This invention relates to storage bins for office wall partitions and, more particularly, to an electrified storage bin configuration for use on both sides of an office wall partition in a modular office furniture system.
Office furniture partitions are known which comprise modular partitions joined end-to-end. Each partition typically comprises a rectangular frame with vertical posts and horizontal beams to which cladding such as a plurality of modular covers are removably coupled. Examples of such partitions include U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,760 to Edwards, issued Apr. 11, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,255 to Kelley, issued Aug. 11, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,246 to Hodges et al, issued Jan. 30, 1996, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,577 to Tenser et al, issued Aug. 20, 1985, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Such partitions are known for use with associated office furniture including, for example, hanging cabinets which are hung on the front of the partition. Such hanging cabinets have the disadvantage that they extend a substantial extent in front of the partition and typically require lighting under the cabinet. The cabinet impedes a user's ability to use the workplace and are relatively expensive.
Overhead cabinets have doors which typically hinge outwardly and require additional space and provide interference with use of the cabinet and the workspace. Sliding doors are known to close cabinets, closets and the like in which two sliding doors are provided, however, such double sliding door configurations have the disadvantage that, at all times, at least one of the doors covers half of the opening.
Systems are known to provide private storage compartment to users on both sides of an office partition such as disclosed in the applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,908 issued May 18, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present inventor has appreciated that such previously known systems suffer the disadvantage that they do not provide an arrangement for space efficient convenient lockable storage of personal electronic devices such as cell phones, personal digital assistants pas computers, note-book computers, lap-top computers, and electronic cameras where such devices may be charged while been securely stored against unauthorized removal.
To at least partially overcome these disadvantages, the present invention provides a storage cabinet with two electrified back-to back, separated compartments extending through an office partition with a first compartment open to a first side of the partition and another, second compartment open to a second side of the partition, and with one lockable door on each side of the partition to close the compartment opening on that side. The electrified back to back compartments have a depth less than the side to side depth of the cabinet and, preferably have a cavity intermediate the two compartments via which electrical power is directed to an electrical outlet in each compartment.
Another object is to provide a lockable electrified individual, private storage compartment to users on both sides of an office partition wherein electronic devices may be engaged with an electrical outlet and securely locked against unauthorized removal.
Accordingly, the present invention in one of its aspects provides a double sided storage cabinet having a first compartment open at a first access opening on a front face of the cabinet and a second compartment open at a second access opening on an opposite rear face of the cabinet,
a first door movable between a closed position covering the first access opening and an open position permitting access to the first compartment through the first access opening,
a second door movable between a closed position covering the second access opening and an open position permitting access to the second compartment through the second access opening,
a first lock to lock the first door in the closed position,
a second lock to lock the second door in the closed position,
an interior wall of the first compartment spaced from a parallel interior wall of the second compartment so as to form a cavity therebetween between the first compartment and the second compartment,
a first electrical outlet provided on the interior wall within the first compartment,
a second electrical outlet provided on the interior wall within the second compartment, and
an electrical supply bus located within the cavity and providing electrical power to the first outlet and the second outlet.
In another aspect the present invention provides a modular office furniture system comprising:
an upright partition having a first side and a second side, the partition comprising a supporting framework formed of vertically spaced horizontal beams and horizontally spaced vertical posts defining at least one rectangular internal opening therebetween through the framework from one side of the framework to the other side, the partition having cladding on both sides of the framework to cover portions of the framework on each side of the partition,
a storage element mounted to the framework within the rectangular opening extending to each side beyond the cladding on that side,
the storage element having:
a horizontal top wall,
a horizontal bottom wall spaced vertically from the top wall,
a vertical first dividing wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall,
a vertical second dividing wall spaced from the first dividing wall away from the first end wall parallel to the first dividing wall,
a vertical first partitioning wall spanning between the first dividing wall and the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall perpendicular to the first dividing wall,
a vertical second partitioning wall spanning between the first dividing wall and the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall perpendicular to the first partitioning wall, the second partitioning wall spaced from the first partitioning wall,
a cavity defined intermediate the first partitioning wall and the second partitioning wall between the first dividing wall and second dividing wall,
a first storage compartment enclosed on five sides by the top wall, bottom wall, first dividing wall, second dividing wall and first partitioning wall and having a first access opening open on the first side of the partition spanning from the first dividing wall to the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall,
a second storage compartment enclosed on five sides by the top wall, bottom wall, first dividing wall, second dividing wall and second partitioning wall and having a second access opening open on the second side of the partition spanning from the first dividing wall to the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall,
a first door member on the first side of the partition mounted for movement between a first position in which the first door member overlies the first access opening to close the first access opening and a second position in which the first door member does not cover the first access opening to the first storage compartment,
a second door member on the second side of the partition mounted for movement between a first position in which the second door member overlies the second access opening to close the second access opening and a second position in which the second door member does not cover the second access opening to the second storage compartment,
a first electrical outlet provided on the first partitioning wall within the first storage compartment,
a second electrical outlet provided on the second partitioning wall within the second compartment,
an electrical supply bus located within the cavity and providing electrical power to the first electrical outlet and the second electrical outlet,
a first lock to lock the first door in the first position of the first door, and
a second lock to lock the second door in the first position of the second door.
In yet another aspect the present invention provides a modular office furniture system comprising:
an upright partition having a first side and a second side, the partition comprising a supporting framework formed of vertically spaced horizontal beams and horizontally spaced vertical posts defining at least one rectangular internal opening therebetween through the framework from one side of the framework to the other side, the partition having cladding on both sides of the framework to cover portions of the framework on each side of the partition,
a storage element mounted to the framework within the rectangular opening extending to each side beyond the cladding on that side,
the storage element having:
a horizontal top wall,
a horizontal bottom wall spaced vertically from the top wall,
a vertical first end wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall at a first end of the storage element, and
a vertical second end wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall at a second end of the storage element parallel to the first end wall,
a vertical first dividing wall intermediate the first end wall and the second end wall parallel to the first end wall,
a vertical second dividing wall intermediate the first dividing wall and the second end wall parallel to the first end wall,
a vertical first side wall at the second side of the partition spanning from the first end wall to the first dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall,
a vertical second side wall at the first side of the partition spanning from the second end wall to the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall,
a vertical first partitioning wall spanning between the first dividing wall and the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall perpendicular to the first end wall,
a vertical second partitioning wall spanning between the first dividing wall and the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall perpendicular to the first partitioning wall, the second partitioning wall spaced from the first partitioning wall,
a cavity defined intermediate the first partitioning wall and the second partitioning wall between the first dividing wall and second dividing wall,
a first storage compartment enclosed on five sides by the top wall, bottom wall, first dividing wall, second dividing wall and first partitioning wall and having a first access opening open on the first side of the partition spanning from the first dividing wall to the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall,
a second storage compartment enclosed on five sides by the top wall, bottom wall, first dividing wall, second dividing wall and second partitioning wall and having a second access opening open on the second side of the partition spanning from the first dividing wall to the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall,
a third storage compartment enclosed on five sides by the top wall, bottom wall, first end wall, first dividing wall and first side wall and having a third access opening open on the first side of the partition spanning from the first end wall to the first dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall,
a fourth storage compartment enclosed on five sides by the top wall, bottom wall, second end wall, second dividing wall and second side wall and having a fourth access opening open on the second side of the partition spanning from the second end wall to the second dividing wall between the top wall and the bottom wall,
a first door member on the first side of the partition slidably mounted for linear sliding between a first position in which the first door member overlies the first access opening to close the first access opening and does not cover the third access opening to the third storage compartment and a second position in which the first door member overlies the third access opening to close the third access opening and does not cover the first access opening to the first storage compartment,
a second door member on the second side of the partition slidably mounted for linear sliding between a first position in which the second door member overlies the second access opening to close the second access opening and does not cover the fourth access opening to the fourth storage compartment and a second position in which the second door member overlies the fourth access opening to close the fourth access opening and does not cover the second access opening to the second storage compartment,
a first electrical outlet provided on the first partitioning wall within the first storage compartment,
a second electrical outlet provided on the second partitioning wall within the second compartment,
an electrical supply bus located within the cavity and providing electrical power to the first electrical outlet and the second electrical outlet,
a first lock to lock the first door in the first position of the first door, and
a second lock to lock the second door in the first position of the second door.
Further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent having regard to the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Each of
Cladding covers indicated generally as 5 but also specifically as 5a or 5b are removably coupled to the frame as best seen in
The partition illustrated is to be appreciated as formed with an open gridwork of horizontally spaced, vertical posts 1 and vertically spaced, horizontal beams 2 with the result that the partition has a plurality of rectangular internal openings therebetween through the frame from one side to the other and open internal cavities permit the passage of wires and cables therein. The interior cavity is made up of a vertically extending central post space 39 together with horizontally extending raceways 41 adjacent and open to the central post space 39. The central post space 39 is defined between the posts 1, that is, between a forward plane including the forward face of each post 1 and a rearward plane including a rearward face of each post 1. The central post space 39 extends vertically between the spaced, parallel forward and rearward planes and between interior faces of the post 1. The central post space 39 extends continuously vertically throughout the height of the partition open upwardly to above the top of the partition and open downwardly to below the lowest beam of the partition.
A plurality of raceways 41 extend horizontally between the beams 2 outward of the respective of the forward or rearward planes. The raceways 41 extend a full width of each partition and are open at each end to beyond the exterior end faces of the posts. The raceways 41 are defined inward of the covers 5 and extend forwardly and rearwardly from the respective forward and rearward planes the combined thickness of the beams 2 and the saddle portion of the brackets 3.
The raceways 41 are open on their interior sides to the central post space 39 over the entire distance between the posts 1. Whereas the central post space 39 ends at the interior end faces of the post 1, the raceways 41 provide for passageway for conduit horizontally past the posts outward of the posts inward of the covers. Similarly, the central post space 39 provides a passageway for conduit vertically past the beams 2 inward of the beams and inward of the covers. The raceways 41, central post space 39 and covers 5 define an interior cavity in the panel assembly which permits conduit to be routed vertically throughout the partition between the post 1 inside the beams and horizontally across the partition and between adjacent partitions in the raceways outside the post 1 between the beams 2 and inside the covers 5.
As can be seen in
Reference is made to
Reference is made to
In
As shown in the drawings and may be understood, particularly from
Two vertical end wall members 23 extend between the top wall members 21 and the bottom wall members 22 at a first end of the straddle bin to form a first end wall 123. Two vertical end wall members 24 extend between the top wall members 21 and the bottom wall members 22 at a second end of the straddle bin to form a second end wall 124. Each of the end members 23 are adapted to be coupled to opposite sides of a post 1 to effectively form with the post the first end wall 123 that extends transversely through the partition at a first end of the partition. Similarly, each of the end wall members 24 is secured to a post 1 to effectively form with the post 1 the second end wall 124 at the second end of the partition parallel to the first end wall 123.
A vertical first dividing wall 125 is provided intermediate the end wall members 23 and the end wall members 24 with the first dividing wall 125 extending parallel to the end wall members 23 and 24.
A vertical second dividing wall 126 is provided intermediate the end wall members 24 and the first dividing wall 125 with the second dividing wall 126 also extending parallel to the end wall members 23 and 24.
The partition 10 for convenience is indicated as having a first face or side 31 and a second face or side 32.
On the first side 31 of the partition, a vertical second side wall member 28 is provided spanning from the second end wall 124 to the second dividing wall 126 between the top wall 121 and the bottom wall 122.
On the second side 32 of the partition, a vertical first side wall member 27 is provided spanning from the first end wall 123 to the first dividing wall member 125 between the top wall 121 and the bottom wall 122.
A vertical first partitioning wall 151 is provided intermediate the top wall 121 and the bottom wall 122 extending between the first dividing wall 125 and the vertical second dividing wall 126 parallel to the vertical first side wall member 27.
A vertical second partitioning wall 152 is provided intermediate the top wall 121 and the bottom wall 122 extending between the first dividing wall 125 and the second dividing wall 126 parallel to the vertical first side wall member 27. The second partitioning wall 152 is spaced towards the second side 32 of the partition from the first partitioning wall 151.
A first storage compartment 54 is defined enclosed on five sides by the top wall 121, bottom wall 122, the first dividing wall 125, the second dividing wall 126 and the first partitioning wall 151. This first storage compartment 54 has a first access opening 55 open on the first side 31 of the partition and spanning from the first dividing wall 125 to the second dividing wall 126 between the top wall 121 and the bottom wall 122.
A second storage compartment 56 is defined enclosed on five sides by the top wall members 21, bottom wall members 22, the first dividing wall 125, the second dividing wall 126 and the second partitioning wall 152. This second storage compartment 56 has a second access opening 57 open on the second side 32 of the partition and spanning from the first dividing wall 125 to the second dividing wall 126 between the top wall 121 and the bottom wall 122.
A cavity 153 is defined between first partitioning wall 151 and the second partitioning wall 152 intermediate the first dividing wall 125 and the second dividing wall 126. The cavity 153 is open vertically to the central post space 39 of the partition and open to the horizontally extending raceways 41 via the central post space 39, as to permit electrical cables and conduit to be passed into and through the cavity 153.
On the cross sectional views of
A third storage compartment 33 is defined enclosed on five sides by the top wall 121, bottom wall 122, second end wall 124, second dividing wall 126 and the second side wall member 28. The third storage compartment 33 has a third access opening 35 open on the first side 31 of the partition 10 spanning from the second end wall 124 to the second dividing wall 126 between the top wall members 21 and the bottom wall members 22.
A fourth storage compartment 34 is defined enclosed on five sides by the top wall 121, bottom wall 122, first end wall 123, the first dividing wall 125 and the first side wall member 27. This fourth storage compartment 34 has a fourth access opening 36 open on the second side 32 of the partition and spanning from the first end wall 123 to the first dividing wall 125 between the top wall members 21 and the bottom wall members 22.
The straddle bin 20 thus defines the first and second storage compartments 54 and 56 as two partial depth compartments and the third and fourth storage compartments 33 and 34 as two full depth compartments, each having a blind end and each having an access opening which opens to one side of the partition.
Doors are provided to close the access openings of each compartment. In this regard, as seen in cross sectional side views in
A first door member 29 is provided on the first side 31 of the partition 10 slidably mounted for linear sliding in the upper track 37 and the lower track 38 laterally outwardly beyond the dividing walls 125 and 126 between: a first position seen in
A second door member 30 is provided on the second side 32 of the partition 10 slidably mounted for linear sliding in the upper track 37 and the lower track 38 laterally outwardly beyond the dividing wall members 25 and 26 between: a first position in which the door member 29 overlies the second access opening 57 to close the second access opening 57 to the second compartment 56 and does not cover the fourth access opening 36, a second position as seen in
Each of the door members 29 and 30 are adapted to be locked at least in their first position in which they respectively overlie and close the first and second access openings 55 and 56. In this regard, as seen in
Reference is made to
The outwardly directed surfaces of the door members and/or the side wall members may serve an additional purpose as preferably comprising a mirror, a whiteboard surface, a blackboard surface, a tack board surface or a magnetic board surface. In this regard, the surfaces could comprise a mirror or have a mirror attached thereto. The surfaces could be used to mount notes as by being a tack board, for example, having a layer of cork secured thereto and to which pins and the like could be stuck or by having a magnetic surface such that magnets could hold notes onto the surface. The surfaces could also be used for carrying markings such as being a whiteboard or blackboard for marking by whiteboard pens or chalk or the like. Similarly, one or more of the surfaces could be provided with a thin frame-like structure so as to serve the purpose as comprising a picture frame within which a photograph or notice or the like could be mounted.
The preferred embodiments illustrated in
The preferred embodiment in
Reference is made to
The second embodiment may be considered substantially identical to the first embodiment with the exception that merely the first, second and third storage compartments are provided in the second embodiment, that is to eliminate the fourth storage compartment shown in the first embodiment. As best seen in
The preferred embodiments illustrate a particularly preferred arrangement for construction of the straddle bin 20 as with various of the walls such as the top wall 121, and bottom wall 122 comprising a plurality of elements. This is merely preferred and any manner of construction and mounting of the various wall members is within the scope of the present invention. Each wall may comprise a unitary element.
The present invention has been described with doors which are slidable horizontally to various positions to provide access to the electrified, lockable storage compartments. Such sliding doors are preferred however other mounting arrangements for doors such as hinged arrangements may be utilized.
The present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Many modifications and variations will now occur to a person skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is made to the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2,742,556 | Jun 2011 | CA | national |