Office furniture abstract
A panel frame and an acoustical insert frame assembly therefor
for office furniture space divider systems, which, as assembled,
can be utilized in work stations for both sound attenuation and
data and communication cable and wire equipment connection masking
and pass through purposes as well as masking of slack purposes,
in which the panel frame is formed by rigid top, bottom, and side
rails to define an open center structure therebetween of quadrilateral
configuration that forms the panel frame, and has the usual front
and rear sides; the insert frame assembly is mounted on the panel
frame to complete the panel, as by being mounted on the front side
of the frame, or by having a separate but similar insert frame assembly
mounted on the rear side of the frame; each insert frame assembly
comprises a supplemental frame that seats within the panel frame
open center and mounts within the supplemental frame composite material
that both effects sound attenuation and, within the metes and bounds
of the supplemental frame, presents an area of and through the insert
frame assembly that is cutable, and in "the field" if
desired after installation, to form aperturing for local accommodation
of data and communications cabling and wiring, as for slack take
up of same within the panel, or for pass through purposes through
the panel, or both, with the location or locations of such aperturing
thus being at the option of the panel user.
Office furniture claims
What is claimed is:
1. A panel of the office furniture type that defines a front side
that forms the working side of the panel at which electrically operated
equipment may be optionally located, and an opposite rear side,
with the panel being arranged at a predetermined area of the panel
front side for sound attenuation, and also for optional local accommodation
capability and internal masking capability, of electrical conduiting
for operating such electrically operated equipment,
said panel comprising:
a rigid panel frame of open centered quadrilateral configuration
including a rigid top, bottom, and side rail members fixedly assembled
to form said panel frame and the front and rear sides thereof, and
define an open space of quadrilateral configuration, with said rail
members being disposed in marginal relation about said open space,
and an insert frame assembly for application to said panel frame
over and across said open space thereof at the predetermined area
of the panel working side,
said insert frame assembly having a rear side and a front side,
and means for mounting said insert frame assembly on said front
side of said panel frame with said rear side of said insert frame
assembly in overlying relation to said panel frame and the front
side of said insert frame assembly facing forwardly of said front
side of said panel frame and the panel front side,
said insert frame assembly comprising:
a rigid supplemental generally planar frame of outer and inner
quadrilateral marginal configuration, and proportioned to extend
between said panel frame side rail members when said insert frame
is mounted on said panel frame,
said inner marginal configuration of said supplemental frame assembly
defining a planar space that is coplanar of said supplemental frame
assembly,
said insert frame assembly for the area of said supplemental frame
space being comprised solely of a continuous and uninterrupted mass
of acoustical masking material that has both sound attenuation characteristics
and defines the panel predetermined area transversely of the panel,
said material being constituted transversely thereof for electrical
conduiting pass through providing aperture formation transversely
of said insert frame assembly and anywhere within the metes and
bounds of the panel predetermined area,
whereby the panel at the predetermined area thereof provides the
option of later in field providing of such aperture formation therein
and anywhere within said metes and bounds of the panel predetermined
area, for egress of such electrical conduiting transversely of the
panel, as needed for operating such electrical equipment.
2. The panel set forth on claim 1 including:
a second insert frame assembly, that is the same as the first recited
insert frame assembly, similarly mounted on the rear side of said
frame, with said front side of said second assembly frame insert
facing rearwardly of said rear side of said panel frame, and with
said mass of said second insert frame assembly being aligned with
the panel front side predetermined area transversely of the panel,
said second insert frame assembly mass defining a predetermined
area of the panel rear side that corresponds to that of the panel
front side,
said assemblies defining within said panel frame an open space
in coplanar relation to said panel frame,
whereby, the panel at its rear side provides the further option
of later in field providing of such aperture formation in such predetermined
area of the panel rear side and anywhere within the said metes and
bounds of such panel rear side predetermined area for egress of
such electrical conduiting transversely therethrough, as needed
for operating such electrical equipment.
3. The panel set forth in claim 1 wherein:
the panel has pre-use mounted at the predetermined area thereof,
in said mass, a grommet for pass through said insert frame assembly
of such electric conduiting.
4. The panel set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said panel frame top and bottom rail members are each formed to
define an electrical conduiting pull through port open to said panel
frame open space,
said panel frame and said open space defined thereby being coplanar,
said ports being aligned longitudinally of said panel frame top
and bottom rail members, respectively,
whereby the panel at the predetermined area thereof provides the
additional option of masking from the working side thereof such
of the pulled through electrical conduiting that is disposed within
said panel frame open space.
5. The panel set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said mass at the working side of the panel is tackable thereacross.
6. A panel of the office furniture type that defines a front side
that forms the working side of the panel at which electrically operated
equipment may be optionally located, and an opposite rear side,
with the panel being arranged at a predetermined area of the panel
working side for sound attenuation, and also for optional local
accommodation capability and internal masking capability, of electrical
conduiting for operating such electrically operating equipment,
the improvement wherein the panel comprises:
a rigid panel frame of planar open center quadrilateral configuration
including rigid top, bottom, and side rail members fixedly assembled
to form said panel frame and the front and rear sides thereof, and
define an open space of quadrilateral configuration in the plane
of said frame,
with said rail members being disposed in marginal relation about
said open space,
and with the said frame top and bottom rail members being formed
to define electrical conduiting pull through ports that open in
said plane of said frame and that are aligned longitudinally of
said panel frame top and bottom rail members, respectively,
and an insert frame assembly for application to said panel frame
over and across said open space thereof at the predetermined area
of the panel working side,
said insert frame assembly having a rear side and a front side,
and means for mounting said insert frame assembly on said front
side of said panel frame with said rear side of said insert frame
assembly in over relying relation to said panel frame and the front
side of said insert frame assembly facing forwardly of the front
side of said panel frame and the panel front side,
said insert frame assembly comprising:
a rigid supplemental generally planar frame of outer and inner
quadrilateral marginal configuration and proportioned to extend
about said panel frame open space when said inset frame assembly
is mounted on said panel frame,
said inner marginal configuration of said supplemental frame defining
a space that is coplanar of said supplemental frame,
said supplemental frame defining first and second seats of quadrilateral
configuration thereabout that are respectively planar in configuration
and coplanar with said supplemental frame,
said first seat of said supplemental frame being stepped rearwardly
of said second seat thereof normally of said plane of said supplemental
frame and forming said inner marginal configuration of said supplemental
frame, and being disposed within said panel frame open space when
said insert frame assembly is mounted on said panel frame,
said second seat forming the outer marginal configuration of said
supplemental frame and being at the front side of said supplemental
frame, said insert frame assembly further comprising:
a first layer of acoustical honeycomb cell core having sound attenuation
characteristics mounted on said first seat of said supplemental
frame and extending across said supplemental frame open space,
a second layer of fiber mat of acoustical characteristics mounted
on said second seat across said first layer,
and a woven fabric sheeting affixed across the front side of said
insert frame assembly,
said layers and said fabric sheeting of said insert frame assembly
forming of a continuous and uninterrupted mass of acoustical masking
material that both has sound attenuation characteristics and defines
the panel predetermined area transversely of the panel,
said material being formed for electrical conduiting pass through
providing aperture formation transversely of said insert frame assembly
and anywhere within the metes and bounds of the panel predetermined
area,
whereby, the panel at the predetermined area thereof provides the
option of later in field providing of such aperture formation therein
and anywhere within said metes and bounds of the panel predetermined
area, for egress of such electrical conduiting, for operating as
needed such electrical operated equipment, and
whereby, the panel at the predetermined area thereof provides the
further option of masking such of the pulled through electrical
conduiting disposed within said panel frame open space.
7. The improvement set forth on claim 1 including:
a second insert frame assembly, that is the same as the first recited
insert frame assembly, mounted on the rear side of said frame, with
said front side of said second insert frame assembly facing rearwardly
of said rear side of said panel frame, and with said mass of said
second insert frame assembly being aligned with the panel front
side predetermined area transversely of the panel,
said second insert frame assembly mass defining a predetermined
area of the panel rear side that corresponds to that of the panel
front side,
said assemblies defining within said panel frame an open space
in coplanar relation to said panel frame for receiving such of the
pulled through electrical conduiting for masking by said masses
and said insert frame assemblies, respectively,
whereby, the panel at its rear side provides the further option
of later in field providing of such aperture formation in such predetermined
area of the panel rear side and anywhere within the said metes and
bounds of such panel rear side predetermined area for egress of
such electrical conduiting transversely therethrough, as needed
for operating such electrical equipment.
Office furniture description
This invention relates to a panel for office furniture space divider
systems having local accommodation capability for data and communication
wiring and cables, and, more particularly, to a panel for office
furniture work stations and the like that includes a rigid frame
of the usual quadrilateral configuration that is also open centered
in addition to defining the usual front and rear sides, with the
panel frame removably mounting on both the front and rear sides
of same, identical special acoustical insert frame assemblies, or
removably mounting on its front side only a single such assembly,
that adapts the panel to accommodate local data and communication
wiring and cable needs as well as for slack take up or panel pass
through purposes. The special acoustical insert frame assembly of
the invention includes as a supplemental composite body a supplemental
frame mounting a sound attenuation composite unit that is positioned
to dispose the rear side of same within the panel frame open center
but short of the panel frame center plane, with the composite unit
involved including cutable or formable sound attenuation materials
that, in addition to sound attenuation, also enables the supplemental
body to present an area of and through the panel body side formed
by same, and within the metes and bounds of the supplemental frame,
that extends transversely through the resulting panel body side
for aperturing formation for slack take up, or passing therethrough,
of cabling and wiring to be used at the location of the panel, with
the location or locations of such aperture or apertures to be formed
in the panel body (within such metes and bounds) being at the option
of the panel user and, either "in field" formable, or
permitting formation of such aperture or apertures at the time of
assembly of such panel, for future accommodation by the panel of
data and communication cabling or wiring, as when electrical and/or
electronic equipment used or to be used in connection with the panel
is to be put into use.
It is common practice in the office furniture field to, using free
standing demountable panels, some times called panel walls, subdivide
a relatively large interior space (of an office building or the
like) into what have become known as work stations. As is also well
known, such work stations may be of a selection of configurations,
such as the familiar sub-room type grouping of the panels employed,
or by disposing the panels making up the work station in the familiar
"T", "X", "Y", or 90 degree type configurations.
Regardless of the use to which the panel is employed or the work
station configuration involved is employed, it is also common practice
that the individual panels employed for these purposes, including
those of the prewired type and these arranged for later prewiring,
each comprise a rigid frame formed by vertical and horizontal usually
metallic, frame members that define a rectangular frame in which
is fixedly mounted a panel body that normally fills the space defined
by the panel frame, and that is normally defined by rigid and non-penetrable
metallic and/or plastic materials (or both), to which suitable decorative
coverings are applied to either side of same, and its ends, as needed,
for strengthening purposes and compatibility as to decor considering
the environment in which the panel is to be mounted. Such panels
normally have a front side that faces the panel user when the panel
is erected, and a rear side which may not be at all decorated and
faces away from the user. It is also common practice to equip such
panels to mount such familiar non-electrical equipment as cabinets,
shelves, worksurfaces, etc. and such familiar electric and/or electronic
equipment as typewriters, duplicators, computers, etc.
As to prewired panels, such panels are prewired and socketed for
connection to the available power source for utilization of electrical
equipment located at the work station; panels that are arranged
for later wiring are of suitable configuration for that purpose.
In any event, it is also common practice to bring cabling and wiring
to or through the work station by running same through one or more
of the work station panels, in the case of power wiring and cable
that operates at line voltage, such wiring and cabling is typically
strung through the work station panel bases, while in the case of
data and communication wiring and cabling and low power wiring and
cables, the work station panels involved at their tops are equipped
with a through or upwardly facing channel in which the wiring and
cabling involved are typically laid, with the trough or channel
employed for this purpose being suitably covered by appropriate
top capping or the like.
In the recent past, the use of computers and their CRT's or other
computer output display devices, particularly for automation, have
become increasingly popular in the business world. When, for instance,
the work station involved is to have electrical and/or electronic
equipment of any type, the practice has been to arrange the work
station wiring and cabling so that, as it is mounted at the work
station, it is power connected, and as to the wiring and cabling
at the top and base of the panel, the appropriate wiring and cabling
is brought to and from the equipment involved, as for connection
purposes, and over the front face of the work station panel; these
wiring and cabling lengths are unsightly, and they frequently involve
slack that is unsightly and may require additional equipment to
cover. Further, where the work station paneling involved does not
provide such wiring and cabling, and electrical and/or electronic
equipment is to be used at the work station, the equipment cabling
or wiring and plugs therefor must somehow be manually connected
to available electrical outlets, such as the familiar building wall
mounted receptacle. This need in the past has been all too frequently
met by stringing the cabling or wiring to one side of the panel
involved or over same to extend the cabling and wiring so that the
plug of same will reach the available electrical receptacle that
is usually mounted outside the work station or to one side of the
panel on an existing wall of the office building involved or some
times at the building floor or ceiling. All too frequently the user
of, for instance, the work station, or panel provided for its use,
finds that the cabling or wiring of the equipment is to operate
is not long enough for the cabling or wiring plug to be applied
to the available electrical outlet receptacle, if the cabling or
wiring must be strung to one side of the paneling involved or over
the paneling involved to reach the electrical outlet receptacle
or receptacles in question. Extension wiring or cabling are not
considered to be a feasible answer to this problem (it is actually
banned in some municipalities).
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a panel
arrangement, of the office furniture type, that is of the sound
attenuation type, and that is arranged to permit the option, across
a major surface portion of the front of the panel body, of forming
a bore or aperture through the panel body either as part of the
pre-use manufacture of the panel, or "in field" after
the panel has gone into use (for instance, as part of a work station),
and at the location or locations desired for the panel at that time
or any time thereafter, when electrical and/or electronic equipment
is to be used by the panel user, and forming the panel frame, for
passing connecting wiring and cabling vertically through the panel
and behind its front surfacing, from the panel tops and bases, and
through, for instance, the indicated aperture to the equipment in
question with all slack in same returned through such aperture for
masked or hidden storage behind the panel front surfacing, or for
cabling and wiring complete pass through purposes (for connection
to the nearest building mounted outlet receptacle).
Another object of the invention is to provide a panel arrangement
involving a panel rigid marginal frame of the usual size and quadrilateral
configuration that is also of "open center" configuration
within its frame, and an acoustical insert frame assembly therefor,
of which a sole such assembly may be mounted on the front side of
the panel frame, or separate such assemblies are mounted on the
front and rear sides of the frame, to form the panel body, with
each such assembly providing a composite unit that presents an area
of and transversely through the assembly, across a major portion
of same within the acoustical insert frame assembly, that is transversely
cutable through the assembly for bore or aperture formation therethrough,
and thus through the panel front facing, for purposes of passing
cabling and wiring therethrough, and at optional locations along
such assembly major portion; which area is also of limited thickness
so that when such assemblies are mounted on both the front and rear
sides of the same panel frame, a hollow space is provided that receives
the indicated wiring and cabling.
Another object of the invention is to provide a panel arrangement
for office furniture use in which the panel comprises a panel frame
that provides the basic strength and rigidity of the panel, that
is of "open center" configuration, and that receives one
forward or both forward and rearward acoustical frame assemblies
that form the body of the panel, each of which assemblies is only
as strong as it needs to be to remain assembled; such assemblies
are also to include a sound attenuation mass that extends across
a major portion of the panel, that in addition to its sound attenuation
characteristics, also is formable over such major portion thereof,
lengthwise and heightwise of same, to be transversely cutable therethrough
for bore or aperture formation, for passing cabling and wiring therethrough
as needed, and at optional locations heightwise and widthwise of
such panel body major portion.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a panel arrangement
for office furniture use in which the panel arrangement may, as
part of its pre-use assembly, or after its installation, have the
needed aperture or apertures formed in such major portion of the
panel body of same, to which are preferably applied for each aperture
or bore involved, a grommet such as of the type disclosed in Herrera
and Wurgler U.S. Pat. No. 4688491 granted Aug. 25 1987 (the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference), which
grommet includes a closing cover to be applied to the exterior surfacing
of the panel so that the panel may be equipped with such grommet
for use of the grommet in its closed and empty, dormant, condition,
for use when needed in connection with the electrical and/or electronic
equipment of the type indicated; one of the advantages of using
this grommet (which was designed for office furniture desk top use)
is that the grommet is proportioned to pass also the plugs for the
cabling or wiring involved, so that it is not necessary to remove
the cabling or wiring from the plug prior to retracting the cabling
or wiring involved through the panel, when the electrical and/or
eletronic equipment involved is to be moved.
The invention contemplates, among other things, the following:
Among the specific types of wiring and cabling referred to are
coaxial cable, twisted wire telephone lines (wire in pairs twisted
together), twisted wire telephone line bundles (each having 25 pair
of lines), and fiber optic lines.
The panel insert assembly or assemblies in addition to being acoustical
should be strong enough to resist denting, be fire resistant, and
the front face of each should be tackable so that sheets of papers
bearing notes can be applied anywhere on same with thumb tacks,
or within the cutable area of same with the longer common T-pin
(that is approximately one and one-half inches long for multipage
reports and the like).
In accordance with the invention, the panel involved comprises
a panel frame and body therefor, of which the panel frame is formed
by rigid top, bottom, and side rails to define an open center structure
therebetween of quadrilateral configuration of suitable dimensioning
and having the usual front and rear sides, with the frame top and
bottom rails being centrally ported for passing connecting wires
and cabling therethrough for connection to electrical and/or electronic
equipment involved in a largely hidden manner within the panel.
Associated with the panel frame at its front side is an acoustical
insert frame assembly that forms the body of the panel and is suitably
mounted on the front side of the panel frame, as by being hung from
the upper ends of the frame side rails at the front side of same.
Alternately, the rear side of the panel frame may be similarly equipped
with a like acoustical insert frame assembly.
Each acoustical insert frame assembly comprises a supplemental
frame that seats within the panel and mounts composite material
including a composite honeycomb subassembly that is disposed, when
the assembly of the panel is completed, within the open center of
the frame, with the composite material involved, including the honeycomb
layer, being cutable transversely of the panel for aperture formation
for passing therethrough a vertically extending length of the masked
wiring and cabling for connection to the equipment involved, or
for receiving access slack in same after the wiring or cabling is
connected to the equipment in question, for masking purposes. Where
the equipment is to require its own cabling or wiring be electrically
connected directly to the nearest building mounted outlet receptacle,
the aperture, and a similar aligned aperture formed in any insert
assembly mounted on the panel rear side, permit such wiring or cabling
to be passed entirely through the panel for application to wall
mounted electrical receptacles or the like to energize such equipment.
The composite body involved in the respective insert assemblies
presents an area of and transversely through the subassembly involved
and within the metes and bounds of the supplemental frame that seats
the honeycomb unit, in which such aperture or apertures may be formed,
or permitting the formation of such aperture or apertures later
but at the time of need, and at the option of the user of the equipment
as to location anywhere on or in such area. In either panel embodiment
indicated, the cutable condition provided is in effect through or
transversely of the panel itself.
The resulting panel not only has familiar sound attenuation characteristics,
but also presents a fabric type front facing decorative appearance;
these panels may be used in the same manner as any conventional
panel for office furniture, including one of the work station configurations
hereinbefore suggested, and provides the advantages of both sound
attenuation and cabling or wiring masked egress in the plane of
the panel and/or pass through the panel front facing, or even through
the entire panel itself; the panel sound attenuation characteristics
are always available to the panel user, and the ability to form
apertures can be either utilized in the pre-use manufacture of the
panel, or be available as needed during the panel use.
Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become apparent
from a consideration of the following detailed description and the
application drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate
like parts throughout the several views.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a small scale perspective view of the front side of three
panels arranged in accordance with the present invention that are
suitably connected together in work station manner, for work station
use, with one of the panels conventionally supporting a conventional
cabinet and another of the panels conventionally supporting a conventional
shelf, with the three panels of FIG. 1 having the acoustical insert
frame assembly of the present invention (that forms the body of
the respective panels) being a single such assembly mounted on the
front side of the frame involved;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one corner of one of
the panels involved in the work station of FIG. 1 namely the upper
left hand corner of same, showing the corresponding parts of the
panel frame, and the acoustical insert frame assembly that is to
be applied to the front side of the panel frame to form the panel
body, using the conventional hook type support arrangement illustrated
in FIGS. 2 and 5 and showing also a grommet of the type disclosed
in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4688491 and a plug of the
composite material that has been removed by cutting same in the
portion of such body that is formed of materials suitable for this
purpose, for application of the grommet to such panel, by pressing
the grommet into the resulting through aperture formed in the panel
body and thus the panel;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the acoustical insert
frame assembly itself, on a smaller scale for illustrative purposes,
showing the manner in which the honeycomb unit forming a part of
such assembly seats within the insert frame assembly supplemental
frame involved, and showing also the acoustical insert frame assembly
fibrous sound absorbing mat that is to overlie the honeycomb unit
(see FIG. 4) displaced from the honeycomb unit, and a portion of
the fabric sheeting (also disclosed) that is to cover the front
side of the sound attenuating material carried by the acoustical
insert frame assembly supplemental frame, see also FIG. 4 (which
thus forms the body of the panel in this embodiment of the invention);
FIG. 4 is a fragmental perspective view, with parts broken away,
that illustrates the upper left hand corner of the acoustical insert
frame assembly (at its front side) that is to be applied to the
panel frame indicated in FIGS. 2 6 and 7;
FIG. 5 is a view of the upper left hand corner of the acoustical
insert frame assembly shown in FIG. 4 taken from the rear side
of same, and more particularly illustrating a conventional hanger
that is employed to mount the assembly of FIGS. 3-5 on the side
rails of the panel frame;
FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates one commercial form of panel
frame of the type employed in the panels of FIGS. 1 and 2 with
parts of the frame side rails broken away;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the panel frame of FIG. 6 with the
acoustical insert frame assembly of FIGS. 2-5 applied to the front
side of same, in accordance with the present invention, on approximately
line 7--7 of FIG. 6 showing in plan the conventional bottom channel
assembly that is applied to the particular panel frame of FIGS.
1 2 and 6;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing the aforementioned
panel embodiment in which has separate but identical acoustical
insert assemblies (arranged in the same manner as shown in FIGS.
2-7) applied to both the front and rear sides of the panel frame,
leaving a hollow space therebetween;
FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates in use a typical panel of the
type shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 1 but involves a work station made up
of panels arranged in accordance with FIG. 8 and indicating in
dashed lines one use of same; and
FIG. 11 diagrammatically illustrates in perspective one form of
panel body cutting tool that may be employed to form the panel body
apertures contemplated by the present invention.
However, it is to be distinctly understood that the specific drawing
illustrations provided are supplied primarily to comply with the
requirements of the Patent Laws, and that the invention is susceptible
of modifications and variations that are intended to be covered
by the appended claims.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Reference numeral 10 of FIG. 1 indicates a work station that is
made up of three of improved panels 12 (see FIGS. 2-7), representing
one embodiment of the invention, connected together to form a work
station arrangement. One of the panels 12 has conventionally applied
to same a conventional cabinet 14 while another of the panels 12
has conventionally applied thereto a conventional shelf 16 both
for purposes of illustration.
Panels 12A of FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a second embodiment of the
invention.
The individual panels 12 and 12A each include the rigid panel frame
18 that is more specifically shown in FIGS. 2 6 7 and 8 and
that is operably associated with the respective special panel bodies
26 (see FIGS. 2-6) and 26A (see FIGS. 8-10) and a conventional bottom
channel assembly or base 20 (see FIG. 7) that is to engage or set
upon the floor (not shown) of the building (in which the panels
12 and 12A are employed as part of the illustrated work stations
are utilized) for "free standing" purposes.
The panels 12 of the work station 10 are connected in any conventional
manner to form the work station 10 with the panels 12 being provided
with suitable conventional top caps 22 and the end panels 12 of
the work station 10 being provided with suitable conventional side
or end caps 24 that may be applied thereto in any conventional manner.
In each panel 12 the panel body 26 overlies the respective panel
frames 18 on the front or working side 27 of the work station; in
the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 in the case of each panel
12 this is down to a decorator panel 28 at the panel base 29 that
is suitably affixed to the respective panel frames 18 (where indicated
at 31 on FIG. 6), the decor of which is "carried around"
end caps 24 for the specific work station shown in FIG. 1. The panels
12 are normally rectangular in configuration, and are made to size
as needed for use of a particular panel 12 in a work station or
otherwise.
The general arrangements of the individual panel frame 18 and the
panel bodies 26 therefor (note the acoustical frame assembly 60)
are diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 2-7.
FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the modified panel 12A, with the panels 12A
of same being arranged as shown in FIG. 8 so that an acoustical
insert assembly 60 that forms the panel body 26 in the panel embodiment
of FIGS. 1-7 is mounted in the front side of the frame and a separate
such assembly 60 is mounted on the rear side of same (panels 12A
being otherwise the same as panel 12). The thickness proportioning
of the assemblies 60 is also the same in both embodiments, creating
the panel rear indentation indicated in FIG. 7 and the panel centrally
disposed hollowness that is indicated in FIG. 8. Work station 170
of FIG. 10 is formed by panels 12A.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
The panel frame 18 for both panels 12 and 12A comprises, in the
form illustrated, a basic framework 29 comprising a rigid top rail
30 and rigid bottom rail 32 applied by the practice of a suitable
bonding technique between a pair of side rails 34 and 36 to define
the usual quadrilateral configuration (rectangular in the illustrated
embodiment) that is also open centered as at 38 for the purpose
of receiving the panel body 26. In the form illustrated, framework
29 of each frame 18 as the inside rails 34 and 36 extended as indicated
at 34A and 36B (see FIG. 6) and suitably secured to the bottom or
base channel assembly 20 that conventionally is one of the conventional
panel base arrangements employed to support the panels 12 and 12A
in free standing relation on a building floor or the like. The side
rail segments 34A and 36A are also suitably and conventionally arranged
as indicated at 31 (see FIG. 7) for securement of a decorated panel
28 thereto.
The rails 30 32 34 and 36 of the panel frame 18 are preferably
formed from metal, such as a suitable steel, with the top and bottom
rail members 30 and 32 being affixed to the respective side rail
members 34 and 36 as at 40 as by the practice of suitable welding
techniques. The rails 30 and 32 as well as rails 34 and 36 otherwise
may be conventional in structural arrangement, with such rails also
preferably being tubular. The configuration defined by the frame
18 as completed is to be of suitable quadrilateral shape, with the
planar side surfaces 42 44 of the top and bottom rails 30 and
32 being coplanar with the plane of the frame 18. As indicated in
FIG. 6 the side rails 34 and 36 are similar and tubular in nature,
with the rail 34 being diagrammatically illustrated in transverse
section in FIG. 7. In the form of the side rails 34 and 36 that
are illustrated, such side rails each include at the outer sides
of same opposite corners 46 that are each formed with a row 48 of
elongate apertures 50 (see FIG. 7) that in the work stations 10
and 170 at the front of the work stations are employed to conventionally
mount in place (using conventional hanging techniques) such conventional
equipment, as cabinet 14 and the conventional shelf 16 of FIG. 1;
side rails 34 and 36 are also side indented as at 52 (at what are
to be the front and rear sides of the frame) and are there formed
with a row 53 of slots or apertures 54 for equipment hanging purposes,
these conventional slots 54 being employed in connection with the
present invention.
The panel frame 18 thus forms front side 56 and rear side 58 (see
FIG. 7). Further, in accordance with the present invention the top
rail member is apertured at 43 and 45 and bottom rail member is
apertured at 47 and 49 for wire and cabling pull through, in a manner
similar to that shown in FIG. 9 as will be described hereinafter.
In accordance with the present invention, the body 26 of the respective
panels 12 is in the form of the acoustical insert frame assembly
60 that is diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5 with
the assembly 60 being illustrated in exploded form on a reduced
scale in FIG. 3. Thus it will be apparent that in accordance with
the present invention, the acoustical insert frame assembly 60 forms
the panel body 26 of FIG. 1 as indicated in FIG. 1. As further
indicated in FIGS. 5 and 7 the acoustical insert frame assembly
60 includes conventional hanger brackets 62 on either side of same
that are applied to one of the elongate apertures 54 that are formed
in the respective side rails 34 and 36 at the frame front and sides
56 and 58 to apply the acoustical insert frame assembly 60 to the
panel frame frame side 56 with the hanger brackets 62 being applied
to the respective apertures 54 at the elevation of rails 34 and
36 that will both fully align the acoustical insert frame assembly
60 with the panel frame 18 and center same with respect to its center
opening 38 (In the specific form of FIG. 1 the body 26 of each
panel extends between the decorated panel 28 of same and the top
of the panel). In completing the formation of panel 12 its decorator
panel 28 is applied where indicated in FIGS. 1 and 7 at any convenient
point in the assembly procedure.
As indicated in FIG. 7 a portion 61 of the acoustical insert frame
assembly 60 when assembly 60 has been applied to panel frame 18
as indicated, is in nesting relation within the frame center opening
38 at the front side 56 of the respective panel frames 18 whereby
the front face 62 of the acoustical insert frame assembly 60 presents
the smooth unbroken surfacing indicated for each panel 12 in FIG.
1 with each panel 12 thus providing a front side 64 to which the
acoustical insert frame assembly 60 is applied, and an indented
rear side 66 that for each panel 12 is made up of the rear side
58 of the panel frame 18 and what is seen from that side of the
respective panels 12 insofar as the panel assembly and acoustical
insert frame assembly 60 are concerned.
The acoustical insert frame assembly 60 comprises (see FIGS. 2
and 3) a supplemental frame 70 and an assembly body 63 formed by
cutable or formable materials and comprising a honeycomb sound attenuation
unit 72 a mat 74 formed from suitable acoustical fibrous material,
such as fiber glass or suitable cellulose material, and a woven
fabric 76 in sheet form.
The supplemental frame 70 comprises (see diagrammatic FIG. 3) top
frame section 80 bottom frame section 82 and side frame sections
84 and 86 suitably joined together to provide the quadrilateral
configuration indicated in FIG. 3 which is rectangular in the completed
form of the panel bodies 26 (as indicated in FIG. 1). The frame
members 80 82 84 and 86 are suitably formed from a suitable metal,
such as a suitable steel, and are joined together in mitered relation
at the respective supplemental frame corners by the practice of
suitable welding techniques, or in any other suitable manner. The
supplemental frame members 80 82 84 and 86 are of identical transverse
cross-sectional configuration, and when assembled together in the
manner indicated in FIG. 3 (frame 80 may also be of suitable one
piece construction), they define four sided abutment flange 90 (see
FIG. 7), the four sided transverse flange 92 the four sided abutment
flange 94 and the four sided outer transverse flange 96. The flanges
90 and 92 define four sided seat 98 to which is applied the honeycomb
unit 72 while the flanges 94 and 96 define seat 100. As indicated
in FIG. 7 the honeycomb unit 72 is proportioned to just fill the
seat 98 while the fibrous mat 74 overlies the unit 72 and fills
the seat 100. A fabric 76 in sheet form is proportioned to fully
cover the mat 74 and have its margins 77 folded and wrapped to the
back side of the supplemental frame 70 (see FIG. 5) where its edgings
102 are bonded in place (using, for instance, a suitable glue) against
the back side of the supplemental frame after the fabric 76 is smoothed
on all sides of frame 70 against the mat 74. It is also preferable
to suitably bond in place the honeycomb unit 72 against the flanges
90 as by employing a suitable glue for this purpose.
The honeycomb unit 72 in the form illustrated comprises a planar
honeycomb core 110 formed to define a typical multitude of cells
112 a back or rear imperforate sheet 114 and a forward performated
sheet 116 of which the individual perforations 118 are aligned
with a specific cell 112 to form the individual cells 112 into
a typical sound absorbing Helmholtz resonator. The sheets 114 and
116 are suitably bonded to the honeycomb core 110 with these components
of the unit 72 being formed from cardboard or the like paper based
material, as is the material forming cells 112. The rear sheet 114
is to act as a sound barrier while the forward sheet 116 in association
with the mat 74 permits the unit 72 to act as a sound attenuator.
Honeycomb units 72 of approximately 1/2 inch in minimum thickness
are satisfactory for the practice of the present invention.
Honeycomb units 72 are available as such from International Honeycomb
Corporation, of University Park, Ill.
The mat 74 is made up of a layer of fiberglass or cellulose fibers,
or other acoustical materials for efficient sound attenuation achieved
by the individual cells 112 of the unit 72 acting as Helmholtz resonators.
In the form shown the mat 74 is a layer having a thickness of about
3/8 inch.
The fabric 76 may be of any suitable woven type and colored as
desired to provide the decor that is to be presented by the individual
panels 12 as viewed from the front sides 64 of same as shown in
FIG. 1 as distinguished from their back or rear sides 66 (see FIG.
7).
In the specific form illustrated insofar as the acoustical insert
frame assembly 60 is concerned, the hangers 62 that are associated
with the supplemental frame members 84 and 86 are formed from the
flange sections of these members that, in the assembled relation
of frame 70 form the four sided abutment flange 94 of same, by
suitable cutout and bending machine operations, as needed to properly
form and position the hangers 62 on the respective supplemental
frame members 84 and 86. Also, the cutable materials of the assembly
body 63 namely, the unit 72 the mat 74 and fabric 76 are made
fire resistant in any suitable manner.
It will thus be seen that the body 26 of the individual panels
12 provides, within the metes and bounds of the supplemental frame
inner flange margins 119 (see FIG. 7) a relatively wide area of
the front side of the panel (provided by assembly body 63) that
is cutable or otherwise formable transversely through the body 26
of the panel, to define an aperture or apertures for passing or
egress of cabling or wiring through the panel 12 in the manner indicated
in FIG. 9 with the location or locations of such aperturing being
at the option of the individual using the panel (either by itself,
or at a work station such as work station 10). The needed aperturing
to be formed in a particular panel 12 may be formed by employing
suitable cutting tools, such as drills, etc. depending on the width
of the aperture to be formed. As already indicated, it is suggested
that the aperture formed be proportioned for force fitting of a
grommet 120 (see FIGS. 2 and 9), of the type disclosed in said U.S.
Pat. No. 4688491 for applying of such a grommet structure into
the thus formed aperture, to bring the grommet edging 122 into flush
relation with the panel fabric 76 at the front of the panel. This
will result in the formation of a composite severed body 124 that
may be pushed rearwardly through the panel 12 in question to form
the needed aperture, after which the grommet 120 is put into place
from the front side 64 of the panel by force fitting the grommet
side wall 126 rearwardly of the panel, within the resulting aperture
of the panel in question. As indicated in said patent, it is preferred
that the side wall 126 of the grommet 120 should have a length that
somewhat exceeds the thickness of the body 63 to which it is applied,
and an internal diameter that preferably lies at least in the range
of from about 21/2 inches to about 3 inches, but it also could be
larger or smaller, with the remainder of the grommet 120 and the
aperture to be formed for same being proportioned accordingly. For
this purpose, it is suggested that the cutting tool 130 (see FIG.
11) employed may take the form of a metallic tubular member 132
having a length of, for instance, approximately six inches, an external
diameter that approximates the external diameter of the grommet
side wall 126 of which the cutting end 134 is sharpened externally
thereabout to define sharpened edge 136 and the opposed end 138
has a cross handle 140 mounted diametrically across same for manually
applying thrust and torque to the tool 130 to form the body 124.
The body 124 as formed is fully retained in the tool 130 (which
is of the "cookie cutter" type), which tool 130 may be
withdrawn from the front of the panel to remove body 124 leaving
the resulting aperture through which the cabling or wiring is to
be passed. Where such grommet 120 is not to be employed in connection
with the panel 12 the cutting tool for forming a suitably sized
aperture in assembling body 63 may be of the same type, but of an
internal diameter somewhat exceeding the diameter of the cabling
or wiring that is to be passed through the panel 12; where the cabling
or wiring plug is to be passed through the panel 12 the internal
diameter of the tool should be proportioned accordingly, so that
such plug may be passed along with the cabling or wiring to which
it is attached (to avoid removing such plug for passing the cabling
or wiring through the panel body 26).
This invention thus provides for pre-use formation of the needed
cabling or wiring egress aperture in a particular panel 12 but,
of course, the aperturing formation can be done later, as needed.
When the grommet 120 is employed it can be used in connection with
panels 12 in a manner similar to that disclosed in said U.S. Pat.
In any event, assuming that for any particular panel 12 the panel
12 in question has been assembled in the manner hereindisclosed,
the forward side 64 of the panel 12 provides the option of forming
a cabling or wiring aperture transversely therethrough within the
metes and bounds of the supplemental frame flange edging 119 across
the height and width of the panel 12 for "in field" formation
of the needed cabling or wiring apertures, with the location of
same being at the option of the user of the panel 12 at any time
that equipment is to be associated with the panel 12 that is of
the electrical and/or electronic type requiring connection to a
source of electrical energy, and this without having to prewire
the panel 12.
Of course, the decor providing panel 28 may be omitted, in which
case the assembly 60 should be proportioned accordingly (to overlie
the entire frame 18 for instance).
Referring now to the showing of FIG. 8 this illustrates the panel
12A, which differs from panel 12 by having a second acoustical insert
frame assembly 60 applied to the rear side 58 of frame 18 in the
same manner as the assembly 60 already described (in detail) is
applied to the front side 56 of frame 18. Both assemblies 60 are
similarly proportioned to define hollow space 150 within the panel
12 that thus extends between the frame side rails 34 and 36 and
its top and bottom rails 30 and 32 as well as the portions 61 (of
the respective frame assemblies 60) that nest within the open center
38 of frame 18.
FIG. 9 illustrates the manner in which both panels 12 and 12A function
to mask or pass wiring or cabling, even though FIG. 9 illustrates
a panel 12A.
As is well known, power wiring or cabling is laid through a panel
base 29 and also across the top of the panel but in a trough 152
(that is suitably fixed in place on frame top rail 30). Such wiring
and cabling normally comprises power lines at the panel base and
data and communication wiring and cabling at the top of the panel
of, for instance, one of the types referred to hereinbefore. However
the work needs at a specific location where a specific office furniture
panel is located may result in a mixture of power lines and data
and communication lines at the upper and lower ends of any panel
involved.
In accordance with the present invention, the apertures 43 and
45 and a similar aperture 164 formed in trough 153 define in the
frame a top wiring and cabling pull through port 160 and the apertures
47 and 49 of the bottom rail 32 define port 162 for the same purpose.
Wiring and cabling from either the top or base of the respective
panels 12 and 12A may be pulled or trained into the panel, behind
the front assembly 60 of same, and exited at a pass through aperture
located in the front assembly 60 front face 64 for extension to
equipment of the electrical and/or electronic type at the work site
provided by panels 12 or 12A; also, the wiring and cabling slack
164 may be fed back into the panel through such pass through aperture,
as illustrated in FIG. 9; in the showing of FIG. 9 the panel aperture
involved includes a grommet 120 that has been appropriately mounted
on the panel front assembly 60 in the manner hereinbefore described.
Of course, the aperture involved is located in the panel 12 or 12A
at the option of the panel user (as hereinbefore described), and
separate apertures may be used for wiring and cabling pass through
and for slack masking purposes. Where it is desired to pass a particular
wire or cable completely through a panel 12A, a second aperture
is formed in the second assembly 60 in alignment with the first
pass through aperture already mentioned (which may be done by the
aperture former using the tool 130 from the front side of panel
12A).
It will thus be seen that the panel 12 provides an indented rear
side 66 and panel 12A provides a hollow space 150 in which the
wiring and cabling to be exited at each panel are masked as well
as similar masking being provided for wiring and cabling slack,
both together with the aforeindicated options for locating the panel
front assembly 60 aperturing and a suggestion for lining same in
the form of grommet 120.
In the showing of FIG. 10 the work station 170 is made up of three
of the improved panels 12A connected together and otherwise arranged
similarly to work station 10 except that the shelf 16 of FIG. 1
is eliminated and the work station 170 is conventionally provided
with a conventional workspace 172 conventionally equipped with a
conventional pedestal 174. The body 26A of one of the panels 12A
is apertured as disclosed herein as at 176 in its front assembly
60 to pass through to a computer or the like 178 (indicated in dashed
lines) resting on the workspace 172 and may have operably associated
therewith wiring or cabling that conventionally is part of the wiring
and cabling that may be in the panel top or base, or both and which
is brought to the equipment 178 through the panel hollow space 150
and aperture 176 (as indicated by the dashed lines), which also
show slack 164 that is pushed back through aperture 176 for masked
storage within hollow space 150. The same wiring and cabling masking
relation is provided by panel 12 (note its indented side 66).
It will thus be seen that the front face 64 of both panels 12 and
12A is the same, with the panel 12A having the advantage of providing
sound attenuation for the rear of the panel. The basic purpose of
both panels 12 and 12A is local (meaning adjacent the panel in question)
accommodation (with masking) of data, communication and power providing
wiring and cabling, and avoidance of conventional devices of the
basket or flip-up panel type for masking cabling and wiring slack.
As to tackability of the front surface 64 of both panels, this
is provided in that thumb tacks applied to the front assembly 60
of each panel will hold down one or several sheets bearing notes
the worker (at the panel in question) may need to schedule his working,
etc.; the T-pins, which should be inserted in the panel front face
64 within the aforementioned metes and bounds of the edging 119
(of the front assembly 60 supplemental flange 70), will reach and
be lodged in the sheet 116 of the front assembly 60 unit 72 and
are long enough to hold in place multisheet reports and the like.
Both the panels 12 and 12A will accommodate wiring and cabling
of the various types indicated hereinbefore, and are made to resist
indenting in use.
The assemblies 60 may also take the form of a set of relatively
short assemblies to be applied in the same or a similar manner to
the front side of frame 18 to, as a set, wholly cover same to provide
color variation, a glazed appearance, etc.
The hereindisclosed panel arrangements can be used in any one of
the work station configurations hereinbefore referred to.
The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to
explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not to
be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so
limited, since those skilled in the art who have the disclosure
before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein
without departing from the scope of the invention. |