WORKSTATION

• US 20100126394A1
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
• Original Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
• Inventors: Pennington, Mark Rundle, Bisman, Christopher Warren, Burak, Edward John, Footitt, Ian Colin, Wilkinson, Paul Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,402,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/186
• 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 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A workstation system (1) comprising with a plurality of desktops e.g. (3a), each desktop (3a) comprising a primary work area (33) and at least one recessed portion e.g. (34b) providing an auxiliary work area e.g. (36b). The recessed portions (34b) of adjacent desktops (3a-3d) can be arranged to provide an interactive work area (6a-6d) for multiple people.

Claims

1. A workstation adapted for use in combination with a corresponding workstation, the workstation comprising a desktop with a front edge, and at least one support adapted to support the desktop at a vertical distance above the ground, wherein the shape of the desktop is profiled along the front edge to comprise a first protruding surface providing a primary work area on the desktop, a first recessed portion adjacent a first lateral side of the protruding surface and a second recessed portion adjacent a second lateral side of the protruding surface,

wherein each recessed portion is adapted to be arranged adjacent a corresponding recessed portion of a corresponding workstation, such that when arranged adjacent the recessed portion of the workstation and the corresponding recessed portion of the corresponding workstation provide an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people,

and wherein the or each support is disposed to provide free space under the primary work area and the recessed portions to accommodate a user'"'"'s legs under the primary work area and the recessed portions without impediment from the support(s), and to enable a user to readily move between the recessed portions with their legs under the desktop without impediment from the support(s).

2. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein the at least one support is adapted to provide at least some support for one or more further workstations.

3. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein the each recessed portion is adapted to be arranged adjacent a corresponding recessed portion in a side-by-side relationship forming a combined recessed area to provide the interactive work area,

4. A workstation according to claim 3 wherein the at least one support is disposed to provide a space to accommodate a user'"'"'s legs under the area where a recessed portion abuts a corresponding recessed portion when arranged adjacent a corresponding recessed portion.

5. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein each recessed portion is adapted to be arranged adjacent a corresponding recessed portion in an opposing relationship to provide the interactive work area.

6. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein the desktop comprises:

a side edge adjacent each recessed portion,

a working edge corresponding to each recessed portion forming a section of the front edge, and

a back edge comprising at least one substantially straight section,

wherein the desktop comprises an auxiliary work surface adjacent each recessed portion bounded by the respective side edge and corresponding working edge and a least a portion of the back edge,

wherein each recessed portion is adapted to be arranged adjacent a corresponding recessed portion in an opposing relationship by arranging at least a portion of the back edge of the desktop in an opposing relationship to at least a portion of a back edge of a desktop of the corresponding recessed portion to provide an interactive work area comprising two recessed portions which are separated by respective auxiliary work surfaces.

7. A workstation according to claim 1 further comprising a work top supported above the desktop in the vicinity of a recessed portion to provide an interactive work surface.

8. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein the protruding surface is profiled as a convex edge forming a section of the front edge of the desktop.

9. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein each recessed portion is profiled as a concave edge forming a section of the front edge of the desktop.

10. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein the support is adapted to adjust the vertical distance of the desktop above the ground.

11. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein the desktop further comprises a back edge comprising two substantially straight sections arranged at an angle of substantially 120 degrees with respect to each other.

12. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein the desktop further comprises a substantially straight back edge.

79. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein the part of each recessed portion that is adapted to be arranged adjacent a corresponding recessed portion of a corresponding workstation, defines the narrowest forward to rearward dimension of the desktop.

80. A workstation according to claim 1 wherein the desktop comprises a side edge adjacent each recessed portion and a substantially straight back edge, wherein the side edges are substantially parallel to one another.

13. A workstation system comprising:

at least two workstations, each workstation comprising a desktop with a front edge and a back edge, the shape of the desktop being profiled along the front edge to comprise a first protruding surface providing a primary work area on the desktop, a first recessed portion adjacent a first lateral side of the protruding surface and a second recessed portion adjacent second lateral side of the protruding surface, and

at least one support adapted to support the desktops at a vertical distance above the ground,

wherein the back edges of the desktops of the two workstations are arranged in an opposing relationship such that the protruding surfaces of the desktops extend in a substantially opposite directions and the recessed portions of one desktop are at least partially aligned with the opposing recessed portions of the other desktop to provide opposing recessed portion pairs,

wherein each recessed portion pair provides an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people in a facing relationship, and

wherein the or each support is disposed to provide free space under the primary work area and the recessed portions of each desktop to accommodate a user'"'"'s legs under the primary work area and the recessed portions of the respective desktop without impediment from the support(s), and to enable a user to readily move between the primary work area and the recessed portions of the respective desktop with their legs under the desktop without impediment from the support(s).

15. A workstation according to claim 13 wherein there is at least partial visibility between each recessed portion of a recessed portion pair.

16. A workstation according to claim 13 wherein between each recessed portion is substantially free of objects that impede interactive work.

17. A workstation system according to claim 13, wherein each desktop comprises:

a side edge adjacent each recessed portion, and

a working edge for each recessed portion forming a section of the front edge,

wherein the desktop also comprises an auxiliary work surface adjacent each recessed portion bounded by the respective side edge and corresponding working edge and a least a portion of the back edge, and

wherein each opposing recessed portion pair provides an interactive work area comprising two recessed portions that are separated by respective auxiliary work surfaces.

18. A workstation system according to claim 13 comprising at least two supports, each support comprising a leg portion and at least two desktop supports wherein each desktop support is independently coupled to the leg portion, and wherein the supports are arranged in a spaced apart relationship and the first and second desktop support of a first support are coupled at a first position of the desktops of the first and second workstations respectively, and the first and second desktop supports of the second support are coupled at second position of the desktops of the first and second workstations respectively, wherein the desktop supports are moveable to independently adjust the vertical distance above the ground of the desktops of the first and second workstations.

19. A workstation system according to claim 13 comprising a third workstation comprising a desktop with a front edge and a back edge, the shape of the desktop being profiled along the front edge to comprise a first protruding surface providing a first work surface on the desktop, a first recessed portion adjacent a first lateral side of the protruding surface and a second recessed portion adjacent second lateral side of the protruding surface,

wherein the desktop of the third work station is arranged such that a first recessed portion is adjacent a corresponding recessed portion of the first desktop, such that the recessed portion of the third desktop and the corresponding recessed portion of the first desktop provide an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people in a side-by-side relationship, and further comprising:

a fourth workstation comprising a desktop with a front edge and a back edge, the shape of the desktop being profiled along the front edge to comprise a first protruding surface providing a first work surface on the desktop, a first recessed portion adjacent a first lateral side of the protruding surface and a second recessed portion adjacent second lateral side of the protruding surface,

wherein the back edge of the desktop of the fourth workstations is arranged in an opposing, relationship with the back edge of the desktop of the third workstation such that the protruding surfaces of the respective desktops extend in a substantially opposite directions and the recessed portions of the desktop of the fourth workstation are at least partially aligned with the opposing recessed portions of the desktop of the third workstation to provide opposing recessed portion pairs, and wherein each recessed portion pair provides an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people in a facing

wherein the desktop of the fourth workstation is arranged such that a first recessed portion is adjacent a corresponding recessed portion of the second workstation, such that the recessed portion of the desktop of the fourth workstation and the corresponding recessed portion of the desktop of the second workstation provide an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people in a side-by-side relationship.

14. A workstation system comprising:

at least two workstations, each workstation comprising a desktop with a front edge and a back edge, the shape of the desktop being profiled along the front edge to comprise a first protruding surface providing a primary work area on the desktop, a first recessed portion adjacent a first lateral side of the protruding surface and having a side edge and a second recessed portion adjacent second lateral side of the protruding surface and having a side edge, and

at least one support adapted to support the desktops at a vertical distance above the ground,

wherein the workstations are arranged such that the side edge of one recessed portion of a first of the workstations is adjacent the side edge of a corresponding recessed portion of a second of the workstations to provide an adjacent recessed portion pair, such that the respective recessed portions provide an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people in a side-by-side relationship, and

wherein the or each support is disposed to provide free space under the primary work area and the recessed portions of each desktop to accommodate a user'"'"'s legs under the primary work area and the recessed portions of the respective desktop without impediment from the support(s), and to enable a user to readily move between the primary work area and the recessed portions of the respective desktop with their legs under the desktop without impediment from the support(s).

29. A workstation system according to claim 14, further comprising a work top supported above the desktops in the vicinity of the interactive work area, and

wherein the plurality of supports are adapted to support the desktops at an adjustable vertical distance above the ground,

wherein the vertical distance above the ground of each desktop can be independently adjusted on the supports and the work top is fixed at a vertical distance above the ground to provide an interactive work top.

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. A workstation system comprising:

at least two workstations, each workstation comprising a desktop with a front edge and a back edge, the shape of the desktop being profiled along the front edge to comprise;

a first protruding surface providing a first work surface on the desktop,

a first lateral extension adjacent a first lateral side of the protruding surface to provide a first auxiliary work area, and

a second lateral extension adjacent a second lateral side of the protruding surface to provide a second auxiliary work area, and

at least one support adapted to support the desktops at a vertical distance above the ground,

wherein the back edge of each desktop comprises at least a first section and a second section that extend at an angle of substantially 120 degrees with respect to each other, and

wherein the first section of the back edge of a first desktop is arranged in an opposing relationship with the second section of the back edge of a second desktop such that the first lateral extension of the first desktop is at least partially aligned with the second lateral extension of the second desktop to provide opposing work area pairs that provide an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people in a facing relationship, the system further comprising a third work station comprising a desktop supported on at least one support and with a front edge and a back edge, the shape of the desktop being profiled along the front edge to comprise;

a first protruding, surface providing a first work surface on the desktop,

a first lateral extension adjacent a first lateral side of the protruding surface to provide a first auxiliary work area, and

a second lateral extension second lateral side of the protruding surface to provide a second auxiliary work area, and

wherein the back edge of each desktop comprise at least a first section and a second section that extend at an angle of substantially 120 degrees with respect to each other,

wherein the first section of the back edge of the third desktop is arranged in a opposing relationship with the second section of the back edge of the first desktop, and the second section of the back edge of the third desktop is arranged in an opposing relation with the first section of the back edge of the second desktop such that the first lateral extension of the third desktop is at least partially aligned with the second lateral extension of the first desktop to provide opposing work area pairs that provide an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people in a facing relationship; and

the second lateral extension of the third desktop is at least partially aligned with the first lateral extension of the second desktop to provide opposing work area pairs that provide an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people in a facing relationship.

23. A workstation according to claim 22 wherein the at least one support is disposed to accommodate a user'"'"'s legs under the first work surface and the interactive area.

24. A workstation according to claim 22 wherein there is at least partial visibility between auxiliary work areas of opposing work area pairs.

25. A workstation according to claim 22 wherein between each recess is substantially free of objects that impede interactive work.

26. A workstation system according to claim 22 wherein for each desktop the portion forming the first lateral extension provides a first auxiliary work surface and the portion forming the second lateral extension provides a second auxiliary work surface wherein each opposing work area pair comprise respective auxiliary work surfaces.

28. A workstation system according to claim 22 comprising at least three supports, each support comprising a leg portion and at least two desktop supports,

wherein each desktop support is independently coupled and moveable relative to the leg portion, and

wherein the supports are arranged in a spaced apart relationship and first and second desktop support of a first support are coupled at a first position of the desktops of the first and second workstations respectively, and first and second desktop supports of the second support are coupled at a second position of the desktops of the first and second workstations respectively, wherein the desktop supports are moveable to independently adjust the vertical distance above the ground of the desktops of the first and second workstations.

27. (canceled)

30-31. -31. (canceled)

32. A workstation system comprising:

at least two workstations, each comprising a desktop,

at least one support adapted to support the desktops at a vertical distance above the ground, each support comprising;

a leg portion with a foot portion adapted to rest on the ground, and

at least two desktop supports, each desktop support coupled to a respective desktop,

wherein each desktop support is independently coupled to the leg portion and is independently moveable relative to the leg portion to adjust the vertical distance above the ground of the respective desktop to which it is coupled.

33. A workstation system according to claim 32 comprising four workstations, each comprising a desktop, and wherein at least one leg support comprises four desktop supports, each desktop support coupled to a respective desktop and independently coupled and moveable relative to the leg portion to adjust the vertical distance above the ground of the desktop to which it is coupled.

34. (canceled)

35. A leg support adapted for use in a workstation system comprising at least two workstations with respective desktops, the leg support adapted to at least partially support at least two desktops and comprising:

a leg portion with a foot portion adapted to rest on the ground, and

at least two desktop supports, each desktop support adapted to coupled to a respective desktop,

wherein each desktop support is independently coupled to the leg portion and is independently moveable relative to the leg portion to adjust the vertical distance above the ground of a respective desktop to which it is coupled.

36. A leg support according to claim 35 wherein each leg support comprises four desktop supports.

37. A leg support according to claim 35 wherein each desktop support comprises:

a body portion with a coupling for attachment to a desktop, and

a threaded rod attached to the body portion,

wherein the threaded rod is threadably engaged in a threaded portion coupled to the leg portion, whereby rotation of the threaded rod moves the body portion and coupling relative to the leg portion.

38. A leg support according to claim 35 wherein the leg portion comprises an adjustment screw threadably engaged in a threaded portion coupled to the leg, and the leg support further comprises:

a foot portion adapted to rest on the ground, the foot portion slidingly engaged with the leg portion and comprising an upper end adapted to abut a first end of the adjustment screw or a block coupled to the adjustment screw,

a spring attached to the leg portion and foot portion to bias the upper end of the foot portion into abutment with the first end of the adjustment screw or a block coupled to the adjustment screw, and

at least one desktop support attached or coupled to the leg support, the desktop support adapted to be coupled to a respective desktop,

wherein rotation of the adjustment screw in a first direction moves the screw through the threaded portion to slide the foot portion relative to the leg portion against the bias of the spring, and wherein rotation of the adjustment screw in a second direction moves the screw through the threaded portion allowing the foot portion to slide relative to the leg portion under bias of the spring.

40. A leg support according to claim 35 wherein the foot portion is an extendable and retractable foot that can be extended from and retracted into the leg portion to provide a leveling adjustment.

41. A leg support according to claim 40 wherein the foot portion comprises an adjustment screw one end of which is engaged in a block slideably engaged with a top surface of a foot via a coupling, wherein rotation of the adjustment screw causes longitudinal movement of the block to retract or extend the foot and wherein the foot slides laterally with respect to the coupling during retraction or extension.

39. (canceled)

42-54. -54. (canceled)

55. A workstation system providing multiple work areas, the system comprising a desktop with a first longitudinal edge and second longitudinal edge, and at least one support that supports the desktop at a vertical distance above the ground,

wherein the shape of the desktop is profiled along the first longitudinal edge to comprise at least a first and second protruding surface providing respective first and second work surfaces on the desktop with respective first and second working edges, and the shape of the desktop is profiled along the second longitudinal edge to comprise at least a third and fourth protruding surface providing respective third and fourth work surfaces with respective third and fourth working edges on the desktop, and

wherein the shape of the desktop is profiled along the first longitudinal edge to comprise at least one recessed portion between the first and second protruding surfaces to provide a first auxiliary work area with an auxiliary working edge that is not colinear with first and second working edges and the shape of the desktop is profiled along the second longitudinal edge to comprise at least one recessed portion between the third and fourth protruding surfaces to provide a second auxiliary work area with an auxiliary working edge that is not colinear with third and fourth working edges,

wherein the first and second auxiliary work areas are positioned to be substantially aligned to provide an interactive work area.

56. A workstation system according to claim 55 comprising one or more further recesses along the first and second longitudinal edges to provide further interactive work areas.

57. A workstation system providing multiple work areas, the system comprising a desktop with a first longitudinal edge and second longitudinal edge, and at least one support that supports the desktop at a vertical distance above the ground,

wherein the shape of the desktop is profiled along the first longitudinal edge to comprise at least a first protruding surface providing a first work surface on the desktop with a first working edge, and the shape of the desktop is profiled along the second longitudinal edge to comprise at least a second protruding surface providing a second work surface with a second working edge on the desktop, and

wherein the shape of the desktop is profiled along the first longitudinal edge to comprise at least two recesses one either side of the first protruding surface to provide respective first and second auxiliary work areas with corresponding auxiliary working edges that are not colinear with first working edge and the shape of the desktop is profiled along the second longitudinal edge to comprise at least two recesses one either side of the second protruding surface to provide third and fourth auxiliary work areas with corresponding auxiliary working edges that are not colinear with second working edge,

wherein the auxiliary work areas on the first longitudinal edge are positioned substantially aligned with corresponding auxiliary work areas on the second longitudinal edge to provide two respective interactive work areas.

58. A workstation system providing multiple work areas, the system comprising a desktop with a first longitudinal edge and second longitudinal edge, and at least one support that supports the desktop at a vertical distance above the ground,

wherein the shape of the desktop is profiled along the first longitudinal edge to comprise at least a first protruding surface providing a first work surface on the desktop with a first working edge and a second protruding surface providing a second work surface on the desktop with a second working edge,

wherein the shape of the desktop is profiled along the first longitudinal edge to comprise at least one recess either side of each of the first and second protruding surfaces to provide interactive work areas.

59-71. -71. (canceled)

72. A workstation system comprising:

at least two workstations, each workstation comprising a desktop with a front edge and a back edge, the shape of the desktop being profiled along the front edge to comprise;

a first protruding surface providing a first work surface on the desktop,

a first lateral extension adjacent a first lateral side of the protruding surface to provide a first auxiliary work area, and

a second lateral extension adjacent a second lateral side of the protruding surface to provide a second auxiliary work area, and

at least one support adapted to support the desktops at a vertical distance above the ground,

wherein the back edge of each desktop comprises at least a first section and a second section that extend at an angle of substantially 120 degrees with respect to each other,

and wherein the first lateral extension of the first desktop is arranged adjacent to the second lateral extension section of the second desktop such that the first lateral extension of the first desktop is at least partially aligned with the second lateral extension of the second desktop to provide adjacent work area pairs that provide an interactive work area adapted to accommodate at least two people in a side-by-side relationship.

73-78. -78. (canceled)