Plastic desk with integral computer

• US 20020097567A1
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aceelerated Performance, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aceelerated Performance, Inc.
• Inventors: Zodnik, Richard, Pelly, Charles, Goerner, Rick
• Granted Patent: US 6,820,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/820
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0076 the screen being incorporated in the desk top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0073 Desk with integrated computer
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/01 Furniture enclosures comprising or containing other furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 7/02 Stackable tables; Nesting tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A desk that contains an integrated computer. The desk includes a screen and a keyboard that are attached to a frame. The desk may also have a backplane located in a slot of the frame. A portable transporter computer can be plugged into the backplane to couple the transporter with the screen and keyboard. A battery module may also be plugged into the frame to power the transporter, screen and keyboard. When the desk is not in use the battery module can be plugged into a charging station to recharge the batteries of the module.

Claims

1. A desk, comprising:

a frame;

a screen attached to said frame;

a keyboard attached to said frame; and

,

a transporter computer plugged into said frame and coupled to said keyboard and said screen.

2. The desk of claim 1, further comprising a battery module plugged into said frame and coupled to said transporter.

3. The desk of claim 1, wherein said screen is attached to a cover that can rotate relative onto a table top of said frame.

4. The desk of claim 1, wherein said frame includes a table top and a plurality of legs that are constructed from a molded plastic material.

5. The desk of claim 1, further comprising a backplane that is attached to said frame and coupled to said transporter computer.

6. The desk of claim 5, wherein said backplane includes a backplane identification that is unique to said backplane.

7. The desk of claim 6, wherein said transporter computer retrieves said backplane identification and transmits a network re-configuration command.

8. The desk of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to said transporter computer.

9. The desk of claim 1, wherein said transporter computer contains a wireless transmitter.

10. The desk of claim 1, further comprising a lock that secures said transporter computer to said frame.

11. A desk, comprising:

a frame;

a screen attached to said frame;

a keyboard attached to said frame; and

,

transporter computer means for plugging into said frame and being coupled to said keyboard and said screen.

12. The desk of claim 11, further comprising battery module means for plugging into said frame and being coupled to said transporter computer means.

13. The desk of claim 11, wherein said screen is attached to a cover that can rotate relative onto a table top of said frame.

14. The desk of claim 11, wherein said frame includes a table top and a plurality of legs that are constructed from a molded plastic material.

15. The desk of claim 11, further comprising backplane means for coupling said transporter computer means to said screen and said keyboard.

16. The desk of claim 15, wherein said backplane means includes a backplane identification that is unique to said backplane.

17. The desk of claim 16, wherein said transporter computer means retrieves said backplane identification and transmits a network reconfiguration command.

18. The desk of claim 11, further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to said transporter computer means.

19. The desk of claim 11, wherein said transporter computer means contains a wireless transmitter.

20. The desk of claim 11, further comprising lock means for securing said transporter computer means to said frame.

21. A method for operating a desk, comprising:

plugging a transporter computer into a frame to couple the transporter computer to a screen and a keyboard that are attached to the frame.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising plugging a battery module into the frame.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the transporter computer is locked to the frame.

25. The set of claim 24, wherein said screen is attached to a cover that can rotate relative onto a table top of said frame.

26. The set of claim 24, wherein said frame includes a table top and a plurality of legs that are constructed from a molded plastic material.

27. The set of claim 24, further comprising a backplane that is attached to said frame and coupled to said transporter computer.

28. The set of claim 27, wherein said backplane includes a backplane identification that is unique to said backplane.

29. The set of claim 28, wherein said transporter computer retrieves said backplane identification and transmits a network re-configuration command.

30. The set of claim 24, further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to said transporter computer.

31. The set of claim 24, wherein said transporter computer contains a wireless transmitter.

32. The set of claim 24, further comprising a lock that secures said transporter computer to said frame.

33. The set of claim 24, wherein said charging station includes a server and a router.

34. The set of claim 24, wherein said charging station includes a wireless transceiver.

35. The set of claim 24, further comprising a teachers podium that is coupled to said desk, said teachers podium having a frame, a first screen attached to said frame, a second screen attached to said frame, a keyboard attached to said frame, and a computer coupled to said frame.

36. The set of claim 35, wherein said computer is integrated into a transporter that is plugged into said teachers podium frame.

37. The set of claim 24, further comprising a mobile cart that can support said frame.

39. The set of claim 38, wherein said screen is attached to a cover that can rotate relative onto a table top of said frame.

40. The set of claim 38, wherein said frame includes a table top and a plurality of legs that are constructed from a molded plastic material.

41. The set of claim 38, further comprising a backplane means for coupling said transporter computer means to said screen and said keyboard.

42. The set of claim 41, wherein said backplane includes a backplane identification that is unique to said backplane.

43. The set of claim 42, wherein said transporter computer means retrieves said backplane identification and transmits a network re-configuration command.

44. The set of claim 38, further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to said transporter computer means.

45. The set of claim 38, wherein said transporter computer means contains a wireless transmitter.

46. The set of claim 38, further comprising lock means for securing said transporter computer means to said frame.

47. The set of claim 38, wherein said charging station means includes a server and a router.

48. The set of claim 38, wherein said charging station means includes a wireless transceiver.

49. The set of claim 38, further comprising a teachers podium that is coupled to said desk, said teachers podium having a frame, a first screen attached to said frame, a second screen attached to said frame, a keyboard attached to said frame, and a computer coupled to said frame.

50. The set of claim 49, wherein said computer is integrated into a transporter that is plugged into said teachers podium frame.

51. The set of claim 38, further comprising a mobile cart that can support said frame.

24. A classroom desk set, comprising:

a desk that includes;

a frame;

a screen attached to said frame;

a keyboard attached to said frame;

a transporter computer plugged into said frame and coupled to said keyboard and said screen;

a battery module that is plugged into said frame and coupled to said transporter, said screen and said keyboard; and

,

a charging station that can charge said battery module.

38. A classroom desk set, comprising:

a desk that includes;

a frame;

a screen attached to said frame;

a keyboard attached to said frame;

transporter computer means for plugging into said frame and being coupled to said keyboard and said screen;

battery module means for plugging into said frame and being coupled to said transporter computer means, said screen and said keyboard; and

,

charging station means for charging said battery module means.

52. A computer transporter, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an integrated circuit package mounted to said printed circuit board;

a hard disk drive coupled to said printed circuit board;

an electrical connector attached to said printed circuit board;

a housing that encloses said printed circuit board, said integrated circuit package and said hard disk drive;

a first heat sink attached to said integrated circuit package; and

,

a spring that couples said first heat sink to said housing.

53. The transporter of claim 52, wherein said housing is sealed to prevent a fluid from coming into contact with said printed circuit board.

54. The transporter of claim 52, further comprising a second heat sink that is coupled to said spring and said housing.

55. The transporter of claim 52, wherein said housing has an outer groove.

57. The transporter of claim 56, wherein said housing assembly includes a cover, a pair of end plates attached to said cover, and a pair of gaskets each located between said housing an one of said end plates.

56. A computer transporter, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an integrated circuit package mounted to said printed circuit board;

a hard disk drive coupled to said printed circuit board;

an electrical connector attached to said printed circuit board; and

,

a housing assembly that encloses and seals said printed circuit board, said integrated circuit package and said hard disk drive.