US5220871A — Modular furniture

Claim 1

Independent Claim 228 words

A modular furniture arrangement, comprising: at least one worksurface panel having a forward edge, opposite side edges, and forward and rearward corners; at least one back panel disposed along the rearward edge of said worksurface panel; at least two supports connected with said worksurface panel and said back panel to form a modular, freestanding furniture unit supported by said supports on a floor surface; at least one privacy screen having first fastener means positioned adjacent opposite sides thereof for mounting said screen on said furniture unit; first and second mounting apertures disposed through said worksurface panel adjacent the rearward corners of said worksurface panel; second fastener means connected with said furniture unit, and positioned underlying said first and second mounting apertures, and releasably engaging said first fastener means to detachably mount said privacy screen on said furniture unit in a generally vertical orientation adjacent the rearward edge of said worksurface panel; at least two caps, each being shaped to close at least a portion of an associated one of said mounting apertures; means for detachably supporting each of said caps on said worksurface panel over an associated one of said mounting apertures, whereby to mount said privacy screen on said furniture unit, said caps are removed from said worksurface panel, said first and second fastener means are detachably interconnected, and said caps are reattached to said worksurface panel.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 228 words

A modular furniture arrangement, comprising: at least one worksurface panel having a forward edge, opposite side edges, and forward and rearward corners; at least one back panel disposed along the rearward edge of said worksurface panel; at least two supports connected with said worksurface panel and said back panel to form a modular, freestanding furniture unit supported by said supports on a floor surface; at least one privacy screen having first fastener means positioned adjacent opposite sides thereof for mounting said screen on said furniture unit; first and second mounting apertures disposed through said worksurface panel adjacent the rearward corners of said worksurface panel; second fastener means connected with said furniture unit, and positioned underlying said first and second mounting apertures, and releasably engaging said first fastener means to detachably mount said privacy screen on said furniture unit in a generally vertical orientation adjacent the rearward edge of said worksurface panel; at least two caps, each being shaped to close at least a portion of an associated one of said mounting apertures; means for detachably supporting each of said caps on said worksurface panel over an associated one of said mounting apertures, whereby to mount said privacy screen on said furniture unit, said caps are removed from said worksurface panel, said first and second fastener means are detachably interconnected, and said caps are reattached to said worksurface panel.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said supports extend generally below the side edge of said worksurface panel, and include rear portions that are exposed at said mounting apertures; and said second fastener means are mounted on the rear portions of said supports.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said second fastener means include removable grommets.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 55 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said mounting apertures comprise arcuate cutouts at the rear corners of said worksurface panel which extend between the rearward edge and the opposite side edges of said worksurface panel, and are bounded generally by the rear portions of said supports and said back panel.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said caps comprise grommet caps, and are shaped to cover only said grommets and the rear portions of said supports.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 5, including: at least two post caps removably attached to said worksurface panel, and covering those portions of the mounting apertures that are not covered by said grommet caps.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 58 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 6, including: an overhead unit; and at least two rigid posts shaped to be received through said mounting apertures, and having lower ends thereof adapted for connection with at least one of said supports and said back panel, and upper ends thereof adapted for connection with said overhead unit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said privacy screen is supported over and vertically in line with said back panel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said first fastener means is spring biased to facilitate vertical adjustment of said privacy screen.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said grommets include means for detachably mounting said post caps thereon.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said second fastener means includes removable grommets.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 55 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said mounting apertures comprise arcuate cutouts at the rear corners of said worksurface panel which extend between the rearward edge and the opposite side edges of said worksurface panel, and are bounded generally by the rear portions of said supports and said back panel.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said second fastener means includes removable grommets; and said caps comprise grommet caps, and are shaped to cover only said grommets and the rear portions of said supports.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 38 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 13, including: at least two post caps removably attached to said worksurface panel, and covering those portions of the mounting apertures that are not covered by said grommet caps.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 58 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, including: an overhead unit; and at least two rigid posts shaped to be received through said mounting apertures, and having lower ends thereof adapted for connection with at least one of said supports and said back panel, and upper ends thereof adapted for connection with said overhead unit.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said privacy screen is supported over and vertically in line with said back panel.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first fastener means is spring biased to facilitate vertical adjustment of said privacy screen.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 186 words

A modular furniture arrangement, comprising: at least one worksurface panel having a forward edge, a rearward edge, opposite side edges, and forward and rearward corners; at least one back panel disposed along the rearward edge of said worksurface panel; at least two supports connected with said worksurface panel and said back panel to form a modular, freestanding furniture unit supported by said supports on a floor surface; first and second mounting apertures disposed through said worksurface panel adjacent the rearward corners of said worksurface panel; said supports extending generally below the side edges of said worksurface panel, and including rear portions that are exposed at said mounting apertures; said mounting apertures forming openings adapted to receive mounting posts therethrough; first fastener means positioned in the rear portions of said supports, and adapted to connect accessory furniture items therewith; a pair of fastener covers detachably connected with said furniture unit, and covering the rear portions of said supports; and a pair of mounting post covers detachably connected with said furniture unit, and covering those portions of said mounting apertures that are not covered by said fastener covers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 186 words

A modular furniture arrangement, comprising: at least one worksurface panel having a forward edge, a rearward edge, opposite side edges, and forward and rearward corners; at least one back panel disposed along the rearward edge of said worksurface panel; at least two supports connected with said worksurface panel and said back panel to form a modular, freestanding furniture unit supported by said supports on a floor surface; first and second mounting apertures disposed through said worksurface panel adjacent the rearward corners of said worksurface panel; said supports extending generally below the side edges of said worksurface panel, and including rear portions that are exposed at said mounting apertures; said mounting apertures forming openings adapted to receive mounting posts therethrough; first fastener means positioned in the rear portions of said supports, and adapted to connect accessory furniture items therewith; a pair of fastener covers detachably connected with said furniture unit, and covering the rear portions of said supports; and a pair of mounting post covers detachably connected with said furniture unit, and covering those portions of said mounting apertures that are not covered by said fastener covers.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said first fastening means include removable grommets; and said mounting post corners are removably supported by said grommets.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said mounting apertures comprise arcuate cutouts at the opposite rear corners of said worksurface panel.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

A modular furniture arrangement as set forth in claim 20, wherein: said first fastening means include removable grommets; and said mounting post corners are removably supported by said grommets.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 164 words

An amenity unit for freestanding modular furniture and the like of the type having a worksurface with an apertured mounting rail extending generally continuously along a rearward edge thereof, said amenity unit including: means disposed generally adjacent an upper portion of said amenity unit for equipping a furniture unit; first and second rigid prongs projecting generally downwardly from a lower portion of said amenity unit, and shaped to be closely received within associated apertures in a mounting rail to support the same therein, whereby said amenity unit can be arranged and detachably mounted in the mounting rail substantially anywhere therealong for furniture personalization; said prongs each having a generally circular lateral cross-section shape, and including a lower free end shaped to be received through the mounting rail apertures, and a shoulder positioned upwardly of said free end shaped to abut the mounting rail and support said amenity unit thereon; a stanchion having said prongs mounted therein, and being removably attached to said amenity unit.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 164 words

An amenity unit for freestanding modular furniture and the like of the type having a worksurface with an apertured mounting rail extending generally continuously along a rearward edge thereof, said amenity unit including: means disposed generally adjacent an upper portion of said amenity unit for equipping a furniture unit; first and second rigid prongs projecting generally downwardly from a lower portion of said amenity unit, and shaped to be closely received within associated apertures in a mounting rail to support the same therein, whereby said amenity unit can be arranged and detachably mounted in the mounting rail substantially anywhere therealong for furniture personalization; said prongs each having a generally circular lateral cross-section shape, and including a lower free end shaped to be received through the mounting rail apertures, and a shoulder positioned upwardly of said free end shaped to abut the mounting rail and support said amenity unit thereon; a stanchion having said prongs mounted therein, and being removably attached to said amenity unit.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

An amenity unit as set forth in claim 22, including: feet positioned to abuttingly support said amenity unit on the worksurface in a freestanding fashion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-06-21	1996-12-21	1997-06-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-06-21	2000-12-21	2001-06-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-06-21	2004-12-21	2005-06-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Modular furniture

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