Office furniture abstract
Movable office furniture consisting of the following system components:
a travelling table (1), a filing trolley (1) a cupboard, an equipment
box and a shelf partition (7). Said office furniture can be used
in permanent company offices, at exhibitions, conferences or in
the home. The tables have no cross tie-bars close to the ground
between legs. At least one interchangeable box (100) can be inserted
into the various types of trolleys (4). Many of such boxes can be
inserted into cupboards. Shelves can be installed on shelf partitions
(7) and office equipment and stationery can be stored thereon. Shelf
partitions (7) can be placed back to back to form a double wall
in a room and have the advantage of being produced from sound absorbing
material. The office furniture can be spontaneously rearranged and
several components of the system are interslidable in order to gain
space.
Office furniture claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shelf-holding wall for mobile office furniture, comprising:
a) an upright base frame (710);
b) a rear wall (730) which is placed onto the base frame (710)
and in which there is at least one opening (731) for the leading-through
of cables (701);
c) a perforated panel (740) which is placed congruently onto the
rear wall (730) using spacer elements (732) and which has a grid
of holes (742) to be used for the optional attachment of accessories
and an opening (741) which is congruent to said at least one opening
(731) in said rear wall (730);
d) at least one pivotable wing (750) which is placed onto the perforated
panel (740) and is used for concealing the openings (731 741) which
are used as a cable duct; and
e) supporting arms (760) which are fastened to the base frame (710),
protrude through the rear wall (730) and perforated panel (740)
and are intended for supporting shelves (72).
2. The shelf-holding wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein
a) there are a plurality of openings (731 741) which lie one above
the other in the center of the rear wall (730) and of the perforated
panel (740);
b) said at least one pivotable wing (750) includes a pair of strip-shaped
pivotable wings (750) for covering the openings (731 741), one
of said pair of wings (750) being positioned on one side of said
openings (731 741) and the other of said pair of wings (750) being
positioned on the other side of said openings (731 741); and
c) within the base frame (710) there is arranged a socket unit
(712) into which cables (701), which lead to equipment in front
of the shelf-holding wall (700), can be plugged manually through
the openings (731 741).
3. The shelf-holding wall as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein into
said shelf-holding wall (7)
a) a multiplicity of receiving elements (70) are inserted for supporting
shelves (72) having mounting means sized and shaped to be inserted
into said receiving elements (70); and
b) at least one punctiform bushing (71) is inserted to be used
for the feeding-in of electrical cables.
4. The shelf-holding wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shelf-holding
wall (7700) includes a sound-absorbing material.
5. The shelf-holding wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein
a) two of said shelf-holding walls (7 700) standing with their
rear sides next to one another can be set up in the room as a double
wall; and
b) said base frames (710) of said shelf-holding walls (7 700)
each have a side flank with a grid of holes (714) sized and shaped
to receive hook-in lugs (791) of side elements (790) which span
said base frames (710).
6. The shelf-holding wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lowermost
one of said support shelves (72) is inserted into said shelf-holding
wall, such that a table (1) can be pushed under said lowermost shelf,
with additional objects capable of being placed under said table
(1).
7. The shelf-holding wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base
frame (710) has a side flank with a grid of holes (714) that are
sized and shaped to receive hook-in lugs (791) of at least one side
element (790).
Office furniture description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shelf-holding wall for mobile
office furniture which can furthermore include tables, filing trolleys,
cupboards and equipment boxes. The shelf-holding wall can be used
in permanent company offices, at tradefairs, in conferences or in
the home.
PRIOR ART
EP-A-0 477 961 discloses office furniture which can be combined
according to the principle of modular construction, can be arranged
in a variable manner, has diverse pieces of furniture and also includes
partitions. Varied, individually adapted solutions can be constructed
using the individual system components. However, the partitions
which are shown only have the function of dividing the room in order
to form defined working areas. Moreover, the partitions are connected
to one another so that a certain outlay is necessary in order to
dismantle the furniture and put it together again in a modified
form. In particular in the case of situations changing ad hoc, the
currently known partitions are to too small an extent capable of
being adapted spontaneously. Although, with very simple partitions,
it is possible to take suddenly arising conditions into consideration,
partitions of this type offer only very limited options for configuring
an optimum workstation because of their primitiveness.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above described deficiencies of existing partitions
for mobile office furniture systems for repeatedly changing requirements
and in view of the changing way in which work is organized in office
procedures and for household requirements, the invention is based
on the following problem.
A shelf-holding wall for mobile office furniture which can be changed
ad hoc and which can include the system components of tables, filing
trolleys, cupboards and equipment boxes is to be provided. The shelf-holding
wall should be able to be combined with the said system components
in a space-saving manner and for optimum configuration of a workstation
for business use at a permanent location, for exhibitions or conventions
and also for household use. In particular, the shelf-holding wall
which is to be provided is intended to be multifunctional.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The shelf-holding wall can be fitted individually with shelves
and can also be provided as a double wall with opposite workstations.
The supply lines and connections for the power supply and the telecommunications
technology are laid behind the shelf-holding wall or between a double
wall. For soundproofing, which is particularly desirable at tradefairs
or in open-plan offices, the shelf-holding wall can be constructed
with a sound-absorbing material.
A plurality of shelves are mounted one above another in a shelf-holding
wall, the lowermost shelf being used for the arrangement of a visual
display unit. Arm-shaped shelf supports are either latched into
plug-in sockets, which are situated in the front panel of the shelf-holding
wall, or the shelf supports are fastened through the front panel
to a base frame. It is advantageous to use a front panel having
a grid of holes, it being possible to insert into the grid rapidly
releasable clamping levers which support accessories, such as bookends,
pen trays or baskets. The provision of cables for supplying power
to electrical equipment takes place by means of bushings inserted
into the front panel or through a cable duct which can be opened
and covered. To cover the cable duct there are provided two covering
panels which are coupled to levers and can be pivoted toward each
other or away from each other.
One of the tables is moved up against the shelf-holding wall and
its table top is partially pushed under the shelf provided with
the visual display unit. When leaving this workstation it is possible
to move one of the trolley types under the table and up to the shelf-holding
wall. This enables a plurality of system components to be arranged
in a space-saving manner and a spontaneous workstation to be individually
set up, with the working implements being at an ergonomically advantageous
reaching or visual distance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS
The drawings show the following:
FIG. 1A: two shelf-holding walls of the first design with their
rear sides placed next to one another and having punctiform cable
bushings, plug-in sockets and tables;
FIG. 1B: a shelf-holding wall according to FIG. 1A with shelves
arranged one above another;
FIG. 1C: the shelf-holding wall according to FIG. 1B with a table
pushed up to it;
FIG. 1D: the shelf-holding wall according to FIG. 1C with a trolley
additionally pushed underneath;
FIG. 2A: a shelf-holding wall of the second design with a perforated
panel on the front side and a cable duct;
FIG. 2B: an exploded representation of the assembly of the shelf-holding
wall according to FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2C: the base frame of a shelf-holding wall having feet and
shelf supports according to FIG. 2B lined up with it;
FIG. 2D: the unequipped shelf-holding wall according to FIG. 2A
with a closed cable duct;
FIG. 2E: the shelf-holding wall according to FIG. 2D with an open
cable duct;
FIG. 2F: the detail X from FIG. 2E;
FIG. 2G: a cable support;
FIG. 3A: a cutout from the perforated panel according to FIG. 2A
equipped with two accessories;
FIG. 3B: a clamping lever in the perforated panel according to
FIG. 2A;
FIG. 4A: two shelf-holding walls according to FIG. 2A with their
rear sides placed next to one another; and
FIG. 4B: a side element lined up with the two base frames which
are standing together according to FIG. 4A.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
A detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the
shelf-holding wall according to the invention takes place below
with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 1A
The shelf-holding wall 7 of the first design can be erected as
a one-sided panel or as a double wall of two shelf-holding walls
7 with their rear sides placed next to one another--as shown here.
Receiving elements 70 for hooking in shelves are inserted in the
shelf-holding wall 7. Furthermore, there are punctiform bushings
71 in the shelf-holding wall 7 for the passage of power supply cables.
For particular applications--for example, in open-plan offices or
on tradefair stands--it is of advantage to manufacture the shelf-holding
wall 7 from a sound-absorbing material. Tables 1 can be pushed up
to the shelf-holding wall 7--in the case of double walls, consequently,
from both sides.
FIG. 1B
In the example here, a plurality of shelves 72 are mounted one
above another in a shelf-holding wall 7 to which end the receiving
elements 70 are of use. The lowermost shelf 72 is used for setting
up a visual display unit. The shelves 72 situated higher up are
occupied by further equipment and implements.
FIG. 1C
A table 1 is moved up to the shelf-holding wall 7 and its table
top 10 is partially pushed under the shelf 72 which is provided
with the visual display unit. The remaining, free surface of the
table top 10 can be used, for example, for a keyboard, a mouse and
working documents. The dimensioning of the table 1 and the arrangement
of the visual display unit on the shelf 72 result in ergonomically
favorable working conditions for the user B. Should the table 1
spontaneously be required for another purpose and it has therefore
to be pulled away from the shelf-holding wall 7 this can take place
quickly without having also to clear away the voluminous video display
unit.
FIG. 1D
If more freedom of movement is required once again in the working
space, or the work is finished, the knee-high trolley 2 and/or the
half-height trolley 4 can be moved under the table 1. The equipment
box 6 can also be put under it. A plurality of system components
of the office furniture thus fit into one another in a space-saving
manner.
FIG. 2A
The shelf-holding wall 700 of the second design has, on the front
side, a perforated panel 740 with holes 742 arranged in the form
of a grid and intended for holding various accessories 770 for
example a file supporting means. The shelves 72 are supported by
supporting arms 760 which are fastened to the base frame of the
shelf-holding wall 700. Instead of the punctiform cable bushings,
in this case there is provided, in the center of the perforated
panel 740 a slot-shaped vertical cable duct which can be covered
by means of two strip-shaped wings 750 which can be pivoted apart
from one another, so that the cable duct only remains open to the
extent of the slot width which corresponds to the diameter of the
cables protruding through.
FIG. 2B
A supporting part of the shelf-holding wall 700 is a base frame
710 with a clamping wall 711 arranged on the rear side, feet 720
being arranged for erecting the shelf-holding wall 700 on the base
frame 710. A socket unit 712 is fastened on the clamping wall 711.
Onto the base frame 710 there is placed a rear wall 730 which protrudes
over the base frame 710 on all sides. In the center of the rear
wall 730 there are a plurality of openings 731 one under the other.
The perforated panel 740 on the front side and having the openings
741 is congruent in its outer dimensions and with respect to the
openings 731741 and is placed onto the rear wall 730. Numerous
spacer elements 732 and also two stabilizing struts 733 are mounted
on the rear wall 730 facing the perforated panel 740 so that a
clearance remains between the rear wall 730 and the front perforated
panel 740. As a covering for the openings 731741 which form the
cable duct, there are provided two strip-shaped wings 750 which
are placed pivotably onto the perforated panel 740. Shelves 72 are
supported by means of supporting arms 760 which protrude through
the rear wall 730 and the perforated panel 740 and which are fastened
to the base frame 710. The supporting arms 760 are of straight and
bent design.
FIG. 2C
For fastening the supporting arms 760 to the base frame 710 bores
713 for example, threaded bores are provided on said base frame
in a grid pattern. Consequently, the user can equip the shelf-holding
wall 700 with shelves 72 in a very variable manner in terms of height
and without relatively great expenditure by certain bores 713 being
used to hold straight or bent supporting arms 760.
FIGS. 2D to 2G
If the wings 750 resting on the perforated panel 740 have been
pivoted toward one another, the openings 731741 lying behind them
in the rear wall 730 and in the perforated panel 740 which openings
form the cable duct, are completely covered. Only if cables 701
protrude between the two wings 750 does a narrow slot of the diameter
of the cables remain open.
For using the cables 701 for example, when plugging a power supply
cable into the socket unit 712 the wings 750 are pivoted open.
The openings 731741 are now accessible in their full width from
the front so that cable connectors can be introduced manually into
the socket unit 712 without any impediment. The differing heights
of the openings 731741 make possible short cable lengths in front
of the shelf-holding wall 700 to the equipment to be connected.
To protect the cables 701 protruding through the openings 731741
upwardly open, U-shaped cable protectors 751 are inserted between
the rear wall 730 and perforated panel 740 in each case at the
lower edge of the openings 731741. The wings 750 are supported
and made pivotable by means of levers 752 which are coupled, on
the one hand, between the rear wall 730 and the perforated panel
740 and, on the other hand are coupled to the wings 750.
FIGS. 3A and 3B
Accessories 770 such as file supporting means, baskets or trays,
are fastened to the perforated panel 740 by means of clamping levers
780. The accessories 770 have a bracket 771 with bores 772 which
bracket can be placed onto the perforated panel 740. A clamping
lever 780 is passed through the bores 772 in the bracket 771 and
through at least one hole 742 in the perforated panel 740. The clamping
lever 780 consists of a toggle 781 which can be swung down, a pin
782 coupled to said toggle, a rubber body 785 surrounding the pin
782 and a locking securing element 783 which is fastened to the
pin 782. The rubber body 786 can be plugged through the bore 772
and the hole 742 while in the unclamped state the toggle 781 rests
with its end side, which faces the rubber body 785 on the bracket
771.
By pivoting down the toggle 781 the clamping lever 780 is clamped.
Its side flank 784 comes to rest on the bracket 771 and the pin
782 is pulled forward. Consequently, the rubber body 785 is squeezed
and widens and thereby becomes wedged within the hole 742. The securing
element 783 is preferably a nut, it being possible to adjust the
pretensioning of the clamping lever 780 by compressing the rubber
body 785 with the nut being screwed on further.
FIGS. 4A and 4B
Within a room, two shelf-holding walls 700 can be placed next to
one another with their rear sides unconnected or connected so that
two base frames 710 come together. The clearance produced thereby
between the two rear walls 730 can be used for attaching side elements
790 such as suspension means, cloakroom pegs and storage panels.
The side elements 790 which can extend over the width of one or
two base frames 710 have hook-in lugs 791. In the externally accessible
flanks of the base frame 710 there is a vertically arranged grid
having a plurality of holes 714. The hook-in lugs 791 are complementary
to these holes 714 so that side elements 790 can be suspended on
the flanks of the base frames 710.
Depending on the manner in which the shelf-holding wall 700 is
erected, the feet 720 are designed as extension arms--for freestanding
use--or only as a floor spacer element, for wall fitting. |