Worksurface system

• US 6,196,140 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laughton, Scot, Bruer, James R., Ottenjan, Gary T., Newhouse, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/317,682
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/144.11, 108/145, 108/147.11, 108/147, 312/223.6, 312/223.3, 312/196, 312/208.1, 52/361, 109/3
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/06 of metal A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/003 made of metal
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards

Abstract

A worksurface system is provided which includes a rear and front worksurface. The rear worksurface has a front edge and a rear edge. The front worksurface has a front edge adjacent a user of the system and a rear edge generally parallel and adjacent to the front edge of the rear worksurface. The rear worksurface is supported by a plurality of rear posts. A plurality of brackets, each connected to a rear post, support the front worksurface. These brackets are adapted to allow the front worksurface to be adjusted to different heights in relation to the rear worksurface.

Claims

1. A worksurface system comprising:

a rear worksurface with a front edge and a rear edge;

a front worksurface with a front edge adapted to be adjacent a user of the system and a rear edge generally parallel and adjacent to the front edge of the rear worksurface;

a plurality of rear posts supporting the rear worksurface from a floor;

a plurality of brackets, each connected to one of the rear posts and supporting the front worksurface, said brackets adapted to be attached at different heights along the rear posts thereby allowing the front worksurface to be adjusted to different heights in relation to the rear worksurface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the rear posts each include a series of holes at different heights and wherein the brackets for the front worksurface are adapted to index with the holes.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cabling trough supported by the brackets.

4. A worksurface system comprising:

a rear worksurface with a front edge and a rear edge;

a front worksurface with a front edge adapted to be adjacent a user of the system and a rear edge generally parallel and adjacent to the front edge of the rear worksurface;

a plurality of rear posts supporting the rear worksurface from a floor;

a plurality of brackets, each connected to one of said rear posts and supporting the front worksurface, said brackets adapted to allow the front worksurface to be adjusted to different heights in relation to the rear worksurface;

at least one height-adjustable leg directly supporting the front worksurface from the floor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the leg comprises a telescoping upper portion attached to a bottom surface of the front worksurface and a bottom portion resting on a floor.

6. A worksurface system comprising:

a rear worksurface with a front edge and a rear edge;

a front worksurface with a front edge adapted to be adjacent a user of the system and a rear edge generally parallel and adjacent to the front edge of the rear worksurface;

a plurality of rear posts supporting the rear worksurface from a floor;

a plurality of brackets, each connected to one of said rear posts and supporting the front worksurface, said brackets adapted to allow the front worksurface to be adjusted to different heights in relation to the rear worksurface;

a utilities distribution member disposed beneath the rear worksurface, and wherein a gap between the front edge of the rear worksurface and the rear edge of the front worksurface allows for passage of cables therethrough.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the member is attached to a bottom surface of the rear worksurface.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the member is attached to the rear posts.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the member includes an electrical power outlet.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the member includes a data port.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the member includes a conduit running the length of the rear worksurface.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the power or data cabling can extend from the conduit of one worksurface system to the conduit of an adjacent like worksurface system.

13. A worksurface system comprising:

a rear worksurface with a front edge and a rear edge;

a front worksurface with a front edge adapted to be adjacent a user of the system and a rear edge generally parallel and adjacent to the front edge of the rear worksurface;

a plurality of rear posts supporting the rear worksurface from a floor;

a plurality of brackets, each connected to one of the rear posts and supporting the front worksurface, said brackets adapted to allow the front worksurface to be adjusted to different heights in relation to the rear worksurface;

a vertical screen supported behind the rear edge of the rear worksurface, wherein the screen is supported by at least one screen bracket connected to one of said rear posts.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the screen bracket is adapted to be connected at different heights along the rear posts.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the rear posts each include a first series of holes at different heights and wherein the brackets for the front worksurface are adapted to index with the first series of holes, and wherein the rear posts each further include a second series of holes at different heights and wherein the screen bracket is adapted to index with the second series of holes.