Modular furniture system

Abstract

A modular furniture system based on a fundamental building block is provided. The building block, or cell, includes first and second end plates and at least one horizontal support beam. A plurality of stacked and / or side-by-side cells provide a framework that can be arranged in an almost limitless number of ways. The cells serve as both storage space and division between neighboring work spaces, thus conserving raw materials and recovering floor space. The cells further provide raceways for concealing electrical wires and data cables, and are adapted for supporting work surfaces and connecting to vertical panels. The cells are adapted to receive various storage components, such as drawers, which may be inserted from both a front side and a back side of each cell. The cells are also adapted to receive tiles, which may cover open sides of each cell and / or cover the end plates of each cell. The tiles may provide any of a multitude of different aesthetic and functional surfaces. A single cell or stack of cells may include a foundation for increased rigidity and sturdiness.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 377,501, filed on May 1, 2002, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to modular furniture. Specifically, the present application discloses a furniture system comprised of a plurality of basic building blocks, or cells. The cells serve as both storage space and division between work areas. The cells are adapted to be combined and arranged to provide an almost limitless variety of furniture system arrangements. The systems provide many advantages over traditional furniture systems, including, inter alia, cost and space savings, multi-directional loading and access, the ability to receive tiles, reduction in shadows cast, compatibility with traditional panels, and the capacity to enclose various connectors such as electrical wires and telephone and d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] The preferred embodiments of the present modular furniture system have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this modular furniture system as expressed by the claims that follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments,” one will understand how the features of the preferred embodiments provide advantages, which include providing a versatile base unit that serves as both storage space and division between neighboring work spaces, thus conserving raw materials and recovering floor space, provides multidirectional loading and access, possesses the ability to receive tiles, reduces shadows, is compatible with traditional panels, provides the capacity to enclose various connectors such as electrical wires and telephone and data cables, and is adapted to support work surfaces and dividing panels.

Problems solved by technology

This modular furniture system is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above that are fully equivalent.

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