U.S. patent application number 11/493084 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for laptop port.
Invention is credited to Ralph J. Byma, Jeffrey A. Pulver, Timothy A. Sweet, Dirk J. Van Zalen.
Application Number | 20070022918 11/493084 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37692887 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070022918 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sweet; Timothy A. ; et
al. |
February 1, 2007 |
Laptop port
Abstract
A laptop port includes a well through an aperture in a work
surface with various power or data connections in the well and a
door with opposing front and back edges. The door hinging between a
closed position in which the door is coplanar with the work surface
and conceals the well and the connections, and an open position in
which the door is in an over-center location and the well and
connections are revealed. The pivot is spaced from the back edge
and remains closer to the back edge than to the front edge,
defining a door tail between the back edge and the pivot. The door
is self supporting in the over-center open location, not requiring
further mechanisms to hold the door in the open position.
Inventors: |
Sweet; Timothy A.; (Zeeland,
MI) ; Van Zalen; Dirk J.; (Holland, MI) ;
Byma; Ralph J.; (Zeeland, MI) ; Pulver; Jeffrey
A.; (Holland, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VARNUM, RIDDERING, SCHMIDT & HOWLETT LLP
333 BRIDGE STREET, NW
P.O. BOX 352
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49501-0352
US
|
Family ID: |
37692887 |
Appl. No.: |
11/493084 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60702570 |
Jul 26, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/50.02 ;
312/223.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 21/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/050.02 ;
312/223.3 |
International
Class: |
A47B 37/00 20060101
A47B037/00 |
Claims
1. A work surface information technology appliance connection well,
comprising: a work surface; an aperture in the work surface, the
aperture having a perimeter with a proximal edge and an opposite
distal edge; a well defined through the aperture; a corresponding
door located in the aperture, the door having a front edge and a
back edge; a pivot interconnected between the work surface and the
door, whereby the door pivots between a closed position in which
the door is coplanar with the work surface and the door conceals
the well, and an open position in which the well is revealed and
the door is in an over-center location, the door being self
supporting in the over-center open location, the pivot being spaced
toward the proximal edge from the distal edge and being closer to
the distal edge than to the proximal edge, whereby a door tail
portion is defined between the pivot and the distal edge; and at
least one of a power connection and a data connection located in
the well.
2. The well defined in claim 1 wherein the door pivots at least
ninety degrees from the closed position to the opened position.
3. The well defined in claim 2 further including a stop that abuts
the door in the opened position.
4. The well defined in claim 1 further including a stop that abuts
the door in the opened position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuing non-provisional application of
co-pending U.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/702,570,
entitled LAPTOP PORT and filed on Jul. 26, 2005, by Timothy A.
Sweet and Dirk J. Van Zalen, now expired, the disclosure of which
is incorporated here by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING
[0004] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention relates to power and data connections at a
work surface, and more particularly, to power and data connections
in a well in the work surface.
[0006] People use a variety of information technology appliances,
including laptop computers, and the like in various settings,
including meeting environments. Use of information technology
devices may include connection of the device with a power source,
such as a typical wall outlet, and connection of the device with a
data connection, such as a network jack or a display output jack.
An array of wires may commonly be used to make these connections
and may further become tangled or entangled with furniture,
fixtures, and people. Also, providing an arrangement of power and
data coupling jacks may interrupt an otherwise useful work surface
and may merely be unsightly.
[0007] Thus, one understands a desirability of unobtrusively
providing electronic support connections and the like at a work
surface, including a conference table, a desk or a work station,
for example.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, a laptop port of the invention defines a well
through an aperture in a work surface with various power or data
connections or the like provided in the well and with a door that
hinges to cover and reveal the well and the connections. In one
aspect of the invention, a pivot interconnects the door with the
work surface. The door has a front edge and a back edge. The pivot
is spaced toward the front edge from the back edge and is also
closer to the back edge than to the front edge. A portion of the
door that is between the pivot and the back edge is defined as a
tail portion of the door.
[0009] In another aspect, the door pivots between a closed position
in which the door is coplanar with the work surface and the door
conceals the well, and an open position in which the well and the
connections are revealed and the door is in an over-center
location. The door being self supporting in the over-center open
location and not requiring further mechanisms or devices to hold
the door in the open position.
[0010] These and other features or benefits of the invention will
be recognized from this specification, including the claims and the
drawing figures, by one having ordinary skill in the art and by
those who practice the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0011] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a laptop port of the
invention, showing an open position;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view thereof, showing a closed
position;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view thereof,
partially in cross section and showing the open position in
phantom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] With general reference to the drawing, a preferred
embodiment of a laptop port 10 according to the invention includes
a work surface 12, an aperture 14 in the work surface, a well 16
defined through the aperture, a corresponding door 18, and
appliance connections 20 located in the well.
[0015] The work surface 12 may be any of various work surfaces,
including a bench top, a desktop, or other cabinet top, and may
further include commonly known office landscape partition system
work surface components and countertops, without limitation. As
shown in the drawing, a generally rectangular aperture 14 is
provided in the work surface 12, although circular, elliptical,
polygonal, and other geometric shapes may also be employed
according to various aesthetic or structural considerations.
[0016] The door 18 corresponds to the aperture 14 and is mounted in
the aperture with a pivot connection 34 (FIG. 3) between the door
and the work surface 12. Thus, the door pivots between a closed
position in which the door conforms with the aperture and conceals
the well 16, and an open position. The door is preferably flush or
coplanar with the work surface 12 when in the closed position
(FIGS. 2 & 3) and provides a substantially uninterrupted work
surface. The well 16 and the cooperating appliance connections 20
are revealed and accessible with the door in the open position
(FIG. 1 & FIG. 3 in phantom).
[0017] The appliance connections 20 are generally shown in the
drawing as a unified module that provides power outlets and various
data outlets. The connections module illustrated is not of peculiar
nature to the invention and is commonly available from various
sources as one having ordinary skill in the art understands. Thus
the connections module shown is not a limitation of the invention,
and various information technology and power connections 20 and the
like, may be provided individually or in whatever grouping of
connections is preferred by one practicing the invention.
[0018] The well 16 as shown (FIGS. 1 & 3), has opposing side
walls 22 and 24, a front panel or wall 26, and for connection
access ergonomics, may have an opposite back wall 28 that is
preferably slanted. The particulars of each of the side, the front,
and the back walls may be arranged according to the structural or
aesthetic preferences of one who uses the invention, however. More
specifically as shown, the door 18 is mounted with a pair of
nesting leaf hinges 32 to a top edge of the slanted back panel 28.
One having ordinary skill in the art recognizes that any of various
pivot devices may be employed for the pivot connection 34. The
positioning or geometry of the door pivot 34 relative to the door
18 is material to the operation of the door, however.
[0019] Each of the door 18 and the aperture 14 has a proximal or
front edge 40 and 42, respectively, (FIG. 2) and an opposite distal
or back edge 44 and 46, respectively. The hinge pivot 34 (FIG. 3)
is spaced toward the front edge 40 from the back edge 44 of the
door 18 and is closer to the back edge than to the front edge. A
door tail portion 50 (FIG. 3) is, then, defined between the hinge
pivot and the back edge of the door 18.
[0020] The door 18 pivots to an over-center or beyond vertical open
position and inclines away from the well front edge 42 (FIG. 3).
This over-center location positively positions the door 18 in the
open position. If the door were opened to a merely vertical, as
opposed to the inclined over-center position, for example, the door
may have a tendency to fall closed, which is undesirable. Further,
the over-center open position is material at least insofar as
additional devices are not required to hold the door 18 in the open
position. Of course, additional devices would be required to hold
the door 18 in an open position if the door were to pivot less than
ninety degrees from the closed position to the opened position. In
its least complicated design, the laptop port door 18 may stop in
its open position with the door abutting one of the aperture back
edge 46 or the well back wall 28 (FIG. 3). Just so, the one of the
aperture back edge and the well back wall defines a opened door
stop. Of course other opened door stops may be devised within the
scope of the invention.
[0021] A rest 54 may be provided to position the proximal door edge
40 with the door 18 in the closed position. As shown, a spring
latch is used for the rest 54. The spring latch may include a
mechanism to open the door by depressing and releasing the front
door edge 40 with the spring latch responding by raising the front
door edge above the surrounding work surface 12, as is commonly
known for a spring latch. Of course, various alternative rest
configuration, including a fixed rest, may be used to position the
front door edge 40. If a fixed rest or the like is used, then the
door 18 may easily be opened from the closed position by pressing
down on the tail portion 50, which raises the door proximal edge 40
like a teeter-totter, because the proximal edge 40 is opposite the
distal edge 44 across the pivot 32.
[0022] One having ordinary skill in the art and those who practice
the invention will understand that various modifications and
improvements may be made without departing from the disclosed
inventive concept. Various relational terms, including left, right,
front, back, top, and bottom, for example, are used in the detailed
description of the invention and in the claims only to convey
relative positioning of various elements of the claimed invention
and are not otherwise used to limit the scope of the invention.
* * * * *