WO2002008851A2

WO2002008851A2 - Modular functional wall

Info

Publication number: WO2002008851A2
Application number: PCT/IB2001/002272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Egon Bräuning
Original assignee: Vitra Patente Ag
Priority date: 2000-06-12
Filing date: 2001-06-12
Publication date: 2002-01-31
Also published as: WO2001096684A1; DE20121675U1; AU2001263693A1; AU2396502A

Abstract

The modular functional wall is designed especially for multiple PC-workstations which can be installed on one or both sides of the functional wall with selectively arranged table-top-shaped worktops (7). Power and communications cables are fed in the functional wall, which forms a partition at the same time. The functional wall has at least one wall section (F1,F2,F3) that extends between two vertically erected structural supports (1). A technical strip and/or technical board (5) can be introduced between two structural supports (1) respectively, bracket console bolts (6) being fixed thereto at a selected height (6). Said bracket bolts support worktop brackets (61) or frame adapters (64) for receiving a worktop (7). The structural supports (1) consist of a hollow profile with a square cross-section, whose diagonal lies in the plane of the functional wall.

Description

Modular functional wall

Field of application of the invention

The present invention relates to a modular functional wall for a workstation, preferably a plurality of PC workstations, which can be set up on one or both sides of the functional wall with arranged tabletop-shaped work shelves. Power and communication cables are introduced in the functional wall. Installed in the room or protruding into the room, the functional wall can also form a room divider. Modular function walls offer the advantage that they can be variably and efficiently adapted to the respective spatial conditions and the special workplace requirements, i.e. with regard to the arrangement of the functional units and room division.

PRIOR ART DE 27 00 947 A1 is concerned with the simplest type of partition system with two vertical columns, the bottom of which are provided with feet resting on the floor. A framed wall plate is inserted between the spaced columns, the framing having vertical slotted grids on the front and the back, so that trays or boxes carried by consoles can be hung on both sides. With this partition system, there is neither the possibility of cabling, nor is there modular variability for different sizes and installation concepts.

GB 1 591 572 discloses a wall construction where the individual wall fields are surrounded on all sides by a frame made of a C-profile. The frames thus formed are lined with panel parts. The supply cable for supply cables is provided in the lower frame strut close to the ground. This wall serves exclusively as a room divider, the attachment of supports for holding functional units is not provided. In addition, the length of the vertical and horizontal frame struts as well as the panel parts must be cut according to the desired height and width of the individual wall section. From DE 24 42 479 A1 an office wall with vertical columns is known, to which laterally pivotable wall panels can be attached. Swiveling brackets for lighting fixtures or telephones can be attached to the vertical columns. Shelf elements can be attached to the wall panels. In addition to the electrification, this office wall already enables the attachment of various functional units, but there is little variability due to the use of the vertical columns. Furthermore, the adaptation to the respective room and user conditions requires an individual cut of the vertical columns and the lining of the individual wall fields.

DE 78 14 500 U1 describes the supply of supply lines for electricity and telephone via the vertically arranged support columns, between which panel elements or a fabric covering are inserted, in a partition wall system.

DE 27 42 504 A1 has the object of a variable system for dividing the space, which consists of a grid formed on the ceiling, vertical supports and panel, window or door fields inserted between the supports. The vertical supports extend from the ceiling grille to the floor and are clad by skirting boards. The ceiling grid is formed from longitudinal and transverse profiles, via which supply lines are brought in. This system requires a ceiling grille to fix the panel, window or door fields and is generally more suitable for stand construction, but less so for offices.

WO 00/24981 discloses a modular functional wall that is structured like a cell. This functional wall has at least one wall field with rows, each of which is delimited by an upper and a lower profile rail. Cells are formed within a row by supporting frames. The support frames of the row above each stand above the support frame of a line and include the associated profile rail. The support frames have openings and the profile rails Breakthroughs so that electrical cables can be routed through the cells. A cable connection unit is accommodated in at least one cell. Unless otherwise stated, the cells are covered with cover panels from both sides of the functional wall, but they allow hangers to be hung in the profile rails to support differently configured trays. This functional wall is quite material-intensive and requires a considerable amount of assembly work to set up.

Object of the invention In view of the imperfections of the function walls known to date, the invention is based on the function of the function wall described in WO 00/24981 Equipment of one or more workstations and at the same time can be efficiently adapted to a designed room layout. It is particularly important to be able to arrange the required functional units ergonomically, to set up optionally positioned connections for power supply and communication and to provide their cable routing within the functional wall. This is to avoid exposed cables. Finally, the functional wall to be created must be manufactured in an efficient manner, transported and stored in dismantled state, assembled and, if necessary, modified. In addition to the technical requirements, the functional wall should also meet modern, sophisticated design aspects and also be conducive to the working atmosphere.

Overview of the invention

The essence of the invention is defined in claim 1 while being advantageous

Design variants result from the dependent claims.

The particular advantages of the functional wall according to the invention result from the fulfillment of the above task, ie the functional and economic improvements achieved for the user as well as the constructive and economic effects for the manufacturer or supplier. Brief description of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1: a set-up example of the functional wall with differentiated height and varied internals; the usually attached or pushed worktables are not shown;

Figure 2A: an unclad field of the functional wall with two built-in technology strips and a cable duct; Figure 2B: a separate cable management;

FIG. 3A: two adjacent, unclad areas of the functional wall with technology strips installed at the bottom and technology plates installed at a medium height; as well as different versions of frame feet;

FIG. 3B: an unclad field of the functional wall in the configuration according to FIG. 3A with two socket units;

FIG. 4A: the structure according to FIG. 3A with an open box suspended in a field;

FIG. 4B: the structure according to FIG. 3A with an open box suspended over two fields; FIG. 4C: the structure according to FIG. 3A with a closed box suspended in a field; Figure 4D: the closed box with the lid removed;

Figure 5A: a technology bar from the front;

Figure 5B: the technology bar according to Figure 5A from behind;

Figure 6A: a technology plate from the front;

FIG. 6B: the technology plate according to FIG. 6A from behind; Figure 6C: a cover for the front of the technology plate according to Figure 6A; Figure 7A:. a panel element of the first embodiment suspended between two body supports and a flap suspended below under hinges;

FIG. 7B: the hinge arrangement in detail, before being attached; FIG. 7C: the hinge arrangement in detail, attached to a wing of a cable guide;

FIG. 7D: a panel element suspended between two construction supports with the detail of the suspension;

Figure 8A: three open fields of the functional wall with attached work shelf;

Figure 8B: the support of a work shelf with frame struts and a bridge part of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8C: the support according to FIG. 8B with the work shelf attached;

FIG. 8D: the support with the work shelf by shelf consoles and support feet on a bridge part of the second embodiment;

FIG. 8E: a work shelf carried by shelf consoles without support feet;

FIG. 8F: a work shelf with support feet carried by shelf consoles with foot adapters;

FIG. 8G: a work shelf carried by shelf consoles and support feet arranged directly on the work shelf;

FIG. 9A: a covering provided between two body supports; Figure 9B: the attachment of the covering according to Figure 9A;

Figure 10A: the outer support of a field according to Figure 2A with an approximately side cover of the first embodiment; FIG. 10B: the arrangement according to FIG. 10A with the side cover snapped onto the outer body support; FIG. 10C: the fastening of the side cover to the outer body support in detail;

FIG. 11A: the fastening of a panel element of the second embodiment between two structure supports of a field; Figure 11B: the attachment of a side cover of the second embodiment to the outer body support; and Figure 11C: the attachment of the top cover over the body supports.

embodiments

A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the functional wall according to the invention with the modified accessories is given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The following definition applies to the entire further description: if reference numerals are included in a figure for the sake of clarity in the drawing, but are not explained in the directly associated description text, reference is made to their mention in the preceding or following figure descriptions. In the interest of clarity, the repeated designation of components in other figures is mostly dispensed with, provided that it can be clearly seen in the drawing that the components are "recurring".

Figure 1

The functional wall constructed as an example consists of several fields F1, F2, F3, F4 which can be closed at the top and bottom or consistently with cover elements as panel 9 or as covering 90 made of different materials. Covering elements 17, 18, 19 are also placed on the side and on the upper edge. In the area of normal table height, a technology plate 5 is inserted into fields F2, F3, F4. Fields F2, F3, F4 are equipped with a narrower technology bar 2 near the ground. The field F1, for example, has a technology bar 2 both near the floor and at table height, but no technology plate 5. In front of the technology plates 5, work shelves of different geometry, not shown, can be arranged. The technology bar 2, on the other hand, serves as a crossbar for connection within the frame structure, for cable routing or for receiving a socket unit. One or more fields F1, F2, F3, F4 spanning differently configured containers 4, for example open 40 or closed boxes 41, can be installed in the functional wall. The entire functional wall rests on the floor-mounted frame feet 100 of different configurations. Figures 2A and 2B

A wall panel F1 spans between two vertically erected support struts 1. Between the uprights 1 extend at table height and near the floor, a technology bar 2, in which cables can be routed or the power supply is housed. An optional cable duct 29 is shown below the central technology bar 2, in which cables can be routed. The construction supports 1 are made of a hollow profile with a square cross-section, the diagonal of which lies in the plane of the functional wall. Hole grids 10 are attached to the body supports 1 for the various purposes. For the hanging of cables passed and for the hanging of panels 9, cable guides 80 are provided, which extend from a base plate 81 and several of them at an angle upwards, wings 82 arranged in levels. The base plates 81 of the cable guides 80 are placed on the construction supports 1, preferably screwed on.

Figures 3A and 3B

Here the fields F1, F2 are equipped at the bottom with a technology bar 2 and in the middle with a technology plate 5. Against the front facing technology strips 2 or technology plates 5, these components can be built against the back. The space between two technology plates 5 facing one another on the back can be used for inserting a socket unit 8. A socket unit 8 can also be installed in the channel formed by the technology bar 2, which unit could then be accessible from the front.

Figures 4A to 4P

Depending on the functional requirements, an open box 40 can be hooked into a field F1 between two body supports 1 (FIG. 4A), which can also extend over two fields F1.F2 (FIG. 4B). This box 40 is used, for example, for placing books or documents, and will generally be arranged at the top of the body supports 1 for ergonomic accessibility. As an alternative container there is a closed box 41 with a flip-up lid 410 which is held in the open state by a spring element, preferably a gas spring 411. Figures 5A and 5B

The technology bar 2 has a horizontal channel 21 for installing one

Socket unit 8. Furthermore, the technology bar 2 has an upper edge 22 over which cables can be passed. On the upper edge 22 e.g. a brush strip is attached to optically seal the existing gap. On the outer flanks, the technology bar 2 has two mutually parallel protruding wedge contours 24, which are mounted on the body supports 1, which are in principle rotated by 45 °. Thus, an adjacent technology bar 2 can be attached to a technology bar 2, at the same height and in alignment, which, with its wedge contours 24, enclose the body support 1 in between. You can also mount two technology strips 2 on the back. The wedge contours 24 are penetrated by screw holes 25 for attachment to the body support 1.

Figures 6A to 6C

The technology plate 5 has the two-row, vertical grid of threaded holes 50 for receiving console bolts and a horizontal channel 51 for installing a socket unit 8. Furthermore, the technology plate 5 has an upper edge 52 and a central passage 53, which can be used for the cable entry. For example, a brush strip is placed on the upper edge 52 in order to optically seal the existing gap. On the outer flanks, the technology plate 5 has two mutually parallel protruding wedge contours 54 which, when assembled, attach to the body supports 1, which are in principle rotated by 45 °. For covering the front of the technical plate 5, a plate-shaped cover 58 is provided, on the complementary to the threaded holes 50 and the central passage 53 there are predetermined breaking points 59, where the material can be broken out as required. The wedge contours 54 are penetrated by screw holes 55 for attachment to the body support 1. The wedge contours 54 provide the same attachment and combination options around a support 1 as described above for the technique strips 2. Figures 7A to 7D

Instead of using a snapped-on panel 9 or a flexible covering 90, a pivoting cover 96 can be inserted into a field F1 of the functional wall or spanning several fields F1.F2, which facilitates access to the interior of the functional wall. The lid 96 has two hinge bolts 97 internally, which can be suspended in hinges 98. The hinges 98 are first slipped onto the hinge bolts 97 from the side and then snapped onto one of the upwardly facing wings 82 of the cable guide 80. Here, a barb contour 99 on the hinge 98 engages under the wing 82. For hanging panels 9 on the wings 82 of the cable guide 80, the panels 9 have recesses 91 on the rear side, into which the wings 82 engage. The cable guide 80 is fastened with its base plate 81 to the body support 1.

Figures 8A to 8C

Here the base of a larger and more resilient work shelf 7 - with the shape of a table top - is shown. The two-row, vertical grid of threaded bores 50 is provided in the technical plate 5, whereby depending on the selected height, console bolts 6 are screwed into a pair of bores on a technical plate 5 or of neighboring technical plates 5. A frame adapter 64 is pushed onto the console bolts 6, to which an elongating frame strut 65 attaches. First of all, the two frame struts 65 are connected to a bridge part 66. Support feet 63 can be arranged under the bridge part 66. The intended work shelf 7 is placed on the base thus constructed.

Figures 8D to 8G

Alternatively, 6 shelf consoles 61 are slid onto the console bolts screwed into the technology plate 5 and fixed. In the case of a larger dimension of the work shelf 7 and a higher load, the work shelf 7 is carried by support feet 63 which rest on the floor and which can be fixed to a bridge part 66 fastened under the work shelf 7 (FIG. 8D). Without the bridge part 66, the support feet 63 are on the shelf consoles 61 (FIG. 8F) or attached directly to the underside of the work shelf 7 (FIG. 8G). In the case of a smaller dimension and load on the work shelf 7, this is only carried by the shelf consoles 61 without the presence of support feet 63 (FIG. 8E).

Figures 9A and 9B

For the fastening of a flexible covering 90 in a field F1, an angle profile 11 is mounted vertically on the body supports 1 and spanning horizontally between them. Around the flexible covering 90 a plastic profile 12 with a cross-section is applied as an outer seam, e.g. sewn on. The plastic covering 12 framing the flexible covering 90 is pushed onto the angle section 11.

Figures I QA to 10C

I have the outer body support 1 covered with a channel-shaped profile 13, which has recesses 14 facing the body support 1, into which tongues 15 of a tab plate 16 engage, which is fastened on the side of the body support 1.

FIGS. 11A to 11C For the further cladding of the frame structure of an erected functional wall, lateral covers 17 are provided with a complementary counter-holder 17 ′, which are fastened to the body support 1. For the upper end there are cover plates 18 and a closing plate 19, which have a ribbing 180, 190 on the underside that is form-fitting to the side profile of the body support 1, the ribbing 180, 190 coming to rest on the body support 1. Finally, another embodiment of a panel 9 ', e.g. semitransparent, provided that serves to span between two body supports 1. For this purpose there is a holding strip 110 with hooks 111 which is mounted on the body support 1, the hooks being intended for engagement in recesses 90 'in the panel 9'.

Claims

claims

1. Modular functional wall with at least one wall panel (F1, F2, F3), supplied cables and optionally workable shelves (7) that can be attached at table height, characterized in that a) a wall panel (F1, F2, F3) is supported between two vertically positioned superstructures (1) spans; b) at least one technology bar (2) or one technology plate (5) is inserted between each two support legs (1); c) console bolts (6) are attached to the technology plate (5) at optional height, the shelf consoles (61) or a frame adapter (64)

Carry a tray (7).

2. Functional wall according to claim 1, characterized in that the structural supports (1) are made of a hollow section of square cross-section, the diagonal of which lies in the plane of the functional wall.

3. Functional wall according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the technology plate (5) has: a) a two-row, vertical grid of threaded bores (50) which are intended for receiving console bolts (6) which are inserted by means of inserted shelf consoles (61 ) or a frame adapter (64) carry the work shelf (7); b) in the interior a central passage (53) which can be used for the cable duct; and c) on the outer flanks two mutually parallel, protruding wedge contours (54) which, when assembled, attach to the body supports (1), which are in principle rotated by 45 °.

4. Functional wall according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that either aa) if the functional wall is used on one side, a traverse can be mounted behind a technology panel (5); and ab) a socket unit (8) can be inserted between the technology plate (5) and the crossbar; or ba) when the functional wall is used on two sides, a further technology plate (5) is mounted behind the technology plate (5), the rear sides of both technology plates (5) pointing towards one another; and bb) a socket unit (8) can be inserted between the two technology panels (5).

5. Functional wall according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a) a technology bar (2) is inserted between the construction supports (1) above the technology plate (5) used; and b) a technology strip (2) for cable routing or for receiving a socket unit (8) is also mounted below the technology plate (5);

6. Functional wall according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a) the fields (F1, F2, F3) of the functional wall above and below the technology panels (5) used with removable or hinged cover elements (9,9 ', 90th ) are closed, it being possible to use storage shelves of various designs or semi-open or closed boxes (40, 41) above the technology plates (5) instead of the cover elements (9), which are attached directly to the body supports (1); b) the fields of the functional wall with a cover (90), e.g. from Soff, are spanned.

7. functional wall according to claim 6, characterized in that a) a hinged cover (9) is a hinged lid (96), which facilitates access to the interior of the functional wall; b) the cover (96) has two hinge bolts (97) inside; c) two hinges (98) are provided, in which the hinge pins (97) can be hung; d) the hinges (98) are attached to one of the upward-facing wings (81) of two cable guides (80); and e) the cable guides (80) have a base plate (81) which attaches to the body supports (1).

8. Functional wall according to claim 3, characterized in that a) a shelf bracket (61) or a frame adapter (64) is pushed onto a bracket bolt (6); b) for a work shelf (7) of greater depth, ba) an elongating frame strut (65) connects to the frame adapter (64); and bb) between two adjacent frame struts (65), the free ends of which are connected to a bridge part (66), below which support feet (63) are placed on the floor; or bc) a shelf console (61) with a foot adapter at its free end is used; and bd) a support foot (63) is attached to the floor adapter.