Patent Publication Number: US-6216606-B1

Title: Article of furniture

Description:
This application is based on, and claims priority from, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/077,392 filed on Mar. 10, 1998 which is included herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an article of furniture, and more particularly to an article of furniture which is capable of accepting/supporting equipment or apparatus having an external energy transmission line such as, but not limited to, an electric power cord. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a wide variety of home, office, or factory furniture available and used that, for example, is capable of accepting/supporting equipment having an external energy transmission line. 
     Widely used articles of furniture that support a variety of objects or equipment such as, but not limited to, a radio having an electric power cord, a television having an antenna wire or fiber optic or wire cable, a telephone having a phone cord, a computer connected to an electrical cord, a network cable, etc. include a table, desk, a chest of drawers, and the like. Different designs of desks and tables are used, including ergonomically designed desks and tables that offer ergonomic support to computer users. 
     A majority of such desks and tables back close to a wall and are generally placed near an electrical outlet which powers the electrical equipment. 
     It is a common sight to see electrical cords hanging from computers, or other electrical equipment, over the back and/or side edges of desks, before they get plugged into electrical outlets in the walls. The hanging electrical cords prevent desks or tables from being in direct contact with the walls behind, thereby creating a gap between the desk and the wall. These electrical cords may get pinched between the desk and the wall thereby creating a safety hazard. It is also very common to have objects such as pens, pencils, and other stationary fall in the gaps behind the desks. These fallen objects are not easily accessible unless one moves the desk or makes other heroic efforts to retrieve them. These gaps can be unsafe, unsightly, and a waste of room space. 
     Office desks are known which have two or three holes in the desk top which accept electric power cords, such cords extending from the equipment to the nearest hole and then through the desk top to the floor, and underneath the desk&#39;s back panel to an electric outlet. Cords extending from the equipment can get pinched by the back panel of the desk thereby creating a potential hazard. Such desks must be spaced from the wall to create a gap between the ba ck panel and the wall for the plug. These desks thus do not solve the problems discussed above. One person is known to have drilled a large hole in the back panel over the electric outlet to eliminate the need for the gap. 
     There is thus a need for an article of furniture which can be placed arbitrarily against a wall without a gap, while accommodating the arbitrary placement on the article of furniture of equipment or apparatus whose external energy transmission lines can be connected to arbitrarily located wall electrical outlets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Keeping the above needs in mind, the present invention provides an article of furniture which while used to place equipment, such as a computer, on it also facilitates the placing of a desk or table in close proximity to a wall while avoiding wires hanging over its edges. 
     One embodiment of the present invention provides an article of furniture including: (a) a generally vertical support; (b) a generally horizontal member, wherein the horizontal member is connected to the vertical member, wherein the horizontal member comprises a lower surface and an upper surface, and wherein the horizontal member has a slot extending from the upper surface to the lower surface; and (c) apparatus for covering the slot, wherein the slot covering apparatus allows for a first uncovered portion of the slot and wherein the first uncovered portion is relocatable to at least two different locations. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention provides an article of furniture including: (a) a generally horizontal member, wherein the horizontal member comprises a lower surface and an upper surface and wherein the horizontal member has a slot extending from the upper surface to the lower surface; (b) a generally vertical member, wherein the vertical member has opposing and generally vertical first and second surfaces, wherein the vertical member has a passageway extending from the first surface to the second surface; and wherein the horizontal member is connected to the vertical member; and (c) apparatus for covering the passageway, wherein the passageway covering apparatus allows for a first uncovered relocatable portion of the passageway. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate two preferred embodiments of the present invention wherein: 
     FIG.1 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the article of furniture of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the article of furniture of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective of a second preferred embodiment of the article of furniture the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the article of furniture of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is view taken along arrows  4 — 4  of FIG.  4  and  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-2 show one of the articles of furniture  10  of the present invention, wherein the article of furniture  10  is a table  11 . The table  11  includes generally vertical supports  12  (which are the legs of the table) and a generally horizontal member  14  (which is the top of the table). The horizontal member  14  is connected (directly or indirectly) to the vertical supports  12 . The horizontal member  14  comprises an upper surface  16 , and a back edge  26 , the back edge  26  preferably being abuttingly disposable against a wall. The upper surface  16  in turn comprises a slot  18  preferably located proximate the back edge  26  of the horizontal member  14 . The table  11  also includes covering means  22  for covering the slot  18  while allowing for a first uncovered portion  20 . Preferably the covering means  22  comprises a plurality of tiles  24  that allow the first uncovered portion  20  to be relocated generally along the length of the slot  18 , to at least two different locations. The dimensions of the first uncovered portion  20  are such that it allows the passage of at least one external energy transmission line (such as an electrical or other power supply cord, telephone cord, or the like) through it. The slot  18  and the first uncovered portion  20  extend from the upper surface  16  of the horizontal member  14  to the lower surface  30  (shown in FIG. 2) of the horizontal member  14 . Preferably the length of the slot  18  is at least generally equal to 50 percent of the length of the edge  26 . 
     Shown in FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the table  11 , one embodiment of the instantly claimed article of furniture  10 . As mentioned previously, the table  11  comprises vertical supports  12  directly or indirectly attached to the horizontal member  14 . The depiction of the table  11  shows the upper surface  16  and the lower surface  30  of the horizontal member  14 . 
     Shown in FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the article of furniture  110 , i.e., a desk  111 . The vertical supports  112  are attached, directly or indirectly, to the horizontal member  114 , of the desk  111 . Also shown is the vertical member  132  disposed between the vertical supports  112 . The vertical member  132  could be directly or indirectly attached, or partially or completely unattached to the vertical support  112  and the horizontal member  114 . The horizontal member  114  is shown to comprise an upper surface  116 . The vertical member  132  includes a second vertical surface  144  (shown in FIG.  5 ), and disposed within the second vertical surface  144  is a passageway  136 , wherein the desk  111  also comprises a covering means  138 , which allows for a first, and preferably includes an uncovered portion  140 , and tiles  142  slidably disposed in the passageway  136 . The tiles  142 , taken together, form a preferred second covering means  138 . The uncovered portion  140  and the passageway  136  extend from the first vertical surface  134  (shown in FIG. 5) to the second vertical surface  144  of the vertical member  132 . Shown in FIG. 3 is the desk  111  such that the first uncovered portion  120  of the slot  118  is in communication with the first uncovered portion  140  of the passageway  136 . Also shown is an electrically powered apparatus  150  having an electrical cord  152 , the cord being inserted in the first uncovered portion  120  of the slot  118  and is shown exiting from the first uncovered portion  140  of the passageway  136 . 
     A front elevational view of a second preferred embodiment of the article of furniture  110 , i.e., a desk  111 , is shown in FIG.  4 . Shown are the vertical supports  112 , attached to the horizontal member  114 , of the desk  111 . This FIG. 4 also shows a vertical member  132  disposed between the vertical supports  112 . The vertical member  132  could be directly or indirectly attached, or partially or completely unattached, to the vertical supports  112 , and the horizontal member  114 . The horizontal member  114  is shown to comprise an upper surface  116  and a lower surface  130 . The vertical member  132  includes a first vertical surface  134 , and disposed within the first vertical surface  134  is a passageway  136 , wherein the desk  111  comprises a covering means  138 , which allows for an uncovered portion  140 , and which preferably includes tiles  142  slidably disposed in the passageway  136 . The tiles  142  taken together form a preferred covering means  138 . The uncovered portion  140  and the passageway  136  extend from the first vertical surface  134  to a second vertical surface  144  (shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) of the vertical member  132 . Shown in FIG. 4 is the desk  111  such that the uncovered portion  140  of the passageway  136  is aligned to make the electrical outlet  148  accessible. 
     Depicted in FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the vertical member  132  including the passageway  136 . This figure shows the first uncovered portion  140 , the first vertical surface  134  and the second vertical surface  144 . 
     A preferred embodiment comprises the slot  118  located within the horizontal member  114  such that a cord  152  introduced through the first uncovered portion  120  of the slot  118  drops inside the first vertical surface  134  of i.e., the non-wall side of the vertical member  132 . The electric cord  152  can then be inserted through the uncovered portion  140  of the passageway  136  and plugged in an electrical outlet  148 . The advantage of such an arrangement is that, the electrical cord  152  does not hang over the back edge  126  of the desk  110 , thereby enabling the positioning of the back edge  126  of the horizontal member  114  in close and preferably abutting contact with a wall. Such close contact between the back edge  126  of the horizontal member  114  substantially or completely eliminates any gaps between the wall and the desk  111 , eliminating any cord-pinching hazard. 
     The instantly disclosed invention can be practiced in different ways. Thus slots  18  and  118  can be located along the side edges of the horizontal members  14  and  114  respectively. Such an arrangement will enable the placement of equipment  150  towards the side edges and electrical outlets  148 , closer to the side of the table  11  or the desk  111  which could now be easily accessed. It should be noted that the horizontal member  114  can also be positioned such that the slot  118  in the upper surface  126  of the horizontal member  114  opens outside the second vertical surface  114  of (i.e., the wall side of) the vertical member  132 . Such an arrangement, which is part of the instant invention, enables positioning of the equipment  150  near any edge of the article of furniture  110 , and also helps hide electrical cords  152 . It is also possible to have the slot  18  or  118  wherein the covering means  22  or  128 , the tiles  22  or  122  and the uncovered portion are incorporated in an appropriately sized flat surface which can be attached to existing articles of furniture so as to be able to practice the invention disclosed herein. 
     Keeping the above discussed needs and other needs in mind, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an article of furniture  10  (e.g. a table  11 ) comprising: (a) a generally vertical support  12 ; (b) a generally horizontal member  14 , wherein the horizontal member  14  is connected to the vertical member  12 , wherein the horizontal member  14  has a lower surface  30  and an upper surface  16 , and wherein the horizontal member  14  has a slot  18  extending from the upper surface  16  to the lower surface  30 ; and (c) means  22  for covering the slot  18 , wherein the covering means  22  allows for a first uncovered portion  20  of the slot  18  and wherein the first uncovered portion  20  is relocatable to at least two different locations. 
     Also provided by the instant invention is an article of furniture  10  (e.g. the table  11 ) wherein said upper surface  16  is generally planar and wherein said covering means  22  covers the slot  18  preferably at the upper surface  16  of the horizontal member  14 . A preferred embodiment provides an article of furniture  10  wherein the covering means  22  comprises a plurality of tiles  24  slidably disposed in the slot  18  at the upper surface  16  of the horizontal member  14 . 
     Another preferred embodiment provides an article of furniture  10  (e.g. the table  11 ) wherein the tiles  24  are imperforate, horizontally-slidably disposed in the slot  18 , and together cover less than the entire slot  18 . Another preferred embodiment provides an article of furniture  10  wherein the tiles  24  together cover the entire slot  18  and at least one if the tiles  24  has a hole. A further preferred embodiment provides an article of furniture  10  wherein the horizontal member  14  has an edge abuttingly disposable against a wall and wherein the slot  18  is located proximate the edge. Yet another preferred embodiment provides an article of furniture  10  wherein the slot  18  and the first uncovered portion  20  are sized to accept an electrical cord  152 . It is further preferred that the upper surface  16  is sized to support an electrically powered apparatus  150  connected to the electrical cord  152 . A particularly preferred embodiment of the instant invention provides an article of furniture  10 , wherein the horizontal member  14  is a table top. 
     A second embodiment of the instant invention provides an article of furniture  110  (e.g. a desk  111 ) comprising: (a) a generally horizontal member  114 , wherein the horizontal member  114  has a lower surface  130  and an upper surface  1   16  and wherein the horizontal member  114  has an opening  120  extending from the upper surface  116  to the lower surface  130 ; (b) a generally vertical member  134 , wherein the vertical member  132  has opposing and generally vertical first and second surfaces  134  and  144 , wherein the vertical member  132  has a passageway  136  extending from the first surface  134  to the second surface  144 ; and wherein the horizontal member  114  is connected to the vertical member  132 ; and (c) means  138  for covering the passageway  136 , wherein the covering means  138  allows for a first uncovered portion  140  of the passageway  136  and wherein the first uncovered portion  140  is relocatable to at least two different locations. 
     Preferred aspects of this embodiment provide an article of furniture  110  (e.g. the desk  111 ) wherein the passageway covering means  138  comprises a plurality of tiles  142  horizontally-slidably disposed in the passageway  136  of the vertical member  132 . In one construction the tiles  142  are imperforate and together cover less than the entire passageway  136 . In another construction, not shown in the figures, the tiles  142  together cover the entire passageway and at least one of the tiles has a hole. Yet another embodiment of the instant invention provides an article of furniture  110  wherein the vertical member  132  is disposable proximate a wall and wherein the passageway  136  is located at a predetermined height equal to the standard height of an electric wall outlet  148 . 
     The instant invention also provides an article of furniture  110  (e.g. the desk  111 ) wherein the uncovered portion (opening)  120  is in communication with the passageway  136 , and wherein the first uncovered portion (opening)  120 , the passageway  136 , and the first uncovered portion  140  of the passageway  136  are sized to accept an electrical cord  152 . A particularly preferred embodiment of the instant invention provides an article of furniture  10  wherein the upper surface  116  is generally planar and sized to support an electrically powered apparatus  150  connected to the electrical cord  152 , and wherein the horizontal member  116  is a desk top. A further particularly preferred embodiment of the instant invention provides an article of furniture  110  which includes means  122  for covering the slot  118 , wherein the means  122  allows for a first uncovered portion  120  of the slot  118  and wherein the first uncovered portion  120  of the slot  118  is relocatable to at least two different locations. 
     It is understood that the present invention includes any article of furniture that can be used to support an electrical apparatus, whether such article of furniture is used commercially, industrially, or domestically. The general requirement is that slot covering means and the passageway covering means include slidable, hingeable, snap-on, or removable tiles, or the like. The function of such slot covering means and passageway covering means is to provide an uncovered portion which can be used for the passage of an electrical cord. Even an article of furniture comprising drawers is part of the present invention. Illustrative examples of such articles of furniture include, without limitation, a chest of drawers, armoire, and the like. A television, for example, can be placed on top of a chest of drawers (which is often the case in many homes) and the electrical cord from the television can be passed through an uncovered portion of a slot on the upper surface of the chest of drawers. The electrical cord can then drop behind the drawers and the plug can emerge through an uncovered portion of a passageway which is generally located on the vertical member which generally covers the back edge of the drawers. The arrangement of the drawers and the back panels can be easily accomplished by one skilled in the art. 
     Another arrangement can include an appropriately sized flat surface, comprising a slot, covering means, and tiles, thereby providing an uncovered portion, attached to an edge of a chest of drawers, armoire, or the like. 
     One advantage of the instant invention is that the article of furniture can be moved close to the wall. This increases safety since, especially in areas where children are present, the close proximity of the article of furniture to a wall reduces the exposure of the electrical outlets where children could get hurt. Also, the instantly described invention helps hide the electrical cords which can become a hazard if left exposed. As can be seen, the instant invention has a wide range of applications. The instantly claimed invention is safe and convenient to use and fills a long standing need of easy handling of cords from equipment when placed on an article of furniture. 
     The present invention can also be practiced wherein the generally horizontal surface, having the slot, is a separate piece which is later attached to an article of furniture originally manufactured without one or all of the previously described elements of the present invention at the desired edge of the conventional article of furniture. This helps increase the utility of the existing articles of furniture. Another way of practicing the invention is one where the generally horizontal surface having the slot is mounted on a vertical support thereby providing a bench surface. It is noted that the slot can be located at any desired edge of the generally horizontal surface such that electrical cords from equipment can be passed through the uncovered portion to enable their engagement with the electrical wall outlet. The slidable, removable, hingeable, snap-on, and the like slot covering means makes it convenient for the placement of electrical equipment at any desired location on the bench top, some other article of furniture, or the like. 
     Similarly the passageway in the vertical member, with the slidable, hingeable, snap-on, removable, and the like passageway covering means facilitates the first uncovered portion of the passageway to be appropriately located proximate the electrical wall outlet, enabling access to the electrical outlet. Also included in the present invention are articles of furniture which include a plurality of passageways arranged vertically or horizontally, in parallel or otherwise, to enable access to the electrical outlets. 
     It should be noted that the uncovered portion can serve to accommodate a wide variety of cords. Illustrative examples are electrical cords, telephone cords, cable TV cords, modem wires, cords used to lock or secure a instrument in place, and cords used to connect equipment with each other. 
     The present invention can also be used in conjunction with a door like arrangement used on the inner vertical surface of the vertical member such that once the electrical cord is connected to the electrical outlet, the door, or the like can be used to hide the cord(s). Such a door, or doors, can be slidable, hinged, or the like. Such an arrangement essentially forms a box like structure wherein the upper end of such a box has the slot with the uncovered portion which can be in communication with the uncovered portion located on the vertical member of such a box. This arrangement enables the power cord to be introduced through the uncovered portion at the upper end of such a box and the power cord can exit the box through the uncovered portion located on the vertical member so as to be connected to the electrical outlet.