IP Library Granted Patent US 11,369,195
Granted Patent B2
US 11,369,195 · App. 17/387,061 · Granted Jun 28, 2022

Table and panel furniture system

Inventors: David J. Battey (Caledonia, MI); Sean M. Corcorran (Grand Rapids, MI); Timothy Elms (Ada, MI); Jeffrey Coffey (Ada, MI); Duck Young Kong (Beaverton, OR); Brett Robert Kincaid (Ada, MI); Mark William Schoolmeester (Grand Rapids, MI); Elger Oberwelz (San Francisco, CA); Thomas Overthun (San Francisco, CA); Jake Eisner (San Francisco, CA); Cody Jay Holstege (Zeeland, MI); Michael Skibinski (Caledonia, MI)
Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
A47B41/02A47B19/02A47B41/00A47B41/06A47B81/00A47B83/00A47B83/04G09B19/00A47B17/065A47B2200/0071A47B2200/0085A47B2200/0088A47B2200/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,369,195
App. No.
17/387,061
Granted
Jun 28, 2022
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (81)

1. A furniture system comprising:

a table assembly including a top member and a leg structure, the top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the leg structure supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position;

at least one substantially flat panel including first and second oppositely facing side surfaces, the panel circumscribed by a rim structure that stands proud of the first and second side surfaces, the panel having a panel length dimension and a panel width dimension where the panel length dimension is at least as long as the panel width dimension;

a table dock including a channel member, the channel member comprising a base wall member and first and second substantially parallel lateral wall members, the table dock supported by the top member of the table assembly with the channel opening upward;

a storage coupler configured to releasably receive the panel;

wherein the panel is positionable in at least a first use position with at least a portion of the rim structure being receivable within the channel member and the panel extending generally upward from the channel member and a second storage position with the panel coupled to the storage coupler.

2. The furniture system of claim 1 , further comprising a channel closing wall member extending between the first and second substantially parallel lateral wall members.

3. The furniture system of claim 2 , wherein the channel closing wall member closes an end of the channel member.

4. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the storage coupler comprises a shoulder member and first and second finger members extending perpendicularly to the shoulder member.

5. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the storage coupler further comprises a flange for attachment to the table top assembly.

6. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the storage coupler comprises a flange adapted to be coupled to the table top member and first and second finger members coupled to the flange, the first and second finger members extending parallel to at least a portion of the flange.

7. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the dock further comprises a plurality of walls forming a cavity adjacent the channel member.

8. The furniture system of claim 7 , wherein the channel member divides the cavity into first and second halves.

9. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a handle opening.

10. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a handle opening, the storage coupler comprises first and second finger members, and the finger members have a length dimension selected to extend through the handle opening of the panel and at least a second panel.

11. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the channel member comprises a resiliently flexible material.

12. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the panel is received on the storage coupler at a position below the top member.

13. A furniture system comprising:

a table assembly including a top member and a leg structure, the top member forming a substantially flat top surface and circumscribed by an outer edge, the leg structure supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position;

at least one substantially flat panel including first and second oppositely facing side surfaces, the panel circumscribed by a rim structure that stands proud of the first and second side surfaces, the panel having a panel length and a panel width dimension where the panel length dimension is at least as long as the panel width dimension;

a table dock including a channel member, the channel member including a base wall member and first and second substantially parallel lateral wall members, the channel member formed of a resiliently flexible material, the table dock supported by the top member with the channel opening upward;

a storage coupler supported below the top member and configured to releasably receive the panel;

wherein the panel is positionable in at least a first use position with at least a portion of the rim structure of the panel being receivable within the channel member and the panel extending generally upward from the channel member and a second storage position with the panel coupled to the storage coupler.

14. The furniture system of claim 13 , further comprising a channel closing wall member extending between the first and second substantially parallel lateral wall members.

15. The furniture system of claim 14 , wherein the channel closing wall member closes an end of the channel member.

16. The furniture system of claim 13 , wherein the storage coupler comprises a shoulder member and first and second finger members extending perpendicularly to the shoulder member.

17. The furniture system of claim 13 , wherein the storage coupler further comprises a flange coupled to the table top assembly.

18. The furniture system of claim 13 , wherein the storage coupler comprises a flange coupled to the table top member and first and second finger members coupled to the flange, the first and second finger members including corresponding first and second upwardly extending members.

19. The furniture system of claim 13 , wherein the dock further comprises a plurality of walls forming a cavity adjacent the channel member.

20. The furniture system of claim 19 , wherein the channel member divides the cavity into first and second halves.

21. The furniture system of claim 13 , wherein the panel comprises a handle opening.

22. The furniture system of claim 13 , wherein the panel comprises a handle opening, the storage coupler comprises first and second finger members, and the finger members have a length dimension selected to extend through the handle opening of the at least a first panel and at least a second panel.

23. The furniture system of claim 13 , wherein the channel member comprises a resiliently flexible material.

24. A furniture system comprising:

a table assembly including a top member and a leg structure, the top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the leg structure supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position at a first height;

a table dock supported by the table assembly adjacent the top surface, the table dock including a channel that extends above and opens upwardly above the top member and that is unobstructed by the top member, the channel including a channel closing wall member extending between the first and second substantially parallel wall members;

at least one substantially flat panel, the panel circumscribed by a panel edge; and

a storage coupler supported at a second height below the first height, the storage coupler configured to releasably receive the panel;

wherein the panel is positionable in at least a first use position with a portion of the panel edge received in the channel and the panel extending vertically upward adjacent the top surface of the top member and a second storage position with the panel retained by the storage coupler and located below the top member and below the first height.

25. The furniture system of claim 24 , wherein the storage coupler is supported by the table assembly.

26. The furniture system of claim 24 , wherein the storage coupler comprises a shoulder member and first and second finger members extending perpendicularly to the shoulder member.

27. The furniture system of claim 24 , wherein the storage coupler further comprises a flange for attachment to the table assembly.

28. The furniture system of claim 24 , wherein the storage coupler comprises a flange adapted to be coupled to the table top assembly and first and second finger members coupled to the flange, the first and second finger including corresponding first and second upwardly extending members configured to inhibit the panel from sliding off of the first and second fingers in the second storage position.

29. The furniture system of claim 24 , wherein the table dock further comprises a plurality of walls forming a cavity adjacent the channel member.

30. The furniture system of claim 29 , wherein the channel member divides the cavity into first and second sections.

31. The furniture system of claim 29 , wherein the channel and the cavity are molded in an integral structure.

32. The furniture system of claim 24 , wherein the panel comprises a whiteboard.

33. The furniture system of claim 24 , wherein the panel comprises first and second oppositely facing side surfaces, the panel circumscribed by a rim structure that stands proud of the first and second side surfaces.

34. The furniture system of claim 33 , wherein the panel forms a handle opening adjacent at least one of the first and second side surfaces.

35. The furniture system of claim 34 , wherein the storage coupler comprises a first and a second finger, and the handle opening is sized and dimensioned to be received on the first and second fingers.

36. The furniture system of claim 33 , wherein the rim structure comprises a polypropylene material.

37. The furniture system of claim 33 , wherein the panel comprises steel.

38. The furniture system of claim 24 , wherein the panel comprises a ceramic material.

39. The furniture system of claim 24 , wherein the table dock is secured to the table assembly with an adhesive.

40. A furniture system comprising:

a table assembly including a top member and a leg structure, the top member forming a substantially flat top surface, the leg structure supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position at a first height;

a table dock supported by the table assembly, the table dock including a channel that extends above and opens away from the top surface of the top member and that is unobstructed by the top member;

at least one substantially flat panel, the panel circumscribed by a panel edge and the panel forming a handle opening adjacent an edge; and

a storage coupler supported at a second height below the first height, the storage coupler configured to releasably receive the panel;

wherein the panel is positionable in at least a first use position with a portion of the panel edge gripped in the channel and the panel extending vertically away from the top surface of the top member and a second storage position with the panel engaged by the storage coupler and located below the top member and below the first height.

41. The furniture system of claim 40 , further comprising a channel closing wall member extending between the first and second substantially parallel wall members.

42. The furniture system of claim 40 , wherein the storage coupler is supported by the table assembly.

43. The furniture system of claim 40 , wherein the storage coupler comprises a shoulder member and first and second finger members extending perpendicularly to the shoulder member.

44. The furniture system of claim 40 , wherein the storage coupler further comprises a flange for attachment to the table assembly.

45. The furniture system of claim 40 , wherein the first storage coupler comprises a flange adapted to be coupled to the table top assembly and first and second finger members coupled to the flange, the first and second finger members extending parallel to at least a portion of the flange.

46. The furniture system of claim 40 , wherein the table dock further comprises a plurality of walls forming a cavity adjacent the channel member.

47. The furniture system of claim 46 , wherein the channel member divides the cavity into first and second sections.

48. The furniture system of claim 46 , wherein the channel and the cavity are molded in an integral structure.

49. The furniture system of claim 40 , wherein the panel comprises a whiteboard.

50. The furniture system of claim 40 , wherein the panel comprises a first substantially flat panel including first and second oppositely facing side surfaces, the panel circumscribed by a rim structure that stands proud of the first and second side surfaces.

51. The furniture system of claim 50 , wherein the panel forms a handle opening adjacent at least one of the first and second side surfaces.

52. The furniture system of claim 51 , wherein the handle opening is sized and dimensioned to be received on first and second fingers of the storage coupler.

53. The furniture system of claim 50 , wherein the rim structure comprises a polypropylene material.

54. The furniture system of claim 50 , wherein the panel comprises steel.

55. The furniture system of claim 40 , wherein the panel comprises a ceramic material.

56. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the storage coupler comprises first and second fingers, and wherein the first and second fingers are supported at a height below the top member.

57. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the storage coupler is coupled to the table assembly and comprises first and second fingers extending outwardly parallel to the top member at a height below a top surface of the top member, and further comprising an upwardly extending channel coupled to the storage coupler, an opening of the channel accessible from the top member.

58. The furniture system of claim 1 , wherein the storage coupler comprises first and second fingers, a shoulder extending between the first and second fingers, and a flange configured to be coupled to the top member of the table assembly.

59. The furniture system of claim 58 , further comprising an upwardly extending channel coupled to the flange.

60. The furniture system of claim 1 , further comprising a wheel coupled to the leg structure.

61. The furniture system of claim 60 , further comprising a locking mechanism coupled to the wheel for selectively locking the wheel.

Assignments (3)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: AMQ SOLUTIONS, LLC; HALCON FURNITURE LLC; SMITH SYSTEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY; STEELCASE INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074944/0368 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: AMQ SOLUTIONS, LLC; HALCON FURNITURE LLC; SMITH SYSTEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY; STEELCASE INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074944/0784 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2021
From: 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
To: STEELCASE INC.
Reel/Frame 057113/0773 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 16567825 · Sep 11, 2019
Continuation 16022063 · Jun 28, 2018
Continuation 15650584 · Jul 14, 2017
Continuation 14918072 · Oct 20, 2015
Continuation 14046589 · Oct 4, 2013
Continuation 14007770
Provisional Application 61603642 · Feb 27, 2012
Related Publication 20210353052A1 · Nov 18, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,648,639