Desk With Concealed Wire Storage

The increasing amount of electronic and mechanical equipment used in the office work area presents a problem to the designer of high-quality executive and secretarial furniture employing traditional designs, particularly wood furniture. The maintenance of a clean, classical appearance is a requirement, but is made difficult by the need to accommodate the endless mass of wires, conduits, and other support systems for the communication and computer devices the executive or his secretary must have available at all times. One approach to this problem has been to provide a covered trough in the top of a desk to receive this clutter of items. U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,202 discloses desk and storage units mounted on a metal rail. The storage containers are mounted on a rear side of the rail, and desk work surfaces are mounted at different heights on the front of the rail. When a lower height work surface is employed, the rail protrudes above the height of the work surface along the rear edge of the desk surface. The rail provides a wire storage receptacle with a front-facing slot to admit wires leading to devices in use on the desk. Devices of this nature normally take up desk space, are not compatible with traditional designs, and interfere with the movement and organization of the papers and reference material confronting the executive or his secretary. The present invention has been developed to provide a solution to these problems in a structure that can preserve the appearance of clean, classical design.

A desk incorporates a downwardly extending wire receptacle and conduit running between spaced panels at the rear edges of the desk. In one aspect of the invention, the desk is combined with an integral half-wall structure extending above the level of the desk top and providing space within the wall as the storage receptacle for wires and equipment used on or adjacent the desk. A slot in the wall structure above the desk top is traversed by the wires at selected and movable positions. The top of the wall structure is hinged for the installation access, and defines the top of the slot when the cover is closed. The inner panels forming the wall structure are adapted to support shelves under the desk.

In another aspect of the invention, the spaced panels at the edge of the desk terminate at the surface of the desk. The hinged top is flush with the desk top and the slot is in the horizontal surface of the desk.

In either case, releasable accessory brackets traverse the slots to support devices above the desk, leaving work clearance below them while placing the devices in the best position for use. The accessory brackets connect to a coupling terminal within the half-wall structure that extends parallel to the slot on one of the panels to provide lateral adjustability. An adjustable support foot for each bracket provides vertical position adjustment of the bracket arm. An adjustable support foot on the outer portion of the bracket supports the end of the bracket arm on the desk surface and can be adjusted to vary the level of the bracket arm above the desk. A tubular support on the end of the bracket engages and supports a number of different accessories.

These and other features of the present invention are described in detail below in connection with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk in a U-shaped configuration, with the half-wall structure extending above the desk surface around three sides.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a tack board as an accessory installation in conjunction with the desk.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a group of four half-wall modules connected together around part of the periphery of a desk surface.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a book shelf as an accessory installed on a desk embodying this invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the installation of shelves underneath the desk surface, supported by the half-wall structure.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show successive views in section, illustrating the installation and securing of a bracket for supporting a desk accessory.

FIG. 9 shows the invention incorporated in an L-shaped desk, along both sides.

FIG. 10 shows a U-shaped desk, with the invention incorporated along the closed side.

FIG. 11 shows an L-shaped desk, with the invention incorporated along one side only.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the desk and storage unit of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is sectional side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the FIG. 12 embodiment of the present invention showing the manner in which the accessory bracket is mounted in a storage tunnel at the rear of the desk.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a side elevation of the storage tunnel and the manner in which the mounting bracket is mounted in the tunnel.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the storage tunnel of the FIG. 12 embodiment, showing the bracket mounted on the accessory rail.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 12, showing the manner in which the support feet are adjusted to modify the position of the bracket arm.

FIG. 18 is a view taken along line 18--18 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the support foot mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 12, showing the bracket mounted in the storage receptacle and the cover closed.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21--21 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing an equipment stand mounted on the accessory bracket.

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the equipment stand of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a bookshelf unit mounted on a pair of support brackets.

Referring to FIG. 1, a wood desk of the traditional design generally indicated at 10 has a half-wall structure 11 extending above the work surface 12 around all three sides of the desk. The structure providing the features of this desk are best shown in FIG. 3. The half-wall modules 13-16 are shown apart from the remainder of the desk structure, with the exception of the panel forming the top surface 12. The modules are similar in construction, and the details described in connection with one of them are essentially the same for the rest. The outer panels 18 are separated from the inner panels 19 and 20 by vertical spacer beams 21 and 22. The abutting spacer beams of adjacent modules are provided with aligned holes as shown at 23 and 24 to receive interengageable fasteners as shown at 25. The cover 26 is hinged to the outer panel 18 as shown at 27 and 28 to provide access to the space between the panels. The floor 29 defines the bottom of the space forming a receptacle for the equipment generally indicated at 30 associated with the various devices arranged on or near the desk top 12. At the right angle junctions of sections of the half-wall structure, it is preferable to include a hollow corner post 31 to receive the module fastenings, and the covers 26 may be interrelated as shown in FIG. 3 at this junction.

Referring to FIG. 5, the inner panel 32 is shown vertically separated from the upper inner panel 20, permitting the shelf brackets 33 and 34 to be hooked over the upper edge of the panel 32 as shown at 35-38. These shelf brackets are useful for the storage of support equipment that may be associated with the computers and communication devices positioned on or near the top of the desk. Conduits from such support equipment may be led through appropriate holes in the floor 29, if desired. Alternatively, the floor 29 may be terminated short of the vertical beams 21 and 22, as shown in FIG. 3. Wires from electrical outlets on the floor below the desk, as indicated at 30a, in FIG. 3, may also be led up into the wall structure at these points. The interior space may be partitioned as shown at P in FIG. 3 to separate the various items. It should also be noted that the tops of the beams 21 and 22 are also terminated or recessed below the covers 26 to provide for the running continuity of space in the successive modules.

FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate examples of accessory devices that can be mounted on the half-wall structure without interfering with the space on the desk top. In FIG. 2, a tack board 39 is supported by the brackets 40 and 41 traversing the slot 42 in the upper portion of the half-wall structure 11. In FIG. 4, the book shelf 43 is shown supported by the brackets 44 and 45 traversing the same slot. The terminal system shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 extends along opposite the slot, and thus provides for a considerable degree of lateral adjustability of the accessories as may be required. The terminal member is an extrusion 46 having a hook portion 47 receiving the mating hook 48 of the coupling attachment 49 secured to the bracket 40 by screws as indicated at 50. The bracket arm 40 and its attachment 49 are first inserted into the space between the inner and outer wall panels, as shown in FIG. 6. Since the top of the slot 42 is defined by the cover 26 when the cover is closed, the opening of the cover opens the slot for the admission of the accessory bracket arm 40. After the hooks 47 and 48 are interengaged as shown in FIG. 7, the bracket arm is pivoted downwardly to bring the components into the FIG. 8 position. An abrasion reducing pad 51 can be adhesively (or otherwise) secured to the underside of the bracket arm 40 at a position at which it will rest upon the top edge of the inner panel 20 defining the lower extremity of the slot 42. Before closing the cover 26, a knob 52 controlling the bolt 53 is rotated so that it advances in its threaded engagement with the flange 54 of the attachment 49, and forms an abutment that can be tightened against the upper portion of the extrusion 46 to prevent an upward rotation of the assembly that might disengage the hooks forming the terminal connection. The final tightening of the knob 52 should take place after the lower part of the hook 48 interengages with the offset 64 of the extrusion 46 so that the position of the attachment is securely determined. The tightening action forces these portions of the components into solid engagement, and prevents both radial and tangential displacement of the coupling with respect to the hook of the terminal and prevents the bracket from sliding sideways in the slot.

FIGS. 9, 10, 11 show the invention incorporated in various desk configurations. In FIG. 9, the wall structure 55 extends along one side of an L-shaped desk 56, and the wall structure 57 along the other side. In FIG. 10, the wall structure 58 extends along the closed side of the U-shaped desk 59. In FIG. 11, the wall structure 60 extends along one side of the L-shaped desk 61. These views illustrate the adaptability of the structure to the various common forms of executive desks.

Another embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 12-24, comprises a desk 100 having a horizontal work surface 102 and a vertical panel 104 constituting the rear side (it could be any side) of the desk. The desk has sides 124 and a drawer 125. In this embodiment, rather than having a separate half-wall structure constituting the rear portion of the desk, a separate storage receptacle or tunnel 106 is formed at the upper rear edge of the desk. The storage receptacle is formed between an outer vertical panel 108 and inner or rear panel 104. A bottom 110 interconnects panel 108 with panel 104 at a lower point below the desk surface. Vertical panel 108 terminates at the top of panel 104, and a hinged cover 112 is attached by hinge 114 to the outer upper edge of panel 108. The width of cover 112 is less than the width of the open space between panels 108 and 104, such that when the cover is closed, a slot 116 is formed along the tunnel. As shown in FIG. 21, storage tunnel 106 serves to house wires and cables 118 for desk top accessories 120, which can be anything from calculators to computers to telephones or the like. Wires and cables 118 extend downwardly from the storage tunnel 106 to a receptacle outlet or other interconnection mounted in the floor or elsewhere. The wires extend through openings 122 at opposite ends of bottom panel 110, which terminates inside outer sides 124 of the desk, so as to leave the open spaces 122 adjacent the opposite ends of the bottom panel. Sides 124 extend outwardly to panel 108, leaving a recess 127 in the desk under the wire storage tunnel. Power or communication outlets, such as outlet 30 of the previous embodiment, can be housed in the storage receptacle.

As shown in FIG. 15, cover 112 is hinged to the rear edge of panel 108 by means of hinge 114. Engagement of the underside 130 of cover 112 with the upper side 132 of panel 108 holds the cover in a level position when it is closed.

In an alternative construction shown in FIG. 13, panel 108' may be formed with a rectangular recess 134 along the upper inner edge of the panel, with cover 112' fitting in the recess and being hinged to the panel by a hinge 114' that connects the outer edge of cover 112' and panel 108' at the upper rear edge of the door.

In addition to conveying wiring, housing power and communication outlets and storing equipment, the storage tunnel houses a bracket assembly for mounting various desk accessories on the desk above the surface of the desk. The bracket assembly includes a terminal member in the form of a horizontal mounting strip or rail 138 of the type described above in connection with the first embodiment of the invention. A bracket assembly 140 is mounted in a longitudinally adjustable position on the mounting strip in the same manner also as described above for the previous embodiment. Bracket 140 comprises a generally Z-shaped bracket arm 142 having a coupling 143 at an interior end 147 and a tubular accessory support 146 extending upwardly from an exterior end 149 of the bracket arm. The interior portion of the Z-shaped arm includes a lower portion 151 extending inwardly from the coupling toward the front of the desk and an upwardly extending portion 153 extending upwardly through slot 116 to the upper surface of the desk. The exterior portion then extends inwardly over the desk surface to an end that supports the accessories.

The coupling 143 is the same as coupling 49 except that coupling 143 is integrally formed as part of the bracket instead of being attached to the bracket arm with screws.

In both cases, the terminal is a mounting strip extending along the desk parallel with and preferably coextensive with the slot. The mounting strip or rail 138 has a generally C-shaped recess 155 therein with a bottom support surface 157 and a downwardly extending hook portion 159 in the form of a longitudinal flange extending downwardly from the top of the recess. The flange or hook has downwardly and inwardly inclined cam surface on the interior side.

The coupling includes a mating upwardly extending hook portion 161 with an upwardly and outwardly inclined cam surface thereon that mates with the cam surface on the downwardly extending hook portion. The bottom surface of mounting strip includes a corner that engages a corresponding corner 163 on a bottom surface of the coupling. This corner provides vertical support for the coupling and bracket and assists in limiting downward pivotal movement of the bracket.

Screw 165 is threaded into a flange 167 on the opposite side of hook 159 from upwardly extending hook 161 and engages the mounting strip at a point above the engagement point of the two hooks. This urges the corners securely together by engagement of the cam surfaces and restrains release of the bracket by counter-rotation of the bracket.

By loosening the knob 169 on the screw the bracket can be slid along the mounting strip or pivoted upwardly and removed from (or inserted on) the mounting strip at any point along its length. The access cover is conveniently raised to permit this pivotal movement.

The exterior portion of the bracket is supported on the desk surface (or on the edge of the slot) by means of a padded support foot 148, which is mounted on the underside of the exterior portion of the bracket so that it rests on the surface of the desk, preferably adjacent the edge of the slot. Support foot 148 has an abrasion resistant pad 150 mounted on the head of a threaded shaft 152 that screws in a threaded opening 154 in the bracket arm. The shaft has a upper end with an internal hex opening 156 that fits a hex or Allen wrench 158 for vertical adjustment purposes. The adjustable support foot can thus be raised and lowered in order to vary the level of the exterior portion of the bracket arm on the desk surface. This is an important feature of the present invention, as it permits the bracket to always be maintained at a level position on the desk surface, regardless of the weight of the load on the bracket.

Another important feature of the bracket is that it can be used with either embodiment of the desk or present invention (the half-wall structure of FIGS. 1-12 or the structure of FIGS. 13-24) without modification.

Examples of types of desk accessories that may be mounted on the brackets of the present invention are shown in FIG. 22-24. In FIGS. 22 and 23, an inclined equipment platform 160 is mounted on a vertical shaft 162. Shaft 162 fits in a vertical tube 164 mounted on an arm 166 that has a vertical shaft 168 extending downwardly from the other end thereof. Shaft 168 fits into tube 170 on the outer end of the bracket arm. The positions of the tubes and shafts could be reversed. For example, the shaft could extend upwardly from the outer end of the bracket arm and a tube could cover the shaft. Alternatively, a larger tube could cover a smaller tube. The important feature is that the support is provided by telescoping or interfitting cylindrical surfaces that provide support over a relatively long axial distance and permit at the same time rotation of the supported element around the support member. Support arm 166 provides an advantage because it permits both ends of the arm to be pivoted in order to provide a wide variety of position adjustment for the work supporting surface. Other accessories could also be mounted in the support arm.

In FIG. 24, a bookshelf mechanism 170 comprises a flat base 172 having two rows of holes 174 spaced along opposite sides of the base. U-shaped rods 176 having downwardly extending legs 178 fit into any selected pair of opposed openings 174 in the base in order to provide variation of the width of the supports along the base. The supports act as bookends for books or other things that are stored on edge on the shelf. A raised edge 180 extends along the back edge of the base.

The base is supported on a pair of brackets 140 spaced apart along slot 116. The base can include a pair of downwardly extending shafts 182 that fit into tubes 146, or they could comprise larger tubes that fit over tubes 146. The support members in this case hold the bookshelf in a rigid level position, with the books being positioned above the work surface so that use of the work surface can be maximized. Other types of accessories also can be mounted on the support brackets.

The foregoing are illustrative of the preferred practice of the present invention.