Accessory track and accessory components for office furniture

Abstract

A track that can be mounted to, or integrated into, a permanent wall or a partition system wall, and accessory components that are mountable in the track in either one of two orientations. In particular, the accessory component is inserted into the opening of a channel of the track with a first side of the accessory component resting upon a fulcrum surface that is formed in the track. The accessory component is then pivoted about the fulcrum surface allowing a first engagement portion, such as a protrusion formed inside the channel of the track, to engage with a second engagement portion, such as a groove formed in the accessory component. The accessory component has opposing sides with engagement portions formed therein that are engageable with the protrusion formed in the track. Thus, the accessory component can be turned over and inserted in a second, opposite orientation with the first side facing upward. The accessory component also includes a cutout portion that allows for the passage of cords and other items through the accessory component when the accessory component is mounted to the track.

1 . In combination:
 a track, comprising:
 upper and lower walls connected by a central wall, said upper, lower and central walls together defining a channel having a first opening; 
 a fulcrum surface associated with said lower wall; and 
 a first engagement portion associated with said upper wall; and 
   an accessory component, comprising:
 first and second opposing sides including a first surface and a second surface, respectively, a front portion, and a rear portion, said rear portion including a pair of second engagement portions respectively associated with said first and second opposing sides, said rear portion of said accessory component selectively insertable within said opening in a first orientation with one of said second engagement portions engaged with said first engagement portion and one of said first and second surfaces abutting said fulcrum surface, and in a second orientation with the other of said second engagement portions engaged with said first engagement portion and the other of said first and second surfaces abutting said fulcrum surface. 
   
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said first engagement portion is a protrusion and said second engagement portions are grooves. 
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said fulcrum surface extends upwardly from said lower wall and is disposed adjacent said first opening. 
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second surfaces differ from one another according to at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:
 differing materials;   differing textures; and   differing colors.   
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said accessory component further comprises a cutout formed within said rear portion and defining a second opening extending through and communicating said first and second surfaces, said second opening disposed adjacent, and at least partially outwardly of, said track. 
   
   
       6 . In combination:
 a track, comprising:
 upper and lower walls connected by a central wall, said upper, lower and central walls together defining a channel having a first opening; 
 a fulcrum surface associated with said lower wall; and 
 a first engagement portion associated with said upper wall; and 
   an accessory component, comprising:
 first and second opposing sides including a first surface and a second surface, respectively, a front portion, and a rear portion, said rear portion including a second engagement portion, said rear portion of said accessory component disposed at least partially within said opening with said second engagement portion engaged with said first engagement portion of said track and said first surface abutting said fulcrum surface; and 
 a cutout formed within said rear portion and defining a second opening extending through and communicating said first and second surfaces, said second opening disposed adjacent, and at least partially outwardly of, said track. 
   
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said first engagement portion is a protrusion and said second engagement portion is a groove. 
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said fulcrum surface extends upwardly from said lower wall and is disposed adjacent said first opening. 
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second surfaces differ from one another according to at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:
 differing materials;   differing textures; and   differing colors.   
   
   
       10 . A partition system, comprising:
 at least one horizontally disposed track;   a first accessory component including opposite first and second surfaces, said first accessory component fitted to at least one of said tracks in a first orientation in which said first surface faces in a first direction and said second surface faces in a second direction; and   a second accessory component identical to said first accessory component, said second accessory component fitted to at least one of said tracks in a second orientation in which said second surface faces in said first direction and said first surface faces in said second direction.   
   
   
       11 . The partition system of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially horizontal, and said first direction is an upward direction and said second direction is a downward direction. 
   
   
       12 . The partition system of  claim 10 , wherein said track further comprises an upper wall having a first engagement portion, and said accessory components each include a pair of second engagement portions respectively disposed on said first and second surfaces. 
   
   
       13 . The partition system of  claim 10 , wherein said first engagement portion is a protrusion and said second engagement portions are grooves. 
   
   
       14 . The partition system of  claim 10 , wherein said accessory component further comprises a cutout formed within said rear portion and defining a second opening extending through and communicating said first and second surfaces, said second opening disposed adjacent, and at least partially outwardly of, said track. 
   
   
       15 . The partition system of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second surfaces differ from one another according to at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:
 differing materials;   differing textures; and   differing colors.