Freestanding screen system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6516571
  • Patent Number
    6,516,571
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, November 28, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 11, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A screen apparatus includes a perimeter frame with a notch and arcuate foot in one of the bottom corners that are adapted to receive a raised floor device, such as a raised power outlet. A covering covers the frame but the notch is not covered. The covering is preferably a light-passing translucent sheet of performance fabric which is adapted to pass light sufficient for a viewer to see a person behind the screen, but which scatters and blocks sufficient light to provide privacy by hiding details of the person's work from the viewer. The screen apparatus also includes bowed frame members extending horizontally between some of the outer frame members. The perimeter frame and bowed frame members space the front and rear panels of the covering from each other in a three-dimensionally curved manner, which results in additional visual hiding power to the screen apparatus and further results in a novel appearance of sweeping arcuate visual lines based on the non-planar partial-see-through condition of the two-panel covering. A hub is provided for selectively interconnecting screens in a radial arrangement.
Description




BACKGROUND OF PRESENT INVENTION




The present invention concerns screens for dividing areas, such as for separating office areas in a building space.




Workers are often positioned relatively close together in modern offices, since office space is expensive. However, as a worker's space is reduced, the need for personal and professional privacy becomes more apparent and important. For example, the worker may need (or desire) privacy of their work papers or of their conversations with others. Further, the need for privacy may vary during the day, depending on various activities and discussions that the worker may be engaged in. These requirements are conflicting and not easily solved or balanced.




Privacy can be facilitated by using portable screens, which can be moved about and arranged as required. However, such screens must be low cost, light in weight, and effective visual shields, yet durable, highly aesthetic, and easy to move. Also, the screens should preferably be storable in a dense arrangement to minimize the space required for storage. Also, it is desirable for the screens to be designed to facilitate washing and cleaning.




Another problem with screens is that they must be able to provide privacy over and around raised floor devices, such as utility outlets and connections. Specifically, modern offices require multiple power and communication connections, which often are positioned in or on floors. As office layouts change, these connections often end up at locations where a screen needs to be placed. It is desirable to provide a screen that is adapted to work in and around such connections, without the screen unacceptably engaging the raised floor device. In particular, utility outlet devices are often located at the edge of offices where multiple offices can access the utility outlet devices. Utility-using devices, such as telephones, computers, display terminals, keyboards, and the like, are plugged into the utility outlet devices, resulting in wires and power plugs extending above and along the floor, especially in the area of the utility outlet device. This can prevent a screen from being placed to optimally divide two (or more) offices, since the screen cannot be positioned to separate the offices at a location directly above the utility outlet device since this would place a foot of the screen on top of the utility outlet device.




Yet another problem is that workers need to be able to maintain their privacy, yet they need to be able to see if a worker is at his or her office to talk. Some screens are made sufficiently low in height to permit a worker to see over the screen. However, this results in all privacy being lost whenever a curious worker wants to see into another worker's office. It is desirable to provide partial visual access into an office to permit a worker to see if the other worker is there, while still preventing the first worker from secretly peering over screens to see working documents.




Accordingly, an apparatus solving the aforementioned problems and having the aforementioned advantages is desired.




SUMMARY OF INVENTION




In one aspect of the present invention, a screen apparatus includes a perimeter frame defining opposing bottom corners. One of the bottom corners defines a notch adapted to receive a raised floor device, such as a raised power outlet, while a portion of the perimeter frame is positioned over the floor device. A covering is provided that covers the frame but that leaves the notch open.




In another aspect of the present invention, a screen apparatus includes a perimeter frame having outer frame members forming a perimeter and having at least one bowed frame member extending between some of the outer frame members. A screen covers the frame and includes at least one flexible panel engaging the bowed frame member to cause a non-planar condition in the flexible panel.




In yet another aspect of the present invention, a screen system includes a plurality of screens each having a frame, and first and second post supports extending below the frame. A hub is provided that has a bottom section adapted to stably engage a floor surface. The hub also has a top section with multiple connectors. The multiple connectors are each shaped to selectively releasably engage the first post supports to secure the plurality of screens in radial positions around the hub connector.




In still another aspect of the present invention, a screen system includes a plurality of identical screens each having a covered frame defining a vertical longitudinal plane and first and second supports extending below the frame for stably engaging a floor surface. One of the first and second supports includes a post spaced from a vertical side edge of the covered frame and further includes a foot extending laterally from the post. The foot includes front and rear portions that extend around a space under the vertical side edge and that extend to a transverse plane that intersects the vertical plane at the vertical side edge. The foot of each screen is configured and adapted to nest against a raised floor device with the vertical side edge being positioned directly over the raised floor device. The foot of each screen is also configured to nest into the foot of an adjacent one of the identical screens in a nested storage position where each successive adjacent screen is positioned adjacent and parallel but longitudinally offset from the adjacent screen.




These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.











DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS





FIGS. 1-4

are perspective, end, front and top views of a screen embodying the present invention;





FIGS. 5-6

are perspective views showing a plurality of the screen of

FIG. 1

, the screens in

FIG. 5

being positioned adjacently in a stored position and the screens in

FIG. 6

being positioned in-line in a use position;





FIG. 7

is perspective view of a screen similar to the screen in

FIG. 1

but having a modified foot shaped to complement a floor-mounted utility module;





FIG. 7A

is a perspective view of four screens of

FIG. 7

, the screens being positioned around a floor-mounted utility module;





FIGS. 8-11

are perspective, end, front and top views of a screen similar to the screen of

FIG. 1

with modified feet; and





FIG. 12

is an enlarged perspective view of the connector shown in FIG.


8


.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




A screen apparatus


10


(

FIG. 1

) includes a frame


11


and a flexible covering, such as the illustrated performance fabric sheet


12


, wrapped around and covering both sides of the frame


11


. The frame


11


includes perimeter frame members


13


-


16


defining a rectangle with rounded upper corners. One side frame member


13


includes lower sections


17


and


18


forming an offset lower end that defines a notch


19


. Advantageously, the notch


19


permits the screen


10


to matably receive a raised floor device, such as a raised power and communication outlet module


20


. (See

FIG. 7A.

) The side frames


13


and


15


include post-like end sections


25


and


26


that extend below the bottom frame member


16


. A foot


28


is attached to the post section


25


and extends around the notch


19


to a location equal to an edge of the screen in side view (see FIG.


3


). More specifically, the ends of the foot


28


terminate at a vertical plane that extends through side frame member


13


and that extends perpendicular to the frame members


14


and


16


. The foot


28


stabilizes the screen


10


and makes it freestanding and self-supporting, but the foot


28


advantageously does not interfere with positioning an end of the screen against the floorsupported utility module


20


with the end of the screen located over the module


20


. (For example, see FIG.


7


A).




The frame


11


(

FIG. 1

) further includes a pair of arcuately-shaped bowed intermediate frame members


21


and


22


that extend horizontally across the frame


11


. The bowed frame members


21


and


22


hold apart front and rear panels


23


and


24


of the sheet


12


, and create a three-dimensional effect on the sheet that is modernistic and attractive. When image-passing semi-translucent performance fabric is used for the sheet


12


, the combination provides an aesthetic appearance of curvilinear lines across the fabric that follow the curvature of the panels


23


and


24


, as described below.




The frame


11


is made from lightweight tube segments or stiff rod, such as aluminum, steel, plastic or other stiff material. It is contemplated that the segments can be made from a single bent component, or a plurality of bent and/or welded sections. As illustrated, the top and side frame members


13


-


15


are bent into an inverted U-shape from a single rod, and bottom frame member


16


is welded across a bottom of the U-shape several inches above the floor. The foot


28


is a semi-circularly shaped section of bent rod and is welded to the post section


25


that extends below the bottom frame member


16


. The area inside the arc of the foot


28


lies below the notch


19


, and forms an enlarged pocket for receiving the floor-mounted utility module


20


. The illustrated post section


26


is non-adjustable, but it is noted that it can be made adjustable, such as by providing a threaded hole for receiving a bolt longitudinally upwardly into the post section


26


(see FIG.


8


).




The sheet


12


wraps around the frame and covers both sides of the frame


11


, such that the sheet


12


helps stabilize and hold the frame


11


in its rectangular shape. The bowed frame members


21


and


22


further stabilize the frame


11


, especially in its vertical side edges where the bowed frame members


21


and


22


are connected. This allows the sheet


12


to be tensioned and stretched to eliminate all wrinkles. The sheet


12


can be permanently sewn onto the frame


11


, or it can include a zipper, snaps, or other means to facilitate its removal from the frame


11


for cleaning.




The sheet


12


is made of a material that permits some visual access through the sheet due to the fabric fibers/threads being spaced slightly apart, but the fibers/threads are sufficiently dense to prevent visual access to details. For example, it is not possible to read printed material through the sheet


12


, particularly through the two spaced-apart panels


23


and


24


of the sheet


12


, but it is possible to see and potentially recognize a person seated on a side of the screen


10


opposite the viewer. The illustrated sheet


12


is made from a performance fabric, which is stretchable to about 20% or more. The sheet


12


has a see-through visibility factor of about 10-50%, depending on the brightness and direction of light. Due to the two panels


23


and


24


being spaced apart and stretched to a non-planar condition by the bowed frame members


21


and


22


, the visual image that is seen through the screen is disrupted by curvilinear waves of lines. This is believed to be caused in part when the gaps in fibers/threads in the first panel


23


are covered by fibers/thread in the second panel


24


. The result is that, although a viewer can see a seated person through the screen


10


, the image of the seated person is partially blocked by swirling curvilinear patterns of blocked out areas. The swirling patterns change as a person walks past the screen, creating a dynamic artistic effect. This swirling pattern creates an image that is particularly attractive, but also increases the effectiveness of the screen by reducing the detail that can be seen through the screen


10


, even though a light-passing translucent fabric is used that potentially allows viewers to see objects through the fabric.





FIG. 5

discloses three screens


10


positioned adjacently parallel in a dense storage position. Specifically, each foot


28


is positioned inside of the crescent-shaped foot


28


of an adjacent screen


10


. Notably, the screens


10


are spaced apart due to the bowed intermediate frame members


21


and


22


. The result is that each successive screen


10


is offset several inches in a direction perpendicular to a face of the adjacent screen and also offset longitudinally several inches in a direction parallel the face of the adjacent screen.





FIG. 6

discloses two screens


10


positioned in-line with each other, with the adjacent ends slightly overlapping each other. The overlap is facilitated by the post section


26


of one screen


10


being positioned inside the crescent-shaped foot


28


of the adjacent screen


10


.





FIG. 7

discloses a screen


10


having a modified foot


28


A. The modified foot


28


A has an arcuate semi-circular shape similar to that of foot


28


. However, modified foot


28


A has a flattened cross section and is stamped from sheet metal, while the foot


28


has a round cross section and is made from rod. The modified foot


28


A further has a horizontally protruding section


28


A′ that engages the post section


26


of the frame


11


. This positions the foot


28


A slightly inward into the space under the notch


19


. The foot


28


A is configured to slip under a raised perimeter of the illustrated utility module


20


, which allows closer positioning of the screen


10


to the utility module


20


.

FIG. 7A

illustrates that four screens


10


can be positioned around a utility module


20


. Notably, the screens


10


can be positioned as shown, or can be brought together into edge-abutment as shown by the arrows.




Screen


10


B (

FIG. 8

) includes a screen frame


11


B having frame members


13


-


18


, but characteristically, the screen


10


B does not have intermediate bowed frame members (


21


-


22


). Instead, the top and bottom frame members


14


and


16


are curved when viewed from above. This creates a visual effect similar to that described above in regard to screen


10


, even if there is only one layer


23


of performance fabric on the screen


10


B. Nonetheless, it is noted that screen


10


B can have two layers (


23


and


24


) and that the inner layer will have a shape that does not extend parallel the second layer due to tensioning of the fabric. In screen


10


B, the post section


26


has a bolt


30


threaded into a bottom thereof. The bolt


30


is adjustable to provide height adjustment so that the screen can be adjusted to a horizontal position despite a non-uniform floor. A locking nut (not specifically shown) can be threaded onto the bolt


30


, if desired, so that, by rotating the locking nut, an adjusted height can be maintained over time.




In screen


10


B, the post section


25


does not include a horizontally extending foot, but instead a hub


31


is provided with holes


32


shaped to closely receive and engage the post section


25


. Specifically, the hub


31


includes a flat disk


33


(

FIG. 12

) for stably engaging a floor surface, and a cylinder


34


with the holes


32


vertically formed therein. Four holes


32


are shown, although more or less can be provided. The four holes


32


permit the screens


10


B to be arranged in a radial pattern with abutting edges similar to that shown in

FIG. 7A

, or arranged in-line similar to the pattern of FIG.


6


.




In the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.



Claims
  • 1. A screen apparatus comprising:a perimeter frame defining opposing bottom corners, one of the bottom corners defining a notch adapted to receive a raised floor device, while a portion of the perimeter frame is positioned over the floor device; a covering that covers the frame but that leaves the notch open, the covering comprising a sheet of fabric constructed to pass some light so that a person can be recognized through the fabric, the covering including front and rear panels, both of which cover the perimeter frame; a screen support having a foot that extends laterally from the frame adjacent but inboard of and around the notch; and bowed frame members that extend across the perimeter frame and that engage the front and rear panels, causing the front and rear panels to have a three-dimensional appearance that assists in creating visual privacy when a person is attempting to peer through the screen apparatus.
  • 2. The screen apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the bowed frame members extend in a horizontal plane at a mid level of the perimeter frame.
  • 3. A screen apparatus comprising:a perimeter frame defining opposing bottom corners, one of the bottom corners defining a notch adapted to receive a raised floor device, while a portion of the perimeter frame is positioned over the floor device; a covering that covers the frame but that leaves the notch open; and a screen support having a foot that extends laterally from the frame adjacent but inboard of and around the notch, the foot including forwardly and rearward extending portions that wrap arcuately around the notch and extend toward a vertical side edge of the frame that is located over the notch.
  • 4. The screen apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein perimeter frame defines a second vertical side edge and a longitudinal first plane extending through both of the vertical side edges and further defines a transverse plane that extends perpendicularly to the first plane and through the side edge that is adjacent the notch, and wherein the forwardly and rearwardly extending portions extend to the transverse plane and terminate at the transverse plane.
  • 5. The screen apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein the perimeter frame includes a post support that extends vertically downwardly, the post support including a threaded member that threadably telescopingly engages the post support for providing height adjustment.
  • 6. A screen apparatus comprising:a perimeter frame having outer frame members forming a perimeter and having at least one bowed intermediate frame member extending between two of the outer frame members; and a screen covering the frame, including at least one flexible panel engaging the bowed intermediate frame member to cause a non-planar condition in the flexible panel.
  • 7. The screen apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein the screen includes front and rear panels spaced apart from each other, each covering a side of the perimeter frame and the area inside the perimeter frame.
  • 8. The screen apparatus defined in claim 6, where the at least one bowed intermediate frame member includes front and rear bowed frame members that lie in a same horizontal plane and that space the front and rear panels apart.
  • 9. The screen apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein the perimeter frame includes a post support that extends vertically downwardly, the post support including a threaded member that threadably telescopingly engages the post support for providing height adjustment.
  • 10. The screen apparatus defined in claim 6, including a screen support having a foot that extends laterally from the screen and around an area under a notch in the perimeter frame.
  • 11. A screen system comprising:a plurality of screens each having a frame and first and second post supports extending below the frame, the second posts each having laterally extending feet such that each of the screens are individually self-supporting in a free-standing state; and a hub having a bottom section adapted to stably engage a floor surface and having a top section with multiple connectors, the multiple connectors each being shaped to selectively releasably engage the first post supports to secure the plurality of screens in radial positions around the hub, wherein the hub has a laterally extending portion adapted to stably engage a floor surface.
  • 12. The screen system defined in claim 11, wherein the hub includes a section that extends vertically and the connectors comprise vertically extending holes in the hub.
  • 13. The screen apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein each screen includes a covering that comprises a sheet of fabric covering at least one side surface of the screen and that is constructed to pass some light so that a silhouette of a person can be recognized through the fabric.
  • 14. The screen apparatus defined in claim 13, wherein the screen includes a perimeter frame, and wherein the covering includes front and rear panels which cover the perimeter frame.
  • 15. A screen system comprising:a plurality of screens each having a frame and first and second post supports extending below the frame, the second posts each having laterally extending feet such that each of the screens are individually self-supporting in a free-standing state; and a hub having a bottom section adapted to stably engage a floor surface and having a top section with multiple connectors, the multiple connectors each being shaped to selectively releasably engage the first post supports to secure the plurality of screens in radial positions around the hub, wherein at least one of the first and second post supports have a post section and an adjustable foot that extends vertically from the post section, the foot threadably engaging the post section for providing vertical height adjustment of the screen system.
  • 16. A screen system comprising:a plurality of identical screens each having a covered frame defining a vertical longitudinal plane and first and second supports extending below the frame for stably engaging a floor surface, one of the first and second supports including a post spaced from a vertical side edge of the covered frame and further including a foot extending laterally from the post, the foot including front and rear portions that extend around a space under the vertical side edge and that extend to a transverse plane that intersects the vertical plane at the vertical side edge, the foot of each screen being configured and adapted to nest against a raised floor device with the vertical side edge being positioned directly over the raised floor device, the foot of each screen further being configured to nest into the foot of an adjacent one of the identical screens in a nested storage position where each successive adjacent screen is positioned adjacent and parallel but longitudinally offset from the adjacent screen.
  • 17. The screen apparatus defined in claim 16, wherein the perimeter frame defines an open notch in a bottom corner and further includes a support with a floor-engaging foot that extends around the notch.
  • 18. The screen apparatus defined in claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second supports includes a post section and an adjustable foot that extends vertically from the post section, the foot threadably engaging the post section for providing vertical height adjustment of the screen system.
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