Multi-adjustable, multi-functional, space saving workplace system

• US 4,986,194 A
• Filed: 01/30/1989
• Issued: 01/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clifford J. Bollman
• Original Assignee: Clifford J. Bollman
• Inventors: Bollman, Clifford J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US07/304,879
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 108/111, 108/60, 108/64, 108/65, 108/66, 108/50, 108/153, 108/59, 211/184, 312/196, 312/194, 312/279, 312/233, 312/20 B, 312/132 R
• US Class Current: 108/60
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/02 with vertically-adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/003 Table combination having a central power access component
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0002 Corner desk
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0071 Booth like
• 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: F16B 12/32 using clamps, clips, wedges, sliding bolts, or the like

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to a multi-adjustable, multi-functional, space saving workplace system. The subject workplace system comprises a substantially horizontal table member including a first slot located within the top horizontal surface at the rearward portion of the table member. The plan view of the table member is substantially V-shaped. The portion of the table member forward of the slot forms a work surface for conducting workplace operations. The table member is supported in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the vertical axis of the workplace system.

A substantially horizontally-disposed covering member is located above the first slot and is disposed substantially parallel to the table member. The covering member provides acoustical integrity for workers located within the confines of the workplace system. It includes second slot located in the bottom horizontal surface at the rearward portion of the covering member.

Claims

1. An adjustable, multi-functional, space-saving workplace system, which comprises:

a substantially horizontal table member having respective forward and rearward portions, and defining a work surface for conducting workplace operations in said forward portion, the plan configuration of said horizontal table member being substantially V-shaped;

a substantially horizontal covering member having respective forward and rearward portions, located above and disposed substantially parallel to the top horizontal surface of said table member;

means for supporting said respective table member and covering member in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the vertical axis of the workplace system,

means located within and across the length of said rearward portion of a top horizontal surface of said table member defining a first slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching in place therewithin at least one accessory means;

means located within and across the length of said rearward portion of the bottom horizontal surface of said cover member defining a second slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching in place therewith at least one accessory means;

means defining an acoustically-controlled workplace compartment comprising the respective table and covering members together with the respective table and covering support members, said workplace compartment means providing a workplace which substantially surrounds a person working therewithin so as to effectively acoustically and aesthetically separate said person from the surrounding environment.

2. The workplace system of claim 1, wherein the table member is horizontally supported by attachment to the table member support means only at its respective ends, and said system further including means defining a recessed area located between a rearward V-shaped portion of the table member and the table member support means respectively, the recessed area means being capable of forming a storage area below the top of the table member.

3. The workplace system of claim 2, which further includes receptacle means disposed within the recessed area for storing materials therewithin disposed below the top horizontal surface of the table member.

4. The workplace system of claim 3, wherein the receptacle means includes a top cover which, in an open position, allows removal of materials located therewith and which, in a closed position, forms a further solid top for the table member.

5. The workplace system of claim 1, wherein the V-shaped table member comprises a pair of rectangular-shaped leg members joined at right angles one to the other.

6. The workplace system of claim 5, wherein the V-shaped table member includes a triangularly-shaped work surface section connected to the table member at an apex of a forward V-shaped portion formed by the pair of leg members.

7. The workplace system of claim 1, which further includes stanchion means for supporting a plurality of accessory means connected thereto within the first and second slot means, respectively, in a substantially vertical position with respect to the vertical axis of the workplace system.

8. The workplace system of claim 1, wherein the respective first and second slot means are substantially V-shaped.

9. The workplace system of claim 1, wherein the respective first and second slot means are substantially V-shaped with respect to the plan configuration of said respectively V-shaped table and covering members.

10. The workplace system of claim 1, wherein the respective table and covering members are supported by a same substantially vertically-extending support means.

11. The workplace system of claim 10, wherein the vertically-extending support means comprises vertically-extending panel means attached to the respective table and covering members.

12. The workplace system of claim 1 which further includes an overhead utility service supply system extending through the horizontal cover means into said workplace system for providing utility service for use within said workplace system.

13. The workplace system of claim 1, wherein said horizontal table member is disposed for adjustable upward and downward movement to a plurality of horizontal positions with respect to the vertical axis of said workplace system.

14. A multi-compartment, adjustable, multi-functional, space-saving workplace system, which comprises:

a plurality of single-compartment, multi-functional, space-saving workplace systems joined one to the other,

each respective single-compartment workplace system comprising a substantially horizontal table member, the plan configuration of said horizontal table member being substantially V-shaped;

means within said table member defining a first slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching at least one accessory means in place therewithin, said first slot means located across the length of a top horizontal surface of said table member and at a rearward portion thereof;

a work surface for conducting workplace operations formed in a portion of said table member forward of said first slot means;

means connected to said table member for supporting the table member in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the vertical axis of the workplace system,

a substantially horizontally-disposed covering member located above the first slot means and disposed substantially parallel to the top horizontal surface of said table member;

means within said table member defining a second slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching at least one accessory means in place therewithin, said second slot means located across the length of a bottom horizontal surface of said covering member and at a rearward portion thereof,

means connected to said covering member for supporting the covering member in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the vertical axis of the workplace system, and

means defining an acoustically-controlled workplace compartment formed by the respective table and covering members together with the respective table and covering support members, said workplace compartment means providing a workplace which substantially surrounds a person working therewithin so as to effectively acoustically and aesthetically separate said person from the surrounding environment.

15. A two-compartment, adjustable multi-functional, space-saving workplace system, which comprises:

a pair of single-compartment, multi-functional, space-saving workplace systems joined on to the other,

each respective single-compartment workplace system comprising a substantially horizontal table member, the plan configuration of said horizontal table member being substantially V-shaped;

means within said table member defining a first slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching at least one accessory means in place therewith, said first slot means located across the length of a top horizontal surface of said table member and at a reward portion thereof;

a work surface formed in a portion of said table member forward of said first slot means;

means connected to said table member for supporting the table member in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the vertical axis of the workplace system,

a substantially horizontally-disposed covering member located above the first slot means and disposed substantially parallel to the top horizontal surface of said table member;

means within said table member defining a second slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching at least one accessory means in place therewithin, said second slot means located across the length of a bottom horizontal surface of said covering member and at a rearward portion thereof, and

means defining an acoustically-controlled workplace compartment formed by the respective table and covering members together with the respective table and covering support means, said workplace compartment means providing a workplace which substantially surrounds a person working therewithin so as to effectively acoustically and aesthetically separate said person from the surrounding environment.

16. A four-compartment adjustable, multi-functional, space-saving workplace system, which comprises:

four single-compartment, multi-functional, space-saving workplace systems joined one to the other,

each respective single-compartment workplace system comprising a substantially horizontal table member, the plan configuration of said horizontal table member being substantially V-shaped;

means within said table member defining a first slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching at least one accessory means in place therewithin, said first slot means located across the length of a top horizontal surface of said table member and at a rearward portion thereof, a work surface formed in a portion of said table member forward of said first slot means;

means connected to said table member for supporting the table member in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the vertical axis of the workplace system,

a substantially horizontally-disposed covering member located above the first slot means and disposed substantially parallel to the top horizontal surface of said table member;

means within said table member defining a second slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching at least one accessory means in place therewithin, said second slot means located across the length of a bottom horizontal surface of said covering member and at a rearward portion thereof, and

means defining an acoustically-controlled workplace compartment formed by the respective table and covering members together with the respective table and covering support members, said workplace compartment means providing a workplace which substantially surrounds a person working therewithin so as to effectively acoustically and aesthetically separate said person from the surrounding environment.

17. A method for producing an acoustically-controlled adjustable, multi-functional, space-saving workplace system, which comprises:

forming a substantially horizontal table member, the plan configuration of said horizontal table member being substantially V-shaped;

providing within said table member means defining a first slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching at least one accessory means in place therewithin, said first slot means located across the length of a top horizontal surface of said table member and at a rearward portion thereof;

forming a work surface for conducting workplace operations in a portion of said table member forward of said first slot means;

supporting the table member in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the vertical axis of the workplace system,

forming a substantially horizontally-disposed covering member located above, and disposed substantially parallel to, the top horizontal surface of said table member;

providing within said table member means defining a second slot for receiving and interlockingly attaching at least one accessory means in place therewithin, said second slot means located across the length of a bottom horizontal surface of said covering member and at a rearward portion thereof,

supporting the covering means in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the vertical axis of the workplace system, and

forming means defining an acoustically-controlled workplace compartment comprising the respective table and covering members together with the respective table and covering support members, said workplace compartment means providing a workplace which substantially surrounds a person working therewithin so as to effectively acoustically and aesthetically separate said person from the surrounding environment.

18. The method of claim 17, which further includes the steps of supporting the table member in a substantially horizontal position by attachment to the table member support means only at its respective ends, and forming means defining a recessed area between the rearward V-shaped portion of the table member and the table member support means, respectively, the recessed area means being capable of forming a storage area below the top of the table member.

19. The method of claim 18, which further includes the step of providing a receptacle means within the recessed area disposed below the top horizontal surface of the table member for storing materials therewithin.

20. The method of claim 18, which further includes the step of providing stanchion means for supporting a plurality of accessory means connected thereto within the first and second slot means, respectively, in a substantially vertical position with respect, to the vertical axis of the workplace system.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the respective first and second slot means, and the plan configuration of the covering member, are substantially V-shaped.

22. The method of claim 17, which further includes the step of supporting the respective table and covering members by a same substantially vertically-extending support means.

23. The method of claim 17, which further includes the step of attaching vertically-extending panel means to said respective table and covering members all of which together define an acoustically-controlled work enclosure capable of substantially preventing sound from entering into, or emanating from, the confines of the workplace system.