# US 2009/0260547 A1 · Conference table assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260547 A1 - Document ID: US20090260547A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/250,192 - Filed: 2008-10-13 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-12 - Assignees: Steelcase Inc. - Inventors: Lewis Mark Epstein; Kyle J. Doerksen; Matthew Robert Adams; Larry Cheng; Brian Joseph Mason; Thomas Overthun; Todd Allen Pelman; Vivek Mohan Rao; David John Rinaldis; Lukas Martin Scherrer; Mark D. Siminoff; Susanne Stage; Joerg Christoph Student; James Nolan Ludwig; Brett Robert Kincald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260547A1 ## CPC - A47B 37/00: Tables adapted for other particular purposes {(glass cutting tables C03B33/03)} - H04N 7/15: Conference systems - G06F 3/1446: {display composed of modules, e.g. video walls} - H04N 5/268: Signal distribution or switching - H04N 7/104: {Switchers or splitters} - H04N 7/142: {Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display} - H04N 7/147: {Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals (selecting H04Q)} - H04N 7/152: {Multipoint control units therefor} - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A conferencing assembly for use with at least one computer, the assembly including a table top forming a table top opening, a leg support structure, a display screen supported adjacent the top surface, a switcher for controlling input to the display screen, a plurality of handsets, each hand set including a selector button usable to send a signal to the switcher thereby causing the switcher to link a computer associated with the selector button to the display, a plurality of handset cables, each handset cable having first and second ends linked to the switcher and an associated selector button, respectively, for passing signals from the selector buttons to the switcher, a take up assembly including a separate weight for each of the handset cables, the take up assembly disposed below the top member and aligned with the top opening, each handset cable linked to an associated weight, each weight applying a force tending to pull the second end of the associated handset cable into the opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conferencing assembly for use with at least one computer, the assembly comprising: a table top member having top and bottom surfaces and forming a table top opening; a leg support structure supporting the top member is a substantially horizontal orientation; a display screen associated with the top member and supported adjacent the top surface; a switcher for controlling input to the display screen; a plurality of handsets, each hand set including a selector button usable to send a signal to the switcher thereby causing the switcher to link a computer associated with the selector button to the display; a plurality of handset cables, each handset cable having first and second ends linked to the switcher and an associated selector button, respectively, for passing signals from the selector buttons to the switcher; a take up assembly including a separate weight for each of the handset cables, the take up assembly disposed below the top member and aligned with the table top opening, each handset cable linked to an associated weight, each weight applying a force tending to pull the second end of the associated handset cable into the opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein each weight includes a pulley wheel, each handset cable passing around an associated pulley wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2 wherein each weight further includes first and second plates mounted on opposite sides of the pulley wheel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3 wherein the plates are mounted to the pulley wheel axis via a pin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2 further including a guide structure, the guide structure forming a separate substantially vertical channel for each of the pulley wheels, each pulley wheel moving up and down within a channel as the second end of an associated cable is pulled away from and allowed to move toward the opening, respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 including at least four separate handsets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the take up assembly further includes a deck member having a top deck surface below the top surface of the table top member, the deck member forming a separate opening for each of the handsets, each cable passing through a separate one of the openings formed by the deck member, the handsets received on the deck surface of the deck member thereby limiting downward movement through the opening formed by the deck member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7 wherein the deck surface forms a recess proximate each of the openings formed by the deck member, each recess formed to receive an associated one of the handsets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7 wherein the deck surface is substantially parallel to the top surface of the table top member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7 further including at least one utility wall member extending upward from the deck surface below the table top member and at least one of a power and a data receptacle mounted in the wall member for access through the table top opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10 further including a utility island extending upward from the deck surface, the utility wall forming a circumferential wall about the island, the island further including a top mounting surface that is substantially parallel to the top surface of the table top member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11 wherein the island includes at least first, second, third and fourth receptacles, the first and second receptacles facing in substantially opposite directions and the third and fourth receptacles facing in substantially opposite directions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11 further including first and second door members hingedly mounted to the mounting surface for movement between open and closed positions, each door member including a top door surface, when the door members are in the closed positions, the door members substantially closing the table top opening and the door surfaces substantially flush with the top surface of the table top member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 wherein an opening edge defines the shape of the table top opening, the door members forming a gap with the opening edge when in the closed positions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7 wherein the deck member has a circumferential edge, the assembly further including a well wall member extending upward from the circumferential edge of the deck member to the bottom of the table top member so that the deck and the well wall member form a cavity below the table top member for receiving cables and the like. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2 wherein each handset cable further includes a video cable and each handset further includes a video jack proximate the button for linking to an associated computer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16 wherein each handset cable further includes an audio cable and each handset further includes an audio jack proximate the button for linking to an associated computer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein each handset weighs at least one pound. ### Claim 19 A conferencing assembly for use with at least one computer, the assembly comprising: a table top member having top and bottom surfaces and forming a table top opening; a leg support structure supporting the top member is a substantially horizontal orientation; a display screen associated with the top member and supported adjacent the top surface; a switcher for controlling input to the display screen; a plurality of handsets, each hand set including a selector button usable to send a signal to the switcher thereby causing the switcher to link a computer associated with the selector button to the display; a plurality of handset cables, each handset cable having first and second ends linked to the switcher and an associated selector button, respectively, for passing signals from the selector buttons to the switcher; a deck member having a top deck surface below the top surface of the table top member and aligned with the table top opening, the deck member forming a separate opening for each of the handsets, each handset cable passing through a separate one of the openings formed by the deck member, the handsets received on the deck surface of the deck member when in a stored position; and a take up assembly including a separate pulley wheel for each of the handset cables, the take up assembly disposed below the deck member, each handset cable linked to an associated pulley wheel, each pulley wheel applying a force tending to pull the second end of the associated handset cable toward the deck top. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The assembly of claim 19 wherein the leg support structure form a leg cavity, the deck member and take up assembly disposed within the leg cavity. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The assembly of claim 20 wherein the switcher is also disposed within the leg cavity. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The assembly of claim 20 further including a totem assembly and a bridge member, the totem assembly having top and bottom ends and a mounting surface, the totem disposed adjacent the top member with the mounting surface above the top surface of the table top member, the bridge member having first and second ends secured to the leg support structure and the totem assembly, respectively, the display screen mounted to the mounting surface adjacent the top surface of the table top member. ### Claim 23 A conferencing assembly for use with at least one computer, the assembly comprising: a table top member having top and bottom surfaces and forming a table top opening; a leg support structure supporting the top member is a substantially horizontal orientation; a display screen associated with the top member and supported adjacent the top surface; a switcher for controlling input to the display screen; a plurality of handsets, each hand set including a selector button usable to send a signal to the switcher thereby causing the switcher to link a computer associated with the selector button to the display; a plurality of handset cables, each handset cable having first and second ends linked to the switcher and an associated selector button, respectively, for passing signals from the selector buttons to the switcher; and a deck member having a top deck surface below the top surface of the table top member and aligned with the table top opening, the deck member forming a separate opening for each of the handsets, each handset cable passing through a separate one of the openings formed by the deck member, the handsets received on the deck surface of the deck member when inn a stored position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The assembly of claim 23 further including a take up assembly including a separate weight for each of the handset cables, the take up assembly disposed below the deck member, each handset cable linked to an associated weight, each weight applying a force tending to pull the second end of the associated handset cable toward the deck top.