Abstract:
A system for defining a plurality of work zones within an otherwise open area is provided. The system includes a rigid spine extending upward from a base surface. At least one worksurface is connected to the spine and extends outward therefrom. A support structure for the worksurface is connected to the spine and the worksurface. The support structure is capable of being adjusted in size to support worksurfaces of different sizes.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of the filing date pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of PCT application No. PCT/US02/19191, filed Jun. 17, 2002, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/298,361, filed Jun. 16, 2001, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a furniture system for use within an open office. In particular, this invention relates to a furniture system adapted to provide improved functionality in an open collaborative work environment and in the proximate workspace of a user while providing an enhanced aesthetic appearance.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Because the concept of an appropriate working environment is rapidly changing, it is necessary that any system of arranging and defining work areas be capable of many different configurations allowing rapid changeover from one arrangement to another. Such systems must be flexible enough to accommodate different work activities and tools. In addition, such systems must be easily assembled or reconfigured into a plurality of space-efficient plans.  
         [0004]     Previous systems have failed to adequately provide a flexible and efficient use of an open area workspace. For example, it has been known to erect permanent or semi-permanent space-dividing walls and then to furnish each individual work area created by these walls with furniture. The furniture used in these systems has been of the conventional type, entirely or substantially independent of the walls. Such arrangements were tolerable under circumstances in which the requirements of the activities performed within the work spaces remained relatively static over long periods of time. Also, furniture of the conventional type is static in design, often usable only for a single purpose. When not in use, conventional furniture is bulky and requires substantial storage space.  
         [0005]     Open plan office systems or systems furniture typically provide a series of rigid panels which are in turn rigidly connected together at facing edges to divide work spaces into work or task areas. The panels are coupled together at facing edges for straight line rectangular coupling. Vertical slots are provided at the facing edges to support brackets for hanging cabinets, shelves and worksurfaces to efficiently use the space. However, many previous system furniture designs failed to work in an optimal manner in open collaborative work settings. In addition, these systems sometimes failed to provide an efficient proximate workspace environment for a user. This issues related to a user&#39;s proximate workspace have become more pronounced as the size of a user&#39;s work area decreases.  
         [0006]     Although traditional systems furniture remain a viable solution for many office environments, some business organizations have functional and aesthetic requirements which cannot be practically or commercially met by such a product. In particular, the increasing use of computer equipment and work teams results in the need for an extremely flexible system. In addition, the decreased size of many work environments creates the need for an enhanced proximate workspace.  
         [0007]     Therefore, there is a need for a system that provides an improved collaborative and proximate functionality in the workspace with an enhanced aesthetic appearance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is directed to an improved furniture system with an increased efficiency and flexibility over previous open plan furniture systems.  
         [0009]     According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system for defining a plurality of work zones within an otherwise open area is provided. The system includes a rigid spine extending upward from a base surface. At least one worksurface is connected to the spine and extends outward therefrom. A support structure for the worksurface is connected to the spine and the worksurface. The support structure is capable of being adjusted in size to support worksurfaces of different sizes.  
         [0010]     According to another aspect of the invention, a screen for use adjacent to a worksurface is provided. The screen includes a framework having a top member, a bottom member and a first side member and an opposing second side member and a substantially hollow interior. A spanning element is connected to the framework and covers the interior of the framework.  
         [0011]     According to yet another aspect of the invention, a work system capable of supporting a variety of work tools is provided. The system includes a work surface having a top surface. A framework is connected to the worksurface and extends above the worksurface. A work tool support structure is connected to the framework and includes a foot that is supported by the top surface of the worksurface.  
         [0012]     As used herein the term “work tool(s)” is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include elements such as signage, organizers, paper trays, display trays or storage trays, personal shelves, document holders, pencil or pen holders, disk holder or document grippers and other known elements.  
         [0013]     As used herein with respect to the spanning element, the phrase “covers the interior of the framework” is intended to include elements that either fill in the interior or cover the interior of the framework.  
         [0014]     The present invention, together with attendant objects and advantages, will be best understood with reference to the detailed description below in connection with the attached drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a furniture system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the support structure for a worksurface as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the connection between a support frame and the stringer;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the a worksurface and the adjustable legs;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the adjustable legs in a first position;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the adjustable legs in a second position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of a freestanding worksurface having adjustable legs;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a first screen assembly;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a second screen assembly;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a third screen assembly;  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a enlarged view of a tool rail attached to a screen assembly; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a cross-section of a foot of the tool rail. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     The invention is described with reference to the drawings in which like elements are referred to by like numerals. The relationship and functioning of the various elements of this invention are better understood by the following detailed description. However, the embodiments of this invention as described below are by way of example only, and the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It should also be understood that the drawings are not to scale and in certain instances details have been omitted which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention such as conventional details of fabrication and assembly.  
         [0028]     The present invention is directed to a unique system  10  that divides up space into a plurality of work areas  12 . Once assembled, the system  10  is self-supporting and does not depend on architecture or interior design elements of the space for stability. It should be recognized that the system  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is one of many possible configurations for the system. The system  10  is capable of creating a plurality of workspaces of identical characteristics or unique characteristics and is also extremely effective in achieving high room densities for users. The system  10  is also useful to increase the proximate work environment for a user by increasing the accessibility for a seated worker to various work tools  18  such as files, pens and pencils. The vertical storage members  20  also increase the accessibility of the files, papers or other work tools stored therein. In addition, the vertical storage members  20 ,  22  and the various tiles  24  allow light from the surrounding environment to penetrate the workspace more efficiently than in the past. In particular, the vertical arrangement of the storage members  20  allows more ambient light into a user&#39;s workspace than would exist with a traditional horizontally aligned storage member. In addition, the various tiles  24  are designed with openings to allow light to more readily pass therethrough. For a fuller description of the tiles  24  and many other features useful with the present system  10 , reference is made to the U.S. patent application filed Jun. 16, 2001 in the name of “Remelts et al.” and entitled “Accessories For A Workspace”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  also illustrates various screen assemblies. For example, a combination privacy screen and modesty screen  38  is shown. In addition, a number of smaller privacy screen  39  are connected to the top of the spine  40  and particularly a monorail useful with the system. Again, reference is made to U.S. Patent Provisional Application filed Jun. 16, 2001 in the name of “Remelts et al.” and entitled “Accessories For A Workspace” for fuller description of the monorail. Additional screen assemblies will be discussed herein.  
         [0030]     The spine  40  extends the length of the system  10 . A plurality of worksurfaces  44  are connected to the spine  40  and extend outward therefrom. The spine  40  and the worksurfaces  44  are constructed generally in accordance with the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,255, entitled “Work Space Management System” and issued in the name of “James. O. Kelley”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0031]     The support structure  48  supports the worksurface  44  in the first work area  50 . The support structure  48  includes a support frame  54  and a stringer  56  as best seen in  FIG. 2 . The support frame  54  includes a conventional fastening element  58  that includes a plurality of teeth that engage corresponding slots in the spine  40 . The support frame  54  includes an upper bar  60 , a middle bar  62 , and a lower bar  64  that interconnect a first side  68  and a second side  70 . An angled cross-brace  71  interconnects the upper bar  60  and the middle bar  62 . The second side  70  includes a leg  72  that extends upward from a base surface. Levelers  73  are connected to the bottom of the spine  40  and the leg  72 . The upper bar  60  and the middle bar  62  include a plurality of spaced apart apertures  74 . A plurality of corresponding apertures are located on the opposite sides (not shown) of the upper bar  60  and the middle bar  62 . A height-adjustable support column  78  extends upward from the second side  70  with bracket  79  connected to a bottom of the worksurface  44 . A stringer connection member  80  interconnects the stringer  56  to the support frame  54 . The stringer  56  includes an upper rod  84  and lower rod  86  that engage the upper bar  60  and the middle bar  62 , respectively. The upper rod  84  and the lower rod  86  are connected to the leg assembly  90 .  
         [0032]     The stringer  56  can be adjustably positioned along the support frame  54 , and particularly along the upper bar  60  and the middle bar  62 . Accordingly, the support structure  48  is useful to support worksurfaces  44  of varying sizes. In the preferred embodiment, the apertures  74  span a distance of 18 inches to thereby accommodate worksurfaces that have a range in length of 18 inches. Moreover, the stringer  56  may be connected to the other side (the side opposite to the illustration of  FIG. 2 ) of the support frame  54  in order to accommodate a different worksurface configuration. As a result, the support structure  48  can accommodate right-handed and left-handed work surface configurations. In addition, the use of the support structure  48  obviates the need for many different parts to be in inventory to accommodate different size work surfaces.  
         [0033]     The stringer connection member  80  is best illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The stringer connection member  80  includes a head portion  82  and a body portion  84 . The stringer connection member  80  is formed from a flexible PVC material. The flexible nature of the stringer connection member  80  allows the stringer  56  to be angularly adjusted relative to the support frame  54 . In a preferred embodiment, the stringer connection member  80  has a range of motion up to approximately 30 degrees. The stringer connection member  80  allows the same support structure  48  to be used to accommodate different worksurfaces, e.g., worksurfaces that extend straight off the spine  40  or corner worksurfaces.  
         [0034]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the leg assembly  90  is connected to a bottom surface  91  of one of the worksurfaces  44 . More specifically, the column  92  is connected to the worksurface connector  94 . The column  92  includes a plurality of apertures  98  that engage a fastening element within the leg assembly  90  to properly support the worksurface  44  at the selected height. The apertures  98  extend along a length of the column  92 , e.g., five inches, in order to readily accommodate a range of heights. The leg assembly  90  also includes adjustable feet  100 .  
         [0035]     The adjustability of the leg assembly  90  is best illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 . The leg assembly  90  includes a first leg member  102  and second leg member  104 . The first leg member  102  includes a neck portion  108  and the second leg member  104  includes a neck portion  110 . The neck portions  108 ,  110  include mating collar or hinge portions  114 ,  116 , respectively. The collar portions  114 ,  116  have a tubular-shaped channel extending therethrough. The column  92  passes into the tubular-shaped channel and is secured therein. The first leg member  102  and second leg member  104  are connected in an angularly adjustable manner. In particular, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the first leg member  102  and the second leg member  104  form approximately a ninety degree angle. With reference to  FIG. 6 , the first leg member  102  and the second leg member  104  form approximately a one hundred and eighty degree angle which is particularly useful with a large worksurface. It should be recognized that the leg assembly may be adjusted to provide a wide variety of additional angles.  
         [0036]     While the leg assembly  90  is discussed with reference to the worksurface  44 , they are also useful with the freestanding worksurface assembly  120  of  FIGS. 1 and 7 . The freestanding worksurface assembly  120  also includes a worksurface  124 , a support rod  125  and castors  126 . The castors  126  provide for easy movement of the worksurface assembly  120  across a base surface.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 8-10  illustrate some of the screen assemblies for use with the system  10 .  FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of a pillow screen assembly  150 . The pillow screen assembly  150  includes a pillow shaped fabric cover  152 . The fabric cover  152  includes spaced apart opposing sides that slide over the framework  158 . The framework  158  (preferably formed from conventional materials such as steel) includes a top bar  160 , a bottom bar  162  and a first side bar  164  and a second side bar  168 . The framework  158  defines a hollow interior  169 . The bottom bar  162  includes pegs  170  that fit within the apertures  172  of the first and second side bars  164 ,  168 . The first side bar  164  and the second side bar  168  include end portions  176  and  178 , respectively. Clamps  190  (preferably formed from die cast aluminum) are used to connect the screen assembly  150  to a worksurface. The end portions  176  and  178  fit within the channel  192  in each clamp  190 . Fastening elements such a set screws (not shown) fit in the apertures  200  in order to secure the screen assembly  150  to the clamp  190 . While the upper set of apertures  200  is useful to secure a privacy screen assembly such as the screen assembly  150  as shown in  FIG. 1 , a modesty screen assembly  201  may be also connected to the clamp  190  in the same general manner. The clamp  190  includes a clamping surface  202  and a set screw  204  that is rotated upward to be secured to the edge of a worksurface  44  (and/or  124 ). A pad  210  may also be used to prevent any damage to the worksurface. Accordingly, the clamp  190  is a versatile element that can connect a privacy screen, a modesty screen, or both to a worksurface  44  (and/or  124 ).  
         [0038]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exploded view of a banner screen assembly  240 . The banner screen assembly  240  operates in the same general manner as does the pillow screen assembly  150  and includes the same framework  158  and clamp  190 . However, the banner screen assembly  240  is different through the use of the banner insert  250 . The banner insert  250  includes a top tube  260  and a bottom tube  262  that slip over the top bar  160  and the bottom bar  162 . The corners  270 ,  272  are removable to allow for the banner insert  250  to be slipped over the top and bottom bars  160 ,  162 . The banner insert  250  also includes a body portion  264  formed from a single sheet of material.  
         [0039]     The fabric used to form the fabric cover  152  and banner insert  250  can include conventional materials. In addition, materials such as those disclosed in U.S. patent application filed Jun. 15, 2001 in the names of “Loser et al.” and entitled “Methods and Apparatus For Decorating Interior Environments”, which is hereby incorporated by reference, may also be used.  
         [0040]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of an insert screen assembly  280 . The insert screen assembly  280  operates in the same general manner as does the pillow screen assembly  150  and includes the same framework  158  and clamp  190 . However, the insert screen assembly  280  is different through the use of the insert members  280 ,  282  (only one used at a time). The insert  280  is formed from a marker board material and the insert  282  is formed from a tackable material. A retaining clip  286  is connected to either insert  280 ,  282  in order to secure the insert  280 ,  282  within the interior  169  of the framework  158 . The retaining clip  286  includes a top member  290 , a bottom member  292 , a first side member  294 , a second side member  296  and corner members  298 . Each member forming the retaining clip  286  includes a concave outer edge adapted to engage the inside edge of the framework  158 . Each member of the retaining clip also includes a slot adapted to receive one of the inserts  280 ,  282 . It should be recognized that additional types of material could be used to form the insert e.g., a transparent plastic material. Moreover, materials having other functional purposes could also be used to form the insert.  
         [0041]      FIG. 11  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the tool rail  300  connected to the worksurface  44  via the clamp  190 . The tool rail  300  includes a bent top connection member  302 . The top connection member  302  is connected to the framework  158  and particularly, the top bar  160 . The tool rail  300  includes sides  304  and crossbeams  306 . Work tools can be attached to the crossbeams  306  and secured thereto. Work tools include signage, organizers, paper trays, display trays or storage trays, personal shelves, document holder, pencil or pen holders, disk holder or document gripper and other known elements. The base of the tool rail includes feet  320 . The sides  304  extend downward into channels  322  in each of the feet  320 . The feet  320  support the tool rail  300  upward from the worksurface  44 . The feet  320  are adjustable upward or downward to properly meet the worksurface  44 . An screw  324  can be adjusted upward or downward within a threaded slot  326 . Accordingly, the screw  324  pushed upward on the a side  304  on lets the side  304  come downward further into the slot  326 . In essence, the distance between the each foot  320  and the lowest crossbeam is controlled by the adjustment of screw  324 . Accordingly, the tool rail  300  can be loaded with work tools without causing a deflection in the screen assembly  150  because the feet  320  bear substantially directly on the worksurface  44 .  
         [0042]     The embodiments described above and shown herein are illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description and attached drawings. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, these and any other changes which come within the scope of the claims are intended to be embraced herein.