Table with article-supportive surround

• US 5,908,002 A
• Filed: 06/06/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Corpuz, Roque Matias Jr., Alexander, Brian D. T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/870,954
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 108/27, 108/60, 108/61, 108/50.11, 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/92, 211/55, 211/128.1
• US Class Current: 108/50.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/033 with parts added to the original furniture to enlarge its surface

Abstract

A table for use in an office-type environment includes a height-adjustable work surface and an article-supportive surround which extends upwardly from a rear edge of the work surface. The work surface is horizontally enlarged and slopes upwardly away from the front edge thereof to facilitate the storage and organization of documents. Also, the article-supportive surround is formed from three vertically adjacent but horizontally offset shelves which provide additional area for the storage of documents in a readily viewable upright position.

Claims

1. A work station comprising:

a support frame;

a horizontally enlarged work surface supported by said support frame; and

an article-supportive surround which projects vertically upwardly from and extends laterally along a rear edge of said work surface, said surround comprising a plurality of shelves which are vertically joined together one above the other, each said shelf being horizontally offset rearwardly relative to an adjacent said shelf in an ascending direction such that said plurality of shelves are vertically staggered, each of said shelves comprising an upward facing bottom wall which extends sidewardly along the length of said surround and a back wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, an upper one of said shelves having said bottom wall thereof being connected to an upper section of said back wall of a lower one of said shelves.

2. A work station according to claim 1, wherein said work surface is inclined upwardly away from a front edge thereof toward said rear edge thereof.

3. A work station according to claim 2, wherein said front and rear edges of said work surface are arcuate so as to define a curved shape for said work surface.

4. A work station according to claim 1, wherein said surround comprises an upwardly extending frame which defines a shape thereof and a mesh-like screen which overlies said frame to define respective surfaces of said back walls of said plurality of shelves.

5. A work station according to claim 4, wherein said screen defines openings therein which permit the passage of air and light therethrough.

6. A work station according to claim 4, wherein each said bottom wall defines an upward opening trough-like channel for receiving articles therein.

7. A work station according to claim 4, wherein said open frame comprises a plurality of upwardly extending support members which are disposed in cantilevered relation with said work surface and project upwardly therefrom, said open frame further including a plurality of horizontal support members which extend sidewardly between said upright support members and are vertically spaced apart, said frame being open in the areas between said upright support members and said horizontal support members, said screen extending horizontally and vertically across said open areas to define said surfaces of said shelves.

16. A work station according to claim 1, wherein the back wall of at least one of said shelves is defined by a mesh-like screen having openings therethrough which permits passage of air and light therethrough.

17. A work station according to claim 16, wherein a said bottom wall defines an upwardly opening trough-like channel for receiving articles therein.

8. A work station comprising:

a support frame;

a horizontally enlarged work surface supported on said support frame; and

an article-supportive surround which extends upwardly from said work surface, said surround comprising a plurality of horizontally elongate shelves which are vertically joined together, said surround including an open frame defined by upright support members projecting upwardly from said work surface and horizontal support members which are vertically spaced apart and connected to said upright support members so as to define openings therebetween, said frame further comprising a mesh-like screen which is vertically and horizontally enlarged and overlies said open frame to define upward and forward facing surfaces of said plurality of shelves.

9. A work station according to claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of shelves comprises an upward facing bottom wall and a forward facing upright wall which are defined by said screen.

10. A work station according to claim 9, wherein said bottom wall of an upper one of said plurality of shelves is connected to an upper end of said upright wall of a lower one of said plurality of shelves such that said upper shelf extends upwardly above said lower shelf.

11. A work station according to claim 10, wherein said bottom wall of said upper shelf extends rearwardly away from said upright wall of said lower shelf such that said plurality of shelves are vertically staggered away from said work surface.

12. A work station according to claim 11, wherein said screen-has closely spaced openings therethrough.

13. A work station according to claim 9, wherein each one of said horizontal support members is spaced both horizontally and vertically away from an adjacent one of said horizontal support members, each adjacent pair of said horizontal support members defining opposite side edges of one of said bottom walls and said upright walls of said plurality of shelves.

14. A work station according to claim 13, wherein said is flexible and screen is woven through said horizontal support members such that each one of said adjacent pairs of said horizontal support members has a section of said screen extending therebetween, each of said sections defining a support surface for one of said bottom wall and said upright wall.

15. A work station according to claim 14, wherein said screen has closely, spaced openings therethrough.

18. An article supportive surround comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of shelves disposed on said frame and being vertically joined together one above the other and horizontally offset rearwardly relative to each other such that said plurality of shelves are vertically staggered, each of said shelves including an upwardly facing bottom wall which extends sidewardly along the length of said surround and a back wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, an upper one of said shelves having said bottom wall thereof connected to an upper section of said back wall of a lower one of said shelves;

said frame including a mounting arrangement adapted for mounting said surround so as to project upwardly from a rear edge of a horizontally enlarged work surface; and

said back wall of at least one of said shelves being defined by a mesh-like screen having openings therethrough.

19. The article supportive surround according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said bottom walls is defined by an upwardly opening trough-like channel for receiving articles therein.

20. The article supportive surround according to claim 18, wherein said back wall of all of said shelves is defined by a mesh-like screen having openings therethrough.