Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Portable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-29
2001-04-10
Purol, David M. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Portable
C160S127000, C108S050110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213191
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a screen for use in a work environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is generally known to divide a space provided within a work environment into one or more work spaces. According to such known arrangements, the work spaces may be further divided or otherwise arranged to create one or more work areas for use by individual workers or groups of workers who may be engaged in individual or group activities. It is also generally known to reconfigure such work areas within the work spaces by arrangement of one or more articles of furniture, such as panel walls, screens, worksurfaces (e.g., display surfaces, tables, display boards, etc.), storage units (e.g., closets, cabinets, filing systems, etc.), seating products, etc. in a manner intended to support workers in a wide variety of individual and group activities.
The dynamic work environment, characterized by a need for flexibility, reconfigurable work areas and an ability to support a wide variety of activities of both individual workers and project teams of varying sizes, has recently grown in prevalence. The dynamic work environment typically includes mobile articles of furniture. Individual and team spaces in the dynamic work environment are ideally capable of rapid configuration and reconfiguration by the workers themselves or by rearrangement of such mobile articles of furniture to support a variety of individual or group activities.
It is known to provide for a partition to provide physical space division or visual privacy in a work environment. For example, partition wall arrangements are well-known for use in a work environment to form work spaces and work areas. However, such known partition wall arrangements effectively “define” the work environment and associated work spaces in a semi-permanent manner after being installed (i.e., it is not readily possible for the workers themselves to reconfigure the work environment using such known partition wall arrangements). As a result, such known partition wall arrangements are not typically well-suited for use in a dynamic work environment.
According to other known arrangements, mobile structures (such as hanging panels or freestanding panels) may be used to provide physical space division or visual privacy in a work environment. However, such known structures typically must be stowed or put aside when not in use, which occupies space within the work environment that could possibly be used for more productive worker activity. Moreover, such mobile structures may not provide a suitable level of visual privacy when installed.
According to still other known arrangements, screens may be used to provide physical space division or visual privacy in a work environment. Known screens are typically floorstanding and may be characterized by a lightweight construction. Such known screens may have folding panel sections or may be made of one or more rigidly connected panel sections. However, such known screens are typically not designed for convenient storage or association with other articles of furniture within the work environment.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a screen for dividing space and offering visual privacy in a work environment that may be selectively mounted to an article of furniture. It would also be advantageous to provide a screen having a generally flexible frame and supported by a generally horizontal surface, such that the screen can readily be used to form work spaces of a variety of sizes and configurations or provide visual privacy in a work environment. It would further be advantageous to provide a method for selectively configuring a screen for compact storage in a work environment by deforming the shape of the screen. It would still further be advantageous to provide a method for selectively configuring a screen for use in a work environment by deforming the shape of the screen. It would also be advantageous to provide a method for providing selective privacy in a work environment by installing a screen on an article of furniture and positioning the screen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a screen for use in a work environment including a worksurface. The screen includes a flexible frame providing an outer perimeter defining a first shape. The screen also includes a web at least partially circumscribed by the frame and having a shape corresponding to the shape of the frame. The screen further includes a mounting assembly connected to the frame for attaching the screen to the worksurface.
The present invention further relates to a screen for use in a work environment providing a generally horizontal surface. The screen includes a generally flexible frame providing an outer perimeter that tends to a first shape. The screen further includes a web at least partially circumscribed by the frame and having a shape at least partially defined by the shape of the outer perimeter of the frame. The screen also includes a mounting assembly configured to support the frame on the generally horizontal surface.
The present invention further relates to a method for selectively configuring a screen for use in a work environment. The screen includes a frame having a top member, a bottom member, a first middle member and a second middle member. The frame provides an outer perimeter tending to a first shape. The screen further includes a web at least partially circumscribed by the frame and having a shape at least partially defined by the shape of the outer perimeter of the frame. The method includes detaching the frame from a mounting assembly. The method further includes deforming the frame into a second shape such that the first middle member and the second middle member are adjacent to each other. The method further includes deforming the frame into a third shape such that the frame includes a first hoop, a second hoop and a third hoop. The method still further includes positioning the second hoop adjacent the first hoop and the third hoop.
The present invention further relates to a method for selectively configuring a screen for use in a work environment. The work environment provides a generally horizontal surface. The screen includes a frame providing an outer perimeter tending to a first shape. The screen further includes a cover at least partially circumscribed by the frame and having a shape at least partially defined by the shape of the outer perimeter of the frame. The screen also includes a mounting assembly configured to attach the frame to the generally horizontal surface. The method includes detaching the frame from the mounting assembly. The method further includes deforming the frame into a second shape.
The present invention further relates to a method to provide selective privacy in a work environment. The work environment provides a screen. The screen includes a frame providing an outer perimeter tending to a first shape. The screen further includes a cover at least partially circumscribed by the frame and having a shape at least partially defined by the shape of the outer perimeter of the frame. The screen still further includes a first and a second mounting assembly configured to attach the frame to a generally horizontal surface. The method includes installing the screen on an article of furniture. Installing the screen includes mounting the frame to the first mounting assembly, mounting the frame to the second mounting assembly, and mounting the first and the second mounting assemblies to an article of furniture. The method further includes positioning the screen to increase the level of privacy provided by the screen.
REFERENCES:
patent: 995410 (1911-06-01), McClure
patent: 1378904 (1921-05-01), Schuermann
patent: 1952749 (1934-03-01), Ellis
patent: 2131214 (1938-09-01), Bentz
patent: 2214204 (1940-09-01), Pollard
patent: 2292785 (1942-08-01), Henne
patent: 2470416 (1949-05-01), Silver
patent: 2942924 (1960-06-01), Stangert
patent: 2944861 (1960-07-01), Lessin
patent: 2981583 (1961-04-01), Eisenberg
patent: 3326147 (1967-06-01), Toney
patent: 3
Foley & Lardner
Purol David M.
Steelcase Development Inc.
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