Conference table with central utility system

• US 6,327,983 B1
• Filed: 03/03/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stewart, Robert L., Wilson, Kevin S., Nieh, Ting-Wen, Lowell, James B., Cronk, Jeffrey P
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US09/261,406
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 312/195, 312/194, 312/223.6, 312/223.3, 108/50.02, 108/50.01
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0079 Conference or video conference table

Abstract

A conference table includes a large elongated work surface having one or more elongated central openings dividing the work surface into opposing half sections, with each opposing half section including work areas large enough for a conference meeting. A utility distribution system is positioned below the elongated central opening on a support channel. The support channel defines separated wireways for communicating separated utilities along the support channel, such as power wiring, telecommunication wiring, and network or video cabling. The utility distribution system further includes a plurality of W-shape utility modules positioned on beams of the support channel below the elongated central opening. The utility modules set end-to-end in an arrangement that facilitates initial installation and later retrofit or repair. Each person at the conference can access and connect to the utility outlets from above the work surface for operating or receiving individual utilities for the conference, but characteristically can access and connect to the utility outlets without the persons reaching awkwardly under an edge of the work surface. The table is supported on tubular legs that define a vertical wireway space, and further include a repositionable divider configured to selectively subdivide the vertical wireway space into subwireways of different cross-sectional sizes for accommodating different cross-sectional sizes of utility conduit bundles. A removable double-pivoted door is releasably supported to cover the opening and to provide easy access to the opening from either side of the tabletop.

Claims

1. A conference table comprising:

a leg assembly including first and second legs and a beam connected between and stabilizing the first and second legs;

a utility distribution system supported by the beam including utility outlets; and

a tabletop supported by the leg assembly, including an elongated central opening over the beam for accessing the utility outlets;

wherein the beam is a trough and including dividers that define upwardly open wireways in the trough; and

wherein the utility distribution system includes a modular frame supporting the utility outlets, the modular frame including a floor covering the upwardly open wireways.

2. The conference table defined in claim 1, including a top cover shaped to cover the central opening, and including cover supports in the central opening and attached to the tabletop that are constructed to pivotally support the top cover for movement between at least one opened position and a closed position where the top cover is co-planar with the tabletop.

3. The conference table defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second legs is tubular and includes a repositionable adjustable divider configured to subdivide a space in the one leg into separated wireways of different cross-sectional sizes.

4. The conference table defined in claim 1, including beam covers attached to the beam.

5. A conference table comprising:

a tabletop having an elongated central opening dividing the tabletop into opposing sections;

a cross beam extending under the central opening; and

a plurality of utility modules positioned on the cross beam that have utility outlets positioned below the elongated central opening, the utility modules setting end-to-end along the beam;

wherein the utility modules include W-shaped utility modules supporting the utility outlets, the W-shaped utility modules including a bottom flange covering a plurality of wireways.

6. The conference table defined in claim 5, wherein the plurality of wireways are defined along the beam, and wherein the plurality of utility outlets include first and second wiring that are separated and that extend into separate ones of the plurality of wireways.

7. The conference table defined in claim 5, wherein one of the utility outlets and the utility modules are removable through the central opening, characteristically without the use of or need to release separate fasteners.

8. The conference table defined in claim 5, including a top cover shaped to cover the central opening and end pieces located in ends of the central opening for pivotally supporting the top cover for opening movement in either of two opposite opening directions.

9. A conference table comprising:

a leg assembly including first and second legs and a beam connected between and stabilizing the first and second legs;

a utility distribution system supported by the beam including utility outlets; and

a tabletop supported by the leg assembly, including an elongated central opening over the beam for accessing the utility outlets;

including separated wireways defined in the beam, and wherein the utility distribution system includes a frame having a U-shaped portion with a first up flange configured to receive first utility outlets, a second up flange configured to support second utility outlets different than the first utility outlets, and first and second wiring extending from the first and second utility outlets, respectively, into the separated wireways located in the beam.

10. The conference table defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second utility outlets is releasably snap attached to the U-shaped portion and is configured to be removed from the U-shaped portion and pulled outwardly through the central opening for repair and replacement.

11. The conference table defined in claim 9, wherein the frame includes a plurality of W-shaped modules, each including two of the U-shaped portions.

12. A conference table comprising:

a leg assembly including first and second legs and a beam connected between and stabilizing the first and second legs;

a utility distribution system supported by the beam including utility outlets;

a tabletop supported by the leg assembly, including an elongated central opening over the beam for accessing the utility outlets;

wireways defined in the beam;

the beam including at least one C-shaped beam; and

at least one upwardly extending divider defining a portion of one of the wireways;

wherein the utility distribution system includes a W-frame supported on the beam, the W-frame having vertically extending transverse walls and different utility outlets supported on the transverse walls.

13. The conference table defined in claim 12, including a top cover shaped to cover the central opening, and including cover supports in the central opening and attached to the tabletop that are constructed to pivotally support the top cover for movement between at least one opened position and a closed position where the top cover is co-planar with the tabletop.

14. The conference table defined in claim 13, wherein the cover supports comprise end pieces that support the top cover for opening movement into two different ways.

15. The conference table defined in claim 13, wherein the cover supports define virtual pivots that support the top cover for pivotal movement without direct attachment to the top cover.

16. The conference table defined in claim 15, wherein the cover supports comprise end pieces having shaped recesses configured to receive an edge of the top cover in a manner defining the virtual pivot.

17. The conference table defined in claim 15, wherein the shaped recesses include an inner lip that pivotally engages the top cover as the top cover is moved toward the opened position, and further include an outer lip that engages the top cover to prop open the top cover when the top cover is in the opened position.

18. The conference table defined in claim 15, wherein the cover support is configured to support the top cover in a propped opened position in either of the two oppositely opened positions.

19. The conference table defined in claim 12, wherein the utility distribution system includes removable modules that support the utility outlets.

20. The conference table defined in claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second legs is tubular and includes a repositionable adjustable divider configured to subdivide a space in the one leg into separated wireways of different cross-sectional sizes.

21. The conference table defined in claim 12, including beam covers attached to the beam.

22. A conference table comprising:

a leg assembly including first and second legs and a beam connected between and stabilizing the first and second legs, the beam including at least one C-shaped beam;

a utility distribution system supported by the beam including utility outlets;

a tabletop supported by the leg assembly, including an elongated central opening over the beam for accessing the utility outlets;

wireways defined in the beam; and

at least one upwardly extending divider defining a portion of one of the wireways;

the utility distribution system including a W-frame supported on the beam, the W-frame frame having vertically extending transverse walls and different utility outlets supported on the transverse walls;

the beam being a trough and including dividers that define upwardly open wireways in the trough; and

the utility distribution system including a modular frame supporting the utility outlets, the modular frame including a floor covering the upwardly open wireways.

23. A conference table comprising:

a leg assembly including first and second legs and a beam connected between and stabilizing the first and second legs;

a utility distribution system supported by the beam including utility outlets; and

a tabletop supported by the leg assembly, including an elongated central opening over the beam for accessing the utility outlets;

the beam being a trough and including dividers that define upwardly open separated wireways in the trough;

the utility distribution system including a modular frame supporting the utility outlets, the modular frame including a floor covering the upwardly open wireways; and

the modular frame having a U-shaped portion with a first up flange configured to receive first utility outlets, a second up flange configured to support second utility outlets different than the first utility outlets and first and second wiring extended from the first and second utility outlets, respectively, and to the separated wireways located in the beam.