Supports: racks – Special article – Stacked articles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-05-08
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Stacked articles
C211S094010, C211S011000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227384
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved slotted divider arrangement for use in an office environment for storage and organization of documents, and particularly to a slotted divider arrangement for mounting on a support rail which can be disposed in raised relation relative to a worksurface to permit more efficient utilization of accessible space adjacent a worksurface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The modern office environment has ever increasing demands with respect to not only the availability of effective work space, particularly in association with a worksurface, but also the efficient utilization of available space around a worksurface. The demands and space requirements for computers and telecommunication equipment, as well as the demands for various office tools or accessories which are typically supported on top of a worksurface, generally results in excessive clutter on the worksurface and typically results in only minimal available work space. In an effort to increase the available work space, attempts have been made to position many of the accessories or tools on adjacent supporting elements, such as by mounting the accessories on an adjacent wall, although not only does this complicate the overall wall structure, but this alternative is not available in those situations where the worksurface is not disposed adjacent a wall. As a further alternative, some worksurfaces or table tops are provided with upright structures secured along the rear edge of the worksurface and projecting upwardly so as to provide additional storage compartments and the like, although even this alternative greatly increases the overall complexity of the worksurface arrangement and in particular significantly interferes with openness and visibility around the worksurface, thereby severely interfering with either aesthetics or team working functions. Constructions of this latter type also typically have little flexibility or adjustability.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved office accessory which can be used in conjunction with a worksurface while providing significant flexibility with respect to its use as well as its location, which can be readily positionally adjusted or disassembled when usage is not desired, and which can be associated with a worksurface in a raised position or relationship so as to not interfere with the available space on the worksurface while at the same time providing minimal obstruction with respect to visibility and openness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The improved office accessory of this invention is particularly desirable for use with and support on an elongate support rail which is positioned so as to extend along an edge of a worksurface in raised relation therewith, which support rail can be easily attached to and supported from the worksurface, or alternately can be attached to and supported from an adjacent wall. The support rail in turn permits many different types of accessories or tools to be readily attached or detached therefrom, and according to the present invention permits an improved slotted divider arrangement to be removably attached to and supported on the support rail so as to permit organized storage of selected documents or objects.
According to the present invention, in a preferred embodiment, an elongate support rail is supported so as to extend generally along and in raised relation relative to a rear edge of the worksurface. The rail is preferably supported on the worksurface by one or more intermediate support arms or stanchions, but alternately can be supported from an adjacent wall. The rail defines therein an elongate slot which extends lengthwise of the rail and, in the preferred embodiment, opens forwardly of the rail. The slotted divider arrangement is adapted to be engaged and supported on top of the rail. The divider includes a substantially horizontally planar base tray which sits on top of the rail so as to project outwardly from both sides thereof, and the base tray has a resilient flange projecting therefrom which is insertable into the slot so as to stably position the base tray on the rail. One or more generally U-shape divider elements are removably mounted on the base tray in adjacent side-by-side relation so as to define a plurality of adjacent storage slots which open transversely relative to the lengthwise direction of the support rail and are thus readily accessible by a worker standing or seated adjacent the front of the worksurface. The divider element has generally parallel but spaced front and back walls joined by a bottom wall extending generally perpendicularly therebetween. A bottom support leg or flange projects downwardly from the front edge of the bottom wall, substantially coplanar with the front wall, through a limited extent so that the lower free edge of the support flange bears against the upper surface of the base tray. This bearing engagement, in conjunction with a further bearing engagement which occurs between the base tray and the apex between the back and bottom walls, stably supports the divider element such that the front and back walls project upwardly at a small angle relative to the vertical, thereby resulting in the bottom wall of the divider element extending at a small slope or incline relative to the horizontal. The divider element and base wall preferably have a cooperating structure to assist in securing the base tray and divider elements together, which cooperating structure in the preferred embodiment includes a pair of downwardly projecting hooks associated with the front flange and aligned with and projecting downwardly through small slots formed in the base tray. The base tray can be utilized without divider elements thereon, or can have from one up to a plurality (for example, four) of divider elements mounted thereon in adjacent relationship. The divider elements can be horizontally rotated 180° relative to the base tray so as to be positioned thereon for either rightward or leftward incline.
The desirable constructional and functional features of the present invention, as well as other structural and operational advantages thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.
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Mitchell Edward
Phillips Sheldon
Saylor Charles
Flynn ,Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
Haworth Inc.
Novosad Jennifer E.
Stodola Daniel P.
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