Two person work environment

• US 7,677,182 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hamilton, John R., Nourie, Colin L., Mueller, Karl H., Ludwig, James N., Kincaid, Brett R., Jones, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, JOSE V
• Application Number:
  US11/138,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/42, 52/361, 52/365, 52/791, 522/39, 522/822, 522/381, 522/207, 52/364, 160/130, 160/135, 160/136
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels

Abstract

A work space assembly for use by a pair of people where the pair of people include first and second persons, the system providing each of the first and second persons with a private space and also providing a shared space to be shared by the pair of people during collaboration, the assembly comprising an enclosure wall having first and second distal wall edges that are within an opening plane, the enclosure wall forming a station space including one open side between the distal edges, a rear portion of the enclosure wall spaced a station depth from the opening plane, the enclosure wall having an enclosure height of at least forty-eight inches, divider components including a table top having a table top length dimension between first and second oppositely facing ends and a table height of between 44 and 55 inches and wherein, divider components are positioned with the table top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the rear portion of the enclosure wall and extending therefrom toward the opening plane, the divider components together partitioning the station space into first and second subspaces.

Claims

1. A work space assembly for use by a pair of people where the pair of people include first and second persons, the system providing each of the first and second persons with a private space and also providing a shared space to be shared by the pair of people during collaboration, the assembly comprising:

an enclosure wall supported by a floor surface and having first and second distal wall edges that are within an opening plane, the enclosure wall forming a station space including one open side between the distal edges, a rear portion of the enclosure wall spaced a station depth from the opening plane, the enclosure wall having an enclosure height of at least forty-eight inches above the floor surface;

a table top having a table top length dimension between first and second oppositely facing ends that is less than the station depth dimension, the top having a table height of between forty and fifty-two inches above the floor surface; and

a space divider screen having generally oppositely facing first and second edges, first and second side surfaces and where a top edge of the divider screen is at least sixty inches above the floor surface;

wherein, the table top is positioned with the table top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the rear portion of the enclosure wall and extending between the rear portion and the opening plane and the first edge of the space divider screen is positioned at the second end of the table top with the space divider screen extending there from substantially parallel to the table top length dimension such that the top and the screen partition the station space into first and second subspaces.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the table top is disposed between the rear portion of the enclosure wall and the divider screen and wherein the first side of the divider screen faces in the general direction of the first edge of the enclosure wall.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the second edge of the divider screen is disposed at least proximate the opening plane such that a first opening is formed between the second edge of the divider screen and the first edge of the enclosure wall and a second opening is formed between the second edge of the divider screen and the second edge of the enclosure wall.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first and second openings have first and second opening dimensions, the first and second opening dimensions are substantially similar and wherein the first and second subspaces are similarly sized.

5. The assembly of claim 3 further including a desk top having a front edge, a rear edge, first and second lateral edges and a desk height of between twenty-four and thirty-two inches and wherein the first lateral edge of the desk top is positioned adjacent the first side of the divider screen and the rear edge of the desk top is generally parallel to an adjacent portion of the opening plane such that the desk top extends toward the first edge of the enclosure wall.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein an entry space is formed between the second edge of the desk top and the first edge of the enclosure wall for accessing the first subspace.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the second edge of the desk top is curved.

8. The assembly of claim 6 further including a video display screen positioned on the desk top proximate the rear edge of the desk top for use by a person sitting proximate the front edge of the desk top and within the first subspace.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the display screen is a flat panel display screen.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the display screen is mounted for sliding movement along at least a portion of the rear edge of the desk top.

11. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the desk top is a first desk top and the assembly further includes a second desk top having a front edge, a rear edge, first and second lateral edges and a desk height of between twenty-four and thirty-two inches above the floor surface and wherein the first lateral edge of the second desk top is positioned adjacent the second side of the divider screen and the rear edge of the second desk top is generally parallel to an adjacent portion of the opening plane such that the second desk top extends toward the second edge of the enclosure wall.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the entry space is a first entry space and a second entry space is formed between the second edge of the second desk top and the second edge of the enclosure wall for accessing the second subspace.

13. The assembly of claim 6 further including a privacy screen having a top edge and first and second lateral edges, the privacy screen at least positionable adjacent a portion of the rear edge of the desk top with at least a portion of the privacy screen residing at a height above the desk top height.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the desk top has a desk top length dimension between the first and second lateral edges and wherein a privacy screen width dimension between the first and second lateral edges of the privacy screen is less than the desk top length dimension.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the privacy screen width dimension is between one fourth and three-fourths of the desk top length dimension.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the privacy screen is moveable along the length of the rear edge of the desk top so as to change the relative juxtaposition of the privacy screen and the desk top.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the table top includes first and second lateral edges and has a maximum table top width dimension between the first and second lateral edges of between fifteen and thirty inches above the floor surface.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the table top width dimension is between twenty and twenty-six inches above the floor surface.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure wall includes a planar rear wall member and first and second planar side wall members, the first and second side wall members extending perpendicular to and to the same side of the rear wall member from spaced apart locations along the rear wall member, respectively, such that the station space is formed between the first and second side wall members.

20. The assembly of claim 1 further including a substantially horizontal credenza surface having a height of between twenty-four and thirty-two inches above the floor surface, the credenza surface positioned along the rear portion of the enclosure wall.

21. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the table top includes a top surface that is accessible from within each of the first and second subspaces.

22. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the table top forms a top surface that is shared between the first and second subspaces.

23. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a support structure extends downward from an undersurface of the table top to the floor surface there below to support the top above the floor surface.

24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the support structure includes at least one shelf member below the table top.

25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein the support structure further includes a divider wall below the shelf member and wherein the top of the divider wall has a height of between thirty-two and eight-eight inches above the floor surface.

26. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the space below the shelf member and adjacent the divider wall is unobstructed.

27. The assembly of claim 24 wherein the table top includes first and second lateral edges that extend the distance of the table top length and wherein the space between the shelf member and the table top is open below each lateral edge of the table top.

28. A work space assembly for use by a pair of people where the pair of people include first and second persons, the system providing each of the first and second persons with a private space and also providing a shared space to be shared by the pair of people during collaboration, the assembly comprising:

a substantially planar rear wall member supported above a floor surface and having a first height of at least forty-eight inches above the floor surface;

first and second substantially planar side wall members extending perpendicular to and to the same side of the rear wall member from spaced apart locations along the rear wall member such that a station space is formed between the first and second side wall members and adjacent the rear wall member;

a table top having a table top length dimension between first and second oppositely facing ends, the top having a table height of between forty and fifty-two inches above the floor surface; and

a space divider screen having generally oppositely facing first and second edges, first and second side surfaces and a top edge that is at least sixty inches above the floor surface;

wherein, the table top is positioned with the table top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the rear wall member and extending between and substantially parallel to the first and second side wall members and the first edge of the space divider screen is positioned at the second end of the table top with the space divider screen extending there from substantially parallel to the table top length dimension such that the top and the screen partition the station space into first and second subspaces.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the first end of the table top is adjacent the rear wall member.

30. The assembly of claim 29 further including a desk top having a front edge, a rear edge, first and second lateral edges and a desk height of between twenty-four and thirty-two inches and wherein the first lateral edge of the desk top is positioned adjacent the first side of the divider screen and the rear edge of the desk top is generally perpendicular to the divider screen such that the desk top extends toward the first side wall and a first entry space is formed between the second edge of the desk top and the first side wall for accessing the first subspace.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the desk top is a first desk top and the assembly further includes a second desk top having a front edge, a rear edge, first and second lateral edges and a desk height of between twenty-four and thirty-two inches and wherein the first lateral edge of the second desk top is positioned adjacent the second side of the divider screen and the rear edge of the second desk top is generally perpendicular to the divider screen such that the second desk top extends toward the second side wall and a second entry space is formed between the second edge of the second desk top and the second side wall for accessing the second subspace.

32. The assembly of claim 30 further including a privacy screen having first and second lateral edges, the privacy screen at least positionable adjacent a portion of the rear edge of the desk top with at least a portion of the privacy screen residing at a height above the desk top height wherein the desk top has a desk top length dimension between the first and second lateral edges and wherein a privacy screen width dimension between the first and second lateral edges of the privacy screen is less than the desk top length dimension.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the privacy screen is moveable along the length of the rear edge of the desk top so as to change the relative juxtaposition of the privacy screen and the desk top.

35. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the table top forms a top surface that is shared between the first and second subspaces.

40. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the table top includes a top surface that is accessible from within each of the first and second subspaces.

34. A work space assembly comprising:

a substantially planar rear wall member supported above a floor surface and having a first height of at least forty-eight inches above the floor surface;

first and second substantially planar side wall members extending perpendicular to and to the same side of the rear wall member from spaced apart locations along the rear wall member such that a station space is formed between the first and second side wall members and adjacent the rear wall member;

a table top having a table top length dimension between first and second oppositely facing ends, the top having a table height of between forty and fifty-two inches above the floor surface; and

a space divider screen having generally oppositely facing first and second edges, first and second side surfaces and a top edge that is at least sixty inches;

first and second desk tops, each of the first and second desk tops having a front edge, a rear edge, first and second lateral edges, a desk height of between twenty-four and thirty-two inches above the floor surface and a desk top length dimension between the first and second lateral side edges;

wherein, the table top is positioned with the first end thereof adjacent and the table top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the rear wall member, the first edge of the space divider screen is positioned at the second end of the table top with the space divider screen extending there from substantially parallel to the table top length dimension such that the top and the screen partition the station space into first and second subspaces, the first desk top positioned with the first lateral edge of the first desk top adjacent and the first desk top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the first side of the divider screen such that the first desk top extends toward the first side wall and a first entry space is formed between the second edge of the first desk top and the first side wall for accessing the first subspace and the second desk top positioned with the first lateral edge of the second desk top adjacent and the second desk top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the second side of the divider screen such that the second desk top extends toward the second side wall and a second entry space is formed between the second edge of the second desk top and the second side wall for accessing the second subspace.

36. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the table top includes a top surface that is accessible from within each of the first and second subspaces.

37. The assembly of claim 36 wherein each of the desk tops has a height of between twenty-four and thirty-two inches above the floor surface.

38. The assembly of claim 36 further including a privacy screen having first and second lateral edges, the privacy screen at least positionable adjacent a portion of the rear edge of the first desk top with at least a portion of the privacy screen residing at a height above the desk top height wherein the first desk top has a desk top length dimension between the first and second lateral edges and wherein a privacy screen width dimension between the first and second lateral edges of the privacy screen is less than the desk top length dimension.

39. The assembly of claim 38 wherein the privacy screen is moveable along the length of the rear edge of the desk top so as to change the relative juxtaposition of the privacy screen and the desk top.

41. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the table top forms a top surface that is shared between the first and second subspaces.