US20100096960A1

US20100096960A1 - Computer Desk

Info

Publication number: US20100096960A1
Application number: US12/529,210
Authority: US
Inventors: Ba-Do Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-06
Filing date: 2008-03-05
Publication date: 2010-04-22
Also published as: CN101626709A; WO2008108577A1; CN101626709B; KR20080081587A

Abstract

A computer desk includes legs, an upper plate having a rectangular recessed portion supported by the legs, a power supply socket and a network connector exposed on the legs or on the upper plate, a drawer or a shelf attached to the upper plate or to the legs for accommodating a computer main body, a flat monitor mounted in the rectangular recessed portion in the manner that it is folded down into the rectangular recessed portion when not used and that it is raised when used, electric connectors exposed at the upper plate for connecting one or more peripheral device, a cable conduit formed at the upper plate, and power supply lines and signal lines accommodated in the cable conduit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a computer desk, more particularly, to a computer desk with cables built in so that the cables are exposed to a minimum.
BACKGROUND ART
Desks are considered as essential furniture for productive activities at companies and for private studies at home. A desk has been heavily studied in view point of structure and design, but there are no desirable ways to accommodate neatly all the cables connected to a computer and to the peripheral devices thereof when the computer is mounted on a desk for studies and for work. A desk with a computer mounted on is usually cluttered with the cables. Binding several cables together with plastic ties or wrapping materials in traditional ways as for common electric appliances cannot essentially solve the problem of cable exposures and is not proper for a computer desk wherein each cable has different connection points.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-25242 discloses a computer desk that accommodates a server computer, an LCD monitor and a keyboard. The computer desk exposes small portions of cables, but its use is limited.
Korean Utility Model Registration No. 320609 discloses a computer system consisting of components of a computer distributed in several drawers. However, this structure is not applicable since a computer system has been more integrated and the size of the total system has been reduced with the development of technology. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-216024 discloses a structure in which a computer main component is stored within a drawer and a monitor is connected by VGA cable through the rear part of the drawer. However, this structure has only simple effect that the computer main component is accommodated in a drawer.
As described above, the related art has been proposed to arrange the cables between a computer main component and the peripheral devices thereof around a computer desk, but does not disclose a method of arranging the cables that is applicable to various peripheral devices and use environments.
Hereinafter, a computer main component means a device containing at least a mainboard, ram and cpu. It also means a main component of a desktop, a main component of a workstation, a laptop or a notebook itself, even a pda and a smart mobile phone.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to provide a computer desk on which a computer main component and peripheral devices including a monitor can be easily mounted with concealing almost all of the cables for electric connection.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer desk that well accommodates a computer main component and peripheral devices, thereby increasing the surface room of the desk.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a computer desk capable of reducing power consumption by easily turning on or off power for a computer system.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a computer desk comprising; legs, an upper plate having a rectangular recessed portion supported by the legs, and a flat monitor mounted in the rectangular recessed portion in the manner that it is folded down into the rectangular recessed portion when not used and that it is raised when used.
According to another aspect of the invention, the present invention provides a computer desk comprising; legs, an upper plate having a rectangular recessed portion supported by the legs, a power supply socket and a network connector exposed on the legs or on the upper plate, a drawer or a shelf attached to the upper plate or to the legs for accommodating a computer main body, a flat monitor mounted in the rectangular recessed portion in the manner that it is folded down into the rectangular recessed portion when not used and that it is raised when used, electric connectors exposed at the upper plate for connecting one or more peripheral device, a cable conduit formed at the upper plate, and power supply lines and signal lines accommodated in the cable conduit.
According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer desk comprising; legs, an upper plate having a rectangular recessed portion supported by the legs, a power supply socket and a network connector exposed on the legs or on the upper plate, a drawer or a shelf attached to the upper plate or to the legs, a computer main component mounted in the drawer or the shelf, an electric connector for monitor that is provided on the upper plate, connectors for one or more peripheral devices except for the computer main component and the monitor, a cable conduit that accommodates power supply lines and signal lines among the computer main component, the monitor and the peripheral devices, and power supply lines and signal lines accommodated in the cable conduit.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer desk comprising; legs, an upper plate having a rectangular recessed portion supported by the legs, a power supply socket and a network connector exposed on the legs or on the upper plate, a drawer or a shelf attached to the upper plate or to the legs to accommodate a computer main component, electric connectors for monitor that is provided on the upper plate, connectors for one or more peripheral devices except for the computer main component and the monitor, a cable conduit that accommodates power supply lines and signal lines among the computer main component, the monitor and the peripheral devices, and power supply lines and signal lines accommodated in the cable conduit.
The connectors for a peripheral device may be connected to the peripheral devices by wire or by wireless. A computer input device as peripheral devices including, for example, a keyboard and or a mouse is connected to the computer main body through an input device connector. The computer desk may include, for a keyboard, a drawer or a shelf attached beneath the upper plate. The computer desk may further include a rectangular cover for the rectangular recessed portion. The rectangular cover may be hinged to a rear side of the rectangular recessed portion. The rectangular cover may consist of a rear cover hinged to the rear side of the rectangular recessed portion and a front cover hinged to the front side of the rectangular recessed portion. In this case, the front cover can cover the space between the raised monitor and the front side of the recessed portion of the upper plate when the monitor is used, and thus the covered recessed portion of the upper plate can be used as a surface room of the desk.
The cable conduit for accommodating power supply lines and signal lines is formed at the upper plate by digging grooves or by attaching channels. The computer desk may further include a junction box that is provided at one side of the cable conduit to branch various lines. A power supply that transforms a power supply voltage into voltages suitable for the peripheral devices may be integrated in the junction box. The computer main component accommodated in the drawer may be connected to the cable conduit or the junction box by a flexible cable. A separate power supply unit that supplies various voltages for the computer main component, the monitor and the peripheral devices may be connected to the cable conduit.
The drawer or the shelf for the computer main component may be of simple rack type just for connecting the computer main component or be in the form of an extension station having one or more peripheral devices. An extension station including a memory reader, various connectors and storage drivers such as an optical disk driver may also be connected to the computer main component. The extension station may be provided as mounted in a drawer separate from the drawer for the computer main component, or be integrated into the computer main component.
The monitor is connected through the electric connectors for monitor. Desirably, a flat monitor is built into the desk wherein it is folded down into the rectangular recessed portion when not used and it is raised from the rectangular recessed portion when used. When the monitor is folded down, the edge of the monitor may be sealed or a separate rectangular cover may cover the monitor as mentioned above. Like a notebook computer, the monitor can be automatically turned off when it is folded down into the recessed portion.
A computer input device as one of peripheral devices including, for example, a keyboard and/or a mouse is connected to the computer main component through an input device connector. The computer desk may include, for a keyboard, a drawer or shelf attached beneath the upper plate.
The computer desk according to the present invention may further comprise a shelf or a deck for connecting a mobile personal computer to the computer main component. A notebook computer or a mobile computer inserted into the shelf or the deck may be connected to the computer main component by an extension cable.
Various connectors may be additionally provided at various positions of the desk for connecting corresponding peripheral devices in addition to the basic structure of the computer. For example, a printer connector may be exposed at one side of the upper plate so that a printer may be connected to it. In addition, a speaker, which is one of the peripheral devices, may be built in the upper plate, or speaker input terminals may be exposed on the upper plate for connecting a speaker. As peripheral devices, a storage driver, memory readers, an optical disk driver, or a floppy disk driver may be built in the desk. In addition, I/O terminals for various peripherals may be provided and exposed on the desk. The peripheral devices are connected by wire or by wireless. They also may be connected, known in the related art, through USB ports to the computer main component. The peripheral devices may be connected to the connectors by a wireless communication method instead of a wire connection method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating characteristics of a computer desk according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the usage of an LCD monitor.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating opening and closing of a keyboard drawer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a drawer for a computer main component.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the closing position of a rectangular cover for the LCD monitor.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the closed states of a front cover and a rear cover for the LCD monitor.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating that the front cover is in an opened position while the LCD monitor is raised upright.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating that the front cover is in a closed position while the LCD monitor is raised upright.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating characteristics of a computer desk according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a notebook computer that is mounted into a shelf for connecting it to an extension station including a computer main component.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10: computer desk
20: shelf for receiving a notebook computer
30: extension station in a drawer
40: LCD monitor
51: keyboard
52: mouse
64: front cover
65: rear cover
66: front cover switch
80: cable conduit
85: junction box
100: a computer main component in a drawer

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but they should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. Various alternatives or modifications would be possible while they would be within the scope of the present invention.
FIGS. 1 to 4 are perspective views schematically illustrating characteristics of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an LCD monitor 40 is hinged at the rectangular recessed portion to the upper plate 12 of a desk 10. When the LCD monitor 40 is not used, it is folded down and accommodated into the rectangular recessed portion of the upper plate 12 in order to utilize the surface space of the desk. Preferably, the monitor is sealed by a sealing liner 42. A wireless keyboard 51 and a wireless mouse 52 as input devices, using infrared rays, communicate with an infrared receiver 55 exposed from a lower surface of the upper plate of the desk and connected to USB ports of a computer main component 100 through an opening of the drawer without cables. Power lines and signal lines for the monitor 40, the input devices including the keyboard and the mouse and a computer main component 100 are accommodated in a cable conduit (80) and are connected to a junction box 85. The cable conduit is made of channels inserted into grooves beneath the upper plate. The computer main component 100 and the peripheral devices may be turned on/off by folding down or raising the monitor 40 or by pushing in or pulling out the drawer 50 for the keyboard 51 and the mouse 52. A power supply socket 81 and a network connector 82 are also connected to the junction box 85. The computer main component 100 is put in a drawer, and input/output signal lines of the computer main component 100 are connected to the junction box 85 by cables. The computer main component built in the drawer can be easily moved out to upgrade parts and easily connected by rack and drawer method.
With referring to FIGS. 5 through 8, the flat monitor 40 is hinged to the upper plate at a rectangular recessed portion formed in the upper plate of the computer desk for accommodating a flat monitor 40. The flat monitor 40 is folded down into the rectangular recessed portion when not used and is raised from the rectangular recessed portion when used.
The computer main component 100 is put in a drawer, and input/output signal lines of the computer main component 100 are connected to the junction box 85 by cables. The computer main component built in the drawer can be easily moved out to upgrade parts and easily connected by rack and drawer method.
The front and rear covers may be opened or closed by open/close switches 62 and 66. In this case, the front cover 64 can cover the space between the raised monitor 40 and the front side of the recessed portion of the upper plate when the monitor is used, and thus the covered recessed portion of the upper plate can be used as a surface room of the desk.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the invention, in which the LCD monitor 40 and the computer input unit 50 including the keyboard 51 and the mouse 52 are the same as those in FIG. 1. A notebook computer 101 is mounted into a shelf 20 that is provided below the drawer for the computer main component. The notebook computer can be easily connected to the computer main component by cable connectors 21. Various peripheral devices including a memory reader, an optical disk driver, and a floppy disk driver are mounted on a drawer 30, serving as an extension station. A cable conduit 80 is provided in the upper plate 12 in order to accommodate power lines and signal lines. A power supply socket 81 and a network connector 82 are exposed from the inner surface of a desk leg 11, and connected to the drawer 30 for the computer main component. A power line and a signal line are branched from the cable conduit 80 and then connected to a printer 60.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention provides a computer desk which can conceal almost all cables, to which a computer main component and peripheral devices including a monitor can be easily mounted, and which can provide wide space for its original purpose when the computer is not used.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A computer desk comprising:

legs;

an upper plate having a rectangular recessed portion supported by the legs;

a power supply socket and a network connector exposed on the legs or on the upper plate;

a drawer or a shelf attached to the upper plate or to the legs for accommodating a computer main body;

a flat monitor mounted in the rectangular recessed portion so that the flat monitor can be folded down into the rectangular recessed portion when it is not used and so that the flat monitor can be raised when it is used;

electric connectors exposed at the upper plate for connecting one or more peripheral devices;

a cable conduit formed at the upper plate; and

power supply lines and signal lines accommodated in the cable conduit.

22. The computer desk according to claim 21, wherein the peripheral device connectors are connected to the peripheral devices wirelessly or by wired connection.

23. The computer desk according to claim 21, further comprising:

a rectangular cover, wherein the rectangular cover covers the rectangular recessed portion when the monitor is folded down into the rectangular recessed portion.

24. The computer desk according to claim 23, wherein the rectangular cover is hinged to the upper plate corresponding to a rear side of the rectangular recessed portion.

25. The computer desk according to claim 24, wherein the rectangular cover includes:

a front cover that is hinged to the upper plate at the front side of the rectangular recessed portion; and

a rear cover that is hinged to the upper plate at the rear side of the rectangular recessed portion.

26. A computer desk comprising:

legs;

an upper plate having a rectangular recessed portion supported by the legs;

a drawer or a shelf attached to the upper plate or to the legs;

a computer main component mounted in the drawer or the shelf;

an electric connector for a monitor that is provided on the upper plate;

connectors for one or more peripheral devices except for the computer main component and the monitor;

a cable conduit that accommodates power supply lines and signal lines among the computer main component, the monitor, and the peripheral devices; and

power supply lines and signal lines accommodated in the cable conduit. lines.

27. The computer desk according to claim 26, further comprising:

a junction box provided on one side of the cable conduit for branching various lines.

28. The computer desk according to claim 27, further comprising a power supply that transforms a power supply voltage into voltages used for the peripheral devices.

29. The computer desk according to claim 28, wherein the computer main component put in the drawer is connected to the cable conduit or the junction box by a flexible cable.

30. A computer desk comprising:

legs;

an upper plate having a rectangular recessed portion supported by the legs;

a shelf or a drawer attached to the upper plate or to the legs to accommodate a computer main component;

electric connectors for a monitor provided on the upper plate;

power supply lines and signal lines accommodated in the cable conduit.

31. The computer desk according to claim 30, further comprising:

a shelf or a deck for connecting a mobile personal computer to the computer main component.

32. The computer desk according to claim 31, wherein the computer main component includes a power supply.

33. The computer desk according to claim 32, wherein the computer main component is provided with a memory reader, an optical disk driver, or a floppy disk drive.

34. The computer desk according to claim 33, wherein a notebook computer or a mobile computer inserted into the shelf or the deck is connected to the computer main component by an extension cable.

35. The computer desk according to claim 26, wherein the monitor is a flat-screen monitor that is connected to the electric connectors.

36. The computer desk according to claim 35, wherein the peripheral devices are in wireless communication with the computer main component.

37. The computer desk according to claim 36, wherein the peripheral devices are a keyboard and a mouse.

38. The computer desk according to claim 37, wherein the keyboard and the mouse communicate with the computer main component through an infrared receiver using infrared rays.

39. The computer desk according to claim 38, wherein a printer connector is exposed at one side of the upper plate.