US3027214A

US3027214A - Desk-partition combination

Info

Publication number: US3027214A
Application number: US790953A
Authority: US
Inventors: Curatolo Frank
Original assignee: CURTIS OFFICE PARTITION CO Inc
Current assignee: CURTIS OFFICE PARTITION Co Inc
Priority date: 1959-02-03
Filing date: 1959-02-03
Publication date: 1962-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-27

Description

March 27, 1962 F. CURATOLO DESK-PARTITION COMBINATION Filed Feb. 3, 1959 FIG. 4

INVENTOR FRANK CURATOLO 7 W/ v ATTORNEY United States Patent ce 3,027,214 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 3,d27,214 DESK-PARTHTEON CUMBliNATiON Frank Curatolo, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Curtis @tiice Partition lne, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 7%,953 Claims. (Cl. 312-1404) The present invention relates to a novel and improved desk-partition assembly, incorporating built-in features enabling partition walls to be erected along one or more sides of the desk top.

Office space accommodating a large number of desks is frequently subdivided by suitable partition walls, for example, to afford a measure of privacy to the office workers. In some cases, the partitions may be formed, at least in part, by panels supported by the desks (or tables) themselves, as distinguished from Wall panels resting on the floor, for example. Such desk-supported panels are advantageous in some cases, but conventional equipment may present certain problems in connection with the rearrangement of the ofiice space. That is, it may be necessary or desirable, from time to time, to arrange the office furniture and partitioning to a more practical or efiicient configuration, and present equipment has limtations rendering it difiicult and time-consuming to effect substantial rearrangement.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved desk (or table) assembly is provided, which incorporates novel, retractable partition supports, enabling panels to be supported selectively along one or more sides of the desk top. To this end, the new desk includes a plurality of supporting posts, retractably mounted at the corners of the desk top. When the posts are retracted, they advantageously form part of the desk top surface, but when the posts are extended, one or more panels, such as glass plates, may be supported vertically thereby, to form a partition wall.

As one of the specific features of the invention, the retractable supporting posts are received telescopically in hollow legs of the desk. Advantageously, the posts, as well as the legs, are formed of extruded alunr'num, and the tops of the posts are provided with caps adapted to be received in recesses in the desk top to complete the surface of the top. In this form of the invention, the posts advantageously are urged upward, at least through a limited distance, by springs received in the hollow desk legs. The posts are secured in either extended or fully retracted positions by fastening means, such as set screws and, when the fastening means are manipulated to release a fully retracted post, the post springs up a sufficient distance to enable it to be gripped conveniently by the hands.

For a better understanding of the foregoing and other features of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk-partition combination incorporating the features of the invention; and

FIGS. 24 are enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional views taken generally along lines 22, 3- t and 44, respectively, of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral designates generally, a desk (or table), which is provided with a top 11 supported by a plurality of legs 1 15. In the illustrated form of the invention, the legs 12-15, which extend from the door to the desk top 11, are set in from the peripheral edges of the top and are secured in fixed relation thereto by any suitable means.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the legs 1215 are of hollow construction, advantageously of extruded aluminum, and the tops of the legs are open while the botoms are at least effectively closed off. The open tops of the desk legs abut the lower surface of the top 11, and vertical openings 16 are provided in the top, directly above the legs. The size and shape of the openings i6 advantageously is substantially the same as the interior of the legs 12-15, as indicated in FIG. 3.

Received in the desk legs l215, and adapted for telescopic movement therein, are retractable supporting posts iii-2d. These posts are advantageously of a rectangular shape and of a size to conform closely to the interior openings in the legs, so as to be non-rotatable relative to the legs and to be supported vertically by the legs. In the illustrated form of the invention, the posts 17-410 are of extruded, aluminum construction, generally rectangular in outline, and are provided with longitudinally extending

openings

21, 22 for lightness in weight and economy of material. The posts also are provided with right angularly related grooves 23, 24 extendirrg longitudinally of the posts and so disposed therein as to face toward other corners of the desk top 11. Advantageously, the grooves 23, 24 are provided, at least in the upper portions thereof, with resilient insert means, such as indicated at 26, 27.

in accordance with a specific aspect of the invention, the efiective length of the posts 17-2tl is only slightly less than the effective length of the legs 12-45, the thickness of the desk top 11 being considered, for this purpose, as part of the effective length. Accordingly, when the posts 17-2t1 are retracted telescopically in the legs to a position substantially flush with the desk top, the lower ends of the posts are only slightly above the effective bottoms of the legs, as indicated at A in FIG. 1, for example. In considering the effective length of the posts, there is included the thickness of rectangular caps 28, which advantageously are secured to the upper ends of the posts by screws 29. The caps are of a size and shape to fit closely in the desk top openings 16, and are of a material the same as or simulating the desk top material, so that when the caps 28 are received in the openings 16, flush with the upper surface of the top 11, a substantially uniform and uninterrupted working surface is afforded.

When the supporting posts 17- 20 are lowered into the hollow desk legs, to points where the caps 28 lie a short distance above the top 11, the lower ends of the posts engage springs 30 retained in the bottoms of the legs. In order to retract the posts to flush positions, as indicated in FIG. 4, downward force must be applied to the legs, to compress the springs 39. To retain the posts in such positions, set screws 31 are provided in each leg, near the top. The set screws 31 advantageously, although not necessarily, are positioned to be received in one of the grooves of the post, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

When all the posts are secured in fully retracted positions, the top if of the desk is flat and uninterrupted, and the desk is otherwise substantially conventional in its outward appearance.

To erect partitions along one or more sides of the desk, two or more of the supporting posts are raised to an appropriate height to receive panels 32, 33 of suitable material, such as glass. The posts are raised by first loosening the set screws 31, allowing the freed posts to be projected upward by the springs 30 a distance sufficient to enable the posts to be gripped conveniently by the hands. The spring-projected posts are then raised to an appropriate height, which may be determined by means of suitable calibrations, for example, and secured, at least temporarily, by the screws 31. Panels 32, 33 are then inserted in opposed, facing grooves in the posts, being held tightly therein by the

resilient strips

26, 27.

Panels of rigid material, such as glass may be inserted vertically in the post grooves, by first removing the screws 29 and caps 28, although some materials may deflect sufiiciently to permit assembly with the caps in place.

If necessary or desirable, the posts may be lowered, after insertion of the panels, so that the caps 23 rest on the upper edges of the panels, in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The set screws 31 or other fastening devices are then secured, so that the positions of the posts are fixed.

As will readily be apparent, the new desk-partition combination is highly versatile, permitting partition panels to be erected quickly and easily along any or all of three sides. And, in this connection, where appropriate, provision may be made for supporting partitions on any of the four sides of the desk, although it is not contemplated that more than three sides will be partitioned at any one time. Rearrangement of oflice space is greatly facilitated by the fact that the partitioned sides may be changed at will, with a minimum of time and effort.

Substantial economies are realized, with the new deskpartition combination, since a single, standardized design is suitable for a large variety of applications. In addition, the structure of the new desk is of a generally simplified nature adapted for economical manufacture in quantity.

It should be understood, however, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A desk-partition combination comprising a desk top, vertical desk legs supporting said top adjacent corner portions thereof, at least two of said desk legs being of hollow construction, said desk top being provided with openings aligned with the hollow legs and of a size and shape generally complementary to the interior of said hollow legs, a panel supporting post retractably received in each of said hollow legs and movable between a retracted position concealed below said desk top and an extended position projected vertically above said desk top, said panel supporting posts being of a size and shape generally complementary to the interiors of said hollow legs and of a length to be received substantially wholly within said hollow legs when in said retracted positions, and cooperating locking means on said hollow legs and said panel supporting posts, for locking said posts in said extended positions, said posts having opposed, facing longitudinal grooves for the reception and support of a partition panel, portions of said desk top providing a support for the bottom edge of a panel received in said grooves, said hollow legs and posts being of such relative lengths that substantial portions of said posts remain within and are supported by said hollow legs when said posts are in extended positions, and caps mounted at the upper ends of said panel supporting posts, means removably securing said caps to said posts, said caps being of a size and shape to be received within said openings in said desk top with the top surface of said caps and said desk top in flush relation and to substantially close off said openings when said posts are in retracted positions, said caps further serving to close off the upper ends of said longitudinal recesses for locking a panel in place when said posts are in extended positions.

2. A desk-partition combination comprising a desk top, vertical desk legs supporting said top adjacent corner portions thereof, at least two of said desk legs being of hollow construction, said desk top being provided with openings aligned with the hollow legs and of a size and shape generally complementary to the interior of said hollow legs, a panel supporting post retractibly received in each of said hollow legs, each post being independently movable relative to another post between a retracted position concealed below said desk top and an extended position projected vertically above said desk top, said panel supporting posts being of a size and shape generally complementary to the interiors of said hollow legs and of a length to be received substantially wholly within said hollow legs when in said retracted positions, and cooperating locking means on said hollow legs and said panel supporting posts, for locking said posts in said extended positions, said posts having opposed, facing longitudinal grooves for the reception and support of a partition panel, portions of said desk top providing support for the bottom edge of a panel received in said grooves, said hollow legs and posts being of such relative lengths that substantial portions of said posts remain within and are supported by said hollow legs when said posts are in extended positions, and caps mounted at the upper end of said panel supporting posts, said caps being of a size and shape to substantially close off said openings when said posts are in retracted poitions, said caps further serving to close off the upper ends of said longitudinal recesses for locking a panel in place when said posts are in extended positions.

3. The desk partition combination of claim 2 Wherein said caps are received within said openings in said desk top with the top surfaces of said caps and said desk top in flush relation when said posts are in retracted positions.

4. A desk-partition combination comprising a desk top, vertical desk legs supporting said top adjacent corner portions thereof, at least two of said desk legs being of hollow construction, said desktop being provided with openings aligned with the hollow legs and of a size and shape generally complementary to the interior of said hollow legs, a panel supporting post retractibly received in each of said hollow legs and movable between a re tracted position concealed below said desk top and an extended position projected vertically above said desk top, said panel supporting posts being of a size and shape generally complementary to the interiors of said hollow legs and of a length to be received substantially wholly within said hollow legs when in said retracted positions, and cooperating locking means on said hollow legs and said panel supporting posts for locking said posts in said extended positions, said posts having opposed, facing longitudinal grooves for the reception and support of a partition panel, intermediate flat surface portions of said desk top between said grooves providing support for the bottom edge of said panel when received in said grooves, said hollow legs and posts being of such relative length that substantial portions of said posts remain within and are supported by said hollow legs when said posts are in extended positions.

5. The desk-partition combination of claim 4, in which spring means are received in the bottoms of said hollow legs, and the relative lengths of said spring means, hollow legs and panel supporting posts are such that said springs are compressed upon movement of said posts to retracted positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,697,685 Grant Jan. 1, 1929 1,916,894 Rix July 4, 1933 1,992,903 Potashnik Feb. 26, 1935 2,266,268 Robinson Dec. 16, 1941 2,357,015 Mestel Aug. 29, 1944 2,694,614 Dent Nov. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 410,940 Germany Dec. 23, 1922