GB2273869A - Desk leg - Google Patents

Abstract

A leg for a desk has a base (2) and a hollow upright member (3) securable on the base. The upright member has an access opening (4) to the inside thereof extending over substantially the length of the upright member and pivotal closure means (5, 6) for the access opening. Cables may be run through the leg between the floor and the top of the desk. <IMAGE>

Description

AN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to an article of furniture and more particularly to a leg for a desk.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is often necessary to run cables from the floor to the top of a desk. This is particularly the case where a computer is used on the desk.

Desks are available which provide channelling at the rear end of the desk in which cables can be located running from the floor to the top of the desk. It is however often cumbersome to feed cables through channelling provided for this purpose.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a leg for a desk through which cables can be run between the floor and the top of the desk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention there is provided a leg for a desk, the leg comprising a base, a hollow upright member securable on the base, an access opening to the inside of the upright member extending over substantially the length of the upright member and pivotal a closure member for the access opening.

A further feature of this invention provides for the closure member to be two door members one end of each being pivotally secured to a respective end of the upright member forming the access opening and pivotable between a closed position where the free ends of the door members abut each other and an open position where the free ends are apart from each other to allow access to the inside of the upright member.

A further feature of the invention provides for there to be a magnet at the free end of at least one of the doors to retain the doors in a closed position.

A further feature of this invention provides for there to be a channel member on the inside of at least one of the door members. Alternatively there is provided a channel member on the inside of the upright member. A still further feature of the invention provides for the upright member and door members to be made of extruded metal sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is on oblique view of a leg for a desk; Figure 2 is a plan view of a cross section through the leg with two closure members in an open position; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the leg showing the closure members in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS Referring to figure 1 a leg 1 is shown for a desk (not shown).

The leg 1 has a base 2 on which is mounted a hollow upright member 3. The member 3 is U shaped and made from an extruded metal section.

The member 3 has an access opening 4 extending over the length of the member.

Closure members in the form of two doors 5 and 6 are provided for closing the access opening 4. One end 7 of each of the doors is pivotally secured to a free end 8 of the U shaped upright member 3. The doors 5 and 6 are pivotable between the position shown in figure 3 where the free ends 9 of the doors abut each other and the positions shown in figure 2 where access is provided to the inside of the upright member 3.

In the embodiment illustrated longitudinal channel members 10 are provided on the inside of the doors 5 and 6. These channel members are releasably secured between longitudinal ribs 11 provided on the inside of the doors. The channel members 10 have flexible outer ribs 12 which allow cables and the like to pressed passed the ribs and retained in the channel members 10. Channel members (not shown) and longitudinal ribs may also be provided on inside of the upright member 3 for receiving cables and the like.

The doors 5 and 6 have magnets 13 at the free ends 9 to retain the doors in the closed position shown in figure 3.

The base 2 has slots 14 formed therein at the foot area of the upright member 3. In use cables can be passed through these slots 14 and located in the channel members 10.

At the top end 15 of the upright member 3 is secured a desk top (not shown) in any convenient manner. Suitable ducting for guiding cables through the desk top surface can be provided.

The upright member 3 is screwthreadly secured on the base 2 by passing bolts 16 from the underside of the base 2 into the upright member.

Electrical plug sockets (not shown) or an electrical plug board may be provided on the inside of the upright member.

It must be appreciated that variations can be made to the embodiment above described without departing from the scope of the invention.

Only one door may be used to close the access opening of the upright member. The upright member and doors may also have different cross sectional shapes.

Different bases may be used and a small opening may be provided at the foot of the upright member opposite the doors through which cables can be passed into the upright member.

Claims (10)

1. A leg for desk, the leg comprising a base, a hollow upright member securable on the base, an access opening to the inside of the upright member extending over substantially the length of the upright member and a pivotal closure member for the access opening.

2. A leg as claimed in claim 1 in which the closure member is two door members, one end of each being pivotally secured to a respective end of the upright member forming the access opening and pivotable between a closed position where the free ends of the door members abut each other and an open position where the free ends are apart from each other to allow access to the inside of the upright member.

3. A leg as claimed in claim 2 in which there is a magnet at the free end of at least one of the doors to retain the doors in the closed position.

4. A leg as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which there is a channel member on the inside of at least one of the door members.

5. A leg as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which there is a channel member on the inside of the upright member.

6. A leg as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which the channel member is releasably secured between longitudinal ribs.

7. A leg as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 in which the channel member has flexible outer ribs which allow, in use, cables and the like to be pressed past the ribs into the channel.

8. A leg as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the upright member is made of an extruded metal section.

9. A leg as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 in which the door members are made of extruded metal sections.

10. A leg substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Example.