Patent Application
20240057763
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to display devices and more particularly relates to an article of furniture including an integrated display device.
When working remotely, people can use different types of workspaces throughout the day as they complete different tasks. At the end of a workday, at least some people may desire to put their workspace away and transition to their personal space.
Apparatus that can include a display device and an article of furniture are disclosed. One apparatus includes an article of furniture and a display device integrated with the article of furniture. In some embodiments, the display device is coupleable with an external computing device.
Also disclosed are methods for operating an apparatus including a display device integrated with an article of furniture. One method includes opening a top portion of an article of furniture from a closed position to an open position to expose a storage compartment of the article of furniture, opening a display device to a viewing position external to the storage compartment from a storage position within the storage compartment, and moving a bottom portion of the article of furniture from a bottom position to a top position that is co-planar with the top portion at the open position to allow use of a first top surface of the top portion and a second top surface of the bottom portion while the display device is at the viewing position.
Another method for operating an apparatus including a display device integrated with an article of furniture includes opening a top portion of an article of furniture from a closed position to an open position to expose a storage compartment of the article of furniture, opening a display device to a viewing position external to the storage compartment from a storage position within the storage compartment, and closing the top portion of the article of furniture to the closed position to allow use of a top surface of the top portion while the display device is at the viewing position. In some embodiments, the display device is integrated with the article of furniture.
A more particular description of the embodiments briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only some embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of scope, the embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the embodiments may be embodied as a system, apparatus, or method. Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment.
Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases in one embodiment, in an embodiment, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, but mean one or more but not all embodiments unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms including, comprising, having, and variations thereof mean including but not limited to, unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms, “a,” “an,” and “the,” also refer to one or more unless expressly specified otherwise.
In addition, as used herein, the term, “set,” can mean one or more, unless expressly specified otherwise. The term, “sets,” can mean multiples of or a plurality of one or mores, ones or more, and/or ones or mores consistent with set theory, unless expressly specified otherwise.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of an embodiment.
Aspects of the embodiments are described below with reference to schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams of methods. The methods can include operations and/or the functionality of apparatus and systems according to various the embodiments disclosed herein.
It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more blocks, or portions thereof, of the illustrated Figures.
Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flowchart and/or block diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding embodiments. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the depicted embodiment. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted embodiment.
The description of elements in each figure may refer to elements of proceeding figures. Like numbers refer to like elements in all figures, including alternate embodiments of like elements.
With reference to the drawings,
An article of furniture 102 may include any suitable article of furniture and/or type of article of furniture that is known or developed in the future. Examples of an article of furniture include, but are not limited to, a desk, a workstation, a nightstand, and a table (e.g., a kitchen table, dining table, an end table, a coffee table, a side table, and a crafting table, etc.), etc., among other articles of furniture that are possible and contemplated herein. In various embodiments, the article of furniture 102 includes a desk and/or a workstation.
The article of furniture may include and/or be made of any suitable material or combination of materials that is/are known or developed in the future. Example materials include, but are not limited to, wood, metal, a composite, stone, plastic, and/or a polymer, etc., among other material(s) and/or combinations of materials that is/are possible and contemplated herein.
A display device 104 may include any suitable display device and/or type of display device that is/are known or developed in the future capable of displaying images/data, video/data feeds, and/or video/data streams, etc. Examples of a display device 104 include, but are not limited to, a monitor (e.g., a wireless and/or wired), a touch screen (e.g., a wireless and/or wired), a television, a smart TV, a projector, a projection screen, and a combination projector/protection screen, etc., among other display devices and/or types of display devices that is/are known or developed in the future.
The display device 104 may include any suitable dimensions (e.g., length, width, height, etc.) that is/are known or developed in the future. Further, the display device 104, in various embodiments, may be configured to wirelessly couple (e.g., via WiFi, Bluetooth®, etc.) and/or couple via a wired connection to one or more external computing devices (see, e.g., computing device 110) and/or one or more peripheral devices (e.g., peripheral device 112).
With reference to
In various embodiments, the top portion 106 is moveable from the first position to a second position (e.g., an expanded position and/or open position). That is, the top portion 106 can be moved from a closed/contracted position to an expanded/open position, as discussed elsewhere herein (see, e.g.,
The top portion 106 may be moved/removed in a suitable manner that is known or developed in the future. At least in the illustrated embodiment, the top portion 106 is configured to slide out (see, e.g.,
The top surface 108 may include any suitable material(s) and/or dimension(s) that are known or developed in the future. In various embodiments, the top surface includes an area suitable for including a computing device 110 (e.g., a laptop, a desktop, a tablet, a gaming device, a streaming device, etc.), one or more peripheral devices 112 (e.g., a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, a joystick, a controller, a game controller, one or more speakers, a microphone, etc.), and/or one or more other objects 114 (e.g., a book, paper, a pen, a pencil, etc.), etc., among other items that an article of furniture (e.g., desk and/or workstation) may have suitably placed thereon.
Referring to
The storage compartment 116 may include any suitable dimensions (e.g., length, width, and height, etc.) to define a storage area and/or storage space. In various embodiments, the storage compartment 116 includes a length, a width, and a height sufficient to define a storage area and/or storage space within the article of furniture 102 capable of housing a display device 104 therein.
As further illustrated in
In various embodiments, the apparatus 100 includes a hinging mechanism 122 (e.g., a hinge, a lever, etc.). The hinging mechanism 122 may include any suitable mechanism that is known or developed in the future configured to allow and/or enable the display device 104 to move and/or open from a storage position within the storage compartment 116 to a viewing position external and/or outside the storage compartment 116. Further, the hinging mechanism 122 may include any suitable mechanism configured to allow and/or enable the display device 104 to move and/or close from the viewing position to the storage position within the storage compartment 116. In certain embodiments, the storage compartment 116 is configured to conceal the display device 104 after the display device is housed in the storage compartment 116 and the top portion 106 is in the contracted/storage/closed position (see, e.g.,
With reference to 1C,
After the display device 104 is in the open and/or viewing position, the display device 104 can be wirelessly coupled to the external computing device(s) 110 and/or the peripheral device(s) 112. In additional or alternative embodiments, the display device 104 can be coupled via a wired connection to the external computing device(s) 110 and/or the peripheral device(s) 112 after the display device 104 is in the open and/or viewing position.
While the display device 104 is in the open and/or viewing position, the display device 104 can be wirelessly de-coupled to the external computing device(s) 110 and/or the peripheral device(s) 112 in preparation for discontinued use and/or storage. In additional or alternative embodiments, the display device 104 can be de-coupled from the wired connection to the external computing device(s) 110 and/or the peripheral device(s) 112 while the display device 104 is in the open and/or viewing position in preparation for discontinued use and/or storage.
Referring to 1D,
The bottom portion 118, the display device 104, and the top portion 106 can each be moved in reverse order to store and/or conceal the display device 104 within the storage compartment 116 when not in use (e.g., return the apparatus 100 to the contracted position, storage position, and/or closed position illustrated in
An article of furniture 202 may include any suitable article of furniture and/or type of article of furniture that is known or developed in the future. Examples of an article of furniture include, but are not limited to, a desk, a workstation, a nightstand, and a table (e.g., a kitchen table, dining table, an end table, a coffee table, a side table, and a crafting table, etc.), etc., among other articles of furniture that are possible and contemplated herein. In various embodiments, the article of furniture 202 includes a desk and/or a workstation.
The article of furniture may include and/or be made of any suitable material or combination of materials that is/are known or developed in the future. Example materials include, but are not limited to, wood, metal, a composite, stone, plastic, and/or a polymer, etc., among other material(s) and/or combinations of materials that is/are possible and contemplated herein.
A display device 204 may include any suitable display device and/or type of display device that is/are known or developed in the future capable of displaying images/data, video/data feeds, and/or video/data streams, etc. Examples of a display device 204 include, but are not limited to, a monitor (e.g., a wireless and/or wired), a touch screen (e.g., a wireless and/or wired), a television, a smart TV, a projector, a projection screen, and a combination projector/protection screen, etc., among other display devices and/or types of display devices that is/are known or developed in the future.
The display device 204 may include any suitable dimensions (e.g., length, width, height, etc.) that is/are known or developed in the future. Further, the display device 204, in various embodiments, may be configured to wirelessly couple (e.g., via WiFi, Bluetooth®, etc.) and/or couple via a wired connection to one or more external computing devices (see, e.g., computing device 210) and/or one or more peripheral devices (e.g., peripheral device 212).
With reference to
In various embodiments, the top portion 206 is moveable from the first position to a second position (e.g., an expanded position and/or open position). That is, the top portion 206 can be moved from a closed/contracted position to an expanded/open position, as discussed elsewhere herein (see, e.g.,
The top portion 206 may be moved/removed in a suitable manner that is known or developed in the future. At least in the illustrated embodiment, the top portion 206 is configured to slide in/out (see, e.g.,
The top surface 208 may include any suitable material(s) and/or dimension(s) that are known or developed in the future. In various embodiments, the top surface includes an area suitable for including a computing device 210 (e.g., a laptop, a desktop, a tablet, a gaming device, a streaming device, etc.), one or more peripheral devices 212 (e.g., a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, a joystick, a controller, a game controller, one or more speakers, a microphone, etc.), and/or one or more other objects 214 (e.g., a book, paper, a pen, a pencil, etc.), etc., among other items that an article of furniture (e.g., desk and/or workstation) may have suitably placed thereon.
Referring to
The storage compartment 216 may include any suitable dimensions (e.g., length, width, and height, etc.) to define a storage area and/or storage space. In various embodiments, the storage compartment 216 includes a length, a width, and a height sufficient to define a storage area and/or storage space within the article of furniture 202 capable of housing a display device 204 therein.
In various embodiments, the apparatus 200 includes a hinging mechanism 222 (e.g., a hinge, a lever, etc.). The hinging mechanism 222 may include any suitable mechanism that is known or developed in the future configured to allow and/or enable the display device 204 to move and/or open from a storage position within the storage compartment 216 to a viewing position external and/or outside the storage compartment 216. Further, the hinging mechanism 222 may include any suitable mechanism configured to allow and/or enable the display device 204 to move and/or close from the viewing position to the storage position within the storage compartment 216. In certain embodiments, the storage compartment 216 is configured to conceal the display device 204 after the display device is housed in the storage compartment 216 and the top portion 206 is in the closed position (see, e.g.,
With reference to 2C,
After the display device 204 is in the open and/or viewing position, the display device 204 can be wirelessly coupled to the external computing device(s) 210 and/or the peripheral device(s) 212. In additional or alternative embodiments, the display device 204 can be coupled via a wired connection to the external computing device(s) 210 and/or the peripheral device(s) 212 after the display device 204 is in the open and/or viewing position.
While the display device 204 is in the open and/or viewing position, the display device 104 can be wirelessly de-coupled to the external computing device(s) 210 and/or the peripheral device(s) 212 in preparation for discontinued use and/or storage. In additional or alternative embodiments, the display device 204 can be de-coupled from the wired connection to the external computing device(s) 210 and/or the peripheral device(s) 212 while the display device 204 is in the open and/or viewing position in preparation for discontinued use and/or storage.
Referring to 2D,
The top portion 206 and the display device 204 can each be moved in reverse order to store and/or conceal the display device 204 within the storage compartment 216 when not in use (e.g., return the apparatus 200 to the original contracted position and/or closed position illustrated in
The method 300, in various embodiments, includes opening the display device 104 to a viewing position external to the storage compartment 116 from a storage position within the storage compartment 116 (block 304). In further embodiments, the method 300 includes moving a bottom portion 118 of the article of furniture 102 from a bottom position to a top position that is co-planar with the top portion 106 at the open position to allow use of a top surface 108 of the top portion 108 and a top surface 120 of the bottom portion 118 while the display device 104 is at the viewing position (block 306).
The method 400, in various embodiments, includes opening the display device 104 to a viewing position external to the storage compartment 116 from a storage position within the storage compartment 116 (block 404). In some embodiments, opening the display device 104 to the viewing position includes folding open the display device 104 to the viewing position.
In further embodiments, the method 400 includes moving a bottom portion 118 of the article of furniture 102 from a bottom position to a top position that is co-planar with the top portion 106 at the open position to allow use of a top surface 108 of the top portion 108 and a top surface 120 of the bottom portion 118 while the display device 104 is at the viewing position (block 406). In certain embodiments, the method 400 includes coupling and/or connecting the display device 104 to one or more computing devices 110 and/or one or more peripheral devices 112 (block 408). The display device 104 may be connected/coupled to each computing device 110 and/or each peripheral device 112 via a respective wireless and/or wired connection.
In some embodiments, the method 400 further includes de-coupling and/or disconnecting the display device 104 from each computing device 110 and/or each peripheral device 112 prior to storage (block 410). Further, the method 400 includes returning the bottom portion 118 of the article of furniture 102 from the top position to the bottom position (block 412). The method 400 also includes closing the display device 104 to the storage position within the storage compartment 116 from the viewing position external to the storage compartment 116 (block 414). In some embodiments, closing the display device 104 to the storage position includes folding closed the display device 104 to the storage position.
In various embodiments, the method 400 includes closing the top portion 106 of the article of furniture 102 to the closed position (block 416). Being in the closed position allows use of the top surface 108 of the top portion 106 while the display device 104 is at the storage position.
The method 500, in various embodiments, includes opening the display device 204 to a viewing position external to the storage compartment 216 from a storage position within the storage compartment 216 (block 504). In further embodiments, the method 300 includes closing the top portion 206 of the article of furniture 202 to the closed position to allow use of a top surface 208 of the top portion 206 while the display device 204 is at the viewing position (block 506).
The method 600, in various embodiments, includes opening the display device 204 to a viewing position external to the storage compartment 216 from a storage position within the storage compartment 216 (block 604). In some embodiments, opening the display device 604 to the viewing position includes folding open the display device 204 to the viewing position.
In further embodiments, the method 600 includes closing the top portion 206 of the article of furniture 202 to the closed position to allow use of a top surface 208 of the top portion 206 while the display device 204 is at the viewing position (block 606). In certain embodiments, the method 600 includes coupling and/or connecting the display device 604 to one or more computing devices 210 and/or one or more peripheral devices 212 (block 608). The display device 204 may be connected/coupled to each computing device 210 and/or each peripheral device 212 via a respective wireless and/or wired connection.
In some embodiments, the method 600 further includes de-coupling and/or disconnecting the display device 204 from each computing device 210 and/or each peripheral device 212 prior to storage (block 610). Further, the method 600 includes re-opening the top portion 206 of the article of furniture 202 from the closed position to the open position to re-expose the storage compartment 216 (block 612) and closing the display device 204 to the storage position within the storage compartment 216 from the viewing position external to the storage compartment 216 (block 614). In some embodiments, closing the display device 204 to the storage position includes folding closed the display device 204 to the storage position.
In various embodiments, the method 600 includes closing the top portion 206 of the article of furniture 202 to the closed position (block 616). Being in the closed position allows use of the top surface 208 of the top portion 206 while the display device 104 is at the storage position.
While the various embodiments discussed herein are referenced as and/or related to a, digital learning environment, the various embodiments are not limited to a digital learning environment. That is, the various embodiments contemplate and include any suitable digital environment.
Embodiments may be practiced in other specific forms. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
