Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~0675S~
1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to furniture construction,
particula~ly to office furniture as desks, tables,
bookshelves, credenzas and the like. It is particularly
concerned with complete systems of such furniture, designed
to divide substantial areas of work space and provide
individual work stations.
Extensive steps have been taken to modularize
such systems and a large number of such modular systems are
now available on the market. These systems include wall
panels which may be erected at any point in a large area ;
and which include means for hanging various components such
as shelves, filing cabinets, writing surfaces o~ the like
from the wall panels. Desks and side units for use in
conjunction with such wall panels are furnished separately
and are not typically mounted to the wall panels. Thus,
these systems are modular only with respect to units which
are to be hung on the wall panels. Typically, such
systems are somewhat expensive in that the wall panels
l 20 utilized are an additional expense over and above the cost
;l of the units to be hung ~hereon. Further, such systems
suffer the drawback that n~ every user wants the closed in
`l effect which is achieved by using such wall panels.
Yet another drawback to such systems is that none
` 25 of them are dimensionally modular. While the desks for
the system may be dimensionally modular, for example 30
inches by 60 inches, or 30 inches by 72 inches, the side
units may have widths of 20 inches. The drawback to such
, irregular dimensioning is that it becomes difficult to plan
`~ 30 the arrangement of the furniture in advance. One must
' carefully scale the dimensions of each component.
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1 Some systems do approach dimensional modularity
based on a 6 inch module. In such a system, each of the
length and width dimensions of the components are multiples
of 6 inches. The reason for this reliance on the 6 inch
module is that for years, buildings have been constructed
based upon the 12 inch unit. Office furniture manufacturers
have followed suit and have based their desks, constructions
and the like on 6 inch units. This has been traditional
for years and years. One drawback is that it is difficult
to provide an overall system based on this "6 incht' unit.
A filing cabinet, for example, must be thoroughly shallow
so that it doesn't take up any more floor space than
necessary, but must be sufficiently deep that it does not
readily tip over forwardly or rearwardly. To be made on
a ~ inch module unit, such a storage cabinet must be
either 18 inches or 24 inches. Unfortunately, 18 inches
is too shal~ow and 24 inches is too deep. Thus, the high
storage unit is typically a unit in a system in which a
departure is made from the basic 6 inch module. Thus, no
one heretofore has been able to offer a complete office
furniture system based on a single basic dimensional unit.
SUMMARY OF TH~ INVENTION
The present invention provides an office furniture
system wherein one or a number of standardized furniture com-
ponents as desk tops, table tops, cabinets, bookshelves
or the like are supported between a pair of parallel end
! panels. The need to purchase separate wall panels to
, achieve a modular system is eliminated. Since cabinets,
~ desks and the like require end panels anyway, the present
;~ 30 furniture system achieves modularity without requiring a
user to purchase a special "extra", i.e. the wall panel.
~06755'7
1 Further, desks, credenzas, tables and other floor supported
units are tied into the system automatically, since all are
supported on end panels. Pinally, one can achieve an open
look, if desired, by mounting cabinets above a work surface
and providing no back between the work surface and the
cabinet.
A supported member, such as a desk top or the like
is arranged between a pair of structurally supporting
panel members. Means are provided to secure the panels
and supported member together in a variety of desirable
configurations. Special cover members having locking means
therein are also provided and adapted to be releasably secured
to the panels to thereby cover the wiring and the mounting
mechanisms contained in the end panels. The covers are
readily removable, however, so that the fastening means is
accessible so that the furniture construction may be
conveniently changed to satisfy changing office requirements.
Further modularity is achieved by providing means
on a supported top for suspending various pedestals and like
units below the top. This allows one to use the same end
panels to make a table, a one pedestal desk, a two pedestal
desk or a credenza u~it.
Standardized component construction allows maximum
~ flexibility to satisfy the requirements of the various
`' 25 consumers. The unique panel supporting structure allows
ease of assembly and modiication of the structure when
required. The panels additionally provide a convenient
arrangement for containing the wires associated with office
machines and the like associated with modern-day offices.
It is yet another important aspect of the invention
to provide a novel locking mechanism for the covers and end
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1 panels, which locking mechanism is readily accessible through
a special access closure positioned on the upper surface
of the end panels. No special tools are required to
release the locking mechanism and remove the end panels
- 5 and additionally, the closure member may be also utilized
to provide a wire access opening at the top of the
furniture structure.
The panels are constructed in a manner to pro-
vide rigidity and simultaneously to provide channel means
through which wiring for telephones, dictating equipment,
office machines, and the like may be positioned and hidden
from view. The end support panels are of a two-p~ece
construction having one portion thereof which is a generally
flat planar section while the other is formed with a dished-
out central portion to give the panel rigidity. The peri-
pheral portions of the panel having the dished-out central
portion are p:Lanar and are secured to the first-mentioned
panel sections to thereby provide convenient wiring channels
around the dished-out portions.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the end
panels, tops and various cabinets aro constructed so as to
; have length and width dimensions based on multiples of five
inches. Cabinets, including the tllickness of end panels,
are available in 30 inch, 35 inch and 45 inch dimensions,
for example. The first houses two letter files side by
side, the second two legal files side by side and the
third three letter files side by side-- all with a minimum
of wasted space. Significantly, the 45 inch cabinet
makes an excellent side credenza since it spaces one's
desk 45 inches from a wall or rear storage unit. A 45
inch spacing is the ideal spacing required for a desk chair.
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1 Less leaves one somewhat crowded and more results in wasted
space.
Similarly, this 5 inch module concept results
in work surfaces which are either 20 inches, 25 inches,
30 inches or 35 inches wide, from front to ba~k. This
means that the smallest filing cabinets are at least
20 inches deep. This provides ample surface on which to
place typewriters or the like and give sound fore and aft
stability to taller filing units. Units having an 18
inch width would be too narrow for proper stability while
units having a 24 inch width would result in wasted space.
Consequently, a wide range of combinations is
achieved merely by providing several different panels
having fore to aft widths of 20, 25, 30 and 35 inches.
Work surfaces and cabinets have similar fore to aft dimen-
sions and have lengths which, when combined with a pair
of end panels, result in units having lengths of 30, 35,
40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 inches. Because of this
j modular interrelationship, a planner can plan his entire
work space using a five-inch scale grid. The chance of
error is minimized since a~l dimensions and c~mbinations
of dimensions will either end in zero or 5.
Thus, the present invention provides a furniture
system in which one or a number of standardized furniture
components as desks, tables, bookcases, credenzas and the
' like are supported by special end panel members. The sturcture
i can be utilized singly, in abutting relationship, stacked
I back to back, and in virtually limitless numbers of arrange-
i,! ments which can be constructed utilizing the basic modular
;~ 30 construction.
' These and the many other important advantages
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l of thc inventioll will be further understood and appreciated
by those skilled in the art by reference to the following
written speciication, claims and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figs. l-5 are perspective views illus~trating
representative furniture constructions provided in accor-
dance with the invention;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the end panel,
support member with the cover panel removed;
Fig. 7 is a cross^sectional view of the end panel
support member taken along the plane VII-VII of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the inside of -'
thc cover panel removed from the end,panels;
Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken
along the plane IX-l~ of Figure 8 illustrating the fastening
mechanisms for the COVeI' member;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial perspective view
illustratillg the construction of the lock slide mechanism
of Figures 8-9 in greater detail; '~ i
Fig. 11 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the
upper access opening in the trim strip surrounding the end
panel support member and appears on shoet 2;
Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the
' structure of the leveling mechanisms shown in Figure 7 and
the lower wiring access opening in the trim strip surrounding
the end panel support member;
3j ' Fig. 13 is a partial perspective view of an alter-
nate structural panel construction and appears on sheet 2;
Fig. 14 is a schematic plan illustrating an
Z 30 arrangement of furniture utilizing a combination storage
unit, positional with a desk or either side, has two storage
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1067557
1 modu]cs opening on opposite sides of the unit;
Fig. 15a is a fragmentary cross section illus-
trating the assembled relationship of the cover member on
the end pane];
Fig. 15b is the same view as Fig. 15~, except that
the corner member is upholstered;
Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along thc
plane XVI-XVI of Figure 4 illustrating the pedestal mounting
in a level top desk construction;
Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure
16 taken along the plane XVII-XVII of Figure 5 illustrating
the pedestal mounting on a desk with a tilted top;
Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the
mounting structure for maintaining the pedestal in a level
position and appears on sheet 6;
Fig. 19 is a perspective view of that fragmentary
portion of an end panel indicated by reference in Figure 6
and appears on sheet 4;
Fig. 20 is an elevational view of that fragmentary
portion of an end panel indicated by reference in Figure 6
and appears on sheet 4; and
Fig. 21 is a schematic plan vicw oE a ~urniture
arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to Figures 1-5, a representative
sampling of various unit assemblies constructed in
accordance with this invention is illustrated. Figures
1 and 3, for example, illustrate credenza unit assem~lies
., .
incorporating a center case portion with drawer sections
positioned on either side thereof. A work table unit is
shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 illustrates a desk unit assembly
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1067~5~7
1 having a flat top portion supported by end panels and a
pair of drawer sec~ions on either side thereof. Figure S
illustrates a desk similar in construction to Figure 4 wherein
the top surface thereof is tilted at an angle. Each of these
constructions utilizes the same basic components including a
supported member as the top surface generally designated by the
numeral 10 in each of Figures 1-5; a pair of end panel members
12 adapted to support a supported member; drawer units 14 as
shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5; credenza center cases 16 shown in
Figures 1 and 3; and back panels or stretchers 18 as illustrated
in Figures 2, 4 and S. A virtually limitless number of
arrangements can be constructed from a bas;c set of
components as will become readily understood by those
' skilled in the art as a detailed description progresses.
'~'!15 The end panel members 12 are in normal use pro-
vided with a cover member 20 (see also Fig" 8) which may
~', be readily removed providing access to the interior of
the end panels where the means for securing the end
, panels and the supporting members together are located.
l 20 Referring to Figures 6 and 7, encl panel 12 is
;~ shown with cover 20 removed. ~nd panel 12 is o a double-
walled construction and includes a base 22~ a sheet
j metal inner wall 24, and an outer wall 26. The base is an
elongated metal channel-like member in which levelers
28 are adjustably mounted as will be more fully described
hereinafter. Inner wall 24 has a flat planar back surface
30 bounded at its top and side edges by a peripheral
flange 32. Outer wall 26 has an outwardly formed central
portion 347 a flat plansr surface 369 and ~m outer flange
~ 30 35 bounding the central portion adjacent the top and side
;¦ edges. Outer flange 35 is bent upwardly at the top of
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1 end panel 12 and laterally at the sides of end panel
12 to define abutment flanges 72 against which cover panel
20 abuts. The flat surface 36 is welded to inner wall
24 and the lower edge of projecting central portion 34 is
welded to base 22 to provide a strong, rigid, double wall
end panel structure.
The recessed area formed by flat planar surface
36, outer wall flange 35 and the raised central portion
34 forms a wiring channel 38 about the front, top and back
edges of the interior of the end panel. Wiring ("W", Fig. 6)
utilized for telephone hookups, dictating equipment, and
similar office machines is conveniently placed in channel
38 and may be brought out to the top of the work surface.
A decorative trim strip 40 extends about the
front, top and back peripheral surfaces of the end panels
to provide an attractive appearance (Fig. 6). Access
, means 42 is provided on the top surface of the trim strip
,i 40 to allow passage of the wiring from channels 36 to
the upper surface of the work surface 10. Trim strip
40 and flange 32 are provided with an access opening 44
(Fig. 11). A plug or cap member 46 constructed to blend
with trim 40 is provided to close the access opening.
, Plug 46 is fixed in position in opening 44 by means of
an opening 48 in its lower surface which is releasably
i 25 engageable with an upstanding pin member 50 fixed in channel
i', 38. Pin member 50 is centrally supported in opening
`, 44 and channel 38 by means of tab 51 secured to and ex-
tending outwardly from flat planar surface 36. Alternative
plugs 46 are provided. Slots or openings at the top
surface of one plug 4~ are provided to allow passage of
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1~67S5~7
wires or the like to the top of the work surface from the
channel 38. For situations where wiring access is not
necessary, another plug is provided which has a planar
flat top surface blending perfectly with the trim strip
to provide a flat flush and continuous appearance. An
alternative cover for access opening 44 is disclosed
in copending patent application serial number 197,300
entitled "WIRING ACCESS COVER", filed on April 10, 1974
by Dirk Van Kuik and Gale Wilcox, and assigned to the
assignee of this application.
The supported member or work surface 10 is
secured to the end panels by means of screws 52 passing
through openings provided in outer wall 26 and inner
wall 24 into a bracket 150 or other suitable threaded
fastener located on the ends of the supported member.
. Top 10 can be tiltably mounted in the manner set forth
in copend,ing application Serial Number 197,303,
entitled "TILTABLE DESK TOP", filed on April 10, 1974
by Donald Dean Korell and assigned to the assignee nf
this invention.
The pedestals or drawer units 14 are suspended
at the rear from the top 10 of desk 1 by the inter-
engagement of a hanger 120 and A rail assembly 130
(Figs. 16, 17 and 18). At its front, pedestal 14 is
suspended by a pair of bolts 141, each passing
through a resiliently compressible spacer 140 and
into a beam 142 of top 10. The interconnection
` between the end panels 12 of desk 1 and top 10 can
be adjusted so that top 10 can be oriented either
in a horizontal position (Fig. 16) or in a tilted
position (Fig. 17). Rail assembly 130 includes a
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1 top rail 131 and a bottom ra;l l32, and han~er 120
engages top rail 131 when top 10 is horizontal and
bottom rail 132 when top 10 is tilted. In this
manner, pedestal 14 is generally horizontal regardless
of the orientation of top 10. lhis suspension is
more ful~y described in copending application Serial
Number 197,290, entitled "SUSPENDED PEDESTAL DESK",
filed Oll April 10, 1974 by Donald Dean Korell and
assigned to the assignee of this invention.
The leveling means 28 located at the bottom
of the end panels in base 22 are provided to make
leveling adjustments of the assembled unit if required.
As shown in Fig. 7 and 12, levelers 28 include a
glide member 54 extendible and retractable from the
base 22. A stud 56 is fixed to the glide member and
extends upwardly therefrom into the panel between
side walls of base 22. A nut is threaded on the stud
and is captively held in the base by its abutment with
a slot formed therein so that as the nut is turned,
the stud a~d glide member will move with respect thereto
to thereby extend or retract glide member 54.
ReEerring again to ~:igure 6, a plurality of
slots 60 are Eormed in the upper edge oE the outwardly
formed central portion 30 of outer wall 24. At the
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' 25 lower portion of the outer wall, a plurality of slots 64
l are also provlded to engage the lower portion of cover
; 20.
~ The cover assembly and the locking mechanisms
`~ therefor are illustrated in Figures 8 through 10 and
illustrated in assembled relationship with the end panels
in Figure 15.
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1067557
1 Cover 20 is formed of sheet metal having height and width
dimensions corresponding to the opening in end panels
12. Cover 20 is formed with a pair of extending side
flanges 66 adapted to fit inside the peripheral flanges
32 forming wire channels 38 at the front and back surfaces
of the end panels. The upper and lower edges of the cover
are rolled over as illustrated at 68 and 70 providing
a double wall thickness at the top and bottom respectively
of the cover. As will be more fully described, the double
wall thickness is provided for abutting relationship
with corresponding steps 72 and 74 (Figs. 7 and 15) pro-
vided in the end panel structure.
A retainer rail 76 welded to the interior of the
; cover at the lower portion thereof includes a plurality
of retainer tabs 78 extending outwardly from the inside
, of the cover near the lower edge portion 70. Retainer
tabs 78 are spaced along the length of the retainer rails
; and are provided for engagement with slots 64 tFigs. 6 and
15) in the end panels.
Means for releasably securing the cover to the
end panels indicated generally by the numeral 80 is
located near the upper edge of the cover. The releasable
securing means includes a plurality of lock tabs 82 adapted
for locking engagement with tab-receiving slots 60 formed
in the central portion of the end panel. As shown in Fig.
10, tabs 82 are formed with a back wall 84 which is
secured as by welding to a slidably mounted lock slide
member 86. The back wall extends upwardly and outwardly
forming an upwardly directed front flange 88 in which a
pair of bias spring retainer openings 90 are provided.
Each lock tab 82 extends downwardly from the back wall
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1 84 and outwardly perpendicular to the back wall to form
the mechanism for engagement with slots 60 in the end
panels. Engaging mechanism of lock tab 82 is generally
barbed or triangular in shape having a leading edge portion
92, outwardly tapered side walls 94 terminating in shoulders
96 and 98 adjacent its intersection with back wall 84.
It will be noted that shoulder 98 extends outwardly from
the back wall in greater distance, about 1/16 of an inch,
than shoulder 96 for reasons as will be more fully described
hereinafter. -~
A pair of lock release actuators 100 are also
secured to loclc slide 86 between lock tabs 82 and each
include an outwardly formed upwardly extending upper portion
102 which when assembled in the cover, one or the other of
the tab members will be accessible through access opening
, 44 in the upper portion of the end panels. As shown in
Figure 9, lock slide 86 included lock tabs 82 and lock
release actuators 100 are mounted for sliding movement
in a lock slide retainer 102. The slide retainer is a
generally flat elongated strip having a channel formed
in its central portion along its length which receives
lock slide 86. Retainer 102 is secured to the inner facing
surface of cover 20 as by welding. Openings 104 (Fig. 8) are
provided along the length of retainer 102 through which
lock tabs 82 extend when assembled. Similar openings 106
are also provided for lock release actuators 100. Notches
108 are provided in the raised center section of the
slide retainer at each end thereof and a bias spring 110
is connected at one end in notch 108 and its opposite end
is connected through the opening 90 in flange 88 on lock
tab 82.
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1 It will be noted that openings 104 in slide
retainer 102 are wider than the width of the back wall
84 of lock tab 82. Openings 106 are similarly slightly
wider than the width of lock release actuator 100. This
allows limited movement of the lock slide 86 and tabs
across the width of the cover. Bias spring 110 constantly
urges the lock mechanism into its locked position by
shifting lock slide 86 to the right as shown in Figure 8.
The cover panels 20 may be finished by painting,
plating, covering with upholstery material 120 or any
variety of methods. The upholstery is placed over the
outer surface of the cover panel 20 and is folded over
the ends 68 and 70 (Fig. lSb). The releasable securing
means is adapted to compensate for different thicknesses
; 15 of upholstery material or the lack thereof by means
of two shoulders 96 and 98 (Fig. 10) provided in the lock
tab so that both painted and upholstered surfaces are
flush with the edge of trim 40. As mentioned previously,
shoulder 98 is positioned a grester distance away from
; 20 the back wall than shoulder 96. Accordingly, when the
cover 20 is upholstered, shoulder 96 is utilized to
position cover panel 20 closer to wall 26 of end panel 12
so that outer surface of upholstery is flush with the
edge of trim 40 (compare Figs. 15a and b). When the cover
panel 20 is painted or used with a thin fabric, it is
desirable to utilize shoulders 98 to serve the locking
function so as to allow cover panel 20 to be spaced farther
~j! from wall 26 and thereby allow its painted surface to
still be flush with the edge of trim 40. In order to
insure a snug, rattle free fit when cover panel 20 is not
upholstered, a plastic extrusion 130 is employed around
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106755~7
1 the top and side peripheries of end panel 12 (Fig. 15a).
Extrusion 130 includes a top barbed leg 131 having a barb
- 132 on the end thereof. Barbed leg 131 ~its inbetween
the top edge of flange 72 and peripheral flange 32 of wall
24, and barb 132 holds it there. Leg 133 extends ver-
tically downwardly or inwardly from barbed leg 133 and
divides into two diverging spreader legs 134 and 135.
These diverging legs hold the edges o~ cover panel 20
away from the surface of abutment flange 72 to thereby
insure a rattle free fit. Of course, when upholstery
120 is used, extrusion 130 is not (See Fig 15b).
A further snug fit of cover panel 20 to end panel
12 is facilitated by manipulating various adjustment slots
and tabs (Figs. 6, 15a and 15b, 19, and 20). Referring
to Fig. 20, it will be noted that in addition to slot 64
at the bottom of end panel 12, there is another smaller
slot 64a positioned immediately therebelow. This leaves
a small bridge or metal 64b between the two slots. When
cover panel 20 is upholstered with upholstery 120, this
bridge of metal 64b is bent inwardly by inserting a
screwdriver in slot 64a and twisting it. As a result,
cover panel 20 is held in closer not only at the top
by bridge 96 on tab 82, but also at the bottom by tab 78
(compare Figs. 15a and 15b). Referring particularly to
Fig. 15b, it can be seen that the bridge of metal 64b
has been bent inwardly in order to hold tab 78 further
inwardly.
Vertical adjustment can also be achieved in
a similar manner. Thus, by slipping a screwdriver in slot
64a, holding it horizontally and twisting it, one can
force bridge 64b upwardly slightly, either in addition to or
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~067557
1 rather than inwardly as heretofore described. By doing this
at each of the slots 64a, cover panel 20 is moved upwardly
higher than would otherwise be the case. To effect down-
ward adjustment, one can slip the screwdriver into slot
64 and force bridge 64b downwardly slightly.
Side-to-side adjustment is achieved by means of
a small tab flange 140 cut into peripheral flange 35 of
wall 26 at each side of end panel 12 ~Fig. 19). These tabs
140 bear against the side flanges 66 of cover panel 20
shown in Figs. 8 and 9. By bending the tabs 140 inwardly
or outwardly, one can shift cover panel 20 from side to
side in either direction. In this way, proper lateral
adjustment of cover panel 20 is achieved.
Finally, it should be noted that to some extent,
in and out adjustment can be achieved at the top of cover
panel 20 by prying the edges of slots 60 inwardly or
outwardly slightly (Fig. 6). Slots 60 are the slots into
, . . .
which the tabs 82 on slide lock 80 fit.
` As shown in Figure 8, shoulders 98 are adapted
for engaging slot 60 because of the presence of bias spring
110 urging the lock slide tabs to the right. To convert
for engagement of shoulder 96, bias spring 110 is simply
` removed from the position as shown in Figure 8 and placed
, in the opposite end of the slide retainer in notch 108'
and in opening 95 provided in the lock tab at the extreme
left of the lock mechanism. When thus positioned, the
i~' lock slide and the components mounted thereon will be
biased in the opposite direction causing engagement of
~` shoulder 96 with tab-receiving slot 60. Once assembled
the cover may be released by simply removing plug 4~
(Fig. 11) and reaching through access means 42 to shift
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1 the lock slide by moving lock release actuator 100 against
the bias of spring 110. This, of course, causes shifting
of the lock tab out of engagement with the slot 60 in the
panel to thereby ease in removal of the cover.
The alternate embodiment end panel 12' shown
in Figure 13 is similar to that previously described and
is constructed in basically the same manner. Like
reference numerals bearing the prime (') designation are
therefore utilized to identify similar components. The
lower section is identical to that previously described
including base 22', levelers 28', the double wall con-
struction providing wiring channel 38', and the work surface
10' which is secured by fastening means 52'. The upper -
section is similarly constructed and supports a storage
lS unit 10" in a similar fashion by fastening ~neans 52".
The wiring channels extend upwardly and across the top as
the embodiment shown in Figure 6. Access means 42'
is provided at the top thereof in trim strip 40'.
In Pigure 14, the diagram of a shared work sta-
; 20 tion is illustrated wherein end panels 12' of the type
'~ shown in Figures 6 and 13 are combined to provide the shared
storage unit. End panels 12' support a pa:lr of storage units
16 and 16' therebetween. Instead of being suspended from a
work surface 10, as for example as shown in Figure 13, each
~5 of the storage units 16 and 16' is adapted for mounting
through its end walls to the adjacent unit and to end panel
12' through fastening screws 52". A desk 1, of the type
! shown in Figure 5, for example, is positioned on each side
of storage units 16, one generally adjacent one unit and one
generally adjacent the other. In order that each desk 1
'9 has adjacent storage, storage unit 16 opens to the left
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1 to provide access to the desk on the left (as viewed in
Fig. 14) and unit 16' opens to the right to provide access
to the desk on the right.
It will be realized that virtually any number of
furniture constructions can be assembled utilizing the
novel support panels of the present invention. In a
preferred embodiment, the various component parts are
based on modular dimensions of five inch modules. It has
been found that the five inch modular dimension provides
a most efficient storage of standard information documents
and permits the most efficient arrangement of work
stations within good human factors dimensions such as
chair space required, desk surface area r0quired and etc,
while maintaining modular dimensions which facilitate ease
of planning and avoid the necessity of using fractional
numbers. It additionally provides better stability for high
storage units by using, for example, a twenty inch depth verses
the standard eighteen inch depth utilized in conventional
office furniture constructions. In addition, a deeper
usable reference work area is provided on which office
calculators, computer terminals, typowriters, and the
like can be placed without inconvenient overhang. Finally,
the five inch modular dimension is a rational unit for
assisting space planners. As long as feet and inches are
used, any module will have to be reduced to inches for
caluclation. The five inch module reduces the chance
of error because all dimensions will end in "0" or "5"
which numbers are easy to work with and are convertible
to feet and inches as a final calculation.
Thus, the end panels for the present system are
provided with depth (the distance from one side edge of the
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1 end panel to the other side edge) which are whole number
multiples of five inches. Specifically, end panels 12
are provided with depths of 20, 25, 30 and 35 inches. On
the other hand, storage units, such as units 14, and tops,
such as tops 10, are provided with lengths which, when
combined with the thicknesses of two end panels 12,
yield a total length which is a whole number multiple
of five inches. Specifically, lengths of 30, 35, 40,
45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 inches are provided for.
This means that where the desk length is to be 70
inches, for example, and where the thickness of each
end panel is approximately one inch, the length of the
top 10 must be 68 inches. The 68 inch top plus the
two one-inch end panels yields a total length of 70
inches.
The five inch modularity concept has been extended
to space divider panels which are used in conjunction
with the system. These space divider panels are designed
to have an appearance identical to or compatible with the
appearance of panels 12, but they are constructed with a means
for connecting them to end panels 12 and to each other, and
they n~ed not inclu(le any means ~or mounting desk tops or
the like. Suc}l space divider panels and their connectors
are disclosed in copending patent application Serial Number
197,251, entitled "PARTITION CONNECTOR SYSTEM", filed
on April 10, 1974 by Donald D. Korell and assigned to
the assignee of this application.
, Fig. 21 discloses a furniture arrangement in
which one such space divider 212 and two smaller space
dividers 212~a) are employed. Space divider panel 212
is ~5 inches in depth, i.e. from one side edge to the other
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1 side edge. Space divider 212 joins a desk unit 10 to a
storage unit having two storage compartments 14 mounted
between a pair of end panels 12. The 45 inch dimension
provides for comfortable space in which the occupant of
this area can move his chair 220. A1SOJ it provides de-
sired privacy.
The smaller partitions 212 (a) are only 20 inches
in depth. Here, a 45 inch storage unlt 14' is used as the
~ primary spacer between the desk 10' and the storage units
; 10 14. The small divder partitions 212(a) provide somewhat
more space for the occupant of this work area and also
provide a nice decorative effect. By providing space
divider partitions having depths which are whole number
multiples of 5 inches, specifically whichare 20, 25, 30,
35, 40 and 45 inches, one continues the five-inch modularity
concept conveniently from the dimensions of the furniture
to the dimensions utilized in space division.
In the foregoing description, it will be readily
appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifica-
~ 20 tions may be made to the invention without departing from
'~ the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be
considered as included in the following claims unless these
t claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
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