Auxiliary Cabinet For Computer Console

Boris , et al. September 24, 1

Patent Grant 3837720

U.S. patent number 3,837,720 [Application Number 05/400,761] was granted by the patent office on 1974-09-24 for auxiliary cabinet for computer console. This patent grant is currently assigned to Data Processing Aids, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sam Boris, Larry R. Nye.


United States Patent 3,837,720
Boris ,   et al. September 24, 1974

AUXILIARY CABINET FOR COMPUTER CONSOLE

Abstract

An auxiliary cabinet which fits into the space between a computer console and the usual desk beneath same, has a hinged front and side walls dimensioned to engage the sides of the console. The cabinet makes it possible to use the space between the console and the desk for storage of small accessories to be used with the computer as well as writing instruments and signs of various types.


Inventors: Boris; Sam (Kingston, NY), Nye; Larry R. (Woodstock, NY)
Assignee: Data Processing Aids, Inc. (Ulster Park, NY)
Family ID: 23584897
Appl. No.: 05/400,761
Filed: September 26, 1973

Current U.S. Class: 312/198; 108/26; 273/148B; 312/352
Current CPC Class: A47B 81/00 (20130101); B41J 29/16 (20130101)
Current International Class: A47B 81/00 (20060101); B41J 29/16 (20060101); A47b 053/00 ()
Field of Search: ;312/196,352,242,100,223,101,198,293,257R,328,257SK,257SM,294 ;235/7R,61R ;220/17.1 ;40/336 ;281/15

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents
2855261 October 1958 Wells et al.
3170710 February 1965 Rachman
3173730 March 1965 Collins
3408064 October 1968 Johnson et al.
Primary Examiner: McCall; James T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Blum Moscovitz Friedman & Kaplan

Claims



What we claim is:

1. A cabinet for use with a computer console mounted over a desk, where there is a gap between the bottom of said console and an open space behind the front face of said console at the bottom thereof, said cabinet comprising a bottom wall, an essentially vertical back wall of a height such that said compartment can fit with clearance between the bottom of said console and the top of said desk, side walls at either end of said bottom walls, the inside distance between said side walls being essentially equal to the width of said console and the height of said side walls being sufficient to engage the side walls of said console when said cabinet is in place below said console, and a front wall hinged proximate the bottom thereof for opening outwardly, thereby making the interior of said cabinet accessible.

2. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein the front wall in closed position, is parallel to the bottom portion of the front wall of the console.

3. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said front wall has latch means mounted thereon, said latch means being adapted to fit into said gap behind said front wall of said console when said cabinet is in position beneath said console, thereby holding said front wall in closed position.

4. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein there is at least one wall parallel to and intermediate said side walls, dividing said cabinet into a plurality of compartments.

5. The cabinet as defined in claim 4 wherein said front wall is divided into a plurality of sections each corresponding in length and position to a compartment in the interior of said cabinet, each section of said front wall being independently hinged and having at least one latch thereon by means of which each section may independently be locked in closed position.

6. The cabinet as defined in claim 4 wherein there are two walls parallel to said side walls and intermediate said side walls, said cabinet further comprising a clock occupying the space between said two intermediate walls, and the section of said front wall corresponding to the compartment between said two intermediate walls being transparent.

7. The cabinet as defined in claim 5 wherein all sections of said front wall of said cabinet are transparent.

8. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein a compartment open at the top is mounted on the exterior face of at least one of said side walls.
Description



BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is frequent if not general practice to mount a computer console above a desk at which the computer operator may be seated. In order to avoid possible interference between the bottom of the console and the top of the desk clearance of upwards of two inches is usually provided between the bottom of the console and the top surface of the desk.

As would be expected, the computer operator will have need for storage space in which to keep files, records, correspondence and other items for which the desk drawers will be suitable. In addition, the operator will need space for small items such as paper clips, pencils, etc., which should be immediately available to him.

A number of types of so-called "desk-organizers" are available on the market, but these have not been designed with a view to utilizing space which is restricted with respect to the vertical dimension as is the case where a computer console is mounted over a desk. Consequently, so far as such devices are concerned, the space between the computer console and the desk is unusable. The present invention is designed to make maximum utilization of this space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cabinet has side walls, a back wall, a bottom wall and a front wall which is hinged proximate the bottom to the bottom wall. The back wall is of such a height that the cabinet when placed on a desk will fit beneath the bottom of a computer console mounted above the desk. The side walls are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of the console and are high enough to engage the sides of the console when the cabinet is slid under the computer console. The front wall of the cabinet is mounted at an angle corresponding to the bottom portion of the front of the console so that when the cabinet is in place the front of the cabinet appears to be a continuation of the bottom portion of the computer console. The cabinet may be divided up into compartments by walls parallel to the side walls and the front wall is divided up into sections corresponding in width to the width of the compartments in the cabinet. The front wall is provided with one or more latches designed to engage the console by means of the space generally provided behind the front wall of the console.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet which makes it possible to utilize the space between a desk and a computer console mounted above said desk.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet for holding small articles and accessories which may be used in the operation of a computer.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet which can hold a number of signs useful for indicating the state of the computer.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cabinet in accordance with the present invention in engagement with a computer console mounted over a desk and showing in phantom said cabinet prior to positioning beneath said console;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of said cabinet with the front wall in open position;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the cabinet in accordance with the present invention prior to engagement with a computer console;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the cabinet in position beneath a console;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A cabinet in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and is indicated generally by the reference numeral 11. As is indicated, cabinet 11 rests on desk top 12 beneath the bottom of computer console 13. The cabinet has side walls 14 which are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of computer console 13. Moreover, side walls 14 are high enough to engage the side walls of computer console 13 when the cabinet is positioned beneath same. Back wall 15 is of such a height that it can slide beneath the bottom of console 13.

Front wall 17 is joined to bottom wall 18 by means of hinge 19.

It is common practice to provide a space immediately behind the bottom of the front wall of the console. This is the case with the IBM computer. This space can conveniently be used for latching front wall 17 in closed position. In the example shown, latch 21 is of the rotary type having a finger 22 which can be moved into the space behind the front wall of computer console 13 to hold the front wall 17 in closed position.

The cabinet can be fitted up in a variety of ways to fit the convenience of the user. In the example shown in FIG. 2 front wall 17 is divided into three sections as is the interior of the cabinet. In this particular example the interior of the cabinet is divided by two walls 23 into three sections. The middle section is sized to hold a clock which can be viewed through a transparent portion 26 of front wall 17. Preferably, all three front portions 17 are transparent, but they need not be so where it is desired to keep the contents of the cabinet from general view. The separate portions of front wall 17 are independently hinged.

Additional compartments may be formed exterior to side walls 14 by use of suitably bent sheet metal sections 27, bonded to side walls 14 as with screws or by spot welding. Conveniently, extensions 28 may be made part of sheet metal sections 27 with the objective of closing off that part of the space underneath the console which cannot readily be reached by a hand inserted beneath the console.

Compartments 29 (FIG. 3) may be constructed so that they are open either at the top or at the front (the latter arrangement is not shown), and may be used for holding such items as cards 30 (FIG. 4).

The plan view of the cabinet and console shown in FIG. 3 indicates the relative positions of side walls 14 and the side walls of the computer console 13. Movement of the cabinet in the direction indicated by the arrow brings the cabinet into position between the console and the desk. It is desirable that the length of extensions 28 be such that when the cabinet is pushed far enough under the console 13 so that the extensions make contact with back wall 31 on which the console is mounted, front wall 17 will be flush with the front wall of computer console 13 so that catch 21 may engage same (FIG. 5).

The way in which cards or other items are held in compartments 29 formed by sheet metal sections 27 is shown in FIG. 6.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

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