IES73456B2 - Modular office furniture - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to modular office furniture.

The invention is particularly concerned with modular office furniture of knock-down construction which is relatively compact to transport and which can be readily, easily and quickly assembled in an office site.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a furniture assembly which is adaptable, allowing different arrangements and configurations of workstations to be produced.

According to the invention there is provided a modular office furniture assembly comprising a number of upright ground-engaging screens interconnected to define a number of workstations, with means for interconnecting adjacent screens comprising connector brackets engagable between the screens, each screen comprising a framework having a number of cladding panels mounted on an exterior of the framework. The cladding panels being mounted on support screws which project outwardly of the framework, the screws engagable with inverted keyhole-shaped slots in a rear of the panels. Thus, the panels are quickly and easily fitted on the framework and can be readily easily changed or replaced if desired.

Conveniently, the cladding panels may be demountably secured on the framework.

In a further embodiment, means is provided for housing power and communications cables within the framework, with one or more hinged cladding panels being provided on the framework for access to cable connectors mounted on the framework behind the cladding panels.

S73 456Ί In another embodiment, a cable passage opening is provided at a lower end of the or each hinged cladding panel, a resilient flap being mounted at a lower end of the hinged cladding panel extending across the opening to close the opening.

In another embodiment, one or more power points are mounted along a top edge of each screen.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a modular office furniture assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing portion of the furniture assembly; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of cladding panels for the furniture assembly; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevational view of part of a screen forming portion of the assembly; Fig. 5 is a detail partially sectioned perspective view of a rear of a panel; Fig. 6 is a detail side sectional elevational view of portion of the panel; Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a modular office furniture assembly according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The assembly 1 comprises a number of upright ground-engaging screens 2 interconnected in a cruciform shape to define a number of work stations 3. In this case, each work station 3 is provided with a desk 4 and optionally drawers .

Each screen 2 comprises a rectangular framework 10 having a number of cladding panels 11, 12, 13 mounted on an exterior of the framework 10. Each framework 10 is formed by a number of vertical and horizontal frame members secured together by fasteners such as screws or rivets. A pair of height adjustable feet (not shown) are provided at a lower end of each framework 10.

Referring in particular to Figs. 3 to 6, the arrangement for mounting the cladding panels 11, 12, 13 on each framework 10 is shown. The upper cladding panels 11 and lower cladding panels 13 are mounted on support screws 40 which project outwardly of the framework 10. The screws 40 are engagable with inverted keyhole-shaped slots 41 which are recessed in a rear of the panels 11, 13. Thus, the panels 11, 13 can be readily easily and quickly mounted on the framework 10.

It will be noted that the cladding panels 12 are mounted by hinges 45 on the framework 10 and can be swung outwardly and upwardly to provide access to power points 46 and other cable connections which are routed through and housed within each screen 2.

A cable passage opening 35 is provided at a lower end of the hinged cladding panel 12. A resilient flap 36 is attached at a lower end of the hinged cladding panel 12 extending across the opening 35 to close the opening. Thus a cable can be lead from the powerpoint 46 through the opening 35 the flap 36 deflecting passage of the cable.

The invention is not limited to hereinbefore described which may be construction and detail. to allow through the embodiment

Claims (5)

1. A modular office furniture assembly comprising a number of upright ground-engaging screens interconnected to define a number of workstations, with means for interconnecting adjacent screens comprising connector brackets engagable between the screens, each screen comprising a framework having a number of cladding panels mounted on an exterior of the framework, the cladding panels being mounted on support screws which project outwardly of the framework, the screws engagable with inverted keyhole-shaped slots in a rear of the panels.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein means is provided for housing power and communications cables within the framework, with one or more hinged cladding panels being provided on the framework for access to cable connectors mounted on the framework behind the cladding panels.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein a cable passage opening is provided at a lower end of the or each hinged cladding panel, a resilient flap beingmounted at a lower end of the hinged cladding panel extending across the opening to close the opening.

4. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one or more power points are mounted along a top edge of each screen.

5. A modular office furniture assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .