Screen

• US 6,213,191 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nitzsche, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/239,606
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 160/351, 160/135, 160/370.21, 160/405, 160/127, 108/50.11, 297/184.15
• US Class Current: 160/351
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels
• 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: A47G 5/00 Screens shutters closing an opening E06B9/02; fly-screens E06B9/52; Draught-deflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/00 Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like

Abstract

A screen for use in a work environment providing a generally planar surface is disclosed. The screen includes a frame providing an outer perimeter tending to a first shape. The screen further includes a web at least partially circumscribed by the frame and having a shape at least partially defined by the shape of the outer perimeter of the frame. The screen also includes a mounting assembly configured to attach the frame to the surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing visual privacy in a work environment having a worksurface comprising:

a transportable screen including;

a flexible frame providing an outer perimeter defining a shape and comprising a continuous, flexible spring metal member;

a generally flexible web at least partially circumscribed by the frame and having a shape corresponding to the shape of the frame;

a mounting assembly attached to the frame for coupling the screen to the worksurface comprising;

a first bracket assembly adapted for coupling the screen to the worksurface at a first position and a second bracket assembly adapted for coupling the screen to the worksurface at a second position;

a housing having a channel for receiving the frame, the cannel disposed between at least one interior flange and at least one exterior flange relative to the worksurface;

wherein the screen is selectively reconfigurable to divide a space within the work environment and is adapted for selective repositioning between a first vertical position and a second vertical position relative to the worksurface, and wherein the screen is deformable from a first shape to a second shape and tends to reform to an original shape after being deformed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first shape is an expanded configuration and the second shape is a collapsed configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first shape provides greater visual privacy than the second shape.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein reconfiguration of the screen redirects a flow of traffic in the work environment.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the frame is deformable and tends to reform to an original shape after being deformed.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein deformation of the frame decreases a relative level of visual privacy provided by the screen.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the screen in a non-use configuration is folded upon itself.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the screen is configured for selective repositioning within the mounting assembly between a first position and a second position relative to the worksurface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a first portion of the screen is adapted for selective positioning above the worksurface and a second portion of the screen is adapted for selective positioning below the worksurface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the frame is adapted for direct attachment to the worksurface by the mounting assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the frame comprises a segmented member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of interconnected flexible segments.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the frame comprises a generally elongate member having a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the web comprises a fabric material.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the web is generally opaque.

16. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the interior flange comprises a recessed portion for receiving the frame such that the frame is configured for an interference fit within the recess.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the housing comprises an indentation configured to engage a mounting clip.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the indentation is generally X-shaped and the mounting clip is selectively configurable between a first clip position and a second clip position relative to the generally X-shaped recessed portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the housing comprises a generally crescent-shape.

20. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the housing comprises a U-shape.

21. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a protective member at least partially covering the housing.

22. An apparatus for providing visual privacy in a work environment having a generally horizontal surface comprising:

a transportable screen including;

a continuous deformable frame providing an outer perimeter adapted to be deformed from to a first shape to at least one second shape and comprising a flexible, unitary member;

a web at least partially circumscribed by the frame and having a shape at least partially defined by the shape of the outer perimeter of the frame and comprising a substantially rigid material;

a mounting assembly configured to support the frame on the generally horizontal surface;

wherein the first shape provides greater visual privacy than the second shape within the work environment and the first shape visually shrouds a greater area than the second shape of the screen.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first shape is an expanded configuration and the second shape is a collapsed configuration.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first shape provides greater visual privacy than the second shape.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first shape is relatively planar.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein deformation of the frame decreases a relative level of visual privacy provided by the screen.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the screen in a non-use configuration is folded upon itself.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the screen is configured for selective repositioning within the mounting assembly between a first position and a second position relative to the horizontal surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein a first portion of the screen is adapted for selective positioning above the horizontal surface and a second portion of the screen is adapted for selective positioning below the horizontal surface.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein reconfiguration of the screen redirects a flow of traffic in the work environment.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the screen is deformable and tends to reform to an original shape after being deformed.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the web includes a generally flexible material.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the web is generally opaque.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the web is generally translucent.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the frame is adapted for direct attachment to the worksurface by the mounting assembly.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the frame comprises a segmented member.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of interconnected flexible segments.

38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the mounting assembly comprises a mounting bracket.

39. An apparatus for providing visual privacy in a work environment having a generally horizontal surface comprising:

a transportable screen including;

a continuous deformable frame providing an outer perimeter adapted to be deformed from a first shape to at least one second shape and comprising a flexible, unitary member;

a web at least partially circumscribed by the frame and having a shape at least partially defined by the shape of the outer perimeter of the frame;

a mounting assembly configured to support the frame on the generally horizontal surface and including a ballast material;

wherein the first shape provides greater visual privacy than the second shape within the work environment and the first shape visually shrouds a greater area than the second shape of the screen.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the first shape is an expanded configuration and the second shape is a collapsed configuration.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the first shape provides greater visual privacy than the second shape.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the first shape is generally planar.

43. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein deformation of the frame decreases a relative level of visual privacy provided by the screen.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the screen in a non-use configuration is folded upon itself.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the screen is configured for selective repositioning within the mounting assembly between a first position and a second position relative to the horizontal surface.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein a first portion of the screen is adapted for selective positioning above the horizontal surface and a second portion of the screen is adapted for selective positioning below the horizontal surface.

47. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein reconfiguration of the screen redirects a flow of traffic in the work environment.

48. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the screen is deformable and tends to reform to an original shape after being deformed.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the web comprises a generally flexible material.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the web is generally translucent.

51. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the frame is adapted for direct attachment to the horizontal surface by the mounting assembly.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the frame comprises a segmented member.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of interconnected flexible segments.

54. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the ballast material is in the mounting assembly.

55. The apparatus of claim 54 wherein the mounting assembly is configured to support the frame on a floor.