Multi-use conferencing space, table arrangement and display configuration

• US 20060117669A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: West, Terence D., Weller, George V., Graziano, Frank G., Baloga, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/8
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0079 Conference or video conference table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising a support, at least one table top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the at least one top member supported by the support with the flat surface substantially horizontal, the at least one top member including at least first and second substantially straight edge sections where the second edge section forms an angle with respect to the first edge section of less than substantially sixty degrees and at least first and second display screens positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to the first and second edge sections, respectively, each of the first and second display screens facing across at least a portion of the top surface of the top member.

Claims

1. A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising:

a support; and

at least one table top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the at least one top member supported by the support with the flat surface substantially horizontal, the at least one top member forming first and second corners, a first edge extending between the first and second corners and a second edge extending between the first and second corners, the first edge including at least one substantially straight section proximate the first corner and at least one curved section that bows convexly outward generally away from the second edge, the second edge including at least one curved section that bows convexly outward generally away from the first edge.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second edge also includes at least one substantially straight section.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the substantially straight section of the second edge is proximate the second corner.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the substantially straight section of the first edge is a first straight section and wherein the first edge further includes a second substantially straight section adjacent the second corner, the curved section of the first edge between the first and second straight sections.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the second edge includes first and second substantially straight sections proximate the first and second corners, respectively, and, wherein, the curved section of the second edge is between the first and second straight sections of the second edge.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the first straight section of the first edge is longer than the second straight section of the first edge and wherein the second straight section of the second edge is longer than the first straight section of the second edge.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second straight sections of the first edge form a substantially ninety degree angle and wherein the first and second straight sections of the second edge form a substantially ninety degree angle.

8. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second straight sections of the first edge form an angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees and wherein the first and second straight sections of the second edge form an angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees.

9. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second edges have substantially similar length dimensions.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one top member includes at least first and second top members that form the first and second edges.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the first and second top members form the first and second edges, respectively.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the first and second edges are external edges and wherein the first top member forms an internal edge opposite the external edge of the first top member that extends between the first and second corners and the second top member forms an internal edge opposite the external edge of the second top member that extends between the first and second corners.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the internal edges of the first and second top members are substantially straight and wherein the internal edge of the first top member is parallel to the internal edge of the second top member.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the support facilitates movement of at least one of the first and second top members with respect to the other of the first and second top member.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the support includes at least one rail and wherein the at least one of the first and second top members that is supported to move with respect to the other of the first and second top members is mounted to the rail for sliding movement there along.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein each of the first and second top members is mounted to the at least one rail for sliding movement there along.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein each of the first and second top members is mounted to the rail for movement along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the internal edges of the first and second top members.

18. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the first and second top members are positionable along the rail in at least two juxtapositions including a combined orientation wherein the internal edges of the first and second top members are adjacent along substantially their entire length dimensions and a spaced orientation wherein at least a section of the internal edge of the first top member is spaced from at least a section of the internal edge of the second top member.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein each of the first and second top members slides along the rail along a trajectory that is parallel to the internal edge of the top member.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the straight section of the first edge is closer to the second corner when the first and second top members are in the spaced orientation than when the first and second top members are in the combined orientation.

21. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the straight section of the first edge is closer to the second corner when the first and second top members are in the combined orientation than when the first and second top members are in the spaced orientation.

22. The assembly of claim 1 further including at least one display screen wherein the screen is positioned along the at least one substantially straight section of the first edge with the screen generally facing in the direction of the second edge.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the display screen includes a lower edge and wherein the lower edge is proximate the straight section of the first edge.

24. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the display screen is at least eighteen inches high by twenty-four inches wide.

25. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the display screen is mounted to the straight section of the first edge.

26. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the support is a first support and wherein the assembly further includes a second support that independently supports the display screen adjacent the first edge.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the second support includes wheels for transporting the display screen.

28. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the second support includes a rail and an arm assembly, the arm assembly mounting the screen to the rail for movement there along.

29. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the second edge includes at least one substantially straight section proximate the second edge and the display screen is a first display screen and wherein the assembly further includes at least a second display screen, the second display screen positioned along the straight section of the second edge with the second screen generally facing in the direction of the first edge.

30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the first and second screens face in opposite directions.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the first and second display screens oppose each other.

32. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the at least one top member includes at least first and second top members that form the first and second edges.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the first and second edges are external edges and wherein the first top member forms an internal edge opposite the external edge of the first top member that extends between the first and second corners and the second top member forms an internal edge opposite the external edge of the second top member that extends between the first and second corners.

34. The assembly of claim 33 wherein the internal edges of the first and second top members are substantially straight and wherein the internal edge of the first top member is parallel to the internal edge of the second top member.

35. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the support facilitates movement of at least the first top member with respect to the second top member.

36. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the support includes at least one rail and wherein the first top member is mounted to the rail for sliding movement there along.

37. The assembly of claim 36 wherein each of the first and second top members is mounted to the rail for movement along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the internal edges of the first and second top members.

38. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the display screen positioned proximate the straight section of the first edge is supported so at to be moveable along with the first top member.

39. The assembly of claim 3 further including at least first and second display screens positioned along the straight sections of the first and second edges, respectively.

40. The assembly of claim 39 wherein the first and second display screens generally face the second and first edges, respectively.

41. The assembly of claim 40 wherein the straight sections of the first and second edges are substantially parallel.

42. A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising:

a support rail having a length dimension;

a first table top member forming a substantially flat top surface and including an internal edge that extends between first and second corners and an external edge that extends between the first and second corners, the first table top supported by the rail on a first side of the rail and with the internal edge proximate the rail for sliding movement along a trajectory parallel to the length dimension; and

a second table top member forming a substantially flat top surface and including an internal edge that extends between first and second corners and an external edge that extends between the first and second corners, the second table top supported by the rail on a second side of the rail with internal edge of the second top member proximate the rail.

43. The assembly of claim 42 wherein the second top member is supported by the rail for sliding movement along a trajectory parallel to the length dimension of the rail.

44. The assembly of claim 43 wherein the internal edges of the first and second top members are substantially straight.

45. The assembly of claim 44 wherein the internal edges of the first and second top members are substantially parallel and are substantially parallel to the trajectory along which the table tops are moveable.

46. The assembly of claim 42 further including at least one support structure below and supporting the first table top member at a location spaced from the internal edge.

47. The assembly of claim 44 wherein the support structure includes at least one of wheels, casters and rollers on a lower end to facilitate movement of the first top member during sliding motion.

48. The assembly of claim 42 further including at least a first display screen positioned adjacent the external edge of the first table top.

49. The assembly of claim 48 further including at least a second display screen positioned adjacent the external edge of the second table top.

50. The assembly of claim 49 wherein the first and second display screens face substantially in opposite directions.

51. A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising:

a support;

at least one table top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the at least one top member supported by the support with the flat surface substantially horizontal, the at least one top member including at least first and second substantially straight edge sections where the second edge section forms an angle with respect to the first edge section of less than substantially sixty degrees; and

at least first and second display screens positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to the first and second edge sections, respectively, each of the first and second display screens facing across at least a portion of the top surface of the top member.

52. The assembly of claim 51 wherein the second straight edge section forms an angle of less than thirty degrees with the first edge section.

53. The assembly of claim 51 wherein the second straight edge section is parallel to the first edge section.

54. The assembly of claim 53 wherein the second display screen faces the first display screen.

55. The assembly of claim 51 wherein the at least one table top member forms first and second corners adjacent the first and second edge sections, respectively.

56. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the table top member forms a first curved edge section that bows convexly outward between the first straight edge section and the second corner and forms a second curved edge section that bows convexly outward between the second straight edge section and the first corner.

57. The assembly of claim 51 wherein the table top member forms at least a third substantially straight edge section, the third edge section forming an angle with respect to the first edge section of less than substantially sixty degrees and, wherein, the assembly further includes at least a third display screen positioned substantially parallel to the third edge section so that the third screen faces across at least a portion of the top surface of the table top.

58. The assembly of claim 57 wherein the first, second and third display screens are immediately adjacent the first, second and third edge sections.

59. The assembly of claim 57 wherein the second edge section forms an angle with respect to the third edge section of substantially sixty degrees and forms an angle with respect to the first edge section of substantially sixty degrees.

60. The assembly of claim 51 wherein the table top member forms at least third and fourth substantially straight edge sections, the third edge section forming an angle with respect to the first edge section of between sixty and one hundred and twenty degrees and the fourth edge section forming an angle with respect to the first edge section of between sixty and one hundred and twenty degrees, wherein, the assembly further includes at least third and fourth display screens positioned substantially parallel to the third and fourth edge sections, respectively, so that each of the third and fourth screens face across at least a portion of the top surface of the table top.

61. The assembly of claim 60 wherein the first and second edge sections are parallel and the third and fourth edge sections are parallel and wherein the third edge section forms a ninety degree angle with the first edge section.

62. The assembly of claim 60 wherein the first, second and third display screens are immediately adjacent the first, second and third edge sections.

63. The assembly of claim 51 wherein the table top member includes a third edge section that extends between the first and second edge sections and includes a fourth edge section that extends between the first and second edge sections, the assembly further including at least a third display screen proximate the third edge section.

64. The assembly of claim 63 wherein the third display screen is positioned immediately adjacent the third edge section.

65. The assembly of claim 63 wherein the first and second display screens are immediately adjacent the first and second edge sections, respectively, and the third display screen is spaced from the third edge section.

66. The assembly of claim 65 wherein the third display screen is spaced at least five feet from the third edge section.

67. The assembly of claim 63 further including at least a fourth display screen, the first and second display screens positioned immediately adjacent the first and second edge sections and the third and fourth display screens spaced from the third and fourth edge sections, respectively.

68. The assembly of claim 67 wherein the third and fourth display screens are spaced at least five feet from the third and fourth edge sections, respectively.

69. The assembly of claim 67 wherein the third display screen forms an angle of between sixty and one hundred and twenty degrees with the first display screen and wherein the fourth display screen forms an angle of between sixty and one hundred and twenty degrees with the first display screen.

70. The assembly of claim 67 wherein the third and fourth display screens are larger than the first and second display screens.

71. The assembly of claim 51 wherein the first and second display screens are flat panel display screens.

72. A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising:

a support;

at least one table top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the at least one top member supported by the support with the flat surface substantially horizontal, the at least one top member including at least first and second generally oppositely facing edge sections; and

at least first and second display screens including first and second front surfaces positioned proximate the first and second edge sections, respectively, each of the first and second display screens facing across at least a portion of the top surface of the top member, the first display screen facing in a first direction and the second display screen facing in a second direction wherein the second direction is generally opposite the first direction.

73. The assembly of claim 72 wherein each of the first and second screens includes a lower edge and wherein the lower edges of the first and second screens are adjacent the first and second edge sections.

74. The assembly of claim 73 wherein the lower edges of the first and second screens are immediately adjacent the first and second edge sections.

75. The assembly of claim 72 wherein the at least one top member includes at least first and second top members, the first top member forms the first edge and the second top member forms the second edge and wherein the support supports at least the first top member for movement with respect to the second top member.

76. The assembly of claim 75 wherein the support includes a rail and wherein each of the first and second top members are mounted to the rail for sliding motion along a rail length dimension.

77. A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising:

a support;

at least one table top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the at least one top member supported by the support with the flat surface substantially horizontal, the at least one top member including at least first and second generally oppositely facing edge sections;

at least first and second rail members positioned above and substantially parallel to the table top surface, the at least first and second rail members including distal ends that extend outward past the first and second edge sections of the table top, respectively;

at least first and second display screens mounted for movement along the first and second rail members, respectively, each of the display screens supportable by one of the rail members in a first use position wherein the first and second display screens are at first locations along the first and second rail members and face in substantially opposite directions across the table top, respectively, and at least a second position wherein the first and second display screens are located at second locations along the first and second rail members, respectively.

78. The assembly of claim 77 wherein the first and second rail members form portions of a single rail member.

79. The assembly of claim 77 wherein, when the first and second display screens are in the first positions on the rail members, the first and second display screens are proximate the first and second edge sections of the table top.

80. The assembly of claim 77 wherein, when the first and second display screens are in the first positions on the rail members, the first and second display screens are immediately adjacent the first and second edge sections of the table top.

81. The assembly of claim 80 wherein, when the first and second display screens are in the second positions, the display screens are spaced from the first and second edge sections, respectively.

82. The assembly of claim 81 further including at least a first space defining wall structure spaced from the first edge section of the table top wherein, when the first display screen is in the second position, the first display screen is proximate the first space defining wall structure.

83. The assembly of claim 82 wherein the first space defining wall structure includes a wall surface.

84. The assembly of claim 82 wherein the first space defining wall structure includes an alcove including at least three wall surfaces.

85. The assembly of claim 84 further including additional wall structure that forms a conference space wherein the alcove is formed in a corner of the conference space.

86. The assembly of claim 84 further including additional wall structure that forms a conference space wherein the alcove is formed in a side wall of the conference space.

87. The assembly of claim 82 wherein the first display screen is also mounted to the first rail member for at least partial rotation about a vertical axis and wherein the first display is further positionable in a third position wherein the display faces the first space defining wall structure.

88. A display assembly for use in at least first and second different spaces, the assembly comprising:

at least one wall that at least in part divides first and second spaces, the wall forming an opening;

a flat panel display including a front viewing surface; and

a mount at least in part located within the opening, the mount supporting the flat panel display for movement between at least a first position wherein the front viewing surface is viewable within the first space and a second position wherein the display is viewable within the second space.

89. The assembly of claim 88 wherein the mount includes at least one rail and wherein the display is supported by the at least one rail for sliding motion between the first and second spaces.

90. The assembly of claim 89 wherein the display is supported by the at least one rail for sliding motion between the first and second positions.

91. The assembly of claim 89 wherein the display is supported by a pivot assembly for rotational motion about a pivot axis wherein the pivot assembly is supported by the rail.

92. The assembly of claim 91 wherein the pivot axis is vertical.

93. The assembly of claim 88 wherein the rail is a first rail and the mount further includes a second rail spaced below and substantially parallel to the first rail and wherein the display is supported by the first and second rails for sliding motion between the first and second spaces.

94. The assembly of claim 89 wherein the rail extends from the first space to the second space through the opening.

95. The assembly of claim 88 wherein the mount includes a pivot assembly mounted within the opening and wherein the display is supported by the pivot assembly for rotational motion between the first and second positions.

96. The assembly of claim 95 wherein at least a portion of the display is located within the opening when the display is in the first position and at least a portion of the display is located within the opening when the display is in the second position.

97. The assembly of claim 96 wherein the at least one wall includes oppositely facing first and second wall surfaces and wherein the front viewing surface is substantially parallel to the first and second wall surfaces when the display is in the first and second positions, respectively.

98. The assembly of claim 95 wherein the pivot assembly includes a door assembly including a door surface and wherein the display is mounted to the door surface.

99. A conferencing configuration facilitating variable use of space, the configuration comprising:

a space wall structure including at least a first space wall that forms an opening between first and second spaces and that includes a first space wall surface adjacent the opening;

a flat display panel including a front viewing surface and an oppositely facing rear surface; and

a mount supported by the first space wall surface, the mount supporting the flat panel display for movement between at least a first position wherein the rear surface is proximate the first primary wall surface and the front viewing surface is visible within the first space and a second position wherein the front surface faces and is viewable in the second space.

100. The assembly of claim 99 wherein the mount includes a pivot arm structure and wherein the opening is an egress between the first and second spaces.

101. The assembly of claim 99 further including an alcove wall structure forming an alcove within the at least one opening, the alcove wall structure including at least a first alcove wall that forms a first alcove wall surface having an angle with respect to the first space wall surface.

102. The assembly of claim 99 wherein the mount includes a pivot hinge mounted to the first space wall surface.

103. The assembly of claim 99 wherein the mount includes a support arm assembly.

104. The assembly of claim 101 wherein the first alcove wall surface is substantially perpendicular to the first space wall surface.

105. The assembly of claim 104 wherein the alcove wall structure further includes second and third alcove walls that form second and third alcove wall surfaces, the second alcove wall surface substantially perpendicular to the first alcove wall surface and the third alcove wall surface substantially parallel to and facing the first alcove wall surface.

106. The assembly of claim 105 wherein the first space wall surface is also adjacent the third alcove wall surface.

107. The assembly of claim 106 wherein the mount is a first mount and the assembly further includes at least a second flat panel display including a front viewing surface and an oppositely facing rear surface and a second mount supported by the first space wall surface on a side of the opening opposite the first mount, the second mount supporting the second flat panel display for movement between at least a first position wherein the rear surface is proximate the first space wall surface and the front viewing surface is visible within the primary space and a second position wherein the front viewing surface faces into the alcove.

108. The assembly of claim 107 wherein the first and second displays have width dimensions such that the first and second displays substantially form a barrier between the space and the alcove when the displays are in the second positions.

109. The assembly of claim 105 wherein the alcove wall structure further includes a fourth alcove wall that forms a fourth alcove wall surface that is substantially perpendicular to the second alcove wall surface, the space wall structure including at least a second space wall that forms a second space wall surface that is substantially perpendicular to the fourth alcove wall surface and that extends away form the second alcove wall surface.

110. The assembly of claim 109 wherein the mount is a first mount and the assembly further includes at least a second flat panel display including a front viewing surface and an oppositely facing rear surface and a second mount supported by the second space wall surface on a side of the opening opposite the first mount, the second mount supporting the second flat panel display for movement between at least a first position wherein the rear surface is proximate the second space wall surface and the front viewing surface is visible within the primary space and a second position wherein the front viewing surface faces into the alcove.

111. The assembly of claim 110 wherein the first and second displays have width dimensions such that the first and second displays substantially form a barrier between the space and the alcove when the displays are in the second positions.

112. The assembly of claim 110 wherein the front viewing surface of the first display at least in part faces the third alcove wall surface when the first display is in the second position and the front viewing surface of the second display at least in part faces the second alcove wall surface when the second display is in the second position.

113. A conferencing configuration facilitating variable use of space, the configuration comprising:

a space wall structure defining a primary space, the space wall structure including at least a first space wall that at least in part forms an opening;

a first alcove wall structure forming a first alcove space within the at least one opening;

at least one rail supported above the primary space, the at least one rail including first and second ends, the first end proximate the first alcove space; and

a first flat panel display including a front viewing surface, the display linked to the rail for movement between a first position within the primary space with the front viewing surface visible within the primary space and a second position wherein the display is proximate and viewable within the first alcove space.

114. The assembly of claim 113 wherein the space wall structure also includes at least a second space wall that at least in part forms a second opening, the assembly further including a second alcove wall structure forming a second alcove space within the second opening, the second end of the rail proximate the second alcove space, the assembly further including a second flat panel display including a front viewing surface, the second display linked to the rail for movement between a first position within the primary space with the front viewing surface visible within the primary space and a second position wherein the display is proximate and viewable within the second alcove space.

115. The assembly of claim 114 wherein the first and second openings are formed in opposite sides of the primary space.

116. The assembly of claim 115 wherein the at least one rail includes a single substantially straight rail member.

117. The assembly of claim 114 wherein first and second space walls are opposite each other and the space wall structure further includes opposed third and fourth space walls that are substantially perpendicular to the first and second space walls, the first and third space walls forming the first opening in a first corner of the primary space and the second and fourth space walls forming the second opening in a second corner of the primary space opposite the first corner.

118. The assembly of claim 117 wherein the at least one rail includes a single substantially straight rail member.

119. The assembly of claim 117 wherein the at least one rail has a non-straight shape.

120. The assembly of claim 117 wherein the at least one rail includes a first rail member that extends along a trajectory parallel to the third space wall to a greater degree than the first rail member extends along a trajectory parallel to the first space wall and includes second and third rail members that extend from opposite ends of the first rail member and generally toward the first and second alcove spaces, respectively, the second rail member extending along a trajectory parallel to the first space wall to a greater degree than the second rail member extends along a trajectory parallel to the third space wall and the third rail member extending along a trajectory parallel to the second space wall to a greater degree than the second rail member extends along a trajectory parallel to the third space wall.

121. The assembly of claim 120 wherein the first rail member is substantially parallel to the third space wall and the second and third rail members are substantially parallel to the first and second space walls, respectively.