Modular office structure

Abstract

 The invention is a modular office structure comprising: a desk (2) with rectangular work surface (21); a parallelepiped shelving unit (3), having its longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry arranged perpendicular to the vertical plane passing through the median line of the work surface of the desk. The shelving unit comprises: a first supporting surface (31) whose height is slightly less than the height of the work surface (21) of the desk; a second supporting surface (32) that is in a higher position than the first supporting surface (31) and than the work surface (21) of the desk.

Description

[0001] The present utility model concerns a modular office structure substantially consisting of a desk and a multifunctional shelving unit that when combined make up a modular structure that can be advantageously arranged in a repeatable number of units in common spaces like the so-called open offices.

[0002] It is known that according to the modern office organisation principles there is a tendency to increase the density of work stations in reduced spaces, positioning the desks and the related pieces of furniture one beside the other, in such a way as to offer an operating space that is organized as efficiently as possible. This means, for example, that the operator is not required to take the material he/she needs, like for example files, books, etc., from places that are not near his/her desk.

[0003] For this purpose, office furniture manufacturers have for some time attempted to optimise space, designing desks that are positioned side by side or combined with complementary pieces of furniture like drawer units arranged beside them, or even built in said complementary pieces, thus optimising space and making the work station as ergonomic as possible.

[0004] Sometimes the pieces of furniture that are complementary to the desk, besides being provided with suitable drawing units, are long and exceed the depth of the desk itself. This makes a further supporting surface available, suitable for example for placing a computer or a telephone thereon. In this case the excess length of these pieces of furniture with respect to the desk is within the space of movement necessary for the person sitting at the desk.

[0005] The object of the present utility model is to further optmise the functionality of a modular structure and in particular of the shelving unit that is combined with the desk, in such a way that space and functionality are exploited in the best possible manner.

[0006] The objects mentioned above have been achieved through the implementation of a modular office structure that, in accordance with the contents of the main claim, comprises:

• at least one desk with a substantially rectangular work surface;
• at least one substantially parallelepiped shelving unit, having its longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry arranged substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane passing through the median line of the work surface of said desk,

said modular structure being characterized in that said shelving unit comprises:

• a first supporting surface whose height is slightly less than the height of the work surface of said desk, said first supporting surface being suited to bear one side of the work surface of said desk by means of spacer elements;
• at least one second supporting surface in a higher position than said first supporting surface and than said work surface of said desk;
• a bottom surface that together with said first supporting surface and with at least two vertical side panels defines:
  • a compartment for the passage of wires and
  • a delimited space suited to house one or more sliding drawers that can be pulled out according to a direction parallel to said longitudinal vertical plane of said shelving unit.

[0007] Further characteristics and details of the invention will be highlighted in greater detail in the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, provided as an example without limitation and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

• Figure 1 shows the modular structure that is the subject of the invention with combined desk and shelving unit;
• Figures 2 and 2a show the modular structure, highlighting a detail of the shelving unit;
• Figure 3 shows a variant of the pull-out drawer of the shelving unit.

[0008] With reference to Figure 1, the modular structure indicated as a whole by 1 comprises a desk 2 and a shelving unit 3 in the shape of a parallelepiped.

[0009] As shown in Figure 1, the desk 2 is provided with a work surface 21 and on the left side with legs indicated by 22.

[0010] The right side of the desk is not provided with legs and rests on the first supporting surface 31 of the shelving unit 3 through spacers 23 that, in the example shown herein, are two small cylinders belonging to the lower side of the work surface 21 and that in fact rest on the first supporting surface 31 of the shelving unit 3, as shown in Figure 2.

[0011] It should be noted that the desk 2 and the shelving unit 3 are arranged so that the longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry of the shelving unit 3 is substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane passing through the median line of the work surface of the desk 2.

[0012] The shelving unit 3, which is a complementary structure for the operator working at the desk 2, is provided with a second supporting surface, indicated by 32, which is arranged in a higher position than the first supporting surface, in such a way as to allow said second supporting surface to be used for the various needs of the operator who is working at the desk 2.

[0013] The shelving, which as can be noticed is substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped, also has a further third supporting surface 33 that is above the surface 32 and can in any case be used for further needs.

[0014] The shelving unit 3 is also provided with a bottom surface 34 that together with the first supporting surface 31 and with two vertical side panels 35 and 36 delimits a compartment for the passage of wires, indicated as a whole by 40, and a further space suited to house one or more drawers 37 that can be pulled out in a direction parallel to the longitudinal vertical plane of the shelving unit and substantially according to the depth of the shelving unit itself.

[0015] It is clear that in this condition the operator working at the desk 2 can pull out the drawers 37, or the single drawer 38 laterally, as can be seen in Figure 1, and have access to the contents of the same.

[0016] According to a particularly interesting and useful construction variant of the present invention, visible in greater detail in Figure 3, the upper part of the only drawer 38 is provided, in proximity to the top and at the level of the two tie elements 39 belonging to the structure of the drawer, with a substantially rectangular supporting surface covered on its top with a material suited to create a seating indicated by 50.

[0017] It is evident that the availability of this second seating that can be pulled out of the multifunctional shelving unit 3 is extremely useful, since the operator working at the desk 2, besides having access to the contents of the pull-out drawer 38, can also receive a person to talk or examine some documents together, and this person can seat on the seating 50.

[0018] When not in use the seating 50, since it can be pulled out of the shelving unit 3, is reintroduced in the shelving unit, being a part of the sliding drawer, so that it does not occupy any space at all.

[0019] This peculiar characteristic of the shelving unit associated with the modular structure that is the subject of the invention is particularly important, since this solution makes it possible to avoid using a separate chair for receiving visits.

[0020] A further characteristic of the parallelepiped shelving unit associated with the modular structure of the invention is represented by the presence of the compartment 40 for the passage of wires.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2a, the bottom 34 of the shelving unit 3 is provided with a hole 41, which in the example is a round hole, through which it is possible to insert electric wires, computer or printer or telephone cables needed at the desk 2.

[0022] These wires can comfortably pass through the substantially vertical slot indicated by 60 which advantageously, in the example of the invention, belongs to a door 61 hinged to the shelving unit 3 that can be opened in case of need.

[0023] It is important to note that the modular structure comprising the desk 2 and the shelving unit 3, as described, being modular, can be arranged in a repeatable manner by placing several modular structures carried out in the same way near one another, both in longitudinal direction with respect to the surface of the desk and in longitudinal direction with respect to the plane of symmetry of the shelving unit, thus obtaining an optimal layout for the exploitment of the office's operational space.

[0024] In order to ensure that the seating 50 is stable and safe, the pull-out drawer 38 is provided, in the case illustrated in the example, with wheels 51, so that the drawer itself, when pulled out, is not suspended from the shelving unit 3, but is supported by the wheels in any condition of use.

[0025] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference sings have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. Modular office structure (1) comprising:

- at least one desk (2) with a substantially rectangular work surface (21);

- at least one substantially parallelepiped shelving unit (3), having its longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry arranged substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane passing through the median line of the work surface of said desk,

characterized in that said shelving unit also comprises:

- a first supporting surface (31) whose height is slightly less than the height of the work surface (21) of said desk, said first supporting surface (31) being suited to bear one side of the work surface (21) of said desk by means of spacer elements (23);

- at least one second supporting surface (32) that is in a higher position than said first supporting surface (31) and than said work surface (21) of said desk;

- a bottom surface (34) that together with said first supporting surface and with at least two vertical side panels (35, 36) defines:

- a compartment (40) for the passage of wires and

- a delimited space suited to house one or more sliding drawers (37, 38) that can be pulled out according to a direction parallel to said longitudinal vertical plane of said shelving unit.

2. Modular structure according to claim 1), characterized in that said compartment (40) for the passage of wires is provided with at least one hole (41) made in the bottom surface (34) of said shelving unit and at least one opening (60) with substantially vertical development for the passage of wires and arrangement of the same under the top of the desk.

3. Modular structure according to claim 2), characterized in that said compartment for the passage of wires is provided with at least one side door (61) obtained from said vertical side panels (34, 35).

4. Modular structure according to claim 3), characterized in that in said side panel (61) there is a substantially vertical opening (60).

5. Structure according to claim 1), characterized in that the space delimited by said bottom surface (34) and by said first supporting surface (31) houses a single drawer (38) with open structure also at the sides.

6. Structure according to claim 5), characterized in that said single drawer (38) is provided in proximity to the top with at least two longitudinal tie elements (39) suited to bear a substantially rectangular supporting surface covered on the top with a material suited to create a seating (50).

7. Structure according to claim 6), characterized in that said single drawer (38) is provided on the front distal part of said shelving unit with at least two wheels (51) thanks to which said single drawer (38) rests on the floor.

Drawing