GB2281692A

GB2281692A - Desks and the like

Info

Publication number: GB2281692A
Application number: GB9415309A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alec Alojzy Jezewski; Kathleen Jezewski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-09-09
Filing date: 1994-07-29
Publication date: 1995-03-15
Also published as: AU7235594A; WO1995007037A1; GB9415309D0; GB9318700D0

Abstract

An item of furniture, particularly suitable for use as a computer desk, comprises an upper work surface (1) with front edge adjacent to which a user stands or sits. A portion (4) of the upper work surface (1) extends rearwardly from the front edge and is transparent such that, in use, a lower work surface or compartment (5, 6) is visible to the user. When used as a computer desk, the lower work surface may be one or more shelves (5, 6) which support a keyboard (7) and monitor (9). Alternatively, the item of furniture may be used as a kitchen or shop fitting. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Desks and the like This invention relates to items of furniture, in particular to items of furniture, such as desks and counter-tops, which have working surfaces.

The vast range of applications of computer technology has led to a proliferation of computer terminals, personal computers and word processors in the workplace and elsewhere. Such devices are now commonly found on desk tops and reception counters in many environments.

Where computer equipment is placed on a desk or other working surface, it reduces the space available on the surface for other equipment and working materials such as paperwork. In attempts to alleviate this problem, manufacturers have produced computer equipment which occupies a reduced area of the work surface (ie which has a small "footprint"), but this alleviates the problem only marginally. Another solution to the problem is to house the computer equipment on a separate desk or work station, the user moving or turning from his normal desk to the work station as needs be. This is unsatisfactory since it is wasteful of floor space.

Another problem caused by computer equipment on working surfaces, especially reception counters and the like, is that the equipment may act as a barrier between the user and a person on the other side of the counter. This problem may be alleviated by housing equipment such as computer monitors in a recess in the working surface, but this too reduces the available area of work surface.

Desk structures have also been proposed in which the working surface of the desk is provided with a transparent window through which a monitor screen may be viewed. A keyboard may be supported on a shelf in front of the monitor. Such desks suffer from the disadvantage that, although the user may have a good view of the monitor, the portion of the desk surface in front of the window obscures the keyboard.

There has now been devised an item of furniture which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to the invention, there is provided an item of furniture having an upper work surface with a front edge adjacent to which a user stands or sits, a portion of the upper work surface extending rearwardly from the front edge being transparent such that, in use, a lower work surface or compartment is visible therethrough.

The item of furniture according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that the lower work surface or compartment is visible through the transparent portion of the upper work surface. The lower work surface or compartment may accommodate, for example, a computer keyboard and/or monitor. Such equipment is visible to the user without obstructing the upper work surface. Since the transparent portion extends rearwardly from the front edge of the upper work surface, the user's view of the lower work surface or compartment is unimpeded. In addition, the transparent portion may be easily removed to permit access to the lower work surface or compartment, eg for maintenance or cleaning.

The front edge of the transparent portion of the upper work surface may be aligned with the front edge of the rest of the upper work surface. Alternatively, the front edge of the transparent portion may be recessed with respect to the remainder of the upper work surface, or may protrude beyond it.

In one preferred embodiment, suitable for accommodating computer equipment, the lower work surface comprises a shelf for supporting a keyboard and a compartment which houses a monitor.

The monitor is most preferably inclined for ready visibility to the user.

Thus, according to one specific, preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a desk comprising a desk top having a transparent portion which extends rearwardly from a front edge of the desk top, and means positioned below the transparent portion for supporting a computer keyboard and computer monitor, such that, in use, the computer keyboard and computer monitor can be operated by a user seated at the desk and can be viewed by the user through the transparent portion of the desk top.

Suitable materials for the transparent portion of the upper work surface include glass and transparent plastics materials. The surfaces of the transparent portion may be provided with antireflective coatings, to improve the visibility of the lower work surface or compartment. The remainder of the upper work surface may be of any suitable material conventionally used in furniture construction. Examples include wood, metal and synthetic boards (eg blockboard, fibreboard, chipboard etc) with or without plastics lamination.

The edges of the upper work surface which surround the transparent portion are preferably rebated to receive the transparent portion.

It is particularly preferred that the upper work surface should be supported by a plinth disposed substantially centrally of the upper work surface. This arrangement has the advantage that the ends of the upper work surface can easily be cut or shaped to accommodate building features such as pillars, pipework etc, or to enable the desk to be fitted into a space which would otherwise be too small.

The portions of the upper work surface extending outwardly from the plinth are preferably supported by a rear shear panel fixed to the rear of the plinth.

The plinth is conveniently in the form of a pair of planar legs connected by one or more shelves which constitute the lower work surface. In the case of a computer desk, a front shelf is preferably horizontal and supports a keyboard, and a rear shelf is preferably inclined downwardly to support a monitor in an inclined position.

The desk may be provided with openings or ducting for ventilation of the lower work surface or compartment, or for electrical cables.

Although described above principally with reference to desks for accommodating computer equipment, the item of furniture of the present invention may be used in a variety of other applications.

For example, such an item of furniture may be incorporated into a range of kitchen fittings. The transparent upper work surface may be used for, for example, food preparation with the lower work surface below it being used for the storage of ingredients or a recipe book. The item of furniture may similarly be incorporated into a range of shop fittings. The item of furniture could also be in the form of a table, eg for use in a restaurant, the upper surface being used as a conventional table and the lower work surface, which is visible through the upper surface, being used, eg by children, for writing or colouring.

The second work surface or compartment may house a single item, such as a computer monitor, or several items, such as several pieces of home entertainment equipment, eg a television, video recorder, hi-fi system etc.

Conventional desks and the like may be converted to items of furniture according to the present invention by replacement or modification of the existing work surface and mounting of a lower work surface or compartment below it. Conversion of the conventional item to an item according to the invention may be performed by insertion of a modular unit incorporating the transparent upper work surface and the lower work surface or compartment.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a computer work station according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the computer work station of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the computer work station of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the computer work station of Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 1, a computer work station comprises a generally rectangular desk top (1) which is supported on a plinth comprising left and right legs (2,3).

The spaces beneath the desk top (1) outward of the legs (2,3) may receive shelf or drawer units, or free-standing equipment such as a computer processor unit, printer etc.

A central portion of the desk top (1) has a cut-out with rebated edges which receives a panel (4) of transparent toughened glass.

The panel (4) is positioned so as to be immediately in front of a user when the user sits in the normal position at the work station with his or her legs between the legs (2,3). In the embodiment shown, the front edge of the panel (4) lies substantially flush with the front edge of the desk top (1).

However, in other embodiments the panel (4) may be of reduced size and may not extend fully to the front edge of the desk top (1), or-may be of increased size and extend forwardly of the desk top (1).

The legs (2,3) are connected by two shelves; a horizontal front shelf (5) and a downwardly inclined rear shelf (6). In use, a computer keyboard (7) and mouse (8) are supported on the front shelf (5) such that they are visible to the user through the transparent panel (4). A computer monitor (9) is supported by the rear shelf (6) in an inclined position, again in such a manner that the screen is visible to the user through the panel (4). The monitor (9) is held in position by a support panel (11) fixed perpendicularly to the rear shelf (6), as shown in Figure 2.

Support of the desk top (1) is aided by a rear shear panel (10) fixed to the backs of the legs (2,3).

Apart from the transparent panel (4), the components of the work station, are held together by suitable brackets and screw fixings.

In using the work station, the user sits in the normal position and operates the keyboard (7) and mouse (8). The keyboard (7), and also the monitor (9), are visible through the transparent panel (4). Nonetheless, the whole area of the desk top (1) is unobstructed by any of the computer equipment. The desk top (1) thus provides an extensive work surface for use when not using the computer, or for materials such as papers to which the user refers whilst using the computer. The user's view of the monitor (9) and keyboard (7) is unimpeded by any non-transparent parts of the desk top (1). Access can be gained to the monitor (9) simply by gripping the front edge of the transparent panel (4) and lifting it off.

Claims

1. An item of furniture having an upper work surface with a front edge adjacent to which a user stands or sits, a portion of the upper work surface extending rearwardly from the front edge being transparent such that, in use, a lower work surface or compartment is visible therethrough.

2. An item of furniture as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the front edge of the transparent portion of the upper work surface is aligned with the rest of the upper work surface.

3. An item of furniture as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, which is suitable for accommodating computer equipment, and wherein the lower work surface comprises a shelf for supporting a keyboard and a compartment which houses a monitor.

4. An item of furniture as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the monitor is inclined for ready visibility to the user.

5. An item of furniture as claimed in any preceding claim, in the form of a desk comprising a desk top having a transparent portion which extends rearwardly from a front edge of the desk top, and means positioned below the transparent portion for supporting a computer keyboard and computer monitor, such that, in use, the computer keyboard and computer monitor can be operated by a user seated at the desk and can be viewed by the user through the transparent portion of the desk top.

6. An item of furniture as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transparent portion of the upper work surface is of glass or transparent plastics material.

7. An item of furniture as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the surface of the transparent portion is provided with an antireflective coating.

8. An item of furniture as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the edges of the upper work surface which surround the transparent portion are rebated to receive the transparent portion.

9. An item of furniture as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upper work surface is supported by a plinth disposed substantially centrally of the upper work surface.

10. An item of furniture as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the portions of the upper work surface extending outwardly from the plinth are supported by a rear shear panel fixed to the rear of the plinth.

11. An item of furniture as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the plinth is in the form of a pair of planar legs connected by one or more shelves which constitute the lower work surface.

12. An item of furniture as claimed in Claim 11, wherein a front shelf is horizontal and supports a keyboard, and a rear shelf is inclined downwardly to support a monitor in an inclined position.

13. A computer desk substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.