Partitions for cubicles

Abstract

Non-architectural posts and beams of the kind used as cubicle backbone structures are now used to support open racks as skeletons for hanging diverse user-selected panels. The open racks have upright standards joined by spaced-apart transverse rails. A pair of brackets join an open rack to a beam. Each bracket has a beam gripping face and a rack gripping face. The rack gripping face has clefts that engage spaced-apart rails and have mass relief for light weight. Panels are freely hung on the rails and may be selected from whiteboards, bulletin boards, shelving, book cases and window panels for user personalization.

1 . Partitions for cubicles comprising:
 a post and beam backbone; and   at least one open rack removably mounted on a beam, the rack having upright standards and a plurality of transverse, spaced-apart rails.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each rack is mounted to a beam by a removable bracket. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein each bracket has at least one cleft receiving a rail. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein each bracket has two clefts receiving a pair of spaced-apart rails. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of free hanging panels each engage a rail. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of panels provide diverse user-customization opportunity. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said panels are selectable from whiteboards, tack boards, shelving, book cases, and slatwall panels. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the post and beam backbone contains electrical and signal utilities. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  having first and second racks of different sizes. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  having back-to-back racks mounted on a beam. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each open rack comprises a pair of spaced apart standards joined by parallel spaced-apart rails. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the number of rails ranges between 3 and 7. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the number of rails is four. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the number of rails is five. 
   
   
       15 . Separation partitions for cubicles comprising:
 spaced apart upright posts extending from a floor, with pairs of posts joined together by transverse beams;   at least one open rack having spaced apart upright standards joined by parallel transverse rails, each rack having at least two brackets allowing removable joinder of that rack to a transverse beam; and   a plurality of panels sized to span some of the space between parallel rails.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the spaced apart standards are hollow tubes. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the parallel transverse rails are hollow tubes. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein each transverse beam has at least one transverse slot associated with the beam. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein each bracket has opposed faces, including a rack gripping face and a beam gripping face, the rack gripping face having a cleft engaging the at least one rail, the beam gripping face having a tab slideably engaging a slot of a beam. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein each bracket has mass relief portions. 
   
   
       21 . A method of dividing space comprising:
 providing non-architectural posts and interconnecting beams as a cubicle backbone;   providing skeletal user-mountable and removable open racks on the beams, the open racks having spaced-apart transverse rails; and   providing a plurality of user-selectable diverse panels freely hangable on the rails to at least partially close the open racks thereby forming wall portions.