It is well-known to provide in an office or work environment for one or a plurality of workstations to be used by one or a plurality of workers. In such known workstations, it is well-known to provide one or more worksurfaces as well as one or more storage units (e.g. drawers, cabinets, shelves, etc.). A typical workstation may include other devices or apparatus that facilitate the work of the worker (e.g. the use and communication of information), such as computing devices, task or other lighting, telephony, as well as connections for utilities (e.g. power, voice, data, etc.).
It is also known to provide a “threshold” (or “utility threshold”) having a generally vertical base frame and a generally vertical overhead top portion for use within a workstation, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,547. According to such known arrangements, the threshold is movable within the workstation along a path of travel so that it may be used to “divide” the work space and/or to provide privacy for the work of one or more workers within the workstation; the movable threshold may also be configured to deliver utilities within the workstation.
It is further known to provide for a worksurface that is movable within a workspace, so that one or more workers or other persons (who may need to work or collaborate in a wide variety of conditions) may place the worksurface in a position that is more beneficial for a particular purpose. According to certain known arrangements, the movable worksurface may be provided with one or more information display devices (e.g. panel displays or monitors of the type associated with a computing device such as a personal computer), for example, as shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/887,519.
It is also known to provide for a mobile worksurface, such as a mobile table, in a work space. In a common application, the mobile worksurface (alone or in conjunction with fixed worksurfaces), enhances the utility of a work space by providing greater flexibility and a greater range of use and other conditions. However, mobile worksurfaces—whether in use or not in use—typically require at least a portion of the work space, and at times may prove to be obstacles to occupants of the work space. The range of motion typically provided by such mobile worksurfaces is limited, for example to a particular plane or path of travel. In addition, mobile worksurfaces, typically provided with wheels or otherwise coupled to a fixed mounting structure, tend to lack the stability, size or “structure” typically provided with fixed worksurfaces. Moreover, mobile worksurfaces tend not to readily accommodate computing devices and/or display devices or other appliances and their associated cables (e.g. for power and/or data).
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide for a workstation providing for an apparatus such as a threshold and/or worksurface that is conveniently movable from one position to another position. It would also be advantageous to provide for an apparatus such as a threshold and/or worksurface that provides a range of movement to cover a substantial portion of the work space within the workstation. It would further be advantageous to provide for a support system for an apparatus such as a threshold and/or worksurface that allows for movement within a horizontal plane or other paths of travel within the workstation. It would also be advantageous to provide for an apparatus such as a threshold and/or worksurface movable within a workstation that conveniently allows for association with a display device and thereby for convenient repositioning of the display device within a work space. It would also be advantageous to provide an apparatus such as a threshold and/or worksurface that conveniently provides for a wide range of motion and allows for a variety of orientations. It would further be advantageous to provide for an apparatus that conveniently provides for management and interconnection of cables providing utilities to the appliances or equipment on a worksurface or to a display device (or display devices) and/or associated with a threshold. It would further be advantageous to provide for an apparatus that can readily be integrated with the articles of furniture within a workstation.
It would be desirable to provide a workstation having any one or more of these or other advantageous features.