Modular unit adapted for office use

Claim 2

A portable and unfoldable first modular unit for office use positioned adjacent to another second modular unit to form the office or positioned adjacent a building wall to form the office with the building wall for providing work stations which comprises: (a) a central room divider including a solid vertically oriented first wall having opposite ends and (b) a vertically oriented panel mounted on one of the side closures by hinge means so as to be unfoldable on a vertical axis into an unfolded position at a 90° angle away from a horizontal line between the ends of the central room divider to provide the work station and so as to be foldable 90° on the vertical axis parallel to the horizontal line between the ends of the central room divider to a closed and folded position between the side closures and adjacent the work surface to enclose the cabinet, wherein the hinge means allows the panel to be moved parallel to the vertical axis away from the side closure for repositioning of the panel to the folded position and to allow the panel to be moved towards the side closure to abut against the side closure when unfolded in the open position so as to be continuous with the side closure to provide a second wall of the office and wherein the hinge means provides a square corner with the side closure in the closed and folded position and wherein the vertically oriented panel sides located between the ends and a top and a bottom, a cabinet structure on at least one side of and adjacent the bottom of the wall, side closures mounted at the ends of the central room divider perpendicular to the wall so as to enclose the opposite ends of the central room divider and with a horizontally oriented first work surface mounted on the cabinet on and between the side closures at a level for typing use; is positioned adjacent to the building wall to form the office or wherein the second modular unit with a second room divider, second end closures and second panel is positioned adjacent the first modular unit to form a third wall of the office; and (c) a second work surface hingedly mounted on the panel with a second hinge means on the second work surface and on the panel so that the second work surface is foldable upward and at a level for typing use when unfolded and with a retaining means engaging the panel and second work surface when the panel is unfolded.

Claim 5

The modular unit of claim 1 wherein in addition there are additional modular units with the first wall of each unit positioned in closely spaced relationship to the first wall of the first or second modular unit such that there are two work surfaces opposite each other.

Claim 6

The modular unit of claim 1 including lockable rollers mounted subadjacent the central room divider for movement of the unit when the casters are unlocked and for preventing movement of the unit when the rollers are locked.

Claim 7

The modular unit of claim 1 wherein the first and second modular units are provided with one of the side closures of each unit in closely spaced relationship.

Claim 8

The modular unit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the the side closures have a top surface and a bottom surface along the vertical axis and the panel has a top surface and a bottom surface along the vertical axis aligned with and adjacent to the top and bottom surfaces of one of the side closures, wherein the hinge means is a plate having a slot and mounted between one of the side closures and the panel on the top surfaces and on the bottom surfaces of the panel and side closure and the panel is movable on pins mounted parallel to the vertical axis on the top and bottom surfaces of the side closure or panel and through the slot in the plate of the hinge means and wherein the pins slide in the slot of the plate away from the side closure for repositioning of the panel in the folded and unfolded positions.

Claim 9

A portable and unfoldable first modular unit for office use positioned adjacent to another second modular unit to form the office or positioned adjacent a building wall to form the office with the building wall for providing work stations which comprises: (a) a central room divider including a solid vertically oriented first wall having opposite ends and sides located between the ends and a top and a bottom, with a cabinet on one side of and adjacent to the bottom of the wall, side closures mounted at the ends perpendicular to the wall so as to enclose opposite ends of the central room divider and with a horizontally oriented first work surface mounted on the cabinet on and between the side closures at a level for typing use; (b) a vertically oriented first panel mounted on one of the side closures by first hinge means so as to be unfoldable on a vertical axis into an unfolded position at a 90° angle away from the wall and so as to be foldable on the vertical axis parallel to a line between the ends and along the first wall to a closed and folded position between the side closures and adjacent the work surface; (c) a vertically oriented second panel mounted on the other of the side closures of the central room divider by second hinge means so as to be unfoldable on a vertical axis into an open position at a 90° angle away from a horizontal line between the ends of the central divider and so as to be foldable 90° on the vertical axis parallel to the horizontal line between the ends of the central room divider to a closed and folded position between the side closures and adjacent to the first panel to enclose the cabinet, wherein the first and second hinge means allow the first and second panels to be moved parallel to the vertical axis away from the side closure for repositioning of the panels to the folded position and to allow the first and second panels to be moved towards each of the side closures to abut against the side closure when unfolded in the open position so as to be be continuous with the side closure to provide second and third walls of the office, wherein the vertically oriented first or second panels or both panels are positioned adjacent to a building wall to form the office or wherein the second modular unit with a second room divider, second end closures and third or fourth panels are provided adjacent the first modular unit to form another wall of the office and wherein the first and second hinge means provide a squared corner with the side closure when in the closed and folded position; and (d) a second work surface with a third hinge means on the second work surface and on the panel and held by a first retaining means engaging the second work surface in an unfolded position such that when the second work surface is folded the surface is parallel to the first panel and when the second work surface is in the unfolded position the second work surface is at about a 90° angle to the first panel.

Claim 10

A portable and unfoldable first modular unit for office use positioned adjacent to another second modular unit to form the office or positioned adjacent a building wall to form the office with the building wall for providing work stations which comprises: (a) a central room divider including a solid vertically oriented first wall having opposite ends and sides located between the ends and a top and a bottom, with a cabinet on one side of and adjacent to the bottom of the wall, side closures mounted at the ends perpendicular to the wall so as to enclose opposite ends of the central room divider and with a horizontally oriented first work surface mounted on the cabinet on and between the side closures at a level for typing use; (b) a vertically oriented first panel mounted on one of the side closures by first hinge means so as to be unfoldable on a vertical axis into an unfolded position at a 90° angle away from the wall and so as to be foldable on the vertical axis parallel to a line between the ends and along the first wall to a closed and folded position between the side closures and adjacent the work surface; (c) a vertically oriented second panel mounted on the other of the side closures of the central room divider by second hinge means so as to be unfoldable on a vertical axis into an open position at a 90° angle away from a horizontal line between the ends of the central divider and so as to be foldable 90° on the vertical axis parallel to the horizontal line between the ends of the central room divider to a closed and folded position between the side closures and adjacent to the first panel to enclose the cabinet, wherein the first and second hinge means allow the first and second panels to be moved parallel to the vertical axis away from the side closure for repositioning of the panels to the folded position and to allow the first and second panels to be moved towards each of the side closures to abut against the side closure when unfolded in the open position so as to be be continuous with the side closure to provide second and third walls of the office, wherein the vertically oriented first or second panels or both panels are positioned adjacent to a building wall to form the office or wherein the second modular unit with a second room divider, second end closures and third or fourth panels are provided adjacent the first modular unit to form another wall of the office and wherein the first and second hinge means provide a squared corner with the side closure when in the closed and folded position; and (d) a second work surface with a third hinge means on the second work surface and on the panel and held by a first retaining means engaging the second work surface in an unfolded position such that when the second work surface is folded the surface is parallel to the first panel and when the second work surface is in the unfolded position the second work surface is at about a 90° angle to the first panel.

Claim 11

The modular unit of claim 6 wherein the central room divider is mounted on subadjacent rollers to provide for rolling movement of the modular unit.

Claim 12

The modular unit of claim 7 wherein the rollers are lockable and are used to prevent rolling when the first and second panels and the second work surface are in unfolded positions and wherein the first and second panels have height adjustable floor supports for holding the panels in place when they are in the open position.

Claim 13

The modular unit of claim 6 linked with at least one additional modular unit.

Claim 14

The modular unit of claim 6 wherein the side closures have a top surface and bottom surface and the first and second panels have a top surface and a bottom surface along the vertical axis aligned with and adjacent to the top and bottom surfaces of the side closures, wherein the hinge means is a plate having a slot and mounted between each of the side closures and the panels on the top surfaces and on the bottom surfaces of the panels and side closures and the first and second panels are movable on pins mounted parallel to the vertical aixs on the top and bottom surfaces of the side closures or panels through the slot in the plate of the hinge means and wherein the pins slide in the slot of the plate away from the side closure for repositioning of the panel in the folded and unfolded positions.