Trapezoidal hidden-monitor computer desk modules and assemblies thereof

• US 5,655,822 A
• Filed: 04/19/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fay D., An Individual Roberts
• Original Assignee: Fay D. Roberts, Williamson, Debra D.
• Inventors: Williamson, Debra D., Roberts, Fay D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US08/424,955
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50, 108/648, 312/194, 312/195, 312/196, 312/198, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/233.6, 312/236, 52/36.1, 52/239, 52/238.1
• US Class Current: 312/194
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/003 Table combination having a central power access component
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/007 with under-desk displays, e.g. displays being viewable through a transparent working surface of the table or desk
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A computer desk module has a trapezoidal desk top with an opening. A transparent window plate is supported in the desk top so as to cover the opening. A pull-out keyboard shelf is supported under a front edge portion of the desk top. A computer monitor is suspended under the desk top so its screen is inclined upward to allow viewing of the screen through the window plate. A plurality of the computer desk modules are assembled end-to-end into various semi-trapezoidal clusters, S-shaped clusters, and straight line clusters. Overhead power and data bus cables are routed from a classroom ceiling into tubular legs supporting a decorative cover against the ceiling. The legs extend upward from a cabinet having a semi-octagonal shape that mates with a semi-octagonal cluster of the computer desk modules. The cables pass through the legs, through the cabinet, into the various computer desk modules forming the cluster, and to the monitor and a computer in each of the computer desk modules.

Claims

1. A computer desk module, comprising in combination:

(a) a trapezoidal desk top having front and rear edges and first and second side edges, the rear edge being shorter in length than the front edge, the desk top having an opening therein;

(b) a transparent window plate supported in a top surface of the desk top covering the opening;

(c) a back panel adjoining the rear edge, and first and second side panels adjoining the first and second side edges, respectively;

(d) a pull-out keyboard shelf supported beneath a front edge portion of the desk top;

(e) a first storage section bounded by the first side panel and a first knee space side panel, and a second storage section bounded by the second side panel and a second knee space side panel;

(f) a monitor compartment bounded by the desk top, the back panel, the first and second side panels, and a knee space back panel, the first and second knee space side panels and the knee space back panel bounding a tapered knee space under the desk top, the knee space back panel being movable between an open position allowing access to the monitor compartment and a closed position preventing access to the monitor compartment; and

a computer monitor support in the monitor compartment adapted to support a computer monitor so that a viewing screen thereof is upwardly-inclined to allow viewing of the screen through the window plate.

2. The computer desk module of claim 1 wherein the desk top has the shape of a symmetrical trapezoid.

3. The computer desk module of claim 2 wherein a pair of angles of the trapezoid are 67.5 degrees.

4. The computer desk module of claim 3 wherein the window plate is rectangular and is centered relative to the front edge of the desk top.

5. The computer desk module of claim 2 wherein an upper surface of the window plate is flush with an upper surface of the desk top.

6. The computer desk module of claim 2 including a computer monitor on the computer monitor support.

7. The computer desk module of claim 6 wherein the computer monitor support includes a cradle in which the computer monitor rests and a plurality of suspension elements having lower ends connected to support the cradle and upper ends connected in a fixed relation to a bottom surface of the desk top.

8. The computer desk module of claim 7 wherein the suspension elements include first, second, third, and fourth rigid members each having an upper end pivotally connected to a corresponding bracket that is attached to a bottom of the desk top and a lower end that is pivotally attached in a fixed relation to the cradle.

9. The computer desk module of claim 8 wherein the pivotal connection of the lower ends are adjustable, to allow horizontal and vertical positions of the monitor and the angle of inclination of the screen of the computer monitor to be adjusted.

10. The computer desk module of claim 7 wherein the suspension elements are adjustably connected to a bottom of the desk top and to the cradle so as to allow adjustment of the position of the cradle and computer monitors supported thereby.

11. The computer desk module of claim 2 connected in end-to-end relationship with a plurality of like computer desk modules to form a cluster.

12. The computer desk module of claim 11 wherein a portion of the cluster includes a plurality of the computer desk modules arranged as a part of an octagon.

13. The computer desk module of claim 12 including a portion of the cluster in which a plurality of the computer desk modules are arranged in an S-shape.

14. The computer desk module of claim 11 including a portion of the cluster in which a plurality of the computer desk modules are arranged in a straight line.

15. The computer desk module of claim 1 wherein the first side panel and the first knee space side panel are parallel, and the second side panel and the second knee space side panel are parallel.

16. The computer desk module of claim 1 connected in end-to-end relationship with a plurality of like computer desk modules to form a cluster.

17. The computer desk module of claim 1 wherein the first side panel and the second side panel have ventilation openings therein to improve ventilation in the monitor compartments of a plurality of the computer desk modules arranged in end-to-end relationship.

18. A computer desk module, comprising in combination:

(a) an at least partially triangular desk top having a front edge and first and second side edges, the desk top having an opening therein;

(b) a transparent window plate supported in a top surface of the desk top covering the opening;

(c) first and second side panels adjoining the first and second side edges, respectively;

(d) a pull-out keyboard shelf supported beneath a front edge portion of the desk top;

(e) a first storage section bounded by the first side panel and a first knee space side panel, and a second storage section bounded by the second side panel and a second knee space side panel;

(f) a monitor compartment bounded by the desk top, the back panel, the first and second side panels, and a knee space back panel, the first and second knee space side panels, and the knee space back panel bounding a tapered knee space under the desk top, the knee space back panel being movable between an open position allowing access to the monitor compartment and a closed position preventing access to the monitor compartment; and

(g) a computer monitor support in the monitor compartment adapted to support a computer monitor so that a viewing screen thereof is upwardly-inclined to allow viewing of the screen through the window plate.

19. A cluster of computer desk modules each comprising.

(a) a trapezoidal desk top having front and rear edges and first and second side edges, the rear edge being shorter in length than the front edge, the desk top having an opening therein;

(b) a transparent window plate supported in a top surface of the desk top covering the opening;

(c) a back panel adjoining the rear edge, and first and second side panels adjoining the first and second side edges, respectively;

(d) a pull-out keyboard shelf supported beneath a front edge portion of the desk top;

(e) a first storage section bounded by the first side panel and a first knee space side panel, and a second storage section bounded by the second side panel, and a second knee space side panel;

(f) a monitor compartment bounded by the desk top, the back panel, the first and second side panels, and a knee space back panel, the first and second knee space side panels, and the knee space back panel bounding a tapered knee space under the desk top;

(g) a computer monitor support in the monitor compartment adapted to support a computer monitor so that a viewing screen thereof is upwardly-inclined to allow viewing of the screen through the window plate,

a plurality of the computer desk modules being arranged in a semi-octagonal configuration, each computer desk module having a computer monitor in its monitor compartment and a personal computer in its first storage section,

electrical power being supplied to the computer monitors and the personal computers by means of a distribution structure including a plurality of vertical tubular legs, a cabinet having a top and a plurality of side panels arranged in a semi-octagonal shape complementary with the rear edges and back panels of the plurality of computer desk modules, respectively, the legs extending from the cabinet to a ceiling of a room, power cables extending from the ceiling through one of the legs, through the cabinet, into each of the computer desk modules to the computer monitor and personal computer therein.

20. The cluster of claim 19 including a decorative cover supported against the ceiling by top portions of the legs.

21. A method of providing an arrangement of computer desk modules, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of the computer desk modules, each including

i. a trapezoidal desk top having front and rear edges and first and second side edges, the rear edge being shorter in length than the front edge, the desk top having an opening therein,

ii. a transparent window plate supported in a top surface of the desk top covering the opening,

iii. a back panel adjoining the rear edge, and first and second side panels adjoining the first and second side edges, respectively,

iv. a pull-out keyboard shelf supported beneath a front edge portion of the desk top,

v. a first storage section bounded by the first side panel and a first knee space side panel, and a second storage section bounded by the second side panel and a second knee space side panel,

vi. a monitor compartment bounded by the desk top, the back panel, the first and second side panels, and a knee space back panel, the first and second knee space side panels, and the knee space back panel bounding a tapered knee space under the desk top, and

vii. a computer monitor support in the monitor compartment;

(b) supporting a plurality of computer monitors in the computer monitor support in each of the computer desk modules so that a viewing screen thereof is upwardly-inclined to allow viewing of the screen through the window plate;

(c) connecting the computer desk modules end-to-end such that one of the first and second side panels of each computer desk module is connected to adjoin one of the first and second side panels of another of the computer desk modules, to thereby form the arrangement;

(d) supplying electrical power from an overhead power line through a distribution tower including a base cabinet that mates with a plurality of the computer desk modules in the arrangement; and

(e) wherein those of the first and second side panels which are connected to adjoin one of the first and second side panels of another of the computer desk modules each include a ventilation opening aligned with a corresponding ventilation opening in the adjoining side panel, the method including moving a stream of air through all of the ventilation openings to thereby ventilate all of the monitor compartments.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein each of the trapezoidal desk tops forms a symmetrical trapezoid and wherein a portion of the arrangement is semi-octagonal.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the arrangement is S-shaped.