US3212748A - Combination desk and cabinet rack structure - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 19, 1965 6. w. FAUROT 3,212,748

COMBINATION DESK AND CABINET RACK STRUCTURE Filed July 5, 1963 so I n I I F 1 63 6'4 62 i i i I 7 l 41 {I I l I Pg 5 H I2 l8 (I MI V I 13 II HI [0 FIG'3 l8 l6 l2 INVENTOR GEORGE WESLEY FAUROT \\Y/ i; W) XY/W/A ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,212,748 CGMBINATION DESK AND CABINET RACK STRUCTURE George Wesley Faurot, Falls Church, Va. (630 Rosita Ave., Los Altos, Calif.) Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 293,051 3 Claims. ((31. 248-458) The present invention relates to improvements in articles of furniture, and more particularly to a portable combination desk and cabinet structure.

One object is to provide a portable combination structure of the above-mentioned type which is compact and is adapted to be employed as a desk for supporting books, papers and the like as well as for storing books and other objects.

Another object is to provide a portable combination desk and cabinet structure in which the desk can be moved to various positions for supporting books and papers while the user reclines in a comfortable chair or relaxes in bed.

Another object is to provide a portable compact desk and cabinet structure is which the desk can be adjusted to various predetermined positions of elevation to facilitate use of the desk while reclining in a chair or otherwise assuming a relaxed position.

Another object is to provide a portable desk structure supported from a single standard on a pair of horizontally swinging arms which permits the desk to be adjusted to various positions with little effort upon the part of the user.

Another object is to provide a portable combination cabinet and desk structure having a desk member which is hinged to swing on a horizontal axis, thereby permitting the desk surface to be adjusted to various angular positions.

Another object is to provide a combination cabinet and desk structure of the above-mentioned type in which other devices can be adjustably supported on the vertical standard such as paper and pencil racks, illuminating means and various other devices.

Another object is to provide a novel hinge connection between the horizontal swinging arms, as well as the desk supporting structure to permit free swinging movement of the desk to various positions in a horizontal plane.

Another object is to provide a combination cabinet and desk structure which can be attached to the wall and supported thereon by suitable shelf members forming rack type supports for various objects.

Another object is to provide a combination desk and cabinet structure in which a storage rack or the like is adjustably supported on the upper end of the single standard and is provided with a hinged member having a pencil receiving trough for receiving various objects and in addition said rack-like support is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced U-shaped division members formed of wire adapted to separate the upper rack member into a series of separate compartments for books, papers and various other objects.

Another object is to provide a single standard type cabinet structure and desk with illuminating means adjustably mounted on the single standard above the desk portion of the structure so that said illuminating means can be adjusted to various elevations toward and away from the desk surface.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top elevational view of the combination cabinet and desk structure showing a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the manner in which the horizontally swinging desk is rotatably supported by the 3,212,748 Patented Oct. 19, was

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single standard and illustrating the illuminating means attached to a separate horizontally swinging arm.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the combination cabinet and desk structure illustrating the general arrangement of the various elements.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the combination cabinet and desk structure illustrating the manner in which the various devices such as the desk, illuminating means and cabinet structure are adjustably supported on the single standard or upright.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a single standard mounted on a wall for supporting various cabinet structures and the like, as well as the horizontally swinging and adjustable desk member.

FIG. 4a is a top elevation of a single standard for wall mounting.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the pivotal hearing connection between one of the horizontally swinging arms and the desk per se.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and taken on line 66 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the bearing structure for the horizontally swinging arms of the desk and illuminating support.

In the drawing, and more in detail, attention is first directed to FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive wherein the reference character 5 will generally be employed to designate a base member to which is attached a single upstanding shaft or pedestal generally designated 6. The desk structure is mounted on the standard 6 and is generally designated 7. Mounted on the upper end of the standard 6 is an illuminating element 8 also generally designated, and a storage chamber or cabinet is adjustably mounted on the vertical standard 6 above the desk and illuminating means and is generally designated 9.

The base or pedestal support 5 is of general rectangular shape and includes a platform 10 supported by caster wheels 11 mounted on swivel brackets 12 arranged at each corner of the rectangular platform 10; Secured to the upper surface of the platform adjacent the rear edge thereof is a plate 13 having a series of upstanding parallel spaced plates 14 which are secured to the plate 13 and are held in spaced apart relation by two or more brass rods 15 which extend through aligned openings in the division plates 14 and are arranged adjacent the ends thereof (FIGURE 2).

The pedestal or vertical standard 6 is formed of a tubular section of metal or the like and has its lower end supported in a suitable socket 18 formed in the rectangular platform 10. The socket 18 is provided with a metal liner to provide a metal to metal fit between the pedestal or standard 6 and the platform 10. Any approved fastening means is provided for securely anchoring the lower end of the standard 6 in place and against removal.

Rotatably mounted on the vertical support or standard 6 is a horizontal arm 20 (FIGURE 6) and said arm is provided with an oversized bore 21 having a bearing sleeve 22 fitted therein and provided with an internal bore of a diameter to receive the vertical standard 6. The arm 20 is adapted to be adjusted to any desired position or elevation from the floor by inserting a pin 23 through a preselected opening in the standard 6. The standard 6 is provided with a series of vertically spaced openings 24 (FIGURE 3) to permit the pin 23 to be inserted in d-iametral aligned bores in the tubular standard 17. Thus, the arm 20 can be adjusted to any desired elevation by inserting the pin 23 in one of the series of aligned apertures 24 beneath the arm 20 in the vertical standard.

Pivotally attached to the end of the arm is an arm by means of a bolt or the like as at 26. The bolt or machine screw 26 extends through suitable bearing openings in the overlapped ends of the arms 20 and 25 and a wing nut or similar fastener'element 27 is threaded on said bolt or machine screw to permit pivotal movement of said arm about theaxis of the bolt 26. The end portions of the pivoted arms 20 and 25 are curved as at 28 and 29 to present a finished appearance.

The free swinging end of the arm 25 is provided with a rectangular desk support 30 and said desk support is pivoted to the free end of the arm 25 by means of a bearing structure shown in FIGURE 5. The bearing structure is received in a recess 31 in the free end of the arm 25 and a correspondingly shaped recess 32 in the desk supporting arm 30. As shown in the drawing a cylindrical sleeve bearing 33 is mounted in the recess 31 and a suitable pin bearing structure (not shown) is mounted in the cavity formed by the recesses 31 and 32. A pivot bolt 35 extends through aligned openings 36 and 37 in the arm 25 and support 30, and one end of said bolt is provided with a head 38 while the other end is threaded as at 39 for receiving a wing nut 40. Thus, the wing nut 40 can be tightened or loosened to position the desk support 30 in any desired position in a manner similar to that described in connection with the pivot bolt 26. The pivot bearing 26 is similar in construction to that described in FIGURE 5 for the pivot connection between the arm 25 and the desk support 30. However, a description of one will suffice for both.

Hingedly connected to the desk support 30 is a desk top 41 of rectangular shape to provide a substantially flat writing and supporting surface 42. The hinge connection 43 includes a pair of spaced hinge members with their leaves 44 attached to the underside of the desk 41 and to the side edge of the desk support 30 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5. The leaves are connected by a suitable pintle pin in the usual fashion (not shown).

The lower edge of the desk 41 is provided with a longitudinal strip 45 adapted to form a stop or abutment for papers and the like supported on the desk when the desk 41 is tilted to an oblique position. A suitable hinge structure 46 is provided for pivotally connecting the stop 45 to the desk 41. Thus, the desk 41 can be positioned at an incline as shown in FIGURE 5 and retained in position by the friction hinges 43 for supporting papers and books while the portable desk is being used for writing or reading purposes. If desired, a suitable arcuate latch bar can be attached to the rear of the desk 41 to engage a stop or latch on the desk support 30. The latch bar being provided with a series of notches arranged in spaced relation to receive a pivoted detent mounted on the desk support 30 at either end thereof or both ends. When the desk 41 is used as above at an inclined position as shown in FIGURE 5 the pivoted stop rail 45 assumes the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 3 and the upper surface thereof is provided with a recess forming an elongated pencil trough 50. When the desk is positioned in a horizontal plane the stop rail 45 is hinged to its dotted line position in FIGURE 3 to provide a continuous fiat table surface.

Also rotatably mounted on the vertical support or standard 17 is an arm 51 mounted above the arm 20 and adapted to be held in position by means of a pin 52 similar to the pin 23 shown in FIGURE 6 extending through one of the apertures 24. The arm 51 supports the illuminating means 8 which includes a short section of flexible cable housing 53 having one end attached to an electrical socket 54 and its opposite end suitably connected to an electric lamp socket as at 55. An incandescent lamp 56 is mounted in the socket 55 and the lamp shade 57 has its supporting frame (not shown) arranged to receive the lamp and be supported thereby.

The rack structure 9 is likewise mounted on the vertical standard 17 and said rack includes a rectangular base member 58 having an opening for receiving the vertical standard 17. The base member 58 is provided with vertically extending end walls 59 connected by a back wall 60. Spaced from the rectangular base 58 is a similarly shaped horizontal division plate 61 which has its ends connected to the end Wall members 59 to form a space 62 for receiving various objects such as pencils, drafting instruments and similar devices. Hingedly connected to the front edge of the base member 58 is a wall member 63 forming a door which is hinged as at 64 to the base member and is adapted to close the compartments 62 between the base member 58 and the horizontal wall 61. One face of the closure 63 is dished as at 65 to form a pencil trough and a flexible member 66 (FIG- URE 3) has one end connected to the closure 65 and the opposite end secured to a nail or the like (not shown). The flexible member 66 comprises a short section of link chain so that the free end can be slipped over a stud or nail and retained in place in any selected position, as well as being held closed to prevent articles stored in the compartment 62 from being displaced when the portable combination desk and cabinet structure is moved one location to another.

The horizontal member 61 is provided with a series of U-shaped wire division members 69 having their ends received in suitable openings to provide a series of horizontally spaced division members for books, papers and the like.

The rectangular base member 58 and the horizontal member 61 are provided with aligned bores for receiving the vertical standard 17 and said cabinet structure 9 can be adjusted to any desired position and retained in place by means of a pin 70 extending through a selected set of apertures 24.

Thus, it will be seen that the desk 7 can be adjusted to any desired elevation and inclination so that a student or the like can position the desk within easy access while seated in a comfortable reclining position, as for instance in an overstuffed living room chair, and it will also be seen that the portable desk structure can be used as a table or the like while one is reclining in bed by merely moving the desk 41 to a horizontal position in which the structure can be used as a table. Additionally, the illuminating means 8 can be adjusted as desired above the desk depending upon the position in which the desk is used, and that the cabinet structure 9 can be likewise adjusted to a proper elevation so that the articles therein such as books, papers and pamphlets will be within easy reach of the user and accessible from a reclining position.

In the modified or optional structure shown in FIG- URES 4 and 4a the vertical standard 17a is supported by wall brackets 72a and 73a. The wall brackets are of angular construction and include foot members 74a and 75a respectively having horizontal arm portions 76a and 77a. The arms of the bracket are braced by suitable brace members 78a and 79a respectively. The horizontal arm members 76a and 77a are thus arranged in vertically spaced relation while the foot portions 74a and 75a are secured to a vertical wall surface W by suitable fastener elements (not shown). Formed on. the lower and upper horizontal bracket portions 76a and 77a is a pair of opposed plug members 80a and 81a respectively. The plug members are arranged in opposed relation and are adapted to receive the ends of the tubular vertical standard 17a. Thus, the base member 10 can be dispensed with and the vertical standard can be supported in spaced relation from a vertical wall surface with the desk structure 7, illuminating means 8 and cabinet structure 9 mounted on the tubular standard 17a as before and described in connection with the form of the invention shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 5 and 6. The

various elements are rotatably and adjustably supported on the vertical standard 17a, and as before are held in an adjusted preselected position by means of a suitable pin extending through and being seated in one of a series of aligned apertures 82a.

In the optional form of the invention the desk 7, illuminating means 8 and rack 9 can be swung to various horizontal positions and secured and adjusted so that the user can assume a sitting position in a comfortable chair and use the desk and cabinet structure as previously described.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 the base member 10 has its front edge cut away as at 16 to provide space for the users feet when the structure is used and positioned directly in front of the chair in which the occupant is seated in a reclined position.

In the forms of the invention herewith shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a combination desk and cabinet structure a rectangular base member, castor wheels supporting said base member, a series of vertical division plates on said base member arranged in spaced relation to form a book rack and stabilize said desk and cabinet structure, a vertical tubular standard with its lower end connected centrally to said base member and having a series of vertically spaced pin receiving apertures extending from its lower portion to substantially the upper portion thereof, an arm rotatably mounted on said vertical stand ard to swing in a horizontal plane, a second arm having one end pivotally connected to the free end of said first named arm to swing in a similar plane, the overlapping ends of said arms being provided with enlarged recesses to accommodate a bearing member, threaded fastener means extending through said bearing member to releasably hold the same in an adjusted position, a horizontal bar pivoted intermediate its ends to the free end of the second named arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, threaded fastener means extending through said arm and bar to releasably hold the same in an adjusted position, a pair of spaced hinged members afiixed to said horizontal bar located at points adjacent the ends thereof, a fiat rectangular member forming a desk supporting surface connected at the rear thereof to said hinges, and a pin for being received in a Selected pin receiving aperture in said vertical standard to selectively position said arms of said desk supporting surface in different horizontal planes, said pivoted arms and flat rectangular member being removable from the upper end of said vertical standard to permit book racks and the like to be placed thereon beneath said pivoted arms and flat rectangular member.

2. In a combination desk and cabinet structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said fiat rectangular member is provided with a pair of hinges arranged in spaced relation along the lower edge thereof, and an elongated pencil trough and paper stop secured to said hinges.

3. In a combination desk and cabinet structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said book rack comprises a box-like structure having a central opening in its lower wall for passage of said vertical standard, said box-like structure being open at the top and along one side and provided with division members for holding books and the like.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 267,592 11/82 Richards 248457 502,601 8/93 Anderson et a1 248457 1,257,586 2/18 Deming 248457 1,666,803 4/28 Walker 248454 1,712,814 5/29 Dierks 248457 2,354,998 8/44 KiKu 248454 3,023,063 2/62 Hansen 108-6 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A COMBINATION DESK AND CABINET STRUCTURE A RECTANGULAR BASE MEMBER, CASTOR WHEELS SUPPORTING SAID BASE MEMBER, A SERIES OF VERTICAL DIVISION PLATES ON SAID BASE MEMBER ARRANGED IN SPACED RELATION TO FORM A BOOK RACK AND STABILIZE SAID DESK AND A CABINET STRUCTURE, A VERTICAL TUBULAR STANDARD WITH ITS LOWER END CONNECTED CENTRALLY TO SAID BASE MEMBER AND HAVING A SERIES OF VERTICALLY SPACED PIN RECEIVED APERTURES EXTENDING FROM ITS LOWER PORTION TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, AN ARM ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID VERTICAL STANDARD TO SWING IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, A SECOND ARM HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE FREE END OF SAID FIRST NAMED ARM TO SWING IN A SIMILAR PLANE, THE OVERLAPPING ENDS OF SAID ARMS BEING PROVIDED WITH ENLARGED RECESSES TO ACCOMMODATE A BEARING MEMBER, THREADED FASTENER MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BEARING MEMBER TO RELEASABLY HOLD THE SAME IN AN ADJUSTED POSITION, A HORIZONTAL BAR PIVOTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS TO THE FREE END OF THE SECOND NAMED ARM ARRANGED TO SWING IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, THREADED FASTENER MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ARM AND BAR TO RELEASABLY HOLD THE SAME IN AN ADJUSTED POSITION, A PAIR OF SPACED HINGED MEMBERS AFFIXED TO SAID HORIZONTAL BAR LOCATED AT POINTS ADJACENT THE ENDS THEREOF, A FLAT RECTANGULAR MEMBER FORMING A DESK SUPPORTING SURFACE CONNECTED AT THE REAR THEREOF TO SAID HINGES, AND A PIN FOR BEING RECEIVED IN A SELECTED PIN RECEIVING APERTURE IN SAID VERTICAL STANDARD TO SELECTIVELY POSITION SAID ARMS OF SAID DESK SUPPORTING SURFACE IN DIFFERENT HORIZONTAL PLANES, SAID PIVOTED ARMS AND FLAT RECTANGULAR MEMBER BEING REMOVABLE FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID VERTICAL STANDARD TO PERMIT BOOK RACKS AND THE LIKE TO BE PLACED THEREON BENEATH SAID PIVOTED ARMS AND FLAT RECTANGULAR MEMBER.

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