GB2362822A - Modular desk with cantilever top or tops attachable to slotted uprights via b racket ends / end formations - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular desk comprises two spaced apart uprights 10, 11 on which are mounted at least one cantilevered desk top 3 via mounting bracket 4 inner ends / end formations engaged in complementary slots 14 in the uprights 10, 11. Desk tops may be engaged with the uprights in opposites direction to form a surface extending in both directions from the uprights 10, 11 in which configuration the uprights 10, 11 are central in relation to the support surface. A number of desks may be joined end to end to provide a multiple desk configuration (fig.10). The desk features a ground engaging support frame with feet 12, 13, and possibly an additional upright 16 therebewteen. Upper and lower bracing members 18, 19 interconnect the uprights 10, 11, 16 and are formed by a rectangular lower bracing frame 18 mounted between lower ends of an adjacent pair of uprights 10, 11, 16.

Description

2362822 "A Desk @Istem B!' - This invention relates to a modular

cantilever desk s-jrztem for office furniture.

S eme of n According to the invention, them is provided a modular desk system comprising a ground-"aging upstanding support frame on which at least one cantfievered desktop panel is mounted. ftlerably, the upstanding support frame has two or more spaced-apart uprights, said uprights being interconnected by upper and lower bracing members, an upper bracing member extending between each acrjacent pair of uprights at an upper end of the qxights, and a lower bracing member being mounted between each adjacent Pair of uptights at a lower end of the uprights. The bracing members are amnged to provide a required rigidity to the frame. To twis end, the lower bracing member may be of rectangular configuration having a top. a bottom and substantially vertical sides Wending between the top and the bottom. the sides engaging and smred to the uprights.

In a particularly prelbrred embodiment, each upper bracing member comprises a bracing bar of box on material with each and of the bracing bar abulting theside well of one of the uprights, a book being provided at each and of the bracing bar which engag" within a complementary receiver slot in the aide wall of the upright Ideally, the lower bracing member comprim a tubular bracing frame of box section 25 material having a top element a bottom element and a pair of side elements extending between opposite ends of the top element and the bottom element Conveniently. the side elements may be secured! by fasteners such as screws or bolts to side walls of the uprights.

According to one embodiment of the invention them is prcMded a modular desk sm comprising a ground-engaging upstanding support frame on which at least one carred desktoP panel is mounted, the upstanding support frame having two or more ced-apart uprights, at least the two outermost uprights being Provided with ground engagin ficet which extend outwardly from a bottom of said - 2 uprights, said uprights being inte=nnected by upper and lower bracing members, an upper bracing member extending between each adjacent pair of uprights at an upper end of the uprights, and a lower bracing member being mounted between each adjacent pair of uprights at a lower end of the Wrights. the lavver bracing member being of rectangular configuration having a top, a bottom and substantially vertical sides extending betn the top and the bottom, the sides engaging and secured to the uprights. and each upper bracing member comprises a bracing bar of box swuon material with each end of the bracing bar abutting a side wait of one of the uprights, a hook being provided at each end of the bracing bar which engages within a complamentwy receiver slot in the side wag of the upright, each cantflevered desktop panel being mounted.on the uprights by means of two or more mounting brackets which engage and support an underside of the desktop panel, inner ends of said mounting brackets engaging within complementary slots in a side wall of the uprights.

is In another embodiment the support frame is encased in daMing p, the cladding panels being mounted between adjacent pairs of uprights, the dadding panels being provided with rebated edges for s engagement with the uprights, a sponge or flexible rubber strip being mounted in the a so that when the panels are mounted on the support frame. wiring can be passed between the panels and the uprights to machinery an the desktop.

In a further embodiment cladding panels are dernountably secured to the support frame by means of a number of retaining clips. each reWining crip having a flanged head with an outwardly extending sha at least one mounting slot being provided.in the shank intermediate the ends of the shank, said shank engaging within one of #0 slots in the side wall of each upright and co-operafing with a bottom edge of said slot in the upright and the ganged head engaging with an outer face of the panel to retain the panel against the upright For stability. at least the two outermost uprights should be provided with ground engaging Rmt which nd outwardly from a bottom of said uprights. These feet extend outwardly under the canffievered desktop.

Each cantilevered desktop panel is mounted on the uprights by means of two or more mounting brackets which engage and support an underside of the desktop panel. Inner ends of said mounting brackets engage within complementary slots in a side wag of the uprights. A plurality of vertically spacrt slots are provided in the 5 uprights to allow height adjustment of the desktop.

PreferablY the support frame is encased in cladding panels for aesthetic reasons and #me cladding panels may be of any suitable materi9Js and be provided with any desirable decorative finish. For example. they may be provided by wooden panels with a painted or varnished finish. Alternatively, a woo panel may be coated in a cloth material to pnMde a decorative surface to the cladding panels.

in one embodiment a number of cladding strips are mounted about the sides and top of the frarria, each cladding strip being a channel secton member which is a push-fit onto outer side and top edg% of thee frame.

In a further embodiment the upper bracing bar has a box-acction body with a hnk element mounted at each end of the body, the book elent being a push-fit v an open end of the body.

In an embodiment the support frame has three spacedrt uprights, namely a pair of outer uprights with an Intermediate upright located centrally between the two outer uprights, each outer upright Wing provided with forwardly and rearwardly exteMing feet at a bottom of the outer upright.

In a particularly pref eiment thie cladding panels are mounted ben adjacent'pairs of uprights. The cladding panels may be provided with rebated edges fior seating engagement with the uprights. It desired, a sponge or flexible rubber strip may be mounted In the rebate so that when the panels are mounted on the support frame, wiring can be passed between the parMs and the upd" to machinery on the desktop.

In a furthier embodiment -some of the panels may comprise cable access panels which are readily demountable or pivotable on the support frame to allow acoes to - 4 cabling housed within the frame behind he panels. Conveniently a cable access panel is provided with one or more slots along an edge of the cable access panel for through of cables.

Conveniently, a cable management tray may be mounted between uprights for neatly feeding cabIM9 within the support frame. Holes may also be provided in the uprights for through passage of cabling.

Detailed Qe^s-c-ription of the Invendon The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- is Fig. 1 is a PersPeCM view of a desk assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the desk; Figs. 3 to 7 am perspective views showing stages in the assembly of the desk., Fig. 8 is a detail view of portion of the desk assemby, Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the mounting of cladding panels of the desk assembly; Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of a retaining dip of the system; Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view showing a panel mounting arrangement. and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another desk assembly.

Referring to the dmMngs, and initially to Figs. 1 to B thereof, there is filustated a desk System according tD the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The desk 1 comprises an upstanding support frame 2 on which one or more desktop panels 3 are mounted in cantilevered fashion by means of mounting bra 4 fixed to an underside of the worktop panels 3 aM engageaMe with upright portions of the support frame 2.

The support frame 2 comprises a pair of spaced-apart steel outer uprights 10, 11 with horizontal ground engaging feet 12, 13 mounted at a lower end of each upright 10, 11. An intermediate upright 16 is mounted be the two outer uprights 10. 11. AR the uprights 10. 11. 16 are interconneded by bracing members which comprise a rec"ular Imw bracing frame 18 mounted be kmw ends of the uprights 10, 11. 16 and an ated upper bracing bar 19 mounted between upper ends of the uprights 10, 11, 16- This provides a rigid support frame of simple construction which is easily assembled.

Each lower bracing frame 18 is constructed of boxon tubular metal material and comprises a top 20, a bottom 21 and substantially vertical sides 22, 23 riding bebmm the top 20 and bottom 22- Outer faces of each side 2Z 23 3M against a side face of an upright 10, 11, 16 and is secured to by fasteners such as sc or bolts.

Each upper bracing bar 19 is of box-section metal material. Outer ends 24. 26 of the biracing bar 19 abut the side walls of the uprights 10, 11. 16 between which they are mounted. A ho connector P26 is provided at each end 24, 25 of the upper bracing bar 19 for engagement within a compicry skyt 27 at an upper end of the side wad of the upright 10. 11, 16. Thus, the bracing bar 19 can be readily. easily and quiddy mounted and secured between a pair of adjacent uprights 10. 11. 16.

Also mounted between the uprights 10, 11, 16 are cable management trays 30. each comprising a pair of troughs 31, 32 mounted between end plates 33. 34. Through bobs 35 in the end plates 33, 34 align with the troughs 31. 32 for through passage of cabling. These holes 35 align with comptary holes 36 in the uprights 10. 11. 16 for through pas of cabling if desired.

C4adding panels 40 am mounted on the support frame 2 to conceal the SUPPOrt fMMO - 6 2. Each cladding panel 40 has a rebated Inner edge 41 (Fig. 9) for snug engagement with the uprights 10, 11, 16. A sponge or flexible rubber strip 42 may conveniently be mounted in the rebate 41 to allow through passage of cabling between the panel 40 and the uprights 10, 11, 16 and to provide support Ibr the cabling The panels 40 can be fabric covered or wood gnitined or any other decorative finish as required. The mounting of the cladding panels 40 is shown in more detail in IFIgs. 10 and 11. A cladcring panel 40 is demountably secured to gn upright 10 of the support frame 2. by means of a number of retaining clips 60. Each retaining clip 60 has a flanged head 61 with an outwardly extending shank 62 extending perpendicularly from the head 61.

Ibree mounting slots are provided in the shank 62 intermediate " ends of the shank 62- As can be seen In Fig. 11. m shank 62 engages within one of the slots 14 in the upright 10 with in this case the innermost slot 64 an e shank 62 c"perating with a bottom edge of the slot 14 in the upright 10 and the flanged head 61 of the clip 60 engages with an outer face of the panel 40 to retain the panel 40 against the upright is 10.

Cable access panels 45 are mounted an the frame 2 in front of the cable management trays 30 and may be arranged for snap engagement with the frame 2 or may be hingedly mounted on the frame 2. Slots 46 are provided in the access 1 45 for through passage of cabling.

Each of ft desktops 3 is mounted between a pair of support brackets 4 each of which is engageable with slots 14 in ft faces of the uprights 10, 11. 15. For arranging the desktop 3 at any desired height a plurality of vertically smoed-aPart slots 14 are provided in each upright 10, 11, 16.

Cladding sitrips 50 (Fig. 7) are mounted about a periphery of the frame 2 at the said and top of the frame 2 to conceal the frame 2 aM comprise channel Section members which are a push-fit onto outer side edges of the uprights, 10, 11 and the top bracing members 19.

It will be appreciated that M invention provides a modular desk assembly which can be readily easily and quickly assembled from a minimum number of component pads to provide an adjustable desk 7 - 0 Fig. 12 show a multiple desk configuration whem eweAaRy two of the desks described pously are joined end to end. In such ion, a run of desks of myy desired length may be built up from the modular desk units as requked.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefbre desedbed Which may be varied in both constrixtion and detal within the scope of the appended claims.

a -

Claims (1)

1. A modular desk system comprising a ground-engaging upstwding support frame on which at least one cantilevered desktop panel is mounted, the upstanding support frame having two or more spaced-apart uprights, at least the two outermost uprights being provided with ground engaging feet which extend outwardly from a bottom of said upfights. said uprights being interconnected by upper and lower bracing members. an upper bracing member extending between each adllacent pair of uprights at an upper end of the uprights, and a lower bracing member being mounted between each adjacent pair of uprights at a lower end of the uprights, the lower bracing member being of rectangular configuration having a top, a bottom and substantially vertical sides extending between the top and the bottom, the sides engaging and red to the updghts and each upper bracing member comprisems a bracing bar of box section mabmial with each and of the bracing bar abutting a side wall of one of the, uprights, a book being provided at each end of the bracing bar which engages within a complementary receiver slot in the side wall of the upright each cantilevered desktop panel being mounted on the uprights by means of two or more mounting brackets which engage and support an underside of the desktop Panel, inner ends of said mounting brackets engaging YMNn complementary slots in a side wall of the uprights.

2. A modular desk system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support frame is encased in cladding panels, the cladding panels being mounted between adjacent pairs of uprights, the cladding panels being provided with rebated edges for seating engagement with the uprights, a sponge or flexible rubber strip being mounted in the rebate"so that when the panels are mounted on the support frame. 9 can be passed between the panels and the uprights to machinery on the desktop.

3. A modular desk system as clWmed in claim 2 wherein cladding panels am dernountably secured to the. support frame by means of a number of retairfing dips, each retaining clip having a flanged head with an oLdwardly extending shank, at West one mounting slot being provided in the shank intasmadiate Me ends of the shank. said shank engaging vvithin one of the slots in the side wall of each upright and co-operating with a bottom edge of said slat in the upright and the flanged head engaging with an outer face of the panel to retain the panel against the upright 4- A modular desk system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein cable access panels are provided on the support Irame which are readily demountable or pivotable on the support frame to allow access to cabOM housed within ft frame behind the panels.

6. A modular desk system as Claimed in claim 4 wherein a cable access panel is provided with one or more slots along an edge of the cable access panel fbr through-pawage of cables.

is 6. A modular desk system as claimed in any preceding daim wherein a number of cladding strips are mounted about the skies and top of the frame. each dadIding strip being a channel section member which is a pushfit onto outer side and top edges of " frame.

7. A modular desk system as claimed in any preceding clairn wherein Me upper bracing bar has a box-section body with a hook element mounted at end Of the body. the hook eJe Wng a push-fit within an open end of the body.

8. A modular desk system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support frame has three spaced-apart uprig". namely a pair of outer uprights with an intermediate up located cc beMeen the two outer uprights, each outer upright being provided with forwardly and rearwardly riding feet at a bottom of the 0. luter upright 9. A modular desk system as claimed in any preceding C4airn wherain a cable management tray is mounted between uprights for neatly feeding cabling wWtn the support frame. and preferably holes am provided in the uprights for through passage of cabling.

- 10 10. A modular desk system substantially as heWinbefore described WM reference to the accompanying drawings-