U.S. patent application number 11/326837 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-05 for adjustable desk with bookcase.
Invention is credited to Zygmend Pflaster.
Application Number | 20070151490 11/326837 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38223054 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070151490 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pflaster; Zygmend |
July 5, 2007 |
Adjustable desk with bookcase
Abstract
A desk and bookcase combination includes a desk with a
horizontal planar desktop member supported by spaced apart,
tubular, telescoping support legs which may be selectively adjusted
to adjust the height of the desk by insertion of locking pins with
locking hook parts into respective sets of pin receiving openings
in the leg members. The bookcase includes opposed end support
members having lateral channel shaped supports for slidably
receiving opposite desktop side edges and one or more vertically
spaced pairs of brace members for receiving cooperating shelf
members having downwardly facing channel-shaped support members
which may be hooked over respective pairs of brace members, for
selectively positioning the shelf members with respect to the
desktop.
Inventors: |
Pflaster; Zygmend; (Dallas,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IP SECTION;MICHAEL E. MARTIN
GARDERE WYNNE SEWELL LLP
1601 ELM STREET, SUITE 3000
DALLAS
TX
75201-4761
US
|
Family ID: |
38223054 |
Appl. No.: |
11/326837 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/180 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 83/04 20130101;
A47B 9/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/180 |
International
Class: |
A47B 47/00 20060101
A47B047/00 |
Claims
1. A desk comprising: a generally horizontally extending desktop
member forming a planar work surface; plural upstanding support
legs spaced apart and secured to said desktop member, each of said
legs comprising an upper leg member and a lower leg member, said
lower leg member being telescopically received within said upper
leg member; a locking member engaged with said upper and lower leg
members of each of said legs for locking said lower leg member in a
selected telescoped position with respect to said upper leg member
for adjusting the height of said work surface with respect to a
support surface for said desk; and a bookcase removably mounted on
said desktop member.
2. The desk set forth in claim 1 wherein: said upper and lower leg
members comprise generally cylindrical tubular members and said
lock member includes a lockpin insertable in pin receiving openings
formed in each of said upper and lower leg members,
respectively.
3. The desk set forth in claim 2 wherein: said lockpin includes a
lockpin part and a hook part for securing said lockpin part in a
locked position with respect to said leg members, said hook part
including a generally arcuate portion engageable with at least one
of said upper and lower leg members in a selected locking position
of said lockpin for securing said lockpin in said locked
position.
4. The desk set forth in claim 3 wherein: said lockpin includes a
stem portion integrally joined to said lockpin part and said hook
part of said lockpin.
5. The desk set forth in claim 1 wherein: said leg members are
interconnected by plural, spaced apart, generally horizontally
extending brace members forming opposed pairs of said leg members,
respectively.
6. The desk set forth in claim 5 wherein: opposed ones of said leg
members are interconnected by plural elongated brace members,
respectively.
7. The desk set forth in claim 5 including: a shelf adapted for
support on said desk below said desktop member, said shelf
including a generally planar shelf member and opposed end support
members, said end support members including channel-shaped parts
adapted to be hooked over selected ones of said brace members of
said opposed pairs of said leg members, respectively.
8. The desk set forth in claim 1 wherein: said bookcase includes
spaced apart opposed end support members comprising, respectively,
spaced apart upstanding column members and plural spaced apart
brace members interconnecting said column members, respectively,
and at least one shelf member supported by and between said end
support members.
9. The desk set forth in claim 8 wherein: said shelf member
includes a generally planar shelf member part and opposed
downwardly facing channel-shaped support members connected to said
shelf member part and engageable with said brace members of said
end support members, respectively, for positioning said shelf
member in a selected working position on said bookcase.
10. The desk set forth in claim 8 wherein: said bookcase includes
opposed end support members including opposed channel shaped
members, respectively, spaced apart and engageable with said
desktop member by receiving opposite lateral side edges thereof,
respectively, in said channel shaped members for supporting said
bookcase on said desk.
11. The desk set forth in claim 1 wherein: said desktop member
comprises a unitary plastic laminate member.
12. The desk set forth in claim 11 including: an elongated desktop
member brace member secured to an underside of said desktop
member.
13. The desk set forth in claim 1 wherein: said desktop member
includes a perimeter metal frame and a planar insert member secured
to and enclosed by said perimeter frame at side edges thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] There are many applications for furniture which require
features of ruggedness, uncomplicated, adjustable height and
portability which are not met by conventional furniture
construction. For example, furniture for institutional facilities,
such as academic institution residence facilities, requires to be
rugged, utilitarian, somewhat portable and also, with respect to
furniture such as desks and work surfaces, height adjustable.
Accordingly, although myriad furniture structures have been
developed, there has been a continuing need for a somewhat portable
adjustable height desk in combination with a bookcase, for example,
which has heretofore not been available with prior art furniture
articles. It is to these ends that the present invention has been
developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention provides an improved article of
furniture comprising a desk and, in particular, a desk in
combination with a utilitarian bookcase or shelving
arrangement.
[0003] The present invention also provides an improved, rugged,
utilitarian desk which includes a generally horizontal work surface
which is adjustable in height and the desk is somewhat portable so
as to be easily moved from one facility to another or easily moved
within a room wherein occasional repositioning of furniture is
necessary or desirable.
[0004] In accordance with, one aspect of the present invention, an
improved horizontal work surface is provided in an article of
furniture which is rugged, constructed of utilitarian materials and
structural components, is adjustable in height and may be mounted
on casters or wheels for ease of movement. The desk is
advantageously combined with a bookcase which is also constructed
of conventional materials and shapes and which is both rugged and
utilitarian. The desk and bookcase combination is particularly
useful for furniture for institutional applications.
[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a
portable desk is provided with telescoping legs which are easily
adjustable for adjusting the height of the desk work surface. The
telescoping legs are each advantageously provided with a leg
position locating pin and clip combination which, for each leg,
locks the leg in a selected telescoped or extended position which
minimizes the risk of the leg collapsing, is unobtrusive, and
provides for a desk construction which may be easily
fabricated.
[0006] The present invention still further provides a unique desk
and bookcase combination including a bookcase characterized by
spaced-apart sets of vertically extending column members for
supporting one or more moveable bookshelves and wherein the column
members are provided with opposed channel-shaped support members
which slidably engage opposite lateral edges of a desktop or work
surface member whereby the bookcase is suitably retained in
assembly with the desk to prevent inadvertent toppling or
detachment from the desk while also being easily separated from the
desk for transport, for example.
[0007] Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the
above-mentioned advantages and superior features of the invention
upon reading the detailed description which follows in conjunction
with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved adjustable
height desk and bookcase combination in accordance with the
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bookcase shown in FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one preferred
embodiment of the desk;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of certain components of
one of the telescoping legs of the desk of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating how the
height adjustment of the legs is selected and locked by a unique
locking pin and clip or hook member;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a detail perspective view showing how the
combination pin and hook may be moved to a locking position;
and
[0014] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate
embodiment of a desktop or work surface member for the desk of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] In the description which follows, like parts are marked
throughout the specification and drawing with the same reference
numerals, respectively. The drawing figures may not necessarily be
to scale and certain features may be shown in generalized or
schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a unique
desk and bookcase combination in accordance with the invention and
generally designated by the numeral 10. The desk and bookcase 10 is
characterized by a rugged, utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing
desk 12 which may be used with or without an upstanding bookcase 14
removably mountable on the desk 12 in the position shown in FIG. 1.
Bookcase 14 is characterized by opposed ladder-like end support
members 16 and 18, see FIG. 2 also, which comprise spaced apart
upstanding metal tubes 20 interconnected by transverse tubular
brace members 22 disposed at spaced apart intervals, as
illustrated. The end support members 16 and 18 are also
interconnected by one or more horizontally extending transverse
elongated rod or tube members 24, two shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
One or more shelves 26, two shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are removably
mountable on the bookcase 14 and comprise generally planar shelf
members 27 of generally rectangular shape and opposed downwardly
facing channel-shaped end support members 28 which are suitably
secured to the shelf members 27 and are adapted to be hooked over
selected opposed ones of the transverse brace members 22, as
illustrated. Accordingly, the shelves 26 may be placed in selected
working positions on any one set of opposed brace members 22. There
are four spaced apart brace members 22 for each end support member
16 and 18 in the embodiment illustrated. The end support members 16
and 18 are also provided with opposed, laterally facing channel
shaped bottom support members 29 connected to the column or tube
members 20 by suitable means, such as welding and spaced apart
sufficiently to slidably receive opposed edges of and rest on a
generally rectangular, planar desktop member or work surface 30 of
desk 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the bookcase 14 may
be easily mounted on or demounted from the desk 12 but is suitably
retained thereon and is disposed in a stable working position
thanks to the opposed laterally facing channel shaped support
members 29.
[0017] Referring primarily to FIG. 3, the desk 12 is characterized
by four spaced apart adjustable length legs 32, opposed pairs of
which are interconnected by transverse horizontal extending brace
members 34 which are similar in some respects to the bookcase brace
members 22 and are spaced apart sufficiently to support one or more
lower shelves 36, one shown in FIG. 3. Shelf 36 is characterized by
a generally planar shelf member 37 and opposed downwardly facing
channel shaped support members 38 which may be hooked over a
selected pair of opposed brace members 34, as shown in FIG. 1 also.
Respective pairs of legs 32 and cooperating tubular brace members
34 are interconnected by one or more elongated tubular brace
members 41, preferably aligned with a pair of lateral brace members
34 for interconnecting a so-called rear pair of legs 32 for the
desk 12, as shown.
[0018] The upper ends of the respective leg members 32 are each
provided with a generally triangular shaped support plate 42
extending generally horizontally, as shown in FIG. 3. Support
plates 42 may be provided with suitable fastener receiving
openings, not shown, or provided for securement to the desktop
member 30 by a suitable adhesive. An elongated rectangular cross
section metal tube brace member 43, FIG. 3, is adapted to be
secured to the underside of desktop member 30 by spaced apart plate
components 43a, using suitable fasteners, not shown, or a suitable
adhesive.
[0019] Referring now also to FIGS. 4 through 6, a particularly
advantageous feature of the desk 10 is provided by the respective
telescoping leg members 32 which are each characterized by an upper
leg member 32a and a lower leg member 32b adapted to be
telescopically received within the upper leg member 32a. The lower
ends of each of the leg members 32b are adapted to be supported on
and connected to suitable casters 46, respectively. As shown in
FIG. 4, a cylindrical guide bushing or bearing member 48 is adapted
to be removably received in the lower end 32d of upper leg member
32a to provide a bearing and guide for the lower leg member 32b
which is telescopically received in the tubular upper leg member
32a for each of the leg members 32. Bushing or bearing member 48 is
a generally ring-like member having an annular locating flange 48a
formed thereon. Bearing member 48 may be made of a suitable
self-lubricating plastic material, such as Nylon, for example.
Bearing or bushing member 48 is configured to be a substantially
snug fit within the tubular leg member 32a and is also dimensioned
to snugly but slidably receive the lower leg member 32b
therewithin.
[0020] Referring further to FIGS. 5 and 6, in particular, each of
lower leg members 32b is provided with plural spaced apart pairs of
lockpin receiving openings 32e, FIG. 6, operable to be aligned with
a corresponding pair of pin receiving opening 32f, see FIG. 4 also,
formed in upper leg member 32a. Openings 32e and 32f are formed in
the walls of the tubular leg members 32b and 32a opposite each
other so that a height adjustment locking pin 50, FIGS. 5 and 6,
may be inserted in a selected set of openings 32e and 32f for
locking the lower member 32b in selected telescoped positions
within and connected to an upper leg member 32a, respectively. In
this way, the desk 12 may be adjusted with respect to the height of
the desktop member or work surface 30 for a selected working
position of the desk while it rests on the leg members 32 and
respective casters 46.
[0021] Referring again briefly to FIGS. 5 and 6, the combination
lockpin and hook 50 includes a lateral projecting pin part 52
integral with a depending leg 54 and a normally laterally extending
hook-shaped distal part 56. Distal part 56 is formed to have an
arcuate hook-like shape to be disposed in a plane which may extend
normal to a plane which would include the entirety of the depending
leg part 54.
[0022] In this way, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lockpin 50 may
be inserted in the openings 32f in an upper leg member 32a and
through a selected set of openings 32e in a cooperating lower leg
member 32b while the hook part 56 is displaced angularly as
indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 6, out of the way, as shown,
and once the pin part 52 is in its working position the hook part
56 may be rotated into the position shown by the solid lines in
FIG. 6 to secure the lockpin 50 in its working position.
[0023] Referring briefly to FIG. 7, an alternate embodiment of a
desktop or work surface member for the desk 10 is illustrated and
generally designated by the numeral 60. Desktop member 60 is a
multipart member including a generally planar, rectangular member
62, preferably formed of a plastic laminate, such as
polyvinylchloride, and providing a work surface 62a adapted to fit
within a perimeter frame 64. Perimeter frame 64 is characterized by
suitably formed or welded together longitudinal flat plate or bar
parts 66 and transverse bar parts 68 to form a rectangular
perimeter which is adapted to snugly receive the member 62
therewithin. Work surface member 62 may be secured to frame 64 at
triangular gusset members 70 and desktop member 60 may be secured
to the respective legs 32 by securing the support plate members 42
of each of the legs to a corresponding gusset member 70 disposed at
each corner of the perimeter frame 64. Perimeter frame 64 may also
include transverse brace members 67 as illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0024] The desk and bookcase combination 10 may be fabricated of
conventional engineering materials used for furniture. In
particular, the desktop members 30 and 62 may be formed of a
suitable rugged plastic material such as polyvinylchloride (PVC),
as mentioned, while the shelf members 27 and 37 may be formed of a
Formica brand laminate, for example. Conventional steel or aluminum
metal shapes may be used for substantially all of the other
components described herein.
[0025] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will recognize
that various substitutions and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
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