Partition panel with modular appliance mounting arrangement

A freestanding partition panel for dividing a floor space, comprising:

• a rigid partition frame having first and second horizontally spaced apart vertical side frame members, and elongated vertically spaced apart first and second horizontal members extending between said vertical side frame members to define an open space within said panel;
• said first and second horizontal members including a plurality of horizontally spaced apart attachment locations defining a plurality of discrete, serially adjacent mounting spaces within said open space;
• a modular appliance unit connectable to selected ones of said attachment locations of said first and second horizontal members and extending vertically between said first and second horizontal members;
• said appliance unit defining a generally vertical side edge horizontally spaced apart from said first vertical side frame member to define a gap therebetween;
• and
• a cover panel secured to said partition frame, said cover panel having a first vertical side edge proximate said vertical side edge of said appliance unit, and a second vertical side edge proximate said first vertical side frame member, said cover panel secured to said first and second horizontal members and extending therebetween to substantially close off said gap.

A method of configuring a partition panel, comprising:

• providing a freestanding partition frame defining horizontally spaced apart vertical side faces and an interior space between said vertical side faces, said partition frame having first and second generally vertical side edges that are horizontally spaced apart to define a frame width, said partition frame having generally horizontal upper and lower edges defining a generally quadrilateral perimeter with said vertical side edges;
• dividing at least a portion of said interior space into a plurality of serially adjacent mounting spaces defining a horizontal row, said mounting spaces each having substantially the same size and configuration;
• providing a plurality of modular appliance units, each configured to be mounted into a selected one of said mounting spaces at a selected horizontal position and having an exterior side surface that faces outwardly, a generally vertical side edge and generally horizontal upper and lower side edges defining a height;
• securing said appliance unit to said portion frame in a selected one of said mounting spaces at a selected horizontal position with said vertical side edge of said appliance unit spaced inwardly from said first vertical side edge of said partition frame to form a first gap defining a width that is substantially less than said frame width, said upper side edge of said appliance unit spaced downwardly from said upper edge of said partition frame to form an upper gap having a width about the same as said frame width, said lower side edge of said utility unit spaced upwardly from said lower edge of said partition frame to form a lower gap having a width about the same as said frame width;
• providing a first cover panel having a width substantially equal to said first gap, and a height substantially the same as the height of said utility unit;
• installing said first cover panel to said partition frame to substantially close off said first gap;
• installing an upper cover panel to substantially close off said upper gap;
• and
• installing a lower cover panel to substantially close off said lower gap.

A freestanding partition panel for subdividing the floor space of a building interior, said partition panel comprising:

• a plurality of interconnected structural members defining a partition frame configured to be supported on a floor surface, said partition panel having first and second major exterior surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said panel;
• a first support member attached to said frame, said first support member attachable to said frame at a plurality of vertically spaced apart support member positions and wherein said first support member is disposed substantially between said first and second major exterior surfaces when attached in said plurality of support member positions;
• at least one cover panel defining a first portion of said major exterior surface and having a generally quadrilateral perimeter defining a cover panel height;
• and
• an appliance unit mounted on said partition panel and secured to said first support member, said appliance unit defining a second portion of said first major exterior surface, said second portion having a perimeter defining an appliance unit height, said perimeters being mutually adjacently positioned for a partial vertical length of said outermost perimeter, said cover panel height and said appliance unit height being substantially equal, said appliance unit being securable to said first support member at a plurality of horizontally spaced appliance positions on said first support member and wherein said appliance unit is mountable at a plurality of horizontally and vertically spaced apart installation positions on said partition panel, said appliance unit being vertically repositionable by vertically repositioning said first support member, and said appliance unit being horizontally repositionable by repositioning said appliance on said first support member.

A freestanding partition panel for subdividing the floor space of a building interior, said partition panel comprising:

• a plurality of interconnected structural members defining a frame of said partition panel, said partition panel having first and second major exterior surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said panel and defining a panel interior therebetween;
• a repositionable first support member attached to said frame, said first support member attachable to said frame at a plurality of support member positions spaced apart in a first direction and wherein said first support member is disposed substantially between said first and second major surfaces when attached in said plurality of support member positions;
• a cover panel support bracket detachably secured to said first support member and extending in said first direction;
• an appliance unit mounted on said partition panel and secured to said first support member, said appliance defining a portion of said first major surface;
• at least one cover member mounted on said partition panel and secured to said cover panel support bracket, said cover member defining at least a portion of said first major surface and positioned adjacent said appliance, said cover member overlaying a portion of said cover panel support bracket, wherein said cover member and said appliance unit define a common edge therebetween, said common edge extending in said first direction and at least one end of said common edge terminating at a point located on said first major surface inwardly of said structural members, said cover panel support bracket extending along substantially a full length of said common edge.

A freestanding partition panel for subdividing the floor space of a building interior, said partition panel comprising:

• a plurality of interconnected structural members defining a partition frame configured to be supported on a floor surface, said partition panel having first and second major exterior surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said panel;
• a first support member attached to said frame, said first support member attachable to said frame at a plurality of vertically spaced apart support member positions and wherein said first support member is disposed substantially between said first and second major exterior surfaces when attached in said plurality of support member positions;
• at least one cover panel defining a first portion of said major exterior surface and having a generally quadrilateral perimeter defining a cover panel height;
• a first appliance unit mounted on said partition panel and secured to said first support member, said first appliance unit defining a second portion of said first major exterior surface, said second portion having a perimeter defining an appliance unit height, said perimeter being mutually adjacently positioned for a partial vertical length of said outermost perimeter, said cover panel height and said appliance unit height being substantially equal, said first appliance unit being securable to said first support member at a plurality of horizontally spaced appliance positions on said first support member and wherein said first appliance unit is mountable at a plurality of horizontally and vertically spaced apart installation positions on said partition panel, said first appliance unit being vertically repositionable by vertically repositioning said first support member, and said first appliance unit being horizontally repositionable by repositioning said first appliance unit on said first support member;
• and
• a second appliance unit, said second appliance unit defining a portion of said second major exterior surface and wherein said panel interior is divisible by a centerline plane and comprises a first half located between said centerline plane and said first major exterior surface and a second half located between said centerline plane and said second major exterior surface and wherein each of said first and second appliances is configured to be disposed within only one of said panel interior halves whereby said first and second appliances are positionable directly opposite each other.

A freestanding partition panel for subdividing the floor space of a building interior, said partition panel comprising:

• a plurality of interconnected structural members defining a frame of said partition panel, said partition panel having first and second major exterior surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said panel and defining a panel interior therebetween;
• a repositionable first support member attached to said frame, said first support member attachable to said frame at a plurality of support member positions spaced apart in a first direction and wherein said first support member is disposed substantially between said first and second major surfaces when attached in said plurality of support member positions;
• a cover panel support bracket detachably secured to said first support member and extending in said first direction;
• a first appliance unit mounted on said partition panel and secured to said first support member, said first appliance unit defining a portion of said first major surface;
• at least one cover member mounted on said partition panel and secured to said cover panel and support bracket, said cover member defining at least a portion of said first major surface and positioned adjacent said appliance, said cover member overlaying a portion of said cover panel support bracket, wherein said cover member and said first appliance unit define a common edge therebetween, said common edge extending in said first direction and at least one end of said common edge terminating at a point located on said first major surface inwardly of said structural members, said cover panel support bracket extending along substantially a full length of said common edge;
• and
• a second appliance unit, said second appliance unit defining a portion of said second major exterior surface and wherein said panel interior is divisible by a centerline plane and comprises a first half located between said centerline plane and said first major exterior surface and a second half located between said centerline plane and said second major exterior surface and wherein each of said first and second appliance units is configured to be disposed within only one of said panel interior halves whereby said first and second appliance units are positionable directly opposite each other.