BACKGROUND
Ideally, a workspace should be tailored to match both the individual preferences of the worker as well as the task being performed in the workspace. For example, with regard to the task being performed in the workspace, a conference room may be well suited for groups of team members to have an open discussion about a common task being dealt with by the team, while it may not be a good use of space when one or more individuals or small groups of individuals are using the workspace to work on independent projects. What is needed is a workspace that can be customized to address the different team needs and individual preferences of the workers who use the workspace.
SUMMARY
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a customizable workstation panel. In some aspects, the customizable workstation panel can include a screen portion, a lifting mechanism, a base portion, and a control unit. The screen portion has a dynamic portion that is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position. The lifting mechanism is coupled to the dynamic portion and configured to move the dynamic portion between the retracted position and the deployed position. The base portion is sized to conceal at least a portion of the dynamic portion when the dynamic portion is in the retracted position. The control unit is configured to receive an input from a user and is further configured to control the lifting mechanism to move the dynamic portion between the retracted position and the deployed position.
In certain arrangements, the customizable workstation panel can include a screen portion that has a video display. In some arrangements, the video display can be configured to emit light that mimics natural light. In some aspects, the height of the dynamic portion can be reduced in the retracted position compared to the height of the dynamic portion in the deployed position. In some arrangements, the dynamic portion can have one or more telescoping extensions. In some aspects, the dynamic portion can include a shade that folds when the dynamic portion is in the retracted position and unfolds when the dynamic portion is in the deployed position. In some aspects, the dynamic portion can include an acoustic dampening foam material. In some variants, the control unit can be configured to receive from a remote the user input wirelessly.
In certain arrangements, the customizable workstation panel can be used to form a customizable workstation or a customizable work environment that includes a plurality of workstations. The method can have a receiving step and an activating step. In the receiving step, a user input can be received at a control unit of the customizable workstation panel. In the activating step, the control unit can activate the lift mechanism of the customizable workstation panel to move a dynamic portion of the customizable workstation panel from a first position to a second position in accordance with the received user input, thereby customizing the work environment of the workspace in accordance with the user input. In some aspects, the receiving step can further include the control unit signaling a lift mechanism of a second customizable workstation panel to move a dynamic portion of the second customizable workstation panel from an initial position to a customized position.
Also disclosed is a system for customizing a work environment of a workspace. The system includes a first customizable workstation panel, a second customizable workstation panel, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to activate a lift mechanism of the first customizable workstation panel to move a dynamic portion of the first customizable workstation panel from a retracted position to a deployed position. The control unit is further configured to activate a lift mechanism of the second customizable workstation panel to move a dynamic portion of the second customizable workstation panel from retracted position to a deployed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1A illustrates a customizable workstation panel in a retracted configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1B illustrates the customizable workstation panel of FIG. 1A in a deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of a customizable workstation panel, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of a customizable workstation panel, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of a customizable workstation panel, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3A illustrates a front view of an inner portion of a customizable workstation panel showing the inner portion in a deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3B illustrates a rear view of the inner portion shown in FIG. 3A, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a customizable workstation panel, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of an inner portion of a customizable workstation panel, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5B illustrates a rear view of the inner portion of FIG. 5A, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6A illustrates a perspective view of a customizable workstation having a plurality of customizable workstation panels, each of the workstation panels being in the retracted configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6B illustrates the customizable workstation of FIG. 6A with some of the customized workstation panels in a deployed configuration, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 7 illustrates a top-view schematic depiction of a customizable workspace, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 8 illustrates a top-view schematic depiction of a customizable workspace, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 9 illustrates a customizable workspace, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
FIG. 10 illustrates a method of using a customizable privacy panel to customize a workspace, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Overview
This disclosure relates generally to a customizable workstation panel, and to methods of creating a versatile workspace with one or more of these customizable panels to create a customizable workstation. Customizable workspaces can enhance worker efficiency by adapting the workspace to better suit the task being performed by the users of the workspace. Customizable workspaces can also enhance worker efficiency by providing workspaces that are tailored to the individual preferences of the workspace user. For example, the customizable workstation panels disclosed herein can allow a height of a privacy screen to be adjusted according to the height of a user of the workspace or according to whether the worker changes between working in a sitting position or a standing position.
In some configurations, the customizable workstation panels can include an acoustic-dampening material to provide auditory privacy as well as visual privacy. In some configurations, however, the customizable workstation panel can be a lightweight or inexpensive panel that provides visual privacy while not substantially impeding auditory communication through the panel. Such panels may be well suited for creating workspaces that can be adapted to accommodate workgroups working semi-independently but needing to also communicate once in a while with nearby team members. In some configurations, however, the customizable workstation panel can be a heavy and expensive piece of the workspace furnishing that includes a video display for conferencing or for providing a desired lighting to the workspace (e.g., natural light, soft white light, white light, etc.).
In some aspects, the present disclosure also relates to a method of using one or more of the customizable workstation panels to craft versatile workstations and groups of workstations. For example, a customizable workstation panel that includes a video display may be placed at the end of a group of workstations so that the video display can be viewed by multiple members of the group when intervening customizable workstation panels are placed into a retracted configuration.
Customizable Workstation Panel
FIGS. 1A and 1B depict an illustrative, non-limiting example of a customizable workstation panel 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 1A illustrates the panel 100 in a retracted configuration, whereas FIG. 1B shows the panel 100 in a deployed configuration. As shown in FIG. 1A, the panel 100 can have a screen portion 102 that, when the panel 100 is in a retracted configuration, can be housed within a base portion 104 of the panel 100. FIG. 1A illustrates a base portion 104 that, when the panel 100 is in the fully retracted configuration, completely encloses all but a top surface 110 of the screen portion 102. As described herein, in some configurations, the base portion 104 can be arranged to only partially surround the screen portion 102. For example, the base portion 104 of FIG. 1A has a front face 106 that extends fully along the boarding edges of each of the end face 108 and a top face 111 of the base portion 104. In some aspects, the base portion 104 can be reduced in weight and expense by removing a portion of the front face 106, or the opposing back face 107 (see, e.g., FIG. 2C). In some aspects, the base portion 104 can be fixed relative to the floor supporting the panel 100 and the screen portion 102 can be moveable relative to the base portion 104, as described herein.
FIG. 1B illustrates the screen portion 102 can be positioned to extend beyond an upper face 111 of the base portion 104 when the panel 100 is in the deployed configuration. The screen 102 can include a lateral face 112 that becomes revealed or is uncovered as the screen portion 102 is deployed or extended from the base portion 104. As described herein, the screen portion 102 can be configured to have different characteristics depending on the customization needs for the workspace. For example, some work environments (e.g., confidential teleconferences) may benefit from both auditory and visual privacy, in which case the screen portion 102 can be configured to include an acoustic-dampening material and a solid lateral face 112. Other work environments (e.g., medical examinations, changing rooms, etc,) may prefer visual privacy over auditory privacy, allowing the screen portion 102 to be constructed of lighter weight materials (e.g., fabric) that are sufficient to provide visual privacy but do not provide substantial auditory privacy.
FIGS. 2A-2C depict top views of various, non-limiting examples of a customizable workstation panel 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2A, the base portion 104 can be configured to conceal all but the top face 110 of the screen portion 102 when the screen portion 102 is in the fully retracted position. FIG. 2B illustrates that a portion of the front face 106 of the base portion 104 can be absent, forming a facing gap 109. In some arrangements, a portion of the lateral face 112 of the screen portion 102 can be seen through the facing gap 109 in the front face 106 of the base portion 104 when the panel 100 is in the a fully—or semi-retracted configuration. FIG. 2C illustrates a section of both a back face 107 and the front face 106 of the base portion 104 can be absent to form a facing gap 109 on each of the front and back faces of the base portion 104.
FIGS. 3A and 3B depict front and rear views, respectively, of various, non-limiting examples of a screen portion 102 of a customizable workstation panel 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the screen portion 102 can include a base plate 120, a lifting mechanism 130, and a dynamic portion 140. The base plate 120 can be configured to provide structural support and stability to the screen portion 102. Accordingly, the skilled artisan will appreciate the base plate 120 can take many alternative configurations to support the screen portion 102, and the depicted configuration is for illustrative purposes only and is a non-limiting configuration of the screen portion 102. In the illustrated screen portion 102 of FIG. 3A, the dynamic portion 140 is mounted on a pair of telescoping rails 122. The lifting mechanism 130 is configured to move the dynamic portion 140 away or toward the base plate 120 by extending or retracting an extension portion 124 (FIG. 3B) from a fixed portion 126 of the pair of substantially parallel rails 122. The skilled artisan will recognize that a variety of known mechanical arrangements can be used to achieve a substantially identical movement of the dynamic portion 140 relative to the base portion 120, and the depicted configuration is for illustrative purposes only and is a non-limiting configuration of the screen portion 102.
The lifting mechanism 130 can be a powered lifting mechanism (e.g., an electric motor), or the lifting mechanism can be an assisted lifting mechanism (e.g., a spring-loaded hydraulic system), or the lifting mechanism can be a human-powered lifting mechanism (e.g., a turn-crank mechanism). The skilled artisan will appreciate that the lifting mechanism 130 can be any suitable mechanism for moving, in a sliding fashion, the dynamic portion 140 toward or away from the base plate 120. In some aspects, the lifting mechanism 130 can include a lift controller 132. The lift controller 132 can communicate (wired or wirelessly) with a control unit 300 (FIG. 6A) to allow the control unit 300 to instruct the lifting mechanism 130 the height to which the lifting mechanism 130 should position the dynamic portion 140.
FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative, non-limiting example of a customizable workstation panel 100, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In some aspects, the screen portion 102 can include a foldable or stowable privacy shade 150. The foldable or stowable privacy shade 150 can be configured to stack upon itself when the screen portion 102 is retracted into the base portion 104. In some configurations, the stowable privacy shade 150 can allow the screen portion 102 to maintain a continuous privacy barrier between screen portion 102 and the base portion 104 even when the screen portion 102 is deployed to heights that exceed a doubling of the height of the base portion 104. For example, if the lateral sides 113 of the screen portion 102 in FIG. 4 were configured to be telescoping, it can be appreciated that the stowable privacy shade 150 could be configured to maintain a continuous privacy barrier between the screen portion 102 and the base portion 104 even when the screen portion 102 is deployed to a height that exceeds a doubling of the height of the base portion 104. However, if the lateral sides 113 were rigid, or privacy shade of the screen portion 102 were not stowable, it would not be possible to deploy the screen portion 102 beyond a doubling of the height of the base portion 104. FIG. 4 illustrates the stowable privacy shade 150 can be configured as a corrugated shade 152. Other arrangements of a stowable privacy shade 150 can include, for example, a roller blind, a plurality of overlapping hanging plates, a curtain. In some aspects, the stowable privacy shade 150 can be an acoustic-dampening material that is folded in an origami-like fashion to form a compact storage conformation for storage within the base portion 104 when the stowable privacy shade 150 is retracted and unfolds when the stowable privacy shade 150 is deployed.
FIGS. 5A and 5B depict various, non-limiting examples of a screen portion 102, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In some aspects, the screen portion 102 can include a stowable privacy shade 150 that is configured as a plurality of telescoping panels. For example, FIG. 5A shows the stowable privacy shade 150 can include an inner extension 154 that stows within and deploys from an outer extension 156. When the dynamic portion 140 of the screen portion 102 is retracted toward the base plate 120, the inner extension 154 can be configured to nest within the outer extension 156. In this way, the dynamic portion 140 can be stowed into axial lengths that are shorter than one half of the fully extended height of the telescoping privacy shade 150. FIG. 5B is identical to FIG. 5A except that the screen portion 102 includes an expandable seal 160 that expands laterally away from the inner extension 154 to fill the gap that would otherwise exist immediately above the outer extension 156 when the inner extension 154 is deployed. In some aspects, the expandable seal 160 can be an elastically compressible material (e.g., polymeric foam) that can tolerate repetitive compression and expansion. Additional layers of telescoping extensions could be added. For example, a three-tiered telescoping stowable privacy shade 150 could be configured by adding an intervening telescoping extension between the inner extension 154 and the outer extension 156. Moreover, the telescoping extensions of the privacy shade 150 need not be concentrically aligned (FIGS. 2A-2C) but could instead be stacked like sheets of paper in a ream that has its long side oriented vertically. The stacked extensions could then be splayed out along the vertical direction to provide a deployed screen height that exceeds the stowed height of the extensions within the base portion 104.
Customizable Workstations
FIGS. 6A and 6B depict an illustrative, non-limiting example of a customizable workstation 200 formed by arranging one or more customizable workstation panels 100 around a work surface 202. As shown in FIG. 6A, the panel 100 can include a control unit 300. The control unit 300 can have an interface 302 that a user can use to customize the workstation 200, as described herein. The control unit 300 can be a kiosk structure 300a. The kiosk structure 300a can be fixedly attached to a panel 100 or can be positioned adjacent to a panel 100 without being fixedly attached to the panel 100. The control unit 300 can be a tile 300b that is integrated into a panel 100. The control unit 300 can be a remote device 300c that sends a wireless signal 301 to the lift mechanism 130 (FIG. 3A) to control one or more panels 100 of the workstation 200. In some arrangements, the panel 100 can be configured to interact with more than one type of control unit 300a, 300b, 300c. In some arrangements, one panel 100 can be configured to communicate with a plurality of control units 300. In some aspects, one control unit 300 can control one or more than one panel 100, as described herein.
FIG. 6A illustrates that a customizable workstation 200 can be configured by arranging a plurality of customizable panels 100 around the perimeter of a work area 204 that includes a work surface 202. The work surface 202 can be a desk (fixed, adjustable, standing), a table, or other suitable work area that is substantially horizontal. In some arrangements, the panel 100 can include a work surface 202 that is fixedly attached to the base portion 104 of the panel 100. In some aspects, the panel 100 can include a work surface 202 that is stowable such as a folding shelf structure that connects to the panel by a hinge 206.
FIG. 6B illustrates the customizable workstation 200 of FIG. 6A after the dynamic portion 140 of one or more panels 100 has been deployed from a fully-retracted position to an extended position. A user of the customizable workstation 200 can customize the workstation 200 by interacting with the control unit 300. The control unit 300 can interact with a lifting mechanism 130 (FIG. 3A) of a panel 100 and instruct the lifting mechanism 130 to deploy or retract the dynamic portion 140 of the panel 100 in accordance with the user input received by the control unit 300.
In some arrangements, the panel 100 can deploy a dynamic portion that 140 includes a corkboard, a whiteboard, a chalkboard, or an acoustic dampening screen. In some arrangements, the dynamic portion 140 can be configured as a cassette of a plurality of screens that are stacked one behind another within the base portion 104 and can be deployed individually or in combination. For example, with reference to FIG. 6A, the panel 100 that is parallel with the hinge 206 could include a screen portion 102 (FIG. 1B) that includes two whiteboards stacked one behind the other. The panel 100 could deploy one whiteboard for one team meeting and a second whiteboard for when the workstation 200 is being used by an individual worker. In some arrangements, a stack of three screens could include a central acoustic dampening screen sandwiched between two whiteboards, each of which whiteboard faces laterally outward. Such a panel could be used between two adjacent workstations and configured to deploy the central acoustic dampening screen along with either whiteboard, allowing each adjacent workstation that shares the panel 100 to have a whiteboard with acoustic dampening properties.
Customizable Workspaces
FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative, non-limiting example of a customizable workspace 400A formed by arranging a plurality of customizable workstation panels 100 among a group of work areas 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D. The workspace 400A illustrates how the panels 100 can create a customizable workspace 400A that is conducive for a team of four workers who often work independently but occasionally require to teleconference as a team with others who are remote. For example, a first workspace 200A can include a panel 100a having a dynamic portion 140 that includes a video display. Visual-blocking and acoustic-blocking panels 100b can be used to separate the four work areas 204 from one another. Dual-use panels 100c can allow workers in adjacent workspaces (e.g., 204B, 204D) to independently control half of the panel 100. When the team members are working independently, the panels 100 can be deployed to provide auditory and visual privacy. When the team members need to teleconference, the interior panels (i.e., panels 100 that boarder two workspaces) can be moved (e.g., by the control unit 300 instructing the lifting mechanisms 130 of the interior panels 100) to a fully-retracted position or a partially-retracted position, thereby allowing each of the members in the group of work areas 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D to see the video display of the panel 100a.
FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative, non-limiting example of a customizable workspace 400B formed by arranging a plurality of customizable workstation panels 100 among a linear arrangement of work areas 204E, 204F, 204G. The workspace 400B illustrates how the panels 100 can create a workspace 400B that is conducive for a work environment that requires privacy for only a portion of the workspace 400B. For example, in a medical setting, the panels 100 can be configured to deploy a light-weight dynamic portion 140 that provides visual privacy while allowing auditory communication across the panel 100. A patient can use work area 200F to perform a procedure in privacy while maintaining the ability to communicate verbally with someone outside the work area (e.g., a medical practitioner in work area 204E or 204G). Continuing the medical example, the more open and less private work areas 204E and 204G could be used by a medical practitioner for tasks such as computer work or access to a landline phone.
FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative, non-limiting example of a customizable workspace 400C formed by arranging a plurality of customizable workstation panels 100 among a linear arrangement of work areas 204H, 204I, 204J, 204K. The workspace 400C illustrates how the panels 100 can create a workspace 400C that is customizable to different workers who have different preferences for working in a sitting or standing position. For example, FIG. 9 shows the panels 100 can be configured to deploy a light-weight yet structurally stable dynamic portion 140. The panel 100 can be arranged between two adjacent work surfaces 202. The work surfaces 202 can be a height-adjustable work surface such as a standing desk. The dynamic portions 140 can be deployed to different heights of extension depending on the privacy needs of the workers in the work areas 204. For example, the worker in work area 204H has the dynamic portion 140 set high to provide privacy while working in a standing position or to block sunlight. The panel 100 between work areas 204J and 204K has the dynamic portion 140 deployed only partially due to the workers in those areas having the desks set to a height appropriate for working in a sitting position.
As can be appreciated from FIG. 9, the workspace 400C also allows customization of the amount of desk space used in a workstation 200. For example, if the height of the standing desk in work area 204H is set to match that of the standing desk in work area 204I, the panel 100 between the two adjacent work areas 204H, 204I can deploy the dynamic portion 140 to match the height of the two standing desks and effectively form a work surface 202 that spans the two adjacent work areas 204H, 204I. The customizable workspace 400C can be useful in businesses that need to review large-sized documents such as architectural plans.
FIG. 10 depicts an illustrative, non-limiting example of a method 500 of using a customizable workstation panel 100 to convert a workspace 400 from a first configuration to a second configuration. The method 500 can include an input step 502 whereby a user informs the panel 100 (e.g., through a control unit 300) of the workspace configuration desired by the user. The method 500 can include a lift activation step 504 whereby the panel 100 (e.g., through the lift controller 132) activates the lifting mechanism 130. The method 500 can include a lift control step 506 whereby the panel 100, through the lifting mechanism 130, deploys the dynamic portion 140 to a height that is in accordance with the workspace configuration desired by the user, thereby converting the workspace 400 from a first (initial) configuration to a second (desired) configuration.
Other Variations and Terminology
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof, including embodiments which do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed; others may be added. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments herein and may be defined by claims as presented herein or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the patent specification of during prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.
Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment, or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Further, the term “each,” as used herein, in addition to having its ordinary meaning, can mean any subset of a set of elements to which the term “each” is applied.
Conjunctive language, such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.
Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of the stated amount. As another example, the terms “generally parallel” and “substantially parallel” may refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departs from exactly parallel by less than 15 degrees.
Patent Application
20240376705
