Patent GB-1488564-A (GB)
Title: Space dividing furniture systems
IPC: A47B87/00
Filed: 1975-05-05
Abstract: 1488564 Furniture joints HERMAN MILLER Inc 5 May 1975 [28 May 1974] 18722/75 Heading F2M A space-dividing furniture system comprising two components, e.g. vertical panels, each of which includes at least one generally vertical side edge, two adjacent side edges of the respective components being secured together to form a space-dividing arrangement by means including a bracket which has horizontal arms to engage and support a work surface panel along, over, and on at least one side of at least one of the components, the bracket including wedge surfaces or other formations adapted to interlock with complementary formations on the two components to prevent separation of the latter, tightening means being provided to secure the assembly. The assemblies of Figs. 3-5 show three kinds of bracket 40, 60, 90, bracket 40 being used where one vertical panel 10, over which a work surface panel 14 is supported, is connected to a second panel 12 which also has a work surface panel 16 supported over it, bracket 60 (Fig. 13, not shown) being used where only one of two vertical panels 10, 12 to be connected together has a work surface supported over it, and bracket 90 being used where a connection between panels or like components is not required, as at an end of a structure or system. Accordingly, bracket 40 has arms 44a, 44b having transverse portions 46a, 46b at their ends which straddle two adjacent work surface panels 14, 16 to which they are secured by screws passed through apertures 56, whereas brackets 60, 90 have offset arms (74a, 74b), 104a, 104b, respectively, for attachment to a single work surface panel only, brackets 40 and 60 each having pairs of opposed slots (58, (82), respectively for receiving flanges 23, Fig. 24, of edge protection strips 22 of two adjacent vertical panels, whereas brackets 90 each have only a single pair of slots 111 for receiving the flanges 23 of a single vertical panel. The brackets 40 and 60 also each have a pair of wedge surfaces 48, 50, Fig. 11 (or 64, 66, Fig. 17, not shown) for engagement with wedge blocks 25 at the upper ends of profile strips 20 secured to strips 22 of two adjacent vertical panels, whereas, brackets 90 each have only a single wedge surface (96, Fig. 23, not shown) for engagement with the wedge block 25 of a single vertical panel, there being in place of the other wedge surface a web formation 99 provided with a pair of downwardly projecting triangular section teeth 98 which enter corrugations of a profile strip 28 extending along the vertical edge of the vertical panel and incorporating a protective bumper strip 30. The tightening means for each bracket is a long bolt 59, Fig. 11 (84, Fig. 17), 112, Fig. 24, which is passed through a central aperture 54, (68), 100 in the respective bracket 40, 60, 90, passes between the vertical edges of the adjacent vertical panels or between the edge of the single vertical panel and the profile strip 28 and engages a threaded double or single wedge member (not shown) co-operating with a further wedge surface or surfaces (not shown) at the bottom of the vertical edge of the or each vertical panel.