Patent Publication Number: US-6216398-B1

Title: Wall system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The following U.S. patent documents are cross-referenced and incorporated by reference: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/224,900 (Attorney Docket No. 26167-577) titled “MEDIA PRESENTATION SYSTEM” filed herewith; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,348 titled “FURNITURE SYSTEM” issued Apr. 30, 1996 to Cornell et al. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a wall system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a selectively reconfigurable wall system having an articulating partition that is selectively positioned to reconfigure and control access to space within a work environment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to divide a space provided within a work environment into one or more work spaces. According to such known arrangements, the work spaces may be further divided or otherwise arranged to create one or more work areas for use by individual workers or groups of workers. For example, it is generally known to divide an “open plan” work environment into large work spaces (e.g., group meeting areas or “commons”) and small work spaces (e.g., worker offices). It is also generally known to reconfigure such work areas within the work spaces by arrangement of one or more articles of furniture, such as panel walls, worksurfaces (e.g., display surfaces, tables, horizontal surfaces, vertical display boards), storage units (e.g., closets, cabinets, filing systems), chairs, seating products, etc. in a manner intended to support workers in a wide variety of individual and group activities. 
     The dynamic work environment, characterized by a need for flexibility, reconfigurable work areas and an ability to support a wide variety of activities of both individual workers and project teams of varying sizes, has recently grown in prevalence. The dynamic work environment typically includes mobile articles of furniture such as seating products, work surfaces and storage products. Individual and team spaces in the dynamic work environment are ideally capable of rapid configuration and reconfiguration by the workers themselves or by rearrangement of articles of furniture. However, known arrangements for space division and reconfiguration to support a variety of individual or group activities in a highly efficient manner are not well-suited for the dynamic work environment. 
     According to known arrangements, a work environment may be divided (e.g., by fixed panel walls) into closed or private work spaces (e.g., worker offices) that provide privacy and security, as well as open or group work spaces that allow access or movement throughout the work spaces. However, known arrangements may provide insufficient space for large group meetings or team interaction if the work environment is divided into closed work spaces. Further, the known arrangements may provide insufficient space for private work, private meetings or secure work activities if the work environment is divided into predominantly open work spaces. Such known arrangements, therefore, may impose inflexible constraints on the range of activities that may efficiently be performed in the work environment. 
     According to other known arrangements, mobile structures (such as hanging panels or freestanding panels) may be used to divide space in a work environment. However, such known structures typically must be stowed or put aside when not in use, which occupies space within the work environment that could possibly be used for more productive worker activity. Moreover, such mobile structures may not provide a suitable level of visual, auditory or physical privacy (or security) when installed. Further, the mobile structures may be unwieldy and difficult to position. 
     Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide for a selectively reconfigurable wall system that divides the space within a work environment to provide a desired level of privacy and security in one or more work spaces. It would also be advantageous to provide for a selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment that, when stowed, provides privacy and controls access to a work space. It would further be advantageous to provide for a selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment that controls access to a work space and divides the work space, without compromising performance, and is well-suited for use in a dynamic work environment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment. The work environment provides at least a first work space and a second work space. The wall system is selectively reconfigured to selectively control access to the work spaces and is adapted for association with a frame system having a plurality of floorstanding posts and overhead beams. The wall system includes an articulating partition adapted for mounting to a vertical member and for selective positioning between a first position and a second position. The articulating partition, when in the first position, increases the relative level of privacy provided by the first work space, and when in the second position increases the relative level of privacy provided by the second work space. 
     The present invention also relates to a selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment. The work environment provides at least a first work space and a second work space. The wall system is selectively reconfigured to divide the work spaces and is adapted for association with a frame system having a plurality of floorstanding posts and overhead beams. The wall system includes an articulating partition adapted for mounting to a vertical member and for selective positioning between a first stowed position and a second stowed position. The articulating partition, when in the first stowed position, provides privacy in the first work space and when in the second stowed position controls access to the second work space. 
     The present invention further relates to a selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment. The work environment provides at least a first work space, a second work space and a third work space adjacent the second work space. The wall system is selectively reconfigured to control access to the work spaces and is adapted for association with a frame system having a plurality of floorstanding posts and overhead beams. The wall system includes an articulating partition adapted for mounting to a vertical member and for selective positioning between a first position and a second position. The articulating partition in the first position divides the first work space and the second work space, and in the second position divides the second work space and the third work space. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2A is a top plan view of a selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment showing each articulating partition in an opened position according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B is a top plan view of the wall system of FIG. 2A showing each articulating partition in a partially opened position. 
     FIG. 3A is a top plan view of a selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment showing each articulating partition in a closed position according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the wall system of FIG. 3A showing each articulating partition in a partially opened position. 
     FIG. 3C is a top plan view of the wall system of FIG. 3A showing each articulating partition in an opened position. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a locking mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a locking mechanism according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevation view of an articulating partition according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pivot mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the FIGURES, a selectively reconfigurable wall system adapted for use in a work environment is shown. According to preferred and other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the work environment (i.e., any facility or environment for one or more workers) may include or be arranged to provide one or more work spaces for one or more workers. Each work space may be divided or otherwise arranged to provide one or more work areas for use by the workers, who may be engaged in any of a wide variety of individual activities or group activities, for example, as may be performed by members of a project team or department. Each work area may be configured to include one or more workstations according to preferred and other exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The workstations may be configured within a work area by including one or more articles of furniture intended to support the workers and their activities. As indicated in the FIGURES, the wall system provides work spaces and/or work areas in a variety of arrangements, each intended to support individual or collaborative activities of one or more workers. 
     According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the work environment is at least partially defined by architectural walls, a system of fixed or mobile panel walls, partial height partitions and stationary, mobile or articulating partitions. According to other preferred and alternative embodiments, the work environment and associated workstations may be arranged to include any of a wide variety of articles of furniture and other associated elements, including additional panel walls configured in any of a wide variety of orientations, space frames, chairs or other seating products, storage or casegoods products, tables and other worksurfaces, lighting products or systems, as well as other accessories, electronic or computing equipment and other systems (with associated connectivity such as cabling) known and used in the work environment. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a selectively reconfigurable wall system  10  for use in a work environment  22  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A frame system  180  of work environment  22  defines work spaces  24  and  26 . Frame system  180  further defines a small group work area  28  and a large group work area  30  within work space  24 . Frame system  180  includes structural members shown as overhead horizontal beams  182  and floorstanding vertical posts  184 . Frame system  180  also defines openings (e.g., entranceway or doorway) for ingress and egress (shown as portal  40  and portal  42 ). Work spaces  24  and  26  may be provided with partitions (shown as a partial height wall  202  and a transparent wall  204 ) that may partition and divide work environment  22  into work spaces of varying sizes or configurations. According to alternative embodiments shown in the FIGURES, wall system  10  may include a top portion  210  attached to horizontal beam  182  that extends upwardly above frame system  180  (see FIG.  5 ). 
     The frame system can be any group of structural members installed in the work environment to define the work spaces. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the structural members of the frame system may have a substantially square, hollow, cross-sectional configuration that facilitates the routing of various utilities (e.g., power wires, signal wires, lighting wires, etc.) to the work environment, such as the frame system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,348 titled “FURNITURE SYSTEM” issued Apr. 30, 1996 to Cornell et al. and incorporated by reference herein. 
     Wall system  10  includes a panel wall shown as an articulating partition  44 . Articulating partition  44  is attached to a left vertical post  186  of work area  28  by a pivot mechanism (shown as a plate hinge  100 ). According to a preferred embodiment, the articulating partition is pivotally mounted to the vertical post such that the articulating partition pivots or swings about the vertical post. As shown in FIGS. 3A through 3C, articulating partition  44  is adapted for selective positioning between a “use” position (shown as fully closed position  46  relative to work area  28 ) and a “stowed” position (shown as fully opened position  48  relative to work area  28 ). Thus, when articulating partition  44  is in the stowed position relative to work area  28 , articulating partition  44  is in the use position relative to work area  30 . According to a preferred embodiment (as shown in the FIGURES), articulating partition  44  controls access to work area  28  by completely blocking ingress and egress through portal  42  when in closed position  46  and controls access to work space  24  by completely blocking ingress and egress through portal  44  when in opened position  48 . Moreover, articulating partition  44  secures (e.g., circumscribes or encloses) work area  28  when in closed position  46  (i.e., work area  28  is inaccessible to a worker situated in work area  30 ), and secures work area  30  when in opened position  48  (i.e., work area  30  is inaccessible to a worker situated in work space  26 ). 
     According to any preferred embodiment, the wall system may be used to selectively reconfigure, divide, partition and control the use of the work spaces provided in the work environment to support individual workers and groups of workers in various activities. The wall system may be initially configured when installed in the work environment, and selectively reconfigured by selectively positioning one of the articulating partitions to form or reconfigure the work spaces for worker activities. As shown in FIG. 2A, work space  24  is configured in a first plan configuration when articulating partition  44  is in opened position  48 ; as show in FIG. 3A, work space  24  is configured in a second plan configuration when articulating partition  44  is in closed position  46 ; and as shown in FIG. 2B, work space  24  is configured in a third plan configuration when articulating partition  44  is positioned between closed position  46  and opened position  48 . The amount of space that may be dedicated to large group and small group activities varies according to the selective positioning of articulating partition  44 , even though the total amount of space in work space  24  may remain constant. For example, the amount of space for collaborative worker activities may be maximized when work space  24  is configured in the first plan configuration, because the combined space of work areas  28  and  30  is available to all workers regardless of their position within work space  24 . In contrast, the space of work area  28  may be inaccessible to workers situated in work area  30  when work space  24  is configured in the second plan configuration, because articulating partition  44  divides work area  28  and work area  30 . Further, when work space  24  is configured in the second plan configuration, the space provided by a walkway  208  is available to workers situated in work area  30  (or vice versa). In the third plan configuration, the space provided by work area  28  is available to workers situated in work area  30  (or vice versa), and the space provided by walkway  208  is available to workers situated in work area  30  (or vice versa). 
     A worker (or small group of workers) situated in a work space may achieve a level of relative privacy desired between worker interaction and worker isolation by selectively positioning the articulating partition. For example, the amount of private space for worker activities provided by work area  28  is maximized when articulating partition  44  is in closed position  46 . Likewise, when articulating partition  44  is in closed position  46 , work area  28  provides a greater level of relative privacy than when articulating partition  44  is in opened position  48 , because the combined space of work areas  28  and  30  is not available to worker situated in work space  24 . Referring to FIG. 2A, a selectively reconfigurable wall system  12  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Wall system  12  includes four small group work areas  28 , one large group work area  30  and four articulating partitions  44 . When articulating partition  44  is in closed position  46  (see, e.g., FIG. 3A) each work area  28  provides a level of relative privacy that may be required for worker concentration or small meetings. When articulating partition  44  is in opened position  48 , each work area  28  provides a level of relative privacy that may be suited for intermittent interaction between workers, even though a worker may be wholly situated within work area  28 . Still further, when articulating partition  44  is in opened position  48  the level of relative privacy provided by work area  30  is greater than the level of relative privacy provided when articulation partition  44  is in closed position  46 . This greater level of relative privacy is provided by work area  30  when articulating partition  44  is in opened position  48  because work space  24  is substantially secured by fixed partitions  206  and articulating partitions  44 , such that limited input (i.e., distractions) may enter work space  24  through portal  42 . Likewise, work area  28  is secured when articulating partition  44  is in closed position  46 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2B, wall system  12  of FIG. 2A is shown with each articulating partition  44  positioned between closed position  46  and opened position  48 . Each work area  28  provides a level of relative privacy that is less than the level of relative privacy provided when articulating partition  44  is positioned in closed position  46 , but greater than the level of relative privacy provided when articulating partition  44  is positioned in opened position  48 . Work area  30  is configured to include workstations  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . Workstations  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  are available for group activities or interaction between workers via ingress and egress through portal  40  and portal  42 . In this configuration, the space of work area  28  is available to workers situated in workstations  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  (or vice versa), and the space provided by walkway  208  is available to workers situated in work area  30  (or vice versa). As will be understood by those who review this disclosure, when articulating partition  44  is positioned between closed position  46  and opened position  48 , the space available to a worker situated in work area  28  may be greater than the space available when articulating partition  44  is in closed position  46 . 
     The wall system may be reconfigured to redirect and control worker movement in and around the work environment by selective positioning of the articulating partitions. Referring to FIG. 3A, a selectively reconfigurable wall system  14  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Wall system  14  includes four small group work areas  28 , one large group work area  30 , four articulating partitions  44  and four walkways  208 . Referring to FIG. 3A, articulating partitions  44  are in closed position  46 . In this configuration of wall system  14 , articulating partitions  44  control movement within and around work space  24  by permitting ingress and egress through portals  42  and obstructing ingress and egress through portal  40 . Referring to FIG. 3C, wall system  14  is shown with each articulating partition  44  in opened position  48 . In this configuration of wall system  14 , articulating partition  44  obstructs ingress and egress through portal  42 , but permits ingress and egress through portal  40 . Referring to FIG. 3B, wall system  14  is shown with each articulating partition  44  positioned between closed position  46  and opened position  48 . In this configuration of wall system  14 , articulating partition  44  partially permits and partially obstructs ingress and egress through portals  40  and  42  of work space  24 . Thus, by positioning articulating partitions  44 , movement through and around work space  24  may be redirected and controlled. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, articulating partition  44  of wall system  10  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Articulating partition  44  is essentially planar. A handle  60  is mounted to the face of articulating partition  44 . Handle  60  aids in the selective positioning of articulating partition  44  between closed position  46  and opened position  48 . According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the core of the articulating partition may be comprised of wood, aluminum, plastic, fiber, cardboard, acoustic dampeners or a variety of substantially rigid materials in a variety of structures (e.g., solid, layered, honeycomb, etc.). 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a locking mechanism  112  of wall system  10  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Locking mechanism  112  fixes articulating partition  44  in closed position  46 . Locking mechanism  112  includes a stop mechanism  114  and a detent mechanism  122 . Stop mechanism  114  is mounted to the bottom of horizontal beam  182  of frame system  180 . Stop mechanism  114  includes a protrusion  116  and a stopper  118  having an interior cavity  120 . According to a preferred embodiment, the stopper is made of a substantially rigid material, such as rubber or plastic. When articulating partition  44  is in closed position  46 , the top edge of articulating partition  44  engages protrusion  116  of stop mechanism  114  to impede articulating partition  44  from extending beyond protrusion  116 . Stopper  118  engages detent mechanism  122  to fix articulating partition  44  in closed position  46 . Detent mechanism  122  is retractably mounted to the top edge of articulating partition  44 . A finger  124  of detent mechanism  122  engages a bias mechanism (shown as a spring  126 ) such that finger  124  is retractable into a cavity  128  of the top edge of articulating partition  44 . When articulating partition  44  is in closed position  46 , finger  124  of detent mechanism  122  extends into interior cavity  120  of stopper  118 . When it is desired to position articulating partition  44  away from closed position  46 , the application of a slight force on handle  60  causes finger  124  to retract out of interior cavity  120  of stopper  118  and retract into cavity  128  so that detent mechanism  122  completes its engagement with stop mechanism  114 . According to an alternative embodiment, the locking mechanism may fix the articulating partition in the opened position. According to other alternative embodiments (as shown in FIG.  5 ), extrusion  130  is mounted to top edge of articulating partition  44 , circumscribes finger  124 , and increases in height from the top edge of articulating partition  44  to approximately the middle of finger  124  when finger  124  is not retracted into cavity  128 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a locking mechanism  130  according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Locking mechanism  130  includes a stop mechanism  132 . Stop mechanism  132  is mounted to horizontal beam  182  of frame system  180  by a fastener (shown as a screw  134 ). Locking mechanism  130  further includes a protrusion  136  that impedes articulating partition  44  from being positioned beyond protrusion  136 . Locking mechanism  130  still further includes a groove  138 . Groove  138 , like interior cavity  120  of stopper  118 , engages finger  124  to impede positioning of articulating partition  44  when finger  124  and groove  138  are in engagement. According to an alternative embodiment, the locking mechanism may serve to fix the articulating partition in the opened position. According to a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanisms may not include the protrusion, such that the articulating partition may be positioned on either side of the locking mechanisms. 
     FIG. 7 shows the pivot mechanism of wall system  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The pivot mechanism may be any type of mechanism (e.g., hinge, glide, hook arrangement, etc.) that permits the articulating partition to pivot or swing about the vertical post of the frame system. A set of fasteners (shown as screws  104 ) secures a right portion  102  of hinge  100  to the vertical edge of articulating partition  44 . Screws  104  also secure a left portion  106  of hinge  100  to left vertical post  186 , such that work area  28  is in a “left-handed” configuration. The “left-handed” configuration of work area  28  permits articulating partition  44  to pivot or swing about left vertical member  186  of work area  28 . According to an alternative embodiment (as shown in FIG.  8 ), right portion  102  of hinge  100  may be fastened to right vertical post  188  of work area  28 , and left portion  106  of hinge  100  may be fastened to the vertical edge of the articulating partition, such that work area  28  is in a “right-handed” configuration. According to other alternative embodiments, the articulating partition may pivot about the vertical post of the frame system by approximately 90 degrees relative to the vertical post. According to still other alternative embodiments of the present invention, the articulating partition may pivot about the vertical post of the frame system by approximately 360 degrees (e.g., by a glide mechanism) relative to the vertical post. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention (as shown in FIGS.  6 ), a wheel assembly  110  may support the articulating partition. Wheel assembly  110  includes a caster  142  engaging a floor  200  and rotably mounted to the bottom of articulating partition  44 . According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the wheel assembly may be provided with a brake mechanism to restrict movement of the articulating partition across the floor. According to other alternative embodiments, the wheel assembly may include a shock absorber or a height adjustment mechanism to vary the distance between the bottom of the articulating partition and any portion of the floor. According to still other alternative embodiments (as shown in FIG.  1 ), the wheel assembly  110  maybe mounted to articulation partition  44  such that the lower most edge is positioned a pre-selected distance above floor  200  to promote air circulation in work space  24 . According to other alternative embodiments (as shown in FIG.  6 ), an air circulator  94  such as a vent (e.g., screen or slatted), a fan (e.g., fixed or oscillating), an air filter, etc. may also be associated with articulating partition  44  to promote air circulation throughout work space  24 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8, a selectively reconfigurable wall system  16  for use in work environment  22  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Wall system  16  includes an articulating partition  144  having an upper panel wall  146  and a lower panel wall  148 . According to a preferred embodiment, the lower panel wall is a lesser vertical height than is the upper panel wall. Upper panel wall  146  and lower panel wall  148  are pivotally mounted to right vertical post  188  of frame system  180  by plate hinge  100 . Wheel assembly  110  is mounted to the bottom of lower panel wall  148 . A handle  150  having an upper portion  152  and a lower portion  154  spans upper and lower panel walls  146  and  148 . Upper and lower panel walls  146  and  148  are detachably connected to each other so that articulating partition  144  can be selectively positioned as integrated or individual units. For example, upper panel wall  146  may be positioned in an opened position  156  while lower panel wall  148  is positioned in a closed position  158 . According to alternative embodiments, the lower panel wall may also be positioned in the opened position while the upper panel wall is positioned in the closed position, or in any combination of positions between the opened position and the closed position. 
     A locking assembly  160  (similar to locking mechanism  112  shown in FIG. 4) is situated on the top edge of upper panel wall  146  of articulating partition  144 . Lower panel wall  148  includes a top locking mechanism  162  and a side locking mechanism  164  (both similar to locking mechanism  112  shown in FIG.  4 ). Top locking mechanism  162  of lower panel wall  148  is situated on the top edge of lower panel wall  148  and engages a stop mechanism mounted to the bottom edge of upper panel wall  146  (as shown in FIG.  4 ). Side locking mechanism  164  of lower panel wall  148  is situated on the side edge of lower panel wall  148  and engages a stop mechanism mounted to left vertical post  186  of frame system  180  (as shown in FIG.  4 ). According to an alternative embodiment, the top and side locking mechanisms of the lower panel wall of the articulating partition may be passive (i.e., the locking mechanisms engage and disengage as a force is applied to the handle) or active (i.e., the top and side locking mechanisms engage and disengage when activated (e.g., by engaging a latch)). 
     Articulating partition  144 , like articulating partition  44 , may serve to divide space, provide the level of relative privacy desired by a worker or workers situated in the work areas, secure the work areas and work spaces, and redirect movement within work environment  22 . For example, a worker who desires a level of relative privacy suited for intermittent interaction with other workers may position upper panel wall  146  in an opened position  156  and position lower panel wall  148  in a closed position  158  (or vice versa). This configuration of articulating partition  144  may signal that a worker situated in work area  28  desires some privacy, but is available to other workers situated in work area  30  on a limited basis. Still further, the selective positioning of articulating partition  144  redirects movement in work environment  22  by controlling ingress and egress through portals  40  and  42 . 
     Articulating partitions  44  and  144  may include panels (shown in FIG. 6 as an upper panel  50 , a lower panel  52 , a beltway panel  54  and a vertical panel  74 ). A tile  62  that has functional and/or decorative use (e.g., display capabilities such as a tackable surface and/or marker board, electronic displays, reflective projector screens or like activities) may be mounted to the panels (e.g., by a mounting structure shown as a T-shaped hanger  64 ) to more effectively support worker activities. According to an alternative embodiment (as shown in FIG.  7 ), the tile may be adhered or friction fit to the panel or mounted to the face of articulating partition  44  by a rail  66 . A decorative or functional surface treatment (shown as a dry-erase “white” board  68  and a textured fabric  70 ) may be positioned over the panels or tile  62 . According to a preferred and other alternative exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the decorative or functional surface treatments may include, for example, a tackable or repositionable adhesive, clear overlay, writable clear film, cork or tack board, peg board, magnetic board, marker board, dry erase or “white” board, blackboard, paper or paper tablet, projection screen, graphics display, cloth, fabric, etc. to more effectively support worker activities within the work environment in a wide variety of combinations (i.e., with one surface differing in whole or in part from the other surface) that may be suited or adapted to a wide variety of functional or decorative purposes. According to other alternative embodiments, the panels and tiles may be interchangeable with the panels and tiles associated with the fixed panel walls, such that the ornamental appearance of the panels and tiles is substantially indistinguishable from the ornamental appearance of the fixed panel walls. 
     The articulating partition may be provided with one or more accessories, which may be accessible from either face of the articulating partition, suited for a particular application. Referring to FIG. 8, a shelf accessory  170  is shown. Shelf  170  may be retractably mounted to the articulating partition by a mounting structure (shown as a hinge  176 ). Shelf  170  is foldable relative to the face of articulating partition  144  between an opened position  172  and a closed position (not shown). Items such as books, mugs, writing utensils, erasers etc. may be stored on a surface (shown as a worksurface  174 ) of shelf  170  in opened position  172 . According to alternative embodiments, the shelf may be provided with additional accessories such as a net or elastic strap for storing objects (e.g., pens, calculator, books), a hanger for hanging objects (e.g., files), a lock to fix the shelf in the opened position or the closed position, etc. When in the closed position, shelf  170  serves to store items (e.g., periodicals, pens, calculator, books, files, etc.). According to other alternative embodiments, the shelf may include viscous dampers to reduce vibration when the shelf is in the opened or closed position. As will be understood by those who review this disclosure, the shelf may be mounted to the upper panel wall, the lower panel wall or both upper and lower panel walls, at any position on any face of the articulating partition. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper panel wall may include a lock element to impede a worker from positioning the articulating partition when the shelf is in the opened position. 
     According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the accessories may be associated with modules  76  of vertical panel  74 . Modules  76  may be adapted to receive the accessories, such as a window  78 . Window  78  may be of various shapes and sizes (e.g., square, oval, bay). Window  78  may include a covering (shown as a horizontal blind  80 ) such as a shade or a vertical blind. According to other alternative embodiments (as shown in FIG.  6 ), modules  76  may include a lock element (shown as an electronic card access lock  82 ) such as a card reader, keypad encoder, metal key, etc. for security purposes. According to still other alternative embodiments (as shown in FIG.  6 ), module  76  may include a security alarm  84  such as a horn, bell whistle, electronic counting mechanism to register incidents of unauthorized access, etc. to signal a breach of the lock element or work area  28 . According to other alternative embodiments, the accessories may include items to aid workers in their daily tasks (e.g., reflector, apparel storage device, illuminator, paper dispenser, retractable waste receptacle, display device, etc.). 
     Other accessories may include a delivery system to transfer items from each face of the articulating partition. Referring to FIG. 6, the delivery system is retractable relative to the face of articulating partition  44  and accessible from both faces of articulating partition  44 , such that items inserted into the delivery system from one face of articulating partition  44  are accessible to a worker situated adjacent the other face of articulating partition  44 . According to alternative embodiments, the delivery system may be transparent (i.e., to aid in the determination of whether items are contained inside) or opaque (i.e., to increase the level of relative privacy of the items in the mail receptacle). According to other alternative embodiments, the delivery system may include a lock and key assembly to provide security. Still other accessories may include an information storage module  96 . Information storage module  96  may include any device that permits the posting and retrieval of data or information (e.g., notepad, voice messing device, billboard message center, computer docking station, digital mailbox, etc.). According to alternative embodiments, the information storage module may be rotably mounted to the articulating partition by a mounting mechanism (e.g., a swivel connected to the top and the bottom of the device so that the device spins between an accessible and non-accessible position) that allows access of messages from either face of the articulating partition. According to other alternative embodiments, a stylus or pen to input data into the information storage module may be attached to the articulating partition by a flexible member, such as a plastic coil or tensioned string. Other accessories may include an information display unit  86 , which may include any device (shown as a temperature display  88 , a time display  90  and a message display  92 ) for indicating, measuring or displaying information or variables associated with articulating partition  44 . 
     Although only a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments (such as variations in sizes structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, locking mechanisms, configurations of the work environment, or use of materials) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. As will be understood by those who review this disclosure, according to alternative embodiments the wall system may be installed and configured (e.g., sized, shaped, positioned, etc.) within the work environment to facilitate the creation of any number of small group work spaces, large group work spaces, articulating partitions or walkways. Many configurations (such as those shown in, but not limited to, the FIGURES) are possible and within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Other substitutions, modifications, changes or omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions or arrangement of the exemplary, alternative or preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.