Worksurface assembly

• US 8,276,523 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Battey, Robert J, Miller, Scott M, Andres, Todd T, Hamilton, John R, Phillips, Daniel N, Payne, Jamie L, Bultsma, Brian L, Tatman, Daniel R, Slager, Mark T, Heidmann, Kurt R, Houda, James D, Dekker, David J, Kelley, Michael P
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V
• Application Number:
  US12/471,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20090293773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 108/143, 108/64, 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/23, 312/195, 312/196, 312/223.6, 312/223.1, 312/223.3
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• 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 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables

Abstract

A worksurface assembly includes a support structure and a top portion that is movable relative to the support structure. The worksurface assembly may include a mounting rail configured to support various accessory units. A utility supply system is provided, and the top portion of the worksurface assembly may be moved to provide access to the utility supply system. A mechanism provides for controlled movement of the top portion of the worksurface assembly relative to the support structure.

Claims

1. A worksurface assembly comprising:

a support structure;

a power supply system including at least one power supply receptacle;

a worksurface member movably connected to the support structure for movement between extended and retracted positions relative to the support structure, and wherein the worksurface member substantially prevents access to the power supply receptacle when in the retracted position, and permits access to the power supply receptacle when the worksurface member is in the extended position, and wherein the worksurface member moves in a first direction from the extended position to the retracted position, and moves in a second direction from the retracted position to the extended position, the worksurface member defining an enlarged upwardly-facing upper surface;

a movement control device having an engaged configuration permitting movement of the worksurface member in the first direction, and selectively restricting movement of the worksurface member in the second direction to retain the worksurface member in the retracted position, the movement control device further defining a released configuration in which the movement control device permits substantially unrestricted movement in the first and second directions.

2. The worksurface assembly of claim 1, including:

a guide assembly operably interconnecting the worksurface member and the support structure, the guide assembly including spaced apart guide surfaces on one of the worksurface members and the support structure defining a slot therebetween, the guide surfaces tapering away from eachother to define an enlarged open end of the slot, the guide assembly further including a guide member on the other of the worksurface member and the support structure that contacts at least one of the guide surfaces and shifts the worksurface member in a direction that is transverse to the first direction as the worksurface member moves towards the retracted position to provide side-to-side alignment of the worksurface member relative to the support structure.

3. The worksurface assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the guide member comprises a blade that is mounted to the support structure.

4. The worksurface assembly of claim 3, wherein:

the side-to-side position of the blade relative to the support structure can be adjusted to thereby adjust the position of the worksurface member relative to the support structure when the worksurface member is in the retracted position.

5. The worksurface assembly of claim 3, wherein:

the blade comprises a projection having generally parallel opposite side faces, leading and trailing edges, and a distal edge extending between the leading and trailing edges; and

wherein;

the leading edge enters the gap in the guide structure as the worksurface member approaches the retracted position.

6. The worksurface assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the opposite side faces define a first dimension therebetween, and the leading edge includes opposite side surfaces that taper towards one another to define a second dimension therebetween that is significantly less than the first dimension.

7. The worksurface assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the power supply system includes an upwardly-opening tray structure configured to support power lines therein, and wherein the worksurface member substantially covers the tray structure when the worksurface member is in the retracted position, and wherein the worksurface member does not cover at least a substantial portion of the tray structure when the worksurface member is in the extended position.

8. The worksurface assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the worksurface member defines opposite side edges and front and rear edges extending between the opposite side edges;

the worksurface assembly defines a rear portion;

the support structure includes an elongated portion extending along the rear portion of the worksurface assembly, wherein the elongated portion is spaced-apart from the rear edge of the worksurface member when the worksurface member is in the retracted position to define a gap through which power lines can be routed from above the worksurface member to the power supply receptacle.

9. The worksurface assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the tray structure includes a generally upright divider wall defining front and rear spaces within the tray structure that are separated by the divider wall, and wherein the power supply receptacle is mounted to the divider wall; and

including;

a power line having a first end connected to the power supply receptacle, the power line extending through at least a portion of the front space and out of the tray structure whereby a second end of the power line can be connected to an external power source.

10. The worksurface assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the worksurface member substantially covers the front and rear spaces within the tray structure when the worksurface member is in the retracted position, and wherein the worksurface member substantially covers the front space without covering the rear space to the extent it would significantly restrict access to the power supply receptacle when the worksurface member is in the extended position.

11. A worksurface assembly wherein:

a support structure;

a power supply system including at least one power supply receptacle;

a worksurface member movably connected to the support structure for movement between extended and retracted positions relative to the support structure, and wherein the worksurface member substantially prevents access to the power supply receptacle when in the retracted position, and permits access to the power supply receptacle when the worksurface member is in the extended position, and wherein the worksurface member moves in a first direction from the extended position to the retracted position, and moves in a second direction from the retracted position to the extended position, the worksurface member defining an enlarged upwardly-facing upper surface;

a movement control device permitting movement of the worksurface member in the first direction, and selectively restricting movement of the worksurface member in the second direction to retain the worksurface member in the retracted position; and

wherein

the movement control device includes a first engagement member attached to one of the support structure and the worksurface member, and a second engagement member attached to the other of the support structure and the worksurface member such that the first engagement member moves relative to the second engagement member upon movement of the worksurface member relative to the support structure, and wherein;

the first engagement member is biased into engagement with the second engagement member and permits movement of the worksurface member in the first direction and substantially prevents movement of the worksurface member in the second direction.

12. The worksurface assembly of claim 11, wherein:

a movable release member operably connected to the first engagement member such that movement of the release member disengages the first engagement member from the second engagement member and permits movement of the worksurface member in the second direction.

13. The worksurface assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the first engagement member is pivotably attached to the one of the support structure and the worksurface member for rotation about a pivot axis.

14. The worksurface assembly of claim 13, wherein:

the second engagement member includes a second engagement surface that is generally planar;

the first engagement member includes a first engagement surface that contacts the second engagement surface.

15. The worksurface assembly of claim 14, wherein:

the first engagement member comprises a cam having a curved outer surface defining a non-constant radius about the pivot axis.

16. The worksurface assembly of claim 15, wherein:

the first engagement surface comprises a smoothly curved cam surface defining a non-constant radius about the pivot axis.

17. The worksurface assembly of claim 15, wherein:

the cam is mounted to the worksurface member and the second engagement member is mounted to the support structure.

18. The worksurface assembly of claim 15, including:

a resilient member biasing the curved outer surface of the cam into contact with the second engagement member; and

wherein;

the movable release member is operably connected to the first engagement member by an elongated flexible member.

19. A worksurface assembly comprising:

a support structure;

a power supply system including at least one power supply receptacle;

a worksurface member movably connected to the support structure for movement between extended and retracted positions relative to the support structure, and wherein the worksurface member substantially prevents access to the power supply receptacle when in the retracted position, and permits access to the power supply receptacle when the worksurface member is in the extended position, and wherein the worksurface member moves in a first direction from the extended position to the retracted position, and moves in a second direction from the retracted position to the extended position, the worksurface member defining an enlarged upwardly-facing upper surface;

a movement control device permitting movement of the worksurface member in the first direction, and selectively restricting movement of the worksurface member in the second direction to retain the worksurface member in the retracted position; and

at least one resilient stop member limiting movement of the worksurface member in the first direction when the worksurface member is in the retracted position and biasing the worksurface member in the second direction when the worksurface member is in the closed position such that the one resilient stop member and the movement control device substantially prevents movement of the worksurface member in the first and second directions, respectively, when the worksurface member is in the retracted position.

20. A worksurface system comprising:

a support structure including a pair of spaced apart bracket structures, wherein the support structure is configured to support the worksurface system;

a worksurface member defining a front portion, a rear portion, opposite end portions, and a horizontally enlarged upper surface;

an elongated rail member having opposite ends connected to the bracket structures, and having an upwardly-opening slot extending along at least a portion of the rear portion of the worksurface member, the elongated rail member having a horizontally-facing side surface and an upwardly-facing upper surface; and

an accessory unit supported on the rail member, the accessory unit including at least one upright support structure having a connecting structure at a lower end thereof, the connecting structure including an extension received in the slot of the elongated rail member, and a second surface facing the extension and contacting the horizontally-facing side surface of the elongated rail member.

21. The worksurface system of claim 20, wherein:

the upwardly-opening slot is defined by parallel spaced-apart surfaces defining a gap therebetween, and wherein the surfaces extend to opposite ends of the rail whereby the slots define open opposite ends that open horizontally outwardly at the opposite ends of the rail;

the bracket structures each include an upwardly-opening slot portion aligned with the open opposite ends of the upwardly-opening slot of the elongated rail member, the slot portions including opposed surfaces that are aligned with the parallel spaced apart surfaces defining the elongated slot in the rail member, and an end surface extending between the opposed surfaces.

22. The worksurface system of claim 20, including:

an elongated cross member having opposite ends connected to the bracket structures; and

;

an upwardly-opening tray structure extending between the elongated rail member and the elongated cross member.

23. The worksurface system of claim 22, wherein:

the worksurface member is movably mounted to the support structure and translates fore and aft between extended and retracted positions, wherein the worksurface member substantially covers the tray structure when the worksurface member is in the retracted position, and wherein the worksurface member defines a rear edge that is spaced apart from the rail member to provide access to the tray structure when the worksurface member is in the extended position.

24. The worksurface system of claim 22, including:

at least one power supply unit connected to the tray structure, wherein, the power supply unit includes electrical power receptacles facing outwardly on opposite sides thereof.

25. The worksurface system of claim 24, wherein:

the position of the power supply unit relative to the cross member can be adjusted.

26. The worksurface system of claim 25, wherein:

the tray structure defines opposite ends; and

including;

inwardly-facing data receptacles at the opposite ends of the tray structure.

27. The worksurface system of claim 20, wherein:

the worksurface member defines a rear edge that is spaced apart from the elongated rail member to define a gap for routing of utility lines between the elongated rail member and the worksurface member.

28. A worksurface assembly comprising:

a support structure;

a power supply system including at least one power supply receptacle;

a worksurface member movably connected to the support structure for movement between extended and retracted positions relative to the support structure, and a plurality of intermediate positions between the extended and retracted positions, and wherein the worksurface member substantially prevents access to the power supply receptacle when in the retracted position, and permits access to the power supply receptacle when the worksurface member is in the extended position, and wherein the worksurface member moves in a first direction from the extended position to the retracted position, and moves in a second direction from the retracted position to the extended position, the worksurface member defining an enlarged upwardly-facing upper surface;

a movement control device defining engaged and released states, wherein the movement control device permits movement of the worksurface member in the first direction when in the engaged state and when in the released state, the movement control device selectively restricting movement of the worksurface member in the second direction when the movement control device is in the engaged state and permitting movement in the first direction when the movement control device is in the engaged state to retain the worksurface member in the retracted position and to prevent movement in the second direction when the worksurface is at a selected one of the intermediate positions.