| KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 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 |
