Patent Abstract:
A freestanding workstation includes a desk assembly and a supported hutch assembly, wherein the desk assembly includes a privacy screen that is telescopingly adjustable, thereby allowing adjustment of the overall length thereof and use within desk assemblies of varying lengths. The hutch assembly includes a drop-in tackboard extending along a rear wall thereof, and wire routing assemblies extending along support members for supporting a storage bin, and for housing communication and electrical lines associated with the workstation.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a freestanding workstation, and in particular to a highly adjustable and easily assembled workstation.  
         [0002]     Freestanding workstations are used in a wide variety of office environments, and typically require both easy adjustment and reconfiguration. These workstations typically include a desk assembly having a worksurface, and a hutch assembly supported above the worksurface and including a storage bin for storing office-associated materials and equipment therein.  
         [0003]     Heretofore, the desk assemblies associated with these workstations have required specialized parts usable only in a desk and/or hutch of a particular size. As a result, desk assemblies of varying sizes require completely different components, thereby adding to the manufacturing cost of each of these units by requiring specialized manufacturing equipment. Further, components constructed for a desk assembly of a particular size that are not compatible with desk assemblies of different sizes add to costs associated with material handling and logistics. These workstations have also been difficult to assemble, may require specialized tools, and at times specialized knowledgeable personnel.  
         [0004]     A workstation is desired that incorporates components usable between workstations of varying sizes and configurations, while simultaneously being quick and easy to assemble and disassemble without the requirement of specialized equipment, tools and/or personnel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a privacy screen for use within a desk assembly having a worksurface and an open span located below the worksurface, the privacy screen including a first member having a generally planar first portion, a first flange extending longitudinally along the first planar portion, and a first end adapted to be secured to a desk assembly within an open span located below a worksurface of the desk assembly. The privacy screen also includes a second member having a generally planar second portion, a second flange extending longitudinally along the second planar portion and configured to telescopingly receive the first flange of the first member therein such that the planar second portion is substantially proximate the planar first portion, and a second end adapted to be secured to the desk assembly within the span located below the worksurface of the desk assembly. The first member and the second member is telescopingly adjustable with respect to one another, thereby allowing adjustment of an overall length of the privacy screen extending between the first end and the second end.  
         [0006]     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a desk assembly that includes a worksurface, a first supporting member supporting the worksurface, and a second supporting member supporting a worksurface, wherein the first supporting member and the second supporting member cooperate to define a span therebetween. The desk assembly also includes a first privacy screen assembly including a first member having a generally planar first portion, a first flange extending longitudinally along the planar first portion, and a first end adapted to be secured to the first supporting member. The privacy screen also includes a second member having a generally planar second portion, a second flange extending longitudinally along the planar second portion and telescopingly received within the first flange of the first member such that the planar second portion is substantially proximate the planar first portion, and a second end secured to the second support member, such that the first member and the second member are telescopingly adjusted with respect to one another to extend across an entire length of the span.  
         [0007]     Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hutch assembly that includes a storage bin, and at least one support member adapted to support the storage bin above a worksurface, thereby defining an open span between the storage bin and the worksurface. The hutch assembly also includes an upper track member located below the storage bin and including a first pocket defining a first depth, and a lower track member adapted to be located above the worksurface and including a second pocket defining a second depth that is less than the first depth. The hutch assembly further includes a substantially planar tackboard having an upper edge and a lower edge wherein the tackboard is located within the upper and lower tracks by inserting the upper edge of the tackboard into the first pocket of the upper track, positioning the lower edge of the tackboard over the second pocket of the lower track, and lowering the lower edge of the tackboard into the second pocket.  
         [0008]     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a wire routing assembly that includes a housing member including a plurality of laterally-extending, spaced apart, flexibly resilient fingers forming at least a part of a rearwall and a first sidewall, and a longitudinally-extending second wall opposed across the rearwall from the first sidewall, wherein the first sidewall includes a first portion of a first coupler, and the second sidewall includes a first portion of a second coupler. The wire routing assembly also includes a cover member that includes a body portion having a longitudinally-extending first edge and a longitudinally-extending second edge opposed across the body portion from the first edge, a second portion of the first coupler extending along the first edge of the body portion and adapted to couple with the first portion of the first coupler, and a second portion of the second coupler extending along the second edge of the body portion and adapted to couple with the first portion of the second coupler. The cover member is connected with the housing member by flexing the fingers of the housing member, thereby allowing coupling of the first and second portions of the coupler, and coupling the first and second portions of the second coupler.  
         [0009]     Still yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hutch assembly that includes a storage portion, and at least one support member adapted to support the storage portion above a worksurface, wherein the at least one support member has an inner surface and a channel extending into and longitudinally along the inner surface. The hutch assembly also includes a wire routing assembly that includes a housing including a plurality of laterally-extending, spaced apart, flexibly resilient fingers forming at least a part of a rearwall and a sidewall, and a longitudinally-extending second wall opposed across the rear from the first sidewall, wherein the first sidewall includes a first portion of a first coupler, and the second sidewall includes a first portion of a second coupler, and wherein the housing is located within the channel of the at least one support member. The wire routing assembly also includes a cover member including a body portion having a longitudinally-extending first edge and a longitudinally-extending second edge opposed across the body portion from the first edge, a second portion of the first coupler extending along the first edge and adapted to couple with the first portion of the first coupler, and a second portion of the second coupler extending along the second edge and adapted to couple with the first portion of the second coupler. The cover member is connected with the housing member by flexing the fingers of the housing member, thereby allowing coupling of the first and second portions of the first coupler and coupling of the first and second portions of the second coupler.  
         [0010]     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hutch assembly that includes a storage portion, and at least one support member adapted to support the storage portion above a worksurface, wherein the at least one support member includes an inner surface and a channel extending into and longitudinally along the inner surface, and wherein the channel includes a pair of opposed walls each having an inwardly-facing surface. The storage assembly also includes a cover member including a body portion and a pair of sidewalls extending longitudinally along and substantially orthogonally from the body portion, wherein each side wall of the cover member has an outwardly-facing surface. The cover member is coupled with the at least one support member by positioning the cover member within the channel such that the outwardly-facing surface of each wall of the cover member frictionally engages the inner-facing surface of the respective wall of the channel. The cover member cooperates with the channel to form a wire passageway therebetween.  
         [0011]     The present inventive freestanding workstation has comparatively reduced manufacturing costs, includes an uncomplicated design, is economical to manufacture, can be easily and quickly assembled by even unskilled personnel and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use.  
         [0012]     These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a freestanding workstation embodying the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the workstation;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a support of the workstation;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a privacy screen of the workstation;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the privacy screen;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a privacy screen assembled with a supporting member and a worksurface;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7A  is an exploded perspective view of a rear wall and a tackboard of the workstation;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the tackboard partially assembled with the rear wall;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7C  is a perspective view of the tackboard partially assembled with the rear wall;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7D  is a perspective view of the tackboard assembled with the rear wall;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a wire routing assembly of the workstation;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the wire routing assembly;  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the rear wall, a support member and a worksurface of the workstation with a cover of the wire routing assembly partially cut-away;  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the wire cover of the workstation; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of the rear wall, the support member and the worksurface of the workstation, and the alternative embodiment of the wire cover. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.  
         [0029]     The reference numeral  10  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) generally designates a freestanding workstation embodying the present invention and including a desk assembly  12  and a hutch assembly  14  supported over the desk assembly  12 . The desk assembly  12  includes a plurality of supporting members  16 , which in the illustrated example, includes a drawer file  18 , a pair of triangularly-shaped support legs  19  and a supporting wall  20 . The desk assembly  12  also includes a two-piece, L-shaped worksurface  22  connected with the supporting members  16  via mounting hardware (not shown). The desk assembly  12  further includes a privacy screen  26  that extends between one of the drawer files  18  and the supporting wall  20 . The hutch assembly  14  includes an overhead storage bin  28  as defined by a bottom wall  30 , a top wall  32 , end walls  34  and a rear wall  36 , which cooperate to define an interior space  37 . The interior space  37  is subdivided into storage compartments  40 ,  42 ,  44  by a pair of interior walls  46 . The storage compartments  40  and  44  are enclosed by a pair of doors  48  hingedly attached to the associated end walls  34 . The hutch assembly  14  further includes a rear wall  50  and a tackboard  52 .  
         [0030]     Each leg  200  ( FIG. 3 ) includes a triangularly-shaped housing  202  having a pair of mutually-perpendicular side walls  204  and a pair of inwardly-extending end walls  206 . Each side wall  204  includes an inwardly-extending C-shaped channel  208 . Each channel  208  includes an outer wall  209  and an inner wall  211 , that each include a plurality of apertures  213  spaced therealong. Each end wall  204  includes a plurality of mounting apertures  210  adapted to receive mounting hardware, such as screws (not shown) therein, for mounting the legs  200  to an underside of the worksurface  22 , and an U-shaped notch  212  adapted to receive electrical and communication lines therethrough. Each leg  200  further includes a cover member  214  having a body portion  216  and a pair of mounting flanges  218  opposed across the body portion  216  and extending longitudinally therealong. Each flange  218  extends outwardly from the body portion  216  at an angle such that the flanges  216  abut the channels  208 , and includes a plurality of apertures  217  spaced along the length of each flange  216  and adapted to receive mounting screws  219  therein. Each cover member  214  includes a rectangularly-shaped notch  220  located at each end of the cover member and positioned so as to be aligned with the notch  212  of the housing  202 . In assembly, the cover member  214  is positioned with the housing  202  such that the flanges  218  of the cover member  214  abut the channels  208  of the housing  202 , and the notches  220  of the cover member  214  are aligned with the notches  212  of the housing  202 . The screws  219  are threaded into the apertures  209  and  217 , thereby connecting the cover member  214  with the housing  202 . A privacy screen  26  extends between and is coupled to the legs  200 .  
         [0031]     The privacy screen  26  ( FIG. 4 ) includes first member  54  and a second member  56 . The first member  54  includes a generally planar body portion  58  and a longitudinally-extending C-shaped channel  60 . The channel  60  includes a bottom wall  62  extending orthogonally outward from the body portion  58 , and an inner wall  64  extending orthogonally upward from the bottom wall  62 . The first member  54  also includes a longitudinally-extending upper flange  66  extending orthogonally outward from the body portion  58 . The upper flange  66  includes a notch  68  located at an end of the upper flange  66  and adapted to receive communication and electrical lines therethrough, depending upon the configuration of the workstation  100 . The first member  54  further includes an end wall  70  extending orthogonally outward from the body portion  58 . The upper flange  66  and the end wall  70  of the first member  54  each include a plurality of apertures  72  adapted to receive mounting hardware therein to secure the privacy screen  26  to the desk assembly  12 , as described below. The second member  56  of the privacy screen  26  includes a substantially planar body portion  74 , a bottom channel  76 , an upper flange  78  and an end wall  80 . The channel  76  includes a bottom wall  82  extending orthogonally outward from the body portion  74 , an inner wall  84  extending orthogonally upward from the bottom wall  82 , and an inner lip  86  extending from the inner wall  84  and inwardly towards the body portion  74 . The upper flange  78  and the end wall  80  each extend orthogonally outward from the body portion  74  and include a plurality of apertures  88  extending therethrough for receiving mounting hardware for securing the privacy screen  26  to the desk assembly  12 , as described below. The upper flange  78  of the second member  56  includes a notch  90  located near an end thereof, and adapted to receive communication and electrical lines, depending upon the configuration of the workstation  10 .  
         [0032]     In assembly, as best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first member  54  and the second member  56  are telescoping connected to one another by inserting the channel  60  of the first member  54  into the channel  76  of the second member  56 . Specifically, the inner wall  64  of the channel  60  is slidably received within a gap  92  as formed between the lip  86  and the inner wall  84  of the channel  76 . Once assembled, the body portion  58  of the first member  54  is located proximate the body portion  74  of the second member  56 , while the upper flange  66  of the first member  54  tracks below the upper flange  78  of the second member  56 .  
         [0033]     The privacy screen  26  ( FIG. 6 ) is assembled with the desk assembly  12  by a plurality of mechanical fasteners such as screws  94  that extend through the apertures  72  and  88  and are received within co-aligned apertures (not shown) located within one of the drawer files  18  and the worksurface  22 . Additional mounting apertures  96  may be drilled through the body portions  58 ,  74  of the first and second members  54 ,  56  of the privacy screen  26 , depending upon the configuration of the workstation  10 , so as to receive additional mounting hardware therein.  
         [0034]     The rearwall  50  ( FIG. 7A ) of the hutch assembly  14  includes a planar body portion  98 , a C-shaped upper track member  100 , and a C-shaped lower track member  102 , each integrally formed with the body portion  98 . The upper track member  100  includes a top wall  104  extending orthogonally outward from the body portion  98 , and a side wall  106  extending orthogonally downward from the top wall  104  to define a total depth of the upper track member. The lower track member  102  includes a bottom wall  108  extending orthogonally outward from the body portion  98 , and a sidewall  110  extending orthogonally upwardly from the bottom wall  108  to define a total for the lower track member  102 . The tackboard  52  of the hutch assembly  14  is substantially planar, and includes a top edge  112  and a bottom edge  114 . The tackboard  52  is constructed of a material such as cork or similar synthetic material capable of receiving stick-pins and the like therein. The tackboard may also include a whiteboard like surface across a portion thereof.  
         [0035]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 7B-7D , the tackboard  52  is assembled with the rearwall  50  by placing the top edge  112  of the tackboard  52  within the upper track member  100 , and then pivoting the lower edge  114  of the tackboard  52  towards the body portion  98  of the rearwall  50  in a direction as indicated by directional arrow  116 . Once the bottom edge  114  of the tackboard  52  is located above the lower track member  102 , the tackboard  52  is moved in a downward direction as indicated by directional arrow  118  until the bottom edge  114  of the tackboard  52  is located within the lower track member  102 . The tackboard  52  is thereby slidably secured within the upper track member  100  and the lower track member  102  within a direction as indicated by directional arrow  119 , as the total depth of the lower track member  102  is less than the total depth of the upper track member  100 .  
         [0036]     The rearwall  50  further includes a pair of end flanges  120  each having a plurality of apertures  122  that receive mounting hardware such as screws  124  therein for securing the rearwall  50  to the end walls  34  of the hutch assembly  14 . A plurality of apertures  105  extend through the top wall  104  of the upper track member  100  and the bottom wall  108  of the lower track member  102  for securing the rearwall  50  to the bottom wall  30  of the storage bin  28  and the worksurface  22 , respectively. The rearwall  50  further includes an aperture  128  located proximate the lower track member  102  and the end flanges  120 . Each aperture  128  is adapted to receive electrical and communication lines therethrough as typically associated with an office-type setting.  
         [0037]     The hutch assembly  14  further includes a pair of wire routing assemblies  130  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) each received within a longitudinally-extending channel  132  that extends inwardly into an inner surface  134  of each end wall  34 , and that each include an end wall  133  having an aperture  135  extending therethrough. Each wire routing assembly  130  includes a housing member  136  and a cover member  138  that cooperate to form a passage  140 . The housing member  136  includes a rearwall  142  having a longitudinally-extending solid wall  144  and a plurality of spaced apart, flexibly resilient fingers  146  extending laterally from the solid wall  144 . The fingers  146  include a first portion  148  that cooperate with the solid wall  144  to form the rear wall  142 , and a second portion  150  that extends substantially perpendicular to the first portion  148 , and that cooperate with one another to form a first sidewall  152 . The end of each finger  146  includes a longitudinally-extending channel  154 , a tab  156 , and a inwardly-extending support arm  158 . The housing member  136  further includes a longitudinally-extending second side wall  160  having a longitudinally-extending channel  162 , a longitudinally-extending tab  164  and an inwardly-extending support arm  166 . The cover member  138  includes an arcuately-shaped body portion  168  having a longitudinally-extending first edge  170  and a longitudinally-extending second edge  172  opposed across the body portion  168 . The first edge  170  includes a longitudinally-extending channel  174  and a longitudinally-extending tab  176 , while the second edge  172  includes a longitudinally-extending channel  178  and a longitudinally-extending tab  180 .  
         [0038]     In assembly, the housing member  136  ( FIG. 10 ) of each wire routing assembly  130  is placed within the channel  132  of an associated end wall  134  and is secured therein via a fastener such as double-sided tape, a mechanical fastener, or the like. The cover member  138  is then connected with the housing member  136  by pressing the cover member  138  towards the housing member  136  in a direction as indicated and represented by directional  182 , thereby causing the fingers  146  of the housing member  136  to flex as tab  176  guides over tab  156 , and as tab  180  guides over tab  164 , thereby snappably connecting the cover member  138  with the housing member  136 . Specifically, the snap connection between the cover member  138  and the housing  136  is created by tabs  156 ,  164 ,  176 ,  180  being received within channels  174 ,  178 ,  154 ,  162 , respectively, and thereby conceals wires and communication lines routed within the internal passageway  140 . The cover members  138  further conceal the fasteners  136  that extend through the apertures  135  of the end walls  133  and that are received within mating apertures located within the worksurfaces  22 , thereby securing the hutch assembly  14  with the desk assembly  12 .  
         [0039]     In an alternative embodiment, a single-piece wire cover  230  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) includes a first end  232  and a second end  234 , a planar body portion  236 , and a pair of flanges  238  extending longitudinally along and substantially perpendicular to the body portion  236 . Each end  232 ,  234  includes a rectangularly-shaped notch  240  for receiving electrical and communication lines therethrough.  
         [0040]     In assembly, each cover  230  is placed within an associated channel  132  such that the outer surfaces of each flange  238  frictionally engage the sidewalls of the channel  132 , thereby holding the cover  230  within the channel  132 .  
         [0041]     In another alternative embodiment, a rearwall  50   a  is constructed to provide a gap  240  between the bottom of the rearwall  50   a  and the worksurface  12  when the rearwall  50   a  is positioned within the workstation  10 . Since the rearwall  50   a  is similar to the previously-described rearwall  50 , similar parts appearing in  FIGS. 7A-7D  and  FIG. 13  are represented by the same, corresponding reference numeral, except for the suffix “a” in the numerals of the latter. In the illustrated example, the gap  240  located between the bottom of the wall  50   a  and the worksurface  12  is covered by a strip member  242  ( FIG. 14 ). The strip member  242  includes a base wall  244 , a sidewall  246  extending orthogonally upward from the base wall  244 , a top wall  248  extending orthogonally inwardly from the sidewall  246  approximately half the distance of the base wall  244 , and an inner wall  250  extending orthogonally downward from the top wall  248  approximately half the distance of the sidewall  246 . The walls  244 ,  246   248 ,  250  cooperate to form a longitudinally-extending gap  251  therebetween. The strip member  242  further includes an arcuately-shaped cover wall  252  extending downwardly from the base wall  244  from a location spaced between an inner edge  254  of the base wall  244  and the side wall  246 . The strip member  242  is preferably extruded from a flexibly-resilient material.  
         [0042]     In assembly, the rearwall  50   a  is assembled within the workstation  10  as previously described. The gap  240  is then covered from view by the strip member  242 . Specifically, the strip member  242  is fitted onto the lower track member  102   a  by flexing the strip member  242  such that the lower track member  102   a  is located within the gap  251  and the cover wall  252  extends below the lower track member  102   a  and preferably contacts the worksurface  12 . Communication and electrical lines can be routed anywhere along the length of the gap  240 , thereby providing significant versatility and adaptability to the office environment and specifically to the workstation  10 .  
         [0043]     The present inventive freestanding workstation has comparatively reduced manufacturing costs, includes an uncomplicated design, is economical to manufacture, can be easily and quickly assembled by even unskilled personnel and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use.  
         [0044]     In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0