EP0174426A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Work space management system
Assignee: MillerKnoll Inc
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Filing: 1985-03-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A work space management system for dividing a room into separate work areas comprising a wall system having a rigid framework formed of rigid rectangular frames (40) rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area (12, 14), wire management elements (26, 28) in the and secured to the frames (40) for communication and power wiring (96. 88) and a plurality of modular panels (48) removably hanging on the frames (40). At least some of the wire management elements (26, 28) are secured to the bottom or baseline of the frames (40) and at least some of the wire management elements (26, 28) are removably secured to a waistline or midportion of at least some of the frames (40). In some cases, the frames (40) only extend to a waist height and in other cases, the frames (40) only extend to a full panel height. The panels (48) are sized to fit between the waistline wire management elements (28) and the baseline wire management elements (26) to substantially cover the frames (40) therebetween. The work management system provides an architectural wall system with flexibility for interchangeable panels (48) for different decorative effects as well as functional features. The panels (48) can be fabric or vinyl covered, or can comprise acoustical panels, window panels, work-in-process panel rails (154) or lighting panels.
Inventors
- 👤 James O. Kelley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:28
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B21/00; A47B21/06; A47B83/00; A47B83/001; E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7401; E04B2/7405; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7422; E04B2/7425; H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/28; H02G3/286; H02G3/288; A47B37/00; A47B2037/005; A47B2083/005; A47B2083/006; A47B2200/00; A47B2200/01; E04B2002/7483; E04B2002/7488; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A work space management system for dividing a room into separate work areas comprising: a rigid framework formed of rigid rectangular frames (40) rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area (12, 14); baseline wire management means (26) for enclosing communication and/or power wiring secured to the base of at least some of said frames (40); waistline wire management means (28) for enclosing communication and/or power wiring removably secured to at least some of said frames (40) at a working height well above the base thereof; electrical (98) and/or communication wiring (96) extending between at least some of said baseline wire management means (26) and said waistline wire management means (28); a plurality of lower panels (48) sized to fit between said waistline wire management means (28) and said baseline wire management means (26) to substantially cover said frames (40) therebetween; and means (58, 62, 68) for removably securing said lower panels (48) to said frames (40) between said waistline (28) and said baseline wire management means (26) and in substantially coplanar relationship therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A work space management system for dividing a room into separate work areas comprising: a rigid framework formed of rigid rectangular frames (40) rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area (12, 14); baseline wire management means (26) for enclosing communication and/or power wiring secured to the base of at least some of said frames (40); waistline wire management means (28) for enclosing communication and/or power wiring removably secured to at least some of said frames (40) at a working height well above the base thereof; electrical (98) and/or communication wiring (96) extending between at least some of said baseline wire management means (26) and said waistline wire management means (28); a plurality of lower panels (48) sized to fit between said waistline wire management means (28) and said baseline wire management means (26) to substantially cover said frames (40) therebetween; and means (58, 62, 68) for removably securing said lower panels (48) to said frames (40) between said waistline (28) and said baseline wire management means (26) and in substantially coplanar relationship therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A work space management system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said waistline wire management means (28) are secured to a midpoint of said frames (40), and further comprising a plurality of upper panels (48) sized to fit between said waistline wire management means (28) and an upper edge (46) of said frames (40) to substantially cover said frame (40) at upper portions thereof; and means for removably securing said upper panels (48) to said frames at said upper portions thereof in substantially coplanar relationship to said waistline wire management means (28).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
A work space management system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said frames (40) have no waistline wire management means (28) on at least one side of said frames (40) and further comprising a plurality of upper panels (48) sized to fit between said lower panels (48) and an upper edge (46) of said frame (40) and substantially covering the same; and means for removably securing said upper panels to said frames at upper portions thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A work space management system according to claim 3 wherein at least some of said upper panels (48) have acoustical sound-deadening material therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A work space management system according to claim 3 or 4 wherein at least some of said panels (48) are clear panels to provide windows in said panels (48).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A work space management system according to claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein at least one of said panels (150) has a plurality of spaced horizontal rails (154) for releasably holding work-in-progress utentsils.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A work space management system according to one of claims 3 to 6 wherein at least one of said panels (48) comprises a translucent panel with an illumination source behind the translucent panel (48) to provide a source of illumination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A work space management system according to one of claims 3 to 7 wherein at least one of said panels (48) comprises a hard surface providing a marker or chalk surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
A work space management system according to one of the foregoing claims wherein said waistline wire management means (28) comprises and elongated U-shaped conduit chase (106) secured at the ends thereof to the sides of the frame (40) and having means for positioning communication and electrical wiring (96, 98) therein; and a cover (118) sized to cover said conduit chase and removably mounted to said conduit chase (106) for ready access to said conduit chase (106).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A work space management system according to claim 9 wherein said waistline wire management means (28) has an opening therein and a convenience outlet (102) electrically coupled to electrical wiring in said chase (106) and projecting through said cover opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A work space management system according to claim 9 or 10 wherein said wire management means cover (118) is sustantially flush with the outer surface said upper and lower panels (48).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A work space management system according to one of claims 9 to 11 wherein said wire management means (28) have means (146, 148) to run wires from frame to frame externally of said frame edges; and means flush with said wire management means covers (118) to removably cover said wires between said wire management means (28) on said frame edges.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A work space management system according to one of the foregoing claims wherein said rectangular frames (40) have a substantially open central portion and said electrical and/or communication wiring (96, 98) extends between said lower panels (48) and within the open central portion of said frame (40).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
A work space management system according to one of the foregoing claims wherein said rectangular frames (40) each have a plurality of vertically-extending slots (50) on each end thereof and said upper and/or lower panels (48) cover said frame up to said slots (50); at least some of said frames (40) have brackets (38) removably mounted in said slots (50); and work surfaces (20) supported by at least some of said brackets (38).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A work space management system according to claim 14 and further comprising cabinets (22) supported by at least some of said brackets (38).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
229 words
A work space management system comprising: a rigid framework formed of rigid rectangular frames (40) rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area (12, 14), each of said frames (40) having faces and an open interior; a plurality of modular panel outserts (48) of a width substantially equal to the width of said rectangular frames (40), the height of each of the frames (40) being an integer of at least two of the height of said panel outserts (48), and the height of at least some of said frames (40) being an integer of at least three of the height of said panels outserts (48); means (58, 62, 68) for removably mounting said panel outserts (48) to faces of said frames (40); at least some of said panel outserts (48) having a solid outer surface covered with a fabric or vinyl material; at least some of said panel outserts (48) comprising wire management means (26, 28) for handling electrical and/or communication wires, said wire management means (26, 28) comprising an open-sided conduit (72, 106) and a removable cover (82, 118) over the open side of said conduit (72, 106); and said removable mounting means (58, 62, 68) being adapted to mount said wire management means (26, 28) to said frames (40) at a base, mid or upper portion of said frames (40) .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
229 words
A work space management system comprising: a rigid framework formed of rigid rectangular frames (40) rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area (12, 14), each of said frames (40) having faces and an open interior; a plurality of modular panel outserts (48) of a width substantially equal to the width of said rectangular frames (40), the height of each of the frames (40) being an integer of at least two of the height of said panel outserts (48), and the height of at least some of said frames (40) being an integer of at least three of the height of said panels outserts (48); means (58, 62, 68) for removably mounting said panel outserts (48) to faces of said frames (40); at least some of said panel outserts (48) having a solid outer surface covered with a fabric or vinyl material; at least some of said panel outserts (48) comprising wire management means (26, 28) for handling electrical and/or communication wires, said wire management means (26, 28) comprising an open-sided conduit (72, 106) and a removable cover (82, 118) over the open side of said conduit (72, 106); and said removable mounting means (58, 62, 68) being adapted to mount said wire management means (26, 28) to said frames (40) at a base, mid or upper portion of said frames (40) .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
A work space management system according to claim 16 wherein said removable mounting means (58, 82, 68) for said panel outserts (48) other that said wire management means (26, 28) comprise spring clip means (68) for removing said panel outserts (48) from said frames (40) by pulling outwardly on said panel ourserts (48).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
A work space management system according to claim 16 or 17 wherein said rectangular frames (40) each have a plurality of vertically extending slots (50) on each end thereof and said panel outserts (48) have a width to cover said frames up to said slots (50); and further comprising brackets (38) for removably mounting in said slots (50); and work surfaces (20), cabinets (22) or shelves (24) for mounting to said brackets (38).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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