Patent Application
20090284107
The present invention relates to a work desk and more particularly to a desk having viewable compartments for holding documents related to a single work project or documents related to separate tasks comprising one work project.
Work desks and benches have been employed for centuries but, except for esthetic variations, the structure and composition of work desks has remained constant. Working desks range from simple table tops to a working surface having elevated storage compartments, such as the old roll top desk, to the modern office desk having a top working surface and subordinate storage drawers. Whether the means for storing documents and things related to a particular work project take the form of compartments that are disposed over the desk working surface, below the working surface or in drawers, the problem remains the same. That is, once papers or things are placed in a slot, drawer or receptacle they are substantially out of sight and out of mind.
It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a work desk having project paper compartments in which at least one of each of the project or task documents, such a summary or status report, can easily be seen by one working or standing at the desk without having to remove the papers or things from the compartment in which they are positioned.
Another object of the invention is to create a series of document compartments in a working desk where the compartments are visually related to project priority.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method of managing a plurality of work projects using a customized desk.
Other objects, features and advantages of the project management desk of the present invention will become obvious upon a reading of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.
The desk of the present invention comprises a plurality of legs which support a transparent working surface that covers a plurality of side by side document storing compartments that each has a bottom and partitioning side members. In operation, documents related to a single work project are organized into respective stacks. The separate stacks are distributed to respective selected ones of the side by side compartments so that each compartment beneath the transparent working surface represents a single project or matter. To be most useful, the status, a summary or other indication of necessary action of each project or task is clearly indicated on the top document in the compartment. With a clean desk top, the status, priority or next action on the various projects stored below the transparent desk top can be seen and a particular project can be selected for attention.
A preferred embodiment of the desk 2 of the present invention is shown in
The end supports 12 are structurally interconnected by rigid struts 20, 22, 24 and 26. A front strut 20 is located near the top of the legs 8 and interconnects legs 8a and 8c and supports the front edge of the compartment tray shelf 30. The back edge of shelf 30 is supported by pads 31 attached to legs 8b and 8d.
Strut 22 interconnects legs 8a and 8c and functions to support the front edge of a middle shelf 34. Strut 24 interconnects legs 8b and 8d and supports the rear edge of the middle shelf. Strut 26 interconnects the lower portion of the front legs 8a and 8c and acts as a foot rest for persons standing at the desk 2.
A compartment tray 36 includes a flat floor forming bottom 40 and a plurality of spaced apart partitions 42 that define the side walls of document containing compartments 44. A rear wall 46 spans all of the compartments and is mounted on the flat bottom member 40. Optionally, one or more of the compartments 44 may be equipped with a front closure 50 that may slide up and down in opposing side wall channels 53. The closures may be equipped with conventional locking mechanisms if desired. In order to open or close the closures 50, the tray 36 is pulled out of its normal resting position on the tray shelf 30 a sufficient distance so that the closure is clear of the front edge of the overlying surface glass 4.
A lower shelf unit 60 interconnects the end supports 12 to provide lower shelf space for managing cables of computer components that may be placed on the surface glass 4 or the middle shelf 34. Preferably, a vertically disposed cable management tube 55 is attached to the back edges of the shelves for routing of electrical component cables from the top portion of the desk to the lower shelf unit 60 or to the floor beneath the desk 2.
The desk of the present invention is an important complement to the implementation of the novel project management method of the present invention that enables a worker at the desk to visualize a number of priority projects on which he or she is working so as to be able to select the project that deserves first, second or third priority attention and having the relevant file documents ready for immediate use at the desk. In its basic form the management method includes the following steps. All documents related to a single work project are organized into respective groups. The separate groups, or stacks of documents or things, are distributed to respective selected ones of the side by side compartments so that each compartment beneath the transparent working surface represents a single project or matter. The status of each project is clearly indicated on the top document in the compartment so that it can be seen through the transparent working surface. With a clean desk top, the status or priority of the various projects stored below the transparent desk top can be seen and a particular project can be selected for attention.
In addition to a desk worker being able to quickly assess the projects and their respective priorities, it is easy for a manager to evaluate the progress of certain projects just by viewing the project status sheets through the transparent working surface 4.
