Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Including component designed to receive a disparate article... – Task-area type repositionable component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-09
2001-06-26
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Including component designed to receive a disparate article...
Task-area type repositionable component
C052S028000, C052S220700, C052S239000, C362S147000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250019
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates to furniture having overhead lighting configured to integrally support utilities overhead.
Modern offices often use furniture systems, such as partition systems and wall systems, to subdivide a building space. In such systems, lighting and utilities often compete for space at a top of the partition and wall systems. A reason is because the lighting needs to be supported in a high position to satisfactorily distribute light, while the utilities need to be located in a high position where they can be easily accessed without disrupting papers on a worksurface and without disrupting a workspace. It is desirable to provide a furniture system where the lighting does not need to be removed or disassembled when working on or adding utilities, and where the total amount of time to do the work is minimized. In fact, it would be very desirable to have a lighting system that actually facilitates working on or adding new utilities. Further, it is desirable to provide a system that is visually acceptable and modernistic in appearance, and yet that ergonomically distributes light.
Accordingly, a furniture arrangement solving the aforementioned needs and having the aforementioned advantages is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a furniture arrangement includes an overhead support defining an elongated overhead utility channel and at least one lamp attached to the overhead support. At least one light-distributing member is attached to the overhead support and is disposed to both distribute light from the lamp and to visually shield contents of the utility channel from at least one direction.
In another aspect of the present invention, a furniture arrangement includes an overhead beam dividing a work area into opposing side areas and an elongated overhead support for utilities that is attached to and supported atop the overhead beam. The overhead support for utilities includes a bottom flange and up flanges defining elongated recesses, at least one of the recesses being constructed to receive lay-in wiring. The furniture arrangement further includes at least one lamp attached to the overhead support and positioned in one of the recesses and a light-distributing member also attached to the overhead support. The light-distributing member is disposed to both distribute light from the lamp downwardly toward at least one of the side areas and to visually shield contents of the utility channel from a person viewing the utility channel from a side thereof.
In another aspect of the present invention, a furniture arrangement includes an overhead support defining an elongated overhead utility channel with a raceway therein for receiving wiring and at least one lamp attached to the overhead support. At least one light-distributing member is attached to the overhead support and disposed to distribute light from the at least one lamp. The light-distributing member is curvilinearly shaped and configured to guide wiring toward the raceway during lay-in of the wiring, and further is configured to distribute light generally outwardly and downwardly from the at least one lamp.
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Buchalter Mark A.
Hirai Yasuyuki
Montgomery Howard M.
Simons, Jr. George J.
Tanis Gregory M.
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
Steelcase Development Corporation
Stephan Beth A.
Wilkens Kevin D.
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