Technology port

Abstract

A conference table or other article of furniture includes one or more technology port assemblies integrated into its worksurface. The technology port assembly provides for one or more utility connections to be provided in the worksurface such that the utility connections are easily accessible to a group of users. The utility connections can be customized to meet the users' requirements. The technology port assembly includes a sliding access panel adapted to move between a closed position in which the utility connections are concealed to an open position in which the utility connections are exposed and accessible to the users. In the closed position, the sliding panel is substantially flush with an upper surface of the worksurface. In the open position, the sliding panel does not substantially protrude above an upper surface of the worksurface so as to not interfere or obstruct verbal or visual contact between the users.

1 . A furniture assembly comprising:
 a base including at least one support member:   a frame assembly including one or more wire management features coupled to the base:   a worksurface coupled to the frame assembly, the worksurface, including an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one opening; and   at least one technology port assembly secured to the lower surface of the worksurface such that the technology port assembly is accessible through the opening in the worksurface, the technology port assembly comprising a generally S-shaped plate having one or more blank cut-outs adapted to receive a utility connection disposed between a first inner side wall having at least one slot and a second inner side wall having at least one slot, a panel having one or more pin rollers adapted to move within the at least one slot in each inner side wall, the panel adapted to move between a closed position in which the S-shaped plate is concealed and an open position in which the generally S-shaped plate is exposed.   
   
   
       2 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first outer wall coupled to the first inner wall and a second outer wall coupled to the second inner wall, each outer wall including a flange for securing the technology port assembly to the lower surface of the worksurface. 
   
   
       3 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the furniture assembly is a conference table. 
   
   
       4 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cut-outs adapted to receive a plurality of utility connections wherein the utility connections comprise power, data, voice, audio, video, or control connection, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more utility connections received within the one or more blank cut-outs, wherein the utility connections comprise one or more power, data, voice, audio, video, control connections, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot located in each inner side wall comprises a single continuous slot having a horizontal region, a transition region, and an arcuate region. 
   
   
       7 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one slot includes a detent located at a proximal end of the slot. 
   
   
       8 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second inner walls each include a substantially linear slot and a substantially curvilinear slot. 
   
   
       9 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the panel includes a first set of pin rollers adapted to move within the substantially linear slots formed in the inner side walls and a second set of pin rollers adapted to move within the substantially curvilinear slots formed in the inner side walls. 
   
   
       10 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the substantially linear slots are included upward relative to a line parallel to a bottom edge of the inner side walls. 
   
   
       11 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bezel defining an opening generally corresponding to outer dimensions of the panel, the bezel adapted to be secured to the technology port assembly through the opening in the worksurface such that a lower surface of the bezel portion rests on the upper surface of the worksurface. 
   
   
       12 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein in the closed position the panel is substantially flush with the upper surface of the worksurface and in the open position the panel does not substantially protrude above the upper surface of the worksurface. 
   
   
       13 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel includes a finger groove located in an exposed surface of the panel. 
   
   
       14 . A conference table comprising:
 a worksurface including an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one opening; and   at least one technology port assembly secured to the lower surface of the worksurface such that the technology port assembly is accessible through the opening in the worksurface, the technology port assembly comprising a generally S-shaped plate having one or more blank cut-outs adapted to receive a utility connection disposed between a first inner side wall having at least a first slot inclined upward in a direction relative to a line parallel to a bottom edge of the first inner side wall and a second inner side wall having at least a second slot inclined upward in a direction relative to a line parallel to a bottom edge of the second inner side wall, a panel having one or more rollers adapted to move within the first slot and one or more rollers adapted to move within the second slot, the panel adapted to move between a closed position in which the S-shaped plate is concealed and an open position in which the generally S-shaped plate is exposed, wherein in the open position the panel does not extend above the upper surface of the worksurface.   
   
   
       15 . The conference table according to  claim 14 , further comprising a first outer wall coupled to the first inner wall and a second outer wall coupled to the second inner wall, each outer wall including a flange for securing the technology port assembly to the lower surface of the worksurface. 
   
   
       16 . The conference table according to  claim 14 , further comprising one or more utility connections received within the one or more blank cut-outs, wherein the utility connections comprise power, data, voice, audio, video, control, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The conference table according to  claim 14 , wherein each inner side wall includes a first horizontal slot and a second vertical slot. 
   
   
       18 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the panel includes a first set of pin rollers adapted to move within the first horizontal slots formed in the inner side walls and a second set of pin rollers adapted to move within the vertical slots formed in the inner side walls. 
   
   
       19 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the horizontal slots are angled upward relative to a line parallel to a bottom edge of the inner side walls. 
   
   
       20 . The furniture assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising a bezel portion having an opening generally corresponding to outer dimensions of the panel, the bezel portion adapted to be secured to the technology port assembly through the opening in the worksurface such that the bezel portion rests on the upper surface of the worksurface. 
   
   
       21 . A technology port assembly adapted to be integrated into a worksurface of a furniture assembly, the technology port assembly comprising:
 a first inner side wall having a first slot inclined upward in a direction relative to a line parallel to a bottom edge of the first inner side wall and a second substantially curvilinear slot and a second inner side wall having at least a first slot inclined upward in a direction relative to a line parallel to a bottom edge of the second inner side wall and a second substantially curvilinear slot;   a generally S-shaped plate having one or more blank cut-outs adapted having at least one utility connection disposed therein between the first inner side wall and the second inner side wall: and   a panel having one or more rollers adapted to move within the first slot and one or more rollers adapted to move within the second slot of each inner side wall, the panel adapted to move between a closed position in which the S-shaped plate is concealed and an open position in which the generally S-shaped plate is exposed, wherein in the open position the panel does not substantially protrude above the upper surface of the worksurface.