Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Portable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-08-28
Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Portable
C052S064000, C052S220700, C052S220200, C052S239000, C052S769000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279643
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to furniture systems for subdividing building space, and more particularly to an integrated furniture system that includes an open framework and a plurality of rigid infill panels supported by the framework for subdividing and outfitting the building space.
Partition systems are well-known in the art for subdividing building space into physically separated work and/or office areas. The partition systems are typically constructed to support individual office-type work activities, and are often adapted for specialized functions, such as carrying utilities, supporting furniture and accessories, providing visual comfort and aesthetics, sound absorption, and the like. Physical separation, privacy, and aesthetics are typically very important to such systems.
Overhead framework systems that are adapted to support activities in open areas, such as for meeting areas and common areas, are also known. Many of these systems include an overhead framework of beams that are supported by posts. The openness of these systems is particularly conducive to group activities, where conversation and interaction is very important.
Partition systems are also known for subdividing a building space into individual office areas. Some of these partitions are constructed to be rearrangable. However, rearranging the partition panels within the existing framework has proven to be problematic typically requiring extensive knowledge of the construction of the system as well as extensive disassembly and reassembly of the system each time the user desires to reconfigure the partition system. Typically, rearranging the panels within the framework cannot be accomplished by the user and requires technical assistance from personnel of the manufacturing or distribution company. This shortcoming is exacerbated in situations in which the configuration requirements quickly change. Further, the interface and interconnection of the panels supported by the framework and the floor can be problematic, since the framework may be uneven due to a non-level floor. In addition, many of these systems do not provide the user with the ability to incorporate mid-height panels that do not extend the entire height of the framework. If provided, these partial height panels are typically difficult to adjust, manipulate, and rearrange similar to as described above.
Accordingly, an integrated furniture system is desired solving the aforementioned problems, and yet which maintains the advantages of systems adapted for separate use and for rearrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a prefabricated furniture system for interior building space and the like of the type having a floor with an open plan, which includes an overhead framework having utility conduits and that are adapted for supporting a plurality of rigid infill panels. The overhead framework extends over the floor of the building space, and includes a plurality of posts, and a plurality of beams, at least some of which are supported at a predetermined elevation above an average user height to define an open, three-dimensional gridwork that spatially partitions the associated portion of the building space. The utility conduits extend along the posts and the beams to provide access to utilities throughout the gridwork. The rigid infill panels are each constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user, and are shaped for positioning between the beams and the floor of the building in side-by-side juxtaposition. Each of the infill panels has upper and lower panel portions equipped to retain the same in a selected position within the gridwork. The upper panel portion is adapted to engage a lower surface of an adjacent beam. The lower panel portion is adapted to engage the floor. At least one of the upper and lower panel portions includes a resiliently extensible retainer which biases outwardly to create tight engagement between the infill panels and the floor and the associate beams for securely, yet removably, retaining the same in place. The infill panels can be quickly and easily installed by the user at various locations throughout the gridwork to create workstations with visual privacy and utility access, and can be rearranged by the user to accommodate different work requirements.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a prefabricated furniture system for interior building space and the like of the type having a floor with an open plan, and that includes a framework having utility conduits and adapted for supporting a plurality of rigid infill panels. The framework extends over the floor of the building space, and includes a plurality of posts, and a plurality of beams supported at a predetermined elevation to define an open, three-dimensional gridwork, which spatially partitions the associated portion of the building space. The utility conduits extend along the posts and the beams to provide access to the utilities throughout the gridwork. The plurality of rigid infill panels are each constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user, and are shaped for positioning between the beams. Each of the infill panels has upper and lower panel portions equipped to removably retain the same in a selected position within the gridwork. The upper panel portion is adapted to engage a lower surface of an adjacent one of the beams. The lower panel portion is adapted to engage an upper surface of an adjacent one of the beams. At least one of the upper and lower panel portions includes a resiliently extensible retainer which biases outwardly to create a tight engagement between the infill panels and the associated beams for securely, yet removably, retaining the same in place. The infill panels can be quickly and easily installed by the user at various locations throughout the gridwork to create workstations with visual privacy and utility access, and can be rearranged by the user to accommodate different work requirements.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for partitioning interior building space and the like having a floor with a open plan, that includes erecting an overhead framework over the floor of the building space, by assembling a plurality of posts, and a plurality of beams, at least some of which are supported at a predetermined elevation above average user height to define an open, three-dimensional gridwork which spatially partitions the associated portion of the building space, and providing utility conduits along the posts and the beams to provide access to the utilities throughout the gridwork. The method further includes providing a plurality of rigid infill panels that are constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user, are shaped for positioning between the beams and the floor of the building, and have upper and lower panel portions equipped to removably retain the same in a selected position within the gridwork, wherein the upper panel portion is adapted to engage a lower surface of the adjacent one of the beams, the lower panel portion is adapted to engage the floor, and at least one of the upper and lower panel portions includes a resiliently extensible retainer which biases outwardly to create tight engagement between the infill panels and the floor and associated beams. The method still further includes manually installing the infill panels between the floor and the beams in side-by-side juxtaposition by selectively compressing the retainer and then releasing the same once the infill panel is in place under the beam, thereby securely, yet removably, retaining the same in place, whereby the infill panels are quickly and easily installed by the user at various locations throughout the gridwork to create workstations with visual privacy and utility access, and can be rearranged by the user to accommodate different work requirements.
The present inventive furniture system is easily rearrangable without requiring extensive knowledge of
Canfield Robert
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
Steelcase Inc.
LandOfFree
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