Patent Publication Number: US-6220681-B1

Title: Armoire with built in desk

Description:
Be it known that we, Earl S. Swensson and David S. Gilbert, have invented a new and useful “Armoire With Built In Desk.” This application is a continuation-in-part of our prior applications Ser. No. 29/101,761, entitled ARMOIRE, filed Mar. 11, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 0,429,089 and Ser. No. 29/101,762, entitled ARMOIRE WITH SHELVES, filed Mar. 11, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to furniture construction, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an armoire. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There is a continuing need for multi-functional furniture. This is particularly true in environments such as health care rooms or hotel rooms where space is at a premium. 
     One such typical prior art device is the conventional “secretary” which has a flat front usually made of glass or wooden doors, with a flat table which can be tilted up to a sloped closed position covering a portion of a desktop, and which can be tilted down to a flat desk top position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a furniture apparatus including an enclosure having an opening defined therein. One particular such furniture apparatus is furniture of the type commonly referred to as an armoire, which has a door which opens to provide access to an interior closet. 
     The present invention provides a door located in the opening of the enclosure. A door hinge connects the door to the enclosure so that the door pivots on the door hinge about a generally vertical axis relative to the enclosure. 
     A desk panel is mounted in the outside of the door, and a desk hinge connects the desk panel to the door so that the desk panel pivots relative to the door between a retracted position wherein the desk panel is received in the door, and an extended position wherein the desk panel extends outwardly from the door. 
     The front surface of the piece of furniture has a convex curved outer surface. Both the door and the desk panel include convex curved outer surfaces, such that when the desk panel is in its retracted position and the door is closed, the convex outer surfaces of the desk panel, the door and the overall piece of furniture are substantially co-extensive thus presenting an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture with a convexly curved outer surface. 
     Preferably the desk hinge comprises a pair of four-bar linkage hinge mechanisms located on opposite sides of the desk panel so that the desk panel pivots about a varying horizontal axis as the desk panel moves from its retracted position to its extended position. The use of such a hinge solves the problem of how to provide a horizontal axis of rotation for a hinged connection of a component which has a convexly curved lower edge. 
     The apparatus also may include a hidden light fixture for illuminating the desk when the desk is in an open position. 
     The apparatus also includes a leveler mechanism connected between the desk panel and the door for adjusting a tilt of the desk panel when the desk panel is in its open position. 
     It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved furniture structure. 
     Another object of the present invention is the provision of a multi-functional furniture structure comprising both an armoire and a desk. 
     Another object of the present invention is the provision of a retractable desk having a convexly curved outer surface when the desk is in its retracted position, and utilizing a four-bar linkage hinge mechanism to allow pivotal movement about the arcuate lower outer edge of the desk panel. 
     Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the armoire of the present invention having its door closed with the desk also in a closed position. 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the desk in its open position. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the door in a closed position in solid lines and in an open position in dashed lines. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the rear of the door showing elements of the door construction, showing the desk in an open position, and showing the location of the four-bar linkage hinge mechanism. Additionally, a hinge cover is shown in exploded view in relation to the door. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the door and desk of FIG. 4 taken from the front. Again, the desk is shown in an open position. Furthermore, portions of the desk are cut away to show the leveler mechanism which is located internally of the desk panel. 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a four-bar linkage hinge mechanism for the desk panel. The mechanism is shown in solid lines in a position corresponding to the closed position of the desk panel, and in dashed lines in a position corresponding to the open position of the desk panel. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the linkage of FIG. 6 when the linkage is in the open position represented by the dashed lines of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the door, viewed from the front, and showing a recess in the door panel which receives a stop shoe of the leveler mechanism when the desk is in a closed position. The desk has been removed from the door in FIG. 8 for purposes of illustration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the furniture apparatus of the present invention is shown and generally designed by the numeral  10 . The furniture apparatus  10  may also be referred to as the armoire  10 . 
     In FIG. 1, the armoire  10  is shown in place in the corner of a room which is defined by the converging walls  12  and  14  of the room. Also visible are the ceiling  16  and floor  18  of the room. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the armoire  10 . The armoire  10  includes a wooden enclosure structure  20  which may also be generally referred to as the primary structure  20  which has an opening  22  defined in a front surface  24  thereof. 
     A door  26  is located in the opening  22 . As seen in FIG. 3, the door  26  may pivot between a closed position as shown in solid lines wherein the door blocks the opening  22 , and an open position as shown in dashed lines wherein the opening  22  is open so that an interior closet space  28  may be accessed through the opening  22 . A door hinge  30  connects the door  26  to the enclosure  20  so that the door  26  pivots about a generally vertical axis relative to the enclosure  20 . As best seen in FIG. 4, the door hinge  30  may comprise a plurality of separate spaced hinge elements. 
     As best seen in FIG. 2, a desk panel  32  is mounted in the outside of the door  26 . A desk hinge  34  connects the desk panel  32  to the door  26  so that the desk panel  32  pivots relative to the door  26  between a retracted position as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the desk panel  32  is received in the door  26 , and an extended position as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the desk panel  32  extends outwardly from the door  26 . 
     The retracted position of the desk panel  24  shown in FIG. 1 may also be referred to as an upper storage position or simply as a closed position. The extended position of the desk panel  32  shown in FIG. 2, may also be described as a lower use position or simply an open position. 
     As previously noted, the front surface  24  of the armoire  10  has a convex curvature when seen in plan view as in FIG.  3 . This convex curvature has been chosen for aesthetic reasons, but as further described below, it causes complications in designing and constructing the mechanism by which the desk panel is connected to the door. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 1, wherein the door is closed and the desk is closed, the convex outer surface  24  of the armoire  10  is actually defined by many different individual components, all of which have outer perimeters that lie generally co-extensive so that in plan view they define the convexly curved outer surface  24 . Just some of the components which comprise the convex outer surface  24  include the following. 
     The wooden enclosure  20  includes various fixed structural components, such as facia  36 , which, in part, define the outer surface  24 . 
     Located above the door  26  is a television cabinet  38  which is closed by doors, such as  40 , which, in part, define the convex outer surface  24 . 
     The door  26  itself has an outer surface  42  which may be defined as a door outer surface  42  which is a portion of the convex surface  24 . 
     And, the desk panel  32 , when in its closed position as shown in FIG. 1, includes a desk panel outer surface  44  which forms a portion of the convex outer surface  24 . 
     Thus, when the door  26  is closed and the desk panel  24  is closed, the door outer surface  42  and desk panel outer surface  44  lie generally co-extensive with the convex curved outer surface  24  so as to appear a part thereof. 
     As seen in the plan view of FIG. 3, the armoire  10  includes at least two planar backwall segments  46  and  48  which are arranged complementary to and abut against the converging walls  12  and  14  of the room within which the armoire  10  is placed. The convexly curved front surface  24  can be described as facing away from the backwall segments  46  and  48 . 
     The particular embodiment of the armoire  10  illustrated in the drawings is constructed to be placed in a 90° corner of a room. It will be appreciated, however, that by modifying the angle between backwall segments  46  and  48 , the armoire  10  could be constructed to fit in a corner of less than or greater than 90°. Indeed, the backwall segments  46  and  48  could be coincident so that the armoire  10  has a straight back wall for placement against a flat wall surface of a room. 
     As previously noted, the armoire  10  includes an interior closet space  28  defined therein, which is accessible by opening the door  26 . When the door  26  is opened, the user may view themselves in a full length mirror  50  mounted on the inside of the door  26 , as seen in FIG.  4 . The mirror  50  is preferably a lightweight plastic mirror. 
     As is apparent in FIG. 1, there is an integral television cabinet  38  located above the door  26 . Also, located on either side of the door  26 , are a plurality of integral shelves such as  52  and  54 . 
     THE DESK HINGE MECHANISM 
     The convex curved outer surface  44  of the desk panel  32  provides a unique difficulty in the hinged mounting of the desk panel  32  to the door  26 . Conventional hinges, such as piano hinges or other straight hinges cannot be utilized, because the lower edge of the desk panel  32  is curved. The use of straight hinges would cause the desk panel  32  to bind upon the hinges. 
     Thus, the present invention utilizes a desk hinge  34  comprised of two hinge mechanisms  56  and  58  on opposite sides of the desk panel  32 . An elevation view of the left hand hinge mechanism  56  is shown in FIG.  6 . The hinge mechanism  56  is shown in solid lines in a position corresponding to the closed position of the desk panel  32  analogous to FIG. 1, and the hinge mechanism  56  is shown in dashed lines in a position corresponding to the open position of desk panel  32  analogous to FIG.  2 . 
     The hinge mechanism  56  is of the type generally referred to in the field of kinematics as a four-bar linkage. The four “bars” of the linkage include a first plate  60 , a second plate  62 , and two arms  64  and  66 . 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the door  26  has a generally rectangular framework  68  which defines a generally rectangular forward facing opening  69  within which the desk panel  32  is received when the desk panel  32  is in a closed position. Preferably a forward facing surface  71  behind opening  69  is constructed as a fabric covered metal surface for magnets. 
     The plate  60  is bolted to the outside of framework  68 . The second plate  62  is bolted or screwed to the desk panel  32  as best seen in FIG.  5 . 
     The bars  64  and  66  are connected to the plates  60  and  62  by four pivot pins  70 ,  72 ,  74 , and  76 . 
     As is apparent in viewing FIG. 6, the motion of the desk panel  32  as it moves from its closed to its open position is generally parallel to that of an outer planar surface  78  of plate  62 . As noted, the plate  78  is shown in solid lines in its position corresponding to the closed position of the desk panel. As the desk panel  32  is tilted downwardly toward its open position, the plate  62  will actually swing upwardly and outwardly as it pivots clockwise about a varying horizontal axis until it reaches the final position shown in dashed lines in FIG.  6 . 
     Various springs, dampeners and latches may be used in conjunction with the hinge assembly  34 , in order to control the motion thereof. For example, spring  106  seen in FIG. 5 may be utilized to dampen the downward movement of the desk panel  32 . A lower end  108  of the spring is attached to the framework  68 , and an upper end  110  of the spring is attached to the bar  66 . 
     As is apparent in FIG. 6, the typical open position of the desk panel  32  will be tilted downwardly toward the user. This allows the desk panel  32  to function very effectively as a writing desk. 
     The framework  68  includes an overhead panel  79 , best seen in FIG. 4. A light fixture  80  is located in the overhead panel  79  and is directed upon the desk panel  32  when the desk panel  32  is in its extended or open position as shown in FIG.  4 . The light fixture  80  is hidden from view when the desk panel  32  is in its closed position of FIG.  1 . 
     As seen in FIG. 4, associated with the right hinge mechanism  58  is a combination handle and hinge cover  82 . The handle and hinge cover  82  connects to the door  26  and covers the hinge mechanism  58 . An indentation  84  therein forms a hand grip for pulling the door  26  open. 
     As best seen in FIG. 5, the desk panel  32  includes a leveler mechanism  86  connected between the desk panel  32  and the door  26  for adjusting a tilt of the desk panel  32  when the desk panel  32  is in its open position. The leveler mechanism  86  includes a threaded plate or nut  88  which is attached by screws or the like to a cross-piece  90  of the desk panel  32 . 
     Leveler assembly  86  further includes a rotatable threaded shaft or rod  92  having a threaded portion thereon which is threadedly received through a threaded bore  94  defined in plate  88 . 
     Located on the front edge of desk panel  32  is a desk handle assembly  96 . The rotatable shaft  92  extends through the handle assembly  96  and has an adjustment handle  98  attached to one end thereof for rotating the shaft  92 . 
     The other end of shaft  92  has a stop shoe  100  attached thereto which abuts a forward facing surface  102  of door  26 . It will be appreciated that clockwise rotation of the handle  98  and rod  92  will move the stop shoe  100  away from plate  88 , and counterclockwise rotation will move the stop shoe  100  closer to plate  88 . 
     The stop shoe  100  will abut the surface  102  to effectively define the downward or open position of desk panel  32 . 
     Thus, by rotating handle  98  and shaft  92  clockwise and moving stop shoe  100  further away from plate  88 , the forward tilt of desk panel  32  will be decreased. The desk panel  32  can, in fact, be raised with the leveler mechanism  86  to a substantially leveled position so that the desk panel  32  may be used as a table top for holding a food tray or the like. 
     It is noted that the stop shoe  100  engages the surface  102  of door  26  at a location below the hinge mechanisms  56  and  58  and more importantly, below the moving pivotal axis of the desk panel  32  so that extension of the stop shoe  100  will cause the desk panel  32  to be moved upward toward a level position. 
     Referring now to FIG. 8, it is noted that the framework  68  defining opening  69  includes a lower panel  104  which is located immediately below desk panel  32  when the desk panel  32  is in its closed position. The lower panel  104  has a recess  106  defined therein within which the stop shoe  100  can be received when the desk panel  32  is pivoted upward to its closed position. This allows the desk panel  32  to be closed regardless of the adjusted position of the stop shoe  100 . Thus, when the desk panel  32  is re-opened, it will move back to the same position in which it was located prior to being closed. 
     The leveler mechanism  86  may also be referred to as a tilt adjusting mechanism  86  for defining the lower use position of the desk panel  32  relative to the door  26 . 
     Thus, it is seen that the apparatus of the present invention readily achieves the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of the present disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.