Table and lectern furniture system

• US 10,448,734 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Battey, David J., Corcorran, Sean M., Elms, Timothy, Coffey, Jeffrey, Kong, Duck Young, Kincaid, Brett Robert, Schoolmeester, Mark William, Oberwelz, Elger, Overthun, Thomas, Eisner, Jake, Holstege, Cody Jay, Skibinski, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V
• Application Number:
  US16/022,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20180303235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 108 60, 108 27, 108 61, 108 5001, 108 5002
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/065 Pivotally mounted auxiliary tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 19/02 Church pulpits ; Stands for lecturers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0071 Booth like
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0085 Supplementary support fixed on the edge of a desk or table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0088 Appliance support having rotary joint or articulated connection
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 41/00 School desks or tables attaching to floor A47B91/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 41/02 Adjustable, inclinable, sliding or foldable desks tops
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 41/06 Holders or supports for guiding copy-books, slates, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/00 Combinations comprising two or more pieces of furniture of different kinds
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/04 Tables combined with other pieces of furniture
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

A table assembly comprising a table including a top member and at least a first leg support member, the top member forming a substantially flat top surface and circumscribed by an outer edge, the at least one leg support member supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position, a table dock secured to the top member and forming an elongated channel having a dock length dimension and at least a first display panel circumscribed by a panel edge and having at least one straight edge having a panel length dimension, the dock length dimension less than panel length dimension, wherein at least a portion of the straight edge of the panel is receivable within the dock channel with the panel extending out the open first and second ends of the channel to support the panel in a substantially upright orientation with at least a portion of the display panel extending to a height above the flat top surface.

Claims

1. A display board system comprising:

a table including a top member and at least a first leg support member, the top member forming a substantially flat top surface and circumscribed by an outer edge, the at least one leg support member supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position;

a table dock secured to the top member with a portion of the table dock extending upward adjacent the outer edge, the table dock forming an elongated table dock channel having a dock length dimension between first and second ends and having a base wall member at a height below the substantially flat surface of the top member, the dock channel opening upwardly, the dock channel unobstructed by the top member; and

at least a first substantially flat display panel including a display surface on at least a first of first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces, the panel circumscribed by a panel edge, the panel edge having at least one straight edge having a panel length dimension, the dock length dimension less than panel length dimension;

wherein at least a portion of the straight edge of the panel is receivable within the table dock channel to support the display panel in a substantially upright orientation with at least a portion of the display panel extending to a height above the flat top surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the table dock includes a base wall member and first and second lateral wall members that extend from opposite long edges of the base wall member to form the dock channel wherein the dock channel is substantially U-shaped.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein first and second ribs are located on facing surfaces of the first and second lateral wall members and at distal ends of the first and second members.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein facing surfaces of the rib members contact the first and second oppositely facing surfaces of the display panel when the display panel is received in the dock channel.

5. The assembly of claim of claim 1 further including a storage coupler supported by the top member and configured to receive and support the display panel in a storage position hanging below the top member.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the display panel hangs down below an edge of the top member when supported by the storage coupler.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the top member is substantially rectangular and includes at least a rear edge and a first lateral edge that is substantially perpendicular to the rear edge and wherein the table dock is supported adjacent the rear edge of the top member and the storage coupler is supported adjacent the first lateral edge.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the substantially upright orientation is substantially vertical.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the display panel includes whiteboard material on the first and second oppositely facing side surfaces.

10. A display board system comprising:

at least a first substantially flat and substantially rectangular display panel including first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces, the panel circumscribed by a rim structure that stands proud of the first and second side surfaces, the display panel having perpendicular panel length and panel width dimensions where the panel length dimension is at least as long as the panel width dimension; and

a dock including a channel forming member including a base wall member and first and second substantially parallel lateral wall members that extend from the base wall member to form an elongated dock channel having a dock length dimension between first and second opposite ends, the dock length dimension less than the panel width dimension, the channel forming member formed of a resiliently flexible material, the channel forming member supported by a support structure including a top member forming a substantially horizontal surface, the dock secured to the top member so that the channel is substantially horizontally oriented with the base wall member;

wherein at least a portion of the rim structure along the length dimension and between the portions of the rim structure that extend along the width dimension of the display panel is receivable within the dock channel to releasably retain and support the display panel from the support structure in a first use position.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the rim structure along the width dimension and between the portions of the rim structure that extend along the length dimension of the display panel is receivable within the dock channel to releasably retain and support the display panel from the support structure in a second use position.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the dock channel opens upwardly and the display panel is supported in a substantially upright orientation when supported in the first use position.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the display panel is supported in a substantially vertical orientation when supported in the first use position.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the display panel is supported in a substantially vertical orientation when supported in the first use position.

15. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the support structure includes a table including the top member and at least a first leg support member, the top member forming circumscribed by an outer edge, the at least one leg support member supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the dock further includes a flange extending from the channel forming member, the flange is fastened via mechanical fasteners to an undersurface of the top member.

17. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the support structure includes a top member of a table where the top member includes at least first and second straight edges, the first display panel supported by the top member adjacent the first straight edge, the assembly further including:

at least a second substantially flat and substantially rectangular display panel including first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces, the second panel circumscribed by a rim structure that stands proud of the first and second side surfaces, the second panel having perpendicular panel length and panel width dimensions where the panel length dimension is at least as long as the panel width dimension and

a second dock including a channel forming member including a base wall member and first and second substantially parallel lateral wall members that extend from the base wall member to form a second elongated dock channel having a dock length dimension between first and second opposite ends, the dock length dimension less than the second panel width dimension, the second channel forming member formed of a resiliently flexible material, the second channel forming member supported by the top member;

wherein at least a portion of the rim structure along the length dimension and between the portions of the rim structure that extend along the width dimension of the second display panel is receivable within the second dock channel to releasably retain and support the second display panel from the support structure in a first use position.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein each of the first and second display panels is supported in a substantially upright position when supported by the top member.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein each of the first and second dock channels opens upwardly.

20. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the channel is substantially U-shaped.