GB2299754A - Computer workstation with folding extension - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer workstation with folding table leaf 2 mounted on castor wheels 4 and 4A with a handle 11 that allows the unit to be manoeuvred and placed (when the table leaf is folded) in an area occupying approximately half the floor space it would otherwise use were the table leaf raised. The lockable drawers 6, 7, and 8 can be used to store and operate mechanical and electrical equipment e.g. computers as well as documents and other artefacts. The drawer fronts can be lowered or removed 7 to allow access to equipment within, without the equipment being disturbed. The side panels 5 and 5A and rear panels can be removed to (a) allow access to equipment within and a cable conduit and (b); to provide further ventilation in addition to apertures to be found in the front, side and rear panels. A pull-out shelf allows the use of a keyboard when the table leaf is folded. An attachable rear cradle supports the keyboard when not being used. An attachable distribution block is provided which reduces the number of cables connecting to external sockets thus making the unit more mobile.

Description

WORKSTATION WTTH FOLDING EXTENSION This invention relates to a workstation, and more particularly to a workstation having a folding extension which, in its use configuration, substantially increases the worktop area of the workstation.

Computer workstations have become a common means of mounting the various components of a computer system in a manner which permits the computer system to be used and yet stores the components in a neat and compact arrangement. The storage of the various components of a computer system (CPU, screen, keyboard, printer etc) in a substantially vertical array is known as a means of reducing the floor area required to house the installation. The present invention is concerned with an improvement to the basic concept of a workstation whereby additional working surface may be provided when required without significantly increasing the footprint area of the workstation. The workstation of the present invention may be used in the office environment but is of particular value in the home.Often, in the home environment floor space is at an even greater premium than in office accommodation and the need to accommodate a significant computer installation and yet provide adequate working surface is not satisfactorily addressed by any known desk or workstation arrangements.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a workstation having a plurality of support surfaces located one above another for the reception and storage of computer equipment, the workstation having, in addition, a work surface which is hingedly connected at one edge thereof to the remainder of the workstation and which is moveable between a storage configuration in which the work surface extends substantially vertically and lies against the remainder of the workstation, and a use configuration in which the work surface extends substantially horizontally for use as a table or desk extending from the remainder of the workstation.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention one or more legs are hingedly connected to the work surface at the edge thereof remote from the connection to the remainder of the workstation, the legs being foldable from a storage configuration in which they lie substantially parallel to the work surface to a use configuration in which they extend substantially perpendicular to the work surface and support the edge thereof remote from the remainder of the workstation.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the work surface may be connected to either of opposite lateral edges of the workstation to permit the working surface to extend, at the option of the user, either to the left or to the right of the remainder of the workstation. In an alternative embodiment of the invention work surfaces are provided on both sides of the workstation.

Preferably, the portion of the workstation to which the work surface is secured is mounted on wheels so as to be readily manoeuverable and, if desired, may be fitted with a handle to ease manoeuvering of the workstation.

With the work surface in its folded configuration the workstation occupies a minimal floor area and, because it is mounted on castors and fitted with a handle, can be manoeuvered readily into a small space. In this configuration, the workstation can be used to store equipment, documents or other artifacts including a computer installation comprising, for example, a CPU, a monitor, a keyboard and a printer. If desired, a pull-out shelf may be provided for the keyboard and a cradle may be provided for supporting the keyboard to the rear of the workstation when the keyboard shelf is in its storage configuration.

When more work surface is required the unit can be moved on its castors to a larger space and the work surface erected into its use configuration.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the various storage surfaces of the workstation are constituted by the bases of drawers which are mounted on appropriate runners secured to the frame of the workstation. Preferably, each drawer base is provided with a drawer front which is releasable to permit the drawer front to be lowered or removed, thereby facilitating access to equipment stored on the drawer base without pulling the drawer from its closed position. Preferably, each drawer is provided with a removable frame which performs the function of the conventional sides and rear of a drawer. The frame is preferably releasably secured to the drawer base to permit removal of the frame if this is necessary or desirable in light of the equipment which is stored on the drawer base.In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention each drawer base is provided with a groove into which the drawer frame registers to locate the drawer frame in position when required.

Preferably the drawers are lockable to prevent easy access to or removal of equipment, documents or artifacts stored on the drawer bases.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is an isometric view from the front of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the work surface thereof fully extended; FIGURE 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing the preferred embodiment of the invention with the work surface in its storage configuration; FIGURE 3 is a view from one side of the workstation; FIGURE 4 is a view from the other side of the workstation showing the work surface in its use configuration; FIGURE 5 is a rear isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with the work surface in its use configuration; and FIGURE 6 is a rear isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with the work surface in its storage configuration and one rear and one side panel removed.

Referring to the above drawings, the unit comprises a metal tubular frame 12 onto which are attached the side and rear panels 5, 5A, 18,23 & 24, the drawer runners 30, and the fixed worksurface 2A. Also attached to the frame is a handle 11 that enables the unit to be easily manoeuvred on the five swivelling wheels 4 & 4A. One of the five wheels 4A supports the underside of the bottom drawer 8. The folding table leaf 2 is connected to the frame by means of two hinges attached to removable sections of the frame 10. These sections are screwed to the frame to allow the folded table leaf 2 to be mounted on either side of the storage unit according to preference. Should this be desired then apart from detaching the frame sections 10 and table leaf 2, the two side panels 5 & 5A must be swapped and work surface 2A rotated through 180 degrees.

The storage component has three drawers mounted on runners 30 and a pull-out shelf 9 ideally suited for the use of a computer keyboard. The upper two drawers 6 & 7 are designed so that the front panels can be lowered, if desired, through 90 degrees to allow access to the drawer interior without having to pull the drawer open (as illustrated with drawer 7). The purpose of this is to provide access to sensitive equipment such as a computer CPU without the equipment itself being disturbed (which would be the case if the drawer had to be pulled open in order for access to be gained). The lowering of the front panels can be achieved by removing the fixtures that attach the single-piece drawer internal partitions 26 & 27 to their respective front panels so that the panels are only supported by their hinges attached to the drawer base. The internal partitions can be removed completely should they not be required.

Since they are inserted in a channel formed in the base of the drawers, they can simply be lifted out of the unit. With the screws removed the front panels can be raised or lowered at will without the drawers themselves moving. Magnetic catches 14 attached to the frame 12 keep the front panels closed when access is not required, while locks 21 keep contents secure.

Drawer 8 is designed primarily to be used either for the storage of suspended files, or in which to keep and use a computer printer. Like drawers 6 & 7, drawer 8 has a single-piece removable internal partition 25 which is designed to support suspended files, though it can also contain other artefacts. Unlike the upper drawers, the internal partition of drawer 8 does not attach to the front panel and so can be lifted out of the unit without the need to remove any fixtures. By removing the internal partition, the drawer can be used for its other primary purpose which is to keep within the drawer a computer printer which can be used in situ. Normal access to the printer is gained by simply pulling the drawer open and accessing the printer from above.However, should the need arise that access is required from the front, such as to refill the paper supply, the front panel can be unhooked from the bracket 28 that joins the drawer base to the drawer front panel and so be removed.

All the drawer front panels have a cut-away or aperture in the panel that allows not only a convenient hand-hold with which to open the drawer but also provides additional means of ventilating the interior of the unit. Similar apertures exist in the side panels 5 & SA, and the centre rear panel 17 for the purpose of ventilating the interior should the unit be used for equipment.

The side and rear panels are screwed to the frame 19 and can be removed. In the case of the side panels 5 & SA, the removal of these two panels would become necessary if it were desired that the table leaf be placed on the opposite side of the storage unit in which case the panels would be swapped.

Another reason for removing the side panels would be if more ventilation were required for equipment.

Attached to the side panel 5A are two buffers 3 which stop the table leaf from hitting the side panel when the unit is folded and so cause damage.

Of the three rear panels 18,23 & 24, only the centre panel 18 is meant to be removed though the top and bottom panels could also be removed if wished though the strength of the units structure would be compromised. The removal of the centre panel gives access to equipment within and also to the cable conduit 29 via which the equipment is connected. Cable outlets 15 in the top and bottom panels allow cables and plugs to pass in and out of the unit without the rear panels having to be permanently removed. A distribution block 20 can be attached if required so that the number of cables and plugs that connect the unit to external sockets (such as a wall socket) can be kept to a minimum. In this way the unit becomes easier to move as there should be fewer cables connecting to external sockets.

A frame 16 can also be attached by hooking it onto the centre panel 18 through the upper aperture. The purpose of the frame is to cradle a computer keyboard should it be desired that the keyboard be kept off the work surface when not being used in order to keep the work surface area free. The cradle also serves to hide the keyboard from view thus enhancing the look of the unit The table leaf 2 is supported when extended by a pair of folding legs 1 which are raised and lowered by means of a spring-loaded release mechanism 22 mounted on the underside of the table leaf.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. A workstation having a plurality of support surfaces located one above another for the reception and storage of computer equipment, the workstation having, in addition, a work surface which is hingedly connected at one edge thereof to the remainder of the workstation and which is moveable between a storage configuration in which the work surface extends substantially vertically and lies against the remainder of the workstation, and a use configuration in which the work surface extends substantially horizontally for use as a table or desk extending from the remainder of the workstation.

2. A workstation according to Claim 1 wherein one or more legs are hingedly connected to the work surface at the edge thereof remote from the connection to the remainder of the workstation, the legs being foldable from a storage configuration in which they lie substantially parallel to the work surface to a use configuration in which they extend substantially perpendicular to the work surface and support the edge thereof remote from the remainder of the workstation.

3. A workstation according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the work surface may be connected to either of opposite lateral edges of the workstation to permit the working surface to extend, at the option of the user, either to the left or to the right of the remainder of the workstation.

4. A workstation according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein work surfaces are provided on both sides of the workstation.

5. A workstation according to any preceding claim wherein the portion of the workstation to which the work surface is secured is mounted on wheels so as to be readily manoeuverable.

6. A workstation according to Claim 5 fitted with a handle to ease manoeuvering of the workstation.

7. A workstation according to any preceding claim wherein a pull-out shelf is provided for a keyboard and a cradle is provided for supporting the keyboard to the rear of the workstation when the keyboard shelf is in its storage configuration.

8. A workstation according to any preceding claim wherein the storage surfaces of the workstation are constituted by the bases of drawers which are mounted on appropriate runners secured to the frame of the workstation.

9. A workstation according to Claim 8 wherein each drawer base is provided with a drawer front which is releasable to permit the drawer front to be lowered or removed, thereby facilitating access to equipment stored on the drawer base without pulling the drawer from its closed position.

10. A workstation according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein each drawer is provided with a removable frame which performs the function of the conventional sides and rear of a drawer, the frame being releasably secured to the drawer base to permit removal of the frame if this is necessary or desirable in light of the equipment which is stored on the drawer base.

11. A workstation according to Claim 10 wherein each drawer base is provided with a groove into which the drawer frame registers to locate the drawer frame in position when required.

12. A workstation according to any of Claims 8-11 wherein the drawers are lockable to prevent easy access to or removal of equipment, documents or artifacts stored on the drawer bases.

13. A workstation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.