Patent Publication Number: US-2005126446-A1

Title: Table-mounted screen apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      The present invention relates to office furniture requiring a degree of privacy, and more particularly relates to a table-mounted screen apparatus for office furniture.  
      In today&#39;s dynamic work environment, there is a need to support a wide variety of work areas and activities, especially relaxed collaboration/teaming activities that promote a good exchange of ideas and thoughts. Preferably, the furniture in these work areas is re-configurable in order to provide the office environment with a cost-effective and practical means to meet current as well as future needs. One work area that has recently gained favor is the semi-private informal meeting area. These areas are characterized by their relatively open design, in that these areas are typically not confined within a walled environment, and they are typically utilized to support informal collaborative discussions and presentations. Nonetheless, the participants desire at least a modest degree of privacy.  
      Screens can be used to meet the requirements for privacy in these areas while retaining the modular character of the furniture and the openness of a non-walled area. However, the screens must be cost-effective and easy to manufacture and install. Further, they must be secure once installed so that they do not get knocked out of alignment and/or give a low-quality appearance. Also, the screens should preferably provide an aesthetically pleasing and modernistic appearance. It is also desirable to provide the user with a feeling that the furniture is stable and well-built. Notably, it can be difficult to impart this stable and well-built feeling into thin and flexible partition screens. Further, these screen systems should preferably be easily assembled as well as easily changed and reconfigured. Additionally, these partition screens must provide privacy while simultaneously not totally blocking light nor blocking the ability to determine if an individual is on the other side of the screen.  
      Thus, a system having the aforementioned advantages and solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for giving visual privacy to a furniture system including a table. The apparatus includes a screen panel made of an incompressible flexible material. The screen panel includes at least one aperture formed in an interior region thereof and is made of a material that is self-supporting when in a vertical upright position and flexed to a bowed condition about a vertical axis. A screen support is provided that includes a furniture-engaging mount section adapted for mounting to the table, a forwardly-projecting holder section extended through the aperture for engaging and supporting the screen panel in the interior region, and a vertical upright section supporting the holder section above the mount section.  
      In another aspect of the present invention, a screen system includes a screen panel having an aperture and a bent wire screen support. The bent wire screen support includes a top leg extending through the aperture for holding the screen panel upright, a pair of vertical wire sections extending downwardly from the top leg and that engage and support a rear surface of the screen panel, and a pair of bottom legs that extend forwardly along a bottom edge of the screen panel for attachment to a screen-supporting furniture unit.  
      In still another aspect of the present invention, a screen system includes a screen panel, a furniture bracket, and a screen support. The furniture bracket has a body configured for attachment to a furniture unit and has attachment tabs that extend from the body. The screen support includes a mount section attached to the screen panel and supporting the screen panel from a rear surface thereof, and further includes a pair of forwardly extending legs that extend forward of the screen panel into engagement with the attachment tabs of the furniture bracket.  
      In another aspect of the present invention, a screening apparatus for providing visual privacy for a furniture system includes a table, where the table includes an edge. The screening apparatus comprises a screen panel made of an incompressible flexible sheet material having a thickness, the sheet material being flexed to a bowed condition about a vertical axis and characteristically being self-supporting when in the bowed condition. The screening apparatus also includes a support that engages and supports the screen panel.  
      These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       FIGS. 1-3  are perspective views of office meeting areas and screening systems for sectional seating in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the screening system, taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 4A  is an exploded perspective view of a top of the screen support and adjacent area;  
       FIGS. 5-7  are perspective, side, and bottom views of a corner bridge table of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a corner screen assembly of  FIG. 1  (ready for attachment to the table of FIGS.  5 - 7 );  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the screen support shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative screen support;  
       FIGS. 11-12  are perspective and bottom views of the linear bridge table shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a “linear” screen assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The illustrated office meeting areas ( FIGS. 1-3 ) show various arrangements including “bench” lounge seating units  11  for group members, a “podium” lounge seating unit  12  for a presenting person, and various accessories such as tables  13 - 15 , cushion trays  16 , and the like, positioned in a relatively open seating area. The lounge seating units  11  and  12  are particularly well-adapted to support and promote informal collaborative discussions. In a preferred form, the seating units  11  and  12  incorporate high backs and/or screens  18  and  19 , respectively, attached to their backs that form visual barriers and that help give people a sense of privacy when using the area. The present inventive screen system attaches to tables that bridge between and interconnect adjacent bench lounge seating units, with the screens adding substantially to the visual separation and privacy in the meeting area.  
      The present seating units  11  and  12  and the related tables  13 - 14  and accessories are sufficiently described below and shown in the drawings for a person of ordinary skill in the art of manufacturing furniture to understand the present invention. However, for additional information see the application concerning a furniture system having lounge seating units  11  and  12  entitled “FURNITURE SYSTEM FACILITATING INFORMAL COLLABORATION AND PRESENTATIONS”, co-invented and co-assigned, filed on even date herewith, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety. The present screening system supplements and compliments the lounge seating units but provides them with increased privacy and functionality.  
      The present inventive screening system includes a corner-forming screen assembly  60  and a “linear” screen assembly  61  optimally configured for attachment to the end tables  13  and  14 , respectively. However, it is contemplated that the screen assemblies  60  and  61  can be attached to a wide variety of different furniture, and accordingly, the present inventive concepts are not intended to be interpreted narrowly, except as specifically required in the claims.  
      The illustrated corner-forming end table  13  ( FIGS. 5-7 ) includes a tubular frame  20  attached to a bottom surface of a corner table top  22  by brackets  23 . The frame  20  includes a plurality of tubular horizontal frame sections  24 , vertical frame sections  25 , and at least one leg  26 . The frame  20  includes a laterally-extending section  27  having attachment brackets  28  that extend outward from the corner table top  22  and that are configured for secure attachment to the lounge seating units  12 , such as to a flat undersurface on the seating unit&#39;s base or frame. By this arrangement, the table frame  20  interconnects adjacent spaced-apart seating units  11 , with the corner table top  22  positioned therebetween. Depending on a shape of the frame  20 , the corner table top  22  can be positioned at or above a top surface of the seat cushions on the seating unit  11 . It is noted that the illustrated corner table top  22  is square, but has one large radiused corner. However, the table top can be shaped and adapted as desired for a particular environment. The illustrated corner table top  22  includes an aperture  29  and a cup holder  30  to hold drink containers. The corner table top  22  includes a pair of linear edges  31  for abutment against the seating units  11 , and a curvilinear edge formed by linear edge sections  32  and  33  and an arcuate corner section  34 . The leg  26  is located generally under the curvilinear edge for supporting the least-supported area on the table  13 . The bottom surface of the corner table top  22  includes a series of holes  36  (three sets of three are illustrated) along the curvilinear edge  31  for receiving attachment screws to secure the furniture bracket to the corner table top  22 , as described below. The corner table top  22  is configured to visually continue the line at a rear edge of the seat cushions of the bench lounge seating units  11  around a 90° corner. (See  FIGS. 1 and 2 .)  
      The illustrated “linear” end table  14  ( FIGS. 11-12 ) includes components similar to the end table  13 . Specifically, the end table  14  includes a tubular frame  40  attached to a bottom surface of in-line table top  42  by brackets  43 . The frame  40  includes a plurality of tubular horizontal frame sections  44 , and vertical frame sections  45 , but no leg (though it could include a leg if desired for additional strength to support weight). The frame  40  includes a laterally-extending section  47  having attachment brackets  48  that extend outward from the in-line table top  42  and that are configured for secure attachment to the lounge seating units  11 , such as to a flat undersurface on the seating unit&#39;s base or frame. By this arrangement, the table frame  20  interconnects linearly-aligned adjacent spaced-apart seating units  11 , with the in-line table top  42  positioned therebetween. (See  FIGS. 1 and 3 .) Depending on a shape of the frame  40 , the in-line table top  42  can be positioned at or above a top surface of the seat cushions on the seating unit  11 . It is noted that the in-line table top  42 , like corner table top  22 , can be shaped and adapted as desired for a particular environment. The illustrated in-line table top  42  includes an aperture  49  and a cup holder  50  to hold drink containers. The in-line table top  42  is rectangular (or square) and includes four orthogonally-related linear edges  51 , the opposing side edges being for abutment against the seating units  11 . The bottom surface ( FIG. 12 ) of the in-line table top  42  includes a series of holes  53  for receiving attachment screws to secure the furniture bracket to the in-line table top  42 , as described below. A cantilevered angled shelf  54 , supported by a separate bracket  55  attached to a bottom of the in-line table top  42 , is provided for supporting papers and/or magazines at an angled location under a front edge of the in-line table top  42 . Advantageously, the angled shelf  54  includes a panel that is both useful for supporting paper items thereon, but also that visual shields from view any data, voice, and power utilities routed to the worksurface of table top  42 .  
      The screen assembly  60  is particularly adapted for attachment to the corner-forming end table  13 . The screen assembly  60  ( FIG. 8 ) includes a screen panel  62 , two screen supports  63 , a U-shaped short screen support  63 ′, two retainers  64 , and a furniture bracket  65 . The furniture bracket  65  ( FIG. 8 ) is a sheet component stamped from sheet metal, and is boomerang-shaped or C-shaped in plane view and has an L-shaped cross section formed by a horizontally-oriented C-shaped top plate  66  and downwardly extending flanges or tabs  67 . A rear edge of the top plate  66  is arcuately shaped to bend the screen panel  62  to a desired arcuate shape having vertical strength and stiffness. The top plate  66  includes holes  68  that align with the holes  36  on the corner table top  22 , so that screws or other fasteners can be used to securely attach the bracket  65  to the corner table top  22 . Pairs of holes  69  are provided in the tabs  67 .  
      The screen support  63  ( FIG. 9 ) is a part made from bent wire to form an inverted U shape with laterally extending legs. The screen support  63  includes a bracket-engaging mount section (i.e. forwardly extending legs  72 ) adapted for engaging the holes  69 . Spring clips  73  engage the ends of the legs  72  to retain them to the bracket  65 . The screen support  63  further includes a forwardly-projecting holder section (i.e. the forwardly-extending top loop  74 ) shaped to be extended through the aperture  75  in an interior region of the screen panel  62 . The retainer  64  is a piece made of stiff foam adapted to frictionally fit between the top loop  74  and the front surface of the screen panel  62 , with the retainer  64  being tightly frictionally held in place. The aperture  75  is located about halfway up, and the top portion of the screen panel  62  extends upwardly above the top loop  74  in a self-supporting cantilevered manner. The screen support  63  further includes parallel vertical upright rod sections  76  that extend between and support the holder section  74  above the mount section  72 . The upright rod sections  76  engage and support a back surface of the screen panel  63  in a manner adding stability to the screen panel  62 . Notably, the upright rod sections  76  can include a rearward bend or “wow”  76 ′ at their bottom so that the natural curvature of the rods as they extend toward the legs  72  does not interfere with material at a bottom edge of the screen panel  62 .  
      A supplemental “mini” screen support  63 ′ can also be used on the screen  60  to better form a center of the bent area on the screen panel  62 . The screen support  63 ′ is U-shaped, and it includes a flat section that engages the screen panel  62  ( FIG. 2 ), and a pair of legs  63 ″ that engage the center of bracket  65  ( FIG. 8 ).  
      The screen panel  62  is a solid sheet of translucent plastic material, such as fiberglass polymeric material that is about 0.060 inches thick (i.e. about {fraction (1/16)} inches thick). The screen panel material is incompressible and semi-stiff, but is flexible and bendable such that the sheet material is self-supporting when flexed about a vertical axis to form a curved or curvilinear shape around a corner. Thus, the screen panel  62  does not require a separate perimeter frame. This is believed to be a particularly novel and inventive feature of the present inventive concepts. The illustrated screen panel  62  is about 37 inches in height, and has a top edge located a few inches below the back screens of the bench seating units  21  for visual effect, but it is noted that larger (and smaller) dimensions are possible, particularly as the sheet thickness is varied. A prototype of screen panel  62  was constructed, and a sheet of material having a stiffness of about 22,000 psi (per test method ASTM D-790), a tensile strength of about 11,500 psi (ASTM D-638), a compressive strength of about 34,500 psi (ASTM D-695), and an abrasion resistance of about 45 mg (ASTM D-1044) was found to be an acceptable material. The stiffness was sufficiently flexible to permit bending the screen panel  62  around a curvilinear edge of a table top, but which was stiff enough to be self-supporting, even when the screen panel  62  extended in cantilever up to about 20 inches above (or laterally from) the aperture  75 . The aperture  75  is formed in an interior region of the screen panel  62 , about halfway up the screen panel, and is horizontally elongated and vertically narrow so that it mateably receives the forward top loop  74  of the screen support  63 . Two such apertures  75  are shown, one each being located about midway horizontally along linear edge sections  32  and  33 , each being adapted to receive a top loop  74  of a screen support  63 .  
      As illustrated by  FIG. 10 , the screen support can be made in various shapes. The particular screen support  83  ( FIG. 10 ) is wider than the screen support  63 , and the top loop  74 ′ is wider, though it is noted that the forwardly extending portion  74 ″ of top loop  74 ′ is the same length as top loop  74 . It will be understood that a wide variety of different shapes are possible. It is also contemplated that the top loop  74  (or  74 ′) could have an upward flare so that it interlocks into the aperture  75  in a manner that does not require a separate retainer  64 . The upright rod sections  76  are parallel and they engage and support a back surface of the screen panel  62 . The rod sections  76  engage a planar end portion of the illustrated screen panel  22 , but it is contemplated that they could be used to mateably support the curved portion of the screen panel  62 , if desired.  
      The screen assembly  61  ( FIG. 13 ) includes a screen panel  82 , a screen support  83 , a retainer  84 , and a furniture bracket  85 . Each of components  82 - 85  are similar to components  62 - 65 , except as follows. The bracket  85  is linearly shaped for mounting to the underside of the in-line table top  42  of the rectangular table  14 . A rear edge  85 ′ of the bracket  85  is slightly arcuate in shape, so that when the screen panel  82  is attached, the screen panel  82  is flexed and bent about a vertical axis to an arcuate shape, thus giving the screen panel  82  sufficient strength to be self-supporting, even in that portion of the screen panel  82  that extends well above the aperture ( 75 ). The remaining aspects of the components  82 - 85  are believed to be relatively clear and do not require duplicative redundant discussion for an understanding by skilled artisans.  
      It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.