EP1229184B1 - Telecommunication furniture element - Google Patents

Abstract

The booth, for use e.g. by persons using telephones or taking part in video-conferences, consists of a soundproofed box with two sides (1, 2), a top and bottom (3, 4) and a back (5), and a working surface (T) that can be used as a support for writing equipment. The working surface is provided by a padded block which has an aperture (7) forming a handle and can be removed from the booth and set on the floor to act as a seat, allowing the bottom surface of the box to be used as a working surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a furniture element of telecommunications intended to constitute for a person a space temporary isolation in an environment frequented by others people. This element, which we will call "stand" in the following, consists of a sort of preserved "bubble" allowing its user to establish communications without being heard.

Although perfectly usable with the means of communication personal wireless of the user who then settles there with his own equipment, this stand is also equipped with connection means standard allowing in particular the connection of IT tools to a network, the establishment of traditional telephone connections, the setting in videoconferencing, etc ... It is however a priori designed so that users who have it will only stop there relatively brief, preserved during their communication (s) the atmosphere of the place and possible indiscretions.

The invention is indeed part of a larger furniture set constituting a friendly workspace filling a number usual functions in an office to simultaneously provide multiple users an adequate workplace, and its function in this framework is not to allow long term linkages but rather fairly short stations for order communications personal or professional.

We know for example from document EP-0 343 686, a stand creating a protected space for said communications and which presents the characteristics of the preamble of the claim 1.

Although the stands according to the present invention are generally arranged in a battery of several units in the aforementioned workspace, a certain confidentiality of conversations must be respected and ensured, whatever whatever their content.

The configuration and materials used for the construction of these stands takes into account this need which is one of the foundations of the invention.

The stand according to the invention has the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1 and it includes means for disposing the worktop at two heights, a first height offering a high position suitable for a user standing in front of the stand, and a second height giving a low position to said worktop, suitable for a operating in a seated position, said means consisting of a nestable volume in the lower part of the protected space, between the side walls and a horizontal support wall on which it rests, said support wall forming the work surface in the low position while the upper surface of said volume in the nested configuration constitutes the work plan in the high position, this volume being also used as sits when extracted from said space and placed on the ground in front of it.

Although the main objective, as has been pointed out, is not to provide a workspace suitable for long sessions, the stand structure of the invention must however be able to adapt to several types of use, and be friendly enough to integrate the situation in the most comfortable way in principle rarer from a long-term communication.

This is the reason why standing and sitting use are proposed.

The objective of the invention is also to be adapted to all types users likely to frequent the work environment in which fits these stands.

In this perspective, the existence of a configuration allowing to pass communications in a seated position allows disabled people in particular, elderly, temporarily tired or sick people, to resort in good conditions at the stands of the invention.

This unique nestable volume in the hollow space forming the stand allows very simply to achieve the two aforementioned configurations. Of course, the height at which the horizontal support wall is located, as well as the dimensions of the seat volume are calculated to provide maximum comfort at the user in both configurations.

Preferably, the face of the nestable volume oriented parallel to the opening of the protected space is provided with a recess allowing the introduction with one hand, acting as a handle for manipulating said volume.

Preferably, this same face is substantially flush with the edges of the wall support and the side walls bordering said opening.

In reality, the volume constituting the seat as well as the work plan in position standing has dimensions such that it can easily slide in the lower portion of the protected stand space, between the lower portions of the side walls and on the support wall. In this configuration, it is its face vertical visible which is provided with the manipulation handle.

In the use in seat, which causes a tilting of the volume, this handle is located in the horizontal surface forming the seat base. The worktop of the standing configuration is in fact made up of one of the faces which is vertical in seat configuration.

According to an advantageous possibility, the protected space and the volume arranged in nested configuration each have a horizontal surface section trapezoidal.

Although this configuration is not necessary, in terms of functionality, it has a number of interesting advantages: thus, in addition to gives the seat, which is actually a stool, an aesthetic appearance undoubtedly more original, it allows only one sense of nesting, which ensures that the handle is always on the right side, i.e. accessible to the user.

In addition, this configuration results in opening the protected space to the outside. for communications, in which the upper body of the user penetrates naturally when the latter intends to preserve the confidentiality of his communication, and this outward expansion gives him a feeling of volume comfort.

Given the main function of these stands, supposedly intended for guarantee a certain intimacy during individual communications, the walls protected space are made of a material with good sound insulation characteristics. Preferably, it also presents a certain tactile comfort, a soft touch. This feeling can especially result from the use of a soft material to the touch, which should then offer a strong absorption coefficient for the reasons of sound insulation mentioned.

According to one example, the acoustically insulating material may consist of polyurethane foam, used as such or as the base of a wall more complex meeting the above criteria.

If necessary, the user can therefore benefit from relative isolation, by leaning his head inside the structure so as not to be heard by people located outside, especially in neighboring stands.

Although for the most part, the stand of the invention is intended to be used with the user's own means of communication, it also includes a certain number of equipment allowing the connection of communication, communication tools, etc ... Thus, each stand can for example be connected to the computer network installed in the premises they equip, and possibly include telephone sockets if these are separate from network sockets.

More generally still, each stand can be fitted with connectors individuals depending on the type of IT and / or communication tool that is used in the company.

Their bottom further comprises means for hanging a screen or a graphic tablet belonging to the user. This tablet can group sophisticated computer and communications functions, and said means attachment may then also include an electronic connector. The goal is that the user hangs his own tablet when he arrives, and that it is immediately functional. At the end of the communication, he retrieves his tool which must be able to be immediately disconnected and off-hook.

In particular, this tablet can be used as a screen for a videoconference. She can also be used as a computer terminal, by connection to a central server, etc ...

The stand support wall may also include a housing for the insertion of an element of the tray type sliding there then in the manner of a drawer.

In a friendly work environment such as that in which the stands of the invention will be implemented, it is in particular provided that each user is provided with such a tray, that it fills with a number of standard working tools (pens, writing support, ...) with which he can move between the different workplaces devolved to different functions corresponding to his usual work needs.

When arriving at a stand, in principle for a fairly brief stopover, he just insert said tray into the housing provided for this purpose at the wall support to be free to move. Among the standard tools that the tray is likely to carry are the graphics tablets aforementioned, that the user will take care, if necessary, to remove from the tray for hang it on the bottom of the stand, in order to write personal notes during his interviews, or for use as a computer peripheral, or for a videoconference.

The side of the tray accessible after insertion into said housing must be heard having a handle, or an orifice acting as a handle, to handle it during sliding operations at the start and end of the halt. Like what is done for the graphics tablet, the tray is conveyed by the user of a workstation to the other, and he takes it back when he leaves the stand.

Finally, according to additional configuration features aimed at increase the convenience of using the stand, it has lighting, and its background is preferably configured as a user-writable whiteboard, who can therefore also use it to take notes, instantly erasable without specific product when leaving the premises.

In most cases, the stands of the invention are fixed to walls or walls of the premises in which they are located. It is of course also possible to make them mobile by fixing to an independent stand, for example located in the lower extension of the bottom of the stand, which will then end with a lower base ensuring the stability of the whole.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un stand de l'invention, en configuration pour une utilisation debout, c'est-à-dire avec le volume constituant le tabouret intégré à l'espace de communication ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de face de la configuration d'utilisation en position debout ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du stand de l'invention en configuration d'utilisation assise ; et
• la figure 4 est une vue de face correspondant à la configuration de la figure 3.

The invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stand of the invention, in configuration for standing use, that is to say with the volume constituting the stool integrated into the communication space;
• Figure 2 is a front view of the use configuration in the standing position;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stand of the invention in the seating use configuration; and
• FIG. 4 is a front view corresponding to the configuration of FIG. 3.

Referring to Figure 1, the stand (S) mainly consists of a box of which the side walls (1, 2), the ceiling (3), the lower support wall (4) and the bottom (5) delimit an interior space in the lower portion of which is arranged a volume (6) whose upper surface constitutes the work surface (T), in the configuration of use in standing position. Said volume (6) is in fact based on the lower support (4), and can slide between the lower portions of the walls side (1, 2).

The volume (6) is also intended to serve as a stool, when it is extracted of the interior space of the stand (S). It has a recess (7) in its face flush with the visible edges of the walls (1, 2, 3, 4), said recess (7) being intended to serve as a manipulation handle. This recess (7) must allow a correct grip when you put your hand into it.

The support wall (4) also comprises a recess (8) which is provided to serve as a housing for a plate or tray type element, which slides therein like a drawer.

The bottom (5), which appears in Figure 2, has hooking means (9) a flat-looking element such as a graphic tablet or screen, etc. (no represented). These means (9) allow the mechanical attachment of the tablet or of the screen, but they may also have means of connection electronic, for the purpose of using their IT functionalities and / or communication. So, a screen that is hung on it is located at a height suitable to be used for videoconferencing.

It should be noted that the internal side of the bottom (5) which appears in Figure 2 can be used as a writable table, because it is provided with a coating allowing example the use of a known marker, the resulting annotations being erasable by rubbing with a simple cloth, without having to use a specific solvent.

The ceiling (3) is in turn provided with lighting (10) allowing the user to work in good conditions when the environment is too dark.

As already mentioned before, the stand (S), and more particularly the peripheral walls (1, 2, 3, 4), are made of a material constituting a sound insulator. The user can thus preserve a certain confidentiality in its communications.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the volume (6) has been extracted from the delimited space by the peripheral walls (1, 2, 3, 4). In the configuration of use in resulting seating position, the volume (6) is not in the same orientation only in the configuration for use in a standing position. The side in which is the manipulation handle (7) is now horizontal, whereas it was previously oriented vertically.

The new worktop (T ') is therefore located at an appropriate height by relative to the user's sitting position. When communications made to from the stand are intended to last, the configuration of use in a seated position will be more naturally chosen.

The above description obviously only relates to one possible example of configuration of the stand of the invention, an example which is in no way limitative thereof.

Claims (12)

1. Stand (S) creating an insulated space for a user wishing to use telecommunication means, said stand being equipped with standard connection means and comprising a supporting wall (4) acting as a work surface (T, T') topped by lateral walls (1, 2), a back (5) and a ceiling (3) forming a protected space for said communications,
      characterised in that it contains means (6) for placing the work surface (T, T') at two heights, a first height offering a high working position suitable for a user standing up in front of the stand (S), and a second height giving a low position to said work surface (T'), suited to operation in a seated position, said means (6) being composed of a volume (6) able to be fitted into the lower part of the protected space between the lateral walls (1, 2) and the horizontal supporting wall (4) on which it rests, said supporting wall (4) forming the work surface (T') in the low position while the upper surface of said volume (6) in the fitted configuration forms the work surface (T) in the high position, this volume (6) being used as a seat when it is withdrawn from said space and placed on the ground in front of it.
2. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the face of the volume (6), able to be fitted in, aligned parallel to the opening of the protected space, is fitted with a cutout (7) allowing the insertion of a hand, acting as a handle for the manipulation of said volume (6).
3. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the face of the volume (6), able to be fitted, aligned parallel to the opening of the protected space, is substantially flush with the edges of the supporting (4) and lateral (1, 2) walls bordering said opening.
4. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the protected space and the volume (6) in the fitted configuration has a horizontal cross-section with a trapezoidal surface.
5. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the walls (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) of the protected space are made of a material having acoustic insulation characteristics.
6. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the acoustic insulating material consists of polyurethane foam.
7. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the back (5) contains suspension means (9) for a graphics tablet carried by the user.
8. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the suspension means (9) contain an electronic connector.
9. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the supporting wall (4) contains a housing (8) for the insertion of a tray-type element running in it in the manner of a drawer.
10. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the back (3) contains lighting (10).
11. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection means allow connection to a standard data network, to telephone connections and/or to videoconferencing.
12. Stand (S) creating an insulated space according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the back (5) is covered by a material allowing writing with the aid of marker pens whose ink is instantly erasable without requiring a specific product.

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