Computer furniture

• US 6,022,087 A
• Filed: 04/13/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Powerdesk International Limited
• Original Assignee: David Gilbert
• Inventors: Gilbert, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/059,715
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 312/194, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/204, 312/290, 312/208.1, 361/608, 361/616, 361/683, 361/685, 361/724, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727
• US Class Current: 312/194
• 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 88/80 Concealed drawers

Abstract

Furniture for containing computer equipment is disclosed, where the computer equipment can be concealed when not in use. The furniture is in the form of a desk or table which has at least one normal drawer and at least one false drawer front which can be moved relative to or removed from the furniture (desk, credenza and so on). Computer equipment is mounted in the furniture carcass. When the equipment is in use, the false front is pivoted downward or removed, thereby exposing the equipment for easy access, for example via the disc ports. When not in use, the false drawer is positioned vertically and is fabricated to match the front of the normal drawer in appearance.

Claims

1. An item of furniture comprising a carcass, a CPU of a computer mounted within said carcass, external access means fixed to said carcass for coupling the CPU to the exterior of the furniture, and a false drawer front movable relative to or removable from said carcass for concealing said external access means.

2. An item of furniture according to claim 1 further comprising at least one slidable drawer which is slidable relative to the carcass of the furniture.

3. An item of furniture according to claim 2 wherein the computer comprises at least two physically separate operatively connected computer parts individually mounted to said carcass.

4. An item of furniture according to claim 3 further comprising a sliding shelf, and a sliding shelf false drawer front is attached to said sliding shelf for concealing contents of the sliding shelf.

5. An item of furniture of claim 4 wherein said sliding shelf false drawer front conceals a keyboard fixedly or removably mounted to said sliding shelf.

6. An item of furniture according to claim 5 wherein the sliding shelf false drawer front and a front of the slidable drawer have matching or similar external appearance.

7. An item of furniture according to claim 2 wherein the false drawer front and a front of the slidable drawer have matching or similar external appearance.

8. An item of furniture according to claim 2 comprising a work surface or essentially flat top surface which overlies and substantially closes a compartment for said CPU.

9. An item of furniture according to claim 2 wherein the false drawer front and a front of the slidable drawer have similar or matching appearance.

10. An item of furniture according to claim 2 further comprising a slidable shelf and a movable or removable drawer front attached to said sliding shelf or to said carcass for concealing contents on said shelf.

11. An item of furniture according to claim 1 wherein said external access means comprises at least one disc port.

12. An item of furniture according to claim 1 further comprising a work surface comprising an essentially flat top surface which overlies and substantially closes a compartment for said CPU.

13. An item of furniture according to claim 12 wherein said work surface is opaque and movable or removable for access to the compartment.

14. An item of furniture according to claim 12 wherein said work surface has a substantially continuous and unbroken appearance.

15. An item of furniture according to claim 12 wherein said work surface has a substantially continuous and unbroken appearance.

16. An item of furniture according to claim 12 wherein the computer unit comprises at least two physically separate operatively computer parts individually mounted to said carcass.

17. A desk or writing table comprising a carcass and at least one drawer slidable to said carcass, a CPU of a computer unit mounted within said carcass, external access means fixed to said carcass for coupling the CPU exterior to the furniture, and a false drawer front movable relative to or removable from said carcass for concealing said external access means.

18. A desk according to claim 17 wherein said carcass comprises at least one pedestal and said at least one drawer is slidable with said pedestal.

19. A desk according to claim 18 wherein said access means is fixed to said carcass above said pedestal.

20. A desk according to claim 19 further comprising a slidable shelf and a movable or removable drawer front attachable to said sliding shelf or to said carcass for concealing contents on said shelf.

21. A desk according to claim 20 wherein said slidable shelf is slidable in said carcass to one side of said pedestal.

22. A desk according to claim 18 further comprising a slidable shelf and a movable or removable drawer front attachable to said sliding shelf or to said carcass for concealing contents on said shelf.

23. A desk according to claim 17 further comprising a slidable shelf and a movable or removable drawer front attachable to said sliding shelf or to said carcass for concealing contents on said shelf.

24. A desk according to claim 17 further comprising a work surface which overlies and substantially closes a compartment for said CPU.

25. A desk according to claim 24 wherein said work surface has a substantially continuous and unbroken appearance.

26. A desk according to claim 25 wherein said work surface is movable or removable for access to the compartment.

27. A desk according to claim 24 wherein said work surface is movable or removable for access to the compartment.

28. A desk or writing table comprising a carcass, at least one drawer within said carcass, a CPU of a computer unit mounted within said carcass, at least one disc port fixed to said carcass for coupling the CPU to an exterior of the desk or writing table, and a false drawer front movable relative to or removable from said carcass for concealing said disc port.

29. A desk or writing table according to claim 28 further comprising a slidable shelf and a movable or removable drawer front attached to said sliding shelf or to said carcass for concealing contents on the shelf.

30. A desk or writing table according to claim 29 wherein said disc port is mounted to one side of said sliding shelf.

31. A desk or writing table according to claim 30 wherein said carcass comprises at least one pedestal and said disc port is mounted above said pedestal.