Trader desk

• US 6,283,043 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerd Althofer
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Althofer, Gerd, Stern, Timothy R., Howard, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/495,321
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/23, 108/144.11, 108/147.21, 108/108, 312/223.6, 312/196, 522/39
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/06 of metal A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0082 Cable inlet in worktop or desk, e.g. grommet
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems

Abstract

A knock-down trader desk including a frame having at least two upright frame members and at least two horizontal beams. The beams releasably interconnect the upright frame members to form a freestanding knock-down rigid frame. A plurality of vertically oriented panels are attached to the rigid frame to define a storage area within the rigid frame. The trader desk includes at least three worksurfaces including a pair of outer worksurfaces defining two opposed user accessible elongate edges. The trader desk also includes at least one central worksurface positioned above the storage area and between the outer worksurfaces. The worksurfaces are engagable with the frame at a plurality of heights whereby the worksurfaces are selectively positionable at a plurality of heights. At least one access opening is provided for passing cables from the storage area to an upper surface of the central worksurface.

Claims

1. A knock-down trader desk comprising:

a frame having at least two upright frame members and at least two horizontal beams, said beams releasably interconnecting said upright frame members to form a freestanding knock-down rigid frame, said frame including a vertically extending connecting arrangement;

a plurality of vertically oriented panels detachably connected to said rigid frame to define a storage area within said rigid frame;

at least three worksurfaces including a pair of outer worksurfaces defining two opposed user accessible elongate edges, said edges positioned outwardly from said frame, and at least one central worksurface positioned above said storage area and between said outer worksurfaces, said three worksurfaces engagable with said vertically extending connecting arrangement of said frame at a plurality of heights whereby said three worksurfaces are selectively positionable at selected ones of a plurality of heights; and

at least one access opening for passing utility lines from said storage area to an upper surface of said central worksurface.

2. The knock-down trader desk set forth in claim 1, wherein:

each upright member includes a pair of spaced-apart posts and a horizontally-extending cross member rigidly interconnecting said pair of posts to form a frame member having an H-shape.

3. The knock-down trader desk set forth in claim 2, wherein:

each post defines an upper end, and each said beam defines opposite ends connected to said upper ends.

4. The knock-down trader desk set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said central worksurface is connected to at least one post in a cantilevered manner.

5. The knock-down trader desk set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said central worksurface comprises a first central worksurface, and including;

a second central worksurface connected to a selected post in a cantilevered manner.

6. The knock-down trader desk set forth in claim 5, wherein:

each post defines an inner face having a vertical row of openings defining said vertically extending connecting arrangement, and including;

at least one pair of cantilever brackets engaging openings in a selected one of said posts to support a pair of side-by-side worksurfaces positioned at different heights.

7. The knock-down trader desk set forth in claim 2, wherein:

at least one of said worksurfaces has a concave cut-out portion defining a curved edge spaced-apart from a selected one of said posts to define an opening therebetween for routing of utility lines.

8. The knock-down trader desk set forth in claim 7, including:

a cap secured to an upper end of said selected one of said posts, said cap having a curved perimeter portion that is spaced above said curved edge of said worksurface.

9. The knock-down trader desk set forth in claim 1, including:

a support foot connected to a lower end of a selected upright frame member and extending outwardly away from said storage area to provide increased stability.

10. The knock-down trader desk set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said frame has an open side having an unobstructed lower portion to permit storage units to be freely moved into said storage area supported on a floor surface.

11. A furniture unit having a knock-down construction, said furniture unit comprising:

a frame having at least two upright members and at least two horizontally spaced-apart horizontal members, said horizontal members rigidly yet releasably interconnecting said upright members to form a rigid frame;

at least one generally horizontal worksurface attached to said frame, and wherein said furniture unit has at least one user accessible elongate edge; and

at least one cable support member having opposed C-shaped ends forming hangers, each of said hangers engaged with a selected horizontal frame member whereby said cable support member is suspended in proximity to said worksurface.

12. The furniture unit set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said cable support member includes an upwardly-extending divider forming a cable support area on each side of said divider.

13. The furniture unit set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said C-shaped ends extend upwardly relative to said cable support areas such that said cable support areas are positioned below an uppermost surface of said horizontal members.

14. The furniture unit set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said C-shaped ends engage said horizontal members and removably suspend said cable support member.

15. The furniture unit set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said at least one cable support member comprises a plurality of cable support members having opposed C-shaped ends forming hangers.

16. The furniture unit set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said cable support members are arranged side-by-side and extend along substantially the entire length of said frame.

17. The furniture unit set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said upright members and said horizontal members are rigidly interconnected by threadless quick-connectors to provide a knock-down frame construction.

18. A trader desk comprising:

a frame having spaced-apart vertically extending frame portions defining a central space;

a pair of center worksurfaces extending horizontally into said central space, said center worksurface adjustably cantilevered to selected ones of said vertically extending frame portions in a manner permitting attachment of said center worksurfaces at selected ones of a plurality of heights within said upwardly-opening central space of said frame for supporting a display screen on each said center worksurfaces at a selected height, said worksurfaces defining a longitudinally extending gap therebetween; and

a pair of horizontally spaced-apart outer worksurfaces attached to said frame and positioned adjacent said central space with at least a selected one of said center worksurfaces between and below said outer worksurfaces.

19. The trader desk set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said center worksurface comprises a first center worksurface; and

including;

a second center worksurface adjustably cantilevered to a selected one of said vertically extending frame members and extending horizontally into said central space.

20. The trader desk set forth in claim 19, wherein:

said frame includes at least four vertical posts having vertical rows of openings on inner and outer faces; and

including;

at least one cantilever bracket engaging said openings and adjustably supporting said first center worksurface.

21. The trader desk set forth in claim 20, including:

a plurality of support feet secured to said outer faces of said posts and extending outwardly therefrom to provide stability for said trader desk.

22. The trader desk set forth in claim 21, wherein:

said frame includes first and second pairs of posts, and a horizontal cross member rigidly interconnecting each said pair of posts to form a pair of spaced-apart frame members having an H-shape, said frame further including at least two beams extending between said H-shaped frame members and rigidly interconnecting said H-shaped frame members.

23. A freestanding furniture unit, comprising:

a rigid frame including at least one vertically extending frame member having an upper portion, said frame having a lower portion adapted to abuttingly support said frame freestanding on a floor surface; and

first and second horizontal worksurfaces, each supported by said vertically extending frame member, said first and second horizontal worksurfaces being independently height adjustable and defining concave curved edge portions adjacent said upper portion of said frame member, wherein said concave curved edge portions are horizontally spaced-apart from said upper portion to define a gap therebetween for routing of utility lines.

24. The freestanding furniture unit set forth in claim 23, wherein:

said frame member defines an upper end above said upper portion, said upper end having a horizontally extending flange.

25. The freestanding furniture unit set forth in claim 24, including:

a cap secured to said frame member and having an upper surface with a circular perimeter, the outer portion of which is formed by said horizontally extending flange.

26. The freestanding furniture unit set forth in claim 25, wherein:

said first and second horizontal worksurfaces each include a grommet secured thereto and forming said curved edge portion; and

said curved edge portion having an arcuate plan shape.

27. The freestanding furniture unit set forth in claim 26, wherein:

said grommets have a quarter circular plan shape and a cross-sectional shape having a smooth curved convex portion.