Table and meeting constructions and arrangements

Abstract

A table construction with first and second table members with proximal ends and distal ends and with a base structure and at least one support surface retained by the base structure wherein the first and second table members can be disposed in a chevron arrangement, such as by pivoting. Plural support surfaces can be retained by the base structures or a single, generally continuous support surface can be retained by each base structure. The support surfaces can be retained by support arms that can be laterally and vertically pivotable, and the support surfaces can be rotatably retained relative to the support arms. Where a single support surface is retained relative to each table member, proximal edges of the support surfaces can cooperate to define a V-shaped configuration that can be closed by a pivoting of the first table member relative to the second table member.

I claim as deserving the protection of Letters Patent:  
     
         1 . A table construction comprising: 
 a first table member with a proximal end and a distal end wherein the first table member comprises a base structure and at least one support surface retained by the base structure;    a second table member coupled to the first table member wherein the second table member has a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the second table member comprises a base structure and at least one support surface retained by the base structure; and    a means for disposing the first table member and the second table member in a chevron arrangement.    
     
     
         2 . The table construction of  claim 1  wherein the means for disposing the first table member and the second table member in a chevron arrangement comprises a means for pivotally coupling the first table member to the second table member whereby the first and second table members can be pivoted between a closed configuration wherein the first table member is in proximity to the second table member and an open configuration wherein the first and second table members are disposed in a chevron arrangement.  
     
     
         3 . The table construction of  claim 1  wherein plural support surfaces are retained by the base structure of the first table member and wherein plural support surfaces are retained by the base structure of the second table member.  
     
     
         4 . The table construction of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the plural support surfaces is retained by a support arm that has a proximal end coupled to the respective base structure and a distal end coupled to the respective support surface.  
     
     
         5 . The table construction of  claim 4  wherein the support arm is laterally pivotable relative to the respective base structure whereby the location of the support surface retained by the support arm can be adjusted relative to the respective base structure.  
     
     
         6 . The table construction of  claim 5  wherein the support surface is rotatably coupled to the support arm whereby the orientation of the support surface relative to the support arm can be adjusted.  
     
     
         7 . The table construction of  claim 4  wherein the support arm is vertically pivotable relative to the respective base structure whereby the height of the support surface retained by the support arm can be adjusted relative to the respective base structure.  
     
     
         8 . The table construction of  claim 7  wherein the support arm is laterally pivotable relative to the respective base structure whereby the location of the support surface retained by the support arm can be adjusted relative to the respective base structure.  
     
     
         9 . The table construction of  claim 8  wherein the support surface is rotatably coupled to the support arm whereby the orientation of the support surface relative to the support arm can be adjusted.  
     
     
         10 . The table construction of  claim 7  wherein the support arm is vertically pivotable relative to the respective base structure by a parallel movement joint arrangement.  
     
     
         11 . The table construction of  claim 7  wherein the support surface is pivotable about a horizontal axis relative to the distal end of the support arm whereby the angular disposition of the support surface can be adjusted.  
     
     
         12 . The table construction of  claim 7  further comprising a means for locking the support surface at a given height.  
     
     
         13 . The table construction of  claim 3  wherein each of the plural support surfaces retained by the base structure of the first table member and each of the plural support surfaces retained by the base structure of the second table member is retained by a support arm that has a proximal end coupled to the respective base structure and a distal end coupled to the respective support surface.  
     
     
         14 . The table construction of  claim 2  wherein each of the first and second table members has a support surface with a support surface proximal edge, a support surface distal edge, a support surface facing edge, and a support surface outside edge, wherein the support surface proximal edges cooperate to define a generally V-shaped configuration when the first and second table members are disposed in a closed configuration, and wherein the support surface proximal edges tend to pivot into proximity when the first and second table members are pivoted to an open configuration.  
     
     
         15 . The table construction of  claim 14  further comprising at least one generally wedge-shaped insert and a means for removably and replaceably disposing the wedge-shaped insert within the generally V-shaped configuration defined by the support surface proximal edges when the first and second table members are disposed in a closed configuration.  
     
     
         16 . The table construction of  claim 14  wherein the support surface distal edges cooperate to define a generally V-shaped configuration when the first and second table members are disposed in a closed configuration and further comprising a stand with a platform with a wedge-shaped portion whereby the stand can be disposed with the wedge-shaped portion of the platform occupying at least part of the generally V-shaped configuration defined by either the support surface proximal edges or the support surface distal edges when the first and second table members are disposed in a closed configuration.  
     
     
         17 . The table construction of  claim 3  further comprising a means for providing lighting relative to each of the plural support surfaces.  
     
     
         18 . The table construction of  claim 17  wherein the means for providing lighting relative to each of the plural support surfaces comprises a low-level lighting arrangement associated with each of the plural support surfaces.  
     
     
         19 . The table construction of  claim 2  wherein the base structures of the first and second table members each comprise elongate frameworks with a support leg disposed at a proximal end thereof and a support leg disposed at a distal end thereof wherein the support legs at the proximal end of the elongate frameworks each extend diagonally outboard of the elongate frameworks of the first and second table members.  
     
     
         20 . The table construction of  claim 19  further comprising at least one caster rotatably coupled to each of the frameworks.  
     
     
         21 . The table construction of  claim 1  further comprising electrical wiring and connecting elements operably associated with each of the first and second table members for providing access to power and data capabilities.  
     
     
         22 . The table construction of  claim 21  further comprising a means for retaining power and data cords relative to each support surface.  
     
     
         23 . The table construction of  claim 22  wherein the means for retaining power and data cords relative to each support surface comprises a cord retaining inlet within each support surface.  
     
     
         24 . The table construction of  claim 1  further comprising a means for altering the number of support surfaces retained by the base structures of the first and second table members.  
     
     
         25 . The table construction of  claim 24  wherein the means for altering the number of support surfaces retained by the base structures of the first and second table members comprises at least one modular base structure extension and a means for coupling the modular base structure extension to one of the base structures of the first and second table members.  
     
     
         26 . The table construction of  claim 25  wherein each base structure extension retains at least one support surface.  
     
     
         27 . The table construction of  claim 26  wherein the at least one support surface retained by each base structure extension is retained by a support arm that has a proximal end coupled to the base structure extension and a distal end coupled to the support surface.  
     
     
         28 . The table construction of  claim 3  further comprising at least one elongate central platform retained by the base structure of the first or second table members wherein the elongate central platform is disposed inboard of the plural support surfaces.  
     
     
         29 . A meeting arrangement comprising: 
 a table construction comprising a first table member with a proximal end and a distal end wherein the first table member comprises a base structure and at least one support surface retained by the base structure; a second table member coupled to the first table member wherein the second table member has a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the second table member comprises a base structure and at least one support surface retained by the base structure; and a means for disposing the first table member and the second table member in a chevron arrangement; and    a conferencing structure for being disposed in proximity to the table construction.    
     
     
         30 . The meeting arrangement of  claim 29  wherein the conferencing structure comprises a stand with a platform supported by a support structure.  
     
     
         31 . The meeting arrangement of  claim 30  wherein each of the first and second table members has a support surface with a support surface proximal edge, a support surface distal edge, a support surface facing edge, and a support surface outside edge, wherein the support surface proximal edges cooperate to define a generally V-shaped configuration when the first and second table members are disposed in a closed configuration, wherein the support surface proximal edges tend to pivot into proximity when the first and second table members are pivoted to an open configuration, wherein the support surface distal edges cooperate to define a generally V-shaped configuration when the first and second table members are disposed in a closed configuration and wherein the platform of the stand has at least a wedge-shaped portion whereby the stand can be disposed with the wedge-shaped portion of the platform occupying at least part of the generally V-shaped configuration defined by either the support surface proximal edges or the support surface distal edges when the first and second table members are disposed in a closed configuration.  
     
     
         32 . The meeting arrangement of  claim 31  wherein the stand further comprises a means for adjusting a height of the platform and a means for adjusting a pitch of the platform.  
     
     
         33 . The meeting arrangement of  claim 29  wherein the conferencing structure comprises a modular base framework comprising first and second stanchions, upper and lower cross members each with first ends coupled modularly to the first stanchion and second ends coupled modularly to the second stanchion, an upper support surface for supporting at least one display article, and at least one lower support surface whereby stanchions, cross members, and support surfaces of varied lengths can be employed to vary a size of the conferencing structure.  
     
     
         34 . The meeting arrangement of  claim 29  wherein the conferencing structure comprises a combination display arrangement comprising a base, multiple display elements, and a means for enabling a selective display of one or more of the display elements.  
     
     
         35 . The meeting arrangement of  claim 34  wherein the means for enabling a selective display of one or more of the display elements comprises a means for enabling at least one display element to slide into and out of an overlapping relationship with at least one other display element.  
     
     
         36 . The meeting arrangement of  claim 29  wherein the conferencing structure comprises a teleconferencing arrangement with a display screen, a camera system, and a means for supporting the display screen and the camera system.  
     
     
         37 . A table construction comprising: 
 a first table member with a proximal end and a distal end wherein the first table member comprises a base structure and at least one support surface retained by the base structure;    a second table member coupled to the first table member wherein the second table member has a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the second table member comprises a base structure and at least one support surface retained by the base structure; and    a means for pivotally coupling the proximal end of the first table member to the proximal end of the second table member whereby the first and second table members can be pivoted between a closed configuration wherein the first table member is in proximity to the second table member and an open configuration wherein the first and second table members are disposed in a chevron arrangement.    
     
     
         38 . The table construction of  claim 37  wherein plural support surfaces are retained by the base structure of the first table member and wherein plural support surfaces are retained by the base structure of the second table member wherein the plural support surfaces are each retained by a support arm that has a proximal end coupled to the respective base structure and a distal end coupled to the respective support surface.  
     
     
         39 . The table construction of  claim 38  wherein the support arm is laterally pivotable relative to the respective base structure whereby the location of the support surface retained by the support arm can be adjusted relative to the respective base structure.  
     
     
         40 . The table construction of  claim 38  wherein the support surface is rotatably coupled to the support arm whereby the orientation of the support surface relative to the support arm can be adjusted.  
     
     
         41 . The table construction of  claim 38  wherein the support arm is vertically pivotable relative to the respective base structure whereby the height of the support surface retained by the support arm can be adjusted relative to the respective base structure.  
     
     
         42 . The table construction of  claim 37  wherein each of the first and second table members has a support surface with a support surface proximal edge, a support surface distal edge, a support surface facing edge, and a support surface outside edge, wherein the support surface proximal edges cooperate to define a generally V-shaped configuration when the first and second table members are disposed in a closed configuration, and wherein the support surface proximal edges tend to pivot into proximity when the first and second table members are pivoted to an open configuration.  
     
     
         43 . The table construction of  claim 42  further comprising at least one generally wedge-shaped insert and a means for removably and replaceably disposing the wedge-shaped insert within the generally V-shaped configuration defined by the support surface proximal edges when the first and second table members are disposed in a closed configuration.