Personal workspace assembly

• US 9,622,570 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Holdredge, Russell T, Corcorran, Sean, Jones, David K, Krupiczewicz, Todd, Mckenna, Mark, Kong, Duck Young, Machin, Keith Robert, Peterson, Gordon, Spoelhof, Mark William, Mydur, Pradeep, Battey, David J
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V
• Application Number:
  US14/642,902
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 108 42, 108 5001, 108152, 3122233, 2441186, 522207, 522381, 2972171, 2972177, 297136, 297135, 297147
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/008 Tables or desks having means for applying electronic or electric devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/043 adjustable, foldable
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/00 Suspended or hinged panels forming a table; Wall tables bed tables A47B23/00; adapted for use in vehicles A47B31/06; in combination with other furniture A47B83/00; arm-rest tables for chairs A47C
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7405 with free upper edge, e.g. for use as office space dividers
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/125 Small buildings, arranged in other buildings E04H1/1272 takes precedence

Abstract

A tablet assembly for use in a space partially defined by a wall structure having a substantially planar wall surface, the assembly comprising a first coupler supported by the wall structure, a tablet support arm assembly having a support arm length dimension between proximal and distal ends, the proximal end mounted to the first coupler adjacent the planar wall surface for rotation about a first vertical axis through a first range of motion between first and second first-axis limit positions, the arm assembly extending from the planar wall surface to form acute angles with the planar wall surface in each of the first and second first-axis limit positions and a tablet member forming top and bottom surfaces and having a side edge, the tablet member supported at the distal end of the arm for rotation about a second vertical axis through a second range of motion between first and second second-axis limit positions, wherein the limit positions limit the tablet member to positions in which the side edge of the tablet member is constrained from contacting the planar wall surface.

Claims

1. A tablet assembly for use in a space partially defined by a wall structure having a substantially planar wall surface, the tablet assembly comprising:

a first coupler supported by the wall structure adjacent the planar wall surface, the first coupler comprising first and second stop members;

a tablet support arm assembly having a support arm length dimension between proximal and distal ends, the proximal end mounted to the first coupler adjacent the planar wall surface for rotation about a first vertical axis through a first range of motion between first and second first-axis limit positions defined by the corresponding first and second stop members, the arm assembly extending from the planar wall surface to form acute angles with the planar wall surface in each of the first and second first-axis limit positions; and

a tablet member including a substantially planar member forming top and bottom surfaces and having a side edge between the top and bottom surfaces that defines a tablet member shape, the tablet member supported at the distal end of the tablet support arm for rotation about a second vertical axis through a second range of motion with respect to the support arm, the second range of motion between first and second second-axis limit positions;

wherein the first-axis limit positions and second-axis limit positions limit the tablet member to positions in which the side edge of the tablet member is constrained from contacting the planar wall surface.

2. The tablet assembly of claim 1 further including a support arm extension member having an arm extension member length dimension and mounted to the distal end of the tablet support arm for rotation about the second vertical axis through the second range of motion with respect to the support arm, the tablet member mounted to the arm extension for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis that extends along the extension member length dimension within a horizontal axis range of motion between first and second horizontal limit positions in which the table member is substantially horizontally oriented, and forming an acute angle with a horizontal plane, when in the first and second horizontal limit positions, respectively.

3. The tablet assembly of claim 2 wherein the side edge of the tablet member includes a front edge portion that is substantially straight, when the support arm is in the first first-axis limit position and the tablet member is in the first second-axis limit position, the front edge portion of the tablet member is substantially parallel to the planar wall surface.

4. The tablet assembly of claim 3 wherein, when the tablet member is in the first horizontal limit position, the front edge portion of the tablet member is adjacent the planar wall surface.

5. The tablet assembly of claim 3 wherein the acute angles formed by the arm assembly with the planar wall surface when the arm assembly is in each of the first and second first-axis limit positions is greater than 20 degrees.

6. The tablet assembly of claim 5 wherein the acute angle formed by the arm assembly with the planar wall surface when the arm assembly is in the first first-axis limit position is greater than 30 degrees and wherein the acute angle formed by the arm assembly with the planar wall surface when the arm assembly is in the second first-axis limit position is greater than 40 degrees.

7. The tablet assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second second-axis limit positions form acute angles with the length dimension of the tablet arm assembly.

8. The tablet assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second second-axis limit positions form acute angles with the length dimension of the tablet arm assembly that are less than 55 degrees.

9. The tablet assembly of claim 8 wherein the second horizontal limit position forms an angle of less than 60 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.

10. The tablet assembly of claim 2 wherein the arm extension member is mounted to a top surface of the tablet support arm at the distal end and wherein the top surface of the tablet member is above the arm extension member when the tablet member is in the first horizontal limit position.

11. The tablet assembly of claim 2 further including a shelf member having top and bottom shelf surfaces, the shelf member mounted to the wall structure above the tablet support arm and extending to the side of the planar wall surface on which the tablet support arm resides.

12. The tablet assembly of claim 11 wherein the length dimension of the tablet support arm is substantially parallel to the bottom shelf surface.

13. The tablet assembly of claim 11 wherein the shelf member forms a shelf edge between the top and bottom shelf surfaces and wherein the distal end of the tablet support arm extends past the shelf edge in all table support arm positions including each of the first and second first-axis positions.

14. The tablet assembly of claim 13 wherein the top surface of the tablet member is at least as high as the top shelf surface when the top surface of the tablet member is horizontal.

15. The tablet assembly of claim 13 wherein the shelf edge includes a lateral edge portion and a front edge portion, the lateral edge portion extending along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the planar wall surface and the front edge portion extending between the lateral edge portion and the planar wall surface, the tablet member adjacent the front edge portion when the support arm is in the first-axis first limit position and the tablet member is in the second-axis first limit position and adjacent the lateral edge portion when the support arm is in the first-axis second limit position and the tablet member is in the second-axis second limit position.

16. The tablet assembly of claim 15 wherein the second-axis limit position limits the tablet member to positions in which the side edge of the tablet member is constrained from contacting the side edge of the shelf member.

17. The tablet assembly of claim 11 wherein the wall structure includes a top surface and wherein the top surface of the shelf member is substantially flush with the top surface of the wall structure.

18. The tablet assembly of claim 2 wherein the side edge of the tablet member includes front and rear edge portions and first and second side portions that traverse the distance between the front and rear edge portions, the horizontal axis about which the tablet member rotates closer to the rear edge portion than to the front edge portion of the tablet member.

19. The tablet assembly of claim 18 wherein the tablet member forms a depth dimension between the front and rear edge portions and wherein the horizontal axis is within one quarter of the depth dimension of the rear edge portion.

20. The tablet assembly of claim 19 wherein a frictional brake is provided between the tablet member and the arm extension member that restricts rotation of the tablet member about the horizontal axis until a force greater than a threshold level is applied to the tablet member.

21. The tablet assembly of claim 2 wherein the arm extension member is mounted to the distal end of the tablet support arm via a friction fit to restrict movement of the arm extension member relative to the tablet support arm member until a force greater than a threshold force is applied to the arm extension member.

22. The tablet assembly of claim 1 wherein the side edge of the tablet member includes a front edge portion, a rear edge portion and first and second side edge portions that traverse the distance between the front edge portion and the rear edge portion, the front edge portion substantially straight, a central portion of the rear edge portion substantially straight and parallel to the front edge portion, lateral portions of the rear edge portion adjacent the side edge portions extending rearward from the central portion and forming top wrist support surfaces at opposite ends of the central portion.

23. The tablet assembly of claim 22 wherein the lateral portions of the tablet member angle downward from the top surface of the tablet member.

24. The tablet assembly of claim 22 for use with a portable electronic device having a device side edge and wherein the tablet member forms an elongated slot in the top surface for receiving the device side edge and supporting the portable electronic device is a substantially upright position.

25. A tablet assembly for use with a support structure, the tablet assembly comprising:

a first coupler for mounting to the support structure;

a tablet support arm member having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end mounted to the first coupler for rotation about a first vertical axis;

a support arm extension member mounted to the distal end of the support arm member for rotation about a second vertical axis, the support arm member having a length dimension that extends along a horizontal axis;

a tablet member including a substantially planar member forming top and bottom surfaces and having a side edge between the top and bottom surfaces that defines a tablet member shape, the tablet member supported by the support arm extension member for rotation about the horizontal axis;

a horizontal coupler positioned between the tablet member and the support arm extension member, the coupler forming a friction fit and first and second stop surfaces restricting rotation of the tablet member to a range between first and second limit positions when a force greater than a threshold force associated with the friction fit is exceeded, the top surface of the tablet member substantially horizontal when the tablet member is in the first limit position and the top surface of the tablet member forming an acute angle with a horizontal plane when the tablet member is in the second limit position.

26. A lounge assembly for use in a space having an ambient floor surface, the lounge assembly comprising:

a support structure extending upward from the ambient floor surface, the support structure including at least a first lateral support member;

a chair assembly including a seat and a backrest supported by the support structure to face in a forward direction, the chair assembly supported by the support structure to a first side of, and spaced apart from, the first lateral support member;

a shelf member supported by the support structure between the chair assembly and the first lateral support structure, the shelf member including substantially horizontal top and bottom surfaces;

a tablet assembly supported by the support structure to the first side of the first lateral support member, the tablet assembly including

(i) a first coupler supported by the support structure adjacent the first side of the first lateral support structure and below the shelf member;

(ii) a tablet support arm assembly having a support arm length dimension between proximal and distal ends, the proximal end mounted to the first coupler adjacent the first lateral support member for rotation about a first vertical axis, a top surface of the tablet support arm moving within a substantially horizontal plane during rotation about the first vertical axis, the substantially horizontal plane forming a gap with the bottom surface of the shelf member; and

(iii) a tablet member including a substantially planar member forming top and bottom surfaces and having a side edge between the top and bottom surfaces that defines a tablet member shape, the tablet member supported at the distal end of the tablet support arm and moveable between a storage position to a front side of the shelf member and a use position to a side of the shelf member opposite the first lateral support member and at least in part above the seat.