Modular workstation

• US 6,732,660 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Dame, Paul, Orzeck, Toren
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/977,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/60, 108/61, 312/223.6, 312/195, 211/180, 211/184
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/023 with a central column
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/06 of metal A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/08 Table tops; Rims therefor not restricted to table tops A47B95/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2097/006 Computer holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0026 Desks with C-shaped leg
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a workstation kit includes a support column having a partially open end, an easily accessible interior cavity, and a number of openings in the column'"'"'s outer surface allowing utilities to be run within the column to the workstation. The support column has a plurality of holes around its periphery allowing the easy addition of a variety of workstation components in a number of different configurations providing a workstation with high modularity. Another component of the workstation kit is a cap defined by a vertical cavity and attaching to a partially open end of the support column allowing utilities to be run into the column and additionally providing a handle. An accessory includes a retractable privacy screen which attaches to the column. Methods for reconfiguring a workstation kit and for wiring a workstation are provided. Additionally, methods for attaching and detaching a retractable privacy screen are provided. Finally, a method of moving a workstation is provided.

Claims

1. A workstation comprising:

a workstation component comprising at least one support foot, at least one support arm, and at least one worksurface component, wherein said worksurface component is supported by said at least one support arm;

an elongated and vertically extending support column, wherein said at least one support foot and said at least one support arm are attached to said support column and extend laterally from said support column, said support column having a substantially hollow portion defining an interior cavity and a plurality of openings communicating between an exterior of said column and said interior cavity, wherein said plurality of openings are formed vertically along at least a portion of a length of said column, wherein said openings are accessible to a user and adapted to receive wiring, and wherein said plurality of openings within said support column are adapted to receive at least a portion of an end of one or more of said at least one support foot, said at least one support arm, and said at least one worksurface component by inserting said portion of said end into one of said plurality of openings so that said portion of said end abuts against an interior surface of said opening.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said column comprises an inner side and an outer side, said outer side being at least partially curved and at least partially linear, each of said inner and outer sides having said openings.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said components are attached to the linear portion of said outer side and said openings are in the curved portion of said outer side.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said openings are curved.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said openings are scalloped.

6. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of wheels attached with said support column.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said interior cavity defines at least one raceway therein adapted to receive utilities within said support column.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said plurality of openings within said support column are adapted to receive said utilities allowing for access to said at least one raceway.

13. The invention of claim 1 wherein said workstation component comprises at least one screen attached to said support column.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said at least one screen is retractable.

15. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

at least two of said support columns; and

at least one support member attached to said at least two support columns, allowing for the configuration of a workstation having multiple support columns, each of said support columns being adapted to support said at least one worksurface in a variety of positions, allowing for a variety of workstation configurations.

9. A workstation comprising:

a workstation component comprising at least one worksurface;

an elongated and vertically extending support column attached to said workstation component, said support column having a substantially hollow portion defining an interior cavity and a plurality of openings communicating between an exterior of said column and said interior cavity, wherein said interior cavity defines at least one raceway therein adapted to receive utilities within said support column, wherein said plurality of openings are formed vertically along at least a portion of a length of said column, wherein said openings are accessible to a user and adapted to receive wiring and said utilities allowing for access to said at least one raceway, and wherein said plurality of openings within said support column are adapted to receive at least a portion of an end of said workstation component by inserting said portion of said end of said workstation component into one of said plurality of openings so that said portion of said end of said workstation component abuts against an interior surface of said opening.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said support column defines a plurality of holes, said plurality of holes are adapted to attach at least one support arm to said column, the positioning of said plurality of holes allowing for attachment of said at least one worksurface to said support column in a variety of configurations.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said support column has a partially open top end and at least one cap attached to said partially open top end.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said at least one cap has at least one opening shaped to allow a user to grasp said cap by allowing the user to insert part of a hand into said opening of said cap to grasp said cap.

16. A workstation comprising:

a workstation component;

an elongated and vertically extending support column attached to said workstation component, said support column having a partially open top end; and

a cap attached to said partially open top end, wherein said cap has an opening formed therethrough, said opening adapted to receive wiring by inserting said wiring into said opening, and said opening also adapted to act as a handle by allowing a user to insert part of a hand into said opening of said cap to grasp onto said cap.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said cap is attached to said partially open top end of said support column by a snap fit.

18. A workstation comprising:

a workstation component;

an elongated and vertically extending support column attached to said workstation component; and

at least one retractable privacy screen attached to said support column, wherein said at least one retractable privacy screen comprises a sheet material web, and a plurality of frame members, wherein each of said frame members comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said proximal ends are coaxially attached, wherein said sheet material web is attached to said frame members, and wherein at least two of said distal ends of at least two of said plurality of frame members are adapted to simultaneously rotate towards each other in a same plane.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said retractable privacy screen is attached to said support column with a bracket.

20. The invention of claim 18 wherein said proximal ends are coaxially attached about a hinged axis.

21. A kit having components capable of being assembled as a workstation, the kit comprising:

at least one support column defined by a plurality of openings formed vertically along at least a portion of said column;

at least one support foot adapted to be attached to said at least one support column;

at least one support arm adapted to be attached to said at least one support column;

at least one worksurface adapted to be attached to said at least one support arm, wherein said plurality of openings in said support column are adapted to receive at least a portion of an end of said worksurface by inserting said portion of said end of said worksurface into one of said plurality of openings so that said portion of said end of said worksurface abuts against an interior surface of said opening, and wherein said at least one support column, said at least one support foot, said at least one support arm, and said at least one worksurface are capable of being configured in a plurality of workstation alignments having a varying number of support columns, support feet, support arms, and worksurfaces arranged in a variety of positions.

22. The invention of claim 21 further comprising:

at least two of said support columns; and

at least one support member adapted to extend between said at least two support columns.

23. A method of reconfiguring a workstation kit comprising:

providing a workstation comprising at least one support column defined by a plurality of openings formed vertically along at least a portion of said column; and

at least one worksurface;

inserting a portion of an end of said at least one worksurface into one of said plurality of openings so that said portion of said end of said worksurface abuts against an interior surface of said opening;

un-inserting said portion of said end of said worksurface from said opening; and

inserting said portion of said end of said worksurface into another of said plurality of openings so that said portion of said end of said worksurface abuts against an interior surface of said another opening.

24. The invention of claim 23 wherein said provided workstation further comprises:

at least two of said support columns; and

at least one support member extending between said at least two support columns, said support member having opposite ends attached to said support columns at a first position.

25. The invention of claim 24 wherein said method of reconfiguring a workstation further comprises:

detaching each end of said at least one support member from said support columns at said first position; and

reattaching each end of said at least one support member to said separate support columns at a second position to form a second workstation configuration.

26. A method of wiring a workstation comprising:

providing a workstation comprising a workstation component comprising at least one support foot, at least one support arm, and at least one worksurface component, wherein said worksurface component is supported by said at least one support arm; and

at least one elongated and vertically extending support columns, wherein said at least one support foot and said at least one support arm are attached to said support column and extend laterally from said support column, said support column having a substantially hollow portion defining an interior raceway, and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings formed along at least a portion of said column, said openings extending within said hollow portion of said support column, said plurality of openings within said hollow support column adapted to receive wiring allowing easy wiring access to said at least one raceway, said at least one raceway adapted to receive wiring running within said hollow support column;

inserting wiring into one of said plurality of openings formed within said support column;

running said wiring through said at least one raceway formed within said support column; and

pulling said wiring through another of said plurality of openings within said support column.

27. A method of deploying a retractable privacy screen to a workstation comprising:

providing a workstation comprising a workstation component;

an elongated and vertically extending support column attached to said workstation component; and

at least one retractable privacy screen attached to said support column in a folded up position, wherein said at least one retractable privacy screen comprises a sheet material web, and a plurality of frame members, wherein each of said frame members comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said proximal ends are coaxially attached, and wherein said sheet material web is attached to said frame members; and

extending said at least one retractable privacy screen from a folded up position to a folded down position by simultaneously rotating at least two of said distal ends of at least two of said plurality of said frame members towards each other in a same plane; and

disextending said at least one screen from a folded down position to a folded up position by simultaneously rotating at least two of said distal ends of at least two of said plurality of said frame members away from each other in a same plane.

28. The invention of claim 27 wherein said extending and disextending comprises pivoting said frame members about a hinged axis.

29. A method of moving a workstation comprising:

providing a workstation comprising;

at least one hollow support column, said at least one support column defined by a partially opened top end;

at least one cap defined by at least one opening within said at least one cap, said at least one cap attached to said partially open top end of said at least one support column, said at least one opening within said at least one cap adapted to act as a handle by allowing a user to insert part of a hand into said opening of said cap to grasp onto said cap;

gripping said cap with a user'"'"'s hand by inserting said hand through said at least one opening within said at least one cap; and

moving said workstation from a first location to a second location.