Patent Publication Number: US-2013229094-A1

Title: Modular desk

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a modular desk capable of being stored in a compact manner when not in use, and expanded to a full sized desk by securing a bridge between adjacent modules to lock same together. The modules may be re-arranged, relative to one another, to form different desk configurations, when the bridge is pivoted out of locking engagement. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The need for a desk that is simple in design, can be easily assembled and disassembled, and consumes a minimum amount of space has long been recognized. The need for such a desk is particularly acute in apartments, dormitories, schools, libraries, and offices. Diverse attempts have been made to satisfy such need but with limited success, including knock-down or modular furniture. 
     One attempt to meet the need for a compact desk is set forth in patent application Ser. No. 13/195,305 filed Aug. 2, 2012; on behalf of Enrico Raccah. The desk comprises a first module, a second module, and a removable bridge that joins the modules together, and forms an access opening to receive a desk chair. Pins on the underside of the bridge fit into sockets located at the upper end of each module, to lock the components together. 
     While the desk disclosed patent application Ser. No. 13/195,905, functions satisfactorily, the bridge, when not locked into position between the modules, required storage in some manner. Also the spatial relationship of the first and second modules was fixed, and the desk could not be re-configured to allow seating on opposite sides thereof, or to allow one module to be adjusted relative to the other module. Such adjustment would enable customization of the configuration of the desk to meet different user requirements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention employs a bridge, of rectangular shape, that is joined by a hinge to the upper edge of one of the modules. When not in use, the bridge is pivoted about the hinge line, and the two modules are pressed together to minimize the floor space occupied by the desk. Also since the bridge is hinged to one of the modules, the bridge does not require separate storage space, and con not be misplaced. 
     Several pins, spaced at intervals along the edge of the bridge remote from the hinge, depend downwardly. Sockets are defined along the upper edge of one of the modules to receive the pins, and lock the bridge in place. The selective engagement of the pins in the sockets determines the spatial relationship of the modules relative to one another. 
     The expanse of the free end of the bridge that is not supported by the pins and sockets will exhibit a tendency to torque, if a heavy weight is placed thereon, and/or if a user presses downwardly on the bridge. Stabilizers are housed in a recess situated at the upper end of the modules; the stabilizers are manually withdrawn and extend to support the bridge, and maintain same in a steady manner. 
     The desk may be personalized by adding decals bearing school logos, pictures of performing artists, and athletes, and the like. 
     Numerous other favorable attributes of the inventor&#39;s unique desk will become readily apparent from the ensuring drawings, and specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a modular desk constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention, the desk comprising a storage cabinet, a file cart, and a bridge for joining the cabinet and the file cart together; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the modular desk of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the modular desk of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the modular desk with the bridge in its extended, horizontal position; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the modular desk of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the modular desk of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper end of one side wall of the file cart; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the bridge extending away from the storage cabinet in a horizontal plane; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the modular desk with the bridge secured between the file cart and the storage cabinet; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the modular desk with the bridge disengaged from the file cart; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the stabilizers located below the top of the file cart, the stabilizers shown in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the stabilizers shown in  FIG. 11 , but with one of the stabilizers shown in an extended position; 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the modular desk as shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the desk of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the modular desk with the file cart positioned forwardly of the storage cabinet; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the modular desk of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the modular desk with the stabilizers extended below the bridge. 
         FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the modular desk of  FIG. 17 , with the bridge resting on the extended stabilizer; 
         FIG. 19  is a top plan view of the modular desk with the file cart positioned forwardly of the storage cabinet, with the bridge resting upon one of the stabilizers extended from the file cart; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the modular desk as shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the modular desk with the file cart positioned behind the desk with the stabilizers supporting the bridge; 
         FIG. 22  is a top plan view of the modular desk as shown in  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a front elevational view of the modular desk as shown in  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a top plan view of the modular desk with the file cart positioned behind the desk with stabilizers taking away from the opening in the desk; 
         FIG. 25  is a front elevational view of the modular desk shown in  FIG. 24 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show a modular desk identified, generally, by reference numeral  10 . Desk  10  comprises a file cart  12 , a storage cabinet  14 , and a bridge  16  connected to the upper edge of storage cabinet  14 . The file cart may also be considered as a first module, and the storage cabinet may be considered to be a second module. 
     File cart  12  comprises top  18 , bottom  20 , and side wall  22 . Columns  24 , at the front and rear of file cart  12 , extend between the top  18  and bottom  20  of cart  12 . The front column is visible in  FIG. 3 , and the front and rear columns  24  are visible in  FIG. 9 . The side of the cart opposite to side wall  22  is open to provide easy access to the shelves and office supplies (not shown) retained thereon. 
     Shelves  26 ,  28  extend between side wall  22  and columns  24 . Housing  30  is located below top  18  of file cart  12 . Stabilizers  32  and  34  are retained within housing  30  at the upper end of file cart  12 . Hand holds  36  and  38  in stabilizers  32  and  34  enable the user of the desk to withdraw each stabilizer from within the interior of housing  30 , shown in dotted outline in  FIG. 2 . Casters  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  located at the corners of file cart  12  enable the cart to be moved about, and located in different positions, relative to storage cabinet  14 . 
     Storage cabinet  14  comprises top  48 , spaced side wall  50 ,  52 , and bottom  54 . Small drawers  56 ,  58 , and  60 , and larger drawer  62 , are accessible from the front of storage cabinet  14 . Casters  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  are located at the corners of the storage cabinet  14 , so that the storage cabinet may easily be moved. 
       FIGS. 1-3  show desk  10  in its storage position, with file cart  12  and storage cabinet  14 , positioned in side-by-side relationship that resembles a cube. Such relationship saves floor space, which is at a premium in dormitory rooms, offices, apartments, hotels, etc. 
       FIGS. 4-9  show desk  10  in its expanded position, wherein file cart  12  has been rotated 180° and moved to the opposite side of storage cart  14 , and wherein bridge  72  joins file cart  12  and storage cabinet  14  to form a desk. Hinge  74  secures bridge  72  to the upper end of sidewall  50  of storage cabinet  14 . The bridge is of rectangular shape, and the sides of the bridge are equal in size to the depth of the tops of file cart  12 , and storage cabinet  14 . The bridge is mounted for pivotal movement through a 90° arc, reaching a horizontal position. In such horizontal position, bridge  72  abuts top  48  of storage cabinet  14 , along one lateral edge, and abuts top  18  of file cart  12  on the opposite lateral edge. Bridge  72 , when locked in its horizontal position, forms a continuous, unbroken surface with the tops of the file cart and storage cabinet. The unbroken surface serves as a desk top or work surface, and the space beneath the bridge serves as an access opening adapted to receive a desk chair (not shown). 
     Several pins depend from the underside of bridge  72 , at spaced intervals. Two pairs of pins depend from the free end of the bridge, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The number and the location of pins  76  and  78  can be varied, as needed. Pins  76  fit into sockets  80  in the upper end of side wall  22  of file cart  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . The upper end of side wall  22  extends to abut top  18  of file cart  12 , and the thickness of top  18  is equal to the thickness of bridge  72 . 
       FIG. 10  shows bridge  72  disengaged, or removed, from sockets  80  in side wall  22  of file cart  12 . The bridge pivots downwardly about hinge line  74 , until the lower face of bridge  72  rests against side wall  50  of storage cabinet  14 . Magnetic or mechanical detents (not shown) may be employed to retain bridge  76  in close contact with side wall  50  of storage cabinet  14 , when the bridge is not in use. The stored position of file cart  12 , storage cabinet  14 , and bridge  72 , is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 11  shows stabilizers  32 ,  34  in their retracted position, while  FIG. 12  shows stabilizer  34  in its extended position. In the extended position, stabilizer  34  projects about an inch past top  18  of file cart  12 . The extended stabilizer provides support for bridge  72 , and prevents tilting of the bridge which might dislodge the pins  76 ,  78  from the sockets  80  receiving and retaining same. 
       FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the desk of  FIG. 9 , while  FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the desk of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show a first alternative arrangement for desk  10 , wherein file cart  12  is advanced forwardly, past storage cabinet  14 . Some of the pairs of pins  76  fit into sockets  80  to retain bridge  72  in a stable position between file cart  12  and storage cabinet  14 . The rear half of bridge  72  is not joined to file cart  12 , so that access to the right rear corner of bridge  72  is unimpeded. 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  show stabilizers  32 ,  34  extended from the housing to support bridge  72 , and complement the joinder formed by depending pins  76  fitting into sockets  80  on file cart  12 . Bridge  72  defines a stable desk top. File cart  12  has been rotated 180° from the position shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . 
       FIGS. 19 and 20  show file cart  12  advanced relative to storage cabinet  14 . Stabilizer  32  has been extended to support bridge  72 , and insure that the depending pins on the underside of the bridge are retained in sockets  80 . 
       FIGS. 21-23  show file cart  12  positioned at a right angle to storage cabinet  14 , and located at the rear edge of bridge  72 . Stabilizers  32 ,  34  are extended and support one side of bridge  72 . Pins  78 , distributed along one edge of the underside of bridge  72 , fit into sockets  80  at the upper end of side wall  22  of file cart  12 . The area beneath bridge  72  is open, so that one, or more chairs, may be positioned adjacent to the edge of one side of bridge  72 . 
       FIGS. 24-25  show another position for file cart  12  vis-à-vis bridge  72 ; the file care is rotated 180° from the position shown on  FIGS. 21-23 , and the stabilizers are retained in their storage position. 
     The pin and socket connections between the underside of the bridge and the side wall of the file cart may be replaced by other mechanical fasteners or by magnetic fasteners. The drawers  56 ,  58 ,  60 , and  62  may be removed, or omitted, from storage cabinet  14 , which with function satisfactorily with flat shelves that open to the front face of storage cabinet  14 . In yet another alternative configuration, doors may enclose the open shelf unit, and may be secured by a conventional lock to protect the content of the storage cabinet. Appliques or decals may be applied to the exposed side walls to identify the institution, such as a college, which the student, or user of the desk, attends. Other revisions and modifications will occur to the skilled artisan, so the attached claims should be broadly construed in a manner consistent with applicant&#39;s invention, and should not be limited to their literal terms.