U.S. patent application number 10/712287 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-12 for chair and desk combination.
Invention is credited to Faulk, Robert B., Fletcher, Scott L., Glass, Peter, Mills, Robert J..
Application Number | 20050099040 10/712287 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34552667 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050099040 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mills, Robert J. ; et
al. |
May 12, 2005 |
Chair and desk combination
Abstract
A chair and desk combination has a base, a chair attached to the
base and a work surface attached to the base. In one embodiment,
the height of the seating surface is vertically adjustable. In
another embodiment, the chair is capable of swiveling about a
vertical axis. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the
distance between the forward edge of the seating surface and the
rearward edge of the work surface is laterally adjustable.
Inventors: |
Mills, Robert J.; (Torrance,
CA) ; Glass, Peter; (Arroyo Grande, CA) ;
Fletcher, Scott L.; (Redondo Beach, CA) ; Faulk,
Robert B.; (Torrance, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Denton L. Anderson
9th Floor
225 South Lake Avenue
Pasadena
CA
91101
US
|
Family ID: |
34552667 |
Appl. No.: |
10/712287 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/170 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 83/02 20130101;
A47B 39/00 20130101; A47C 3/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/170 |
International
Class: |
A47B 083/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A chair and desk combination comprising: (a) a base; (b) a chair
attached to the base, the chair having a seating surface with a
forward edge; and (c) a work surface attached to the base, the work
surface having a rearward edge and defining a work surface area of
between about 80 square inches and about 1100 square inches;
wherein the height of the seating surface is vertically
adjustable.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the chair is capable of
swiveling about a vertical axis through an arc of at least
15.degree..
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the distance between the
forward edge of the seating surface is laterally adjustable with
respect to rearward edge of the work surface.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a pair of
generally parallel, horizontal rails, the work surface is attached
to the base by a pair of generally parallel riser rails, each
horizontal rail has a forward end and a rearward end, each riser
rail has an upper portion and a lower most end and the forward end
of each horizontal rail is attached to the lower most end of a
riser rail.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the combination further
comprises a pair of generally parallel riser rails attached to the
base, the work surface is defined on a substrate having an
underside, the upper portion of the riser rails are attached to a
pair of parallel first slide sections, the underside of the
substrate is attached to a pair of parallel second slide sections
and each first slide section cooperates with a second slide section
so that the rearward edge of the work surface can be laterally
adjusted by sliding the work surface forward with respect to the
seating surface or by sliding the work surface rearwardly with
respect to the seating surface.
6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a pair of transverse rails and the second slide sections
comprise a pair of slide rods, each of the slide rods being
slidably disposed within both transverse rails.
7. The combination of claim 5 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a pair of transverse rails and a pair of ball bearing race
covers attached to the transverse rails, the second slide sections
comprise a pair of ball bearing races attached to the underside of
the substrate and a plurality of ball bearings are held within the
races by the ball bearing race covers.
8. The combination of claim 5 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a pair of transverse rails and a pair of dove tail covers
and wherein the second slide sections comprise a pair of dove tail
beams attached to the underside of the substrate, each dove tail
beam being slidably disposed within one of the dove tail
covers.
9. The combination of claim 5 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a notched rail having a plurality of notches, and wherein
the second slide sections comprise a latch, the latch being capable
of cooperating with the notches in the notched rail to
alternatively (i) fixedly engage the work surface with respect to
the base at any one of a plurality of distances from the seating
surface, and (ii) disengage the work surface from the base so that
the work surface can be slid closer to the seating surface or
further from the seating surface.
10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the latch comprises a latch
release mechanism disposed proximate to the rearward edge of the
work surface.
11. The combination of claim 6 wherein the second slide sections
comprise a transverse rail and a set screw disposed through the
transverse rail, the set screw being capable of engaging one of the
slide rods.
12. The combination of claim 5 further comprising a notched plate
attached to the underside of the substrate, the notched plate
having a plurality of notches, and wherein the first slide sections
comprise a transverse rail with a locking pin slidably disposed
therein, the locking pin being capable of engaging the notches in
the notched plate so as to prevent the sliding of the work surface
with respect to the seating surface.
13. A chair and desk combination comprising: (a) a base; (b) a
chair attached to the base, the chair having a seating surface with
a forward edge; and (c) a work surface attached to the base, the
work surface having a rearward edge and defining a work surface
area of between about 80 square inches and about 1100 square
inches; wherein the seating surface of the chair is capable of
swiveling about a vertical axis through an arc of at least
15.degree.; and wherein the distance between the forward edge of
the seating surface is laterally adjustable with respect to the
rearward edge of the work surface.
14. The combination of claim 13 where the height of the seating
surface is vertically adjustable.
15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the base comprises a pair
of generally parallel, horizontal rails, the work surface is
attached to the base by a pair of generally parallel riser rails,
each horizontal rail has a forward end and a rearward end, each
riser rail has an upper portion and a lower most end and the
forward end of each horizontal rail is attached to the lower most
end of a riser rail.
16. The combination of claim 13 wherein the combination further
comprises a pair of generally parallel riser rails attached to the
base, the work surface is defined on a substrate having an
underside, the upper portion of the riser rails are attached to a
pair of parallel first slide sections, the underside of the
substrate is attached to a pair of parallel second slide sections
and each first slide section cooperates with a second slide section
so that the rearward edge of the work surface can be laterally
adjusted by sliding the work surface forward with respect to the
seating surface or by sliding the work surface rearwardly with
respect to the seating surface.
17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a pair of transverse rails and the second slide sections
comprise a pair of slide rods, each of the slide rods being
slidably disposed within both transverse rails.
18. The combination of claim 16 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a pair of transverse rails and a pair of ball bearing race
covers attached to the transverse rails, wherein the second slide
sections comprise a pair of ball bearing races attached to the
underside of the substrate and wherein a plurality of ball bearings
are held within the races by the ball bearing race covers.
19. The combination of claim 16 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a pair of transverse rails and a pair of dove tail beam
covers and wherein the second slide sections comprise a pair of
dove tail beams attached to the underside of the substrate, each
dove tail beam being slidably disposed within one of the dove tail
covers.
20. The combination of claim 16 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a notched rail having a plurality of notches, and wherein
the second slide sections comprise a latch, the latch being capable
of cooperating with the notches in the notched rail to
alternatively (i) fixedly engage the work surface with respect to
the base at any one of a plurality of distances from the seating
surface, and (ii) disengage the work surface from the base so that
the work surface can be slid closer to the seating surface or
further from the seating surface.
21. The combination of claim 20 wherein the latch comprises a latch
release mechanism disposed proximate to the rearward edge of the
work surface.
22. The combination of claim 17 wherein the second slide sections
comprise a transverse rail and a set screw disposed through the
transverse rail, the set screw being capable of engaging the slide
rod.
23. The combination of claim 16 further comprising a notched plate
attached to the underside of the substrate, the notched plate
having a plurality of notches, and wherein the first slide sections
comprise a transverse rail with a locking pin slidably disposed
therein, the locking pin being capable of engaging the notches in
the notched plate so as to prevent the sliding of the work surface
with respect to the seating surface.
24. A chair and desk combination comprising: (a) a base; (b) a
chair attached to the base, the chair having a seating surface with
a forward edge; and (c) a work surface attached to the base, the
work surface having a rearward edge and defining a work surface
area of between about 80 square inches and about 1100 square
inches; wherein the height of the seating surface is vertically
adjustable; wherein the seating surface of the chair is capable of
swiveling about a vertical axis through an arc of at least
15.degree.; and wherein the distance between the forward edge of
the seating surface is laterally adjustable with respect to the
rearward edge of the work surface.
25. The combination of claim 24 wherein the base comprises a pair
of generally parallel horizontal rails, the work surface is
attached to the base by a pair of riser rails, each horizontal rail
has a forward end and a rearward end, each riser rail has an upper
portion and a lower most end and the forward end of each horizontal
rail is attached to the lower most end of a riser rail.
26. The combination of claim 24 wherein the combination further
comprises a pair of generally parallel riser rails attached to the
base, the work surface is defined on a substrate having an
underside, the upper portion of the riser rails are attached to a
pair of parallel first slide sections, the underside of the
substrate is attached to a pair of parallel second slide sections
and each first slide section cooperates with a second slide section
so that the rearward edge of the work surface can be laterally
adjusted by sliding the work surface forward with respect to the
seating surface or by sliding the work surface rearwardly with
respect to the seating surface.
27. The combination of claim 26 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a pair of transverse rails and the second slide sections
comprise a pair of slide rods, each of the slide rods being
slidably disposed within both transverse rails.
28. The combination of claim 26 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a pair of transverse rails and a pair of ball bearing race
covers attached to the transverse rails, wherein the second slide
sections comprise a pair of ball bearing races attached to the
underside of the substrate and wherein a plurality of ball bearings
are held within the races by the ball bearing race covers.
29. The combination of claim 26 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a pair of transverse rails and a pair of dove tail beam
covers and wherein the second slide sections comprise a pair of
dove tail beams attached to the underside of the substrate, each
dove tail beam being slidably disposed within one of the dove tail
covers.
30. The combination of claim 26 wherein the first slide sections
comprise a notched rail having a plurality of notches, and wherein
the second slide sections comprise a latch, the latch being capable
of cooperating with the notches in the notched rail to
alternatively (i) fixedly engage the work surface with respect to
the base at any one of a plurality of distances from the seating
surface, and (ii) disengage the work surface from the base so that
the work surface can be slid closer to the seating surface or
further from the seating surface.
31. The combination of claim 30 wherein the latch comprises a latch
release mechanism disposed proximate to the rearward edge of the
work surface.
32. The combination of claim 27 wherein the second slide sections
comprise a transverse rail and a set screw disposed through the
transverse rail, the set screw being capable of engaging one of the
slide rods.
33. The combination of claim 26 further comprising a notched plate
attached to the underside of the substrate, the notched plate
having a plurality of notches, and wherein the first slide sections
comprise a transverse rail with a locking pin slidably disposed
therein, the locking pin being capable of engaging the notches in
the notched plate so as to prevent the sliding of the work surface
with respect to the seating surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to furniture, and, more
specifically, to chair and desk combinations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Chair and desk combinations have been known for many, many
years, especially as student seating in classrooms.
[0003] Unfortunately, most chair and desk combinations of the prior
art subscribe to the "one size fits all" theory of construction.
Most prior art chair and desk combinations make little or no
attempt to accommodate users of differing heights and girths.
Accordingly, the chairs in all known prior art chair and desk
combinations are either difficult to get into and get out of, are
too high, are too low, are too close to the desk surface or too far
away from the desk surface for a variety of typical users.
[0004] Also, in this age of lap top computers, it is increasingly
important that the desk top portions of chair and desk combinations
be sufficiently large to retain both a lap top computer and an open
textbook or notepad. Chair and desk combinations of the prior art
typically have a chair portion which cannot be swivelled to the
left or to the right. This deficiency of chair and desk
combinations of the prior art can lead to student discomfort and
fatigue from having to sit partially sideways in the chair to use
the lap top computer on one side of the desk top and to use a
textbook or notepad on the other side of the desk top.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a desk and chair
combination which avoids these problems in the prior art in a
simple and inexpensive manner.
SUMMARY
[0006] The invention satisfies this need. The invention is a chair
and desk combination comprising a base, a chair attached to the
base and a work surface attached to the base. In one embodiment,
the height of the seating surface is vertically adjustable. In
another embodiment, the chair is capable of swiveling about a
vertical axis. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the
distance between the forward edge of the seating surface and the
rearward edge of the work surface is laterally adjustable.
DRAWINGS
[0007] These features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims and accompanying figures
where:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a chair and desk
combination having features of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the combination
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the combination illustrated in FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the combination illustrated in
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of the combination illustrated in FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second chair and desk
combination having a first alternative structure attached to the
underside of the desk;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the combination illustrated in
FIG. 6;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective detail view showing a third
alternative structure attached to the underside of the desk
top;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional detail view taken along line 9-9
in FIG. 8;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective detail view showing a fourth
alternative structure attached to the underside of the desk
top;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional detail view taken along line
11-11 in FIG. 10;
[0019] FIG. 12 is a perspective detail view showing a fifth
alternative structure attached to the underside of the desk
top;
[0020] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional detail view taken along line
13-13 in FIG. 12; and
[0021] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional detail view of an alternative
embodiment to that which is illustrated in FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment
of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This
discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the
invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in
the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.
[0023] The invention is a chair and desk combination 10 comprising
a base 12, a chair 14 having a seating surface 16 with a forward
edge 18 and a work surface 20 having a rearward edge 22. In one
embodiment of the invention, the height of the seating surface 16
is vertically adjustable. In another embodiment of the invention,
the seating surface 16 is capable of swiveling about a vertical
axis and the distance between the forward edge 18 of the seating
surface 16 is laterally adjustable with respect to the rearward
edge 22 of the work surface 20.
[0024] In the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the base 12
comprises a pair of generally parallel horizontal rails 24. Bases
12 having other shapes can also be used. In the embodiments
illustrated in the drawings, the pair of horizontal rails 24 are
constructed from tubular steel. In a typical embodiment, the
tubular steel has a nominal diameter of 11/4 inches and a tube wall
thickness of 0.098 mils.
[0025] As can be seen from the drawings, one or more transverse
members 26 are typically used to retain the pair of horizontal
rails 24 in a stable and fixed relationship to one another. In the
embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the transverse member 26
at the rear of the combination 10 also provides an enclosed area
for the user to store books, notepads, a backpack, etc.
[0026] The chair 14 can be any chair suitable for comfortably
retaining a user of the combination 10. In a typical embodiment,
the chair also comprises a chair back 28.
[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the chair 14
is attached to the base 12 by a single vertical strut 30 and a
chair attachment cross member 32. The chair attachment cross member
32 is welded at its respective ends to one of the pair of
horizontal rails 24 of the base 12.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the chair 14 is vertically
adjustable as illustrated in FIG. 5. Typically, this is achieved by
providing the vertical strut 30 with an adjustable telescoping
mechanism 34. The adjustable telescoping method 34 can comprise a
mechanical screw that raises or lowers the seat by spinning the
seat similar to an old fashioned piano stool. More typically, such
telescoping mechanisms 34 are provided with springs or a gas
cylinder, together with suitable spring stops or valves to allow
for the vertical adjustment of the seating surface 16. Such
telescoping mechanisms 34 in the vertical strut 30 are well-known
to those in the art. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings,
the vertical strut 30 comprises an internal air cylinder, internal
valve and valve opening lever 36. Such a vertical strut 30 provides
an efficient and easily operated mechanism for vertically adjusting
the height of the seating surface 16.
[0029] It is also preferred that the seating surface 16 of the
chair 14 be capable of swiveling about a vertical axis as
illustrated in FIG. 3. Typically, the seating surface 16 is capable
of swiveling about a vertical axis through an arc of at least
15.degree.. This feature allows a user to easily enter and exit
from the chair 14. This feature also allows the user to
alternatively rotate the seat to the left to use the left portion
of the work surface 20 or to the right to use the right portion of
the work surface 20. This is a very important ergonometric feature
which reduces discomfort and fatigue in the body of the user.
[0030] The work surface 20 provides a desk top for use by the user
of the combination 10. The work surface 20 is disposed upon a
substrate 38. The work surface 20 defines a work surface area of
between about 80 square inches and about 1100 square inches. In the
embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the work surface 20 is
attached to the base 12 by a pair of generally parallel riser rails
40. Other methods of attaching the work surface 20 to the base 12
can also be used. In the embodiments illustrated in the drawings,
the pair of riser rails 40 are typically made from tubular steel.
In a typical embodiment, the diameter and thickness of the tubular
steel used to manufacture the pair of riser rails 40 are similar or
identical to the diameter and thickness of the tubular steel used
to manufacture the pair of horizontal rails 24 of the base 12.
[0031] In the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, each
horizontal rail 24 in the base 12 has a forward end 42 and a
rearward end 44, and each of the riser rails 40 has an upper
portion 46 and a lowermost end 48. The forward end 42 of each
horizontal rail 24 is attached to the lowermost end 48 of one of
the riser rails 40.
[0032] Preferably, the distance between the forward edge 18 of the
seating surface 16 is laterally adjustable with respect to the
rearward edge 22 of the work surface 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3.
This can be accomplished by fixing either the disposition of the
chair 14 or the work surface 20 with respect to the base 12 and
allowing the other of the chair 14 or work surface 20 to be
moveable. In the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the chair
14 is laterally fixed and the work surface 20 is laterally
adjustable.
[0033] The adjustability of the rearward edge 22 of the work
surface 20 with respect to the forward edge 18 of the seating
surface 16 can be accomplished in many different ways. The drawings
illustrate several of these ways. FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a first
way. In this first way, the upper portions 46 of the pair of riser
rails 40 are disposed generally horizontally and are attached to a
pair of parallel first slide sections 50. The underside 52 of the
substrate 38 is attached to a pair of parallel second slide
sections 54. Each first slide section 50 connects the upper
portions 46 of the pair of riser rails 40 to rigidly retain the
pair of riser rails 40 in fixed, spaced apart relationship.
Additionally, each first slide section 50 cooperates with a second
slide section 54, such that the rearward edge 22 of the work
surface 20 can be laterally adjusted by sliding the work surface 20
forward with respect to the seating surface 16 or by sliding the
work surface 20 rearwardly with respect to the seating surface
16.
[0034] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-11, the second
slide sections 54 are provided by a pair of longitudinal slide rods
56 and the first slide sections 50 are provided by a pair of
transverse rails 58. Each of the slide rods 56 is disposed within
an aperture at one end of both of the transverse rails 58, such
that the slide rods 56 can slide back and forth within the
transverse rails 58. The transverse rails 58 can be welded at their
respective ends to the upper portions 46 of the riser rails 40, and
the slide rods 56 can be attached to the underside 52 of the
substrate 38 by brackets 60.
[0035] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, a reenforcing
block 62 is centrally and longitudinally attached to the underside
52 of the substrate 38. The vertical depth of the reenforcing block
62 is slightly less than the distance between the upper portion of
the forward most transverse rail 58 and the underside 52 of the
substrate 38, so that the reenforcing block 62 does not normally
contact the forward most transverse rail 58. The purpose of the
reenforcing block 62 is to provide additional resistance to
downward forces on the work surface 20 which might otherwise bend
the pair of slide rods 56. In the event that an undue amount of
force is applied to the work surface 20, such as by someone
bouncing on the top of the work surface 20, the downward deflection
of the substrate 38 causes the reenforcing block 62 to contact and
rest upon the upper portion of the forward most transverse rail 58,
thereby effectively resisting the undue force and preventing damage
to the slide rods 56.
[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the first
slide sections 50 comprise a pair of transverse rails 58 and a dove
tail beam cover 64. The second slide sections 54 comprise a pair of
dove tail beams 66 attached to the underside 52 of the substrate
38. In this embodiment, each dove tail beam 66 is slidably disposed
within one of the dove tail covers 64.
[0037] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 is similar to the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. Instead of the pair of
dove tail beams 66 attached to the underside 52 of the substrate
38, however, a pair of ball bearing races 68 are attached to the
underside 52 of the substrate 38. A plurality of ball bearings 70
are disposed within the races 68 and are retained within the races
68 by a pair of ball bearing race covers 72 attached to transverse
rails 58.
[0038] In each of the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the
combination further comprises a latch mechanism 74 for preventing
the movement of the work surface relative to the seating surface
16. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the latch
mechanism 74 is provided by a pair of notched rails 76 disposed
within the first slide sections 50. The notched rails 76 have a
plurality of notches 78. The second slide sections 54 comprise a
latch 80 capable of cooperating with the notches 78 in the notched
rails 76 to alternatively (i) fixedly engage the work surface 20
with respect to the base 12 at any one of a plurality of distances
from the seating surface 16, and (ii) disengage the work surface 20
from the base 12 so that the work surface 20 can be slid closer to
the seating surface 16 or further from the seating surface 16.
[0039] The latch 80 can be released from the notched rails 76 by a
latch release mechanism 82 which is conveniently disposed
immediately below the substrate 38 and proximate to the rearward
edge 22 of the work surface 20.
[0040] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the notched
rails 76 constitute a two-piece block having a pair of notched
rails 76 which are independent of one another. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the notched rails 76 constitute a
one-piece block comprising a pair of notched rails 76 which are
attached to one another.
[0041] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the latch
mechanism 74 is provided by a set screw 84. The set screw 84 is
disposed within one of the transverse rails 58. The set screw 84 is
disposed through the transverse rail 58 and is capable of engaging
one of the slide rods 56. The use of such a set screw 84 provides
the ability to adjust the work surface 20 a distance from the
seating surface 16 at an infinite number of distances.
[0042] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the latch
mechanism 74 is provided by a locking pin 86 and a notched plate
88. The notched plate 88 is attached to the underside 52 of the
substrate 38. The notches 90 in the notched plate 88 can be
recesses, as illustrated in the drawings, or they can be ridges.
The locking pin 86 is disposed within one of the transverse rails
58. Typically, the locking pin 86 is biased towards engagement with
the notched plate 88, such as by a biasing spring 92.
[0043] Preferably, the combination further comprises a cover 94
mounted on the underside 52 of the substrate 38 to cover the slide
sections 50 and 54 and latch mechanism 74. Such a cover 94 is
depicted in cut-away fashion in the embodiments illustrated in
FIGS. 1-7. The cover 94 protects the user from contacting the slide
sections 50 and 54, brackets 60 and/or latch mechanism 74, and adds
to the overall aesthetics of the combination 10.
[0044] The invention provides a desk and chair combination vastly
superior to those of the prior art. Because of the vertical
adjustability of the chair, the ability of the chair to swivel and
the ability of the desk top to be longitudinally adjustable, the
desk and chair combination of the invention avoids the "one size
fits all" problems of the prior art.
[0045] Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent
that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be
resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of
the instant invention as set forth hereinabove.
* * * * *