Multi-use conferencing space, table arrangement and display configuration

• US 8,407,944 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Baloga, Mark A., Graziano, Frank G., West, Terence D., Weller, George V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener, Joshua J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US11/005,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,039 Days
• Field of Search: 52/29, 52/361, 52/364, 521/692, 521/74, 522/34, 522/381, 522/39, 434/72, 434/80, 108/59, 108/64, 108/102, 108/137, 108/143
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0079 Conference or video conference table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising a support, at least one table top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the at least one top member supported by the support with the flat surface substantially horizontal, the at least one top member including at least first and second substantially straight edge sections where the second edge section forms an angle with respect to the first edge section of less than substantially sixty degrees and at least first and second display screens positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to the first and second edge sections, respectively, each of the first and second display screens facing across at least a portion of the top surface of the top member.

Claims

1. A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising:

a support;

at least one table top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the at least one top member supported by the support with the flat surface substantially horizontal, the at least one top member forming first and second corners, a first edge extending between the first and second corners and a second edge extending between the first and second corners, the first edge including at least one substantially straight section proximate the first corner and at least one curved section that bows convexly outward generally away from the second edge, the second edge including at least one curved section that bows convexly outward generally away from the first edge and a substantially straight section proximate the second corner wherein the straight edge sections of the first and second edges are substantially parallel;

a first display screen wherein the screen is positioned along the at least one substantially straight section of the first edge with the screen generally facing in the direction of the second edge and with the screen facing across the top surface; and

a second display screen, the second display screen positioned along the straight section of the second edge with the second screen generally facing in the direction of the first edge and with the screen facing across the top surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the substantially straight section of the first edge is a first straight section and wherein the first edge further includes a second substantially straight section adjacent the second corner, the curved section of the first edge between the first and second straight sections.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the second edge includes first and second substantially straight sections proximate the first and second corners, respectively, and, wherein, the curved section of the second edge is between the first and second straight sections of the second edge.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first straight section of the first edge is longer than the second straight section of the first edge and wherein the second straight section of the second edge is longer than the first straight section of the second edge.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first and second straight sections of the first edge form a substantially ninety degree angle and wherein the first and second straight sections of the second edge form a substantially ninety degree angle.

6. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first and second straight sections of the first edge form an angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees and wherein the first and second straight sections of the second edge form an angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees.

7. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first and second edges have substantially similar length dimensions.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one top member includes at least first and second top members that form the first and second edges.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the first and second top members form the first and second edges, respectively.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the first and second edges are external edges and wherein the first top member forms an internal edge opposite the external edge of the first top member and the second top member forms an internal edge opposite the external edge of the second top member.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the internal edges of the first and second top members are substantially straight and wherein the internal edge of the first top member is parallel to the internal edge of the second top member.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the support facilitates movement of at least one of the first and second top members with respect to the other of the first and second top member.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the support includes at least one rail and wherein the at least one of the first and second top members that is supported to move with respect to the other of the first and second top members is mounted to the rail for sliding movement there along.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein each of the first and second top members is mounted to the at least one rail for sliding movement there along.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein each of the first and second top members is mounted to the rail for movement along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the internal edges of the first and second top members.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the straight section of the first edge is closer to the second corner when the first and second top members are in the combined orientation than when the first and second top members are in the spaced orientation.

17. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the first and second top members are positionable along the rail in at least two juxtapositions including a combined orientation wherein the internal edges of the first and second top members are adjacent along substantially their entire length dimensions and a spaced orientation wherein at least a section of the internal edge of the first top member is spaced from at least a section of the internal edge of the second top member.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein each of the first and second top members slides along the rail along a trajectory that is parallel to the internal edge of the top member.

19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the straight section of the first edge is closer to the second corner when the first and second top members are in the spaced orientation than when the first and second top members are in the combined orientation.

20. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the display screen includes a lower edge and wherein the lower edge is proximate the straight section of the first edge.

21. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the display screen is at least eighteen inches high by twenty-four inches wide.

22. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the display screen is mounted to the straight section of the first edge.

23. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the support is a first support and wherein the assembly further includes a second support that independently supports the display screen adjacent the first edge.

24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the second support includes wheels for transporting the display screen.

25. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the second support includes a rail and an arm assembly, the arm assembly mounting the screen to the rail for movement there along.

26. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second screens face in opposite directions.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the first and second display screens oppose each other.

28. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one top member includes at least first and second top members that form the first and second edges.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the first and second edges are external edges and wherein the first top member forms an internal edge opposite the external edge of the first top member that extends between the first and second corners and the second top member forms an internal edge opposite the external edge of the second top member that extends between the first and second corners.

30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the internal edges of the first and second top members are substantially straight and wherein the internal edge of the first top member is parallel to the internal edge of the second top member.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the support facilitates movement of at least the first top member with respect to the second top member.

32. The assembly of claim 31 wherein the support includes at least one rail and wherein the first top member is mounted to the rail for sliding movement there along.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein each of the first and second top members is mounted to the rail for movement along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the internal edges of the first and second top members.

34. The assembly of claim 31 wherein the display screen positioned proximate the straight section of the first edge is supported so at to be moveable along with the first top member.