US20070170826A1

US20070170826A1 - Work table having hidden computer equipment

Info

Publication number: US20070170826A1
Application number: US11/369,098
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Cheng Tsao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-23
Filing date: 2006-03-06
Publication date: 2007-07-26
Also published as: TWI280858B; TW200727820A

Abstract

A work table includes a table body, and a computer equipment retractably mounted on the table body so that the computer equipment is hidden in the table body when not in use. The computer equipment includes integrated main board modules, monitor modules and peripheral modules, so that the computer equipment has a modularized structure, thereby facilitating a user mounting the computer equipment. In addition, the computer equipment has a modularized structure hidden in the table body, so that the computer equipment is hidden in the table body when not in use, and the table body has a flat table plate for use with the user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a work table and, more particularly, to a work table having a hidden computer equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional person computer comprises a main board, a hard disk drive, a monitor (such as liquid crystal display), a keyboard, a mouse, a floppy disk drive, an optical disk drive, multiple connecting wires, an earphone, a microphone, a horn, and other peripheral parts including at least one audio slot, at least one video signal transmission interface, at least one USB, at least one wireless network interface or the like. However, the parts of the computer occupy a larger space, thereby affecting movement of the user. In addition, the connecting wires of the computer are exposed outward, so that the connecting wires are easily contaminated by dirt or dust, thereby causing a cleaning problem. In addition, the computer only has a single monitor, so that the user cannot operate two or more monitors, thereby causing inconvenience to the user when needing to use two or more monitors simultaneously.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a work table, comprising a table body, and a modularized computer equipment retractably mounted on the table body in a hidden manner so that the computer equipment is hidden in the table body when not in use.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a work table having a modularized computer equipment which is hidden in the work table.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a work table, wherein the computer equipment includes multiple integrated main board modules, monitor modules and peripheral modules, so that the computer equipment has a modularized structure, thereby facilitating a user mounting and detaching the computer equipment.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a work table, wherein the computer equipment has a modularized structure hidden in the table body, so that the computer equipment is hidden in the table body when not in use, and the table body has a flat table plate for use with the user, thereby facilitating the user employing the work table, and thereby enhancing the versatility of the computer equipment.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a work table, wherein the user only needs to open the cover plate to lift the monitor and to open the lid to remove the keyboard and the mouse, so that the computer equipment is operated easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user operating the computer equipment.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a work table, wherein the computer equipment is hidden in the table body when not in use without occupying any addition space, thereby facilitating storage of the computer equipment.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a work table, wherein the computer equipment has a modularized structure, so that each module of the computer equipment is repaired and replaced individually, thereby facilitating maintenance and replacement of the computer equipment.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work table in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the work table as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic operational view of the work table as shown in FIG. 1 in use.
FIG. 4 is a schematic operational view of the work table as shown in FIG. 3 in adjustment of the height of the support stands.
FIG. 5 is a front plan cross-sectional view of the work table as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a partially side plan cross-sectional view of the work table as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of the work table as shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main board module of the work table as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a peripheral module of the work table as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a peripheral module of the work table as shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a work table in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a table body 1, and a modularized computer equipment 2 retractably mounted on the table body 1 in a hidden manner so that the computer equipment 2 is hidden in the table body 1 when not in use.
The table body 1 includes a table plate 11 and a plurality of support stands 12 mounted on the table plate 11 to support the table plate 11.
The computer equipment 2 includes at least one main board 21, at least one hard disk drive 22, at least one monitor 23 (such as liquid crystal display), a keyboard 24, a mouse 25, a microprocessor control board 26, at least one audio slot 271 (for mounting an earphone, a microphone, a horn or the like), a floppy disk drive 273, a video signal transmission interface 274, a wireless network interface 275, an optical disk drive 276, a card reader 272, a security keyboard 277, an operation switch 278, and a USB 279.
The computer equipment 2 further includes at least one main board module 5 for mounting the main board 21 and the hard disk drive 22, at least one monitor module 18 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) for mounting the monitor 23, and two peripheral modules 6 and 7 for mounting the multiple peripheral parts including the microprocessor control board 26, the audio slot 271, the floppy disk drive 273, the video signal transmission interface 274, the wireless network interface 275, the optical disk drive 276, the card reader 272, the security keyboard 277, the operation switch 278 and the USB 279. The computer equipment 2 further includes a plurality of connecting wires 28 (see FIG. 1) connected between the main board module 5, the monitor module 18 and the two peripheral modules 6 and 7.
The table plate 11 has an upper surface 111 for placing articles and a lower surface 112 for mounting the support stands 12. The table plate 11 has a front end face 113, a rear end face 114, a left end face 115, and a right end face 116.
The table plate 11 has a mediate portion formed with a recessed portion 117 for storing the keyboard 24 and the mouse 25, and a removable lid 119 is removably mounted in the recessed portion 117 of the table plate 11 to cover and expose the keyboard 24 and the mouse 25. The computer equipment 2 further includes at least one charger 241 (see FIG. 5) mounted in the recessed portion 117 of the table plate 11. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard 24 is a wireless keyboard, the mouse 25 is a wireless mouse, and the computer equipment 2 includes two chargers 241 for use with the keyboard 24 and the mouse 25 without having to use batteries.
The table plate 11 has a side formed with at least one mounting groove 118 located adjacent to the rear end face 114 for mounting the monitor module 18 to facilitate movement of the monitor 23. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the table plate 11 is formed with three mounting grooves 118 for mounting three monitor modules 18 to facilitate movement of three monitors 23.
Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the computer equipment 2 further includes at least one monitor protective jacket 13 mounted on the lower surface 112 of the table plate 11 and aligned with the mounting groove 118 of the table plate 11 for mounting the monitor module 18. Preferably, the monitor protective jacket 13 has a bottom 134 located at a height greater than that of a bottom of each of the support stands 12, so that the monitor protective jacket 13 is depending to facilitate the cleaning work. The monitor protective jacket 13 has a top 132 attached to the lower surface 112 of the table plate 11 by screw members (not shown). The bottom 134 of the monitor protective jacket 13 is provided with a connector 133, and the top 132 of the monitor protective jacket 13 is formed with two mounting holes 135 for mounting two connectors (not shown) which are connected to an electric power source (not shown) and the main board 21 of the computer equipment 2.
The monitor module 18 is mounted in an inside 131 of the monitor protective jacket 13 and includes a housing 181 mounted in the inside 131 of the monitor protective jacket 13 to receive the monitor 23, and a lift mechanism 19 mounted in the housing 181 to control movement of the monitor 23. The lift mechanism 19 includes a lift platform 192 movably mounted in the housing 181, a drive motor 191 connected to the lift platform 192 to move the lift platform 192, and a support rod 193 mounted on the lift platform 192. The monitor 23 is mounted on the lift platform 192 to move therewith and supported by the support rod 193. Thus, the monitor 23 is lifted by the lift platform 192 to protrude from the respective mounting groove 118 of the table plate 11 as shown in FIG. 3, or lowered by the lift platform 192 to retract into an inside 182 of the housing 181 as shown in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lift mechanism 19 further includes a step motor 194 connected to the support rod 193 to rotate the support rod 193 to rotate the monitor 23 after the monitor 23 protrudes from the respective mounting groove 118 of the table plate 11 as shown in FIG. 3, so as to adjust the angle of the monitor 23. The monitor module 18 further includes a cover plate 15 pivotally mounted on a top of the housing 181 to cover the monitor 23 after the monitor 23 retracts into the inside 182 of the housing 181 as shown in FIG. 1, and a waterproof gasket 151 mounted between the housing 181 and the cover plate 15 to provide a waterproof effect.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the support stands 12 is mounted on the lower surface 112 of the table plate 11 and has an adjustable height as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each of the support stands 12 includes an upper leg 122 attached to the lower surface 112 of the table plate 11, a lower leg 121 retractably mounted on the upper leg 122, and an actuator (not shown) mounted in the upper leg 122 to perform a retraction action. Thus, the height of each of the support stands 12 is adjustable to fit the user's stature and height.
The table plate 11 has a inside formed with at least one chamber to receive the main board module 5, the two peripheral modules 6 and 7 and the connecting wires 28. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the table plate 11 is provided with two chambers 171 and 172 formed in the left end face 115 and the right end face 116 of the table plate 11 respectively and located between the upper surface 111 and the lower surface 112 of the table plate 11, and the main board module 5 is detachably mounted in each of the chambers 171 and 172 of the table plate 11 as shown in FIG. 3. Each of the chambers 171 and 172 of the table plate 11 is provided with a shock-absorbing pad (not shown) to support the main board module 5.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, each of the chambers 171 and 172 of the table plate 11 is provided with a first connector 14, and the main board module 5 includes a case 51 mounted in each of the chambers 171 and 172 of the table plate 11 for mounting the main board 21, the hard disk drive 22 and a power supply (not shown), and a second connector 52 mounted on the case 51 and electrically connected to the first connector 14 of each of the chambers 171 and 172 of the table plate 11. The case 51 has a bottom formed with two vent holes 41 and 42 to dissipate the heat.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the table plate 11 is further provided with two chambers 173 and 174 formed in the front end face 113 of the table plate 11 and located between the upper surface 111 and the lower surface 112 of the table plate 11, and the two peripheral modules 6 and 7 are detachably mounted in the two chambers 173 and 174 of the table plate 11 respectively as shown in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 9 and 10, each of the two chambers 173 and 174 of the table plate 11 is provided with a first connector (not shown), and each of the two peripheral modules 6 and 7 includes a case 61 and 71 mounted in each of the two chambers 173 and 174 of the table plate 11, and a second connector 62 and 72 mounted on the case 61 and 71 and electrically connected to the first connector of each of the two chambers 173 and 174 of the table plate 11.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the case 61 of the peripheral module 6 has a front end face formed with an audio mounting slot 63 aligning with the audio slot 271, a video signal transmission interface mounting slot 64 for mounting the video signal transmission interface 274, a wireless network interface mounting slot 65 for mounting the wireless network interface 275, a floppy disk drive mounting slot 66 for mounting the floppy disk drive 273, a card reader mounting slot 67 for mounting the card reader 272, and an optical disk drive mounting slot 68 for mounting the optical disk drive 276.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the case 71 of the peripheral module 7 has a front end face formed with a mounting slot 73 for aligning with the audio slot 271 and for mounting the USB 279, a mounting slot 74 for mounting the security keyboard 277, and a mounting slot 75 for mounting the operation switch 278. The microprocessor control board 26 is mounted in the case 71 of the peripheral module 7 to control operation of the security keyboard 277 and the operation switch 278.
In operation, when a code (such as a personal ID, an audio identification, palm identification or blood vessel identification) is input into the security keyboard 277, the security keyboard 277 is operated by the microprocessor control board 26 to open or close the main board 21 of the computer equipment 2. The microprocessor control board 26 has a preset function to close the main board 21 of the computer equipment 2 automatically when a preset time is reached. The operation switch 278 is operated by the microprocessor control board 26 to open or close the lid 119 and the cover plate 15, to lift or lower the support stands 12 and the monitor 23 and to control rotation of the monitor 23.
Accordingly, the computer equipment 2 includes multiple integrated main board modules 5, monitor modules 18 and peripheral modules 6 and 7, so that the computer equipment 2 has a modularized structure, thereby facilitating a user mounting and detaching the computer equipment 2. In addition, the computer equipment 2 has a modularized structure hidden in the table body 1, so that the computer equipment 2 is hidden in the table body 1 when not in use, and the table body 1 has a flat table plate 11 for use with the user, thereby facilitating the user employing the work table, and thereby enhancing the versatility of the computer equipment 2. Further, the user only needs to open the cover plate 15 to lift the monitor 23 and to open the lid 119 to remove the keyboard 24 and the mouse 25, so that the computer equipment 2 is operated easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user operating the computer equipment 2. Further, the computer equipment 2 is hidden in the table body 1 when not in use without occupying any addition space, thereby facilitating storage of the computer equipment 2. Further, the computer equipment 2 has a modularized structure, so that each module of the computer equipment 2 is repaired and replaced individually, thereby facilitating maintenance and replacement of the computer equipment 2.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A work table, comprising:

a table body;

a modularized computer equipment retractably mounted on the table body in a hidden manner so that the computer equipment is hidden in the table body when not in use.

2. The work table in accordance with claim 1, wherein the table body includes a table plate.

3. The work table in accordance with claim 2, wherein the computer equipment includes at least one monitor module mounted on the table plate for mounting a monitor.

4. The work table in accordance with claim 3, wherein the table plate has a side formed with at least one mounting groove to facilitate movement of the monitor, and the computer equipment further includes at least one monitor protective jacket mounted on a lower surface of the table plate and aligned with the mounting groove of the table plate for mounting the monitor module.

5. The work table in accordance with claim 4, wherein the monitor module is mounted in an inside of the monitor protective jacket and includes a housing mounted in the inside of the monitor protective jacket to receive the monitor, and a lift mechanism mounted in the housing to control movement of the monitor.

6. The work table in accordance with claim 5, wherein the lift mechanism includes a lift platform movably mounted in the housing, a drive motor connected to the lift platform to move the lift platform, and a support rod mounted on the lift platform, the monitor is mounted on the lift platform to move therewith and supported by the support rod, the monitor is lifted by the lift platform to protrude from the respective mounting groove of the table plate or lowered by the lift platform to retract into an inside of the housing.

7. The work table in accordance with claim 6, wherein the lift mechanism further includes a step motor connected to the support rod to rotate the support rod to rotate the monitor after the monitor protrudes from the respective mounting groove of the table plate so as to adjust an angle of the monitor.

8. The work table in accordance with claim 5, wherein the monitor module further includes a cover plate pivotally mounted on a top of the housing to cover the monitor after the monitor retracts into an inside of the housing, and a waterproof gasket mounted between the housing and the cover plate to provide a waterproof effect.

9. The work table in accordance with claim 4, wherein the table body further includes a plurality of support stands mounted on the lower surface of the table plate to support the table plate, each of the support stands has an adjustable height, and the monitor protective jacket has a bottom located at a height greater than that of a bottom of each of the support stands, so that the monitor protective jacket is depending.

10. The work table in accordance with claim 2, wherein the computer equipment includes at least one main board module mounted on the table plate for mounting a main board and a hard disk drive, and the table plate has a inside formed with at least one chamber to detachably receive the main board module.

11. The work table in accordance with claim 10, wherein the chamber of the table plate is provided with a first connector, and the main board module includes a case mounted in the chamber of the table plate for mounting the main board and the hard disk drive, and a second connector mounted on the case and electrically connected to the first connector of the chamber of the table plate.

12. The work table in accordance with claim 2, wherein the table plate has a mediate portion formed with a recessed portion for storing a keyboard and a mouse, and a removable lid is removably mounted in the recessed portion of the table plate to cover and expose the keyboard and the mouse.

13. The work table in accordance with claim 2, wherein the computer equipment includes at least one peripheral module mounted on the table plate for mounting multiple peripheral parts, and the table plate has a inside formed with at least one chamber to detachably receive the peripheral module.

14. The work table in accordance with claim 13, wherein the peripheral module includes a case mounted in the chamber of the table plate, and a connector mounted on the case.

15. The work table in accordance with claim 14, wherein the case of the peripheral module has an end face formed with multiple mounting slots for mounting the peripheral parts.

16. The work table in accordance with claim 14, wherein the computer equipment includes a microprocessor control board in the case of the peripheral module to control operation of a security keyboard and an operation switch.

17. The work table in accordance with claim 16, wherein the security keyboard is operated by the microprocessor control board to open or close a main board of the computer equipment, the operation switch is operated by the microprocessor control board to control movement of a monitor of the computer equipment, and the microprocessor control board has a preset function to close the main board automatically when a preset time is reached.

18. The work table in accordance with claim 2, wherein the computer equipment includes a plurality of connecting wires connected between a main board module, a monitor module and a peripheral module, and the table plate has a inside formed with at least one chamber to receive the connecting wires.

19. The work table in accordance with claim 4, wherein the monitor protective jacket has a top attached to the lower surface of the table plate and formed with at least one mounting hole, and a bottom provided with a connector.

20. The work table in accordance with claim 11, wherein the case of the main board module has a bottom formed with two vent holes.