Workstation and power and telecommunication arrangement therefor

• US 6,848,369 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Andersen, Barry Lee, Nelson, Clifford Wayne, Emery, David E., King, Steven Jay, Saylor, Charles J., Wayner, Robert Clare, Yu, X. Shawn, Wilson, Harold R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/718,556
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.02, 108/50.01, 108/23, 312/223.6, 312/194
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables

Abstract

A workstation and a power and telecommunication arrangement therefor which together define a work area and, more specifically, to an improved workstation which includes a console supported on a worksurface or table and housing one or more electrical power receptacles and/or communication receptacles and the cabling associated therewith, and an elongate and flexible raceway assembly which provides an enclosed conduit for feeding power and communication cabling into and out of the console and which is capable of distributing such cabling along a series of interconnected workstations.

Claims

1. A workstation arrangement comprising:

a worksurface having a generally horizontally enlarged plate-like top defining longitudinal front and rear edges and a pair of spaced-apart side edges respectively adjoining said front and rear edges, a pair of upright leg arrangements projecting downwardly from said top adjacent each of said side edges for supportive engagement with a support surface such as a floor, and a generally horizontally oriented cross member extending transversely between and interconnecting said leg arrangements, said cross member being disposed generally along said rear edge of said worksurface and in vertically spaced relation from lower ends of said leg arrangements; and

a console supported on said cross member and including a housing defining a generally hollow interior and mounting therein one of a power receptacle connected to an electrical circuit and a communication receptacle connected to a communication circuit, said housing supporting thereon a screen which is vertically slidably adjustable relative to said housing between a first position which substantially closes off access to said one receptacle and a second position which provides access to said one receptacle.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said one receptacle is mounted on an upright side wall of said housing so as to be externally accessible, said screen being positioned adjacent and in opposed relationship to said one side wall and spaced horizontally outwardly therefrom to define a cable storage area between said screen and said one side wall, said screen when in said second position being spaced vertically downwardly from said first position so as to permit horizontal access to said one receptacle, and said screen having an upper edge which is spaced from and cooperates with the opposed side wall of the housing to define a continuously open access opening which opens vertically into said cable storage chamber for permitting cabling to extend vertically therethrough.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein an elongate top cover is removably mounted on an upper portion of said housing and defines a longitudinal edge which is spaced horizontally inwardly from an upper longitudinal edge of said screen when in said first position so as to define an upwardly opening access opening therebetween which communicates with said interior such that cabling associated with a component supported on said worksurface overlies said rear edge thereof and extends vertically downwardly therefrom into said access opening for connection to said one receptacle.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein said housing includes an upright inner wall disposed in opposed relation with said screen, said inner wall being spaced horizontally inwardly from said screen so as to define a storage chamber therebetween which opens upwardly through said access opening, said inner wall defining a window therein for mounting said one receptacle so that said one receptacle faces toward said storage chamber such that cabling associated with said component supported on said worksurface overlies said rear edge thereof and extends downwardly therefrom and into said storage chamber for connection to said one receptacle.

5. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said screen has a convex configuration which curves outwardly and away from opposite upright terminal edge portions thereof.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing includes top and bottom walls, a side wall horizontally spaced from said screen, and a pair of end walls extending transversely between and interconnecting said top, bottom and side walls, one of said end walls defining a sidewardly opening port therein which communicates with said interior, said arrangement further including an elongate conduit defining therein a channel for routing cabling to said console, said conduit having a terminal end which is removably mounted to said console for communication with said port.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein a pair of support arms are mounted on said console housing so as to project horizontally outwardly therefrom, said support arms having clamp members at respective ends thereof which engage said cross member to removably secure said console to said worksurface.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said worksurface defines a recess which projects horizontally inwardly from said rear edge thereof, said console being mounted on said cross member so as to be positioned generally below said recess such that cabling associated with components supported on said worksurface projects downwardly through said recess for connection with said one receptacle.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said housing defines therein an opening which communicates with said interior, said arrangement further including an elongate raceway defining therein a conduit for routing cabling to said console, said raceway having an end which is mounted to said housing of said console at said opening so as to communicate with said interior.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said housing supports thereon a pair of said screens on opposite sides thereof and has a pair of end walls each of which extends transversely between a pair of spaced-apart vertical end edges of the respective screens, each said end wall defining therein a said opening, and said arrangement further includes a pair of said raceways each having an end mounted to said housing of said console at a said opening such that said raceways project sidewardly from opposite ends of said housing.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said worksurface is a first worksurface and said console is a first console, said arrangement including a second worksurface and a second console mounted on a second cross member thereof, and an elongate raceway defining a channel therein for storing cabling, said raceway having a first end fastened to one of said consoles for communication with said hollow interior thereof and a second end fastened to the other said console for communication with said hollow interior thereof such that said raceway interconnects said first and second consoles.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11 wherein each said console defines a port therein, and said ends of said raceway respectively communicate with said ports.

13. The workstation arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said raceway is vertically self supporting but is horizontally flexible so that said first and second worksurfaces can be disposed in non-aligned relationship with respect to one another.

14. The workstation arrangement according to claim 1, further including a raceway defining an elongate channel therein for storing cabling, said raceway being disposed in upwardly spaced relation from the floor and having a terminal end fastened to said console for communication with said hollow interior thereof, said raceway including an elongate and flexible support member which movably mounts thereon a plurality of covers disposed in end-to-end relationship with one another along the length of said support member so as to define said elongate channel therein, said support member being disposed to divide said channel into first and second channel runs which extend in parallel relationship lengthwise of the raceway for storing and separating cabling disposed therein, and said covers being movable relative to said support member between closed and open positions, said covers when in said closed positions defining a closed tubular structure, said covers when in said open positions permitting access to said channel runs throughout the length thereof.

15. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said housing of said console includes an upright support structure disposed within said hollow interior and mounting thereon both power and communication receptacles, said console including front and rear walls spaced from one another on opposite sides of said support structure and a pair of end walls extending transversely between said front and rear walls, one said end wall defining therein a raceway port which communicates with said hollow interior, said arrangement further including a raceway assembly mounted to said one end wall including an elongate and flexible support member which removably mounts thereon a plurality of covers disposed in end-to-end relation with one another along said support member so as to form an elongate raceway run defining an elongate channel therein in communication with said port, said support member being disposed to divide said channel into first and second channel parts for storing and separating cabling disposed within said raceway run.

16. A workstation arrangement comprising:

a worksurface having a top and a leg arrangement projecting generally downwardly therefrom for supportive engagement with a floor; and

a console for supplying at least one of power and communication to said worksurface and including an upright housing having opposite upright and spaced-apart side walls, a power or communication receptacle unit mounted on said housing between said side walls, said receptacle unit having a receptacle which is positioned generally at one of said side walls, and a cover movably mounted on said housing adjacent said one side wall and movable between a first position wherein the cover is disposed in horizontally opposed relation to said one side wall so as to horizontally overlap said receptacle and a second position wherein said cover is laterally displaced from said first position so that said receptacle is horizontally accessible, said cover when in said first position being spaced horizontally from said one side wall to define a storage chamber therebetween which opens upwardly between the cover and the housing to permit cabling to project downwardly into the chamber for access to the receptacle or for storage.

17. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the cover is slidably mounted on the housing for movement between said first and second positions, with said second position being disposed vertically downwardly from said first position.

18. The arrangement according to claim 17, wherein a second cover is movably mounted on said housing adjacent the other side wall and is slidably movable between first and second positions wherein said second position is displaced vertically downwardly from said first position, said second cover when in said first position being spaced horizontally from said other side wall to define a storage chamber therebetween which opens upwardly between said second cover and said housing for storage of cabling therein.

19. The arrangement according to claim 16, including an arm structure fixed to said housing and projecting transversely therefrom for securing said housing to a cross member of said worksurface for supporting said console thereon in upwardly spaced relation above a floor.

20. The arrangement according to claim 19 wherein said leg arrangement of said worksurface includes a pair of legs projecting downwardly from said top and said cross member extends between said legs and mounts said console thereon.

21. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the housing includes an upright stand which projects downwardly and joins to a base which is adapted for direct supportive engagement with a floor, the base and the stand having a hollow interior which projects upwardly for communication with the interior of said housing to permit cabling to extend vertically therethrough.

22. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said housing includes a pair of end walls which extend transversely and join to said side walls, said end walls each having an access opening formed therethrough in upwardly spaced relationship from the bottom of the housing for permitting cables to project horizontally through said access openings into an interior of said housing, and a horizontally elongate hollow tubular raceway extending horizontally away from said console, said raceway having one end thereof connected to one end wall of said housing so that the hollow interior of the raceway communicates with the interior of said housing, said raceway being openable to permit cabling to be laid therein.

23. The arrangement according to claim 22, wherein said housing has a removable top wall which, when removed from the housing, provides access to the interior of the housing to permit cabling to be laid therein, said removable top wall having wall portions which cooperate with the end walls and which define upper extremities of the access openings defined in the end walls so that removal of the top wall provides vertical access to said access openings in said end walls.

24. The arrangement according to claim 22, wherein said raceway has the other end thereof connected to a second console so that the raceway extends horizontally between said consoles and is vertically self supporting between the ends thereof, said raceway being horizontally flexible so that opposite ends of the raceway can be disposed in non-aligned relationship with one another.

25. The arrangement of claim 16 wherein said worksurface is a first worksurface and said console is a first console and is mounted on said first worksurface, and said arrangement further includes a second worksurface sidewardly spaced from said first worksurface, a second console mounted on said second worksurface, and a raceway for storing cabling therein and having a first end fastened to one said console for communication with an interior thereof and a second end fastened to the other said console for communication with an interior thereof such that said raceway interconnects said first and second worksurfaces.

26. A workstation arrangement comprising:

a table having a top defining at least one outer peripheral edge, a pair of legs projecting downwardly from said top for supportive engagement with a support surface, and a support member disposed adjacent said edge and extending transversely between and interconnecting said legs in vertically spaced relation from said top; and

an enclosure mounted on said support member adjacent said outer peripheral edge, said enclosure containing therein one of a power receptacle connected to electrical circuitry and a communication receptacle connected to communication circuitry, said enclosure defining a hollow interior which opens through an access opening positioned adjacent said outer peripheral edge to permit cabling to extend over said outer peripheral edge and into said interior, said enclosure mounting thereon a cover which is movable into a closed position to cover said one receptacle and an open position to allow access to said one receptacle.

27. The arrangement of claim 26 wherein said cover is mounted for sliding movement between said open and closed positions, said interior comprising a storage area adjacent said cover for storing cabling, said storage area opening through said access opening.

28. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein said access opening of said storage area is defined between a terminal edge portion of said cover and a side wall of said enclosure, said terminal edge portion being spaced from said side wall such that said storage area is continuously accessible to cabling in both said open and closed positions of said cover.

29. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein said enclosure defines therein at least one port which communicates with said interior, and said arrangement further includes a cabling conduit connected to said enclosure for communication with said port for storing cabling associated with said table.

30. The arrangement of claim 26 wherein said enclosure includes a generally vertically disposed side wall on which said one power and communication receptacle is mounted so as to be disposed in opposed facing relationship with said cover, said cover being vertically slidably movable relative to said side wall into said open and closed positions.

31. The arrangement of claim 26 wherein said enclosure includes an upright side wall structure, and top and bottom walls respectively disposed at upper and lower edge portions of said side wall structure, said cover being mounted in generally superimposed and spaced-apart relation with a portion of said side wall structure such that said interior is defined between said cover and said side wall structure portion, said interior defining a storage chamber for cabling associated with said table.

32. The arrangement of claim 31 wherein said storage chamber is defined by an outer side of said side wall structure portion, an inner side of said cover, and an upper surface of said bottom wall, said cover being mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to said side wall structure portion and said bottom wall.

33. A workstation arrangement comprising:

a worksurface defining a generally flat upper surface and an outer peripheral edge, said worksurface including a leg arrangement projecting generally downwardly therefrom for supportive engagement with a floor; and

a console for providing at least one of power and communication capability to said worksurface and including a pair of upright side walls which are spaced apart from one another, one of said side walls mounting thereon a power or communication receptacle, and a cover mounted adjacent said one side wall for movement between a first position wherein said cover is disposed in opposed and facing relation with said one side wall so as to overlap said receptacle and a second position wherein said cover is laterally displaced from said first position so that said receptacle is readily accessible for connection to power or communication cabling, said cover when in said first position being spaced from said one side wall to define a chamber between said one side wall and said cover, said chamber opening between respective adjacent edge portions of said cover and said one side wall and communicating with an open area adjacent said outer peripheral edge to permit cabling to project over said outer peripheral edge and into said chamber for connection to said receptacle or for storage.

34. The arrangement of claim 33 wherein said console is mounted on said work surface in vertically spaced relation from the floor.

35. The arrangement of claim 34 wherein said arrangement further includes an elongate raceway arrangement defining a hollow interior for routing cabling to or from said worksurface, said console defining an opening therein and said raceway arrangement being secured to said console such that said hollow interior communicates with said opening.

36. The arrangement of claim 33 wherein said adjacent edge portions of said cover and said one side wall are spaced from one another such that said chamber is continuously accessible to cabling in both said first and second positions of said cover.

37. The arrangement of claim 36 wherein said chamber opens upwardly between said edge portions of said cover and said one side wall such that cabling associated with a component disposed adjacent said worksurface is extendible vertically downwardly and into said chamber.

38. A workstation arrangement comprising:

a worksurface having a top part defining a work area thereon and a leg arrangement projecting downwardly from said top part for supportive engagement with a floor; and

a cabling enclosure disposed adjacent said worksurface and including a housing, said housing mounting thereon a cover which is spaced from a portion of said housing so as to define a storage chamber between said portion and said cover for storing cabling, said cover being vertically slidably movable relative to said housing portion into a position wherein said cover is spaced from said housing portion to provide access to said storage chamber.

39. The arrangement of claim 38 wherein said cabling enclosure includes a pair of generally upright side walls and mounts thereon a pair of said covers on opposite sides thereof, each said cover being disposed in superimposed and spaced relation with one of said side walls such that a pair of said storage chambers are defined on opposite sides of said cabling enclosure.

40. The arrangement of claim 39 wherein one of a power receptacle and a communication receptacle is mounted on each of said side walls so as to face outwardly towards the respective said storage chamber.

41. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein each of said covers is vertically slidably movable relative to said one side wall to provide access to the respective said storage chamber and to said one receptacle.

42. The arrangement of claim 38 wherein said cabling enclosure mounts therein at least one of a power and a communication receptacle adjacent said storage chamber to accommodate cabling associated with said worksurface, and said cabling enclosure is a freestanding unit having a base adapted for direct supportive engagement with the floor.

43. The arrangement of claim 38 wherein said cabling enclosure is supported on said worksurface.

44. A workstation arrangement comprising:

a worksurface having a generally horizontally oriented top part defining a work area thereon, said top part being supported by a leg arrangement disposed in supportive engagement with a support surface such as a floor; and

a power and communication unit mounted on said worksurface, said unit having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls oriented transversely with respect to said side walls, and a bottom wall disposed at lower edge portions of said side and end walls, at least one of said side walls mounting thereon at least one of a power receptacle and a communication receptacle, said unit including a cover member movably mounted thereon in opposed and spaced relation with said one side wall so as to define a cable storage chamber adjacent said one receptacle, said storage chamber being continuously accessible through an access opening defined between spaced-apart edge portions of said cover member and said one side wall.

45. The arrangement of claim 44 wherein said unit is mounted on said worksurface adjacent an edge thereof such that cabling associated with said worksurface is extendible downwardly and into said access opening for connection to said one receptacle.

46. The arrangement of claim 44 wherein said cover is mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to said one side wall into a first position to allow ready access to said one receptacle, and said cover is vertically slidably movable into a second position to obscure said one receptacle.

47. The arrangement of claim 46 wherein said cover when in said second position is disposed in superimposed and horizontally spaced relation with said one side wall, and said cover is vertically slidably movable downwardly from said second position into said first position.

48. A workstation arrangement comprising:

a worksurface having a top part defining a work area thereon and a leg arrangement projecting downwardly from said top part for supportive engagement with a floor;

a console disposed adjacent said worksurface defining a hollow interior and including a support structure mounting thereon one of a power receptacle connected to an electrical circuit and a communication receptacle connected to a communication circuit, said enclosure including a cover which is spaced from said support structure so as to define a storage chamber between said support structure and said cover for storing cabling, said cover being vertically slidably movable relative to said support structure into a position wherein said cover is spaced from said support structure to permit access to said storage chamber; and

a raceway arrangement defining therein a channel for routing cabling to or from said console and having one end mounted on said console such that said channel communicates with said hollow interior.

49. The workstation arrangement of claim 48 wherein said raceway arrangement includes an elongate spine and a plurality of hollow cover members each defined by vertically spaced top and bottom walls and a pair of horizontally spaced side walls, said cover members being open at both ends and supported on said spine in an end-to-end manner so as to define said channel.

50. The workstation arrangement of claim 48 wherein said raceway arrangement is defined by a pair of raceway segments each having one end mounted on said console so as to project outwardly from opposite sides of said console.

51. A workstation arrangement comprising:

a table having a top defining at least one edge, a pair of legs projecting downwardly from said top for supportive engagement with a support surface, and a support member disposed adjacent said edge and extending transversely between and interconnecting said legs in vertically spaced relation from said top; and

an enclosure mounted on said support member and defining a hollow interior containing one of a power receptacle connected to electrical circuitry and a communication receptacle connected to communication circuitry, said enclosure mounting thereon a cover which is mounted for sliding movement between a closed position to cover said one receptacle and an open position to allow access to said one receptacle.

52. The arrangement of claim 51, wherein said cover is vertically slidably movable relative to a side portion of said enclosure.

53. A workstation arrangement comprising:

a worksurface defining a generally flat upper surface and a leg arrangement projecting generally downwardly therefrom for supportive engagement with a floor; and

a console for providing at least one of power and communication capability to said worksurface and including a pair of upright side walls which are spaced apart from one another, one of said side walls mounting thereon a power or communication receptacle, and a cover mounted adjacent said one side wall for movement between a first position wherein said cover is disposed in opposed and facing relation with said one side wall so as to overlap said receptacle and a second position wherein said cover is laterally displaced from said first position so that said receptacle is readily accessible for connection to power or communication cabling, said cover when in said first position being spaced from said one side wall to define a chamber between said one side wall and said cover, said chamber opening between respective adjacent edge portions of said cover and said one side wall to permit cabling to project into said chamber for connection to said receptacle or for storage, said adjacent edge portions of said cover and said one side wall being spaced from one another such that said chamber is continuously accessible to cabling in both said first and second positions of said cover.

54. The arrangement of claim 53 wherein said chamber opens upwardly between said edge portions of said cover and said one side wall such that cabling associated with a component disposed on said worksurface is extendible vertically downwardly over a terminal edge of said worksurface and into said chamber.