US 5,291,700 AGranted

Activities module

OwnerKeith Chewinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An activities module is positioned on a support surface, such as the floor of a room, to provide activity stations with horizontal work surfaces. The module includes an upright post member that has at least two vertical grooves. A flat panel has an opening sized to receive the post member when the flat panel is oriented horizontally, and upright partition panels are provided corresponding to the vertical grooves in the post member. Each partition panel has an inner edge fitted into the groove, an outer edge and a bottom edge that rests on the support surface. The partition panels each have a slot to receive the flat, horizontal panel, and fasteners secure the module together. A second flat, horizontal panel may similarly be mounted below the first flat panel, and a third flat, horizontal panel may provide a shelf or bench. Preferably, the first flat panel is circular and the upright post is located centrally thereof; four partition panels are spaced around the center post to divide the module into four activity stations.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An activities module adapted to be positioned on a support surface and operative to provide at least one horizontal work surface and at least one activity station comprising:

(a) an upright post member having at least two grooves formed therein such that, when said upright post member is oriented in an upright position, the grooves extend in a vertical direction;
(b) a first flat panel member of a selected thickness and having a first opening sized to receive said upright post member, said first flat panel member being oriented horizontally with respect to said upright post member when said upright post member is in the upright position with the first opening engaging said upright post member, said first flat panel member having an upper surface forming a horizontal work surface for the activities module, a peripheral edge opposite said first opening and a peripheral margin adjacent the peripheral edge;
(c) a plurality of upright partition panels each having a bottom edge operative to engage the support surface, an outer edge and an inner edge opposite said outer edge, each said partition panel being oriented perpendicularly with respect to said first flat panel member and having tongue means on the inner edge thereof for matably engaging a respective one of said grooves in said post member;
(d) first slot means for permitting engagement of said partition panels and said first panel member;
and
(e) fastening means for securing each of said partition panels with respect to said post member whereby at least one divided activity area is formed between said partition panels.

3 more elements

An activities module adapted to be positioned on a support surface and operative to provide at least one horizontal work surface and at least one partition activity station comprising:

(a) an elongated upright post member having a square-shaped cross section and having at least two grooves formed therein such that, when said upright post member is oriented in an upright position, the grooves extend in a vertical direction;
(b) a first flat panel member of a selected first thickness and having a first opening sized to receive said upright post member, said first flat panel member being oriented horizontally with respect to said upright post member when said upright post member is in the upright position with the first opening engaging said upright post member, said first flat panel member having an upper surface forming a horizontal work surface for the activities module, a first peripheral edge opposite said first opening and a first peripheral margin adjacent the first peripheral edge;
(c) a second flat panel member of a selected second thickness and having a second opening sized to receive said upright post member, said second flat panel member being oriented horizontally with respect to said upright post member when said upright post member is int he upright position with the second opening engaging said upright post member, said second flat panel member having an upper surface forming a horizontal work surface for the activities module, a second peripheral edge opposite said second opening and a second peripheral margin adjacent the second peripheral edge;
(d) a plurality of upright partition panels each having a bottom edge operative to engage the support surface, an outer edge and an inner edge opposite said outer edge, each said partition panel being oriented perpendicularly with respect to said first flat panel member and having tongue means on the inner edge thereof for matably engaging a respective one of said grooves in said post member, each of said partition panels having first and second slots formed therein form said inner edge thereof toward the outer edge thereof, each of said first and second slots sized for close-fitted engagement respectively with said first and second flat panel members, adjacent ones of said partition panels being angularly oriented to one another around said upright post at angles that are integral multiples of 90 degrees;
and
(e) fastening means for securing each of said partition panels with respect to said post member whereby at least one activity station is formed between said partition panels.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.