Technology trough

• US 7,926,430 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Phillips, Christopher M., Bakker, Mitchell R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkens; Janet M
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROHRHOFF, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/966,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20090165680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/25, 312/194, 312/195, 312/223.3, 312/223.6
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 37/00 Tables adapted for other particular purposes glass cutting tables C03B33/03

Abstract

A conference table includes a technology trough assembly integrated into its worksurface. The technology trough includes one or more utility modules for providing customized utility connections to meet the users'"'"' requirements. The technology trough also includes sliding access panels that are flush with the worksurface of the table and that are adapted to slide along a horizontal plane between a closed and an open position over the utility modules such that do not interfere or obstruct visual or verbal communications between users.

Claims

1. A furniture assembly comprising:

a planar worksurface supported on a base including an opening; and

at least one technology trough assembly having a trough portion that is accessible through the opening in the planar worksurface and an upper, exposed surface adjacent the trough portion and the planar worksurface, the upper, exposed planar surface exposed through the opening in the planar worksurface, the trough portion comprising at least one side wall including a plurality of utility connections and a sliding access panel adapted to slide in a lateral direction along a longitudinal axis of the worksurface from at least a first position to a second position so that the plurality of utility connections are accessible from either side of the planar worksurface, wherein in first position the utility connections are concealed by the sliding access panel and the upper, exposed surface adjacent the trough portion is exposed through the opening and wherein in the second position the upper surface adjacent the trough portion is at least partially concealed by the sliding access panel and the utility connections are at least partially exposed through the opening.

2. The furniture assembly according to claim 1, wherein the furniture assembly is a conference table.

3. The furniture assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sliding access panel does not protrude above the planar worksurface in either the first position or the second position.

4. The furniture assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sliding access panel is adapted to slide to a third position in which the utility connections are fully exposed.

5. The furniture assembly according to claim 4, wherein when in the third position, the sliding access panel does not protrude above the planar worksurface.

6. The furniture assembly according to claim 1, wherein the technology trough assembly further comprises a bezel portion coupled to the trough portion such that a space is defined between the bezel portion and the trough portion, wherein the sliding access panel is disposed in the space.

7. The furniture assembly according to claim 6, wherein the space is of sufficient height to allow a cable or a wire to be connected to at least one of the utility connections when the sliding access panel is in the first position.

8. The furniture assembly according to claim 1, wherein the technology trough assembly is secured to a frame including one or more wire management features coupled to the base.

9. The furniture assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base includes at least one support member.

10. A conference table comprising:

a planar worksurface supported on base; and

at least one technology trough assembly integrated into the planar worksurface such that it does not substantially protrude above a top surface of the planar worksurface, the technology trough assembly comprising a trough portion and an upper surface adjacent the trough portion and accessible by a user, the trough portion comprising at least one side wall including a plurality of utility connections and a sliding access panel adapted to slide in a lateral direction along a longitudinal axis of the worksurface between a closed position and an open position so that the plurality of utility connections are accessible from either side of the planar worksurface, wherein when the sliding access panel is in the closed position the utility connections are concealed by the sliding access panel and the upper surface adjacent the trough portion is exposed for access by a user and wherein in the open position the upper surface adjacent the trough portion is at least partially concealed by the sliding access panel and the utility connections are at least partially exposed for access by a user, and wherein in the open position the sliding access panels do not protrude above the top surface of the planar worksurface.

11. The conference table according to claim 10, wherein the sliding access panel is adapted to slide to a third position in which the utility connections are fully exposed.

12. The conference table according to claim 10, wherein the technology trough assembly further comprises a bezel portion coupled to the trough portion such that a space is defined between the bezel portion and the trough portion wherein the sliding access panel is disposed in the space.

13. The conference table according to claim 10, wherein the space is of a sufficient height to allow a cable or a wire to be connected to at least one of the utility connections when the sliding access panel is in the closed position.

14. A furniture assembly comprising:

a base including at least one support member;

a frame mounted to the base, the frame including one or more wire management features adapted to manage and conceal one or more wires or cables;

a trough portion coupled to the frame, the trough portion including a top plate having a lower surface, an upper surface and a plurality of openings, a plurality of utility modules having a generally U-shaped portion defining a recess and two side walls and at least one set of blank cut-outs including at least one cut-out adapted to receive a utility connection, the plurality of utility modules coupled to the lower surface of the top plate such that the recesses defined by the generally U-shaped portion correspond to the openings in the top plate;

a worksurface mounted to the frame, the worksurface including an opening having dimensions generally corresponding to outer dimensions of the trough portion, wherein the worksurface is mounted to the frame such that the trough portion is accessible through the opening;

a bezel portion coupled to the trough portion through the opening in the worksurface such that a space is defined between a lower surface of the bezel portion and the upper surface of the top plate of the trough portion; and

a plurality of sliding access panels disposed in the space defined between the lower surface of the bezel portion and the upper surface of the top plate of the trough portion, the sliding access panels having dimensions generally corresponding to dimensions of the openings in the top plate of the trough portion, the sliding access panels adapted to laterally slide from at least a first position wherein the recesses defined by the generally U-shaped portion coupled to the top plate are concealed to a second position, wherein the recesses defined by the generally U-shaped portion are exposed.

15. A technology trough assembly comprising:

a trough portion including a top plate having a lower surface, an upper surface and a plurality of openings, a plurality of utility modules having a generally U-shaped portion defining a recess and two side walls, the plurality of utility modules coupled to the lower surface of the top plate such that the recesses defined by the generally U-shaped portion correspond to the openings in the top plate;

a bezel portion coupled to the top plate of the trough portion, wherein a space is defined between a lower surface of the bezel portion and an upper surface of the top plate of the trough portion; and

a plurality of sliding access panels disposed in the space defined between the lower surface of the bezel portion and the upper surface of the top plate of the trough portion, the sliding access panels having dimensions generally corresponding to dimensions of the openings in the top plate of the trough portion, the sliding access panels adapted to freely slide along a horizontal plane from at least a first position wherein the recesses defined by the generally U-shaped portion coupled to the top plate are concealed to a second position, wherein the recesses defined by the generally U-shaped portion are exposed and wherein in the second position, the sliding access panels do not extend upward from the horizontal plane in which they slide.

16. The technology trough assembly according to claim 15, wherein the utility modules each include at least one set of blank cut-outs including at least one cut-out adapted to receive a utility connection.

17. The technology trough assembly according to claim 16, wherein the utility modules each include at least one utility connection installed within the at least one cut-out configured to receive a utility connection.

18. The technology trough assembly according to claim 16, wherein the utility connection can be a power, data, audio, visual, telecommunication, or a control connection.

19. A method of assembling an article of furniture comprising:

coupling a frame to a base having at least one support member;

securing at least one trough assembly to the frame, the trough assembly including a trough portion and an upper surface adjacent the trough portion, the trough portion having at least one side wall including at least one set of blank cut-outs adapted to receive one or more utility connections;

installing one or more utility connections in the trough portion;

securing a worksurface including at least one opening to the frame such that the trough portion and the upper surface adjacent the trough portion are accessible through the opening; and

placing a sliding access panel on the upper surface adjacent the trough portion such that the sliding access panel is adapted to slide in a lateral direction along a longitudinal axis of the worksurface from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position the utility connections are concealed by the sliding access panel and the upper surface adjacent the trough portion is exposed for access by a user and wherein in the second position the upper surface adjacent the trough portion is at least partially concealed by the sliding access panel and the utility connections are at least partially exposed for access by a user.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising securing a bezel portion through the opening in the worksurface to the trough portion such that the sliding access panel is disposed in a space defined between a lower surface of the bezel portion and the upper surface of the trough portion.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising sliding the sliding access panel in a lateral direction over the trough portion between the first position and the second position.