Learning suite furniture system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9226578-B2
Application number	US-201314046589-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2013
Priority date	Feb 27, 2012
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

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 adjacent a portion of the outer edge 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, the dock channel opening upwardly and opening horizontally at the first and second ends and having a base wall member at a height below the substantially flat top surface of the top member, 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 with the panel extending out the open first and second ends of the 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 3 wherein the display panel includes a rim structure that stands proud of the parallel side surfaces and wherein the rim structure is receivable within the dock channel.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the rim structure can rotate at least somewhat within the channel.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein a dimension between facing surfaces of the rib members is less than a dimension between oppositely facing surfaces of the rim structure.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of the table dock contacts at least one of the first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces of the display panel when the display panel is received in the dock channel to stabilize the display panel in the substantially vertical position.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the table dock is secured to the undersurface of the top member via mechanical fasteners.

9. The assembly of claim 6 wherein at least one of the first and second lateral wall members resiliently flexes outward during insertion and removal of the rim structure from the channel.

10. The assembly of claim 6 wherein upwardly facing surfaces of the first and second rib members form angled lead in surfaces that angle toward each other from top to bottom for guiding a rim structure into the channel during insertion.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein downwardly facing surfaces of the first and second rib members form angled lead out surfaces that angle toward each other from bottom to top.

12. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the display panel is substantially rectangular having a panel width dimension that is perpendicular to and shorter than the panel length dimension, the width dock length dimension less than the panel width dimension so that an edge of the display panel that extends along the panel width dimension is receivable in the dock channel to support the display panel in a second substantially vertical orientation.

13. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the table top member is substantially rectangular and has perpendicular depth and length dimensions and wherein the table dock is supported by the top member adjacent a long edge of the top member.

14. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the base wall member and lateral wall members are formed of a resiliently flexible material.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the base wall member and the lateral wall members are formed using a plastic material.

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

17. 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.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the display panel hangs down below an edge of the top member when supported by the storage coupler.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the storage coupler is fastened to an undersurface of the top member.

20. The assembly of claim 18 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.

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

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the substantially vertical orientation is vertical.

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

24. 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 open 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 and extending along a side of the top member so that the channel is substantially horizontally oriented with the base wall member at a height below the substantially horizontal surface of 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 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.

25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein at least a portion of the rim structure along the width dim

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Battey David J

Classifications

• 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

• A47B41/00 Primary

  School desks or tables (attaching to floor A47B91/08) · CPC title

• A47B83/04 Primary

  Tables combined with other pieces of furniture · CPC title