US 4,685,255 AGranted

Work space management system

AssigneeHerman Miller, Inc.

InventorJames O. Kelley

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A work space management system for dividing a room into separate work areas comprising a wall system having a rigid framework formed of rigid rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area, wire management elements secured to the frames for communication and power wiring and a plurality of modular panels removably hanging on the frames. At least some of the wire management elements are secured to the bottom or baseline of the frames and at least some of the wire management elements are removably secured to a waistline or midportion of at least some of the frames. In some cases, the frames only extend to a waist height and in other cases, the frames extend to a full panel height. The panels are sized to fit between the waistline wire management elements and the baseline wire management elements to substantially cover the frames therebetween. The work management system provides an architectural wall system with flexibility for interchangeable panels for different decorative effects as well as functional features. The panels can be fabric or vinyl covered, or can comprise acoustical panels, window panels, work-in-process panel rails or lighting panels.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A work space management system for dividing a room into separate work areas comprising:

a rigid framework formed of rigid rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;
baseline wire management means for enclosing communication and/or power wiring secured to a base of at least some of said frames, said baseline wire management means including a baseline cover forming an outer face of said baseline wire management means and an electrical receptacle accessible by means of said baseline cover to provide an electrical outlet for said work space;
waistline wire management means for enclosing communication and/or power wiring, said waistline wire management means including a cover forming an outer face of said waistline wire management means and an electrical receptacle accessible by means of said waistline cover to provide an electrical outlet for said work space;
means for removably mounting said waistline wire management means to at least some of said frames at a working height well above the base thereof, said removable mounting means permitting relative ease of mounting and demounting said waistline wire management means, respectively, to and from said frames at the point of installation;
electrical and/or communication wiring extending between at lease some of said baseline wire management means and said waistline wire management means;
a plurality of lower panels sized to fit between said waistline wire management means cover and said baseline wire management means cover to substantially cover said frames therebetween;
and
means for removably securing said lower panels to said frames between said waistline and said baseline wire management means covers and in substantially coplanar relationship therewith.

5 more elements

A work space management system comprising:

a rigid framework formed of rigid rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area, each of said frames having outer faces and an open interior;
a plurality of modular panel outserts of a width substantially equal to the width of said rectangular frame, the height of each of the frames being an integer of at least two of the height of said panel outserts, and the height of at least some of said frames being an integer of at least three of the height of said panel outserts;
means for removably mounting said panel outserts to said outer faces of said frames;
at least some of said panel outserts having an outer surface of a fabric or vinyl material;
wire management means for handling electrical and/or communication wires, said wire management means comprising an open-sided conduit and one of said panel outserts forming a removable cover over the open side of said conduit;
an electrical receptacle mounted to said conduit and electrically coupled to a source of electrical energy, said receptacle being accesible to a user in said work space by means of said removable cover;
said removable mounting means being adapted to mount and demount said wire management means remoable cover to said frames at a base, mid or upper portion of said frame with relative ease at the point of installation, whereby said wire management means can be positioned at a base, mid or upper portion of said frame.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/648,900Filed 10 Sep 1984
Granted: 11 Aug 1987
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

A47B 21/06
Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards: characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
A47B 83/001
Combinations comprising two or more pieces of furniture of different kinds: office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture,…
E04B 2/7405
Assembled using panels without a frame or supporting posts, with or without upper or lower edge locating rails: with free upper edge, e.g. for use…
E04B 2/7425
With separate framed panels without intermediary support posts: details of connection of panels