Drawer with hidden electrical connector

Abstract

An item of furniture including a work platform, a suspended member connected with and located beneath the work platform, and a drawer is described. The drawer is connected with and located beneath the work platform. The drawer is aligned with an outer surface of the suspended member. The suspended member has a thickness t and the drawer has a height h, with the thickness t being approximately equal to the height h, allowing the drawer to have a camouflaged appearance. The item of furniture also includes an electrical connector located in the drawer for connection to a wire. The size of the wire is less than the size of an opening formed between the drawer and the work platform. By having such a configuration, the opening allows for the wire to pass out of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application entitled “DRAWER WITH HIDDEN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR,” filed on Aug. 19, 2005 under Express Mail Label No. EV342114143US, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates generally to furniture such as desks, and in particular, to a desk drawer with a hidden electrical connector.

Desks and other furniture units which are specifically adapted for use with electrical components such as computers and laptops may provide electrical connectors for the laptops or computers. However, these electrical connectors are typically located in such a way that they effect the appearance of the furniture. For example, sometimes the electrical connectors are housed either on or in the work surface of the piece of a desk, thus marring the continuous work surface of the desk. Thus interrupting the continuous work surface of the desk and effecting the overall appearance of the desk. What is needed is a piece of furniture, such as a desk, having an electrical connector which is completely hidden and which does not effect the overall look and appearance of the desk.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present invention, a desk is provided. The desk includes a work platform, a recessed member, and a suspended member. The recessed member has a thickness t₁ and is located under the work platform a distance d₁ away from the edges of the work platform. The suspended member is located a distance d₂ beneath the work platform and is connected with the work platform through the recessed member. The desk further includes a drawer and an electrical connector. The drawer is connected with and located approximately the same distance d₂ beneath the work platform. The drawer has a front surface which is aligned with an outer surface of the suspended member. The suspended member has a thickness t₂ and the drawer has a height h. The thickness t₂ is approximately equal to the height h, allowing the drawer to have a camouflaged appearance and form an opening between the drawer and the work platform. The electrical connector is located in the drawer for connection to a wire having a thickness t₃, wherein the thickness t₃ is less than the distance d₂ to allow for the wire to pass out of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position.

According to another aspect of the present invention a desk including a work platform, a drawer, and an electrical connector is provided. The drawer is connected with and located beneath the work platform. The drawer has a front surface which forms an opening for allowing a wire to pass through. The electrical connector is located in the drawer for connection to the wire having a cross section which is sized less than the size of the opening to allow for the wire to pass through the opening and out of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position.

According to another aspect of the present invention an item of furniture is provided. The item of furniture includes a work platform, a suspended member connected with and located beneath the work platform, and a drawer. The drawer is connected with and located beneath the work platform. The drawer is aligned with an outer surface of the suspended member. The suspended member has a thickness t and the drawer has a height h, with the thickness t being approximately equal to the height h, allowing the drawer to have a camouflaged appearance. The item of furniture also includes an electrical connector located in the drawer for connection to a wire. The size of the wire is less than the size of an opening formed between the drawer and the work platform. By having such a configuration, the opening allows for the wire to pass out of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an item of furniture having a drawer with a hidden electrical connector, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the item of furniture shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the item of furniture shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged top view of the item of fuirniture shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a first side view of the item of furniture shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged side view of the item of furniture shown in FIG. 5, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a second side view of the item of furniture shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view along line D-D of the item of furniture shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the drawer from the item of furniture shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of the drawer shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a front view of the drawer shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a back view of the drawer shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross sectional side view along line B-B of the drawer shown in FIG. 11, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the drawer shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of an electronic module from the drawer shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates a front view of the electronic module shown in FIG. 15, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of the electronic module shown in FIG. 15, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the electronic module shown in FIG. 15, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates an enlarged front view of the item of furniture and the drawer shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 20 illustrates another enlarged front view of the item of furniture shown in FIG. 5

It should be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to each other for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Shown in FIG. 1, in a perspective view, is an item of furniture 20. The item of furniture 20, may be any device which includes a drawer 60, such as a desk, a table, a file cabinet, and a storage cabinet. Item of furniture 20, shown in exemplary form in FIGS. 1-18 as a desk 22, includes a work platform 24, support members 35, 36 located under the work platform 24 on opposite ends of the work platform 24, and a drawer 60 slideably mounted below the work platform 24 and above a knee opening 34, which is defined between the support members 35 and 36 beneath the work platform 24. The work platform 24 is generally a planar member defined by two side edges 30, 31, a front edge 32 and a back edge 33. Items such as laptop computers, books, and papers may be placed on the work platform 24 for use as a work surface by a person. The work platform 24 generally has a thickness sufficient to retain a level of rigidity for supporting items such as books and laptops. The work platform 24 is generally is fabricated for a rigid material such as wood, steel, or stone. Preferably the work platform 24 is continuous and has no openings or gaps formed on it. More preferably the work platform 24 is continuous and has no openings, electrical outlets, or connectors formed on it or in it.

The support members 35, 36 are used to support and elevate the work platform 24 a distance above the ground and form a knee opening 34 within the desk 22, preferably to allow for one to use the work platform 24 while seated. While two support members 35, 36 are shown in FIG. 1, one or more support members 35 may be used to support the work platform 24.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 7-14 the drawer 60 is connected with and located approximately a distance d₂ beneath the work platform 24. The drawer 60 has a front surface 65 which is aligned with an outer surface of 57 the suspended member 50, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The drawer 60 has a height h which is approximately equal to the thickness t₂ of the suspended member 50, allowing the drawer to have a camouflaged appearance and form an opening 72 between the drawer 60 and the work platform 24. By giving the drawer 60 a height h which is approximately equal to the thickness t₂ of the suspended member 50, and by aligning the front surface 65 of the drawer 60 with the outer surface 57 of the suspended member 50, the drawer 60 is able to have a camouflaged appearance and form a opening 72 between the drawer 60 and the work platform 24, wherein the opening 72 is approximately equal to a distance of d₂. Additionally, by forming the opening 72 between the drawer 60 and the work platform 24, the drawer 60 is able to allow for wires 100 having a thickness t₃ which is less than the distance d₂ to pass out of the drawer 60 when the drawer 60 is in a closed position.

In one embodiment, the front surface 65 forms the opening 72 for allowing a wire to pass through. Preferably, the wire 100 has a cross section which is sized less than the size of the opening 72 to allow for the wire 100 to pass through the opening 72 and out of the drawer 60 when the drawer 60 is in a closed position. Preferably, the opening 72 has a height h_o and a width w_o of greater than 5 mm, as illustrated in FIG. 19. In one embodiment, the width w_o of the opening 72 is equal to the width w_d of the drawer 60, and the height h_o of the opening is greater than a thickness t₃ of the wire 100.

In one embodiment, the opening 72 is formed between the drawer 60 and the work platform 24, wherein the opening 72 allows for the wire 100 to pass out of the drawer 60 when the drawer 60 is in a closed position.

The drawer 60 includes a planar bottom panel 70 and a back panel 68, side panels 64, 66, and a front panel 62 vertically protruding from the bottom panel 70 to form a storage area 67. Suitable drawer slides may be attached to side panels 64, 66 and the desk 22 in order to slideably mount drawer 60 to desk 22. Preferably, the storage area 67 is sized to hold items, such as a laptop computer, some books, as well as a full sized alpha-numeric computer keyboard. However, the storage area 67 may be dimensioned in such a way that it cannot fit a laptop or an auxiliary computer keyboard.

The front panel 62 includes a suspended portion 74 connected with a support portion 76 with a transition portion 79, as shown in FIG. 13. The transition portion 79 is typically wedge-shaped and used to provide additional support to the suspended portion 74. Preferably, the suspended portion 74 forms an inner groove 78 on top of the suspended portion 74 for housing small items, such as pencils and paper clips, and an outer groove 61 on the bottom of the suspended portion 74. The outer groove 61 provides a grip for one to open the drawer 60 by providing a place for one to place one's fingers in. As viewed in FIGS. 2, 9 and 19, the front panel 62 forms a front surface 65 on its outermost edge.

The side panels 64, 66 are connected with and between the front and back panels 62, 68. The back panel 68 may be connected with a cable management device 104, as shown in FIG. 10, in order to provide a channel for cables exiting through the back panel 68 of the drawer 60. The cable management device 104, may form a retractable, or movable channel to allow for cable management of cables while the drawer 60 is in motion. In one embodiment, the cable management device 104 is a flexible conduit.

The drawer 60 houses an electronic module 80, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10 13, and 15-18. The electronic module 80 includes a housing 83 having a face 81 and an electrical connector 82 mounted on the face 81 of the housing 83 for providing a connection to receive or transmit electrical signals to and from outside the drawer 60, such as data signals having information or electrical power for powering devices. The electrical connector 82 is located in the drawer 60 for connection to a wire 100 having a thickness t₃, wherein the thickness t₃ is less than a distance d₂ to allow for the wire 100 to pass out of the drawer 60 when the drawer 60 is in a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Preferably, the electrical connector 82 is mounted on the housing 83 at an angle a which is slightly obtuse with respect to the plane of the bottom panel 70 of the drawer 60, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 13. Preferably, the angle a is greater than 90 degrees, and more preferably, greater than 100 degrees. Mounting the electrical connector 82 on the housing 83 at an angle a which is slightly obtuse with respect to the plane of the bottom panel 70 makes it easier for a user to plug a wire 100 having a connector 101 into the electrical connector 82. The housing 83 may have a variety of shapes and angles to allow for the electrical connector 82 to be mounted on the housing 83 at an angle a which is slightly obtuse with respect to the plane of the bottom panel 70.

Electrical connector 82 may be any type of connector used to transfer electrical signals, such as a power outlet 84 for connecting to AC or DC power, a data port 88 for receiving and sending information, a video connector 94 for receiving and sending video signals, an audio connector 96 for receiving and sending audio signals, and any other outlet, connector or port that may be used to transmit and receive electrical signals. The data port 88 may include a telephone outlet 89, for receiving and sending telephone calls, a LAN outlet for connecting to a network, a Firewire or USB port for connecting to a computer, a DVI or HDMI port for connecting to a digital video signal, a fiber optic port, a serial port, a parallel port, or any other port or outlet that can send and receive information. The video connector 94 may be any one of a variety of video connectors used to send and receive video signals, such as a VGA connector, an HDMI connector, a DVI connector, an RCA connector, a BNC connector, and an F-type connector. The audio connector 96 may be any one of a variety of audio connectors used to send and receive audio signals, such as a BNC connector, a balanced connector, an RCA, a ¼″ or ⅛″ connector, a fiber optic connector or any other such connector.

As a result of the above configuration, a laptop computer or other such electronic device may be advantageously plugged into the power outlet 84 for power and may be connected in a suitable manner to data port 88 or telephone outlet 89 for network or Internet connectivity. An exemplary electronic module 80 is a power and data module manufactured by Electri-Cable Assemblies, Inc., of Shelton, Conn. 06484. However, any other types of modules may be used, such as the 8-Outlet SurgeMaster® Superior Series, by Belkin Corporation of Compton, Calif. 90220, having Part #F9S800-06.

The desk 22 preferably includes a recessed member 40 having a thickness t₁ located under the work platform 24 a distance d₁ away from the edges 30, 31, 32, 33 of the work platform 24 and a suspended member 50 located a distance d₂ beneath the work platform 24 and connected with the work platform 24 through the recessed member 40. By locating the recessed member 40 a distance d₁ away from the edges 30, 31, 32, 33 of the work platform 24, the recessed member 40 can have a hidden appearance, thus causing the illusion that the suspended member 50 beneath the recessed member 40 is suspended underneath the work platform 24 without being connected to the work platform 24. However, the recessed 40 member may also be located adjacent the edges of the work platform 24. Preferably the recessed member 40 has a thickness t₁ of greater than 5 millimeters, and more preferably the recessed member 40 has a thickness t₁ of greater than 7 millimeters. Also the recessed member 40 preferably is located a distance d₁ from the edges 30, 31, 32, 33 of greater than 7 millimeters, and more preferably greater than 12 millimeters.

The suspended member 50 is located distance d₂ beneath the work platform 24 and is connected with the work platform 24 through the recessed member 40. The suspended member 50 has a thickness t₂ of preferably greater than 40 millimeters, and more preferably, greater than 50 millimeters. The suspended member 50 may comprise a transition member 55 located beneath a flat member 54, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Preferably, the edges 56 of the transition member 55 are beveled to prevent injury to a person using the desk 22.

While the desk 22 may have various dimension, in one embodiment, the desk 22 has dimensions labeled as shown in FIGS. 2-8, 10-14, and 18 and described in the tables below.

TABLE 1
DIMENSIONS AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 2 INCHES
A1         32.09
A2         13.91
A3         0.08
A4         0.08
A5         27.68
A6         13.91
A7         0.08
A8         0.08
A9         32.09
A10        7.84
A11        0.08
A12        13.91
A13        0.08
A14        2.63
A15        32.09
A16        32.09
A17        0.08
A18        13.91
A19        0.08
A20        27.68
A21        0.08
A22        13.91
A23        0.08
A24        32.09
A25        7.84
A26        0.08
A27        13.91
A28        0.08
A29        32.09

TABLE 2
DIMENSIONS AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 3 INCHES
B1         120.00
B2         54.00

TABLE 3
DIMENSIONS AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 4 INCHES
C1         1.50
C2         2.63
C3         .75
C4         .75
C5         Radius of 0.50
C6         Radius of 0.50

TABLE 4
DIMENSIONS AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 5 INCHES
D1         30.54
D2         9.00
D3         36.00
D4         9.00

TABLE 5
DIMENSIONS AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 6 INCHES
E1         0.79
E2         0.37
E3         3.54
E4         1.50
E5         1.31
E6         45°
E7         0.88
E8         2.63
E9         1.50
E10        4.12
E11        Radius of 0.13
E12        Radius of 0.13

TABLE 6
DIMENSIONS AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 7 INCHES
F1         3.54
F2         30.54
F3         4.11
F4         23.64
F5         64.50
F6         23.64

TABLE 7
DIMENSIONS AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 8 INCHES
G1         3.54
G2         6.00
G3         27.00
G4         20.21
G5         30.21

TABLE 8
DIMENSIONS  AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 10 INCHES
H1          16.067
H2          16.252
H3          7.969
H4          11.815
H5          .626
H6          1.000
H7          1.000
H8          3.500
H9          .077
H10         2.250
H11         .077
H12         11.750
H13         1.082
H14         .752
H15         13.913

TABLE 9
DIMENSIONS  AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 11 INCHES
I1          16.067
I2          .126
I3          2.374
I4          .077
I5          1.000
I6          13.913
I7          .077
I8

TABLE 10
DIMENSIONS  AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 12 INCHES
J1          .315
J2          13.067
J3          .374
J4          .126
J5          1.752
J6          2.500
J7          .374
J8          1.000

TABLE 11
DIMENSIONS  AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 13 INCHES
K1          .626
K2          1.500
K3          2.374
K4          7.969
K5          2.122
K6          .626
K7          2.250
K8          .752
K9          Radius of 0.374
K10         Radius of 0.125
K11         Radius of 0.375
K12         Radius of 0.125
K13         .875

TABLE 12
DIMENSIONS  AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 14 INCHES
L1          3.500
L2          .626
L3          1.496
L4          45°
L5          .878
L6          .878
L7          2.004
L8          1.152
L9          .252
L10         .126
L11         2.374

TABLE 13
DIMENSIONS  AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 15 INCHES
M1          .315
M2          13.067
M3          .374
M4          .126
M5          1.752
M6          .374
M7          1.000
M8          2.500

TABLE 14
DIMENSIONS  AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 16 INCHES
N1          .626
N2          1.500
N3          2.374
N4          7.969
N5          2.122
N6          .626
N7          2.250
N8          .752
N9          Radius of 0.374
N10         Radius of 0.125
N11         Radius of 0.375
N12         Radius of 0.125
N13         .875

TABLE 15
DIMENSIONS  AMOUNT IN
FOR FIG. 17 INCHES
O1          3.500
O2          .626
O3          1.496
O4          45°
O5          .878
O6          .878
O7          2.004
O8          1.152
O9          .252
O10         .126
O11         2.374

TABLE 16
                       AMOUNT IN
DIMENSIONS FOR FIG. 18 INCHES
P1                     11.750

TABLE 17
                       AMOUNT IN
DIMENSIONS FOR FIG. 19 INCHES
Q1                     2.000

TABLE 18
                       AMOUNT IN
DIMENSIONS FOR FIG. 21 INCHES
R1                     2.341
R2                     70.0°
R3                     3.023

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A desk comprising:

a work platform;

a recessed member having a thickness t1 located under the work platform a distance d1 away from the edges of the work platform;

a suspended member located a distance d2 beneath the work platform and connected with the work platform through the recessed member;

a drawer connected with and located approximately the same distance d2 beneath the work platform, the drawer having a front surface which is aligned with an outer surface of the suspended member, wherein the suspended member has a thickness t2 and the drawer has a height h, and wherein the thickness t2 is approximately equal to the height h, allowing the drawer to have a camouflaged appearance and form an opening between the drawer and the work platform; and

an electrical connector located in the drawer for connection to a wire having a thickness t3, wherein the thickness t3 is less than the distance d2 to allow for the wire to pass out of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position.

2. The desk of claim 1, wherein the thickness t1 of the recessed member is greater than 5 mm.

3. The desk of claim 1, wherein the distance d2 is greater than 5 mm.

4. The desk of claim 1, wherein the drawer includes two side surfaces each connected at an edge to an opposing side of the front surface, a back surface connected to an edge of each side surface, and a bottom surface connected with and below the front, the back, and the two side surfaces.

5. The desk of claim 1 further comprising an electrical housing housed within the drawer, wherein the electrical housing houses the electrical connector.

6. The desk of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is one of a power connector, a telephone connector, an audio connector, a video connector, or a LAN connector.

7. The desk of claim 1, further comprising a flexible conduit connected with the drawer, wherein the flexible conduit hoses an electrical wire which is electrically connected with the electrical connector.

8. A desk comprising:

a work platform;

a drawer connected with and located beneath the work platform, the drawer having a front surface which forms an opening for allowing a wire to pass through; and

an electrical connector located in the drawer for connection to the wire having a cross section which is sized less than the size of the opening to allow for the wire to pass through the opening and out of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position.

9. The desk of claim 8, wherein the opening has a height h and a width w of greater than 5 mm.

10. The desk of claim 8, wherein the width of the opening is equal to the width of the drawer, and the height of the opening is greater than a thickness of the wire.

11. The desk of claim 8, wherein the drawer has a camouflaged appearance.

12. The desk of claim 8 further comprising an electrical housing housed within the drawer, wherein the electrical housing houses the electrical connector.

13. The desk of claim 8, wherein the electrical connector is one of a power connector, a telephone connector, an audio connector, a video connector, or a LAN connector.

14. An item of furniture comprising:

a work platform;

a suspended member connected with and located beneath the work platform;

a drawer connected with and located beneath the work platform, the drawer having being aligned with an outer surface of the suspended member, wherein the suspended member has a thickness t and the drawer has a height h, and wherein the thickness t is approximately equal to the height h, allowing the drawer to have a camouflaged appearance; and

an electrical connector located in the drawer for connection to a wire, wherein the size of the wire is less than the size of an opening formed between the drawer and the work platform, wherein the opening allows for the wire to pass out of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position.

15. The item of furniture of claim 14, wherein the electrical connector is one of a power connector, a telephone connector, an audio connector, a video connector, or a LAN connector.

16. The item of furniture of claim 14, further comprising a cable management device connected with the drawer, wherein the cable management device houses an electrical wire which is electrically connected with the electrical connector.

17. The item of furniture of claim 14, wherein the width of the opening is equal to the width of the drawer, and the height of the opening is greater than a thickness of the wire.

18. The item of furniture of claim 14 further comprising an electrical housing housed within the drawer, wherein the electrical housing houses the electrical connector.

19. The item of furniture of claim 14, wherein the electrical connector is one of a power connector, a telephone connector, an audio connector, a video connector, or a LAN connector.

20. The item of furniture of claim 14 further comprising a support member located under the work platform and used to support and elevate the work platform 24 a distance above the ground.