US20070273256A1

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Info

Publication number: US20070273256A1
Application number: US11/438,852
Authority: US
Inventors: Kirt D. Martin; Davinder Singh Dhanoa; Francisco Javier Olvera
Original assignee: Steelcase Inc
Current assignee: Steelcase Inc
Priority date: 2006-05-23
Filing date: 2006-05-23
Publication date: 2007-11-29

Abstract

The present invention provides a grommet cover assembly for selectively substantially blocking view of at least one opening in a planar member surface. The assembly comprises a mounting coupler mounted to the planar member surface proximate the first opening and a cover. The cover includes a flat cover member and a cover coupler, wherein the cover member includes at least one supporting leg. The cover coupler links to the mounting coupler to provide a hinged axis the cover member is rotated around. Thus, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the opening is blocked from view. Methods of use and assembly are also provided.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to table grommet covers and more specifically to a hinged grommet door.

Devices for passing a flexible cord such as a telephone cord or computer cable through one or more elements such as a desk top, a piece of furniture, a wall or other type of installation are known. Unfortunately, known devices of this type have one or more shortcomings. For instance, many known grommet covers can be complex, expensive and difficult to use. Further, many known grommet covers are difficult and costly to manufacture and install. Further still, many known grommet covers must be designed and dimensioned to fit a specific grommet opening. In many cases, at least a portion of a grommet cover is designed to fit within a grommet opening so that if there are ten openings of various dimensions, ten different grommet cover configurations are required. Thus, the inflexible design of many known grommet covers represents a long-standing problem in the field.

Many known grommet covers are also aesthetically objectionable. For example, in many cases a grommet cover assumes a half-cocked position when a cable or wire is accommodated through a grommet opening. In these cases, the grommet cover does not fully shut over the cable/wire, causing the cover and cable/wire to appear relatively sloppy. Further, in many such cases, when a grommet cover is half-cocked, a person can see through the opening to other components below a top member forming the opening.

Therefore, a need exists for a grommet cover assembly that is easy and efficient to use, that is easy to manufacture and install, and that can be used to cover many differently dimensioned grommet openings. It would also be advantageous if a grommet assembly met the above objectives and was aesthetically pleasing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first version, the present invention provides an assembly for substantially blocking view of at least one opening in the surface of a planar member (such as a furniture top member and a wall member) surface. The assembly comprises a mounting coupler mounted to the planar surface proximate the first opening and a cover. The cover comprises a flat cover member and a cover coupler. The cover member has first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge. A portion of the first surface proximate the lateral edge is a peripheral surface. The cover coupler extends from the peripheral surface of the cover member. The cover coupler is linkable to the mounting coupler to support the cover member adjacent the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the planar member. When the cover member is adjacent the opening, the peripheral surface along the entire lateral edge of the cover member is spaced apart from and faces the surrounding surface. Thus, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the peripheral surface is spaced apart from and faces the surrounding surface.

The space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one eighth of an inch and one inch. The portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes between one sixteenth inch and one inch ore more of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.

The mounting coupler includes at least a first hinge member linkable to at least a second hinge member on the cover coupler. When the hinge members are linked, the cover member is rotatable about a hinge axis between a closed position, wherein the cover member is adjacent and substantially blocking view of the opening, and an open position, wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the planar member and the opening can be accessed. The second hinge member of the cover coupler is releasable from the first hinge member of the mounting coupler.

In an alternate version, the first hinge member includes a first retainer feature and the second hinge member includes a second retainer feature. When the cover member is in the open position, the first and second retainer features cooperate to retain the cover member in the open position. The first and second retainer features comprise a rib and a recess.

In an alternate version, the mounting coupler includes at least two first hinge members that cooperate with at least two second hinge members on the cover coupler. The hinge members of the cover member are positioned on the lateral edge, which includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends between first and second straight edge ends. Thus, the two second hinge members extend from the peripheral surface adjacent the first straight edge and the two second hinge members are spaced away from the first and second straight end edges. The hinge members facilitate rotation of the cover member between open and closed positions. The two hinge members of both the cover coupler and mounting coupler are separated by a space.

The lateral edge of the grommet cover assembly includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends between first and second straight edge ends. The second hinge member extends from the peripheral surface adjacent the first straight edge. The second hinge member is spaced away from the first and second straight end edges.

The mounting coupler may be mounted to the planar surface by either one of adhesive and/or screws and/or other mechanical devices.

The cover also may comprise at least one supporting leg member that extends from the peripheral surface of the cover member to a distal end. Thus, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the distal end of the supporting leg contacts the surrounding surface of the planar member adjacent the opening. The support members are positioned on the distal end of the cover. However, in alternate versions, the cover member may not have any supporting leg members.

The cover member may be square, rectangular, circular, oval, triangular or polygonal in shape.

In an alternate version, the present invention provides an assembly for substantially blocking view of an opening in a furniture member having a substantially flat surface such as a table top member. The assembly comprises a cover and a mounting coupler mounted to the surface of the furniture member proximate the opening. The cover includes a flat cover member and a cover coupler, with the cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge. A portion of the first surface proximate the lateral edge is a peripheral surface, and the cover coupler, extending from the peripheral surface, may be linkable to the mounting coupler. Thus, the coupler supports the cover member adjacent the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the planar member. Therefore, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the peripheral surface faces the surrounding surface.

When the cover member is adjacent the opening, the peripheral surface faces and is spaced apart from the surrounding surface, thus forming a space for cable to pass between the first surface of the cover member and the first surface of the furniture member. The space rages between one eighth of an inch and includes at least one sixteenth to one quarter of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.

The mounting and cover couplers comprise complimentary first and second hinge members, thereby facilitating rotation of the cover member between open and closed positions.

In an alternative version, the present invention provides a cover assembly for substantially blocking view of an opening in a furniture member having a substantially flat surface. The cover assembly comprises a coupler and a flat cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge. The coupler is linked to and extends from the first surface of the cover member. Once linked, the cover member is supported over the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the furniture member with the cover assembly located completely outside the opening. The coupler is adhered to the surface of the furniture member.

The coupler offsets the cover member from the furniture member so that a space exists between the first surface of the cover member and the first surface of the furniture member.

The cover assembly also comprises a mounting coupler linkable to the first surface of the furniture member, wherein the cover coupler extends from the cover member and is linkable to the mounting coupler. The mounting and cover couplers include complimentary first and second hinge members that facilitate rotation of the cover between open and closed positions. The coupler is adhered to the furniture member.

In an alternate version, the present invention provides a method for providing a cover of an opening in a substantially flat first surface of a planar member. The method comprises forming an opening in the planar member, providing a flat cover member and mounting the cover member to the first surface of the planar member. A mounting coupler may be provided to mount the cover coupler.

The cover member has first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge, the portion of the first surface of the cover member adjacent the lateral edge being a peripheral surface. When mounted, at least a portion of the first surface of the cover member is facing the opening and substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first surface of the planar member.

The flat cover member is provided by extruding the cover member. The cover coupler may be integrally formed with and extruded from a portion of the cover member.

In another version, the present invention provides a method for installing a cover for an opening in a substantially flat first surface of a planar member. The method comprises mounting a mounting coupler to the first surface of the planar member adjacent the opening, linking the mounting coupler to a cover coupler attached to a cover member, and rotating the cover member between a closed position, wherein the cover member is adjacent and substantially blocking view of the opening, and an open position, wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the planar member and the opening can be accessed.

The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. In the description that follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration, and not limitation, expected versions of the invention. Such versions of the inventions do not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention, and reference should therefore be made to the claims herein for interpreting the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the grommet cover assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grommet cover assembly ofFIG. 1 closed over a grommet and several wires;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the grommet cover assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a grommet cover assembly taken along line4-4 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a grommet cover assembly taken along line4-4 inFIG. 2, albeit without support legs;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a grommet cover assembly for hiding multiple grommets where the cover is in an open, accessing position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a grommet cover assembly for hiding multiple grommets having multiple hinges;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a hinged grommet cover assembly including a circular cover

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a grommet cover assembly consistent with another inventive embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a grommet cover assembly consistent with another inventive embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a portion of a grommet cover assembly;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a circular grommet cover shown as a rotatable mounted cover;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a grommet cover assembly where the grommet cover assembly is in a closed position; and

FIG. 13 is similar toFIG. 12, albeit where the grommet cover assembly is in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the several views, and more specifically, referring toFIGS. 1-4, an exemplary embodiment of onegrommet cover assembly10 that is consistent with at least some inventive aspects is illustrated.

Thegrommet cover assembly10 is intended for installation on the surface of a planar member such as a furniture surface or a wall surface. For purposes of brevity, the present disclosure refers to aplanar member12 as a table or desktop member.

As seen inFIGS. 1-4, a first embodiment of thegrommet cover assembly10 of the present invention is shown. In this version the grommet cover assembly comprises a mountingcoupler16 and acover18.Cover18 includes aflat cover member20, acover coupler22 and first and secondsupport feet members24.Cover member20 includes a rectilinear flat and rigid member that includes oppositely facing and substantially parallel front andrear edges11 and13, respectively, first and second substantially parallel and oppositely facinglateral edges15 and17, respectively, and top and bottom or under

surfaces

19 and21, respectively.

Coupler

22 includes a female hinge member that is substantially C-shaped in cross-section (seeFIG. 4) and includes, generally, first andsecond arm members31 and33 that extend generally downwardly fromundersurface21 adjacentrear edge13 to form ahinge channel45 that opens away fromundersurface21. In at least some inventive embodiments, cover18 is extruded andmember20 andcoupler22 are integrally formed.

Referring still toFIGS. 14,foot members24 are short members that extend fromundersurface21 and substantially perpendicularly therefrom to distal ends. Aseparate foot member24 is provided adjacent each front edge corner ofmember20.Foot members24 are dimensioned so that they supportcover member20 in a substantially horizontal orientation whencoupler22 is mounted tocoupler16 andmember20 is in a closed position. Whilefoot members24 may be integrally formed withmember20, in someembodiments members24 may be separate rubber or plastic members that mechanically or adhesively attach to undersurface21.

Referring again toFIGS. 1-4,coupler16 includes aflat base member47, a cylindricalmale hinge member49 and

end stop members

51 and53.Base member47 is a rigid flat and elongated member that has oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces (not labeled) and front and rear edges (not labeled).Hinge member49 is mounted tobase member47 along the rear edge thereof, is raised slightly above the top surface thereof and extends substantially along the entire length thereof.Member49 is circular in cross-section and, as best illustrated inFIG. 4, is dimensioned to be matingly received withinchannel45 formed byfemale hinge coupler22.

As illustrated inFIG. 3,

end stop members

51 and53 are formed at opposite ends ofmale hinge member49 and extend radially outward to a greater extent than themember49 structure. As the label implies, stop

members

51 and53 operate to limit lateral movement of thefemale hinge coupler22 after installation. In at least some embodiments coupler16 is molded into its integral shape. In other embodiments the base and

cylindrical members

47 and49 may be extruded and stopmembers51 and52 may be added on mechanically (e.g., screws) or adhesively in some fashion.

Referring toFIG. 4, to installcover18,coupler16 is secured to the top surface ofmember12 withbase member47 adjacent anopening14 to be optionally covered bycover18. Here, as shown inFIG. 4, screws32 may be used to securebase member47 tomember12. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 4A, anadhesive strip57 may be used to securemember47 tomember12. Next, female hinge coupler channel45 (seeFIG. 4) is aligned withmember49 and pressed there against so thatarm members31 and33 flex outward andcylindrical member49 is received in thechannel45.

In use,cover member20 can be rotated about ahinge pivot axis29 between an open position shown inFIG. 1 and a closed position shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. When in the closedposition cover member20 is supported bycoupler16 andfoot members24 adjacent and parallel to the top surface oftop member12 and spaced apart therefrom so thatmember12 blocks the view ofopening14 while still providing a cable passing gap60 (seeFIG. 4). Whenmember20 is in the open position, large cable plugs and the like can be passed throughopening14.

Referring again toFIG. 4, in at least some embodiments hingeleg members32 and33 have relatively short length dimensions. Here, the leg lengths are sufficient to form achannel45 that is capable of holdingcylindrical member49 during normal cover opening and closing activity but are short enough that, if a large force is applied to covermember20, thelegs32 and33 will allowcoupler22 to detach frommember49. For instance, withcover20 closed as shown inFIG. 4, if front edge11 is hit by a book or the like sliding along the top surface ofmember12,leg31 will flex slightly and covermember20 detaches frommember49 so that

hinge couplers

22 and16 will not be damaged.

Referring toFIG. 5, a second exemplary cover assembly10ais shown. InFIG. 5, components that are similar to components described above with respect toFIGS. 14 are labeled with the same number followed by a “a”. For instance, where numeral20 is used to refer to a cover member inFIGS. 1-4, label “20a” is used to refer to a similar cover member inFIG. 5, albeit having different relative length and width dimensions. While similar components are labeled inFIG. 5, not all of the components or their functions are described again in detail in the interest of simplifying this explanation.

InFIG. 5,cover member20ais longer between lateral edges than iscover20 inFIGS. 1-4 so thatcover member20acan be used to cover two table top openings collectively identified by number14a.Here, asingle hinge assembly16a,22ais provided that has a length dimension that is less than the length dimension between lateral cover member edges and the hinge assembly is juxtaposed centrally with respect to the undersurface oftop member20aadjacent a rear edge. Thus, in this case, although not illustrated, cables passing up through openings14amay extend out from belowcover member20abelow any of the front edge, the lateral edges and/or the rear edge (e.g., to either side of thehinge assembly16a,22a).

Referring toFIG. 6, a third cover embodiment10bis illustrated where components that are similar to the components of theFIGS. 1-4

embodiment

10 are labeled with the same number followed by a “b”. Here, cover member20bis even wider thancover member20aso that the cover member20bcan cover three adjacent circular openings (collectively identified by numeral14b). In addition, in this embodiment, two separate hinge assemblies16b,22bare provided adjacent a rear edge of member20band along an undersurface. In this case, the two hinge assemblies are separated by a gap and are spaced apart from lateral edges of member20bso that cables may pass below the rear edge if desired.

Referring toFIG. 7, according to fourth embodiment10c, a cover member20cmay be circular. The cover member20cmay also be oval, triangular, square and polygonal in shape. Regardless of shape, the cover member20cis mounted to the mounting coupler16cin the same manner as a rectangular cover member20 (seeFIG. 1) described above.

Referring toFIG. 8, a fifth exemplary embodiment10dis illustrated where components that are similar to the components described above with respect toFIGS. 14 are labeled with the same number followed by a “d”. In this version acover member20dis circular and includes a plurality of ribs or pins34 positioned along the peripheral edge of the inner surface of thecover member20d.Theribs34 are spaced equidistantly along the edge of thecover member20d,and protrude downwardly from thecover20d.In this version, the mounting couplers16dare mounted (e.g., via undersurface screws or the like) to thedesktop14 around and adjacent to at least oneopening14 in thedesktop12. The mounting couplers16dcomprise protruding legs with channel forming recesses36 corresponding to theribs34 on thecover member20d.In use, theribs34 securely engage with the corresponding recesses36 defined on the mounting couplers16d,thus securing thecover20dto the mounting couplers16dover theopening14.

Referring toFIG. 9, a sixth embodiment is illustrated where components that are similar to the components described above with respect to other embodiments are labeled with the same number followed by an “e”. Here, the coupling subassembly (e.g.,34e;16e) is similar to the coupling assembly described above with respect toFIG. 8 and the main difference is that thecover member20eis square.

Referring toFIG. 10, a portion of a seventh embodiment10fis illustrated where similar components are labeled with numbers used above to describe other embodiments followed by an “f”. Here, a surface mounted coupler includes a C-shapedflat member42 that includes oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces and mounting-couplers16fthat extend-upward from the top surface to link to couplers (e.g., see34 inFIG. 8) on the undersurface of a cover member (not illustrated). In at least some embodiments adhesive is applied to the undersurface ofmember42 for securingmember42 to member12fabout opening14f.

Referring toFIG. 11, an eighth embodiment10gis illustrated where a round cover member20gis mounted via a pin type mounting coupler16gto member12gfor rotation between a closed position over an opening14gand an open position to the side of opening14g.In this case, coupler16gmay include a threaded shaft that extends throughmember12 to receive a mounting nut or other mechanical fastener belowmember12. In this version, support legs akin tolegs24 inFIG. 1 may or may not be used.

As seen inFIG. 12, acover member20 may be secured in the closed position overcables30 via adetent feature40. The detent feature can be any detent that provides physical resistance to movement of thecover member20 from a closed position. In the illustrated version thedetent feature40 includes a rib orprotrusion member40 that extends from the male hinge member that forms part ofcoupler16 and a complimentary recess or opening50 formed in the internal surface of the female hinge member that forms part ofcoupler22. Here, when thecover member20 is in the closed position (seeFIG. 12),rib member40 registers with and is received within opening50 and operates to restrain cover movement against the force of a cord or the like that may push up on the undersurface ofcover20. Here, it is contemplated thatcoupler22 may be somewhat flexible so that during rotation into the open position, the arms of the female hinge position can flex outward to accommodate the rib.

In addition to forming opening50, the internal surface of the female hinge portion may also form a second opening52 positioned so that when thecover member20 is in the open position (seeFIG. 13), therib member40 registers with and is received within the second opening52 to maintain the cover in the open position unless affirmatively moved.

The mountingcoupler16,cover member20 andcover coupler22, regardless of shape, design or configuration, may be manufactured using either an extrusion process or molding techniques. For instance, referring again toFIG. 4, an extrusion process may be used to formcover member20 as an integral component including the rectilinear cover as well ascoupler22. The extrusion process may also be used to form the cover assembly ofFIG. 6 where the separate coupler sections22bare formed by machining off sections of the extruded coupler.

Thegrommet cover assembly10 may be made from any material suitable for substantially blocking the view of at least oneopening14, including but not limited to plastic and/or metal.

According to another aspect, an inventive method includes forming an opening in a table or desk top member and mounting an cover member to the top member and over the opening so that the cover member is spaced apart from the top member and is substantially parallel to the top member. Here, in at least some cases the cover member will have dimensions that are larger than the opening. For instance, in at lease some cases the cover member may extend over one-quarter inch or more portions of the top member adjacent the opening edge. In some cases the cover member is extruded. In some cases the step of mounting includes adhering while in other cases it includes mechanical fastening. In some cases mounting includes hingedly fastening. In some cases the cover to top member gap is between one-eighth of an inch and one inch.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be appreciated that the invention could be used in a variety of other embodiments.

Thus, the principles of the present invention can be applied in a variety of other ways apart from those specifically noted herein and/or depicted in the drawings. Still other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the claims (rather than just the preferred embodiments) should be reviewed in order to understand the full scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An assembly for use with a planar member having a first surface and forming at least a first opening in the first surface where a portion of the first surface adjacent the at least a first opening is a surrounding surface, the assembly for selectively substantially blocking view of the opening, the assembly comprising:

a mounting coupler mounted to the first surface of the planar member proximate the first opening; and

a cover including a flat cover member and a cover coupler, the cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge wherein a portion of the first surface proximate the lateral edge is a peripheral surface, the cover coupler extending from the peripheral surface and linkable to the mounting coupler to support the cover member adjacent the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the planar member;

wherein, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the peripheral surface is spaced apart from and faces the surrounding surface.

2. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the peripheral surface along the entire lateral edge of the cover member is spaced apart from and faces the surrounding surface.

3. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the mounting coupler includes at least a first hinge member and the cover coupler includes at least a second hinge member linkable to the first hinge member wherein, when the hinge members are linked, the cover member is rotatable about a hinge axis between a closed position wherein the cover member is adjacent and substantially blocking view of the opening and an open position wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the planar member and the opening can be accessed.

4. The assembly ofclaim 3 wherein the second hinge member is releasable from the first hinge member.

5. The assembly ofclaim 3 wherein the first hinge member includes a first retainer feature and the second hinge member includes a second retainer feature and wherein, when the cover member is in the open position, the first and second retainer features cooperate to retain the cover member in the open position.

6. The assembly ofclaim 5 wherein the first retainer feature is one of a rib and a recess and wherein the second retainer feature is the other of a rib and a recess.

7. The assembly ofclaim 3 wherein the mounting coupler includes at least two first hinge members and the cover coupler includes at least two second hinge members that cooperate with the two first hinge members to facilitate rotation of the cover member between the open and closed positions.

8. The assembly ofclaim 7 wherein the two first hinge members are separated by a space and wherein the two second hinge members are separated by a space.

9. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the lateral edge includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends between first and second straight edge ends, the two second hinge members extend from the peripheral surface adjacent the first straight edge and wherein the two second hinge members are spaced away from the first and second straight end edges.

10. The assembly ofclaim 3 wherein the lateral edge includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends between first and second straight edge ends, the second hinge member extends from the peripheral surface adjacent the first straight edge and the second hinge member is spaced away from the first and second straight end edges.

11. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the mounting coupler is mounted to the first surface of the planar member via at least one of adhesive and screws.

12. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the planar member is one of a furniture top member and a wall member.

13. The assembly ofclaim 1 further including at least a first leg member that extends from the peripheral surface of the cover member to a distal end, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the distal end contacting the surrounding surface adjacent the opening.

14. The assembly ofclaim 13 further including at least a second leg member that extends from the peripheral surface of the cover member to a distal end, the second leg member spaced apart from the first leg member, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the distal end of the second leg member contacting the surrounding surface adjacent the opening.

15. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the cover member is one of square, rectangular, circular, oval, triangular and polygonal.

16. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the cover coupler is releasable from the mounting coupler.

17. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one eighth of an inch and one inch.

18. The assembly ofclaim 17 wherein the space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one quarter of an inch and one half of an inch.

19. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes at least one sixteenth of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.

20. The assembly ofclaim 19 wherein the portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes at least one quarter of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.

21. The assembly ofclaim 1 for use in substantially blocking view of at least a second opening in the planar member that is proximate the first opening wherein the surrounding surface includes the portion of the first surface of the planar member that surrounds the first and second openings.

22. An assembly for use with a furniture member having a first substantially flat surface and forming at least a first opening in the first surface where a portion of the first surface adjacent the at least a first opening is a surrounding surface, the assembly for selectively substantially blocking view of the opening, the assembly comprising:

a mounting coupler mounted to the first surface of the furniture member proximate the first opening; and

wherein, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the peripheral surface faces the surrounding surface.

23. The assembly ofclaim 22 wherein when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the peripheral surface faces and is spaced apart from the surrounding surface thereby forming a space for cables to pass between the first surface of the cover member and the first surface of the furniture member.

24. The assembly ofclaim 23 wherein the space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one eighth of an inch and one inch and wherein the portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes at least one sixteenth of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.

25. The assembly ofclaim 23 wherein the space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one fourth of an inch and one half of an inch and wherein the portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes at least one quarter of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.

26. The assembly ofclaim 22 wherein the mounting and cover couplers include complimentary first and second hinge members.

27. The assembly ofclaim 23 wherein the mounting and cover couplers are complimentary first and second hinge members, respectively, that facilitate rotation of the cover member between a closed position wherein the cover member is adjacent the first surface of the furniture member and an open position in which the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the furniture member and the opening is accessible.

28. The assembly ofclaim 22 wherein the lateral edge includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends and has a straight length dimension between first and second ends, the second hinge member has a length dimension that is shorter than the straight length dimension and the second hinge member extends along a portion of the straight edge portion and is spaced apart from each of the first and second ends of the straight edge portion.

29. The assembly ofclaim 22 wherein the furniture member is a table top member and the opening is a passageway through the top member.

30. A cover assembly for use with a furniture member having a first substantially flat surface and forming at least a first opening in the first surface where a portion of the first surface adjacent the at least a first opening is a surrounding surface, the cover assembly comprising:

a flat cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge; and

a coupler linked to and extending from the first surface of the cover member and linkable to the first surface of the furniture member to support the cover member over the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the furniture member with the cover assembly located completely outside the opening.

31. The assembly ofclaim 30 wherein the coupler is adhered to the first surface of the furniture member.

32. The assembly ofclaim 30 wherein the coupler offsets the first surface of the cover member from the first surface of the furniture member so that a space exists between the first surface of the cover member and the first surface of the furniture member.

33. The assembly ofclaim 30 wherein at least a portion of the first surface of the furniture member adjacent the opening is a surrounding surface and a portion of the first surface of the cover member adjacent the lateral edge is a peripheral surface and, wherein, when the cover member is adjacent the first surface of the planar member, the peripheral surface faces the surrounding surface.

34. The assembly ofclaim 30 further comprising a mounting coupler linkable to the first surface of the furniture member, wherein the cover coupler extends from the first surface of the cover member and links to the mounting coupler.

35. The assembly ofclaim 34 wherein the mounting and cover couplers include complimentary first and second hinge members that facilitate rotation of the cover member between a closed position adjacent the opening and an open position wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the furniture member and the opening is accessible.

36. The assembly ofclaim 30 wherein the coupler is adhered to the first surface of the furniture member.

37. A method for providing a cover for an opening in a substantially flat first surface of a planar member, the method comprising the steps of:

forming an opening in the first surface of the planar member wherein the portion of the first surface of the planar member surrounding the opening is a surrounding portion;

providing a flat cover member, the cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge, the portion of the first surface of the cover member adjacent the lateral edge being a peripheral surface; and

mounting the cover member to the first surface of the planar member with at least a portion of the first surface of the cover member facing the opening and substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first surface of the planar member.

38. The method ofclaim 37 wherein the step of providing a flat cover member includes extruding the cover member.

39. The method ofclaim 38 wherein the steps of providing a flat cover member and mounting the cover member include extruding a cover member and a cover coupler member integrally formed with and extending from a portion of the peripheral surface of the cover member and mounting the cover coupler member to the first surface of the planar member.

40. The method ofclaim 39 wherein the step of mounting the cover coupler includes providing a mounting coupler, mounting the mounting coupler to the first surface of the planar member and linking the cover coupler to the mounting coupler.

41. The method ofclaim 40 wherein the cover coupler and the mounting coupler include a cover hinge member and a mounting hinge member and the step of extruding the cover member and the cover coupler includes extruding the cover coupler adjacent an edge of the cover member where the cover coupler extends between first and second ends

42. The method ofclaim 41 wherein the method further includes the steps of, after extruding the cover member and the cover coupler, removing at least a portion of the cover hinge member.

43. The method ofclaim 41 wherein the step of removing at least a portion of the cover hinge member includes removing portions of the cover hinge member at each of the first and second ends of the cover coupler.

44. The method ofclaim 41 wherein the step of removing at least a portion of the cover hinge member further includes removing a central portion of the cover hinge member, thereby creating first and second spaced apart cover hinge members, and wherein the step of providing a mounting hinge member includes providing first and second mounting hinge members; and wherein the step of linking the cover coupler to the mounting coupler includes linking the first and second cover hinge members to the first and second mounting hinge members, respectively.

45. The method ofclaim 37 wherein the step of mounting the cover member to the first surface of the planar member so that the first surface of the cover member is spaced apart from the first surface of the planar member includes mounting the cover so that the first surface of the cover member is spaced from the first surface of the planar member by one eighth of an inch to one inch.

46. The method ofclaim 40 wherein the step of providing a mounting coupler includes molding the mounting coupler.

47. A method of installing a cover for an opening in a substantially flat first surface of a planar member, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting a mounting coupler to the first surface of the planar member adjacent the opening;

linking the mounting coupler to a cover coupler attached to a cover member; and

rotating the cover member between a closed position, wherein the cover member is adjacent and substantially blocking view of the opening, and an open position, wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the planar member and the opening can be accessed.

48. The method ofclaim 47 wherein the cover coupler and the mounting coupler include a cover hinge member and a mounting hinge member.