Table and lectern furniture system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10448734-B2
Application number	US-201816022063-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2018
Priority date	Feb 27, 2012
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

A table assembly comprising a table including a top member and at least a first leg support member, the top member forming a substantially flat top surface and circumscribed by an outer edge, the at least one leg support member supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position, a table dock secured to the top member and forming an elongated channel having a dock length dimension and at least a first display panel circumscribed by a panel edge and having at least one straight edge having a panel length dimension, the dock length dimension less than panel length dimension, wherein at least a portion of the straight edge of the panel is receivable within the dock channel with the panel extending out the open first and second ends of the channel to support the panel in a substantially upright orientation with at least a portion of the display panel extending to a height above the flat top surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display board system comprising:
a table including a top member and at least a first leg support member, the top member forming a substantially flat top surface and circumscribed by an outer edge, the at least one leg support member supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position;
a table dock secured to the top member with a portion of the table dock extending upward adjacent the outer edge, the table dock forming an elongated table dock channel having a dock length dimension between first and second ends and having a base wall member at a height below the substantially flat surface of the top member, the dock channel opening upwardly, the dock channel unobstructed by the top member; and
at least a first substantially flat display panel including a display surface on at least a first of first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces, the panel circumscribed by a panel edge, the panel edge having at least one straight edge having a panel length dimension, the dock length dimension less than panel length dimension;
wherein at least a portion of the straight edge of the panel is receivable within the table dock channel to support the display panel in a substantially upright orientation with at least a portion of the display panel extending to a height above the flat top surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the table dock includes a base wall member and first and second lateral wall members that extend from opposite long edges of the base wall member to form the dock channel wherein the dock channel is substantially U-shaped.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein first and second ribs are located on facing surfaces of the first and second lateral wall members and at distal ends of the first and second members.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein facing surfaces of the rib members contact the first and second oppositely facing surfaces of the display panel when the display panel is received in the dock channel.

5. The assembly of claim of claim 1 further including a storage coupler supported by the top member and configured to receive and support the display panel in a storage position hanging below the top member.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the display panel hangs down below an edge of the top member when supported by the storage coupler.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the top member is substantially rectangular and includes at least a rear edge and a first lateral edge that is substantially perpendicular to the rear edge and wherein the table dock is supported adjacent the rear edge of the top member and the storage coupler is supported adjacent the first lateral edge.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the substantially upright orientation is substantially vertical.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the display panel includes whiteboard material on the first and second oppositely facing side surfaces.

10. A display board system comprising:
at least a first substantially flat and substantially rectangular display panel including first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces, the panel circumscribed by a rim structure that stands proud of the first and second side surfaces, the display panel having perpendicular panel length and panel width dimensions where the panel length dimension is at least as long as the panel width dimension; and
a dock including a channel forming member including a base wall member and first and second substantially parallel lateral wall members that extend from the base wall member to form an elongated dock channel having a dock length dimension between first and second opposite ends, the dock length dimension less than the panel width dimension, the channel forming member formed of a resiliently flexible material, the channel forming member supported by a support structure including a top member forming a substantially horizontal surface, the dock secured to the top member so that the channel is substantially horizontally oriented with the base wall member;
wherein at least a portion of the rim structure along the length dimension and between the portions of the rim structure that extend along the width dimension of the display panel is receivable within the dock channel to releasably retain and support the display panel from the support structure in a first use position.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the rim structure along the width dimension and between the portions of the rim structure that extend along the length dimension of the display panel is receivable within the dock channel to releasably retain and support the display panel from the support structure in a second use position.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the dock channel opens upwardly and the display panel is supported in a substantially upright orientation when supported in the first use position.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the display panel is supported in a substantially vertical orientation when supported in the first use position.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the display panel is supported in a substantially vertical orientation when supported in the first use position.

15. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the support structure includes a table including the top member and at least a first leg support member, the top member forming circumscribed by an outer edge, the at least one leg support member supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the dock further includes a flange extending from the channel forming member, the flange is fastened via mechanical fasteners to an undersurface of the top member.

17. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the support structure includes a top member of a table where the top member includes at least first and second straight edges, the first display panel supported by the top member adjacent the first straight edge, the assembly further including:
at least a second substantially flat and substantially rectangular display panel including first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces, the second panel circumscribed by a rim structure that stands proud of the first and second side surfaces, the second panel having perpendicular panel length and panel width dimensions where the panel length dimension is at least as long as the panel width dimension and
a second dock including a channel forming member including a base wall member and first and second substantially parallel lateral wall members that extend from the base wall member to form a second elongated dock channel having a dock length dimension between first and second opposite ends, the dock length dimension less than the second panel width dimension, the second channel forming member formed of a resiliently flexible material, the second channel forming member supported by the top member;
wherein at least a portion of the rim structure along the length dimension and between the portions of the rim structure that extend along the width dimension of the second display panel is receivable within the second dock channel to releasably retain and support the second display panel from the support structure in a first use position.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein each of the first and second display panels is supported in a substantially upright position when supported by the top member.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein each of the first and second dock channels opens upwardly.

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Battey David J
• Corcorran Sean M
• Elms Timothy
• Coffey Jeffrey
• Kong Duck Young
• Kincaid Brett Robert
• Schoolmeester Mark William
• Oberwelz Elger
• Overthun Thomas
• Eisner Jake
• Holstege Cody Jay
• Skibinski Michael

Classifications

• A47B2200/12

  Vanity or modesty panels · CPC title

• A47B83/00

  Combinations comprising two or more pieces of furniture of different kinds · CPC title

• A47B2200/0071

  Booth like · CPC title

• A47B2200/0085

  Supplementary support fixed on the edge of a desk or table · CPC title

• A47B19/02

  Church pulpits {; Stands for lecturers} · CPC title