Workspace system and components and method for the use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11766118-B2
Application number	US-202217876200-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2022
Priority date	Sep 4, 2018
Publication date	Sep 26, 2023
Grant date	Sep 26, 2023

Abstract

A cart assembly including a frame having a horizontal worksurface, a plurality of vertical support members extending upwardly from the horizontal worksurface and an upper rail spaced above the horizontal worksurface and connected to the vertical support members. The rail defines an opening at one end thereof. A screen is moveable between at least first and second positions. The screen is moveable through the opening and is supported in an interior space of the frame in the first position. The screen is disposed outside the interior space in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cart assembly comprising:
a frame comprising:
a horizontal worksurface;
a plurality of vertical support members extending upwardly from the horizontal worksurface; and
a U-shaped upper rail spaced above the horizontal worksurface and connected to the vertical support members, wherein the U-shaped upper rail comprises a pair of elongated rail portions extending in a longitudinal direction and a cross member extending in a lateral direction and connecting the rail portions at a first end of the upper rail, and wherein the rail portions are spaced apart to define an opening between the rail portions at a second end of the upper rail opposite the first end, and wherein the rail portions each comprise an outer surface; and

a screen moveable between at least first and second positions, wherein the screen is horizontally moveable through the opening such that the screen is supported by the worksurface in the first position, and wherein the screen is supported by the outer surface of one of the rail portions in the second position.

2. The cart assembly of claim 1 wherein the worksurface comprises a plurality of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending grooves, wherein the screen is engaged with one of the grooves when the screen is in the first position.

3. The cart assembly of claim 1 further comprising a bracket connected to the frame, wherein the bracket defines a channel, and wherein the screen is disposed in the channel when the screen is in the second position.

4. The cart assembly of claim 1 wherein the screen comprises a writable and erasable surface.

5. The cart assembly of claim 4 wherein the screen comprises a white board.

6. The cart assembly of claim 1 wherein the first position defines a stored position and the second position defines a display position.

7. The cart assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of wheels supporting the frame.

8. A cart assembly comprising:
a frame comprising:
a horizontal worksurface;
a first side frame having longitudinally spaced first and second ends, wherein the first side frame comprises:
a first pair of longitudinally spaced vertical support members extending upwardly from the horizontal worksurface adjacent a first side of the worksurface; and
a first longitudinally extending rail connected to the first pair of vertical support members;

a second side frame laterally spaced from the first side frame and having longitudinally spaced first and second ends, wherein the second side frame comprises:
a second pair of longitudinally spaced vertical support members extending upwardly from the horizontal worksurface adjacent a second side of the worksurface opposite the first side; and
a second longitudinally extending rail connected to the second pair of vertical support members, wherein the second rail is laterally spaced from the first rail;

a cross member extending laterally between and connected to the first and second side frames adjacent the first ends thereof, wherein the second ends of the first and second side frames define an opening therebetween; and

a screen moveable between at least first and second positions, wherein the screen is horizontally moveable through the opening between the first and second side frames such that the screen is supported by the worksurface in the first position, and wherein the screen is supported by one of the first or second side frames in the second position.

9. The cart assembly of claim 8 wherein the worksurface comprises a plurality of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending grooves, wherein the screen is disposed in one of the grooves when the screen is in the first position.

10. The cart assembly of claim 9 wherein the cross member defines a plurality of laterally spaced and vertically extending channels aligned with the plurality of grooves, wherein the screen is disposed in one of the channels when the screen is in the first position.

11. The cart assembly of claim 10 comprising a plurality of screens, wherein each of the plurality of screens are disposed in respective ones of the plurality of grooves and channels.

12. The cart assembly of claim 8 further comprising a bracket connected to the frame, wherein the bracket defines a channel, and wherein the screen is disposed in the channel when the screen is in the second position.

13. The cart assembly of claim 12 wherein the bracket comprises a first bracket connected to the first side frame, and further comprising a second bracket connected to the second side frame.

14. The cart assembly of claim 8 wherein the screen comprises a writable and erasable surface.

15. The cart assembly of claim 14 wherein the screen comprises a white board.

16. A cart assembly comprising:
a frame comprising:
a horizontal worksurface;
a plurality of vertical support members extending upwardly from the horizontal worksurface; and
a U-shaped upper rail spaced above the horizontal worksurface and connected to the vertical support members, wherein the U-shaped upper rail defines an interior space, and wherein the upper rail defines an opening at one end thereof; and

a screen moveable between at least first and second positions, wherein the screen is disposed in the interior space in the first position, and wherein the screen is disposed outside the interior space in the second position, wherein the screen is supported by the upper rail in the second position.

17. The cart assembly of claim 16 wherein the worksurface comprises a plurality of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending grooves, wherein the screen is engaged with one of the grooves when the screen is in the first position.

18. The cart assembly of claim 16 further comprising a bracket connected to the frame, wherein the bracket defines a channel, and wherein the screen is disposed in the channel when the screen is in the second position.

19. The cart assembly of claim 16 wherein the screen comprises a writable and erasable surface.

20. The cart assembly of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of wheels supporting the frame.

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Allen John M
• Beasley Charles
• Bennie William
• Beitzel Justin G
• Caballero Antonio
• Jeffers Robert
• Moriniere Alban
• Shan Penghao

Classifications

• A47B83/001 Primary

  Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems · CPC title

• A47B21/02

  with vertical adjustable parts · CPC title

• A47B21/04

  characterised by means for holding or fastening typewriters or computer equipment · CPC title

• A47B21/06

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

• A47B87/002

  Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor · CPC title