Technical Field

1. The present technology relates to furniture and more particularly to furniture as sembled from modular components.

2. The present technology relates generally to a table accessories for location on a table. The present technology also relates to table kits which include table acces sories for location thereon.

Background

3. Desks, workbenches, tables, storage units and other furnishings are often de

signed for a single task or a limited range of tasks. Such furnishings are some times fabricated as integral units and are therefore heavy, bulky and difficult to store.

4. Accordingly, the present technology provides a method and hardware that allows an item of furniture having interchangeable or replaceable components to be at least partially disassembled and easily reassembled. This technology allows fur nishings to be configured and reconfigured to suit different uses. In the examples provided, the technology allows different table or work tops to be used with differ ent bases and for a wide range of accessories to be easily affixed to and removed from a range of different furnishings. In particular, the technology provides for furni ture components to be stored in a manner that does not damage the fasteners re quired to assemble or disassemble the furnishings.

5. Also, known accessories for mounting on tables are limited in their usefulness. For example, known inkwells and pencil cases, as well as inkwell receivers and pen grooves, provide some positioning of tools but in a busy work area, provide limited security and flexibility of storage options for collaboration.

6. Privacy in open plan workspaces is also a concern for users of those spaces, but privacy screens are intrusive and inflexible. People like privacy but they also like to feel like they are not caged. People also change moods throughout a work day and desire to interact at certain times but retreat to do work that requires deeper con centration and fewer interruptions at other times. 7. Collaboration spaces require sharing of tools and services and it is convenient for those resources to be in different places on the desk at different times.

8. The present inventors seek to provide a new table accessory and/or an accessory kit and/or a table kit which facilitates collaboration and/or security of location in a table, and/or which at least provides a new and useful alternative to known table accessories and/or table kits.

Summary

9. Broadly, the present technology provides for two or more furniture components each having at least one surface to which is attached a loop part of a hook and loop fastening system. Although the terms“loop” and“loop textile” etc. are used in this specification, it will be understood that these terms include all textiles that will adhere to a hook textile. This family can be referred to in a general way as“hook receptive”. Adjacent components are temporarily affixed to one another with the interposition of a double-sided hook part or coupling. It will be appreciated that the relative position of the hook parts and loop textile may be reversed if required. However, covering major surfaces with loop textile rather than hook textile has ad vantages. Hook receptive textiles are less abrasive to the skin and resist damage or deformation. Carpets, felts and Velcro brand loop products are examples of hook receptive textiles or materials that may be for convenience referred to as “loop” types in this specification or claims.

1. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a recon- figurable furniture assembly including:

a frame for supporting a table top, the frame including a plurality of legs and interconnecting frame elements for interconnecting the legs;

a tabletop including a removable fastener for removably fastening to the frame.

2. In one embodiment the removable fastener is a magnet.

3. In one embodiment there is provided the table top is at least partially covered with hook-responsive material and cooperating parts of the frame are at least partially covered with hook material to cooperate with the hook responsive material when the table top is mounted on the frame. In one embodiment there is provided the cooperating parts of the frame are at least partially covered with hook responsive material and one or more intermediate double-sided hook elements for interconnecting the tabletop and frame.

In one embodiment there is provided a tile of tactile material removably mounted on an underside of the table top. The tactile material may be a whiteboard material to facilitate removable writing underneath the table on an underside of the tabletop. In one embodiment there is further provided a writing or construction tile disposed on the underside of the table top for laying down and working underneath the tabletop or for providing a tactile surface to feel with the hands while sitting at or otherwise using the table.

In one embodiment there is provided a relocatable accessory for mounting on the underside of the tabletop, the accessory including a back surface including one or more removable fasteners disposed thereon or in.

In one embodiment the removable fastener is a magnet or a hook element of the type that cooperates with loops to fasten.

In one embodiment the accessory comprises a pigeonhole or a drawer for storing items, and the removable fastener is disposed on the ceiling of the pigeonhole or drawer carcass.

In one embodiment substantially the whole upper surface of the pigeonhole or drawer carcass is covered in hook material, or there are provided strips or patches of hook material to fasten to the underside loop material of the table top.

In one embodiment there is further provided a utility element configured to be re movably fastened to an edge of the table top for spanning or joining two like recon- figurable furniture assemblies.

In one embodiment the utility element is a table top.

In one embodiment there is provided a recess in a top of the frame assembly to provide a locating region for the table top.

In one embodiment the removable fastener is a magnet.

In one embodiment the channel is configured to join two like reconfigurable furni ture assemblies together by removably fastening both their tabletops.

In one embodiment the table top is movable between a deployed position on the frame and a stowed position on a side of the frame. In one embodiment the stowed position is on a side beam spanning two legs. In one embodiment the table top includes removable fasteners to removably fasten to the frame when in the stowed position.

In one embodiment there is further provided walls that are removably fastened to the side of the frame.

In one embodiment there is provided end or side panels for removably mounting accessories.

In one embodiment the side panels include magnets or loop material for removable the end panel is substantially covered in loop material so as to facilitate reposition ing of the accessories on the end panels.

In one embodiment the accessories are taken from the group consisting of: hooks, paper roll holders; tool caddies, and tool shelves.

In one embodiment the channel includes power outlets mounted in a carriage for sliding therein.

In one embodiment there is also included an adaptor carriage for slidably fitting in the channel, the adaptor carriage for mounting a slidable privacy screen.

In one embodiment there is further provided a slidable tool caddy mounted in the channel.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a slidable general power outlet including a carriage for slidable mounting in a chan nel, and a power transforming assembly mounted in the carriage, and a socket outlet disposed on the carriage for receiving a power plug.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for a privacy screen, including a panel which is configured to adopt a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein one or more stands are frangibly dis posed in the panel in the stowed position, and configured to be pushed out of the panel to move from the stowed position to the deployed position.

In one embodiment the screen includes two layers of loop material one one either side of a substrate, for receiving hook material for mounting items thereon.

In one embodiment there are provided two stands in the panel, one disposed at each end when in the stowed position. In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tile for mounting on an underside of a table top.

In one embodiment the tile includes a removable fastener for fastening the tile to the underside of the table.

In one embodiment the tile includes on or more panels or pieces of hook fastener in use to cooperate with a loop element.

In one embodiment the tile has a writing surface on one side.

In one embodiment the tile has a tactile surface on one side, the tactile surface selected from the group consisting of: artificial grass, Lego®-style construction bumps, sand, fur, wool, and felt.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a set of tiles in accordance with claim 6, including tactile surfaces and writing sur faces on one face.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a reconfigurable furniture assembly including:

a frame for supporting a table top, the frame including an upper portion for receiving a table top, and a side support on the frame to support a table top in a stowed position;

a table top which includes fasteners configured for removable fastening, so that the table top can adopt a deployed position on the upper portion of the frame, and a stowed position on the side portion of the frame.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a an accessory for user-selectable disposition on or in a wall or work surface of the table, the accessory including a main support body for receiving and supporting tools or services, the main support body configured to be supported by and to move across a working surface of a table.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a table including one or more carriages mounted thereon for user-selectable location of services or tools.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a privacy screen configured to be mounted on a table, the privacy screen including a panel and at least one stand, the stand configured to adopt a stowed position, in which one or more stand elements are disposed coplanar with the screen, and a deployed position in which the one or more stand elements are disposed out of plane with the screen to support the screen in a standing position

In preferred embodiments, adjacent components may be fixed to one another us ing sets of the double-sided hook parts or couplings. Different sets utilise hook couplings that are tailored to the use, coupling strength and ease of disassembly required. Although sets generally utilise double sided hook couplings of the same size, different sets may use different sizes. A single set may also have couplings of different sizes.

Broadly, the present technology may provide provides accessories for user-selec table orientation or mounting on or in a wall or work surface of the table.

Broadly, one aspect of the present technology provides a table accessory for se lectable location in a table recess, the table accessory including a locating bracket for supporting sliding movement in the table recess.

Broadly, another aspect of the present technology provides a table accessory for location on a table surface, the table accessory including a screen panel which in cludes a stand including one or more stand elements which can adopt a stowed position, in which one or more stand elements are disposed coplanar with the screen, and a deployed position in which the one or more stand elements are dis posed out of plane with the screen to support the screen in a standing position. Broadly, yet another aspect of the present technology provides a carriage for se lectable location on or in a table surface, the carriage for receiving and/or support ing tools or services.

Broadly a yet further aspect of the present technology provides a table with an in tegral carriage for user-selectable location of tools or services.

The arrangement is such that in use the user can readily select and change the location of the accessories on or in the wall or work surface of the table.

Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present technology there is provided an accessory for user-selectable disposition on or in a wall or work surface of the table, the accessory including a main support body for receiving and supporting tools or services, the main support body configured to be supported by and to move across a working surface of a table. In accordance with another aspect of the present technology there is provided a table including one or more carriages mounted thereon for user-selectable location of services or tools.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present technology there is provided a privacy screen configured to be mounted on a table, the privacy screen including a panel and at least one stand, the stand configured to adopt a stowed position, in which one or more stand elements are disposed coplanar with the screen, and a deployed position in which the one or more stand elements are disposed out of plane with the screen to support the screen in a standing position.

In one embodiment the main support body is configured to slide in a cooperating recess in the wall or work surface of the table.

In one embodiment the main support body is configured to mount on a rail dis posed on or in the wall or work surface of the table.

In one embodiment the main support body is configured to mount on or in any suitable track, channel, or rail.

In one embodiment the recess, track, channel or rail is curved to support variable distance from one or more edges of the desk.

In one embodiment the recess, track, channel or rail is straight to facilitate a pre dictable and consistent movement of the main support body relative to one edge. In one embodiment the cooperating recess, track, channel or rail is variable in height above or below the wall or work surface of the table. The arrangement may be that the variation in height is variable with respect to one area, or the variation in height may be with respect to increasing distance along the track. The former variation may be by way of user-selectable variable-height supports, or the latter, for example, by way of ramps.

In one embodiment one or more portions of the recess, track, channel or rail may be variable by a user, say for example, by way of an articulating or flexible track which a user can readily bend or rotate about a pivot.

In one embodiment the main support body may be a carriage for receiving tools or services.

In one embodiment the main support body is a hollow body for receiving tools or services therein. In one embodiment there is provided one or more tool support elements for sup porting the tools in the main support body. In one embodiment the tool support el ements are integral with the main support body. In one embodiment the tool sup port elements are tool support apertures through which tools may be inserted for carriage in the hollow body of the main support body.

In one embodiment the tool support apertures extend through a wall of the main support body for reduction of parts and assembly time. In one embodiment the tool supports are clips disposed on the main support body for mounting tools on the surface of the main support body.

In one embodiment the tool support apertures are of various sizes so as to support mounting of various tools of cooperating sizes. In one embodiment the tool support apertures are circular so as to support round items such as test tubes, pens, pen cils, brushes or the like. In one embodiment there is provided a first row of aper tures of consistent size along one wall of the main support body so as to efficiently utilise the material of the upper wall of the main support body.

In one embodiment there is provided a second row of apertures of the same size as the first row of apertures spaced from the first row, with a staggered row of oth er apertures in between the first and second rows of apertures so as to efficiently use the material of the wall of the main support body.

In one embodiment the staggered row of apertures are of a smaller diameter than the first row of apertures to provide additional flexibility of storage, so that smaller items may be able to be supported in a more vertical position. This increases effi ciency of storage on the carriage, wherein most items are supported vertically, re ducing the wasted space inside the main hollow body.

In one embodiment the side walls of the main hollow body are vertical to cooperate with vertical sides of a channel set into the top of the desk surface.

In one embodiment there is provided a base wall on the carriage to support items mounted on the carriage.

In one embodiment the carriage is formed from an extrusion of plastic or alumini um or other extrudable material.

In one embodiment the carriage is formed from a sheet of metal or plastic or other foldable material. In one embodiment there may be provided a gap in the base wall so as to reduce mass of the main support body.

In one embodiment the base wall comprises flanges extending from the side walls so as to provide strength to the side walls and to reduce wear and gouges on the base of the channel in the table.

In one embodiment there are provided one or more end walls so as to inhibit ac cess to the interior of the main support body.

In one embodiment there is provided a general power outlet on the carriage top wall to provide power to desk users at user-selectable locations.

In one embodiment there is provided on board power to the general power outlet.

In one embodiment the on board power may be batteries.

In one embodiment there is provided a power lead which may be inlet to the hollow interior of the main body through one or more base or the end walls.

In one embodiment the one or more end walls is in the form of a downwardly-de pending skirt to inhibit access to live wires inside the main hollow body.

In one embodiment the carriage may include wheels or other friction-reducing de vices.

In one embodiment the carriage includes locks for locking the carriage in a select ed location in the channel, track or rail.

In one embodiment the main hollow body is in the form of an adaptor bracket which supports a thin privacy screen in a wide channel.

In one embodiment the adaptor bracket includes cooperating channel support walls spaced distal the centreline, and/or the privacy screen, and privacy screen support walls spaced further inwards therefrom so as to support a privacy screen in a more controlled manner than it would be should it be placed in the wide chan nel. The arrangement is such that the privacy screen is mounted may be support ed in a more vertical position with less mass, in a channel that is wider than the screen. The adaptor bracket may support the screen at an angle to the vertical or it may be provided with adjustable support walls to provide the screen with an ad justable repose relative to vertical.

The width of the screen support walls may be adjustable to fit various privacy screens. 50. The privacy screen may be constructed from foam. The advantage of the foam is that it is light and may receive pins or other fasteners.

51. The privacy screen may include a fuzzy or loop surface liner which is configured to receive and mount hooks from hook surfaces.

52. The privacy screen may include fuzzy or loop surfaces on two sides for receiving hook-fasteners on either or both sides.

53. The adaptor bracket may include an open pocket disposed at one or more sides of the screen, for storage of items.

54. The adaptor bracket may be open at the base to reduce mass.

55. The adaptor bracket may include wheels or other friction reducing devices.

56. The adaptor bracket may include a cutaway in the channel support walls to facili tate access to the pocket. The cutaway may be in the top edge to reduce the height of the channel support walls.

57. In one embodiment there are provided caddies for storing collections of items in cluding pens, tablets, and tools, the caddies including one or more hook-pads on a rear surface for mounting on loop surfaces and ready relocation thereon.

58. The caddies in one embodiment are extruded and cut, or folded from a sheet of metal or plastic.

59. The caddies may include baskets or boxes, or hook manifolds or peg boards. The advantage of the fasteners is that they may be disposed on a wall of hook-recep tive material and thus may be readily relocated on that wall so as to suit a fresh collaborative position of one or more users.

60. In one embodiment the hooks may be of differing lengths so that they can support differing widths of hooked items. Larger items may be hung from the longer hooks, but fewer of them, while relatively more smaller items may be hung deeper in the manifold, toward the back frame element.

Advantages

61. Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention include carriages to deploy various services across the surface of a work table. This facilitates collaboration and privacy when required. Clarifications

62. In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date:

(a) part of common general knowledge; or

(b) known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

63. It is to be noted that, throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word 'comprise' and variations of the word, such as 'comprising' and 'comprises', is not intended to exclude other variants or additional components, integers or steps.

Brief Description of the drawings

64. In order to enable a clearer understanding, a preferred embodiment of the technol ogy will now be further explained and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

65. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a furnishing in accordance with the present tech nology.

66. Figure 1a is a cross sectional view of a double sided coupon or coupling and op tional spacer that connects adjacent hook receptive textile covered items.

67. Figure 2 is a perspective view, partially exploded and inverted of the apparatus de picted it in figure 1.

68. Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially exploded of the apparatus depicted in fig ure 1.

69. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a furnishing illustrating the use of accessories.

70. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a furnishing illustrating a work surface with over hang.

71. Figure 6 is a perspective view of an intermediate coupling having hooked textile material on both sides.

72. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a stack of couplings of the type depicted in figure 6. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a furnishing having an upper surface comprising a whiteboard.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of adjacent basis having work surfaces of different heights.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an accessory roll holder. Figure 11 is a perspec tive view of a bin carrying accessory.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of various accessories attached to a side surface of a base.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a dual use holding accessory.

Figure 13a is a perspective view of the device shown in figure 13.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a bin holding accessory and bins.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a storage rack for tops or work surfaces.

Figure 16 illustrates the use of two bases in three different ways.

Figure 17 illustrates a storage cube and its top surface.

Figure 18 illustrates versatile positionings of loop textile material on both a base and under-surface of various tops.

Figure 19 is an exploded perspective of four bases unified by a single flooring sur face that will bear the weight of one or more persons.

Figure 19a is a perspective view of a base and top illustrating an alternate position ing of the top relative to the base.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the stage made from two riser sections. Figure 21 is an exploded perspective illustrating the construction of a riser.

Figure 22 illustrates a base covered in hook receptive material and having edges of three different lengths.

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a partition or folding panel assembled using mul ti-faced, double-sided, hook textile couplings.

Figure 24 shows in perspective and top plan view a multi-faced coupling having a single and central hinge line.

Figure 25 is an isometric view from in front of a bin;

Figure 26 is an isometric view from behind of the bin; Figure 27 is an isometric view from in front of a basket;

Figure 28 is a isometric view from behind of a basket;

Figure 29 is an isometric view from in front of a movable privacy screen carriage;

Figure 30 is an isometric view from behind of a movable privacy screen carriage;

Figure 31 is an isometric view from in front of a hook manifold bracket;

Figure 32 is an isometric view from behind of a hook manifold bracket;

Figure 33 is an isometric view from behind of a second embodiment of a hook manifold bracket;

Figure 34 is an isometric view from in front of the second embodiment of hook manifold bracket;

Figure 35 is an isometric view from behind of a peg board;

Figure 36 is an isometric view from in front of a peg board;

Figure 37 is an isometric view from in front of a movable power outlet carriage; Figure 38 is an isometric view from behind of a movable power outlet carriage;

Figure 39 is an isometric view from behind of a third embodiment of a hook mani fold;

Figure 40 is an isometric view from in front of the third embodiment of a hook man ifold;

Figure 41 is an isometric view from in front of a tablet or book support ledge;

Figure 42 is an isometric view from behind of the tablet or book support ledge;

Figure 43 is an isometric view from in front of a desk-mounted privacy screen;

Figure 44 is an isometric view from behind of a desk-mounted privacy screen;

Figure 45 is an isometric view from in front of a pencil-carriage;

Figure 46 is an isometric view from behind of a pencil carriage;

Figure 47 is an isometric view of a table for receiving a movable carriage;

Figure 48 is an isometric view of a peg board with various hooks mounted thereon; and

Figure 49 is an isometric view of a stack of single- or double-sided hook fasteners for mounting the items shown in Figures 25 to 28, 31 to 36, and 39 to 42; Figure 50 is an isometric view of a reconfigurable table with a removably fastened table top using hook and loop fasteners between table top and frame elements; Figure 51 is an underside isometric view of the table top of Figure 50, showing hook-receptive covering on the underside of the table;

Figure 52 is an isometric view of a reconfigurable table, similar to that shown in Figure 50 but including a desktop storage unit integral with the tabletop assembly; Figure 53 is an underside isometric exploded view of the table shown in Figure 52; Figure 54 is an underside isometric view of the table of Figure 51 , with tactile pan els removably disposed on the underside;

Figure 55 shows top and underside isometric views of the panels and storage components configured to mount on the underside face of the tabletop shown in Figures 50 to 54;

Figure 56 is an isometric view of a reconfigurable table, same as shown in Figures 52 and 53, with some portions cutaway for clarity;

Figure 57 is a rear isometric view of the reconfigurable table shown in Figures 52 and 53, but with the table top in a stowed position;

Figure 58 is an isometric view of the table top of the reconfigurable table, with cut away details of the disposition of magnetic fasteners;

Figure 59 is a rear isometric view of the table shown in Figure 52 with the tabletop in the stowed position;

Figure 60 is a front isometric view of the reconfigurable table shown in Figure 52 with the table top in the deployed position;

Figure 61 is a front isometric view of the reconfigurable table shown in Figure 52, removably joined with another of the same structure, the join being a removable utility channel removably fastened to the desktop storage units;

Figure 62 is a front isometric view of the reconfigurable table shown in Figure 52, with the tabletop in the deployed position;

Figure 63 is an isometric view of the reconfigurable table shown in Figure 52, but with a second table assembly joined by a tabletop to form a robot arena; 129. Figure 64 is an isometric view of two reconfigurable tables of Figure 52, joined by a full-size robot arena tabletop, itself supported by an intermediate reconfigurable module; and

130. Figure 65 is an elevation view of the arrangement of Figure 65.

Detailed description of an example embodiment

131. As shown in figure 1 a furnishing 100 comprises a number of different, removable and interchangeable components. The components shown include base units 101 , 102, a horizontal work surface 103 and utility components including removable bins 104 and removable tool holders 105. Together, the various components make a workbench or desk arrangement 100. The term base is intended to any structure that is capable of receiving a top, work surface or accessory. A base may have subdivisions, internal compartments, drawers, shelves or removable bins etc. A base may have wheels, handles or other features for mobility.

132. In the example of figure 1 , all or substantially all of the upper surfaces of each of the base 101 , 102 is permanently covered with a web of material being a continu ous extent of loop textile of the kind used in a hook and loop fastener system. Preferably, at least one side face of each base is completely or substantially cov ered (or partially covered) with a continuous extent of loop textile. An underside of the table top or work surface 103 is also completely, substantially, or partially cov ered with an extent of loop textile as shown in figures 2 and 3.

133. With reference to figures 1a and 6, the provision of adjacent surfaces 120, 121 each bearing loop textile material 122, 123 allows a double-sided hook coupling 124 to be interposed between the two adjacent surfaces. In this way, the top 103 is easily afixable to the bases 101 , 102 and the various accessories carrying loop textile are easily afixable to any loop covered surface including the base sides 106.

134. Wth reference to figure 1a, the coupling 124 may be understood as being formed as a double-sided textile. The double-sided hook textile coupling 124 shown in fig ure 1a may be composed of a single web covered on both sides with hook pile, or separate single-sided hook textiles jointed back to back, or in a back to back man ner with a central spacer, padding or stiffening element located between hook tex tile sides or lozenges. In the context of these examples, circular lozenges are shown. It will be understood that the overall coupling shape as defined by the shape of the lozenge extends to regular shapes, irregular shapes, teardrop shapes and generally without limitation with the aim of fixing or joining adjacent loop textile surfaces.

As shown in figure 2, the underside 200 of a top, cover, or work surface is substan tially covered with loop textile 201 it will be understood that the extent of coverage depends largely on the actual use of the furnishing. The greater the extent of cov erage, the more aesthetic and versatile. In general, covering the entire surface 200 is preferred. Although the bases 102, 103 are shown inverted in figure 2, it will be understood that the upper surface 202 of each base is also covered in loop textile material as previously described and also shown in figure 3. As suggested in figure 2, the underside of the work surface 200 is affixed to the upper surface of the base or bases 202 utilising a single or a set of double sided couplings 203, 204. In this example, one base 103 is affixed to the underside of the work surface utilising small couplings 203. The other base 102 is affixed to the underside of the top us ing large couplings 204. Each coupling comprises a disc or other shape having hook textile on both of its surfaces 205, 206. The larger coupling 204 makes the top more difficult to remove whereas the smaller couplings 203 make the furniture components easier to disassemble. The larger diameter couplings 204 are shown as having flat rather than loop type tabs 210. The tabs assist with the removal of the couplings from the loop textile and may serve to carry a brand or other mes sage. It will be apparent that the tabs can be applied to the smaller couplings 203 also.

Figure 3 illustrates more clearly that the upper surface of a base 102 is at least partially if not completely covered with loop textile material 301. It will be appreci ated that this arrangement allows the spacing between the two bases 101 , 102 to be varied (see figure 16). The same arrangement allows different sized tops e.g. 103 or tops having different functions or characteristics to be used with the same or similar bases 101 , 102.

As suggested by figure 4, a top 400 may be sized and located to be flush with the side edges 401 of the one or more bases 402, 403 to which it is attached. In the example of figure 4, the sides of each base 402, 403 are covered with loop textile to make convenient the attachment of a variety of accessories. Each accessory has an attachment surface adjacent to the side of the base to which it is removably attached. Each attachment surface is covered in loop textile material. A double- sided hook coupling (or several of them) may be interposed between an accessory and an adjacent surface that is covered in loop textile such as the side of a base 402.

Figure 5 illustrates that a work surface or top 500 may be arranged to overhang the sides of a base 501. The extent of overhang H may be determined by the user or assembler of the furnishing.

As shown in figure 6, a coupling 610 used to join adjacent hook surfaces compris es a disc or other shape having on each of its two sides 600, 601 a substantially continuous extent of hook textile. The two sides 600, 601 may be separated by an intermediary disc 602. The intermediary disc may act as a spacer to create an in tentional gap between adjacent surfaces that the coupling is attached to. Preferably each coupling 610 carries or has affixed to it a tab 603. The tab is used to more easily remove the coupling 610 from a surface to which it is attached in this example, the tab 603 forms a loop. The loop 603 may be used to suspend a hook or other item from. It will be apparent that the loop 603 can be replaced by a flat tab.

As shown in figure 7, couplings of the type depicted in figure 6 may be formed in a stack for convenient storage and deployment. As suggested by figure 7, the cou plings are easy to separate from one another because each is hook textile covered on both sides.

It will be apparent from the example of figure 8 that the removable surface 804 is not limited to work surfaces and whiteboards. The invention contemplates black board surfaces, touchscreen surfaces and other surfaces susceptible to supporting a loop fastener textile on an underside of the attachment surface.

Although wheels are casters 801 are shown in figure 8, the understood that he un der-surface of the base may bear any number of accessories such as spikes, slides, rails, feet, gliders or pads.

Figure 8 illustrates a base 800 having casters or other wheels 801. The interior space of the base is subdivided into compartments 802 each compartment is adapted to hold sliding and removable bins 803. The removable upper surface 804 is constructed with a loop textile underside as previously described. In this exam ple, the upper surface 804 is in the form of a whiteboard which can be written on and easily erased. The sides of the base are covered in loop textile material 805 so that adjacent bases or accessories may be easily attached to it and thereafter removed.

As shown in figure 9, adjacent bases 900, 901 may be affixed to one another in the manner previously described. Adjacent surfaces are covered in loop textile materi al and double-sided hook couplings 610 are interposed between them. In this ex ample, the bases have different heights and a top 902, 903 is affixed to each base, one top 903 overlapping the other.

Various accessories that may be utilised with the technology are shown in figures 10 - 14. Figure 10 illustrates a roll dispenser comprising a bracket 1000 having opposing ears 1001 , 1002. A rod 1003 extends between the two ears. In this way a roll of material, tape or paper 1004 is removably received by the rod 1003. The back or obverse face 1005 of the dispenser carries and extent of loop textile mate rial and is thereby attachable to another loop covered surface utilising one or more couplings of the kind depicted in figures 1a and 6.

A utility bin holder is depicted in figure 11. The bin holder 1101 is formed from a”L” shaped bracket 1102 having a vertical surface 1103 and a horizontal surface 1104. The obverse of the vertical surface 1103 is covered with loop textile material and thereby a fixable to another surface as shown in figure 1a. The outer surfaces of both the horizontal and the vertical portions 1103, 1104 are also optionally covered with loop textile material 1105 allowing for the affixation of yet other accessories. The underside of the horizontal part 1104 carries channels 1106 adapted to carry bins 1107 that cooperate with the channels.

As shown in figure 12, various accessories may be removably attached to a single surface. In this example, the surface is the vertical side of a base 1201. Shown are a roll dispenser 1000, a tool holder 1202 and an accessory hook component 1203. In each instance, the accessory has an obverse surface which is covered in loop textile and thus readily attachable to and removable from the adjacent base sur face 1201 as seen in figure 1a. The tool holder 1202 comprises an L shaped bracket having holes 1203 formed on its horizontal surface.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a multipurpose bin holder accessory bracket. As shown in figure 13, the bin holder bracket 1300 comprises a flat panel 1301. One edge of the panel is straight 1302. An opposite edge of the panel 1303 carries scallops or indentations 1304. The obverse or backside of the panel carries a length of loop textile material 1305. As suggested by figures 13a and 14, the bin holder accessory can be used in two distinct orientations. When affixed to an adja cent surface in the manner suggested by figure 13 a, the scallops 1304 define pro trusions 1306 which may be used to hang clothing, cables, wires or other small objects. When inverted as shown in figure 14 the edge 1302 being spaced apart from an adjacent surface by the loop material 1305 may be used to affix bins or other items 1401 having a receiving channel 1402 that cooperates with the edge 1302.

As suggested by figure 13, a set of couplings 1320 may comprise couplings of dif ferent sizes. In this example, a full width circular coupling 1321 is used toward each end of the hanger accessory 1300. It is“full width” because it extends about the full width of a corresponding hook receiving surface. A smaller coupling 1322 is used to support the centre part of the hanger 1300.

It will be appreciated that one of the purposes of the present technology is to allow a variety of different tops or work surfaces to be interchangeably used with a vari ety of bases. Thus, it may be convenient to store tops that are not in use. As shown in figure 15, the technology provides a work surface or top storage unit 1500. The unit 1500 comprises opposite side panels 1501 , 1502. Each panel car ries an array of inclined slots 1503 that align with one another. Each pair of oppos ing slots is adapted to carry a top or work surface 1504. Because the work sur faces carry only loop textile material they are not easily damaged when handled or stored. In this example and without limitation, four surfaces may be stored in a compact and convenient way without risk of damage.

By way of example, figure 16 illustrates the versatility of the present technology. It can be seen that bases 1600 may be utilised in different ways with a single top 1601. When the bases 1600 are separated widely the top 1601 covers only a por tion of the upper surface of each base leaving a portion of the loop textile covered upper surface 1602 exposed. In another arrangement, the top 1601 is positioned with respect to the bases so that the edges of the top and the bases are flush 1603. In another arrangement the bases are in back-to-back contact 1604 such that the top 1601 overhangs 1605 each of the two bases.

Figure 17 illustrates a storage cube 1700 having a top 1701. The underside of the top 1702 and the upper edge 1703 of the cube carry loop textile material such that double sided hook couplings may be interposed between them. To provide ade- quate surface area for the coupling to work well, the thickness of the sides of the cube is, for example, about 30mm. The cubes may be fabricated from honeycomb panels for weight saving. The upper surface 1705 of the top 1701 may be a white board surface, or smooth or padded.

With regard to figure 17 it will be appreciated that the seat, table or storage cube 1700 may be formed with any number of sides and in practically any size and that different boxes may be nested within one another. In this example, the cube may be inverted or otherwise used as a seat or a table.

As shown in figure 18, a base 1800 has an upper surface 1801 that is substantially covered with an array of loop textile material 1802, 1803, 1804. In the first example 1802 a circular hook receiving textile has a diameter that is about the same as the width W of the base 1800. In this example it is centrally located on the top. One cooperating top 1810 has a corresponding circular loop textile 1811 adhered per manently to its under-surface 1812. Another base 1801 has full width loop textile panels 1803 permanently adhered to its upper surface 1801. Corresponding pan els 1813 are positioned adjacent the ends of a cooperating top. In a third example, the upper surface of a base 1815 carries a loop textile panel 1816 that reaches neither the ends nor the sides of the top 1815. In effect the loop textile panel 1804 is bordered on all sides by a horizontal extent of the upper surface 1815. A corre sponding top has a central loop textile surface 1816 that is also bordered on all four edges by the under-surface 1817 of the top. It will be appreciated that a single base is capable of cooperating with a number of different tops. Equally, a single top may be utilised with a number of different base styles.

Many practical considerations govern the location and extent of loop textile cover age. Size, number and spacing determines the characteristics of the adhesion be tween adjacent surfaces. In some applications adhesion is more important than versatility. The reverse may also be true. It will be understood that only some ap plications are suitable for essentially permanent attachment between adjacent hook receptive textiles. The surface area of the totality of couplings between sur faces determines the characteristics of the disassembly process. The location of the couplings is also an important consideration. It will also be appreciated that a thin blade such as a ruler or spatula may be used to slide between and thus sepa rate a coupling from an adjacent surface. As shown in figure 19, sturdy bases 1900 are used to support a performance sur face 1901. The performance surface 1901 is required to span the gap G between bases 1900 and support the weight of one or more humans. Thus the surface 1901 is anticipated to be about an inch thick, rigid and having on its under-surface a suitable pattern of loop textile.

Previous examples have shown tops and bases generally aligned with one anoth er. However as shown in figure 19a a base 1950 need not have any particular ori entation with a cooperating top 1951. Particularly when both the entirety of the up per surface 1952 and the under-surface of the base 1953 are entirely covered in loop textile, practically any orientation between top and base may be achieved. In this example the top is orthogonal to the base. The extent of overhang may be lim ited by practical or safety considerations.

As shown in figure 20, a stage or performance area 2000 is formed from two risers 2001 , 2002 each riser is composed of a number of bases 2003, 2004. In this ex ample sets of bases are formed from bases of different heights 2003, 2004 the sets of bases may be attached to one another in the manner previously described along adjacent surfaces 2005, 2006. When the bases are fully or substantially covered around their sides with loop textile material, exposed areas adjacent the performance surfaces 2007, 2008 present as soft to the touch, colourful, safe and durable. Because the space below the performance surfaces 2007, 2008 can be occupied primarily by the volume of the bases, a person falling between adjacent surfaces 2007, 2008 is prevented. In this way, a more complicated three-dimen sional performance bases may be easily and conveniently assembled, used and disassembled.

As shown in figure 21 , each base 2100 used in conjunction with a stage preferably incorporates an intermediate double-sided hook coupling 2102 that covers the substantial or entire area of the upper surface 2103 of the base 2100. Circular couplings 2102 or rectangular 2104 couplings may be used.

In the example of figure 22, a base 2200 has parallel sides and edges of three dif ferent lengths. In this example, one edge 2201 is 300mm, one edge 450mm 2202 and one edge 600mm 2203. This allows three different heights to be achieved with the same base 2200. 161. Figure 23 illustrates the interconnection of three flat panels 2300 utilising hinges 2301 that are fabricated principally or entirely from double sided hook textile. As shown in figure 24, the hinges 2301 are made from pairs of double-sided hook tex tile that are joined along a common longitudinal seam or axis 2400. As shown in figure 24 four arms 2401 extend from the longitudinal or hinge axis 2400.

162. It will be appreciated that the technology has been described and illustrated with respect to particular examples but that these examples should not be considered as limitations to the scope of the technology.

163. Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word

comprises or comprising will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated inte ger or feature but not the exclusion of any other integer or feature.

Further accessories

164. Now referring to Figures 25 to 49 there is shown accessories generally indicated at 10, or 110, or 210, or 310, or 410, etc, depending on the embodiment being dis cussed. In that regard, it is to be understood that like numerals being described, across various aspects and embodiments, denote like features.

165. An accessory 10 is configured to be moved about a surface or wall of a table 12 by a user to suit different needs or moods of people working at the table 12.

166. The accessory 10 may be removably located on or in a wall 13 or work surface 14 of the table 12, the accessory 10 including a main support body 15 for receiving and supporting tools or services, the main support body 15 configured to be sup ported by, and to move across, the working surface 14 of the table 12.

167. Thus, the table 12 may include one or more accessories 10 in the form of car riages 19 mounted thereon for user-selectable location of services or tools.

168. The main support body 15 is shown to be guided by guide 16 in the form of a co operating recess 17 on or in the wall 13 or work surface 14 of the table. 169. The embodiments of the accessories 10 at Figures 25 to 28, 31 to 36 and 39 to 42 are shown to be user selectable as to disposition on the wall 13 by being readily- removable on the wall 13. The fasteners to hold those accessories 10 on the wall are loop-cooperating hook fasteners 30. In the other Figures, being 29, 30, 37, 38, 45, and 46, the main support body 15 is guided by a guide 16 in the form of a channel 18. The channel 18 is straight.

Channel-guided utility accessory

170. First, turning to the channel-guided utility. It can be seen that the main support body 15 is in the form of a carriage 19 for receiving tools or services. The main support body 15 is a hollow body 31 for receiving tools or services therein.

171. The hollow body 31 is in the form of one or more tool support elements 32 for sup porting the tools (not shown) in the main support body 15. The tool support ele ments 32 are integral with the main support body 15. The tool support elements 32 are tool support apertures 33 through which tools may be inserted so that they may be carried in the hollow body 31 of the main support body 15.

172. The tool support apertures 33 extend through a wall 34 of the main support body for reduction of parts and assembly time. The tool support apertures 33 are of var ious sizes so as to support mounting of various tools of cooperating sizes. So it can be seen that the tool support apertures 33 are circular 35 so as to support round items such as test tubes, pens, pencils, brushes or the like (not shown). It can be seen that there is provided a first row of apertures 36 of consistent size along one wall of the main support body so as to efficiently utilise the material of the upper wall of the main support body. There is also provided a second row of apertures 37 of the same size as the first row of apertures spaced from the first row, with a staggered row of other apertures 38 in between the first and second rows of apertures 36, 37 so as to efficiently use the material of the wall of the main support body.

173. The staggered row of apertures 38 are of a smaller diameter than the first row of apertures to provide additional flexibility of storage, so that smaller items may be able to be supported in a more vertical position. This increases efficiency of stor age on the carriage, wherein most items are supported vertically, reducing the wasted space inside the hollow body 31. The side walls of the hollow body 31 are vertical to cooperate with vertical sides 9 of the channel 18 set into the top of the desk surface 14.

There is provided a base wall 41 on the carriage 19 to support items mounted on the carriage 19. The carriage 19 is formed from an extrusion of plastic or alumini um or other extrudable material.

The carriage 19 is formed from a sheet of metal or plastic or other foldable material for strength and rigidity and to reduce friction when sliding along the channel.

There is provided in some embodiments a gap 42 in the base wall so as to reduce mass of the main support body. The base wall 41 comprises flanges 43 extending from side walls 44, 45 so as to provide strength to the side walls and to reduce wear and gouges on the base of the channel 18 in the table 12.

There are provided one or more end walls 46, 47 so as to inhibit access to an inte rior 48 of the main support body 15.

As shown in Figure 37 and Figure 38, there is provided a general power outlet (GPO) 150 in the tool support aperture 134 of the carriage top wall 134 to provide power to desk users at user-selectable locations. That is, the GPO 150 can be moved on the carriage 118 to any position in the channel 19 so that users can more easily share power at the table 12.

The GPO 150 has on board power (not shown), which may be batteries (not shown). There is a power lead (not shown) which may be inlet to the hollow interior 48 of the main body 15 through one or more base or end walls 46,47.

The one or more end walls 46, 47 are in the form of downwardly-depending skirts 152, 153 to inhibit access to live wires inside the main hollow body 15.

Slidable privacy screen

Turning now to Figures 29 and 30 there is shown a main hollow body 15 in the form of an adaptor bracket 60 which supports a thin privacy screen 8 in channel 18. The adaptor bracket 60 includes cooperating channel support walls 61 spaced dis tal the privacy screen 8, and privacy screen support walls 62 spaced further in wards therefrom so as to support the privacy screen 8 in a more controlled manner than it would be, should it be placed in the wider channel 18. The effect of the arrangement of the adaptor 60 is such that the privacy screen 8 is mounted in a more vertical position with less mass, in a channel 18 that is wider than the screen 8.

The privacy screen 8 may be constructed from foam 5. The advantage of the foam is that it is light and may receive pins or other fasteners. The privacy screen 8 in cludes at least one fuzzy or loop surface liner 4 which is configured to receive and mount hooks from hook surfaces. Hook fastener panels 70 are shown in Figure 25 which may be single-sided or double-sided. If they are single-sided then the back of one of them adheres to the back of the accessory 10 for mounting on the priva cy screen if desired, but if they are double-sided then the back wall of the accesso ry 5 and the wall 13 of the table 12 must be coated in a layer of loops, or hook-re ceptive material.

The adaptor bracket 60 includes an open pocket 63 disposed at one or more sides of the screen, for storage of items. The adaptor bracket 60 further includes a cut away 64 in the channel support walls to facilitate access to the pocket 63. The cut away 64 is in the top edge 65 to reduce the height of the channel support walls 61.

Repositionable caddies

The embodiments of the accessories 10 in Figures 25 to 28, 31 to 36 and 39 to 42 are caddies 80 for storing collections of items including pens, tablets, and tools, the caddies including one or more fasteners 70 in the form of hook-pads on a rear surface for mounting on loop surfaces and ready relocation thereabout

The caddies 80 are extruded and cut, or folded from a sheet of metal or plastic 81. The caddies 80 may include baskets 82 or boxes 83, or hook manifolds 84 or peg boards 85. The advantage of the fasteners 70 is that they may be disposed on a wall of hook-receptive material and thus may be readily relocated on that wall so as to suit a fresh collaborative position of one or more users. 187. In one embodiment the hooks on the hook manifolds 84 are of differing lengths so that they can support differing widths of hooked items. Larger items may be hung from the longer hooks 88, but fewer of them, while relatively more smaller items may be hung deeper in the manifold on the shorter hooks 86, toward the back frame element 87.

Privacy screen kit

188. In Figures 43 and 44, there is shown a privacy screen 30 configured to be mount ed on the table 12 or in the channel 18, the privacy screen 30 including a panel 32 and at least one stand 34, the stand 34 configured to adopt a stowed position, in which one or more stand elements are disposed coplanar with the screen 30, and a deployed position in which the one or more stand elements are disposed out of plane with the screen to support the screen in a standing position. The stand 34 may be cut out of the screen 30 but can be pushed out of its planar position and then rotated and fitted into the deployed position to hold the screen 30 in a vertical position. The screen 30 may be covered in a liner of hook-receptive material just as with the other privacy screen 8. The hook-receptive material may mount ele ments shown in Figures 25 to 28, 31 to 36 and 39 to 42 thereon. The screen 30 may be made from foam just as with green 8 and the screen may be placed in the channel 18 and the stands 34 may be just as long as the channel is wide so as to provide the screen 30 with vertical support when it is disposed in the channel 18.

189. Advantageously, the various accessories 10 shown in Figures 25 to 49 provide re locatable services and tools across a desk surface 14 or wall 13 of a table 12. Some accessories 10 are in the form of carriages 19 which cooperate with tracks or channels 18 and other accessories 10 can be readily moved around walls 13 because they have hook and loop fasteners on their mating surfaces, or double sided hook surfaces on a fastener 70 for being interposed between loop surfaces.

Further embodiments

190. Turning to Figures 50 to 65, there are shown other embodiments of the present technology. First, in Figures 50 and 51 , and 52 and 53, there is shown a table, somewhat simi lar to that shown in Figure 18, the difference being that there is a base 5010 hav ing a frame 5012 which has the upper surface of a plurality of frame elements 5014 substantially covered with hook textile material. A detachable table top 5020 is at least partially covered on an underside with cooperating loop textile material 5022. The table top 5020 can be removed and reoriented by sliding a long, thin blade between table top 5020 and frame element 5014 and peeling up the top. The table top 5020 has substantially the whole underside of the tabletop 5020 covered with the hook receptive material, obviating the need to be too accurate with the tabletop placement during application to the frame.

Figures 52 and 53 show a similar arrangement to that shown in Figures 50 and 51. Thus, a reconfigurable mobile table 5210 is shown, disposed on castors 5205. The table top 5220 is in the form of a desktop storage unit 5221 which includes integral pigeonholes for storage. There are provided in the desktop storage unit 5221 three pigeonholes divided by two dividing walls 5222. An outer surface of the desktop storage unit 5221 is substantially covered by hook receptive material 5225 so as to cooperate with hook material disposed on the top of frame elements 5214.

The desktop storage unit 5221 includes a retainer 5227 in the form of a perimeter wall 5229 disposed at least partially around the perimeter. The perimeter wall 5229 is disposed around three sides, which are left, right and rear, of the desktop stor age unit so as to create a recess, which locates the table top 5220 on the desktop storage unit. End panels 5230 and 5232 are provided on the mobile table 5210. End panel 5230 is at least partially covered in hook-receptive material so as to co operate with a fastener of the type shown in Figure 49, so as to fasten any of the accessories shown in Figures 25, 26, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39 - 42, whereas the end panel 5232 is a pegboard 5233 which may fasten or hang items in the known way. A pegboard such as that shown in Figure 35, 36 or 48 may be fastened onto end panel 5230 with the hook pads 70 which are mounted on the back of the peg- board 4810. Figures 54 and 55 show tactile panels 5420 and other accessories 5422 which are configured to be disposed on an underside of the tabletop 5220 and 5020 and in deed any other tabletop, which may be removably or otherwise permanently fas tened to the frame elements 5014. The tactile panels 5420 or other accessory 5422 may be removably fastened to the underside of the tabletop 5020 or 5220 by hook pads configured to cooperate with the hook-responsive material 5424, the hook pads being of the type shown in Figure 49 at 70.

Accessory 5422 is in the form of a pigeonhole for storage, which can be stored un der the desktop 5220.

Tactile panel 5420 may have covering of artificial grass, or Lego®-type construc tion bricks, or blackboard paint, or whiteboard coating, or may be of any like material.

It is considered that panels of tactile material, such as 5420 and described above, when disposed under a student desk, may facilitate learning by providing some thing interesting for the student’s haptic sense to encounter while learning or studying. The panels may facilitate self-soothing which in some instances may be desirable for better retention or behaviour in class. Furthermore, the underside of the desk is an area which may be useful to actually use for writing on, or construct ing structures on, to give students a different perspective. Changing seating posi tion, providing more elements to explore, such that students may be partially or wholly disposed under desks to study and learn, is considered to extend attention during class, and embodiments of the present technology facilitate those goals. Turning to Figures 56 to 61 , there is shown the mobile table 5210 of Figures 52 and 53, with some parts shown in cutaway to show underlying structures.

Removable table top 5720 is shown to be reconfigurable. The removable desktop storage unit 5722 and table top 5720 can adopt a deployed position on a table top as shown in Figures 60 and 61. The perimeter wall 5229 locates the table top in the deployed position and a fastener removably fastens the table top 5720 in the deployed position on the desktop storage unit 5722 with a retaining force. The keeper is a magnetic element 5730 which is disposed in the tabletop 5720 and configured to be attracted to a ferrous strap 5740 disposed in an upper region of the desktop storage unit 5722. The magnetic element 5730 is mounted in corner regions of the table top 5720 and in a through aperture which is sealed at its ends by a ferrous steel cover 5735 to change the magnetic field direction. The magnetic element 5730 is symmetrically positioned in the through aperture so that the magnetic keeping force is the same when the desktop 5720 is right-way-up or upside-down.

The deployed position for the table top 5720 can itself be in two positions: face up and face down. One face of the table top 5720 can be as a desktop or writing or making surface. This face is flat and includes a groove 5725 so as to temporarily keep writing elements, tools and the like, to inhibit their falling off the edge of the desk. The underside face of the table top 5720 is smooth, and forms part of a robot ics arena when used in conjunction with another table module.

The table top 5720 can also adopt a stowed position which is on the side of the table frame as shown in Figure 59. In the stowed position, the table top 5720 is disposed vertically, and rests on a horizontal frame element 5750. To keep it in the vertical position, the magnet keepers 5730 removably fasten the table top to the ferrous frame elements 5760. In the stowed position, the table top 5720 can be easily carried around it being on the side of the reconfigurable table assembly, and can operate in that position as a modesty panel, or other type of closure to close off the space for a different perspective of learning, where the student can sit un derneath the desktop storage module 5721 and work on the underside thereof. Figure 61 shows a pair of reconfigurable table assemblies 6110 and 6112 that are in a maker configuration. In the maker configuration, the two table assemblies are disposed adjacent one another, separated by, and joined by, a utility channel 6130. The utility channel 6130 is removably fastened to the tables. The utility channel 6130 is removably fastened to the desktop storage unit 6125. The way that the util ity channel is removably fastened to the desktop storage unit is by way of hook fasteners disposed on outside cooperating faces of the utility channel 6140. Those outer cooperating faces cooperate with loop surfaces 6125 which are disposed on the outside of the desktop storage unit 6122.

The accessories disclosed herein above, and shown in Figures 25 to 49, can slid ably mount in the removable channel for greater utility and access to those items. 206. Figures 63, 64 and 65 show a robotics arena which has been formed by reconfig uring two reconfigurable table assemblies, which are embodiments of the present technology. Shown are two reconfigurable mobile tables 6310 and 6311. The ta bles are identical in structure and are the same tables as described herein above in relation to Figure 57. The difference is that the table tops 6320 and 6321 are re configured into the upside down configuration and rotated so that they extend across from one table end of one table 6310 to the other end of the other table 6311. An intermediate table top 6323 is provided as an infill panel, completing the robot arena.

207. Walls 6360 are provided on the robotic arena. The walls are provided to retain the robots on the arena when they are battling or manoeuvering. The walls are recon figurable from a deployed position on the side of the desktop storage unit to a stowed position elsewhere. The walls may be removably fastened by magnets or hook and loop fasteners, the hooks being disposed on cooperating surfaces (the interior of the concave angled surface as shown in Figure 63). The hooks cooper ate with the loop surface 6235 disposed on the outer surface of the desktop stor age unit 6322.

208. In the embodiment shown in Figures 64 and 65, a separate, larger and rectangular table top 6399 is provided in one piece and extends across the length of two tables 6310 and 6311 and is supported at an intermediate position by an intermediate module 6350. The intermediate module is retained in position by guides 6375 dis posed on an undersurface of the tabletop 6399.

209. It is to be understood that the reconfigurable tables can receive several different types of tabletop and the tabletops can have different surfaces thereon, so that by flipping the table, a new configuration can be deployed or utilised.

Clarifications

210. Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.