Abstract of
GB2139397
Modules (2) (3) representing e.g. walls, partitions and items of furniture or equipment can be located in any chosen positions on a base (1) by pressing pins (6) on the modules through a rigid but penetrable facing (1a) into a soil core (1b). The modules (2) can be linked together by elements (8) inserted in slots (9) and additional modules (4) can be supported in spaced relation to the base (1) by adhesive pads (7).
**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.
SPECIFICATION
Space planning system
This invention relates to a space planning system for furniturelayouts.
Hitherto furniture layout plans for offices and the like were produced using a grid layout, representing the floorplan, on to which representations of items of furniture could be drawn. This made it possible to ascertain what furniture would fit in the available space. However this type of plan has the disadvantage that, because of its strictly two dimensional nature, it does not produce a realistic likeness of the appearance of the full size layout.
According to the present invention there is provided a space planning system for furniture layouts comprising a base and a number of furniture units, said furniture units having a first attachment means to allow them to be fixed to the base and second attachment means to allow them to be fixed to each other.
Preferably the first attachment means comprises metal pins fixed in and extending from the base of the furniture members and which may be pressed into the base.
The second attachment means may be pins similar to the first attachment means or link members which fit in slots in the furniture members or adhesive pads fixed to the surface of the furniture members.
Preferably also the base has a soft material core into which the pins may be pressed.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a part sectional perspective view showing the furniture members fixed to each other and to the base according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a space planning system using the furniture members of Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawings, a space planning system for furniture layouts comprises a base 1 having a rigid but penetrable facing 1 a and a relatively soft but not easily deformable core 1 b such that metal pins 6 may be pressed through the facing 1 a and into the core 1 b. A number of furniture members are provided for attachment to the board, such as screens 2, desks 3, storage units 4 and chairs 5. The furniture members are fitted with the metal pins 6 and adhesive pads 7 to enable them to be fixed to each other and to the base 1. Linking segments 8 are also provided to allow the furniture members to be joined together.
In use, a scale drawing of an office floorplan is
located on the face of the base 1. Furniture
members can then be positioned on the base 1 by
pushing the pins 6, on the furniture members, through the facing 1 a of the base 1, and into the
core1 b. The linking segments 8 into slots 9 in the
screens 2 thereby allowing wall sections to be
built up from a number of screens 2. By using different types of linking segments 8 the screens 2 may be aligned at different angles or formed into three or four-way junctions. Desks 3 and storage units 4 may then be attached to the screens 2 by way of pins 6 or adhesive pads 7. A number of the chairs 5 and table units 10 may also be positioned on the base 1 each held in place by a single pin 6.
Other furniture items such as free standing desks11, curved screens 2a, counters 12 and work surfaces1 3 may also be used.
In this way a representation of an office furniture layout plan can be built up as in Fig. 2.
There are a number of advantages of this system. The three-dimensional nature of the model gives a better representation of the full size layout than a two dimensional drawing. Also the easy fixing means for the furniture members allows a number of alternative layouts to be easily and quickly set out.
Clearly the system may equally be used for other furniture layouts such as kitchens and it may be used for planning machinery, etc. in factory spaces.
Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
CLAIMS
1. A space planning system comprising a base
and a plurality of discrete modules each representing on a reduced scale a wall, partition, furniture or equipment element, each module having means for penetrating and releasably, frictionally engaging the base at any chosen position throughout a surface of the base so that modules positioned in a chosen relationship on the base to represent a layout will resist dislodgement if the base is moved, tipped or tilted but may be removed or repositioned on the base manually without use of a tool.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each module has at least one pin projecting from a bottom surface thereof, and the base is adapted releasably frictionally to engage a pin pressed into it.
3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base comprises a rigid facing and a relatively soft but not easily deformable core, the facing being penetrable by pins pressed through it into the core.
4. A system as claimed in any one of the prceding claims, wherein means is provided for releasably interconneting two modules positioned on the base.
5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means comprises a linking element insertable in slots in the respective modules.
6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and additionally comprising at least one second module adapted releasably to be secured to one of said first-mentioned modules so as to be supported by the latter in spaced relation to the base.
7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein an adhesive pad on one of said modules is adapted releasably to secure it to the other said module.
8. A space planning system substantially as described in the Description with reference to and as shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Description
SPECIFICATION
Space planning system
This invention relates to a space planning system for furniturelayouts.
Hitherto furniture layout plans for offices and the like were produced using a grid layout, representing the floorplan, on to which representations of items of furniture could be drawn. This made it possible to ascertain what furniture would fit in the available space. However this type of plan has the disadvantage that, because of its strictly two dimensional nature, it does not produce a realistic likeness of the appearance of the full size layout.
According to the present invention there is provided a space planning system for furniture layouts comprising a base and a number of furniture units, said furniture units having a first attachment means to allow them to be fixed to the base and second attachment means to allow them to be fixed to each other.
Preferably the first attachment means comprises metal pins fixed in and extending from the base of the furniture members and which may be pressed into the base.
The second attachment means may be pins similar to the first attachment means or link members which fit in slots in the furniture members or adhesive pads fixed to the surface of the furniture members.
Preferably also the base has a soft material core into which the pins may be pressed.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a part sectional perspective view showing the furniture members fixed to each other and to the base according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a space planning system using the furniture members of Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawings, a space planning system for furniture layouts comprises a base 1 having a rigid but penetrable facing 1 a and a relatively soft but not easily deformable core 1 b such that metal pins 6 may be pressed through the facing 1 a and into the core 1 b. A number of furniture members are provided for attachment to the board, such as screens 2, desks 3, storage units 4 and chairs 5. The furniture members are fitted with the metal pins 6 and adhesive pads 7 to enable them to be fixed to each other and to the base 1. Linking segments 8 are also provided to allow the furniture members to be joined together.
In use, a scale drawing of an office floorplan is
located on the face of the base 1. Furniture
members can then be positioned on the base 1 by
pushing the pins 6, on the furniture members, through the facing 1 a of the base 1, and into the
core1 b. The linking segments 8 into slots 9 in the
screens 2 thereby allowing wall sections to be
built up from a number of screens 2. By using different types of linking segments 8 the screens 2 may be aligned at different angles or formed into three or four-way junctions. Desks 3 and storage units 4 may then be attached to the screens 2 by way of pins 6 or adhesive pads 7. A number of the chairs 5 and table units 10 may also be positioned on the base 1 each held in place by a single pin 6.
Other furniture items such as free standing desks11, curved screens 2a, counters 12 and work surfaces1 3 may also be used.
In this way a representation of an office furniture layout plan can be built up as in Fig. 2.
There are a number of advantages of this system. The three-dimensional nature of the model gives a better representation of the full size layout than a two dimensional drawing. Also the easy fixing means for the furniture members allows a number of alternative layouts to be easily and quickly set out.
Clearly the system may equally be used for other furniture layouts such as kitchens and it may be used for planning machinery, etc. in factory spaces.
Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
CLAIMS
1. A space planning system comprising a base
and a plurality of discrete modules each representing on a reduced scale a wall, partition, furniture or equipment element, each module having means for penetrating and releasably, frictionally engaging the base at any chosen position throughout a surface of the base so that modules positioned in a chosen relationship on the base to represent a layout will resist dislodgement if the base is moved, tipped or tilted but may be removed or repositioned on the base manually without use of a tool.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each module has at least one pin projecting from a bottom surface thereof, and the base is adapted releasably frictionally to engage a pin pressed into it.
3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base comprises a rigid facing and a relatively soft but not easily deformable core, the facing being penetrable by pins pressed through it into the core.
4. A system as claimed in any one of the prceding claims, wherein means is provided for releasably interconneting two modules positioned on the base.
5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means comprises a linking element insertable in slots in the respective modules.
6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and additionally comprising at least one second module adapted releasably to be secured to one of said first-mentioned modules so as to be supported by the latter in spaced relation to the base.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
