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US 5,967,058 AGranted
Articulatable furniture
AssigneeFlex-Rest, LLC
InventorsFrederic C. Ambrose, David Hawley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structure system includes a plurality of elements which mate along respective cooperating concave and convex ends. Each end has a constant common radius of curvature value and spans a predetermined included angle to provide infinitely variable articulation of mating elements within respective angular ranges. The system elements may be combined to form linear combinations as well as open and closed curves. The system is suitable for use as a work surface in classroom or office environments where the arrangement of elements may be varied readily to accommodate any number of users and floor plans.
Claims24
A structure comprising:
- a first element comprising:
- a first convex arcuate end comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature having a first origin and a value, R.sub.X1 ;
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.X1 ;
- and
- an orientation angle, .alpha. having a value greater than 90 degrees, and
- a first concave arcuate end disposed remotely therefrom comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature having a second origin and a value, R.sub.V1 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.V1, wherein .theta..sub.X1 is greater than .theta..sub.V1 ;
- and the first origin and the second origin define an orientation line passing therethrough from which the orientation angle .varies., is measured.
8 more elements
A structure comprising:
- a first element comprising:
- a first convex arcuate end comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature value, R.sub.X1 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.X1 ;
- a first concave arcuate end disposed remotely therefrom comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature value, R.sub.V1 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.V1, wherein .theta..sub.X1 is greater than .theta..sub.V1 ;
- a second element comprising:
- a second convex arcuate end comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature value, R.sub.X2 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.X2 ;
- and
- a second concave arcuate end disposed remotely therefrom comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature value, R.sub.V2 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.V2, wherein at least one of the second convex arcuate end mates with the first concave arcuate end and the second concave arcuate end mates with the first convex arcuate end and wherein the first element is pivotable relative to the second element generally about an origin of R.sub.X2 ;
- and
- a pivot member linking the first element to the second element generally along a line which passes through the origin of R.sub.X2, wherein the pivot member forms a chase for routing a cable.
18 more elements
A structure comprising:
- a first element comprising:
- a first convex arcuate end comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature value, R.sub.X1 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.X1 ;
- and
- a first concave arcuate end disposed remotely therefrom comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature value, R.sub.V1 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta.V1, wherein .theta..sub.X1 is greater than .theta..sub.V1 ;
- a second element comprising:
- a second convex arcuate end comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature value, R.sub.X2 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.X2 ;
- and
- a second concave arcuate end disposed remotely therefrom comprising:
- a constant radius of curvature value, R.sub.V2 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.V2, wherein at least one of the second convex arcuate end mates with the first concave arcuate end and the second concave arcuate end mates with the first convex arcuate end and wherein the second element is pivotable relative to the first element generally about an origin of R.sub.X1 ;
- and
- a pivot member linking the first element to the second element generally along a line which passes through the origin of R.sub.X1, wherein the pivot member forms a chase for routing a cable.
19 more elements
A structure system comprising:
- a first element comprising:
- a first convex arcuate end comprising:
- a radius of curvature having an origin and a value, R.sub.X1 ;
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.X1, less than 360 degrees;
- and
- an orientation angle, .alpha., having a value greater than 90 degrees;
- and an edge extending generally along a length of the first element;
- and
- a second element comprising:
- a first concave arcuate end comprising:
- a radius of curvature value, R.sub.V2, substantially equal to or greater than R.sub.X1, wherein:
- the first concave arcuate end is adapted to engage the first convex arcuate end;
- the second element is pivotable relative to said first element generally about the origin of R.sub.X1 ;
- and the orientation angle .varies., is measured from an orientation line passing through the origin of R.sub.X1, the orientation line extending generally along the edge of the first element.
11 more elements
A structure system comprising:
- a first element comprising:
- a first convex arcuate end comprising:
- a radius of curvature value, R.sub.X1 ;
- and
- an included angle value, .theta..sub.X1, less than 360 degrees;
- a second element comprising:
- a first concave arcuate end comprising:
- a radius of curvature value, R.sub.V2 substantially equal to or greater than R.sub.X1,
- wherein the first concave arcuate end is adapted to engage the first convex arcuate end and the second element is pivotable relative to said first element generally about an origin of R.sub.X1 ;
- and
- a pivot member connecting the first element to the second element generally along a line which passes through the origin of R.sub.X1, wherein the pivot member forms a chase for routing a cable.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.