Furniture system

A method for partitioning open office plans, and the like, to support group activities, comprising:

• providing a rigid framework having at least one perimeter segment arranged to form a closed top plan perimeter, and at least one cross-beam segment extending interior of the perimeter formed by said perimeter segment;
• positioning the rigid framework above an open floor surface of an associated building room;
• providing a plurality of framework support columns;
• connecting the upper end of each of the columns with the framework;
• positioning the lower end of the columns abutting on the floor surface of the associated building room to support the framework in a freestanding fashion within the building room at a predetermined elevation generally above average user height;
• providing a plurality of individual panels, each being constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user;
• detachably connecting the panels with the framework in a manner in which each of the panels hangs downwardly from the framework in a generally vertical orientation, and is readily and easily manually removable therefrom by the user;
• manually positioning the panels on the perimeter segment of the framework to define a group workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate a plurality of adult users therein for communal communications and actions;
• and
• manually reconfiguring the panels on the cross-beam segment of the framework to subdivide the group workspace portion of the floor surface into at least two, sub-group workspaces which are at least spatially and visually distinct from one another, and are sufficiently large to accommodate at least one adult user therein for breakout-type communications and actions.

A furniture kit particularly adapted to support temporary group activities in open plans, and the like, comprising;

• a plurality of overhead beam segments, each having a beam connector positioned adjacent opposite ends thereof, and a hanger positioned along at least one side thereof;
• a plurality of overhead support columns, each having a column connector positioned adjacent an upper end thereof, and a foot positioned adjacent a lower end thereof for abutment with an open floor surface of an associated building room;
• a plurality of connectors, each having a first connector shaped for detachable connection with said beam connector at the adjacent ends of at least two of said overhead beam segments arranged in an end-to-end fashion, and a second connector shaped for detachable connection with said column connector at the upper end of one of said overhead support columns, such that a plurality of said overhead beam segments may be detachably interconnected to form a rigid framework supported on the floor surface of the building room by at least two of said overhead support columns at a predetermined elevation above average user height;
• a plurality of panels, each being constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user, and including a connector for detachably connecting the same with the hanger of any one of said overhead beam segments in a manner in which each of said panels hangs downwardly from said framework in a generally vertical orientation, and is readily and easily manually removable therefrom by the user;
• and
• at least one mobile cart having a ground engaging support which permits manual translation of said cart over the floor surface of the building room, and a hanger for cooperating with the detachable connector of said panels to detachably support at least one of said panels on said mobile cart in a hanging fashion.

A method for partitioning open office plans, and the like, to support group activities, comprising:

• providing a rigid framework;
• positioning the rigid framework above an open floor surface of an associated building room;
• providing a plurality of framework support columns;
• connecting the upper end of each of the columns with the framework;
• positioning the lower end of the columns abutting on the floor surface of the associated building room to support the framework in a freestanding fashion within the building room at a predetermined elevation generally above average user height;
• providing a plurality of individual panels, each being constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user;
• detachably connecting the panels with the framework in a manner in which each of the panels hangs downwardly from the framework in a generally vertical orientation, and is readily and easily manually removable therefrom by the user;
• manually positioning the panels on the framework to define a group workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate a plurality of adult users therein for communal communications and actions;
• manually reconfiguring the panels on the framework to subdivide the group workspace portion of the floor surface into at least two, sub-group workspaces which are at least spatially and visually distinct from one another, and are sufficiently large to accommodate at least one adult user therein for breakout-type communications and actions;
• providing a mobile cart adapted to translate over the floor surface of the building room;
• and
• hanging panels removed from the framework on the mobile cart, and transporting the same outside of the group workspace to permit free movement therethrough.