Table and panel furniture system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12127667-B2
Application number	US-202318229327-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2023
Priority date	Feb 27, 2012
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

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 furniture system for use in a classroom, the furniture system comprising:
a 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;
a table assembly 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 at a first height;
at least a first table dock configured to be supported by the table assembly adjacent a rear edge of the top surface, the first table dock forming a dock channel that is unobstructed by the top member when supported by the table assembly, the dock channel having a width dimension configured to receive and support at least a portion of the panel edge within the dock channel;
wherein a first end of the panel edge of the display panel is receivable within the table dock channel to support the display panel adjacent the rear edge of the flat top surface and a second end of the panel edge is receivable on the top surface of the table assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the top member has a substantially rectangular shape including a front edge, the rear edge, and lateral edges, and wherein the table dock channel extends along a trajectory that extends from the rear edge toward the front edge, wherein the display panel divides the top surface into first and second portions.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the top member forms a depth dimension between the front and rear edges and wherein the display panel has a length dimension that is substantially similar to the depth dimension.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the top member has a width dimension between first and second lateral edges wherein the width dimension is substantially twice the length dimension of the display panel.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the table dock is substantially centrally located along the rear edge of the top member.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the first and second portions have similar first and second areas.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the top member has a substantially rectangular shape including a front edge, the rear edge, and first and second lateral edges, and wherein the table dock channel extends along a trajectory that is parallel to the rear and substantially perpendicular to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display panel comprises whiteboard material on at least one of first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the top member forms an opening, and the table dock is received in the opening.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display panel includes a handle opening adjacent the panel edge.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display panel is substantially rectangular and includes upper and lower edges and lateral side edges, and wherein a handle opening is formed adjacent a lateral side edge.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the handle opening is substantially oval in shape.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein a length dimension of the substantially oval handle opening extends parallel to the lateral side edge of the display panel.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the handle opening is substantially centered between the upper and lower edges of the display panel.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the corners of the substantially rectangular display panel is rounded.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dock channel opens upwardly and the display panel is supported in a substantially upright orientation.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display panel includes a whiteboard material on only one of the first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display panel includes a whiteboard material on both the first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the table dock further comprises at least one lateral channel extending laterally from the dock channel.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display panel includes first and second lateral edges, and a handle opening is formed adjacent one of the first and second lateral edges.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the portion of the display panel that is received in the dock channel includes the handle opening.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the handle opening has a length dimension extending along a side of the display panel.

23. A furniture system for use in a classroom, the furniture system comprising:
a 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;
a table assembly 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 at a first height;
at least a first dock channel configured to be supported by the table assembly adjacent a rear edge of the top surface, the dock channel being unobstructed by the top member when supported by the table assembly, the dock channel having a width dimension configured to receive and support at least a portion of the panel edge within the dock channel;
wherein a first end of the panel edge of the display panel is receivable within the table dock channel to support the display panel adjacent the rear edge of the flat top surface and a second end of the panel edge is receivable on the top surface of the table assembly.

24. A furniture system for use in a classroom, the furniture system comprising:
a 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 and including a handle opening adjacent the panel edge;
a table assembly 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 at a first height;
at least a first dock channel configured to be supported by the table assembly adjacent a rear edge of the top surface, the dock channel being unobstructed by the top member when supported by the table assembly, the dock channel having a width dimension configured to receive and support at least a portion of the panel edge within the dock channel;
wherein a first end of the panel edge of the display panel is receivable within the table dock channel to support the display panel adjacent the rear edge of the flat top surface and a second end of the panel edge is receivable on the top surface of the table assembly.

25. The system of claim 1 further including at least a first caster at a bottom end of the at least one leg support member.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the top includes an undersurface, the system further includin

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

• A47B19/02

  Church pulpits {; Stands for lecturers} · CPC title

• A47B83/04

  Tables combined with other pieces of furniture · CPC title

• A47B81/00

  Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis · CPC title

• G09B19/00

  Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass (teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26) · CPC title

• A47B2200/12

  Vanity or modesty panels · CPC title