Desk Assembly

Abstract

A desk for computer equipment and other cable connected devices; said desk provided with a desktop comprising a fixed portion and a moveable portion; said moveable portion adapted to slide forwardly from a closed position to an open position so as to provide access to a cable connection well; and wherein a gap between said fixed portion and said moveable portion allows cables to pass into said connection well when said moveable portion is in said closed position.

Description

The present invention relates to special purpose work desks and, more particularly, to desks adapted to computers and ancillary equipment.

BACKGROUND

Computers have become associated with an increasing number of interconnected ancillary devices, much of which is most conveniently used if within easy reach of a user sitting at a work desk. This has resulted in an ever increasing array of cables in addition to the traditional screen, mouse and keyboard. Although mouse and keyboard increasingly are connected by wireless, the connection of various ancillary devices to the computer, such as telephone, internet cable connections, cameras, printers etc. continues to ensure an unsightly, dust collecting mess of cables over parts of the desk top.

Some computer desks are provided with a cable hole, usually in the corner of the desk, but this still requires a mess of cabling across the desk from dispersed devices to the cable hole. Another approach has been to provide a trap-door in the desk surface giving access to a cable connection well, but this arrangement has the disadvantage that at least the trap-door portion of the desk and an area around it must be cleared whenever some rearrangement of the cables or installation of another device is required.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a broad form of the invention, there is provided a desk for computer equipment and other cable connected devices; said desk provided with a desktop comprising a fixed portion and a moveable portion; said moveable portion adapted to slide forwardly from a closed position to an open position so as to provide access to a cable connection well; and wherein a gap between said fixed portion and said moveable portion allows cables to pass into said connection well when said moveable portion is in said closed position.

Preferably, said fixed portion is attached to a sub-surface of said desk.

Preferably, said moveable portion is supported on slide rails attached to said sub-surface.

Preferably, said cable connection well is accessed through an aperture in said sub-surface.

Preferably, said cable connection well is adapted for provision of a multiplicity of power outlets and device connection sockets.

Preferably, cables connected to said multiplicity of power outlets and device connection sockets pass to wall sockets and remote locations through apertures in said communication well.

Preferably, at least one slide-out drawer is mounted below said sub-surface.

Preferably, said at least one slide-out drawer is provided with a drop-down drawer front.

Preferably, said slide-out drawer is adapted for stowage and use of cabled equipment associated with a computer or communication devices.

Preferably, cables of said equipment located in said slide-out drawer pass from said drawer to said connection well through an aperture in a front wall of said connection well.

Preferably, said moveable portion is maintained in said closed position by catches.

Preferably, travel of said moveable portion is limited by stops.

Preferably, a trailing edge of said moveable portion is provided with cable retaining clips adapted to minimize disturbance of lengths of cables between said computer equipment and other cable connected devices and said trailing edge.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method for arranging cabling of computer equipment and other cable connected devices on a desk; said method including the steps of:

• • (a) placing said computer and said other cable connected devices on a moveable portion of a desktop,
  • (b) sliding said moveable portion forwardly from a fixed portion of said desktop to expose a cable connection well disposed below said desktop,
  • (c) passing cables of said equipment and devices into said well,
  • (d) returning said moveable portion to a closed position leaving a gap between said fixed portion and said moving portion sufficient for said cables to pass through.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side elevation views of the desk assembly of FIG. 1 when in a closed in-use position and in an open position for access to a connection well,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the desk of FIG. 1 when in the closed in-use position of FIG. 2A showing the hidden arrangement below the desktop in dashed lines,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the desk of FIG. 1 when in the open position of FIG. 2B,

FIG. 5 shows a plan view and sectioned side view of a cable retaining strip at a rear edge of a moveable portion of the desktop of FIGS. 1 to 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The desk assembly of the present invention is adapted for the orderly arrangement and stowage of cables of computer and other electronic equipment in use on the desk, and for ease of access to connections of these cables without a need to disturb the equipment or other materials on the desk top.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a desk assembly 10 comprises a desktop working surface 12 divided into a fixed rear ledge portion 14 and a moveable front portion 16. A subsurface 18 (shown by cross-hatching in FIG. 3) is supported on legs 20.

Fixed rear ledge portion 14 is fixed to a rear edge 22 of sub-surf ace 18 while moveable portion 16 is slideably attached to the sides 24 of sub-surface 18. When in the first closed position shown in FIG. 2A, a gap 19 is maintained between the rear edge of moveable portion 16 and the front edge of fixed rear ledge portion 14.

The travel of moveable portion 16 between its closed position shown in FIG. 2A and its open position shown in FIG. 2B, is controlled by stops 23. Gap 19 may also be controlled by stops 40 which, in at least one form of the invention, are adjustable. Moveable portion 16 is retained in its closed position by catches 25 accessible underneath and adjacent the front edge of portion 16.

A connection well 26 is provided below sub-surface 18 and is accessible through opening 21 when moveable portion 16 is in the position of FIG. 2B. Located in connection well 26 are a number of outlets and sockets adapted to provide power and service a range of connections for computer and associated devices, as well as communication devices. Thus for example, well 26 may contain a power board 28 with multiple mains power sockets, a land line telephone socket 30, one or more USB ports 32, and internet and local area network (LAN) cable connection.

With reference to FIG. 5, the trailing or rear edge 52 of moveable portion 16 is provided with an array of cable retaining clips 54. Clips 54 may comprise a flexible strip 46 of material inserted into a groove 58 along a portion of rear edge 52 coextensive with cable connection well 26. Strip 56 is provided with a plurality of apertures 48 into which cables 60 may be inserted. By this means the length of cable between a desk top device and the trailing edge 52 remains undisturbed during opening and closing of moveable portion 16.

Cables from outlets or sockets provided in well 26 which require connection to wall outlets or to a computer cabinet located under desk 10 may be fed through holes 31. Alternatively cabling could be passed into and through suitable apertures (not shown) provided in the rear legs of desk 10.

Mounted to the underside of sub-surface 18 are one or more equipment drawers 34. Equipment drawers 34 are provided with drop-down front panels 36 which are released from a normally closed position by catches 38. Equipment such as a keyboard 40 can be located in a drawer 34 and stowed out of the way when not in user as shown in FIG. 2B. The drop-down front panel is arranged so that when in the open position as shown in FIG. 2A, the inner surface of the front panel forms an extension of the drawer bottom thereby allowing equipment, such as keyboard 40 to be slid forward for use.

Cabling for keyboard 40 or other electrically connected equipment located in a drawer, may be passed through suitable apertures 42 in the front wall 44 of well 26 and connected to the appropriate outlet or socket, or alternatively, may be passed out of the well 26 through one of holes 31.

My cables of computer or other cable connected equipment supported on the moveable portion 16 of desktop 12 passes through gap 19 into well 26. Thus no cabling of any of the equipment on the desktop or in the drawers of desk 10 needs to pass over any edge of the desk. Moreover, only a short length of cable of each item of equipment on the desk top, sufficient to reach gap 19 is visible on the desktop and the normal plethora of power supply cables hanging off a computer desk is reduced to a single cable depending from one of holes 31 in the bottom of well 26.

When access to cable connections is required, none of the equipment or other material on the desktop needs to be moved. The retaining catches 25 are released and the moveable portion 16 pulled forward to reveal the well 26 and provide access to the connections in the well.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A desk for computer equipment and other cable connected devices; said desk provided with a desktop comprising a fixed portion and a moveable portion; said moveable portion adapted to slide forwardly from a closed position to an open position so as to provide access to a cable connection well; and wherein a gap between said fixed portion and said moveable portion allows cables to pass into said connection well when said moveable portion is in said closed position.

2. The desk of claim 1 wherein said fixed portion is attached to a sub-surface of said desk.

3. The desk of claim 2 wherein said moveable portion is supported on slide rails attached to said sub-surface.

4. The desk of claim 2 wherein said cable connection well is accessed through an aperture in said sub-surface.

5. The desk of claim 1 wherein said cable connection well is adapted for provision of a multiplicity of power outlets and device connection sockets.

6. The desk of claim 5 wherein cables connected to said multiplicity of power outlets and device connection sockets pass to wall sockets and remote locations through apertures in said communication well.

7. The desk of claim 2 wherein at least one slide-out drawer is mounted below said sub-surface.

8. The desk of claim 7 wherein said at least one slide-out drawer is provided with a drop-down drawer front.

9. The desk of claim 7 wherein said slide-out drawer is adapted for stowage and use of cabled equipment associated with a computer or communication devices.

10. The desk of claim 9 wherein cables of said equipment located in said slide-out drawer pass from said drawer to said connection well through an aperture in a front wall of said connection well.

11. The desk of claim 1 wherein said moveable portion is maintained in said closed position by catches.

12. The desk of claim 1 wherein travel of said moveable portion is limited by stops.

13. The desk of claim 1 wherein a trailing edge of said moveable portion is provided with cable retaining clips adapted to minimize disturbance of lengths of cables between said computer equipment and other cable connected devices and said trailing edge.

14. A method for arranging cabling of computer equipment and other cable connected devices on a desk; said method including the steps of: (a) placing said computer and said other cable connected devices on a moveable portion of a desktop,(b) sliding said moveable portion forwardly from a fixed portion of said desktop to expose a cable connection well disposed below said desktop,(c) passing cables of said equipment and devices into said well,(d) returning said moveable portion to a closed position leaving a gap between said fixed portion and said moving portion sufficient for said cables to pass through.

15. (canceled)