Partitions with storage capability
Partitions for forming sections of the walls of office cubicles include two major panels (walls) which are spaced apart and interconnected to provide an inner enclosed space which is made accessible to store objects. In accordance with one embodiment, the two major panels are of similar height and width and each panel has parallel top and bottom horizontal edges and parallel rear and front edges. The top edges of the two panels, their rear edges and their bottom edges are interconnected to define an inner space which may be accessed via an opening provided by and from the front edges of the panels. In accordance with another embodiment, the inner space may be accessed by means of cut outs formed on, or in, the panels.
The present invention relates to partitions used to divide office space into cubicles and, in particular, to the use of such partitions to store objects which may be needed for use by the occupants of the cubicles.
Many companies use partitions and partition systems to form cubicles which function as work areas for their employees. The cubicles are generally just sufficiently large to permit a user (occupant or employee) to have a single desk and a single chair and very little else. The cubicle area is generally insufficient to allow an extra table or an extra chair to be placed and kept in the cubicle on a permanent basis.
However, there are many occasions when it is desirable to have easily available access to objects, such as an additional chair or table, for temporary needs and to then be able to store the object so as not to clutter the available cubicle space and/or for subsequent use.
Even in cases where the cubicle may be larger, it is often desirable to be able for the occupant of the cubicle to have easy access to additional objects, such as a table to provide added working space and/or a chair to permit additional individuals to join in discussion, without having to move to another location. To prevent cluttering the limited cubicle space and/or to provide the occupant of the cubicle with living or working room, it is desirable that the occupant be able to fold and store these additional objects in an easily accessible spot for subsequent use.
Tables and chairs are just one example of the type of objects to which the occupant of a cubicle might want to have easy access. Many other objects may be suited or made suitable for storage. For example, a manager may have a need for an easel or marker board to take notes from meetings or for displaying notes.
In brief, there is a need to provide for additional storage space to store objects items which the occupant of a cubicle may need and/or to put away unneeded items to, for example, make the office/cubicle look neater and/or uncluttered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the invention, the space existing between an inner side panel and an outer side panel, which define the two major panels (walls) forming a partition, is used to store objects. The invention includes configuring the two major panels of similar height and width to form a partition wall of a cubicle. The two major panels are arranged to be: (a) generally parallel to each other by using an enclosing structure to maintain the major panels spaced apart by a predetermined thickness; and (b) such that the space between the two panels forms a storage space which can be readily accessed. Accessing means (doors or openings) are provided between the two major panels or along a major panel to access the storage space between the panels and enable selected objects to be inserted and/or removed from the storage space.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a partition frame includes an inner side panel and an outer side panel, each one of said inner and outer side panels being of height “H” and width “W”. The front and back panels are spaced apart by a given thickness (D), where “D” may range from less than one inch to about six (6) inches, whereby an object whose width is less than the given thickness (D) can be positioned between the inner surfaces of the inner and outer side panels. Thus, partitions embodying the invention include spaced apart inner and outer side panels, of similar height “H” and width “W”, arranged to extend generally parallel to each other and to be spaced apart by a given thickness (D).
Each one of the inner and outer side panels has a top horizontal edge, a bottom horizontal edge, a front (or right side as shown in
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the first, second and third panels/slats function to hold the inner and outer side panels apart by a thickness D and define an enclosed space between the panels. The front vertical edges of the inner and outer side panels define an opening for enabling access to the space between the front and back panels. A front side pane/slat, designed to function as a door, is connected between the front vertical edges of the inner and outer side panels so it can be opened or shut.
The bottom horizontal slat and/or the base of partition may be reinforced for supporting any object to be stored within the space between the inner and outer side panels.
Partitions formed in accordance with the invention are suitable to store any object (e.g., a folding chair or table, in their folded state, or a flat panel monitor or the like) which can fit within the enclosed space.
The base, bottom, of the partitions can include a sliding or rolling rail which can roll into and out of the partitions and on which an object can be placed. The rail can include a mechanism to enable the rail and any object on it to pop out of the enclosed space.
In still another embodiment of the invention the space between the inner and outer side panels (walls) can be used to form a box into which mail (or a like object) can be deposited from a slot on a top slat or from a slot in the outer side panel and which box can be accessed from an opening in the inner side panel facing the interior of the cubicle.
In still another embodiment of the invention the space between the inner and outer side panels (walls) can be used to form a shelf on which a monitor can be housed to free up valuable desk space.
In the accompanying drawings, which are not drawn to scale, like reference characteristics denote like components, and
Referring to
The inner and outer side panels (13, 15), the rear end panel (21) and the top and bottom panels (17, 19) may be fixedly and firmly interconnected by any suitable means.
On the right hand side (in
A partition 10 embodying the invention differs from known partitions in that it includes an opening and apparatus which enable the inner space between panels 13 and 15 to be accessed and used for storage.
In
The partitions 10 embodying the invention may be formed so as to be part of any standard office partition system and to be attached or attachable (at least at the one end which is not used as a door) to any other partition of the system. The height, H, of the partition and its width, W, may conform to any standard system (e.g., Hon Company Simplicity Panel System). Thus, H may range from less than 3 feet to more than 6 feet and W may range from less than one (1) foot to more than six (6) feet. The depth (thickness), D, between the inside walls (13,15) of the partition 10 may range from less than 1 inch to about six (6) inches.
The thickness of any object to be stored between the partition walls must be somewhat less than the space between the partition walls. As noted above the space between the walls may range from about one inch to about 6 inches. These dimensions limit the thickness of the object that can be stored. This is not a significant limitation since there are many commercially available objects (e.g., folded chairs and tables, monitors easels etc.) which can readily fit within the allotted space between partition walls 13 and 15.
Partitions embodying the invention may be modified, as shown in
In
It has thus been shown that, in accordance with the invention, partitions for making the walls of office cubicles include two major panels (walls) which are spaced apart to generate an inner space which is used to store objects.
Claims
1. An office partition wall section comprising:
- first and second panels of similar height and width; each panel having a lower horizontal edge, an upper horizontal edge, a first vertical edge on one side, defined as a rear vertical edge, and a second vertical edge on the opposite side, defined as a front vertical edge;
- apparatus interconnecting all the edges of the first and second panels for forming an enclosed inner space having a thickness “D”; where “D” is in the range of less than one (1) inch to about six (6) inches; and wherein the apparatus also includes means for selectively accessing the enclosed inner space for selectively storing selected objects within the enclosed inner space.
2. An office partition wall section as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus interconnecting all the edges of the first and second panels includes apparatus fixedly interconnecting a top horizontal panel between the upper edges of the first and second panels, a bottom horizontal panel fixedly between the lower edges of the first and second panels, and a rear vertical panel between the rear vertical edges of the first and second panels, in order to form said enclosed inner space having a thickness “D” between the first and second panels; and apparatus connected to the front vertical edges of the first and second panels for selectively enabling the inner space between them to be accessed for storage of selected objects.
3. An office partition wall section as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front edges of said first and second panels define an opening for accessing the inner space; and wherein said apparatus enabling the inner space to be accessed includes an access door for selectively closing the opening and selectively providing access to the opening whereby objects can be inserted within the inner space or removed therefrom; and wherein the rear panel and the rear vertical edges including apparatus for selectively connecting the partition wall section to another office partition section.
4. An office partition wall section as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bottom panel is reinforced to support any object placed in the space between the first and second panels.
5. An office partition wall section as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bottom panel includes ramping means for more easily inserting or removing objects placed in the space between the panels.
6. An office partition wall section as claimed in claim 2, wherein a wheeled flatbed device is placed along the bottom slat to enable objects to be placed on the flat bed and to be rolled into or out of the space between the panels.
7. An office partition wall as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first panel is defined as an inner side panel and the second panel is defined as an outer side panel and wherein said inner side panel includes an opening for selectively accessing the inner space between the first and second panels.
8. An office partition wall section as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first panel is defined as an inner side panel and the second panel is defined as an outer side panel, and wherein a storage box for is formed in the space between the inner and outer side panels, and wherein the apparatus which includes means for selectively accessing the enclosed inner space includes an access door for selectively providing access to the storage box.
9. A partition wall section as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first panel is defined as an inner side panel and the second panel is defined as an outer side, and wherein a box for receiving an object or mail is formed so as to extend from the back panel along the inner space and beyond the inner side panel so the length of the box exceeds the thickness of the space between the inner and outer side panels.
10. A partition wall section as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first panel is defined as an inner side panel and the second panel is defined as an outer side panel, and wherein a storage box is formed between the inner and outer side panels, and wherein said apparatus enabling the inner space to be used for storage includes an access door on at least one of the inner and outer side panels for selectively providing access to the storage box.
11. A partition wall section as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first panel is defined as an inner side panel and the second panel is defined as an outer side panel, and wherein a box for receiving designated objects is formed between the inner and outer side panels, and wherein said apparatus enabling the inner space to be used for storage includes an access door on at least one of the inner and outer side panels for selectively providing access to the box; and wherein said box is also accessed via a slit formed in the top panel in the region overlying the box in order to deposit suitable objects in the box.
12. A partition wall section as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first panel is defined as an inner side panel and the second panel is defined as an outer side panel, and wherein a storage space for storing specific objects is formed between the inner and outer side panels, and wherein said apparatus enabling the inner space to be used for storage includes an access door for selectively providing access to the storage space.
13. A partition wall in particular for offices comprising:
- first and second panels of similar height and width spaced apart by a distance “D”; each panel having a lower edge, an upper edge, a left hand edge and a right hand edge; wherein “D” can vary from less than one (1) inch to about six (6) inches;
- a top horizontal slat fixedly connected between the upper edges of the first and second panels;
- a rear vertical slat fixedly connecting the left hand edges of the first and second panels;
- a bottom horizontal slat fixedly connecting the lower edges of the first and second panels;
- the width of the top slat, the bottom slat and the rear slat selected to maintain the thickness “D” of the space between the first and second panels constant; and
- a front slat adapted to be connected between the right hand edges of the first and second panels such that it can either be closed or opened to provide access to the space between the first and second panels and enable objects to be placed in the space between the first and second panels.
14. A partition as claimed in claim 13, wherein said bottom slat is reinforced to support any object placed in the space between the panels.
15. A partition as claimed in claim 13, wherein a wheeled flatbed device is placed on the bottom slat to enable objects to be place on the flat bed and rolled into and out of the space between the panels.
16. A partition as claimed in claim 13, wherein the front slat functions as a door to selectively access the space between the panels.
17. A partition as claimed in claim 13, wherein additional supports are added to support the weight of any object stored in the space.
18. A partition as claimed in claim 13, further including a mechanism for securing an objected being stored within the inner space.
19. A partition wall in particular for offices comprising:
- first and second panels of similar height and width spaces apart by a distance “D”; each panel having a lower edge, an upper edge, a left hand edge and a right hand edge; wherein “D” is in the range of less than one (1) inch to about six (6) inches;
- a top horizontal slat fixedly connected between the upper edges of the first and second panels;
- a rear vertical slat fixedly connecting the left hand edges of the first and second panels;
- a bottom horizontal slat fixedly connecting the lower edges of the first and second panels;
- the width of the top slat, the bottom slat and the rear slat selected to maintain the thickness “D” of the space between the first and second panels constant;
- the space between the first and second panels defining an inner space;
- a cutout in one of said first and second panels to selectively provide access to the space between the first and second panels; and a
- support structure formed within the space to enable objects to be placed and stored in the space between the first and second panels.
20. A partition as claimed in claim 19, further including apparatus for enabling an object to be stored and secured in the inner space and to be subsequently easily removed from the inner space.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 21, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 21, 2013
Inventors: Nathan Hollander (Flushing, NY), Aryeh Reinstein (Flushing, NY), Ephraim Hollander (Flushing, NY)
Application Number: 13/200,224
International Classification: A47B 47/00 (20060101);