Panel for office workstation

Abstract

The invention comprises a panel for mounting on a support frame of a wall assembly for a workstation, comprising: a) a substantially planar core member having a front layer and a rear layer each attached to a central lattice structure to form a plurality of closed geometric cavities with the core member, b) a sound-deadening layer, overlying the front layer, and c) a decorative layer overlying the sound deadening layer.

1 . A panel for mounting on a support frame for a partition wall section for a workstation, comprising:
 a) a substantially planar core member having a front layer and a rear layer each attached to a central lattice structure to form a plurality of closed geometric cavities within the core member,   b) a sound-deadening layer, overlying the front layer, and   c) a decorative layer overlying the sound deadening layer.   
   
   
       2 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the closed geometric cavities are hexagonally shaped. 
   
   
       3 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel has a quadrilateral shape. 
   
   
       4 . The panel of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one attachment means mounted on the core member for releasable engagement with the support frame. 
   
   
       5 . The panel of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment means comprises two attachment means secured one each to the core member adjacent opposed vertical edges of the panel. 
   
   
       6 . The panel of  claim 5 , wherein each attachment means comprises one or more spring clip members extending in a parallel direction along a portion of the length of the adjacent vertical edge. 
   
   
       7 . The panel of  claim 6 , wherein each attachment means is an elongated spring clip member extending in a parallel direction for substantially the entire length of the adjacent vertical edge. 
   
   
       8 . The panel of  claim 7 , wherein the decorative layer is a textile layer. 
   
   
       9 . The panel of  claim 8 , wherein the decorative layer additionally extends over a portion of the attachment means and the rear layer. 
   
   
       10 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the core member is made of a recyclable material. 
   
   
       11 . The panel of  claim 10 , wherein the recyclable material is cardboard. 
   
   
       12 . The panel of  claim 10 , wherein the front layer and rear layer are additionally made of a recyclable material. 
   
   
       13 . The panel of  claim 12 , wherein the recyclable material is cardboard. 
   
   
       14 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the rear layer is perforated in a pattern of holes such that a fraction of the geometric cavities defined by the lattice structure are overlain by at least one of said holes. 
   
   
       15 . The panel of  claim 14 , wherein all of the geometric cavities defined by the lattice structure are overlain by at least one of said holes. 
   
   
       16 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front layer and the rear layer is water-resistant. 
   
   
       17 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front layer and the rear layer is fire-resistant. 
   
   
       18 . The panel of  claim 5 , wherein the core member is of rectangular shape, with its two longer edges being horizontally aligned, and with its two shorter edges being said opposed vertical edges 
   
   
       19 . The panel of  claim 18 , having a reinforcement means longitudinally extending in adjacent parallel relation to at least one of said longer edges. 
   
   
       20 . The panel of  claim 19 , wherein the reinforcement means comprises a U-shaped channel section mounted on the core member in surrounding relation to said at least one longer edge. 
   
   
       21 . The panel of  claim 20 , wherein the reinforcement means further comprises a hollow tube section conjoined to the base of said U-shaped channel section in longitudinally extending parallel relation thereto. 
   
   
       22 . The panel of  claim 19 , wherein the reinforcement means is made of a recyclable material. 
   
   
       23 . The panel of  claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement means is made of aluminum. 
   
   
       24 . The panel of  claim 19 , wherein the decorative layer additionally extends over at least a portion of the reinforcement means and the rear layer. 
   
   
       25 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement means and the attachment means are formed as components of a unitary, rigid panel frame. 
   
   
       26 . A system for creating an office workstation, comprising:
 a) one or more panels, each panel comprising i) a substantially planar core member having a front layer and a rear layer each attached to a central lattice structure to form a plurality of closed geometric cavities within the core member, ii) a sound-deadening layer, overlying the front layer, and iii) a decorative layer overlying the sound deadening layer; and,   b) a support frame structure adapted to engage and support the panels, the support frame and the panels combining to form a partition wall section for the workstation.   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , further comprising a work surface that is secured to the support frame. 
   
   
       28 . A partition wall assembly for use in constructing a workstation, comprising:
 a) one or more panels, each panel comprising: i) a substantially planar core member having a front layer and a rear layer each attached to a central lattice structure to form a plurality of closed geometric cavities within the core member; ii) a sound-deadening layer, overlying the front layer; iii) a decorative layer overlying the sound deadening layer; and,   b) a support frame structure to engage and support the panels, the support frame and the panels combining to form the partition wall assembly.   
   
   
       29 . The partition wall assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising a work surface secured to the support frame.