KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140261100 | OFFICE FURNITURE SYSTEM - An office furniture system for use in an open plan office environment, the furniture system configured as a “hybrid” system including features of both traditional partition systems and contemporary desking or benching systems. In one configuration, one or more work surfaces each include an electronic services bracket mounted beneath the rear edge(s) thereof, and access covers for providing selective access to electronic service modules mounted to the bracket and disposed within a raceway space beneath the rear edges of the work surfaces. The work surfaces may be associated with a partition system or, alternatively, may be associated with a desking arrangement. In another configuration, at least one electronic services module is mounted beneath a horizontal frame member of a partition, and work surface mounting brackets are used to mount one or more work surfaces on one or both sides of the partition. The work surfaces may include access covers to provide selective access to access spaces adjacent the electronic services modules. | 09-18-2014 |
20140158024 | TABLE WITH PRIVACY SCREEN - A table has a support structure and a work surface that may pivot between a substantially horizontal use position and a substantially vertical storage position. A privacy screen is pivotally attached to the work surface such that the privacy screen is pivotally movable relative to the work surface between a first, storage position in which the screen is substantially parallel to the work surface and a second, deployed or use position in which the screen is substantially perpendicular to the work surface. The screen may be pivotally attached to the work surface via a resistance hinge such that movement of the screen between the first and second positions requires overcoming a resistance force. A stop element may be attached to either the work surface or the screen to prevent movement of the screen beyond the second, deployed position. | 06-12-2014 |
20140054961 | WIRELESSLY POWERED FURNITURE - A remote transmitter wirelessly transmits energy to an article of furniture adapted to receive and store the wireless energy. The article of furniture is further adapted distribute the stored energy to electrical loads such as peripheral electronic devices, portable electronic devices and other articles of furniture. The remote transmitter may wirelessly transfer energy during inactive periods. The stored energy may be distributed to an electrical loads during an active period. | 02-27-2014 |
20130207478 | FURNITURE WITH WIRELESS POWER - Furniture components, such as office furniture components, are configured to include electronic components that transfer electrical power to peripheral electronic devices via wireless technologies, including conductive and inductive technologies. The articles of furniture may include grommet devices received within work surfaces, the grommet devices incorporating or housing the electronics of wireless power systems. The articles of furniture may also include the electronics of wireless power systems physically embedded or integrated within work surfaces in a manner in which the continuous surfaces of the work surfaces are maintained, and the work surfaces may optionally further include lighting or other indication features to indicate the locations of the electronics to a user. | 08-15-2013 |
20130180202 | WALL RAIL SYSTEM - A wall rail system for mounting to a wall within an office environment or work space, including a first, upper rail and a second, lower rail, each including a horizontally-facing channel. The rails further include vertically-facing channels, with the rails mountable to a wall in an inverted, opposing relationship with respect to one another with the vertically-facing channel of the upper rail facing in an upward direction, and the vertically-facing channel of the lower rail facing in a downward direction. Brackets secured to components such as a work surfaces or cabinets, for example, interface with the vertically-facing channels of the rails for mounting components to the rails without the use of fasteners. Decorative and/or functional tiles may be captured adjacent the wall between the rails using faceplates which engage the horizontally-facing channels of the rails. | 07-18-2013 |
20120304900 | OFFICE DESKING SYSTEM - A modular desking system for an open plan office environment provides a variety of highly stable and variously configurable component parts which can be modularly combined with one another to provide a wide variety of desking styles and sizes. The user may decide among many options for linking various desking system assemblies with one another to create a larger desking assembly well suited to various open-plan office spaces. | 12-06-2012 |
20120304441 | TABLE AND PRIVACY SCREEN ASSEMBLY - A privacy screen mounting arrangement for an office system including a bracket which can be secured to a table assembly to clamp a privacy screen against an edge of a work surface of the table assembly. In a table assembly having a back-to-back arrangement of work surfaces with an opening between the work surfaces, a privacy screen mounting arrangement includes a bracket securable beneath one of the work surfaces, with a screen attached to the bracket such that the screen is generally disposed between and above the work surfaces. The mounting arrangements obviate the need to secure brackets directly to the top surface of a work surface using fasteners. | 12-06-2012 |
20120273633 | TWO PIECE TRACK ASSEMBLY - A two-piece track assembly may be used in an office environment for mounting accessory components, such as work surfaces, cabinets, shelves, filing units, etc., to either a permanent building wall or to the framework of a movable office wall or office partition system. The track assembly includes a base mountable to the wall or framework via a plurality of fasteners. A track mounts to the base to cover the fasteners used to mount the base. The track also includes a relatively thinly-profiled slot into which a corresponding, relatively thinly-profiled mounting flange of an accessory component is received to mount and support the accessory component upon the track assembly. Optionally, a decorative or functional tile may be mounted to a wall or partition between a pair of track assemblies spaced vertically from one another. | 11-01-2012 |
20120167500 | UPMOUNT OVERHEAD BRACKETS FOR OFFICE PARTITION SYSTEMS - Brackets for an office partition system permit the off-modular attachment of articles of furniture, such as cabinets, above the upper edges of panels in the partition system. The width of the furniture article may be either equal to, less than, or greater than the width of an underlying panel. Also, the location of the furniture article may be adjusted relative to the underlying panels such that the location of the furniture article is not determined by the size or position of an underlying panel to which the furniture article is attached. | 07-05-2012 |
20120096780 | OFFICE PARTITION ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - An electrical service assembly is secured to a framework of a panel of an office partition system and includes at least one bracket to which at least one electrical outlet module is mounted, the module having at least a pair of electrical outlets such that electrical outlets may be positioned in a back-to-back configuration. In this manner, the electrical service assembly provides service to opposite sides of a panel that face opposite work spaces. Also, the electrical outlet modules may be associated with separate circuits to prevent overload of the electrical service assembly. | 04-26-2012 |
20120026724 | FURNITURE WITH WIRELESS POWER - Furniture components, such as office furniture components, that are configured to include electronic components that transfer electrical power to peripheral electronic devices via wireless technologies, including conductive and inductive technologies. The articles of furniture may include grommet devices received within work surfaces, the grommet devices incorporating or housing the electronics of wireless power systems. The articles of furniture may also include the electronics of wireless power systems physically embedded or integrated within work surfaces in a manner in which the continuous surfaces of the work surfaces are maintained, and the work surfaces may optionally further include lighting or other indication features to indicate the locations of the electronics to a user. | 02-02-2012 |
20120011789 | SLIDING PRIVACY DOOR FOR PARTITION SYSTEMS - An office partition system including at least first and second panels and a sliding privacy door guidably supported against the first panel via an elongated horizontal guide. The elongated horizontal guide has a channel that receives the privacy door and a mounting structure for mounting the guide to a horizontal track of the first panel. The elongated horizontal guide has a width that is substantially equivalent to the width of the first panel. The privacy door includes wheels that may support the entire weight of the privacy door. The privacy door may move from a first, open position allowing access to an interior space of the office partition system via an opening to a second, closed position restricting access to the interior space via the opening. | 01-19-2012 |
20110286792 | ARTICLE OF FURNITURE WITH LOCK MITER JOINTS - A cabinet, appearing from the outside to have a construction including fully mitered joints between its panels, internally includes hidden lock miter joints between its panels. The cabinet includes a plurality of panels and has a first panel including a joint edge having a length including a first portion adjacent a second portion. The first portion includes a mitered face disposed at an angle with respect to the first panel, and the second portion includes a lock receiving recess. The cabinet also has a second panel including a joint edge having a length including a first portion adjacent a second portion. The first portion of the second panel includes a mitered face disposed at an angle with respect to the second panel, and the second portion includes a lock protrusion. When the first and second panel attach to one another, the lock protrusion is received within the lock receiving recess and the mitered faces are in flush contact with one another. | 11-24-2011 |
20110197519 | PARTITION SYSTEM - A partition system generally including an adjustable work surface support bracket assembly, which attaches to a track member of the partition system for supporting a work surface. A first vertical member of the bracket assembly includes a mounting portion adapted to be received within the track member, and a first vertical plate portion downwardly extending from the mounting portion and including a plurality of vertically spaced apertures or a pair of elongated apertures. A second member includes a horizontal portion that attaches to a work surface using suitable fasteners. In a first embodiment, the second member includes a tab which is received within any one of the vertically spaced apertures in the vertical member located beneath the track member. In a second embodiment, the second member includes a second vertical plate portion including a plurality of apertures or a pair of elongated apertures for alignment with a pair of apertures in the first vertical plate portion of the first vertical member. In this manner, a work surface may be mounted to a track member of the partition system in a vertically adjustable manner and, in the second embodiment, the second member and/or work surface may aesthetically cover the track member. | 08-18-2011 |
20110072633 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR OFFICE FURNITURE - An article of furniture having a construction adapted to efficiently accommodate electrical components. The article of furniture includes a frame or chassis having support leg assemblies, and a beam connected to the support leg assemblies to which a channel is mounted. The support leg assemblies include work surface supports which support work surfaces at adjustable heights above the channel, and a gap between the work surfaces allows access to the electrical system within the channel. The electrical system is modular in design, and includes a series of components that may be connected to one another in a manner that the location of electrical outlet modules may be easily adjusted. The channel has a plurality of knock-out openings which may be selectively used for locating electrical outlets at any desired position along the channel. | 03-31-2011 |
20100290215 | FURNITURE WITH WIRELESS POWER - Furniture components, such as office furniture components, that are configured to include electronic components that transfer electrical power to peripheral electronic devices via wireless technologies, including conductive and inductive technologies. The articles of furniture may include grommet devices received within work surfaces, the grommet devices incorporating or housing the electronics of wireless power systems. The articles of furniture may also include the electronics of wireless power systems physically embedded or integrated within work surfaces in a manner in which the continuous surfaces of the work surfaces are maintained, and the work surfaces may optionally further include lighting or other indication features to indicate the locations of the electronics to a user. | 11-18-2010 |
20100176634 | CONNECTING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE - A connecting arrangement for articles of furniture, such as seating furniture and/or tables of the type used in an office environment. A pair of articles of furniture are positioned adjacent to one another, each including a downwardly-opening channel along a lower portion of its side. An elongate connector spans the distance between the channels and has opposite side portions in respective engagement with the channels to connect the furniture articles together in a manner wherein the connector may be visually hidden in use. If one, or both, of the connected articles of furniture includes upholstered sides, the upholstery is compressed upon abutting engagement of the articles of furniture to generate a separation force which is resisted by the connector and aids in maintaining the connector in secure engagement with the channels of the adjacent articles of furniture. The connector may have substantially the same length as a distance between front and rear legs of the articles of furniture, such that the connector is engageable with the front and/or rear legs to restrain movement of the articles of furniture in a front-to-back direction with respect to one another. | 07-15-2010 |
20100175332 | ACCESSORY TRACK AND ACCESSORY COMPONENTS FOR OFFICE FURNITURE - A track that can be mounted to, or integrated into, a permanent wall or a partition system wall, and accessory components that are mountable in the track in either one of two orientations. In particular, the accessory component is inserted into the opening of a channel of the track with a first side of the accessory component resting upon a fulcrum surface that is formed in the track. The accessory component is then pivoted about the fulcrum surface allowing a first engagement portion, such as a protrusion formed inside the channel of the track, to engage with a second engagement portion, such as a groove formed in the accessory component. The accessory component has opposing sides with engagement portions formed therein that are engageable with the protrusion formed in the track. Thus, the accessory component can be turned over and inserted in a second, opposite orientation with the first side facing upward. The accessory component also includes a cutout portion that allows for the passage of cords and other items through the accessory component when the accessory component is mounted to the track. | 07-15-2010 |
20090173016 | PARTITION SYSTEM - A partition system for office spaces generally includes a framework and a plurality of different types of decorative and/or functional tiles mountable to the framework. The framework includes I- and C-shaped vertical frame members which are adjustably joined by upper and lower horizontal spanners such that the distance between the vertical frame members is adjustable. Also, the framework may include other types of vertical frame members for forming L-, T-, or X-junctions within the partition system framework. A variety of decorative and functional tiles are mountable to the framework, including retractable workspace tiles, several types of storage tiles, display tiles, window tiles, and electrical and data services tiles. | 07-09-2009 |
20090042428 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR OFFICE FURNITURE - An article of furniture having a construction adapted to efficiently accommodate electrical components. The article of furniture includes a frame or chassis having support leg assemblies, and a beam connected to the support leg assemblies to which a channel is mounted. The support leg assemblies include work surface supports which support work surfaces at adjustable heights above the channel, and a gap between the work surfaces allows access to the electrical system within the channel. The electrical system is modular in design, and includes a series of components that may be connected to one another in a manner that the location of electrical outlet modules may be easily adjusted. The channel has a plurality of knock-out openings which may be selectively used for locating electrical outlets at any desired position along the channel. | 02-12-2009 |
20080303394 | ARTICLE OF FURNITURE WITH TAMBOUR MODESTY PANEL - A tambour modesty panel for use with articles of furniture. In one exemplary embodiment, the tambour modesty panel is positioned under a work surface of an article of furniture and includes a tambour positioned between opposing end panels. In one embodiment, the opposing end panels include a groove formed therein for receiving opposing sides of the tambour and directing the movement of the tambour. In another embodiment, opposing end panels of the tambour modesty panel include tracks secured thereto for receiving opposing sides of the tambour and directing the movement of the tambour. When the work surface is positioned adjacent to a wall having services outlets positioned within the wall, access to the outlets may be provided by moving the tambour to an open position. Alternatively, to restrict access to and/or to obstruct the view of the outlets and cables, the tambour may be moved to a closed position. | 12-11-2008 |
20080295744 | MULTI-PURPOSE TABLE WITH ELECTRICAL FEATURES - A multi-purpose table including a channel that either forms a portion of, or is attached to, a horizontal support structure of the work surface of the table. The channel includes at least one trough for managing cables and cords associated with electrical and communication outlet modules. The electrical and communication outlet modules may be installed within the channel with the outlets accessible to a user of the table when the work surface is positioned in each of a horizontal use position and a vertical storage position. In one embodiment, individual outlet modules are installed within the channel by a snap-fit engagement. In another embodiment, the outlet modules are provided as part of a harness or bus assembly that is slidably installed and retained within the channel. | 12-04-2008 |
20080295742 | MULTI-PURPOSE TABLE WITH ELECTRICAL FEATURES - A multi-purpose table including a channel forming a portion of, or attached to, a horizontal support bar of the table. The channel includes at least one trough for managing cables and cords associated with electrical and communication outlets. The electrical and communication outlets may be provided in the channel. The outlets remain available to a user of the table when a work surface of the table is positioned in either a horizontal or a vertical position. | 12-04-2008 |