Space efficient cabinet for housing a computer work station

• US 4,861,121 A
• Filed: 10/01/1987
• Issued: 08/29/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lam-Wood Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lam-Wood Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Gotz, Lasar
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rendos, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US07/103,337
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 312/330 R, 312/208, 312/7.2, 312/324, 312/22, 312/23, 312/24, 312/26, 312/27, 312/30, 312/233, 312/313, 312/328
• US Class Current: 312/223.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0069 with rack

Abstract

This invention relates to a space-efficient cabinet for housing a computer work station. The computer work station can include a video display monitor, a CPU/disk-drive and a key pad. The cabinet has two generally opposed side walls and generally opposed front and back walls, which extend between the side walls. At least one horizontal surface is provided extending between said front back and opposed side walls, to carry the video display monitor. An inner angled shelf is also present, and is affixed between the side walls, to carry the CPU/disk-drive. The shelf is angled downwardly from front to back relative to the horizontal allowing access to the CPU/disk-drive whereby discs can be readily inserted into or removed from said CPU/disk-drive. The angle of this shelf carrying the CPU/disk-drive ensures a minimal footprint of the cabinet on the floor thus saving floor space. A moveable partition is also provided to support the key pad thereon.

Claims

1. A space efficient cabinet for housing a computer work station having at least a computer, a video display monitor and keyboard, said cabinet comprising:

two generally opposed upstanding side walls, opposed front and back walls positioned at right angles to said side walls, and a horizontal top, said front wall comprising a plurality of hingeable partitions, each having at least an open position and a closed position and being moveable therebetween, said partitions comprising

a first rectangular partition adopted to carry said keyboard on an inner face, said first partition having opposed top and bottom edges and opposed side edges, said top and bottom edges being at least slightly longer than the length of said keyboard, said side edges being at least slightly longer than the width of said keyboard,

a second rectangular partition having a pair of opposed side edges and opposed top and bottom edges and being adapted to carry documentary material on an inner face; and

a third rectangular partition having a pair of opposed side edges and opposed top and bottom edges, the sum of the length to one side edge of said second partition plus the length of one side edge of said third partition being slightly greater than the height of said video display monitor,

said cabinet further including at least one horizontal shelf running between said side walls for supporting said video display monitor behind said second and third partitions when said second and third partitions are in the closed position, and at least one angled shelf, running between said side walls for carrying said computer, said angled shelf being angled downwardly from front to back relative to the horizontal, and having an upper edge located adjacent said first partition, said computer being accessible when said first partition is in the open position, said side walls of said cabinet being only sufficiently long from front to back to accommodate said video display monitor and any electrical connections thereto, said cabinet, when said partitions are all closed, occupying a minimum of floor space, and when said partitions are open, providing a computer work station wherein said first partition forms an extended keyboard support, said second partition forms an extended document holder and said third partition substantially shades said video display monitor from overhead glare.

2. A space-efficient cabinet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lower shelf affixed between said side walls and located under said innner angled shelf, and said inner angled shelf is angled between 20°

and 45°

to the vertical.

3. A space-efficient cabinet as claimed in claim 2 further including a toe space for the operator, said toe space being located at the bottom of said front wall.

4. A space-efficient cabinet as claimed in claim 1 further including at least one adjustable hinge, said first partition being releasably securable at any desired angle by said adjustable hinge.

5. A space-efficient cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner angled shelf includes an upwardly projecting lip at the lower end thereof, and said cabinet includes resilient retaining means for securing said computer to said inner angled shelf.

6. A space-efficient cabinet as claimed in claim 5 wherein said resilient retaining means comprises an elastic strap secured to said side walls and stretched over said computer.

7. A space efficient cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first partition includes on an inner face a pair of resilient clips at said bottom edge and a projecting lip at said upper edge to retain said keypad therebetween.