Patent application title: Cubical Topper
Inventors:
Michael Barkman (Mandeville, LA, US)
Keith Barkman (Huntington Beach, CA, US)
Paul Barkman (Neshanic Station, NJ, US)
Assignees:
Sound Management Group, LLC
IPC8 Class: AE04B274FI
USPC Class:
1 1
Class name:
Publication date: 2022-01-13
Patent application number: 20220010552
Abstract:
A cubicle topper includes a rectangular body including a bottom side
configured to extend along a top surface of a cubicle wall, a top side
parallel to and opposite the bottom side, two short sides that are
perpendicular to the bottom and top sides and opposite to each other, and
a plurality of body slots formed in the bottom side, and a plurality of
legs configured to connect the rectangular body to the cubicle wall, each
of the legs including: a body connector piece including a leg slot
configured to slide into a respective body slot to thereby connect the
leg to the rectangular body, and a cubicle gripper piece including two
protruding members configured to grip opposite side surfaces of the
cubicle wall and a flat inner surface formed between the two protruding
members, the flat inner surface configured to rest on the top surface.Claims:
1. A cubicle topper configured to extend a height of a cubicle wall, the
cubicle topper comprising: a rectangular body comprising: a bottom side
configured to extend along and adjacent to a top surface of the cubicle
wall, the bottom side being oriented in a lengthwise direction, a top
side parallel to and opposite the bottom side, two short sides that are
perpendicular to the bottom and top sides and opposite to each other, the
two short sides each being a shorter length than the bottom and top sides
and each being oriented in a heightwise direction perpendicular to the
lengthwise direction, a thickness in a widthwise direction perpendicular
to the lengthwise direction and the heightwise direction, and a plurality
of body slots formed in the bottom side, each of the body slots being
formed as a rectangular-shaped opening comprising two side surfaces
spaced apart from each other and extending upwards into the body in the
heightwise direction, and a flat end surface extending across the
lengthwise direction from one of the side surfaces to the other of the
side surfaces, the rectangular-shaped opening being open across the
entire thickness of the rectangular body in the widthwise direction; and
a plurality of legs configured to connect the rectangular body to the
cubicle wall, each of the legs comprising: a body connector piece
comprising a leg slot configured to slide into a respective body slot
among the plurality of body slots to thereby connect the leg to the
rectangular body, each of the leg slots being formed as a
rectangular-shaped opening comprising two side surfaces spaced apart from
each other and extending downwards into the body connector piece in the
heightwise direction, and a flat end surface extending across the
widthwise direction from one of the side surfaces to the other of the
side surfaces, the flat end surface of the leg slot being a same width as
the thickness of the rectangular body, and a cubicle gripper piece
comprising two protruding members configured to grip opposite outer side
surfaces of the cubicle wall, and a flat inner surface formed between the
two protruding members and extending in a widthwise direction from one of
the protruding members to the other of the protruding members, the flat
inner surface being uniformly flat across the entire width thereof,
having a larger width than a width of the flat end surface of the
respective leg slot, and configured to rest on the top surface of the
cubicle wall, wherein, when the rectangular body is slid down onto the
legs, the flat end surfaces of the body slots contact and rest upon the
flat end surfaces of the corresponding leg slots, and the bottom side of
the rectangular body and the flat inner surfaces of the cubicle gripper
pieces are each coplanar with each other in the lengthwise and widthwise
direction and jointly contact and rest on the top surface of the cubicle
wall.
2. The cubicle topper according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of legs connects the rectangular body to the cubicle wall in a state of stable equilibrium using only a gripping strength of the plurality of legs and without any drilling or physical modifications to the cubicle wall.
3. The cubicle topper according to claim 2, wherein the rectangular body further comprises rounded corners.
4. The cubicle topper according to claim 3, wherein the body connector piece comprises a flat rectangular shape having two rounded corners at one side, and the body connector piece is configured to slide into the respective body slot such that the one side with the two rounded corners slides into the respective body slot and the flat rectangular shape is oriented in the heightwise direction that is perpendicular to the bottom side of the rectangular body.
5. The cubicle topper according to claim 4, wherein the two protruding members extend in the heightwise direction that is perpendicular to the flat inner surface.
6. The cubicle topper according to claim 5, wherein the body connector piece and the cubicle gripper piece are integrally formed.
7. The cubicle topper according to claim 6, wherein the rectangular body and the plurality of legs are each made of a same transparent material.
8. The cubicle topper according to claim 7, wherein the transparent material comprises plastic.
9. The cubicle topper according to claim 8, wherein a clear and frosted acrylic application is applied to an outer surface of the rectangular body to make a portion of the outer surface of the body have a frosted translucent appearance.
10. The cubicle topper according to claim 8, wherein an EcoAbsorb.RTM. application is applied to an outer surface of the rectangular body, the EcoAbsorb.RTM. application comprising a sound absorbing and diffusing material configured to absorb and diffuse sound.
11. The cubicle topper according to claim 8, wherein a corrugated application is applied to an outer surface of the rectangular body, the corrugated application comprising a material that has a corrugated surface pattern comprising an alternating series of ridges and grooves.
12. The cubicle topper according to claim 8, wherein a SoundDelete fabric application is applied to an outer surface of the rectangular body, the SoundDelete fabric application comprising a sound absorbing and diffusing material configured to absorb and diffuse sound.
13. The cubicle topper according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of body slots comprises an odd number of body slots, and the body slots are formed in the bottom side such that one body slot is located in a center of the bottom side and two of the remaining body slots are spaced apart from the one body slot at equal distances in opposite directions.
14. A method of assembling a cubicle topper configured to extend a height of a cubicle wall, the cubicle topper comprising a rectangular body having a bottom side with a plurality of body slots formed therein, the bottom side being oriented in a lengthwise direction, the rectangular body further comprising a top side parallel to and opposite the bottom side, two short sides that are perpendicular to the bottom and top sides and opposite to each other, the two short sides each being a shorter length than the bottom and top sides and each being oriented in a heightwise direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction, and a thickness in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction and the heightwise direction, the method comprising: sliding a plurality of legs onto a top surface of the cubicle wall to thereby fix the plurality of legs onto the cubicle wall, each of the plurality of legs comprising a body connector piece comprising a leg slot configured to slide into a respective body slot among the plurality of body slots formed in the bottom side of the rectangular body, each of the body slots being formed as a rectangular-shaped opening comprising two side surfaces spaced apart from each other and extending upwards into the body in the heightwise direction, and a flat end surface extending across the lengthwise direction from one of the side surfaces to the other of the side surfaces, the rectangular-shaped opening being open across the entire thickness of the rectangular body in the widthwise direction, and each of the leg slots being formed as a rectangular-shaped opening comprising two side surfaces spaced apart from each other and extending downwards into the body connector piece in the heightwise direction, and a flat end surface extending across the widthwise direction from one of the side surfaces to the other of the side surfaces, the flat end surface of the leg slot being a same width as the thickness of the rectangular body, and each of the plurality of legs further comprising a cubicle gripper piece comprising two protruding members configured to grip opposite outer side surfaces of the cubicle wall and a flat inner surface formed between the two protruding members and extending in a widthwise direction from one of the protruding members to the other of the protruding members, the flat inner surface being uniformly flat across the entire width thereof and configured to rest on the top surface of the cubicle wall, the flat inner surface having a larger width than a width of the flat end surface of the corresponding leg slot; and aligning the plurality of body slots formed in the bottom side of the rectangular body with the plurality of legs and sliding the aligned slots onto the respective legs, to thereby connect the rectangular body to the cubicle wall such that, when the rectangular body is slid down onto the legs, the flat end surfaces of the body slots contact and rest upon the flat end surfaces of the corresponding leg slots, and the bottom side of the rectangular body and the flat inner surfaces of the cubicle gripper pieces are coplanar with each other in the lengthwise and widthwise direction and jointly contact and rest on the top surface of the cubicle wall.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the sliding the plurality of legs comprises sliding the plurality of legs at predetermined locations using a measuring device.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the body connector piece of each of the legs comprises a flat rectangular shape having two rounded corners at one side, and the sliding the plurality of legs comprises sliding each of the body connector pieces such that the one side with the two rounded corners slides into the respective body slot and the flat rectangular shape is oriented perpendicular to the bottom side of the rectangular body.
17-20. (canceled)
Description:
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0001] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to apparatuses and methods for extending the height of a cubicle wall, and more particularly, relate to a cubicle topper that can be securely fastened to a top of a cubicle wall without requiring the use of any permanent fasteners or drilling, and a method of assembling the cubicle topper.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Recently, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and private sector entities across the globe have invested significant time and effort into developing new technologies that prevent the spread of potentially harmful airborne particles. These new technologies are already being deployed in many different industries, including the pharmaceutical industry, the restaurant industry, the fitness industry, schools, work places, the airline industry, and others.
[0003] A particular challenge facing the workplace industry is balancing the need of office workers and customers to stay healthy with the need of businesses to stay physically open. Although some businesses have transitioned to teleworking solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, teleworking is simply not a practical long-term solution for many businesses. For example, some companies employ desk workers that sit in cubicles and are required to be physically present to perform their office work. Many brick-and-mortar businesses, from dental offices to daycares and furniture dealers, operate based on a business model that requires customers and workers to be physically present.
[0004] In this regard, employees at some of these businesses have voiced concerns that existing office cubicles are not tall enough to make them feel comfortable in their office space. The same businesses have indicated that they cannot have any permanent drilling or mounting performed on existing cubicles.
[0005] Thus, there is an extremely urgent need for devices and techniques that can enhance the safety of office workers with respect to the spread of bacteria and viruses, can provide peace of mind for officer workers and customers, and do not require drilling or other types of permanent modifications to existing cubicle workspaces.
SUMMARY
[0006] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to a cubicle wall height extending device (also referred to as a cubicle topper or cube topper) that can be attached to the top of a cubicle wall without requiring drilling or other permanent modifications, to thereby create a barrier against airborne particles and to additionally provide acoustic and aesthetic benefits.
[0007] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein further relate to a method of attaching the cubicle wall height extending device to the cubicle wall.
[0008] According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a cubicle topper configured to extend a height of a cubicle wall, the cubicle topper including: a rectangular body including: a bottom side configured to extend along and adjacent to a top surface of the cubicle wall, a top side parallel to and opposite the bottom side, two short sides that are perpendicular to the bottom and top sides and opposite to each other, the two short sides each being a shorter length than the bottom and top sides, and a plurality of body slots formed in the bottom side; and a plurality of legs configured to connect the rectangular body to the cubicle wall, each of the legs including: a body connector piece including a leg slot configured to slide into a respective body slot among the plurality of body slots to thereby connect the leg to the rectangular body, and a cubicle gripper piece including two protruding members configured to grip opposite side surfaces of the cubicle wall and a flat inner surface formed between the two protruding members, the flat inner surface configured to rest on the top surface of the cubicle wall.
[0009] The plurality of legs may connect the rectangular body to the cubicle wall in a state of stable equilibrium using only a gripping strength of the plurality of legs and without any drilling or physical modifications to the cubicle wall.
[0010] The rectangular body may further include rounded corners.
[0011] The body connector piece may include a flat rectangular shape having two rounded corners at one side, and the body connector piece may be configured to slide into the respective body slot such that the one side with the two rounded corners slides into the respective body slot and the flat rectangular shape is oriented perpendicular to the bottom side of the rectangular body.
[0012] The two protruding members may extend in a direction that is perpendicular to the flat inner surface.
[0013] The body connector piece and the cubicle gripper piece may be integrally formed.
[0014] The rectangular body and the plurality of legs may each be made of a same transparent material.
[0015] The transparent material may include plastic.
[0016] A clear and frosted acrylic application may be applied to an outer surface of the rectangular body to make a portion of the outer surface of the body have a frosted translucent appearance.
[0017] An EcoAbsorb.RTM. application may be applied to an outer surface of the rectangular body, the EcoAbsorb.RTM. application including a sound absorbing and diffusing material configured to absorb and diffuse sound.
[0018] A corrugated application may be applied to an outer surface of the rectangular body, the corrugated application including a material that has a corrugated surface pattern including an alternating series of ridges and grooves.
[0019] A SoundDelete fabric application may be applied to an outer surface of the rectangular body, the SoundDelete fabric application including a sound absorbing and diffusing material configured to absorb and diffuse sound.
[0020] The plurality of body slots may include an odd number of body slots, and the body slots may be formed in the bottom side such that one body slot is located in a center of the bottom side and two of the remaining body slots are spaced apart from the one body slot at equal distances in opposite directions.
[0021] According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of assembling a cubicle topper configured to extend a height of a cubicle wall, the cubicle topper including a rectangular body having a bottom side with a plurality of body slots formed therein, the method including: sliding a plurality of legs onto a top surface of the cubicle wall to thereby fix the plurality of legs onto the cubicle wall, each of the plurality of legs including a body connector piece including a leg slot configured to slide into a respective body slot among the plurality of body slots formed in the bottom side of the rectangular body, and a cubicle gripper piece including two protruding members configured to grip opposite side surfaces of the cubicle wall and a flat inner surface formed between the two protruding members, the flat inner surface configured to rest on the top surface of the cubicle wall; and aligning the plurality of body slots formed in the bottom side of the rectangular body with the plurality of legs and sliding the aligned slots onto the respective legs, to thereby connect the rectangular body to the cubicle wall.
[0022] The sliding the plurality of legs may include sliding the plurality of legs at predetermined locations using a measuring device.
[0023] The body connector piece of each of the legs may include a flat rectangular shape having two rounded corners at one side, and the sliding the plurality of legs may include sliding each of the body connector pieces such that the one side with the two rounded corners slides into the respective body slot and the flat rectangular shape is oriented perpendicular to the bottom side of the rectangular body.
[0024] According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a cubicle topper configured to extend a height of a cubicle wall, the cubicle topper including: a rectangular body including: a bottom side configured to extend along and adjacent to a top surface of the cubicle wall, a top side parallel to and opposite the bottom side, and two short sides that are perpendicular to the bottom and top sides and opposite to each other, the two short sides each being a shorter length than the bottom and top sides, and a plurality of legs configured to connect the rectangular body to the cubicle wall based only on a shape of the plurality of legs and without requiring any additional fasteners to connect the rectangular body to the cubicle wall.
[0025] The rectangular body may include a plurality of body slots formed on the bottom side, and each of the legs may include: a body connector piece including a leg slot configured to slide into a respective body slot among the plurality of body slots to thereby connect the leg to the body, and a cubicle gripper piece including two protruding members configured to grip opposite side surfaces of the cubicle wall and a flat inner surface formed between the two protruding members, the flat inner surface configured to rest on a top surface of the cubicle wall.
[0026] The body connector piece and the cubicle gripper piece may be integrally formed.
[0027] The rectangular body and the plurality of legs may each be made of a same transparent material.
[0028] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented exemplary embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a fully assembled cubicle topper according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates the assembly process of assembling a cubicle topper so that the cubicle topper is secured to a cubicle wall, according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates various types of applications that can be added to the cubicle topper according to exemplary embodiments; and
[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of assembling a cubicle topper, according to an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Hereinafter, cubicle toppers and methods of assembling and securing cubicle toppers to cubicles according to exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0035] As described in more detail below, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide an apparatus and a method to extend the height of a cubicle wall in a remarkably efficient and effective fashion, without requiring drilling into or otherwise altering the cubicle wall. The cubicle topper according to exemplary embodiments can prevent the spread of airborne particles such as viruses and bacteria, and thus can enhance the safety and security of workplace environments. Moreover, since the cubicle topper is modular and can be manufactured in many different dimensions according to the needs of the customer, the cubicle topper can be effectively utilized in a myriad of different workplace environments. Additionally, the cubicle topper can have various types of optional applications added thereto, such as sound proofing applications and aesthetic applications.
[0036] In the instant specification, according to an exemplary embodiment, the term "cubicle" refers to a work space in an office environment that is typically defined by at least one wall (e.g., a partition) that extends partially but not completely up to the ceiling. The cubicle may be made out of many different materials, for example, metals, plastics, fabrics, ceramics, etc. Additionally, the cubicle may be a series of interlocking panels, and multiple cubicles may be connected together such that office workers share cubicle walls with each other. The cubicle topper according to exemplary embodiments may be used in any and all of these environments, as well as other environments.
[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates a fully assembled cubicle topper 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the cubicle topper 100 includes a body 102 and a plurality of legs 105 and 106 that connect the body 102 to a cubicle wall 108. The body 102 includes a plurality of slots 103 and 104 (also referred to as "body slots") that are formed on a bottom side 102a of the body 102, the bottom side 102a being the side of the body 102 that is adjacent to and extends along the top surface 112 of the cubicle wall 108. The two legs 105 and 106 have slots 105f and 106f, respectively (also referred to as "leg slots"), that are designed to slide into the two body slots 103 and 104, respectively, to connect the legs 105 and 106 to the body 102. The two legs 105 and 106 are further designed to fit over and grip the side surfaces 110, which are the surfaces of the cubicle wall 108 that extend vertically up from the ground, and to rest on the top surface 112, which is the flat horizontal surface on top of the cubicle wall 108, to thereby secure the cubicle topper 100 to the cubicle wall 108 (although only one side surface 110 is shown in FIG. 1, it is understood that the cubicle wall 108 has two side surfaces 110).
[0038] The body 102 is a rectangular shape and has two long sides including a bottom side 102a and a top side 102b that are opposite each other, and two short sides 102c and 102d that are opposite each other and perpendicular to the two long sides 102a and 102b, the two short sides 102c and 102d typically being shorter in length than the bottom side 102a and the top side 102b. According to an exemplary embodiment, the body 102 is a solid piece of material and is transparent, translucent, opaque, or some combination thereof. The body 102 may be formed out of various materials, such as plastics (e.g., acrylics, polycarbonates, plexiglass, etc.), fabric wrapped panel, glass, or other materials. The body 102 further includes four corners 102e. According to an exemplary embodiment, the four corners 102e are rounded, which is useful to minimize damage in case a person bumps into one of the corners 102. However, exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the four corners 102e may be other shapes as well, e.g., right angles.
[0039] The body slots 103 and 104 are formed along the bottom side 102a and are narrow openings into which the legs 105 and 106 can be inserted, respectively. The body slots 103 and 104 are designed to have a width that is substantially the same as the width of the legs 105 and 106, so that each of the legs 105 and 106 fits tightly into its respective slot. The width of the body slots 103 and 104 can be, for example, 1/4 inch wide, although is not limited thereto. Additionally, the height of the body slots 103 and 104 can be, for example, 21/4 inches high, although is not limited thereto. The body slots 103 and 104 may be spaced apart from each other in various ways. For example, when the length of the body 102 is 24, 36, or 48 inches, the body slot 103 may be located 51/4 inches from the short side 102c, and the body slot 104 may be located 51/4 inches from the short side 102d. Alternatively, when the body 102 is longer than 48 inches, the body 102 may include three slots, including several slots that are spaced closer together towards the ends of the body 102, and another slot located at a center of the body 102. For example, when the length of the body 102 is 60 or 72 inches, the body slot 103 may be located 51/4 inches from the short side 102c, the body slot 104 may be located 51/4 inches from the short side 102d, and a third slot may be located equidistant from the short sides 102c and 102d (i.e., in the center of the body 102). Moreover, when the length of the body 102 is longer than 72 inches, there may be four or more slots. For example, when the length of the body is 84 inches, the body slot 103 may be located 51/4 inches from the short side 102c, the body slot 104 may be located 51/4 inches from the short side 102d, a third slot may be located halfway between a center of the body 102 and the short side 102c (i.e., 21 inches from the short side 102c), and a fourth slot may be located halfway between a center of the body 102 and the short side 102d (i.e., 21 inches from the short side 102d). Furthermore, when the length of the body is 96 inches, the body slot 103 may be located 51/4 inches from the short side 102c, the body slot 104 may be located 51/4 inches from the short side 102d, a third slot may be located halfway between a center of the body 102 and the short side 102c (i.e., 24 inches from the short side 102c), and a fourth slot may be located halfway between a center of the body 102 and the short side 102d (i.e., 24 inches from the short side 102d). As another example, the body slots 103 and 104 may be evenly spaced apart from each other and the side surfaces 102c and 102d. The body slots may be spaced apart to achieve a maximum stable equilibrium, to ensure that the body 102 does not fall over in response to external forces. There are many different ways to configure the slot dimensions and spacing, and exemplary embodiments are not limited to any particular slot configuration.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg 105 includes a body connector piece 105a that includes a leg slot 105f that is configured to slide into the body slot 103 to connect the leg 105 to the body 102. The body connector piece 105a has an approximately rectangular shape with rounded corners 105e on a top portion thereof. The leg slot 105f may have a height of 31/4 inches (i.e., the slot 105f extends down 31/4 inches from the top of the leg 105), the leg 105 may have a width of 5 inches, and the leg 105 may have an overall height of 9 inches, although exemplary embodiments are not limited to these dimensions. Additionally, the leg slot 105f and the body slot 103 may be 1/4 inch wide, although are not limited thereto. The leg 105 further includes a cubicle gripper piece that includes two protruding members 105b and 105c and a flat inner surface 105d formed therebetween. The cubicle gripper piece may be integrally formed with the body connector piece 105a. The two protruding members 105b and 105c protrude in a parallel direction to each other (a downwards direction in FIG. 1) and have a fork-like shape. During assembly, the two protruding members 105b and 105c are designed to slide down along the side surfaces 110 until the flat inner surface 105d contacts the top surface 112, and grip the opposing side surfaces 110 of the cubicle wall 108 tightly. The protruding members 105b and 105c may be manufactured based on the dimensions of the top rail width of the cubicle wall 108. For example, if the top rail width is 1 inch, the protruding members 105b and 105c may be manufactured such that the gap between the protruding members 105a and 105b (i.e., the width of the flat inner surface 105d) is 1 inch, so that the protruding members 105b and 105c can snugly fit on the cubicle wall 108. Additionally, the length of the protruding members 105a and 105b, i.e., the length in which the protruding members 105b and 105c extend downwards along the side surfaces 110, can vary based on numerous factors. For example, the length of the protruding members 105b and 105c can be 35/8 inches, although is not limited thereto. Generally, as the length of the protruding members 105a and 105b increases, the gripping strength increases.
[0041] The leg 106 is manufactured to have substantially the same design as the leg 105. Thus, the leg 106 includes a body connector piece 106a including a leg slot 106f that slides into the slot 104 to connect the leg 106 to the body 102, and further includes a cubicle gripper piece that includes two protruding members 106b and 106c and a flat inner surface 106d. The cubicle gripper piece of the leg 106 functions in substantially the same fashion as the cubicle gripper piece of the leg 105.
[0042] The legs 105 and 106 may be made of the same material as the body 102, or made of a different material than that of the body 102. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the body includes two body slots 103 and 104 that engage the two legs 105 and 106, but the body 102 is not limited to having two slots, and may alternatively have any number of slots and legs. For example, the cubicle topper 100 may have two slots and two legs, three slots and three legs, five slots and five legs, etc. Also, it is not required that the slots and legs are manufactured and assembled in a 1:1 correspondence. For example, the body 102 may be manufactured to have 10 slots, but may only require 5 legs to be used (e.g., every other slot may be used), depending on the situation.
[0043] The length of the body 102, which is the length of the bottom and top sides 102a and 102b, is manufactured based on the length of the cubicle wall 108. For example, if the length of the cubicle wall is 4 feet-2.5 inches, the body 102 may be manufactured to have the same length as that of the cubicle wall or may be manufactured to be slightly longer or shorter than the cubicle wall. The height of the body 102, which is the height of the two short sides 102c and 102d, is typically manufactured based on the preferences and needs of the customer. For example, the height of the body 102 may be 12 inches, 18 inches, or 24 inches, although is not limited thereto. Each of these heights may achieve a significant decrease in spreading of airborne particles.
[0044] The body 102 and the legs 105 and 106 may be formed using various manufacturing techniques. For example, the body 102 may be formed as a solid rectangular shape and then the body slots 103 and 104 may be added by cutting out portions along the bottom side 102a (a subtractive manufacturing technique). Alternatively, the body 102 may be manufactured to have the slots 104 formed therein during the initial manufacturing process, such as by using a template with slots already formed therein.
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates the assembly process of assembling a cubicle topper so that the cubicle wall is secured to a cubicle wall. In the example shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed, for illustrative purposes only, that the cubicle topper 200 being assembled has a body 202 with three body slots 203, 204, and 205 and three corresponding legs 105, 106, and 107, in contrast to the cubicle topper 100 shown in FIG. 1 that only has two body slots 103 and 104 and two legs 105, and 106. It is further assumed that the leg 107 shown in FIG. 2 has the same structure as the legs 105 and 106 shown in FIG. 1.
[0046] First, as shown in a) of FIG. 2, the legs 105, 106, and 107 are slid onto the top of the cubicle wall 108 such that the protruding members 105b, 105c, 106b,106c, 107b, and 107c of the legs 105, 106, and 107, respectively, extend down along the cubicle wall sides 110 and the flat inner surfaces 105d, 106d, and 107d rest on the cubicle wall top surface 112. Thus, leg 105 is slid down until the flat inner surface 105d rests on the top surface 112 and the protruding members 105b and 105c grip the side surfaces 110, leg 106 is slid down until the flat inner surface 106d rests on the top surface 112 and the protruding members 106b and 106c grip the side surfaces 110, and leg 107 is slid down until the flat inner surface 107d rests on the top surface 112 and the protruding members 107b and 107c grip the side surfaces 110.
[0047] Second, as shown in b) of FIG. 2, the body slots 203, 204, and 205 in the body 202 are aligned with the legs 105, 106, and 107, respectively, and the body 202 is then slid down so that the body slots 203, 204, and 205 slide into the leg slots 105f, 106f, and 107f, thereby engaging and secure the body 202 on top of the cubicle wall.
[0048] Finally, as shown in c) of FIG. 2, the cubicle topper 200 is fully assembled and ready for use. In this fully assembled state, the legs 105, 106, and 107 hold the body 202 in a state of stable equilibrium where, if a small force is applied to the body 202 (e.g., somebody bumping into the body 202), the body 202 experiences a net force or torque in the opposite direction as the small force, due to the stable interlocking structure of the body and legs. As a result, the cubicle topper 200 can be securely fixed to the cubicle wall 108 without requiring any drilling to be done into the cubicle wall 108, without requiring any additional fasteners to be used, and without requiring any permanent modifications to be made to the cubicle wall 108. Moreover, the cubicle topper 200 can be easily disassembled as well.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the body slots 203, 204, and 205 are spaced such that the middle body slot 204 is located in a center of the bottom side of the body 202, and the other body slots 203 and 204 are located close to the left and right ends of the body 202 such that the body slots 203 and 204 are each located a same distance away from the middle slot 204 in a symmetric fashion. This slot spacing arrangement, in which one body slot is located in a center of the bottom side of the body 202 and the other body slots are spaced out towards the ends in a symmetric fashion, may achieve an optimum amount of stability, especially when an odd number of body slots are formed in the body 202. Nevertheless, exemplary embodiments are not limited to this slot spacing arrangement.
[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates various types of applications that can be added to the cubicle topper according to exemplary embodiments. The various types of applications shown in FIG. 3 and described below can be used for many purposes, including to mitigate noise, to achieve a greater degree of privacy, to increase aesthetic appeal, to further improve preventative measures against the airborne spread of bacteria and viruses, etc. Also, the applications shown in FIG. 3 are not intended to be a comprehensive list, and it is understood that many other types of applications in addition to those shown in FIG. 3 and described below can be used with the cubicle topper.
[0051] As shown in a) of FIG. 3, one type of application is a clear and frosted acrylic application. The clear and frosted acrylic application can be applied to an outer surface of the body 102 to create a clear and frosted acrylic body 302a. The clear and frosted acrylic application achieves several benefits, including enhancing aesthetic appeal and increasing privacy for somebody sitting in the cubicle since the frosted portion of the application may block or scatter at least some amount of light. The clear and frosted acrylic application can be applied in many different patterns and designs. Additionally, the clear and frosted acrylic application can also be applied to the legs 106 to create a clear and frosted acrylic cubicle topper 302.
[0052] As shown in b) of FIG. 3, another type of application is an EcoAbsorb.RTM. application. The EcoAbsorb.RTM. application can be applied to an outer surface of the body 102 to create an EcoAbsorb.RTM. body 304a. EcoAbsorb.RTM. is a sound absorbing and diffusing material that mitigates background noise and thereby achieves a quieter workplace environment, which improves workplace productivity and reduces stress. Additionally, the EcoAbsorb.RTM. application can also be applied to the legs 106 to create an EcoAbsorb.RTM. cubicle topper 304.
[0053] As shown in c) of FIG. 3, another type of application is a corrugated application. The corrugated application can be applied to an outer surface of the body 102 to create a corrugated body 306a. The corrugated application 306a is an application which has a corrugated surface pattern, including an alternating series of ridges and grooves. Additionally, the corrugated application 306a can also be applied to the legs 106 to create a corrugated cubicle topper 306.
[0054] As shown in d) of FIG. 3, another type of application is a SoundDelete fabric application. The SoundDelete fabric application can be applied to an outer surface of the body 102 to create a SoundDelete fabric body 308a. SoundDelete fabric is a sound absorbing and diffusing fabric that mitigates background noise and thereby achieves a quieter workplace environment, which improves workplace productivity and reduces stress. Additionally, the SoundDelete fabric application can also be applied to the legs 106 to create a SoundDelete cubicle topper 308.
[0055] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 of assembling a cubicle topper, according to an exemplary embodiment. In the below description of the method 400, it is assumed for illustrative purposes only that the method 400 is using a cubicle topper that has the same structure as the cubicle topper 100 shown in FIG. 1 and described above. However, the method 400 is not limited thereto, and it is understood that the method 400 may be used with other cubicle toppers as well.
[0056] In operation 402, an installer slides legs onto the top of a cubicle wall. For example, the installer first slides the leg 105 onto the top of the cubicle wall 108 until the flat inner surface 105d contacts the top surface 112 and the two protruding members 105b and 105c grip the side surfaces 110. The installer then repeats this process with leg 106. The legs 105 and 106 can be installed at precise locations using a ruler, a tape measure, or some other measuring device.
[0057] In operation 404, the installer aligns the slots in the body with the respective legs that are fixed onto the top of the cubicle wall and then slides the aligned slots into the slots of the respective legs. For example, the installer physically holds the body 102 up above the legs 105 and 106 so that the body slots 103 and 104 are aligned with the legs 105 and 106, respectively, and then slides the body 102 down so that the body slots 103 and 104 slide into the leg slots 105f and 106f of the legs 105 and 106, respectively, to thereby lock the body 102 onto the legs 105 and 106. At this point, the cubicle topper 100 is assembled.
[0058] In operation 406, the method ends.
[0059] It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplary embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other exemplary embodiments.
[0060] Additionally, although certain exemplary embodiments have been described in which the body and legs have rectangular slots (e.g., slots 103, 104, 105f, and 106f in FIG. 1) and the legs have a body connector piece and a cubicle gripper piece (e.g., body connector piece 105a and cubicle gripper piece including protruding members 105b and 105c in FIG. 1), exemplary embodiments are not limited to these particular shapes and designs. For example, instead of rectangular slots, the body may have curved slots, etc. Additionally, the legs may have different shapes including curved protruding members, protruding members arranged in circular or other arrangements, or some other configuration altogether.
[0061] While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.
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