Conference table

Abstract

A conference table includes a work surface supported by at least two supports and a plurality of receiving slots positioned generally beneath the work surface and accessible from at least one side of the conference table. The receiving slots are configured to receive electronic racking units therein, and include electrical connections for electrically connecting a power source to the racking units when the racking units are inserted into the receiving slots. The racking units are securable in the receiving slots and are generally concealable within the receiving slots via at least one movable cover. The table may include a plurality of lights positioned around the table and movable between a raised position, where the lights may illuminate the work surface, and a lowered position, where the lights may be positioned generally beneath the work surface. The table may include an accessory well for movably housing an accessory within the well of the conference table.

1 . A conference table for a plurality of people to confer at, said conference table comprising: 
 a work surface supported by at least two supports; and    a plurality of receiving slots positioned generally beneath said work surface and accessible from at least one side of said conference table, said receiving slots being configured to receive electronic racking units therein, said receiving slots including electrical connections for electrically connecting a power source to said racking units when said racking units are inserted into said receiving slots, said racking units being securable in said receiving slots and being generally concealable within said receiving slots via at least one movable cover.    
   
   
       2 . The conference table of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving slots are positioned beneath and along at least one side of said work surface.  
   
   
       3 . The conference table of  claim 1 , wherein said supports comprise at least one column configured to house at least some of said receiving slots.  
   
   
       4 . The conference table of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical connections connect to a power supply via an electrical cord extending from said conference table.  
   
   
       5 . The conference table of  claim 1  including at least one accessory connector positioned within a recess of said work surface and being accessible from above said work surface, said accessory connector being configured to connect to an accessory and being connected to an electrical power source or a communication link.  
   
   
       6 . The conference table of  claim 1  including at least one recess formed in said work surface, said at least one recess being configured to receive at least one accessory therein.  
   
   
       7 . The conference table of  claim 6  including at least one accessory connector positioned within said recess, said accessory connector being configured to connect to said accessory and being connected to an electrical power source or a communication link.  
   
   
       8 . The conference table of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one recess is selectively accessible via opening of a cover that is movably positioned at least partially over said recess.  
   
   
       9 . The conference table of  claim 8  including a movable platform that is movably positioned in said recess, said movable platform supporting said accessory at least partially within said recess.  
   
   
       10 . The conference table of  claim 9 , wherein said platform is movable between a lowered position, where said platform and said accessory are within said recess, and a raised position, where said platform and said accessory are elevated such that said accessory is at a level generally coplanar with said work surface.  
   
   
       11 . The conference table of  claim 10 , wherein said cover is positionable to generally cover said recess and said accessory when said platform is in said lowered position, and said cover is positionable to be remote from an opening of said recess when said platform is in said raised position.  
   
   
       12 . The conference table of  claim 11 , wherein said platform and said cover are operated generally in unison, said cover being automatically moved to be remote from said opening when said platform is being raised toward said raised position.  
   
   
       13 . The conference table of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one recess provides at least one connection for providing electrical connection to a portable accessory positioned at said conference table.  
   
   
       14 . The conference table of  claim 1  including a plurality of microphones spaced along said work surface for receiving vocal signals from a person sitting near a respective microphone.  
   
   
       15 . The conference table of  claim 14 , wherein said microphones are fixedly mounted to said work surface.  
   
   
       16 . The conference table of  claim 1  including a plurality of lights along said work surface, said lights being vertically movable between a raised position, where said lights function to illuminate at least a portion of said work surface, and a lowered position, where said lights are positioned below said work surface and substantially concealed by a cover portion of said lights.  
   
   
       17 . The conference table of  claim 16 , wherein said lights are automatically activated when moved to said raised position and automatically deactivated when moved to said lowered position.  
   
   
       18 . The conference table of  claim 16 , wherein each of said lights includes an elongated upper bar that houses an illumination source, said elongated upper bar defining said cover portion, said cover portion generally corresponding with the surface of said work surface at said light when said light is in said lowered position.  
   
   
       19 . The conference table of  claim 18 , wherein said lights are positioned along a trim strip of said work surface, said cover portion of said light generally corresponding with an upper surface of said trim strip.  
   
   
       20 . The conference table of  claim 1  including a pair of longitudinally extending support beams, said support beams supporting said work surface and being supported by said at least two supports.  
   
   
       21 . A conference table for a plurality of people to confer at, said conference table comprising: 
 a work surface supported by at least two supports;    a plurality of work stations defined at least partially around said work surface, each of said work stations being configured for a person to sit at; and    a plurality of lights along said work surface, said lights being positioned generally at respective ones of said work stations, said lights being movable between a raised position, where said lights function to illuminate at least a portion of said work surface at the respective work station, and a lowered position, where said lights are positioned below said work surface and substantially concealed by a cover portion of said lights, each of said lights being independently vertically movable.    
   
   
       22 . The conference table of  claim 21 , wherein said lights are automatically activated when moved to said raised position and automatically deactivated when moved to said lowered position.  
   
   
       23 . The conference table of  claim 22 , wherein each of said lights includes an elongated upper bar attached at an upper end of at least one generally vertical support, said generally vertical support vertically moving along a track to vertically move said light between the raised and lowered positions.  
   
   
       24 . The conference table of  claim 23 , wherein said upper bar houses an illumination source for illuminating said at least a portion of said work surface.  
   
   
       25 . The conference table of  claim 24 , wherein said elongated upper bar defines said cover portion, said cover portion generally corresponding with the surface of said work surface at said light when said light is in said lowered position.  
   
   
       26 . The conference table of  claim 21 , wherein said lights are positioned along a trim strip of said work surface, said cover portion of said light generally corresponding with an upper surface of said trim strip.  
   
   
       27 . The conference table of  claim 21  including receiving slots positioned generally beneath said work surface and accessible from at least one side of said conference table, said receiving slots being configured to receive electronic racking units therein, said receiving slots including electrical connections for electrically connecting a power source to said racking units when said racking units are inserted into said receiving slots, said racking units being securable in said receiving slots and being generally concealable within said receiving slots via at least one movable cover.  
   
   
       28 . The conference table of  claim 27 , wherein said electrical connections connect to a power supply via an electrical cord extending from said conference table.  
   
   
       29 . The conference table of  claim 21  including at least one accessory connector positioned within a recess of said work surface and being accessible from above said work surface, said accessory connector being configured to connect to an accessory and being connected to an electrical power source or a communication link.  
   
   
       30 . The conference table of  claim 21  including at least one recess formed in said work surface, said at least one recess being configured to receive at least one accessory therein.  
   
   
       31 . The conference table of  claim 30  including at least one accessory connector positioned within said recess, said accessory connector being configured to connect to said accessory and being connected to an electrical power source or a communication link.  
   
   
       32 . The conference table of  claim 31 , wherein said at least one recess is selectively accessible via opening of a cover that is movably positioned at least partially over said recess.  
   
   
       33 . The conference table of  claim 32  including a movable platform that is movably positioned in said recess, said movable platform supporting said accessory at least partially within said recess.  
   
   
       34 . The conference table of  claim 33 , wherein said platform is movable between a lowered position, where said platform and said accessory are within said recess, and a raised position, where said platform and said accessory are elevated such that said accessory is at a level generally coplanar with said work surface.  
   
   
       35 . The conference table of  claim 34 , wherein said cover is positionable to generally cover said recess and said accessory when said platform is in said lowered position, and said cover is positionable to be remote from an opening of said recess when said platform is in said raised position.  
   
   
       36 . The conference table of  claim 35 , wherein said platform and said cover are operated generally in unison, said cover being automatically moved to be remote from said opening when said platform is being raised toward said raised position.  
   
   
       37 . The conference table of  claim 21  including a plurality of microphones spaced along said work surface for receiving vocal signals from a person sitting near a respective microphone.  
   
   
       38 . The conference table of  claim 21  including a pair of longitudinally extending support beams, said support beams supporting said work surface and being supported by said at least two supports.  
   
   
       39 . A conference table for a plurality of people to confer at, said conference table comprising: 
 a work surface;    a pair of longitudinally extending support members that extend at least partially along an underside of said work surface to provide support of said work surface;    at least two generally vertical supports supporting said support members;    a plurality of receiving slots positioned generally beneath said work surface and accessible from at least one side of said conference table, said receiving slots being configured to receive electronic racking units therein, said racking units being securable in said receiving slots;    a plurality of lights positioned along said work surface, said lights being vertically movable between a raised position, where said lights function to illuminate at least a portion of said work surface at the respective locations of said lights, and a lowered position, where said lights are positioned below said work surface and substantially concealed by a cover portion of said lights; and    a recess in said work surface and a movable platform movably positioned in said recess, said movable platform supporting an accessory at least partially within said recess, said platform being movable between a lowered position, where said platform and said accessory are within said recess, and a raised position, where said platform and said accessory are elevated such that said accessory is at a level generally coplanar with said work surface.    
   
   
       40 . The conference table of  claim 39 , wherein said receiving slots include electrical connections for electrically connecting a power source to said racking units when said racking units are inserted into said receiving slots.  
   
   
       41 . The conference table of  claim 39 , wherein said electronic racking units are generally concealable within said receiving slots via at least one movable cover.  
   
   
       42 . The conference table of  claim 39 , wherein each of said lights is independently vertically movable.  
   
   
       43 . The conference table of  claim 39 , wherein said lights are automatically activated when moved to said raised position and automatically deactivated when moved to said lowered position.  
   
   
       44 . The conference table of  claim 43 , wherein each of said lights includes an elongated upper bar attached at an upper end of at least one generally vertical support, said generally vertical support vertically moving along a track to vertically move said light between the raised and lowered positions.  
   
   
       45 . The conference table of  claim 44 , wherein said upper bar houses an illumination source for illuminating said at least a portion of said work surface.  
   
   
       46 . The conference table of  claim 45 , wherein said elongated upper bar defines said cover portion, said cover portion generally corresponding with the surface of said work surface at said light when said light is in said lowered position.  
   
   
       47 . The conference table of  claim 39 , wherein said lights are positioned along a trim strip of said work surface, said cover portion of said light generally corresponding with an upper surface of said trim strip.  
   
   
       48 . The conference table of  claim 39 , wherein said movable platform is positioned along a generally central region of said table and between said pair of support members.  
   
   
       49 . The conference table of  claim 39  including at least one accessory connector positioned within said recess, said accessory connector being configured to connect to said accessory and being connected to an electrical power source or a communication link.  
   
   
       50 . The conference table of  claim 39 , wherein said at least one recess is selectively accessible via opening of a cover that is movably positioned at least partially over said recess.  
   
   
       51 . The conference table of  claim 50 , wherein said cover is positionable to generally cover said recess and said accessory when said platform is in said lowered position, and said cover is positionable to be remote from an opening of said recess when said platform is in said raised position.  
   
   
       52 . The conference table of  claim 39 , wherein said at least one recess provides at least one connection for providing electrical connection to a portable accessory positioned at said conference table.  
   
   
       53 . The conference table of  claim 39  including a plurality of microphones spaced along said work surface for receiving vocal signals from a person sitting near a respective microphone.