Combination credenza and desk

• US 6,422,668 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sligh Furniture Co (Lexington Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sligh Furniture Co (Lexington Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Byma, Ralph, Persons, Greg J., Kelley, James O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/427,334
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 312/195, 312/194, 312/197, 312/223.3, 312/249.1, 312/249.7, 312/249.9, 312/321.5, 312/239, 312/315, 312/351.11, 248/188.4
• US Class Current: 312/195
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/065 Pivotally mounted auxiliary tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0069 with rack

Abstract

A furniture unit comprises a closed-front credenza that folds out to form an L-shaped desk. The unit comprises a stationary desk having a partially open front, with a kneehole opening forming at least a portion of the open front. A moveable return pivotally mounted at on one side of the desk comprises a vertical face panel and a work surface mounted at a rear side of the face panel. The return is pivotal between a closed position, wherein the face panel covers the open portion of the front of the desk and the return work surface is concealed behind the face panel, and an open position, wherein the face panel is pivoted outward from the front of the desk, exposing the kneehole opening in the desk. The return work surface extends forward from the desk alongside the kneehole opening when the return is opened. The face panel is configured so as to create the impression that the furniture unit is a credenza with no kneehole opening when the return is closed. A column of functional drawers is mounted in the desk at the side opposite from the moveable return, with the face panel extending across the front of the desk to the drawers when the return is closed. The unit has a legless support mechanism for an inner corner of the return work surface that eliminates the need of a movement obstructing support leg at the corner. The unit also has lockable and vertically adjustable casters. A keyboard tray and inner storage unit are spaced below the desk top so that the return work surface fits under the desk top when the return is closed. The base molding is formed to conceal the fact that the return opens.

Claims

1. A furniture unit providing a combination credenza and desk, comprising:

a stationary desk, the desk having a front, an opposing back, and two opposing ends, the desk having a desk top, the desk having first and second side panels that extend generally downward from the desk top toward a supporting floor, the first and second side panels being spaced apart from one another, whereby a kneehole opening is defined between the first and second side panels;

a moveable return, the return having opposing inner and outer ends, the inner end being pivotally connected with the desk, the return comprising a vertical face panel and a work surface mounted at a rear side of the face panel, the return being pivotal between a closed position, wherein the return work surface is concealed behind the face panel under the desk top, and an open position, wherein the face panel extends outwardly from the front of the desk, adjacent a side of the kneehole opening in the desk, the face panel being configured so as to create an impression that the furniture unit is a credenza with no kneehole opening when the return is closed;

a pivot member interposed between the desk and the return, whereby the return is pivotally connected with the desk, the pivot member being positioned forward of the back of the desk; and

a storage space defined adjacent one of the two opposing side panels, at least a portion of the storage space extending rearward of the pivot member, the storage space being independent of the return, whereby the storage space does not pivot between the closed and open positions with the return, further the return work surface being interposed between the desk top and the storage space when the return is in the closed position.

2. A furniture unit as in claim 1 wherein the desk includes a column of exposed storage location adjacent the kneehole opening opposite from the side on which the return extends in the open position, the front panel extending across the kneehole opening and up to the exposed storage location when the return is closed.

3. A furniture unit as in claim 2 wherein the exposed storage locations comprise drawers having drawer fronts, and the face panel has a facade that has an appearance of at least one or more drawer fronts or doors leading to internal storage locations, such that the front of the desk belies the presence of a desk having a kneehole opening when the face panel is closed.

4. A furniture unit as in claim 3 wherein the face panel facade extends from a first of the two opposing ends of the desk toward the other end, to the exposed storage locations and comprise first and second portions, the first portion having a plurality of simulated drawer fronts adjacent the first of the two opposing ends of the desk, the simulated drawer fronts in the face panel complementing real drawer fronts on the exposed storage location in the desk, the second portion covering the kneehole opening in the desk, the second portion including at least one simulated door front.

5. A furniture unit as in claim 1 wherein the desk includes a retracting keyboard tray and a mounting mechanism that mounts the keyboard tray in the kneehole opening under the desk top, and wherein the keyboard tray and the mounting mechanism define a space above the keyboard tray and mounting mechanism and below the desk top, that the return work surface is received into when the return is in the closed position.

6. A furniture unit as in claim 1 wherein the desk includes an inner storage unit positioned under the desk top adjacent the side to which the return is pivotally attached, the inner storage unit being accessible from the front thereof, which is in turn accessible only when the return is opened.

7. A furniture unit as in claim 6 wherein a top portion of the inner storage unit is spaced below the desk top by a distance sufficient to permit the return work surface to be received between the inner storage unit and the desk top when the return is closed.

8. A furniture unit providing a combination credenza and desk, comprising:

stationary desk, the desk having a front, an opposing back, and two opposing ends, the desk having a desk top, the desk having first and second side panels that extend generally downward from the desk top toward a supporting floor, the first and second side panels being spaced apart from one another, whereby a kneehole opening is defined between the first and second side panels;

a moveable return, the return having opposing inner and outer ends, the inner end being pivotally connected with the desk, whereby the return is pivotal between a closed position, wherein the return work surface is concealed under the desk top, and an open position, wherein the return work surface extends outwardly from the front of the desk, to one side of the kneehole opening;

a pivot member interposed between the desk and the return, whereby the return is pivotally connected with the desk, the pivot member being positioned forward of the back of the desk; and

a storage space defined adjacent one of the two opposing side panels, at least a portion of the storage space extending rearward of the pivot member, the storage space being independent of the return, whereby the storage space does not pivot between the closed and open positions with the return, further the return work surface being interposed between the desk top and the storage space when the return is in the closed position.

9. A furniture unit as in claim 8 wherein the desk includes a column of exposed storage locations adjacent the kneehole opening opposite from the side on which the return extends in the open position, the return work surface extending across the kneehole opening and tip to the exposed storage locations when the return is closed.

10. A furniture unit as in claim 8 wherein the return work surface is mounted with a generally horizontal position, an inner corner of the return work surface adjacent the kneehole opening in the desk being supported on a pivoting support member that is pivotally mounted to the desk at a level below the return work surface, the support member having an upwardly extending pin that fits in and is guided by a groove in an underside of the return work surface, the support member providing legless vertical support for the corner of the return work surface at all positions of outward pivotal movement of the return.

11. A furniture unit according to claim 8 and further comprising mounting means for supporting an inner corner of the return work surface adjacent the desk in a generally horizontal position as the return is pivoted between its closed and open positions, all without employing a floor engaging vertical support member that extends downwardly to the floor from an underside of the corner, the support means permitting a person using the desk to swivel on a chair between the desk top and return work surface without having knee contact with the corner support means.

12. A furniture unit as in claim 8 wherein the desk includes a retracting keyboard tray and a mounting mechanism that mounts the keyboard tray in the kneehole opening under the desk top, and wherein the keyboard tray and the mounting mechanism define a space above the keyboard tray and mounting mechanism and below the desk top, that the return work surface is received into when the return is in the closed position.

13. A furniture unit as in claim 8 wherein the storage space is an inner storage unit that is spaced from the desk top and thereby defines a slot that receives the return work surface when the return is in the closed position.