Roller assembly, table assembly, and modesty screen

• US 6,062,147 A
• Filed: 01/11/1999
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
• Original Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
• Inventors: Footitt, Ian, Herriot, Neil Robertson, Stewart, Bob, Keogh, Michael Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/228,321
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 108/60, 108/61, 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 160/262
• US Class Current: 108/60
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/00 Writing-tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/40 Roller blinds usable only as awnings E04F10/06

Abstract

A roller assembly (12) for a screening assembly (10) includes a non-linear axle (30) and a flexible sleeve assembly (32) rotatable about the axle (30). A table assembly (40) includes a table surface (42) which is adjustable in height over a range of height positions and a screen (14) extendable below the table surface (42). The screen (14) is adjustable with the height adjustment of the table surface (42). A modesty screen (10) for a height adjustable table (40) has first and second relatively movable portions (44,46). The modesty screen (10) includes a screen (14) and a retraction unit (16) such that the screen (14) may be retracted and extended. The retracting unit (16) is adapted for attachment to the first portion (44) of the table (40) and the screen (14) is adapted for attachment to the second portion (46) of the table (40).

Claims

1. A roller assembly comprising:

(a) an elongated, rigid axle having a non-linear configuration;

(b) a unitary, tubular, corrugated sleeve having an interior surface bounding a passageway longitudinally extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the axle being at least partially longitudinally disposed within the passageway, the corrugated sleeve having a configuration complementary to the non-linear configuration of the rigid axle, the corrugated sleeve being sufficiently flexible to selectively rotate about the axle while maintaining the configuration complementary to the non-linear configuration of the rigid axle;

(c) a flexible screen mounted to the corrugated sleeve, the screen being configured to selectively wrap around the corrugated sleeve; and

(d) a biasing device mounted to the axle so as to selectively bias the corrugated sleeve into rotating about the axle.

2. The roller assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the biasing device comprises a spring having a first end in connection with the rigid axle and an opposing second end in connection with the corrugated sleeve.

3. The roller assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second end of the spring is coupled to a bush and the bush is connected to the corrugated sleeve.

4. The roller assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible sleeve is corrugated along a substantial portion of its length.

5. The roller assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corrugations are disposed at respective associated positions along the axis of the non-linear axle and each corrugation extends perpendicularly to the axis at the associated position.

6. The roller assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the non-linear axle is curved.

7. The roller assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

(a) the axle having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the axle being disposed within the passageway of the corrugated sleeve;

(b) a first mounting bar having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the axle, the first mounting bar having a first end coupled with the first end of the axle within the passageway of the corrugated sleeve and an opposing second end projecting out of the first end of the corrugated sleeve; and

(c) the biasing device comprising a spring encircling the first mounting bar, the spring having a first end coupled with the first end of the axle and an opposing second end in connection with the corrugated sleeve.

8. The roller assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein the spring comprises a coiled spring.

9. A table assembly comprising:

(a) a table top;

(b) an upper leg assembly mounted to the table top;

(c) a lower leg assembly supporting the upper leg assembly on a floor surface, the upper leg assembly and lower leg assembly being adjustably movable relative to each other so as to enable selective adjustment of the table top relative to the floor; and

(d) a roller assembly including;

(i) an elongated axle mounted to a select one of the table top and upper leg assembly;

(ii) a tubular sleeve having an interior surface bounding a passageway longitudinally extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the axle being at least partially disposed within the passageway, the sleeve being selectively rotatable about the axle;

(iii) a flexible screen having a first end mounted to the sleeve and an opposing second end connected to the lower leg assembly; and

(iv) biasing means for continuously biasing the sleeve into wanting to rotate about the axle such that the flexible screen automatically wraps and unwraps from around the sleeve as the upper leg assembly is selectively lowered and raised relative to the lower leg assembly.

10. A table assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the screen is at least partially wrapped around the sleeve.

11. A table assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring member in connection with the axle and the sleeve.

12. A table assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the spring member comprises a coiled spring disposed within the passageway of the sleeve, the coiled spring having a first end in connection with the axle and an opposing second end in connection with the sleeve.

13. A table assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

(a) the axle having a non-linear configuration; and

(b) the sleeve having a configuration complementary to the non-linear configuration of the rigid axle, the sleeve being sufficiently flexible to selectively rotate about the axle while maintaining the configuration complementary to the non-linear configuration of the rigid axle.

14. A table assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the sleeve has corrugations formed substantially along the length thereof, the corrugations circling the sleeve and being disposed at an orientation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

15. A table assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the sleeve has a solid, unitary structure.

16. A table assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the screen is opaque.

17. A table assembly as recited in 9, wherein the upper leg assembly is slidably disposed within the lower leg assembly.