Furniture arrangement having a slidable intermediate table

• US 6,453,826 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Fookes, Tim, Marschand, Bret, Chesser, Linda E., Schacht, William F., Tayler, Jeff, Roels, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US09/704,032
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 522/207, 52/365, 52/361, 135/104, 135/125, 135/126, 135/127, 135/901, 108/50.11, 108/60, 312/194, 312/196, 160/351
• US Class Current: 108/50.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/065 Pivotally mounted auxiliary tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A desk arrangement is provided which includes freestanding furniture units, namely, a stationary cabinet and a movable table. While the movable table is movable relative to the cabinet, the cabinet and table are connected together by an intermediate link top which permits relative movement therebetween but interconnects the cabinet and table to define a single interconnected furniture unit. The link top is both slidable and pivotable relative to the cabinet and table to permit sliding and pivoting of the table between a closed position directly adjacent to the cabinet and an open position spaced outwardly therefrom. The link top can define an auxiliary worksurface and also defines a bridge between the cabinet and table to which cabling can be connected. This arrangement thereby permits flexible repositioning of the table while also permitting power and/or communications cabling to be routed therebetween.

Claims

1. In an office area having office furniture arranged t o define a workspace, said office furniture including a furniture component having a privacy panel which is vertically enlarged, comprising the improvement wherein said privacy panel includes an interior frame which defines a periphery of said privacy panel, and a panel cover which overlies said frame and faces in a forward direction, said panel cover being formed of a flexible fabric and defining an interior pocket extending between opposite side edges of said panel cover, said panel cover having an open edge area which permits insertion of said frame within said interior pocket, and said frame being close fittingly received in said interior pocket such that said frame extends between said opposite side edges in a side-to-side direction transverse to said forward direction, said frame being non-deformable in said side-to-side direction so as to rigidly support a shape of said panel cover, connectors being provided which secure said frame of said privacy panel to said furniture component said frame being bendable along the forward direction, and said privacy panel overlying an opposing face of said furniture component along a substantial length thereof, said face being non-planar and said privacy panel being flexed to have a non-planar shape which corresponds to said face.

2. The office furniture according to claim 1, wherein said flexible fabric is resiliently flexible.

3. The office furniture according to claim 2, wherein said flexible fabric is stretched over said frame.

4. Office furniture according to claim 2, wherein said frame is flexible generally horizontally.

5. The office furniture arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said privacy panel overlies an opposing face of said furniture component along a substantial length thereof, said face being curved and said privacy panel being flexed to have a curved shape which corresponds to said face.

6. The office furniture according to claim 1, wherein said connectors project generally horizontally to mount said privacy panel to an opposing face of said office furniture.

7. The office furniture according to claim 6, wherein said furniture component is a desk.

8. The office furniture according to claim 1, wherein said connectors project downwardly to mount said privacy panel to an upper edge of said furniture component.

9. The office furniture according to claim 8, wherein said furniture component comprises at least one upstanding wall panel.

10. The office furniture according to claim 1, wherein said flexible fabric is an open mesh which permits airflow therethrough.

11. In an office area having office furniture therein, said office furniture including support structure which projects upwardly from a floor and divides the office area into separate work areas, said support structure including a privacy panel thereon which is vertically enlarged and faces in a forward direction to define a screen between the work areas, comprising the improvement wherein said privacy panel includes an interior frame which defines a periphery of said privacy panel and has an open central area within said periphery, said privacy panel further including a flexible cover which overlies said frame and extends across opposite side edges of said frame in a side-to-side direction oriented transverse to said forward direction, said cover defining an open interior having an open side which permits insertion of said frame into said open interior, said frame and said flexible cover having complementary shapes and said frame being non-deformable in said side-to-side direction, connectors being provided which engage said frame and said support structure to support said privacy panel on said support structure.

12. The office furniture according to claim 11, wherein said office furniture includes a work surface and said privacy panel is disposed below said work surface, said open central area of said frame defining a substantial portion of a total area of said frame to permit flexing of said cover when contacted by a body of user of the office furniture.

13. The office furniture according to claim 12, wherein said fabric has openings therein to permit airflow therethrough.

14. The office furniture according to claim 11, wherein said frame is flexible to permit bending of said privacy panel to a shape corresponding to a shape of said support structure.

15. In a furniture arrangement having a support structure, a worksurface supported on said support structure and a privacy panel which is vertically enlarged and supported on said support structure, said privacy panel extending across an entire width of said worksurface, comprising the improvement wherein said privacy panel includes an open frame which defines the periphery of said privacy panel, and a panel cover which overlies said frame, said panel cover being formed of a resiliently flexible fabric and defining an interior pocket extending between opposite side edges of said panel cover, said panel cover having an open edge area which permits access to said interior pocket and said frame being slidably received within said interior pocket through said open edge area, said frame being close fittingly received in said interior pocket such that said frame extends between said opposite side edges in a side-to-side direction, said frame being non-deformable in said side-to-side direction so as to support the shape of said panel cover, said panel cover including a closure adjacent to said open edge area to enclose said open edge area when said frame is disposed in said interior pocket, said panel cover being an open mesh which permits airflow therethrough while restricting viewing therethrough for privacy.

16. A furniture arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said open edge area is defined at one open end of said panel cover.

17. A furniture arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said closure comprises a flap which is disposed along said open edge area and includes velcro thereon to secure the flap in the closed position.

18. A furniture arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said privacy panel is disposed below said worksurface.

19. A furniture arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said privacy panel faces i n a forward direction transverse to said side-to-side direction, said open frame is formed of a resiliently rigid material which permits flexing of said privacy screen along the forward direction into a non-planar shape.

20. A furniture arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said privacy panel is supported on said support structure and disposed above said worksurface.