Multi-use conferencing space, table arrangement and display configuration

• US 10,492,608 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2016
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Baloga, Mark A., Graziano, Frank G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Katcheves, Basil S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hijaz, Omar F
• Application Number:
  US15/143,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20160309892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/10 Tops characterised by shape, other than circular or rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/006 having an incorporated display screen
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0079 Conference or video conference table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/06 Furniture aspects of radio, television, gramophone, or record cabinets for similar equipment supports attached to the wall or ceiling or floor stands F16M
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/04 Tables combined with other pieces of furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units

Abstract

A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising a first table assembly including (i) a first table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges, (ii) at least a first display screen supported adjacent the rear edge of the first table top, a second table assembly including (i) a second table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges and (ii) at least a second display screen supported adjacent the rear edge of the second table top, wherein, the first and second table assemblies arranged so that the front edges thereof are spaced apart to form a gap with the second display screen substantially parallel to and facing the first display screen.

Claims

1. A conferencing assembly, the conferencing assembly comprising:

a first table assembly including;

(i) a first table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges and first and second lateral edges that traverse a distance between the front and rear edges, the first table top forming a first table top surface, spaces adjacent the lateral edges substantially unobstructed having a length selected to receive one or more chair for conferees along the first and second lateral edges;

(ii) a first support structure adjacent the rear edge of the first table top;

(iii) at least a first display screen supported by the first support structure with a lower edge of the first display screen adjacent a central portion of the rear edge of the first table top and with the first table top surface substantially unobstructed by the first display screen and substantially unobstructed by the first support structure;

a second table assembly including;

(i) a second table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges and first and second lateral edges that traverse the distance between the front and rear edges, the second table top forming a second table top surface, spaces adjacent the lateral edges of the second table top substantially unobstructed having a length selected to receive one or more chair for conferees along the first and second lateral edges; and

(ii) a second support structure adjacent the rear edge of the second table top;

(iii) at least a second display screen supported by the second support structure with a lower edge adjacent a central portion of the rear edge of the second table top and with the second table top surface substantially unobstructed by the second display screen and substantially unobstructed by the second support structure;

(iv) a first control assembly connected to the first table assembly and enabling a user to selectively take control of one of the first and second displays and to present information from a computer device on a selected one of the first and second displays;

(v) a second control assembly connected to the second table assembly, the second control assembly enabling a user to selectively take control of one of the first and second displays and to present information from a computer device on a selected one of the first and second displays;

wherein, the first and second table tops are arranged so that the front edges thereof are spaced apart to form an unobstructed gap with the second display screen substantially parallel to and facing the first display screen.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further including a third display screen adjacent the rear edge of the second table top and that is substantially parallel to the second display screen.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each of the second and third display screens has a diagonal dimension that is smaller than the diagonal dimension of the first display screen.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the diagonal dimension of each of the second and third display screens is between twenty and forty-two inches and wherein the diagonal dimension of the first display screen is between thirty and forty-six inches.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the gap between the front edges of the first and second table assemblies is between twenty-four and forty-two inches.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein each lateral edge has a length dimension of at least five feet.

7. The assembly of claim 3 wherein videos of remote conferees are presented via the second and third display screens.

8. The assembly of claim 7 further including first, second and third video cameras positioned adjacent the first, second and third display screens to capture video of a space including the configuration from first, second and third different perspectives that are aligned with the first, second and third display screens.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the front edges of the first and second table tops are straight and parallel.

10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein a video of a remote conferee that is currently presenting at a conference is presented on the first display screen.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a diagonal dimension of each of the first and second display screens is between twenty and forty-two inches.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the gap between the front edges of the first and second table assemblies is between twenty-four and forty-two inches.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first table top has first and second lateral edges that traverse a distance between the front and rear edges of the first table top, each lateral edge having a length dimension of at least five feet, the second table top has first and second lateral edges that traverse the distance between the front and rear edges of the second table top, each lateral edge having a length dimension of at least five feet.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first control assembly is physically linked to the first table assembly.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second control assembly is physically linked to the second table assembly.

16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein each of the first and second lateral edges is straight.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the first and second lateral edges of the first table top diverge away from each other between the rearward and forward edges of the first table top and wherein the first and second lateral edges of the second table top diverge away from each other between the rearward and forward edges of the second table top.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first support structure includes a first totem structure located adjacent the rear edge of the first table top, the first totem structure extending upward from an ambient floor surface and supporting the first display screen adjacent the first table top, the second support structure including a second totem structure located adjacent the rear edge of the second table top, the second totem structure extending upward from the ambient floor surface and supporting the second display screen adjacent the second table top.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the first totem structure obscures visibility of a rear portion of the first display screen and wherein the second totem structure obscures visibility of a rear portion of the second display screen.

20. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second display screen having a diagonal dimension that is smaller than the diagonal dimension of the first display screen.