Collaborative workstation system with interchangeable mobile workstations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11053679-B2
Application number	US-201815885367-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2018
Priority date	Jan 31, 2017
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A collaborative mobile workstation system enables users of the workstations to position and reposition their own workstation in a few minutes or less, without requiring substantial disassembly and reassembly. The system enables arrangements that promote collaboration but that can also include open workstations and semi-private workstation formations with four or more substantive walls around a work surface. Each of the mobile workstations within the system is interchangeable with one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A collaborative workstation system, comprising:
a plurality of mobile workstations, the plurality of mobile workstations comprising a first group and a second group, each workstation comprising:
a plurality of walls defining three sides of the workstation and an interior work area, the plurality of walls comprising first and second side walls having same dimensions, and a back wall being longer than the side walls and extending between and rigidly affixed to the side walls to form fixed angles with the side walls, a fourth side of the workstation being at least partially open;
a work surface integrated within the interior work area, the first and second side walls each having a length greater than a width of the work surface such that the first and second side walls are configured to block view of the interior work area from a position facing the first or second side walls, exterior to the workstation; and
one or more casters disposed along a base of one or more of the plurality of walls, the one or more casters enabling movement of each workstation across a floor surface upon which each workstation rests; wherein the first group is arranged in a first configuration and the second group is arranged in a second configuration
wherein, in the first configuration, the plurality of mobile workstations are arranged such that the back walls of each of the plurality of mobile workstations are parallel to each other and aligned with each other, and the first and second sidewalls of at least some of the mobile workstations lie adjacent to each other, the first configuration configured to provide privacy to people sitting at each of the work surfaces in the plurality of workstations by the first and second side walls blocking views of the people from each other; and
wherein, in the second configuration different than the first configuration, the plurality of mobile workstations are arranged such that the back walls of a first group of the plurality of mobile workstations are parallel to each other and aligned with each other, and the first and side walls of at least some of the mobile workstations in the first group lie adjacent to each other, and at least one mobile workstation in a second group of mobile workstations, the back wall of the at least one mobile workstation in the second group oriented orthogonally to the back walls in the first group of the plurality of workstations, and the first side wall of a mobile workstation in the second group of mobile workstations aligned in and partially blocking the fourth side of a private workstation in the first group of mobile workstations, the second configuration configured for collaboration by allowing one or more people at the second group of mobile workstations to view one or more people at the first group of mobile workstations through the fourth side of the mobile workstations in the first and second groups, except for the private workstation in the first group of mobile workstations, which private workstation is more closed off and private than other workstations in the first and second groups.

2. The collaborative workstation system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more casters are positioned at corners between adjoining walls of the plurality of walls.

3. The collaborative workstation system of claim 1 , further comprising a position locking mechanism for securing each workstation in a fixed position.

4. The collaborative workstation system of claim 3 , wherein disengagement of the locking mechanism enables movement of each workstation across the floor surface upon which each workstation rests by the one or more casters.

5. The collaborative workstation system of claim 3 , wherein the position locking mechanism engages the one or more casters to prevent rolling of the one or more casters.

6. The collaborative workstation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mobile workstations are arranged in a formation relative to each other, which structurally defines a plurality of private work areas and a collaborative work area.

7. The collaborative workstation system of claim 1 , further comprising a connection port on each workstation.

8. The collaborative workstation system of claim 7 , wherein the connection port comprises a power strip configured to receive one or more power cords electrically connecting each workstation and for electrically connecting a power source to each work station.

9. The collaborative workstation system of claim 8 , wherein a power cord to a power strip of a work station is configured to be disconnected during movement of the workstation.

10. The collaborative workstation system of claim 7 , wherein the connection port comprises a network jack configured to receive one or more network cables connecting each workstation and to connect each workstation to a network.

11. The collaborative workstation system of claim 8 , wherein a network cable to a network jack of a work station is configured to be disconnected during movement of the workstation.

12. The collaborative workstation system of claim 7 , wherein the connection port comprises a telephone jack configured to receive one or more telephone cables connecting each workstation and to connect each work station to a telephone system.

13. The collaborative workstation system of claim 8 , wherein a telephone cable to a telephone jack of a work station is configured to be disconnected during movement of the workstation.

14. The collaborative workstation system of claim 1 , wherein the work surface is supported on one or more of the plurality of walls.

Assignees

• Alert Innovation Inc

Inventors

• Lert Jr John G

Classifications

• E04B2/7416 Primary

  with free upper edge, e.g. for use as office space dividers · CPC title

• A47B2200/0066

  Workstations · CPC title

• E04B2002/7483

  Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions · CPC title

• E04B2/7405 Primary

  with free upper edge, e.g. for use as office space dividers · CPC title

• E04B2002/7488

  Details of wiring · CPC title