Supports: cabinet structure – Knockdown or setup type – Connecting panels
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-03
2002-05-28
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Knockdown or setup type
Connecting panels
C312S263000, C312S247000, C312S323000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06394564
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to modular office systems, and more particularly to an overhead storage unit for use with such office systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Modular office systems in which individual panel assemblies are used to configure large work areas are well known in the art. More recently, improvements have been made in both the look and functionality of the panel assemblies. Due to constantly changing work environments, it is desirable to have office systems which allow for ease of redesign and flexibility in the mounting of accessories, for example, to the panel assemblies.
In the case of an overhead storage unit, it is often necessary to provide a preconstructed unit which is then secured to a panel such as by bolting or screwing the storage unit to the panel frame. This often necessitates manufacture and/or construction of the storage unit at the factory and shipping the unit in an assembled condition. This can be inconvenient in that the bulk of the assembled unit is much more difficult and costly to ship than is a unit which can be shipped as piece units which are then manufactured in the field at the individual work area location. Moreover, for units which are shipped as individual components which are then assembled in the field, it is desirable to have a storage unit or other accessory which is easy to construct, not requiring detailed instructions.
Units mounted on the panel assemblies must also be securable to the panels such that they are not capable of inadvertently falling from the panel, such as would occur if the person accidentally bumped the unit. What is needed, therefore, is an overhead storage unit which can be attached to a panel for an open office system workstation, which can be shipped as individual components which can be then manufactured in the field. The unit must be lightweight for shipping, and have components which are easy to manufacture and thus inexpensive to build.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an overhead storage unit for a modular office system wherein the storage unit is made up of easily assembled individual components.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mountable overhead storage unit which is made of components which are as easy to assemble as are the individual panel assemblies which make up the modular office system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a modular overhead storage unit having a minimum of different individual parts which are capable of simple construction without detailed instructions or tooling.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an overhead storage unit which is easily mounted on a panel assembly which prevents inadvertent falling of the unit from the panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above objects are attained by the present invention, according to which, briefly stated, a modular overhead storage unit is provided for an office system which is made up of a pair of end panels and one or more shelves. In one embodiment of the invention, the end panels are identical pieces, as are each of the shelves. In a second embodiment of the invention, each of the end panels have angled engagement tabs on a back edge thereof for engaging support frames of a panel assembly, in which the engagement tabs prevent inadvertent removal of the storage unit from the panel. A door is provided for the storage unit, which door presents a curved surface which matches the edges of the end panels so as to present a clean, visually pleasing appearance. The individual components of the overhead storage unit can be mass produced such as by stamping or roll forming the metal parts which can be easily assembled on site, without requiring special tooling or detailed instructions to assemble the unit and/or mount it on the panel assembly.
A method of manufacturing a storage unit comprises the steps of providing a first piece of sheet metal and forming a first end panel from the first piece of sheet metal, the first end panel having a first outer side, a first inner side, a first bottom edge and a first top edge, wherein the first bottom edge is formed to provide a first shelf attachment area on the first inner side. A second end panel is formed from a second piece of sheet metal, the second end panel having a second outer side, a second inner side, a second bottom edge and a second top edge, wherein the second bottom edge is formed to provide a second shelf attachment area on the second inner side. A third piece of sheet metal is formed into a shelf having a top surface, a bottom surface, a left end and a right end, wherein each of said left and right ends are formed to provide a left end panel attachment area and a right end panel attachment area on the bottom surface. The left end panel attachment area is secured to the first shelf attachment area, and the right end panel attachment area is secured to the second shelf attachment area, whereby the storage unit is assembled.
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“Tango Vertical Storage Unit VSU and VSU Mount Screen” Installation Instructions, Haworth, Inc. (4 pages).
Langworthy Thomas A.
Mrotz, III. Walter C.
Noel David P.
Buchanan Ingersoll P.C.
Cuomo Peter M.
Knoll, Inc.
Tran Hanh V.
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