Functional rail and worksurface support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10258157-B2
Application number	US-201715617430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2017
Priority date	Jun 10, 2016
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A functional rail system is mounted to the top of a modular office panel and supports a worksurface on the rail with the worksurface locked in position along the rail. The rail includes a channel in the upper surface for receiving an accessory, and a side accessory slot for mounting the worksurface. The worksurface may be mounted via an upper bracket and a lower bracket interfitted with each other and the side accessory slot to frictionally lock the brackets in place along the longitudinal length of the slot.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A functional rail system for mounting a plurality of accessories, comprising:
an elongated rail having a longitudinal length, an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface;
a channel defined in said upper surface for receiving an accessory, said channel having a pair of opposing sidewalls joined by a channel floor;
a side accessory slot defined in at least one of said first side surface and said second side surface, said side accessory slot including an upper sidewall, a lower sidewall, and a floor, and including at least one wall extending into said slot from one of said upper sidewall and said lower sidewall; and
an upper bracket and a lower bracket interfitted with each other and the accessory slot and cooperating with one another to prevent removal from said rail, each of said upper and lower brackets including a rail section and a support section, the rail sections extending into said accessory slot and the support sections extending outwardly from said accessory slot, a portion of one of said rail sections positioned behind said at least one wall extending into said slot, a portion of said upper bracket rail section positioned in front of a portion of lower bracket rail section.

2. The functional rail system of claim 1 including a modular office panel having a pair of vertical frame members joined by a pair of horizontal frame members, said horizontal and said vertical frame members collectively defining a front surface and an opposing rear surface, said front surface and said rear surface each covered with a cover panel mounted thereto, said horizontal frame members including a top frame member having an upper surface, wherein said lower surface of said elongated rail is mounted on said upper surface of said modular office panel.

3. The functional rail system of claim 2 wherein said elongated rail defines a height between said upper surface and said lower surface, wherein said central channel extends into said rail a majority of said height such that said channel is positioned behind said accessory slot.

4. The functional rail system of claim 3 wherein said lower surface of said elongated rail includes a first planar portion and a second planar portion separated by a groove, and wherein said upper surface of said top frame member includes raised portions aligned with said first and second planar portions.

5. The functional rail system of claim 4 wherein said side accessory slot includes at least one wall extending into said slot from each of said upper sidewall and said lower sidewall, said at least one walls aligned with one another to form a T-slot.

6. The functional rail system of claim 5 wherein a first portion of said rail section of said upper bracket is positioned in front of a portion of rail section of said lower bracket and wherein a second portion of said rail section of said upper bracket is positioned behind said at least one wall extending into said slot.

7. The functional rail system of claim 6 wherein said support section of said upper bracket is attached to said support section of said lower bracket.

8. The functional rail system of claim 7 wherein a portion of a worksurface is mounted on said support section of said upper bracket, and where at least one fastener extends through said lower bracket, said upper bracket and into said worksurface to draw said brackets together and also mount said worksurface.

9. The functional rail system of claim 8 wherein an accessory is inserted into the central channel, said accessory extending upwardly from said upper surface of said elongated rail.

10. The functional rail system of claim 9 wherein said accessory is a privacy screen.

11. The functional rail system of claim 8 wherein said accessory extends into said central channel to abut said channel floor.

12. The functional rail system of claim 11 wherein said accessory is retained in said central channel with a friction fit.

13. A functional rail system for supporting a worksurface, comprising:
an elongated rail having a longitudinal length, an upper surface, a lower surface a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface;
a side accessory slot defined in at least one of said first side surface and said second side surface, said side accessory slot including an upper sidewall, a lower sidewall, and a floor, and including at least one wall extending into said slot from one of said upper sidewall and said lower sidewall; and
an upper bracket and a lower bracket interfitted with each other and said side accessory slot, each of said upper and lower brackets including a rail section and a support section, wherein at least a portion of each of said rail sections extends into said side accessory slot wherein a portion of said rail section of said upper bracket is positioned in front of a portion of rail section of said lower bracket to prevent removal of said lower bracket from said side accessory slot, wherein a worksurface is attached to said support sections of one of said upper and lower brackets.

14. The functional rail system of claim 13 wherein said upper bracket rail section includes a base, a first leg extending upwardly from said base and a second leg extending downwardly from said base, wherein said first leg is positioned in said accessory slot behind said at least one wall extending into said slot from one of said upper sidewall and said lower sidewall, wherein said second leg is positioned in front of a portion of said lower bracket, wherein said first leg abuts said at least one wall extending into said slot.

15. The functional rail system of claim 14 wherein said lower bracket rail section includes a base and a second leg extending upwardly from said base, said second leg positioned between said second leg of said upper bracket and said accessory slot floor.

16. The functional rail system of claim 15 wherein said support sections of said upper and lower brackets are spaced from said elongated rail, and wherein said support sections are connected to each other such that said second leg of said upper bracket is pressed against said second leg of said lower bracket.

17. The functional rail system of claim 16 wherein an inner surface of the first leg of the upper bracket is horizontally pressed against said wall extending from said upper sidewall of said slot and said second leg of said upper bracket horizontally presses said second leg of said lower bracket against said floor of said slot to frictionally lock said brackets in place along said longitudinal length of said slot.

18. A method of mounting a worksurface on a functional rail, comprising:
(a) providing a functional rail having a longitudinal length, an upper surface, a lower surface a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, at least one of the first side surface and the second side surface defining an accessory slot, the accessory slot having an upper sidewall, a lower sidewall, and an intermediate wall extending into said slot from one of said upper and lower sidewalls;
(b) inserting upper and lower brackets into the accessory slot such that said upper and lower brackets interfit with each other and said slot, the brackets each including a rail portion and a support portion spaced from the rail portion, the rail portions of the brackets cooperating with each other within the accessory slot to prevent removal from the accessory slot, wherein the rail portion of one of the brackets is at least partially positioned

Assignees

• Haworth Inc

Inventors

• Wayner Robert Clare
• Glick Kristen R
• Powell Mark A

Classifications

• E04B2002/7483

  Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions · CPC title

• A47B2013/006

  to hollow tubular profiles · CPC title

• A47B96/1441 Primary

  Horizontal struts · CPC title

• A47B2200/01

  Office wall with desktop function · CPC title

• A47B2200/12

  Vanity or modesty panels · CPC title