Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN DESKING SYSTEMS
This invention relates to desking systems and is particularly co.~ce ~-c~ with amod~ r declring system which can be configured in a nu.,.ber of dirr~ ways
to meet the ~em~n~ls of individual cuslulll~s.
5 According to the invention, there is provided a ~1eC~ing system which compric~s
a plurality of s~hs~ y vertical elollg~t~ members and at least one sub~ nl i~llyho- ;~.u.~ work surface wherein means are provided for adjusting the depth of the
desk and/or the length of the desk.
Preferably, four subst~nti~lly vertical Plollg~tP m~mbers are provided which are10 adapted to be coiln~t~ at or ~ cPnt to each end of a desk of the de~ing system
by the depth adj~ t means which comprise a first ~e~.~b~r secured to one of
the çlQng~tP Ille.l.be.s and a second mPmblor secured to the other elongate ...~ ..b~ ~
at or adjacent to the sarne end of the desk, the two members of the adj~ nt
means being adapted to be releasably connect~i lc~cl}.~ r in a varie~r of difr~.~n~
15 locations accc,r~ling to a desired spacing bclw~n the ~ul ~l~nl;~lly vertical elongate
mPmbers in order to achieve a desired depth of the desk.
The members of the adjuctm~nt means ~ crcldbly take the form of plates which
may be det~ch~hly sccur~ to the re~e.;Li~re elongate ~-~--k~-~ or they may be
l.c,..~n~ y secured to the members, for example by welding.
20 According to a ~l~rCl.cd embodiment of the invention, the s~ lly vertical
elong~tP members take the form of tubular legs of subst~nti~lly circular cross-
section. The legs at or ~ nt to one end of the desk are desirably Co-~n~-l~
to the legs at or ~ ent to the other end of the desk by rails which may be of
any suitable length in order to obtain a desk having a desired length. The rails25 preferably co~ lise extluded c-ectionc of a suitable metal such as steel or
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The rails are desirably adapted to receive support members for a work surface ofthe desk. The ~ u-L members may be secured to the rail P~tPn~ing b~lw~n the
front legs or to the rail extending between the rear legs of the desk in order to
vary the depth of the desk.
5 The legs of one desk may also serve as the legs of a second desk which is
~hP~ to the first-mpntio~ed desk. It is also possible to use only one leg of a
first desk as one of the legs of a second desk whc~eby the two desks are
connP~esl together by a single leg. By utilicing legs of circular cross-section, the
two desks may extend from the single leg away from each other at any desired
10 angle to one another.
As an ~ltern~tive or in addition, the legs of the desk need not be located at the
corners of a rer~ngl~ but could be located at the corners of a t ~ . A
triangular configuration is also possible as is an arrangement in which the corners
of a desk at one end consist of right angles while the other end is inçlinP~ at an
15 angle to said one end.
At least one of the ~--bs~ lly vertical elong~t~ members or legs may be
provided at its upper end with a spigot adapted to receive an eYten~ion pole fora support bracket, shelf and/or lamp.
~ltern~tively, the s~ l~s~;~..t;~lly vertical elongate members or legs at the rear of the
20 desk may be adapted to receive a rail which is provided with means for ~nf~ging
a like rail in such a manner that a wall of rails can be erected at the rear of the
desk.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference
to the drawings, in which:-
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Fig. 1 is a ~a~e~ re view of one embo~lim~-nt of a frame for a desk acco.~ling
to the invention;
Fig. 2 is plan view of one emboflim~nt of a cQI ne~lor for use in the desk shownin Fig. l;
S Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line m-m in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the con.-P~l~" shown in Figs. 2 and 3;
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the conn~ r shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of col~;Lor for use in the desk
shown in Fig. l;
10 Fig. 7 is a view taken on the line VII-VII in Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows;
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the conn~tor shown in Figs. 6 and 7;
Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the connector shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 shows the cQnll~;l;on of the conn~t~ r shown in Figs. 6-9 to a leg of the
desk;
15 Fig. 11 shows the conne~ion of the conneclol shown in Figs. 2-5 to a leg of the
desk and the fitting of a front rail thereto;
Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a work surface su~oll bracket adapted to be fitted
to the rail shown in Fig. 11;
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Fig. 13 shows the collnloction of the connector shown in Figs. 2-5 to a leg of adesk and the fitting of a rear rail thereto;
Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a cQf-n~-lvr for an adjustable foot for use with the
desk shown in Fig. l;
S Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line XV-XV in Fig. 14 in the direction of the
)W:i,
Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a spigot ~ rt~ to fit into the top of a leg of the
desk shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line XVII-XVII in Fig. 16 in the direction of the
10 ~uluwa;
Pig. 18 is a side elevation of one embodiment of an assembled desk according to
the invention;
Fig. 19 is a side elevation of a m~ifi~i form of desk according to the invention;
Fig. 20 is a side elevation of another forrn of desk according to the invention;
15 Fig. 21 is a side elevation of yet another form of desk according to the invention;
Fig. 22 is a side elevation of still another forrn of desk according to the invention;
Figs. 23 and 24 are side elevations of a morlified form of the desk shown in Fig.
22;
Fig. 25 is a side elevation of another form of desk according to the invention;
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Fig. 26 is a front elevation of the desk shown in Fig. 25;
Fig. 27 is a side elevation of an alternative for-n of the desk shown in Figs. 25
and 26;
Figs. 28 to 30 are front elevations of mo~lified forrns of the desk shown in Figs.
5 25 and 26;
Pig. 31 is a side elevation of a narrow form of desk according to the i,~nlioll;
Fig. 32 is a side elevation of another configuration of desk acconling to the
invention;
Fig. 33 is a side elevation of two facing desks acc~lding to the invention;
10 Fig. 34 is a plan view of a desk assembly according to the invention; and
Pig. 35 is a plan view of another form of desk assembly accoldi,.g to the
invention.
In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference nllm~
R~ferrin~ to the drawings, a frame for a desk of a ~les~ing system according to
15 the invention comprises four tubular memb~rs of circular cross-section which
c~ e the legs 1, 2, 3, 4 of the desk. The legs 1 and 3 are deCi~,rlf'd to be
located at the front of the desk and the legs 2 and 4 are decignFd to be located at
the rear of the desk. Secured to each of the front legs 1, 3 intermF~i~te the ends
thereof is a ,~ live first adj-lctmtont member S and secured to each of the rear20 legs 2, 4 IlL~ r~ t~ the ends thereof is a respective second adjuctmPnt member
6. Each adju~ t l"e~l kf S is adapted to fit into the ~soc;~t~d adj~ctment
~~f .her 6 and to be slidable therein. The adj-lstm~nt m~mhPrs 5 are provided at
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the top and at the bottom with a series of closely spaced holes 7 and the
a.lju~ t m~mbP s 6 are also provided with holes 8, but in this case not so
many, which can be ~lignPd with the holes 7. In order to achieve a desk of a
desired width, the adj~ t ...P ~.b~ 5 are slid into the ZI~O~'iAtf~l adjl,sl~ t
5 members 6 until the legs 1, 2 or 3, 4 are located a desired ~lict~nre apart. Screws
or bolts or rods 9 are then passed lhl~ugll one of the holes 8 in the adjn,l~ nl...--..b~ - ~ 6 which are ~ligned with the holes 7 in the adj~l~tmPnt ...~n~b - . S and
may be s~;u,ed by nuts (not shown) to secure the adj~s~ \t .u. ~br a and hence
the legs 1, 2 or 3, 4 together at a desired Sp~ing. Ap~lures 10 may be provided
10 in the sides of both adj~-ctmPnt members for the fitting of accesso.ics and/or cable
clips (not shown).
The legs 1 and 3 are illL~..;on.~P~tP~i by an upper front rail 11 and a lower front
rail 13 and the legs 2 and 4 are in~.conl-P~ by an upper rear rail 12 and a
lower rear rail 14. Each upper rail is co~nert~P~l to the Slc~ tr~ legs by upper15 connPctors 15 and each lower rail is conn~;l~ to the Zl~oc;~t~ legs by lower
collnP~;~ul~ 20. As shown in Figs. 2 to S, each upper co~nP-;Ior consists of a
c~...-r~;lol half 15 and a U-clamp 16 which is de~ignP~ to mate with the col-~-r~ol
half 15 around a leg of the desk. Each of the connecLor halves is provided with
a pair of bores 15a which are arranged to be aligned with like bores in a co-
20 op. ,~I;,-g U-clarnp 16 whereby the conneclo~ halves and U-clamps can be
connP~tP~ together by means of screws or bolts (not shown). Each connector half
15 is further provided with a projection 17 which is adapted to be received in an
a~.Lu,~ of a desk leg 1, 2, 3, 4 which serves to locate the co~nP~tor half in a
positive manner on the a~lu~-iale leg and to prevent said connector from
25 movement on the leg. Each conneclor half also has a pair of flanges 18 at itslower end which project laterally from the main body of the connector and, at its
upper end, a pair of upst~nfling beads or ridges 19. The U-clamp 16 may also
be provided with a projection 17 for Png~gPmPnt in one of the apertures in the
desk legs 1-4.
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As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, each lower colLne~lol also consists of a connector half
20 and a U clamp 16 which is adapted to mate with the conn~tor half 20 around
a leg of the desk. Each of the con ~ or halves 20 is provided with bores 20a
which are arranged to be aligned with the bores in the U-clamp 16 whereby the
S c~nnP~lor halves and U-clamps can be co~n~cted together by means of screws or
bolts (not shown). Each con~ tof half 20 is further provided with a ~ iLion
20b which is adapted to be received in an ~L~h.Lul~ of a desk leg 1, 2, 3 or 4
which serves to locate the cf~ ~or half 20 ~o~iLively on the a~l~lialG leg and
to ~ e.lt movement of the con~ o, on the leg, Each connect r half 20 further
10 has a pair of flanges 21 at its upper end which project laterally from the main
body of the connector. A further pair of smaller flanges 22 are provided at ~he
lower end of each col-neclol half 20 but these flanges do not project laterally to
the same extent as the upper flanges 21.
As shown in Fig. 10, the lower rail 13 comprises a section of extruded metal such
15 as ~1".~ .i..." which is provided with a pair of l~esses 23 and 24 for eng~g~mPnt
lc~pecLi~/ely with the flanges 21 and 22 on the conn~t~r 20. As also shown in
Fig. 10 the connector half 20 is secured to the U-cla np 16 on the leg 1 or 3 lby
screws or bolts 26 which engage in screw-threads in the bores 20a in the
conn~tcr halves 20. The lower raiI 14 is engaged with the ~Ccoci~tpd cnnnectors
20 20 on the rear legs 2 and 4 in a sirnilar ~I~amler.
As shown in Fig. 11, the upper rail 11 comprises a section of extruded metal such
as ~ I;LIIII which is provided on one side with a projecting tongue 27 for
engagement in a ch~nnel formed beL~v~., the bead or ridge 19 and the main body
of the conne~;Lor 15. The lower surface of the rail engages on one of the flanges
25 18 of the connector. Fig. 11 also shows that the co~n~,tor half 15 of the upper
conn~t~-r is secured to the U-clarnp 16 on the leg 1 by screws or bolts 25 whichengage in screw-threads in the bores 15a in the connector half 15. The upper rail
11 is eng~ged with the ~soc~ d conn~ctor 15 on the other front leg 3 in a
similar ",anne~.
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A work surface can be su~lled on the front rail 11 by means of support
Lel~ 31. As ~ihown in Fig. 11, each bracket 31 is provided at one end with
a rounded ~ llusion 32 which is desired to engage with a rounded recess 28 in
the rail 11 and with a ch~nn~l 33 which is cle~i~n~d to engage over a bead 29 on5 the rail 11. Each bracket 31 is provided at its other end with a work surface
su~po~ g surface 34 which, when the bracket is in~t~lled on the rail 11, is
s~ lly hc~ nl
As shown in Fig. 13, the upper rail 12 also comprises a section of extruded metal
such as ~11....;,.;ll... which, like the rail 11, is provided on one side with a10 ~l~oj~cLing tongue 36 and, on the other side, with a series of upwardly P- ~ .n-l;ng
ton~ ues 37. The upper rail 12 can be secured to the upper co~ rc~r 15 on the
rear leg 2 by eng~gin~ the tongue 36 in a ch~nnPl forrned between the bead or
ridge 19 and the main body of the cQrln~P~tQr 15 as shown in Fig. 13. Again, thelower surface of the rail 12 engages on one of the flanges 18 of the Co~n~Ctor.
15 The upper rail 12 is secured to the ~ori~tPd connector plates on the other rear
leg 4 in a similar manner. The upwardly PYtPnrling tongues 37 on the other side
of the rail 12 enable a bracket 41 provided on one side with a series of
dowllwaldly eYt~ntling tongues 42 to be hooked over the tongues 37 in order to
secure the bracket 41 to the rail 12 by inter-engagement of the tongues 37 and 42
20 as shown in Fig. 13. The bracket 41 is provided on its other side with a
s.lbs~ lly planar surface 43 for s-lypO~ lg a surface (not shown in Fig. 13) andwith a pro;e~:ling rib 44 for eng~ging and r~t~ g a work surface on the bracket
as shown in Fig. 20 of the drawings.
The legs of the deslc are desirably provided with adjustable feet 51 (Fig. 10)
25 which can be connP~ to the bottoms of the legs by means of colmeclol~ 52.
As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, each colmeclo~ 52 has a screw-threaded bore 53 for
the reception of a screw 54 e~ct~n-ling from a foot 51. A lock nut 55 is ~ng~gedon the screw 54 and the foot 51 can be adjusted by turning it with respect to the
leg to which it is fitted. The connector 52 is a force-fit in the lower end of the
30 leg.
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FYt~n~ion poles rnay be fitted to the upper ends of one or more of the legs for the
purpose of mounting equiplllellt such as monitor screens or upper level shelves.The extension poles are ~ hly fitted to the upper ends of the legs by means of
a spigot 61 which, as shown in chain lines in Fig. 13, is adapted to fit into the top
5 of a leg. As shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the spigot 61 has a stepped bore 62 which
is adapted to receive an ext~n~ion pole 63 (see Figs. 25 and 26).
By means of the connection of the rails 11-14 to the legs 1-4, any desired
configuration of work top surface may be employed. A basic forrn of ~s~nblPA
desk is shown in Fig. 18 in which a work surface 70 is ~y~ Lcd on the support
10 brackets 31. However, an ~ ition~l surface could also be su~lled on the
brackets 41 at a lower level than the work surface 70.
Since the tongues 36 and the longues 42 are spaced apart by an equal ~lict~nce~
the height of the br~rhot~ 41 can be adjusted with respect to the rail 12 simply by
moving the br~rk~tc up or down the rail. In Fig. 13, the lowerrnost tongue 42
15 is not engaged with a tongue 36 and the brackets could be lowered so that only
the top two tongues 42 are engaged with the tongues 36. Alternatively, the
brackets 41 could be raised so that only the lower two or three tOII~u~,S 42 areengaged with the tongues 36.
It is also possible to utilise the rear legs 2 and 4 of one desk as the rear legs of
20 a second facing desk. Such a configuration is shown in Fig. 19 in which each of
the desks has an upper work surface 70 ~u~ol~ed on .. s~ecli~e brackets 31. In
this case, the left hand desk as shown in the drawing has a lower work surface 71
which is ~u~o~ Led on a lower part of the brackets 31 while an equipment bin 72
for a monitor control keyboard 73 is rotatably mounted on the lower part of the
25 brackets 31 of the right hand desk. It will be noted that, in this case, the rails 11
are mounted on the rear legs 2 and 4 instead of the front legs 1 and 3 so that the
brackets 31 extend from the rear legs. This results in a desk having a relatively
narrow configuration.
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Fig. 20 shows a further configuration again ~ltili~ing the rear legs 2 and 4 for two
facing desks but in this case, the front rails 11 are cQm-P~t~l to the front legs 1
and 3. The upper work surface 70 of the left hand desk is P ~ ~-ded by a
suppl~~ y work surface 74. One edge of the work surface 74 is butted
5 against an edge of the work surface 70 and its opposite edge rests on the upper
edge of a rail 12 on the rear legs 2 and 4. The work surface 74 is further
s.-p~lled in its centIal region by a support 75 which is eng~gP~l in ch~nnPl~ 76and 77 in the rail 11 and bracket 31 respecti~ely (see Fig. 11). The right hand
desk is similar to the right hand desk shown in Fig. 19 but in this case the
10 br~ckPt~ 31 are con~1~1 to the front legs 1 and 3 and a further work surface 78
is ~u~?olL~ on b~ Pt~ 41 which are col~nPrfPIi to the rail 12 which in turn is
conn~te~ to con~ ol~ 15 on the rear legs 2 and 4.
Yet another configuration is shown in Fig. 21 in which two sets of front legs 1
and 3 are i~ rco~ p~ by a mo lified adj~ t ll~l ..bPr 66 which is similar
15 to the adillctmp-nt mPmber 6 but which is not secured to the desk legs and which
is adapted to receive a front adj~ mPnt ~ ..b-~ 5 at each end. Two work
s--rf~ces70 are su~olled on r~*,~Li~e brackets 31 and a further work surface 79
is ,u~pollcd by and extends between the work surfaces 70.
In Figs. 18 to 21, connectors 15 and 20 are shown on the legs 1 and 2 instead of20 U-clamps 16. However, this is simply a matter of choice and either U-clamps or
c~nn~clc,l, may be fitted.
Fig. 22 shows another configuration which is similar to that shown in Fig. 18 but
in which the brackets 41 are replaced by brackets 81 each of which has a tongue
82 eng~ging a tongue 37 of the rail 12. In this case, the rear legs 2 and 4 are
25 longer than the front legs 1 and 3 and the connectors 15 are so arranged on the
rear legs 2 and 4 that a flange 83 on each of the brackets 81 is located at
s~bs~ lly the sarne height as the top of the legs 1 and 3. A lower work
surface 72 can then be arranged to rest on the upper front rail 33. A mol itor
screen 84 can then be located on the work surface 72.
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A mo-1ifir~tion of the configuration shown in Fig. 22 is shown in Figs. 23 and 24
in which the brackets 81 are repl~P~ by a plafform 85 which has a wall 86 at oneside ~ ;n~ in a tongue 87 which is en~P~ble with a tongue 37 on the rail
12. The other side of the platrol~l~ has a wall 88 provided with projections 89 and
5 90 which are engageable in grooves 91 and 92 in the rail 11 (see Fig. 11). A pair
of scissor arrns 93 are slidably mounted at one end on the ~laLrul"~ 85 and at the
other end on the lower face of a plalÇol"~ 94 for su~pulLillg a ~o~ r screen 84.The monitor screen is t,ler~.ably movably mounLed on the pldlru~ 94 so that it
can be moved towards or away from the front of the desk when the scissor arms
10 are moved from the retracted position shown in Fig. 23 to the ~Yten~ied position
shown in Fig. 24. This sliding iOlvv~d of the ~o~ ur screen f~Cilit~t~P5
repl~r,PmP.nt
In the form of desk shown in Figs. 25 and 26, not only are the rear legs 2 and 4of the desk longer than the front legs 1 and 3, as in Figs. 22-24, but one of the
15 rear legs is also fitted with a spigot 61 into which an e~cten~ion pole 63 is fitted.
A series of slots 64 are provided in the wall of the pole for receiving tongues 65
projecting from a SU~JU1 L 66 for a platform 67 Su~pul Liilg a raised monitor screen
68. As shown in Fig. 26, this form of desk acco~ling to the invention is
e~uipped with two monitor screens 84 which are arranged to rest on a work
20 surface 74 e,Yt~n-ling between the top of conn~tors 15 on the rear legs 2 and 4
and ~-I~GlLs 75 mounted on the front rail 11. The main work surface 70 also
rests at one edge on the support 75 and is ~ll~oll~d by brackets 31. An
e~lui~",ent bin 72 cont~ining a keyboard 73 is located bclw~n the two IIIOll~tOiscreens as shown in Fig. 26.
25 An ~lt~rn~tive form of desk is shown in Fig. 27 in which an eFt~ncion pole 63 is
fitted to each of the rear legs 2 and 4 and a shelf 69 is mounted on the tops of the
~Yterlcion poles. The shelf may take the form of a pivotally mounted lid.
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In the form of desk shown in Fig. 28, an ~ lition~l intC~ rear leg 2a of
the desk is provided and is fitted with an ~Ytencion pole 63. In this case a shelf
80 ~t~n~ and is fitted to the ~Ytpncion poles 63 and a raised .. o~ nr
screen 68 is mount*~i on the shelf.
5 The confi~u.d~n shown in Fig. 29 is similar to that shown in Fig. 28 but in this
case there is no inte~ PAi~te leg 2a and e~tencion poles 63 are fitted to both of
the rear legs 2 and 4. A shelf 80 extends b. ~n and is fitted to the e ctrncinn
poles 63 and three raised monitor screens 68 are mounted on the shelf.
Fig. 30 shows an arrangement in which e~Sr -t;~lly two of the desks shown in Fig.
10 29 are fitted t~,e~ . In this case, two conn~tor halves 15 are fitted to eachother on each of the central legs of the combined desk, the U-clamps 16 merely
being used at the ends of the desk. Each of the three rear legs of the desk is
fitted with an eYtencion pole 63 and a lamp 97 is ll,ou,lled at the upper end ofeach of the ~ ;on poles.
15 A narrow form of desk according to the invention is ill~ ~ in Fig. 31 in
which no upper co~ . are fitted to the front legs 1 and 3 but instead a rail11 is fitted by means of upper cQIln~la 15 to the rear legs 2 and 4. BlacLeLs
31 are fitted to the rail 11 and support a work surface 70. This arrangement is
otherwise similar to the configuration shown in Fig. 18 but it will be seen that,
20 by fitting the rail 11 and the brackets 31 to the rear legs of the desk, a much
n~lu~er desk can be achieved. Further corlnectQrs 15 are mounted on the rear
legs above the connectorC for the rail 11 and a rail 12 is engaged with the e
further co~ ne~c"a. A au~Oll bracket 95 for a flat screen monitor 96 is fitted to
the rail 12.
25 Fig. 32 illl-ct~tes a further configuration of desk which is similar to the
configuration shown in Fig. 25 but in this case the desk is e4ui~l~ed with a slat
wall assembly which is fitted to the rear legs of the desk. The slat wall assembly
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is consLIucled from a series of rails 46 the lowermost one of which is fitted to the
upper ends of the rear legs 2 and 4 of the desk. The rails are so configured that
the lower face of each rail is adapted to engage with the upper face of the raillocated i~ iztt~7y below it. SiY~ rails are shown in Fig. 32 but more or less
5 rails may be provided as desired. One or more shelf brackets 47 may be fitted
to the rails 46.
A slat wall assembly is also fitted to the desk confi~,uldLion shown in Fig. 33
which bzt~;~ stlly concictc of two facing desks, each desk having two front legs but
the same rear legs serving for both desks. In this case the rear or centre legs are
10 fitted with adjl~ t ~ 6 eYt~on~lin~ from both sides for engagement with
ee~ve adj~ -nt ~ --h~-5 5 e~tPn~ing from the front or outer legs. No
CO~-P,cl~l.7 are fitted to the outer legs but rails 11 are fitted to both sides of
con.~P~L."., 15 ...~lm~d on the centre legs. Work s~ ces 70 are s~ d by
brackets 31 which are eng~ with both of the rails 11. The lowermost rail 46
15 of the slat wall assembly is engaged with further c~nn~Lo~ 15 on the centre legs
of the desk and flat screen monitorc 96 can be fitted to suitable rails 46 on both
sides of the slat wall assembly. Trolleys 98 for various electric and cl~llonic
co...pollents are provided which are adapted to fit under the work snrf~cPs 70
belw~ en the brackets 31.
20 It will thus be seen that a great number of desks of dirr~ .~nt configu~tiorl~ can
be created by means of the invention and that it is also possible to combine desks
using the sarne legs for ~ rent ends of desks. A continuous work surface may
extend beyond the length of a single deslc as shown in Fig. 34 in which the endsof two ~ Pnt desks are butted together. The desks need not be rectangular but
25 could be inr~linP~ at one or both ends. ~ltern~tively, desks could be arranged at
an angle to one another as shown in Fig. 35 of the drawings. In this case a
connP~cting strip 30 is secured to the legs 1 and 3 of the desks at ~ rent ends.
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The depth of the various desk config--r~tion~ can be çh~nged by fitting the rail 11
to the front or rear legs of the desk. However, fine adj-~tmPnt can be achieved
by means of the adju~tm~nt members S, 6 and 60 which preferably take the form
of flanged plates.
5 The invention is not restri~ t~ to the above-des~;libed embo~iment~ but v~ri~tion~
and m~iifit~tinn~ may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.For example, the lower front rail 13 may be omitted if desired. Further, the desk
shown in Fig. 18 could be fitted with a lower work surface 71 and/or with an
e~lui~llle.l~ bin 72 co~ ng a ke~oa~-l 73 as well as with one or more ~Yt~-n~ion10 poles 63 or slat wall rails 97. The desks shown in Figs. 19 and 20 could also be
fitted with e tPminn poles 63 or slat wall rails 46 while the desk shown in Fig.21 could be fitted with one or more e.lui~---ent bins 72 co.~ il-g kt;~oal~ls 73.
Likewise, the desks shown in Figs. 22-24 could also be fitted with one or more
eYten~ion poles 63 or slat wall rails 46.
15 It will be seen that, by means of the invention, it is possible readily and quickly
to construct a desk having any desired width, length, shape and configuration.
Since the hG~i~o..~l rails are located in front of the upright legs and can be of any
desired length, the location of the legs is not il~pol~ult and the legs do not have
to be po~ision~l at the corners of a desk. The work surfaces can be cantilevered20 in order to leave space for an ol)eldlol's legs and it is also possible for the work
sl-rf~çs to be c.~:ono--,ically de~ignP~. Two people can be placed around a
central spine at facing desks and ~u~o,l~ can be shared along a run of desks
made according to the decking system of this invention.
