Wall rack for an office workstation

Abstract

The wall rack which is designed for an office workstation, in particular a PC workstation, in a freestanding mobile embodiment or with fixed installation comprises essentially an upright base frame (1,10,10′) onto which a front panel (2,2′) is fitted on each side. The shelves (7,8) of various shapes and dimensions in the form of storage shelves (7) or work surfaces (8) which can withstand larger loads can be arranged and rearranged at selected heights on one or both front panels (2,2′). Through a subdivided opening (20) in the front panels (2,2′), which can be manually accessed by means of flaps (4) which can be pivoted upward, it is possible to access an electric socket unit for supplying power and/or for connecting communication leads for the equipment positioned in front of the wall rack. The storage shelves (7) are mounted in a detachable fashion by means of supporting bars (71) which are plugged in to socket holders (73) and mounting pins which are mounted on the front panels (2,2′). The work surfaces (8) rest on brackets which are pushed onto bracket holders which are also connected to the base frame (1,10,10′) through the front panels

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a wall rack for an office workstation, in particular a PC workstation, which is completely mobile in a freestanding embodiment and can be at least temporarily fixed in place when mounted against a rear panel. The wall rack can be used in permanent offices of companies, at trade fairs, at conferences or in the domestic sphere. Tables, file trolleys, cabinets and equipment boxes can be placed against the wall rack.

PRIOR ART

[0002] EP 0 447 961 A2 discloses an office device which can be combined in accordance with the modular principle, can be configured in various ways, has various items of furniture and also comprises partition walls. Diverse, individually adapted solutions can be produced using the individual system components. However, the partition walls shown only have the function of dividing up space in order to form delimited work areas. However, the partition walls are connected to one another in such a way that a certain amount of effort is required to dismantle the device and set it up again in a modified way. In particular in the case of situations which change ad hoc, the partition wall which is proposed here cannot be adapted in a sufficiently spontaneous way. With the partition walls which are very simple per se it is indeed possible to deal with conditions which arise suddenly, but, owing to their simplicity, such partition walls provide only extremely limited possibilities of configuring working space in an optimum way.

[0003] GB 1 388 051 discloses a wall rack which is composed of a vertical panel of wooden material which rests on feet and is connected to optional adjacent panels by hinged connections. On each of the outer edges of the panel, a rail with a slotted grid is mounted on the user side. Shelves and table leaves can be hooked into the rail, with engagement hooks which are arranged on the rear and correspond to the slotted grid. Telephone cables and power cables are laid in a duct within the panel, near to the floor. This wall rack is portable only to a limited extent and is configured only for use on one side.

[0004] WO 98/16135 presents a wall rack with an enclosed, vertical base frame which rests on feet and onto which a rear panel with openings for cable accesses is fitted. Vertical stabilizing struts and a plurality of spacing elements are fitted onto the front side of the rear panel. The user-side front face is formed by a perforated panel which is fitted onto the rear panel and which has openings for cable accesses which are congruent with the rear panel. In order to cover the cable accesses, two strip-shaped flaps are provided which are suspended on an internally accommodated lever mechanism in such a way that they can be pivoted up and down. Shelves and a table leaf can be secured by means of supporting arms which penetrate the rear panel and the perforated panel and can be attached to the base frame at a selectable height. In order to hold the supporting arms, drilled holes are made in a raster arrangement on the base frame. An electric socket unit which is accessible via the holes and is used for supplying power and for connecting to communication leads is secured to the base frame. When the table leaf is appropriately positioned in the vertical direction, a table can be set up under it in order to increase the working area. If the user wishes to use the wall rack as a workstation on both sides, two such racks can be placed back to back and possibly connected to one another. This wall rack is extremely material-intensive, and equipping it with shelves or a table leaf appears to be structurally too complicated and not able to be modified to a sufficient degree. It could be particularly unsatisfactory that the wall rack can in principle be used on only one side; for use on both sides it is necessary to place a second wall rack at its rear.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In view of the inadequacies described above of existing partition walls and wall racks for completely mobile or only temporarily set-up workstations, in particular PC workstations with requirements which change in many respects and the changing nature of the organization of work in offices and changes in domestic requirements, the invention is based on the following problem.

[0006] Taking as the basis a wall rack such as is disclosed in WO 98/16135, a wall rack is proposed with a reduced use of material, which can be equipped with shelves on both sides at a selectable height, and can thus be used on both sides as an office workstation. The intention is that the wall rack will be capable of being used both for a mobile office workstation which can be varied ad hoc and as a fixed wall rack. The intention is that it will be possible to combine the wall rack in a fashion which saves space and which permits optimum configuration of working space in companies, at a fixed location, for exhibitions or congresses and for domestic use with equipment such as tables, file trolleys, cabinets and equipment boxes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The wall rack which is designed for an office workstation, in particular a PC workstation, in a freestanding mobile embodiment or with fixed installation comprises essentially an upright base frame onto which a front panel is fitted on each side. Shelves of various shapes and dimensions can be arranged and rearranged at selected heights on one or both front panels.

[0008] Specific embodiments of the perfected wall rack are described below: a manually accessible electric socket unit for supplying power and/or connecting communication leads for equipment in front of the wall rack is provided internally in the wall rack. In the front panel there is an opening for leading through cables which are preferably connected to the electric socket unit. The opening can be divided into a plurality of sections so that the cables can be led through to the equipment in, for example, three planes. At least one pivotable flap for covering the opening is fitted onto each of the two front panels. Preferably a strip-shaped flap is provided on each side of the opening. All four are coupled to an internally arranged lever mechanism.

[0009] In order to absorb sound, the front panels are perforated with numerous holes. If necessary, the outer edges of the front panels do not have any sound-absorbing holes. Arranged internally in the wall rack is a damping inlay, preferably in the form of two damping panels, which are each inserted between the base frame and one of the two front panels.

[0010] The shelves are embodied as shelves for equipment or utensils or as work surfaces which are also intended for holding equipment or utensils and also as a work surface for the user. A storage shelf is arranged on the front panel by means of a supporting bar and two mounting pins. The supporting bar engages below the storage shelf with its cross member on its front edge and the supporting bar is supported with its two angled ends in one sleeve-shaped socket holder each which is fitted onto the front panels. The mounting pins are also fitted onto the front panel and engage in engagement openings which are provided in the rear edge of the storage shelf. A work surface is arranged on the front panel by means of two bracket holders and shelf brackets. The bracket holders are fitted onto the front panel and in each case one shelf bracket, onto which the work surface is mounted, is fitted onto a bracket holder. In order to use a relatively deep work surface which is intended for relatively large loads, the shelf bracket has at its front, free end, an adapter for mounting a supporting foot which projects to the floor.

[0011] The cross member of the supporting bar is surrounded by damping elements, for example made of rubber or plastic. A bushing, for example made of plastic, is inserted into the socket holder so that the end of the supporting bar which is to be plugged is held in a slip-free, clamped fashion. The bottom of the socket holder has an internal seat for the head of a screw whose threaded shaft which projects through the floor is intended to engage in a screw hole in the base frame, which hole is selected in accordance with the desired vertical position of the storage shelf which is to be mounted. An engagement opening in the rear edge of the storage shelf is composed of a main drilled hole and a secondary drilled hole which adjoins it at the top and is of smaller diameter. The mounting pin has a cylindrical spacing segment and a stem element which extends centrally therefrom and ends at the front with a screw seat which is thicker in diameter in comparison with the stem element. An axial drilled hole extends through the mounting pin. In the mounted state, the spacing segment is seated on the front panel, the secondary drilled hole is lowered onto the stem element, the screw seat is located in front of the bent-up rear edge of the storage shelf and the head of a screw, whose thread shaft projects through the axial drilled hole and the front panel, and engages in the selected screw hole in the base frame, in the screw seat.

[0012] Screw holes, preferably internally threaded drilled holes, are systematically arranged in the base frame in order to mount the front panels and bracket holders on both sides. The screw holes are advantageously provided in a relatively small spacing arrangement in the vicinity of the location where the bracket holders are attached. In order to receive the cross member of the supporting bar, the front edge of the storage shelf is also bent downward and toward the respective front panel. The mounting pins, socket holders and bracket holders are attached to the front panels by means of screws which engage in the screw holes in the base frame, through the front panels.

[0013] The base frame is composed of two U-shaped frame parts which face one another with their open sides, are spaced apart and lie in a vertical plane. U section is preferably used for the frame parts. The open side of the U section points into the interior of the base frame, while the base surface of the U section bounds the base frame laterally and in the upward and downward directions. The two section edges which surround the base surface of the U section point to the fitted-on front panels. The screw holes are arranged in the section edges.

[0014] In order to install the wall rack in a freestanding fashion, a projecting wall rack foot is arranged on each of the two frame parts of the base frame. When the wall rack is installed in a fixed fashion, there is provision for it to be mounted on a rear panel or on some other supporting structure, in which case the provision of wall rack feet is generally dispensed with because it is sufficient to arrange base elements on the two frame parts of the base frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1A: shows an unequipped wall rack with opened cable duct, in a perspective view;

[0016] FIG. 1B: shows the wall rack according to FIG. 1A with the essential components, in an exploded view;

[0017] FIG. 2A: shows the wall rack according to FIG. 1A, equipped with two storage shelves on one side and with a closed cable duct, in a perspective view;

[0018] FIG. 2B: shows the wall rack according to FIG. 1A, equipped with a storage shelf and a work surface on each side, with the cable duct closed, in a perspective view;

[0019] FIG. 3A: shows a storage shelf from the view according to FIG. 2A with a supporting bar and mounting pins positioned nearby, in a perspective view;

[0020] FIG. 3B: shows the supporting bar from the view according to FIG. 3A with fitted-on bushings and damping elements, in a perspective view;

[0021] FIG. 3C: shows the storage shelf according to FIG. 3A, in a side view;

[0022] FIG. 3D: shows the mounting of the storage shelf according to FIG. 2A on the wall rack, in a perspective view;

[0023] FIG. 3E: shows the view according to FIG. 3D, in a side view;

[0024] FIG. 3F: shows a socket holder from FIG. 3D with a screw and inserted bushing from FIG. 3B for holding the supporting bar, in a vertical section;

[0025] FIG. 4A: shows a bracket holder with a shelf bracket positioned nearby, and a shelf foot bracket which can be fitted on alternatively; and

[0026] FIG. 4B: shows the wall rack according to FIG. 1A with a closed cable duct, mounted bracket holders and shelf foot brackets which are positioned nearby and have fitted-on feet, in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0027] The detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the wall rack according to the invention with alternative equipment variations is given below with reference to the appended drawings.

FIG. 1A

[0028] The wall rack which is initially unequipped is composed essentially of an upright base frame 1 onto which a front panel 2,2′ is fitted from each side. In a freestanding arrangement, the wall rack has two wall rack feet 3 which are placed on the floor and are attached to the bottom of the base frame 1. An opening 20 for feeding through power supply leads and communication leads to the equipment set up in front of the wall rack is provided in each front panel 2,2′. The opening 20 is divided here into three sections—corresponding to the three planes for the shelves which are to be arranged. Internally, the wall rack has an electric socket unit 5 which is manually accessible through the opening 20 and has the purpose of connecting power supply leads and communication leads. Pivotable, strip-shaped flaps 4, which are coupled to an inner lever mechanism in such a way that the flaps 4, can be pivoted upward and downward on both sides of the wall rack, and thus clear, or member off, the access to the opening 20, are arranged on each side of the opening 20. The front panels 2,2′ are preferably screwed onto the base frame 1 by means of screws 99. In order to absorb sound, the front panels 2,2′ are provided as perforated panels with an array of holes 21 which are located close to one another.

FIG. 1B

[0029] The base frame 1 is composed of two U-shaped frame parts 10,10′ which are located in a vertical plane facing one another with their open sides and spaced apart. The U section is advantageously used for the frame parts 10,10′. The open side 11 of the U section points into the interior of the base frame 1, while the base surface 12 of the U section bounds the base frame 1 laterally and in the upward and downward directions. The two section edges 13 which surround the base surface 12 of the U section point to the front panels 2,2′ which are fitted on. Screw holes 100 are arranged systematically in the section edges 13. The wall rack has an internal damping inlay 6, which is preferably embodied in the form of two damping panels which are each inserted between the base frame 1 and one of the two front panels 2,2′. The two front panels 2,2′ and the damping panels 6 have the openings 20 which are cut out in a congruent position.

FIG. 2A

[0030] This illustration shows that two storage shelves 7 for storing equipment and/or utensils are arranged on the front side of the wall rack, i.e. on the front panel 2 at the front. At its rear edges 701, the storage shelves 7 are mounted on the front panel 2 by means of holding pins 72, while supporting bars 71 engage under the front edges 700 of the storage shelves 7 and are plugged, with their bent ends 711 which are directed downward onto the front panel 2, into sleeve-shaped socket holders 73 which are also mounted on the front panel 2.

[0031] When the wall rack is installed in a fixed position, it is mounted on a rear panel or another supporting structure and the wall rack feet 3 are not required. For this installation there is provision for base elements, on which the wall rack then rests, to be arranged on parts 10,10′ of the base frame 1. Exemplary efficient mounting on a rear panel can be implemented with a downwardly open U section element which is mounted on the rear panel, at the height of the upper edge of the wall rack. The upper edge of the front panel 2, which faces the rear panel, is pushed into the section element from below.

FIG. 2B

[0032] In a further equipment variant, this wall rack has on each side, i.e. fitted onto the two front panels 2,2′, a storage shelf 7 and below it a work surface 8 with a large area.

FIGS. 3A TO 3F

[0033] A storage shelf 7 is arranged on the front panel 2 by means of a supporting bar 71 and two mounting pins 72. The supporting bar 71 engages with its cross member 710 under the storage shelf 7 at its front edge 700 and is supported with its two angled ends 711 in one sleeve-shaped socket holder 73 each, said socket 73 being fitted onto the front panel 2. The mounting pins 72 which are fitted onto the front panel 2 engage in engagement openings 702 which are provided in the rear edge 701 of the storage shelf 7. In order to receive the cross member 710 of the supporting bar 71, the front edge 700 of the storage shelf 7 is bent downward and toward the front panel 2. The mounting pins 72 are mounted on the front panel 2 by means of screws 99 which engage in the screw holes 100 in the base frame I through the front panel 2.

[0034] The cross member 710 of the supporting bar 71 is surrounded by a plurality of damping elements 712, for example made of rubber or plastic. A bushing 74, for example made of plastic, for receiving in a slip-free and clamping fashion the end 711 of the supporting bar 71 which is to be plugged in is inserted into the socket holder 73. The bottom 730 of the socket holder 73 has an internal seat for the head 990 of a screw 99 whose threaded stem 991 which projects through the bottom 730 is intended for engagement in a screw hole 100 in the base frame 1, which is selected in accordance with the desired vertical position of the storage shelf 7 which is to be mounted.

[0035] An engagement opening 702 in the rear edge 701 of the storage shelf 7 is composed of a main drilled hole 703 and a secondary drilled hole 704 which adjoins it at the top and is of smaller diameter. The mounting pin 72 has a cylindrical spacing element 720 and a stem element 721 which extends centrally therefrom and ends at the front with a screw seat 722 which is of thickened diameter with respect to the shaft element 721. An axial drilled hole 723 extends through the mounting pin 72.

[0036] In the mounted state, the spacing segment 720 is seated on the front panel 2, the narrower secondary drilled hole 704 is lowered onto the stem element 721, the screw seat 722 is located in front of the turned-up rear edge 701 of the storage shelf 7 and the head 990 of a screw 99 lies in the screw seat 722, the threaded stem 991 of said screw 99 engaging in the axial drilled hole 723, projecting through the front panel and engaging into the selected screw hole 100 in the base frame 1. When the storage shelf 7 was engaged, it was possible to insert the screw seat 722, with the larger diameter, of the mounting pin 72 screwed onto the front panel 2 through the further main drilled hole 703.

FIGS. 4A AND 4B

[0037] A work surface 8 is arranged on the front panel 2 by means of, in each case, two bracket holders 9 and shelf brackets 91,92, the bracket holders 9 being fitted onto the front panel 2. In each case a shelf bracket 91,92 on which the work surface 8 is mounted is pushed onto a bracket holder 9. The screw holes 100 which are present in the base frame I and which are preferably systematically arranged holes with internal threads are used to mount the bracket holders 9, with the result that the bracket holders 9 are fixed in the selected vertical position by screws 99 which engage through the front panel 2. For this reason, the screw holes 100 will be provided in a tighter arrangement in the vicinity of the location where the bracket holders 9 are mounted. In order to use a deeper work surface 8 which is designed for larger loads, a modified shelf bracket 92 has, at its front, free end, an adapter 920 for mounting a supporting foot 93 which projects to the floor.

Claims

1. A wall rack for an office workstation, in particular a PC workstation, in a freestanding mobile embodiment or in a fixed arrangement, having:

a) an upright base frame (1);

b) a front panel which is fitted onto the base frame (1); and

c) shelves (7,8) which can be mounted at a selectable height, wherein

d) a front panel (2,2′) is fitted onto each side of the base frame (1); and

e) the shelves (7,8) are arranged either on one of the front panels (2,2′) or on both front panels (2,2′).

2. The wall rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a) an electric socket unit (5) which is manually accessible and has the purpose of supplying power and/or connecting communication leads for equipment is provided in front of the wall rack;

b) an opening (20) which can be divided, is present in the front panel (2,2′) for leading through cables which are preferably connected to the electric socket unit (5);

c) at least one, preferably two flaps (4) which can be pivoted on each side of the opening (2) are fitted onto the front panel (2,2′) in order to cover the opening (20);

d) the front panel (2,2′) is perforated with numerous holes (21) in order to absorb sound; and

e) the wall rack has an internal damping inlay (6) which is preferably embodied in the form of two damping panels which are each inserted between the base frame (1) and one of the two front panels (2,2′).

3. The wall rack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein

a) the shelves (7,8) are embodied as storage shelves (7) for storing equipment or utensils or as work surfaces (8) which are also intended for storing equipment or utensils and as a work surface for the user;

ba) a storage shelf (7) is arranged on the front panel (2,2′) by means of a supporting bar (71) and two mounting pins (72);

bb) the supporting bar (71) engages, with its cross member (710), under the storage shelf (7) on its front edge (700) and is supported, with its two angled ends (711) in one sleeve-shaped socket holder (73) each, said socket holder (73) being fitted onto the front panel (2,2′); and

bc) the mounting pins (72) are fitted onto the front panel (2,2′) and engage in engagement openings (702) which are provided in the rear edge (701) of the storage shelf; and

ca) a work surface (8) is arranged on the front panel (2,2′) by means of, in each case, two bracket holders (9) and shelf brackets (91,92);

cb) the bracket holders (9) are fitted onto the front panel (2,2′); and

cc) in each case a shelf bracket (91,92) on which the work surface (8) is mounted is pushed onto a bracket holder (9).

4. The wall rack as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

a) screw holes (100), preferably drilled holes with internal threading, are systematically arranged in the base frame (1) in order to mount the front panels (2,2′) and bracket holders (9) on both sides;

b) the screw holes (100) can be provided in a relatively small spacing arrangement in the vicinity of the location where the bracket holders are attached;

c) in order to receive the cross member (710) of the supporting bar (71), the front edge (700) of the storage shelf (7) is bent downward and toward the respective front panel (2,2′); and

d) the mounting pins (72), socket holders (73) and bracket holders (9) are mounted on the front panels (2,2′) by means of screws (99) which engage in the screw holes (100) in the base frame (1) through the front panels (2,2′).

5. The wall rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein

a) a strip-shaped flap (4) is provided on each front panel (2,2′) on each side of the respective opening (20); and

b) all four flaps (4) which are present are coupled to an internally oriented lever mechanism.

6. The wall rack as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein

a) the base frame (1) is composed of two U-shaped frame parts (10,10′) which are located in a vertical plane, facing one another with their open sides and spaced apart from one another;

b) the frame parts (10,10′) are composed of U section;

c) the open side (11) of the U section points into the interior of the base frame (1), while the base surface (12) of the U section bounds the base frame (1) laterally in the upward and downward directions;

d) the two section edges (13) which surround the base surface (12) of the U section point to the fitted-on front panels (2,2′); and

e) the screw holes (100) are arranged in the section edges (13).

7. The wall rack as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein

a) the cross member (710) of the supporting bar (71) is surrounded by damping elements (712), for example made of rubber or plastic;

ba) a bushing (74), for example made of plastic, for receiving in a slip-free and clamping fashion the end (711) of the supporting bar (71) which is to be plugged in is inserted into the socket holder (73);

bb) the bottom (730) of the socket holder (73) has an internal seat for the head (990) of a screw (99) whose threaded stem (991) which projects through the bottom (730) is intended to engage in a screw hole (100) in the base frame (1) which is selected in accordance with the desired vertical position of the storage shelf (7) which is to be mounted;

c) an engagement opening (702) in the rear edge (701) of the storage shelf (7) is composed of a main drilled hole (703) and a secondary drilled hole (704) which adjoins it at the top and is of reduced diameter;

da) the mounting pin (72) has a cylindrical spacing segment (720) and a stem element (721) which extends centrally therefrom and ends at the front with a screw seat (722) which is thickened in diameter in comparison with the stem element (721);

db) an axial drilled hole (723) extends through the mounting pin (72); and

dc) in the mounted state the spacing segment (720) is seated on the front panel (2,2′), the secondary drilled hole (704) is lowered onto the stem element (721), the screw seat (722) is located in front of the bent-up rear edge (701) of the storage shelf (7) and the head (990) of a screw (99) whose threaded stem (991) projects through the axial drilled hole (723) and the front panel (2,2′) and engages in the selected screw hole (100) in the base frame (1) is located in the screw seat (722).

8. The wall rack as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in order to use a deeper work surface (8) which is designed for larger loads, the shelf bracket (92) has, at its front, free end, an adapter (920) for mounting a supporting foot (93) which projects to the floor.

9. The wall rack as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein

a) in order to install the wall rack in a freestanding fashion, in each case a projecting wall rack foot (3) is arranged on the two frame parts (10,10′) of the base frame (1); and

b) when the wall rack is installed fixed in position, there is provision for it to be mounted on a rear panel or on another supporting structure and it is sufficient to arrange base elements on the two frame parts (10,10′) of the base frame (1).

10. The wall rack as claimed in claim 9, wherein, when the wall frame is installed in a fixed position mounted on a rear panel, a section element, to which the wall rack is fixed, is arranged on the rear panel.

11. The wall rack as claimed in claim 10, wherein

a) the section element is a U section which is mounted with its open side pointing downward on the rear panel, at the level of the upper edge of the wall rack;

b) the upper edge of the front panel (2) which faces the rear panel can be pushed into the U section from below, and

c) the weight of the wall rack rests on the base elements arranged on the two frame parts (10,10′) of the base frame (1).