Patent Publication Number: US-6701677-B2

Title: Partition covering with pocket

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to partitions with aesthetically covered side surfaces, and more particularly relates to partitions with side coverings adapted with features to optimize a workstation for efficiency and to customize a workstation for individuality. 
     Partitions are often used to subdivide building space into work areas and office arrangements. Building space is expensive, and accordingly, it is important to make optimal and efficient use of every part of a work area. Further, especially as offices and work areas become smaller, it is important to reduce clutter and to provide places for storage of important papers and personal effects. 
     Another problem occurs when multiple electrical devices are placed on a worksurface in a work area. Electrical devices such as computer monitors and keyboards, speakers, telephones, and battery-operated devices (such as CD players, radios, cell-phone chargers, and the like) each have one or more wires that extend from the device across the worksurface. The wires not only take up space on the worksurface, but also look bad, get in the way, and give the overall appearance of a messy unkept work area. 
     An apparatus is desired solving the aforementioned problems and having the aforementioned advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a partition includes a partition frame having a face and a cavity behind the face, and a covering attached to the partition frame that aesthetically covers the face. The covering includes an access slit through which the cavity can be accessed, and is sufficiently flexible so that the slit can be opened to access the cavity. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a partition includes a partition frame having a face and a cavity behind the face. A covering is attached to the partition frame that aesthetically covers the face. The covering includes an access opening through which the cavity can be accessed. A pouch is provided that is shaped and adapted to hold items in the cavity that are dropped through the access opening. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a partition includes a partition frame having frame members defining a face and that define a cavity behind the face. A covering is attached to the frame members for aesthetically covering the face. The covering is flexible and attached to the frame members with hook and loop material, such that a corner of the covering can be pulled away for accessing the cavity. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method comprises steps of providing a partition frame having a face and a cavity behind the face, a covering with an access opening for the cavity, and a pouch in the cavity that is shaped and adapted to hold items placed in the cavity. The method further includes providing a worksurface adjacent the partition frame. The method also includes supporting an electrical appliance on the worksurface, including placing excess wiring from the electrical appliance through the access opening into the pouch. 
     These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a workstation including a partition with an internal cavity and a skin covering having a zippered horizontal slit for accessing a pouch located in the cavity; 
     FIG. 1A is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a freestanding desk next to a partition, the partition including a horizontal slit for accessing a cavity in the partition; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but with the worksurface removed to show the covering and the pouch; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the covering; 
     FIG. 4 is a side cross-section taken vertically along the lines IV—IV in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4A is a side cross section similar to FIG. 4, but showing an electrical device on a worksurface, including excess wiring stored in the pouch in the partition and showing the wiring extending through a back hole in the pouch and into engagement with an electrical outlet in the internal cavity of the partition; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, but of a modified covering having a vertically extending access opening; and 
     FIGS. 6-7 are perspective views of modified coverings having closable access slits. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A partition  20  (FIG. 1) includes a partition frame  21  having perimeter frame members  21 A- 21 D with front surfaces forming a face, and a covering  23  attached to the face with hook and loop material  24  and  25 . The covering  23  is flexible and includes an access slit or opening  26  through which an internal cavity  27  defined within the frame  21  can be accessed. In the illustrated embodiment, a pouch  28  (FIG. 4) is formed by a sheet of material, with edges of the sheet attached to the covering material along the top and bottom of the slit  26 , and with a middle of the sheet  28  draping downwardly. Right and left edges  29  and  30  (FIG. 2) of the sheet are sewn together so that the purse-like pouch  28  with front and rear walls  31  and  32  is connected to top and bottom edges of slit  26 , and is adapted to securely hold personal items and/or excess electrical wires  34 . A closure device, such as a zipper  35 , can be used to close the pouch  28  for optimal security and aesthetics. In one form, the covering  23  comprises a flexible skin that can be pulled loose at its corner(s) for accessing the cavity  27  and/or the pouch  28  (see FIG.  2 ). In another form, the pouch  28  is eliminated or the pouch  28  includes a secondary slit  46  (FIG. 4A) in its rear wall  32   50  that wires  34  can be routed to a utility outlet, such as a power outlet  36  located in the cavity  27  of the partition  20 . Optionally, the horizontal slit  26  can be located at or slightly below a worksurface  50  (see FIG. 1) or slightly above a worksurface  50 A (see FIG.  1 A), so that it is easily accessed and so that wires can be easily routed into and out of the pouch  28 , although different orientations and positions of the slit and zipper are contemplated (see FIG. 5) and are believed to be included in a scope of the present inventive concepts. 
     Partitions are well known in the art, and are often used to form office arrangements. The illustrated partitions  20  are connected in-line or in T-shaped arrangements to form the illustrated office arrangement, but of course, different configurations are possible. Specifically, it will be clear to a person skilled in this art that the partitions can be arranged in many different configurations, and that many different partition structures and arrangements are possible while still utilizing the principles of the present inventive concepts. 
     The illustrated partition  20  (FIG. 1) is described in sufficient detail below for an understanding of the present invention. Nonetheless, if additional discussion of the partition  20  is desired, it can be obtained from the following patent applications, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference: commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 10/077,553, filed Feb. 15, 2002, entitled PANEL SYSTEM, and commonly assigned application Ser. No. 10/076,709, filed Feb. 15, 2002, entitled PARTITION PANEL WITH MODULAR APPLIANCE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT. 
     Partition frame members  21 A- 21 D (FIG. 1) are U-shaped channel members attached together to form a rigid “picture-frame” or perimeter. Additional horizontal frame members can be attached between the vertical side frame members  21 A and  21 C if desired, depending on the height and functional requirements of the partition  20 . The top and ends of the partitions  20  are covered with trim for aesthetics. Strips of hook and loop material  25  are applied along the front surfaces of the frame members  21 A- 21 D. 
     The covering  23  comprises a sheet of flexible upholstery material or fabric shaped to cover the face of the partition frame  21 . The covering  23  includes mating hook and loop material  24  along its edges (FIG.  2 ), in locations matching the pattern of hook and loop material  25 . The materials  24  and  25  can be continuous strips, or can be patches located at corners and intermittently along the rectangular perimeter pattern of the frame  21  and the covering  23 . Notably, it is contemplated that the hook and loop material  24 - 25  can be replaced with snaps  24 ′- 25 ′ (see FIG.  5 ), or replace with other means such as other mechanical fasteners, releasable magnetic material, adhesive, or other means known in the art. Alternatively, the covering  23  can be permanently attached to the partition frame  21 , or can be part of a rigid removable cover panel. In the example of a rigid cover panel, the panel would include a board-like sheet of stiff material with an access opening large enough to reach through, and the flexible covering material would cover the board-like sheet of stiff material and at least partially cover the opening while still allowing access through the opening. The pouch, if present, would be attached to the covering  23  and extend through the opening, or the pouch would be formed on a backside of the board-like sheet of stiff material at the opening. Alternatively, the board-like sheet of stiff material can include an outer surface that is treated to be satisfactory as a visual covering, and the pouch can be attached to the board-like sheet of stiff material without a separate upholstery or fabric covering attached to it. 
     The material of the illustrated covering  23  is tough and able to support the mating elongated zipper elements  40  and  41  of zipper  35  (FIG.  3 ), and to support the action of a zipper body  42  as it is moved along zipper elements  40 - 41  to close (or open) the slit  26 . Two such zipper bodies  42  can be used, if desired, each including a handle for easy grasping. Where two zipper bodies  42  are used, the location where they meet forms the entrance for wires into the pouch  28 , such that the entrance can be located anywhere along the zipper elements  40 - 41  and along the slit  26 . 
     It is contemplated that the pouch  28  can be subdivided so as to create more than one pocket if desired, such as the illustrated right and left pockets  44  and  45  (FIG.  3 ). For example, this can be useful to segregate materials stored in the pouch  28 . As illustrated in FIG. 3, the right pocket  45  contains personal items  33 , such as the illustrated purse, while the left pocket  44  holds the wires  34 . The pockets  44  and  45  can also be used for separating different wires, such as wires for electrical power and separate wires for communication/data transfer. Where partition  20  is modified to include an internal utility outlet, such as an intermediate frame member carrying an electrical power outlet  36  (FIG.  4 A), a rear (secondary) access slit or opening  46  is cut into the rear wall  32  to allow access to the outlet  36  through the pouch  28 . Thus, excess wiring can be stored in the pouch  28 , with enough wiring extending forward to the electrical appliance  55  on the worksurface, and with enough wiring extending rearward to the utility outlet. Where the pouch  28  is subdivided, communication wiring can be placed on one side, and wiring for electrical power can be separated and placed on the other side of the pouch. 
     The illustrated work area in FIG. 1 includes a worksurface  50  attached in cantilever to the partition  20 . The worksurface  50  includes a rear edge spaced about an inch or so forward of the covering  23 . The access slit  26  in FIG. 1 is positioned about one or two inches below a top of the worksurface  50 . This partially hides the access slit  26  for aesthetics. Further, the covering  23  flexes to permit access to the slit  26 . However, it is contemplated that the access slit  26  can be located above a top of the worksurface if desired. For example, see FIG. 1A, which discloses a freestanding desk  50   a  with a worksurface. Notably, the freestanding desk  50   a  can be easily located any distance from the partition  20 , thus allowing a worker to position the desk at an optimal distance from the access slit  26   a  of covering  23   a  on the partition  20   a , depending on what is being stored in the pouch  28   a.    
     The access slit does not need to extend horizontally, nor does it need to be limited to one location or orientation in a given covering. FIG. 5 illustrates a vertically oriented slit  26   b  which includes upper and lower portions  51  and  52  that extend above and below a worksurface  50 . The slit could also be L-shaped, such that a triangular flap of the covering would open when the slit was unzipped. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the slit could extend at an angle between vertical and horizontal orientations. 
     It is contemplated that the access slit  26  can use different closure devices. For example, the zipper ( 35 ) can be replaced with a stiff strip of resilient material  35   b  (FIG.  6 ), such as a strip of spring steel that is shaped to naturally bias the slit  26  to a closed position. Alternatively, hook and loop material  35   c  (FIG. 7) attached to overlapping flanges can be used, and/or snaps can be used. Still further, overlapping stiffened flanges can be used without hook and loop material, with the top flange being the outermost flange such that the top flange hangs down to visually cover and hide the slide from view of a person standing next to the partition  20 . 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.