Frame Type Table Assemblies

• US 20160058185A1
• Filed: 11/06/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Kirt, Eberlein, David C.
• Application Number:
  US14/934,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20160058185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/021 Fastening devices of the feet or legs A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/08 Table tops; Rims therefor not restricted to table tops A47B95/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/081 Movable, extending, sliding table tops
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0016 Trestles or trestle tables
• 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

Abstract

A table assembly comprising at least a first leg member that forms a leg opening and a first support surface and a rigid elongated channel member that forms a channel that extends between first and second ends, at least the first end forming a wire passing opening suitable to pass wires into and out of the channel, the first end supportable by the first support surface in at least first and second different locations, wherein, when the channel is supported by the support surface at either of the first and second different positions, the wire passing opening is aligned with the leg opening so that wires can pass through the leg opening and into the channel.

Claims

1. A screen assembly to be used with a table assembly wherein the table assembly includes a channel member having a top surface forming an upwardly open elongated opening having an opening width dimension, the screen assembly comprising:

at least a first block member including a body member having oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces and oppositely facing first and second side surfaces, the body portion forming a first slot in an upper surface, the first and second oppositely facing side surfaces defining a body width dimension that is less than the opening width dimension, the block member further including first and second flanges that extend laterally from the first and second side surfaces of the body at locations spaced from the bottom surface so that when a portion of the body member adjacent the bottom surface is received in the elongated opening, undersurfaces of the flanges rest on a top surface of the channel; and

a privacy screen including a rigid member forming an edge wherein the edge is dimensioned to be received within the first slot to form an interference fit with the first block member.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein top surfaces of the flanges are flush with the top surface of the block member and the top surface of the block member is flat.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the screen assembly is further usable separate from the table assembly with a supporting surface and wherein the bottom surface of the body member forms a second slot, the block member may be inverted so that the top surface rests on the supporting surface with the second slot opening upward and the screen may be mounted in the second slot to support the screen in an upright position.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the second slot member is perpendicular to the first slot.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further including a second block member having characteristics similar to the characteristics of the first block member, the second block member positionable within the channel opening with the first slots of the first and second block members aligned and the screen edge received within each of the aligned slots.

6. A support to be used to support a privacy screen in an upright position wherein the screen includes a rigid substantially flat member that forms an edge, the support comprising:

a block member including top and bottom oppositely facing surfaces and first and second oppositely facing side surfaces, the block member forming a first slot in the top surface that is substantially parallel to the first and second side surfaces and the bottom surface forming a second slot that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second side surfaces wherein the each of the first and second slots has a width dimension such that when the edge of the screen is received therein, the edge forms an interference fit with the slot; and

flanges which extend in opposite directions from each of the first and second side surfaces of the block member;

wherein the block member may be used in either of first and second positions to support the screen including a first position with the top surface resting on a support surface and the screen edge received in the second slot and a second position with the flanges resting on edges of a channel member and the screen edge received in the first slot.

7. The support of claim 6, wherein an under surface of the block member forms first and second ramps, each of the ramps extending from a front surface of the support block toward a central portion of the support block such that the support block is thicker near the central portion than adjacent front surface.

8. The support of claim 6, wherein the top surface slot is formed in a top surface of the support block midway between and parallel to the first and second lateral surfaces.

9. The support of claim 6, wherein the top surface slot extends approximately two-thirds of the way through the support block.

10. The support of claim 6, wherein the bottom slot extends through the under surface of body member about two-thirds of the way to the top surface of the support block.

11. The support of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable ribs formed in a lower end of each of the lateral surfaces.

12. The support of claim 6, wherein at least one of the top surface slot and the bottom surface slot is wedge shaped.

13. The support of claim 6, wherein at least one of the top surface slot and the bottom surface slot is stepped.

14. A two person workstation configuration comprising:

a first leg assembly;

a second leg assembly;

a channel assembly extending between the first and second leg assemblies, the channel assembly forming an upward opening along a length of the channel;

a first work surface coupled to each of the first and second leg assemblies and extending from a first side of the channel assembly;

a second work surface coupled to each of the first and second leg assemblies and extending from the side of the channel assembly opposite the first side;

a support block received in the channel assembly, the support block including at least one slot; and

a screen member received in the slot in the support block, wherein the screen is supported in an upright position between the first and second work surfaces.

15. The two person workstation of claim 14, wherein the support block comprises parallel front and rear surfaces and parallel first and second lateral surfaces forming a substantially rectilinear shape that define a top surface, and first and second flanges extending laterally from the first and second lateral surfaces, respectively.

16. The two person workstation of claim 14, wherein an under surface of the support block forms first and second ramps, each of the ramps extending from a front surface of the support block toward a central portion of the support block such that the support block thicker near the central portion than adjacent front surface.

17. The two person workstation of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable ribs formed in a lower portion of the support block, and wherein the plurality of ribs form a friction fit between the support block and the opening in the channel assembly.

18. The two person workstation of claim 17, wherein the ribs are sized and dimensioned to contact the facing surfaces of the channel to substantially limit side-to-side movement of the support block.

19. The two person workstation of claim 14, further comprising a screen accessory adapted to be received on the screen member the screen accessory including first and second rigid rectilinear members coupled to a hinge along a top edge, the first and second rectilinear members each comprising at least one of a tack surface material and a white board material.

20. The two person workstation of claim 19, wherein the screen accessory comprises at least one first and second magnet corresponding to the first and second rectilinear members.