Cantilevered desk and components and method for the use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10779640-B2
Application number	US-201816200250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2018
Priority date	Nov 26, 2018
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

A desk includes a frame, a coupled to the frame, and a height adjustable support column assembly coupled to the frame with a lower mounting member extending under a bottom edge of the skin and an upper mounting member extending over a top edge of the skin. A worksurface is coupled to the support column assembly and is cantilevered outwardly relative to the support column assembly. A power grommet embedded in the worksurface includes a housing, at least a first and second outlet block disposed in the housing, and a lid pivotally connected to the housing. The lid is pivotable between an open position, wherein the first and second outlet blocks are exposed along a top of the housing, and a closed position, wherein the first outlet block is exposed along a top of the housing and the second outlet block is covered by the lid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A desk comprising:
a frame comprising upper and lower frame members extending in a longitudinal direction and opposite sides spaced apart in a lateral direction;
a skin comprising first and second sides and top and bottom edges, wherein the skin is coupled to the frame with the first side facing one of the opposite sides of the frame;
a height adjustable support column assembly comprising a lower mounting member coupled to the lower frame member, wherein the lower mounting member extends under the bottom edge of the skin, and an upper mounting member coupled to the upper frame member, wherein the upper mounting member extends over the top edge of the skin; and
a worksurface coupled to the height adjustable support column assembly and cantilevered outwardly relative to the height adjustable support column assembly.

2. The desk of claim 1 wherein the lower and upper mounting members are releasably coupled to the lower and upper frame members respectively, wherein the height adjustable support column assembly is moveable relative to the frame and skin in the longitudinal direction when the lower and upper mounting members are in a disengaged configuration, and wherein the height adjustable support column assembly is coupled to the frame when the lower and upper mounting members are in an engaged configuration.

3. The desk of claim 2 , wherein the lower and upper mounting members are releasably coupled to the lower and upper frame members with fasteners in the engaged configuration.

4. The desk of claim 3 , wherein the lower and upper mounting members are moveable to a plurality of mounting positions defined by fastener holes positioned in the lower and upper frame members, wherein the fasteners are engaged with the fastener holes when the lower and upper mounting members are in the engaged configuration.

5. The desk of claim 1 wherein the worksurface is cantilevered outwardly relative to the height adjustable support column assembly such that the worksurface extends in the longitudinal direction parallel to the frame.

6. The desk of claim 1 wherein the worksurface is cantilevered outwardly relative to the height adjustable support column assembly such that the worksurface extends in the lateral direction perpendicular to the frame.

7. The desk of claim 1 further comprising a top disposed above the upper frame member and coupled to the frame.

8. The desk of claim 7 , wherein the top is disposed above the top edge of the skin, and wherein the upper mounting member comprises a flange disposed between the top edge of the skin and a bottom surface of the top.

9. The desk of claim 8 , wherein the flange comprises a first portion overlying the top edge of the skin and a second portion extending laterally from the first portion and coupled to the upper frame member, wherein the first and second portions are vertically spaced.

10. The desk of claim 9 , wherein the top covers the second portion of the flange.

11. The desk of claim 1 , wherein the lower mounting member comprises a flange disposed below the bottom edge of the skin.

12. The desk of claim 11 , wherein the flange comprises a first portion underlying the bottom edge of the skin and a second portion extending laterally from the first portion and coupled to the lower frame member, wherein the first and second portions are vertically spaced.

13. The desk of claim 1 , wherein the height adjustable support column assembly comprises a brace and a height adjustable support column, wherein the brace comprises a vertical frame component spaced apart from the side of the frame and disposed along the second side of the skin, and a horizontal frame component extending laterally outwardly from the vertical frame component, and wherein the height adjustable support column is coupled to the horizontal frame component.

14. The desk of claim 13 , wherein the brace is L-shaped.

15. The desk of claim 14 further comprising a vertically extending shroud surrounding the brace and height adjustable support column.

16. The cantilevered desk of claim 1 wherein the worksurface has an elongated opening extending into the worksurface from an upper surface of the worksurface, and further comprising:
a power grommet comprising:
a housing received in the opening of the worksurface, the housing defining an elongated cavity, wherein the cavity is open along a top of the housing;

at least a first and second outlet block disposed in the cavity and accessible through the open top of the housing; and
a lid pivotally connected to the housing about a horizontal axis, the lid pivotable between an open position, wherein the first and second outlet blocks are exposed along a top of the housing, and a closed position, wherein the first outlet block is exposed along a top of the housing and the second outlet block is covered by the lid.

17. A desk comprising:
a frame comprising upper and lower frame members extending in a longitudinal direction and opposite sides spaced apart in a lateral direction;
a skin comprising first and second sides and top and bottom edges, wherein the skin is coupled to the frame with the first side facing one of the opposite sides of the frame;
a height adjustable support column assembly comprising a lower mounting member coupled to the lower frame member, wherein the lower mounting member extends under the bottom edge of the skin, and an upper mounting member coupled to the upper frame member, wherein the upper mounting member extends over the top edge of the skin, wherein the lower and upper mounting members are moveable relative to the frame and the skin in the longitudinal direction between a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations; and
a worksurface coupled to the height adjustable support column assembly and cantilevered outwardly relative to the height adjustable support column assembly.

18. The desk of claim 17 further comprising a top disposed above the upper frame member and coupled to the frame, wherein the top is disposed above the top edge of the skin, and wherein the upper mounting member comprises a flange disposed between the top edge of the skin and a bottom surface of the top.

19. The desk of claim 18 , wherein the flange comprises a first portion overlying the top edge of the skin and a second portion extending laterally from the first portion and coupled to the upper frame member, wherein the first and second portions are vertically spaced.

20. The desk of claim 19 , wherein the top covers the second portion of the flange.

21. The desk of claim 17 wherein the lower and upper mounting members are releasably coupled to the lower and upper frame members respectively, wherein the height adjustable support column assembly is moveable relative to the frame and skin in the longitudinal direction when the lower and upper mounting members are in a disengaged configuration, and wherein the height adjustable support column assembly is coupled to the frame when the lower and upper mounting members are in an engaged configuration.

22. The desk of claim 17 , wherein the lower mounting member comprises a flange disposed below the bottom edge of the skin.

23. The desk of claim 22 , wherein the flange comprises a first portion underlying the bottom edge of the skin and a second portion extending laterally from the first portion and coupled to the lower frame member, wherein the first and second portions are vertically spaced.

24. The desk of claim 17 , wherein the

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Allen John
• Buist Matthew
• Cote Colin
• Grygiel Megan
• Youngs Bradley
• Wahlfield Bryan

Classifications

• A47B21/06

  characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables · CPC title

• A47B9/14

  with pins coacting with holes · CPC title

• A47B9/20 Primary

  Telescopic guides · CPC title

• A47B21/02 Primary

  with vertical adjustable parts · CPC title

• A47B2021/066

  with power or communication connection interface · CPC title