Conference center

• US 5,318,340 A
• Filed: 10/25/1993
• Issued: 06/07/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yorkshire Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Yorkshire Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Henry, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/143,371
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 297/344.21, 297/344.23, 297/344.1, 297/248, 297/232, 297/217, 297/452.35, 297/344, 297/194, 297/244, 297/240, 297/460, 5/109
• US Class Current: 297/232
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/00 Other seating furniture school forms A47B39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/18 Chairs or stools with rotatable seat adjustable in height by rotation A47C3/24

Abstract

A conference center is provided which includes a circular or polygonal arrangement of seating elements having a center. Each seating element faces outward from the center, and a device is provided for rotating the arrangement about a vertical axis through its center. This conference center provides a setting for group meetings which eliminates many of the distractions involved in face-to-face meetings.

Claims

1. A conference center comprising:

a) a plurality of seating elements arranged about a vertical central axis, each seating element facing outward with respect to said central axis;

b) an audio system comprising a microphone and a speaker associated with each of said seating elements, each microphone communicating with said speakers in the other seating elements;

c) a rotatable support structure on which said seating elements are mounted, said support structure being rotatable about said axis; and

d) a motor operatively connected to said support structure for rotating said support structure about said axis.

2. The conference center of claim 1 wherein the audio system further comprises a means for identifying a person seated in each seating element.

3. A conference center of claim 1 having at least 5 seating elements.

4. The conference center of claim 1 wherein said seating elements are arranged in a circular arrangement.

5. The conference center of claim 1 wherein said seating elements are arranged in a polygonal arrangement.

6. The conference center of claim 1 wherein each said seating element includes a means for voting disposed on a surface of each said seating element.

7. The conference center of claim 6 wherein each said seating element has an armrest, and each said means for voting is disposed in each said armrest.

8. The conference center of claim 1 in which each seating element comprises a seat having a back and a headrest, and a wing extending outwardly from said back between each adjacent seating element.

9. The conference center of claim 8 wherein a said speaker is disposed in each of said headrests and a said microphone is disposed in one wing of each seating element.

10. The conference center of claim 8 further comprising a recording apparatus connected to said audio system for recording a meeting held in the conference center.