EP0997866B1 - Information display system - Google Patents
Information display system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0997866B1 EP0997866B1 EP19990250383 EP99250383A EP0997866B1 EP 0997866 B1 EP0997866 B1 EP 0997866B1 EP 19990250383 EP19990250383 EP 19990250383 EP 99250383 A EP99250383 A EP 99250383A EP 0997866 B1 EP0997866 B1 EP 0997866B1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- information display
- display system
- information
- display
- work
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F15/00—Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like
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- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F15/00—Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like
- G09F15/0068—Modular articulated structures, e.g. stands, and articulation means therefor
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- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F7/00—Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols; Panels or boards
- G09F7/02—Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols
- G09F7/08—Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by means of grooves, rails, or slits
Definitions
- an information display system for use in a work environment that facilitates the efficient use, display and storage of information in the work environment. It would also be advantageous to provide for an information display system that more effectively facilitates "information persistence" - the collection and retention of information meaningful to an individual or group - so that information is readily available and can be “revealed” when needed and yet can be “concealed” and conveniently stowed away securely when not needed. It would further be advantageous to have an information display system that facilitates the management and use of information on vertical surfaces, providing an abundance of display surfaces while occupying a minimal amount of work space. It would further be advantageous to have an information display system that provides an organizational scheme for separating, identifying and linking related but distinct fields of displayed information.
- the present invention further relates to an information display system.
- the information display system includes a track system adapted for attachment to a mounting structure and a plurality of containers coupled to the track system for movement with respect to the mounting structure.
- Each of the plurality of containers is adapted to provide a first display panel and a second display panel.
- Each of the display panels is adapted to present information and the information can selectively be presented for display by movement of the plurality of containers.
- FIGURES 5 through 15B exemplary embodiments of work environments and workstations including the information display system are shown.
- both the territorial appearance (i.e. arrangement) and contextual appearance of the work environment and associated workstations can be readily and easily be configured and reconfigured by arrangement of basic elements of the information display system, the utility threshold and other mobile articles of furniture.
- Space division, or "territorial" reconfiguration of work spaces and work areas will not require rearrangement of any "fixed” elements, such as panel walls and other articles of furniture that are generally considered to be “fixed” once installed in the work environment insofar as substantial effort (e.g. disassembly, lifting, etc.) or tools are required for movement.
- work space 3a is configured to provide two work areas and two workstations 4f and 4g for two workers 114c and 114d shown sharing the fixed floor space but working independently.
- Open container 8g and closed container 8h form a "boundary" between workstations 4f and 4g.
- Worker 114c seated in chair 18a at table 16a and working at open container 8f has use of one floor space section 118b (shown in phantom lines); worker 114d seated in chair 18b and in the process of moving container 8h has use of another floor space section 118c (shown in phantom lines).
- Each worker 114c and 114d has three containers within docking areas 38a and 38b, respectively.
- Utility threshold 26 is shown in FIGURE 16B, according to an alternative embodiment (similar in certain respects to utility threshold 24z shown in FIGURE 16A).
- Mounting assembly 52b of utility threshold 26 includes a set of wheels 38 that travel within a track shown as a groove 120 in the top of panel wall 280 to allow translating (i.e. rolling) motion of utility threshold 24z with respect to panel wall 280.
- a retractable partition shown as a privacy screen 78 is supplied on a roller 112 within post 50 of utility threshold 24z; a clasp 116 on cabinet 12 (shown in phantom lines) engages a handle 108 of utility threshold 24z to hold privacy screen 78 in a withdrawn position (i.e. against spring tension) so as to define a space within the associated workstation.
- beam 50 of utility threshold 26 includes two fluorescent lighting fixtures 60 under canopy 79.
- the mounting structure for the information display system may be any of a wide variety of structures.
- a mounting structure shown as shelving unit 28 is provided for information display system 6.
- Containers 8 of information display system 6 are coupled to a set of rails 30 mounted on shelving unit 28 (on the front and back) by a mounting assembly 32 (e.g. of a type shown in FIGURE 1).
- Stops shown as blocks 104b are provided at the ends of each rail 30 to stop the travel of containers 8 (i.e. to prevent derailment of containers).
- Shelving unit 28 also includes an opening 124 in its base between legs 126 configured to allow the pass-through of a mobile table 16 (or other like mobile article of furniture) at a level below containers 8.
- Fixed inner tube has a set of slots 182 having a profile shown as detent profile 184 and into which unthreaded ends 186 of guide pins 174 threadably fixed (in holes 187) to outer tubes 176a and 176b are installed into fixed inner tube 170.
- Detent profile 184 of slots 182 is shaped (as shown) to provide coaction with guide pins 174 and to define the path of travel of each lateral arm assembly of the container. Referring to FIGURES 20A, 20B and 20E, for example, detent profile 184 has rounded ends 185 connected by a flat center.
- Pivot mechanism 36 includes a frame tube 304 which fits within a central vertical hole 244 in base hub 162x.
- Frame tube 304 has a cap 236 with a star-shaped upper profile formed by a series of triangular index tabs 240 or projections that engage a corresponding pattern of index slots 242 around the perimeter of hole 244 in base hub 162x when frame tube 170 is installed into hole 244.
- Frame tube 170 also includes an elongate axial slot 306 into which a lateral arm assembly shown as a frame plate 246 can be installed and secured by a series of threaded fasteners 174a.
- Frame plate 246 includes a base 250 from which project a series of diagonal fingers 252.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to an information display system adapted for use within a work environment providing one or more workstations.
- The following U.S. patent applications are cited by reference and incorporated by reference herein: (a) Serial No. (Attorney Docket No. 26167-562), titled "INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM" and filed herewith; (b) Serial No. (Attorney Docket No. 26167-563), titled "WORK STATION" and filed herewith; (c) Serial No. ______(Attorney Docket No. 26167-564), titled "WORK ENVIRONMENT" and filed herewith; (d) Serial No. ____(Attorney Docket No. 26167-568), titled "DISPLAY BOARD SYSTEM" and filed herewith; (e) Serial No. _______(Attorney Docket No. 26167-569), titled "DISPLAY BOARD SYSTEM" and filed herewith.
- It is well known in a large work environment to define a group work space that may be divided or otherwise arranged to create one or more work areas for use by individual workers or small groups of workers. Work areas are commonly configured to form one or more workstations, by arrangement of one or more articles of furniture, such as panel walls, worksurfaces, storage units, chairs or seating products, etc., typically in a manner intended to support workers in a wide variety of individual and group activities. Typically, such known arrangements are not optimally suited for use in a dynamic work environment, where individual and team spaces are ideally capable of rapid configuration and reconfiguration by the workers themselves in a highly efficient manner, as needed for varied sets of individual or group activities. Recently, these dynamic work environments characterized by the need for flexibility, reconfigurable work areas, and the ability to support a wide variety of activities of both individual workers and project teams of varying sizes, have become prevalent and typically include more mobile forms of such articles of furniture.
- All of these work spaces typically are required to accommodate a flow of information, often presented in the form of documents, that is created, used or shared by the workers. Indeed, in known work environments, it is well known to provide for the display of information to support the individual or collaborative activities of one or more workers. A fundamental purpose of any system for the display of information is to facilitate "information persistence" - to provide an organizational framework for the presentation of information that freely enables the collection of information, the presentation of information, and the retention of information as it becomes meaningful or useful to an individual or group. This purpose is best served by a system that allows current information to be prominently displayed and readily accessible. However, known arrangement for the display of information in any work environment, which typically utilize both vertical surfaces and horizontal surfaces provided within the work environment, do not fully achieve this or other purposes that are desirable. This is particularly true in a dynamic work environment.
- In some typical work environments it is very common to display information on "fixed" or "static" vertical surfaces, such as full-height walls, partial-height panel walls, or the like. Fixed walls typically provide for the territorial division of the work space, and incidentally provide a stable vertical surface for the prominent display of information (e.g. space for "tiling" of information). However, because the amount of vertical wall surfaces available for use to display information is limited, the volume of information that can be displayed is limited. Moreover, fixed walls are not readily reconfigurable to form work areas since reconfiguration of the work space is generally a time-consuming and labor-intensive process beyond the capability of the workers themselves and requiring a substantial amount of advance planning and the use of tools and other equipment. Because fixed walls are effectively immobile and are not typically positioned for the display of information, their efficiency is further limited. In addition, the commonly known methods of presenting information on fixed walls of such known arrangements, for example, do not provide an organizational framework well suited to achieve an optimal degree of information persistence. In many instances, according to commonly known arrangements, the visual effect or "scenery" provided in the work environment by information displayed on vertical walls and surfaces rends to be static and constantly "on display," rarely being refreshed or interchanged for example, when placing charts in relatively inaccessible locations. In other instances, manner in which the information displayed on the vertical surface renders it fleeting and easily defaced, for example when information is written on a white board. That is, fixed walls are not able to adequately achieve optimum "information persistence" attributes, or to support the reconfigurability necessary in a dynamic work environment.
- It is also very common to display and store information on horizontal surfaces, such as provided by desks, tables, shelving units or the like, in stacks or piles. However, given that the amount of horizontal surfaces in a work environment is limited, such information is commonly "stacked" or covered with other information, with other information given precedence - intentionally or inadvertently -- over the information beneath it. As layers of information are created on the horizontal surface, it is common for workers to adopt a practice where the information is brought into view from beneath other information only as it is needed. While information presented in this fashion is ordinarily characterized by its accessibility, such information is often forgotten, lost or misplaced as "layers" are rearranged, particularly in situations involving large or varied amounts of information in relation to the available work space. Also, when a horizontal surface is used in this manner, workers are deprived of space that might be put to better use as an actual worksurface instead of as a storage space for information of lower precedence. The use of a horizontal surface in this manner is inconsistent with the dynamic work environment, where information is ideally used, displayed and stored in a highly efficient manner, and where work surfaces may be shared by more than one worker (each of whom may require or desire access to entirely different sets of information).
- Hanging display panel systems represent an attempt to achieve the advantages of prominence and accessibility, not achieved either by use of fixed walls or worksurfaces. However, hanging display panel systems do not fully achieve optimum "information persistence" attributes particularly in situations involving large or varied amounts of information in relation to the available work space. Hanging display panel systems attempt to provide a less permanent, but prominent, vertical surface on which to display information, in a work area. Hanging display panel systems have been developed to display information in various formats utilizing individual panels that are portable and can be displayed in layered or other arrangements. At times, these configurations can include arrangements that provide a degree of reconfigurable space division and the mobile display panels do allow information to be refreshed or interchanged. But the mobility of display panels in such systems makes them difficult to "manage" for either an organized framework for providing the optimum degree of information persistence or utilizing the boards for effective space division. Indeed, while such systems may include a wide variety of mounting structures, such as carts, overhead beams or other structures that allow a wide variety of configurations, none provide an optimum framework for such management.
- Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide for an information display system for use in a work environment that facilitates the efficient use, display and storage of information in the work environment. It would also be advantageous to provide for an information display system that more effectively facilitates "information persistence" - the collection and retention of information meaningful to an individual or group - so that information is readily available and can be "revealed" when needed and yet can be "concealed" and conveniently stowed away securely when not needed. It would further be advantageous to have an information display system that facilitates the management and use of information on vertical surfaces, providing an abundance of display surfaces while occupying a minimal amount of work space. It would further be advantageous to have an information display system that provides an organizational scheme for separating, identifying and linking related but distinct fields of displayed information. It would further be advantageous to provide for a workstation using the information display system and associated structures in order to create work areas that can be readily configured and reconfigured for use by individual workers, small groups or workers and large groups or workers. It would further be advantageous to provide for a work environment including the information display system so that workstations and work areas can dynamically be configured and reconfigured. It would further be advantageous to have an information display system for use in a work environment that allows the efficient and complete transformation of the visual context of a work space or workstation during transitions between projects, tasks and personal respites in the course of a work day or work week. It would further be advantageous to have an information display system for use in a work environment providing for an arrangement and proportion of display boards that evoke a spatial sensation or envelopment and immersiveness for an individual or small group viewing the information.
- US-A-5,181,334 discloses an information display system comprising a track system adapted to attach to a substantially vertical mounting structure; a plurality of display panels coupled to the track system for both pivotal and translating movement with respect to the mounting structure, wherein at least one display panel of the plurality of display panels is adapted to present information selectively for display by movement of the plurality of display panels.
- US-A-5,511,348 discloses a furniture system adapted to support group activities in open plans, and the like. A plurality of columns support an overhead framework on the floor of a building in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation, generally above average user height. A plurality of individual panels are provided, wherein each panel is constructed to permit easy, manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user. The panels are manually reconfigurable between many different arrangements to efficiently and effectively support different group activities. Preferably, the panels are capable of providing a partitioning function to visually divide at least a portion of the workspace, and/or a display function to facilitate group communications.
- This invention relates to an information display system as claimed in
claim 1. - The present invention further relates to an information display system. The information display system includes at least one rail and a plurality of display boards attached for movement with respect to the at least one rail. The display boards are cantilevered away from the at least one rail at a vertical elevation to provide clearance below the display boards for a seated worker.
- The present invention further relates to an information display system. The information display system includes a track system adapted for attachment to a mounting structure and a plurality of containers coupled to the track system for movement with respect to the mounting structure. Each of the plurality of containers is adapted to provide a first display panel and a second display panel. Each of the display panels is adapted to present information and the information can selectively be presented for display by movement of the plurality of containers.
- The present invention further relates to a work space in an information display system. The work space includes a mounting structure and a track system adapted for attachment to the mounting structure. A plurality of display panels is coupled to the track system for movement along the track system. A docking area is positioned along the track system configured to at least partially conceal at least one of the display panels.
- The present invention further relates to a workstation defining a work area in an information display system. The work area includes at least one utility threshold adapted for movement along a predefined path about the work area to selectively deliver utilities to at least one portion of the work area.
- The present invention further relates to a fixed floor space work environment in an information display system adapted to support a group of workers sharing information contained on a plurality of display panels. The work environment is provided with the plurality of display panels mounted for movement along at least one rail between a first arrangement and at least one second arrangement. The first arrangement allows one worker to use substantially all available floor space, the second arrangement allows a plurality of workers to share the available floor space so as to facilitate the utilization of the floor space by workers present in the work environment.
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- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a work environment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGURE 2A is a perspective view of an information display system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGURE 2B is a perspective view of a work space provided in conventional work environment.
- FIGURE 2C is a perspective view of a work space provided in a work environment including an information display system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGURES 3A through 3D are perspective views of a workstation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGURE 4A is a front elevation view of a workstation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGURE 4B is a side elevation view of the workstation of FIGURE 4A.
- FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a work environment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention providing a workstation configured for use by an individual worker.
- FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the work environment of FIGURE 5 wherein the workstation has been configured for use by the individual worker.
- FIGURE 7A is a perspective view of the work environment of FIGURE 5 providing workstations configured for use by two workers working independently.
- FIGURE 7B is a perspective view of the work environment of FIGURE 5 providing workstations configured for use by three workers working independently.
- FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the work environment of FIGURE 5 providing a workstation has been configured for use by a group of two workers working collaboratively.
- FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the work environment of FIGURE 5 wherein the workstation configured for use by a group of five workers working collaboratively.
- FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the work environment of FIGURE 5 wherein the workstation is being reconfigured by the rearrangement of display boards.
- FIGURE 11A is a fragmentary perspective view of a workstation according to an exemplary embodiment in a secure condition.
- FIGURES 11B and 11C are fragmentary perspective views of the workstation of FIGURE 11A in an open condition.
- FIGURE 11D is a fragmentary perspective view of the workstation of FIGURE 11A in a substantially private condition.
- FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a work environment in a stowed and inactive condition.
- FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of the work environment of FIGURE 12 in a first active condition.
- FIGURE 14 is a top plan view of the work environment of FIGURE 12 in a second active condition.
- FIGURE 15A is a top plan view of the work environment of FIGURE 12 in a third active condition.
- FIGURE 15B is a perspective view of the work environment of FIGURE 15A (without workers).
- FIGURE 16A is a perspective view of a workstation including a utility threshold and docking area according to a preferred embodiment.
- FIGURE 16B is a perspective view of a workstation including a utility threshold and docking area according to an alternative embodiment.
- FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of an information display system according to an alternative embodiment.
- FIGURES 18A through 18C are schematic diagrams of containers associated with an information display system according to an exemplary embodiment indicating the stop action arrangements for the display boards associated with the containers.
- FIGURE 19 is perspective view of a container of an information display system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGURES 20A is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the mounting assembly of the container of the information display system of FIGURE 19.
- FIGURE 20B is a rear fragmentary elevation view of the mounting assembly.
- FIGURES 20C and 20D are sectional plan views of the mounting assembly.
- FIGURE 20E is a perspective view of the mounting assembly.
- FIGURES 21A through 21C are fragmentary exploded perspective views of the container of the information display system of FIGURE 19.
- FIGURES 22 and 23A and 23B are fragmentary exploded perspective views of a container associated with an information display system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGURE 24A is a perspective view of the container of the information display system of FIGURE 22 showing the installation of display boards.
- FIGURE 24B is a fragmentary perspective view of the container of FIGURES 22 and 24A.
- FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an information display system according to an alternative embodiment.
- FIGURE 26 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a container of an information display system according to an alternative embodiment.
- FIGURES 27A through 27C are schematic side elevation views of the container of FIGURE 26.
- FIGURES 27D and 27E are fragmentary perspective views of the container of FIGURES 27A through 27C showing an arrangement for installing a mail slot.
- FIGURE 28 is a fragmentary sectional view of a display board associated with the container of the information display system of FIGURES 27A through 27C.
- FIGURES 29 through 32 are perspective views of a workstation according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGURE 33 is a fragmentary plan view of a hinge and rail arrangement for the workstation of FIGURES 29 through 32.
- Referring to the FIGURES, an information display system is shown for use in association with a work environment that may include one or more workstations according to preferred and other exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For purposes of any exemplary or alternative embodiments of the present invention, the work environment may be of any type generally providing a work space for one or more workers. The work space may be divided or otherwise arranged to provide one or more work areas for use by the workers, who may be engaged in any of a wide variety of individual activities or group activities, for example, as may be performed by members of a project team or department. Workstations may be configured within the work environment by including one or more articles of furniture within the work areas in support of the workers and their activities. As indicated in FIGURES, the information display system may be adapted for use within the work environment or included workstations in wide variety of arrangements, each intended to support individual or collaborative activities of one or more workers, for example, by facilitating the efficient creation, use and storage of information or the configuration and reconfiguration of work areas for the activities.
- According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the work environment will be defined at least partially by architectural walls and/or a system of panel walls, such as partial height partitions, any of which may provide a mounting structure for the information display system. As will be shown with reference to exemplary embodiments, the work environment and associated workstations may be arranged to include any of a wide variety of articles of furniture and other associated elements, including additional panel walls configured in any of a wide variety of orientations, chairs or other seating products, storage or casegoods products, tables and other worksurfaces, lighting products or systems, as well as other accessories, electronic or computing equipment and other systems (with associated connectivity such as cabling) known and used in the work environment. According to alternative embodiments, any one or more articles of furniture may provide a mounting structure for the information display system.
- Referring to FIGURE 1, a
work environment 2a defining a work space is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Workareas including workstations work environment 2a.Workstations vertical panel wall 282 standing on afloor 118, can be configured for use by one or more workers 114 (two workers are shown working independently in separate work areas) and to include one or more articles of furniture.Workstation 4a includes ashelving unit 14, a mobile table 16 and achair 18;workstation 4b includes amobile file cart 20, a mobile table 16 and achair 18.Work environment 2a also includes aninformation display system 6 and autility threshold 24 that can be associated with either ofworkstations -
Information display system 6 includes a plurality of information-containing structures shown ascontainers 8. Eachcontainer 8 provides two lateral panels shown as aright display panel 44 and aleft display panel 44; eachdisplay panel 44 provides oneexterior surface 40 and oneinterior surface 42; eachcontainer 8 thus provides twoexterior surfaces 40 and twointerior surfaces 42 for the display or presentation of information. Eachcontainer 8 is coupled to a track system shown as a set ofhorizontal rails 30 mounted to a mounting structure shown aspanel wall 282 through a mounting assembly. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 1, the mounting assembly includes a slide mechanism configured to allow for translating movement of the container along the track system and a pivot mechanism configured to allow for pivotal movement of each display panel about a vertical axis with respect to the mounting structure. According to any preferred embodiment, each display panel of the container is coupled to the pivot mechanism so that either display panel can be pivoted with respect to the other display panel. Adocking area 38 shown as associated withshelving unit 14 provides a defined and partially covered space or envelope for convenient stowing of one or more containers 8 (as well as other articles of furniture, such as mobile table 16) withinworkstation 4a. -
Utility threshold 24 is coupled to a track system shown as ahorizontal rail 31 mounted on the side ofpanel wall 282.Utility threshold 24 is formed of an "L"-shaped frame with a horizontal frame member shown asbeam 49 and a vertical frame member shown aspost 50.Utility threshold 24 includes a mountingassembly 52a having a slide mechanism 54 (including one or more glide blocks) engaginghorizontal rail 31, and acanopy 55 associated withlight fixtures 56 attached tobeam 49;utility threshold 24 also includes a floor wheel assembly 58 (e.g. a caster or the like) at the base ofpost 50. As shown,utility threshold 24 is configured for sliding movement alongpanel wall 282 onhorizontal rail 31 and rolling movement alongfloor 118 on wheel assembly. According to any particularly preferred embodiment, the utility threshold is configured to supply utilities (i.e., voice, power, data, etc.) or connectivity to utilities for use in the work area, see FIGURES 16A and 16B. - It should be noted that according to any preferred embodiment, the information display system and its associated elements can be readily and easily be arranged to configure or reconfigure one or more workstations or work areas of varying sizes within the work space given in a work environment, for example by selective arrangement of the containers and/or display panels of the information display system, the utility threshold, and the docking area and other associated articles of furniture, to support one or more workers in individual or group activities. According to alternative embodiments, the docking area may be provided by any of a wide variety of structures or articles of furniture, alone or in combination, that have been arranged to provide a space where containers and/or display panels and articles of furniture can be stowed. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGURE 1, two
workstations individual workers - As shown in FIGURE 1 and other FIGURES, information contained on display panels may selectively be revealed or concealed, for example, by selective arrangement of the relative positions of the containers with respect to other containers or associated articles of furniture or by selective arrangement of the pivotal condition of the display panels associated with the containers. When the display panels are oriented so that the interior surface of one display panel of the container is drawn adjacent to and in parallel alignment with respect to the other display panel of the container, the container is said to be in a "closed" condition and information contained on either of the interior surfaces is said to be "concealed." When one display panel of the container is pivoted about the vertical axis out of parallel alignment with respect to the other display panel of the container, the container is said to be in an "open" condition and information contained on both of the interior surfaces is said to be "revealed" (if not otherwise obstructed or concealed from view). Each display panel of the container may independently be pivoted 90 degrees from the closed condition; when each display panel has been pivoted 90 degrees so that the display panels are 180 degrees opposed, the container is in a "fully open" condition and information on both interior surfaces is "revealed", while information on both exterior surfaces is "concealed". Referring to FIGURE 1,
containers 8 are closed andcontainers - FIGURE 2A shows the basic elements of
information display systems information display system 6a includescontainers 8 having a mountingassembly 32 configured for attachment to a track system including a pair ofhorizontal rails 30. According to the second exemplary embodiment,information display system 6b includescontainers 9 having a mountingassembly 33 configured for attachment to a track system including a singlehorizontal rail 30. As shown, both mountingassembly 32 and mountingassembly 33 also allow for pivotal movement of associatedcontainers container 8a provides two pivotally coupled display panels 44 (i.e. as shown in FIGURE 1). According to the second exemplary embodiment, eachcontainer 9 includes asingle display panel 44a that provides two exterior surfaces 40 (but no interior surfaces).Single display panel 44a is coupled to mounting assembly 33a to allow for pivotal movement with respect to the mounting structure. As is evident, according to either exemplary embodiment, information contained on an exterior surface of a display panel of a container is ordinarily revealed and visible but may be concealed when that container is positioned closely adjacent to another container (or when positioned in a suitable docking area or closely adjacent to a wall or other article of furniture). According to any preferred embodiment, regardless of the number of display panels, the information display system will include containers that selectively allow information presented on the display panels to be revealed and concealed. - As shown in FIGURES 2A and 2C,
containers 8 ofinformation display system 6 provide for the display of information in a space-efficient, vertical orientation. As a result, by use of the information display system, the total vertically-oriented and prominent space available for display of information within a work environment can be increased in comparison to conventional work environments that do not include the information display system. Referring to FIGURE 2B, a conventional work environment 2x is shown as a room (i.e. for purposes of example, a room of 18 feet by 21 feet in dimension). Conventional work environment 2x includes four vertical walls (visible are three walls 282) and afloor 118;conventional work environment 2a has a fixed amount of vertical wall display area and a fixed amount of work space or floor space. As shown, with each of threewalls 282 in use, conventional work environment 2x may contain a fixed number of display boards 10 (e.g. shown to be 19 display boards), which may be mounted to the walls, hung along the walls, or in a sliding mounting interface, etc. (in any event each display board is parallel to the wall on which it is mounted). (For purposes of example, each display board is 3 feet by 4 feet in dimension.) Referring to FIGURE 2C, awork environment 2y is shown as a room including aninformation display system 6 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Althoughwork environment 2y is otherwise identical in size to conventional work environment 2x, and therefore has the same amount of vertical wall display area and floor space, installation ofinformation display system 6 on asingle wall 282 has substantially increased the number ofdisplay boards 10 that may be contained inwork environment 2y. As shown in the exemplary embodiment,information display system 6 presents a total number of 112 display boards 10 (four associated with corresponding display panels of each of 28 containers) onsingle wall 282; in conventional work environment 2x,single wall 282 presented only seven display boards 10 (while use of all three visible walls presented only a total of 19 display boards). As shown in comparison of FIGURES 2B and 2C, and according to any preferred embodiment, the information display system increases the amount of information that can be presented for display within a work environment giving an otherwise fixed amount of wall space or vertical surface area. As shown in FIGURE 2C and other FIGURES, the information display system also facilitates the management of a comparatively large volume of information for access, display and storage in a given work environment. - Referring to FIGURES 4A and 4B, an exemplary embodiment of a
workstation 4d including aninformation display system 6 is shown.Information display system 6 hascontainers rails 30 mounted on apanel wall 280. FIGURES 4A and 4B illustrate the spatial relationship between the containers, autility threshold 24, ashelving unit 14 providing adocking area 38a, as well as aworker 114 and other articles of furniture, including apanel wall 280, a table 16, achair 18, and amobile file unit 20, inworkstation 4d. As shown in FIGURE 4A,worker 114 is seated inchair 18 at table 16 which provides ahorizontal worksurface 66 directly beneathopen container 8g, so thatworker 114 is "immersed" in the information presented atdisplay boards - As shown in FIGURE 4B,
container 8g includes a mountingassembly 32 configured to allow for translating movement along set ofrails 30 mounted on the side ofpanel wall 280. Mountingassembly 32 includes a set of slide mechanisms 34 (each shown as including a glide block) that engage corresponding set ofrails 30. Mountingassembly 32 also includes apivot mechanism 36 allowing independent pivotal movement of eachdisplay panel 44 ofcontainer 8g with respect to panel wall 280 (see, e.g., FIGURES 18A through 18C and 20A through 20E) from the closed condition to the fully open condition.Container 8 may include alocking mechanism 48 that can be engaged to holdcontainer 8 in the closed condition; lockingmechanism 48 has elements associated with each display panel of the container that must be disengaged to allowcontainer 8 to be opened (see, e.g., FIGURE 21C). - Also as shown in FIGURE 4B,
utility threshold 24 includes a mountingassembly 52 configured to allow for translating movement along a track system shown as arail 31 mounted on the top ofpanel wall 280. Mountingassembly 52 includes aslide mechanism 54 shown as including aglide block 102 that engagesrail 31. Mountingassembly 52 also includes a utility infeed shown as aflexible conduit 74 within atrough 106 in the top ofpanel wall 280 to allow utilities (e.g. voice, power, data, etc.) to be supplied frompanel wall 280 by or throughutility threshold 24 intoworkstation 4d (see also FIGURES 16A and 16B).Horizontal beam 49 ofutility threshold 24 is shown positioned at an elevation above the other articles of furniture withinworkstation 4d;horizontal beam 49 also includes acanopy 55 andlighting fixtures 56 for illuminatingworkstation 4d.Vertical post 50 ofutility threshold 24 is shown positioned at a lateral distance outboard of the other articles of furniture withinworkstation 4d;vertical post 50 also includeswheel assembly 58 rolling onfloor 118 to facilitate movement ofutility threshold 24 alongtrack 31;vertical post 50 may also provide one or more connections for voice, power and data for use withinworkstation 4d (see, e.g., FIGURES 16A and 16B).Utility threshold 24 is free to move alongtrack 31 without interference from either the containers (e.g. containers docking area 38a for the containers).Utility threshold 24 itself may be considered to be "docked" when positioned overshelving unit 14. According to alternative embodiments, the utility threshold may be "docked" within a docking area provided by a structure that is larger that the utility threshold or that otherwise is wholly or partially capable of containment of the utility threshold (as well as containers). - Referring to FIGURES 3A through 3D, a
workstation 4c with an associatedinformation display system 6 is shown in a work environment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Workstation 4c includes abase panel wall 280 and adocking area 38a shown as twopanel wall sections 62 and 64 (e.g. partial height walls forming a covering "panel wrap") forcontainers information display system 6.Workstation 4c also includes a mobile table 16 and amobile storage unit 260. A decorative surface or functional surface treatment (e.g. shown as a dry-erase "white" board 288) may be installed onbase panel wall 280 betweenrails 30, to provide an additional vertical surface withinworkstation 4c adapted for the display of information. - FIGURES 3A through 3D illustrate the ability of the
information display system 6 to effect an efficient and complete transformation of the visual context or "scenery" of a work area shown as including aworkstation 4c, for example between projects, tasks and personal respites in the course of a work day or work week, etc. Both the territorial appearance (e.g. space allocation or division or orientation of workers) and the contextual appearance (e.g. the nature and purpose of the information, whether functional or decorative) of the workstation may be altered using the information display system, depending upon the information and content and association of each container with other containers and with articles of furniture within the workstation. According to any preferred embodiment, the information display system facilitates both "physical"/territorial reconfiguration and "visual"/contextual reconfiguration within the work environment or the workstation in several ways, including the following: by physical movement of the containers (not only to divide the work space into work areas of varying sizes but also to reveal or conceal information presented on the interior surfaces or exterior surfaces of the containers); by opening and closing the containers to reveal or conceal information presented on the interior surfaces or exterior surfaces of the containers; by changing the display boards associated with the containers; or by revising or modifying the information presented on the display boards. According to any preferred embodiment, the information display system will include display panels that are capable of arrangement, as well as that are sized and proportioned, to evoke a spatial sensation of envelopment and immersiveness for individual workers or groups of workers viewing the information presented. As evident in FIGURES 3A through 3D, it is not necessary to move panel walls and other articles of furniture that are generally considered "fixed" once installed in the work environment (or are not otherwise readily repositioned). - As shown in FIGURES 3A through 3D, the "scenery" presented within
workstation 4c byinformation display system 6 including eight containers is readily reconfigurable. In FIGURE 3A, all eight containers are stowed withindocking area 38a so that only oneexterior surface 40 of onecontainer 8k is visible;exterior surface 40 bears adecorative image 69a. In FIGURE 3B, onecontainer 8k has been moved fromdocking area 38a to adocking area 38b (an uncovered but identifiable space above mobile storage unit 21); twocontainers interior surfaces workstation 4c (although only three interior surfaces are visible in FIGURE 3B), along with oneexterior surface 40; onefunctional image 71a and threedecorative images containers docking area 38a todocking area 38b; twocontainers interior surfaces workstation 4c (although only three interior surfaces are visible in FIGURE 3C), along with oneexterior surface 40; threefunctional images containers docking area 38a todocking area 38b; twocontainers interior surfaces workstation 4c (although only three interior surfaces are visible in FIGURE 3D), along with oneexterior surface 40; threefunctional images decorative image 69e are shown. - It should be noted that the information, images and arrangements shown FIGURES 3A through 3D are only exemplary (and essentially schematic). According to any preferred embodiment, the interior surfaces and exterior surfaces of the display panels associated with the containers may be provided with any of a wide variety of information and images, functional and/or decorative, in whole or in part, intended to provide one or more workers with an atmosphere that facilitates project work, instruction, rest and rejuvenation, etc. The workstation may itself include a greater or lesser number of containers and/or display panels, capable of movement and association in any of a wide variety of arrangements.
- Referring to FIGURES 5 through 15B, exemplary embodiments of work environments and workstations including the information display system are shown. As shown in the FIGURES, both the territorial appearance (i.e. arrangement) and contextual appearance of the work environment and associated workstations can be readily and easily be configured and reconfigured by arrangement of basic elements of the information display system, the utility threshold and other mobile articles of furniture. Space division, or "territorial" reconfiguration of work spaces and work areas, will not require rearrangement of any "fixed" elements, such as panel walls and other articles of furniture that are generally considered to be "fixed" once installed in the work environment insofar as substantial effort (e.g. disassembly, lifting, etc.) or tools are required for movement. Additionally, territorial reconfiguration will not require individual display panels to be detached from the information display system and be independently rearranged. Visual modification, or "contextual" reconfiguration of work spaces and work areas of varying sizes can likewise be effected without rearrangement of any "fixed" elements within the work environment or needing to independently handle detached display panels. According to any preferred embodiment, following initial installation of the "fixed" articles of furniture and information display system and associated elements within the work environment, the individual worker or workers may selectively configure or reconfigure the work space into one or more work areas and workstations, or may selectively arrange the containers to reveal or conceal information presented on the associated display panels, as needed to support their activity or activities. As a result, and as shown in FIGURES 5 through 15B, the work environment is capable of flexible and dynamic configuration and reconfiguration to support a wide variety of workers engaged in a wide variety of tasks and activities that may require creation, use and storage of even a large volume of information.
- FIGURES 5 through 10 show a
work environment 2c in the form of an individual or small group work space.Work environment 2c includes abase panel wall 280 and twoend panel walls shelving unit 14 at each lateral end (and each considered to be "fixed" structures), defining two generallysymmetrical work spaces Work space 3a includes aninformation display system 6a including a plurality ofcontainers Work space 3a also providesdocking areas end panel walls shelving units 14.Work space 3a further includes a mobile table 16 and one or more chairs 18. Using FIGURES 5 through 10,work space 3a ofwork environment 2c will illustrate features provided byinformation display system 6a according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, including the configuration of work areas and workstations for use by one or more workers, and arrangements of containers for revealing and concealing information presented on display panels (i.e. interior surfaces and exterior surfaces) associated with the containers. - Referring to FIGURE 5, work
space 3a is configured to provide a work area with asingle workstation 4e in use by asingle worker 114, seated onchair 18 at table 16 neardocking area 38a.Worker 114 has openedcontainers docking area Worker 114 has available use of afloor space section 118a (shown in phantom lines) corresponding to the entire amount of fixed floor space provided inwork space 3a; however a working portion 119 (shown in phantom lines) of the work space in actual use byworker 114 is a fraction of thefloor space section 118a. As shown in FIGURE 6,worker 114 has reconfiguredworkstation 4e but still has use offloor space section 118a.Worker 114 is working atopen containers chair 18 to the center of work space, closer todocking area 38b. Fivecontainers docking area 38a (with three containers "docked"); twocontainers docking area 38b. Workingportion 119 of the work area in actual use byworker 114 is slightly larger than in FIGURE 5 (and has been shifted to the opposite end ofworkstation 4e). - Referring to FIGURE 7A, work
space 3a is configured to provide two work areas and two workstations 4f and 4g for twoworkers Open container 8g andclosed container 8h form a "boundary" between workstations 4f and 4g.Worker 114c seated inchair 18a at table 16a and working atopen container 8f has use of one floor space section 118b (shown in phantom lines);worker 114d seated inchair 18b and in the process of movingcontainer 8h has use of another floor space section 118c (shown in phantom lines). Eachworker docking areas space 3a is configured for independent use by threeworkers Worker 114g (standing) occupiesfloor space section 118i (shown in phantom lines) at the center ofwork space 3a and is working atopen container 8h andclosed container 8g.Workers 114h and 114i are seated and are working at display boards neardocking areas floor space sections - Referring to FIGURE 8, work
space 3a has been configured to provide a workstation 4h used by small group of two workers 114e (standing) and 114f (seated) working collaboratively in a dyad at anopen container 8g (partially opened at a 45 degree angle) and sharing information presented ondisplay boards floor space section 118d (shown in phantom lines). At either side ofopen container 8g are definedfloor space sections workers 114e and 114f, but within which are located other containers. Referring to FIGURE 9, workspace 3a is configured to provide asingle workstation 4i in use by a large group of workers 114 (e.g. a project team conducting a meeting). As shown, thefloor space section 118g (shown in phantom lines) used by a group ofworkers 114 has extended outside of the fixed floor space provided withinwork space 3a. Attention ofworkers 114 is directed to a fullyopen container 8g presenting information of shared interest ondisplay boards work space 3a;open containers open container 8g; remaining containers are stowed indocking areas - Referring to FIGURE 10,
work space 3a is shown in a transition or reconfiguration state with adisplay board 10b being removed fromcontainer 8g by a worker 114j. Another worker 114k is removingdisplay boards 10c for alternative use or storage. Anotherworker 114m is bringingreplacement display boards 10d (of a smaller size) for installation oncontainers information display system 6a allows for several "methods" of selective transformation of physical space and visual effect within a work space: division of physical space and/or alteration of visual effect by movement of containers (e.g. in association with other containers and/or articles of furniture); division of physical space and/or alteration of visual effect by opening or closing containers to reveal and conceal information; alteration of visual effect by removal and replacement, for example interchange, of display boards associated with a container; and alteration of visual effect by revising the content of information (e.g. rewriting, erasing, posting) on display boards associated with a container. - FIGURES 11A through 11D show in a work environment a
workstation 4i of a type similar to that shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 configured for a single worker (not shown) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Workstation 4i includes abase panel wall 280, ashelving unit 14 providing adocking area 38a forcontainers information display system 6, and a mobile table 16.Workstation 4i also includes autility threshold 24 coupled to the top ofpanel wall 280 on atrack 30 for sliding movement. As shown in FIGURES 11A and 11D,workstation 4i also includes a retractable partition shown as a privacy screen 78 (e.g. of a type similar to a tambour door according to the exemplary embodiment, but of any type of screen material according to various alternative embodiments).Privacy screen 78 is installed within avertical recess 80 inshelving unit 14 and can selectively be withdrawn from recess 80 (as shown in FIGURES 11A and 11D) or retracted into recess 80 (as shown in FIGURES 11B and 11C) by a handle 82 (which may include a locking element such as a hook or clasp to retainprivacy screen 78 in engagement with a coacting locking element associated with the panel wall or utility threshold or other structure). As shown in FIGURE 11A, withcontainers docking area 38a andutility threshold 24 stowed overdocking area 38a,privacy screen 78 can be withdrawn (e.g. drawn across the entry to docking area) to conceal and secure the containers and any articles of furniture withindocking area 38a.Workstation 4i is therefore in a secured condition (for example, secured compactly within a 3 feet by 7 feet dimensional footprint). In FIGURE 11B, privacy screen 78 (not visible) has been retracted intovertical recess 80 so that the contents ofdocking area 38a,containers mobile storage unit 14, are visible. In FIGURE 11C, workstation is "open" with fullyopen container 8k andopen container 8j visible and mobile table 16 andmobile storage unit 260 also visible and available for use. In FIGURE 11D,utility threshold 24 is deployed (moved along its track) to provide adocking area 38c for aclosed container 8g abovemobile storage unit 260.Privacy screen 78 is withdrawn towardvertical post 50 ofutility threshold 24 to define afloor space section 118m (shown in phantom lines) within which a worker (not shown) can have at least a limited amount of privacy. According to any preferred embodiment, as shown, the retractable partition can be of any material or construction and is configured to provide for security (e.g. in an unoccupied or closed workstation) and privacy (in an occupied workstation). - FIGURES 12 through 15B show a
work environment 2d in the form of a work space shown asproject team space 3c configurable to support workers engaged in both individual and group activities by providing work areas suited for the activities.Work environment 2d includes a set ofbase panel walls 280 each including aninformation display system 6. Eachinformation display system 6 includes a plurality ofcontainers utility thresholds Work environment 2d includesshelving units 14, as well as panel wall section 88 ("L"-shaped "panel wrap") and panel wall section 90 ("T"-shaped "panel wrap"), each configured to providedocking areas work environment 2d are mobile tables 16,mobile storage units 260, andmobile file carts 20. - In FIGURE 12,
work environment 2d is shown in an inactive condition, for example, as may typically be the case late in the evening or very early in the morning, when no workers are present. All of the containers and each of the utility thresholds are secured and stowed in their respective docking areas. In FIGURES 13 through 15B,work environment 2d is shown in various exemplary active conditions. In FIGURE 13, fourworkers work environment 2d and are at work independently, for example, as may typically be the case in the morning in preparation for a large meeting.Work space 3c has been divided intofloor space sections worker Worker 114n is at work in what has been configured as an open and relatively large workstation 4j;workers sized workstations private workstation 4n (using a privacy screen 78 (shown in phantom lines)). Each worker has deployed containers and utility thresholds for purposes of using information and establishing the division of fixed floor space withinwork environment 2d. In FIGURE 14, a large group ofworkers 114 has arrived inwork environment 2d, for example, as may typically be the case during a project team (e.g. large group) meeting.Containers 8f through 8h and 8n through 8q are deployed and opened to provide for maximum exposure of information presented on associated display boards (e.g. in the sense of a "theatre display"). A large team meeting space occupying a large centralfloor space section 118 has been created by the arrangement of the containers and utility thresholds, and most workers are present in the team meeting space. Threeworkers floor space sections docking stations - In FIGURE 15A, a smaller group of workers are present in
work environment 2d, for example, as may typically be the case for a group conference following a project team meeting. A group conference space occupying a largefloor space section 118u (see also FIGURE 15B) has been provided by (in comparison with FIGURE 14) movingutility thresholds containers workers floor space sections utility thresholds shelving units docking areas containers Floor space sections privacy screen floor space section 118w is in use by anindividual worker 114t seated at a mobile table 16 within adocking area 38a. Afloor space section 118y is in shared use by twoworkers - Referring to FIGURES 16A and 16B, exemplary embodiments of
utility thresholds panel wall 280 are shown. In FIGURE 16A,utility threshold 24 has ahorizontal beam 49 and avertical post 50.Beam 49 includeslighting fixtures 56 and acanopy 55;post 50 includes autility delivery zone 92 shown as including atelephone 94 andoutlets 96 for delivery of voice, power and data signals (e.g. outlets or connections of any conventional type).Utility delivery zone 92 also includes aninfrared port 98 shown in communication with aportable computer 100 resting on mobile table 16.Utility threshold 24 includes a mountingassembly 52 including glide blocks 102 that interface withrail 31 on top ofpanel wall 280. (Rail 31 also includes a "stop" shown asblock 104a to keeputility threshold 24 from sliding off ofrail 31.) A utility infeed shown asflexible conduit 74 is also provided in mountingassembly 52 for communication withutility delivery zone 92 ofpost 50.Flexible conduit 74 travels along the top ofpanel wall 280 in a trough or recess 106 (shown in phantom lines) asutility threshold 24 translates (i.e. slides along rail 31).Flexible conduit 74 is coupled to and contains voice, power, data cabling (shown schematically) throughpanel wall 280. (According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the flexible conduit is of a type available under the name CONDUFLEX available from KabelSchepp Cable Carrier Systems.)Post 50 ofutility threshold 24 also includes awheel assembly 58 at its base and ahandle 108 along its side wall. - Also shown in FIGURE 16A is a
docking area 38e in the form of a cabinet 12 (shown in phantom lines) containing a retractable partition shown as a roll-up privacy screen 78 (that can be retracted under spring tension).Privacy screen 78 is provided on aroller 112 and is of a rigidified fabric material and extends through avertical recess 80 incabinet 12;privacy screen 78 includes aclasp 116 that engages handle 108 ofutility threshold 24 to holdprivacy screen 78 in a withdrawn position so as to define a private space within the associated workstation. When clasp 116 is disengaged fromhandle 108, spring tension will retractprivacy screen 78 throughvertical recess 80 and onto theroller 112 withincabinet 12. - Utility threshold 26 is shown in FIGURE 16B, according to an alternative embodiment (similar in certain respects to
utility threshold 24z shown in FIGURE 16A). Mountingassembly 52b of utility threshold 26 includes a set ofwheels 38 that travel within a track shown as agroove 120 in the top ofpanel wall 280 to allow translating (i.e. rolling) motion ofutility threshold 24z with respect topanel wall 280. Inutility threshold 24z, a retractable partition shown as aprivacy screen 78 is supplied on aroller 112 withinpost 50 ofutility threshold 24z; aclasp 116 on cabinet 12 (shown in phantom lines) engages ahandle 108 ofutility threshold 24z to holdprivacy screen 78 in a withdrawn position (i.e. against spring tension) so as to define a space within the associated workstation. As also shown according to the alternative embodiment of FIGURE 16B,beam 50 of utility threshold 26 includes twofluorescent lighting fixtures 60 undercanopy 79. - According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the frame members of the utility threshold (e.g. horizontal beam and vertical post) have a construction similar to the space frame systems disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,511,348 titled "FURNITURE SYSTEM", incorporated by reference herein, and in pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/621,164 filed March 22, 1996 titled "FURNITURE SYSTEM", incorporated by reference herein, and employed in the CONJUNCTION™ Space Frame available from Steelcase Inc. of Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to alternative embodiments, the utility threshold and its associated elements (e.g. frame members, mounting assembly, utility delivery zone, lighting fixtures, canopy, privacy screen, etc.) may have any of a wide variety of constructions.
- According to alternative embodiments, the mounting structure for the information display system may be any of a wide variety of structures. For example, referring to FIGURE 17, a mounting structure shown as
shelving unit 28 is provided forinformation display system 6.Containers 8 ofinformation display system 6 are coupled to a set ofrails 30 mounted on shelving unit 28 (on the front and back) by a mounting assembly 32 (e.g. of a type shown in FIGURE 1). Stops shown asblocks 104b are provided at the ends of eachrail 30 to stop the travel of containers 8 (i.e. to prevent derailment of containers).Shelving unit 28 also includes anopening 124 in its base betweenlegs 126 configured to allow the pass-through of a mobile table 16 (or other like mobile article of furniture) at a level belowcontainers 8.Shelving unit 28 allows access toshelves 128 as well as the display (e.g. reveal and conceal) of information presented ondisplay boards 10 ofcontainers 8.Shelving unit 28 also provides a worksurface 68 (in the form of a shelf 128) just below the bottom ofcontainers 8. According to other alternative embodiments, the mounting structure may be provided by a space frame system of vertical posts and horizontal beams to which the track system can be attached. - As has been shown in other FIGURES, according to any preferred embodiment, the display panels associated with the containers of the information display system will be pivotally coupled so that one display panel may be pivoted with respect to the other display panel (within a predetermined path of travel, e.g. 90 degrees). FIGURES 18A through 18C are schematic diagrams intended to illustrate the movement of containers and associated display panels of information display system according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIGURE 18A, when a
container 8d is closed (with both display panels parallel, in a closed condition), a force applied transverse tocontainer 8d will tend to translate or slidecontainer 8d at a mountingassembly 32 along track system or rail 30 (but will not opencontainer 8d). As shown in FIGURE 18B, to open acontainer 8e (after it is unlocked), a separating force is applied relative to eachdisplay panel container 8e is in a fully open condition insofar as eachdisplay panel - FIGURES 19 through 28 show the construction of a container and arrangement of display panels of the information display system according to a preferred and other exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It is important to note, however, while preferred and exemplary embodiments are shown, according to alternative embodiments, the information display system may include any of a variety of types of information containing structures (represented schematically by the containers shown in the FIGURES) having of a wide variety of constructions and any of a wide variety of associated mechanisms beyond those shown and described, all of which are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention. Similarly, it is also important to note that the display panels (which have been represented schematically in the FIGURES) may be configured to include display boards or related structures or elements in any of a wide variety of formats beyond those shown and described, all of which also are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention. According to alternative embodiments, any of a wide variety of display board carriers or mounting interfaces can be used within the container.
- According to a particularly preferred embodiment shown in FIGURES 19, each container has two display board carriers shown as
lateral arm assemblies display boards lateral arm assembly interior surface 42 and one exterior surface 40 (not visible in FIGURE 19) on each side of eachlateral arm assemblies - Referring to FIGURE 19, a
wire frame holder 134 may also be installed within the container byhooks 136 that fit aroundouter tube 176 ofpivot mechanism 36 of mountingassembly 32 of the container (a set of coacting wire frame locking members may be included to secure the wire frame holder toouter tube 176 according to alternative embodiments). The container also includes a supplemental display panel shown as atranslucent film panel 140 having a frame with a set of upper and lower grooves 144 (shown in phantom lines) that slide onto the upper andlower frame members 142 ofwire frame holder 134.Panel 140 provides a phantom overlay 146 (e.g. as may show indicia for use in association with information presented on interior surfaces of the container). As is apparent from FIGURE 19, according to alternative embodiments, other accessories such as compartments, pouches, tablets, etc. may be installed within a container onto the wire frame holder. - In the exemplary embodiment of FIGURE 19, the container includes a
locking mechanism 147 to secure the contents of the container when it is in the closed condition. As shown,locking mechanism 147 includes aslot 148 on a pivotally mountedfront cap 150 ofdisplay panel 46a of the container that engages atab 214 projecting from afront piece 154 ofdisplay panel 46b of the container. Engagement of the locking elements secures the contents of the container; disengagement allows the container to be opened. According to any preferred and alternative embodiment, any of a wide variety of coacting locking elements or other locking mechanisms known to those of ordinary skill who review this disclosure may be employed. - As shown in FIGURES 20A through 20E, according to a preferred embodiment, the mounting assembly includes both a translating or
slide mechanism 34 and apivot mechanism 36.Slide mechanism 34 includes a set of glide blocks 102 (e.g. upper and lower) that engage a corresponding set ofrails 30 attached to a mounting structure such as a wall. (According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the slide mechanism of mounting assembly and rail includes a linear guide system commercially available under the name AccuGlide from the Linear Motion Systems Division of Thomson Industries, Inc.) As shown,rail 30 may be provided withball detents 164 that give tactile or audible feedback and a slight holding force when in contact withglide block 102;rail 30 may also be givenvisual indicia 166 that indicate distances of travel or position of the container alongrail 30. According to alternative embodiments, translating motion of containers with respect to mounting structures may be effected with any of a variety of other mechanisms, sliding or rolling, such as rotating wheels traveling in a groove, etc. It should be noted that the mounting assemblies for both the containers of the information display system and for other mobile elements such as utility thresholds may share pans or basic design elements. - Referring to FIGURES 20A through 20E, each
lateral arm assembly mechanism 36 of the mounting assembly so that onelateral arm assembly 130a can be pivoted with respect to the otherlateral arm assembly 130b. To each glide block 102 of the mounting assembly is mounted a fixed base hub 162 (e.g. by fasteners shown as screws). As shown in FIGURE 20A,pivot mechanism 36 includes a fixedinner tube 170 installed at each end within base hub 162 (by fasteners shown as screws) and a pair ofouter tubes base frame member 180 of a lateral arm assembly. Each ofouter tubes base frame 180 of eachlateral arm assembly inner tube 170; each ofouter tubes inner tube 170 within a designated range of motion.Outer tubes inner tube 170 to provide a slight degree of holding force between eachlateral arm assembly - Fixed inner tube has a set of
slots 182 having a profile shown asdetent profile 184 and into which unthreaded ends 186 ofguide pins 174 threadably fixed (in holes 187) toouter tubes inner tube 170.Detent profile 184 ofslots 182 is shaped (as shown) to provide coaction withguide pins 174 and to define the path of travel of each lateral arm assembly of the container. Referring to FIGURES 20A, 20B and 20E, for example,detent profile 184 has rounded ends 185 connected by a flat center. In FIGURES 20C and 20D, showing the coaction of the upperouter tube 176a and lowerouter tube 176b with theinner tube 170, the path of travel for each lateral arm assembly ends with a physical stop when each lateral arm assembly has been pivoted to a certain designated positions (e.g. the closed condition and 90 degrees from the closed condition); the detent profile may also be given a shape to provide a tactile "stop" or "pause" (e.g. a slight holding force) and audible feedback when the corresponding lateral arm assembly has been pivoted to other certain designated positions (for example, 45 degrees from the closed condition). According to any preferred embodiment, the central portion of the detent profile includes a compliant material and is slightly smaller in width than the diameter of the unthreaded end of the guide pins, while the rounded ends are substantially the same diameter as the unthreaded end of the guide pins. - Referring to FIGURES 21A through 21C, a
lateral arm assemblies lateral arm assemblies base frame 180 coupled to anouter tube end frame 188, and upper and lowerouter frame members End frame 188 is mounted at the distal ends of (and between) upper and lowerouter frame members outer frame members slots 194 within whichend frame 188 is secured to form an end frame assembly 196 (shown in FIGURE 21C).End frame assembly 196 is then slid onto base frame 180 (which provides upper and lower tracks that securely and adjustably retain upper andlower frame members end frame assembly 196 in an relatively tight frictional/interference-type fit).End frame 188 andbase frame 180 each include spring clips 198 (e.g. containing spring elements or compliant material providing a spring effect). As shown in FIGURE 21C,display board spring clips 198, which engage include a compliant portion intended to firmly "grip" the edges of each display board whenend frame assembly 196 is slid tightly and fully ontobase frame 180. By virtue of the adjustable (e.g. slidable adjustment) of the lateral arm assembly, display boards of varying sizes can be installed within the container. (As shown in FIGURE 23B, display boards can be installed either in landscape or portrait mode.) Moreover, the height or position of display boards within (e.g. carried by) the container can be adjusted in the vertical direction. As shown in FIGURE 19, the spring clips may include a visual indicator marking (e.g. in the form of a notch or line) that may correspond with an indexing marking or line on the display board to facilitate an intended placement of the display board within the container. - As shown in FIGURE 21A, a
front cap 150 oflateral arm assembly 130a has upper andlower tabs 204 each having apivot pin 206 to install onto upper andlower tabs 208 at the ends of upper and lowerouter frame members end frame assembly 196, each having a correspondingaperture 210a into which a pivot pin (not shown) is snap fit for pivotal movement.Front cap 150 includes aface 212 onto which a label or other designation can be applied. As shown in FIGURE 21B,front piece 154 provides ahandle 300;front piece 154 includes upper andlower tabs 216 each having anaperture 210b install ontoends 208 of upper andlower tabs 210a at the ends of upper and lowerouter frame members end frame assembly 196.Aperture 210b offront piece 154 may be snap fit or press fit ontotabs 210a. - Referring to FIGURES 22 through 24A, an alternative embodiment of a container is shown, similar in basic respects to the container shown in FIGURES 21A through 21C.
Container 8w includes a pair oflateral arm assemblies end frame assembly 196.End frame assembly 196 includes a front handle 312 (having a "[" shape). Eachfront handle 312 has acurved recess 201; into one of the front handles of a container, a locking element can be installed, for example a cylinder lock 200 (e.g. tumbler actuated by a key) providing a conventional locking action wherein one front handle is secured to the other front handle. Referring to FIGURES 24A and 24 B, the container includes a receptacle shown as a "mail slot"receptacle 220 accessible from the front of the container atfront handle 312.Receptacle 220 is formed within end frame between upper and lower outer frame members 190 (and is of a size that is capable of containing a sufficient volume of "mail", i.e. paper sheets, envelopes, magazines and other publications, etc.). Onereceptacle 220 can be provided in association with eachlateral arm assembly - Referring to FIGURE 25, according to an alternative embodiment, a container of the information display system can include carriers or
lateral arm assemblies display boards spring clips 198 ofbase frame 180 andend frame 196.Clip 222 may be installed (e.g. by a press or "snap" fit) within either ofslots base frame 180 as needed, depending upon the size and orientation of the display boards (see FIGURE 25). - FIGURES 26 through 27 show a
container 8y according to an alternative embodiment of the information display system.Container 8y is configured to hold asingle display board 10w and is coupled to asingle rail 30 by a mounting assembly including a slide mechanism 34 (of a type similar to as shown in FIGURE 20 having aguide block 102 and abase hub 162x) and apivot mechanism 36.Base hub 162x of the mounting assembly includes a set ofmagnets 226 on onelateral surface 228 and a corresponding metal strip (not visible) on the otherlateral surface 230, so that one or more adjacent containers can be joined or "ganged" together (see, e.g., FIGURE 2A).Pivot mechanism 36 includes aframe tube 304 which fits within a centralvertical hole 244 inbase hub 162x.Frame tube 304 has acap 236 with a star-shaped upper profile formed by a series oftriangular index tabs 240 or projections that engage a corresponding pattern ofindex slots 242 around the perimeter ofhole 244 inbase hub 162x whenframe tube 170 is installed intohole 244.Frame tube 170 also includes an elongateaxial slot 306 into which a lateral arm assembly shown as aframe plate 246 can be installed and secured by a series of threadedfasteners 174a.Frame plate 246 includes a base 250 from which project a series ofdiagonal fingers 252. -
Display board 10w has two flat exterior surfaces with a central core providing a series of diagonal passages 254 (see FIGURE 28) that open onto all the edges of the display boards (however, for aesthetic or other reasons, the passages do not need to open onto all edges of the boards). According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the display board will be a rigid polycarbonate structured sheet of a type commercially available from under the name "CO-EX" from CO-EX Corp. of Rocky Hill, Connecticut or of another similar construction available from other suppliers. As shown in FIGURES 27A through 27C,diagonal fingers 252 offrame plate 246 fit within correspondingdiagonal passages 254 to securedisplay board 10w incontainer 8y. As shown in FIGURES 27A through 27C, the display board can be installed in landscape mode, portrait mode, or at any of a wide variety of orientations and discrete height levels (provided by the passages). According to alternative embodiments, the display board may be provided with a greater or lesser number of passages in any of a variety of sizes, patterns and orientations. - Pivotal adjustment of
display board 10w withincontainer 8y is effected by liftingframe tube 170 withinhole 244 ofbase hub 162 to disengageindex tabs 240 fromindex slots 242, then rotatingframe tube 170 to another adjustment position whereindex tabs 240 can engageindex slots 244 and loweringframe tube 170 back into hole 234; eight discrete adjustment positions spaced at 45 degree intervals are provided according to the exemplary embodiment (but according to alternative embodiments, other adjustment positions may be provided). - Referring to FIGURES 27A through 27E, accessories such as a
vertical handle 312, a ball handle 314 or a receptacle box 322 (each of which are installed onto display board by fingers orprojections 318 are inserted within diagonal passages 254) may be provided for a display board as shown in FIGURE 26. FIGURES 27D and 27E show areceptacle box 322 which is adapted for attachment to displayboard 10w.Receptacle box 322 includes a large central slot shown as a "mail"slot 220 and upper andlower apertures 324, though whichhorizontal arms 326 of a holdingmember 327 are inserted; to mountreceptacle box 322 to displayboard 10w,diagonal arms 328 of holdingmember 327 are inserted intopassages 254 ofdisplay board 10w. An object 221 (e.g. a piece of paper) can be inserted intoslot 220 and held inreceptacle box 322. - FIGURES 29 through 32 show a
mobile workstation 4p containing aninformation display system 6 and autility threshold 24 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Mobile workstation 4p includes a shelving unit 14 (on a set of casters 58) providing adocking area 38a forcontainers 8 ofinformation display system 6.Containers 8 are coupled to a set ofinternal rails 30 mounted on anend wall 284 ofshelving unit 14 and abase wall 286 for translating movement withinmobile workstation 4p. As shown, base wall 286 (on a set of casters 58) is pivotally coupled toshelving unit 14 by hinges (as shown in FIGURE 33).Utility threshold 24 is coupled by a mounting assembly 52 (shown as a vertical mounting plate including glide block) to a track system shown as a set ofexternal rails 31 mounted on vertical surfaces of bothend wall 284 ofshelving unit 14 andbase wall 286 for translating movement within a defined path of travel. End wall 284 (on a set of casters 58) is pivotally coupled tobase wall 286 as shown in FIGURES 29 and 32. As shown in FIGURE 30, a set ofhandles 294 provide "stops" at the ends ofexternal rails 31.Utility threshold 24 includes ahorizontal beam 49 extending intoworkstation 4p from vertical mountingplate 52;beam 49 provides a mounting structure for acanopy 55 andlighting fixtures 56.Shelving unit 14 also serves asdocking area 38a forutility threshold 24. A mobile table 16 can be included withinworkstation 4p. - The hinge and rail detail for
mobile workstation 4p according to a particularly preferred embodiment is shown schematically in FIGURE 33.Rails 30 for the containers are mounted on the inside ofbase wall 286 andend wall 284;external rails 31 forutility threshold 24 are mounted on the outside ofbase wall 286 andend wall 284.Hinges 296 are included withininternal rails 30; one portion of internal rail 30 (affixed to base wall 286) extends across the interface ofbase wall 286 andend wall 284. Aclearance aperture 298 allows theportion rail 30 to have clearance intoend wall 284 when pivoted with respect tobase wall 286. Diagonally tapered ends ofexternal rails 31, which separate when the mobile workstation is stowed, are arranged to keeputility threshold 24z from sliding out of the docked position. (According to alternative embodiments, other hinge and rail mechanisms may be employed to provide the desired hinge action while facilitating the full use of rails for the containers and utility threshold.) - Referring to FIGURES 31 and 32,
mobile workstation 4p can be stowed (closed and compressed) for transport or storage by stowingcontainers 8 andutility threshold 24 withindocking area 38a (which is given sufficient internal capacity) and then foldingend wall 284 ontoshelving unit 14 athinges 298 so thatbase wall 286 andside wall 285 envelop shelving unit 14 (a locking or latching mechanism can be provided to secure the mobile workstation in the stowed condition and/or the open condition). When stowed for transport or storage,mobile workstation 4p can be pulled or pushed usinghandles 294. FIGURE 32 shows that while each mobile workstation is a "stand-alone" unit, groups of mobile workstations may conveniently be associated for purposes of storage. - According to any preferred embodiment, the information display system provides an organizational framework intended to promote and advance the efficient use, display and storage of information and layers of information on display panels (e.g., "information persistence," regardless of the format by which the information is placed on associated display boards) in the work environment. According to any preferred embodiment of the information display system, each display panel will include at least one display board adapted to contain or present information. As will become apparent to those of ordinary skill who review this disclosure, the display boards may be provided in any of a wide variety or formats, or may be adapted to display information in any of a wide variety of formats and/or media; a wide variety of configurations are possible for the information display system, employing variations of size, shape, orientation, arrangement, mounting interfaces and structures, etc., as well as variations in the deployment of display boards. According to any preferred embodiment, the information display system will facilitate the dynamic configurability and reconfigurability of work spaces, workstations and work environments, in territorial appearance and contextual appearance (e.g. as scenery or "sets" can be reconfigured in a theatre play).
- According to alternative embodiments, the information display system can be implemented through a wide variety of mounting arrangements that allow for translating movement of the containers and associated display boards with respect to a wide variety of mounting structures, for example, floors, architectural walls, panel walls, systems furniture, space frames, other articles of furniture, etc. The variety of mounting structures that may be used with the information display system illustrates the flexibility and adaptability of the information display system to a wide variety of work environments. Moreover, although in the exemplary embodiments the mounting assembly and track system for the containers of the information display system are preferably arranged for linear movement along the mounting structure, according to alternative embodiments, the track system of the information display system may be configured for wholly or partially curved movement (e.g. as necessary to conform to a curved wall or other mounting structure alone or in combination to facilitate the movement of containers from one orientation or plane to another within a work environment.)
- It is important to note that the use of the terms "display panel" or "display board" are not meant as terms of limitation, insofar as any "panel" or "board" or like structure having a decorative or functional use or application is intended to be within the scope of the term. For example, the use of the term "display board" is intended as a convenient reference for any such "board" or structure, which may also be viewed synonymously with the term "work board" or other like terms. According to any preferred embodiment, the display panel or display board is configured in a generally symmetrical basic form so that the designation of a "front surface" and "back surface" is essentially arbitrary and dependent upon the orientation within the information display system. Exemplary display boards may be formed of any of a variety or materials or have any of a variety of sizes and shapes, constructions (with any of a variety of properties, such as weight, strength, rigidity, acoustic properties, flammability, etc. suitable for the intended application) and mounting interfaces. As will be apparent to those who review this disclosure, the outer surfaces of the display boards may be provided with a wide variety of surface treatments (e.g. tackable or repositionable adhesive, clear film overlay or "photo album", clear film "pocket", writable clear film, cork or tack board, peg board, magnetic board, marker board, dry erase or "white" board, paper or paper tablet, projection screen, graphics display, cloth, etc.) in a wide variety of combinations (i.e. with one surface differing in whole or in part from the other surface) that may be suited or adapted to a wide variety of functional and decorative purposes according to the preferred and other alternative exemplary embodiments of the present invention. According to any preferred embodiment, the display boards and associated structures and systems are configured for ease and flexibility of use (e.g. recording, mapping, transformation, capture, etc.), display (e.g. sharing and communicating), and storage - information persistence -- as well as of mounting and removal from associated mounting structures (such as the containers).
- It is also important to note that the use of the term "information" is meant to cover any use of any type of media or any type of representation that can be associated with a display board (or work board).
- Although only a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments (such as variations in sizes, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, or use of materials) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
Claims (57)
- An information display system (6) comprising:a track system adapted to attach to a generally vertical mounting structure;a plurality of separable display panels (44, 46) removably coupled to the track system for both independently pivotal and independently translating movement along the track system with respect to the mounting structure;wherein at least one display panel (44, 46) of the plurality of display panels (44, 46) is adapted to present information selectively for display by manual movement of the plurality of display panels (44, 46).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein the at least one display panel (44, 46) is positioned at a vertical height sufficient to provide clearance for an article of furniture therebelow.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 further comprising a mounting assembly (32, 33) for coupling each of the plurality of display panels (44, 46) to the track system.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein the track system is substantially permanently attached to the mounting structure.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein the track system includes at least one rail (30, 31).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein the track system is substantially linear.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein the mounting structure is a full height wall.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein the mounting structure is a partial height panel.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly (32, 33, 33a) includes a pivot mechanism (36) facilitating the pivotal movement of the first display panel (44, 46) with respect to the second display panel (44, 46).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 9 wherein the pivot mechanism (36) includes a stop action mechanism.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein a vertical position of the display board (10) is selectively adjustable with respect to the track system.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein each display panel (44, 46) is adapted to include at least two display boards (10).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 wherein a plurality of display panels (44, 46) are grouped as a container (8) and define a closed condition wherein the first display panel (44, 46) is substantially parallel to the second display panel (44, 46) so that information on an inner surface of the first display panel (44, 46) and information on an inner surface of the second display panel (44, 46) is concealed.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 13 wherein each container (8) defines a first open condition wherein the first display panel (44, 46) is in substantial alignment with the second display panel (44, 46) so that information on the inner surface of the first display panel (44, 46) and information on the inner surface of the second display panel (44, 46) is revealed.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 further comprising a display panel (44, 46) having a perimeter edge and a pair of substantially planar outer surfaces and an internal core providing a plurality of passages (254) opening onto at least one section of the perimeter edge of the display panel (44, 46), the plurality of passages (254) being adapted to receive at least one projection (252) for mounting of the display panel (44, 46) for use in the display of information.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 15 wherein the plurality of passages (254) are provided in a uniform pattern through the internal core of the display panels (44, 46).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 15 wherein the plurality of passages (254) is oriented in a diagonal direction.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 18 further comprising an accessory having projections (252) adapted to be engaged into the plurality of passages (254).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 adapted to provide a work space (3) for a group of workers within a floor space.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 19 further comprising a retractable partition (78) adapted to provide a division of the floor space.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 19 further comprising a utility threshold (24) to provide utilities for use by at least a portion of the workers.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 21 wherein the at least one rail (30, 31) comprises a first rail (30, 31) and a second rail (30, 31) and the utility threshold (24) is mounted on the second rail (30, 31).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 19 wherein the mounting structure is transportable.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 23 further comprising a wall (284, 286) pivotally mounted to the mounting structure for nesting into the mounting structure.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 19 wherein a plurality of work areas may be configured by selective positioning of the plurality of display boards (10).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 25 wherein a first arrangement of the information display system (6) provides a work area for a group of workers.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 25 wherein a second arrangement provides at least one work area for an individual worker.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 27 wherein the second arrangement provides a theatre display of information for a group of workers.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 19 wherein each of the display panels (44, 46) pivot to a fully open condition and further comprising a utility threshold (24) is adapted to provide lighting on at least a portion of the display panels (44, 46) displays to aid viewing by a group of workers outside the work area defined by the utility threshold (24).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 19 further comprising a docking area (38) for securing the display boards (10).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 1 adapted to provide a workstation (4) defining work area comprising an article of furniture wherein the track system is positioned relative to the article of furniture and wherein the plurality of display panels (44, 46) is cantilevered away from the track system and attached for movement with respect to the track system between a first arrangement and at least one second arrangement so that the first arrangement allows one worker to use substantially all available work area floor space and the second arrangement allows a plurality of workers to share available work area floor space.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the track system provides discrete positions for the plurality of display panels (44, 46).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the display boards (10) are adapted to define a portion of the work area.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the display boards (10) aesthetically define a portion of the work area.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the display boards (10) physically define a portion of the work area.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the mounting structure is transportable.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the track system is substantially permanently attached to the mounting structure.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the article of furniture includes a work surface and the display boards (10) are positioned above the work surface.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the track system includes a rail (30, 31) permanently attached to an article of furniture.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the track system is substantially linear.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 wherein the mounting structure is a partial height panel.
- An information display system (6) of Claim 1 adapted to provide a information display system (6) comprising a docking area (38) positioned along the track system configured to at least partially conceal at least one of the display panels (44, 46).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 42 wherein the at least one of the display panels (44, 46) is at least partially physically secured within the docking area (38).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 42 wherein the docking area (38) defines a non-use arrangement wherein at least a substantial portion of the display panels (44, 46) are stowed.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 adapted to provide a workstation (4) comprising at least one utility threshold (24) attached to the track system for movement along the track system, the utility threshold (24) extending outward from the track system beyond the plurality of display boards (10) and adapted for movement independent of the plurality of display boards (10) to selectively deliver utilities within the workstation (4) regardless of the position of the display boards (10).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 45 wherein the track system includes at least one rail (30, 31) to which the utility threshold (24) is coupled and at least one rail (30, 31) to which the display panels (44, 46) are coupled.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 45 wherein the utilities include at least one of power, voice or data.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 45 wherein the utilities include power for a lighting fixture associated with the utility threshold (24).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 45 wherein the utility threshold (24) is also supported along the floor.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 45 further comprising a docking station (38) for the display panels (44, 46).
- The information display system (6) of Claim 31 adapted for use in a fixed floor space work environment to support a group of workers sharing information contained on a plurality of display panels (44, 46), wherein the plurality of display panels (44, 46) is cantilevered from and mounted for movement along at least one rail (30, 31) between a first arrangement and at least one second arrangement, the first arrangement allowing one worker to use substantially all available floor space and the second arrangement allowing a plurality of workers to share the available floor space so as to facilitate the utilization of the floor space by workers present in the work environment (2).
- The work environment (2) of Claim 51 wherein the first arrangement provides a first contextual appearance and the second arrangement provides a second contextual appearance.
- The work environment (2) of Claim 51 wherein the first arrangement provides a first territorial appearance and the second arrangement provides a second territorial appearance.
- An information display system (6) of Claim 1 for use in work space (3) providing at least one work area, comprising a docking area (38) positioned relative to the track system and configured to shroud at least a portion of the plurality of display panels (44, 46) wherein the display panels (44, 46) are movable between a first arrangement wherein at least one of the display panels (44, 46) is shrouded within the docking area (38) and at least one second arrangement wherein the at least one of the display panels (44, 46) is removed from the docking area (38) to selectively reveal at least a portion of information and to selectively conceal at least another portion of information.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 54 wherein the mounting structure is substantially permanently attached to a wall.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 54 wherein the track system is substantially linear.
- The information display system (6) of Claim 54 wherein the mounting structure is a partial height panel.
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US182998 | 1988-04-18 | ||
US183023 | 1989-01-18 | ||
US09/182,998 US6540094B1 (en) | 1998-10-30 | 1998-10-30 | Information display system |
US183021 | 1998-10-30 | ||
US09/183,023 US6374547B1 (en) | 1998-10-30 | 1998-10-30 | Workstation |
US09/183,021 US6463701B1 (en) | 1998-10-30 | 1998-10-30 | Work environment |
Publications (3)
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EP0997866A2 EP0997866A2 (en) | 2000-05-03 |
EP0997866A3 EP0997866A3 (en) | 2000-12-06 |
EP0997866B1 true EP0997866B1 (en) | 2006-10-11 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP19990250383 Expired - Lifetime EP0997866B1 (en) | 1998-10-30 | 1999-10-29 | Information display system |
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EP (1) | EP0997866B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2000172180A (en) |
BR (1) | BR9907423A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2287875A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69933521T2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN106205356A (en) * | 2016-09-13 | 2016-12-07 | 张国阳 | A kind of mobile calendar display apparatus |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6463701B1 (en) * | 1998-10-30 | 2002-10-15 | Steelcase Development Corporation | Work environment |
JP2007162420A (en) * | 2005-12-16 | 2007-06-28 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Partition device |
CN106037292A (en) * | 2016-07-29 | 2016-10-26 | 郑州工业应用技术学院 | Multifunctional office table special for secretary |
CN106251792A (en) * | 2016-09-13 | 2016-12-21 | 朱雪君 | A kind of from the dining room menu bulletin board display device changed |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4033058A (en) * | 1974-12-27 | 1977-07-05 | Data Packaging Corporation | Picture display stand |
US5511348A (en) * | 1990-02-14 | 1996-04-30 | Steelcase Inc. | Furniture system |
US5181334A (en) * | 1990-03-05 | 1993-01-26 | Japan Tobacco Inc. | Display apparatus |
CA2096663A1 (en) * | 1993-05-20 | 1994-11-21 | Stephen Brnjac | Advertising display system |
NO178709C (en) * | 1994-03-01 | 1996-05-15 | Melhuus As | Device for mounting large format posters |
-
1999
- 1999-10-29 EP EP19990250383 patent/EP0997866B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-10-29 BR BR9907423-0A patent/BR9907423A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-10-29 DE DE69933521T patent/DE69933521T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-10-29 CA CA 2287875 patent/CA2287875A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-11-01 JP JP11311068A patent/JP2000172180A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN106205356A (en) * | 2016-09-13 | 2016-12-07 | 张国阳 | A kind of mobile calendar display apparatus |
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DE69933521T2 (en) | 2007-08-16 |
EP0997866A2 (en) | 2000-05-03 |
EP0997866A3 (en) | 2000-12-06 |
DE69933521D1 (en) | 2006-11-23 |
CA2287875A1 (en) | 2000-04-30 |
BR9907423A (en) | 2000-09-05 |
JP2000172180A (en) | 2000-06-23 |
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