Abstract: 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.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 12, 2010
Publication date:
November 18, 2010
Applicant:
KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Inventors:
Keith E. Metcalf, Terry Carroll, Jay M. Henriott, Samial Keith Johnson, Donald Woods
Abstract: 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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 14, 2009
Date of Patent:
October 5, 2010
Assignee:
Kimball International, Inc.
Inventors:
Mark A. Wahl, Joshua A. Peter, Joshua R. Butcher
Abstract: 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.
Abstract: 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.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 14, 2009
Publication date:
July 15, 2010
Applicant:
KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Inventors:
Mark A. Wahl, Joshua A. Peter, Joshua R. Butcher
Abstract: A task chair, including a backrest assembly and a seat assembly pivotally coupled both to one another and to side portions of a fixed yoke member for synchronized movement, in which the seat of the seat assembly moves upwardly and forwardly concurrently with recline of the backrest of the backrest assembly. The chair further includes a tension assembly including an elongate tension member, such as a leaf spring, secured at one end thereof to the yoke member, and a contact member, such as a contact roller, adjustably mounted to the seat assembly. The contact member engages the tension member such that the tension member resists recline of the backrest assembly and concurrent movement of the seat assembly from their initial positions, and also provides a restoring force which tends to move the backrest to its initial upright position and the seat to its initial rearward and lowered position.
Abstract: 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.
Abstract: 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.