GB2197191A - Desks - Google Patents

Abstract

The top 10 of a desk has a principal part 12 bounded by a fascia 16 at the front, and an extension part 18 not so bounded, the fascia extending vertically at least 10cm above the desk top and the lateral extent of the extension part being at least 15cm. Thus, visibility of the principal part from the front is obscured or impeded, leaving the extension part readily accessible from the front. The fascia can have a downward skirt 28 extending close to floor level. The fascia can be surmounted by a rearwardly extending ledge 30 (horizontal or canted up or down). The desk front may be curved, with the curvature 20 of the principal part different from the curvature 22 of the extension part. The principal part 12 and the extension part 18 may form a continuous surface or they may be stepped. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to desks This invention relates to desks such as are used in offices and sales showrooms.

Desks are commonly untidy and their consequent appearance can be a distraction to visitors and others. Moreover in some surroundings it is preferred that desks should be completely clear in appearance, at least in the presence of visitors, and this is liable to waste a deal of time. These are well recognised problems which people have come to accept for want of any solution.

The object of the invention is to provide a desk construction which at least in part helps to overcome the above problems.

A desk according to this invention includes a horizontal desk top, part of which (the principal part) is bounded by a fascia at the front, and part of which (the extension part) is not so bounded, whereby visibility of the principal part from the front of the desk is obscured or impeded, but the extension part is readily accessible from the front, the fascia extending vertically not less than 10 centimetres (cm) above the desk top and the lateral extent of the extension part being not less than 15cm.

(The lateral extent is most conveniently measured from the perpendicular drawn to the back of the desk from the inner end of the fascia).

In this way, tidyness of appearance is readily made possible (depending of course in some measure upon desk height, distance from which the desk top is viewed and the height of the viewer), whilst the desk is yet available for use as an interview desk (the person interviewed sitting at the extension part), and objects intended to be seen from the front can readily be exposed to view (as e.g. a telephone placed on the extension part).

Preferably, the principal part and the extension part are integral and form a continuous surface, but they may be stepped (with either part at a lower level).

Preferably, the fascia has a vertical downward extension forming a front wall or skirt.

Desirably the downward extension extends at least as far below the desk top as the fascia extends above. Preferably it extends close to ground level (desirably leaving adequate clearance for pile carpets, typically stopping 3cm short of the ground-contacting part of the desk, say + 1cm). Desirably the vertical extent of the fascia above the desk top is between 15cm and 60cm, preferably between 20cm and 50cm. In a preferred construction, the fascia and the front wall or skirt form a continuous surface above and below the desk top.

The desk may be of any desired length, but a maximum of 200cm and minimum of 70cm are envisaged, preferably being 135cm1 15cm.

Similarly the lateral extent of the extension part may vary greatly, depending in general on intended use. Thus, for use as an interview desk, to seat two interviewees at the extension part, the extension part can be wide, whereas for the display of a narrow object to be seen from the front, minimum width is all that is required. Lateral width of the extension part is envisaged of 60cmt45cm, preferably 45cm 15cm.

Great variation in height can be tolerated depending upon the nature of the desk. Overall height of 130cm 15cm is envisaged for a stand-desk and 90cm+20cm for a sitting desk.

Similarly, the depth of the desk is adapted to intended use and in keeping with the other dimensions. The relationship between the height of the fascia above the desk top and the depth of the desk is preferably such that the angle subtended at the back of the desk by the height of the fascia is not less than 10 (appropriate to a tall desk) and in general preferably about 20"+5" or even 20 to 50".

Different parts of the desk may be- of different depths.

The front of the desk may be curved, the curvature of the fascia (as seen in horizontal section) conforming to the curvature of the front of the principal part. And the front of the extension part may be of a curvature different from that of the principal part, preferably such that at or near the junction of the two parts, the curvature of the extension part is less steeply inclined towards the back of the desk than that of the principal part. In this way, the masking effect of the fascia on the principal part of the desk top is enhanced.

The desk is preferably adapted to be readily movable to facilitate rearrangement (e.g. for a temporary showroom display or e.g. for a change of office lay-out). Thus, the desk may be mounted on casters and/or it may be fitted with hand grip portions, whether in the form of handles or otherwise, to facilitate rolling, pushing, pulling or lifting. If mounted on casters, means may be provided to lock the casters or to immobilise the desk by provision of releasable ground engaging means (e.g. akin to push-down door stops).

Also, desks may be constructed of different "hand", one having the extension part to one side of the principal part and the other to the other side, means being provided at or near the free side of the principal part for releasably fixing a pair of desks together with their principal parts adjoining. The fixing means may take any desired form, e.g. toggle action quick release clips.

The fascia may be surmounted by a rearwardly extending ledge; this helps obscure visibility of the principal part from the front. The ledge may be horizontal; but preferably the ledge is canted (either extending upwardly of the fascia or downwards); unlike a horizontal ledge, one that is canted does not attract clutter (its angle to the horizontal is preferably 30" -t 20", preferably 30 + 10 ).

A light source may be provided below the ledge, preferably a strip light, e.g. secured to the back of the fascia or the underside of the ledge. This makes the desk particularly suitable for use as a computer desk (or for a computer terminal), since the visual display unit (VDU) can be screened from overhead ambient light by fascia and ledge, and the keyboard can be positioned relative to the light source for appropriate illumination. The rear of the principal part may have a cut out, again to avoid attracting clutter in front of the VDU.

The desk may include a removable cupboard. The profile of its side preferably conforms to the inner profile of the adjacent side of the desk. It is preferably a loose fit below a shelf of the desk, and may fit between that shelf and a pedestal board (i.e. a board in the nature of a shelf set at or slightly above floor level).

Several embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of one form of desk intended for general office or showroom use; Figure 2 shows the desk of Fig. 1 as seen from the front; Figure 3 is a rear view of another form of desk Intended for use with a computer terminal; and, Figure 4 shows the desk of Fig. 3 fitted with a removable cupboard section.

Turning to Figs. 1 and 2, there is depicted a desk having a horizontal desk top generally designated 10. Part of the desk top, referred to as the principal part and designated 12, is bounded at the front 14 of the desk by a fascia 16. The fascia is not less than 10cm in height, being 15cm high. The remainder of the desk top, referred to as its extension part and designated 18, is not bounded at the front by the fascia. The two parts of the desk top are integral and form a continuous surface.

The front of the desk is curved, but the curvature 20 at the front of the pricipal part is different from the curvature 22 at the front of the extension part. At the point 24 where they join, the curvature 20 is less steeply inclined towards the back 26 of the desk than the curvature 22 (as clearly shown in Fig. 1); in the result, the extension part is proportionately enlarged.

The lateral extent of the extension part is measured from the perpendicular A-B drawn to the back 26 from the inner end of the fascia (here coincident with the point 24). The measurement is the length B-C (representing the maximum extent along a line normal to the perpendicular A-B). The lateral extent is not less than 15cm, being here 30cm.

The fascia 16 extends vertically above the desk top (as shown) and has a vertical downward extension forming a front wall 28 for the desk; the fascia and front wall are integral and also form a continuous surface. As seen in horizontal section, the fascia and front wall are curved, their curvature conforming to the curvature 20 of the principal part of the desk top; the front wall also reaches below the extension part 18, still of curvature 20 and hence recessed below the extension part 18.

The front wall is thus ideally adapted to receive decoration or to bear advertising matter (as shown in Fig. 2). The desk is mounted on four casters 32 (of which only two are shown) and in the result the front wall extends nearly but not quite to ground level, leaving clearance for carpet pile. Push-down door stops 33 prevent unwanted rolling of the desk.

The fascia 16 has a rearwardly extending horizontal ledge 30, overlying the front portion of the principal part of the desk top but not its extension part.

The desk includes a pair of pedestal cupboards generally designated 34 fitted with doors 35 and with shelves, and also includes a continuous curved shelf 36 extending from side to side nearly along the whole extent of the desk.

In use of the desk, the principal part of the desk top is shielded from view by the fascia (as seen from the front of the desk) and this shielding is helped by the ledge 30. Visitors do not see the desk as being cluttered, their perception being that of the clean line presented by the front wall of the desk (perhaps bearing the logos of a motor manufacturer in a motor car showroom). The extension part 18, however, is open to view and fully accessible from the front. Thus, if the desk is to be used as an interview desk, a visitor can readily sit at the extension part, by the side of the interviewer.

In a couple of slightly modified forms of desk, the ledge is canted as indicated in broken line in Fig. 1, either upwardly of the fascia 16 as shown at 37, or downwardly as shown at 38.

The computer terminal desk of Fig. 3 is basically similar to the desk of Figs. 1 and 2.

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts. Here, however, the curvature of the extension part 40 of the desk top follows that of the principal part 42 (i.e. the extension part is not enlarged), the lateral extent of the extension part is here 25cm, a strip light 44 is fitted to the rear of the fascia 16, the fascia here is 20cm in height, hand grips 46 are provided at opposite sides of the desk (one only is shown) for ease of carrying (in place of the elements 32), the rear of the principal part 42 has a cut-away 48, and there is a continuous curved pedestal board 49 akin to the shelf 36 below and parallel to the latter.

In use of the desk of Fig. 3, the fascia and the ledge act to screen the princpal part 42 of the desk top from view from the front. Conversely, the extension part 40 is accessible and open to view from the front (here shown displaying a telephone 50). A VDU 52 is screened from overhead light (such as might cause glare) by fascia and ledge (the fascia here being of greater height, readily to accommodate the height of the VDU), and the presence of the cut-away helps keep the area in front of the VDU free from clutter. The strip light 44 provides optimum illumination for a keyboard 54. This form of desk is well suited for use e.g. in travel agencies, where again tidyness of appearance is desirable and hitherto so seldom found.

The desk also has a toggle action quickrelease clip 56 at its free side whereby a pair of desks having their extension parts 40 at opposite ends may be releasably fixed together with the principal parts 42 adjoining (the second desk of course having a member engageable with the clip).

The desk of Fig. 4 is of the same general form as that of Fig. 3. Additionally it has a removable storage cupboard section generally designated 58 which is represented both in situ and for ease of illustration also separately.

The cupboard fits in the recess formed in the right hand side of the desk, between curved shelf 36 and pedestal board 49, with the curvature of the right hand side 60 of the cupboard complementary to the inner curvature at the right hand side of the front wall 28 where they adjoin, and with its door 35 hinged on the right (alternatively it could be hinged on the left as shown in the separate representation). The cupboard 58 can either sit freely in its recess or be secured by releasable securing means such as spring clips or magnetic catches (not shown). Thus the cupboard can readily be removed e.g. for overnight safe storage (so important for computer related material), and can equally readily be fitted back to the desk from which it came (or to another similar desk if preferred).Just as the cupboard 60 is right-handed to fit on the right, so also in order to fit on the left, a cupboard would be left-handed with its left side appropriately curved (and its door preferably hinged on the left). The cut-away 48 leaves a rearward extension designated 62 in Fig. 4, whereby different parts of the desk top are of different depths.

In the two forms of desk described, the several parts have the following measurements (here indicated for illustration only and not by way of limitation). In the desk of Figs. 1 and 2: height of desk top 70cm and overall height to ledge 85cm (both inclusive of 3cm high casters), width of ledge 26cm, depth of desk 60cm, angle "d" subtended at rear of desk by height of fascia 15 , radius of curvature of principal part 60cm, overall length of desk 135cm. In the desk of Figs. 3 and 4 (to the extent the measurements differ): desk top height 75cm, overall height 95cm, angle subtended at rear by fascia 18 , overall length 120cm, depth of cut-away 15cm (locally leaving a depth of 45cm for the principal part).

For convenience of manufacture, flat parts of the desk are in the main of medium density fibre-board and the curved front wall of heatpressed fibre board.

It will be appreciated that many modifications may be made to the desks specifically described above without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the desk front can have a depending skirt, for example extending half way to the floor (in place of a front wall extending close to the floor). The front of the desk need not be curved: the desk top can be rectangular, with the front of the desk rectilinear, the fascia being a flat surface. If the desk is kidney shaped, the lateral extent of the extension part can be measured from the perpendicular drawn from the inner end of the fascia to the back of the desk (regarding the back as a line normal to the direction in which the user of the desk would face), being the maximum extent taken along a line normal to that perpendicular. Of course the desk top can be supported in any convenient desired manner, e.g.

on legs (in place of the more closed-in constructions shown). And the differences in depth of the desk can e.g. be such that the width of the rearward extension 62 is co-extensive with the extent of the extension part 18 (and can overhang all the lower structure of the desk).

Claims (34)

1. A desk having a horizontal desk top, a principal part of which is bounded by a fascia at the front and an extension part of which is not so bounded, whereby visibility of the principal part from the front of the desk is obscured or impeded, but the extension part is readily accessible from the front, the fascia extending vertically not less than 10cm above the desk top and the lateral extent of the extension part being not less than 15cm.

2. A desk according to claim 1 wherein the principal part and the extension part are integral and form a continuous surface.

3. A desk according to claim 1 wherein the principal part and the extension part are stepped.

4. A desk according to any preceding claim wherein the fascia has a vertical downward extension forming a front wall or skirt.

5. A desk according to claim 4 wherein the downward extension of the fascia extends at least as far below the desk top as the fascia extends above.

6. A desk according to claim 5 wherein the downward extension of the fascia extends close to ground level.

7. A desk according to any preceding claim wherein the vertical extent of the fascia above the desk top is between 15cm and 60cm.

8. A desk according to claim 7 wherein the vertical extent of the fascia above the desk top is between 20cm and 50cm.

9. A desk according to any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the fascia and the front wall or skirt form a continuous surface above and below the desk top.

10. A desk according to any preceding claim wherein the length of the desk is between 70cm and 200cm.

11. A desk according to claim 10 wherein the length of the desk is between 120cm and 150cm.

12. A desk according to any preceding claim wherein the width of the extension part is between 15cm and 105cm.

13. A desk according to claim 12 wherein the width of the extension part is between 30cm and 60cm.

14. A desk according to any preceding claim, being a standing desk, wherein the overall height of the desk is between 115cm and 145cm.

15. A desk according to any preceding claim, being a sitting desk, wherein the overall height of the desk is between 70cm and 110cm.

16. A desk according to any preceding claim wherein the relationship between the height of the fascia above the desk top and the depth of the desk is such that the angle subtended at the back of the desk by the height of the fascia is not less than 10

17. A desk according to claim 16 wherein the relationship between the height of the fascia above the desk top and the depth of the desk is such that the angle subtended at the back of the desk by the height of the fascia is between 1 5 and 25

18. A desk according to claim 16 wherein the relationship between the height of the fascia above the desk top and the depth of the desk is such that the angle subtended at the back of the desk by the height of the fascia is between 20 and 50".

19. A desk according to any preceding claim wherein the front of the desk is curved, the curvature of the fascia (as seen in horizontal section) conforming to the curvature of the front of the principal part.

20. A desk according to claim 19 wherein the front of the extension part is of a curvature different from that of the principal part.

21. A desk according to claim 20 wherein at or near the junction of the principal part with the extension part, the curvature of the extension part is less steeply inclined towards the back of the desk than that of the principal part.

22. A desk according to any preceding claim mounted on casters to facilitate rolling movement, means being provided to lock the casters or to immobilise the desk by provision of releasable ground engaging means.

23. A desk according to any preceding claim wherein the fascia is surmounted by a rearwardly extending ledge.

24. A desk according to claim 23 wherein the ledge is canted from the horizontal.

25. A desk according to claim 24 wherein the angle of the ledge to the horizontal is between 10 and 50".

26. A desk according to claim 25 wherein the angle of the ledge to the horizontal is between 20 and 40".

27. A desk according to any of claims 23 to 26 wherein a light source is provided below the ledge.

28. A desk according to any preceding claim wherein the rear of the principal part has a cut-out which locally reduces its depth.

29. A desk according to any preceding claim having a removable cupboard adjacent to a side of the desk, the profile of a side of the cupboard conforming to the inner profile of that side of the desk.

30. A desk according to claim 29 wherein the cupboard is a loose fit below a shelf of the desk.

31. A desk according to claim 30 wherein the cupboard fits between a shelf and a pedestal board of the desk.

32. A pair of desks according to any preceding claim, the desks being constructed of different "hand", one having the extension part to one side of the princpal part and the other to the other side, fixing means being provided at or near the free side of the principal part for releasably fixing the pair of desks together with their principal parts adjoining.

33. A pair of desks according to claim 32 wherein the fixing means are quick release clips.

34. A desk substantially as show in and hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.

1 and 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4, of the accompanying drawings.