Accessory track to accommodate multiple accessories

An accessory track apparatus have a track disposed at a peripheral region of a top plate supporting a piece of equipment such as a personal computer. One or more accessory holders are inserted into the track by way of an octagonal anchor plate on the holders, which anchor plate allows insertion and removal of the holders at corners of the track. A space or cavity between the top support plate and track allows for 360.degree. routing of electrical wiring of up to several feet in length.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an accessory track apparatus for 
accommodating multiple accessories and, more particularly, to an accessory 
track apparatus which uses accessory anchors which may be added at the 
corners of a track and moved to any desired position along the track with 
the center of gravity of each accessory transferred to the track so as to 
allow multiple accessories to be secured stably in close proximity to a 
user's central equipment such as a personal computer. 
Work space in proximity to many pieces of equipment is extremely limited 
due to the size of the equipment and the available surrounding area. There 
is a need to maximize the utilization of available space to accommodate 
such equipment with multiple accessories, i.e., task lighting, extension 
cords, additional reference or work space, key board support, equipment 
supplies, note taking boards, copy holders, security or glare shields, 
microphones, telephones, and electrical port attachments (eg., mouse, 
light pen, etc.) 
While devices have been introduced for individual items (for example, 
clamps to attach to the lip of a work surface to anchor a task lamp; sheet 
metal to slip under a computer to anchor a copy board, metal housing 
and/or brackets to support key boards), they do not allow for the 
interchangeability of accessories or for multiple usage. In addition, 
current products do not address work surface wire management. 
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages 
encountered with currently available products by providing a system of 
tracks and accessory anchor plates. Another object of this system is to 
provide efficient use of limited space while securing with ease of 
adjustment and change, multiple accessories in close proximity to a 
central item, eg., computer, monitor, copier, fax, cash register and the 
like. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to allow for easy 
insertion and sliding movement of anchors with accessories attached so 
that the user can easily add, remove or adjust the accessory relative to 
the piece of equipment. 
The accessory plates slide through a track and thereby anchor each 
attaching accessory by transferring its center of gravity to the track 
system or framework. The track may , but need not, be used around the full 
perimeter of the central or host equipment. The host equipment provides 
further anchoring capability by its weight when applied to the inside lip 
of the track. 
Male and/or female accessory anchors may be added at any opening in the 
track which can be at a corner and slid to any desired work position along 
the track. In addition, when the track is joined with a top and a bottom 
plate, a cavity is provided for the insertion, enclosure and routing of 
wiring. The bottom plate may also be attached to a lazy susan-type 
mechanism which allows for the full rotation of the entire assembly, 
including host equipment, track, accessories and wiring, without 
disruption of components. This is particularly meaningful when the host 
equipment is used by multiple operators. 
The track may be used in the horizontal or vertical planes. In a vertical 
configuration it may encompass a monitor where horizontal space in 
unavailable, eg., a bookcase. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide for insertion 
and routing of wiring over a 360.degree. range and also for enclosing 
several lengths of wiring depending on size and number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring now to FIG. 1, an accessory track apparatus in accordance with 
the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. This 
track apparatus 10 has an upper or top support surface 11 which can be 
used as a support surface for equipment such as a host CPU and monitor 
(not shown). A perimeter region 12 of the track apparatus 10 has a track 
which accommodates one or more anchoring devices 13 which have an anchor 
plate 14 (FIG. 2) configured in the illustrated embodiment as an octagonal 
plate and sized to slip in between rail guides 15, 16 defined by inverted 
L-shaped portions and constituting the track. The octagonal shape of the 
anchor plate 14 allows each plate to be inserted at a corner region 17 of 
the track apparatus 10. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the perimeter region 12 has a channel-like profile 
which can be made from extruded material such as tempered aluminum or 
other suitable, lightweight metal. The ends of the tracks are bevelled at 
the corner region 17 so as to form an orthogonal angle. The channel 
profile (FIG. 3) includes the rail guides 15, 16, a track 18 extending 
between the rail guides and upon which the anchor plate 14 sits, a base 19 
which underlies the rail guide 16 and a base 20 which underlies the rail 
guide 15. In addition, the base 20 is a relatively long piece which 
extends toward the interior of the apparatus 10 with serrations 21 formed 
on an upper surface thereof. Another piece 22 extends from the channel 
profile and has serrations 23 formed on a lower surface thereof. A plate 
or sheet 24 made of embossed PVC or other suitable material is inserted 
between the pieces 20, 22 and is held securely therebetween by the 
serrations 21, 23 which are pressed into the plate or sheet 24. To allow 
for easy assembly, the piece 22 is initially in the upward position shown 
by the dash lines in FIG. 3. Then, after the plate 24 is inserted between 
the pieces 20, 22, the piece 22 is pressed downwardly to force the 
serrations 21, 23 into the plate 24 and securely hold the apparatus 10 
together. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the top support plate 11 is secured to the plate or 
sheet 24 and is spaced therefrom by projections 26 which can be located 
symmetrically around the sheet 24 or, alternatively, at the bottom surface 
of the top plate 11 (not shown). This spaced arrangement defines a recess 
27 under the top plate 11 around which electrical power cord wires can be 
wrapped for storage and routing purposes. A piece of equipment, such as a 
PC, can rest on the top surface of the support plate 11. As shown in FIG. 
4, a corner key 27 is accommodated between the bottom surface of the track 
18 and pieces 19, 20 and is used securely to connect the two metered 
perimeter track regions 12. 
Almost any number of anchoring devices 13 can be inserted onto the track 18 
at a corner, as shown in FIG. 5, and thereafter moved to a desired 
location on the track. For instance, the apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 shows two 
such anchoring devices, one holding a lamp 28 and the other holding a note 
pad 29. Although the illustrated anchors 13 are shown as female 
receptacles, they can also be configured as male members for insertion 
into a female accessory without departing from the scope of the present 
invention. 
Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is 
to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and 
example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope 
of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the 
appended claims.