Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MARKER BOARD
This application is a divisional application of co-pending application
Serial No. 2,449,565, filed June 7, 2002.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to furniture such as is employed in an office setting,
and more particularly to a furniture and accessory system which includes a
number of
components which are readily adapted for movement and interchangeability in an
office
setting.
In many office environments, it is desirable to provide furniture
components that can be quickly and easily moved to enable the office to be
reconfigured
for various tasks. It is also desirable to provide furniture components which
can be
manufactured according to specific user requirements, to enable the components
to be
used in an optimal manner by the user. It is further desirable to provide a
furniture
system in which the components are readily adapted to be used in combination
with
other components, and in which the components can be moved to varying
arrangements
and configurations according to the environment in which the components are to
be
used.
The present invention contemplates a number of furniture and accessory
components which are adapted for use in an office environment, and which can
be used
separately or together and in various combinations and subcombinations, to
facilitate
work flow, individual and team productivity, and the ability to rapidly and
easily
reconfigure an office environment for various uses. The invention further
contemplates
a number of components which are of a modular construction so as to facilitate
manufacture according to specific user requirements, to enable the components
to easily
be assembled according to specific user requirements.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, storage units can
be constructed in various configurations from a number of modular components.
The
storage unit components are assembled on a modular base, which is preferably
provided
with casters or the like for imparting mobility to the storage unit. The
modular
components assembled together to form the storage unit are in the form of
cabinet
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modules with drawers, shelf modules, and cupboard modules with doors that
provide
access to the open interior of the cupboard module. The various components can
be in
different sizes, and can be configured together in various combinations and
subcombinations to form a storage unit having a desired configuration
according to user
requirements and/or the environment within which the storage unit is to be
used.
Another aspect of the invention involves a tower-type storage unit, which
again includes a base with casters for imparting mobility to the storage unit.
The tower-
type storage unit includes a series of walls with an open front, and can be
assembled in
various configurations, again according to user requirements.
Yet another aspect of the invention involves a mobile drawer-type storage
unit which has an extendible and retractable handle assembly which facilitates
quick and
easy movement of the storage unit from one location to another. The storage
unit is
built on a base with casters, which are configured to extend outwardly from
each corner
of the base to provide a stable mobile support for the storage unit. The tower-
type
storage unit and the mobile drawer-type storage unit may be assembled on the
same
base.
Another aspect of the invention involves a paper management bin
arrangement which facilitates storage of papers and which is readily adapted
for use in
combination with the storage components incorporated into the mobile furniture
and
accessory system of the present invention. The paper management bin
arrangement
includes a bin defining an upwardly open interior adapted to receive files,
papers or
binders. The bin can be supported in a suspension-type manner from a bracket
adapted
to be mounted to a shelf or the like associated with one of the storage units.
Alternatively, the bin can be hung from a slot associated with an external or
internal
wall defined by one of the storage units, or can be placed in a storage unit
drawer. The
bin is capable of being used in connection with multiple ones of the
components of the
storage units constructed according to the present invention, to facilitate
work flow for
active projects and to facilitate archival storage subsequent to completion of
a project.
The present invention also incorporates screen-type partitions, which have
a modular construction and which can be assembled in various forms. The
partitions
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include outwardly extending legs for stability, and may include casters or the
like for
facilitating movement and reconfiguration of the partitions.
Yet another aspect of the invention involves a unique marker board
construction which can be mounted in various ways using the components of the
mobile
fu niture and accessory system of the present invention, including suspension
from a
storage unit, engagement with a partition or suspension from a rail adapted to
be
engaged with a wall. The marker board includes mounting members which can be
opened or closed to adapt the marker board for mounting to various types of
supports,
and which can also be operated to secure a sheet of paper or the like to the
marker
board. The marker board includes an arrangement for maintaining various types
of
markers in engagement with the marker board, to keep the markers at the
ready.,
Another aspect of the invention involves various types of components
such as desks, tables and the like, which provide horizontal work surfaces. In
one form,
a desk or table top is mounted to the upper end of each of a pair of leg
assemblies. The
leg assemblies are modular, and are adapted to be used in combination with
various
types and shapes of table or desk tops. Each leg assembly preferably includes
a single
table top support and a pair of outwardly extending legs. The height of the
table top
support can be adjusted, so as to provide adjustability in the elevation of
the desk or
table top. In one form, a manual adjustment mechanism involves a retainer pin
which
can be engaged within one of a series of passages defined by the table top
support. The
leg assemblies can also be adapted for use as a computer stand, in which a
computer
monitor is supported by the top of the stand, which is supported by the pair
of leg
assemblies. A CPU cradle is engaged between the leg assemblies, for supporting
a
computer CPU below the top of the stand and between the leg assemblies. The
cradle is
preferably supported from a sleeve engaged with each table top support member,
defining a passage through which the table top support member extends. The
height of
the sleeve relative to the support member can be adjusted, using a retainer
pin engaged
within one of the series of passages defined by the table top support member.
Another aspect of the invention contemplates an adjustable height glide
which can be engaged with legs of the various components of the mobile
furniture and
accessory system of the present invention, such as the tables, desks, and
partitions. Such
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components can be fitted with casters for facilitating movement, with glides,
or with a
combination of casters and glides. The adjustable height glide includes a base
adapted
for engagement with a supporting surface such as a floor, and which includes
an
upstanding outer wall defining an interior within which a threaded connecting
shaft is
received. The threaded connecting shaft extends upwardly from the outer wall
of the
base. The threaded connecting shaft extends through the interior of an upper
member,
which is telescopingly engaged with the outer wall of the base. The upper
member is
biased upwardly relative to the base by means of a spring, into engagement
with the
underside of the mounting area of the component to which the glide is to be
mounted.
The upper portion of the glide is moved inwardly as the threaded connecting
shaft is
advanced, and moved outwardly under the influence of the spring when the
threaded
connecting shaft is extended, such that the outer portion functions to conceal
the upper
area of the threaded connecting shaft located above the upper end of the outer
wall of
the base.
The various components of the mobile furniture and accessory system of
the present invention can be used separately or in various combinations and
subcombinations, to adapt to specific user requirements. The components are
capable of
being produced in various configurations, again according to user requirements
and/or to
enhance efficient and effective use of space in a work environment.
Various other features, objects-and advantages of the invention will be
made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying
out the invention.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is an isometric view of various components of the mobile furniture
and accessory system of the present invention assembled together in a
representative
work environment;
Fig. 2 is an isometric view of additional components of the mobile
furniture and accessory system of the present invention assembled together in
another
arrangement of a work environment;
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Fig. 3 is an isometric view of various components incorporated into a
modular storage unit forming a part of the mobile fu niture and accessory
system of the
present invention;
Figs. 4-7 are views similar to Fig. 3, showing additional configurations of
5 components that can be assembled together to form a modular storage unit
forming a
part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are isometric views of representative components that
can be incorporated in the various configurations of a modular storage unit,
such as
illustrated in Figs. 4-7, and forming a part of the mobile furniture and
accessory system
of the present invention;
Fig. 11 is a view illustrating representative combinations of components
incorporated into a modular storage unit having a first height and forming a
part of the
mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, showing various combinations of
components incorporated into a modular storage unit having a second height,
and
forming a part of the mobile fu niture and accessory system of the present
invention;
Fig. 13 is a view similar to Figs. 11 and 12, showing different components
incorporated into a storage unit having a third height, and forming a part of
the mobile
furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 14 is a view similar to Figs. 11-13, showing components incorporated
into a storage unit having a fourth height, and forming a part of the mobile
furniture and
accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a view similar to Figs. 11-14, showing additional storage units
of different configurations, forming a part of the mobile furniture and
accessory system
of the present invention;
Fig. 16 is a view similar to Figs. 11-15, showing additional configurations
of components to construct storage units forming a part of the mobile
furniture and
accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 17 is an isometric view of another version of a storage unit forming a
part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
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Fig. 18 is a view showing alternative versions of a storage unit similar to
Fig. 17, forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the
present
invention;
Fig. 19 is an isometric view of one version of a mobile cabinet forming a
part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 20 is a view illustrating alternative versions of a mobile cabinet
forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present
invention;
Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 19, showing another embodiment of a
mobile cabinet incorporated into the mobile furniture and accessory system of
the
present invention;
Fig. 22 is a view similar to Figs. 19 and 21, showing another configuration
of a mobile cabinet forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory
system of the
present invention;
Figs. 23 and 24 are isometric views illustrating additional mobile cabinet
configurations forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of
the
present invention;
Fig. 25 is an isometric view illustrating a set of storage bins forming a part
of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 26 is an isometric view showing a hanging version of a storage bin
forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present
invention;
Fig. 27 is a partial isometric view with reference to line 27-27 of Fig. 26;
Fig. 28 is an isometric view illustrating a storage bin and its use in
connection with an associated storage cabinet forming a part of the mobile
furniture and
accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 29 is a view illustrating use of the bin and storage components
incorporated into the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present
invention;
Fig. 30 is an isometric view showing various versions of a movable screen
or partition forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of
the present
invention;
Figs. 31 and 32 are isometric views illustrating embodiments of a screen
incorporated into the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present
invention;
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Fig. 34 is a top plan view illustrating different configurations which can be
attained using the screen of Fig. 32;
Fig. 35 is an isometric view of a marker board and the rear of a marker
board cart, forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the
present
invention;
Fig. 36 is an isometric view of the front of the marker board cart illustrated
in Fig. 35;
Fig. 37 is an enlarged partial isometric view with reference to line 37-37
of Fig. 35;
Fig. 38 is an isometric view of a marker board forming a part of the
mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 3 9 is an elevation view showing one side of the marker board of Fig.
38;
Fig. 40 is an elevation view of a marker board forming a part of the mobile
furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 41 is an enlarged partial elevation view with reference to line 41-41 of
Fig. 40;
Fig. 42 is a partial section view showing an upper area of a marker board
forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present
invention,
and illustrating one of the ways in which the marker board can be suspended
for use;
Fig. 43 is a view similar to Fig. 42, showing another way in which the
marker board can be suspended for use;
Fig. 44 is an enlarged partial section view showing the manner in which a
sheet of paper can be engaged with the marker board of Figs. 42 and 43;
Fig. 45 is an enlarged partial elevation view of a marker engagement area,
as shown in Fig. 37, incorporated into the marker board forming a part of the
mobile
furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 46 is a view similar to Fig. 45, illustrating an alternative manner of
securing a marker to the marker board;
Fig. 47 is a partial section view taken along line 47-47 of Fig. 46;
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Fig. 48 is an isometric view illustrating various shapes and sizes of marker
boards forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the
present
invention;
Fig. 49 is an isometric view of a representative table incorporated into the
mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 50 is a partial isometric view showing one of the legs and a portion of
the table top of the table of Fig. 49;
Fig. 51 is an exploded isometric view of the components of the table leg of
Fig. 50;
Fig. 52 is an enlarged partial isometric view showing portions of the table
leg of Fig. 51;
Fig. 53 is an isometric view of an alternative table top configuration for a
table forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the
present
invention;
Fig. 54 is a bottom plan view of the table top of Fig. 53;
Fig. 55 is a partial section view taken along line 55-55 of Fig. 53;
Figs. 56-59 are top plan views of representative alternative table top
configurations for the table forming a part of the mobile furniture and
accessory system
of the present invention;
Fig. 60 is an isometric view of an adjustable height stand or table forming
a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention;
Fig. 61 is a bottom plan view of the table top of the table of Fig. 60;
Fig. 62 is an isometric view of another embodiment of an adjustable
height table similar to the adjustable height table of Fig. 60;
Fig. 63 is a bottom plan view of the table top of the table of Fig. 62;
Fig. 64 is an isometric view of another embodiment of an adjustable
height table similar to the table of Fig. 60;
Fig. 65 is a bottom plan view of the table top of the table of Fig. 64;
Fig. 66 is another embodiment of an adjustable height table similar to the
table of Fig. 60;
Fig. 67 is a side elevation view of the adjustable height table of Fig. 66;
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Fig. 68 is a bottom plan view of the table of Figs. 66 and 67;
Fig. 69 is an exploded isometric view showing the components of the
adjustable height table of Figs. 66-68;
Fig. 70 is a partial section view with reference to line 70-70 of Fig. 67;
Fig. 71 is a partial section view with reference to line 71-71 of Fig. 67;
Fig. 72 is an isometric view of an adjustable height computer stand
forming a part of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present
invention;
Fig. 73 is a side elevation view showing the computer stand of Fig. 72 in
combination with an adjustable height table such as the table illustrated in
Fig. 49;
Fig. 74 is an exploded isometric view of the adjustable height computer
stand of Fig. 72;
Fig. 75 is an isometric view of a glide adapted for use in supporting the
components of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present
invention;
Fig. 76 is a section view taken along line 76-76 of Fig. 75; and
Figs. 77-84 are isometric view illustrating representative environments
which can be attained using the mobile furniture and accessory system of the
present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention
contemplates a number of furniture products and accessories which are adapted
to be
used in an office environment, and which provide ease of mobility and
relocation of the
various components incorporated into the system.
Fig. 1 illustrates a representative office environment configuration which
can be obtained using the certain components of the mobile furniture and
accessory
system of the present invention. The components employed in the office
environment of
Fig. 1 can be readily and easily repositioned to change the layout of the
office
environment, for flexibility of the open plan office configuration and for
different
specific uses of the space. Representative components incorporated into the
office
environment of Fig. I include a storage unit S, a pair of desks or tables Ti,
T2, a binder
storage tower B, and a mobile screen or partition P. A series of chairs Cl, C2
are
provided for use by the occupant of the office environment of Fig. 1. A marker
board M
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is illustrated as being supported by a support rail R secured to a wall which
in part
defines the space for the office environment of Fig. 1. A series of paper
management
storage bins PB may be used by the occupant of the office environment of Fig.
1. Bins
PB are adapted to be supported by or stored in a number of the components of
the office
5 environment of Fig. 1, including suspension-type support from rail R and
screen or
partition P, and conventional storage within a shelf unit associated with
storage unit S.
The office environment of Fig. I may also include an overhead storage unit OS
supported by a support rail R secured to another wall defining the space for
the office
environment of Fig. 1. The floor-supported components illustrated in the
office
10 environment of Fig. 1 are provided with casters or glides, which facilitate
movement of
such components for reconfiguration to adapt the space for different uses by
the
occupant of the space, and to also enable movement for altering the overall
plan of the
office space.
Fig. 2 illustrates another representative office environment configuration
which can be obtained using the components of the mobile furniture and
accessory
system of the present invention. In the environment of Fig. 2, a series of
screens or
partitions P are moved together to divide the overall space into separate
spaces that can
be used by several different people. The users of the space may use various
storage
products that can be moved into and about the space, either for personal or
project
storage, including a binder tower B and a mobile storage pedestal SP. A series
of
marker boards M may be adapted for use by the occupants of the space, and can
be
supported from a wall or from screens or partitions P. A mobile marker board
cart MC
is adapted to carry a series of marker boards M, and can also be used to
support marker
boards M during use. Paper management bins PB may be used by the occupants of
the
space, and supported from various components including screens or partitions P
and
binder tower B.
The mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention may
be used in other combinations and configurations of components, and additional
examples will be shown and described hereafter.
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Storage Components
One aspect of the mobile furniture and accessory system contemplates
various storage products. In one form, the storage products may be modular in
construction. As shown in Figs. 3-10, the modular storage products are built
on a
mobile stationary platform or base module 96, or on a platform or base module
98 which
includes a base member 100 having a series of casters 102 located one at each
comer
defined by base member 100.
In a representative combination, a drawer module 104 includes a cabinet
and a series of pull-out drawers 106, all of which may be configured to
accommodate
files or may be conventional storage-type drawers. The cabinet of drawer
module 104
defines a top 108. Drawer module 104 has a depth which corresponds to the
depth of
base module 96 or base member 100, and has a width which may be equal to or
less than
that of base module 96 or base member 100. Drawer module 104 may be provided
with
various drawer configurations, representatively illustrated at D1, D2, D3, D4
and D5. It
should be appreciated that the illustrated drawer configurations are exemplary
only, and
that other drawer styles and configurations may be employed. A bookcase module
110
is adapted to be placed on and secured to top wall 108 of drawer module 104.
Bookcase
module 110 may have the same footprint as drawer module 104, or may have a
width
less than that of drawer module 104. Bookcase module 110 is of conventional
construction including an open front and an adjustable shelf 112 which divides
the
interior of bookcase module 110 into upper and lower storage areas. A wardrobe
module 114 is adapted to be mounted to base member 100. Wardrobe module 114 is
dimensioned so as to have the same depth as drawer module 104, and a width
which, in
combination with a narrow drawer module 104, equals the width of base module
96 or
base member 100. Wardrobe module 114 includes an open interior which is
accessible
through a door 115. Wardrobe module 114 has a height which equals the combined
height of drawer module 104 and bookcase module 110. In an arrangement in
which the
drawer module 104 has a width which equals that of base module 96 or base
member
100, a single drawer module 117 or a single door cabinet module 119 may be
engaged
with the top wall 108 of drawer module 104, in combination with bookcase
module 110.
A full-width cupboard module 116 is adapted to be mounted to the upper ends of
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bookcase module 110 and wardrobe module 114. Cupboard module 116 has an open
interior which is accessible through a single door or a pair of doors 118,
120. The
footprint of cupboard module 116 is the same base module 96 or as base member
100,
which in turn is the same as the combined footprint of drawer module 104 (and
bookcase module 110) in combination with wardrobe module 114. Cupboard module
116 is adapted to be secured to an upper wall 122 of bookcase module 110 and
to an
upper wall 124 of wardrobe module 114. Cupboard module 116 in turn defines an
upper
wall 126, and a top panel 128 is adapted to be secured to upper wall 126 of
cupboard
module 116. Typically, top panel 128 will have a similar style, color and
appearance as
base member 100, so as to provide an aesthetically appealing appearance to the
modular
storage system constructed of components 100-128.
Certain of the side walls of the various components may be provided with
a horizontal slot S, which can be used to releasably mount a paper management
bin PB
to the component, in a manner to be explained.
The various components illustrated in Figs. 3-10 can be positioned in
various orientations relative to each other and relative to base modules 96 or
98,
according to the configuration desired by the user.
Fig. I 1 illustrates various storage unit configurations having a first
modular height, and which can be obtained using the modular storage component
concept in accordance with the invention. In a first storage unit
configuration S1, a
drawer module 138 is mounted to base member 100 of base module 98. Drawer
module
138 is similar to a full width drawer module 104 with two fiill-width drawers.
A
bookcase module 110 and a single-door cupboard module 140 (which is identical
to
module 119) are secured to the top wall of drawer module 138. Bookcase module
110
and cupboard module 140 are configured to define the same footprint as drawer
module
138 and base member 100. A two-door cupboard module 142 (which is identical to
module 116) is mounted to the upper walls of bookcase module 110 and cupboard
module 140. Again, cupboard module 142 has the same footprint as base module
98
and the components between cupboard module 142 and base module 98. A top panel
128 is mounted to the upper wall of cupboard module 142. As noted previously,
the
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components of storage unit S1 may be moved to different orientations relative
to each
other, other than the specific orientation shown.
A storage unit S2 includes base module 98 and drawer module 138 as
described with respect to storage unit S1. Storage unit S2 also includes a
tall bookcase
module 110' and a tall single-door cupboard module 140', which are configured
similarly to bookcase module 110 and cupboard module 140, respectively. Top
panel
128 is mounted to the upper walls of bookcase module 110' and cupboard module
140'.
A storage unit S3 includes bookcase module 110, single-door cupboard
module 140 and two-door cupboard module 142, as described previously. Storage
unit
S3 further includes a drawer module 144 having the same footprint as base
module 98,
but incorporating four drawers instead of the two drawers as illustrated in
storage units
S1 and S2-
A storage unit S4 includes a drawer module 138 mounted to base module
98, in combination with a pair of back-to-back tall bookcase modules 110'. Top
panel
128 is mounted to the upper walls of tall bookcase modules 110'.
Storage units Ss and S6 each include a drawer module 145 constructed
similarly to drawer module 138 but including three drawers rather than two.
Storage
unit S5 includes an intermediate height bookcase module 110", which is
constructed
similarly to bookcase modules 110 and 110', having a height greater than
bookcase
module 110 but less than tall bookcase module 110'. Storage unit S5 further
includes a
single-door cupboard module 140', which has a height greater than that of
single-door
cupboard module 140 and equal to that of bookcase module 110". Storage unit S6
includes back-to-back bookcase modules 110".
Storage units S7 and S8 each include a full-height wardrobe module 114'.
Storage unit S7 includes a drawer module 146 constructed similarly to drawer
module
138, but having a lesser width such that drawer module 146 and wardrobe module
114
cooperate to define a footprint the same as that of base member 100. A tall
partial-width
cupboard module 148 is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 146,
defining an
open interior which is accessible through a pair of doors. Cupboard module 148
defines
the same footprint as drawer module 146, and cooperates with wardrobe module
114' to
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define the same footprint as base member 100. Top panel 128 is mounted to the
upper
ends of cupboard module 148 and wardrobe module 114.
Storage unit S$ includes a drawer module 150 constructed similarly to
drawer module 146 but including three drawers rather than two. Storage unit S8
further
includes a cupboard module 152 constructed similarly to cupboard module 148
but
having a lesser height, such that drawer module 150 and cupboard module 152
have a
combined height which equals that of wardrobe module 114'. Again, top panel
128 is
mounted to the upper ends of cupboard module 152 and wardrobe module 114'.
Storage modules S9, S10, S11, and S12, each include a transversely mounted
wardrobe module 114" having a width which equals that of base member 100.
Storage
module S9 includes a drawer module 154 which includes a pair of drawers, and
which
has a lesser depth than drawer module 138, such that drawer module 154 and
wardrobe
module 114" cooperate to define a footprint which equals that of base member
100. A
cupboard module 156 is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 154, having
a
depth equal to that of drawer module 154. Cupboard module 156 and drawer
module
154 have a combined height equal to that of wardrobe module 114", and top
panel 128 is
mounted to the upper ends of wardrobe module 114" and cupboard module 156.
Storage unit S10 is constructed similarly to storage unit S9, but includes a
drawer module 158 constructed similarly to drawer module 154 but having three
drawers instead of two and a greater height than that of drawer module 154. A
cupboard
module 160 is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 154, and is
constructed
similarly to cupboard module 156 but having a lesser height, such that the
combined
height of drawer module 158 and cupboard module 160 equals that of wardrobe
module
114". Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper ends of cupboard module 116 and
wardrobe module 114.
Storage unit S11 includes wardrobe module 114" as well as drawer module
154. In addition, a tall bookcase module 162 (similar to 110') is mounted
above drawer
module 154, and is dimensioned such that drawer module 154 and bookcase module
162
have a height which equals that of wardrobe module 114". Top panel 128 is
mounted to
the upper ends of wardrobe module 114" and bookcase module 162.
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In a similar manner, storage unit S12 includes wardrobe module 114" and
drawer module 158 having three drawers. A bookcase module 164 (similar to
110"),
constructed similarly to bookcase module 162 but having a lesser height, is
mounted to
the upper wall of drawer module 158. Again, the combined height of drawer
module
5 158 and bookcase module 164 equals that of wardrobe module 114", and top
panel 128
is mounted to the upper ends of wardrobe module 114" and bookcase module 164.
It should be understood that the components shown and described with
respect to storage units S 1- S 12 are illustrative of a virtually unlimited
number of
components and combinations of components which can be mounted to base module
98
10 in a similar manner, to provide a differently configured storage unit
according to user
requirements.
All versions illustrated in Fig. 11 have the same height, which corresponds
in height to a conventional height of a wall panel employed in an open plan
office
system, e.g. 66 inches. In all configurations, the various components can be
moved to
15 different angular positions relative to each other, according to the
configuration desired
by the user.
Fig. 12 illustrates a series of storage unit configurations built on a base
98'
having a lesser width than base 98. Again, the storage unit configurations of
Fig. 12 are
all of a similar height, representatively corresponding to the height of a
conventional
panel in a wall system, such as 66 inches. Certain of the components in the
storage unit
configurations of Fig. 12 correspond to those described with respect to Fig.
11, and like
reference characters will be used to facilitate clarity.
As shown in Fig. 12, a storage unit S13 includes a drawer module 146
having two relatively large drawers. Drawer module 146 is mounted to base
member
100' of base module 98', and bookcase module 110 is mounted to the top wall of
drawer
module 146 along with a narrow cupboard module 134. Bookcase module 110 and
cupboard module 134 define a combined footprint which is the same as drawer
module
146 and base module 98'. Cupboard module 116 is mounted to the upper walls of
bookcase module 110 and narrow cupboard module 134, and a top panel 128' is
mounted to the top wall of cupboard module 116.
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A storage unit S14 includes a three-drawer module 150 mounted to base
module 98. An intermediate height bookcase module 110" is mounted to the upper
wall
of drawer module 150, along with a single-door cupboard module 134', which is
constructed similarly to cupboard module 134 but having a greater height which
equals
that of bookcase module 110". Top panel 1281 is mounted to the upper walls of
bookcase module 110" and cupboard module 134'.
A storage unit S15 includes a narrow two-drawer module 170 and a
wardrobe module 114 mounted to base module 98'. Bookcase module 110 is mounted
to the upper wall of drawer module 170, which have a combined height equal to
that of
wardrobe module 114. Cupboard module 116 is mounted to the upper walls of
bookcase module 110 and wardrobe module 114, and top panel 128' is mounted to
the
upper wall of cupboard module 116.
A storage unit S 16 includes a full-height wardrobe module 114' and drawer
module 170 mounted to base module 98'. Bookcase module 110 is mounted to the
upper wall of drawer module 170. A laterally facing cupboard module 172 is
mounted
to the upper wall of bookcase module 110. Top panel 128' is mounted to the
upper
walls of bookcase module 172 and wardrobe module 114'.
A storage unit S17 includes drawer module 170 and full-height wardrobe
module 114' mounted to bas module 98', along with a tall bookcase module 110'.
Top
panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of bookcase module 110' and wardrobe
module
114.
A storage unit S16 includes a full-height wardrobe module 114' and drawer
module 170 mounted to base module 98'. A forwardly opening single-door
cupboard
module 173 is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 117, and top panel
1281 is
mounted to the upper walls of cupboard module 173 and wardrobe module 114.
A storage module S19 includes full-height wardrobe module 114' along
with a narrow drawer module 174 mounted to base module 98'. Drawer module 174
is
similar to drawer module 170, but has a greater height and includes three
drawers rather
than two. A single-door cupboard module 176 is mounted to the upper wall of
drawer
module 174, and has the same footprint as drawer module 174. Top panel 128is
mounted to the upper ends of cupboard module 176 and wardrobe module 114'.
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A storage unit S20 includes drawer module 174 and full-height wardrobe
module 114' mounted to base module 98'. Bookcase module 110" is mounted to the
upper wall of drawer module 174, and top panel 128' is mounted to the upper
walls of
bookcase module 110" and wardrobe module 114'.
A storage unit S21 has a laterally facing wardrobe module 114" and a
drawer module 146' mounted to base module 98'. Wardrobe module 1141" is
constructed
similarly to lateral wardrobe 114" (Fig. 2), but has a lesser depth so as to
equal the width
of base module 98'. Drawer module 146' is constructed similarly to drawer
module 146,
but again has a lesser depth and cooperates with wardrobe module 114'" to
define the
same footprint as base module 98'. A tall cupboard module 172' is mounted to
the upper
wall of drawer module 166', which has a combined height equal to that of
wardrobe
module 114"'. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of cupboard module
172'
and wardrobe module 114"'.
A storage unit S22 includes lateral wardrobe module 114"' and drawer
module 146' mounted to base module 98'. A tall bookcase module 110' is mounted
to
the upper wall of drawer module 146', which define a combined height equal to
that of
wardrobe module 114"'. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of
bookcase
module 110' and wardrobe module 114"'.
A storage unit S23 includes lateral wardrobe module 114"' and drawer
module 146' mounted to base module 98'. In addition, bookcase module 110 and
cupboard module 172 are stacked on top of drawer module 146' to define a
height equal
to that of wardrobe module 114"'. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls
of
cupboard module 172 and wardrobe module 114"'.
Again, the components illustrated in connection with storage units S13- S23
are representative of any number of component types and sizes which may be
mounted
to base module 98'. The component dimensions are selected such that the
assembled
components all have the same height, in this case 66 inches, which corresponds
to a
conventional wall panel height in an open plan space dividing system. Further,
as
before, the various components may be placed in different orientations
relative to each
other than the specific illustrated orientations, to provide additional
flexibility in the
storage unit design. In the case of the storage unit configurations
illustrated in Fig. 12,
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base module 98' has a square footprint, which provides even greater
flexibility in
positioning the various components in different orientations relative to each
other.
Fig. 13 illustrates shorter height storage unit configurations built on base
modules 98 or 98'. The storage units of Fig. 13 are constructed to have a
height which
corresponds to a shorter wall panel height typically used in a panel-type open
plan office
space divider system, in this case 54 inches, although it is understood that
other
satisfactory heights may be selected.
As shown in Fig. 13, a storage unit S24 includes drawer module 138
mounted to base module 98, along with a laterally facing bookcase module 110"
and a
forwardly opening single-door cupboard module 140' mounted to the upper wall
of
drawer module 138. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of bookcase
module
110 and cupboard module 140'.
A storage unit Su also includes drawer module 138 mounted to base
module 98. A double door cupboard module 142', constructed similarly to
cupboard
module 142 of Fig. 11 but having a greater height, is mounted to the upper
wall of
drawer module 138, and has the same footprint as drawer module 138 and base
module
98. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper wall of cupboard module 142.
A storage unit S26 includes a pair of side-by-side drawer modules 170
mounted to base module 98. Drawer modules 170 define a combined footprint
which is
the same as base module 98, and each drawer module 170 includes a pair of
vertically
stacked drawers. A pair of intermediate height bookcase modules 110" are
mounted in
back-to-back fashion on top of drawer modules 170. Top panel 128 is mounted to
the
upper walls of bookcase modules 110".
A storage unit S27 also includes a pair of side-by-side drawer modules 170
mounted to base module 98. A bookcase module 110" is stacked on top of one of
drawer modules 170, and a single-door cupboard module 140' is stacked on top
of the
other drawer module 170. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of
bookcase
module 110" and cupboard module 140'.
A storage unit S28 includes a drawer module 146 and a wardrobe module
178 mounted to base module 98. Wardrobe module 178 is constructed similarly to
the
forwardly opening versions of wardrobe module 114, but having a greater height
which
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corresponds to the full height of storage unit S28. A double door cupboard
module 152
is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 146, to define a combined height
equal
to that of wardrobe module 178. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of
cupboard module 152 and wardrobe module 178.
A storage unit S29 includes a laterally opening full-height wardrobe
module 178' and a drawer module 154 mounted to base module 98. A bookcase
module
164 is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 154, to define a combined
height
equal to that of wardrobe module 178'. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper
walls of
bookcase module 164 and wardrobe module 178'.
A storage unit S30 includes drawer module 154 and laterally opening
wardrobe module 178' mounted to base module 98. Cupboard module 160 is mounted
to the upper wall of drawer module 154, which define a combined height equal
to that of
wardrobe module 178'. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of cupboard
module 160 and wardrobe module 178'.
Storage units S31- S37 are built on base module 98', and are constructed to
have an overall height which is the same as storage units S23- S29.
Storage unit S31 includes a drawer module 146 mounted to base module
98', as well as an intermediate height bookcase module 110" and a single-door
cupboard
module 134' mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 146. Top panel 128' is
mounted to the upper walls of bookcase module 110" and cupboard module 134'.
Storage unit S32 includes drawer module 146 mounted to base module 98'.
Single-door cupboard module 134' is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module
146,
and a laterally opening, cupboard module 172' is mounted to drawer module 146
along
with cupboard module 134'. Cupboard module 172' is constructed similarly to
cupboard
module 172 (Fig. 12), but has a greater height so as to correspond in height
with
cupboard module 134'. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of cupboard
modules 134' and 172'.
A storage unit S33 includes full-height wardrobe module 178 and drawer
module 170 mounted to base module 98'. A single-door cupboard module 140' is
stacked on top of drawer module 170, which define a combined height equal to
that of
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wardrobe module 178. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of wardrobe
module 178 and cupboard module 140'.
A storage unit S3a includes a laterally opening wardrobe module 178' and a
drawer module 146 mounted to base module 98'. A cupboard module 172' is
stacked on
5 drawer module 146', which define a combined height equal to that of wardrobe
module
178'. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of cupboard module 172 and
wardrobe module 178'.
A storage unit S35 includes drawer module 146 and laterally opening
wardrobe module 178' mounted to base module 98'. A forwardly facing bookcase
10 module 110" is stacked on drawer module 146, which have a combined height
equal to
that of wardrobe module 178'. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of
wardrobe module 178' and bookcase module 110".
A storage unit S36 includes a drawer module 170 and a wardrobe module
178 mounted to base module 98'. A laterally facing bookcase module 110" is
stacked on
15 drawer module 170, which define a combined height equal to that of wardrobe
module
178. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of wardrobe module 178 and
bookcase module 110".
A storage unit S37 includes a drawer module 170 and a wardrobe module
178 mounted to base module 98'. A laterally opening cupboard module 172' is
stacked
20 on drawer module 170, which define a combined height equal to that of
wardrobe
module 178. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of cupboard module
172' and
wardrobe module 178.
Again, the components illustrated in connection with storage units S24- S37
are representative of any number of component types and sizes which may be
mounted
to base modules 98 or 98'. The component dimensions are selected such that the
assembled components all have the same height, in this case 54 inches, which
corresponds to a conventional wall panel height in an open plan space dividing
system.
The various components may be placed in different orientations relative to
each other
than the specific illustrated orientations, to provide additional flexibility
in the storage
unit design.
CA 02632336 2008-05-27
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Fig. 14 illustrates various storage unit components and configurations
having a lesser height than those previously illustrated and described, which
again may
correspond to the height of a wall panel system in an open plan space dividing
arrangement, e.g. 48 inches. Storage units S38- S45 are built on base module
98, and
storage units S46- S51 are built on base module 98'.
Storage unit S38 includes drawer module 138 mounted to base module 98,
along with bookcase module 110 and single-door cupboard module 140 mounted to
the
upper wall of drawer module 138. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls
of
bookcase module 110 and cupboard module 140.
Storage unit S39 includes drawer module 138 mounted to base module 98,
and back-to-back bookcase modules 110 mounted to the upper wall of drawer
module
138. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of bookcase modules 110.
Storage unit S40 includes drawer module 138 mounted to base module 98,
and cupboard module 142 stacked on drawer module 138. Top panel 128 is mounted
to
the upper wall of cupboard module 142.
Storage unit S41 includes side-by-side drawer modules 170 mounted to
base module 98. A laterally opening bookcase module 110 is mounted to one of
drawer
modules 170, and single-door cupboard module 140 is stacked on the other
drawer
module 170. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of bookcase module 110
and
cupboard module 140.
Storage unit S42 includes side-by-side drawer modules 170 mounted to
base module 98, and back-to-back bookcase modules 110 stacked on top of drawer
modules 170. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of bookcase modules
110.
Storage unit S43 includes drawer module 146 mounted to base module 98,
along with a wardrobe module 180 constructed similarly to wardrobe module 178
but
having a lesser height. A double-door forwardly opening cupboard module 152'
is
stacked on drawer module 146, and is constructed similarly to drawer module
152 but
having a lesser height. The combined height of drawer module 146 and cupboard
module 152 equals that of wardrobe module 180. Top panel 128 is mounted to the
upper walls of cupboard module 152' and wardrobe module 180.
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Storage unit S44 includes a laterally opening wardrobe module 180' and a
drawer module 154 mounted to base module 98. A forwardly facing bookcase
module
164' is stacked on drawer module 154, to define a combined height equal to
that of
wardrobe module 180'. Bookcase module 164 is constructed similarly to bookcase
module 164, but having a lesser height. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper
walls of
wardrobe module 180' and bookcase module 164'.
Storage unit S45 includes drawer module 154 and laterally facing wardrobe
module 180' mounted to base module 98. A forwardly opening double-door
cupboard
module 160' is constructed similarly to cupboard module 160, but has a lesser
height.
Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of cupboard module 160' and
wardrobe
module 180.
Storage unit S46 includes drawer module 146 mounted to base module 98'.
Bookcase module 110 is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 146, along
with
single-door forwardly facing cupboard module 134. Top panel 128' is mounted to
the
upper walls of bookcase module 110 and cupboard module 134.
Storage unit S47 also includes drawer module 146 mounted to base module
98'. Cupboard module 134 is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 146,
along
with laterally opening double door cupboard module 172. Top panel 128' is
mounted to
the upper walls of cupboard modules 134 and 172.
Storage unit S48 includes drawer module 170 and wardrobe module 180
mounted to base module 98'. Bookcase module 110 is stacked on drawer module
170,
which define a combined height equal to that of wardrobe module 180. Top panel
128'
is mounted to the upper walls of bookcase module 110 and wardrobe module 180.
Storage unit S49 also includes drawer module 170 and wardrobe module
180 mounted to base module 98. Laterally opening cupboard module 172 is
stacked on
drawer module 170, which define a combined height equal to that of wardrobe
module
180. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of cupboard module 172 and
wardrobe module 180.
Storage unit Sso includes drawer module 146 and a laterally opening
wardrobe module 180" mounted to base module 98'. Wardrobe module 180" is
constructed similarly to wardrobe module 180', but has a lesser depth so as to
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correspond in width to that of base module 98'. A forwardly opening cupboard
module
172' is stacked on drawer module 166', which define a combined height equal to
that of
wardrobe module 180". Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of cupboard
module 172' and wardrobe module 180".
Storage unit S51 includes drawer module 146 and wardrobe module 180"
mounted to base module 98'. A forwardly facing bookcase module is stacked on
drawer
module 146, which define a combined height equaling that of wardrobe module
180".
Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper walls of wardrobe module 180" and
bookcase
module 110.
Again, the components illustrated in connection with storage units S38- S51
are representative of any number of component types and sizes which may be
mounted
to base modules 98 or 98'. The component dimensions are selected such that the
assembled components all have the same height, in this case 48 inches, which
corresponds to a conventional wall panel height in an open plan space dividing
system.
The various components may be placed in different orientations relative to
each other
than the specific illustrated orientations, to provide additional flexibility
in the storage
unit design.
Fig. 15 illustrates a series of modular construction stand height storage
units, all of which have a conventional overall stand height of approximately
39-3/4
inches.
A storage unit S52 includes a drawer module 144 mounted to base module
98. Drawer module 144 includes three drawers of equal size. Top panel 128 is
mounted
to the top wall of drawer module 144. Storage unit S53 is similarly
configured, including
a drawer module 144' mounted to base module 98. Drawer module 144' has the
same
overall dimensions as drawer module 144, but includes two equally sized larger
drawers
and one smaller top drawer. Top panel 128 is mounted to the top wall of drawer
module
144.
Storage module S54 includes a drawer module 182 which has a relatively
large bottom drawer and a smaller top drawer. A laterally facing bookcase
module 184
is mounted to the top wall of drawer module 182, along with a forwardly
opening
single-door cupboard module 186 which together define the same footprint as
drawer
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module 182 and base module 98. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of
bookcase module 184 and cupboard module 186.
Storage module S55 includes drawer module 182 mounted to base module
98, along with a pair of back-to-back bookcase modules 184 mounted to the
upper wall
of drawer module 182. Top panel 128 is mounted to the top walls of bookcase
modules
184.
Storage modules S56 and S57 are built on base module 98'. Storage module
S56 includes a drawer module 188 having three equally sized drawers. Storage
module
S57 includes a drawer module 190 mounted to base module 98'. Drawer module 190
includes two equally sized larger bottom drawers and a smaller top drawer. Top
panel
128' is mounted to the upper wall of each of drawer modules 188, 190.
A storage unit S58 includes a drawer module 192 mounted to base module
98. Drawer module 192 has a pair of larger bottom drawers and a smaller top
drawer.
Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 192, and an
oversail top
panel 194 is adapted for interconnection above top panel 128 via supports 195.
Storage
unit S59 is similarly constructed, including a drawer module 196 having a pair
of larger
bottom drawers and a small top drawer. Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper
wall of
drawer module 196, and oversail top 194 is adapted for engagement with top
panel 128
via supports 195.
Storage units S60 and S61 are built on base module 98'. Storage unit S59
includes a drawer module 198 mounted to base module 98', which includes a pair
of
relatively large bottom drawers and a smaller top drawer. An oversail top 200
is
adapted for engagement via supports 195 with top panel 128, which is mounted
to the
upper wall of drawer module 198. Similarly, storage unit S61 includes a drawer
module
202 mounted to base module 98', which has a pair of large bottom drawers and a
small
top drawer. Again, oversail top 200 is adapted for engagement with top panel
128' via
supports 195.
Again, the storage unit components and configurations shown in Fig. 15
are illustrative of a variety of other types of storage unit components and
configurations
which may be used. The components are assembled to base modules 98, 98' to
provide
a predetermined height, in this case corresponding to a stand height of 39-3/4
inches.
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Fig. 16 illustrates other stand height storage unit configurations, having a
height greater than the configurations illustrated in Fig. 15, in this case a
stand height of
44-11/32 inch.
A storage unit S62 includes a drawer module 138 having a pair of drawers,
5 mounted to base module 98. A bookcase module 202 is mounted to the top wall
of
drawer module 138, along with a single-door forwardly facing cupboard module
204,
which together define the same footprint as drawer module 138 and base module
98.
Top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of bookcase module 202 and
cupboard
module 204.
10 A storage unit S63 also includes drawer module 138 mounted to base
module 98. A pair of back-to-back bookcase modules 202 are mounted to the
upper
wall of drawer module 98, and top panel 128 is mounted to the upper walls of
bookcase
modules 202.
A storage unit S64 includes a drawer module 144 mounted to base module
15 98, with a top panel 128 mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 144.
A storage unit S65 is built on base module 98', and includes a drawer
module 150 mounted to base module 98'. Top panel 128' is mounted to the upper
wall
of drawer module 150.
Storage modules S66-S69 are built on base module 98.
20 Storage unit S66 includes a drawer module 182 mounted to base module
98, and a bookcase module 184 and single-door cupboard module 186 mounted to
the
upper wall of drawer module 182. An oversail top 194 is adapted for mounting
to top
panel 128 via supports 195. Top panel 128 overlies bookcase module 184 and
cupboard
module 186. Similarly, storage unit S67 includes drawer module 182 and back-to-
back
25 bookcase modules 184. Top panel 128 overlies bookcase modules 184, and
oversail top
194 is engaged with top panel 128 via supports 195. Storage unit S68 includes
drawer
module 144 mounted to base module 98 and top panel 128 mounted to the upper
wall of
drawer module 144. Oversail top 194 is engaged with top panel 128 via supports
195.
Storage unit S69 includes drawer module 144' mounted to base module 98, and
top panel
128 secured to the upper wall of drawer module 144'. Oversail top 194 is
engaged with
top panel 128 via supports 195.
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Storage units S70 and S71 are built on base modules 98'. Storage module
S7o includes drawer module 188 mounted to base module 98', and top panel 128'
mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 188. Oversail top 200 is engaged
with top
panel 128' via posts 195.
Storage unit S71 includes drawer module 190 mounted to base module 98',
and top panel 128' mounted to the upper wall of drawer module 190. Oversail
top 200 is
mounted to top panel 128' via posts 195.
As can be appreciated, the various modular storage components
incorporated into storage units S1-S70 include a number of common components
which
are used in a variety of storage unit configurations, which increases
manufacturing and
assembly efficiencies as well as the range of product offerings. In addition,
certain of
the components, such as the bookcase components and the cupboard components,
may
be formed of common walls, with the bookcase modules being provided with open
fronts and the cupboard modules being provided with doors which close the open
fronts.
This serves to further enhance manufacturing and assembly efficiencies.
In addition, while certain of the illustrated components are shown as
having fully enclosed walls, it is understood that certain walls may be
removed, which
would otherwise be concealed in assembly. For example, certain of the
components
located at the top of a storage unit may be formed without a top wall, such
that the top
components are enclosed by top panels 128, 128'. Sidewalls may be eliminated
when
the side of the component is to be totally covered, to enable the neighboring
component
to enclose the open side. Bottom walls may similarly be eliminated In all
cases, the
elimination of certain component walls reduces unit cost and weight.
Fig. 17 illustrates a binder tower storage unit 208 which is intended to
replace a conventional overhead storage unit in the mobile office furniture
and accessory
system of the present invention. The basic structure of binder tower storage
unit 208 is
in the form of a cabinet which includes a bottom wall 210, upstanding
sidewalls 212, a
top wall 214 and a back wall 216. Walls 210-216 cooperate to define a
forwardly open
internal cavity, within which a pair of shelves 218 are mounted by adjustable
engagement with sidewalls 212. A bottom file drawer 220 may be mounted below
the
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lower shelf 218 and above bottom wall 210. A thin pencil drawer may be mounted
in
the interior of storage unit 208 below top wall 214.
A series of casters 224 are located at the lower end of storage unit 208.
Casters 224 extend outwardly from each comer defined by bottom wall 210. The
outboard orientation of casters 224 functions to provide stability to storage
unit 208. A
top panel 226 may be mounted to top wall 214 in a conventional manner, to
increase the
horizontal upwardly facing surface area of storage unit 208, or may be mounted
to top
wall 214 in an oversail arrangement using posts 227. Certain of the walls of
storage unit
208, such as side walls 212, may be formed with one or more slots S for use in
suspending a paper management bin PB.
Fig. 18 illustrates various options and heights available for binder tower
storage unit 208. The basic version shown at 208 includes an open front and
the
components as described with respect to Fig. 17. Storage unit 208 has top
panel 226
mounted to top wall 214. An alternative storage unit 208a has top panel 226
mounted to
top wall 214 in an oversail manner via posts 227. In another alternative
embodiment,
the storage unit 208 has essentially the same construction as storage unit 208
as shown,
but is taller in height due to an increased length of its sidewalls 212 and
back walls 216.
The overall height of storage 208 as shown corresponds to a stand height of 39-
3/4
inches, such as is shown and described with respect to the various storage
units of Fig.
15. Similarly, the alternative embodiment of storage unit 208 has a height
which
corresponds to a stand height of 44-11/16 inches, such as is described in
connection with
the various storage units of Fig. 16. As shown in Fig. 19, other versions of
storage unit
208, shown at 208b, 208c may be fitted with a front hinged door panel 228
which
selectively encloses the interior of the storage unit 208b, 208c. Door panel
228 may be
formed of a material such as wood, steel or any other satisfactory material
employed in
manufacture of cabinet components.
Alternatively, a translucent door panel 230 may be hingedly mounted to
the front of the storage unit, as shown at 208d, 208e.
Fig. 19 illustrates a mobile storage pedestal 234 built on a base similar to
that of storage unit 208. Storage pedestal 234 is in the form of a file-type
storage unit
having a bottom wall 236, a pair of sidewalls 238, a top wall 240 and a back
wall (not
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shown). A lower drawer 242 and an upper drawer 244 are slidably mounted within
the
cabinet defined by walls 236-240, in a known manner. An outboard caster 224 is
located at each bottom corner of the cabinet defined by walls 236-240, to
impart
stability to mobile storage pedestal 234.
Mobile storage pedestal 234 includes a handle assembly 246, which
facilitates moving mobile storage pedestal 234 from one location to another.
Handle
assembly 246 includes a pair of stationary receiver tubes 248, mounted one to
each
sidewall 238 of mobile storage pedestal 234 by means of a lower tube mount 250
and an
- upper tube mount 252. Lower receiver tube 248 is oriented at an angle, which
may be
45 .
-Handle assembly 246 further includes an extendible upper handle section
254, which includes a pair of depending side members 256 and a cross member
258
extending between and interconnecting the upper ends of side members 256. Each
side
member 256 may include an outwardly biased snap-type button which is
selectively
engaged within an opening in its associated receiver tube 248, for maintaining
handle
section 254 in an extended position shown in phantom, and a retracted position
shown in
solid lines.
Fig. 20 illustrates various other mobile storage pedestal configurations,
shown at 234a-234d. Mobile storage pedestal 234a has a height slightly greater
than
that of storage pedestal 234 with a three-drawer front, including a narrow
pencil drawer
at the top. An oversail top 260 is mounted to top wall 240 by support posts
261. Mobile
storage pedestal 234b is constructed similarly to mobile storage pedestal 234,
and
includes oversail top 260 mounted to top wall 240 via support posts 261.
Mobile
storage pedestal 234c has a two-drawer front and a height slightly greater
than that of
mobile storage pedestal 234b but less than that of mobile storage pedestal
234a, and
includes oversail top 260 mounted to top wall 240 via support posts 261.
Mobile
storage pedestal 234d has a height similar to that of mobile storage pedestal
234a but
has a two-drawer construction. Oversail top 260 is mounted to top wall 240 via
support
posts 261.
Fig. 21 illustrates a basic version of a mobile storage pedestal, shown at
234e, which is similar to mobile storage pedestal 234 but which is constructed
without
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29
handle assembly 246. In any of the various configurations of mobile storage
pedestal
234, the top drawer may include a conventional shallow internal drawer, such
as shown
at 263.
Fig. 22 illustrates an alternative mobile storage unit 262, which also
incorporates casters 224 and a handle assembly 246. Mobile storage unit 262
includes
bottom wall 236, sidewalls 238 and a back wall, shown at 264. A bottom drawer
266 is
movably mounted between sidewalls 238 at the lower end of mobile storage
pedestal
262. At its upper end, the top of mobile storage pedestal 262 is open. Mobile
storage
pedestal 234 includes a retractable top cover 268, which is movable between an
open
position as shown, for providing access to the open top of mobile storage
pedestal 234,
and a closed position in which top cover 268 overlies the upper ends of
sidewalls 238,
back wall 264 and a front panel 270 located above drawer 266. Rails 272 are
mounted
to the inside surfaces of sidewalls 238, and are adapted to support hanging
file folders or
the like within the open interior of mobile storage pedestal 262.
Figs. 23 and 24 illustrate a low profile lateral-type mobile storage unit
274, which is well suited for placement under a worksurface or the like.
Storage unit
274 includes a bottom wall 276, sidewalls 278 and a top 280, as well as a back
wall (not
shown). A pair of drawers 282, 284 are movably mounted between sidewalls 278,
in a
known manner. An oversail top 283 may be mounted above top 28 or via support
posts
285.
Casters 224, which are located at the bottom comer of binder tower 208
and mobile storage pedestal 234, are oriented at an 85 angle relative to the
floor, to
improve tracking of the caster wheels during movement.
Paper Management Components
Fig. 25 illustrates a series of differently sized plastic bins 286a, 286b,
286c, which can be used in the various storage units illustrated in Figs. 3-
24. Bins 286a,
286b, 286c are formed of sheet plastic material which is die cut, scored,
folded and
sonic welded to form a bin having a closed bottom and a series of upstanding
sides, and
defining an open top. Bins 286a, 286b, 286c are adapted to receive papers or
other
materials to be grouped together for storage.
29
CA 02632336 2008-05-27
Figs. 26 and 27 show a bin 288, which defines a closed bottom and a
series of upstanding walls, including a pair of sidewalls 290 and end walls
292. Bin 288
may be formed of a plastic material in an injection molding process, although
it is
understood that other materials and forming methods may be employed. Bin 288
5 corresponds to paper management bin PB shown and described previously. Each
end
wall 292 defines an outwardly extending edge 294 toward its upper end. In
addition,
each sidewall 290 terminates in an upper edge and includes an outwardly
extending
flange 296 having a downwardly extending lip 298.
As shown in Fig. 28, edges 294 of bin end walls 292 are adapted to rest on
10 upper edges defined by drawer sidewalls 299 of the storage units, for
suspending bin
288 within the drawer. Alternatively, bins 288 can be supported simply by
placement
on a shelf 301 or other supporting surface, in a conventional manner. Bins 288
may also
be hung on the side of a storage unit, by engagement of lip 298 within a slot
S formed in
the storage unit sidewall. Alternatively, lip 298 may be engageable with a
hanger
15 member mounted to the storage unit sidewall, to suspend bin 288 from the
exterior of
the storage unit.
Fig. 28 illustrates the types of materials which can be stored within a bin
such as 288. Such materials include paper, conventional file folders F,
hanging file
folders H and binders B. As shown in Fig. 27, an internal rib 300 is formed at
the upper
20 end of each end wall 292, at the location where edge 294 extends outwardly
from end
wall 292. Each rib 300 is adapted to receive a support hook associated with a
hanging-
type file folder H, to suspend folder H within the interior of bin 288.
Fig. 29 illustrates work flow utilizing the bin type storage system used in
combination with the various storage units of the present invention. Documents
or other
25 . materials are placed within the bins such as 286, 288, which can be
stored in or hung on
a personal mobile storage pedestal 234, a workstation or semi-mobile storage
unit,
shown at 304, which may be configured using the modular type or binder tower
construction as described previously, as well as in a team or semi-permanent
storage
unit 306 which also may be constructed using the modular storage unit
construction as
30 described previously. A tool rail 308 maybe mounted to a sidewall of
storage unit 306.
Lip 298 of bin 288 may be engaged with a slot S in the storage unit sidewall
or with one
CA 02632336 2008-05-27
31
of the slots in tool rail 308, for supporting the bin 288 on the exterior of
the storage unit.
The bins such as 286, 288 can then be removed from the active work area and
used to
store materials in conventional archive or permanent storage units.
Referring to Figs. 26 and 27, lip 298 is formed by each flange 296 at the
upper end of each bin sidewall 290. A bin cover 312 defines a top panel 314
and a pair
of inwardly facing channels 316 located at opposite sides of top panel 314.
Each
channel 316 is configured so as to receive a flange 296 and its associated lip
298 in a
sliding-type fashion, such that bin cover 312 can be slid onto the upper end
of bin 288 to
enclose the contents of bin 288. Alternatively, bin cover 312 can be mounted
to the
underside of a shelf or other horizontal wall associated with a storage unit.
Bin cover
top panel 314 includes holes 318, which are adapted to receive fasteners for
connecting
bin cover 312 to a horizontal member using threaded fasteners such as screws.
In this
manner, bin cover 312 is stationarily mounted to the horizontal member, and
bin 288
can be stored within the storage unit by sliding bin flanges 296 and lips 298
into
engagement with channels 316, such that bin 288 is suspended from bin cover
312.
Alternatively, holes 318 and slots 320 in bin cover 312 can be used to mount a
strap or a
handle to bin cover 312. In this manner, bin 288 can be transported with bin
cover 312
attached, by carrying the bin using the attached strap or handle.
Mobile Screen Components
Fig. 30 illustrates mobile screens incorporated into the mobile fu niture
and necessary system of the present invention. The screens of Fig. 30
correspond to
screens or partitions P, described previously. In a first version, a screen or
panel 324
includes a rectangular frame having a bottom frame member 326, upstanding side
frame
members 328 and a top frame member 330. Frame members 326-330 define an open
interior, within which a variety of components can be mounted. In screen or
panel 324,
an acoustic panel 332 is mounted in the lower interior area defined by the
frame, and a
marker board 334 is mounted within the upper internal area defined by thg
frame. A
tool rail 336 is mounted between acoustic panel 332 and marker board 334.
At the lower end of each side frame member 328, a pair of legs 338 extend
outwardly in opposite directions, and a caster 340 is mounted to the lower end
of each
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32
leg 338. The spacing of casters 340 provided by legs 338 imparts stability to
panel 324,
to prevent panel 324 from tipping.
In another version, a panel 344 is constructed similarly to panel 324,
including a bottom frame member 346, a pair of side frame members 348, and a
top
frame member 350. Panel 344 is shown as having a full-height marker board
panel 352,
although it is understood that any other type of interior panel components may
be
employed. As with panel 324, legs 338 extend outwardly in opposite directions
from
the lower end of one of panel side frame members 348, and a caster 340 is
mounted to
the end of each leg 338. The opposite side frame member 348 includes a single
downwardly extending leg 354 which terminates at its lower end in a caster
340. Panel
344 thus has a three-point stance. Other alternative versions include a panel
344' having
a full-height marker board panel 352 (which may also be an acoustic or
translucent
panel), and including legs 338 and casters 340 at both ends. An alternative
version 324'
includes a lower acoustic panel 332 and an upper marker board panel 334 (which
may
also be a translucent panel), with a leg and caster structure similar to that
of panel 344.
A further alternative panel 344" includes a lower acoustic or translucent
panel 332 and
an upper marker board or translucent panel 334, in combination with the same
leg and
caster structure as panel 344'. Another alternative panel 344"' includes a
lower acoustic
or translucent panel 332, an upper translucent or marker board panel 334, and
a pair of
legs 338 and caster 340 at one end. At the opposite end, a glide 356 is
mounted to the
lower end of leg 354.. It is understood that the illustrated and described
panel
configurations are representative of any number of types of materials and
components
that can be incorporated into the panel.
A number of panels like those illustrated in Fig. 30 can be connected
together in various configurations, as shown in Fig. 34. As a means of
interconnecting
the panels together, a series of magnets 358 (Figs. 32, 33) may be mounted to
one or
both of side frame members 348 along its length. Each magnet 358 has a rounded
face,
which allows panels such as 344' to be connected together at any angular
position
relative to each other. Any desired number of panels 344 can be connected, and
examples are illustrated in Fig. 34.
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CA 02632336 2008-05-27
33
Magnets 358 may be mounted to one or both of side frame members 348.
Typically, however, magnets 358 are mounted to a side frame member 348 which
is
located above a downwardly extending leg 354 having either a caster 340 of a
glide 356
at its lower end. When the panels are secured together as shown in Fig. 34,
use of
panels with leg 354 facilitates connection of the panels together, since the
presence of
legs 338 typically prevents movement of the panels to varying angular
orientations
relative to the each other.
When not in use, the panels can be nested together for storage. The
downwardly extending angle of legs 338 facilitates movement of the panels
together in a
side-by-side orientation, such that the legs 338 of one panel extend below the
bottom
frame member 346 of the adjacent panel.
Figs. 35 and 36 illustrate a marker board cart panel 362 having a similar
construction as panel 324 described previously, including bottom frame member
326,
side frame members 328 and top frame member 330. Marker board cart panel 362
includes a top interior panel 364, which may be a marker board or any other
type of
panel, and a bottom interior panel 366, which also may be a marker board panel
or an
acoustic or other type of panel. A tool rail 368 is located between top and
bottom panels
364, 366, and includes a slot for mounting a tray 370. Tool rail 368 may also
be used to
mount bin 288. A marker board storage rack 372 is mounted to the frame of
marker
board cart panel 362, and is adapted to store a series of marker boards 374.
Rack 372
includes a bottom support wall 376, and at least a pair of upwardly extending
vertical
supports 378 having transverse sections 380, all of which cooperate to define
a pocket
within which the lower portions of marker boards 374 are received. In use,
marker
boards 374 can be removed from rack 374 for use, and then returned to rack 372
for
storage.
Marker Board Components
Figs. 35 and 37-46 illustrate the construction of the marker board, such as
374 incorporated in the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present
invention.
The marker boards such as 374 correspond to marker boards M as described
previously.
Each marker board 374 includes a core 382, which may be formed of any
satisfactory material such as a relatively thin (e.g. 3/8 inch thick) foam
core, which is
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CA 02632336 2008-05-27
34
preferably die cut to obtain the desired shape. A thin plastic sheet 3 84,
which may be
formed of any satisfactory plastic material such as polyethylene, is applied
to both
surfaces of foam core 382 in any satisfactory manner, such as by use of an
adhesive.
Sheet 384 may be of any satisfactory thickness, such as 0.020 inches. The
outwardly
facing surface of sheet 384 forms a dry erase marker surface for marker board
374, in a
manner as is known
Foam core 382 is cut to define an eraser retaining recess 386 as well as a
pair of slots 388, which are configured to grip a dry erase marker in a manner
to be
explained. Sheet 384 is die cut to a shape similar to that of foam core 382,
and defines
an outer edge which is located slightly inward of the outer edge of foam core
382
throughout the periphery of foam core 382. Sheet 384 further includes a pair
of
openings 390 which surround slots 388.
A pair of hanging clip assemblies 390 are mounted to the upper edge of
marker board 374.
Fig. 37 and 45-47 illustrates the configuration of slots 388 in greater
detail. Each slot 388 includes a main section 392 and a pair of end sections
394, each of
which extends outwardly from one end of main section 392. Main section 392 is
generally rectangular, and each end section 394 has a truncated triangular
shape. Main
section 392 of each slot 388 has a height which is slightly less than the
diameter of a
conventional large dry erase marker, such as shown at 396. In this manner,
marker 396
can be pushed lengthwise into main section 392, which has a length slightly
greater than
the length of dry erase marker 396. The dry erase marker cap typically
includes a
protrusion 398 which accommodates the marker tip, which is received within one
of slot
end sections 394. The resiliency of foam core 382 allows the edges of slot 388
to flex
outwardly as necessary so as to conform to the shape of marker 396 and to grip
marker
396 within slot 388. In this manner, marker 396 can be stored within slot 388
when not
in use.
Alternatively, as shown in Figs. 46 and 47, a series of dry erase markers
396 can be inserted transversely into slot main section 392, such that each
marker 396
extends outwardly from the front surface of marker board 374. In this manner,
several
markers 396 can be engaged within each slot 388, to enable a user to store a
number of
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CA 02632336 2008-05-27
markers, e.g. markers of different colors, which are conveniently accessible
when
needed to mark on marker board 374.
As shown in Fig. 45, slots 388 are also able to accommodate thin dry erase
markers, such as shown at 400. Thin dry erase markers 400 typically have a
length
5 greater than that of large dry erase markers 396. Slot end sections 394 are
configured to
engage the ends of thin dry erase markers 400. Again, the resiliency of foam
core 382
enables the edges of slot end sections 394 to grip the ends of marker 400, so
as to
maintain marker 400 within slot 388.
In an alternative construction, the slots may be configured so as to accept
10 only a large dry erase marker (as shown in Figs. 38 and 39) or only a thin
dry erase
marker. However, the illustrated embodiment provides use of a single slot
configuration
for accommodating two distinct types of markers.
Further, while only a pair of slots are shown, it is understood that any
number of slots could be formed in marker board 374 to accommodate any desired
15 number of markers.
Figs. 38-44 illustrate clip assemblies 390, and the manner in which clip
assemblies 390 are employed to support a marker board 374. Each clip assembly
390
includes a pair of body sections 402, which are located on opposite sides of
marker
board 374. Body sections 402 are secured to each other with foam core 382 and
sheets
20 384 sandwiched therebetween.
A hanger section 404 is pivotably mounted at the upper end of each body
section 402. Each hanger section 404 is pivotable between an open position, as
shown
in Fig. 38, and a closed position as shown in Fig. 35. When in the open
position, the
hanger sections 404 on the rear side of marker board 374 are used to hang
marker board
25 374 from any satisfactory horizontal support surface, such as the upper
edge of a cubicle
panel, the edge of a cabinet, top frame member 330 of marker board cart panel
362, a
top frame member 330, 350 of a panel, etc. In this manner, marker board 374
can easily
be hung from any satisfactory support surface in any location, and removed
when
needed for storage or for replacement with another marker board 374. When not
in use,
30 hanger sections 404 are pivoted to the closed position to allow for compact
storage of
marker boards 374. Each hanger section 404 may be provided with a gripping
material
CA 02632336 2008-05-27
36
(such as rubber) in its underside, to facilitate engagement of hanger section
404 with a
support surface.
The forwardly facing hanger sections 404 can be opened to enable a sheet
of paper or the like to be engaged between the surface of marker board 374 and
body
section 402. Hanger section 404 is used as a lever to create a separation
between the
surface of marker board 374 and the underside of body section 402, to enable a
sheet of
paper to be inserted therebetween. Alternatively, the user may lift body
section 402
away from the surface of marker board 374 by engaging a fingertip below an
inwardly
extending surface 405 defined by the lower end of body section 402, to create
the
required separation between body section 402 and the surface of marker board
374. In
either case, body section 402 functions to grip the sheet of paper when the
outward force
thereon is removed, to releasably maintain the sheet of paper in engagement
with marker
board 374. Fig. 44 illustrates the manner in which body section 402 is raised
relative to
the surface of marker board 374, so as to insert a sheet of paper
therebetween.
Figs. 40 and 41 illustrate a rectangular marker board 374, and shows die
out recesses 406 which are adapted to receive hanging clip assemblies 390.
Fig. 40 also
shows recess 386 which is adapted to receive and retain a dry eraser 408 (Fig.
39).
Marker board 374 of Fig. 39 includes a pair of rectangular slots 410, which
are
configured as described above so as to receive large dry erase markers,
without the
previously described end sections. In addition, slots 410 can be used as
handles to
facilitate handling of marker board 374.
Fig. 42 illustrates the manner in which a clip assembly 390 is used to
suspend marker board 374 from a horizontal surface, shown generally at H,
which may
be defined by the top or a storage unit, the top of a wall panel, or any other
horizontal
surface adjacent a vertical surface against which marker board 374 can be
positioned.
Fig. 42 illustrates hanger section 404 of clip assembly 390 extended, and a
rubber pad
411 mounted to the underside of hanger section 404 located so as to engage
horizontal
surface H so as to frictionally maintain clip assembly 390 in engagement
therewith.
Fig. 43 illustrates a system for mounting marker board 374 to a wall,
shown at 412. In this arrangement, a wall mount bracket 414 is secured to wall
412, and
a hanger bracket 416 is engaged with wall mount bracket 414. Marker board 374
is
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CA 02632336 2008-05-27
37
suspended from hanger bracket 416 via engagement of bracket 416 by clip hanger
section 404.
Wall mount bracket 414 defines a mounting section 418 which engages
wall 412, and an upwardly extending hanger bracket engagement section 420
which is
laterally offset from mounting section 418. Wall mount bracket 414 is secured
to wall
412 using a series of anchors 422. Wall mount bracket 414 has any desired
length
according to the desired positions for hanging marker boards 374 on wall 412.
Hanger bracket 416 includes an outer wall 424 and an inwardly extending
lower spacer section 426 located at the bottom of outer wall 424, and which is
adapted
to engage wall 412. At its upper end, hanger bracket 416 includes an inner
engagement
lip 428. The upper end of wall mount bracket engagement section 420 and
engagement
lip 428 include snap-fit engagement structure, such as an axially extending
inwardly
facing recess formed in engagement section 420 and an outwardly extending rib
formed
on engagement lip 428. A web 430 extends inwardly from outer wall 424, and
engagement lip 428 extends downwardly from the inner end of web 430. An
upwardly
and outwardly facing surface 432 is defined by web 430 at its inner end.
In operation, once wall mount bracket 414 is secured to wall 412 using
anchors 422, hanger bracket 416 is positioned above wall mount bracket 414 and
moved
downwardly so as to initially bring engagement lip 428 into contact with
engagement
section 420 of wall mount bracket 414. The user then engages the tip of a
screw driver
or other similar tool with surface 432, and applies a downward pounding force,
such as
using a mallet, on surface 432. This causes engagement lip 428 to snap fit
into
engagement with engagement section 420, to secure hanger bracket 416 to wall
mount
bracket 414.
Once hanger bracket 416 is mounted to wall 412 in this manner, marker
board 374 can be mounted to hanger bracket 416 by placing hanger sections 404
of
hanger clip assemblies 390 in their closed positions, and moving marker board
374
downwardly so as to bring hanger sections 404 into contact with an upward
extension,
shown at 434, defined by hanger bracket outer wall 424. Each hanger section
406
includes a downwardly extending end protrusion 436, which is located within
the space
between extension 434 and wall 412, for providing a positive engagement of
marker
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CA 02632336 2008-05-27
38
board 374 with hanger bracket 416. In order to remove marker board 374, the
user
exerts an upward force so as to dislodge protrusions 436 from behind outer
wall
extension 434.
Fig. 48 illustrates different styles of marker boards that can be
incorporated in the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present
invention. The
marker boards of Fig. 48 are constructed as shown and described, and provide
different
sizes and shapes according to user requirements and intended usage.
Table Or Desk Components
Another aspect of the mobile furniture system of the present invention
contemplates a mobile table or desk system which provides work surfaces which
can
easily be moved to various locations within a workspace. The table or desk
components
generally correspond to tables or desks T1, T2 as illustrated in Fig. 1, and
as shown in
Fig. 49.
Referring to Figs. 49-52, the table system of the present invention utilizes
an adjustable height table base assembly 440 which is adapted to support a
table top,
representatively shown at 441. In a typical construction, a pair of table base
assemblies
440 are mounted below table top 441 in a symmetrical manner, to support table
top 441
above a supporting surface such as a floor.
Table base assembly 440 includes a cylindrical sleeve or collar 442 to
which a pair of legs 444 are mounted Legs 444 maybe splayed as shown, or maybe
in
alignment with each other. A table support column or post 446 is engaged with
collar
442, and a mounting plate 448 is connected to the upper end of column 446.
Openings
are formed in mounting plate 448, and are adapted to receive fasteners such as
screws
for mounting table top 441 to mounting plate 448. As shown in Fig. 51, collar
442 is in
the form of an open-ended tubular member. A top bushing 450 is engaged within
the
open upper end of collar 442, and a bottom bushing 452 is engaged within the
open
lower end of collar 442. Bushings 450, 452 may be mounted to collar 442 in any
satisfactory manner, such as by a press-fit engagement with collar 442. Top
bushing
450 defines an exposed upper end 454 having a downwardly facing shoulder which
engages the upper edge of collar 442. Similarly, bottom bushing 452 has an
exposed
lower end 456 defining an upwardly facing shoulder which engages the bottom
edge of
38 1
CA 02632336 2008-05-27
39
collar 442. Top bushing 450 and bottom bushing 452 define aligned passages
458, 460,
respectively. Passages 458 are non-circular in shape and correspond in shape
to the
cross section of column 446. In the illustrated embodiment, column 446 is in
the form
of a tubular member having an elliptical cross section, and passages 458, 460
are
elliptical in shape and sized slightly larger than column 446, so as to
receive column 446
therewithin. In this manner, column 446 is slidably movable within collar 442.
The depending wall of collar 450, shown at 462, includes a raised area 464
defining an opening 466. A similar raised area and opening are located on the
opposite
side of wall 462. Openings 466 are placed into alignment with a pair of
openings 468
formed in the wall of collar 442 toward its upper end, and a pin 470 having a
shaft 472
and a detent 474, is adapted to be inserted through openings 466, 468.
Bottom bushing 452 is similarly constructed. However, the raised areas of
bottom bushing 452, shown at 476, are solid and do not have an opening
therethrough.
As shown in Fig. 52, depending wall 462 of top bushing 450 extends
downwardly from exposed upper end 454, and is segmented so as to be capable of
flexing inwardly relative to exposed upper end 454. Raised area 464 defines a
ring 478.
With this arrangement, when top bushing 450 is pushed into the open upper end
of .
collar 442, walls 462 of top bushing 450 are flexed inwardly. One or more
external ribs
478 formed in opposed guide walls 480, which are separate from depending walls
462,
provide engagement with the inner surfaces of collar 442, to provide a tight
fitting
engagement of top bushing 450 with collar 442. When top bushing 450 attains
its fully
engaged position, i.e. the shoulder defined by exposed upper end 454 engages
the top
edge of collar 442, raised areas 464 are positioned so as to align rings 478
with openings
468 in the wall of collar 442, and the resiliency of walls 462 snaps rings 478
into
openings 468. This engagement of top bushing 450 with collar 442 places top
bushing
450 in a proper predetermined alignment relative to collar 442 and thereby
legs 444.
Similar construction of bottom bushing 452 provides a snap-fit engagement of
bottom
bushing 452 with the lower end of collar 442. Bottom bushing 452 does not have
openings such as 468 in raised areas 476. Rather, raised areas 476 have solid
material
defining a button 480, which snaps into aligned openings formed toward the
lower end
of collar 442.
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CA 02632336 2008-05-27
The inner surfaces of bushings 450, 452 which define respective passages
458, 460, are provided with a series of axially extending guide ribs, such as
482, 484,
respectively, which are configured to closely engage column 446 to prevent
column 446
from wobbling relative to collar 442 when inserted within collar 442 and
engaged with
5 top and bottom bushings 450, 452, respectively.
Column 446 includes a series of aligned pairs of openings, such as shown
at 480, in its walls. Each pair of openings 480 is adapted to be placed into
alignment
with collar openings 468, so as to receive shaft 472 of pin 470 to fix
mounting plate 448
in a desired vertical position, according to user requirements. Pin 470
includes 'a finger
10 engagement ring 488 which enables a user to easily withdraw pin 470. When a
desired
elevation of mounting plate 448 is obtained, the user inserts pin shaft 472
through collar
openings 468 and aligned column openings 480, to fix column 446 in position
relative to
collar 442 and to thereby fix the vertical position of mounting plate 448 and
table top
441 connected thereto.
15 Each leg 444 extends outwardly and downwardly from collar 442. Legs
444 are connected to collar 442 in any satisfactory manner, such as by
welding, brazing
or the like. Each leg 444 includes a primary upper support section 490 and a
lower
caster mounting section 492 which includes an upwardly extending opening
adapted to
receive the mounting stem 494 of a caster assembly 496. Caster mounting
section 492 is
20 preferably oriented so as to extend in a generally vertical direction. With
this
construction, table base assembly 440 is adapted to provide mobile support for
a table
top or other work surface connected to mounting plate 448.
The drawings illustrate a pair of legs 444 connected to and extending
outwardly and downwardly from collar 442. It should be understood that any
number of
25 legs may be mounted to collar 442. Representatively, a single leg 444 may
be mounted
to collar 442, and can be used to provide support for table top or worksurface
when one
additional base assembly 440 having multiple legs 444 is also engaged with the
table top
or worksurface. Alternatively, several single-leg base assemblies can be
mounted to the
table top or worksurface at various locations to provide support for the table
top or
30 worksurface. When a pair of legs 444 are mounted to collar 442 as shown and
described, another base assembly 440 having a single leg 444 or multiple legs
444 is
CA 02632336 2008-05-27
41
also mounted to the table top or worksurface at a spaced location, to provide
support for
the table top or worksurface. Three or more legs 444 can be secured to a
collar 442, for
table configurations which require a single table base assembly 440. In
applications
such as this, three, four or five legs 444 can be mounted to collar 442, to
provide stable
and adequate support for the worksurface.
Fig. 53 illustrates a representative table T3 which can be produced using
the modular table system of the present invention. Table T3 includes a table
top 499
which may have any satisfactory shape, e.g. an oval shape, and which has table
base
assemblies 440 secured to its underside in spaced locations for providing
support to
table top 499 in a manner similar to that of table top 441 of Fig. 49. Fig. 54
illustrates
the locations at which mounting plates 448 of base assemblies 440 are to be
secured to
the underside of table top 499. As shown in Fig. 55, table top 499 includes a
peripheral
groove 501 in its underside, which provides a recess within which the user's
fingers are
received when gripping the edge of table top 499 so as to move table T3 from
one
location to another.
Fig. 56 illustrates a corner table top or worksurface 500 which is adapted
to be supported by a pair of table base assemblies 440. Worksurface 500
includes a
series of predrilled passages 502 in its underside, which are adapted to
receive screws
extending through the openings in mounting plate 448 so as to mount
worksurface 500
to each table base assembly 440. Worksurface 500 is formed with a groove 504
in its
underside adjacent its inner edge, which provides a finger grip area for the
user to
facilitate gripping of worksurface 500 when it is desired to move the table
assembly on
the floor or other supporting surface. Fig. 57 illustrates a worksurface 508
with two sets
of predrilled passages and grooves along both sides, to facilitate gripping of
worksurface
508 from either side during movement. Fig. 59 shows a differently shaped
worksurface
510, again including two sets of predrilled mounting passages and grooves at
both
edges.
Fig. 58 shows a short worksurface 516 having a single set of mounting
passages for mounting a base assembly 440 having at least three legs 444.
Worksurface
516 includes a groove in its underside at both edges of the underside. Fig. 60
illustrates
an alternative version of a table, shown at T4, which includes a ledge-shaped
table top
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CA 02632336 2008-05-27
42
518. Base assembly 440 of table T4 includes four legs 444, for providing
stable support
of table top 518. A groove 520 is formed in the underside of tabletop 518
toward its
curved front surface, to facilitate gripping of table top 518 for movement by
a user. Fig.
62 illustrates another alternative table, shown at T5, having a round table
top 522 and a
four-legged base 440. Table top 522 has a groove 524 that extends about the
entire
periphery of its underside.
Fig. 64 illustrates another alternative table, shown at T6, incorporating a
generally trapezoidal table top 526 and a four-legged base assembly 440.
Grooves 528
are formed in the underside of table top 526, adjacent opposite side edges of
table top
526.
The various table top configurations as shown and described are
representative of any number of table tops, having any desired shape, which
can be
supported using base assemblies 440. In addition, the pedestal-type table such
as T4, T5
and T6 may incorporate base assembly 440 as described previously, or the
adjustable
height base assembly described hereafter.
Figs. 66-71 show a pneumatic adjustable height base assembly 550 which
can be employed in place of manually adjustable base assembly 440 to support a
worksurface. Fig. 69 illustrates the components of base assembly 550 in an
exploded
fashion, and Figs. 66-68, 70 and 71 illustrate the assembled components of
base
assembly 550.
Base assembly 550 includes a cylindrical support tube 552 to which a
series of legs 554 are mounted, in a manner similar to mounting of legs 444 to
collar 442
in table base assembly 440. Legs 554 are similar in shape and provide the same
function as legs 444, and caster assemblies 556 are mounted to the outer,
lower ends of
legs 554. Alternatively, glides may be employed in place of caster assemblies
556.
Support tube 552 is adapted to mount a pneumatic height adjustment
cylinder assembly 558, which includes a cylinder body 560 and an extendible
and
retractable rod 562, in accordance with conventional construction. Cylinder
assembly
558 is of the type commonly employed to adjust the height of a worksurface or
seat, and
includes a piston received within cylinder body 560 to which rod 562 is
connected, and
a spring which normally biases rod 562 to an extended position.
42
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A lower cup or bushing 564 is adapted to be received within the upwardly
open interior of support tube 552, and rests on a lower end wall 566 defined
by support
tube 552. Bushing 564 provides a snug fit of the lower end of cylinder body
560 within
support tube 552. A screw 568 extends through an opening in end wall 566 and
into a
threaded passage associated with the lower end of cylinder body 560, for
securely
mounting cylinder assembly 558 to support tube 552.
An upper bushing 570 is engaged with the upper end of support tube 552
and with the upper end of cylinder body 560. Upper bushing 570 is in the form
of a ring
having a central opening through which cylinder rod 562 extends, and which
conforms
in shape to a shoulder defined by the upper end of cylinder body 560. Upper
bushing
570 includes depending prongs 571 that are configured to wedge between the
upper end
of cylinder body 560 and the inner surface of support tube 552 to secure the
upper end
of cylinder body 560 in position within support tube 552.
A bracket 572 is mounted to the upper end of cylinder rod 562, and is
interconnected with a worksurface mounting plate 574 which is adapted to be
connected
to the underside of the worksurface, which is shown representatively at 576.
An
actuator lever 578 is pivotably mounted to bracket 572, and includes an outer
engagement area 580 and an inner end which engages an actuator button at the
upper
end of cylinder rod 562, in a manner as is known. With this construction,
lever 578 is
operated so as to selectively allow a user to adjust the height of worksurface
576 by
extending or retracting cylinder rod 562 by exerting an upward or downward
force on
worksurface 576. When lever 578 is released, engagement of the actuator button
associated with cylinder rod 562 is relieved, such that the position of
cylinder rod 562
relative to cylinder body 560 is locked to secure worksurface 576 in a desired
vertical
position.
Figs. 72-74 illustrate a computer table assembly 584 which forms a part of
the mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention, and which
is
typically used in combination with a table T. Generally, computer table
assembly 584
includes a pair of base assemblies 440 as shown and described with respect to
Figs. 49-
52, in combination with a CPU support cradle 586 located between base
assemblies 440,
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44
and a monitor supporting worksurface 588 connected to mounting plates 448 of
base
assemblies 440.
Each base 440 of computer table assembly 584 is constructed as described
previously to support worksurface 588 above a supporting surface such as a
floor in an
adjustable height manner. Base 440 of table assembly 584 differs slightly from
the
construction as described previously, however, in that each column 446 has
vertically
spaced pairs of openings or apertures 480 in its walls substantially
throughout its entire
height.
CPU support cradle 586 is supported between table base assemblies 440 in
a suspended manner by means of a pair of support sleeves 590, each of which is
secured
to one of columns 446. Each support sleeve 590 includes a tubular sleeve 592
having a
top bushing 450 and a bottom bushing 452, mounted in the same manner as
described
previously with respect to mounting of top bushing 450 and bottom bushing 452
to
collar 442. Support sleeve 590 further includes a removable pin 470 as
described
previously, such that support sleeves 590 can be manually adjusted to varying
positions
on columns 446 so as to adjust the height of CPU support cradle 586. Each
support
sleeve 592 further includes an inwardly facing hanger tab 592. CPU support
cradle 586
includes a bottom support wall 594 and a pair of upstanding sidewalls 596.
Each
sidewall 596 has an opening within which support tab' 592 is received, such
that CPU
support cradle 586 is suspended from support tabs 592 between base assemblies
440.
Bottom wall 594 terminates in an upturned lip 598, which is configured to
prevent a
computer CPU, shown representatively at 600, from sliding off bottom wall 594.
It can thus be appreciated that computer table assembly 584 employs
common components as table base assembly 440 to provide a computer support
table,
with the minor adaptation of providing columns 446 with openings throughout
its entire
length and the addition of CPU support cradle 586. The height of CPU support
cradle
586 can be adjusted according to the height of CPU 600, and the overall height
of
monitor supporting worksurface 588 can be adjusted in the same manner as
described
previously with respect to table base assembly 440.
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Furniture Glide
Figs. 75 and 76 illustrate a glide assembly 604 which can be employed in
16
the various components of the mobile furniture and accessory system of the
present
invention, either in place of or in combination with the illustrated caster
assemblies.
5 Glide assembly 604 includes a stem 606 having a threaded upper end 608
which is adapted to be threadedly engaged with a mounting insert or the like
associated
with the furniture component to which glide assembly 604 is adapted to be
mounted.
Stem 606 further includes an irregular lower end 610. A foot 612 is engaged
with lower
end 610. Foot 612 includes a stem mounting section 614 having an internal
passage
10 within which irregular lower end 610 of stem 606 is received, either in an
insert molding
operation or in a press-fit construction. Stem 606 includes a retainer disc
616 which
engages an upper end defined by stem mounting section 614. Foot 612 further
includes
an annular outwardly extending engagement section 618 which terminates in an
upturned flange or wall 620.
15 Glide assembly 604 further includes an intermediate riser member 622
which extends upwardly from foot 612. Riser member 622 has a lower annular
wall 624
terminating in a lip 626 which engages wall 620 of foot 612 in a snap-fit
manner. Riser
member 622 further includes an inwardly extending ring 628 engaged by disc
616,
which is operable to secure riser member 622 to foot 612 when stem 606 is
engaged
20 with stem mounting section 614. Riser member 622 further includes an outer
wall 630
which extends upwardly from lower wall 624, and which defines a slight inward
taper in
an upward direction. Riser member 622 is open at its upper end, and a
telescoping
collar 632 extends from the upper end of riser member 622. Collar 632 defines
an outer
wall 634 and a top wall 636 having a central opening, through which threaded
upper end
25 608 of stem 606 extends. A spring 638 bears between disc 616 and a guide
flange 638
extends inwardly from upper wall 636.
Collar 636 is vertically movable relative to riser member 622, and is
outwardly biased by spring 638. The lower end of outer wall 634 is provided
with a
slight outward ring protrusion 640, and the upper end of riser outer wall 630
is provided
30 with a slight inward protrusion 642, which provide a snap-type lock
arrangement so as
to maintain collar 632 in engagement with riser member 622.
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In operation, glide assembly 604 is secured to an insert or other mounting
structure associated with an item of furniture, by turning threaded upper end
608 of stem
606 into engagement with the internal threads of the insert or other such
mounting
structure. On continued advancement of threaded upper end 608 in this manner,
upper
wall 636 of collar 632 engages the insert or other downwardly facing surface
defined by
the article of furniture to which glide assembly 604 is mounted, to fully
conceal stem
606 between the glide mounting surface and the support surface such as a
floor, with
which foot 612 is engaged. Stem 606 is turned so as to provide the desired
amount of
engagement of threaded upper end 608 within the insert. As advancement of stem
606
continues, collar 632 is retracted relative to riser member 622 against the
force of spring
638, to reduce the overall height of glide assembly 604 defined between the
lower end
of foot 612 and upper wall 636. This functions to fully conceal stem 606. If
it is desired
to back stem 606 out of the threaded insert for any reason, such as when the
article of
furniture is moved or to level or otherwise adjust the elevation of the
article of furniture,
glide assembly 604 is turned so as to move foot 612 outwardly relative to the
article of
furniture. During such movement of glide assembly 604, collar 632 is extended
under
the influence of spring 638, to maintain upper wall 636 in engagement with the
downwardly facing surface of the article of furniture from which glide
assembly 604
extends.
Figs. 77-84 illustrate a variety of different applications for the modular
mobile furniture and accessory system of the present invention. Fig. 77
includes tables,
partitions and storage units used to create a work area in combination with a
panel-type
wall system. Fig. 78 illustrates tables or desks in combination with storage
units and
screens or partitions for creating several different work areas in an open
area. Fig. 79
shows the table or desk components as well as the storage, screen and marker
board
components in providing a team-type work environment within an enclosed space.
Fig.
80 illustrates the reconfigurability of the components shown in Fig. 79, for
altering the
layout of the space. Fig. 81 illustrates the table or desk, storage, marker
board and bin
components in a private office environment, which is also illustrated in Fig.
82. Figs. 83
and 84 illustrate a series of tables or desks which can be moved as required
for use in
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47
either a training environment as shown in Fig. 83 or in a conference
environment as
shown in Fig. 84.
It can thus be appreciated that the components of the present invention
greatly facilitate flexibility in an office environment, and can be custom-
ordered to user
specifications and arranged according to user requirements for optimizing
workflow and
efficiency.
Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within
the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly
claiming the
subject matter regarded as the invention.
47
