Desk and desking system

• US 7,223,123 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intercase UK Limited
• Original Assignee: Intercase UK Limited
• Inventors: Brooks, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): DUVERNE, JEAN F
• Application Number:
  US10/628,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20040097135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 439/577, 361/683, 361/681, 312/223.1, 312/223.6, 312/196, 312/195, 312/140.3, 312/280
• US Class Current: 439/577
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0073 Desk with integrated computer
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A desk is adapted for connection to a second desk as part of a network of desks. The desk includes a desktop, a chassis positioned substantially beneath the desktop and including one or more cassettes, wherein at least one cassette includes one or more electronic components, a power distribution system providing power to at least one cassette and configured to provide power to at least one adjacent desk, and an electronic connection system providing an electronic connection from the one or more electronic components to an electronic component located in an adjacent second desk. The power distribution system and the electronic connection system are positioned substantially beneath the desktop and extend approximately from a first side of the desktop to a second side of the desktop.

Claims

1. A desk adapted for connection to a second desk as part of a network of desks, the desk comprising:

a desktop comprising a plurality of sides, a bottom-face, and a top face;

a chassis positioned substantially beneath the desktop comprising one or more cassettes, wherein at least one cassette includes one or more electronic components;

a power distribution system providing power to at least one cassette, the power distribution system being positioned substantially beneath the desktop, extending approximately from a first side of the desktop to a second side of the desktop, and configured to provide power to at least one adjacent desk or bridge unit; and

an electronic connection system providing an electronic connection from the one or more electronic components to an electronic component located in a second desk, the electronic connection system being positioned substantially beneath the desktop and extending approximately from a first side of the desktop to a second side of the desktop.

2. The desk of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system is positioned within the chassis.

3. The desk of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system is positioned adjacent to the chassis.

4. The desk of claim 1, wherein the electronic connection system is positioned within the chassis.

5. The desk of claim 1, wherein the electronic connection system is positioned adjacent to the chassis.

6. The desk of claim 1, wherein at least one cassette includes a face including one or more ports and the cassette is positioned such that the one or more ports are accessible to a user of the desk.

7. The desk of claim 1, wherein at least one cassette is removably mounted within the chassis.

8. The desk of claim 1, wherein at least one cassette is slidably mounted within the chassis.

9. The desk of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more locking devices, such that the one or more cassettes can be locked to prevent

access to one or more electronic components included in the one or more cassettes.

10. The desk of claim 1, further comprising:

a desk connector configured to connect the desk to a second desk or bridge unit.

11. The desk of claim 10, wherein the desk connector is further configured to support a side of the second desk or bridge unit.

12. The desk of claim 10, wherein the desk connector includes a recess in an edge of the desktop configured to mate with a projection from an edge of a second desk or bridge unit.

13. The desk of claim 12, wherein the desk connector further includes a projection from a second edge of the desktop configured to mate with a recess in an edge of a second desk or bridge unit.

14. The desk of claim 1, wherein:

the chassis further comprises one or more conduits for housing cables; and

the power distribution system and the electronic connection system include one or more cables located substantially within the chassis.

15. The desk of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system and electronic connection system include one or more cables, the desk further comprising:

a cable connector positioned substantially beneath the desktop and approximately

adjacent a first edge of the desktop and configured such that the one or more cables can

connect to a second cable connector of an adjacent second desk or bridge unit.

16. The desk of claim 1, wherein the chassis further comprises a frame positioned adjacent to the bottom-face of the desk, the desk further comprising:

support means including at least two legs connected to the frame and supporting the

desktop.

17. A desking system, comprising:

two or more connected desks, each desk comprising;

a desktop comprising a plurality of sides, a bottom-face, and a top face;

a chassis positioned substantially beneath the desktop comprising one or more cassettes, wherein at least one cassette includes one or more electronic components;

a power distribution system providing power to at least one cassette, the power distribution system being positioned substantially beneath the desktop, extending approximately from a first side of the desktop to a second side of the desktop, and configured to provide power to at least one desk or bridge unit connected to the desk;

an electronic connection system providing an electronic connection from the one or more electronic components to an electronic component located in a second desk connected to the desk, the electronic connection system being positioned substantially beneath the desktop and extending approximately from a first side of the desktop to a second side of the desktop; and

a desk connector configured to connect the desk to a second desk or bridge unit.

18. The desking system of claim 17, wherein the desk connector is further configured to support a side of the second desk.

19. The desking system of claim 17, wherein the desk connector includes:

a recess in an edge of the desktop configured to mate with a projection from an edge of a second desk or bridge unit connected to the desk;

a projection from a second edge of the desktop configured to mate with a recess in an edge of a second desk or bridge unit connected to the desk.

20. The desking system of claim 17, further comprising:

one or more bridge units, a bridge unit comprising;

a unit top comprising a plurality of sides, a bottom-face, and a top face;

a desk connector configured to connect the bridge to a desk or second bridge unit; and

a cabling system configured to house one or more cables received from a first desk or a second bridge unit connected to a first side of the bridge unit and extending to a second desk or a third bridge unit connected to a second side of the bridge unit.

21. The desking system of claim 20, wherein at least one bridge unit is connected to a desk on a first side of the bridge unit and is primarily supported on the first side by the desk.

22. The desking system of claim 17, wherein at least one cassette included in a desk includes a face including one or more ports and the cassette is positioned such that the one or more ports are accessible to a user of the desk.

23. The desking system of claim 22, wherein at least one cassette included in a desk is removably mounted within the chassis.

24. The desking system of claim 22, wherein at least one cassette included in a desk is slidably mounted within the chassis.

25. The desking system of claim 17, wherein the power distribution system and electronic connection system of each of the one or more desks include one or more cables, each desk further comprising:

cable connecting means positioned substantially beneath the desktop and approximately adjacent a first edge of the desktop and configured such that the one or more cables can connect to a second cable connecting means of an adjacent second desk or bridge unit.

26. The desking system of claim 17, wherein each of the one or more desks further comprise:

at least one opening located in each of at least two sides of the chassis, the opening including a flexible cushioner, such that one or more cables extend through the opening into a corresponding opening of a second desk connected to the desk and such that the flexible cushioner contacts and is compressible against a second flexible cushioner included in the corresponding opening of the second desk.

27. The desking system of claim 17, further comprising:

one or more end pieces, where an end piece is configured to connect to a desktop connector of a desk or bridge unit and includes at least one substantially straight edge.

28. A desk adapted for connection to a second desk as part of a network of desks, the desk comprising:

a desktop comprising a plurality of sides, a bottom-face, and a top face;

a chassis positioned substantially beneath the desktop comprising a cassette for accommodating a computer, said cassette extending into the chassis from a front edge of the chassis but not as far as a back edge thereof to thereby define a channel between a back face of the cassette and the back edge of the chassis; and

cabling associated with the cassette being accommodated in the channel and arranged to extend from a first side of the desktop to a second side of the desktop, and configured to connect to at least one adjacent desk or bridge unit.

29. The desk of claim 28, wherein the cabling comprises at least one of power distribution cabling and computer network cabling.

30. A system for use beneath a desktop, comprising:

a chassis including;

one or more cassettes configured to receive one or more electronic components; and

means for receiving a power distribution system providing power to at least one cassette;

a power distribution system positioned substantially beneath the desktop, extending approximately from a first side of the desktop to a second side of the desktop and configured to provide power to the chassis and at least one adjacent chassis included in an adjacent desk or bridge unit.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the power distribution system is positioned within the chassis.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the power distribution system is positioned adjacent to the chassis.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein at least one cassette is slideably mounted within the chassis.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein at least one cassette is adapted to slideably receive at least one of the one or more electronic components.