Patent ID: 6282854
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: E04B

Abstract:
In an improved workspace management system for dividing a space into separate work areas comprising:a rigid structural framework formed of rigid rectangular frames rigidly joined together at the edges thereof to form at least one work area;each of the frames having outer faces on opposite sides thereof and openings on the opposite sides of the frames;a plurality of interchangeable tiles, with each of the tiles having a connector cooperating with the openings on the frames for removably mounting said tiles to the frames for ease of placement on and removal from the frames;the tiles being mounted to the outer faces of the frames to substantially cover both sides of the frames from a bottom portion thereof to a top thereof in juxtaposed parallel relationship;the improvement comprising:at least one of the frames comprises at least one load rail mounted horizontally between a pair of vertical rails and U shaped in cross section, the upper ends of the legs of the U shape having a reinforcing lip thereon;a pair of the tiles mounted to the at least one of the frames forms a horizontal access slot therebetween; andthe horizontal access slot between the pair of the tiles is positioned in register with the upper ends of the legs of the U shaped load railwhereby a component can be mounted to the frame and afforded the stability of the load rail with the reinforcing lip in a convenient fashion without affecting the overall aesthetic appearance of the system since the component is conveniently mounted to the load rail through the access slot between the pair of tiles.