Supports: racks – Special article
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2001-08-28
Gibson, Jr., Robert W. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
C211S001510, C211S026000, C211S040000, C211S069100, C362S154000, C362S253000, C362S294000, C362S414000, C362S801000, CD19S077000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279753
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to workstation accessories for desk top use and more particularly to a combination desk lighting fixture, compact disc holder, beverage cup holder and desk organizer set.
2. Prior Art
A variety of workstation accessories for desk top use are available on the market. Typically, a workstation accessory of this type comprises a desk lamp and a desk organizer combination. Other combinations may include a desk lamp and a compact disc holder. None of the known desk top accessories is versatile enough to include more than two or three features at the most. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,417 to Chen discloses a combination of a lighting fixture and rack which includes a lamp installed on a top portion of a rack having a plurality of ribs juxtapositionally disposed on a right and a left side portion of a central column of the rack for inserting a plurality of compact discs (CDs) or cassette tapes on the ribs of the rack. This combination is limited to two features, namely a CD rack and a lamp.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,398 to Lin discloses a CD storage rack and lamp assembly including abase, abase covering, four sets of connecting rods connected in series by connectors, a lamp stand connected to the base and the base covering by the connecting rods, a plurality of arms connected between the lamp holder and the lamp stand, and a plurality of CD carrier plates fastened to the connecting rods at different elevations between the lamp stand and the base covering. This combination is also limited to two features and presents a rather complicated structure.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 367,124 is directed to a two-feature combination, namely a desk lamp and desk top organizer combination in which the organizer also serves as a base for the lamp.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 349,170 is also directed to a two-feature combination, i.e. a desk lamp and desk top organizer combination.
Therefore, the need arises for a novel workstation accessory combination for desk top use which should be versatile and preferably of a relatively straightforward construction. Such a desk top combination should incorporate a number of functional features to provide desk top illumination, desk organizer, CD holder and beverage cup holder capability. Since workstations nowadays usually contain computers, printers, scanners, telephone sets and the like, the novel desk top workstation combination should also preferably include a telephone/computer communication interface connection capability as well as electrical sockets for convenient plugging of external equipment (printers, scanners, etc.).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a workstation accessory for desk top use comprising in combination a base having means for operatively connecting a telephone set or a computer communication interface, means for operatively connecting external electrical equipment and means for connecting to a power source; a compact disc holder coupled to the base; a desk organizer coupled to the base away from the compact disc holder; and a desk lighting fixture operatively coupled to the base away from the desk organizer and the compact disc holder, the desk lighting fixture adapted for receiving power when the means for connecting to a power source is operational. The means for operatively connecting a telephone set or a computer communication interface includes at least two operatively interconnected telephone jacks disposed on the base. The means for connecting to a power source includes a power cord coupled to the base. The means for operatively connecting external electrical equipment includes at least one electrical socket disposed on the base and operatively connected to the power cord. The desk lighting fixture includes a support arm coupled at one end to the base, a light reflector coupled to the other end of the support arm, a lamp socket operatively coupled to the other end of the support arm inside the light reflector, the support arm adapted to serve as a power conduit to the lamp socket when the power cord is operatively coupled to a power source.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the desk organizer includes a pencil holder and a tray for holding the pencil holder, the tray coupled to the base away from the compact desk holder. The tray includes means for frictionally holding the pencil holder in the tray. The frictional holding means includes a plurality of protuberances in the tray for providing frictional support for the pencil holder.
The present invention is also directed to a workstation accessory for desk top use comprising in combination a base having means for operatively connecting a telephone set or a computer communication interface, means for operatively connecting external electrical equipment and means for connecting to a power source; a compact disc holder coupled to the base; a beverage cup holder coupled to the base away from the compact disc holder; and a desk lighting fixture operatively coupled to the base away from the beverage cup holder and the compact disc holder, the desk lighting fixture adapted for receiving power when the means for connecting to a power source is operational. The means for operatively connecting a telephone set or a computer communication interface includes at least two operatively interconnected telephone jacks disposed on the base. The means for connecting to a power source includes a power cord coupled to the base. The means for operatively connecting external electrical equipment includes at least one electrical socket disposed on the base and operatively connected to the power cord. The desk lighting fixture includes a support arm coupled at one end to the base, a light reflector coupled to the other end of the support arm, a lamp socket operatively coupled to the other end of the support arm inside the light reflector, the support arm adapted to serve as a power conduit to the lamp socket when the power cord is operatively coupled to a power source.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the beverage cup holder includes means for frictionally holding a beverage cup. The frictional holding means includes a plurality of protuberances in the beverage cup holder for providing frictional support for the beverage cup.
The present invention is further directed to a workstation accessory for desk top use comprising in combination a base having means for operatively connecting a telephone set or a computer communication interface, means for operatively connecting external electrical equipment and means for connecting to a power source; a compact disc holder coupled to the base, the compact disc holder having means for holding a beverage cup; a desk organizer coupled to the base away from the compact disc holder; and a desk lighting fixture operatively coupled to the base away from the desk organizer and the compact disc holder, the desk lighting fixture adapted for receiving power when the means for connecting to a power source is operational. The means for operatively connecting a telephone set or a computer communication interface includes at least two operatively interconnected telephone jacks disposed on the base. The means for connecting to a power source includes a power cord coupled to the base. The means for operatively connecting external electrical equipment includes at least one electrical socket disposed on the base and operatively connected to the power cord. The desk lighting fixture includes a support arm coupled at one end to the base, a light reflector coupled to the other end of the support arm, a lamp socket operatively coupled to the other end of the support arm inside the light reflector, the support arm adapted to serve as a power conduit to the lamp socket when the power cord is operatively coupled to a power source. The desk organizer includes a pencil holder and a tray for holding the pencil holder, the tray coupled to the base away from the compact desk holder. The tray includes means for frictionally holding t
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
Lamps Plus Inc.
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