Patent Application
20050268825
Not applicable.
The field of the invention is work space divider systems and more specifically partition systems that divide space into sub-spaces that are useable by two people to facilitate collaborative activity wherein the sub-spaces also include locations for private and more public activity.
Office designers have known for a long time that collaborative activity is extremely important to facilitate innovation and creative thinking—as the saying goes, two heads are better than one. In this regard, when groups of people interact as a team and share ideas, one person's ideas often act as a catalyst for the other team member's ideas and vice versa, such that final combined work products are far superior to the work product that a single person could muster in seclusion. For instance, when working on a new ad campaign, an exemplary team of five diverse people may feed off each others ideas and tentatively decide on a campaign theme and various general aspects of the campaign by drawing on each others experiences.
Despite the advantages of collaborative work, office designers also know that there are times when people need and appreciate at least some degree of privacy and personal space in order to perform certain employment and personal tasks. Thus, for instance, after the exemplary five person advertising team decides on a campaign theme and some general campaign details, the team assign different aspects of the campaign to different team members for further development. Here, to help members focus on the aspects that they are responsible for, each person on the team may want a private or at least semiprivate space to help physically block out distractions and protect ideas as they are developed.
As another instance, even while at work, many people perform at least some personal business from time to time such as paying bills, corresponding with friends via e-mail, booking vacations, searching for information on the Internet, eating lunch, reading the newspaper or a magazine, etc. Often people feel more secure tending to personal tasks if they are in an environment that provides at least some level of privacy.
In many cases people use computers to attend to personal business, to organize their thoughts and to test out new thoughts and ideas by expressing those ideas on a display screen. Thus, in many cases, required privacy simply amounts to a space wherein the only person that can readily view a display screen unimpeded is the person using the associated computer.
Knowing that both collaboration and privacy are important in office design and being constrained by overall office space, office designers are now developing office spaces that foster collaborative activities while still offering at least some level of privacy when desired. To this end, many offices now include open office plans wherein large office spaces are divided into smaller, generally standard sized, individual workspaces by partition walls that extend from a floor surface to a height (e.g., between 60 and 72 inches) that impedes a standing person of ordinary height from peering over from one side to the other. Hereinafter the typical height of a wall that impedes a standing person of ordinary height from peering over will be referred to as a “full height” wall unless indicated otherwise.
The full height walls provide at least some privacy for a person within a workspace but still allows the person to at least verbally communicate over the top thereof with a person in an adjacent workspace thereby facilitating at least some degree of collaboration. In addition, in the case of many partition systems, the access openings into the separate workspaces are left open thereby further facilitating interaction among persons that share a general area within the larger office space.
To provide support for office equipment and a work surface for writing, spreading out documents, etc., most workspaces include desk height credenzas (e.g., 24-32 inches) along the partition walls that provide top surfaces comfortably useable by a person sitting in a chair adjacent one of the credenzas. To provide the most work surface possible within a workspace, most systems include credenzas along each wall that separates one workspace from an adjacent workspace. Here, one or more “private” spaces within a standard sized workspace usually exist where a computer display screen is positionable such that views of the screen from outside the workspace are at least impeded.
In at least some cases partition systems have been designed with “partial height walls” (e.g., 42 inches) between adjacent workspaces so that persons in adjacent workspaces can make eye contact when at least one of the persons is standing but that still impedes a person that is sitting in one workspace from peering into the other workspace. Here, where first and second people are sitting in adjacent workspaces, neither of the people can see what the other person is doing but, for instance, when the first person wants to collaborate with the second person, the first person can just stand up to make eye contact with the second person. Where people can view each other while communicating, visual cues (e.g., facial expressions, posture, etc.) enhance communication effectiveness and hence collaboration.
Another office design technique that facilitates collaboration is to provide common areas or conference rooms for teams of people that include comfortable furniture, writing surfaces and collaborative tools such as display screens, writing boards, conferencing equipment, etc. Often open offices will include collaborative spaces interspersed throughout so that persons within the vicinity thereof have easy access thereto.
Yet another office design technique that has been used to foster communication is to provide a horizontal “standing height” surface (e.g., 42 inches) along the top of a partition wall in a reception area so that a person that approaches a receptionist located within the workspace is provided with a comfortable surface on which to place documents, to use as a writing surface, etc., while communicating with the receptionist. Here, a credenza or the like having a height lower than the height of the counter surface is typically provided on the workspace side of the counter surface and a display screen and keyboard are positioned on the credenza with the rear surface of the screen facing the standing height surface for use by a sitting or standing receptionist. Thus, the receptionist and a visitor have their own separate surfaces on which to perform tasks and the receptionist's display screen is hidden from viewing by a visitor located adjacent the standing height surface.
Still one other collaborative configurations include a desk height surface (e.g., 24-32 inches) either between adjacent workspaces or along an outer wall of a workspace that is common with a public space (e.g., a walkway between workspaces). Here, persons in adjacent workspaces or first and second persons in a workspace and in a public space, respectively, can collaborate around the desk surface while seated. In some cases desk surfaces positioned to facilitate collaboration include at least one rounded edge so that several persons can collaborate thereat.
While each of the configurations and design techniques described above has several advantages, unfortunately each of the configurations and techniques suffer form one or more shortcomings. First, it has been recognized that while two heads may be better than one, in fact, two heads may also be better than three, four or more heads, when it comes to collaborative activities. In this regard, it has been observed that whenever three or more persons collaborate on a project, usually a sub-set of the collaborators that are relatively more extroverted will lead the project and more freely share their ideas while the more introverted collaborators will simply follow the lead without making their ideas known. However, if one of the more introverted collaborators is paired with just one other person to collaborate on the same project, it has been observed that the introvert much more freely. Because most people communicate relatively freely in pairs we can assume that most people want to express their ideas.
While it is unclear why some persons tend to communicate more freely in pairs than in larger groups, it is believed that some people are relatively uncomfortable testing new ideas with other people in groups where a majority viewpoint is possible and likely. Here, for example, on one hand, where three people collaborate and two opinions are expressed, more often than not at least two people will share one opinion resulting in a majority. On the other hand, when two people collaborate, no majority is possible when a difference of opinion occurs—the worst that can happen is that the two people disagree. When faced with the possibility of simple disagreement people tend to express their ideas more freely than when faced with potentially having come up with, and having to defend, a minority position.
In addition, some people are relatively uncomfortable testing new ideas with other people in groups where it is difficult to obtain visual feedback. To this end it has been recognized that, because a person can only closely observe one other person at a time, a person can more readily perceive visual queues from one person than from people in larger groups during communication. For this reason, a person can gauge how test ideas are being perceived more readily in a pair than they can in larger groups. Where an idea is expressed and visual queues indicate a misunderstanding or clear disagreement, the ideas can be re-articulated or speedily dropped to avoid embarrassment.
Moreover, it is believed that, in general, people are more critical of ideas when in a group including three or more people than when working with only one other person. In this regard, people that have the same view point tend to feed off each others ideas and take comfort in the fact that their opinion is validated by someone else. When a person believes that her opinion has been validated by others, that person tends to become more critical of other opinions which adversely affects the collaborative process.
While some of the configurations and techniques described above can be used to facilitate communication between two people, none of the configurations or techniques is optimal. To this end, an optimal space for two person collaboration should include a space that is physically separate from a larger office space and is at least somewhat private for use by the two people, that includes a shared space or common work surface that is readily available for spontaneous use and where shared information can be maintained for long periods (e.g., several days or weeks), where the two people can, when desired, see each other during communication and where each of the two people has at least some private space for attending to personal or non-collaborative tasks. In addition, it would be advantageous if the space characteristics described above could be accomplished in a space that is similar to the space required to provide two standard sized workstations using existing partition systems so that additional office space would not be required.
Where full height (e.g., 60-72 inches) partition walls separate adjacent workspaces, communication between people in adjacent workspaces is difficult at best because the partition walls typically muffle sound to some extent and visual queues may be completely blocked. In addition, where people attempt to communicate over a full height wall confidentiality is usually lost as other people in the vicinity of the wall can usually hear any conversation. Moreover, full height wall configurations do not provide a common work surface that is readily available for spontaneous collaboration and where shared information can be maintained for long periods.
While conference rooms can be used by two people to confidentially collaborate and usually include a table that can be used as a common surface, conference rooms are usually reserved on a relatively formal basis which is not conducive to spontaneous collaborative activity. In addition, typically conference rooms are used for relatively small periods of time (e.g., a few hours) at the end of which shared information has to be removed. Whenever information has to be removed form a space continuity of thought is broken and overall creativity often suffers. Moreover, permanent conference rooms are costly, especially when not in use and are usually designed for use by more than two people so that when a pair of people are using a conference room the space is usually underutilized.
Where partition wall heights are reduced to partial height (e.g., a standing height), while a first person standing on one side of the wall can have a line of sight to and can communicate with a second person either standing or sitting on the other side of the wall, where a credenza or desk surface is located on one or both sides of the wall the first and second people are usually separated by several feet (e.g., the combined credenza widths). Here, as in the case of the full height walls, because of the space that separates the first and second people, communication over the credenzas and wall does not feel confidential and free/unencumbered collaboration tends to be minimal at best. In addition, partial height walls alone do not provide a surface on which two people can share ideas and on which information can be maintained for long periods.
Similarly, where a standing height surface is provided over a receptionist's desk as part of a receptionist workspace configuration or is provided over credenzas on either side of a partial height wall, a first person on one side of the standing height surface is separated from a second person on the other side of the surface by at least the width of the desk or credenzas and communication is hampered.
In addition, the standing height surface is not particularly useful as a common surface by people on opposite sides thereof. In the case of the receptionist workspace configuration, the receptionist typically uses the receptionist's desk top while a visitor uses the standing height surface and it is inconvenient for either the receptionist to use the standing height surface or for the visitor to use the receptionist's desk top.
In the case of a standing height surface above credenzas on either side of a wall that separates workspaces, while items can be placed on the standing height surface, the standing height surface is not very useful as a work surface for collaborative activities as a person on either side of the standing height surface would have to lean over one of the credenzas there below in order to access the standing height surface—an uncomfortable position at best.
In the case of a desk height table provided between first and second adjacent workspaces, while first and second people in the adjacent spaces can confidentially and comfortably collaborate at the common table while seated on chairs, the desk height table leaves the workspaces generally open to each other which substantially reduces the possibilities of configuring private sub-spaces within the workspaces. To this end, when a desk height table is provided between adjacent workspaces, the table does not block the line of sight of a seated person in one of the workspaces into the other workspace. Thus, even when seated within one of the workspaces, a person is not in a private space.
One other design feature for facilitating collaboration between two people has been to support a display screen above a desk surface on a sliding and rotating carriage such that the front surface of the screen is moveable to different positions and can be viewed by people on opposite sides of a desk. In these cases the supporting structures that facilitate sliding and rotating usually have several shortcomings. First, in some cases, the supporting structures include one or several components that reside above the desk top surface that impede use of the desk top. Where supporting structure components reside above the desk top the resulting configurations are also aesthetically unappealing.
Second, in other known cases where supporting structure is at least in part disposed below a desk top, the supporting structure extends downward from an undersurface of the desktop and impedes placement of legs there below. The solution in these cases has been to either mount the supporting structure below a lateral edge of the desk surface so that the display screen is laterally disposed with respect to a person using the desk or to provide a desk where the supporting structure is offset from a front edge of the desk (i.e., the edge adjacent the person using the desk) sufficiently that the when legs are placed under the desk, the legs will not contact the supporting structure. Thus, designs of display screen supporting structure have limited the overall options available for office space designers.
Thus, it would be advantageous to have a partition system for two people that defines a space that is physically separate from a larger office space and is at least somewhat private for use by the two people, that includes a shared or common work surface that is readily available for spontaneous use and where shared information can be maintained for long periods (e.g., several days or weeks), where the two people can, when desired, see each other during communication and where each of the two people has at least some private space for attending to personal or non-collaborative tasks. It would also be advantageous if the partition system provided at least some public space for interaction with persons outside each of the workspaces. Moreover, it would be advantageous if all of the advantages described above could be accomplished in a space similar to the space required for existing partition systems to support two people. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if a sliding support assembly were available that could support a display screen or other workspace accessories from a desk or other work surface where the support structure components are at least substantially disposed within a desk or other work surface member such that private and common or public surface configurations previously impractical could be designed.
It has been recognized that a partition system can be designed for first and second people that includes each of a private space for the first person, a private space for the second person, a common space that facilitates spontaneous collaboration between the first and second people and a separate public space for each of the first and second people and that all of the se spaces can be provided in the area that was previously required to provide workspaces for two people using prior known partition systems. Thus, the advantages of collaboration between pairs of people can be had without giving up the advantages associated with prior types of partition configurations and without requiring additional space.
Consistent with the above realizations, in at least some embodiments of the invention, a partition system includes “full height” walls that enclose three sides of a space wherein the space includes two workstations. The workstations are separated at least in part by a “standing height” table top on top of a standing height partition wall wherein no credenza or desk height surfaces are provided below the table top. Because there are no encumbrances below the table top, people in the adjacent workstations can stand directly adjacent the table top which operates as a common surface. Because the common surface is a standing height surface, the common surface is comfortable for both people to use for spreading out documents, drawing, explaining information, etc., when standing. Because the partition wall below the common surface is standing height, when two people are seated on opposite sides of the partition wall, neither one of the people can see easily into the workstation on the opposite side of the wall and therefore the standing height wall in conjunction with other structure can be used to provide at least some sense of privacy to the space users when the users are seated. Because the common surface is completely contained within the space including the two adjacent workstations, documents and other materials disposed on the common surface can remain on the common surface for long periods (e.g., days or even weeks) as only the two people in the two workstations use the common surface.
According to another aspect of the present invention, privacy panels may be provided that are moveable adjacent a desk assembly such that the desk assembly and panels can be configured for either semi-private use or for relatively more public use. Thus, in at least some embodiments, panels are mounted to a rail adjacent a rear edge of a desk for sliding motion there along. Here, the panels can be slid into a storage position generally proximate one lateral edge of the desk or into an in use position disposed between first and second lateral edges of the desk to block at least some views into a desk user's space and onto the desk top. Here, the panels may extend above the rail, below the rail or both above and below the rail and may be between the desk and the rail or on the side of the rail opposite the desk.
According to one other aspect of the invention, a novel arm support assembly is provided that mounts to the table top and, more specifically, includes a track and carriage mechanism that is at least substantially entirely located within a table top member. For instance, in at least one embodiment the table top includes a slot that extends along the length of a track that is located within a table top and an extension or mounting member extends up through the slot. A display screen supporting arm can be mounted to the mounting member such that the arm and screen are moveable along the track. Here, because the track and carriage mechanism are located within the table top and there are no track or carriage components that reside above the table top surface, the track can be disposed in any part of the table top and along any horizontal axis independent of location with respect to the edge of the table along which a person is situated. Thus, for instance, the slot through which the mounting member extends can be placed along either the front or rear edge of a desk top and will not impede placement of legs there under.
According to another aspect of the invention, in at least some embodiments, one or more flat panel displays can be provided on the support arm which can be easily manipulated to alter their juxtaposition with respect to a rear edge of a desk (i.e., with respect to the public side of a desk) to either increase screen and desk top privacy or to open up the desk top for more public use or to share information on the display screens. Where flat panels displays are combined with the sliding privacy panels described above, the displays and panels can be manipulated to configure different combinations to increase to decrease privacy.
Consistent with the above, at least some inventive embodiments include a work space assembly for use by a pair of people where the pair of people include first and second persons, the system providing each of the first and second persons with a private space and also providing a shared to be shared by the pair of people during collaboration, the assembly comprising an enclosure wall having first and second distal wall edges that are within an opening plane, the enclosure wall forming a station space including one open side between the distal edges, a rear portion of the enclosure wall spaced a station depth from the opening plane, the enclosure wall having an enclosure height of at least forty-eight inches (i.e., high enough that a person of ordinary height that is seated on one side would not easily be able to see over and to the other side), a table top having a table top length dimension between first and second oppositely facing ends that is less than the station depth dimension, the top having a table height of between 40 (here the 42 inch height in addition to the width of the top together render Ti difficult for a person of ordinary height seated on one side of the able to see over and to the other side of the table) and 52 inches and a space divider screen having generally oppositely facing first and second edges, first and second side surfaces and a divider height of at least sixty inches. In particularly advantageous cases the enclosure height is sufficient to impede a person of ordinary height standing on one side of a wall from looking thereover to the other side (e.g., 55-65 inches or more). Here, the table top is positioned with the table top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the rear portion of the enclosure wall and extending between the rear portion and the opening plane and the first edge of the space divider screen is positioned adjacent the second end of the table top with the space divider screen extending therefrom substantially parallel to the table top length dimension such that the top and the screen partition the station space into first and second subspaces.
In addition, the invention includes a work space assembly comprising a substantially planar rear wall member having a first height of at least forty-eight inches, first and second substantially planar side wall members extending perpendicular to and to the same side of the rear wall member from spaced apart locations along the rear wall member such that a station space is formed between the first and second side wall members and adjacent the rear wall member, a table top having a table top length dimension between first and second oppositely facing ends, the top having a table height of between forty and fifty-two inches and a space divider screen having generally oppositely facing first and second edges, first and second side surfaces and a divider height of at least sixty inches, first and second desk tops, each of the first and second desk tops having a front edge, a rear edge, first and second lateral edges, a desk height of between twenty-eight and thirty-two inches and a desk top length dimension between th first and second lateral side edges, wherein, the table top is positioned with the first end thereof adjacent and the table top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the rear wall member, the first edge of the space divider screen is positioned adjacent the second end of the table top with the space divider screen extending therefrom substantially parallel to the table top length dimension such that the top and the screen partition the station space into first and second subspaces, the first desk top positioned with the first lateral edge of the first desk top adjacent and the first desk top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the first side of the divider screen such that the first desk top extends toward the first side wall and a first entry space is formed between the second edge of the first desk top and the first side wall for accessing the first subspace and the second desk top positioned with the first lateral edge of the second desk top adjacent and the second desk top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the second side of the divider screen such that the second desk top extends toward the second side wall and a second entry space is formed between the second edge of the second desk top and the second side wall for accessing the second subspace.
Moreover, the invention also contemplates a table assembly for moveably supporting a table accessory, the assembly comprising a table top including upper and lower surfaces that define a top thickness, the top forming an elongated table channel having a channel length dimension that is substantially parallel to the top surface, a track having a track length dimension, wherein, at least one of the top forms a slot aligned with the channel length dimension and the track forms a slot along the track length dimension and a carriage supported by the track for movement along the track length dimension, a mounting member at least linkable to the carriage and including a distal end configured to support an accessory, wherein, both the track and the carriage are at least partially disposed within the table channel and at least partially within the thickness of the table top and the mounting member extends at least partially through the slot.
The invention also includes a table assembly for moveably supporting a table accessory, the assembly comprising a table top including upper and lower surfaces, the top forming an elongated slot in the top surface, a track having a track length dimension, the track mounted to the lower surface of the table top below the elongated slot such that the track length dimension is substantially aligned with the elongated slot, a carriage supported by the track for movement along the track length dimension, a mounting member at least linkable to the carriage and including a distal end configured to support an accessory, the distal end extending at least partially through the elongated slot and at least one roller supported by the carriage for rotation about a vertical axis and disposed so as to extend at least partially into the slot when the distal end extends at least partially therethrough.
Furthermore, at least some embodiments of the invention include a table and accessory support assembly, the assembly comprising a table top including upper and lower surfaces, front and rear edges and first and second lateral edges, the upper and lower surfaces defining a top thickness, the top forming an elongated slot in the top surface, a track having a track length dimension, the track mounted to the lower surface of the table top below the elongated slot such that the track length dimension is substantially aligned with the elongated slot, a carriage supported by the track for movement along the track length dimension, a mounting member at least linkable to the carriage and including a distal end, the distal end extending at least partially through the elongated slot and an arm member having first and second ends, the first end supported by the distal end of the mounting member for pivotal rotation about a substantially vertical axis and the second end extending from the first end such that the second end is positionable in at least a first position generally above the slot and a second position between the slot and the front edge of the table top, the second end configured to support an accessory.
In addition, according to certain aspects the invention contemplates a table assembly for moveably supporting a table accessory, the assembly comprising a table top including upper and lower surfaces that define a top thickness, the top forming an elongated table channel having a channel length dimension that is substantially parallel to the top surface and a support assembly mounted within the channel and within the table top thickness and including a mounting member having a distal end that extends at least partially through the slot and that is moveable there along, the distal end configured to support an accessory thereon.
The invention further contemplates embodiments including a screen apparatus comprising first and second rigid external members, each of the external members having oppositely facing internal and external surfaces, upper and lower edges and first and second oppositely facing lateral edges, an upper section, a mid-section and a lower section, each mid-section including a substantially planar member and at least one internal member, wherein the at least one internal member is sandwiched between the internal surfaces of the external members adjacent the mid-sections of the external members such that the midsections form an intermediate space therebetween and wherein the lateral edges of the first and second external members are at least in part exposed and the intermediate space is at least in part accessible along the lateral edges.
Some embodiments include a screen apparatus comprising first and second rigid external members, each of the external members having internal and external surfaces, upper and lower edges and first and second oppositely facing lateral edges, a mid-section, an upper section connected to the mid-section along an upper boundary and extending at an angle therefrom such that corresponding sections of the external surface form an angle less than one hundred and sixty degrees, and a lower section connected to the mid-section along a lower boundary and extending at an angle therefrom such that corresponding sections of the external surface form an angle less than one hundred and sixty degrees, each mid-section including a substantially planar member and at least one internal member having oppositely facing first and second surfaces and an edge between the first and second surfaces, wherein the at least one internal member is sandwiched between facing first surfaces of the mid-sections such that the first surfaces of the midsections form an intermediate space therebetween and wherein the lateral edges of the first and second external members are at least in part exposed and the intermediate space is at least in part accessible along side the lateral edges.
Other embodiments include a screen apparatus comprising a first rigid sheet member including a substantially planar mid-section and upper and lower sections that flare out to the same side of the midsection from upper and lower boundaries to upper and lower edges, respectively, the first sheet member also including first and second lateral edges and a second rigid sheet member including a substantially planar mid-section and upper and lower sections that flare out to the same side of the midsection from upper and lower boundaries to upper and lower edges, respectively, the second sheet member also including first and second lateral edges, wherein, the first and second sheet members are juxtaposed in a supporting relationship such that the mid-sections form an intermediate space therebetween with the upper section of the first sheet member diverging generally away from the second sheet member, the upper section of the second sheet member diverging generally away form the first sheet member, the lower section of the first sheet member diverging generally away from the second sheet member and the lower section of the second sheet member diverging generally away from the first sheet member.
In at least some cases the invention contemplates a space dividing assembly for use in an open space including a floor surface and at least one additional ambient surface, the assembly comprising a first support member supported by at least one of the ambient surface and the floor surface, a rail member supported by the support member at a rail height above the floor surface in a substantially horizontal orientation wherein the rail height is between twelve inches and thirty-six inches above the floor surface, a carriage mounted to the rail member for sliding motion there along and a screen member including first and second substantially oppositely facing surfaces and a screen edge between the first and second surfaces, the screen member supported by the carriage for motion therewith along the rail.
In addition, at least some inventive embodiments include a work space assembly for use by a pair of people where the pair of people include first and second persons, the system providing each of the first and second persons with a private space and also providing a shared to be shared by the pair of people during collaboration, the assembly comprising an enclosure wall having first and second distal wall edges that are within an opening plane, the enclosure wall forming a station space including one open side between the distal edges, a rear portion of the enclosure wall spaced a station depth from the opening plane, the enclosure wall having an enclosure height of at least sixty inches, divider components including a table top having a table top length dimension between first and second oppositely facing ends and a table height of between 40 and 52 inches and wherein, divider components are positioned with the table top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the rear portion of the enclosure wall and extending therefrom toward the opening plane, the divider components together partitioning the station space into first and second subspaces. Here, the table top length dimension may be similar to the station depth dimension.
These and other objects, advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. Such embodiment does not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention and reference is made therefore, to the claims herein for interpreting the scope of the invention.
While the present invention may be embodied in any of several different forms, the present invention is described here with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as setting forth an exemplification of the present invention which is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment(s) illustrated.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals correspond to similar elements throughout the views and, more specifically, referring to
The rear wall member 12 and first and second side wall members 14 and 16, respectively, together form a two person station space identified by numeral 26. To this end, in the exemplary embodiment, rear wall member 12 is a vertical generally rectilinear wall construct having a length dimension L0 between first and second lateral edges (not labeled) and a height dimension H1. While height H1 may have several dimensions, in at least some embodiments of the present invention, height dimension H1 is selected such that a person of ordinary height (e.g., 5 to 6 feet) standing on one side thereof would find it difficult or awkward to peer over wall member 12 from one side to the other. Thus, for example, in at least some cases, height H1 will be between 55 and 84 inches or may even extend to a ceiling height. In some cases height H1 may be as short as 48 inches which would, in at least some cases, be high enough to impede a person of average height and sitting on one side of the wall from peering over the wall to the other side. In some cases H1 may be 50 inches and in other cases 52 or more inches. Hereafter a height that impedes viewing thereover will be referred to as a “full height”.
Each of first and second side wall members 14 and 16, respectively, like rear wall member 12, has a generally rectilinear shape and has a length dimension D1 and a height dimension H1. In the illustrated embodiment, the height of each of members 14 and 16 is identical to height H1 of rear wall member 12. Each of wall members 14 and 16 is rigidly connected to rear wall member 12 and extends perpendicular thereto, each of wall members 14 and 16 extending in the same direction from rear wall member 12 and from opposite ends thereof to first and second distal edges or ends 42 and 44, respectively, where ends 42 and 44 reside in a common plane (not labeled). The side of space 26 opposite rear wall member 12 is generally unobstructed by the enclosure wall structure described above.
Table assembly 18 and space divider screen 20 are positioned within station space 26 such that assembly 18 and screen 20 together divide space 26 into first and second subspaces 38 and 40, respectively. To this end, as best illustrated in
Referring still to
Rail member 32 has a rail length dimension L2 that is approximately half the length dimension L0 of rear wall member 12 and is mounted such that approximately half of member 32 extends to each side of divider screen 20 and toward one of the distal edges 42 or 44 and such that member 32 is generally perpendicular to each of side wall members 14 and 16. Privacy screens 28 and 30 are mounted to rail member 32 in a manner to be described below.
Referring still to
Referring still to
Prior to describing the detailed characteristics of each of the components described above, relatively generally characteristics will be described that are important to at least one aspect of the present invention. To this end, referring still to
Exemplary width W1 of table top member 64 may be anywhere between 15 and 30 inches and, in particularly advantageous embodiments, will be between 20 and 24 inches. Here, it has been found that smaller widths such as, for instance 10 inches, are insufficient for supporting materials used by two people during collaboration and also result in configurations that are difficult to approach from lateral edges as feet or knees therebelow tend to knock against a facing surface of a support wall therebelow. In addition, it has been found that if the width W1 is too large, people on opposite sides thereof are too far apart to communicate most effectively.
Referring again to
At this point is should be appreciated that the general layout or configuration 10 described above functions to define various subspaces within station space 26 that are useful for different purposes. To this end, referring specifically to
Second, relatively private spaces 206A and 206B are formed adjacent the front edges (e.g., 226) of the desk top members (e.g., 23 and 24) and adjacent divider screen 20 wherein a person can perform relatively private activities. In this regard, referring still to
Referring still to
A. Common Table Assembly
Referring once again to
Each of internal walls 90 and 94 has a length dimension approximately half of length L1, traverses the distance between top member 64 and bottom wall 68 and is generally parallel to the first and second lateral edges 72 and 74, respectively, of space 76, with wall 90 relatively closer to first lateral edge 72 than second lateral edge 74 and having one end contacting end wall 80 and wall 94 relatively closer to second lateral edge 74 than first lateral edge 72 and having one end contacting end wall 82. Internal wall 92 is parallel to end walls 80 and 82 and extends between distal ends of walls 90 and 94. Thus, as best illustrated in
The exemplary table assembly 18 of
Second, while the space below knee level should be open and unobstructed, it has been recognized that storage structure can be placed directly below top member 64 without impeding placement of feet and knees when a person stands next to and uses top member 64. Experiments have shown that the dimension (not labeled) between facing surfaces of top member 64 and bottom wall 68 may be sufficiently large to accommodate a binder (e.g., 12 plus inches). In some embodiments it is contemplated that the dimension between facing surfaces of member 64 and bottom wall 68 will be sufficient to receive compact disc cases.
B. Divider Screen Assembly
Referring still to
Member 130 is generally a rectangularly shaped aluminum sheet member having a relatively minimal thickness between oppositely facing internal and external surfaces 166 and 168, respectively, sufficient to maintain its shape. In this regard, the thickness of member 130 may be anywhere between ⅛ of an inch and ½ of an inch and, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, member 130 will be approximately ⅜th to ¼th of an inch thick. Member 130 is defined by a top edge 142, a bottom edge 144, a first lateral edge 146 and a second lateral edge 148. External member 130 includes three separate planar sections that are separated by upper and lower fold lines or boundaries 158 and 156, respectively. Upper section 154 includes the portion of member 130 between upper edge 142 and upper fold line or boundary 158. Mid-section 150 includes the portion of external member 130 between upper boundary 158 and lower boundary 156. Lower section 152 includes the portion of external member 130 between lower boundary 156 and lower edge 144. Each of boundaries 158 and 156 is generally straight and, in the illustrated embodiment, is parallel to an adjacent one of the upper and lower edges 142 and 144, respectively. Thus, each of upper section 154, mid-section 150 and lower section 152 is substantially rectilinear when viewed in side elevation (see
Lower section 152 bends away from mid-section 150 along the lower fold line 156 in a first direction such that portions of external surface 168 of member 130 associated with mid-section 150 and lower section 152 form an obtuse angle α. Angle α is selected in conjunction with the dimensions of lower section 152 such that when screen 20 components are assembled as described herein, the lower edges 144 of the external members 130 and 132 form a stable base for other screen components thereabove. In this regard, depending upon other screen component dimensions, angle α may be anywhere between 100 and 150 degrees. In particularly advantageous embodiments, angle α is between 125 and 135 degrees.
Upper section 154 bends away from mid-section 150 along upper fold line 158 to the same side of mid-section 150 as does lower section 152 such that the portions of external surface 168 associated with upper section 154 and mid-section 150 form an angle β. Here, angle β may be almost any obtuse angle and, in particularly advantageous and esthetically pleasing embodiments, will be 125 and 135 degrees. In at least some embodiments, like the embodiment illustrated in
Referring in particular to
Referring still to
Members 136 and 138 have relatively narrow vertical width dimensions (not labeled) such that, when members 136 and 138 are mounted between external members 130 and 132, an intermediate space 164 is formed between the facing internal surfaces (e.g., 166) of external members 130 and 132. Between the internal surfaces of members 130 and 132 an intermediate space dimension (not labeled) will be anywhere between ½ an inch and 3 inches and, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, will be approximately 2 inches.
In the illustrated embodiment, as best seen in
When the components described above are assembled to form screen 20, in addition to forming intermediate space 164 between the mid-sections (e.g., 150) of members 130 and 132, an upper space 160 is formed between the upper sections (e.g., 154) of members 130 and 132. Space 160 can be used to mount or store various types of accessories. For instance, label 162 in
Referring still to
As another instance, referring still to
C. Table Assemblies
Referring once again to
In the illustrated embodiment one edge 230 of member 23 is mounted to a facing external surface of screen 20 and leg structure 224 includes only a single leg member 69, a foot member 71 and an arm member 73 that together support top member 23. Edge 230 may be mounted to screen 20 by brackets (not illustrated) or the like. Leg member 69 is vertical. Foot member 71 and arm member 73 extend in the same direction from opposite ends of and generally perpendicular to leg member 69. Foot member 71 rests on an ambient surface 110 while top member 23 is mounted to the top of arm member 73 proximate edge 232 such that arm member 73 generally extends from rear edge 228 toward front edge 226. Leg structure 224 is dimensioned so that the top surface of table top member 23 is between 24 and 32 inches high.
As indicated above, top member 23 includes a front edge 226, a rear edge 228 and first and second lateral edges 230 and 232, respectively. Lateral edges 230 and 232 define a desk top length dimension L2 while front and rear edges 226 and 228, respectively, define a width dimension W3 (see
Referring now to
Referring still to
Track assembly 50 includes three components including a bottom plate 240 and first and second Z-members 242 and 244, respectively. Bottom plate 240 is a rigid, typically metal, rectilinear plate having a top surface 252 and an oppositely facing bottom surface 254. Plate 240 has length and width dimensions L3 and W4, respectively, such that plate 240 is receivable within the first recess tier 236 as illustrated best in
Each of Z-members 242 and 244 is similarly constructed and operates in a similar fashion and therefore, in the interest of simplifying this explanation, only first Z-member 242 is described here. As its label implies, Z-member 242 has a generally Z-shaped cross-section best seen in
Referring once again to
Importantly, when track assembly 50 is mounted within recess 56, in at least some embodiments of the present invention, substantially the entire or the entire track assembly 50 is received within recess 56 such that the undersurface 254 of bottom plate 240 is flush with or substantially flush with the undersurface 234 of top member 23 (see again
Referring still to
Each of rollers 260 has a radial dimension (not labeled) such that the roller fits with some leeway within one of the track assembly raceways 218, 220 (see again
Mounting member or extension 60, in at least some embodiments, is integrally formed with base member 258 and, in any event, extends from and generally perpendicular to top surface 270. Mounting member 60 extends from a location on top surface 270 such that, when carriage assembly 52 is positioned for use, mounting member 60 extends up and through the slot 60 formed in top member 23. In the illustrated example, mounting member 54 has a generally over-shaped cross section that includes bolt or screw holes (not labeled) on an outwardly facing surface thereof that are usable to mount accessory components.
First vertical roller 262 is mounted to top surface 270 of base member 258 between mounting member 54 and the first end surface 274 for rotation about a first vertical axis while second vertical roller 264 is mounted to top surface 270 between mounting member 54 and second end surface 275 for rotation about a second vertical axis. Each of rollers 262 and 264 is dimensioned such that the roller is receivable within slot 60 and can bear there against to provide lateral stability to carriage assembly 52.
Referring once again to
The exemplary arm 290 includes a lower arm member 501, a cross bar 503 and pivot pans 505 and 507. In at least some embodiments lower arm member 501 is mounted at a lower or first end to cup-shaped member 286 for rotation about a vertical axis (not labeled) and cross bar 503 is mounted at a central location along its length to the upper or second end of lower arm member 501 for rotation about a second vertical axis. Pans 505 and 507 are mounted for rotation about third and fourth vertical axis to the opposite ends of cross bar 503. Each of pans 505 and 507 is configured to allows the display screen mounted thereto to pivot about a horizontal axis. Thus, one or both screens 200 and 202 can be rotated about to face either into space 38 or out of space 38 or, for that matter, in any other desired direction for enhancing privacy or for sharing information.
In at least some embodiments undersurface assembly 49 may be dimensioned such that the entire track and carriage can fit within a very thin top member 23. For instance, it is contemplated that member 23 may be as thin as ¾th of an inch. Thicker members 23 are also contemplated.
D. Privacy Panel/Rail Assembly
Referring now to
Rail member 32 is mounted at one end to approximately the top end of post 302 and at an opposite end at a similar vertical height to a central portion of post 300. In the illustrated embodiment, rail member 32 is positioned at a height that is approximately at a typical desktop height or slightly there below.
Referring specifically to
Referring again to
Referring to
Referring now to
As best seen in
Referring once again to
E. Additional Embodiments
It should be appreciated that various concepts have been disclosed above and that there are several inventive aspects that may be employed together to provide additional synergistic functionality or that may be employed separately. To this end, exemplary additional configurations and concepts are described next that each are consistent with at least one aspect of the present invention.
The embodiment illustrated in
It is also contemplated that, in at least some cases, two or more sliding stationary panels may be mounted to a single rail member 32 where the brackets that mount the sliding panels to the rail member 32 are offset from center and extend to different distances from the rail member such that the sliding panels can, in effect, stack together in a parallel relationship when stored.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring once again to
In addition, in at least some cases brackets are contemplated that include “T-shaped” end members where the T-shaped end member is receivable in one of the T-slots (e.g., 334) of rail member 32. Here, embodiments are contemplated where at least three slidable panel members may be configured so as to slide past each other along the rail 32. To this end, see
Referring once again to
With respect to the general layout of multi-person space, referring to
With respect to two person space layouts, referring now to
Second, divider screen 20a is different in that a smaller functional panel 172a is provided within the midsection and a utility outlet panel 182a is provided at a higher level above a tabletop surface 23a. Third, in embodiment 10a the central post (e.g., 300 in the previous embodiments) has been eliminated and rail 32a has instead been mounted directly to divider screen 20a. Although not illustrated, the mount between rail 32a and screen 20a may be via a bracket or the like as should be understood by one of skill in the art.
Fourth, rail 32a is positioned below but adjacent rear edge 228a of table top member 23a such that when sliding privacy panel 28a is mounted to rail 32a, the surface of panel 28a facing into space 38a can be extremely close to rear edge 228a.
Fifth, table top member 23a is mounted via a bracket 500a to rail 32a such that independent leg supporting structure is not required for top member 23a.
Referring now to
Referring now to
While the heights of various system surfaces and structures are important to certain aspects of the present invention, other dimensions may be varied. For instance, two different sized privacy panels 28 are illustrated in
With respect to the carriage/track and table configurations, while the carriage/track assembly described above is dimensioned so as to be completely disposed within a recess in the undersurface of a table top, in at least some cases it is contemplated that the assembly may extend below the undersurface at least somewhat. To this end, see
Moreover, while the recess for the carriage/track assembly is disclosed above as being formed in the undersurface of the table top, it is contemplated that the recess may be formed in the top surface or even into an edge surface in some cases. When the recess is in the top surface, a plate that forms a slot may be configured to close the top surface recess except for the slot. In this regard, see FIG. 27 that shows a plate 524e received with in top surface recess 526e in a table top 23e that forms a slot 528e for mounting member 530e.
Furthermore, when the recess is formed in the undersurface as in
With respect to the space divider screen 20 in
Moreover, screens 20 are contemplated that do not include outwardly flaring upper structure but that simply terminate vertically. In at least some cases screens 20 may have height dimensions such that they can reside below table assemblies like assembly 18 to close off space between two subspaces or to provide support for a table top member thereabove. Furthermore, at least some screens may include external members that have additional contour such as ribs or the like for style and/or functional purposes (e.g., to help position internal members for mounting, etc.). To this end see
While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been described herein by way of example. Nevertheless, it should be appreciated that the inventive aspects described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments described above and the invention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
This application is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/574,806 filed on May 27, 2004, and entitled “TWO PERSON WORK ENVIRONMENT”.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60574806 | May 2004 | US |
