Patent Publication Number: US-6701570-B2

Title: Standardized furniture unit and bracket therefor

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under Title 35, U.S.C. 517 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/058,311, entitled STANDARDIZED FURNITURE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE, filed on Sep. 9, 1997. 
     This application is a division of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/145,768 filed Sep. 2, 1998, and entitled “Standardized Furniture Unit and Bracket Therefor.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to furniture units, and more particularly to furniture units for standardized office furniture systems. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Office furniture manufacturers often manufacture several different product lines of office furniture systems with each product line having a different style or aesthetic appearance. Although many of the individual units of these different product lines are similar, typically each product line is independently designed and developed and component parts of each product line, although similar, are not often interchangeable. This lack of interchangeability may also be present for similar components of different furniture units within a single product line resulting in a large number of distinct components which must be inventoried and utilized in the manufacture of office furniture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a standardized manufacturing system for producing a large variety of different furniture units utilizing many common components. 
     One of the basic building blocks of the standardized furniture system of the present invention is the use of common underlying structures for individual furniture units which may be combined in a modular office furniture system. For example, a common structure for a pedestal unit may be used as the basis for a large variety of different pedestal styles. These pedestal units are designed to permit their combination with other furniture units and components such as standard sized worksurface panels and modesty panels whereby desks and workstations may be easily manufactured by assembling these various units. The common underlying structures may be utilized to manufacture product lines having different styles by the use of distinguishable drawer fronts, doors, moldings, rails, skirting and other features. 
     To facilitate the compatibility of the different furniture units, the interchangeability of hardware and panels, and promote the efficient machining of the panels and other parts, a 32 millimeter grid is utilized in the design and manufacture of the common underlying structures and other furniture components. A computer assisted design/computer assisted manufacturing system (CAD/CAM system) is utilized with numeric control machinery in the design and manufacture of many of the component parts and panels of the common underlying furniture unit structures and for other panels used in the furniture system. The use of such a CAD/CAM system can greatly facilitate the efficient manufacture of furniture panels on an as needed basis. 
     Additionally, the present invention also provides several individual furniture parts which may be used to manufacture a common underlying structure of a furniture unit but which are adapted to permit the furniture unit to be finished in a variety of different configurations. For example, a corner bracket for bracing a corner and mounting both stationary leveler and a roller caster may be included in the standard underlying structure. This permits a single underlying structure to be used in both stationary and mobile furniture units and also facilitates the easy modification therebetween of finished furniture units. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it reduces the number of furniture panels and hardware which must be inventoried and tracked during the manufacture of office furniture systems. 
     The present invention provides a bracket for a furniture unit and having an upper mounting plate and a lower mounting plate. One of the upper or the lower mounting plates provides a mount for a caster; the other mounting plate provides a mount for a leveler. 
     The present invention also provides a bracket for a furniture unit and having a substantially horizontal mounting plate provided with a substantially vertical aperture through which a leveler extends. The leveler is provided with means for adjusting the leveler from a location above the bracket. 
     The present invention also provides a bracket for a furniture unit in which the bracket includes an upper mounting plate and at least one sidewall depending therefrom. The upper mounting plate and the sidewall(s) define a chamber open from below. A caster is disposed in the chamber. 
     The present invention also provides a standardized furniture unit including at least two substantially vertical side panels. Bracing extends between the sides panels, the intersection of the bracing the side panels defining interior corners. A bracket is disposed in at least one of these interior corners and includes an upper mounting plate and a lower mounting plate, a leveler connected to the lower mounting plate, and/or a caster connected to the upper mounting plate. 
     The present invention also provides a standardized furniture unit including a structure having at least two substantially vertical panels, each of which has a lower edge, and bracing extending between the panels. Decorative base skirting is disposed about the structure and the furniture unit includes means excluding the skirting for supporting the furniture unit on a floor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the underlying structure of a pedestal unit; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pedestal unit having four corner brackets; 
     FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of a corner bracket for a furniture unit; 
     FIG. 4 is another upper perspective view of the corner bracket of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of a first alternative corner bracket; 
     FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the corner bracket of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a cutaway upper perspective view of the corner bracket of FIG. 5 in a pedestal unit; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial upper perspective view of a brace for a pedestal unit; 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the underlying structure of a pedestal unit; 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the corner of a pedestal unit and corner bracket; 
     FIG. 11 is a lower perspective view of a second alternative corner bracket; 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded, lower perspective view of the corner bracket of FIG. 5 in an assembly having a coupler bolt and joint connector nut; 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, sectional side view of a pedestal unit including the corner bracket assembly of FIG. 12, without a caster. 
     FIG. 14 is sectional side view of a bottom corner of a pedestal unit; 
     FIG. 15 is a sectional side view of a bottom corner of a pedestal unit having a skirting framework; 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a pedestal unit being lowered into a skirting framework; 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the pedestal unit and attached skirting of FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of a back panel and side panel of a pedestal unit with clips and studs attached respectively thereto; 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a clip; 
     FIG. 20 is a side view of the clip of FIG. 19; 
     FIG. 21 is another side view of the clip of FIG. 19; 
     FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a stud; 
     FIG. 23 is a side view of the stud of FIG. 22; 
     FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an alternative structure for a pedestal unit; 
     FIG. 25 is a partial perspective view of the spanner of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 26 is a sectional view of the pedestal unit of FIG. 24; and 
     FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the metal spanner of the pedestal unit of FIG.  24 . 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The embodiments disclosed in the following detailed description are not intended to be exhaustive and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system for manufacturing office furniture systems in a standard and efficient manner. The present invention also provides several individual parts and methods which are useful in the manufacture of office furniture systems as described below. 
     The utilization of a grid system provides significant advantages in the design and manufacture of office furniture systems. The grid is a set of points defining a rectilinear grid pattern of points defined by the intersection of columns and rows (oriented at a 90° angle relative to each other) wherein the columns and rows are offset by 32 millimeters. Bore holes for connectors, dowels, shelf supports, drawer slides, etc. located on the panels used in the furniture system are placed on the grid, i.e., centered on one of the points where the columns and rows intersect. The first vertical column of the grid is spaced 37 millimeters from the front edge of vertically oriented panels and the grid is expandable in 32 millimeter increments from that column. The 37 millimeter spacing of the first grid column from the front edge of vertically oriented columns was chosen to facilitate the use of a significant quantity of hardware available in the market which employs this spacing. Employing a common grid for all product lines and all types of furniture units enhances the potential for utilizing common parts in each product line and between furniture units within a product line. 
     A 32 millimeter grid is advantageous because many suppliers manufacture high quality price competitive “off the shelf” hardware fixtures using increments of 32 millimeters and the use of a grid based upon 32 millimeters facilitates the use of these hardware fixtures. The selection of 32 millimeters is also advantageous because the equipment used to machine the furniture panels is available with drill/spindles which are spaced to have center to center distances which are increments of 32 millimeters. 
     FIG. 1 shows the underlying structure  20  of a pedestal unit which is suitable for use under the worksurface of a desk or workstation or as a freestanding unit. Illustrated pedestal structure  20  utilizes standardized components such as a standard back panel  22  which pops on and off, standard side panels  24 , L-shaped bracing members  26 , top bracing members (spanners)  28  and back bracing members (spanners)  30 . Side panels  24  include blind bore holes  32  which are positioned on the 32 millimeter grid with the first vertical line of holes spaced a distance of 37 millimeters from the front edge of side panels  24 . The use of interchangeable standardized components allows pedestal structure  20  to be manufactured in a plurality of different sizes and for a plurality of different product lines while utilizing a minimal number of different parts. For example, a standardized manufacturing system could be set up to manufacture standard sized pedestal structures  20  in nominal depths D of 24″, 30″ and 36″ and nominal widths W of 15″, 18″, 30″, 36″ and 42″ and in one or more standard heights. 
     An inventory of the basic panels and other common components, such as fasteners and braces, may then be maintained and an appropriately sized underlying pedestal structure  20  may then be assembled as needed to form a pedestal unit for any one of a number of different product lines. By utilizing the same standard underlying pedestal structures  20  for different product lines and minimizing the number of different panels and other components needed to manufacture differently sized standard pedestal structures  20 , substantial reductions in inventory and substantial efficiencies in the manufacturing process are achievable. 
     Although underlying structure  20  may be identical for pedestal units in different product lines, the product lines can have substantially different styles by utilizing differently styled drawers, hardware and tops, or by attaching skirting, moldings, or additional side panels, to thereby finish underlying structure  20  in a manner which produces a distinguishable and aesthetically pleasing pedestal unit. 
     By manufacturing the different furniture units with standard nominal depths and widths, similarly sized panel stock can be utilized in the manufacture of the different units. Additionally, the use of common exterior dimensions based upon common increments also promotes the modularity of the office system by allowing the different furniture units to be more easily combined in different combinations. The use of a common grid system for each of the different furniture units also promotes the efficient machining of the panels used in their manufacture. It is also desirable to place the major horizontal lines of the various furniture units at common levels to provide a harmonious visual appearance and promote the modularity of the various units. In addition to horizontal modularity, which is enhanced by using furniture units with common widths and depths and multiples of these common dimensions, vertical modularity is also desirable. By selecting a limited number of horizontal distances above the floor and aligning major horizontal elements of the furniture units therewith, and/or with multiples or integral fractions of these vertical distances, the modularity and visual harmony of the furniture units can be facilitated. 
     As previously mentioned, pedestal units for a variety of different product lines may be manufactured utilizing a common underlying structure which will now be discussed in greater detail. 
     A common feature of each pedestal unit  34  is the use of four corner brackets  36  near the bottom corners of its pedestal structure  20  as schematically shown in FIG.  2 . Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each corner bracket  36  may include both leveler  38  and roller caster  40 . Providing a corner bracket such as bracket  36 , which can be used with both caster  40  and leveler  38 , permits a single corner bracing element to be used in pedestal unit  34 . The use of corner bracket  36  also permits each pedestal unit  34  to be easily modified to form either a mobile or stationary unit. Alternative corner bracket  36   a  is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3-11, corner brackets  36 ,  36   a  have lower mounting plate  42 ,  42   a  and upper mounting plate  44 ,  44   a , respectively. Lower mounting plate  42 ,  42   a  includes aperture  46 ,  46   a  for threadingly receiving stem  47  of leveler  38 ; upper mounting plate  44 ,  44   a  has aperture  48 ,  48   a  for threadingly receiving stem  50  of caster  40 . Upper mounting plate  44 ,  44   a  also respectively include a pair of apertures  52 ,  52   a  through which fasteners secure corner brackets  36 ,  36   a  to wooden brace  26 . As shown in FIG. 9, wooden bracing member  26  spans between side panels  24  of pedestal structure  20 , and includes top member  56  and vertical member  58 . Brace members  56  and  58  are attached together with vertically-oriented dowels  60  (FIG.  8 ). Horizontally-oriented dowels  62  are used to attach top member  56  to side panels  24 , and are installed in pre-bored holes located on the 32 mm grid. 
     Brackets  36 ,  36   a  also include lower flange  64 ,  64   a , at least a portion of which is positioned beneath the lower edges of side panel  24  and brace vertical member  58 . Bracket lower flange  64 ,  64   a  does not, however, extend across the entirety of the lower edge of either side panel  24  or brace vertical member  58 . Hence, as seen in FIG. 10, which is a bottom view of pedestal structure  20  with corner bracket  36   a  installed, the outside edge of lower flange  64   a  is recessed with respect to the exterior surfaces of side panel  24  and brace vertical member  58 . Corner brackets  36 ,  36   a  are thus hidden from view in pedestal units  34  which do not include skirting and prevents corner brackets  36 ,  36   a  from interfering with skirting installation, as will be discussed in greater detail below. Further, as seen in FIGS. 3-6, corner brackets  36 ,  36   a  respectively include stiffening flange  66 ,  66   a  which enhances bracket strength and rigidity. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates another alternative corner bracket  36   b  which may be used in pedestal units  34  or other furniture units having skirting  76  attached thereto and with which the ability to use casters is desired. Corner bracket  36   b  is identical to bracket  36   a  except in that it has spacer boss  78  depending from upper mounting plate  44   a  and having aperture  48   b  in which stem  50  of caster  40  is threadedly received, and has somewhat deeper stiffening flanges  66   b ; features of brackets  36   a  and  36   b  are otherwise identically referenced. Extended boss  78  places the lower opening of aperture  48   b  at the same level as the lower opening of leveler stem receiving aperture  46   a . By using corner brackets  36  or  36   a  in pedestal units  34  without skirting, and using corner brackets  36   b  in pedestal units  34  having skirting  76 , common casters  40  may be used in pedestal units with or without skirting. The use of skirting will be discussed further below. 
     When implementing a manufacturing system, it would be advantageous to select bracket  36 , bracket  36   a  or bracket  36   b  and thereby limit the number of differently designed corner brackets which would need to be manufactured and inventoried. Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, as an alternative to using corner bracket  36   b  in pedestal units having skirting  76 , corner bracket  36   a  may be used with coupler bolt  82  having male portion  84 , which is threadedly received in aperture  48   a,  and spacer portion  86 , which places the opening of its threaded aperture  88  at the same level as the lower opening of leveler stem receiving aperture  46   a . This allows a single corner bracket design (e.g.,  36   a ) to be employed in pedestal units with and without skirting. As indicated above, pedestal models without skirting may use caster  40  and corner bracket  36   a  without coupler bolt  82 ; models with skirting would use bolt  82  to accomplish the spacing function of cylindrical boss  78  of bracket  36   b , stem  50  of caster  40  threadedly received in coupler bolt aperture  88 . If casters are not desired, coupler bolt  82  may still be used for attachment of bracket  36   a  to horizontal brace top member  56 , as will be discussed further below. Where a caster is not used with coupler bolt  82 , plastic “Christmas tree” plug  90  may be used to plug aperture  88 , as shown in FIG.  13 . 
     Joint connector nut  92 , having flanged head  94  and female threaded portion  96 , may be used for attaching corner bracket  36   a  to horizontal member  56   a  of brace  26   a , which is identical to horizontal member  56  of brace  26  except that it is provided with bore  98  through which female threaded portion  96  extends. The thickness of member  56   a  is slightly greater than the length of female threaded portion  96 . Thus, when joint connector nut  92  is tightened by means of an Allen key engaged with the hexagonal drive hole (not shown) centrally located in flanged head  94 , member  56   a  is tightly held between head  94  and upper mounting plate  44   a , securing attaching bracket  36   a  to brace  26   a . It can be easily visualized that joint connector nut  92  and brace  26   a  may be used without coupler bolt  82  on skirtless pedestal units having casters; joint connector nut  92  would then be threadedly received directly on caster stem  50 , the spacing function provided by coupler bolt  92  not being needed. In the foregoing discussion of coupler bolt  82  and joint connector nut  92 , corner bracket  36  may be substituted for corner bracket  36   a . Further, where joint connector nut  92  and brace  26   a  are utilized, fasteners attaching bracket  36 ,  36   a  to horizontal brace top member  56   a  via bracket apertures  52 ,  52   a  may not be necessary; these apertures may then be eliminated from bracket upper mounting plate  44 ,  44   a.    
     Stem  47  of levelers  38  are threadingly received in bracket aperture  46 ,  46   a . Levelers  38  can be adjusted from above with a hex driver (not shown) which engages the cooperating terminal end  54  of stem  47 . Horizontal brace top member  56 ,  56   a  is provided with bore  74  or other opening through which stem  47  extends with some clearance thereto, thus providing top access to hexagonal stem terminal end  54 . In bracket  36 ,  36   a ,  36   b , aperture  46 ,  46   a  is inwardly spaced from the outer bracket perimeter to preclude the intersection of brace bore  74  and any of dowels  62  in brace top member  56 ,  56   a.    
     Brackets  36   a ,  36   b  include elongate slots  68  located in sidewalls  70 . Fasteners  80  extend through slots  68  to secure brackets  36   a ,  36   b  to side panels  24  and brace vertical members  58 . By means of this attachment, brackets  36   a ,  36   b  provide additional bracing of the corners of pedestal structure  20 , as can be seen in FIGS. 7,  9  and  10  (brace vertical member  58  is not shown in FIG.  7 ). Slots  68  intersect lower flange  64  of bracket  36   a ,  36   b  to facilitate the casting of the bracket. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that smaller apertures in sidewalls  70  may be provided in lieu of slots  68  for accommodating fasteners  80 . From the preceding descriptions it can be readily seen that sidewalls  72  of bracket  36  and sidewalls  70  of bracket  36   a ,  36   b , together with respective upper mounting plate  44 ,  44   a , form a chamber which is open from below and in which caster  40  is mountable. 
     A variety of materials may be used to manufacture corner brackets  36 ,  36   a ,  36   b , including plastics and metals. For example, corner bracket  36   a  is a zinc casting. Aperture  48 ,  48   a  is tapped after casting to allow it to receive threaded stem  50  of caster  40  and thereby permit all pedestal units  34  to be easily modified and become mobile units by the addition of casters  40 . 
     Although the description of the installation of corner brackets  36 ,  36   a ,  36   b  has been limited to pedestal units  34 , brackets  36 ,  36   a  or  36   b  could also be installed in other furniture units such as desks, book cases, storage units and lateral file units thereby allowing all of these units to share a common corner bracket and further reducing the number of parts required to manufacture all of the furniture units. As with pedestal units  34 , other units having brackets  36 ,  36   a ,  36   b  could be either stationary or mobile and easily changed therebetween. 
     Pedestal structure  20  may be used in a variety of different product lines which may have quite different styles and appearances. For example, contemporary styles often have relatively little ornamentation while more traditional styles often have relatively elaborate ornamentation. A common feature of traditional designs is an articulated base while contemporary designs often allow the bottom edge of side panels  24  to define the lower limit of the pedestal unit. To enable a single pedestal structure to be used in both contemporary and traditional product lines, pedestal structure  20  is adapted to receive a skirting framework  76  to thereby form a pedestal unit  34  having a base. 
     Unlike conventional pedestals having a base, the vertical load of a pedestal unit  34  according to the present invention, and which has skirting  76 , is carried by corner bracket  36 ,  36   a ,  36   b  and leveler  38  and/or caster  40 . In other words, skirting framework  76  does not provide a structural base for pedestal  34 . FIG. 14 schematically illustrates a pedestal unit which does not include skirting  76 , being supported by leveler  38 . FIG. 15 schematically illustrates a pedestal which does include skirting  76 , also being supported by a leveler. Leveler  38   a  shown in FIG. 15 is slightly longer than leveler  38  to accommodate the additional height from which pedestal structure  20  is raised from floor  100  when unit  34  comprises skirting  76 . As shown in FIG. 15, skirting  76  defines space  101  located below pedestal structure  20  within which the levelers and casters (FIG. 12) are located. Hence, these support elements are at least partially hidden from view outside of unit  34  by the skirting. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 16 and 17, pedestal structure  20  may be nested into skirting framework  76  by lowering pedestal structure  20  into skirting framework  76 . The skirting is then attached to the pedestal structure. Skirting  76 , which is formed of 19 millimeter thick stock, includes machined interior ledge  102  (FIG.  15 ), having a depth of approximately 3 millimeters, which abuts the bottom edges of pedestal structure  20 . As previously mentioned, lower flange  64 ,  64   a  of corner bracket  36 ,  36   a ,  36   b  is not as wide as the width of side panel  24  or brace vertical member  58 ; the edges of flange  64 ,  64   a  are recessed from the exterior side surfaces of panel  24  and member  58 , and thereby allow pedestal structure  20  to be seated on ledge  102  of skirting  76  without interference from the corner brackets. Further, in pedestals without skirting, flanges&#39;  64 ,  64   a  being so recessed hides the corner brackets from view. 
     Skirting  76  is attached to pedestal structure  20  with screws  104  as shown in FIG.  15 . Screws  104  are installed through pre-bored holes  106  which do not extend entirely through the thickness of panels  24 . By using blind bore holes  106  located on the 32 millimeter grid, all panels  24  may be identically and efficiently machined. Holes  106  do not penetrate the exterior surface of panels  24  and so are not visible in pedestal units which do not include skirting  76 . 
     Although different height skirting can be used, by placing interior ledge  102  of skirting  76  at a common distance from bottom edge  108  of skirting  76  for all skirting  76 , common leveler  38   a  can be used for all pedestal units having skirting  76 . For example, all of the skirting  76 , or base rails, may extend 25.5 millimeters below the bottom edge of panels  24  when installed and levelers  38   a  may have an extension portion  110  which is 25.4 millimeters in length. 
     Referring now to FIG. 18, back panel  22  is attached to side panels  24  of pedestal structure  20  by snap-fitting clips  112  (FIGS. 19-21) over studs  114  (FIGS. 22,  23 ). The use of clips  112  and studs  114  permits back panel  22  to be easily removed and replaced. Back panels removably attached to furniture units with clips and studs, as shown in FIG.  18  and described in detail below, also may be positioned to define the lower exterior surface of a workstation. Polypropylene may be used to manufacture clips  112  and studs  114 . Resilient clip arms  116  flex outward to receive shaft  118  of stud  114  when clip  112  and stud  114  are snap-fitted together. Resilient arms  116  define an interior diameter of 11 millimeters which corresponds to the exterior diameter of shaft  118 . 
     Clips  112  and studs  114  are respectively attached to panels  22 ,  24  with screws (not shown) which engage pre-bored holes in the panels on the 32 millimeter grid. Clip  112  includes stepped aperture  120  located between resilient arms  116  for receiving a screw. Stud  114  includes stepped aperture  122  in shaft  118  for receiving a screw. Locating clips  112  and studs  114  at standard positions promotes the interchangeability and efficient manufacture of back panels  22  and side panels  24 . Standard locations for clips  112  and studs  114  standardizes the location of the pre-bored holes for securing clips  112  and studs  114  on back panel  22  and side panel  24 , respectively, and placing the pre-bored holes on the 32 millimeter grid facilitates the efficient manufacture of the panels. 
     The removal and reattachment of back panel  22 , which can be done without tools, is particularly useful for cable management purposes such as routing power cords and communications cabling immediately adjacent back panel  22 . This permits the consumer to easily route such cables when first setting up a furniture unit or when reconfiguring the furniture unit or the power and communication devices thereon. Although not shown in FIG. 18, back panel  22  may also include a cable management strip or other cable management features. 
     Wooden braces  26 ,  26   a , and  28 ,  30  may take different positions on side panels  24  for the differently sized pedestal units, and larger units may utilize more braces  28 ,  30 . One possible standard configuration of braces  26 ,  26   a ,  28  and  30  is shown by the cross-hatched outlines on panel  24  in FIG.  18 . Metal spanners  124  may be substituted for these wooden braces, however, as shown in alternate pedestal structure  20   a  of FIG.  24 . Metal spanners  124  are generally U-shaped in cross-section, stamped from sheet metal, and are attached to side panels  24   a  using fasteners (not shown) secured through apertures  126  located in end flanges  128 . 
     On large furniture units, such as storage units, clips and studs such as  112 ,  114  may not have sufficient strength to attach a rear panel and alternative fasteners may be required. An alternative method of attaching a rear panel  22   a  using metal spanners  124  is illustrated in FIGS. 24-26. Middle spanner panel  130  includes tabs  132  formed therein which are used to secure rear panel  22   a . Tabs  132  are bent to trap panel  22   a  between the tabs and longitudinal flange  134 , which is adjacent and perpendicular to middle panel  130 , thereby securing panel  22   a  to pedestal structure  20   a.    
     As seen in FIG. 27, middle spanner panel  130  also includes apertures  136  through which fasteners may be installed for attaching pedestal structure  20   a  to the bottom of an overlying worksurface panel. Spanners  124  also include two tapped apertures  138  for receiving either levelers  38  or casters  40 . 
     While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.