Partition panel with modular appliance mounting arrangement

Abstract

A freestanding partition panel for dividing a floor space includes a rigid partition frame having vertical side frame members and first and second horizontal frame members extending between the vertical side frame members to form a vertically enlarged opening through the frame, and an open space within the panel. At least one intermediate horizontal cross member extends across the vertically enlarged opening and defines upper and lower openings through the frame. The intermediate cross member and at least a selected one of the first and second horizontal frame members include a plurality of horizontally spaced apart attachment locations defining a plurality of discrete, serially adjacent mounting spaces. The partition panel further includes a utility unit that is mountable in a selected one of the mounting spaces. The partition panel further includes a first cover panel secured to the partition frame and extending horizontally between the side edge of the utility unit and the selected vertical side frame member. The first cover panel is connected to the intermediate horizontal cross member and extends vertically between the intermediate horizontal cross member and the selected one of the first and second members. A second cover panel is secured to the partition frame, and extends horizontally between the vertical side frame members. The second cover panel extends vertically between the intermediate horizontal cross member and the other of the selected one of the first and second horizontal members.

1 - 63 . (canceled)  
   
   
       64 . A partition panel for open office space and the like, comprising: 
 a rigid frame adapted to be supported in a generally vertical orientation on an associated floor surface to partition the open office space into individual workstations, and including:    a marginal frame portion extending about the periphery of said frame, and defining interior and opposite exterior faces; and    an appliance mounting grid portion disposed within said interior of said marginal frame portion, and configured to divide at least a portion of said interior into a plurality of serially adjacent mounting spaces having a substantially identical size and shape; said mounting spaces being arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;    a plurality of modular appliance members, each having:    a similarly configured mounting portion thereof adapted to be positioned on said frame at preselected ones of said mounting spaces;    a finished cover portion thereof disposed generally parallel with one of said faces of said frame, and enclosing the associated one of said mounting spaces; and    an accessory portion thereof configured to functionally equip an associated one of the workstations; and    connectors detachably mounting said modular appliance members to said frame at said preselected ones of said mounting spaces, such that said modular appliance members can be readily removed from said frame and reattached thereto at different ones of said mounting spaces to reconfigure said partition panel for a wide variety of different applications.    
   
   
       65 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 64 , wherein: 
 said accessory portion has at least a portion thereof extending into and housed within said interior of said frame.    
   
   
       66 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said columns of said mounting spaces are disposed in a generally vertical orientation.    
   
   
       67 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 66 , wherein: 
 said rows of said mounting spaces are disposed in a generally horizontal orientation.    
   
   
       68 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 67 , including: 
 a cover disposed generally parallel with said one face of said frame and enclosing the remaining ones of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       69 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 68 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include differently configured accessory portions to equip the associated workstation with a variety of different work tools.    
   
   
       70 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 69 , wherein: 
 said cover includes a plurality of individual cover members configured to enclose at least one, but not all, of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       71 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 64 , wherein: 
 said columns of said mounting spaces are disposed in a generally vertical orientation.    
   
   
       72 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 64 , wherein: 
 said rows of said mounting spaces are disposed in a generally horizontal orientation.    
   
   
       73 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 64 , including: 
 a cover disposed generally parallel with said one face of said frame and enclosing the remaining ones of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       74 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 64 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include differently configured accessory portions to equip the associated workstation with a variety of different work tools.    
   
   
       75 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 64 , wherein: 
 said cover includes a plurality of individual cover members configured to enclose at least one, but not all, of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       76 . In a partition system of the type having a plurality of panels detachably interconnected to partition open floor space into individual workstations, the improvement of a partition panel, comprising: 
 a rigid frame adapted to be supported in a generally vertical orientation on an associated floor surface and detachably connected with an adjacent one of said panels, and including:    a marginal frame portion extending about the periphery of said frame, and defining interior and opposite exterior faces; and    an appliance mounting grid portion disposed within said interior of said marginal frame portion, and configured to divide at least a portion of said interior into a plurality of serially adjacent mounting spaces having a substantially identical size and shape; said mounting spaces being arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;    a plurality of modular appliance members, each having:    a similarly configured mounting portion thereof adapted to be positioned on said frame at preselected ones of said mounting spaces;    a finished cover portion thereof disposed generally parallel with one of said faces of said frame, and enclosing the associated one of said mounting spaces; and    an accessory portion thereof configured to functionally equip an associated one of the workstations; and    connectors detachably mounting said modular appliance members to said frame at said preselected ones of said mounting spaces, such that said modular appliance members can be readily removed from said frame and reattached thereto at different ones of said mounting spaces to reconfigure said partition panel for a wide variety of different applications.    
   
   
       77 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 76 , wherein: 
 said accessory portion has at least a portion thereof extending into and housed within said interior of said frame.    
   
   
       78 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 77 , wherein: 
 said columns of said mounting spaces are disposed in a generally vertical orientation.    
   
   
       79 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 78 , wherein: 
 said rows of said mounting spaces are disposed in a generally horizontal orientation.    
   
   
       80 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 79 , including: 
 a cover disposed generally parallel with said one face of said frame and enclosing the remaining ones of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       81 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 80 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include differently configured accessory portions to equip the associated workstation with a variety of different work tools.    
   
   
       82 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 81 , wherein: 
 said cover includes a plurality of individual cover members configured to enclose at least one, but not all, of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       83 . A partition panel for open office space and the like, comprising: 
 a rigid frame adapted to be supported in a generally vertical orientation on an associated floor surface to partition the open office space into individual workstations, and including:    a marginal frame member extending about the periphery of said frame, and defining an interior cavity and opposite exterior faces; and    an appliance mounting grid member shaped for reception within said interior cavity of said marginal frame member, and configured to divide at least a portion of said interior cavity into a plurality of serially adjacent mounting spaces having a substantially identical size and shape; said mounting spaces being arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows;    first connectors detachably supporting said appliance mounting grid member within said interior cavity of said marginal frame members;    a plurality of modular appliance members, each having:    a similarly configured mounting portion thereof adapted to be positioned on said appliance mounting grid member at preselected ones of said mounting spaces;    a finished cover portion thereof disposed generally parallel with one of said faces of said frame, and enclosing the associated one of said mounting spaces; and    an accessory portion thereof configured to functionally equip an associated one of the workstations; and    second connectors detachably mounting said modular appliance members to said appliance mounting grid member at said preselected ones of said mounting spaces, such that said modular appliance members can be readily removed from said frame and reattached thereto at different ones of said mounting spaces to reconfigure said partition panel for a wide variety of different applications.    
   
   
       84 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 83 , wherein: 
 said accessory portion has at least a portion thereof extending into and housed within said interior cavity of said frame.    
   
   
       85 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 84 , wherein: 
 said columns of said mounting spaces are disposed in a generally vertical orientation.    
   
   
       86 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 85 , wherein: 
 said rows of said mounting spaces are disposed in a generally horizontal orientation.    
   
   
       87 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 86 , including: 
 a cover disposed generally parallel with said one face of said frame and enclosing the remaining ones of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       88 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 87 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include differently configured accessory portions to equip the associated workstation with a variety of different work tools.    
   
   
       89 . A partition panel as set forth in  claim 88 , wherein: 
 said cover includes a plurality of individual cover members configured to enclose at least one, but not all, of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       90 . In a partition system for open office space and the like, the improvement of a partition panel, comprising: 
 at least one rigid framework adapted to be supported in a generally vertical orientation on an associated floor surface to partition the open office space into individual workstations, and including:    a marginal frame portion extending about the periphery of said framework, and    defining an interior cavity and opposite exterior faces; and    an intermediate frame member disposed within said interior cavity of said marginal frame portion, operably connected therewith, and configured to divide at least a portion of said interior cavity into a plurality of serially adjacent mounting spaces having a substantially identical size and shape;    a plurality of modular appliance members, each having:    a similarly configured mounting portion thereof adapted to be positioned on said frame at preselected ones of said mounting spaces;    a finished cover portion thereof disposed generally parallel with one of said faces of said frame, and enclosing the associated one of said mounting spaces; and    an accessory portion thereof configured to functionally equip an associated one of the workstations, and having at least a portion thereof extending into and housed within said interior cavity of said frame;    a connector mechanism detachably mounting said modular appliance members to said framework at said preselected ones of said mounting spaces, such that said modular appliance members can be readily removed from said framework and reattached thereto at different ones of said mounting spaces to reconfigure said partition panel for a wide variety of different applications; and    at least one cover disposed generally parallel with said one face of said frame and enclosing the remaining ones of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       91 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 90 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include differently configured accessory portions to equip the associated workstation with a variety of different work tools.    
   
   
       92 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 91 , wherein: 
 said intermediate frame member is configured to define a plurality of said mounting spaces arranged in a vertically stacked relationship in which said modular appliance members can be interchanged.    
   
   
       93 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 92 , wherein: 
 said cover includes a plurality of individual cover members configured to enclose at least one, but not all, of said mounting spaces.    
   
   
       94 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 93 , wherein: 
 said cover members include at least one single mounting space cover configured to enclose only one of said mounting apertures.    
   
   
       95 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 94 , including: 
 connectors detachably connecting said cover members with said framework to permit said cover members to be readily rearranged on said framework to accommodate a wide variety of different technology and aesthetic applications.    
   
   
       96 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 95 , including: 
 connectors detachably connecting said intermediate frame member with said marginal frame portion to permit said marginal frame portion to accommodate a wide variety of different technology and aesthetic applications.    
   
   
       97 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 96 , wherein: 
 said intermediate frame member includes at least one horizontal cross member extending between and detachably connected with opposite sides of said marginal frame portion.    
   
   
       98 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 97 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include at least one electrical power module.    
   
   
       99 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 98 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include at least one electrical power and data module.    
   
   
       100 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 99 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include at least one storage module.    
   
   
       101 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 100 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include at least one paper management module.    
   
   
       102 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 101 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include at least on dropdown worksurface module.    
   
   
       103 . A partition system as set forth in  claim 102 , wherein: 
 said modular appliance members include at least one tilt-open bin.