Chairs and seats – With table – desk – or easel – Chair-secured standard supports table
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2001-08-07
Cranmer, Laurie K. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
With table, desk, or easel
Chair-secured standard supports table
C297S172000, C297S188210, C297S217400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270157
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of Invention
The invention relates to computer furniture, and in particular a computer desk anthropometrically and economically designed for use with a modem personal computer system, referred to hereafter, as the floppy desk.
II. Pior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 371,168 issued Oct. 11, 1887, to Boss, discloses a desk having an angled work surface with a retractable seat that can be stowed within.
U.S. Pat. No. 784,604 issued Mar. 14, 1905, to Wall, discloses a chair and desk combination having multiple seats surrounding a central desk.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,024,045 issued Dec. 10, 1935, to Johnson, discloses a desk having dual swiveling and swinging chairs for user comfort.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,115,497 issued Apr. 26, 1938, to Mintz, discloses a combined desk and chair with a flip open work surface making use of the space within.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,375,696 issued May. 8, 1945, to Shick, discloses a combined music chair and stand with a horizontally pivoting seat.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,624,392 issued Jan. 6, 1953, to Bargen, discloses a school desk having an integral top and a vertically adjustable seat.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,725,095 issued Nov. 29, 1955, to Rodefeld, discloses a table and seat combination, having a vertically adjustable table and a horizontally pivoting seat to take advantage of available lighting.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,334 issued Nov. 6, 1973, to Weber, discloses a combination desk and chair having a hydraulic or pneumatic, vertically adjustable, work surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,922 issued Oct. 25, 1988, to Cooper, discloses a workstation supporting a computer monitor and keyboard on separate work surfaces, rockable about a horizontal axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,270 issued Oct. 14, 1989, to Cooper, discloses a workstation supporting a computer monitor and keyboard on separate work surfaces, the work surfaces attached to a coupled carriage that maintains the same spatial relationship between the chair and carriage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,450 issued Apr. 10, 1990, to Cooper, discloses a workstation supporting a computer monitor and keyboard on separate work surfaces, rockable about a horizontal axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,864 issued Oct. 15, 1991, to Cooper, discloses a workstation supporting a computer monitor and keyboard on separate work surfaces, rockable about a horizontal axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,950 issued Sep. 26, 1995, to Crenshaw et al., discloses a computerized school desk with an imbedded computer and flat screen monitor inside.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,305 issued Jul. 14, 1998, to Hocking, discloses a workstation with two upright parallel stanchions supporting a computer, monitor, keyboard and printer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,934 issued Jun. 8, 1999, to McGraw, discloses a combination seat and desk supported by an oblong base.
The disclosed inventions do not offer the unique, useful, and inventive features incorporated into the floppy desk. They are either too complex for simple manufacture or not readily adaptable to a modem personal computer system (i.e. monitor, computer, keyboard and especially a mouse or other pointing device). The floppy desk cleverly interfaces with today's modern personal computer systems and provides economy and comfort in a simple design. It incorporates a single plane work surface and computer support into a reclining upper assembly that maintains the relative orientation of the operator with the computer system components.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Over the past several years personal computers and input devices have advanced significantly, with no notable progress made in computer furniture. This lack of computer furniture development has led most operators to use a standard desk and chair, the comfort level of this arrangement leaves a lot to be desired. In particular with the advent of the internet and millions of people surfing the net, a need exists for a comfortable and economical personal computer desk for home, office, school, and or dorm room use. The present embodiment, the floppy desk, solves these problems by providing a cost effective and comfortable solution.
The floppy desk is anthropometrically designed to proportions that provide maximum operator comfort. It has an upper assembly consisting of a tubular frame, a seat, an adjustable back and headrest, a computer support, a foot platform, and a single plane work surface that supports a monitor, a keyboard, and includes a sidearm support area for a pointing device. A support base with a footprint of sufficient area is used to support the upper assembly and maintain the center of gravity while in the horizontal and reclined positions.
The most important feature of the floppy desk is its ability to recline while still allowing the operator to maintain his or her orientation relative to the computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse. When the operator takes the seated position his or her offset weight causes the upper assembly to pivot into the reclined positions. The pivot point of the upper assembly is located so that a lightweight operator is sufficient to pivot the entire upper assembly. An adjustment knob is used to vary the angle of the upper assembly from horizontal to the maximum recline. As the upper assembly reclines it is damped by a shock absorber or gas spring until it reaches the stop on the adjustment knob. When the operator vacates the seat the offset weight of the upper assembly, monitor and computer return it to the horizontal position.
Adjustable retaining clips are used to secure monitors and keyboards of different sizes to the singe plane work surface.
To retain the pointing device on the work surface during reclined operation a small amount of cord is secured by a clip to the edge of the work surface.
The floppy desk can be easily manufactured for either left or right hand operators, with the side arm support tube and work surface situated on the side of the operators preferred hand.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5697668 (1997-12-01), Chao
patent: 5765910 (1998-06-01), Larkin et al.
patent: 6039392 (2000-03-01), Dencker
patent: 6102476 (2000-08-01), May et al.
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