Furniture accessory kit for portable computers and the like

• US 6,578,498 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stewart, William C., Carlson, Andrew H., Whitaker, Russell P., Swets, Mark D., Draudt, Gregg R., Ruedinger, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/588,258
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/108, 108/147.17, 108/147.11, 312/223.3, 312/223.6, 312/223.1, 312/245, 312/246, 312/247, 211/26, 211/94.01, 211/90.01, 211/90.02, 211/87.01, 52/364, 52/365, 248/71, 248/51, 248/52, 248/551, 70/58, 704/24, 704/27, 704/28, 704/30
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/16 consisting of hooks coacting with openings ladder type A47B57/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0846 Display panels or rails with elongated channels; Sliders, brackets, shelves, or the like, slidably attached therein
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A furniture accessory kit is designed to support portable computers in office partition systems of the type having slat wall panels on which detachable office amenities, such as paper trays, etc. can be hung. A horizontal shelf accessory supports a portable computer thereon, and includes a connector that detachably mounts the shelf to an associated slat wall panel in a cantilevered horizontal orientation. The shelf has a wire trough to mange wiring associated with the portable computer. A sleeve-shaped accessory unit with a hollow interior for retaining computer accessories therein is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel directly above the shelf. A wire management device to retain wires associated with the portable computer is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel near the shelf and the accessory unit. A security devices for securing the portable computer to the slat wall and which is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel near the shelf and the accessory unit. A power supply unit for supplying electrical power to the portable computer to the slat wall and which is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel near the shelf and the accessory unit.

Claims

1. A shelf removably mountable on a substantially vertical wall, comprising:

a worksurface defining a top surface configured to support a laptop computer thereon, and a rear edge;

at least one mounting member attached to the shelf and releasably mountable to the wall;

a recessed area located below the top surface of the worksurface, and adapted to receive wiring associated with the laptop computer therein;

a top cover movable between a closed position wherein the top cover covers the recessed area and is substantially planar with the top surface, and an open position wherein the recessed area is accessible;

a rear cover extending along the rear edge of the worksurface, the rear cover movable between a closed position wherein the rear cover forms a pocket with the worksurface, and an open position wherein the pocket is accessible; and

a locking mechanism that engages the slat wall, thereby preventing the removal of the mounting member from the slat wall.

2. The shelf of claim 1, wherein the worksurface includes a first side edge and a second side edge, and wherein the shelf further includes a pair of stops slidably engaging the side edges of the worksurface, and adapted to restrict lateral movement of the laptop computer across the top surface of the worksurface.

3. The shelf of claim 2, wherein the top surface of the worksurface includes an area to manipulate a computer mouse thereon.

4. The shelf of claim 3, wherein the top cover is pivotally attached to the worksurface.

5. The shelf of claim 4, wherein the worksurface further includes a pair of posts extending upwardly from the top surface and juxtaposed across the recessed area, and wherein the rear cover is pivotally attached to the posts.

6. The shelf of claim 5, wherein the recessed area includes at least one substantially vertically oriented rib configured to allow organization of wiring within the recessed area.

7. The shelf of claim 6, wherein the recessed area further includes at least two substantially parallel pins configured to allow wrapping of wiring thereabout within the recessed area.

8. The shelf of claim 7, wherein the recessed area further includes a lower surface having an aperture adapted to receive the wiring therethrough.

9. The shelf of claim 8, wherein the shelf is mountable to a slat wall section and the locking mechanism includes a pair of tabs slidably engaging the worksurface, and slidable between a locked position wherein the tabs engage the slat wall preventing the removal of the mounting member from the slat wall, and an unlocked position wherein the tabs are disengaged from the slat wall and the mounting member may be removed from engagement with the slat wall.

10. The shelf of claim 9, wherein the worksurface includes notches extending along the rear edge, the notches adapted to receive the wiring therein.

11. The shelf of claim 10, wherein the top surface of the worksurface includes an ergonomically rounded forward section.

12. The shelf of claim 11, wherein the worksurface further includes a bottom surface and wherein the bottom surface includes outwardly extending structural support ribs.

13. A shelf removably mountable on a substantially vertical slat wall, comprising:

a worksurface defining a top surface configured to support a laptop computer thereon, and a rear edge;

at least one mounting member attached to the shelf and releasably mountable to the wall;

a recessed area located below the top surface of the worksurface, and adapted to receive wiring associated with the laptop computer therein;

a top cover movable between a closed position wherein the top cover covers the recessed area and is substantially planar with the top surface, and an open position wherein the recessed area is accessible; and

a locking mechanism that engages the slat wall, thereby preventing the removal of the mounting member from the slat wall.

14. The shelf of claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pair of tabs slidably engaging the worksurface, and slidable between a locked position wherein the tabs engage the slat wall preventing the removal of the mounting member from the slat wall, and an unlocked position wherein the tabs are disengaged from the slat wall and the mounting member may be removed from engagement with the slat wall.

15. A kit for securing a device to a slat wall, comprising:

a first member including;

a ring section defining an aperture therein;

a stem section extending outwardly from the ring section; and

a pair of flanges connected to the stem section and engageable with a slat wall by inserting the flanges within a slot of the slat wall and rotating the first member with respect to the slat wall;

a second member including;

plate section defining an inner surface and an outer surface and having an elongated aperture located therein, the aperture adapted to receive the ring section of the first member therein such that the ring section of the first member extends substantially orthogonal to the slat wall and the plate section extends substantially coplanar with the slat wall; and

at least one stop extending outwardly from the inner surface of the plate section and adapted to engage the slat wall, thereby restricting rotational movement of the first and second members; and

a third member adapted to be received within the ring section of the first member, thereby preventing removal of the plate of the second member from about the ring section of the first member.

16. The kit of claim 15, wherein the at least one stop of the second member includes two stops juxtaposed across the aperture of the plate section.

17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the third member is a security cable configured to connected to a device to be secured to the slat wall.

18. In a furniture system for dividing open office space and the like of the type having at least one vertical wall panel, the improvement of a wall-hung portable computer support shelf comprising:

a horizontal shelf member shaped to support a portable computer on an upper surface thereof;

a connector member detachably mounting said shelf member to said wall panel along a rear edge of said shelf member to support the same from said wall panel in a cantilevered horizontal orientation;

a wire trough extending laterally along said shelf member adjacent said rear edge thereof, and shaped to receive and retain therein wiring associated with the portable computer; and

a removable cover shaped to enclose said wire trough and being detachably connected with said shelf member to provide access to said wire trough; and

wherein said wall is a slat wall section and said computer shelf further includes a locking mechanism that engages said slat wall, thereby preventing the removal of said connector member from said slat wall.