Bracket mechanism for pre-fabricated office enclosure beams and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10660439-B2
Application number	US-201916522880-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2019
Priority date	May 17, 2017
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

A bracket mechanism is configured to facilitate connection of multiple rail elements to form an elongated element to span over a work space and/or to help support a continuous integral element spanning over a work space. The bracket mechanism can be configured to help ensure the rigidity of the elongated element positioned over the work space so that the elongated element does not sag or bow downwards as it extends over the work space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of using a bracket mechanism comprising:
providing a first reinforcing member that is resiliently moveable from a curved orientation at which the first reinforcing member is curved along a length of the first reinforcing member to a linear orientation at which the first reinforcing member extends linearly;
positioning the first reinforcing member in (i) a first opening of a first beam member, the first opening of the first beam member being an upper opening that faces upwardly and extends between a first end of the first beam member to a second end of the second beam member and (ii) a first opening of a second beam member, the first opening of the second beam member being an upper opening that faces upwardly and extends between a first end of the second beam member to a second end of the second beam member, the positioning of the first reinforcing member occurring while the first reinforcing member is in the curved orientation to place the first reinforcing member on a bottom of the first beam member that defines a bottom portion of the first opening and a bottom of the second beam member that defines a bottom portion of the second opening; and
while the first reinforcing member is positioned in the first opening of the first beam member and the first opening of the second beam member, attaching the first reinforcing member to the first beam member and the second beam member so that the first reinforcing member is moved into the linear orientation while also being attached to the first beam member and the second beam.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first reinforcing member is positioned in the first opening of the first beam member between sidewalls of the first beam member that extend above the bottom of the first beam member and the first reinforcing member is positioned in the first opening of the second beam member between sidewalls of the second beam member that extend above the bottom of the second beam member.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first reinforcing member is positioned so that the first reinforcing member extends between the first beam member and the second beam member when the first reinforcing member is moved into the linear orientation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein an elongated element is formed via the attaching of the first reinforcing member to the first beam member and the second beam member, the method also comprising:
attaching the elongated element to different wall elements that are spaced apart from each other and at least partially define a workspace so that a portion of the elongated element is positioned above the workspace.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
moving the first reinforcing member from the curved orientation into the linear orientation prior to the attaching of the first reinforcing member to the first beam member and the second beam member so that the first reinforcing member is maintained in the linear orientation while being attached to the first beam member and the second beam member.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
positioning a first bracket rail in the first beam member and the second beam member such that a first end of the first bracket rail is positioned in a first bracket rail opening of the first beam member and a second end of the first bracket rail is positioned in a first bracket rail opening of the second beam member.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising:
positioning a second bracket rail in the first beam member and the second beam member such that a first end of the second bracket rail is positioned in a second bracket rail opening of the first beam member and a second end of the second bracket rail is positioned in a second bracket rail opening of the second beam member.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the first bracket rail opening of the first beam member is spaced apart from the second bracket rail opening of the first beam member and the first opening of the first beam member is positioned between the first bracket rail opening of the first beam member and the second bracket rail opening of the first beam member; and
the first bracket rail opening of the second beam member is spaced apart from the second bracket rail opening of the second beam member and the first opening of the second beam member is positioned between the first bracket rail opening of the second beam member and the second bracket rail opening of the second beam member.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first bracket rail extends from adjacent the first end of the first beam member to adjacent the first end of the second beam member and the second bracket rail extends from adjacent the first end of the first beam remember to adjacent the first end of the second beam member.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprises:
providing a second reinforcing member that is resiliently moveable from a curved orientation at which the second reinforcing member is curved along a length of the second reinforcing member to a linear orientation,
positioning the second reinforcing member in a second opening of the first beam member and a second opening of a second beam member;
attaching the second reinforcing member to the first beam member and the second beam member so that the second reinforcing member is in the linear orientation while also being attached to the first beam member and the second beam member.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first reinforcing member is spaced apart from the second reinforcing member;
the reinforcing member being positioned so that the first reinforcing member extends from adjacent the first end of the first beam member to adjacent to the first end of the second beam member when the first reinforcing member is moved into the linear orientation; and
the second reinforcing member being positioned so that the second reinforcing member extends from adjacent the first end of the first beam member to adjacent to the first end of the second beam member when the second reinforcing member is moved into the linear orientation.

12. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
abutting the first end of the first beam member to the first end of the second beam member.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first reinforcing member is positioned in the first opening of the first beam member at a middle portion of the first beam member and the first reinforcing member is fastened to the first beam member so that the first reinforcing member is in the linear orientation while also being fastened to the first beam member while the first reinforcing member extends along a central section of the first beam member.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the length of the first reinforcing member, when the first reinforcing member is moved into the linear orientation, is 40%-60% of a length of the first beam member; and
wherein a first end of the first reinforcing member is spaced apart from the first end of the first beam member and a second end of the first reinforcing member is spaced apart from the ft second end of the first beam member.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein an elongated element is formed via the attaching of the first reinforcing member to the first beam member, the method also comprising:
attaching the elongated element to different wall elements that are spaced apart from each other and at least partially define a workspace so that a portion of the elongated element that includes an entirety of the first reinforcing member that is maintained in the linear orientation is positioned above the workspace.

16. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
attaching the first e

Assignees

• Knoll Inc

Inventors

• Mckenzie James Harrison
• Eldon James
• Mcclanahan David
• Bender Christopher

Classifications

• E04B2/7818

  of substantially rectangular form · CPC title

• E04B2/7433

  with panels and support posts · CPC title

• A47B21/06

  characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables · CPC title

• A47B83/001 Primary

  Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems · CPC title

• A47B96/067 Primary

  Horizontal rails as suspension means in a cantilever arrangement (suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls A47B95/008) · CPC title