GB2232585A - A pedestal desk - Google Patents

Abstract

A pedestal desk (10) comprises a desk top (22) and a back panel (29) supported from end supports (12). The desk top is supported by the back panel (29) and a framework (20). Pedestals for the desk are lowered into position onto ledges (42 and 52) provided at the front on a framework member (24) and at the rear by a channel member (44) sitting on the back panel (29), with the desk top out of the way. The desk top may be added later or may be of the roller type. In an alternative arrangement (Fig. 4) the front member of the desk top supporting framework is formed as an open-sided L-shaped channel with right angle returns at each end; the top horizontal return supporting the desk top and the lower vertical return engaging a corresponding groove in the pedestal. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Furniture Construction DESCRIPTION This invention concerns furniture construction and particularly concerns the construction of pedestal desks.

Desks for office use are generally constructed with a desk top and back panel supported between end frames. Drawer containing pedestals are generally provided as separate units which can be attached to a desk at one or both ends thereof as required. Such pedestals are normally attached to a desk from the underside by means of bolts or screws through the pedestal walls into the desk top, back panel or side frames.

Fitting drawer pedestals to a desk can be a difficult and time consuming operation as the pedestal has to be supported as it is being fastened in place.

Roller top desks are now available wherein the desk top is slidable forwards to reveal an electric cable channel or duct at the rear of the desk. The desk top is usually provided with plastics sliding plates that easily move over supporting framework members for the desk top. It is with such desks and the problem of locating drawer pedestals therein that the invention is particularly but not exclusively concerned.

An object of this invention is to provide a means of locating pedestals in desks and in particular in socalled roller top desks.

According to the invention there is provided a pedestal desk comprising a desk top and back panel supported from end supports, wherein a pedestal is fitted to the desk by lowering into position with the desk top out of the way.

The top for the desk can be added later and fixed in position or more preferably will be of the roller top type which does not require permanent fixing.

The supports for the pedestals are preferably provided for opposite sides of the pedestal especially at the front and rear thereof relative to the desk. The supports may be fixed say as part of a desk top supporting framework. Such a framework may be fabricated from preferably square section metal tubing, say by welding, supports being attached to front and rear members of the framework, say also by welding or any other suitable means. The supports may be in any suitable form such as ledges or spaced spigots or projections.

Alternatively, the supporting framework may comprise a channel member for receiving a pedestal part.

Preferably the channel member and pedestal part have corresponding grooves and flanges.

Alternatively, particularly when it is desired that the desk top supporting framework does not extend fully to the rear of the desk so as not to interfere with an electric cable management channel or tray usually fitted at the rear of a desk, loose supports may be provided to fit over desk top support framework members or any other suitable part of the desk such as a back panel therefor. Such supports preferably comprise a channel section part to sit over a suitable desk part and a lateral extension thereto to provide a ledge on which a pedestal part can sit.

Pedestals for use in the invention will preferably comprise side panels connected by cross members top and bottom, front and rear. The side panels usually have drawer runners fixed to their inner faces.

The bottom cross members are preferably spaced inwards from the front and back edges of the pedestal sides so that the pedestal can be lowered past the supports. The top cross members are positioned so as to sit onto the supports.

As well as being used to form conventional desks, the pedestal fitting arrangements of the invention may also be applied to so-called desk returns.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a desk; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a loose ledge support for a pedestal; Figure 3 shows a pedestal carcass; and Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings a desk 10 comprises cantilevered end frames 12 having top and bottom parallel members 14 and 16 respectively connected by vertical member 18. The vertical member 18 may have attached at its side electric cable management ducting of plastics material (not shown).

Supported between the end frames 12 is a metal fabricated framework 20 for supporting a desk top 22.

The framework 20 comprises a front member 24 to which are connected mid position members 28. The other ends of said members 28 being secured to back panel 29.

Behind the back panel may be an electric cable management tray (not shown). The desk top is slidable on the mid-position members 28 of the framework 20. The mid-position members 28 and the end frames 12 define two sites for drawer pedestals 30 at each end of the desk.

Pedestals 30 may be fitted at either or both ends of the desk.

The pedestals 30 comprise side panels 32 connected by upper and lower cross members 34, 36 respectively at the front and upper and lower cross members 38, 40 respectively at the rear. The side panels 32 will usually have on their inner faces drawer runners. The lower front and rear cross members are spaced inwards from the front and rear edges respectively of the side panels 32 so that the pedestals can be lowered into position past ledge supports 42 at the front and 44 at the rear. The front ledge support 42 is actually a right angle section bar welded to the inner face of framework member 24. The rear ledge support 44 is formed as a channel section 50 having a lateral extension 52, the channel section 50 sitting over the top edge of back panel 20. The upper pedestal cross members 34, 38 rest on the ledges 42, 52 respectively when the pedestal is in position.

Turning to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, a desk 100 comprises cantilevered end frames 102 having top and bottom parallel members 104 and 106 respectively connected by vertical member 108. Supported between the end frame 102 is a metal fabricated framework 110 for supporting a desk top (not shown). The framework 110 comprises a front member 114 to which are connected midposition members 118 being secured at their other ends to a back panel 119.

The front member 114 is formed as an open-sided channel having generally L-shaped front, although the angle is curved to present a smooth face 120, with right angle returns 122 and 124 respectively at each end of the L-shaped front. The return 122 which is horizontal provides a support surface for a desk top and the return 124 which is vertical provides a location for a drawer pedestal 126 as shown having a corresponding groove 128 in the underside of leading edge 130 of the pedestal. As with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, a rear ledge support 44' is provided on the back panel 119 for supporting the rear of the drawer pedestal 126, so that the pedestal 126 can be lowered into position and supported on member 114 and support 44'.

It will be appreciated that, although ledge type pedestal supports have been described, other forms of pedestal support, such as spigots or other protrusions from desk parts, either fixed or loose, may serve the same purpose as ledges and so are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A pedestal desk comprising a desk top and back panel supported from end supports, wherein a pedestal is fitted to the desk by lowering into position with the desk top out of the way.

2. A pedestal desk as claimed in claim 1, wherein supports for the pedestal are provided for a pair of opposite sides of the pedestal.

3. A pedestal desk as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supports are provided for the front and rear of the pedestal relative to the desk.

4. A pedestal desk as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein support for at least one side of a pedestal is provided by desk top supporting framework.

5. A pedestal desk as claimed in claim 4, wherein the desk top supporting framework has a ledge or spaced projection for supporting a pedestal part.

6. A pedestal desk as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said supporting framework comprises a channel member for receiving a pedestal part.

7. A pedestal desk as claimed in claim 6, wherein the channel member and pedestal have corresponding grooves and flanges.

8. A pedestal desk as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, having loose supports for a pedestal part, said supports being locatable on a desk part.

9. A pedestal desk as claimed in claim 8, wherein said desk part is the back panel.

10. A pedestal desk as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein said loose support comprises a channel section part to sit over a desk part and a lateral extension thereto to provide a ledge for a pedestal part to sit on.

11. A pedestal desk as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the pedestal comprises side panels connected by cross members top and bottom, front and rear, the bottom cross members being spaced inwards from the front and back edges of the pedestal sides and the top cross members being positioned so as to sit on supports therefor.

12. A pedestal desk substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.