AU609303B2 - Desk and desk/furniture system - Google Patents

Description

I i 6 vr COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA FORM PATENTS ACT 1952 CrC0MPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int.Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct for printing.

o Name of Applicant: 0 0 00 0 000 0 O ddress of Applicant: 0 0 o 0 Actual Inventor: 0 0 KABUSHIKI KAISHA SHUKOH 4-8, Kaigan 1-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

KLAUS FRANCK Address for Service: SHELSTON WATERS, 55 Clarence Street, Sydney Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: "DESK AND DESK/FURNITURE SYSTEM" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- (Complete of 35254/89 dated 29th May, 1989) 1 1. The present invention relates to a desk for use in a room, and to a system of such a desk or a number of such desks and a piece or pieces of furniture combined therewith.

Desks mainly for office use have desk tops which are generally rectangular in shape as viewed in plan. In offices, a plurality of such desks of identical shape are usually arranged in various patterns. Many office desks are composed of only desk tops supported by legs, in order to allow themselves to be arranged in various configurations with greater freedom. Other pieces of furniture, such as for example cabinets with drawers, book shelves, etc. are additionally placed alongside the desks to meet the needs of desk users.

Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings shows a conventional, desk/furniture system. A desk X has a rectangular desk top a, with two pieces of furniture Y being placed on the lateral sides of the desk X.

oAccordingly, the pieces of furniture Y are relatively 20 distant from the desk user W seated on a chair Z. When 0 0 the user W wants to use either one of the pieces of furniture Y, the user W must rise and go to that piece of furniture Y.

Figure 10 illustrates another known desk/furniture system. Two desks X are positioned side-by-side, and two pieces of furniture Y are placed on the front sides of the desks X remotely from the desk users W seated on respective chairs Z. Therefore, each of the users W is 2 required to rise and reach out over the desk X toward the piece of furniture Y.

A known diagonal array of desks X shown in Figure 11 is supposed to allow a plurality of users or office workers W to work without being concerned about the others' eyes. The desks X are positionally staggered in a fore-and-aft direction a direction normal to front and rear edges of the desk), with pieces of furniture Y being placed between the desks X for use by the respective users W. However, the desk and furniture combination shown in Figure 11 has the same problem as that of the system of Figure 9, in that the distance from each user W to the corresponding piece of furniture Y is relatively large, making it inconvenient for the user W to use the piece of furniture Y. Another drawback is that the diagonal desk array is long in both fore-and-aft and 0 O lateral directions, and prevents an effective utilization Sof the office floor.

According to a known desk/furniture system 0. o0 illustrated in Figure 12, desks X are arranged such that users or office workers W will be positioned closely side-by-side for better communication between them.

Although the users W are close to each other in the fore-and-aft direction, they are not close in the lateral direction.

Some of the above shortcomings may be eliminated by arranging desks X and pieces of furniture Y with more emphasis placed on functional aspects than on aesthetic j A -3ri>' aspects of the desk/furniture systems. However, the arrangement of desks X and pieces of furniture Y may be too unsightly to produce a pleasing appearance.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a desk or desk/furniture system which overcomes or ameliorates at least some of the shortcomings of the prior art.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a desk including a desk top having a generally hexagonal shape as viewed in plan and supported by at least one leg member, said desk top having successive first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth side edges, the respective first and fourth, second and fifth, and third and sixth side edge pairs being substantially mutually parallel and disposed such that the first and sixth, and the third and fourth edge pairs respectively subtend internal angles of approximately degrees, and the remaining pairs of adjacent side edges respectively subtend internal angles of approximately 135 20, degrees, the second, third, fifth and sixth side edges being approximately equal in length, and substantially shorter than the first and fourth side edges and the corresponding edges of each respective parallel side edge pair being of approximately equal length.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a desk/furniture system including first and second desks each substantially as described above, wherein the second side edge of the first desk is spaced apart from and 4 U~ parallel to the fifth side edge of the second desk and wherein a piece of furniture is disposed between the second side edge of said first desk and the fifth side edge of said second desk for use by a user of said second desk, and wherein another like piece of furniture is disposed adjacent the fifth side edge of said first desk for use by a user of said first desk.

In an alternative configuration, the desk/furniture system includes first and second desks each substantially as described, wherein the second side edge of the first desk abutts the second side edge of the second desk.

In a different preferred configuration, the invention provides a desk/furniture system including eight desks each substantially as described, wherein the desks are arranged in an endless generally circular pattern with the third side edge of each desk abutting the fifth side edge of an adjacent desk.

o 0 °0 °According to a further aspect, the invention consists in a desk including a desk top having a generally 0 o 20 hexagonal shape as viewed in plan and supported by at .00. least one leg member, said desk top having successive 0 0 0 0 first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth side edges, the respective first and fourth, second and fifth, and O0o third and sixth side edge pairs being respectively mutually parallel and disposed such that the second and third, and the fifth and sixth edge pairs respectively subtend internal angles of approximately 90 degrees, and the remaining pairs of adjacent edges respectively subtend 5 internal angles of approximately 135 degrees, the second and sixth edges being approximately equal in length, the third and fifth edges being approximately equal in length, and the fourth edge being substantially shorter in length than the first edge.

Preferably, the desk according to the first aspect of the invention has at least one side edge approximately equal in length to at least one side edge of the alternative desk configuration according to the invention.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in detail preferred embodiments of a desk in accordance with the invention. The description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a desk according to o an embodiment of the present invention; 0 o o o° Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the desk Q00 a 00a o shown in Figure i.

0 0 o 20 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a desk according to 00 a O another embodiment of the present invention; 0 Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a desk/furniture system including desks of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 3; 000% 0 0 00 t Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a desk/furniture system including desks of the embodiment showing in Figure 1; 0:0 Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of another 0-i-, S-6- /X

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11 r UO* r desk/furniture system including desks of the embodiment showing in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of still another desk/furniture system including desks of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of a further desk/furniture system including desks of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; and Figures 9 through 12 are schematic plan views of conventional desk/furniture systems.

A desk 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a desk top 2 having a hexagonal shape as viewed in plan and i horizontally supported by means of a pair of vertical legs 3 disposed on opposite lateral sides of the desk top 2.

As shown in Figure 2, the legs 3 are interconnected by a i horizontal connector 4 extending underneath the desk top 2 i .and having opposite ends joined to upper central inner surfaces, respectively, of the legs 3 just below the upper Sedges thereof. The connector 4 and the legs 3 jointly support the desk top 2 thereon.

i The top plate 2 has a first side edge 11, a second Sside edge 12, a third side edge 13, a fourth side edge 14, i a fifth side edge 15 and a sixth side edge 16.

The first and sixth side edges 11, 16 form an internal angle a of 90 degrees therebetween, and the third and fourth side edges 13, 14 also form an internal diagonal angle m of 90 degrees. The first and second side edges 11, 12, the second and third side edges 12, 13, 7

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the fourth and fifth side edges 14, 15 and the fifth and sixth side edges 15, 16 each form an internal angle 13 of 135 degrees.

Each of the side edges 11 through 16, therefore, extends parallel to, and is equal in length to, the corresponding diagonally opposite side edge, One of the legs 3 includes a bent plate having an upper marginal edge covering a portion of the second side edge 12 and another upper marginal edge covering the third side edge 13. The other leg 3 includes a bent plate having an upper marginal edge covering a portion of the fifth side edge 15 and another upper marginal edge covering the sixth side edge 16.

Figure 3 illustrates a desk according to another embodiment of the present invention. A desk 101 shown in Figure 3 is of basically the same shape as that of the desk 1 of Figures 1 and 2. The desk 101 has a desk top 00 0..102 having a hexagonal shape as viewed in plane and o oo horizontally supported by means of a pair of legs 103 on a i 0 front side of the desk top 102 and another pair of legs 103 on opposite lateral sides of the desk top 102.

i The desk top 102 has a first side edge 111, a second i side edge 112, a third side edge 113, a fourth side edge 114, a fifth side edge 115, and a sixth side edge 116.

The second and third side edges 112, 113 form an internal angle of 90 degrees, and the fifth and sixth side edges 115, 116 form an internal diagonal angle a of degrees. The first and second side edges 111, 112, the -8- HI

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third and fourth side edges 113, 114, the fourth and fifth side edges 114, 115, and the sixth and first side edges 116, 111 each form an internal angle B of 135 degrees.

Each of the side edges 111 through 116 extends parallel to the corresponding opposite side edge. The first side edge 111 is longer than the fourth side edge 114. The second side edge 112 is equal in length to the sixth side edge 116 which faces the second side edge 112, and the third side edge 113 is equal in length to the fifth side edge 115 which faces the third side edge 113.

Various desk/furniture systems or combinations, which employ the desks 1, 101 described above, will be described below with reference to Figures 4 through 8.

In Figure 4, a desk 1 is placed on a lefthand side and a desk 101 is placed on a righthand side. A chair is positioned in confronting relation to the first side edge 11 of the desk 1, and a piece of furniture 6 in the 00 shape of rectangular parallelepiped, such a cabinet, is disposed alongside the second side edge 12. Since the 20 piece of furniture 6 faces the user W of the desk 1 on the 004 chair 5 at an angle of 135 degrees, the user W can use the piece of furniture 6 easily. A chair 105 is disposed in confronting relation to the first side edge 111 of the desk 101, and two pieces of furniture 106, identical to b the piece of furniture 6, are positioned alongside the second and sixth side edges 112, 116, respectively. The user W of the desk 102, seated on the chair 105, can easily use either piece of furniture 106, since each piece '4 9 of furniture 106 faces the user W at an angle of 135 degrees, as is apparent from a comparison with the conventional desk/furniture system shown in Figure 9.

Another desk 1 may be positioned on the righthand side of the desk 1 as indicated by the imaginary lines in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows another desk/furniture system which has a pair of desks 1 arranged such that the sixth side edge 16 of one of the desk 1 confronts the third side edge 13 of the other desk 1. A pair of chairs 5 is positioned in facing relation to the first and fourth side edges 11, 14, respectively, of the desks 1. A piece of furniture 7, such as a book shelf, is disposed between the fifth side edge 15 of one of the desks 1 and the second side edge 12 of the other desk 1. This desk/furniture system allows each user W or worker on the chair 5 to use the piece of furniture 7 easily since the piece of furniture 7 is located more closely to the user W than in the conventional arrangement of Figure 10, though the piece of 0 00 o 1) 2 users W across the desks 1.

00 o Figure 6 illustrates still another desk/furniture 0 t system having a diagonal array of desks 1 that are staggered in a fore-and-aft direction to permit users W to work without being concerned above the others' eyes. The desk/furniture system also includes pieces of furniture 6, such as cabinets, which are positioned against the fifth side edges 15 of the desks 1, with those pieces of furniture 6, except one at the end of the desk array, 10 being positioned between the adjacent desks 1.

In Figure 6, the desks 1 are diagonally arrayed such that the second side edge 12 of one desk 1 confronts, but is spaced from the fifth side edge 15 of an adjacent desk i, with the piece of furniture 6 disposed therebetween. A chair 5 is positioned in facing relation to the fourth side edge 14 of each of the desks i. Because each of the pieces of furniture 6 faces the corresponding user or worker W seated on the chair 5, the user W can easily use the piece of furniture 6. The desk/furniture system shown in Figure 6 takes up a smaller floor space than that required by the conventional desk/furniture system shown in Figure 11.

Figure 7 shows a desk/furniture system arranged to position adjacent users or workers W closely to each other for better communication therebetween. In Figure 7, each pair of laterally adjacent desks 1 is arranged to have their second side edges 12 facing each other. Chairs are disposed in confronting relation to the respective ?0 first side edges 11 of the desks 1. The desk/furniture system of Figure 7 allows each user W to be seated more closely to the other users W in fore-and-aft and lateral directions for better communication than with the conventional desk/furniture system shown in Figure 12.

Figure 8 shows an endless circular pattern of eight desks 1 each having its third and fifth side edges 13, confronting the fifth and third side edges 15, 13 of the adjacent desks 1. A chair 5 is positioned in facing a a~ io a, a 0 no a 04 4 a 44 044.

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11 1-r L ~pn----~Slcl-L r~ rrelation to the first side edge of each of the d'esk 1.

The desk/furniture system illustrated in Ficazre 8 allows desk users W to face each other at equal distances in respective diametrically opposite pairs for communication therebetween.

With the present invention, various pieces of furniture used in combination with desks can easily be used by desk users, and desk/furniture systems using a desk or desk of the invention are neatly and sightly arranged for a better aesthetical appearance.

Although certain preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it should be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims (8)

1. A desk including a desk top having a generally hexagonal shape as viewed in plan and supported by at least one leg member, said desk top having successive first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth side edges, the respective first and fourth, second and fifth, and third and sixth side edge pairs being substantially mutually parallel and disposed such that the first and sixth, and the third and fourth edge pairs respectively subtend internal angles of approximately 90 degrees, and the remaining pairs of adjacent side edges respectively subtend internal angles of approximately 135 degrees, the second, third, fifth and sixth side edges being 0000 oo0 approximately equal in length, and substantially shorter than the first and fourth side edges and the corresponding 00 edges of each respective parallel side edge pair being of 0 approximately equal length. S00 2. A desk according to claim 1, wherein the desk top is supported in a substantially horizontal configuration by a pair of said leg members disposed adjacent opposite ends of the desk.

3. A desk/furniture system including a desk according to claim 1 or claim 2, and a piece of furniture disposed adjacent said second edge.

4. A desk/furniture system including a desk according to claim 1 or claim 2, and a piece of furniture disposed adjacent said fifth side edge. 13 'y 4) 1 1 I I Ii. I L Z A desk/furniture system according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the length of at least one side of the piece of furniture is approximately equal in length to at least one side edge of an adjacent desk.

6. A desk/furniture system including first and second desks each according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second side edge of the first desk is spaced apart from and parallel to the fifth side edge of the second desk and wherein a piece of furniture is disposed between the second side edge of said first desk and the fifth side edge of said second desk for use by a user of said second desk, and wherein another like piece of furniture is disposed adjacent the fifth side edge of said first desk 00e for use by a user of said first desk. 0 o 0 7. A desk/furniture system including first and second 0 desks each according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the 0 o0 o o second side edge of the first desk abutts the second side o" o edge of the second desk. 0

8. A desk/furniture system including eight desks each according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the desks are arranged in an endless generally circular pattern with the third side edge of each desk abutting the fifth side edge of an adjacent desk.

9. A desk/furniture system according to claim 8 further including eight chairs disposed respectively adjacent the a I4 0 first side edges of the desks. 0 4 A desk including a desk top having a generally 14 7/IY II hexagonal shape as viewed in plan and supported by at least one leg member, said desk top having successive first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth side edges, the respective first and fourth, second and fifth, and third and sixth side edge pairs being respectively mutually parallel and disposed such that the second and third, and the fifth and sixth edge pairs respectively subtend internal angles of approximately 90 degrees, and the remaining pairs of adjacent edges respectively subtend internal angles of approximately 135 degrees, the second and sixth edges being approximately equal in length, the third and fifth edges being approximately equal in length, and the fourth edge being substantially shorter in length than the first edge. 0 0 S11. A desk according to claim 10 wherein the desk top is supported in a generally horizontal configuration by a pair of said leg members disposed in spaced apart relationship adjacent opposite ends of the desk.

12. A desk/furniture system including at least one first desk according to claim 1 or claim 2, and at least one second desk according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a said first desk has at least one side edge approximately o equal in length to at least one side edge of said second desk. 0 0 13. A desk substantially as herein described with 0 0 0 0 reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A desk substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. 15 3 I,, A desk/furniture system substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figures 4 to 8 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 21st day of JANUARY, 1991 KABUSHIKI KAISHA SHUKOH Attorney: PETER HEATHCOTE Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS 0 0 o C o A 16