Accessories for Movable Partition Systems

This invention relates to accessories for utilization with the unit panel type of office space dividers. The invention relates to a means by which certain types of accessory items such as magazine, book and paper racks, and similar storage facilities and work support units can be suspended from the panel structure.

The concept of providing large, open work areas which are then subdivided into individual work areas by means of movable and rearrangeable partitions has become popular in recent years. The panels used to subdivide the area and form the separation walls are normally manufactured in a variety of modular widths, such as 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 40, 48 or 60 inches. A number of manufacturers of these panels have entered the market utilizing different modular widths. Further, these panels are normally provided at each edge with means for detachably hanging a variety of accessory items, such as storage bins, shelving, work surfaces, bulletin boards and racks for storing or organizing various work materials such as paper. These accessories are supported by brackets designed to detachably engage and lock to slotted standards at the vertical edges of the panels.

It is common in this type of structure to provide a shelf with various subdivisions so that its top surface is divided into compartments to maintain order and organization of the materials placed on the shelf. For the purpose of organizing and storing various types of paper materials, the industry has developed baskets and work trays designed to be suspended beneath the shelves. Normally, the suspension mechanism for these devices is rigidly fixed to the shelf as by screws, thus, in effect, freezing the position of the basket or tray lengthwise of the shelf. Also in many cases the supports for a tray are not necessarily interchangeable with the supports for a storage rack. This invention is designed to eliminate the shortcomings of this type of construction and to provide a new, less expensive and more flexible approach to providing support for these various types of work material organizers.

The invention provides a simple beam structure having brackets at each end to permit it to be detachably anchored to the vertical standards of the panels of the space divider system. The beams are designed to be of various lengths to adapt them to the modular widths of the panels of the various space divider wall manufacturers. The beam is designed to be rigid and to provide a plurality of identical pockets arranged in tandem. These pockets open through the top of the beam and extend at least the full height of the beam. The article supporting racks used with the beam each have at one end at least one hook structure having a depending leg of a shape and size to snugly seat in one of the pockets. The interfit between the hook and pocket is such as to eliminate rocking motion of the rack either lengthwise or laterally of the beam. Preferably, the leg of the hook is so spaced from the end of the rack that when the hook is seated in one of the pockets, the adjacent end wall of the rack seats against the outer surface of the beam, thus supporting the rack in cantilever fashion from the beam. The position of the rack lengthwise of the beam can be adjusted simply by lifting the hook out of one pocket and reseating it in another pocket. In a preferred construction, the various rack structures may be designed to have such a hook on either end, permitting it to be used facing either left or right and eliminating the necessity for separate tooling of left and right hand parts.

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a portion of a panel wall illustrating the invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is an oblique view of one of the beams of this invention before attachment of the end brackets;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front view of the beam with the end bracket attached;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the end bracket illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane V--V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional, elevation view taken along the plane VI--VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded, end view of the end bracket;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a conventional, slotted standard illustrating the end bracket of one of the beams secured in place;

FIG. 9 is an oblique view of one type of rack forming a part of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, front, sectional view illustrating the typical interrelationship of one of the racks when it is seated in one of the pockets of the beam;

FIG. 11 is an oblique view of a modified rack suitable for use with this invention;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation view of the rack illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an oblique view of a further modified construction for the racks useable with this invention;

FIG. 14 is an end elevation view of the rack illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an oblique view of a shelf support incorporating this invention;

FIG. 16 is an oblique view of a modification of the shelf support illustrated in FIG. 15; and

FIG. 17 illustrates a modified construction for the beam and its supporting brackets.

The numeral 10 indicates a portion of a space divider panel structure illustrating three, individual panels 11 which have been locked together to form a wall unit. The opposite vertical ends of each of the panels are provided with a slotted standard 12 of conventional construction (FIGS. 1 and 8). The standard normally consists of a steel member having a plurality of vertical slots at one-inch spacing (FIG. 8). The standards 12 provide the means by which various accessories such as shelving, storage cabinets, work surfaces and the like can be detachably hooked to and supported from the panels 11. This is conventional practice in this type of movable panel or partition type space divider construction. The width of the panels 11 varies from one manufacturer to another and each particular manufacturer normally manufactures panels in several modular widths.

The invention utilizes a beam. The beam 20 consists of inner and outer side members 21 and 22. The inner side member 21 has upper and lower rods 23 and 23a and the outer side member 22 has upper and lower rods 24 and 24a. The side members are spaced apart by intermediate members 25. While the inner and outer members 21 and 22 could be panels of plate-like material or endless, elongated loops (see FIG. 17), to obtain the most economical and the lightest construction consonant with adequate strength, each of these members consists of a length of steel rod of a diameter such that when the entire beam is welded together, it will both withstand the vertical loads imposed on it and resist twisting of the entire beam due to the torsional loads applied by one or more of the hereinafter described racks. For example, 1/4-inch diameter steel rod has been found to be satisfactory for manufacture of a beam of 30 inches in length and approximately 2 inches in height. The overall height of the beam must be adequate to stabilize the racks. This will appear more fully subsequently.

The intermediate members 25 are fabricated from the same material as the rods 23, 23a, 24 and 24a. The rod material is bent into V-shaped segments of identical size. These segments are inverted with their apices seated between the upper, inner and outer rods 23 and 24 and their ends seated between the lower, inner and outer rods 23a and 24a. The tops of the apices are flush with the tops of the upper rods of the side members. The lower end of adjacent segments are spaced apart to provide a gap opening through the bottom of each of the pockets 27. The pockets 27 are of identical size in each beam. At each end of the beam 20, a terminal segment 26a is provided which has one leg so inclined that it provides one side of a pocket 27 and a second leg extending horizontally between the upper, inner and outer rods of the side members.

The intermediate members 26 and 26a are welded to the upper and lower rods of both the inner and outer, side members to create a rigid beam structure. The resulting beam resists both vertical bending and torsional twisting about its lengthwise axis. The number of pockets 27 will depend upon the length of the beam.

At each end, a suitable bracket or hanger 39 is secured to the ends of both the inner and outer side members (FIG. 3). Each of the brackets 39 consists of an inner plate 40 and an outer plate 41. These plates are best seen in FIGS. 3 through 8. The inner plate 40 is generally L-shaped having a leg 42 extending lengthwise of the beam and a leg 43 extending at a right angle thereto. The leg 42 at the end opposite from the leg 43 has a flange 44 extending generally parallel to the leg 43. The flange 44 is provided with top and bottom notches 45 and 45a to seat the upper and lower rods (FIG. 6). Adjacent the leg 43, the leg 42 has an inwardd offset 46 to provide a seat for the outer face of the rods 23 and 23a of the inner, side member 21 (FIG. 5).

The leg 43 has upper and lower portions 47 and 47a, each terminating in a hook 48 designed to seat through a slot 49 in a panel standard 12 (FIGS. 7 and 8). Extending upwardly from the upper of the hooks 48 is an ear 50 and extending downwardly from the lower hook 48 is an ear 50a. As is illustrated in FIG. 8, the ears seat against the face of the standard 12 and provide stability against vertical rocking of the plate. A horizontal slot 51 separates the upper and lower portions 47 and 47a. The hooks 48 are conventional in design. The size, length and shape of the hooks 48 will be governed by the construction of the standard utilized by the manufacturer of the panels. Various types are conventionally available on the market. The spacing between the standards 12 is such that the beam will span the width of one of the panels 11.

The outer plate 41 seats over the outer face of the beam and is provided with upper and lower flanges 55 and 55a, which seat around the upper and lower face of the inner and outer side members 21 and 22. A flange 56 seats over the end of the beam and has an inwardly extending finger 57 of a length and width to closely fit within the slot 51 of the inner plate. The inner end of the finger 57 is offset to seat within the plane of the leg 43 of the inner plate 40 (FIG. 5). The plates are secured to each other and clamped about the ends of the beam by the screw 58 (FIGS. 3 and 5). When so assembled, they effectively cap the ends of the beam and provide both a secure support for the beam and give the beam an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

It will be observed from FIGS. 7 and 8 that the tongue 57 is of a length to extend into one of the slots 49 of the standard 12 intermediate those occupied by the hooks 48. Its width is substantially that of the height of the slot. In this construction the inner plates 40 are first mounted on the standards 12 and then the main body of the beam 20 is secured to the inner plates by installation of the outer plates 41. By this arrangement the beam is positively locked to the standards and cannot be inadvertently knocked off or removed. If this locking features is not desired, the tongue 57 and the slot 51 can be omitted without in any way weakening the beam.

It will be recognized that while the preferred construction utilizes a wedge or V-shaped pocket 27, the pocket should be of a different shape. However, the pocket sides should retain a limited degree of downwardly convergent inclination to provide positive seating and control of rocking lengthwise of the beam.

While the racks used with this invention can have a wide variety of shapes and configurations, one particular configuration is the rack 60 illustrated in FIG. 9. This particular rack is specifically designed for supporting such items as pamphlets, magazines and similar publications. However, it will be recognized that it can be put to any one of a number of other uses, the particular use being irrelevant to this invention. The rack, in cross section, is generally L-shaped having a large back panel 61 and a smaller base panel 62. The back panel has a primary frame 63 forming the sides and top of the back panel and also forming the side of the base panel 62. The rack 60 also has a loop-shaped secondary frame 64 wider than the primary frame 63 which extends partially up the back panel 61 and forms the end of the base panel. The article supporting surface of the rack is formed by a plurality of parallel wires 65 which are welded to the top of the primary frame 63 and to the secondary frame 64 not only where they intersect the secondary frame in the back panel but also to the secondary frame where it forms the end of the base panel 62. The rack is also further reinforced by additional cross members 66 which are welded to all of the wires 65.

The ends of the secondary frame 64 form downwardly extending hooks or legs 68 of a size and shape to snugly seat within one of the pockets 27 of the beam 20. These legs form the supports for the rack. As is best seen in FIG. 10, the inclination of the sides of the secondary frame forming the hook or leg 68 is such that the sides of the hook seat tightly against the intermediate 26 forming the sides of the pocket with the bottom 69 of the leg 68 extending below the lower edge of the beam 20. The depth of the depending leg is such that positive seating against the sides of the pocket 27 is assured before the horizontal portions of the secondary frame seat on the top of the beam to limit the depth of penetration of the leg into the pocket. For example, the size of the pocket 27 could be such that the bottom of the leg 68 projects from three-fourths to one inch below the bottom of the side members. It is essential to this invention that the bottoms of the legs or hooks of the rack units seat closely between the bottom rods of the side members. It is preferable that the leg or hook extend well beyond this minimum engagement to reduce the possibility of accidental disengagement.

Preferably, the legs 68 are spaced from the side portions of the primary frame 63 such as to form a channel 70 having a width such that the outer sidee member 22 of the beam can slide upwardly in the channel with a minimum of clearance when the rack is mounted on the beam. A rack having the construction previously described can be secured to a beam simply by sliding the leg 68 into one of the pockets 27, the pocket selected being dependent upon the desired location of the rack lengthwise of the beam. Because of the snug interfit with the sides of the pocket, the rack is held against rocking lengthwise of the beam and because of the snug fit of the leg between the side members of the beam and its engagement with both the upper and lower edges of the beam, the rack is stabilized against rocking transversely of the beam even though it is cantilevered from the beam.

It will be recognized that the interlock between the leg or hook 68 and beam pocket, without additional support or reinforcement is sufficient to support the rack. However, additional support may be provided for units designed for heavy duty or to permit the racks to be fabricated of lighter duty materials. By creating a channel 80 so narrow that it just slidably receives the outer, side member of the beam, reinforcement for the hooks is provided. A rack 81 incorporating such a construction is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. In this construction, the rack is provided with an auxiliary frame 82 which provides a pair of brace portions 83 and 83a one at each end of the rack. Each brace has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The vertical portion 84 is so located that it seats against the outer face of the beam when the hook 85 is seated in the beam pocket because the channel 80 is just wide enough to slidably receive the rods of the beam's outer, side member.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a different structure for providing auxiliary support for the racks or trays. In this case, the tray or rack 90, in addition to the hooks 91 has a foot portion 92 at the bottom which extends beneath the beam when the hooks 91 are fully seated in the beam pockets. The length of the foot portion 92 is such that it bears against the panel surface and positively holds the tray or rack against downward bending about the tops of the hooks. This is particularly suitable where heavy loads, such as book storage, are anticipated Also, the addition of downwardly extending lips 93 and 93a at the front and back of the tray reinforce the tray against lengthwise bending. In this construction, the spacing A between the end of the hooks and the foot portion 92 must at least equal and preferably exceed the height of the beam 20 to permit the hooks 91 to be aligned with the beam pockets 27.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate the versatility of the invention. These figures show two different forms of a rack structure which can be used either to hang articles or to support a platform such as a shelf. In the case of the rack 100, the support arms 101 are spaced apart and in the case of the rack 100a, the arms 101a abut each other and preferably are welded together. In both cases, the rack has a hook or leg 102 of a size and shape to snugly seat into one of the pockets 27 of a beam 20. The fact that the hook 102a of the rack 100a is closed does not change its functional characteristics.

FIG. 17 illustrates a modified beam construction in which the inner and outer sides of the beam 20a are closed loops 110 and 110a formed from the same stock as the rods previously described. Also, the end caps are replaced by a simple hanger bracket 111 having hooks to engage the panel standards. The brackets 111 are welded to the ends of the side member loops.

It will be obvious from the preceding description that a particularly simple yet effective mount or support for accessories is provided by this invention. It is also obvious that the ease with which the accessories can be relocated along the beam or from beam to beam is also particularly advantageous. Further, the beam as well as the racks can be moved from panel to panel or shifted vertically to meet the needs of the user. The provision of a hook at both ends of a rack such as is provided by rack 61 is not essential to practice of the invention but it is desirable. It permits the rack to be reversed end-for-end to meet the requirements of the user. Thus, the need for separate left and right models is eliminated.

Whether the invention is incorporated as part of an L-shaped rack, a tray or a flat storage platform or the like is irrelevant because the invention can be applied to all such structures once the principles of construction, as explained in the preceding paragraphs, have been incorporated into the product. Thus, the invention has a wide range of application while permitting rapid relocation and adjustment of the various accessories to satisfy a wide variety of uses and operating circumstances. The fact that the invention has been described in connection with a limited number of types of accessories is not to be considered as limiting the invention only to accessories of the type illustrated.

Having described a preferred construction and various modifications of the preferred constructions, it will be recognized that other modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.