Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6176561
-
Patent Number
6,176,561
-
Date Filed
Friday, June 4, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 23, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Cuomo; Peter M.
- Tran; Hanh V.
Agents
- Flynn, Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 312 2236
- 312 2233
- 312 2231
- 312 194
- 312 195
- 312 196
- 312 111
- 108 5001
- 108 5002
- 052 2207
- 052 290
- 052 2871
- 052 2881
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A desk or worksurface arrangement is provided which has a cable management slot along a back edge of the worksurface wherein removable end caps enclose the opposite ends of the slot. The caps retain cabling within the cable management slot but are removable without tools to permit the cabling to be slid out of the slot or past horizontally to an adjacent desk. The end caps may also be fixedly attached to a vertical storage unit to connect the vertical storage unit to the top of the desk arrangement while permitting the vertical storage unit to be removed from the desk without requiring tools.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a desk arrangement, and more particularly, to a desk arrangement which accommodates cabling therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Office areas frequently include desks or other worksurface arrangements which have cable management capabilities. For example, such desks often are provided with horizontal cable troughs and channels disposed below a worksurface to accommodate cabling therein such as for office equipment located on the worksurface. Such cable troughs and channels permit communication and power cabling to be routed horizontally through each desk and if desired, to adjacent desks or other furniture components.
Desks also may include slots and cable ports which allow cabling to be routed vertically from the troughs and channels to the worksurface so as to be connected to conventional office equipment such as modems, computers, telephones or the like. It also is known to provide support structures along the back edge of a worksurface to support office equipment, storage racks, storage rails and the like to for supporting additional office components such as document trays.
In a number of known desks, however, it may be difficult to reroute cabling between two adjoining desks and also route cabling vertically to the worksurface since the arrangement of the worksurface and desk components can interfere with the laying of the cabling. Desk arrangements also may have vertical storage units over the worksurface, which further complicates the routing of cabling since such units may be difficult to move.
It is an object of the invention therefore to eliminate a number of the disadvantages associated with such known systems.
The invention relates to a desk or worksurface arrangement which readily facilitates the laying of cabling both horizontally and vertically within a particular desk and further facilitates routing of such cabling between adjoining desks. The desk arrangement of the invention includes a worksurface having a cable management slot along a back edge thereof wherein the cable management slot allows cabling to be routed over the back edge of the worksurface to the cable channels disposed below the worksurface. The opposite ends of the cable management slot are enclosed by removable end caps, which confine vertical cabling sidewardly within the slot between the end caps, or vertically within open ends of the cable channels.
By removing the end caps, however, a horizontally elongate opening is defined which extends the entire length of the desk, which thereby permits horizontal lengths of cabling to be dropped or laid directly into one of the cable troughs. If two of the desks are adjoining each other, respective end caps are typically disposed next to each other wherein removal of the adjacent end caps permits cabling to be laid along a run of cable channels without requiring movement of the desks. The end caps are joined to the worksurface by a tongue and groove connection which does not require separate fasteners, much less tools for the connection of the end cap to the worksurface.
Further, the end cap also serves as a connector for a vertical storage unit wherein fasteners are inserted through the end cap vertically into a stile of the vertical storage unit. As a result, the end cap is fixedly attached to the stile and is movable therewith. When the end cap is engaged with the worksurface, the vertical storage unit is fixedly secured to the desk without any additional fasteners being required for the connection between the end cap and the worksurface.
The desk/worksurface arrangement of the invention thereby provides improved cable management capabilities, and also provides a connection between a vertical storage unit and a desk, which does not require tools for removal of the vertical storage unit therefrom.
Other objects and purposes of the invention, and variation and s thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an arrangement of a desks;
FIG. 2
is a rear perspective view of one of the desks;
FIG. 3
is a plan view of the desk illustrating a cable management slot and toolbar along a back edge thereof;
FIG. 4
is a front elevational view of the desk illustrating electrical and communication receptacles thereof;
FIG. 5
is an enlarged plan view of two adjoining desks illustrating an end cap removed therefrom;
FIG. 6
is an exploded partial perspective view of the back corner of the desk;
FIG. 7
is a side elevational view in cross-section of a cable management channel and slot arrangement as take along a line
7
—
7
of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 8
is an exploded view of the end cap being removed from the desk;
FIG. 9
is a front view of an end cap connector for mounting the end cap to the desk;
FIG. 10
is a cross-sectional view of the end cap connector as taken along aligned
11
—
11
of
FIG. 10
;
FIG. 11
is a bottom perspective view as taken from the rear of the end cap;
FIG. 12
is a bottom view of the end cap;
FIG. 13
is a rear elevational view of the end cap;
FIG. 14
is an end elevational view of the desk having a vertical storage unit disposed thereon; and
FIG. 15
is an enlarged end view of a connection between the desk and the vertical storage unit.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “rightwardly” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the invention and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the invention relates to a desk arrangement
10
which includes one or more desk or worksurface units
12
wherein any or all of the desk units
12
may have a vertical storage unit
14
mounted thereon. Each desk unit
12
includes a cable management slot arrangement
15
on the back edge thereof wherein the slot arrangement
15
includes removable end caps
16
which facilitate cable management and serve as connectors for the vertical storage unit
14
.
Generally, each desk unit
12
typically includes end panels
19
, which are disposed in load bearing engagement with the floor and are laterally spaced apart from each other to define a knee space
20
therebetween. The knee space
20
preferably is enclosed on an outer side thereof by a modesty panel
21
, which extends laterally between the end panels
19
. The desk units
12
are adapted to receive cabling therein as will be discussed in further detail hereinafter and also may include a storage unit
22
such as a file cabinet.
Each desk unit
12
of the invention further includes a worksurface
25
which is horizontally enlarged and overlies the knee space
20
. The worksurface
25
is supported by the end panels
19
to define an upward facing surface upon which various electrical and communication equipment such as a receptacle unit
26
(
FIG. 7
) may be used.
The worksurface
25
also includes the slot arrangement
15
for routing cabling vertically, which said slot arrangement
15
includes a horizontally elongate slot
27
extending longitudinally along the back edge of the worksurface
25
. The end caps
16
as illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3
enclose the opposite ends of the slot
27
.
Generally, the slot
27
is provided to allow cabling to be routed vertically from the area of the knee space
20
to the top side of the worksurface
25
so as to supply communication and/or power connections to conventional office equipment. Since the end caps
16
are removable, the open area of the slot
27
may be extended horizontally out to the outermost side edges of the worksurface
25
so that cabling, which, for example, spans the entire length of the desk, may be laid downwardly through the slot without having to fish the cabling through discrete openings. When two desk units
12
are provided side-by-side as illustrated in
FIG. 5
, the slot
27
of one of the desk units
12
may be disposed in sideward communication with an adjacent slot
27
of the adjoining desk unit
12
so that the cabling may be readily laid along a row of desks
12
.
Referring more particularly to the components of the desk unit
12
, each end panel
19
has a generally rectangular shape wherein a rectangular notch
30
is formed in the upper rear corner thereof. The notch
30
is bounded by a lower edge
31
and a front edge
32
, but is open on the rear and upper sides as illustrated in
FIGS. 6 and 7
. The notch
30
defines an access opening, which opens sidewardly to allow cabling to extend horizontally into and along the desk unit
12
below the level of the worksurface
25
. Upper edges
34
of the end panels
19
vertically support the worksurface
25
thereon.
One end panel
19
may be formed as part of a storage cabinet
22
or be disposed directly adjacent to the cabinet
22
. The storage cabinet
22
is for the most part conventional although the cabinet
22
includes a notch along its rear upper corner similar to the end panels
19
as generally illustrated in FIG.
2
.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, the worksurface
25
defines an upward facing support surface
35
, and is rigidly attached to the end panels
19
. The worksurface
25
has a rectangular, laterally elongate shape wherein a rear edge
36
of the worksurface
25
is aligned vertically with the front notch edge
32
as illustrated in FIG.
7
. As a result, the rear worksurface edge
36
is spaced forwardly of a rear edge
37
of the end panel
19
to define the horizontally elongate slot
27
which extends the entire lateral length of the desk unit
12
. In particular, the slot
27
extends laterally between the opposite side edges
39
of the worksurface
25
as illustrated in FIG.
3
and opens vertically to provide access to the area disposed below the worksurface
25
.
Referring to
FIGS. 2
,
6
and
7
, the desk unit
12
further includes a horizontally elongate channel unit
42
which extends the lateral length of the desk and defines upper and lower cable management channels
43
and
44
(FIG.
7
). The channel unit
42
is preferably formed of an extruded material such as aluminum and has opposite left and right ends supported by the notches
30
of the end panels
19
.
More particularly, the channel unit
42
includes a vertically enlarged back wall
46
which faces rearwardly and defines a vertical extension of the back edges
37
of the end panels
19
. The back wall
46
closes off the open rear side of the notches
30
as seen in
FIG. 2
, and terminates in an upper lip
47
which is disposed approximately at the same elevation as the upper end panel edge
34
.
The channel unit
42
further includes a bottom wall
48
which is vertically supported on the lower edges
31
of the notches
30
. To facilitate the passage of cabling vertically through the bottom wall
48
, the opposite ends of the bottom wall include elongate cable ports
50
which open vertically therethrough.
A lower front wall
52
projects upwardly from the bottom wall
48
a short distance and terminates at an upper edge
53
. The lower front wall
52
faces forwardly and lies against the front edge
32
of the notch
30
and is fastened thereto by a fastener
54
(FIG.
6
).
The channel unit
42
further includes an upward facing intermediate wall
56
and an upper front wall
57
wherein the intermediate wall
56
extends horizontally between the upper front wall
57
and the back wall
46
. To permit cables to pass vertically through the intermediate wall
56
, additional elongate cable ports
60
are formed in the opposite ends thereof as illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 7
.
The upper front wall
57
is fastened to the front notch edge
32
by fasteners
61
. This arrangement thereby defines the upper and lower cable channels
43
and
44
which extend along the horizontal length of the desk unit
12
. The upper and lower channels
43
and
44
open sidewardly from their opposite ends to permit cabling to pass horizontally therethrough, for example, from one desk unit to an adjoining desk unit as generally illustrated in FIG.
5
. Further, the cable ports
50
and
60
permit cabling to be routed vertically from one channel to another.
Still further, the upper and lower channels
43
and
44
are open on the front sides thereof as illustrated in
FIG. 7
to permit cabling to be routed into and out of the channels
43
and
44
and over the upper front wall
57
. More particularly, a lower edge
63
of the upper front wall
57
is spaced vertically from the upper edge
53
of the lower front wall
52
. The lower channel
44
thereby is open along its entire front side.
Also, an upper edge
64
of the upper front wall
57
is spaced vertically downwardly from a bottom surface
65
of the worksurface
25
. Accordingly, the upper channel
43
also is open on a front side thereof along its entire longitudinal length. Additionally, the upper lip
47
of the back wall
46
is spaced rearwardly of the back worksurface edge
36
such that an open upper side
67
is defined therebetween to permit cables to be laid vertically into the upper channel
43
, or else, permit the cabling to be routed through the open front side of the upper channel
43
to the area disposed below the worksurface
25
.
The desk unit
12
thereby is able to accommodate various types of cabling therein. For example as illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 7
, a cabling systems
70
may be provided.
More particularly, the cabling system
70
includes a power distribution assembly
71
(PDA) of a conventional construction wherein the PDA
71
is suspended from the intermediate wall
56
(FIG.
7
). The PDA
71
includes a plug-in receptacle unit
72
which faces forwardly and includes a front base plate
73
which permits access to conventional three-prong outlets as illustrated in FIG.
4
. The cabling system
70
is laid into the lower channel
44
and is connected to exterior cabling
75
which then is connected to a power supply
76
at a junction
77
. The cabling system
70
is covered by a channel cover
80
which is vertically enlarged and overlies the open front side of the lower channel
44
.
Referring to
FIG. 7
, the channel cover
80
includes an upper flange
81
which engages a catch
82
formed on the upper front wall
57
and a lower U-shaped flange
84
which fits over the upper edge
53
of the lower front wall
52
. The channel cover
80
thereby snaps into place and includes suitable openings or ports such that the receptacles
72
of the PDA
71
are accessible therethrough.
The cabling system
70
also may include communication cabling which may be mounted in the channel unit
42
, for example, into the lower channel
44
as illustrated in FIG.
4
. The communication cabling comprises elongate cables and a receptacle
86
which is accessible forwardly through the channel cover
80
.
If the desk unit
12
is used as a stand alone unit or if the cabling is wholly contained within the desk unit
12
, the channel unit
42
also may be provided with rectangular end covers
88
which are sized so as to enclose the notch
30
. The end covers
88
as illustrated in
FIGS. 6 and 15
are rectangular plates and have fastener holes
89
proximate the corners thereof.
To connect the end cover
88
to the ends of the channel unit
42
, the opposite ends of the intermediate wall
56
, the lower front wall
52
and the back wall
46
are provided with fastener slots
90
which are adapted to threadedly engage fasteners
91
. In particular, the fasteners
91
(
FIG. 15
) are inserted through the fastener holes
89
and threaded into the corresponding fastener slots
90
.
To facilitate mounting of further electrical components such as the receptacle unit
26
onto the worksurface
25
, a toolbar
92
(
FIGS. 2 and 7
) is mounted to the rear worksurface edge
36
. The toolbar
93
generally has a J-shape and includes an upper lip
93
which seats onto the upper surface
37
of the worksurface
25
to prevent pens and the like from falling into the slot
57
. The toolbar
92
defines a horizontally elongate toolbar slot
94
which opens upwardly and is mounted to the rear worksurface edge
36
by fasteners
95
.
The toolbar
92
is adapted to support various tools and office equipment. For example, the receptacle unit
26
of the invention includes a housing
99
that encloses a receptacle
100
which is accessible from the front face thereof. The housing
99
includes a base
101
which has a downwardly depending leg or flange
102
which fits downwardly into the toolbar slot
94
and is slidable horizontally therealong. This arrangement permits the receptacle unit
26
to be slid horizontally along the worksurface
25
to any desired location.
The receptacle unit
26
also includes an electrical cord
103
which extends into the upper channel
43
through the open upper side
67
thereof. The electrical cord is routed forwardly through the open front of the upper channel
43
and further includes a conventional three-prong plug
104
which is plugged into the receptacle
72
located in the lower cable channel
44
.
When the end caps
16
are removed and the cable management slot
27
is fully exposed as generally illustrated in
FIGS. 5
,
6
and
7
, the entire open upper side
67
of the upper channel
43
is accessible. This allows a horizontal length of cabling to be laid downwardly into the upper channel
43
.
If two adjoining desks
12
are provided in side-by-side relation, the upper and lower channels
43
and
44
of the adjoining desks
12
are disposed directly next to each other and are in sideward communication with each other. This permits cabling, particularly cabling disposed in the upper channel
43
, to be laid downwardly therein. This cabling may have a length which extends the entire width of two or more desks. Thus, when the upper channels
43
are fully open, the desks
12
need not be removed, for example, from next to a wall in order for the cabling to be laid into these channels
43
. Further, cabling can be selectively routed from the upper or lower channels
43
and
44
to the top of the worksurface
25
as generally illustrated in FIG.
7
.
Once the cabling is laid into the desk units
12
, the aforementioned end caps
16
are fitted into the opposite ends of the slot
27
. The end caps
16
cooperate with a plate-like connector
107
which is connected to the rear worksurface edge
36
as generally illustrated in FIG.
8
.
More particularly, the connector
107
(
FIGS. 8
,
9
and
10
) includes a mounting section
108
at an inner end thereof which has a fastener hole
109
through which a fastener
110
is threadedly engaged with the rear worksurface edge
36
. The connector
107
also includes a mounting section
112
at the opposite end thereof which defines a plurality of vertically elongate slots
114
. The slots
114
open vertically from the upper and lower ends thereof to permit engagement with the end caps
16
.
Arcuate side walls
115
define the slots
114
wherein each pair of side walls
115
, which define a respective one of the slots
114
, curve toward each other as generally illustrated in
FIG. 10
but are laterally spaced apart to define a vertically elongate slot opening. The slot walls
115
further include wall braces
117
to limit deflection of the slot walls
115
.
To further facilitate connection of the connector
107
to the rear worksurface edge
36
, rectangular cutouts
119
are defined in the slot walls
115
of the two outermost slots
114
to provide access to two additional fastener holes
120
. Respective fasteners are inserted through these holes
120
and threadedly engaged with the rear worksurface edge
36
. Accordingly, a connector
107
is provided in each opposite end of the cable slot
27
wherein the connector
107
is disposed outwardly of the outermost end of the toolbar
92
.
Referring to
FIGS. 5
,
8
and
11
-
13
, each of the end caps
16
is adapted to be slid vertically downwardly into engagement with a corresponding one of the connectors
107
. When the end cap
16
is mounted to the rear worksurface edge
36
as generally illustrated in
FIG. 5
, the end caps
16
serve to enclose off the outer ends of the slot
27
. The end caps
16
thereby serve to confine cables horizontally within the slot
27
or vertically in the open ends of the channels
43
and
44
.
More particularly, when the end caps
16
are secured in place, those cables which extend vertically between the top of the worksurface
25
and the channels
43
and
44
are confined laterally between a laterally spaced apart pair of end caps
16
which end caps
16
are located at the opposite ends of the slot
27
. For those cables extending horizontally through the open ends of the channels
43
and
44
, these cables are confined vertically between the bottom wall of the channel and the end caps
16
which overlie the channel.
Referring to FIGS.
11
-
13
, each of the end caps
16
generally includes an outer end wall
122
, a rear wall
123
, a front wall
124
and an arcuate wall
125
. A top wall
126
overlies these side walls to define a block-like connector configuration.
To mount the end caps
16
to the worksurface
25
, the front wall
124
thereof includes a plurality of T-shaped ribs or tongues
128
which extend upwardly and terminate at a bottom surface of the top wall
126
. The ribs
128
are vertically elongate and the lower ends
129
thereof are adapted to slidably fit into the open upper ends of the slots
114
formed in the connectors
107
. As such, each end cap
16
is fixedly secured to a corresponding connector
107
by sliding the lower rib ends
129
into the connector slots
114
until the top wall
126
abuts against the upper edge of the connector
107
. The top wall
126
thereby prevents further downward insertion or sliding of the end cap
16
. With this arrangement, the end cap
16
is freely slidable into engagement and in fact slides vertically downwardly into the cable slot
127
during assembly.
Thus, even if a desk unit
12
is pushed tight against a wall, the end caps
16
can be readily removed by sliding the end caps
16
upwardly. When an end cap
16
is mounted in place, the top wall
126
thereof is disposed substantially flush with the top of the worksurface
25
such that the end cap
16
defines a rearward projecting extension of the worksurface
25
. Further, the arcuate wall
125
is aligned with and defines an arcuate extension of the toolbar
92
as illustrated in FIG.
3
. Additionally, an arcuate rim
130
is provided along the upper edge of the arcuate wall
125
which arcuate rim
130
has the same shape and defines an arcuate extension of the upper lip
93
on the toolbar
92
. The end caps
16
thereby blend in with and form extensions of the toolbar
92
and worksurface
25
even though the and caps
16
are readily removable.
To provide further rigidity to the end caps
16
, a pattern of intersecting transverse ribs
132
are formed in the interior of the end caps
16
to strengthen the rear wall
123
, front wall
124
, arcuate wall
125
and top wall
126
.
Besides being used to facilitate cable management, the end caps
16
also serve as connection blocks for the connection of a vertical storage unit
14
to the desk unit
12
. As such, the end caps
16
include cylindrical fastener bores
134
which project vertically up to the lower surface of the top wall
126
but do not project therethrough. Thus, the fastener bores
134
are hidden and the end cap
16
has a continuous top wall
126
.
When a vertical storage unit
14
is to be connected thereto, fasteners
136
(
FIG. 15
) are threaded upwardly into the fastener bores
134
until the tip ends thereof break through or pierce the top wall
126
and screw into the vertical storage unit
14
as will be described in further detail herein.
More particularly with respect to the vertical storage unit
14
, an exemplary vertical storage unit
14
is illustrated in
FIGS. 1
,
14
and
15
wherein the vertical storage unit
14
includes left and right stiles
140
which are laterally spaced apart. The stiles
140
support horizontal shelves or panels
141
which extend laterally therebetween. It will be appreciated that the stiles
140
may be used to support other cabinet constructions such as drawers, doors or the like.
The stiles
140
are vertically enlarged and have a substantial width in the front-to-back direction. The width is approximately the overall width of the desk unit
12
on which the vertical storage unit
14
is supported. To secure the vertical storage unit
14
to the desk
12
, the end caps
16
are fastened to the stiles
140
wherein the end caps
16
and corresponding connector
107
provide a rigid connection therebetween.
More specifically, each stile
140
is provided with an end cap
16
which is threadedly engaged with a bottom stile edge
142
by the fasteners
136
. The end cap
16
thereby projects downwardly, preferably from the rear corner of the stile
140
. The bottom edge
142
has a substantial length such that the top of the worksurface
25
supports the vertical weight of the vertical storage unit
14
. The primary function of the end caps
16
and connectors
107
is to prevent tipping of the vertical storage unit
14
upon the application of a transverse load directed in a forward direction.
When a forwardly directed tipping force is applied against the vertical storage unit
14
such as when a user pulls on the top thereof when opening a door or hanging onto the unit, the cooperation of the end cap ribs
132
in the connector slots
114
prevents the rear edge of the vertical storage unit
14
from being raised or lifted vertically. In particular, the slots
114
and ribs
132
bind when such a transverse load is applied thereto since the end caps
16
is not being pulled directly vertically but instead the vertical storage unit
14
effectively attempts to pivot about the front corner
146
thereof. Thus, when a tipping force is applied, the end cap
16
prevents the vertical storage unit
12
from toppling. To protect against unwanted play or minor movements of the vertical storage unit
12
, an adhesive such as a double sided tape
148
may be applied between the opposing surfaces of the bottom stile edge
142
and the upper face of the worksurface
25
.
With the above-described arrangement of the end cap
16
, the desk units
12
have an improved cable management capability wherein cabling can be routed or re-routed simply by sliding the end caps
16
vertically from the slot
27
. Further, the end caps
16
provide an improved connection method for connecting additional furniture components to the desk unit
12
. In particular, end caps
16
can be readily threaded to a bottom edge, for example, of a vertical storage unit
14
and the vertical storage unit can be connected by sliding the end cap
16
downwardly into the corresponding connectors
107
.
While the foregoing discussion primarily discloses a freestanding desk unit
12
, it will be appreciated that other worksurface units may be provided. For example, while the desk unit includes a worksurface
25
supported on end panels
19
, alternative types of support structure and worksurface supports may also be provided for the worksurface
25
. In particular, a worksurface
25
could be supported by a central pedestal or supported on wall panels or the like and the worksurface
25
could still include the end caps
16
.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A desk arrangement comprising:a worksurface support which is disposed in load bearing engagement with a floor, said worksurface support including a cable channel which extends horizontally therethrough along a lateral length of the desk arrangement, said cable channel including opposite open ends which open horizontally from the opposite ends of the desk arrangement to permit cabling to enter and exit said cable channel through said open ends, said cable channel further including an open upper side along the longitudinal length of said cable channel which permits cabling to be laid vertically therein; a horizontally enlarged worksurface which is vertically supported on said worksurface support in vertically spaced relation from the floor, said worksurface including a horizontally elongate slot which opens vertically through said worksurface and extends between opposite end edges of said worksurface, said slot opening downwardly into said open upper side of said cable channel to permit cabling to be laid vertically into said cable channel through said slot; and at least a pair of end caps which are insertable into said slot to enclose opposite ends of said slot, each of said end caps being disposed in said slot to confine vertical cabling within said slot and horizontal cabling within said cable channel, said end caps being removable to permit movement of said cabling upwardly from said cable channel or sidewardly from said slot.
- 2. A desk arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said end caps are insertable downwardly into said slot into engagement with said worksurface.
- 3. A desk arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said slot extends laterally along a back edge of said worksurface such that said slot is disposed vertically above said open upper side of said cable channel and said end caps project rearwardly from said back edge of said worksurface in cantilevered relation.
- 4. A desk arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said back edge of said worksurface is disposed forwardly of a back edge of said worksurface support.
- 5. A desk arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a horizontally elongate support rail is connected to said back edge of said worksurface adjacent to said slot, office equipment being provided in slidable engagement with said support rail so as to be horizontally slidable along said worksurface, said office equipment including cabling which extends vertically downwardly into said cable channel through said slot.
- 6. A desk arrangement according to claim 1, wherein cap connectors are mounted to an edge of said worksurface adjacent said slot, each said end cap being slidable downwardly into secure engagement with a corresponding one of said cap connectors.
- 7. A desk arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a connection is defined between each of said cap connectors and said end cap corresponding thereto which is free of separate fasteners.
- 8. A desk arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said desk arrangement includes a vertical storage unit which is supported on an upper side of said worksurface, said end caps being connected to opposite ends of said vertical storage unit and projecting downwardly therefrom wherein said vertical storage unit is connected to said worksurface by said fastener free connection defined between said end cap and said connector corresponding thereto.
- 9. A desk arrangement comprising:a worksurface supported on a base, said worksurface being horizontally enlarged and including a mounting edge which extends laterally between opposite end edges of said worksurface, said mounting edge including a plurality of connectors secured thereto and having a corresponding plurality of connection blocks which are supported on said worksurface by said connectors, said connection blocks and said connectors being removably joined together by a slot and rib connection defined therebetween wherein said connection blocks are secured to said worksurface by downward sliding of said connection blocks vertically into engagement with said connectors; and a vertical cabinet unit which is supported on top of said worksurface, said vertical cabinet unit including a bottom edge supported on said worksurface and projecting upwardly therefrom, said connection blocks being connected to said bottom edges so as to project downwardly therefrom, said vertical storage unit being secured to said worksurface by downward sliding of said connection blocks into engagement with said corresponding connectors.
- 10. A desk arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said connection blocks and said connectors are defined by a plastic material, one of said connection blocks and said connectors including vertically elongate ribs and the other of said connection blocks and said connectors including vertically elongate slots which slidably receive said ribs therein to define said slot and rib connection.
- 11. A desk arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said vertical cabinet unit includes laterally spaced apart stiles which extend downwardly to define said bottom edges, said stiles including front edges which are spaced from said connector block in a first direction wherein said cooperating slots and ribs bind when a tipping force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit in said first direction.
- 12. A desk arrangement according to claim 11, wherein each said connection block is mounted to said bottom edge of said vertical cabinet unit proximate a lower corner thereof.
- 13. A desk arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said connection blocks are connected to said bottom edges by fasteners.
- 14. A desk arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said vertical cabinet unit includes laterally spaced apart stiles which extend downwardly to define said bottom edges, said stiles including front edges which are spaced from said connector block in a first direction wherein said cooperating slots and ribs bind when a tipping force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit in said first direction.
- 15. A desk arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said slots and ribs are disengagable when a vertical lifting force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit but are fixed together when a tipping force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit in a direction oriented generally parallel to said worksurface.
- 16. A desk arrangement comprising:a worksurface supported on a base, said worksurface being horizontally enlarged and including a mounting edge which extends laterally between opposite end edges of said worksurface, said mounting edge including a plurality of connectors secured thereto and a corresponding plurality of connection blocks which are supported at said worksurface by said connectors, said connection blocks and said connectors being removably joined together by a fastener free connection which is free of separate independent fasteners therebetween; and a vertical cabinet unit which is supported on top of said worksurface, said vertical cabinet unit including a bottom edge supported on said worksurface and projecting upwardly therefrom, said connection blocks being connected to said bottom edge so as to project downwardly therefrom, said fastener free connection permitting said connection blocks to be moved vertically relative to said connectors to permit engagement and disengagement thereof wherein said vertical storage unit is secured to said worksurface by downward sliding of said connection blocks into engagement with said corresponding connectors, said fastener free connection preventing disengagement of said connection blocks and said connectors when a transverse force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit in a forward direction.
- 17. A desk arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said vertical cabinet unit includes a front edge disposed adjacent to said worksurface, said connection blocks being spaced rearwardly of said front edge.
- 18. A desk arrangement according to claim 17, wherein said front edge defines a pivot point about which said vertical storage unit tends to pivot when said transverse force is applied to said vertical cabinet unit, said connection blocks and said connectors preventing pivoting of said vertical storage unit about said pivot point.
- 19. A desk arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said fastener free connection is defined by cooperating slots and ribs which are vertically elongate.
- 20. A desk arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said connection blocks and said corresponding connectors are formed of plastic.
US Referenced Citations (32)