GB2150017A

GB2150017A - Convertible desk

Info

Publication number: GB2150017A
Application number: GB08330961A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Gregory Cassidy
Original assignee: Cassidy Brothers PLC
Current assignee: Cassidy Brothers PLC
Priority date: 1983-11-19
Filing date: 1983-11-19
Publication date: 1985-06-26
Also published as: GB8330961D0

Abstract

Box-like body 10, supported on legs 12, has cross-pieces 20 to support top panel 30 in a horizontal disposition, to support reading and writing materials, with its side edges resting also upon protrusions 26 provided on side members 14 to define facing V-shaped notches 28. As shown, the top panel 30 can be separated from the body 10 and repositioned by its sides in any selected facing pair of the notches 28 as to be held in a substantially upright disposition, e.g. for use as a display board or as a blackboard. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Convertible desk This invention concerns a desk which is convertible so that, in addition to being usable for conventional desk purposes, i.e. for supporting reading and/or writing materials and accommodating associated materials, it can be used for further purposes for which desks are not usually applicable, thereby rendering the desk much more useful and versatile than a conventional desk.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a desk comprising a opentopped box-like body carried at a suitable working height upon support means such as legs and carrying a working top which in its normal position is usable for supporting reading, writing and like materials, characterised in that said working top is separable from the body and re-engageable therewith so as to be located in a substantially upright disposition so as to constitute a display or like board.

The said top may advantageously be black on one surface thereof, so that in its upright disposition it constitutes a blackboard suitable for inscribing thereon, e.g. by use of chalk.

In a preferred embodiment, the body comprises a pair of side members which are slotted for accommodating the ends of front and rear cross members and flanged to support a base of the body, said members also being formed with a plurality of notches for the opposite sides of the top to engage therein, in the upright disposition thereof.

The side members may conveniently be moulded of plastics material and may incorporate sockets for reception of the upper ends of legs constituting the support means.

The invention will be described further. by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the desk of the invention in its closed or conventional condition; Figure 2 is a view comparable with Fig. 1, but showing the top in its substantially upright disposition; Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the desk of Figs. 1 and 2 with the top removed; and Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings. a preferred embodiment of the desk of the invention, which is particularly suitable for use by a child or infant, comprises an open-topped box-like body 10 carried at a suitable working height upon support means which in the illustration is provided by legs 1 2, but may, if desired, comprise a cast or otherwise fabricated framework (not shown) which may, if desired, incorporate a seat or stool. The illustrated desk, however, is intended to be used with a separate stool (not shown).

The body 10 comprises a pair of side members 1 4 which are conveniently moulded of a rigid plastics material and one of which is a mirror image of the other. Each such side member 14 is of overall shape resembling an elongate board. However, as will be appreciated particularly from Figs. 2 and 4, each such member is moulded to include near to each end a respective slot 1 6. 1 8 which serves to receive the respective ends of cross pieces 20, 22 which serve to hold the members 14 apart and substantially parallel to one another, being fixed by screws 24. The cross pieces 20, 22 are of height slightly shorter than the height of the side members 14 and the latter have, on their confronting faces, integrally moulded protrusions 26 which define a series of V-shaped notches 28 at each side of the body 10.

A lower lip or flange 1 5 on each side member serves to support a bottom panel 1 7 of the body 1 0.

The heights of the protrusions 26 match the heights of the cross pieces 20, 22, so that the body will accommodate a top panel 30 of the desk, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, with its edges resting on the cross pieces 20, 22 and the protrusions 26, and its upper surface substantially flush with the upper edges of the side members 14. In this condition, the desk can be used after the manner of a conventional desk, for supporting papers, books and the like for working, reading and so on.

As has been shown in Fig. 2, the top panel 30 can be separated from the body 10, simply by lifting it off, whereafter it can be repositioned in a substantially upright disposition on any selected aligned part of the notches 28 so that it is then available for display purposes. For instance, sheets or display material may be secured (e.g. by pinning) thereto. If the panel 30 is black on at least one side it can be used as a blackboard which can be inscribed using chalk.

The arrangement of the invention is, therefore, much more versatile than a conventional desk, and this is achieved in a very simple manner without the provision of hinges or the like but simply by appropriate shaping of the side members 1 4 which have to be present in any event to constitute part of the body 1 0.

Naturally, the invention is not confined to the precise details of the illustrated example and variations may be made thereto, particularly in the manner in which the desk top panel 30, when in its substantially upright disposition, is held in place.

1. A convertible desk comprising an opentopped box-like body carried at a suitable working height upon support means and carrying a working top which in its normal position is usable for supporting reading, writing and like materials, characterised in that said

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Convertible desk This invention concerns a desk which is convertible so that, in addition to being usable for conventional desk purposes, i.e. for supporting reading and/or writing materials and accommodating associated materials, it can be used for further purposes for which desks are not usually applicable, thereby rendering the desk much more useful and versatile than a conventional desk. With this object in view, the present invention provides a desk comprising a opentopped box-like body carried at a suitable working height upon support means such as legs and carrying a working top which in its normal position is usable for supporting reading, writing and like materials, characterised in that said working top is separable from the body and re-engageable therewith so as to be located in a substantially upright disposition so as to constitute a display or like board. The said top may advantageously be black on one surface thereof, so that in its upright disposition it constitutes a blackboard suitable for inscribing thereon, e.g. by use of chalk. In a preferred embodiment, the body comprises a pair of side members which are slotted for accommodating the ends of front and rear cross members and flanged to support a base of the body, said members also being formed with a plurality of notches for the opposite sides of the top to engage therein, in the upright disposition thereof. The side members may conveniently be moulded of plastics material and may incorporate sockets for reception of the upper ends of legs constituting the support means. The invention will be described further. by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the desk of the invention in its closed or conventional condition; Figure 2 is a view comparable with Fig. 1, but showing the top in its substantially upright disposition; Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the desk of Figs. 1 and 2 with the top removed; and Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3. As shown in the drawings. a preferred embodiment of the desk of the invention, which is particularly suitable for use by a child or infant, comprises an open-topped box-like body 10 carried at a suitable working height upon support means which in the illustration is provided by legs 1 2, but may, if desired, comprise a cast or otherwise fabricated framework (not shown) which may, if desired, incorporate a seat or stool. The illustrated desk, however, is intended to be used with a separate stool (not shown). The body 10 comprises a pair of side members 1 4 which are conveniently moulded of a rigid plastics material and one of which is a mirror image of the other. Each such side member 14 is of overall shape resembling an elongate board. However, as will be appreciated particularly from Figs. 2 and 4, each such member is moulded to include near to each end a respective slot 1 6. 1 8 which serves to receive the respective ends of cross pieces 20, 22 which serve to hold the members 14 apart and substantially parallel to one another, being fixed by screws 24. The cross pieces 20, 22 are of height slightly shorter than the height of the side members 14 and the latter have, on their confronting faces, integrally moulded protrusions 26 which define a series of V-shaped notches 28 at each side of the body 10. A lower lip or flange 1 5 on each side member serves to support a bottom panel 1 7 of the body 1 0. The heights of the protrusions 26 match the heights of the cross pieces 20, 22, so that the body will accommodate a top panel 30 of the desk, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, with its edges resting on the cross pieces 20, 22 and the protrusions 26, and its upper surface substantially flush with the upper edges of the side members 14. In this condition, the desk can be used after the manner of a conventional desk, for supporting papers, books and the like for working, reading and so on. As has been shown in Fig. 2, the top panel 30 can be separated from the body 10, simply by lifting it off, whereafter it can be repositioned in a substantially upright disposition on any selected aligned part of the notches 28 so that it is then available for display purposes. For instance, sheets or display material may be secured (e.g. by pinning) thereto. If the panel 30 is black on at least one side it can be used as a blackboard which can be inscribed using chalk. The arrangement of the invention is, therefore, much more versatile than a conventional desk, and this is achieved in a very simple manner without the provision of hinges or the like but simply by appropriate shaping of the side members 1 4 which have to be present in any event to constitute part of the body 1 0. Naturally, the invention is not confined to the precise details of the illustrated example and variations may be made thereto, particularly in the manner in which the desk top panel 30, when in its substantially upright disposition, is held in place. CLAIMS

1. A convertible desk comprising an opentopped box-like body carried at a suitable working height upon support means and carrying a working top which in its normal position is usable for supporting reading, writing and like materials, characterised in that said working top is separable from the body and re-engageable therewith so as to be located in a substantially upright disposition.

2. A desk as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top is black on one surface thereof, so that in its upright position it constitutes a blackboard.

3. A desk as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the body comprises a pair of side members which are slotted for accommodating the ends of front and rear cross members and flanged to support a base of the body.

4. A desk as claimed in claim 3 wherein the side members are formed with a plurality of notches for the opposite sides of the top to engage therein, in the upright disposition.

5. A desk as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the side members are moulded of plastics material.

6. A desk as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 in which the side members incorporate sockets for reception of the upper end of legs contituting the support means.

7. A convertible desk substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.