Patent Abstract:
A system for dividing a workspace includes a wall designed to divide the workspace into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace. The wall includes a variety of features and may be at least partially formed from a construction element including a sheet of metal configured to be self supporting and a layer of cushioning material configured to encase the sheet of metal to form a composite construction element that is free of sharp edges. The composite construction element is configured to be mounted to a wall having a top, bottom, and two sides configured to divide an area into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace. Furthermore, the wall may be formed a meltable material that can be melted and smoothed to at least reduce an appearance of unsmooth portions within the wall and, when positioned proximate to another wall, can be melted and smoothed to at least reduce the appearance of seams between the wall and the another wall.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based on provisional application 60/744,320 filed Apr. 5, 2006 entitled “Workspace Dividing System” and claims the benefit thereof. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention is related to workspace dividing systems and, more particularly, to a modular workspace dividing system for use in constructing open concept office structures.  
         [0004]     In modern work environments it is often desirable to create “non-traditional” offices, conference rooms, and the like. That is, it is often economically advantageous and aesthetically appealing to remodel buildings not originally designed to house traditional office space. For example, it is increasingly common to remodel large industrial buildings such as factories or warehouses to accept “open-concept” office designs. In these cases, open-concept office designs are often employed in order to make non-traditional office spaces more amenable to workflows and business procedures.  
         [0005]     One primary component of open-concept office designs is the use of divider systems. That is, while it is desirable and economically efficient to have numerous workstations collocated within a large open room, it is still necessary to provide barriers between workspaces and to provide individuals with a sense of personal space. In this regard, open-concept office designs must constantly balance the dichotomy created by the advantages to having large, open work environments shared by many individuals and the desire for and advantages provided by creating personal space within a work environment.  
         [0006]     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system and method for creating structures within an open-concept office that by create personal space within a work environment while still providing the feel, look, and various advantages provided by large, open work environments that can be shared by many individuals.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a divider or wall system that is flexible and modular. Each wall includes numerous features that are readily adaptable to non-traditional offices and aid in creating structures, such as meeting or conference rooms, within open concept office spaces.  
         [0008]     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a wall system for dividing a workspace is disclosed that includes a wall designed to divide an area into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace. The wall includes a slit extending horizontally across at least a portion of the wall at a level designed to provide individuals seated within the workspace with a constant view of the area outside of the workspace at both an immediate periphery of the wall as well as areas at a distance from the wall. Furthermore, the slit includes dimensions configured to provide individuals located in the area outside of the workspace with a view into the workspace when at a distance from the wall and restrict individuals located in the area outside of the workspace from views into the workspace when in close proximity to the wall.  
         [0009]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a wall construction element is disclosed that includes a sheet of metal configured to be self supporting and a layer of cushioning material configured to encase the sheet of metal to form a composite construction element that is free of sharp edges. The composite construction element is configured to be mounted to a wall having a top, bottom, and two sides configured to divide an area into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace.  
         [0010]     In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a system is disclosed that includes a wall having a top, bottom, and two sides configured to divide an area into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace. A visual shield is included that extends from the top of the wall at an angle away from the wall to provide visual privacy to individuals located within the workspace.  
         [0011]     In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a divider system is disclosed that includes a wall having a top, bottom, and two sides configured to divide an area into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace. A visual shield extends from the top of the wall at an angle away from the wall to provide visual privacy to individuals located within the workspace.  
         [0012]     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a divider system is disclosed that includes a wall having a top, bottom, and two sides configured to divide an area into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace. A seat back is located in the workspace and is positioned proximate to and spaced from the wall. Accordingly, a space is formed between the seat back and the wall to accommodate at least one of lights and display elements.  
         [0013]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a divider system is disclosed that includes a round wall having a vertically, flat interior wall configured to divide an area into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace. A seat extends from the interior wall that supports a seat back positioned proximate to and extending substantially parallel to the interior wall to focus individuals toward a common point within the workspace.  
         [0014]     In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention, a workspace divider system is disclosed that includes a wall including vertical wall portions and angled shield portions configured to divide an area into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace. Furthermore, the vertical wall portions and angled shield portions are dimensioned so that a person of average height, located in the area outside of the workspace, cannot see into the workspace but can see over the wall.  
         [0015]     In accordance with one further aspect of the invention, a wall is disclosed that includes a top, bottom, and two sides configured to divide a workspace into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace. The wall is at least partially formed of a meltable material that, when positioned proximate to another wall, can be melted and smoothed to at least reduce an appearance of seams between the wall and the another wall.  
         [0016]     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, an open concept meeting room is disclosed that includes a plurality of walls configured to divide an area into a workspace and an area outside of the workspace and a bench extending from the plurality of walls into the workspace to focus individuals seated on the bench toward a common point within the workspace. A plurality of legs extends from the bench to support the plurality of walls through the bench. Furthermore, a first shield extends up from a top of the plurality of walls and inward into the workspace to provide visual privacy to the workspace while a second shield extends down from a bottom of the plurality of walls and inward under the bench to mirror an appearance of the first shield.  
         [0017]     Various other features of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an open concept meeting room in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the open concept meeting room of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view of a wall assembled of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross-sectional view of a wall designed for use in a variety of workspace areas;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a wall including a lighting or display device;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the open concept meeting room of  FIG. 3   a;    
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a close-up view of a seam formed between walls assembled into the open concept meeting room of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a plurality of walls arranged into another open concept meeting room;  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a plurality of walls arranged into another open concept meeting room;  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of a single wall designed to be incorporated into traditional wall systems; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a composite construction element designed for use in the wall systems of  FIGS. 1-10 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an open-concept office meeting or conference room  10  includes a plurality of walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 . The walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  break the general workspace into an workspace  18  and an area  20  outside of the workspace  18 . Extending horizontally from an interior wall of each wall  12 , 14 , 16  is a bench or seat  22 ,  24 ,  26 , beneath which extends a plurality of legs, generally designated  28 . Accordingly, the plurality of legs  28  supports the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  through the seats  22 ,  24 ,  26 . Extending from a top portion of each wall  12 ,  14 ,  16  are respective shields  30 ,  32 ,  34 , which are mirrored by similar shields  36 ,  38 ,  40  that extend from a bottom of each wall  12 ,  14 ,  16  under each seat  22 ,  24 ,  26  and into the workspace  18 .  
         [0030]     Formed in each of the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  and extending horizontally thereacross are a plurality of aligned slits  42 ,  44 ,  46 . The slits  42 ,  44 ,  46  extend from the area  20  outside of the workspace  18  through the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  and into the workspace  18 . The slits  42 ,  44 ,  46  are positioned at a vertical height in the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  (for example, at approximately four feet) designed to provide individual seats within the workspace  18  with a constant line of sight through the slits  42 ,  44 ,  46  and provide a view of the area  20  outside of the workspace  18  at both an immediate periphery  50  about the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  as well as areas at a distance  52  from the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 . According to one embodiment, the slits  42 ,  44 ,  46  have a vertical height of greater than 1 inch but less than 4 inches. Furthermore, as will be explained, the slits  42 ,  44 ,  46  and walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  include dimensions configured to provide individuals in the area  20  outside of the workspace  18  located at a distance  52  from the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  with a view into the workspace  18 , but restrict individuals located at a close proximity  50  to the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  from viewing the workspace  18  so as to provide those located in the workspace  18  with visual privacy.  
         [0031]     Similarly, the shields  30 ,  32 ,  34  provide visual privacy to individuals seated within the workspace  18  by restricting a line of sight  54  from the area  20  outside of the workspace  18  into the workspace  18 , even when an individual of average height is standing in close proximity to the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 . That is, while it is contemplated and, in some applications even preferred, that the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  extend above the legs  28  to a total height of less than that of an average individual&#39;s standing height (for example, between four and five feet), as will be described with respect to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the dimensions and configuration of the shields  30 ,  32 ,  34  restrict the line of sight  54  from an individual of average height attempting to view the workspace  18 . However, at this same time, the overall height of the legs  28 , walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and shields  30 ,  32 ,  34  is such that a line of sight  56  extending over the conference room  10  is readily available to an individual of average height. It should be noted that the conference room  10  includes a highly aesthetic appearance created by multiple lines of symmetry included in the design. For example, the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  include an arc or bow  58  extending vertically along the exterior surface of the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  where apex  60  of the bow  58  is located in a proximate midpoint of the vertical rise of the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 . Furthermore, the shields  30 ,  32 ,  24  extending vertically from the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  are mirrored by the return shields  36 ,  38 ,  40  extending below each wall  12 ,  14 ,  16 .  
         [0032]     As previously described, the vertically extending shields  30 ,  32 ,  34  provide visual privacy to individuals seated within the workspace  18  and, as will be described, also provide some auditory separation between the workspace  18  and the area  20  outside of the workspace  18 . On the other hand, the downwardly extending return shields  36 ,  38 ,  40  not only mirror the vertically extending shields  30 ,  32 ,  34  and provide aesthetically appealing symmetry in the overall design of the conference room  10 , but also allow for a reduced amount of materials to be used in the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  while still providing the feeling of being fully enclosed to individuals located within the workspace  18 . In this regard, significant manufacturing and materials cost savings can be realized over traditional wall systems that include walls that extend completely to the floor. That is, the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  are suspended above the floor through a combination of the plurality of legs  18  and the seats  20 ,  24 ,  26 , which together support the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 .  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a plan view of the meeting room  10  further illustrates the symmetrical appearance formed by the rounded design of the meeting room  10 . As also viewable from above, in accordance with one embodiment, the seats  22 ,  24 ,  26  extend beyond the shields  30 ,  32 ,  34  such that the majority of the workspace  18  is not enclosed from above. Furthermore, as will be described, the vertical and horizontal extent of the shields  30 ,  32 ,  34  is less than the horizontal extent of the seats  22 ,  24 ,  26 . This design allows the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  to have a reduced height while still presenting individuals located within the workspace  18  with a feeling of privacy from the area  20  outside of the workspace  18 .  
         [0034]     By arranging the seats  22 ,  24 ,  26  against the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  (as opposed to arranging desks and other work surfaces against a wall, as in traditional partitioned workspaces), individuals seated in the workspace  18  are focused toward a common point  62  located at the center of the workspace  18  (as opposed to being focused toward one of the walls). As such, the meeting room  10  inherently prepares individuals entering the workspace  18  for collaborative meetings. As will be described below, additional display or communication devices can be integrated into the meeting room  10  in a manner so as to maintain the collaborative focus of the meeting room  10 .  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIG. 3a , a cross section of one of the walls  16  shows that extending up from the seat  26  is a seat back  64 . It should be noted that the seat back  64  is displaced from the wall  16  such that a space  66  is formed between the seat back  64  and the wall  16 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , this space  66  may be filled with lighting or display elements  68  designed cast ambient light or projection displays onto the shield  34  extending above the wall  16 . In this regard, the shield  34  not only serves as a visual shield but also a projection surface on which to display and review materials to be discussed within the meeting room  10 . Furthermore, by projecting from various points around the meeting room  10 , the visual shield  34  becomes an active surface that is integrated into the meeting room  10 . In this regard, individuals seated within the workspace  18  can easily view and review materials displayed on the shield  34  without being forced to turn substantially from the common focus point  62  of  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, the meeting room  10  further facilitates open and continuous meetings and conversations between individuals within the workspace  18 .  
         [0036]     Referring again to  FIG. 3   a,  as discussed above, the slit  46  and wall  16  include dimensions configured to provide individuals in the area  20  outside of the workspace  18  located at a distance  52  from the wall  16  with a view into the workspace  18 , but restrict individuals located at a close proximity  50  to the wall  16  from viewing the workspace  18 . In this regard, the wall  16  and the shield  34  work in concert to provide visual privacy to individuals located in the workspace  18 . That is, by including the shields  30 ,  32 ,  34 , the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  may have a height of less than 4-½ feet and, when a visual shield having a vertical rise of less than 2-½ feet is arranged to extend therefrom, the privacy provided by the combined configuration is greater than a structure having a height of 7 feet because the horizontal run of the shields  30 ,  32 ,  34  extending into the workspace  18  blocks visual lines originating above a height of, for example, 7 feet.  
         [0037]     While these dimensions are exemplary for particular embodiments, it is contemplated that other arrangements may facilitate reduced heights while still providing the above-described privacy features. For example, referring now to  FIG. 3   b,  the features discussed above can be extended to a more generalized wall system by removing the seat  26  and seat back  64  described with respect to  FIG. 3   a.  According to this arrangement, an individual may be seated so as to face the wall  16 . In this regard, the overall height of the wall  16  and shield  34  may be reduced while still providing the individual seated in the workspace  18  and proximate to the wall  16  with the privacy from individuals located in the area outside  20  of the workspace  18  at a distance from the wall  16 . Furthermore, even with reduced dimensions, sight lines  71  are available to the individual located in the workspace  18  so that a view of the area outside  20  of the workspace  18  is provided to the individual located in the workspace while an individual located in an area  50  near the wall  16  cannot see into the workspace  18 . That is, since the individual can be seated proximate to and facing the wall  16 , a consistent view of areas proximate to  50  as well as at a distance from  52  the wall  16  is available. On the other hand, even when the heights of the wall  16  and shield  24  are reduced, only individuals located at a distance  52  from the wall  16  can see through the slit  46 .  
         [0038]     Referring again to  FIG. 3   a,  not only does the shield  34  form a visual barrier to provide privacy and intimacy to individuals located within the workspace  18 , though secondary in nature, the shield  34  also acts as an acoustic barrier between individuals in the area  20  outside of the workspace  18  and individuals located in the workspace  18 . In fact, due to the vertical rise and horizontal run of the shield  34  above the wall  16  and into the workspace  18 , the shield also serves to focus sounds produced within the workspace  18  toward the central point  62  of  FIG. 2  as well as to deflect sounds produced within the area  20  outside of the workspace  18  from interfering with conversations held within the workspace  18 .  
         [0039]     The seat  26  and wall  16  extending therefrom are supported by the leg  28  positioned inwardly of the return shield  40 . It is contemplated that one wall  16  and associated seat  26  may be supported by as few as one leg  28 . In this regard, one wall  16 , seat  26 , and leg  28  will be unable to be self-supporting in the upright position. However, when combined with one or more additional walls  12 ,  14 , such as shown in  FIG. 2 , the walls  12 , 14 , 16  are readily capable of remaining upright.  
         [0040]     Alternatively, each wall  12 ,  14 ,  16  and respective seats  22 ,  24 ,  26  may be supported by additional legs  70  (as shown in phantom). In this regard, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the legs  28 ,  70  may be staggered so that each individual wall  12 ,  14 ,  16  is capable of self support and, when combined with other wall segments, the overall meeting room  10  is made further robust.  
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , it is contemplated that the walls  12 , 14 , 16  may be joined in a variety of different ways. For example, adjacent seats  24 ,  26  may be joined by way of bolts  72  or similar fasteners. Furthermore, exterior walls  74  of adjacent walls  14 ,  16  may be joined by heating the walls  14 ,  16  until the exteriors  74  become malleable and then smoothed to remove the appearance of any junction  76  between the walls  14 ,  16 . Accordingly, the symmetric appearance of the meeting room  10  is further increased since, when viewed from the area  20  outside of the workspace  18 , the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  appear as one continuous rounded plane.  
         [0042]     In particular, it is contemplated that the exteriors  74  of the walls may be formed from methyl methacrylate resin or similar substances that become malleable when exposed to a given duration of heating. Accordingly, in a manner similar to techniques used for creating a continuous countertop using methyl methacrylate resin or other substances such as Corian, seams between adjoining sections can be removed. Corian is a registered trademark of Du Pont De Nemours and Co. Corp. of Delaware.  
         [0043]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a composite construction element  77  for use in constructing a wall system includes an interior formed from a rigid, self-supporting material, for example sheet metal  78 , is surrounded by a soft padding, for example felt  80 . The composite construction element  77  may be utilized to for a variety of components of traditional wall systems as well as the meeting room or similar open-concept structures described above. For example, the composite construction element  77 , by including a rigid interior formed, for example, of sheet metal  78 , is self-supporting. Accordingly, the composite construction element may be used to create the shields  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  ( FIG. 1 ). In this regard, the felt linings  80  provide additional sound insulation. Similarly, the composite construction element  77  may be used to line an interior of the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 .  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the composite construction element  77  may be used to form an insert  82  engaged with or skin  84  formed over a traditional wall  86 . Furthermore, the composite construction element  77  may be used to form various visual shields  88  or the like that are designed to extend from the traditional wall  86 .  
         [0045]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-10 , it is contemplated that any of the features or designs described above may be incorporated into various wall designs including traditional walls (such as described with respect to  FIG. 8 ) and may be utilized to create a meeting room having any of a wide variety of shapes and sizes without deviating from the spirit of the invention. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a slit  90 , as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-6 , may be incorporated into the traditional wall  86 . Similarly, leg structures, benches, and the like may also be incorporated into the traditional wall  86 .  
         [0046]     In this regard, any of the features described above may be incorporated into a wall system that is designed to form a meeting room of virtually any size or shape. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a meeting room  92  having a hexagonal shape may be formed. Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a meeting room  94  having a rectangular shape may be formed. In this regard, a meeting room may be formed in virtually any shape, for example, a trapezoid, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, and the like. That is, the shape of the meeting room does not limit the ability to incorporate the above-described features such as a slit, visual privacy shield, display elements, and the like.  
         [0047]     Therefore, the above-described invention provides a wall system that is capable of taking creating personal space within a work environment while still providing the feel, look, and various advantages provided by large, open work environments that can be shared by many individuals.  
         [0048]     It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4