FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a furniture system for use in an open office environment which has plentiful natural light. The furniture system includes components which help to reduce or eliminate glare arising from plentiful natural light present in modem open office environments. The furniture system also includes components designed to provide a measure of privacy for office workers to improve concentration while working in an open environment.

SUMMARY

[0003] Various embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[0004] In one embodiment an articulated light shade is provided herein including a stand having a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion is stiffer than the second portion, and the first portion defines a longitudinal axis. The second portion is flexible such that the second portion is movable relative to the first portion. A screen is coupled to the second portion of the stand, wherein the screen is rotatable about the longitudinal axis and tiltable relative to the longitudinal axis.

[0005] In another embodiment an articulated light shade assembly is provided herein including a base for supporting the articulated light shade assembly, a first flexible stand extending from the base, a first screen coupled to the first flexible stand, where the first screen is movable relative to a first axis. An articulated light shade assembly further includes a second flexible stand extending from the base, and a second screen coupled to the second flexible stand, where the second screen is movable relative to a second axis. The second axis is spaced apart from the first axis, and the first axis extends parallel to the second axis.

[0006] In yet another embodiment an articulated light shade is provided herein including a stand having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end, where at least a portion of the stand between the first end and the second end is flexible. A screen is coupled to the first end of the stand, where the screen is a planar panel. An attachment member is coupled to the second end of the stand, where the attachment member is configured to removably couple the stand to a piece of furniture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an articulated light shade according to one embodiment where the articulated light shade is coupled to a desk.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the articulated light shade shown in FIG. 1 shown without the desk.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the articulated light shade shown in FIG. 1 where the articulated light shade is bent in a forward direction.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the articulated light shade shown in FIG. 1 where the articulated light shade is rotated towards a first side.

[0011] FIG 5 is a perspective view of the articulated light shade shown in FIG. 1 where the articulated light shade is rotated towards a second side.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the articulated light shade shown in FIG. 5.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a rear plan view of the articulated light shade shown in FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 8 illustrates the articulated light shade of FIG.1 being tilted to the left and to the right.

[0015] FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the articulated light shade shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 10 illustrates the articulated light shade of FIG.1 being tilted forwards and backwards.

[0017] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an articulated light shade according to another embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an articulated light shade according to yet another embodiment. [0019] FIG. 13 is a front plan view of the articulated light shade of FIG. 12.

[0020] FIG. 14 is a side plan view of the articulated light shade of FIG. 12.

[0021] FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the articulated light shade of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

[0023] Modem work spaces are often designed to create naturally lit spaces by allowing sunlight to travel throughout a work environment. Rather than creating workspaces that are separated by either closed offices or a tall partition walls, many workspaces are designed with an open concept. These workspace designs may include free standing desks with minimal office walls, or low partition walls. While the open concept workspaces have certain benefits, such as allowing natural light to flow through the work environment, there are also certain drawbacks. For example, the lack of individual office spaces and tall partition walls enables light to shine on work screens (i.e., computers, laptops, smart screens, etc.) from many angles, creating a glare that can be bothersome to the eyes. This light may include natural sunlight, as well as light illuminated from overhead lights or desk lamps. Accordingly, light shades may be useful to help block at least a portion of the light that may create a glare on a work screen.

[0024] FIGS. 1-10 illustrate an articulated light shade 10 in accordance with one embodiment. The articulated light shade 10 includes a screen 12 for casting shade in a desired portion of a user’s workspace. The screen 12 is supported by a vertical mast or stand 14. In some embodiments, the stand 14 can be clamped to a desk 16 or tabletop.

The stand 14 is bendable (i.e., like a gooseneck) and can be bent and pivoted in any direction to adjust the position and attitude of the screen 12 over the user’s workspace.

[0025] The screen 12 is a light-weight screen 12 that can be easily supported by the stand 14. The screen 12 may be composed of a foam board, plastic panel, fabric panel, or any other light-weight material capable of being supported above a user’s workspace and casting shade on a user’s workspace. Referring to FIG. 2, the illustrated screen 12 is a rectangular screen 12. The illustrated screen 12 is also a planar or flat panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the screen 12 has a length L and a width W that is less than the length L. The length L may be, for example, between 30 and 40 inches. The width W may be, for example, between 20 and 30 inches. However, in other embodiments, the screen 12 may be various shapes and sizes such as circular, triangular, curvy, etc.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the screen 12 may not be shaped as a flat panel. For example, the screen 12 may have a curved shape or may have edges extending around its perimeter.

[0026] The illustrated screen 12 is coupled to the stand 14 at a location offset from the center of the screen 12. More particularly, the stand 14 is coupled to the screen 12 at a location midway between the long edges of the screen 12, but closer to one of the short edges of the screen 12. Such an arrangement allows a majority of the screen 12 to be positioned over a user, but still somewhat balanced over the stand 14. In some embodiments, the screen 12 may be coupled to the stand 14 at the center of the screen 12. In other embodiments, the screen 12 may be coupled to the stand 14 at or near an edge of the screen 12.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the stand 14 is an elongated cylindrical tube. However, in other embodiments, the stand 14 and the screen 12 may have other shapes and sizes. For example, the stand 14 can be a height that is appropriate for use on top of a work surface, as shown in FIG. 2, or may be a height that is appropriate for use as a floor stand ing shade, as shown in FIG. 12. For example, when used as a tabletop light shade 10, the stand 14 may have an overall height of between 30 and 40 inches. When used as a floor standing light shade 10, the stand 14 may have an overall height of between 60 and 90 inches.

[0028] The stand 14 includes a first portion 18 that is stiff and supportive and a second portion 20 that is flexible and movable relative to the first portion 18. The first portion 18 and the second portion 20 may have various ratios relative to one another. For example, in some embodiments, the first portion 18 and the second portion 20 may be approximately equal lengths (e.g., the second portion 20 is ½ the height of the stand 14). In other embodiments, the second portion 20 may be greater than or less than the length of the first portion 18. For example, the second portion 20 may be 1/3 the height of the stand 14. In some embodiments, the second, flexible portion 20 may be the entire stand 14 such that the stand does not include a first, stiff portion. In further embodiments, the second, flexible portion 20 may be a middle portion of the stand 14 positioned between two stiff portions of the stand 14.

[0029] The first portion 18 is composed of a stiff material that maintains a generally straight (i.e., non-curvy) shape. Accordingly, the first portion 18 defines a longitudinal axis A extending along its length. For example, the first portion 18 may be composed of steel, aluminum, wood, hard plastic, or other material that can be used to support the second portion 20 and the screen 12 in an upright position. In other embodiments, the first portion 18 may have other shapes that retain their shape (i.e., non-flexible shape) in order to provide support for the second portion 20. For example, in some embodiments, the first portion 18 may have a curvy shape that is fixed and non-flexible. In this embodiment, the axis A of the first portion 18 is defined by a line extending between a first end and a second end of the first portion 18.

[0030] The second portion 20 of the stand 14 is flexible relative to the first portion 18 of the stand 14 and can be used to adjust the position and the orientation of the screen 12. For example, the second portion 20 can extend upwards in a generally straight direction along the axis A defined by the first portion 18, as shown in FIG. 2. When the second portion 20 is aligned along the axis A of the first portion 18, the screen 12 is positioned at its tallest height HI, for example, above the desk 16. The second portion 20 can also be bent, twisted, rotated, or otherwise adjusted to move or reorient the screen 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the second portion 20 is bent over into a u-shape in order to create a gooseneck support for the screen 12. When the second portion 20 is bent into a u- shaped, the screen 12 is lowered to a second height H2, which is lower than height HI.

[0031] Additionally, the second portion 20 of the stand 14 can be twisted in order to rotate the screen 12 to different positions about the axis A. For example, twisting the second portion 20 may rotate the screen 12 from a forward facing position, as shown in FIG. 4, towards the right (e.g., a first rotational direction Rl) or towards the left (e.g., a second rotatoinal direction R2), as shown in FIGS. 4-6. These same orientations are also possible when the second portion 20 is aligned along the axis A and the screen 12 is positioned at height HI.

[0032] Furthermore, the second portion 20 of the stand 14 may be bent in order to tilt the screen 12 to different angles. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, when the second portion 20 is aligned along the axis of the first portion 18, the screen 12 is oriented parallel to a plane PI, where PI is defined as the plane extending perpendicular to the axis A. However, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, the second portion 20 may be bent in order to reorient the screen 12 to an angle that is not parallel to the plane PI. For example, the screen 12 may be tilted (i.e., a first tilt direction Tl) relative to the plane PI.

[0033] Similarly, the second portion 20 of the stand 14 may be used to shift the screen 12 on or off-axis. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, when the second portion 20 of the stand 14 is aligned along the axis A of the first portion 18, the screen 12 is also positioned along the axis A. However, the second portion 20 can be moved relative to the first portion 18 of the stand 14 in order to shift the screen 12 off-axis. For example, referring to FIG. 8, the second portion 20 of the stand 14 can be shifted towards the right or left of the axis A in order to shift the screen 12 towards the right (i.e., a first shift direction SI) or left (i.e., a first shift direction S2). Likewise, referring to FIG. 9, the second portion 20 of the stand 14 can be moved forwards or backwards relative to the axis A in order to shift the screen 12 in a forwards direction (i.e., a forward shift direction S3) or backwards direction (i.e., a rearward shift direction S4). As will be understood by a person of ordinary still in the art, the flexible second portion 20 enables the screen 12 to be rotated, tilted, and shifted to positions in between the example positions described herein such that the movement of the screen is not limited to discrete positions.

[0034] The positions and the orientations described can also be used in conjunction with one another in order to adjust the screen 12 to the user’s desired shade position. For example, the second portion 20 of the stand 14 may shift the screen 12 off-axis while also tilting the screen 12 to an angle that is not parallel to the plane PI defined by the axis A of the first portion 18 of the stand 14. The ability of the screen 12 to be positions and oriented in a variety of angles allows a user to adjust the screen 12 to block more or less light from reaching a work screen 12 or work area. In addition, this flexibility allows the screen 12 to be repositioned to track movement of the sun throughout the day. [0035] The light shade 10 may also include an attachment member 22 that enables the light shade 10 to be removably coupled to a desk 16 or a tabletop. The attachment member 22 is coupled to an end of the stand 14 opposite from the screen 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment member 22 is an edge clamp that grips the edge of a worksurface. In other embodiments, the attachment member may include threaded connections, weights, or other connections capable of removably coupling the light shade 10 to a desk 16. In some embodiments, the light shade 10 may be coupled to the desk 16 by magnets or an adhesive. In further embodiments, the light shade 10 may be coupled to the desk 16 by a dedicated or universal receptacle (e.g., a threaded hole, an accessory track, etc.) of the desk 16. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the light shade 10 may be permanently fixed to a desk 16.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the screen 12 is directly connected to the second portion 20 of the stand 14 without any joints, hinges, or the like therebetween. In some embodiments, the stand 14 may be rotatably connected to the clamp assembly 22 through a ball joint, hinge, or other pivotable connection. Similarly, in some embodiments, the stand 14 may be rotatably connected to the screen 12 through a ball joint, hinge, or other pivotable connection.

[0037] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the stand 14 may include an accessory hook 24 for hanging accessories such as headphones, keys, a water bottle, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the accessory hook 24 is a single post extending in an upward direction from the first portion 18 of the stand 14. In other embodiments, the accessory hook 24 may include a plurality of posts for hanging multiple accessories.

[0038] FIG. 11 illustrates a light shade assembly 100 according to another embodiment in which the light shade assembly 100 includes a base 126 supporting a plurality of light shades 110. The illustrated light shade assembly 100 may be a tabletop (or desk 116) light shade assembly 100 in which the base 126 is designed to support the light shades 110 on a desk 116. Alternatively, the illustrated light shade assembly 100 may be a floor standing light shade assembly 100 in which the base 126 is designed to support the light shades 110 from a ground surface. Alternatively, the base 126 may be replaced by a clamp or other suitable coupling means to couple the light shade assembly 100 to a desk or tabletop. The base 126 may be different sizes and shapes in order to suit the tabletop design and the floor standing design.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the base 126 supports a first light shade 110A and a second light shade 110B spaced apart from one another. In other embodiments, the light shade assembly 100 includes a greater number of light shades 110. With continued reference to FIG. 11, the base 126 supports a first flexible stand 114A extending upward from the base 126 and a first screen 112A coupled to the first flexible stand 114A. The light shade assembly 100 further includes a second flexible stand 114B extending upward from the base 126 and a second screen 112B coupled to the second flexible stand 114B. The first stand 114A defines a first longitudinal axis B1 and the second stand 114B defines a second longitudinal axis B2. The axes Bl, B2 are generally parallel to one another. The first screen 112A and the second screen 112B can move relative to one another to block light emitted from different directions.

[0040] The light shades 110 illustrated in FIG. 11 may include the features described above with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-10. For example, each of the first stand 114A and the second stand 114B may include a first portion 118 A, 118B and a second portion 120 A, 120B that is adjustable relative to the first portion 118A, 118B. Accordingly, the first screen 112A and the second screen 112B may be independently adjusted relative to the first stand 114A and the second stand 114B, respectively, in order to create shade as desired by the user(s).

[0041] FIGS. 12-15 illustrate a light shade assembly 200 according to another embodiment in which multiple screens 212 extend from a single stand 214. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the light shade assembly 200 includes a base 226, a stand 214, and a plurality of screens 212. The stand 214 extends upward from the base 226 and defines a central longitudinal axis C. The plurality of screens 212 each extend outwardly from the stand 214 at an oblique angle relative to a plane P2 defined as the plane extending perpendicular to the axis C. In some embodiments, the screens 212 are adjustable relative to the stand 214 and relative to each other such that they may be pivotated or rotated to different orientations in order to create the desired shade. In other embodiments, the screens 212 are fixed relative to the stand 214 and may not be adjusted. [0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the light shade assembly 200 include three screens 212, which each have the same size and shape. Specifically, each of the screens 212 has a triangular shape of the same size. The illustrated screens 212 are generally spaced circumferentially apart in equal amounts. However, in other embodiments, the screens 212 may have other sizes and shapes. For example, the screens 212 may be rectangular, circular, organic, etc. Likewise, the screens 212 may each have a different size and shape relative to one another. Moreover, in some embodiments, the light shade assembly 200 may include a greater or fewer number of screens 212.

[0043] Similar to the light shade assembly 200 illustrated in FIG. 11, the light shade assembly 200 illustrated in FIGS. 12-15 may be a table top (or desktop) light shade assembly 200 in which the base 226 is designed to support the light shades on a table top. Alternatively, the illustrated assembly may be a floor standing light shade assembly 200 in which the base 226 is designed to support the light shades from a ground surface. The base 226 may be different sizes and shapes in order to suit the tabletop design and the floor standing design.

[0044] Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.