PRIVACY SCREEN

Abstract

A privacy screen for a work station includes a first panel and a second panel. A rail is connected to the first panel. The rail runs along at least a portion of a length of the first panel. A carriage slides along the rail. A hinge connects the carriage and the proximate end of the second panel, thereby permitting the second panel to pivot in relation to the first panel.

Description

FIELD

This specification relates to a privacy screen for a work station or the like.

INTRODUCTION

Adjustable and modular office systems are often installed in office environments. Such office systems often utilize open-concept work stations. Although open-concept work stations facilitate collaboration, workers in such work stations also desire privacy, at least on occasion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is provided to introduce the reader to the more detailed discussion to follow. The summary is not intended to limit or define the claims.

According to one aspect, a privacy screen for a work station is provided. The privacy screen comprises a first panel and a second panel. The second panel is connected to the first panel such that the second panel is capable of sliding and pivoting in relation to the first panel.

According to another aspect, a privacy screen for a work station is provided. The privacy screen comprises a first panel and a second panel. A rail is connected to the first panel. The rail runs along at least a portion of a length of the first panel. A carriage is slidably connected to the rail. A hinge is operatively connected to the carriage and the proximate end of the second panel, thereby permitting the second panel to pivot in relation to the first panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a privacy screen, where the privacy screen is shown installed between work stations.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the privacy screen of FIG. 1 in isolation.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the privacy screen of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the privacy screen of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the privacy screen of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example carriage and hinge assembly of the privacy screen of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the carriage shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an example outer frame and pin assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of each claimed invention. No example described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover processes or apparatuses that are not described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. Applicant reserves the right to claim such apparatuses or processes in other applications.

FIG. 1 shows a group of three works stations 10a-c, where a privacy screen 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention separates two of the work stations 10a, 10b. Each work station has a work surface 12. Although, for clarity, only one privacy screen 20 and three work stations are illustrated in FIG. 1, those skilled in the art will understand that any suitable number of work stations can be provided and any suitable number of privacy screens may be utilized with the work stations.

The privacy screen includes a first panel 22, which is preferably stationary and may be connected to the work surface 12, as described in more detail below. A second panel 24 is connected to the first panel 22, as described below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the first panel is preferably supported to two feet 26a,b which rest on the floor. The feet 26a,b are connected to the bottom of the first panel 22 in any suitable manner, such as by fasteners (not shown). The second panel 24 preferably includes an outer frame which is constructed from two horizontal members 27a,b and two vertical members 27c,d, which are secured to the second panel by an interference fit. A bottom distal corner 28 of the second panel 24 is preferably supported by a castor 30. The castor is connected to the bottom distal corner in any suitable manner, such as by fasteners (not shown).

According to one embodiment, the first panel 22 may be securable to the work surface 12 of one of the work station 10b (shown in FIG. 1). In such an embodiment, a horizontal notch 32 is provided in a proximate end of the first panel 22. As used herein, “proximate” means the end of the first or second panel (as the case may be) which is closest to the work station 10b. The location of the notch generally corresponds to the height of the work surface 12. Two L-shaped brackets 34a,b are secured in any suitable fashion (such as by fasteners) to an interior face 36 and exterior face (not shown) of the first panel 22, respectively. Each L-shaped bracket 34a,b includes a flange 38 having holes 40. In order to secure the first panel 22 to the work surface 12, the edge of the work surface is received within the notch such that the flange 38 of each bracket 34a,b rests under the work surface. Fasteners (not shown) are then screwed into the work surface through the holes 40.

In other embodiments, the first panel 22 may not be secured to the work surface but may simply rest on the floor. In yet other embodiments the first panel may be secured to other parts of the workstation in any suitable fashion.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, preferably, a pair or rails 40a,b are connected to the inner face 36 of first panel 22. Preferably, the rails are located near the top edge 42 and the bottom edge 44 of the first panel 22, respectively. The rails 40a,b extend along a length dimension L of the first panel 22 and are secured to the first panel in any suitable fashion, such as using fasteners. End caps 46a,b are secured to the ends of each rail 40a,b (end cap 46a is shown in FIG. 6).

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, a pair of carriages 50a,b slide on rails 40a,b, respectively, where each carriage slides on the corresponding rail. A hinge assembly 52a,b connects each corresponding carriage 50a,b to the second panel 24. Carriage 50a will be described below. Carriage 50b will not be further described, as it is preferably identical to carriage 50a.

Referring now to FIG. 7, carriage 50a preferably includes a pair of sliders 60a,b. Each slider includes a channel 61 which engages the rail 40a. The sliders 60a,b are secured to a carriage bracket 62 by pairs of fasteners 64 and 66, respectively. A carriage cover 68 conceals the sliders and bracket.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the hinge assembly 52a includes a barrel 70 which is received within an opening 72 in the carriage cover 68, and is secured to the carriage bracket 62 a pair of fasteners 74. The hinge assembly 52a also includes a pin assembly 80 secured to the second panel 24 (shown in FIG. 6). The pin assembly is located in a corner gap between horizontal frame member 27a and vertical frame member 27d. The pin assembly includes a leg 82 projecting downwardly from a C-shaped bracket 84. The pin assembly 80 is secured to the vertical frame member 27d by the leg 82 being received in a corresponding slot 86 in the vertical frame member. A top cover 88 covers the C-shaped bracket 84 to give it an esthetically pleasing appearance. The barrel 70 is received within the C-shaped bracket 84. A pin 90 passes through the barrel 70 and holes in the top and bottom portions of the C-shaped bracket 84 to permit the second panel 24 to pivot about the carriage 50a connected to the first panel 22.

Preferably, the hinge assembly 52b is as mirror image of the hinge assembly 52a and will not be further described or illustrated.

In operation, the position and orientation of the second panel 24 in relation to the first panel 22 can be controlled by the user. The first panel is preferably fixed by securing it to the work surface 12, as discussed above. The user simply pulls or pushes the second panel 24 to change its position or orientation. The castor 30 permits the second panel 24 to roll to the desired position. The second panel 24 may be positioned so that it is parallel to the first panel and does not extend beyond the first panel 22. The second panel may be positioned parallel to the first panel and extended beyond the first panel to provide a longer privacy screen. The second panel 24 may be extended beyond and pivoted to position the second panel at any suitable angle to the first panel 22. One exemplary angled position is shown in FIG. 1. The ability to slide and pivot the second panel in relation to the first panel provides the user with increased flexibility in controlling his or her privacy space.

Accordingly, the privacy screen according to the embodiments of the present invention provides an advantage by permitting the user of a work station to control the private space available for such user's work station by easily adjusting the position of the panels.

While the above description provides examples of the embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments. Accordingly, what has been described above has been intended to be illustrative of the invention and non-limiting and it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A privacy screen for a workstation, the privacy screen comprising:

a. a first panel; and

b. a second panel pivotably and slidably connected to the first panel.

2. The privacy screen of claim 1, wherein the second panel is slidable along a length of the first panel.

3. The privacy screen of claim 2, wherein the first panel further comprises:

a. a rail running longitudinally along an interior face of the first panel; and

b. a carriage slidably connected to the rail;

wherein a proximate end of the second panel is pivotably connected to the carriage.

4. The privacy screen of claim 3 further comprising a hinge connecting the carriage and the proximate end of the second panel.

5. The privacy screen of claim 4, wherein the hinge further comprises a barrel connected to the carriage and a pin operatively connected to a proximate edge of the second panel, wherein the pin is received in the barrel, thereby permitting the second panel to pivot about the carriage.

6. The privacy screen of claim 4 further comprising a pair of the rails, a pair of the carriages, and a pair of the hinges, wherein a first of the pair of rails runs along a top edge of the first panel, and a second of the pair of rails runs along a bottom edge of the first panel.

7. The privacy screen of claim 5, wherein the second panel comprises a castor connected to a bottom distal corner of the second panel.

8. The privacy screen of claim 7, wherein the first panel comprises at least two spaced-apart feet connected to a bottom edge of the first panel, wherein the feet rest on a building floor.

9. The privacy screen of claim 6, wherein the second panel comprises a rectangular outer frame, wherein the outer frame defines a first gap at a proximal upper corner and a second gap at a proximal lower corner of the outer frame.

10. The privacy screen of claim 9 wherein one of the pair of pins is located in the first gap and an other of the pair of pins is located in the second gap.

11. The privacy screen of claim 10, wherein the outer frame comprises a pair of vertical members and a pair of horizontal members, wherein the first gap is located between a proximal end of an upper horizontal member and a proximal vertical member, and the second gap is located between a proximal end of a lower horizontal member and the proximal vertical member.

12. The privacy screen of claim 11, wherein the pin is part of a pin assembly connected to a proximate edge of the second panel, wherein the pin assembly further comprises a leg connected to a C-shaped bracket

13. The privacy screen of claim 13, wherein the leg is secured within a slot in the proximal vertical member.

14. The privacy screen of claim 5, wherein the carriage further comprises: (i) at least one slider adapted to slideably engage the rail; and (ii) a carriage bracket connected to the slider, wherein the barrel is connected to the carriage bracket.

15. The privacy screen of claim 14, wherein a channel is defined in the slider, wherein the channel engages the rail.

16. The privacy screen of claim 15, wherein the carriage comprises a spaced apart pair of the sliders.

17. The privacy screen of claim 8, wherein the first panel is securable to a work surface of the work station.

18. The privacy screen of claim 17, wherein a generally horizontal notch is defined in a proximate end of the first panel, the notch being adapted to receive a distal portion of the work surface.

19. The privacy screen of claim 18, further comprising a first bracket secured to an interior face of the first panel, and a second bracket secured to an exterior face of the first panel, wherein each bracket comprises a flange extending generally horizontally away the first panel, wherein the flange is located below the notch, wherein the flange of each of the first and second bracket is secured to the bottom of the work surface by fasteners.

20. A privacy screen for a workstation, the privacy screen comprising:

a. a first panel;

b. a rail connected to the first panel, the rail running along at least a portion of a length of the first panel;

c. a carriage slidably connected to the rail;

d. a second panel; and

e. a hinge operatively connected to the carriage and the proximate end of the second panel, thereby permitting the second panel to pivot in relation to the first panel.