Abstract:
A multi-function drawer for a desk that provides multiple and adjustable platforms (easel, gaming, and sliding) to mount gaming devices, a keyboard, books, papers, or other objects in use at a desk or workstation. These separate and rotatably platforms allow several items to be attached to a drawer for use at the same time and multiple positions for the platforms to maximize a desk or workspace.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    A drawer for mounting and storing gaming devices, a keyboard, or books at a computer desk or workstation.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    With the popularity of the personal computer not only at the workplace but also the home, the desk of a user has become increasingly crowded. The user not only needs space for books, papers, lights, pens, and other stationary items, but the user also needs a large amount of space for the computer. Even when the computer is stored to the side or under the desk, the monitor and keyboard can take up a large amount of space directly in front of the user. In addition, users may also have other computer devices and peripherals such as a gaming controller, joystick, or steering wheel to be used with the computer. As a result of this need to efficiently use space on a modern desktop area, there remains a need to store many of these items in a limited workspace. But, at the same time, the user requires that these different computer devices and desk items be readily available for use.  
           [0005]    Currently, there are many desks that provide a drawer that houses a keyboard, and there are some desks that provide another space on the same plane as the keyboard for a gaming device. But, none of these related art devices provide separate rotating and pivoting platforms to mount a keyboard, a gaming device, and books/papers all on the same drawer assembly. There remains a need by the user to mount both a keyboard, a book or a paper, and a gaming device (steering wheel or a joystick or some type of controlling device) within the confined space of a computer desk or workstation. From the preceding descriptions, it is apparent that the devices currently being used have significant disadvantages, and important aspects of the technology used in the field of invention remain amenable to useful refinement.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-surfaced and multi-function drawer for installation in a desk that allows for the simultaneous mounting and storage of a gaming device and/or a keyboard.  
           [0007]    Another purpose of the present invention is to provide one drawer that provides several different options to hold a gaming device, a keyboard, and books or papers at the same workstation or in a limited space desktop area.  
           [0008]    Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-function drawer for installation in a desk that enables easy mounting of a gaming device and still have use of a keyboard and an easel to hold a book or a keyboard.  
           [0009]    Another purpose is to provide mounting places for several computer devices in a limited space and without sacrificing monitor viewing space.  
           [0010]    This invention allows for a multi-function drawer with three basic positions: (1) the easel platform closed and the gaming device underneath; (2) the easel platform opened and the gaming device shifted forward such that a keyboard or book can be placed on the easel platform; (3) the easel platform open to hold a book or keyboard with the gaming device underneath, and the sliding platform when extended forward to hold a keyboard.  
           [0011]    The advantages of this claimed invention allow for maximizing the limited space on and about a desk and enables use of both a keyboard and a gaming device simultaneously. The easel, gaming, and sliding platforms are easy to use and provide quick adjustment from workstation with keyboard and/or book to gaming console position. This invention also does not block the screen of the monitor, and the easel can support a full sized book, a three ring binder, or a keyboard when the gaming platform is extended forward. This invention allows for storage of the gaming device (underneath) to avoid taking up valuable desktop space.  
           [0012]    Another advantage of this invention is not having to connect and disconnect the gaming device before or after use. Normally, a gaming device is temporarily attached to a surface, but with this invention, the gaming device can be bolted and securely fastened to the gaming platform for the user&#39;s convenience and ease of use. As a result, the user can have easy access to not only a gaming device when needed but any computer desk related device in one compact and easy to use drawer.  
           [0013]    The present invention introduces such refinements. In its preferred embodiments, the present invention has several aspects that can be used independently, although they are preferably employed together to optimize their benefits. All of the foregoing operational principles and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated upon consideration of the following detailed description, with reference to the appended drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is view of the closed gaming drawer with a keyboard;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 that has the gaming device mounted in the storage position or with the easel platform closed and the gaming device underneath and mounted to the gaming platform;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a view of the gaming drawer with the easel platform opened and holding a keyboard and the gaming platform forward in its operating position with the gaming device ready to use;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 2 with the gaming drawer with a keyboard and a gaming device with the easel platform opened and the gaming platform shifted forward;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a view of the invention with the easel platform open; the gaming platform stored underneath and the sliding platform when extended forward; and,  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a side view of the invention in FIG. 5.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    This present invention combines three different platforms or mounting surfaces for a drawer to enable holding, mounting, and storage of gaming devices, a keyboard, and books or papers. There are three platforms: an easel platform, a gaming platform, and a sliding platform. A gaming device such as a joystick or a steering wheel control unit can be fixably mounted to the gaming platform. When the user does not need the gaming device and requires use of the computer keyboard, the user can easily swing the gaming platform from the active or operating position to the storage position by releasing the clasps and swinging the gaming platform backward and underneath the drawer assembly and relatching.  
         [0021]    The easel platform and the gaming platform are rotatably and pivotally mounted to the drawer assembly, so that each can be rotated into use or back into storage. The sliding platform is located within a brace and just below the top surface of this brace. With these three platforms, the present invention provides multiple different positions of operation to allow the user to maximize a limited space environment.  
         [0022]    As shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 , there is provided a drawer assembly  10  for gaming devices  15  with three platforms: an easel platform  20 , a gaming platform  25 , and a sliding platform  30 . The easel platform  20  has an outer easel edge  35  and an inner easel edge  40 . Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the easel platform  20  also has two rail easel sides  45 ,  50 , a top easel surface  55 , and a bottom easel surface  60 .  
         [0023]    Located adjacent and parallel to the inner easel edge  40 , there is a brace having a top brace surface, a bottom brace surface, a first brace edge, a second brace edge, and two brace rail sides. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 , there is an upper brace  65 , which has a top brace surface  67 , a first upper brace edge  70 , a second upper brace edge  75 , and two upper brace rail sides  80 ,  85 . As shown in FIG. 1, these two rail brace sides  80 ,  85  are parallel to the rail easel sides  45 ,  50 .  
         [0024]    The easel platform  20  is rotatably and pivotally connected to the upper brace with at least one pivoting attachment, such as a hinge  90 . In FIG. 1, there are two hinges  90 ,  95  that secure the top easel surface  55  to the top upper brace surface  67 . This hinge connection allows the easel platform  20  to be lifted up and backward from a first closed position  100  (FIGS. 1 and 2) to a second open position  105  (FIGS. 3 and 4).  
         [0025]    The easel platform also has a first ledge  110  and a second ledge  115 . The first ledge  110 , which has an outer ledge surface  120  and an inner ledge surface  125 , is attached to the bottom easel surface  60 , extends perpendicularly from the bottom easel surface, and is located proximal and parallel to the outer easel edge  35 . This first ledge  110  forms a lip extending perpendicularly from the bottom easel surface.  
         [0026]    The second ledge  115  is attached to the bottom easel surface  60  and is located proximal and parallel to the inner easel edge  40 . In FIG. 3, the second ledge  115  is shorter in length than the first ledge  110 . The easel platform may also have a handle  128 .  
         [0027]    In FIGS.  1 - 6 , the upper brace lies perpendicularly on two rail supports  130 ,  135 , which slidably engage a desk or a table. These rail supports are located underneath the ends of the upper brace and are perpendicular to the upper brace and parallel with the rail easel sides  45 ,  50 . Each rail support  130 ,  135  has an upper surface  140 ,  145 , a lower surface  150 ,  155 , a non-clasp side  160 ,  165 , and a clasp side  170 ,  175 . In FIGS.  1 - 6 , these rail supports  130 ,  135  are located below the upper brace  65 . In other embodiments, the rail supports are simply perpendicular to the brace.  
         [0028]    Along the clasp sides  170 ,  175  of each rail support  130 ,  135  are drawer guides  180 ,  185 , which enable a rolling connection with any standard drawer mount for slidably engaging with a desk or table. Any size drawer guide can be used for the applicant&#39;s invention. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and  5 , these drawer guides are placed from the distal ends  190 ,  195  of the rail supports to a point before the proximal ends  200 ,  205  of the rail supports.  
         [0029]    Located under the upper brace  65 , there is a middle brace  230 , which is at approximately the same height as the rail supports  130 ,  135 . The middle brace  230  is approximately perpendicular to the rail supports  130 ,  135  and provides structural support and stability to the drawer assembly. The middle brace  230  is shorter in length than the upper brace  65 ; for width, the upper brace  65  almost completely overlaps the middle brace  230 .  
         [0030]    Located under the middle brace  230 , there is a lower brace  235 . The three braces (upper  65 , middle  230 , and lower  235 ) are fixedly attached to each other by any secure attachment such as screws, glue, or staples and are placed in a tiered fashion such that the upper brace  65  is the farthest forward, then the middle brace  230 , and then the lower brace  235 . These tiers allow the gaming platform  20  to properly sit when moved to its operating or active position. The lower brace  235  is located at the same height as the lower rail supports  245 , which lie underneath each rail support. When the gaming platform  25  is swung to its operating position, the gaming platform  25 , the lower rail supports  245 , and the lower brace  235  all exist substantially in the same parallel planes and height.  
         [0031]    Also, these three braces (upper  65 , middle  230 , and lower  235 ) can all be constructed of a single piece of metal, wood, or molded material. The rail supports and even the lower rail supports can also be constructed with the three braces into a single piece of metal, wood, or molded material.  
         [0032]    Located on each of the lower rail supports  245  are mounts  255  for locking connections, such as latches or snap clasps  265 . On the outer surface  256  of these mounts  255 , there are locking connections. These mounts generally enable the gaming platform to be stored and clamped at an angle. The embodiments shown in FIGS.  1 - 6  show the mount in a triangular shape that better enables the securing of the gaming platform at a suitable angle.  
         [0033]    Any easy to unlatch connection device or locking connection can be used such as a latch or snap clasp to secure the gaming platform in its storage position. In FIG. 3, the snap clasp has a grip part  267  and a clasp  268 . The grip part  267  is located on the gaming platform  25 ; the clasp  268  is located on the outer surface  256  of the snap mounts  255 . These grip parts and clasps can be interchangeably mounted to either the gaming platform  25  or the rail supports  130 ,  135  or lower rail supports  240 ,  245 .  
         [0034]    The gaming platform  20  is pivotally attached to the bottom of the brace. In FIGS.  1 - 6 , the gaming platform  25  is pivotally connected to the lower brace  235  with a pivoting attachment such as a hinge  270 . The gaming platform  25  and the easel platform  20  can have more than one hinge to pivotally connect with the drawer assembly  10 . Also, the gaming platform and the easel platform can be pivotally attached to the brace with any pivoting attachment such as a long hinge, multiple hinges, or a pivoting attachment using a dowel and indentations. These pivoting attachments allow the gaming platform to be extended from a storage position to an operating position.  
         [0035]    In FIGS.  3 - 4 , the gaming platform  25  has a top surface  275 , a bottom surface  280 , and two gaming platform sides  285 ,  290 . On the bottom surface  280  and at the front of the gaming platform  25 , there is a front ledge piece  300  and two side ledge pieces  310 . In FIGS.  3 - 4 , a side ledge piece  310  is placed at each end of the gaming platform. The gaming platform  25  also has a hole  315  and a grommet  320  so that a cable  325  for the gaming device  15  can be safely stowed out of the way of the gaming platform  25  and drawer assembly  10 . In FIGS. 2, 3,  4 , and  6 , there is a gaming back ledge  330  that is located at the rear of the gaming platform  25  that provides support to the gaming platform  25  when the gaming platform  25  is raised to its operating position  335  from its storage position  340 .  
         [0036]    Also located on the clasp sides  170 ,  175  of each rail support  130 ,  135  are another set of locking connections, such as latches or snap latches. These latches are comprised of latch grips  215 , which are placed closer to the proximal ends  200 ,  205  of the rail supports  130 ,  135 , and latch clasps  225 . These latch grips  215  are located such that these grips  215  will coincide with the latch clasps  225  located on the gaming platform  25 ; the latch clasp  225  engages the corresponding latch grip  215  on the clasp side  175  of the rail support  135 . FIGS. 1, 3, and  5  show the clasp  225  and the grip  267  on the side ledge piece  310  of the gaming platform.  
         [0037]    Any type of locking connection that allows for a stable and secure hold on the platform but at the same time, allows for easy removal and access to the platform. Also, for these locking connections, the latch clasps and grips can be interchangeably mounted on either the rail support, mount, or gaming platform.  
         [0038]    A sliding platform  30  is located within the brace. As shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 , the sliding platform  30  is located in between the middle brace  230  and within the area of the upper brace  65 , but lower than the top upper brace surface  67 . This sliding platform  30  passes through the upper brace  65  and partially lies on top of the rail supports  130 ,  135 . This sliding platform  30  also has a first position  345 , a second position  350 , a proximal platform end  355 , and a distal platform end  360 . In FIGS. 1 and 3, in the first position  345 , the sliding platform  30  is slid as far toward the distal ends  190 ,  195  of the rail supports, so that the proximal platform end  355  is approximately flush against the first upper brace edge  70 .  
         [0039]    In FIGS. 5 and 6, in the second position  350 , the proximal platform end  355  is pushed toward the proximal ends  200 ,  205  of the rail supports, and when the easel platform  20  is placed in its second opened position  105 , the user can pull the proximal platform end  355  forward and toward the user. In FIG. 5, the sides  365 ,  370  of the sliding platform partially overlap the rail supports  130 ,  135 . This overlap over the rail supports  130 ,  135  provides added support to the sliding platform  30  during use. In another embodiment, the sliding platform  30  can be located in different areas of the brace, such as the same level as the middle brace. In another embodiment, this sliding platform  30  may slide against the rail supports  130 ,  135  so that there is no overlap of the sliding platform  30  over the rail supports  135 .  
         [0040]    Once the sliding platform  30  is pulled all the way forward so that the proximal platform end  355  is approximately flush with the proximal ends of the rail supports,  200 ,  205 , the user can place any desired object on the top surface  375  of the sliding platform  30 , such as a keyboard, a computer drawing tablet, or a computer peripheral device. In FIGS. 5 and 6, with the gaming platform in its storage position and out of the way, the user can freely place books or papers on the easel and pull out the sliding platform to support a keyboard.  
         [0041]    Thus, the user can easily and quickly transform the work area into an gaming area or a study area or visa-versa by simply sliding or rotating the different platforms. This entire drawer assembly can be placed in a desk, table, or work station. With the easel platform closed and the gaming device underneath, the user can place a keyboard on the top surface of the easel.  
         [0042]    When the gaming device is needed, the user raises the easel platform and unlatches the gaming platform from the first locking connection. Then, the user extends the platform forward and secures the platform to the second locking connection mounted on the rail supports or lower rail supports. The keyboard can then be placed on the easel for use in conjunction with the gaming device.  
         [0043]    When finished with the gaming device, the user simply unlocks and pushes the platform backward to secure the gaming platform to its storage position. With the easel platform still in the second opened position, the user can slide the sliding platform forward into its second position. The sliding platform can then hold a keyboard or other computer device, and the opened easel platform can support books and papers.  
         [0044]    While the invention will be described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.