Desk with computer work station

• US 5,242,217 A
• Filed: 01/06/1992
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry M. Gonnet
• Original Assignee: Henry M. Gonnet
• Inventors: Gonnet, Henry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US07/817,095
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 312/194, 312/196, 312/312
• US Class Current: 312/194
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0073 liftable above the desk top

Abstract

A desk includes a desktop divisible by a longitudinal axis into right and left portions and a knee recess formed under one of said portions having at least one side opening outward along a first vertical plane, which first plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The desk has a monitor compartment formed under the other of said portions and an automatic lift assembly for lifting at least a computer monitor from a closed position fully beneath the desktop and within the monitor compartment to an open position fully above the desktop. A hinged lid in an aperture in the desktop communicates with the lift assembly. The lid lies flush with the desktop in a closed lid position and has a front lid edge which forms an acute lid edge angle with the transverse axis of the desktop. A keyboard shelf is used for extending a computer keyboard from a first keyboard position wholly beneath the desktop, to a second keyboard position wholly in front of the front edge of the desk and parallel to the transverse axis, and to a third keyboard position wholly in front of the front edge of the desk wherein the transverse axis of the keyboard forms an acute angle with the transverse axis of the desktop.

Claims

1. Desk apparatus including:

a desktop divisible by a longitudinal axis into right and left portions;

a knee recess formed under one of said portions having at least one side opening outward along a first vertical plane, which first plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a monitor compartment formed under the other of said portions;

means for lifting at least a computer monitor from a first monitor position wherein the monitor would be fully beneath the desktop to a second monitor position wherein the monitor would be fully above the desktop; and

means for elevating the desktop a distance comfortable for working thereupon.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a straight front desktop edge formed along a transverse axis of the desktop perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the transverse axis lying parallel to or within the first plane.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including:

a door of the monitor compartment lying within a second vertical plane, the second plane forming an acute door angle with the transverse axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a computer peripheral storage compartment under the same desktop portion as the knee recess.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a hinged lid in an aperture in the desktop communicating with the lifting means, the lid lying flush with the desktop in a closed lid position, the lid comprising means for sealing at least a computer monitor fully beneath the desktop when the monitor would be in the first monitor position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the lifting means includes a plurality of acme screws driven by an electric motor.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the lifting means includes a plurality of hydraulic cylinders powered by an electric pump.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the lid is formed of two flat panels, a front and a back, the panels hinged together and to the desktop.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including:

a raisable platform in the lifting means for holding at least a computer monitor for lifting, the platform having a vertically upwardly protruding push rod which contacts the lid and opens the lid upward when the platform is raised.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further including:

a straight front desktop edge formed along a transverse axis of the desktop perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the transverse axis lying parallel to or within the first plane, and wherein

the front lid panel is rectangular and has a front lid edge which forms an acute lid edge angle with the transverse axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further including:

a lock on the lid;

a plurality of acme screws driven by an electric motor in

the lifting means; and

at least one limit switch in the lifting means for automatic deactivation of the electric motor.

12. Desk apparatus including:

a desktop divisible along a longitudinal axis into two portions;

a front desktop edge formed along a transverse axis of the desktop perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a plurality of vertical peripheral side walls depending downwardly from the desktop;

a vertical back wall depending downwardly opposite and parallel to the front desktop edge;

a knee recess formed under one of said portions having at least one side which opens outward with respect to the desk apparatus along a first vertical plane, which first plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the transverse axis lying parallel to or within the first plane, the knee recess being open longitudinally from the first plane to the back wall;

a monitor compartment formed under the other of said portions;

a vertical knee wall between the knee recess and the monitor compartment; and

means for lifting at least a computer monitor from a closed monitor position wherein the monitor would be fully beneath the desktop to an open monitor position wherein the monitor would be fully above the desktop.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including:

a hinged lid in an aperture in the desktop communicating with the lifting means, the lid lying flush with the desktop in a closed lid position, the lid having a front lid edge which forms an acute lid edge angle with the transverse axis.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further including:

means for extending a computer keyboard from a first keyboard position wholly beneath the desktop and back o the front edge, to a second keyboard position wholly in front of the front edge and parallel to the transverse axis, and to a third keyboard position wholly in front of the front edge and forming an acute keyboard angle with the transverse axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further including:

a computer peripheral storage compartment under the same desktop portion as the knee recess; and

radiation protection panels lining at least part of the monitor compartment.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the lifting means includes a plurality of acme screws driven by an electric motor.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 further including:

a raisable platform in the lifting means for holding at least a computer monitor for lifting, the platform having a vertically upwardly protruding push rod which contacts the lid and opens the lid upward when the platform is raised.

18. Desk apparatus including:

a desktop divisible by a longitudinal axis into right and left portions;

a knee recess formed under one of said portions having at least one side opening outward along a first vertical plane, which first plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a monitor compartment formed under the other of said portions;

means for lifting at least a computer monitor from a first monitor position fully beneath the desktop through an intermediate second monitor position to a third monitor position fully above the desktop;

a front desktop edge formed along a transverse axis of the desktop perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the transverse axis lying parallel to or within the first plane;

a hinged lid in an aperture in the desktop communicating with the lifting means, the lid lying flush with the desktop in a closed lid position, the lid having a front lid edge which forms an acute lid edge angle with the transverse axis;

means for elevating the desktop a distance above a floor; and

means for extending a computer keyboard from a first keyboard position wholly beneath the desktop and back of the front edge, to a second keyboard position wholly in front of the front edge and parallel to the transverse axis, and to a third keyboard position wholly in front of the front edge and forming an acute keyboard angle with the transverse axis.