Patent Publication Number: US-2016235193-A1

Title: Rotatable and height adjustable table

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to work surfaces and tables, and more particularly to a user configurable table that can be adapted to accommodate a variety of environments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a table unit including a work surface having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a first perimeter side and a second perimeter side. The table unit has a base that includes a floor support, a pedestal, and a top support. An upright wall portion is connected to the base, and the pedestal extends upwardly from the floor support. In addition, the pedestal has an adjustable length extending in a first direction. The top support is supported on the pedestal and includes a frame and a slide. The frame is rotatable about an axis and the slide is linearly movable with respect to the frame. The work surface is mounted on the slide and is movable with the slide. Further, the work surface can rotate with the frame between at least a first position, with the first perimeter side adjacent the upright wall portion, and a second position, with the second perimeter side adjacent the upright wall portion. 
     In another embodiment, the table unit includes an upright wall, a height adjustable pedestal, and a work surface. The upright wall has a width, an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being capable of supporting the upright wall on a floor. The height adjustable pedestal includes a member that is connected to the upright wall. The work surface is supported on the height adjustable pedestal and includes a first side edge and a second side edge forming a corner therebetween. The work surface is rotatable on the pedestal between a first position with the first side edge facing the upright wall and a second position with the second side edge facing the upright wall. 
     In another embodiment, the connecting frame member that is connected between the upright wall and the height adjustable pedestal defines a cable management channel. 
     In yet another embodiment, rotation of the frame, movement of the slide, and adjustment of the pedestal length are independent of one another. Adjustment of the length of the height adjustable pedestal may simultaneously raise or lower the work surface and the upper end of the upright wall. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings. 
     Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a table unit according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the table unit of  FIG. 1 , illustrating in broken lines the work surface of the table unit in various positions; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the table unit with electrical components positioned on the work surface, illustrating in broken lines a work surface of the table unit in oriented in an extended position; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the table unit, illustrating an intermediate position of the work surface; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the table unit, illustrating the work surface oriented in a rotated position; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top, detailed view of a cable management channel and baffle of the table unit, illustrating the baffle in a compressed position; 
         FIG. 6B  is a top, detailed view of the cable management channel illustrating the baffles in an intermediately compressed position 
         FIG. 6C  is a top, detailed view of the cable management channel illustrating the baffles in an intermediately compressed position; 
         FIG. 6D  is a top, detailed view of the cable management channel, illustrating the baffles in an expanded position; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the table unit, illustrating the work surface in a first position and an upright wall portion of the table unit in a lowered position; 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the table unit, illustrating the work surface in a raised second position and the upright wall portion in a raised position; 
         FIG. 7C  is a perspective view of the table unit, illustrating the work surface in an intermediate position and the upright wall portion in the lowered position; 
         FIG. 7D  is a perspective view of the table unit, illustrating the work surface in an oppositely rotated first position and the upright wall portion in the lowered position; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the table unit arranged for a seated posture, where the work surface is in the first position and the upright wall portion is in the lowered position; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the table unit arranged for a perched posture, where the work surface is in the raised second position and the upright wall portion is in the raised position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT 
     II. Overview 
     A user configurable table unit  10  that can be adapted to accommodate a variety of environments is shown in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The table unit  10  is height adjustable, enabling a user to raise and lower a work surface  12 . The table unit  10  is also rotatable; the work surface  12  is able to rotate 180°. The table  10  includes a rotational arm that connects the work surface  12  to a privacy screen, such that the privacy screen moves up and down with the work surface  12 . The ability to change the orientation of the work surface  12 , in combination with the ability to raise and lower the work surface  12 , provides a number of different configurations in which the table unit  10  can be arranged. This configurability offers valuable flexibility, especially in the office environment, through the use of a single table unit  10 . 
     Throughout this description, directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” may be used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s). 
     II. Structure 
     Referring to the illustrated embodiment show in  FIGS. 1-9 , the user configurable table unit  10  generally includes a work surface  12 , a base  22 , and an upright wall portion  30 . The work surface  12  has an upper surface  14  and a lower surface  16 , and a first perimeter side  18  and a second perimeter side  20 . The work surface  12  is generally rectangular; the first perimeter side  18  is longer than the second perimeter side  20 , and forms a corner  21  between the sides. In the exemplary embodiment, a rectangular work surface  12  is illustrated; however, other work surface shapes are contemplated. 
     As shown, the base  22  includes a floor support  24 , a pedestal  26 , and a top support  28 . The floor support  24  is a generally T-shaped, flat member configured to be situated on a floor. The pedestal  26  is affixed to and extends upwardly from one portion of the floor support  24 , and the wall portion  30  is connected to and extends upwardly from the other portion of the floor support  24 . The pedestal  26  includes first and second telescoping sections  46  and  48  such that the length of the pedestal  26  is adjustable and may be extended in a first direction A, illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Though not shown, the pedestal  26  may include a conventional manual crank, electric motor, springs, gas assist, or any other mechanism capable of height adjustment. The work surface  12  is supported on its lower surface  16  by the height adjustable pedestal  26 . 
     The wall portion  30  has a width and includes a lower section  36 , which may be referred to as a modesty screen, and an upper section  38 , which may be referred to as a privacy screen. In one embodiment, the lower section  36  is a structural member and is capable of supporting the wall portion  30 . As illustrated, the lower section  36  may be mounted to the floor support  24  of the base  22  (although it is possible for the wall portion  30  to be supported on a floor support that is not connected to the base  22 ). The upper section  38  is movably mounted to the lower section  36  and can be moved with respect to the lower section  36  in a direction generally parallel to the pedestal  26 . In one example, the upper section  38  is telescopingly mounted to the lower section  36 . Additionally, the upper section  38  acts as a privacy screen and may include features such as an accessory tool interface, a tack surface, a dry erase surface, or may contain integrated technology elements, such as power, data, visual display, and the like. 
     Perhaps as best seen in  FIG. 2 , the table unit  10  also includes a connecting frame member  40  that extends generally perpendicular to the pedestal  26 . The connecting frame member  40  is affixed at one end to the pedestal  26  and at the other end to the upper section  38  of the wall portion  30 . Accordingly, the connecting frame member  40  connects the pedestal  26  and the upper section  38  so that adjusting the length of the pedestal  26  simultaneously raises or lowers the upper section  38  of the wall portion  30 . Further, the work surface  12  is also supported on the pedestal  26  and adjusting the length of the pedestal  26  also raises or lowers the height of work surface  12 . Thus, adjusting the length of the pedestal  26  may simultaneously raise or lower both the upper section  38  of the wall portion  30  and the work surface  12 . 
     Referring now to any of  FIGS. 2-5 , the connecting frame member  40  defines a cable management channel  42  which is positioned adjacent the wall portion  30 . The cable management channel  42  may include a vertical opening  44  in the connecting frame  40  through which cables, electrical cords, and the like may be routed from under the work surface  12  to above the work surface  12 , and vice versa. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A-D , the cable management channel  42  includes a baffle  56  disposed within the vertical opening  44 . The baffle  56  is made of a compressible material to accommodate a variety of cables, electrical cords, and the like, while at the same time obstructing the remaining portion of the vertical opening  44 . The example shown in  FIG. 6A  illustrates the baffle  56  in a compressed position with a relatively large number of larger diameter cords routed through the cable management channel  42 . In contrast, the baffles  56  shown in  FIGS. 6B  and C are shown with fewer and/or smaller diameter cords routed through the cable management channel  42 . Lastly, the baffle  56  shown in  FIG. 6D  illustrates the baffle  56  in the fully expanded position when no cords or cables are routed through the cable management channel  42  and the channel  42  is fully obstructed. The baffle  56  functions to allow cables to pass through the cable management channel  42 , while filling the vertical opening  44  to prevent, or at least deter, items placed atop the work surface  12  from falling through the channel  42 . 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 2-5 , the top support  28  is positioned under the work surface  12 , extends generally perpendicularly to the pedestal  26 , and is rotatably mounted to the pedestal  26 . The top support  28  includes a frame  32  and a slide  34 . The frame  32  defines a channel  54  that has a first end  50  and a second end  52 , and the frame  32  is rotatably mounted at a first end  50  to the pedestal  26 . More specifically, the frame  32  is a horizontal member and is rotatable in a horizontal plane about an axis X defined by the vertical axis of the pedestal  26 . The slide  34  is mounted within the frame  32  and is linearly movable within the channel  54  between the first and second ends  50  and  52  of the frame  32 . Further, the work surface  12  is affixed to the slide  34  and is therefore movable and rotatable with the slide  34  and frame  32 . Accordingly, as will be described in greater detail below, the work surface  12  is configured to rotate with the frame  32 . 
     III. Operation 
     The table unit  10  is configured such that the work surface  12  is movable between horizontal rotational orientations defined generally by a first position Y and a second position Z. In the first position Y illustrated in  FIG. 7A , the work surface  12  is arranged with the first perimeter side  18  adjacent the upright wall portion  30 ; in the second position Z illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the work surface  12  is arranged with the second perimeter side  20  adjacent the upright wall portion  30 . To rotate the work surface  12  from one position to the other, a user may first slide the work surface  12  away from the upright wall  30  to create a clearance space between the work surface  12  and the upright wall  30 , wherein the user pulls the work surface  12 , sliding the slide  34  within the frame  32  from the first end  50  to the second end  52  (or at least to some intermediate position between the first end  50  and the second end  52 ). This extends the work surface  12  away from the upright wall  30  so that the corner  21  of the work surface  12  can clear the upright wall  30  during subsequent rotation of the work surface  12 . The user then rotates the work surface  12  and frame  32  about the axis X until the work surface  12  is oriented in the reciprocal position. After rotation, the user can optionally slide (i.e., retract) the work surface  12  back so that the slide  34  is again adjacent the first end  50  of the frame  32 . 
     In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the table unit  10  is configured for the work surface  12  to rotate 180°. Thus, the work surface  12  can move between the first and second positions Y and Z, and to a third position Y′, as shown in  FIG. 7D . Like the first position Y, in the third position Y′, the first perimeter side  18  is adjacent the upright wall portion  30 . However, in the third position Y′, the work surface  12  is rotated 180° relative to the first position Y. This enables a user to shift the work surface  12  to either the left or the right. 
     Thus, the work surface  12  orientation can be changed as desired according to the user&#39;s needs and preferences. In the second position Z of the illustrated embodiment, the work surface  12  extends a greater distance out from the wall portion  30 , while in the first and third positions Y and Y′, the work surface  12  is tucked in closer to the wall portion  30 . The flexibility and ability to change the orientation of the work surface  12  provides a facilities planner with a broad range of application solutions, all from the same table unit  10 . 
     The table unit  10  is also configured for adjustment such that a user may raise or lower the height of the work surface  12  as desired. The user can adjust the height of the work surface  12  to accommodate his or her height, or to move the table unit  10  between a sitting posture height, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , and a perched or standing posture height, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . To adjust the height of the work surface  12 , the user activates the height adjustment mechanism (not shown) associated with the pedestal  26 . As discussed above, the upper section  38  of the wall portion  30  may be connected to the pedestal  26  by the connecting frame member  40 , so adjusting the length of the pedestal  26  simultaneously raises or lowers the upper section  38  of the wall portion  30 . In this manner, the upper section  38 , or privacy screen, tracks up and down with the work surface  12 . 
     The table unit  10  described herein offers many benefits and advantages and can be adapted to accommodate a variety of environments. The table unit  10  work surface  12  is adjustable in both its horizontal orientation and its height. A user can raise and lower the work surface  12  and rotate the work surface  12  180°. Further, the work surface  12  is connected to the privacy screen, such that the privacy screen moves up and down with the work surface  12 . The ability to change the orientation of the work surface  12 , in combination with the ability to raise and lower the work surface  12 , provides a number of different configurations in which the table  10  can be arranged. This configurability offers valuable flexibility, especially in the office environment, through the use of a single table unit  10 . Examples of a select few of the orientation combinations are shown in  FIGS. 7A-7D . 
     The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.