The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 05, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 26, 1995
Charles A Seiber, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Benjamin G Shaw, London, GB;
Christopher O Lada, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Phillip M Hobson, Los Altos, CA (US);
Robert P Poppe, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
David A Shipman, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Robert J Luchetti, Cambridge, MA (US);
Gregg R Draudt, Watertown, MA (US);
James B Eldon, III, Barto, PA (US);
David D McClanahan, Harleysville, PA (US);
Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A freestanding portable partition panel and related system are provided for open office spaces and the like. Each panel includes a skeleton-like frame having two vertical uprights positioned adjacent opposite side edges thereof. A foot extends downwardly from the bottom of the frame to abuttingly support the panel freestanding on a floor surface. Two pairs of horizontal stringers are attached to the outer faces of the uprights in a vertically spaced apart relationship to rigidly interconnect the same, and define therebetween two horizontal raceway cavities which open to the opposite side faces of the frame, and extend continuously between the opposite side edges thereof. Hence, when like panels are interconnected side-by-side, the open ends of adjacent raceway cavities are aligned and communicate. Cover panels enclose at least those portions of the frame side faces disposed between the stringers, and are detachably mounted thereon to provide ready access to the raceway cavities and permit lay-in wiring therealong. The upper ends of the vertical uprights have upwardly extending arms which define yoke shaped receptacles for receiving drop-in wiring. Special connectors are provided for constructing walls by interconnecting adjacent panels in in-line, off-module, and stacked arrangements.