GB2180149A - Desk - Google Patents

Abstract

A desk (1) including channelled side uprights has a table top 4 and side legs 12 through which services such as electric wires pass. The channels are closed by plates 14 which are invertable to allow top or bottom entry. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvement in desks This invention relates to desks which are capable of receiving services and presenting these services to the user of the desk. The word desk is used broadly to include any article of furniture which has an appropriately supported working top.

The present invention is particularly concerned with a desk wherein the top is formed as separate front and rear parts, the division between the parts being positioned over a channel for service wires.

One of the parts, usually the front part, is mounted for sliding movement rearwardly away from the other part to expose the channel for access to the services. When the parts are moved together into abutment to provide a continuous working surface of the desk, access openings are defined between the parts for allowing the service wires to emerge.

Thus in a preferred construction the edge surfaces of one or other of the meeting parts has recesses so when the principal parts of the edge surfaces abut to close the channel recesses openings are defined.

It will be appreciated that the service wires or cables to reach the underside of the desk top need to enter the side of the desk, usually at the bottom, but on occasions at the top. In accordance with the present invention the desk top is supported between side elements each side element having an upright defining channel. The channel is closed by an outer side member which has, at an end surface thereof, a recess for services entry. This side member is invertable having a first position wherein the entry is at the base of the desk and a second wherein the entry is at the top of the desk. In both positions the side member engages and is retained by the side structure as a whole.This construction has particular application for the sliding top desk defined above but can have more general application in any desk wherein services pass under the desktop in a channel.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly of desks embodying the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 are side views on an enlarged scale of a desk side member illustrating the invention; Figure 4 is a detail on an enlarged scale showing a connecting piece; and Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views illustrating the openable top of a desk of Figure 1.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings there is illustrated an assembly comprising two desks 1 and 1 a juxtaposed at right angles and connected by a bridging member 3. Each desk is of the cantilever type having a top 4 extending frontwardly and rearwardly as overhangs from a pair of recumbent H-shaped side frames 5. (See particularly Figures 2 and 3).

The upper limbs of the end frames are joined by front, intermediate and rear cross members and the intermediate cross member 6 has a wide channel section 7 for containing service wires. A mechanism for opening and closing the top member to expose the channel 7 is incorporated and will be described later.

Service wires, for example a power cable 8 and a telephone cable 9 enter the left hand desk 1 from the bottom extend up the upright, across the desk, through the connecting member and to the right hand desk 1 a where they feed respectively a 'phone outlet and power socket, continue to the top of the right hand desk to emerge to another desk or as required. The phone and power sockets and through connectors are included in unit 10 in channel 7. The desk to 4 of 1 a is shown open but recesses 11 on the fixed part of the top allow wires to emerge when the top is closed.

As can best be seen from Figures 2 and 3 each upright member 12 of a side frame has a wide outwardly facing channel section 12 with two vertically extending parallel wall members 13 dividing the channel into three smaller-width channels. Service wires can thus run in individual channels and be screened from one another if required and in the present instance the telephone wire can be screened from the power cable. The web or rear wall of the channel is cut-away at the top to provide access to channel 7 running across the top of the desk. The bottom of the web of the channel section is similarly cut away at 29. The channel is closed to provide a flush side face to the leg by an elongate rectangular plate 14, see also Figure 1, having at one end thereof a rectangular cut out 15 defining lugs 15'.The lower complete end part of the plate 14 or the lugs 15' at the cut away end part seat in, and are located, by recesses 30 in the upright 12 at either side of cut away 29 in upright 12 whilst the other and upper end is retained, as can be seen in Figure 1, by a fitting cap 16 engaging over the upper edge parts of the plate and inner wall structure of the side members. The plate 14 can be arranged in two positions that shown in Figure 3 and at the left hand side of Figure 1 wherein the cutout is at the base of the desk allowing the services to enter, travel up the channel and into the interior of the desk, and that shown in Figure 2 with the cutout 15 at the top of upright 12 allowing the cables to run laterally outwardly to emerge from the upper part of the desk.

The two desks 1 and la are connected by the triangular connecting member 3 of Figure 4 which is attached to the edge surfaces of the desk by clips 17.

The member has upstanding internal ribs lSto provide channels to receive respective service cables and a removable cover.

The desktop la can be opened to provide access to the services in channel 17. Thus referring to Figures 5 and 6 the top comprises a fixed rear part 4r and a front and rearwardly slidable front part 4f. The part 4f may have the side edges mounted in runners (not shown) and rests on rollers 20. A safety locking mechanism is provided comprising a lever 21 accessible from underneath the desk. An abutment plate 22 is secured to the underside of the top part 4f. A supporting member 23 for rollers 20 has front and rear detent siots 24 and 25 and the locking lever 21 is centrally pivoted with front and rear cross parts 26 and 27 to engage the slots 24 and 25, the front cross part carrying the operating knob 28.

The lever 21 is spring biassed so that the front cross piece 26 is normally locked in slot 24 with the rear cross piece 27 contacting the abutment plate 22 to restrain rearward movement to the desk top part 4f. This is the position of Figure 5. When the rear part of the lever 21 is lifted part 27 drops into slot 27 allowing the top to be moved forwardly. The lever is held in this depressed position by the abutment plate 22 until the position illustrated in Figure 6 is arrived at; the spring bias then returns the lever to the indicated position where the front member 21 contacts the rear of the abutment plate 22 preventing the desk top from moving forwardly.

The alternative positions of plate 14 allowing top and bottom entries of service cables as required permit many alternative desk arrangements keeping the cables fully hidden till they emerge from a chosen desktop.

Claims (4)

1.A A desk including channelled side uprights, a channelled cross-member extending between the uprights, a top positioned over the cross-member and having means to allow access to service wires in the channel and a removable cover for the channelled part of each upright, the cover having a cut-away at one end and being alternatively engageable with the upright with the cutaway either at the top or the bottom of the upright.

2. A desk according to Claim 1 wherein the desk top is formed as separate front and rear parts, the division between the parts being positioned over the channelled cross-member and one of the parts being mounted for sliding movement rearwardly to expose the channel.

3. An assembly of desks according to either Claim 1 or Claim 2 juxtaposed in angular relationship including a connecting piece of generally triangular form and having channels to allow service wires to run covered from one desk to another.

4. A desk substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.