.

Conventionally protective layers may be provided to protect outer surfaces of such furniture. These unfortunately may be removed too early or can become damaged. Also it is possible for dust or other dirt to become located under the protective layers: which can cause damage to the underlying surface.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a furniture assembly, the assembly including an inner unit which is locatable in a required location for the assembly, the inner unit permitting connection of services to the assembly, and an outer unit which is mountable on the inner unit once the latter is in a required location.

The furniture assembly may be in the form of a desk.

The inner unit may be configured such that the desk can have a right hand or left hand or any other orientation.

The outer unit may have a decorative finish on an upper surface or surfaces thereon.

The inner unit may have a decorative finish on lower and/or internal surfaces thereof.

A plurality of fastenings may be provided for retaining the outer unit in position once on the inner unit.

A former unit may be provided on which the outer unit can be held and transported, prior to location on the inner unit.

The former unit may have similar outer dimensions as the inner unit.

The former unit may be configured such that the outer unit can be formed thereon.

The former unit may have formations thereon to permit transportation thereof with the outer unit held thereon, and the formations may be such as to receive a pair of tines, for instance on a pallet truck.

The former unit may be collapsible when not in use to facilitate storage and transportation thereof. The former unit may comprise a plurality of planar members selectively formable into an either erect or a flat pack condition. A plurality of fastenings may be provided for retaining the planar members in an erect condition.

The former unit may be made of MDF, and may be made of moisture resistant MDF.

The inner and/or outer units may be made of an acrylic polymer based material.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a furniture assembly according to any of the preceding thirteen paragraphs, the method comprising locating an inner unit in a required location, connecting services to the inner unit, and subsequently locating the outer unit on the inner unit.

The outer unit may be fastened to the inner unit once located thereon.

The outer unit may be transported to the location of the inner unit on a former unit.

The outer unit may be manufactured on a former unit.

Once the outer unit has been located on an inner unit, the former unit may be collapsed, and may be re-used as required.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a furniture assembly according to the invention.

The drawing shows a furniture assembly in the form of a desk 10 usable for instance as a check in desk at an airport. The desk 10 comprises an inner unit 12, an outer unit 14 and a former unit 16. The inner unit 12 comprises two upstanding side walls 18 and a rear wall 20, with a top surface 22 extending across the side and rear walls 18, 20. An elongate opening 24 extends transversely across the top surface 22 adjacent the rear wall 20. The side walls, rear wall and/or top surface 18, 20, 22 may be made of an acrylic polymer material such as Staron®.

The inner unit 12 can be located in a required condition and can be configured for a right hand or left hand desk, or any other configuration. Once in position the inner unit 12 can have electrical and/or data connections or any other services connected thereto. Desk units such as a drawer unit 26, foot pedestal 28 and internal baffle/door 30 as shown can be located in a required position in the inner unit.

The inner faces of the side walls 18 and rear wall 20 have a required finish which could for instance be polished or matt and of a particular colour or texture as required.

The outer unit 14 also has upstanding side walls 32 and a rear wall 34 and a top surface 36. A rear upstanding barrier wall 38 is provided along the rear of the top surface 36, and a formation 40 is provided to receive a computer or computer components as required.

The outer unit 14 is also formed from sheets of an acrylic polymer material and a required finish is provided on the outer faces of the side walls 32 and rear wall 34 if required, along with the barrier wall 38. The outer unit 14 is dimensional to be a sliding fit over the inner unit 12.

The former unit 16 comprises a pair of upstanding side walls 42, a rear wall 44 and a top surface 46. A pair of cross pieces 48 extend between the side walls 42 respectively towards the front and rear thereof, and the cross pieces 48 define a recess 50 extending therebetween. The former unit 16 is made from sheets of moisture resistant MDF which can be screwed together into the formation as shown. As and when required the screws or other fastening formations can be removed from the former unit 16 and it can be flat packed for transportation, storage and/or re-use.

In use, the inner unit 12 can be located in a required position and electrical and/or data or other service connections can be made thereto. The components such as the drawer unit 26, foot pedestal 28 and internal baffle/door 30 can be installed as required. In this condition the outer surfaces of the inner unit do not have a final finish on them and therefore should not become damaged for instance if material or a person contacts them. With the former unit 16 erect as shown, the outer unit 14 if required can be manufactured thereon.

Once the power and/or data or other service connections have been made and the building is ready for use, the former unit 16 with the outer unit 14 thereon is moved to adjacent the inner unit 12. This can be achieved for instance by locating the tines of a pallet truck or otherwise in the recess 50.

The outer unit 14 can be slid off the former unit 16 and located on the inner unit 12. The inner and outer units 12, 14 can be connected together by conventional fastenings as required. The former unit 16 is no longer required, and may be collapsed to a flat pack condition by removing the fixings between the respective parts thereof, for subsequent re-use if required.

There is thus described a furniture assembly and a method of constructing a furniture assembly, which provide for a number of advantages.

The desk 10 can be located in position at an early date and all connections made, whilst the required final finish of the desk 10 provided by the outer unit 14 is only installed at a late moment, thereby preventing damage thereto during construction or refurbishment.

The former unit 16 permits storage and transportation of the outer unit without damage. The former units can be collapsed and stored or transported as required. The former units provides support to the outer units 14, for instance during manufacture, such that the outer units do not require to be particularly rigid or self-supporting.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The different parts of the arrangement could be made of different materials. Different components could be fitted to the assembly.

The assembly could be a different shape, and could be other than a desk.

The former unit may take a different format, and could be made of a different material.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A furniture assembly, the assembly including an inner unit which is locatable in a required location for the assembly, the inner unit permitting connection of services to the assembly, and an outer unit which is mountable on the inner unit once the latter is in a required location.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the furniture assembly is in the form of a desk.
3. An assembly according to claim 2, in which the inner unit is configured such that the desk can have a right hand or left hand or any other orientation.

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4. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the -15 outer unit has a decorative finish on an upper surface or surfaces thereon.

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5. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the CO inner unit has a decorative finish on lower and/or internal surfaces thereof. r
6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of fastenings are provided for retaining the outer unit in position once on the inner unit.
7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a former unit is provided on which the outer unit can be held and transported, prior to location on the inner unit.
8. An assembly according to claim 7, in which the former unit has similar outer dimensions as the inner unit.
9. An assembly according to claims 7 or 8, in which the former unit is configured such that the outer unit can be formed thereon.
10. An assembly according to any of claims 7 to 9, in which the former unit has formations thereon to permit transportation thereof with the outer unit held thereon.
11. An assembly according to claim 10, in which the formations are such as to receive a pair of tines, for instance on a pallet truck.
12. An assembly according to any of claims 7 to 11, in which the former unit is collapsible when not in use to facilitate storage and transportation thereof.
13. An assembly according to claim 12, in which the former unit comprises LU a plurality of planar members selectively formable into an either erect or a flat -15 pack condition.

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14. An assembly according to claim 13, in which a plurality of fastenings CO are provided for retaining the planar members in an erect condition. r
15. An assembly according to any of claims 7 to 14, in which the former unit is made of MDF.
16. An assembly according to claim 15, in which the former unit is made of moisture resistant MDF.
17. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the inner and/or outer units are made of an acrylic polymer based material.
18. A method of forming a furniture assembly according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising locating an inner unit in a required location, connecting services to the inner unit, and subsequently locating the outer unit on the inner unit.
19. A method according to claim 18, in which the outer unit is fastened to the inner unit once located thereon.
20. A method according to claim 19, in which the outer unit is transported to the location of the inner unit on a former unit.
21. A method according to claim 20, in which the outer unit is manufactured on a former unit.
22. A method according to claims 20 or 21, in which once the outer unit has been located on an inner unit, the former unit is collapsed, and may be re-used as required. IC)

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23. A furniture assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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24. A method of forming a furniture assembly, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
25. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.