US20080211360A1

US20080211360A1 - MultiFunction Desk

Info

Publication number: US20080211360A1
Application number: US11/681,742
Authority: US
Inventors: Timothy Eubanks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-02
Filing date: 2007-03-02
Publication date: 2008-09-04

Abstract

A multifunction desk that includes various amenities in one device wherein the desk may include each or in combination a removable refrigerator, a water dispensing unit, a freezer, an icemaker, a power strip, a water filtering unit, and or a water heating and cooling system.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This application relates generally to desks. More specifically, this application relates to a multifunction desk that provides for various user amenities in one device.

SUMMARY

This application discloses a multifunction desk that is economical to produce, of simple construction and capable of mass production, but also capable of providing a user a desk that has various amenities incorporated into a space saving design. The multifunction desk would be desirable to user's that need to efficiently utilize a given space. Such users may include students in dorms, hotel patrons, or anywhere efficient use of space is needed.
Generally, this application discloses a multifunction desk that includes various amenities in one device wherein the desk may include each or in combination a removable refrigerator, a water dispensing unit, a freezer, an icemaker, a power strip, a water filtering unit, and or a water heating and cooling system.
In particular, this application discloses a multifunction desk comprising a desk portion including a top portion, side portions, and at least one recessed portion; and refrigerator means removeably adaptable to said recessed portion.
This application also discloses multifunction desk comprising a desk portion including a top portion, side portions, and at least one recessed portion; and water dispensing means incorporated into at least one side portion.
Further, this application discloses a multifunction desk comprising a desk portion including a top portion and side portions and at least one recessed portion; refrigerator means removeably adaptable to said recessed portion; water dispensing means incorporated into at least one side portion; and freezer means adapted into at least one side portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a first embodiment of the multifunction desk;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the desk in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a desk in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the multifunction desk;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the multifunction desk;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the multifunction desk; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the multifunction desk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, shown therein and generally designated by the reference character 10 is the first embodiment of a multifunction desk constructed in accordance with the following description. The desk 10 comprises a conventional desk shape that includes top portion 11 that is generally used to work upon or set items such as a computer upon, side portions 12 that can be used for storage or filing purposes, and a recessed portion 13 that is commonly used as the seating location of the user. The desk 10 may also include a second recessed portion 13a as shown but it is contemplated that only one recessed portion is required for the practicing of the disclosure. A refrigerator 14 is slideably retained in recessed portion 13 using tracking means such a mateable track 15 and rollers 16 as in common in the art. Other means or removeably adapting the refrigerator 14 to the recessed portion 13 are contemplated as part of this disclosure and my also simply include wheels attached to the bottom of the refrigerator. Shown in FIG. 3 is an example of the refrigerator 14 in the recessed portion 13. Shown in FIG. 1 is an example of the refrigerator 14 partially removed from the recessed portion 13 using a handle 18. An additional handle 19 is used for the opening of the refrigerator door 20. Finally, FIG. 2 is an example of the desk 10 shown with the refrigerator 14 completely removed from the recessed portion 13. Once the refrigerator 14 is completely removed the user can then sit at the desk in a conventional fashion using either a conventional folded chair that may be attached to the desk (not shown) or any conventional non-folding chair. The removed refrigerator 14 can then be used as an additional surface to rest items upon, and in effect serve as a small table for the user. Electrical power for the refrigerator 14 and any other appliances or amenities can be supplied by a power strip 17, mounted to the underside of the top portion 11, or any other area, that can be plugged into an existing power socket. Although not shown, the top portion 11 may also include a bore for the running chords through such as from a computer monitor or speakers to a computer and/or to the power strip 17 as is conventional in the art.
Referring to FIG. 4, shown therein and generally designated by the reference character 10 is the second embodiment of a multifunction desk constructed in accordance with the following description. Again desk 10 comprises a conventional desk shape that includes top portion 11 that is generally used to work upon or set items such as a computer upon, side portions 12 that can be used for storage or filing purposes, and a recessed portion 13 that is commonly used as the seating location of the user. The desk 10 may also include a second recessed portion 13a as shown but it is contemplated that only one recessed portion is required for the practicing of the disclosure. In this embodiment a water dispensing unit 21 is incorporated into a side portion 12 of the desk 10. The water dispensing unit 21 includes at least one tap 23 for the actual dispensing of the water or any liquid that may be used, a source bottle 22 such as a five gallon jug, and transferring tubes 24 to carry the water from the source bottle to the tap. Water is transferred from the source bottle 22 to the tap 23 by relying on the force of gravity to create the pressure. As shown in FIG. 4, the source bottle 22 is located at position under the top portion 11 so as to maximize workable surface, however, it is further contemplated that the source bottle 22 can be mounted into a bore on the top portion 11 of the desk 10, and then connecting the source bottle 22 to the transferring tubes 24 and then to the tap 23 (not shown). Additionally, the source bottle 22 may be connected directly to the tap 23 without the need of the transferring tubes as is conventional in the art relating to water dispensers. Further still, the water dispensing unit 21 may also include a water filtering system 25 for the filtering of particulates in the water and a heating and cooling system 26 so that the taps 23 can dispense heated an/or chilled water. Both the filtering system 25 and heating and cooling system 26 are common in the art. Again, as described above, electrical power for the heating and cooling system 26 can be supplied by a power strip 17 mounted to the underside of the top portion 11, or any other area, that can be plugged into an existing power socket. Finally, a cup dispensing unit 27 may be fixedly attached to a side portion 12 of the desk 10.
Referring to FIG. 5, shown therein and generally designated by the reference character 10 is the third embodiment of a multifunction desk constructed in accordance with the following description. In this embodiment the refrigerator 14 and water dispensing unit 21, as fully described above, are both incorporated into the desk 10.
Referring to FIG. 6, shown therein and generally designated by the reference character 10 is the fourth embodiment of a multifunction desk constructed in accordance with the following description. In this embodiment a freezer unit 28 is incorporated into a side portion 12 of the desk 10. The freezer unit 28 includes a handle 29 to allow for the opening of the freezer door. Further, the freezer unit can be supplied with a water source such as the source bottle 22 and the transferring tubes 24, to supply an ice making unit 31 of the freezer unit 28 as is conventional in the art. The ice making unit 31 may be located in the interior of the freezer unit 28; however, it is particularly preferred to have an ice dispensing unit 30, as is conventional in the art, located on the exterior of the freezer unit 28. Again, as described above, electrical power for the freezer unit 28 can be supplied by a power strip 17 mounted to the underside of the top portion 11, or any other area, that can be plugged into an existing power socket. Also, as described above, a filtering system 25 may be used to filter particulates from the water before it reaches the ice maker located in the freezer unit 28.
Finally, referring to FIG. 7, shown therein and generally designated by the reference character 10 is the fifth embodiment of a multifunction desk constructed in accordance with the following description. In this embodiment the refrigerator 14, water dispensing unit 21, and freezer unit 28, as fully described above, are all incorporated into the desk 10.
While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A multifunction desk comprising:

a desk portion including a top portion, side portions, and at least one recessed portion; and

refrigerator means removeably adaptable to said recessed portion.

2. The desk of claim 1 wherein the refrigerator means is removeably adaptable to said recessed portion through the use of tracking means.

3. The desk of claim 2 wherein the desk portion further comprises a power strip.

4. The desk of claim 3 wherein the desk portion further comprises water dispensing means incorporated into at least one side portion.

5. The desk of claim 4 wherein the water dispensing means further comprises water filtering means.

6. The desk of claim 5 wherein the water dispensing means further comprises heating and cooling means.

7. The desk of claim 4 wherein the water dispensing means further comprises heating and cooling means.

8. A multifunction desk comprising:

water dispensing means incorporated into at least one side portion.

9. The desk of claim 8 wherein the water dispensing means further comprises water filtering means.

10. The desk of claim 9 wherein the desk portion further comprises refrigerator means removeably adaptable to said recessed portion.

11. The desk of claim 10 wherein the desk portion further comprises a power strip.

12. The desk of claim 11 wherein the water dispensing means further comprises heating and cooling means.

13. The desk of claim 8 wherein the desk portion further comprises a power strip.

14. The desk of claim 13 wherein the water dispensing means further comprises heating and cooling means.

15. A multifunction desk comprising:

a desk portion including a top portion and side portions and at least one recessed portion;

refrigerator means removeably adaptable to said recessed portion;

water dispensing means incorporated into at least one side portion; and

freezer means adapted into at least one side portion.

16. The desk of claim 15 wherein the desk portion further comprises a power strip.

17. The desk of claim 16 wherein the refrigerator means is removeably adaptable to said recessed portion through the use of tracking means.

18. The desk of claim 17 wherein the freezer means further includes ice making means.

19. The desk of claim 18 wherein the ice making means includes ice dispensing means located on exterior of said freezer means.

20. The desk of claim 19 wherein the water dispensing means further comprises water filtering means.