A first aspect of the present invention relates to simplified and efficient work station structures. While applicant's Indian patent application 23770/MAS/96 filed December 27,1996 discloses efficient work station structures that are simplified as compared with earlier designs, this work station is still not as simple and economical as may be considered desirable. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workstation structure comprising first and second vertically extending panels angled with respect to one another and connected together along mutually adjacent edges, and a sheet form worktop spanning horizontally between intermediate regions of the panels and supported on bracket members connected to the adjacent faces of the panels. The work station structure of the invention provides an efficient structure that lacks complex parts and has the further advantage that it is readily adapted to receive a range of accessories and to provide large capacity and readily accessible storage for cabling, wiring and the like. The structure is also considerably more economical to manufacture.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a tambour door structure. With known structures, the door structure is recessed inwardly from the front edge of the cabinet and the recessed appearance is undesirable aesthetically.

In the said further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tambour door comprising a

generally longitudinal track, a plurality of slats adapted to be articulated together to form a tambour, and a plurality of glide members each having a portion adapted to slidingly engage the track and a slat engaging structure offset outwardly from the track engaging portion whereby the tambour is spaced outwardly from the track. This arrangement has the advantage that the door structure is spaced outwardly from the track portion of the structure and a common plane can be maintained between the body of the cabinet and the surface of the tambour.

The invention is more fully described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a partially fragmentary perspective view of a work station cluster comprising work station structures in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a partially schematic end view of a work station structure somewhat modified with respect to the work station shown in Fig. 1 and as viewed along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a single span work station unit viewed along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a cabinet with a tambour that may be used in association with the work station structures of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a partially fragmentary exploded perspective view of the tambour of the cabinet of Fig. 4 taken on the arrow 5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view showing interior structure of the cabinet of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a partially fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the arrangement of Fig. 1.

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged sections taken on the lines 8-8 and 9-9, respectively, in Fig. 7 and showing cantilever support brackets.

Fig. 10, which appears on the same sheet as Fig. 7, is an enlarged partially perspective view of a portion of the arrangement of Fig. 1 modified by provision of a corner cable dump bin.

Fig. 11 is a partially perspective view illustrating one method of connecting the panels in the present structure.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a panel screw insert.

Fig. 13 is an exploded partially cross sectional view showing a panel screw insert in association with its mating screw.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a work station cluster 19 comprising a plurality of work stations for example 20,21 and 22 formed as a unitary whole. Each work station structure, as seen in more detail in Figs. 7 and 10, comprises a plurality of vertically extending panels, for example panels 23 and 24,26 and 27, that are connected together edge to edge in straight runs. The runs or sets of panels, for example primary set 28 and secondary set 29 are arranged at angles, preferably at right angles and are connected together at the corners or changes of direction. These angled runs or sets of interconnected panels 23 to 27 form a stable base resting on the floor of the office, and on which the remaining components of the workstation

may be supported.

Attached to the faces of the panels, as best seen in Figs. 7 and 10 are cantilever brackets 31. Secured on and supported on each set of brackets 31 adjacent a corner is a sheet form worktop, for example worktop 32, portions of which are shown broken away in Fig. 1 to reveal the detail underneath. A worktop 33 is also shown in broken outline in Fig. 1 installed in work station 21.

Fig. 7 shows full height panels 23,24,26 and 27, while Figs. 1 and 10 show some mid-height panels 24a and 27a.

The vertically extending panels such as panels 23 to 27 are modular and are formed to standard dimension and are of uniform thickness. While the panels may be, for example, rectangular tray like steel structures, they are preferably formed of board-like sheet material providing adequate strength properties and that is preferably readily machinable using routing devices and the like so that its edges can be readily shaped.

Examples of suitable materials include wood, chip board, medium density fiber board (MDF) and various other particle board and fibre board material well known to those skilled in the art and typically formed of bonded wood or other particle or fibre product. A preferred material is melamine faced chip board.

The work top sheets for example 32 and 33 may be formed of the same materials as the panels 23 to 27.

In a preferred form, in order to interconnect the panels at corners or changes of direction, a corner connector member is employed, preferably in the form of a post 34, for example as seen in Fig. 11, having its cross sectional profile no wider than the thickness of

the panels, i. e. having sides 34a and 34b of a width similar to the thickness of the vertically extending panel, for example panel 26, to which the post is to be connected.

Conventional releasable connector elements may be used to form a connection between the edges of the panels and the corner post 34. In the example illustrated, conventional cam fasteners, for example is available from Hafele of Germany are employed. These fasteners consist of a shaft portion 36 having a threaded end 36a that is screwed into a tapped opening 37 in the side of the post 34 and at the opposite end has an enlarged head 38 that is received in a bore 39 in an end edge of the panel 26 communicating with a blind bore 40 in a face of the panel 26 in which a cam portion 41 is inserted. The cam portion 41 can be turned in one direction to apply tension to the head 38 and maintain the shaft 36 in locked engagement with the side edge of the panel 26.

The connection can be released by rotating the cam 41 in an opposite direction.

Similarly, double ended shaft portion fasteners 42 are employed together with cam members 41 to connect together the edges of panel such as adjacent panels 26 and 27 as seen in Fig. 11.

Usually, each edge of each panel is provided with a plurality of connection elements. For example, as seen in Fig. 7 each full height panel such as panels 23 and 26 may be provided with three connection elements spaced along its edge, as indicated by the positions of the cam fastener portions 41 in Fig. 7, while each mid height panel such as panel 24a or 27a has two connection elements, the upper connection element indicated at 41 being slightly below the upper end of the panel 24a or 27b.

Similarly, each corner connector post 34 is provided on each functional side with a corresponding number of correspondingly spaced connector elements 36. The assembly may include mid height connector posts 45 having on each functional side two connectors elements thereon for connection to the edges of mid height corner panels at positions generally corresponding to those indicated for the elements 41 on panels 24a and 27a in Fig. 10.

The corner connector posts 34 are usually of hollow cross section and may, for example, be of roll formed sheet metal or may be extruded from high strength plastics material. Preferably, however, the corner posts 34 are hollow section aluminum extrusions that are drilled and tapped on the functional side in order to provide anchorage for the threaded ends 36a of the shaft portion 36 of the connector element. The ends of the connector posts 34 may be closed with a resilient cap 43 that push fits into the end of the opening within the post 34.

Depending on the layout of the workstation, different types of corner connector posts may be employed. For example, Fig. 11 shows a two-way corner connector post having the connector elements 36 disposed generally in an L-shape. A two-way corner connector post of this type may be used in relatively simple workstation structures incorporating a right-angled connection between two sets of panels.

The outer non-functional side of this two-way corner connector post 34 may be convexly curved, so that the post has a quarter-round configuration.

Somewhat more complex structures may employ a three-

way connector post, wherein the post similar to post 34 has the shaft portion 36 of connector element connected on three sides in a generally T configuration. Further, four-way connector posts may be employed, having connector shaft portions 36 on all four sides in a cruciform section. For example, referring to the workstation illustrated in Fig. 1, three-way connector posts may be employed at the positions indicated at 46 while four-way connector posts may be used at positions 47.

As will be appreciated from consideration of Fig. 1, from the relatively simple arrangement of panels, corner connector posts and connector elements described above, workstations of any of a number of desired configurations may be built up. For example, referring to Fig. 1, the workstation includes a further or tertiary set of panels 48 comprising a full-height panel 26 connected to the corner connector post at position 47 and a mid-height panel 27a connected to the outer edge of panel 26 and in turn connected at its outer end to the three-way corner post at position 46. On each side of the corner post 46, two mid-height panels 27a are connected. The second and tertiary sets of panels 29 and 48 define between them a further workstation in which a further sheet form worktop 49 may be supported.

Extending from and connected to the corner connector post at position 47 in workstation 22 is a quaternary set of panels 51 and comprising a full-height panel 26 connected to the corner connector post 47 and a mid- height panel 27a connected to the end edge of the panel 26 at one end and at its opposite end to the corner connector post at 46 midway between the workstations 22 and 23. Extending laterally from and connected to the midway connector post 46 is a full-height panel 26 that forms an end panel to a further workstation 52 defined

between the primary and quaternary sets of panels 28 and 51. A further sheet form worktop 53 is supported in the workstation 52.

The remainder of the workstation cluster, beyond the mid point corner post 46, including the workstation 21, is essentially a mirror image of the preceding workstations, and need not be described in detail.

However, it may be noted that Fig. 1 illustrate how different forms of panel may be substituted or added at different points in the construction of the workstation cluster. For example, as seen in Fig. 1, associated with the workstation 21 is a full-height panel 54 of increased width connected at one edge of the corner connector at 47 and at the opposite edge to a normal width full-height panel 58. At the end of the run of panels comprising panels 54 and 58, a three way corner connector post 46 connects to full-height return panels 59 and 61, of which panel 61 is of increased width.

Adjacent workstation 20 in Fig. 1, mid-height return panels 62 and 63 are shown connected to the mid-height corner connector post 45.

Fig. 1 also shows alternative forms of panel and a worktop that may be used in place of the panels 62 and 63. For example, a reduced height gable panel 64 may be substituted for the end or return panel 62. This is connected to the corner post 45 by a cam fastener connection 41 adjacent its lower end and at its upper end to the underside of the adjacent end of the worktop 32 through an L section bracket (not visible in Fig. 1) connected by fasteners, for example threaded fasteners to the underside of the worktop 32 and to the adjacent face of the panel 64, respectively.

Alternatively, a spanner sheet form worktop 66 may

be connected to the adjacent ends of the worktops 32 and 53. In such a case, of course, the corner connector post 45 is not employed. The spanner worktop 66 may be connected to the end edges of the worktops such as worktops 32,33,49 and 53 by the provision of cam fastener arrangements, similar to the cam fastener arrangements 38,39,40,41 and 42 described above with Fig. 11. These cam fastener arrangements are provided at standardized positions on the undersides of the end edges of the sheet form worktops such as worktops 32 and 53 and at corresponding positions on the underside of the inner edge of the spanner worktop 66. In the preferred form, the spanner worktop 66 has a fold down leg 67 so that it may be packed flat for storage and shipping.

The workstation structures may include transparent panels, for example rectangular glass panels 68 at positions intermediate adjacent workstations, for example intermediate workstations 20 and 21 as seen in Fig. 1, and a glass panel 69 having a curved upper edge may be employed adjacent the ends of runs of panels, as seen in Fig. 1. The panels 68 and 69 are typically positioned above mid-height panels such as panels 24a and 27a and may be connected to the adjacent panels by conventional glass-holding cleats that are installed in grooves routed centrally of the edges of the panels 23,26,24a and 27a.

As best seen in Figs. 7 to 10, the brackets 31 preferably employed in the present structures are generally of L-shape or angle section and comprise planar side and top portions 71 and 72 interconnected by inclining arms 73. The brackets 31 may, for example, be molded from high strength plastic, but in the preferred form, are formed from bent sheet metal, for example sheet steel.

The side portions 71 are formed with one or more

opening to receive fasteners for attaching the brackets 31 to the panels such as panels 26, etc. Preferably an upper opening 74, seen in Fig. 2 is of a somewhat larger width and is of an inverted keyhole form, to facilitate attachment to the brackets by passing the heads of fasteners that have previously been 76 attached to the panels 26,54, etc. through the wider portions of the keyhole slot and lowering the bracket 31 to engage the head of the fastener 76 in the narrower portion, so that the bracket 31 is loosely retained on the panel 26,54, etc. before the fasteners 76 are tightened up.

The side portions may be formed with lower openings 77 that are of maybe smaller diameter than the upper opening 74, and through which screws or the like may be passed to secure the brackets 31 more firmly to the panels 26,54, etc.

In the preferred form, each of the panels 26,54, etc., with the exception of the gable ends 64, in the as- manufactured state, are provided with preinstalled internally threaded inserts 78, as shown in more detail in Figs. 12 and 13. Each insert 78 comprises an outer relatively short cylindrical sleeve portion 79 and an inner elongated cylindrical sleeve portion 81 having a reduced width end portion 82 that fits snugly within the cylindrical opening 83 of the portion 79. Each portion 79 and 81 is provided with an annular flange portion 84 at its outer end. The inner portion 81 has secured within it a tapped or threaded inner sleeve 86 preferably of a wear-resistant metal.

In the course of manufacture, an opening is routed through the panel such as panel 26 or the like, and the outer and inner sleeves are assembled together with the reduced width end portion 82 received within the opening 83. Preferably, an adhesive is supplied to firmly secure

the portions 79 and 81 together. Desirably, the outer sides of the portion 79 and 81 are formed with raised axial rib portions 87, as seen in Fig. 12, spaced around their periphery so that the insert 78 does not rotate within the panel such as panel 26, or the like, when fasteners are threaded into the tapped sleeve 86. It may be noted that the dimensions of the insert 78 are such that, in the assembled condition the outer sides of the flanges 84 are flush with the faces of the panel 26, and that, in the installed condition, the tapped sleeve 86 is accessible to receive fasteners, such as a threaded fastener 88 seen in Fig. 13 having a threaded end portion 89 from either face of the panel 26.

With this arrangement, brackets 31 may be connected on each of two opposing faces of a common panel, such as panel 24a as seen in Fig. 1, so that worktops 32 and 53, for example, may be connected to and supported on each side of a common panel in the workstation structure.

This allows a highly compact and efficient workstation structure to be assembled, wherein worktops are arranged back to back on opposite sides of common panels.

One preferred form of sheet form worktop employed in the workstations of the present invention comprises generally L-shaped worktops, somewhat similar to the sheet form worktops described in applicant's Application 23770/MAS/96 referred to above. The worktops such as worktops 32,33,49 and 53, comprise a one-piece sheet having two limbs disposed in a general L-shape.

Preferably, an inner corner 91 of each worktop is concavely arcuate and merges smoothly with the inner sides of the outer limbs. Preferably, an apex of the worktop is truncated to provide a recess having an oblique edge for accommodating a side of a generally triangular power pole described in more detail later.

Each worktop such as worktops 32, etc. is formed in the as-manufactured condition in its underside with threaded inserts, shown somewhat schematically at 92 in Figs. 8 and 9. These inserts 92 may. in principle, be somewhat similar to the insert 78, except they do not pass through the thickness of the worktop 32,33, etc.

The upper side portion 72 of each bracket is formed with through holes 93 and 94. Holes 93 may be somewhat wider than the holes 94, for receiving fasteners that are adapted to be received in the inserts 92, while the openings 94 may receive wood screws or the like that are passed direct into the underside of the worktops 32,33, etc.

The inserts 78 and 92 are provided at standardized positions on the panels 26, etc. and on the worktops 32, etc., respectively. For example, panel inserts 78 that are adapted to attach brackets 31 are each spaced at the same distance from the lower edge of each of the panels so that, when the brackets 31 are applied, their top portions 72 all extend in the same horizontal plane, while the lateral spacings of the bracket receiving inserts 78 on each of the panels, and of the bracket receiving inserts 92 on each of the worktops are arranged so that the insert 92 can be aligned laterally with the opening 93 in the upper portion 72 of the brackets 31 when attached to the various panels. Further, in the preferred form, the longitudinal or front to rear spacing of the inserts 92 in the worktops 32,33, etc. are disposed so that when aligned with the openings 93 in the brackets 31, the rear sides 96 of each worktop 32,33, etc. are spaced forwardly from the side portion 71 of the brackets 31, and hence forwardly away from the adjacent faces of the panels 26, etc., to which the brackets 31 are attached. This facilitates access to cabling that, as described in more detail later, may be carried on or in association with the brackets 31.

In the preferred form, as best seen in Figs. 2,3, 7 and 10, each panel such as panels 23 and 26 that are adapted to be connected to a corner post such as corner post 34, and each panel that is adapted to form an end panel or return panel, such as panels 59,61,62 and 63, as well as gable panels 64, are provided with openings in their inner side edges that are adapted to be connected to the corner posts such as posts 34,45,46, etc.

These openings comprise relatively large upper and lower openings 97 and 98, for passage of cable, such as electrical, electronic and telecommunications cables therethrough. Preferably, the height or width of these openings 97 and 98 is about 1.5 to about 5 times the thickness of the sheet form worktop 32, etc., more preferably about 2-3 times this thickness, and still more preferably about 2.5 times this thickness, while the horizontal length of each opening 97 and 98 is preferably about 2 to about 10 times the thickness of worktop 32, more preferably about 3 to about 7 times this thickness, and most preferably about 5 times this thickness. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, these openings 97 and 98 are spaced from the lower ends of the panels such as panels 26, etc., so that they align approximately with an upper portion and with a lower edge of each bracket 31 when installed on the panels adjacent thereto. These openings, are, therefore, aligned with an imaginary projection line drawn parallel to an adjacent side of a worktop panel 32 and below and adjacent this side and/or adjacent a lower portion of a bracket member 31.

To facilitate installation of cabling, the preferred form of the workstations include channel section cable conduits 99 and 101 that are connected to and supported on upper and lower portions of the bracket 31, respectively. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, these conduits 99 and 101 align with the openings 97 and 98, respectively, to facilitate end feeding of cabling

through these openings and along the conduits. As shown in more detail in Fig. 9, a side of each channel section conduit 99 and 101 preferably has an inturned lip flange 102 to retain springy cables once inserted within the conduit and has an outwardly directed and upturned edge flange 103 that snaps into an L-section slot 104 on the lower inner side of the inclining portion 73 of each brackets 31 in order to support the lower conduit 101 on the lower portion of the brackets 31. The upper conduits 99 rest in a complementary recess 106 formed in the upper rear side of the inclining portions 73 of the brackets 31. The conduits 99 and 101 may be extruded from plastics material, or may be roll formed from sheet metal.

It will be appreciated that the upper and lower cable conduits 99 and 101 facilitate forming electrical, electronic and telecommunication connections to workstations, workstation clusters and between adjacent workstations in a cluster, since the cabling may be run in through the opening 97 and 98 and connected upwardly from the conduits 99 and 101 through gaps between the adjacent brackets 31 and upwardly over the edge of the worktop 33 through the gap between the rear sides 96 of the worktops 32, etc. and the adjacent panels 26, etc.

The provision of spaced upper and lower conduits 99 and 101 is particularly advantageous, since it allows spacing to be maintained between cabling that must be separated for safety reasons or to avoid electromagnetic interference.

Large-capacity cable dumps are preferably provided to store large volumes of cable, transformers and other bulky items below the worktop level. One form of cable dump 107, as best seen in Figs. 1,7 and 8 comprise a generally trough-shaped member supported between adjacent brackets 31. The member 107 comprises a rear plate

portion 108, of width to span behind the side portions 71 of adjacent brackets 31, and has opening at its upper end through which fasteners 76 may be passed, in the course of installing the cable dump 107 on the face of a panel such as panel 26 or the like at the time the brackets 31 are installed. The member 107 has forwardly and upwardly inclining portions 109 and 111 that are of reduced width as compared with the rear portion 108, so that they fit between the inclining portions 73 of adjacent bracket members 31.

A further form of large capacity cable dump 112 is shown in Fig. 10. This comprises a bin-like structure having a bottom panel and side walls 113 of a generally rectangular configuration with a truncated forward apex provided by an oblique front wall 114, so that the bin 112 does not interfere with the leg room of a user seated adjacent the corner of the worktop. The rear walls 113 of the bin 112 are provided with upwardly extending hook- shaped projections 116 that may be hooked through the adjacent openings 98 in the inner edges of the panels such as panels 23 and 26 as seen in Fig. 10 to support the bin 112 adjacent the corner beneath the worktop.

An aspect of the present invention relates to preferred forms of hamper and to tambour door enclosures, best described with reference to Figs. 2 to 6 of the drawings. Fig. 4 shows a generally rectangular hamper or storage cabinet structure 117 that has hanger connector members 118 comprising inverted channel members 119 connected to a rear edge of its top panel 121. The hanger members 118 allow the hamper 117 to be attached by hanging them on a top edge 122 of a panel, for example panel 26 or the like.

As seen in more detail in Fig. 6, the structure 117 comprises back and bottom panels 123 and 124, side panels

126 and front side edge panels that may be secured together by conventional fasteners such as screws or the like.

The structure has two sliding tambour door structures 128a and 128b, the edges of which are supported to run in grooved tracks 129 provided in the upper side of the bottom panel 124, and in the lower side (not seen) of the top panel 121. In the closed position, the tambour doors 128a and 128b close the opening between the front edge panels 127.

To prevent the contents stored within the cabinet 117 from interfering with free movement of the tambours 128a and 128b, an internal wall structure is provided, spaced inwardly from the track 129, and consisting of an inner rear wall 131 and inner side walls 132. A central spacer 133 may also be provided, the elements 131 to 133 being connected to the top and to the bottom panels 121 and 124 by conventional fasteners.

Further, wire form spacers 134 may be provided, as seen in Fig. 4, anchored at their lower ends in openings in the bottom panel 124.

As seen in Fig. 5, each door structure 128a and 128b comprises a series of generally C-section slats 136 that, in the preferred form, are extruded, for example from plastics material or, more preferably, from aluminum.

Each slat 136 has, in cross section, adjacent one end a part circular bearing portion that provides an open-ended part cylindrical recess. The sides of this recess, terminating in an inwardly directed arcuate edge 138 subtend an angle of greater than 180°, more preferably approximately 250°, so that the recess can capture a cylindrical section pintle 139 of a glide member 141 described in more detail below.

Adjacent an opposite end each slat 136 has a generally C-section wall defining an open-ended part cylindrical opening. The curved portions of the wall 142 may and preferably do subtend an angle of about 180°.

Adjacent slats are interconnected by the above- mentioned glide members 141 which may, for example, be molded from plastics material. Each glide member 141 includes a generally rectangular engagement portion 143 projecting parallel to and in the same direction as the pintle 139 from a common base portion 144. Each slat 136 is articulated to its neighbor by having the engagement portion 143 of the adjacent glide member 141 received in its reception portion defined by the wall 142 while the pintle portion 139 of the same glide member 141 engages in the bearing portion 137 of the adjacent slat 136. The portions 143 and 139 fit firmly within the corresponding openings. The arrangement allows rotation of one slat adjacent to its neighbor, since the pintle portion 139 can turn within the bearing portion 137.

Each glide member 141 includes, integrally molded with it, a track engaging pin 146 that extends in a direction parallel but opposite to the direction of extension of the portions 143 and 139, and is that offset laterally inwardly from the plane defined by the portion 139 and 143. When the pin 146 is engaged in the track 129, therefore, the tambour 128a and 128b is spaced laterally outwardly from the track 129, thus allowing a common plane to be maintained between the body of the hamper or cabinet 117 and the door structure 128a and 128b.

The tracks 129 terminate short of one another centrally of the upper and lower panels 121 and 124. End slats 147 are provided, similar to slats 136, except they include a generally rectangular extension 148 that

bridges the gap between the ends of the tracks 129 when the tambours are in the fully closed position. These end slats 147 may be provided with conventional fittings 149 and 151 providing a pivotable and lockable hook 152 and a latch pin 153, respectively, allowing the tambour doors 128a and 128b to be locked together in the closed position.

In the preferred form, the workstation structures include a corner hamper structure 154 as seen in Fig. 1 that advantageously is adapted to occupy the otherwise "dead"space above the corner of a worktop normally occupied by a monitor 156.

The corner hamper structure 154 may be generally similar in its construction to the hamper 117 described in detail above with reference to Figs. 4 to 6, except it has inclining end walls that allow it to be snugly received in the corner between the adjacent panels 23, 26, etc. More specifically, the hamper 154 is symmetrical about a vertical median plane and has end walls 158 that incline laterally rearwardly inwards, usually at an angle of 45° with respect to such median plane so that the walls 158 define an angle of 90° between them and thus are adapted to fit between the normally right-angle panels 23 and 26 as seen in Fig. 1.

Further, instead of having the hanger connector member 119 on a rear edge of the top face of the hamper as in the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the hamper 154 has the connector members attached adjacent the top edges of its rearwardly laterally inclining walls 158, so that the connectors 119 may hook over the upper edges of the panels 23 and 26, respectively.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 7, as noted above, the workstations are provided with power poles 92.

Each pole 92 may comprise a two-part structure, comprising a general L-section rear portion 159 and a generally planar front plate portion 161 that is adapted to snap fit to the free edges of the rear portion 159.

The poles 92 are installed by mounting the rear portion 159 to the surface of the panels 23 and 26, for example with mechanical fasteners passed through the limbs of the portion 159 and into the panels and subsequently snap fitting the front plate 161 in place. It may be noted that the sides of the rear portion 159 are of smaller width than the length of the openings 97 and 98, so that the openings 97 and 98 extend beyond the rear portion 159, allowing cabling to be run through these openings even when the power pole 92 is in place. The power pole 92 may be a full height pole, as seen in Fig. 1 so that it extends to the ceiling of the office space. Power cabling and the like may be run through the poles 92 to the workstations from the upper or ceiling end of the pole 92 or from the floor. Reduced height power poles (not shown) may also be provided, of height similar to the full-height panels 23,26, etc. These are accessible and connectable to floor-supplied power cabling only, and the upper ends of the reduced height power poles may be closed with a snap-on cap or the like. The front plate 161 may be formed with openings 162 below the level of the worktop such as worktop 32 and the like to connect to cabling run through the cable conduits 99 or 101 and may have receptacle fittings 163 mounted to them, for example above or below the level of the worktop 32 to allow for plug-in electrical connection.

The components 159 and 161 of the power poles may be, for example, formed from rolled sheet metal, or may be extruded, for example from plastic or, more preferably, from aluminum.

Fig. 1 also shows a worktop 49 connected to a

rectangular extension panel 164. The panel 164 is provided with inserts such as cam fastener inserts 41 on its underside allowing it to be connected endwise to the adjacent L-shaped sheet form worktop, and with inserts similar to the inserts 92 described above with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 that allow them to be connected to the upper sides of brackets 31. An opposite end of the sheet form rectangular extension panel 164 may be connected to a face of an adjacent end or return panel 27a through a simple angle bracket that is fastened, for example with screws, to the under side of the extension 164 and to the face of the panel 27a, for example.

The workstations may be provided with various accessories, for example pinnable panels 165 comprising a yielding material to which drawing pins, push pins and the like may be applied. Fig. 13 illustrates a pinnable panel construction, consisting of a rigid backing board 166, consisting, for example, of a thin sheet of MDF or the like, to which is adhered a yielding layer 167 which may, for example, consist of two layers of corrugated plastics with the corrugations of one layer arranged at right angles to the corrugations of the other layer, and the whole being covered with fabric or the like.

Openings are formed through the panel 165 at standard spacings, and generally annular plugs 168 molded, for example, with plastics material bonded into these openings. The panels 26, etc., are provided with the flush mounted inserts 78 at standard spacing positioned above the level of the worktops 32 etc. so that pinnable panels such as panels 165, which may be provided in various standard widths, can be affixed to the faces of the panel as seen for example in Fig. 2 using the above- mentioned threaded fasteners 88 passed through the plugs 168 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 13.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate other accessories including

triangular section bins 171 and small and large rectangular section bins 172 and 173. Fig. 2 illustrates a shelf 174 having an upright portion connected to a horizontal portion 176 through wire elements 177 secured at their ends to the upright portion and to the horizontal portion 176, respectively. Each of these accessories 171 to 174 has an inverted J-hook formation at the upper end of its upright portion, enabling it to be attached to the upper end of a panel, such as panel 26, by simply hooking it over the upper edge of the panel.

The above-described arrangements, while employing relatively simple components, have the further advantage that they provide great flexibility in the design of and layout of various workstations.

Fig. 3, for example, illustrate a simple workstation or carrel, having a main full-height panel 178 connected at each end through two-way corner posts, similar to corner posts 34 described above with reference to Fig. 11 to end panels 61, similar to those described above with reference to Fig. 1. A simple rectangular sheet form worktop 179 is provided, having inserts similar to inserts 92 that are used to connect it to brackets 31 supported on the adjacent face of the panel 178. The ends of the worktop 179 may be supported by simple angle brackets 181 connected to the underside of the worktop 179 and to the adjacent faces of the panel 61 through fasteners such as screws 182.