Office Organization Unit and System

Abstract

An office organization system comprises a plurality of units, each unit including a first, vertically-oriented frame which forms a closed loop, and a second, vertically-oriented frame which is spaced from and congruent with the first frame. Secured to each of the first and second frames is at least one utility member.

1 . An office organization unit comprising:
 a first, vertically-oriented frame which forms a closed loop;   a second, vertically-oriented frame, spaced from and congruent with the first frame;   at least one utility member secured to the first and second frames.   
   
   
       2 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein the at least one utility member is selected from the group consisting of: drawers, shelves, work surfaces, cabinets, hanging rods, coat racks, water coolers, tack boards, easels, trash receptacles, electronic displays, projection screens, marker boards, signs and space dividers. 
   
   
       3 . The unit of  claim 2  wherein at least two of the utility members from the group have similar dimensions and attachment hardware so as to be interchangeable with each other. 
   
   
       4 . The unit of  claim 1  further comprising a third vertically-oriented frame, spaced from and congruent with the second frame, wherein at least one utility member is secured to the first and second frames, and at least one utility member is secured to the second and third frames. 
   
   
       5 . The unit of  claim 1  further comprising a third vertically-oriented frame, spaced from and congruent with the second frame, wherein the at least one utility member is secured to the first, second and third frames. 
   
   
       6 . The unit of  claim 5  wherein the at least one utility member is a shelf. 
   
   
       7 . The unit of  claim 4  wherein at least one additional utility member is secured to the second and third frames. 
   
   
       8 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein the frames are visibly exposed. 
   
   
       9 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein the first frame comprises a wheel secured to its bottom. 
   
   
       10 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein the first and second frames each comprise two wheels secured to their bottoms. 
   
   
       11 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein the first frame comprises a support foot secured to its bottom. 
   
   
       12 . The unit of  claim 1  further comprising cladding secured to the first frame so as to cover at least a major portion of the area inside the loop of the first frame. 
   
   
       13 . The unit of  claim 12  wherein substantially all of the area inside the loop of the first frame is covered by the cladding. 
   
   
       14 . The unit of  claim 13  wherein at least the peripheral portion of the frame is visibly exposed. 
   
   
       15 . The unit of  claim 12  wherein the entire first frame is covered by the cladding. 
   
   
       16 . The unit of  claim 12  wherein the cladding comprises sheet metal, wood, glass, plastic, or fabric. 
   
   
       17 . The unit of  claim 12  wherein the cladding comprises signage, a tackable portion, a marker board or an electronic display. 
   
   
       18 . The unit of claim of  claim 12  wherein the cladding comprises attachment features for attaching work tools. 
   
   
       19 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein the frames contain embedded wiring. 
   
   
       20 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein the frame members contain at least one component of embedded technology selected from the group consisting of: a power outlet, a wireless internet router, an on-off switch, an antenna, a speaker, a volume control, telephone equipment, an RFID tag, and lighting. 
   
   
       21 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein at least one functional object is attached to the unit, the functional object selected from the group consisting of: a trash receptacle, a storage bin, a mirror, a light, a projector arm, a book display, a spill net, a tack board, a pencil cup, a vase, a hook and a recharging plate. 
   
   
       22 . The unit of  claim 1  further comprising a third frame member forming a closed loop and vertically stacked on top of the first frame member. 
   
   
       23 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein the utility members are modular pieces which can be interchangeable. 
   
   
       24 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein the at least one utility member has a shape such that, when secured to the first and second frames, the first and second frames are not parallel. 
   
   
       25 . The unit of  claim 24  wherein the first and second frames are perpendicular. 
   
   
       26 . The unit of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second frames comprises a band portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, at least some of which outer surface is visibly exposed. 
   
   
       27 . The unit of  claim 26  wherein the outer surface comprises at least one decorative feature. 
   
   
       28 . The unit of  claim 26  wherein each of the first and second frames comprises a first flange on the inner surface of the band portion, and wherein said at least one utility member is secured to said first flange. 
   
   
       29 . The unit of  claim 28  wherein each of the first and second frames comprises a second flange on the inner surface of the band portion, the second flange being spaced from and parallel to the first flange. 
   
   
       30 . The unit of  claim 29  wherein the first and second flanges comprise holes for securing utility members. 
   
   
       31 . An office organization system comprising a plurality of units, each unit comprising:
 a first, vertically-oriented frame which forms a closed loop;   a second, vertically-oriented frame, spaced from and congruent with the first frame;   at least one utility member secured to the first and second frames.   
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the at least one utility member is selected from the group consisting of: drawers, shelves, work surfaces, cabinets, hanging rods, coat racks, water coolers, tack boards, easels, trash receptacles, electronic displays, projection screens, marker boards, signs and space dividers. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  32  wherein each of the frames in the units comprises an exposed surface, and wherein the exposed surface is uniform between all of the frames, thereby providing a common design detail between all of the units. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33  wherein at least two of the utility members from the group have similar dimensions and attachment hardware so as to be interchangeable with each other. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the system comprises at least two units, one of which comprises a shelf, the other of which comprises a work surface. 
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein at least one of the two units further comprises a cabinet. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 35  wherein at least one of the two units further comprises a drawer. 
   
   
       38 . A method for assembling an office organization unit comprising:
 securing a utility member to a first, vertically-oriented closed loop frame;   securing the utility member to a second, vertically-oriented closed loop frame spaced from and congruent with the first frame.   
   
   
       39 . A method of assembling a work space comprising:
 selecting at least two pairs of vertically-oriented closed loop frames;   selecting at least two utility members;   attaching at least one utility member to both frames in each pair to create at least two office organization units; and   arranging the at least two office organization units to form a work space.   
   
   
       40 . The unit of  claim 2  further comprising lighting underneath at least one utility member. 
   
   
       41 . The unit of  claim 40  wherein the lighting underneath the at least one utility member is activated by a motion sensor. 
   
   
       42 . The unit of  claim 2  wherein a cabinet or drawer can be locked. 
   
   
       43 . The unit of  claim 42  wherein said cabinet or drawer includes a green light to indicate an unlocked position and a red light to indicate a locked position. 
   
   
       44 . The unit of  claim 2  wherein a side work surface is secured to the side one of the closed loop frames, said side work surface supported on the side opposite the closed loop frame by a pedestal.