WO2001050913A1

WO2001050913A1 - Worktable structure provided with functional members

Info

Publication number: WO2001050913A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/013372
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno Fattorini
Original assignee: Mdf Srl
Priority date: 2000-01-12
Filing date: 2000-12-28
Publication date: 2001-07-19
Also published as: ITMI20000011V0; ITMI20000011U1; IT249693Y1

Abstract

A worktable (10) comprises a frame (14) provided with means (22, 24) for cable transit and addressing and fastening means modularly arranged for fastening to the frame (14) various equipment members, such as drawer containers (26), file carriers (28), computer cabinets (52), keyboard trays (60) and the like.

Description

"WORKTABLE STRUCTURE PROVIDED WITH FUNCTIONAL

MEMBERS"

The present invention refers to a worktable equipped so as to operate as office desk and in particular for computerized offices. Since many years the computerization of workplaces in offices imposed the use of desks which, besides to be provided with a writing top, various drawers, file carriers and the like, have also to house personal computers (PC), keyboards, displays and similar fittings for expediting office works carried out on computers working either alone, or network connected with other computers. This fact has been initially faced in a simple way by placing on part of the top o f a desk a computer and, possibly, associated peripheral units.

This approach is valid just when the top of the desk is so wide to house all the fittings connected to the computer, leaving however a wide enough space for unavoidable operations to be hand executed, such as signature of documents, record of notes and reports, hand amendments of texts and the like.

Another problem arising with the installation of a computer on a desk is the encumbrance due to the cables having to connect the computer to all the peripheral units and, possibly, to data processing networks.

It arises the need of worktables, to be provided with modular fittings, usable as centres suited to any need of the user.

The above mentioned need is met by a table according to the present invention consisting of a first frame, which is a support of an abutment top and is supported by four legs, characterized by consisting of two portions, a front one and a rear one, the rear portion being formed by a box-like gutter containing rails for cables parallel arranged with respect to the longer sides of the frame and further characterized in that the front portion is provided with rails, placed into modular positions, suited to receive containers to be fastened to the frame into the space comprised among the support legs.

The features of the present invention will be particularly pointed in the claims forming the conclusive portion of the present disclosure. However, other features and advantages of the invention will result from the present description provided with the enclosed drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a worktable according to the present invention having under side fastened a three drawer container and a file container; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first four drawer container;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second four drawer container having a larger width with respect to the container of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a third one drawer container with a file carrier;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fourth one drawer container with a file carrier having a larger width with respect to the container of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a first computer cabinet of the kind to be horizontally arranged;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second computer cabinet of the kind to be vertically arranged; and - Figure 8 is a perspective view of a slidable keyboard tray of the kind disappearing under the table top.

Looking first at Figure 1, it is seen a table 10 according to the present invention provided with an abutment top 12, and a frame 14, supporting the top 12 and supported by four legs 16a to 16d. The frame 14 is, in turn, divided in a front portion 18, consisting of two beams, arranged in accordance with the longer side of the table, and a rear portion 20, consisting of a gutter, carrying a plurality of raceways 22 and 24, fastened along a longer side thereof to hinges (not shown) and along the opposed longer side fastened by means, such as screws, bolts or the like so that to tilt the gutter, to have thereto access, or carry it into the operating position shown in Figure 1.

To the front portion 18 of the frame 14 may be fastened a great plurality of fitting members, such as a three drawer container 26, or a file carrier 28. These containers are provided with upper rails 30, 32 to be engaged in corresponding lower rails fastened to the two beams of the front portion 18 of the frame. Of course, the worktable, according to the present invention, is suited to carry other fitting members, different from those depicted in Figure 1, and depicted in Figures 2 to 8.

Looking subsequently, Figure 2 depicts a first four drawer container 36 upper provided with rails 38 to be engaged by the rails fastened to the beams of the first portion 18 of the frame. Figure 3 depicts a second four drawer container 40 upper provided with rails 42 to be engaged by the rails fastened to the beams of the first portion 18 of the frame, the container 40 being provided with drawers larger than the drawers of the container 36 of Figure 2. Figure 4 depicts a first container 44 with drawer and file carrier provided with rails 46. Figure 5 depicts a second container 48 with a drawer and file carrier provided with rails 50, having the container 48 a width larger than the width of the container 44. Figure 6 depicts a computer cabinet 52 with rails 54, of the kind to be horizontally arranged, suited for computers contained in a horizontal box. Figure 7 depicts a computer cabinet 56 with rails 58, of the kind to be vertically arranged, suited for computers contained in a vertical box of the so-called tower kind. At last, Figure 8 depicts a keyboard tray 60, provided with sliding rails 62, suited for housing a computer keyboard, which can come out from the underside of the top 12 of the table 10 or be put away under the same top 12. What has been here above disclosed is just an embodiment of the invention whose scope is defined by the claims appended to this description. Therefore, this description does not have to be considered as limiting said scope, being comprised therein those obvious and equivalent variations to be devised by people skilled in this art from the reading of the description. For example, the gutter 20 does not have to be necessarily tiltable, as could be tiltable the top 12 of the table, or simply the gutter could be fastened by means of screws or plugs to the frame 14. The number of the raceways 22 and 24 can be different from that depicted in the Figure 1 and to the raceways can be added fastening means of cables, such as poles, pins and clamps.

Claims

1. Worktable consisting of a first frame (14), serving as support of an abutment top (12) and sustained by four legs (16a-16d), characterized by consisting of two portions, a front one (18) and a rear one (20), the rear portion (20) being formed by a box-like gutter containing rails (22, 24) for cables parallel arranged with respect to the longer sides of the frame (14); and further characterized in that the front portion (18) is provided with rails, placed into modular positions, suited to receive containers (26, 28 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60) to be fastened to the frame (14) into the space comprised among the support legs (16a-16d).

2. Worktable, as in claim 1, characterized in that the box-like gutter of the second portion (20) of the frame (14) is mounted as tiltable with respect thereto.

3. Worktable, as in claim 1, characterized in that the box-like gutter of the second portion (20) of the frame (14) is thereto fastened in a removable way.

4. Worktable, as in claim 1, characterized in that the box-like gutter of the second portion (20) of the frame (14) is fixed, while the abutment top (12) of the table is tiltable.

5. Worktable, as in preceding claims, characterized in that under the first portion

(18) of the frame (14) are sliding inserted fitting members.

6. Worktable, as in claim 5, characterized in that the fitting members are file carrier containers (26).

7. Worktable, as in claim 5, characterized in that the fitting members are drawer containers (28, 36, 40).

8. Worktable, as in claim 5, characterized in that the fitting members are drawer and file carrier containers (44, 48).

9. Worktable, as in claim 5, characterized in that the fitting members are cabinets for computers (52, 546).

10. Worktable, as in claim 5, characterized in that one of the fitting members is a keyboard tray (60) provided with slidable rails (62) to allow the putting away thereof under the abutment top ( 12) of the table.