Abstract:
A work-surface system ( 20 ) and a work surface therefor ( 28 ) is disclosed. The system ( 20 ) uses standard two-drawer filing cabinets ( 26 ) to support the work surface ( 28 ). The work surface ( 28 ) is made up of a worktop ( 22 ), and a top adapter ( 24 ) for each filing cabinet ( 26 ). The top adapters ( 24 ) fit snugly onto top sides ( 32 ) of the filing cabinets ( 26 ), and are fixedly coupled to the worktop ( 22 ). No alteration or modification of the filing cabinets ( 26 ) is required. The top adapters ( 24 ) are constructed of a polymeric or other material so as not to mar or otherwise damage the filing cabinets ( 26 ). Use of the filing cabinets is not affected by the work surface ( 28 ). The work surface ( 28 ) may be easily removed from the filing cabinets ( 26 ) at any time and stored in a minimum of space.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of office furniture. More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of modular components effecting work surfaces in office environs.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     There often arises in office environs a need for an additional work surface. This need is often temporary or transient. For example, a project may require additional work surfaces for supporting a laptop or desktop computer, working on papers and/or files, charts, maps, collation, packaging, or other space-consuming activity.  
         [0003]     It is wasteful to permanently designate valuable office space for such transitory projects. Because of this wastefulness, such projects are often done in a conference room, lunchroom, or like area. This presents a problem in that that area is then no longer usable for its intended purposes.  
         [0004]     Another transient use problem arises when an employee is hired in advance of a procurement of appropriate furniture (e.g., a desk). This new employee is often grouped with another employee at his/her desk, to the detriment of efficiency, or placed in an unsuitable work environment, such as the aforementioned conference room or lunchroom.  
         [0005]     Audits, equipment programming or troubleshooting, or other circumstances where outside personnel are temporarily working within the office environs also pose work-area problems.  
         [0006]     It would be neither cost-effective nor practical to procure permanent furniture for such transient use.  
         [0007]     Many prior art solutions to these transient-use problems exist. All such solutions, however, require either specialized work-surface supports, or require the alteration of already existent office equipment or furniture. Solutions requiring specialized work-surface supports (e.g., legs, panels, and drawer assemblies) are often unattractive and/or impractical. The specialized supports typically have no function when the work surface is not needed, pose bulky storage problems, and result in unnecessary expenses.  
         [0008]     Solutions requiring the alteration of already existent office equipment or furniture often result in unattractive and impractical modifications (holes, brackets, etc.) that serve no purpose when the work surface is not needed. In addition, such modifications often require the use of tools (wrenches, drills, hole saws, etc.) not found in the typical office environment. The skills necessary to use such tools properly and to perform the modifications without damaging the furniture or office equipment may not exist. This may result in a botched modification, damaged furniture or equipment, and/or a decrease in office appearance and morale. Alternatively, a person possessing the requisite skills may be hired to perform the modification, resulting in additional and undesirable expense.  
         [0009]     A need therefore exists for quickly and easily erected office work surfaces. Such work surfaces should utilize resources already present in the office for support. Such work surfaces should be inexpensive, occupy a minimum of storage space when not in use, and require no alteration of or cause damage to other office furniture or equipment.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention that a work-surface system and work surface therefor are provided.  
         [0011]     It is another advantage of the present invention that a work surface is provided that utilizes conventional two-drawer file cabinets as surface supports.  
         [0012]     It is another advantage of the present invention that a work surface is provided that, while utilizing conventional two-drawer file cabinets as surface supports, does not require the alteration of those file cabinets.  
         [0013]     It is another advantage of the present invention that a work surface is provided that, while utilizing conventional two-drawer file cabinets as surface supports, does not damage or otherwise mar those file cabinets.  
         [0014]     It is another advantage of the present invention that a work surface is provided that, while utilizing conventional two-drawer file cabinets as surface supports, does not affect the use of those file cabinets.  
         [0015]     The above and other advantages of the present invention are carried out in one form by a work-surface system made up of a worktop, N top adapters configured to fixedly couple to the worktop, where N is an integer greater than 1, and N filing cabinets, wherein each filing cabinet is configured to unalterably couple to one of the N top adapters.  
         [0016]     The above and other advantages of the present invention are carried out in another form by a work surface for use with a filing cabinet. The work surface includes a worktop and a top adapter configured to fixedly couple to the worktop and to unalterably couple to the filing cabinet. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded isometric view of a work-surface system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of an alternative top adapter for the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows an isometric view of another alternative top adapter for the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a front view of a variant of the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of a single-cabinet variation of the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded isometric view of a work-surface system  20  made up of a worktop  22 , a top adapter  24 , and a filing cabinet  26  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2 and 3  show isometric views of alternative top adapters  24  for system  20 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  show side and front views, respectively, of a preferred embodiment of system  20 .  FIGS. 6 and 7  show front views of alternative multi-cabinet and single-cabinet embodiments, respectively, of system  20 . The following discussion refers to  FIGS. 1 through 7 .  
         [0026]     Work-surface system  20  is intended to be primarily a transient work-surface system. That is, work-surface system  20  is intended to be used for any given period of time, from a few hours to several years, and serves the need of additional work space in an office environment. But those skilled in the art will appreciate that the term “transient” used herein imposes no limitation upon the use of system  20 .  
         [0027]     Work-surface system  20  is also practical where space is limited and functionality is important. For example, a home office may require filing cabinets and a desk, but not have room for both. System  20  provides a solution for such a circumstance.  
         [0028]     Work-surface system  20  is made up of a work surface  28  and at least one filing cabinet  26 . In the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , work-surface system  20  is free-standing and entirely self-supporting. In this embodiment, work surface  28  is itself made up of at least one worktop  22  and at least two top adapters  24 , where each top adapter  22  is configured to couple with one filing cabinet  26 . This is discussed in more detail hereinafter.  
         [0029]     It will be appreciated that a variant embodiment of system  20  ( FIG. 7 ) is possible wherein work surface  28  is made up of one worktop  22  and one top adapter  24 , where top adapter  22  is configured to couple with one filing cabinet  26 . In this embodiment, the “free” end of worktop  22  is affixed to a vertical surface  74 , such as a wall. In  FIG. 7 , worktop  22  is affixed to wall  74  by a bracket or molding  76  affixed to wall  74  in a conventional manner. It will be appreciated that this is not a requirement of the present invention. Other means of affixing worktop  22  to wall  74  may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It will also be appreciated that variations of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  may incorporate multiple wall supports, including but not limited to affixing worktops  22  to opposing walls  76  and centrally supporting these worktops  22  with a central filing cabinet  26 .  
         [0030]     Each of filing cabinets  26  is desirably a conventional commercial two-drawer vertical filing cabinet  26 . The use of such filing cabinets  26  bring substantive vertical hanging-file capacity to system  20 . This is desirable in most office environs, and a markedly desirable feature when system  20  is used as a desk.  
         [0031]     As viewed from the front, filing cabinets  26  have a height H C , a width W C , and a depth D C  ( FIGS. 1, 4 , and  5 ). Conventional commercial two-drawer vertical filing cabinets  26  are known to have nominal heights H C  ( FIG. 5 ) of 26 1/16 inches (H C =H C-26 ), 28⅜ inches (H C =H C-28 ), and 29 inches (H C =H C-29 ). Other heights may also be available. Similarly, conventional commercial two-drawer filing cabinets  26  are known to have nominal widths W C  ( FIG. 5 ) of 15 inches ±¼ inch (W C =W C-15 ) for letter-sized filing cabinets, and 18¼ inches ±¼ inch (W C =W C-18 ) for legal-sized filing cabinets. Other widths may also be available. Finally, conventional commercial two-drawer vertical filing cabinets  26  are known to have nominal depths D C  ( FIG. 4 ) of 22 inches (D C =D C-22 ), 25 inches (D C =D C-25 ), 26½ inches (D C =D C-26 ), and 28½ inches (D C =D C-28 ). Other widths may also be available.  
         [0032]     For a given system  20 , filing cabinets  26  may have different widths W C  and depths D C , but should have the same nominal height H C  in order that work surface  28  be substantially level. For example, in  FIG. 5  width D C  for either of filing cabinets  26  may independently be D C =D C-15  or D C =D C-18 , but height H C  of both filing cabinets  26  should be substantially equal, i.e., H C =H C-26 , H C =H C-28 , or H C =H C-29 .  
         [0033]     Filing cabinets  26  are essentially flat-sided boxes. That is, each filing cabinet  26  has a substantially planar front side  30 , a substantially planar top side  32 , a substantially planar left side  34 , a substantially planar right side  36 , and a substantially planar back side  38 . Each filing cabinet also has a bottom side (not shown), which may or may not be substantially planar. The bottom side is not germane to this discussion.  
         [0034]     Sides  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  are contiguous. That is, top side  32  is substantially perpendicularly contiguous with front side  30 , left side  34 , right side  36  and back side  38 , and front side  30  and back side  38  are each substantially perpendicularly contiguous with left side  34  and right side  36 . The contiguity of top side  32  with front, left, right, and back sides  30 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  results in top side being circumscribed with four edges. The juncture of top side  32  and front side  30  defines a front-top edge  40 . The juncture of top side  32  and left side  34  defines a left-top edge  42 . The juncture of top side  32  and right side  36  defines a right-top edge  44 . And the juncture of top side  32  and back side  38  defines a back-top edge  46 .  
         [0035]     Being two-drawer filing cabinets  26 , front side  30  encompasses two file drawers, an upper drawer  48  and a lower drawer  50 . Upper and lower drawers  48  and  50  normally have handles  52  with which to operate drawers  48  and  50 .  
         [0036]     Front side  30  has a substantially planar upper front surface  54 , which is the flat area between upper drawer  48  and front top-edge  40 . Conventionally, upper front surface  54  has a location, typically identified by a knock-out common in the industry, where an optional lock  56  may be installed. This location is most commonly positioned proximate right side  36 , but may in some designs be located proximate left side  34 . For the purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that optional lock  56  is installed at a location proximate right side  36  ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ).  
         [0037]     Conventional commercial filing cabinets  26  are normally fabricated of material such as painted sheet steel. This is assumed throughout this discussion. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the use of other materials does not depart from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0038]     Throughout this discussion, it is assumed that work surface  28 , or more specifically, top adapters  24 , are configured to unalterably couple to filing cabinets  26 . That is, the coupling of top adapters  24  to filing cabinets  26  does not require that filing cabinets  26  have any hole, indentation, protrusion, bracket, or other alteration for use in fastening, locating, registering, or otherwise coupling to top adapter  24 . In other words, after the need for work surface  28  has passed, top adapters  24  may be removed, leaving file cabinets  26  in the same condition file cabinets  26  were in prior to being coupled to top adapters  24 . The coupling occurs without an alteration to the filing cabinet  26 . In addition, the coupling and/or uncoupling of work surface  28 , when ordinary care is exercised, desirably avoids denting, bending, scratching, chipping, flaking, or otherwise cosmetically damaging the surface of filing cabinets  26 . This serves to maintain filing cabinets  26  in an intact condition with a normal appearance, and maintains a professional office environs. Environs having cosmetically damaged equipment, while fully functional, are unsightly. This often results in a decrease of pride in the workplace, and a corresponding decrease in morale and efficiency.  
         [0039]     Filing cabinets  26  are conventional commercial two-drawer vertical filing cabinets  26 , and remain so when used as a part of the present invention.  
         [0040]     System  20  has N filing cabinets  26 , where N is an integer greater than 1. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , N=2, in that of  FIG. 6 , N=3. By extension, system  20  may have any number of filing cabinets  26  (greater than 1) necessary to support a work surface of a desired size.  
         [0041]     Each filing cabinet  26  couples to one top adapter  24 . Therefore, system  20  has N top adapters  24 .  
         [0042]     For stability, each worktop  22  is supported by two filing cabinets  26 , one at each end. System  20  therefore has N-1 worktops  22 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , N=2, and system  20  has N-1 (one) worktop  22 , N (two) top adapters  24 , and N (two) filing cabinets  26  in that embodiment. Similarly, in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , N=3, and system  20  has N-1 (two) worktops  22 , N (three) top adapters  24 , and N (three) filing cabinets  26  in that embodiment.  
         [0043]     Top adapters  24  are fixedly coupled to worktop  22  to form work surface  28 . In the embodiments of the Figures, this is accomplished by fasteners  58  in the form of screws. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the use of fasteners  58  is not a requirement of the present invention. The use of other methods of fixedly coupling top adapters  24  to worktop  22  does not depart from the spirit of the present invention. Such other methods may include, but are not limited to, keyhole slots and tabs, offset slots and tabs, adhesives, and integral molding, forming, or machining.  
         [0044]     Each top adapter  24  is made up of a bearing section  60 . Bearing section  60  serves to bear the load of worktop  22 , and whatever may be on worktop  22 , and distribute that load over the filing cabinet  26  to which top adapter  22  is coupled. Desirably, bearing section  60  transfers the bulk of the load to edges  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  of file cabinet  26 , and thence to front, left, right, and back sides  30 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38 . In this manner, top side  32  is neither dented nor damaged by the load of worktop  22 .  
         [0045]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , bearing section  60  is a rectangle having a width W A  and a depth D A  substantially equal to width W C  and depth D C  of filing cabinet  26 , i.e., W A ≅W C  and D A ≅D C . Bearing section  60  therefore distributes the load of worktop  22  substantially evenly over top side  32  of filing cabinet  26 . The natural flexibility of top side  32  transfers that load to edges  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 .  
         [0046]     Bearing section  60  is fixedly attached to worktop  22  by fasteners  58 . While not shown in the Figures, it will be understood by those skilled in art that the heads of fasteners  58  may be recessed or countersunk into bearing section  60  so as to prevent the scratching of top side  32  of filing cabinet  26 . Bearing section  60  therefore has a height (thickness) H A  sufficient to maintain appropriate strength after such countersinking.  
         [0047]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , bearing section  60  is again a rectangle having a width W A  and a depth D A  substantially equal to width W C  and depth D C  of filing cabinet  26 . In this embodiment, top adapter  24  has mounting ears  62  extending from bearing section  60 . Fasteners  58  fasten top adapter  24  to worktop  22  through mounting ears  62 . Since mounting ears  62  extend beyond tops side  32  of filing cabinet  26 , recessing or countersinking of fasteners  58  is not necessary. Additionally, since mounting ears  62  extend beyond top side  32 , top adapters  24  may be fastened to worktop  22  after being positioned on filing cabinets  26 .  
         [0048]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , bearing section  60  is partitioned into M subsections  64 , where M is a positive integer, and where each subsection  64  has one bearing section  60 . In effect, bearing section  60  is again a rectangle having a width W A  and a depth D A  substantially equal to width W C  and depth D C  of filing cabinet  26 , but with the center and corners removed. The advantage of this embodiment is that angular sections  64  may be used with filing cabinets having different widths W C  and/or depths D C . That is, the sectional form of top adapter  24  is not “dedicated” to a specific size filing cabinet  26 .  
         [0049]     As with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the heads of fasteners  58  may be recessed or countersunk into bearing section  60  so as to prevent the scratching of top side  32  of filing cabinet  26 .  
         [0050]     Top adapter  24  also includes a front lip  66 , a left lip  68 , a right lip  70 , and a rear lip  72 . Each of lips  66 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72  is configured, in conjunction with bearing section  60 , to wrap over and engage front-top edge  42 , left-top edge  44 , right-top edge  46 , and back-top edge  48 , respectively, of file cabinet  26 .  
         [0051]     Front lip  66  of top adapter  24  engages upper front surface  54  of file cabinet in a manner that does not interfere with the operation of upper drawer  48 . Also, front lip  66  is shorter than width W A  of bearing section  60  so as to not interfere with the operation of lock  56 , whether lock  56  is located proximate right side  36 , as is more common, or left side  34 .  
         [0052]     Top adapter  24  is formed of a material that is softer than the material of which filing cabinet  26  is formed. Assuming, as is typically the case, that filing cabinet  26  is formed of painted sheet steel, then the material of top adapter  24  may include, but is not limited to, steel or other metal lined with felt, rubber, or other yielding material, wood, or a polymeric material. In the preferred embodiment, top adapter  24  is desirably formed of a polymer.  
         [0053]     Worktop  22  may be formed of wood, metal, a polymer, or other suitable material having sufficient strength for the purpose. When formed of a polymer, an advantage is realized in that worktop  22  and top adapters may be integrally formed in a single process. Stiffeners, such as angular metal strips, may be added to increase the strength of worktop  22 .  
         [0054]     Worktop  22  has a width W T , a depth D T , and a height (thickness) H T . Similarly, work surface  28  has a width W S  and a depth D S . When only a single worktop  24  is used ( FIG. 5 ), then work surface width W S  is worktop width W T . When multiple worktops are used ( FIG. 6 ), then work surface width W S  is the sum of all worktop widths W T . In  FIG. 6 , the widths W T  of each worktop  22  are substantially equal. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this is not a requirement of the present invention, and that worktops  22  having dissimilar lengths W T  may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0055]     Because each top adapter  22  has left and right lips  68  and  70 , the overall width W T  of worktop  22  is desirably greater than a sum of the widths W C  of the filing cabinets  26  supporting worktop  22 .  
         [0056]     Depth D T  of worktop  22  defines depth D S  of work surface  28 . Any desired worktop depth D T  may be used. However, it is most common that worktop depths D T  be that of a desk, i.e. 30 inches (D T =D T-30 ), or that of a common work table, i.e., 36 inches (D T =D T-36 ) . These “standardized” worktop depths D T  are shown in  FIG. 4 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other worktop depths D T  may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0057]     Height H T  of worktop  22  should be sufficient for the materials involved and the strength desired. Worktop height H T  may also be used to adjust a height H S  of work surface  28 . Work-surface height H S  is a working height for those using system  20 . Desirably, it should be a height that is comfortable for the user(s).  
         [0058]     Work-surface height H S  is a sum of filing cabinet height H C , top adapter height H A , and worktop height H T . As discussed hereinbefore, conventional commercial two-drawer vertical filing cabinets  26  are known to have nominal heights H C  ( FIG. 5 ) of 26 1/16 inches (H C =H C-26 ), 28⅜ inches (H C =H C-28 ), and 29 inches (H C =H C-29 ). Assuming, for purposes of this discussion, that top adapter  24  has a height H A  of ½ inch, and that worktop  22  has a height H T  of 1 inch, then work surface height H S  is one of 27 9/16 inches, 29⅞ inches, or 30½ inches, depending upon the specific file cabinet  26  used. Naturally, other adapter and/or worktop heights H A  and/or H T  will result in other work surface heights H S .  
         [0059]     Work surface  28  is secured to filing cabinets  26  by gravity. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other non-destructive, non-altering methods may be used to secure work surface  28 . For example, magnets may be incorporated into top adapter  24  to more securely couple work surface  28  to filing cabinets  26 . The use of other securing methods does not depart from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0060]     When work surface  28  is no longer needed (e.g., when appropriate permanent furniture has been received for a new employee, when transient personnel have departed, or when a project has been completed), system  20  may be easily broken down by the simple expedient of removing work surface  28  from filing cabinets  26 . Filing cabinets  28  may then be returned to their normal locations in the office.  
         [0061]     Work surface  28 , being essentially flat, may be easily stored behind filing cabinets  26  or other furniture, in a closet, or simply against a wall, thereby occupying a minimum of floor space, and minimizing clutter within the office. It will be appreciated that work surfaces  28  may remain intact, i.e., top adapters  24  may remain fixedly coupled to worktop  22 .  
         [0062]     Since file cabinets  26  have not been cosmetically compromised by the use of work surface  28 , the quality of appearance of filing cabinets  26 , and of the office environs as a whole, is maintained in an appropriate and professional manner.  
         [0063]     In summary, the present invention teaches a work-surface system  20  using a work surface  28  and at least two conventional commercial two-drawer filing cabinets  26  as surface supports. The use of file cabinets  26  as supports for work surface  28  does not require the alteration of, damage, or otherwise mar file cabinets  26  in any way, and does not affect the use of file cabinets  26  as file cabinets.  
         [0064]     Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.