More particularly, the invention relates to an improved work surface having adjustable wings or secondary work surfaces.

The user of a work surface such as a desk or a meeting table sometimes needs additional space on the work surface. While placing another work surface adjacent to an existing work surface has filled this need in the past, this practice can be time consuming and cumbersome. For example, it may not be easy to drag or lift an additional work surface and place it next to an existing work surface.

The use of a leaf that is attached to an existing work surface has overcome some of the problems associated with providing additional space on a work surface. While a leaf can be attached to the existing work surface such that it can be pulled out in a short amount of time and with a minimal level of effort, the use of leaves can have certain drawbacks. First, they offer little versatility to the user of the work surface because they can only be expanded to one position relative to the existing work surface. A leaf that extends to only one position may be unsatisfactory. In particular, a user may have varying work space needs that require expansion of different portions of the existing work surface. Second, a leaf can require supporting legs that interfere with the user's access to the existing work surface and require time to set in place. Finally, assembly of a work surface with a leaf can be cumbersome because the parts used to guide the leaf may be complicated.

For example, tracks have been installed on the existing work surfaces to be

used as guides for the secondary work surfaces. In addition to adding to the complexity of the assembly, these additional parts can add to the cost of the work surface, while not necessarily creating a stable work surface.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved work surface assembly which is capable of providing a stable and flexible work surface while being easily constructed in a cost-efficient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an improved adjustable work surface assembly that may be easily reconfigured into a wide variety of shapes in order to suit the needs of a particular user.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a work surface assembly including a primary work surface and first and second secondary work surfaces is provided. The first secondary work surface is connected to a first side of the primary work surface. The second secondary work surface is attached to a second and opposite side of the primary work surface. The first and second secondary work surfaces are capable of being rotatably oriented in at least three positions. In the first position, the first and second secondary work surfaces extend from the first and second sides of the primary work surface, respectively. In the second position, the first and second secondary work surfaces are positioned beneath the primary work surface. In the third position, the first and second secondary work surfaces extend outward from a front edge of the principal work surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first and second secondary work surfaces have a substantially arcuate outer edge and two substantially linear side edges.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a wire management device is provided.

The present invention, together with attendant objects and advantages, will be best understood with reference to the detailed description below in connection with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front upper perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a work surface constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a lower perspective view of the work surface shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a bottom view of the work surface shown in Figures 1-2; Figure 4 is a front view of the work surface shown in Figures 1-3 Figure 5 is a partial exploded view of the work surface shown in Figures 1-4; Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along the lines 6-6 of Figure 3; Figure 7 is a fragmentary top view of a corner of a secondary work surface; Figure 8 is a top view of the work surface shown in Figures 1-7 with the secondary work surfaces in a side position; Figure 9 is a top view of the work surface shown in Figures 1-8 with the secondary work surfaces shown beneath the primary work surface; Figure 10 is a top view of the work surface shown in Figures 1-9 with the secondary work surfaces shown in a front position adjacent a user; Figure 11 is a front view of the work surface showing an embodiment of the wire management device; Figure 12 is a side view of the work surface shown in Figure 11 illustrating the wire management device from the side; Figure 13 is a front perspective view of the wire management device shown in Figures 11-12; Figure 14 is a front view of the frame of the wire management device; and Figure 15 is a side view of the frame of the wire management device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention is described with reference to the drawings in which like elements are referred to by like numerals.

Figure 1 illustrates a work surface assembly 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. While the work surface assembly 10 shown has a generally rectangular shape, it should be understood that the present invention may be used with work surfaces having a wide variety of shapes, sizes and appearances. With reference to Figure 2, the work surface assembly 10 includes a primary work surface 12, a support beam 14, and first and second secondary surfaces or wings 16 and 18. A plurality of curved legs 20 having feet 22 extend downward from the support beam 14.

Adjustable feet 22 extend from the bottom of each leg 20. Feet 22 include a threaded rod (not shown) that extends upward to a threaded collar within the legs 20. The feet 22 may be rotated to adjust the positioning of each foot 22 relative to the leg 20 in order to slightly adjust the height of the work surface assembly 10. In this manner, the work surface assembly 10 may be adjusted to create a level surface when the base surface is not level.

With particular reference to Figures 2 and 5, the curved legs 20 are attached to collars 30 positioned on adjacent side of the support beam 14.

The legs 20 are curved outward toward a first end 34 and second end 36 of the primary work surface 12. This leg configuration provides the advantage of additional stability while creating a large unobstructed area beneath the primary work surface 12 for a user's legs. Button head screws 40 are used to secure the legs 20 to the collars 30. The legs 20 are preferably formed from cold rolled steel and the feet 22 are preferably formed from a plastic material.

As best seen in Figures 2-3 and 5, the support beam 14 has a generally arcuate or curved configuration. Secondary or wing attachment collars 50 are located on the ends of the support beam 14. Two substantially centrally located upstanding primary work surface support members 52 extend from a top surface 54 of the support beam 14. The work surface support members 52 are spaced a sufficient distance from the attachment collars 50 such that the secondary work surfaces 16 and 18 can rotate past

these members. The work surface support members 52 are welded to the support beam 14. The support beam 14 is preferably constructed from cold rolled steel.

The secondary work surfaces 16 and 18 are best seen in Figures 2 and 5. While the following description will be directed to the first secondary work surface 16, the second secondary work surface 18 includes like elements and functional characteristics. The secondary work surface 16 includes a curved outer edge 60 and two substantially linear or straight edges 64. The interconnected edges are preferably curved surfaces. A cavity 66 extends through the secondary work surface 16 adjacent a corner 68. An arcuate channel 70 extends adjacent the cavity 66. Figure 7 best illustrates the cavity 66 and arcuate channel 70. While the primary work surface 12 and the secondary work surfaces 16 and 18 may be constructed using a wide variety of materials or processes, the primary work surface 12 may be manufactured using an MDF board with a vinyl vacuum coating or a powder coating while a molded ABS plastic is preferred for the secondary work surfaces 16 and 18.

A best seen in Figure 5, a hub 74 is positioned within the cavity 66. A steel mounting plate 76 is attached to the bottom surface 78 of the primary work surface 12. The mounting plate 76 is fitted within a correspondingly sized indentation (not shown) within the primary work surface 12 and screws 77 are used to secure the mounting plate 76 therein.

Figure 6 illustrates the assembly of the mechanism used to provide rotation of the secondary work surfaces 16 and 18. A threaded collar 80 is positioned between the support plate 76 and the secondary work surfaces 16 and 18. A bolt 82 is positioned against a support surface 84 in the collar 50.

The bolt 82 includes a threaded end 86 that is secured within the threaded collar 80. The bolt 82 passes through the hub 74. The secondary work surface 16 can then rotate around a pivot axis defined by the bolt 82.

The secondary work surfaces 16 and 18 include channels 70 which mate with a pin 90 that extends downward from the bottom surface 78 of the primary work surface 12. The channels 70 provide a pathway in which the pin 90 travels when the secondary work surface 16 is rotated from position to position. As best seen in Figure 7, the channels 70 include a first end 94 and a second end 96 which prevent the secondary work surface 16 from being rotated outward past the positions shown in Figures 8 and 10. This mechanism prohibits the secondary work surface 16 from being rotated into an unstable position diagonal outward from the front corners 100 and 102 of the primary work surface 12.

With particular reference to Figures 8-10, the secondary work surfaces 16 and 18 can assume a wide variety of positions. Figure 8, for example, illustrates a position wherein the secondary work surfaces 16 and 18 extend outward from the sides of the primary work surface 12. A user could use this configuration to hold a phone/paperwork or a small computer. Figure 9 illustrates a position wherein the secondary work surfaces 16 and 18 are positioned completely beneath the primary work surface 12. Figure 10 illustrates a position wherein the secondary work surfaces 16 and 18 are positioned adjacent a front edge 104 of the primary work surface 12. A user could use this configuration for the same reasons described above except that these materials will be closer to the user. The secondary work surface 16 and 18 could also be oriented such that one secondary work surface extends from the side of primary work surface 12 (as shown in Figure 8) and the other secondary work surface extends from the front edge 104 of the primary work surface 12 (as shown in Figure 10). Of course, other positions are also possible.

The work surface assembly 10 can come in a wide variety of sizes; however, a width of 30", a length of 60", and a height of 281/2"may be particularly useful.

Figures 11-15 best illustrate attachment of the wire management device 120 to the work surface assembly 10. With particular reference to Figure 13, the wire management device 120 includes a cover 122 (preferably made from plastic, such as die cut polypropylene) and a steel wire frame 124.

As shown in Figure 15, an inverted J-shaped hook portion 126 is used to attach the wire management device 120 to the support beam 14. The wire management device 120 includes a plurality of spaced apart loops 130 that are adapted to have electrical wires wrapped therearound. The hook portion 126 can hold utilities such as a power strip.

The embodiments described above and shown herein are illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description and attached drawings. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the edge members and edge connection members may be reconfigured without departing from the claimed invention.

Accordingly, these and any other changes which come within the scope of the claims are intended to be embraced herein.