Full wall height floor-to-ceiling adapter and a frame-based workspace definition system incorporating the same

Abstract

Floor and a ceiling adapter assemblies for a frame-based workspace definition system for interconnecting a gap between a floor surface and the workspace definition system, and a ceiling surface and the workspace definition system, to provide a full floor-to-ceiling height wall.

1 . In a workspace definition system for defining space in a building having a ceiling and a floor surrounded by walls, comprising at least one frame supported on the floor and extending therefrom toward the ceiling, each or the at least one frame comprising a top member and a bottom member, the top member and the ceiling defining a ceiling gap therebetween, the improvement comprising: 
 a ceiling adapter mounted to the at least one frame for movement between a retracted position wherein the ceiling adapter is retracted from contact with the ceiling and a contact position wherein the ceiling adapter is in contact with the ceiling;    whereby the at least one frame and the ceiling adapter provide a full height wall structure between the frame bottom member and the ceiling between adjoining spaces.    
     
     
         2 . The workspace definition system of  claim 1  and further comprising at least one insert located in the at least one frame adapted to form a portion of the movable mounting of the ceiling adapter to the at least one frame.  
     
     
         3 . The workspace definition system of  claim 2  and further comprising at least one rod mounted in movable relationship to the at least one insert to form a portion of the movable mounting of the ceiling adapter to the at least one frame.  
     
     
         4 . The workspace definition system of  claim 3  wherein the at least one insert further comprises at least one sleeve adapted to receive the at least one rod therein.  
     
     
         5 . The workspace definition system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one rod is exteriorly threaded and the at least one sleeve is internally threaded with threads of the same size and pitch as the at least one rod threads so that turning of the at least one rod in the at least one sleeve linearly advances the at least one rod between the retracted and contact positions.  
     
     
         6 . The workspace definition system of claim of  5  wherein the ceiling adapter further comprises at least one inverted U-shaped channel interposed between the at least one rod and the ceiling whereby the channel abuts the ceiling when the ceiling adapter is in the contact position and is spaced from the ceiling when the ceiling adapter is in the retracted position.  
     
     
         7 . The workspace definition system of  claim 6  wherein an underside portion of the at least one inverted U-shaped channel has a first pair of opposing depending flanges that frictionally retain an upper end of the at least one rod therebetween.  
     
     
         8 . The workspace definition system of  claim 7  wherein rotation of the at least one rod moves the at least one inverted U-shaped channel vertically with respect to the at least one frame when the upper end of the rod is received between the first pair of opposing depending flanges.  
     
     
         9 . The workspace definition system of  claim 7  wherein the at least one inverted U-shaped channel has a second pair of opposing flanges, each of which is located adjacent to a depending leg of the at least one inverted U-shaped channel and defines a groove therebetween, and a distal end of each depending leg has a reversely curled third flange which defines a groove therein in opposed vertical alignment with the groove defined between the second flange and the respective depending leg whereby the grooves facilitate interconnection of adjacent channels.  
     
     
         10 . The workspace definition system of  claim 9  and further comprising at least one tile removably mounted to the at least one frame.  
     
     
         11 . The workspace definition system of  claim 10  wherein the at least one tile is mounted in a cantilevered fashion to the at least one frame whereby an upper edge of the at least one tile is located in abutting relationship to the U-shaped channel to provide an aesthetically-pleasing outer surface to the workspace definition system.  
     
     
         12 . The workspace definition system of  claim 11  wherein the at least one tile extends upwardly from the at least one frame in proximal relationship with the ceiling to conceal the ceiling gap in cooperation with the U-shaped channel.  
     
     
         13 . The workspace definition system of  claim 12  wherein the ceiling has at least one channel formed therein and further comprising at least one ceiling grid light block wherein the at least one ceiling grid light block is positioned in the at least one channel to block the transmission of light therethrough when the ceiling adapter is located in the contact position.  
     
     
         14 . The workspace definition system of  claim 1  and further comprising a floor adapter interposed between the bottom member of the at least one frame and the floor, and wherein the floor adapter comprises at least one elongated channel member with at least one longitudinal edge terminating in at least one laterally-extending projection which terminates in at least one reversibly curled foot.  
     
     
         15 . The workspace definition system of  claim 14  and further comprising at least one base molding cover with an inwardly-extending angular flange at an upper end thereof and at least one inwardly-facing C-shaped mounting clip at a lower end thereof wherein the at least one C-shaped mounting clip frictionally engages the at least one reversibly curled foot so that the at least one base molding cover extends upwardly from the floor in abutting relationship with the at least one frame to conceal the floor gap.  
     
     
         16 . In a workspace definition system for defining space in a workspace, the workspace having a ceiling and a floor surrounded by walls, comprising at least one frame supported on the floor and extending therefrom toward the ceiling, each or the at least one frame comprising a top member, the top member and the ceiling defining a ceiling gap therebetween, the improvement comprising: 
 a ceiling adapter movably mounted to the at least one frame between a retracted position wherein the ceiling adapter is retracted from contact with the ceiling and a contact position wherein the ceiling adapter is in contact with the ceiling;    whereby the at least one frame and the ceiling adapter provide a floor-to-ceiling wall structure between adjoining spaces.    
     
     
         17 . The workspace definition system of  claim 16  and further comprising at least one insert located in the at least one frame adapted to form a portion of the movable mounting of the ceiling adapter to the frame.  
     
     
         18 . The workspace definition system of  claim 17  and further comprising at least one rod mounted in movable relationship to the at least one insert to form a portion of the movable mounting of the ceiling adapter to the at least one frame.  
     
     
         19 . The workspace definition system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one insert further comprises at least one sleeve adapted to receive the at least one rod therein.  
     
     
         20 . The workspace definition system of  claim 19  wherein the at least one rod is exteriorly threaded and the at least one sleeve is internally threaded to receive the at least one rod so that turning of the at least one rod in the at least one sleeve linearly advances the at least one rod between the retracted and contact positions.  
     
     
         21 . The workspace definition system of claim of  20  wherein the ceiling adapter further comprises at least one inverted U-shaped channel interposed between the at least one rod and the ceiling whereby the channel abuts the ceiling when the ceiling adapter is in the contact position and is spaced from the ceiling when the ceiling adapter is in the retracted position.  
     
     
         22 . The workspace definition system of  claim 21  wherein an underside portion of the at least one inverted U-shaped channel has a first pair of opposing depending flanges that frictionally retain an upper end of the at least one rod therebetween.  
     
     
         23 . The workspace definition system of  claim 22  wherein rotation of the at least one rod moves the at least one inverted U-shaped channel vertically with respect to the at least one frame when the upper end of the rod is received between the first pair of opposing depending flanges.  
     
     
         24 . The workspace definition system of  claim 22  wherein the at least one inverted U-shaped channel has a second pair of opposing flanges, each of which is located adjacent to a depending leg of the at least one inverted U-shaped channel and defines a groove therebetween, and a distal end of each depending leg has a reversely curled third flange which defines a groove therein in opposed vertical alignment with the groove defined between the second flange and the respective depending leg whereby the grooves facilitate interconnection of adjacent channels.  
     
     
         25 . The workspace definition system of  claim 24  and further comprising at least one tile removably mounted to the at least one frame.  
     
     
         26 . The workspace definition system of  claim 25  wherein the at least one tile is mounted in a cantilevered fashion to the at least one frame whereby an upper edge of the at least one tile is located in abutting relationship to the U-shaped channel to provide an aesthetically-pleasing outer surface to the workspace definition system.  
     
     
         27 . The workspace definition system of  claim 26  wherein the at least one tile extends upwardly from the at least one frame in proximal relationship with the ceiling to conceal the ceiling gap in cooperation with the U-shaped channel.  
     
     
         28 . The workspace definition system of  claim 27  wherein the ceiling has at least one channel formed therein and further comprising at least one ceiling grid light block wherein the at least one ceiling grid light block is positioned in the at least one channel to block the transmission of light therethrough when the ceiling adapter is located in the contact position.  
     
     
         29 . In a workspace definition system for defining space in a workspace, the workspace having a ceiling and a floor surrounded by walls, comprising at least one frame supported on the floor and extending therefrom toward the ceiling, each of the at least one frame comprising a bottom member, the bottom member and the floor defining a floor gap therebetween, the improvement for creating a floor-to-ceiling wall employing the at least one frame comprising: 
 a floor adapter interposed between the bottom member of the at least one frame and the floor, whereby the at least one frame and the floor adapter provide a floor-to-ceiling wall structure upon which can be mounted tiles and accessories to provide a wall between adjoining spaces.    
     
     
         30 . The workspace definition system of  claim 29  wherein the floor adapter comprises at least one elongated channel member with at least one longitudinal edge terminating in at least one laterally-extending projection which terminates in at least one reversibly curled foot.  
     
     
         31 . The workspace definition system of  claim 30  and further comprising at least one base molding cover with an inwardly-extending angular flange at an upper end thereof and at least one inwardly-facing C-shaped mounting clip at a lower end thereof, wherein the at least one C-shaped mounting clip frictionally engages the at least one reversibly curled foot so that the at least one base molding cover extends upwardly from the floor in abutting relationship with the at least one frame to conceal the floor gap.  
     
     
         32 . A ceiling adapter for a workspace definition system for defining space in a workspace, the workspace having a ceiling and a floor and surrounded by walls, comprising at least one frame supported on the floor and extending therefrom toward the ceiling, the at least one frame comprising a top member, the top member and the ceiling defining a ceiling gap therebetween, the ceiling adapter comprising: 
 an adapter body adapted to be movably mounted to the at least one frame between a retracted position wherein the adapter body is retracted from contact with the ceiling and a contact position wherein the adapter body is in contact with the ceiling;    whereby the ceiling adapter is adapted to extend the at least one frame to a ceiling and to provide a full-height wall between adjoining spaces in the work space.    
     
     
         33 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 32  and further comprising at least one insert located in the at least one frame adapted to form a portion of the movable mounting of the adapter body to the at least one frame.  
     
     
         34 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 33  and further comprising at least one rod mounted in movable relationship to the at least one insert to form a portion of the movable mounting of the adapter body to the at least one frame.  
     
     
         35 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 34  wherein the at least one insert further comprises at least one sleeve adapted to receive the at least one rod therein.  
     
     
         36 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 35  wherein the at least one rod is exteriorly threaded and the at least one sleeve is internally threaded to threadably receive the at least one rod so that turning of the at least one rod in the at least one sleeve linearly advances the at least one rod between the retracted and contact positions.  
     
     
         37 . The ceiling adapter of claim of  36  wherein the adapter body further comprises at least one inverted U-shaped channel adapted to be interposed between the at least one rod and the ceiling whereby the channel is adapted to abut the ceiling when the adapter body is in the contact position and is spaced from the ceiling when the adapter body is in the retracted position.  
     
     
         38 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 37  wherein an underside portion of the at least one inverted U-shaped channel has a first pair of opposing depending flanges that frictionally retain an upper end of the at least one rod therebetween.  
     
     
         39 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 38  wherein rotation of the at least one rod is adapted to move the at least one inverted U-shaped channel vertically with respect to the at least one frame when the upper end of the rod is received between the first pair of opposing depending flanges.  
     
     
         40 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 38  wherein the at least one inverted U-shaped channel has a second pair of opposing flanges each of which is located adjacent to a depending leg of the at least one inverted U-shaped channel and defines a groove therebetween and a distal end of each depending leg is provided with a reversely curled third flange which defines a groove therein in opposed vertical alignment with the groove defined between the second flange and the respective depending leg whereby the grooves facilitate interconnection of adjacent channels.  
     
     
         41 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 40  and further comprising at least one tile that is adapted to be removably mounted to the at least one frame.  
     
     
         42 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 41  wherein the at least one tile is adapted to be mounted in a cantilevered fashion to the at least one frame whereby an upper edge of the at least one tile is located in abutting relationship to the U-shaped channel to provide an aesthetically-pleasing outer surface to the workspace definition system.  
     
     
         43 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 42  wherein the at least one tile is adapted to extend upwardly from the at least one frame in proximal relationship with the ceiling to conceal the ceiling gap in cooperation with the U-shaped channel.  
     
     
         44 . The ceiling adapter of  claim 43  wherein the ceiling has at least one channel formed therein and further comprising at least one ceiling grid light block wherein the at least one ceiling grid light block is positioned in the at least one channel to block the transmission of light therethrough when the adapter body is located in the contact position.  
     
     
         45 . A floor adapter for a workspace definition system for defining space in a workspace, the workspace having a ceiling and a floor and surrounded by walls, comprising at least one frame supported on the floor and extending therefrom toward the ceiling, the at least one frame comprising a bottom member, the bottom member and the floor defining a floor gap therebetween, the floor adapter comprising: 
 a floor adapter body adapted to be interposed between the bottom member of the at least one frame and the floor;    whereby the floor adapter body when mounted to the at least one frame form a floor-to-ceiling wall structure between adjoining spaces.    
     
     
         46 . The floor adapter of  claim 45  wherein the floor adapter body comprises at least one elongated channel member with at least one longitudinal edge terminating in at least one laterally-extending projection which terminates in at least one reversibly curled foot.  
     
     
         47 . The floor adapter of  claim 46  and further comprising at least one base molding cover with an inwardly-extending angular flange at an upper end thereof and at least one inwardly-facing C-shaped mounting clip at a lower end thereof, wherein the at least one C-shaped mounting clip is adapted to frictionally engage the at least one reversibly curled foot so that the at least one base molding cover extends upwardly from the floor in abutting relationship with the at least one frame to conceal the floor gap.