Frame type workstation configurations

• US 9,185,974 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Kirt, Eberlein, David C., Biddle, Fredric
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AYRES, TIMOTHY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/481,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20130312642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 108/11, 108/12, 108 59- 65, 312194-203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/02 Underframes
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/081 Movable, extending, sliding table tops
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/088 Sectional table tops
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/16 Holders for glasses, ashtrays, lamps, candles or the like forming part of tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2009/006 of two distinct heights, e.g. coffee table - dining table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/025 Computer workstation with integrated seat
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/04 Tables combined with other pieces of furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 85/06 Tables convertible otherwise into beds A47C17/62; into billiard tables A63D15/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20

Abstract

A furniture assembly comprising a first frame structure having front and rear portions and including at least a first leg member and a first rail member supported by the at least a first leg member where the first rail member has a first length dimension, second rail member supported by the at least a second leg member spaced apart from the first rail member wherein an assembly space includes the space between the first and second rail members, a first furniture sub-assembly having first and second ends, having a first depth dimension and a second furniture sub-assembly having first and second ends, a second depth dimension, wherein the combined first and second depth dimensions are less than the first length dimension.

Claims

1. A furniture assembly comprising:

a first frame structure including at least a first leg member and a substantially horizontal first rail member supported by the at least a first leg member, the first rail member having a first length dimension;

a second frame structure including at least a second leg member and a substantially horizontal second rail member supported by the at least a second leg member, the second rail member having a second length dimension, an assembly space including the space between the first and second frame structures;

a first furniture sub-assembly including a first rigid furniture component having first and second ends and having a first depth dimension wherein the first furniture sub-assembly is supported to one side of the first frame structure at opposite ends by the first and second rail members for sliding motion along each of the first and second rail members; and

a second furniture sub-assembly including a second rigid furniture component having first and second ends and a second depth dimension, the second furniture sub-assembly supported to the one side of the first frame structure at opposite ends by the first rail member and a rail member of another frame structure for sliding motion along each of the first rail member and the rail member of the another frame structure;

wherein the combined first and second depth dimensions are less than the first length dimension so that at least a portion of the assembly space adjacent the front portion of the first frame structure, adjacent the rear portion of the first frame structure and adjacent an intermediate portion of the first frame structure between the front and rear portions of the first frame structure is unobstructed on the first side of the first frame structure by the first and second furniture sub-assemblies.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the another frame structure includes a third frame structure including at least a third leg member and a substantially horizontal third rail member supported by the third leg member, the third rail member having a third length dimension, wherein the third rail member is spaced to the first side of the first frame structure and is substantially parallel to the first rail member, the second furniture sub-assembly supported at the second end for sliding motion by the third rail member.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly is supported within the rear portion of the assembly space and the second furniture sub-assembly is supported adjacent the front portion of the assembly space.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each of the second and third length dimensions is less than one half the first length dimension.

5. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly further includes a first horizontal support member, first and second ends of the first horizontal support member mounted to rear ends of the first and second rail members, respectively, and a rear edge of the first table top member supported by the first horizontal support member, the second furniture sub-assembly includes a second horizontal support member and a second table top member, first and second ends of the second horizontal support member mounted to front ends of the first and third rail members, respectively, and a rear edge of the second table top member supported by the second horizontal support member.

6. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the rear portion of the second frame structure is aligned with the rear portion of the first frame structure and the front portion of the third frame structure is aligned with the front portion of the first frame structure and wherein the rear portion of the third frame structure is spaced apart from the front portion of the second frame structure.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second rigid furniture component includes a second table top member and wherein the second table top member resides completely within the assembly space.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second rail members includes a top surface and wherein the first and second furniture sub-assemblies each includes a top surface and wherein the top surfaces of the first and second furniture sub-assemblies are substantially flush with the top surfaces of the first and second rail members.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein each of the first and second furniture sub-assemblies includes a table top.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly and the second furniture sub-assembly are mounted to facing surfaces of the first and second frame structures.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly is located completely within the assembly space.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly comprises a first table top member.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly further includes a first horizontal support member, the first horizontal support member secured to each of the first and second rail members and supporting a rear edge of the first table top member.

14. The assembly of claim 13 further including fasteners at first and second ends of the first horizontal support member for securing the first horizontal support member to the first and second rail members.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the depth dimension of each of the furniture sub-assemblies supported within the assembly space is less than one third the first length dimension.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly is spaced apart from the second furniture sub-assembly to form the unobstructed portion of the assembly space between the first and second furniture sub-assemblies.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the furniture sub-assemblies may be mounted to the first rail member anywhere along the first length dimension.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the rear portion of the second frame structure is aligned with the rear portion of the first frame structure.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first frame structure further includes a first arch sub-assembly including at least a first upper rail member supported above and parallel to the first rail member, the first upper rail member having a first upper rail length dimension.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein each of the rail members includes at least one slot along its length dimension for mounting other assembly components at different locations along the length dimension.

21. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the first upper rail member is an intermediate rail member and wherein the first arch sub-assembly further includes a first top rail member supported above and parallel to the intermediate rail member, the first top rail member having a first top rail length dimension.

22. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the furniture sub-assemblies supported in the assembly space reside substantially within the space below a top surface of the first rail member.

23. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the second frame structure includes a second arch sub-assembly including a second upper rail member supported above and parallel to the second rail member.

24. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the rail members includes an extruded member having a cross section that forms at least one slot in a side surface of the rail member along the length of the rail member for fastening furniture sub-assemblies.

25. A furniture assembly comprising:

a first frame structure having front and rear portions and including at least a first leg member and a substantially horizontal first rail member supported by the at least a first leg member, the first rail member having a first length dimension and a first side surface that resides in a substantially vertical first plane;

a second frame structure having front and rear portions and including at least a second leg member and a substantially horizontal second rail member supported by the at least a second leg member, the second rail member having a second length dimension and a first side surface that resides in a substantially vertical second plane and a second side surface opposite the first side surface that resides in a substantially vertical third plane, wherein the second frame structure is spaced apart from and to a first side of the first frame structure so that the first side surface of the second rail member faces the first side surface of the first rail member with the second plane substantially parallel to the first plane, wherein a first assembly space includes the space between the first and second planes, a front portion of the first assembly space adjacent the front portion of the first frame structure and a rear portion of the first assembly space adjacent the rear portion of the first frame structure;

a first furniture sub-assembly having front and rear portions and including a first table top member having first and second ends and having a first depth dimension wherein the first table top member is supported within the first assembly space at opposite ends by the first and second rail members and resides completely within the first assembly space;

a second furniture sub-assembly having front and rear portions and including a second rigid furniture component having first and second ends and a second depth dimension, the second furniture sub-assembly supported within the first assembly space at opposite ends by the first rail member and a rail member of another frame structure;

wherein the combined first and second depth dimensions are less than the first length dimension so that at least a portion of the first assembly space one of adjacent the front portion of the first frame structure, adjacent the rear portion of the first frame structure and adjacent an intermediate portion of the first frame structure between the front and rear portions of the first frame structure is unobstructed on the first side of the first frame structure by the first and second furniture sub-assemblies;

a third frame structure, the third frame structure having front and rear portions and including a substantially horizontal third rail member having a third length dimension, the third rail member having a first side surface that resides in a substantially vertical fourth plane, wherein the third frame structure is spaced apart from and to the second side of the second frame structure so that the first side surface of the third rail member faces the second side surface of the second rail member with the fourth plane substantially parallel to the third plane, wherein a second assembly space includes the space between the third and fourth planes; and

at least a third furniture sub-assembly that resides within the second assembly space, the third furniture sub-assembly including at least a second table top member having first and second ends mounted to the second side of the second rail member and the first side of the third rail member, respectively, and wherein the third table top member resides completely within the second assembly space.

26. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the second rail member includes a top surface and wherein top surfaces of the first and second table top members are substantially flush with the top surface of the second rail member.

27. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly further includes a first horizontal support member, the first horizontal support member secured to each of the first and second rail members and supporting a rear edge of the first table top member.

28. The assembly of claim 27 further including fasteners at first and second ends of the first horizontal support member for securing the first horizontal support member to the first and second rail members.

29. The assembly of claim 25 wherein each of the furniture sub-assemblies supported by the first rail member is supported by the first rail member for sliding motion there along, each of the furniture sub-assemblies including at least one fastener that may be fastened to secure the furniture sub-assembly to the first rail member and may be unfastened so that the associated furniture subassembly can be slid to a different location on the first rail member and refastened at the different location.

30. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the depth dimension of each of the furniture sub-assemblies supported within the assembly space is less than one third the first length dimension.

31. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly is spaced apart from the second furniture sub-assembly to form the unobstructed portion of the assembly space between the first and second furniture sub-assemblies.

32. The assembly of claim 25 wherein each of the furniture sub-assemblies may be mounted to the first rail member anywhere along the first length dimension.

33. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the rear portion of the second frame structure is aligned with the rear portion of the first frame structure.

34. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the first frame structure further includes a first arch sub-assembly including at least a first upper rail member supported above and parallel to the first rail member, the first upper rail member having a first upper rail length dimension.

35. The assembly of claim 34 wherein each of the rail members includes at least one slot along its length dimension for mounting other assembly components at different locations along the length dimension.

36. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the first upper rail member is an intermediate rail member and wherein the first arch sub-assembly further includes a first top rail member supported above and parallel to the intermediate rail member, the first top rail member having a first top rail length dimension.

37. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the furniture sub-assemblies supported in the assembly space reside substantially within the space below a top surface of the first rail member.

38. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the second frame structure includes a second arch sub-assembly including a second upper rail member supported above and parallel to the second rail member.

39. The assembly of claim 25 wherein each of the rail members includes an extruded member having a cross section that forms at least one slot in a side surface of the rail member along the length of the rail member for fastening furniture sub-assemblies.

40. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly is supported within the rear portion of the assembly space and the third furniture sub-assembly is supported adjacent the front portion of the first assembly space.

41. The assembly of claim 25 wherein each of the second and third length dimensions is less than one half the first length dimension.

42. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly further includes a first horizontal support member, first and second ends of the first horizontal support member mounted to rear ends of the first and second rail members, respectively, and a rear edge of the first table top member supported by the first horizontal support member, the third furniture sub-assembly includes a second horizontal support member and a second table top member, first and second ends of the third horizontal support member mounted to front ends of the first and third rail members, respectively, and a rear edge of the second table top member supported by the second horizontal support member.

43. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the rear portion of the second frame structure is aligned with the rear portion of the first frame structure and the front portion of the third frame structure is aligned with the front portion of the first frame structure and wherein the rear portion of the third frame structure is spaced apart from the front portion of the second frame structure.

44. A furniture assembly comprising:

a first frame structure including at least a first leg member and a substantially horizontal first rail member supported by the at least a first leg member, the first rail member having a first length dimension and a first side surface that resides in a substantially vertical first plane;

a second frame structure including at least a second leg member and a substantially horizontal second rail member supported by the at least a second leg member, the second rail member having a second length dimension and a first side surface that resides in a substantially vertical second plane, wherein the second frame structure is spaced apart from and to a first side of the first frame structure so that the first side surface of the second rail member faces the first side surface of the first rail member with the second plane substantially parallel to the first plane, wherein a first assembly space includes the space between the first and second planes, the second rail member including a second side surface opposite the first side surface that resides in a substantially vertical third plane;

a third frame structure, the third frame structure including a substantially horizontal third rail member having a third length dimension, the third rail member having a first side surface that resides in a substantially vertical fourth plane, wherein the third frame structure is spaced apart from and to the second side of the second frame structure so that the first side surface of the third rail member faces the second side surface of the second rail member with the fourth plane substantially parallel to the third plane, wherein a second assembly space includes the space between the third and fourth planes;

a first furniture sub-assembly having first and second ends wherein the first furniture subassembly is supported within the first assembly space at opposite ends by the first and second rail members and resides completely within the first assembly space; and

a second furniture sub-assembly having first and second ends wherein the second furniture subassembly is supported within the second assembly space at opposite ends by the second and third rail members and resides completely within the second assembly space.

45. The assembly of claim 44 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly is mounted for sliding motion along each of the first and second rail members and wherein the second furniture sub-assembly is mounted for sliding motion along each of the second and third rail members.

46. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the first furniture sub-assembly includes a first table top member and wherein the second furniture sub-assembly includes a second table top member.

47. The assembly of claim 46 wherein each of the first, second and third rail members includes a top surface and wherein top surfaces of the first and second table top members are substantially flush with the top surfaces of the first, second and third rail members.