Workspace habitat

Abstract

A workspace habitat and community of workspace habitat habitats, wherein each workspace habitat includes a first wall having a generally semi-circular horizontal cross section. Each habitat further includes at least one door having a horizontal cross section in the shape of at least one sixth of a circle, but not more than three quarters of a circle. Each door is moveable between an open and closed position. When each door is in the closed position, each workspace habitat is fully enclosed.

1 . A workspace habitat comprising: 
 a wall adapted to rest on a floor and having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of at least half, but not more than three quarters of a circle, thereby defining an opening in the workspace, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and    a first door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of at least one quarter, but not more than half of a circle, said first door being movable between a closed position wherein said first door closes at least a portion of said opening to thereby create an enclosed workspace, and an open position wherein one side edge of the first door is adjacent one side edge of the wall and wherein another side edge of the first door is adjacent the outer surface of the wall, to thereby create an open workspace; and    wherein the enclosed workspace has dimensions suitable for a user to work in either a standing or a sitting position.    
   
   
       2 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  further comprising a second door, and wherein each of the first door and the second door have a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of one quarter of a circle.  
   
   
       3 . The workspace habitat of  claim 2  wherein the wall, the first door and the second door each comprise a ceiling portion, and wherein the ceiling portions cooperate to close the top of the workspace when the door and the second door are in the closed position.  
   
   
       4 . The workspace habitat of  claim 3  wherein the ceiling portions of the wall and the first and second door are all generally horizontal.  
   
   
       5 . The workspace habitat of  claim 3  wherein the ceiling portions of the wall and the first and second door all slope down from a point generally in the horizontal center of the workspace habitat.  
   
   
       6 . The workspace habitat of  claim 3  wherein the ceiling portion of the wall slopes down from a point generally in the horizontal center of the workspace habitat, and wherein the ceiling portions of the first and second door are all generally horizontal.  
   
   
       7 . The workspace habitat of  claim 3  wherein the first door and the second door are pivotally joined to the wall through a pivot point in the ceiling portions, said pivot point located at approximately the horizontal center of the workspace.  
   
   
       8 . A workspace habitat comprising: 
 a wall adapted to rest on a floor, the wall having a first and second side edge, a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of half of a circle, an outer surface and an inner surface, with the inner surface supporting at least one shelf;    a first door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a quarter of a circle, having first and second side edges, and being movable between an open position wherein the first door is positioned along the outer surface of the wall and wherein the first side edge of the first door is adjacent the first side edge of the wall, and a closed position wherein the second side edge of the first door is adjacent the first side edge of the wall; and    a second door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a quarter of a circle, having first and second side edges, and being movable between an open position wherein the second door is positioned along the outer surface of the wall and wherein the first side edge of the second door is adjacent the second side edge of the wall, and a closed position wherein the second side edge of the second door is adjacent the second side edge of the wall;    whereby, when both the first and second doors are in the closed position, the first side edges of the first and second doors are adjacent and an enclosure is formed with a generally circular shaped horizontal cross section.    
   
   
       9 . A workspace habitat comprising: 
 a wall adapted to rest on a floor and having a ceiling portion, said wall having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of at least half, but not more than three quarters of a circle, thereby defining an opening in the workspace, and said wall having an inner and outer surface; and    a first door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of at least one quarter of a circle, said first door having a ceiling portion, wherein said first door is movable between a closed position wherein said first door closes at least a portion of said opening, and an open position.    
   
   
       10 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  wherein said wall is semi-stationary.  
   
   
       11 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  wherein said wall is supported by a plurality of rollers, thus facilitating transport of said workspace habitat along a floor.  
   
   
       12 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  wherein said first door is positioned along said outer surface of said wall when in the open position.  
   
   
       13 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  wherein said first door is pocketed within said wall when in the open position.  
   
   
       14 . The workspace habitat of  claim 7  wherein said first ceiling portion is sloped.  
   
   
       15 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  wherein the wall is made of rigid frame members covered by at least one panel.  
   
   
       16 . The workspace of  claim 15  wherein the panel is made of a light transmitting material.  
   
   
       17 . The workspace of  claim 15  wherein the first door is made of rigid frame members covered by at least one panel.  
   
   
       18 . The workspace of  claim 17  wherein the panel of the wall and the panel of the door are both made of a light transmitting material.  
   
   
       19 . The workspace of  claim 18  wherein the light transmitting material is transparent.  
   
   
       20 . The workspace habitat of  claim 19  further comprising light-filtering features.  
   
   
       21 . The workspace habitat of  claim 20  wherein said light-filtering features are adjustable by a user of said workspace habitat.  
   
   
       22 . The workspace habitat of  claim 21  wherein said light-filtering features comprise rotating blinds.  
   
   
       23 . The workspace habitat of  claim 20  wherein said light-filtering features are static.  
   
   
       24 . The workspace habitat of  claim 23  wherein said light-filtering features are opaque areas.  
   
   
       25 . The workspace habitat of  claim 23  wherein said opaque areas include a visibility gradient.  
   
   
       26 . The workspace habitat of  claim 25  wherein said visibility gradient is a series of horizontal lines.  
   
   
       27 . The workspace habitat of  claim 17  wherein the panel of the wall and the panel of the door are made from a material independently selected from the group consisting of metal, glass and plastic.  
   
   
       28 . The workspace habitat of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the panels of the wall or the door is designed to enhance noise reduction.  
   
   
       29 . The workspace habitat of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the panels is designed to allow ambient light to enter the workspace habitat.  
   
   
       30 . The workspace habitat of  claim 2  wherein at least one caster is attached to each of said first and second doors, thereby assisting in moving between said open and closed positions.  
   
   
       31 . The workspace habitat of  claim 3  wherein the top plan view of the ceiling portion of the wall is generally in the shape of half of a circle and the top plan view of said ceiling portions of the first and second doors are generally in the shape of a quarter of a circle.  
   
   
       32 . The workspace habitat of  claim 11  wherein at least one of said first, first or second doors includes a window.  
   
   
       33 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  wherein said workspace habitat is pre-wired for power and data.  
   
   
       34 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one environmentally enhancing device controllable by a user of the workspace habitat.  
   
   
       35 . The workspace habitat of  claim 34  wherein said device is controllable by a touch-activated control panel.  
   
   
       36 . The workspace habitat of  claim 34  wherein said device is controlled by voice.  
   
   
       37 . The workspace habitat of  claim 34  wherein said at least one environmentally enhancing devices includes lighting for a user of said workspace habitat.  
   
   
       38 . The workspace habitat of  claim 37  wherein said lighting is supported by said wall.  
   
   
       39 . The workspace habitat of  claim 37  wherein said lighting is incorporated into said wall.  
   
   
       40 . The workspace habitat of  claim 37  wherein said lighting is LED lighting.  
   
   
       41 . The workspace habitat of  claim 34  wherein said at least one environmentally enhancing feature comprises a ventilation system.  
   
   
       42 . The workspace habitat of  claim 41  wherein said ventilation system comprises a fan.  
   
   
       43 . The workspace habitat of  claim 41  wherein said ventilation system comprises a heating unit.  
   
   
       44 . The workspace habitat of  claim 41  wherein said ventilation system comprises a cooling unit.  
   
   
       45 . The workspace habitat of  claim 41  wherein said ventilation system comprises a thermostat, settable by a workspace habitat user.  
   
   
       46 . The workspace habitat of  claim 34  wherein said environmentally enhancing feature comprises an audio system.  
   
   
       47 . The workspace habitat of  claim 34  wherein said environmentally enhancing feature comprises a video display within said workspace habitat.  
   
   
       48 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  wherein said wall includes at least one vertically oriented hanger frame.  
   
   
       49 . The workspace habitat of  claim 48  wherein said at least one hanger frame includes a plurality of slots.  
   
   
       50 . The workspace habitat of  claim 48  wherein said wall has at least two pieces of office furniture attached at two different heights.  
   
   
       51 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1 , wherein the wall has an inner surface and further comprising a worksurface shaped to fit against the inner surface of the wall.  
   
   
       52 . The workspace habitat of  claim 51  wherein said worksurface is attached to said inner surface of the wall.  
   
   
       53 . The workspace habitat of  claim 51  wherein said worksurface is self-supported and movable within said workspace habitat.  
   
   
       54 . The workspace habitat of  claim 51  wherein said worksurface comprises an extension which is extendable to a position that allows a user of said workspace habitat to sit behind the extension of said worksurface while looking out of said workspace habitat when either one or both of said first and second doors are in the open position.  
   
   
       55 . The workspace habitat of  claim 51  wherein said worksurface comprises a first extension and a second extension, and said first extension extends as said first door is moved from said open position to said closed position, and said second extension extends as said second door is moved from said open position to said closed position.  
   
   
       56 . The workspace habitat of  claim 2  wherein said wall and said first and second doors are all supported by rollers, thus facilitating transport of said workspace habitat along a floor.  
   
   
       57 . The workspace habitat of  claim 56  wherein said rollers supporting said wall can be locked to thereby make said wall stationary while said rollers on said first and second doors facilitate the movement of said first and second doors between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       58 . The workspace habitat of  claim 2  wherein said first and second doors are supported on tracks affixed to said wall.  
   
   
       59 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  further comprising a floor.  
   
   
       60 . The workspace habitat of  claim 59  wherein said floor is circular and generally covers the space below said closed workspace habitat.  
   
   
       61 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  further comprising an outlet panel for utilities, selected from the group consisting of power, data and telephone as well as combinations thereof.  
   
   
       62 . The workspace habitat of  claim 1  wherein a user can lock said first and second doors in the closed position, thereby enclosing said workspace habitat.  
   
   
       63 . A workspace habitat comprising: 
 a wall adapted to rest on a floor and having a first ceiling portion, a second ceiling portion, and a defined opening to said wall, said wall having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a half of a circle, and said wall having an inner and outer surface;    said first ceiling portion slopes upwardly away from said wall toward the top horizontal center of said workspace habitat, said first ceiling portion having a cross section generally in the shape of half of a circle;    said second ceiling portion extending horizontally away from the top horizontal center of said workspace habitat opposite said first ceiling portion, and said second ceiling portion having a cross section generally in the shape of a half of a circle;    said first and second ceiling portions defining a footprint for said workspace habitat in a generally circular shaped cross section;    a pole extending downwardly from said second ceiling portion, and said pole supported by a floor;    a first door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a quarter of a circle, said first door having first and second side edges, and said first door being movable between an open position wherein said first side edge of said first door is adjacent to said second side edge of said wall, and a closed position wherein said second side edge of said first door is adjacent said second side edge of said wall and said first side edge of said first door is adjacent to said pole;    a second door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a quarter of a circle, said second door having first and second side edges, and said second door being movable between an open position wherein said first side edge of said second door is adjacent said first side edge of said wall, and a closed position wherein said second side edge of said second door is adjacent said first side edge of said wall and said first side edge of said second door is adjacent to said pole;    said first and second doors are positioned along said outer surface of said wall; and    whereby when both said first and second doors are in the closed position, said first side edges of said first and second doors are adjacent to each other and said pole, and an enclosure is formed with a generally circular shaped horizontal cross section.    
   
   
       64 . A workspace habitat comprising: 
 a wall adapted to rest on a floor and having a first ceiling portion and a defined opening to said wall, said wall having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape half of a circle, and said wall having an inner and outer surface; and    a first door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a square and is positioned along said outer surface of said wall, said first door having a second ceiling portion, and said first door is configured to be movable between a closed position wherein said first door closes at least a portion of said defined opening to said wall, and an open position wherein said first door does not close said defined opening to said wall;    a second door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a square and is positioned along said outer surface of said wall, said second door having a third ceiling portion, and said second door is configured to be movable between a closed position wherein said second door closes at least a portion of said defined opening to said wall, and an open position wherein said second door does not close said defined opening to said wall; and    whereby when both said first and second doors are in the closed position, said first and second doors are adjacent and an enclosure is formed with a cross section generally in the shape of a rectangle with a semi-circular end.    
   
   
       65 . A workspace habitat comprising: 
 a wall adapted to rest on a floor and having a first ceiling portion and a defined opening to said wall, said wall having an inner and outer surface, and said wall having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of half of a circle;    a first pole and a second pole, said first pole extending from said wall at about a 60 degree angle and said second pole extending from said wall at about a 60 degree angle, said first pole and second pole oriented at about a 60 degree angle therebetween;    a first door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a quarter of a circle, said first door having a second ceiling portion, and said first door being movable between an open position wherein said first door is positioned along said outer surface of said wall and does not close a portion of said defined opening to said wall, and a closed position wherein said first door closes a portion of said defined opening to said wall and is supported by said first pole;    a second door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a quarter of a circle, said second door having a third ceiling portion, and said second door being movable between an open position wherein said second door is positioned along said outer surface of said wall and does not close a portion of said defined opening to said wall, and a closed position wherein said second door closes a portion of said defined opening to said wall and is supported by said second pole; and    whereby when both said first and second doors are in the closed position, said first side edges of said first and second doors are adjacent and an enclosure is formed with a generally circular shaped horizontal cross section.    
   
   
       66 . A workspace habitat comprising: 
 a wall adapted to rest on a floor and having a first ceiling portion, a second ceiling portion, first and second side edges, and a defined opening to said wall, said wall having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a half of a circle;    said first ceiling portion slopes upwardly away from said wall toward the top horizontal center of said workspace habitat, said first ceiling portion having a cross section generally in the shape of half of a circle;    said second ceiling portion extending horizontally away from the top horizontal center of said workspace habitat opposite said first ceiling portion, said second ceiling portion having a curved edge, and said second ceiling portion having a cross section generally in the shape of a half of a circle;    said first and second ceiling portions defining a footprint for said workspace habitat in a generally circular shaped cross section;    first and second poles extending downwardly from said second ceiling portion, wherein said first pole is located at about 60 degrees from said wall along said curved edge of said second ceiling portion, said second pole is located at about 120 degrees from said wall along said curved edge of said second ceiling portion and 60 degrees from said first pole, and said poles supported by a floor;    a first door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of one sixth of a circle, said first door having a hinged edge and an unhinged edge wherein said hinged edge is rotatably attached to said first pole, and said first door being movable between an open position wherein said unhinged edge is spaced apart from said first side edge of said wall and a closed position wherein said unhinged edge is adjacent to said first side edge of said wall;    a second door having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of one sixth of a circle, said second door having a hinged edge and an unhinged edge wherein said hinged edge is rotatably attached to said first pole, and said second door being movable between an open position wherein said unhinged edge is spaced apart from said second pole and a closed position wherein said unhinged edge is adjacent to said second pole;    a fourth wall having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of one sixth of a circle, said fourth wall having a hinged edge and an unhinged edge wherein said hinged edge is rotatably attached to said second pole, and said fourth wall being movable between an open position wherein said unhinged edge is spaced apart from said second side edge of said wall and a closed position wherein said unhinged edge is adjacent to said second side edge of said wall;    whereby when said second, third, and fourth walls are all in the closed position, an enclosure is formed with a generally circular shaped horizontal cross section.    
   
   
       67 . A workspace habitat community comprising: 
 a first workspace habitat having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a circle;    a second workspace habitat having a horizontal cross section generally in the shape of a circle;    a hub configured to receive utilities for a business environment including power, data, voice, or phone connections; and    a conduit connecting said first workspace habitat to said second workspace habitat wherein said utilities for a business environment are transferred to said first and second workspace habitats through said conduit.    
   
   
       68 . A workspace habitat community comprising: 
 a plurality of workspace habitats, wherein each workspace habitat includes a defined opening defined by a wall, first and second doors being movable between an open position wherein said first and second doors do not close any portion of said opening defined by said wall and a closed position wherein said first and second door close said opening defined by said wall;    said plurality of workspace habitats arranged such that when said first and second doors of said plurality of workspace habitats are in an open position, said opening defined by said wall of each of said plurality of workspace habitats face inwardly toward a common central point.    
   
   
       69 . A workspace habitat community comprising: 
 a plurality of workspace habitats, wherein each workspace habitat includes a defined opening defined by a wall, first and second doors being movable between an open position wherein said first and second doors do not close any portion of said opening defined by said wall and a closed position wherein said first and second door close said opening defined by said wall;    said plurality of workspace habitats arranged such that when said first and second doors of said plurality of workspace habitats are in an open position, said opening defined by said wall of each of said plurality of workspace habitats face outwardly away from a common central point.    
   
   
       70 . A workspace habitat community comprising: 
 a plurality of workspace habitats, wherein each workspace habitat includes a defined opening defined by a wall, first and second doors being movable between an open position wherein said first and second doors do not close any portion of said opening defined by said wall and a closed position wherein said first and second door close said opening defined by said wall;    said plurality of workspace habitats arranged such that when said first and second doors of said plurality of workspace habitats are in an open position, said opening defined by said wall of each of said plurality of workspace habitats are coplanar.