Worktop and Furniture Incorporating a Worktop
First Claim
1. A worktop comprising a first surface and second surface spaced apart by a face to define the thickness of the worktop which has front and rear portions, said worktop being provided with a compartment towards the rear portion of suitable dimensions to receive a standard computer base unit, said worktop and associated compartment being supported and optionally movable relative to said support, said worktop having embedded therein at least one peripheral component adapted for connection to a motherboard disposed within the base unit, said peripheral component being provided with data communication means of an internal interface standard type, said peripheral component being disposed in the front portion of the worktop between the first and second surfaces so as to be accessible to a user for removal, replacement or insertion of suitable media thereinto, characterized in that a conversion module is embedded in the worktop proximate the peripheral component which is connected to said conversion module by means of a suitable internal interface connector, said conversion module acting to convert the signals received from the peripheral component from signals of an internal interface standard type to signals of an external interface standard type, said conversion module transmitting said external interface standard signals to the base unit disposed in the compartment towards the rear of the worktop.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A worktop comprises a first surface and second surface spaced apart by a face to define the thickness of the worktop. The worktop is provided with a compartment towards the rear which can receive a standard computer base unit. A source of mains power is provided to this compartment by means of cad e, and further connections to the base unit within the compartment allow for the standard peripherals, namely a display, a keyboard and a mouse to be attached. The worktop and associated compartment are supported on legs or other suitable supports which may be movable so that the worktop can be raised or lowered. The worktop has at least one peripheral component (20), e.g. a DVD, embedded in its thickness which is accessible at the front of the worktop. In order that the base unit of the computer can communicate with the component, a conversion module (31) is provided which converts the USB signals at the base unit to IDE/EIDE signals received by or transmitted from the component.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A worktop comprising a first surface and second surface spaced apart by a face to define the thickness of the worktop which has front and rear portions, said worktop being provided with a compartment towards the rear portion of suitable dimensions to receive a standard computer base unit, said worktop and associated compartment being supported and optionally movable relative to said support, said worktop having embedded therein at least one peripheral component adapted for connection to a motherboard disposed within the base unit, said peripheral component being provided with data communication means of an internal interface standard type, said peripheral component being disposed in the front portion of the worktop between the first and second surfaces so as to be accessible to a user for removal, replacement or insertion of suitable media thereinto,
characterized in that a conversion module is embedded in the worktop proximate the peripheral component which is connected to said conversion module by means of a suitable internal interface connector, said conversion module acting to convert the signals received from the peripheral component from signals of an internal interface standard type to signals of an external interface standard type, said conversion module transmitting said external interface standard signals to the base unit disposed in the compartment towards the rear of the worktop.
Specification