US20060065163A1

US20060065163A1 - Desk with tilt-adjustable tops

Info

Publication number: US20060065163A1
Application number: US10/956,636
Authority: US
Inventors: Yueh Chi; Wen-Hua Chang; Hungh-Hsiang Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-30
Filing date: 2004-09-30
Publication date: 2006-03-30

Abstract

A desk with tilt-adjustable tops includes a stand frame; a front top mounted to an upper front portion of the stand frame via a front tilt control device; and a rear top mounted to an upper rear portion of the stand frame via a rear tilt control device. The stand frame is height-adjustable and has a storage box located below a rear portion of the front top. The front and the rear top may be separately adjusted to different tilt angles best for writing, drawing, or reading at the desk. In normal time, the front and the rear top may be simultaneously restored to a horizontal state or adjusted to the same plane with the storage box invisibly located below the front top, so that the desk is used as a general desk with a flat top.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a desk with front and rear tops that could be separately adjusted to different tilt angles best for writing, reading or drawing at the desk. The front and the rear top may also be adjusted to a horizontal state or locate in the same plane, allowing the desk to serve as a general desk with a flat top.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional desks usually include a one-piece flat top, which has fixed height and inclination.
Since people are different in ages, heights, and figures, the conventional desk with fixed height and inclination does not always satisfy different users. Many users have no choice but force themselves to work at a desk with improper height and suffer sore back and waist from incorrect position sitting in front of the desk.
Particularly, the conventional desk having a generally horizontal top is often associated with the problem of glare and/or reflective light caused by different angles of light and smooth paper surface. The glare and/or reflective light discomforts the user reading or writing at the desk for a prolonged time, and would even adversely affect the user's visual acuity.
In brief, the conventional desk having a one-piece and horizontal top is not suitable for a user to comfortably and conveniently working at the desk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a desk with front and rear tops that could be separately adjusted to different tilt angles best for writing, reading, or drawing, and used as a bookholder for holding documental materials thereon for viewing; or simultaneously adjusted to a horizontal state or the same plane to serve as a general desk with a flat top.
To achieve the above and other objects, the desk with tilt-adjustable tops according to the present invention includes a stand frame; a front top mounted to an upper front portion of the stand frame via a front tilt control device; and a rear top mounted to an upper rear portion of the stand frame via a rear tilt control device.
The front top is seated on a supporting frame, which is slidably mounted to the upper front portion of the stand frame to move forward or rearward relative to the stand frame. The front top in a horizontal state serves as a horizontal top of a general desk, and may be adjusted to a tilt angle between zero and twenty-five degrees suitable for reading, writing, and drawing thereat, depending on actual need.
The rear top could be adjusted via the rear tilt control device to different tilt angles between zero and 90 degrees to serve as a bookholder for a user to comfortably view things or materials positioned on the tilt rear top. The rear top is made of a metal material, or embedded with metal elements, so that paper and/or other things may be magnetically attached to the rear top using magnets.
When it is desired to use the desk of the present invention, the front and the rear top could be separately adjusted to different tilt angles, so that a user could comfortably write, read, or draw at the desk. When it is not necessary to use the desk with the front and the rear top in different tilt angles, the front and the rear top could be restored to the horizontal state or the same plane just as a general flat desk to provide a wide, clean, and orderly top.
The desk with tilt-adjustable tops according to the present invention also includes a storage box located below a rear portion of the front top. When the front top is pulled forward, the storage box is exposed and a user may conveniently access stationery and other office supplies positioned in the storage box. And, when the front top is rearward pushed, the storage box is invisibly located below the front top again to maintain the whole top of the desk in a wide and neat condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk with tilt-adjustable tops according to an embodiment of the present invention with a rear top thereof in a tilt position;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the desk of FIG. 1 with a front top thereof also in a tilt position;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the desk of FIG. 1 with front and rear tops thereof all in a horizontal state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 that are two perspective views of a desk with tilt-adjustable tops according to an embodiment of the present invention, and to FIG. 3 that is a fragmentary side view of FIG. 2. As shown, the desk with tilt-adjustable tops of the present invention mainly includes a stand frame 1, a front top 2, and a rear top 3.
The stand frame 1 includes a pair of side columns 11, a pair of side members 12 separately mounted to upper ends of the two side columns 11, a pair of legs 13 separately connected to lower ends of the two side columns 11, an upper stretcher 14 mounted between substantially middle points of the two side members 12, a lower stretcher 15 mounted between substantially middle points of the two legs 13, and a central column 16 mounted between substantially middle points of the upper and the lower stretcher 14, 15 of the stand frame 1.
The central column 16 and the two side columns 11 are height-adjustable. For example, the central column 16 may be an air cylinder, and each of the two side columns 11 may include a lower section 111 and an upper section 112 telescoped in the lower section 111 and provided with a row of locating holes 113, so that the upper section 112 may be located at a desired height relative to the lower section 111 by fixing a locating screw 114 into a selected locating hole 113 via the lower section 111. With the central column 16 in the form of an air cylinder, an overall height of the stand frame 1 could be freely adjusted under control. And, with two locating screws 114 separately fixed into two symmetrically corresponding locating holes 113 on the two side columns 11, the stand frame 1 could be maintained at the desired height set via the central column 16.
A storage box 17 is provided on the stand frame 1 between the two side members 12 to normally invisibly locate below a rear portion of the front top 2. When the front top 2 is pulled forward, the storage box 17 is exposed and a user may conveniently access stationery and office supplies positioned in the storage box 17.
A computer case carriage 18 is mounted on one end of the lower stretcher 15 of the stand frame 1 for holding a computer case thereon. And, a compact disk (CD) rack 19 is hung below at least one of the two side members 12 for holding a plurality of compact disks.
The front top 2 is mounted to an upper front portion of the stand frame 1, such as front ends of the two side members 12, via a front tilt control device 21.
The front top 2 includes a supporting frame 22 located below it. The supporting frame 22 is mounted at two lateral sides to inner front ends of the two side members 12 of the stand frame 1, and pivotally connected at a front end to a bottom front portion of the front top 2 via first hinges 23. The above-mentioned front tilt control device 21 is located between the supporting frame 22 and a position close to a bottom rear portion of the front top 2.
The front tilt control device 21 may be, for example, a positioning plate with a row of locating holes to enable stepped tilt adjustment, or an air cylinder to enable stepless tilt adjustment. With the front tilt control device 21, the front top 2 could be pivotally turned about the first hinges 23 to lift a rear edge thereof at a tilt angle between zero and twenty-five degrees, which is suitable for a user to write, draw, or read at the front top 2. The front top 2 may be provided with an anti-slip surface to prevent articles positioned on the front top 2 from undesirable slipping or sliding.
The side members 12 of the stand frame 1 are provided with a slide way 121 each, and the supporting frame 22 of the front top 2 is slidably mounted in the slide ways 121 via slide rails to move forward or rearward relative to the side members 12. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporting frame 22 is allowed to move relative to the side members 11 within a range from zero to twenty centimeters. That is, the front top 2 could be forward pulled closer to a user and used in a more comfortable manner, and to expose the storage box 17 on the stand frame 1 for the user to conveniently access stationery and office supplied positioned therein. When the front top 2 is pushed rearward to a home position, the storage box 17 is concealed and a wide and neat top is provided.
A keyboard slide 24 is slidably mounted below the supporting frame 22 for holding a keyboard thereon.
The rear top 3 is mounted to an upper rear portion of the stand frame 1, such as near upper rear ends of the two side members 12, via a rear tilt control device 31. The rear top 3 is pivotally connected at two lower front ends to two near middle points of the two side members 12 via second hinges 32 with the rear tilt control device 31 located between the rear ends of the side members 12 and a position close to a bottom front of the rear top 3.
The rear top 3 may be made of a metal material, or have metal elements (not shown) embedded therein. Magnetic elements may be utilized to magnetically attach necessary documents to the rear top 3 for viewing conveniently.
The above-mentioned rear tilt control device 31 may be, for example, a positioning plate with a row of locating holes to enable stepped tilt adjustment, or an air cylinder to enable stepless tilt adjustment. With the rear tilt control device 31, the rear top 3 could be pivotally turned about the second hinges 32 to lift a rear edge thereof at a tilt angle between zero and ninety degrees, which is suitable for a user to watch the documents positioned on the rear top 3.
To use the desk of the present invention, a user may separately adjust the front and the rear top 2, 3 to different tilt angles, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. With the front top 2 adjusted to a desired tilt angle and/or a position closer to the user, the user may read, write, and draw at the front top 2 more comfortably without the problem of glare or reflective light due to different angles of light. Meanwhile, with the rear top 3 adjusted to a desired tilt angle, books or documents to be viewed may be inclinedly positioned thereon to enable best viewing of these books or documents while writing or drawing at the front top 2. In this manner, the front and the rear top 2, 3 may be separately adjusted to different states most suitable for the user to use. In normal time, the front and the rear top 2, 3 may be restored to an initial horizontal state as shown in FIG. 4, or located in the same plane, with the storage box 17 invisibly located below the front top 2 to provide a complete and planar space over the tops 2, 3 for the desk of the present invention to serve as a general desk with increased usable top surface.
The desk with tilt-adjustable tops according to the present invention allows a user not only to best utilize the space above the desk for different purposes, but also adjust the front and the rear top to different tilt angles best for viewing in terms of ergonomics, and thereby reducing discomfort of user's eyes and/or body caused by working at the desk over a prolonged time.
The present invention has been described with a preferred embodiment thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A desk with tilt-adjustable tops, comprising:

a stand frame;

a front top mounted to an upper front portion of said stand frame via a front tilt control device; and

a rear top mounted to an upper rear portion of said stand frame via a rear tilt control device.

2. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stand frame includes:

a pair of side columns;

a pair of side members separately mounted to upper ends of said pair of side columns;

a pair of legs separately connected to lower ends of said pair of side columns;

an upper stretcher mounted between two substantially middle points of said pair of side members;

a lower stretcher mounted between two substantially middle points of said pair of legs; and

a central column mounted between two substantially middle points of said upper and said lower stretcher.

3. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 2, wherein said front top includes a supporting frame located below said front top, said supporting frame being mounted at two lateral sides to inner front ends of said pair of side members, and pivotally connected at a front end to a bottom front portion of said front top via first hinges; and wherein said front tilt control device is located between said supporting frame and a position near a bottom rear portion of said front top.

4. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front tilt control device enables stepped adjustment of a tilt angle of said front top.

5. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 4, wherein said front tilt control device enabling stepped adjustment of a tilt angle of said front top is a positioning plate with a row of locating holes.

6. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front tilt control device enables stepless adjustment of a tilt angle of said front top.

7. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 6, wherein said front tilt control device enabling stepless adjustment of a tilt angle of said front top is an air cylinder.

8. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front tilt control device enables adjustment of a tilt angle of said front top within a range from zero to twenty-five degrees.

9. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pair of side members of said stand frame are provided at an inner side with a slide way each, and said supporting frame of said front top being slidably mounted in said slide ways via slide rails to move forward or rearward relative to said pair of side members.

10. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 9, wherein said supporting frame is allowed to move forward or rearward relative to said side members within a range from zero to twenty centimeters.

11. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rear top is pivotally connected at two lower front ends to two near middle points of said two pair of side members via second hinges, and said rear tilt control device being located between two rear ends of said pair of side members and a position close to a bottom front of said rear top.

12. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear tilt control device enables stepped adjustment of a tilt angle of said rear top.

13. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 12, wherein said rear tilt control device enabling stepped adjustment of a tilt angle of said rear top is a positioning plate with a row of locating holes.

14. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear tilt control device enables stepless adjustment of a tilt angle of said rear top.

15. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 14, wherein said rear tilt control device enabling stepless adjustment of a tilt angle of said rear top is an air cylinder.

16. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear tilt control device enables adjustment of a tilt angle of said rear top within a range from zero to 90 degrees.

17. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear top is made of a metal material.

18. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear top has metal elements embedded therein.

19. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a storage box mounted between said pair of side members to locate below a rear portion of said front top.

20. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 2, wherein said central column and said pair of side columns are of height-adjustable structures.

21. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 20, wherein said central column is an air cylinder, and wherein each of said pair of side columns includes a lower section and an upper section telescopically mounted in said lower section.

22. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 21, wherein said upper section of each said side column is provided with a row of locating holes, and is located at a desired height relative to said lower section by fixing a locating screw into a selected one of said locating holes via said lower section.

23. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a computer case carriage mounted on one end of said lower stretcher.

24. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a compact disk rack hung below at least one of said two side members.

25. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a keyboard slide slidably mounted below said supporting frame of said front top.

26. The desk with tilt-adjustable tops as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front top is provided with an anti-slip surface.