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. 04, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 22, 1996
Daniel S Casey, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Ronald A Dykstra, Grandville, MI (US);
Carl V Forslund, III, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Peter C Greenberg, Somerville, MA (US);
Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
An integrated prefabricated furniture system is provided for fitting-out a building room of the type having a generally open plan interior and having at least one utility source. The furniture system includes a plurality of horizontal beam segments interconnected in an end-to-end fashion to form a rigid overhead framework configured to be positioned above the floor surface. A plurality of overhead support columns each have an upper portion rigidly connected with the overhead framework, and a lower portion shaped to support the overhead framework on a floor in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation above average user height. Each of the overhead support columns includes an interior support structure in a generally X-shaped plan-form defining vertical raceways between adjacent legs of the cross-section. Each support column also includes four vertical edges forming substantially planar faces therebetween, of which at least one of the vertical edges has a plurality of slots for supporting office furniture items and office accessories.