Dynamic workspace module

• US 5,651,219 A
• Filed: 05/25/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Baloga, Mark A., Siebert, Paul B., Luzenske, David J., La Lone, Marvin, Chambers, Brian B., Eriksson, Steven W., Tingley, Michael E., Draudt, Gregg R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US08/450,525
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 52/32, 52/36.1, 52/239, 52/242, 52/243.1, 52/72, 52/27.5, 49/40, 49/41, 49/13
• US Class Current: 52/32
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• 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: E04B 1/2403 Connection details of the elongated load-supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2406 Connection nodes
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/1272 Exhibition stands

Abstract

A dynamic workspace module is provided for open plan spaces, and the like, and includes a compact footprint, comprising a freestanding framework supporting a three-sided partition to form an interior workspace and a portal opening for user ingress and egress. A door partition shaped to selectively close the portal opening is movably mounted on the framework. The door partition preferably has an arcuate plan shape, and is positioned adjacent one side of the portal opening, such that shifting the door partition from the fully open position to the fully closed position both increases the amount of the interior space in the workspace module, and alters the plan shape thereof for improved freedom of user movement, while alleviating any sense of user claustrophobia.

Claims

1. An office arrangement for open plan spaces and the like of the type having a building floor with a predetermined floor area defined by a set perimeter, comprising:

a plurality of portable workspace modules adapted for positioning in a freestanding fashion on the building floor;

each of said workspace modules having an open bottom partition with a plan footprint that is substantially identical with the plan footprint of like ones of said workspace modules, and defines a private workspace configured to support a user therein, and includes an enlarged portal opening sized to permit unobstructed user ingress and egress therethrough, and an associated movable door partition with an outwardly protruding top plan configuration oriented to increase the size of the associated private workspace when said door partition is closed by capturing a portion of the floor area immediately outside of said portal opening;

said workspace modules being positioned in a generally side-by-side fashion along the perimeter of the floor area, and oriented with each said portal opening facing inwardly toward a central portion of the floor area to define a common workspace, whereby when said door partitions are shifted fully opened, that portion of the building floor occupied by said common workspace is maximized for collaborative co-worker activities, and when said door partitions are shifted fully closed, that portion of the building floor occupied by all said private space is maximized for individual worker activities.

2. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said portal opening of each of said workspace modules extends across a major portion of a front side of the associated workspace module, such that when the associated door partition is in the fully open position, the private workspace of the associated workspace module becomes annexed to the common workspace.

3. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said door partition of each of said workspace modules is moveably suspended in a cantilevered fashion from the associated workspace module, such that when the associated door partition is in the fully open position, the associated portal opening is without lintel or threshold, whereby the private workspace of the associated workspace module flows directly and homogeneously into the common workspace.

4. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said door partition associated with at least one of said workspace modules has an arcuate plan configuration.

5. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said door partition associated with at least one of said workspace modules is positioned to alter the shape of the associated private workspace when said door partition is closed.

6. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

at least one of said workspace modules includes a freestanding framework adapted to be abuttingly supported on the building floor.

7. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said one workspace module includes a sidewall partition arrangement supported on said framework, and defining a three-sided workspace.

8. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said workspace associated with said one workspace module has a preselected amount of interior space sufficient to support at least one user therein.

9. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

at least one of said workspace modules includes means associated with an exterior portion of the associated door partition for visually indicating in selected increments the relative location of said door partition between fully open position and fully closed positions to facilitate achieving a better balance between worker privacy and work interaction.

10. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said framework is sufficiently rigid to permit said workspace module to be bodily transported in a fully assembled condition between different project sites.

11. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said framework includes a rigid, overhead frame, and at least three vertical columns connected with and supporting said overhead frame above the floor surface at a predetermined elevation generally above average user height.

12. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said vertical columns are mutually spaced apart in a preselected triangular plan relationship, with the associated portal opening being disposed inbetween two of said vertical columns.

13. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said overhead frame and said vertical columns are detachably interconnected to facilitate quickly and easily assembling and disassembling said workspace module at different locations.

14. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said overhead frame and said vertical columns include means for routing wires therealong to equip said one workspace module with power and signal.

15. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 14, including:

an overhead support positioned in the central portion of the floor area at a predetermined elevation above average user height;

a plurality of panels, each being constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user, and including means for detachably connecting the same with said overhead support in a manner in which each of said panels hangs downwardly from said overhead support in a generally vertical orientation, and is readily and easily removable therefrom by the user; and

hanger means associated with said overhead support, and cooperating with the detachable connecting means of said panels to permit each of said panels to be individually and detachably hung at various locations along said overhead support.

16. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said overhead support is configured to permit said panels to be removably hung therefrom and reconfigurable between at least a first arrangement wherein said panels contribute to defining a meeting workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate at least one adult user therein for selected activities, and a second arrangement wherein at least some of said panels are removed from said overhead support and stored to permit free movement through the common workspace.

17. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said overhead support is configured to permit said panels to be removably hung therefrom and reconfigurable between at least a first arrangement wherein said panels define a group meeting workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate a plurality of adult users therein for communal communications and actions, and a second arrangement wherein said panels subdivide the group meeting workspace into at least two, sub-group meeting workspaces which are at least spatially and visually distinct from one another, and are sufficiently large to accommodate at least one adult user therein for breakout-type communications and actions.

18. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said door partition associated with at least one of said workspace modules is positioned to alter the shape of the associated private workspace when said door partition is closed.

19. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

at least one of said workspace modules includes a freestanding framework adapted to be abuttingly supported on the building floor.

20. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

at least one of said workspace modules includes a sidewall partition arrangement defining a three-sided workspace.

21. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

at least one of said workspace modules includes means associated with an exterior portion of the associated door partition for visually indicating in selected increments the relative location of said door partition between fully open position and fully closed positions to facilitate achieving a better balance between worker privacy and worker interaction.

22. An office arrangement for open plan spaces and the like of the type having a building floor with a predetermined floor area defined by a set perimeter, comprising:

a plurality of portable workspace modules adapted for positioning in a freestanding fashion on the building floor;

each of said workspace modules having a substantially identical footprint defining a private workspace, and including a portal opening, and an associated movable door partition;

said workspace module being positioned in a generally side-by-side fashion along the perimeter of the floor area, and oriented with each said portal opening facing inwardly toward a central portion of the floor area to define a common workspace; and

means for shifting the door partitions of said workspace modules, whereby when said door partitions are fully opened the amount of said common workspace is maximized for collaborative coworker activities, and when said door partitions are fully closed the cumulative amount of said private space is maximized for individual worker activities;

an overhead support with means for positioning the same in the common workspace at a predetermined elevation above average user height;

a plurality of panels, each being constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user, and including means for detachably connecting the same with said overhead support in a manner in which each of said panels hangs downwardly from said overhead support in a generally vertical orientation, and is readily and easily removable therefrom by the user; and

hanger means associated with said overhead support, and cooperating with the detachable connecting means of said panels to permit each of said panels to be individually and detachably hung at various locations along said overhead support.

23. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 22, wherein:

said door partitions have an arcuate plan configuration.

24. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 23, wherein:

said overhead support is configured to permit said panels to be removably hung therefrom and reconfigurable between at least a first arrangement wherein said panels contribute to defining a meeting workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate at least one adult user therein for selected activities, and a second arrangement wherein at least some of said panels are removed from said overhead support and stored to permit free movement through the common workspace.

25. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

said overhead support is configured to permit said panels to be removably hung therefrom and reconfigurable between at least a first arrangement wherein said panels define a group meeting workspace portion of the floor surface which is at least spatially and visually distinct from the rest of the floor surface, and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate a plurality of adult users therein for communal communications and actions, and a second arrangement wherein said panels subdivide the group meeting workspace into at least two, sub-group meeting workspaces which are at least spatially and visually distinct from one another, and are sufficiently large to accommodate at least one adult user therein for breakout-type communications and actions.

26. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

at least one of said panels includes means for visually dividing one portion of the floor area from another portion thereof.

27. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

at least one of said panels has an acoustic construction to attenuate sound transmission into and out of the common workspace.

28. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 27, wherein:

at least one of said panels has means for displaying information thereon.

29. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 28, wherein:

said overhead support includes a rigid framework supported freestanding on the building floor by a plurality of columns.

30. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 29, wherein:

said columns and said framework include means for routing wires therealong to equip said furniture system with power and signal.

31. An office arrangement as set forth in claim 30, including:

a mobile cart having a ground engaging support with means for permitting manual translation of said cart over the building floor, and hanger means cooperating with the detachable connecting means of said panels to detachably support at least one of said panels on said mobile cart in a hanging fashion, and thereby facilitate the configuration and reconfiguration of said panels.

32. A furniture system as set forth in claim 31, wherein:

said mobile cart comprises at least one inclined surface, which is adapted to support said one panel thereagainst, and includes means for displaying information thereon which is functional at least when said one panel is removed from said mobile cart.

33. A workspace module for open office plan spaces and the like of the type having a floor surface, comprising:

a partition having three closed sides defining a workspace shaped to support at least a single user therein, and an open side defining a portal opening shaped to permit user ingress and egress therethrough;

said partition being configured to be positioned freestanding on the floor surface, and oriented with said portal opening facing inwardly toward a central portion of the floor surface to define a common workspace;

a door partition configured to selectively close said portal opening, and being movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position;

said door partition being mounted on said partition, and being supported thereon above the floor surface without threshold and/or lintel, whereby when said door partition is shifted into the fully closed position, said workspace is physically separated from said common workspace to maximize worker privacy, and when said door partition is shifted into the fully open position, said workspace opens directly into and becomes a fully contiguous and homogenous part of the common workspace to maximize worker collaboration.

34. A workspace module as set forth in claim 33, wherein:

said door partition has an arcuate plan configuration.

35. A workspace module as set forth in claim 33, wherein:

said door partition is positioned to alter the shape of the workspace when said door partition is closed.

36. A workspace module as set forth in claim 33, wherein:

said door partition includes indicia associated with an exterior portion thereof for visually indicating in selected increments the relative location of said door partition between fully open position and fully closed position to facilitate achieving a better balance between worker privacy and worker interaction.