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
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.
* * * * *