OFFICE FURNITURE SYSTEM WITH INTEGRAL ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

• US 20090001860A1
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omar Marashi
• Original Assignee: Omar Marashi
• Inventors: Marashi, Omar
• Application Number:
  US12/037,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20090001860A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/223.300
• 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 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems

Abstract

An office furniture system with integral electronic components comprises at least one vertically oriented prefabricated furniture panel. The panel can be free standing or wall or desk mounted, and has a structural frame providing a hollow interior to the panel. The panel is thick enough to house electronic components in its interior, and the frame has compartments for separately housing computer components, so that each component can be replaced separately. The system also includes one or more work surface components mounted on the vertical furniture panels that are not obstructed by the computer components mounted in the vertical panel. The panel also can include pivotal storage bins for files or the like.

Claims

1. An office furniture system with integral electronic components comprising:

at least one vertically oriented prefabricated furniture panel, the panel being free standing or wall or desk mounted, the panel having a structural frame providing a hollow interior to the panel, the panel having a thickness sufficient to house electronic components in the interior thereof, the frame having compartments for separately housing computer components, such that each component can be replaced separately; and

one or more work surface components mounted on the vertical furniture panels, the work surface being unobstructed by the computer components mounted in the vertical panel.

2. A furniture system as in claim 1 wherein the vertical panel has separate compartments for one or more of a computer motherboard, a hard drive, a DVD or CD or other replaceable memory drive, a computer monitor, a printer, and a cell phone charger.

3. A furniture system as in claim 2 wherein the vertical panel also has one or more compartments in the form of bins for files or the like wherein a container having an open top is pivotally mounted in a compartment opening in the panel for movement between a closed position, wherein the container is enclosed in the panel, and an open position, wherein the top of the container is pivoted outwardly from the panel so as to be accessible for insertion or removal of materials in the bin.

4. A furniture system as in claim 3 wherein the bin is mounted to the compartment for pivotal movement by means of a living hinge wherein a flexible sheet material is folded along a hinge axis and the material on the opposite sides of the hinge axis are attached to a bottom of the bin and to a lower interior surface of the compartment.

5. A furniture system as in claim 2 wherein a computer monitor in the form of a flat panel display is mounted in a compartment by means of a movable mounting arm that permits the display to move inwardly and outwardly from the compartment and to move vertically and to tilt or swivel with respect to the compartment.

6. A furniture system as in claim 2 wherein the system has separate compartments for computer components in the nature of removable memory, a hard drive or hard drives, a motherboard, and a monitor, with the system including wiring for electrically connecting the components.

7. A furniture system as in claim 2 wherein the system includes a compartment for a printer and a printer is mounted in the compartment, the printer being flat enough to fit into the compartment and having a paper outlet slot at a lower edge that directs printed sheets outwardly from the front of the panel at a lower edge of the printer compartment.

8. A furniture system as in claim 7 wherein the printer is an inkjet printer having an array of inkjet nozzles that cover the surface of entire an sheet of regular paper such that the discharge of the inkjet array prints an entire sheet of paper at one time.

9. A furniture system as in claim 1 wherein the work surface has a receptacle for a keyboard at a rear edge thereof, such that a keyboard can be stored therein when not in use.

10. A furniture system as in claim 9 wherein the keyboard receptacle has a door pivotally mounted thereon, the door closing an open top of the receptacle when the door is closed.

11. A furniture system as in claim 1 wherein the panel includes a light compartment for an elongated task light, the task light being pivotable about a longitudinal axis between an open position, wherein a light transmitting panel is exposed and directed at the work surface, and a closed position wherein the light transmitting panel is directed into the interior of the light compartment and a non-light transmitting panel faces out from the light compartment.

12. An office furniture system with integral electronic components comprising:

at least one vertically oriented prefabricated furniture in the form of a cabinet with a downwardly pivotal front panel, the cabinet being free standing or wall or desk mounted, the cabinet having a structural frame providing a hollow interior to the cabinet, the cabinet having a thickness sufficient to house electronic components in the interior thereof, the interior of the cabinet having compartments for separately housing computer components, such that each component can be replaced separately, the downwardly pivotal front panel being restrained to stop at a horizontal position so that it serves as a work surface when the cabinet is opened, the work surface being unobstructed by the computer components mounted in the vertical panel.