Office furniture abstract
An office furniture desk arrangement for providing a CRT work station,
in which the desk includes a desk top that along the front of the
desk defines a broad and flat work surfacing that extends between
the sides of the desk under which a computer keyboard may be retractably
mounted, and that along the back of the desk extends a relatively
narrow trackway that also extends essentially between the sides
of the desk, the upper surfacing of which is in substantial coplanar
relation with the desk work surfacing. Underlying the desk top trackway
is an easily excessed horizontal trough for concealing electrical
wiring, with the trackway shiftably mounting a carriage for movement
therealong that includes a rear casing that is roller equipped for
riding along the trackway cantilever mounted fashion, and a front
casing that is disposed over the desk top work surfacing and is
connected to the rear casing for hand adjustment movement by the
desk user toward and away from the desk user at the front of the
desk. The carriage front casing includes a turntable assembly on
which a CRT or the like can be rested and electrically connected
through the carriage rear casing to wiring disposed in the trough
for connecting same to the computer keyboard and a computer terminal.
The CRT resting on the carriage is thus adjustable for desk user
convenience toward and away from the user, along the length of the
desk work surfacing at its rear, and also can be swivelled.
Office furniture claims
We claim:
1. In an office furniture desk including a generally flat desk
top and leg means for supporting same from a floor in a substantially
horizontal position, with the desk top having oppositely disposed
front and rear portions extending between right and left hand side
portions on either side of the desk top,
the improvement wherein:
the desk top defines along its front portion a wide and flat upwardly
facing work surfacing that extends between its side portions and
rearwardly of the desk top toward the desk top rear portion a major
proportion of the desk top width, and
the desk top defines along its rear portion a narrow trackway that
extends between the desk top side portions with the trackway having
its upper surfacing in substantially coplanar relation with said
work surfacing,
said improvement further including:
a carriage riding on said trackway for movement the length thereof,
said carriage comprising a rear casing member rollably mounted
on said trackway and a front casing member carried by said rear
casing member in overhanging relation to said work surfacing,
means for mounting said front casing on said rear casing for rectilinear
movement forwardly and rearward of said work surfacing with respect
to said rear casing,
said front casing including a turntable assembly defining a rotatable
platform structure on which read out equipment may be rested on
said carriage against gravity,
said turntable assembly comprising:
a swivel mechanism secured to said front casing member defining
a pivot axis that is disposed substantially normally of the desk
top work surfacing,
said swivel mechanism defining an upper plate member pivotable
about said axis,
a plurality of rectilinear arms carried by said plate member and
disposed to extend substantially radially of said axis and having
like ends of same projecting laterally outwardly of said turntable
assembly,
a cover member overlying the other ends of said arms, and
means for releasably clamping said arm other ends between said
cover member and said plate member,
said arms at the respective like ends each carrying a load support
disc for receiving the read out equipment to be rested on said carriage.
2. The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said load support discs of said arms include means for adjusting
the level of same.
3. The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein:
said releasable clamping means includes means for adjusting said
arms toward and away from said axis when said releasable clamping
means is released for adjusting the position of said support discs
toward and away from said axis.
4. In an office furniture desk including a generally flat desk
top and leg means for supporting same from a floor in a substantially
horizontal position, with the desk top having oppositely disposed
front and rear portions extending between right and left hand side
portions on either side of the desk top,
the improvement wherein:
the desk top defines along its front portion a wide and flat upwardly
facing work surfacing that extends between its side portions and
rearwardly of the desk top toward the desk top rear portion a major
proportion of the desk top width, and
the desk top defines along its rear portion a narrow trackway that
extends between the desk top side portions with the trackway having
its upper surfacing in substantially coplanar relation with said
work surfacing,
said improvement further including:
a carriage riding on said trackway for movement the length thereof,
said carriage comprising a rear casing member rollably mounted
on said trackway and a front casing member carried by said rear
casing member in overhanging relation to said work surfacing,
means for mounting said front casing on said rear casing for rectilinear
movement forwardly and rearward of said work surfacing with respect
to said rear casing,
said front casing including a turntable assembly defining a rotatable
platform structure on which read out equipment may be rested on
said carriage against gravity,
said work surfacing and said trackway extending rectilinearly of
the desk top between said side portions of same,
with said carriage being cantilever mounted on said trackway from
the desk top rear portion,
said trackway being formed to define therealong a rectilinear aperture,
and
including a trough mounted on the desk top below said trackway
for receiving electrical wiring,
said aperture opening into said trough for defining a wire passage
for wiring connection from the trough to equipment that is to rest
on said turntable assembly,
said trackway comprising:
a first rectilinear rollerway disposed along the desk top rear
portion underside,
a second rectilinear rollerway disposed along the desk top forwardly
of but adjacent, said aperture,
said rollerways and said aperture being substantially coextensive
longitudinally of the desk top,
said rear casing journalling a set of first rollers riding on said
first rollerway,
with said rear casing further journalling a set of second rollers
riding on said second rollerway.
5. The improvement set forth in claim 4 wherein:
said trackway rearwardly of said aperture defines a cover for said
trough,
and including means for hingedly mounting said cover to swing upwardly
to open said trough when said carriage is to one side of said cover.
Office furniture description
The present invention is concerned with office furniture desks,
and more particularly, to office furniture desks that are adapted
to provide a functional CRT equipped work station.
Office furniture equipped with, or electrically connected to a
personal computer, and an associated CRT or other computer output
display device, have become popular with the advent of automation
to the professional and business world in general. However, the
benefits of automation in handling data of any kind do require the
personal computer or its equivalent and a readout system for the
computer, frequently a CRT or its equivalent, which equipment all
too frequently occupies needed work space on the desk top, which
detracts from the work space available to the desk user and his
station at the front of the desk. Furthermore, the desk designs
available that contemplate the use of such equipment therewith seem
to be designed from the approach that the desk user must adjust
himself to the automation equipment that the desk is equipped with,
rather than vice versa with consequent desk user inconvenience and
resulting difficulties in accomplishing the work objectives.
A principal object of this invention is to provide an office furniture
desk arrangement that is adapted to provide a functional CRT (or
its equivalent) equipped work station, that is devised from the
standpoint that the desk use is at maximum convenience to the desk
user occupying the usual work station position at the front of the
desk, insofar as the desk work space on top of the desk and adjustability
of automation equipment provided by the desk, are concerned.
Another principal object of the invention is to provide a functional
CRT (or its equivalent) work station providing office furniture
desk arrangement, in which the desk top provides maximized work
space across the front of the desk and between the side edges of
the desk, and a trackway arrangement along the rear or back of the
desk, equipped with a carriage for a computer output visual display
unit, that permits maximum adjustability of same across the length
of the desk, forwardly and rearwardly of the desk, and rotationally,
to the desk user at the front of the desk.
Yet another principal object of the invention is to provide an
automation oriented office furniture desk having a top defining
a maximized work surfacing for the desk user occupying the usual
or normal user position at the front of the desk, and provides a
mounting arrangement for a computer output visual display unit (such
as a CRT or its equivalent) that provides for location of the visual
display unit over the desk top work surfacing without resting on
it, and maximizes the adjustability of the positioning of same,
for the desk user's convenience, along the length of the desk, forwardly
and rearwardly of the desk, and rotationally or pivotwise, as well.
Still another important object of the invention is to provide,
in an automation oriented desk, a desk top trackway and associated
carriage arrangement and CRT support therefor, that contemplates
maximized sizing adjustability of the carriage support that is to
accept, gravity rest fashion, CRT and related equipment of variant
sizes and makes, that permits maximized desk user adjustment of
the position of the CRT (or equivalent equipment employed) over
and along the desk work surfacing with respect to the front of the
desk, that permits ready application of and removal from, the CRT
(or equivalent equipment employed) with regard to the carriage,
and that permits ready hand application of to, and removal from
the desk, of the carriage with respect to the desk trackway and
at any location along the length of the trackway.
In accordance with the present invention, an office furniture desk
adapted to create a functional CRT type work station is provided
that includes a generally flat desk top and leg means for supporting
same from a floor in a substantially horizontal position; the desk
top arrangement itself is provided along its front portion, where
the user of the desk is to sit or be stationed, with a wide and
flat upwardly facing work surfacing that extends between the sides
of the desk and rearwardly of the desk top from its front portion
toward the desk rear portion a major proportion of the desk top
width, with the desk top also defining along its rear or back portion
a relatively narrow trackway that extends substantially between
the desk top sides, with the desk top trackway having its upper
surfacing in substantially coplanar relation with the desk top work
surfacing. Riding on the trackway in accordance with the invention
is a carriage that is mounted for movement the length of the trackway,
and thus between the side edges of the desk, with the carriage including
a rear casing member rotatably mounted on the desk top trackway
and a front casing member carried by the carriage rear casing member
in overhanging relation to the desk top work surfacing. The carriage
front casing is adjustably secured to the carriage rear casing member
by telescoping linkage type connectors to provide for rectilinear
movement of the carriage front casing forwardly and rearwardly of
the work surfacing, with the carriage front casing including a turntable
assembly disposed thereon in essentially horizontal position, defining
a rotatable platform structure on which the visual read out equipment
for a computer, such as a CRT, or its equivalent, may be applied
to the carriage by resting same on the turntable platform under
gravity.
The adjustable carriage for the CRT or its equivalent is cantilever
mounted on the trackway from the rear or back of the desk, and is
arranged so that the carriage can be applied to and removed from
the desk trackway when the CRT or its equivalent is not on or has
been removed from the carriage. The desk trackway is formed to define
therealong an elongate rectilinear aperture, with the desk top including
a horizontal trough mounted on the underside of the desk top below
the trackway for receiving and masking or hiding electrical wiring
that is required to connect the CRT or its equivalent to the computer
keyboard and other computer components as well as the source of
electrical energy involved, with the rear casing including an aperture
aligned with the desk top aperture, through both of which the wiring
to the CRT or its equivalent extends, whereby such wiring below
the desk read out carriage is automatically positioned as needed
relative to the CRT or its equivalent as the carriage is moved or
adjusted relative to the desk top.
The desk top arrangement provided by the invention makes the desk
top work surfacing totally usable by the worker at the front of
the desk, with the visual read out equipment of the computer mounted
at the rear of the desk, and yet the arrangement involved permits
the desk user to bring into easy viewing range, both forwardly and
rearwardly of the desk top work surfacing and pivotally or rotationally
about a vertical axis. The computer keyboard for the desk is located
under the desk top applied to a retractable support assembly for
movement between and under the desk retracted position and an exposed
operative position at the front of the desk, as the desk user needs
to use the computer keyboard.
Other objects, uses and advantages will be obvious or become apparent
from a consideration of the following detailed description and the
application drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like
parts throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one embodiment of
the invention, taken from the front side (the side where the worker
or desk user normally sits) and left hand end of the desk top, and
from above same, with the desk top supporting conventional panel
legs being shown in phantom, and a desk top underside computer keyboard
conventional mounting arrangement being shown in phantom in the
keyboard operating position of same at the front of the desk, and
with the desk top computer visual readout support carriage shown
in one position of adjustment with respect to the desk top (the
computer visual readout equipment involved, such as a CRT, being
omitted);
FIG. 2 is similar to that of FIG. 1 but taken from the front and
right hand end of the desk top, and above same;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the desk top, showing the computer
visual display equipment support carriage in full lines, and several
variant positions of adjustment of same in phantom;
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the desk top
and the computer visual read out display support carriage therefor,
as viewed along line 4--4 of FIG. 3 showing also in outline the
location of the extendible and retractable computer keyboard assembly
underneath the desk top; and
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the computer
visual read out display unit carriage assembly, with the front and
rear carriage casings and their telescoping connective slide assemblies
being shown in broken line form and the carriage assembly front
casing turntable assembly being shown in exploded relation.
However, it is to be distinctly understood that the specific drawing
illustrations are supplied primarily to comply with the requirements
of the Patent Laws, and that the invention is susceptible of variations
and modifications that are intended to be covered by the appended
claims.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Reference numeral 10 of FIGS. 1-4 generally indicates an office
furniture desk arranged in accordance with the basic principles
of the invention, comprising a desk top structure or unit 12 including
desk top 14 having a front edging 16 where the desk user is seated
or stationed, a back or rear edging 18 that is on the opposite side
of the front edging 16 and the usual right and left side edgings
20 and 22 that define the ends of the desk 10. The desk top is conventionally
supported from the floor by conventional left and right panel legs
13 and 15 (that are shown in phantom).
In accordance with the invention, the desk top 14 is of generally
parallel quadrilateral configuration defining along the front of
the desk a front downwardly beveled continuous edge surfacing 24
that forms the front perimeter of the wide and flat upwardly facing
work surfacing 26 that is of generally quadrilateral configuration
and extends the length of the desk top 14. The work surfacing 26
extends rearwardly of the desk top a major proportion of its width,
to the rectilinear rear edging 28 of same, with the desk top 14
defining along the back or rear of the desk a trackway 30 that is
also rectilinear in configuration and extends the length of the
desk top 14 and along the back or rear of same, and extends forwardly
of the desk top to adjacent the rear perimeter 28 of the desk top
work surfacing 26. The trackway 28 of the illustrated embodiment
defines upper surfacings 32 along the lengths of same that are in
substantial coplanar relation with the desk top work surfacing 26.
The trackway 30 along the rear edging 18 of the desk top defines
downwardly beveled continuous edge surfacing 34 that visually complements
and has the opposite angulation of the front beveled edge surfacing
24 (see FIG. 4).
Underlying the trackway 30 is a horizontal trough 36 that is adapted
to contain and mask the electric wiring with which the desk 10 is
associated in providing a CRT (or its equivalent) work station.
Mounted in underlying relation to the desk top 14 is diagrammatically
illustrated computer keyboard 38 shown for illustrative purposes
connected to the underside of the desk by conventional vertical
swing pivot mechanism 40 for swinging movement (about a vertical
axis 41) of the computer keyboard 38 from the extended position
of FIGS. 1 and 2 for operation by the desk user at the front of
the desk, and the retracted position indicated in broken lines in
FIG. 4 in which the keyboard is disposed in retracted position
under the desk top 14. The keyboard 38 may also be pivotally connected
to its pivoting support 43 for pivotal adjustment movement about
vertical axis 45 (in any suitable manner), for convenience of adjustment
by the desk user.
Operatively mounted on the trackway 30 is carriage 44 for movement
the length of the desk 10 as indicated in FIG. 3 with the carriage
44 itself comprising rear casing 46 that is cantilever mounted on
the desk top 14 on the trickway 30 in the manner indicated in FIG.
4 a front casing 48 that is disposed in overlying relation to the
desk top 14 (see FIG. 4), and that is connected to and supported
by the carriage rear casing 46 by conventional spaced telescoping
ball bearing slide assemblies 50 and 52 for movement of the carriage
front casing 48 between the extended relation shown in FIGS. 3 and
5 (note the broken line illustrations), and the contracted relation
shown in FIGS. 1 2 and 4. The carriage front casing 48 has operably
mounted on same a turntable assembly 54 including a plurality of
adjustable support arms 56 58 60 and 62 on which a computer visual
output display unit, such as a CRT or its equivalent, may be rested
for support thereof thereon, as indicated in FIG. 4 wherein a CRT
is shown in outline and is generally indicated by reference numeral
64.
The electrical wiring connecting the computer keyboard 38 and the
CRT 64 or its equivalent, as well as the wiring connecting same
to the computer, computer terminal, and the manner of connecting
these components, may be entirely conventional and forms no part
of the present invention. The term CRT as employed in this disclosure
and appended claims is to have the meaning ascribed to it in the
computer arts, and thus means a device having an electronic screen
for display of data and images; other terms applied to such devices
are, for example, TV, monitor, and video display.
As indicated in FIG. 4 the carriage rear casing 44 defines downwardly
beveled edge surfacing 47 while the front casing 48 defines forward
downwardly beveled edge surfacing 49. It is a feature of the illustrated
embodiment of the invention that the carriage rear casing surfacing
47 complement the rear edging 34 of the desk top 14 and the carriage
forward edge surface 49 complement the front edge surfacing 24
for aesthetic purposes.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
The desk top supporting panel legs 13 and 15 that are illustrated
may be of any conventional arrangement, such as that disclosed in
Beaver U.S. Pat. No. 3809449 and secured to the ends of the desk
top 14 represented by edgings 22 and 23 by clips and suitable nut
and bolt assemblies, as disclosed in said patent. The panel leg
assemblies 13 and 15 are conveniently equipped with conventional
leveling glides 80 to enable the user to "level" his desk
so that the work surfacing 26 is horizontally disposed or essentially
so.
As indicated in FIG. 4 the desk top 14 itself comprises a planar
sheet 82 reinforced by suitable stiffeners that extend the length
of the desk with the sheet 82 having its ends turned over the ends
of stiffeners 84 at the ends of the desk and suitably fixed thereto
to define the desk side edgings 20 and 22. While the top surfacing
defining sheeting 82 and the stiffeners 84 may be provided in various
ways, the top sheet 82 is preferably a laminated sheeting of which
the work surfacing forming the top surfacing of same is defined
by a suitable plastic material that is suitably laminated to an
undersheeting of sheet metal, to which the stiffener wings 86 are
suitably affixed as by employing spot welding techniques or the
like. The top 14 at the front of the desk has fixed to same front
edge forming member 88 that is shaped to define a continuation 89
of the work surfacing 26 the downwardly angled edge surfacing 24
and the front side surfacing 16. Member 88 is formed to define under
flange 90 that is suitably affixed to the turned under flange 92
of the desk top, as by employing suitable spot welding techniques.
The shaping of the member 88 on its underside is arranged to provide
hand grip opening 94 that extends along the length of the desk,
to permit the user of the desk to appropriately grasp the desk and
pull the desk toward him if so desired, sliding the desk as a unit
over its floor supporting surface on which glides 80 rest.
The computer keyboard 38 its pivotal connection 40 and its support
43 with which is is associated are suitably mounted on the underside
of the desk top 14 and in any suitable manner using conventional
components.
The horizontal trough 36 is of elongate quadrilateral transverse
cross-sectional configuration (see FIG. 4) comprising a fabricated
receptacle 100 including a front side wall 102 and a rear side wall
104 that are joined by end walls 106 and 108. (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
Depending from either end of the horizontal trough 36 and suitably
fixed theretoare suitable vertical troughs 110 and 112 that provide
additional wiring space and also provide rigid means for fixing
the respective panel legs 13 and 15 to the desk in any suitable
manner.
As indicated in FIG. 4 the horizontal trough 36 underlies the
trackway 30 and in the illustrated embodiment the horizontal trough
forming front and rear walls are either formed or connected to the
rest of the desk top to define the roller rideways that the carriage
44 is rollably mounted on, cantilever fashion.
Thus, the back or rear wall 104 of the horizontal trough includes
a rearwardly extending wing 110 that is secured to the fabricated
elongate desk top rear member 112 employing screw assemblies 114
and 116 that are disposed in rows extending longitudinally of the
desk and spaced apart transversely of the desk so that the wing
110 defines rollerway 118 on the underside of the desk top 14 on
which the carriage 44 rides in the manner indicated FIG. 4.
The fabricated member 112 is formed to define the desk top downwardly
beveled edging 34 and the desk top rear edging 16 as well as top
wall 120 and upright wall 122. The top wall 120 defines the upper
surfacing 32 that forms a part of the trackway surfacing which is
in coplanar relation with the forwardly located work surfacing 26
of the desk top. The upright wall 122 also supports a pair of covers
128 that are disposed in end to end relation along the length of
the desk and are mounted in place by employing suitable leaf hinges
130 (see FIG. 4), that may be of the conventional piano leaf hinge
type, so that the covers 128 are normally supported in their horizontally
disposed positions indicated in FIG. 4 but swing upwardly and rearwardly
of the desk 10 to expose the interior of the trough 36 when the
carriage 44 is disposed to one side or free of same, or is removed
from the desk.
The forward wall 102 of the trough 36 is formed to define forwardly
extending wing 132 along the length thereof, which is downwardly
indented as at 134 in a manner paralleling the rollerway 118 to
define an upwardly facing rollerway 136 along the length of the
desk top 10 that also forms a mounting rideway for the carriage
44 as will be described hereinafter.
In the form shown, an elongate fabricated member 138 is suitably
affixed to the wing 132 as by employing spot welding techniques,
with the member 138 being formed to define the upwardly facing surfacing
32 thereof that serves the same purposes as surfacing 32 of member
112 and angled wall 142 which, together with the edging 144 of
the respective covers 128 define elongate rectilinear gap 146 that
is open to the interior of the horizontal trough 36.
Mounted in reinforcing relation to the fabricated member 138 and
the rearwardly angled over end portion 148 of the top surfacing
defining sheet 82 is the elongate trough member 150 (see FIG. 4)
applied along the downwardly indented portion 134 of the horizontal
trough forward wing 142 with the trough member defining wings 152
and 154 that are secured in place in any suitable manner to the
underturned portion of the sheet 82 and the wing 132 as by employing
suitable screw assemblies 155 or the like. The wing 132 and the
trough member 140 extend the length of the desk top 10 and the
rear end 148 of the sheet 82 and the member 138 are spaced apart
for the purpose of adding depth to the rollerway 136 as indicated
in FIG. 4.
Turning more specifically to the desk carriage 44 itself, the rear
casing 46 comprises a dished housing or shell 160 (see FIG. 5) formed
from a suitable metallic material, such as aluminum and defining
planar top wall 162 the beveled edge surfacing 47 planar end walls
164 and 166 rear wall 168 and forward or front wall 170 with the
rear wall 168 being integral with a depending reinforced shelf structure
172 that extends under the open side 174 of the shell or housing
160 and defines upright wall 176 on which are journalled in coplanar
vertical relation two sets 178 and 180 of identical rollers 182
that are to ride on the underside of the trough wing 110 namely
in and a long rollerway 118 as indicated in FIG. 4.
The forward or front wall 170 of the shell 160 within the shell
160 relation journals two sets 184 and 186 of rollers which each
comprise identical rollers 188 that are also identical to the rollers
182.
As indicated in FIG. 4 the sets of rollers 178 and 180 are in
coplanar relation vertically as well as horizontally, with the horizontal
level of the individual rollers 182 of the sets of rollers 178 and
180 being below the level of the corresponding sets of rollers 184
and 186. The rollers 188 of the sets of rollers 184 and 186 are
also in coplanar relation vertically and horizontally, with their
axes of rotation being disposed above the level of the axes of rotation
of the respective rollers 182 to provide for the cantilever type
mounting of the carriage 44 on the rear of the desk that is contemplated
by the present invention, with the rollers 188 of the roller sets
184 and 186 riding in the rollerway 152 that is disposed on the
upwardly facing side of the desk top 14.
In the diagrammatic showing of FIG. 5 the carriage rear casing
46 and front casing 48 are shown in broken lines to better bring
out such component parts as the sets of rollers 178 180 184 and
186 of the rear casing 46.
The shell or housing 160 is also formed so that its top wall 162
defines elongate aperture 190 through which the wiring from the
trough 36 to the CRT or its equivalent passes when the CRT 64 or
its equivalent is applied to the carriage 44 in the manner indicated
in FIG. 4. The aperture 190 also permits an individual to insert
one hand therethrough to grasp the carriage 44 for application of
same and removal of same to and from the trackway 30 as will be
later described.
The housing or shell 160 in its forward wall 170 also defines a
pair of windows 192 and 194 through which mentioned commercially
available telescoping antifriction slides 50 and 52 extend. Each
assembly 50 and 52 includes an outer rigid member 200 of C shaped
transverse cross section suitably fixed to the shell or housing
160 inside same, as by being affixed employing suitable attachments
to angle members 202 (see FIG. 4) that are in turn secured to the
rear casing 46 by suitable fasteners 204 with the members 200 projecting
from the respective windows 192 194 and forwardly of the rear casing
46 a predetermined amount. The assemblies 50 and 52 may be the commercial
telescoping slide assembly offered by Waterloo Metal Stamping Ltd.
of Kitchner, Ontario, Canada as its slide Part No. 182-234 or some
other suitable equivalent antifriction slide type mounting assembly.
The rear casing at the portion of its side walls 164 and 166 to
be aligned with fabricated member 112 (see FIG. 4) is provided with
a button type glide member 205 formed from nylon or the like, to
avoid marring the surfacing 32 of member 112 when applying and removing
the carriage 44 with respect to the desk 10.
The front casing 48 comprises a housing or shell 210 defining a
top wall 212 having a downwardly indented center floor portion 214
side walls 216 and 218 depending rear wall 220 (see FIG. 4), and
forward wall structure 222 that is shaped to define the beveled
edge surfacing 49 and upright front end wall 224 as well as elongated
indentation or notch 226 that forms a hand hold 228 for the desk
user working in front of the desk 10 to grasp the front casing 48
and move it as needed toward and away from the rear casing 46 to
adjust the CRT 64 or its equivalent that is carried by the carriage
44 to the user's convenience in viewing same, as when the computer
keyboard 38 is in use.
The shell or housing 210 is open as at 230 on its underside (see
FIG. 4) and has applied to the indented shell portion 214 on its
underside a mounting plate 232 that defines depending flanges 234
on either side of same that extend forwardly and rearwardly of the
desk. Mounted on top of the shell indented portion 14 is the base
plate 236 of swivel assembly 238 that preferably is of the commercially
available unit offered by the Waterloo Metal Stamping Ltd. Company
that is identified hereinbefore as that company's swivel part No.
182-275.
The plate 232 which mounts the channel members 201 of the indicated
commercially available antifriction slide assemblies 50 and 52 to
the front casing 48 and base plate 236 are conveniently secured
in place by suitable fasteners 240 that clamp these members to either
side of the front casing indented floor portion 214 in the manner
indicated in FIG. 4.
The front casing 48 is formed along its rear wall 220 with windows
241 opposing the rear casing windows 192 and 194 through which the
C section members 201 of the respective assemblies 50 and 52 pass,
with their ends inside the casing 48 being suitably affixed to the
respective flanges 234 of the mounting plate 232 as by employing
suitable fasteners 244.
The respective slide assemblies 50 and 52 are each equipped with
an antifriction bearing ball equipped separate sled forming member
(not shown) that connects the respective rigid members 200 and 201
of the respective assemblies 50 together for smooth telescoping
movement, whereby the front and rear casings 46 and 48 when assembled
together as indicated, are mounted for movement toward each other
(the limit of which is when the end wall 220 of casing 48 is in
substantial engagement with the forward wall 170 of the casing 46);
movement of the respective casings 46 and 48 in the opposite direction
is likewise accommodated, to the extent, for the application of
the devices 50 and 52 as shown, indicated by the phantom positions
of the carriage 44 shown in FIG. 3. Other forms of telescoping slide
support devices of any conventional make may be employed to serve
the functions of conventional assemblies 50 and 52.
The swivel unit 238 also includes upper swivel plate 248 that in
the commercial assembly 238 are joined together at the centers 237
and 249 of the of these plates by a suitable rivet structure (not
shown). Base plate 236 is conventionally formed with a circular
raceway 250 in which a number of bearing balls 252 are applied,
and swivel plate 248 defines a similar raceway (not shown) that
opens downwardly when plates 236 and 248 are secured together at
their centers 237 and 249 (by suitable riveting in the commercial
unit), with the swivel unit 238 being assembled so that the upper
plate 248 is biased against the ball bearings 252 (that ride within
the raceway of plate 248), which are thus biased against the base
plate 236 (in the assembled relation of unit 238). Thus, the indicated
raceways of the plates 236 and 248 are in concentric, congruent
relation about the axial centers of the respective plates 236 and
248 with bearing balls 252 riding therein. The plates 236 and 248
are preferably provided with cooperating bumpers 260 and 261 one
of which is shown at 260 on plate 236 in FIG. 5 to prevent the
swivel unit 238 from being swung more than 360 degrees (for instance,
limit the pivotal movement to approximately 355 degrees) about pivot
axis 55 of the turntable assembly 54 (to avoid winding up of the
CRT connecting cable on turntable assembly 54 by excess rotation
thereof).
As indicated in FIG. 5 the swivel plate 248 adjacent each of its
corners is provided with an upstanding stud 262 that may be conveniently
provided by applying conventional weld nuts 263 to plate 248 at
the corner locations indicated, utilizing suitable spot welding
techniques. In any event, the respective studs 262 have applied
to same the respective arms 56 58 60 and 62 in the manner suggested
in the drawings, with the top plate 264 of the turntable assembly
54 being secured to the respective threaded bores 265 defined by
the weld nuts forming studs 262 by suitable Allen head type screw
connectors 266 with the securement involved being such that the
indicated turntable assembly arms 56 58 60 and 62 are securely
clamped between the plates 248 and 264.
The respective arms 56 58 60 and 62 are of identical structure,
and as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 they each comprise an elongate
member 270 of suitable metallic composition defining planar upper
and lower surfaces 272 and 274 an elongate adjustment aperture
276 at their respective ends 278 that extends through the respective
arms, and an internally threaded aperture 280 at their respective
ends 282. Each arm threaded aperture 280 threadedly receives the
threaded shank 283 of the leveler disc 284 that is suitably fixed
to its shank 287 and has its upper surfacing 284 indented to receive
a cushioning disc 286 formed from a suitable foam material that
is suitably bonded to the leveler disc 284.
The respective arms 56 58 60 and 62 as applied to the turntable
assembly 54 have their respective apertures 276 received over the
studs 262 with the ends 278 of the respective arms being directed
generally toward the pivot axis 55 of the turntable assembly 54
and the other ends 282 of the respective arms being outwardly directed,
as indicated in FIGS. 1-3. Loosening of the threaded connectors
266 permits the respective arms 56 58 60 and 62 to be moved inwardly
or outwardly to adjust the respective arms inwardly or outwardly
so that their cushions 286 will all support a CRT unit or the like,
with the leveler discs 284 being threaded relative to the respective
arms as needed to support the CRT unit or the like on same substantially
level and without tilting. The threaded connectors 266 are then
tightened down in place to firmly clamp the respective arms between
the plates 264 and 248 and specifically clamp the plates 264 and
248 against the respective arm surfaces 270 and 274 to hold such
arms in adjusted position.
Assuming a desk 10 is provided having the desk top 214 arranged
as indicated, the carriage 44 may be applied thereto by bringing
the front and rear casings 46 and 48 into juxtaposition, as by the
installer using one hand applied through hand hold forming aperture
190 of the rear casing, and the other hand grasping the rear casing
depending lug portion 172 at its exterior 182 with the fingers of
that hand reaching into the underside of same as needed; the installer
in installing the carriage 44 maneuvers the carriage 44 to first
apply the rollers of the respective sets of rollers 178 and 180
to the desk top rollerway 118 and then rest the rollers 188 of
the respective roller sets 184 and 186 on the rollerway 136. The
wiring connection for the CRT or other equivalent visual read out
mechanism is then brought through the rear casing aperture 190 and
suitably connected to the CRT or the like using conventional wiring
techniques.
Assuming that the computer keyboard 38 is also electrically connected
conventionally to the wiring of trough 36 that is in turn conventionally
connected to a computer terminal or the like, the user of the desk
when using the computer keyboard 38 may pivot it out from under
the desk top 14 and adjust the CRT unit 64 or its equivalent over
the desk top work spacing 26 and in a position to be in for viewing
by the desk user, with exemplary positions being indicated by the
showing of FIG. 3. Thus, the carriage 44 may be moved the length
of the desk along the trackway 30 with the front casing 48 adjacent
the rear casing 46 or pulled forwardly thereof, as desired by the
desk user, and over the desk work surfacing 26 with the turntable
assembly 54 also being pivotable about its axis 55 to angle the
CRT unit 64 or its equivalent) as desired by the desk user, relative
to the carriage front casing 48 (one condition of adjustment of
this type is shown in FIG. 3). To effect this adjustment, the desk
user need only grasp one of the outwardly extending arms of the
turntable assembly 54 such as one of the arms 58 or 60 in the showing
of FIG. 3 to effect the pivoting action of the turntable assembly
that is desired.
Should it become desirable to remove the carriage 44 from the desk
top 14 after the CRT unit or its equivalent has been disconnected
and removed from the turntable assembly 54 the desk user or some
other person can remove the carriage by himself by reversing the
application procedure previously described for applying the carriage
44 to the desk top 14. This involves first placing the front casing
48 in substantial abutting relation with the rear casing 46 and
then placing one hand within hand hold opening 190 and the other
hand on the exterior of the rear casing depending lug structure
172 with his fingers of that hand reaching into the underside of
same as needed, then tilting the carriage 44 to the right of FIGS.
4 and 2 to lift the rollers of the roller sets 184 and 186 free
from the rollerway 136 and then shifting the carriage 44 downwardly
as needed to remove the roller sets 178 and 180 from the rollerway
114 after which the carriage can be shifted to the right of FIG.
4 to free it entirely from the desk top 14.
It will thus be seen that the desk 10 has its top 14 and carriage
44 therefor delineated to maximize the work surfacing 26 along the
length and width of the desk top, while providing a trackway 30
for cantilever mounting on the rear of the desk the carriage 44
that is arranged to support a CRT assembly or its equivalent by
merely resting same on the turntable assembly 54 thereof, with the
carriage front casing and its turntable assembly being disposed
above and positioned for movement along and over the maximized work
surfacing 26 from one end of the desk top to the other. Not only
is the CRT unit or its equivalent fully adjustable positionwise,
by the desk user, forwardly and rearwardly of the desk top, but
the CRT device or its equivalent may be pivotally adjusted about
the turntable pivot axis 55 to suit the desk user's convenience,
regardless of where he may be positioned along the length of the
front side of the desk. The application of the computer keyboard
38 underneath the desk top for movement to the outwardly disposed
work position of FIG. 1 from an inwardly disposed retracted position
illustrated by the phantom showing of FIG. 4 keeps the computer
keyboard available for use when needed, but serves as another means
for freeing up the work spacing 26 for full use by the desk user.
The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to
explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not to
be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so
limited, since those skilled in the art who have the disclosure
before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein
without departing from the scope of the invention. |