US20120161597A1

US20120161597A1 - Wall-mounted workstation

Info

Publication number: US20120161597A1
Application number: US12/975,775
Authority: US
Inventors: James L. Daniels; Christina L. Hurley; Jophlyn Ladeigh Mac-Thompson
Original assignee: Liberty Hardware Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Liberty Hardware Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 2010-12-22
Filing date: 2010-12-22
Publication date: 2012-06-28

Abstract

A workstation has a first side and a second side both of which having slats disposed thereon are connected by a hinge. The first side has a plurality of openings therein. The slats create an overhang and an underhang into which a connector fits. A first accessory attaches to a connector for fitting into the underhang or the overhang in the first side or the second side. A second accessory attaches to the first side.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to furniture which may be installed to extend the storage and workspace of both in homes or offices,

BACKGROUND

Easily accessible space in the home or in businesses for computer stations, desks, home entertainment centers, pantries, vanities, etc. is frequently at a premium. Many residences and business offices sooner or later run out of easily accessible storage work areas. Additionally, storage space is often required in residences and offices in response to the change in storage habits of individuals and businesses.

SUMMARY

According to the disclosure herein, a workstation has a first side and a second side, both of which having slats disposed thereon, are connected by a hinge. The first side has a plurality of openings therein. The slats create an overhang and an underhang into which a connector fits. A first accessory attaches to a connector for fitting into the underhang or the overhang in the first side or the second side. A second accessory attaches to the first side.
According to a further embodiment disclosed herein a workstation kit has a first side in which a first plurality of slats are to be disposed thereon, the slats creating an overhang and an underhang. The first side has a plurality of openings therein. A second side is rotatable relative to the stationary side because of a hinge. The second side also has a second plurality of slats to be disposed thereon the slats creating an overhang and an underhang. A connector that attaches to a first accessory, fits into the underhang or the overhang in the first side or the second side. A second accessory that attaches to the first side is also included.
Much of this additional space requirement can be met by the multiple embodiments disclosed herein.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a wall unit disclosed herein.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the wall.

FIG. 2 is a cube unit.

FIG. 3 is a shelving unit.

FIG. 3A is a hinge for the shelving unit of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a drawer unit used in the work station of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of a wire basket used in the work station of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a paper/magazine holder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a dry erase board, a cork board, or a combination board in work station of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a pencil cup used in the work station of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a work station 10 is shown. The work station 10 is comprised of a left side 15 and a right side 20. Each of the left side 15 and the right side 20 includes a top 25, two side walls 30, a bottom wall 33 and a back wall 35.
Referring to FIG. 1A with continued reference to FIG. 1, each of the back walls 35 of the left side 15 and right side 20 has a plurality of spaced-apart slats 40 mounted thereon. Each of the slats 40 has a back portion 45 that is mounted to a smaller stud 50 so that a top portion 55 and a bottom portion 60 of each slat 40 creates a top overhang 65 and a bottom overhang 70 relative to the stud 50. A first connector 75, which has an upwardly extending flange 80, a horizontal portion 85 attaching at a first end 90 to the upwardly extending flange 80 and a downwardly extending flange 85 attaching to another end 95 of the horizontal portion 85, cooperates with the overhangs 65, 70. In at least one embodiment, the connector 75 is a hook 75. The upwardly extending flange 80 fits under a slat 40 bottom overhang 70 while the horizontal portion 85 sits on a contiguous lower slat 60 and the downwardly extending flange 85 attaches to an accessory 87 as will be discussed infra.
Alternatively, a second hook 100 has a horizontal portion 105, a first downward portion 110 that hangs over a top overhang 65 of the slat 40, and a second downward portion 115 that attaches to an accessory 120, as will be discussed infra.
Because there is a plurality of slats 40 on the left and right sides 15, 20, a number of accessories can be disposed therein. The right side 20 of the work station 10 side, bottom and top walls 25, 35, 33 are deeper than the left side of the work station 10 side, bottom and top walls 25, 35, 33 to allow for larger accessories that are desired in a work station 10. The right side 20 of the work station 10 may be attached to a wall (not shown) typically by screws, bolts, or mollies or the like. The left side 15 of the work station 10 is attached to the right side 20 by plurality of furniture hinges 120 that allow for easily opening and closing of the left side 15 of the work station 10 relative to the right side 20 of the work station 10. Typically, the right side 20 of the workstation 10 is attached to a wall but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the left side of the workstation may be stationary relative to the right side of the workstation. Also, because of the design of the slats 40 in both the left side 15 and the right side 20 of the workstation 10, a user may choose to turn the workstation 10 upside down to allow the door on the left side 15 now to be on the right side of the workstation should that orientation be desired.
The left side 15 has a length L and the right side 20 has a length LL and the length L is shorter than LL such that the top and bottom of the left side 15 is shorter than the top and bottom of the right side 20. Because of this length differential, the left side 15 of the workstation 10 may be opened without interference from the ground. And if the work station is inverted to allow the left side 15 to open on a right side 20. Similarly the side walls 30, bottom wall, 33 and top wall 25 of the right side 20 are wider than the side walls 30, bottom wall, 33 and top wall 25 of the left side 15 to give the workstation 10 stability if opening and closing. Thicker or wider accessories are mounted on the right side 20.
The top and bottom overhangs 65, 70 will take the first and second hooks 75, 100 on either the left side 15 or the right side 20 whether the workstation 10 is oriented for the opening of the left side 15 or turned upside down and oriented so that the left side 15 opens to the right hand side.
Referring now to FIG. 2 with continued reference to FIG. 1, a cube unit 130 is shown. A cube unit 130 has a top 135, a bottom 140, two sides 145, each side 145 having a connector aperture 150 connecting to a side wall 30 of the right side 20 of the workstation 10, and a plurality of cubes 155 that slide into and out of the cube unit 130. The cubes may be separated by panels 160 oriented between the top 135 and bottom 140 for user customization. The connector apertures 150 in the sides of the cube unit attach by screws or pegs or the like to the openings 165 inside of walls 30 of the right side 20 of the workstation 10. The cube unit 130 is shown herein at the top of the right side of the workstation 10 but could be placed within other openings 165 at other positions within the sides 30 of the workstation 10.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 3A with continued reference to FIG. 1, a shelving unit 200 is shown. A shelving unit 200 includes a top 205 and two sides 210 that have apertures 215 similar to the cube unit 130 to allow the shelving unit 200 to be attached to the openings 165 in the right side 20. A shelf 220 may be conventionally attached to an interior portion of the shelving unit 200 by a hinge 225 shown in FIG. 3A. A hinge pin 230 is attached to the sides 210 of the shelving unit 200 and sits in an axial slot 235 in a bracket 240. To close the shelving unit 200, the shelf 220 is pulled out so that a back portion 245 thereof clears the top 205 of the shelving unit 200 thereby allowing the shelving unit 200 to rotate about the hinge pin 230 in a downward direction. To open the shelving unit 200 to a horizontal position as shown, the shelf 220 is rotated upwardly about the hinge pin 230 and then pushed backwards towards inwardly so the hinge pin slides in the slot 235 until the shelf 220 fits under the top 205 of the shelving unit 200 to be secured from rotating downwardly therein. The shelf 220 is rotated downwardly in the right side 20 of the workstation 10 so that the left side 15 of the workstation 10 may be closed without interference from the shelving unit 200.
Referring to FIG. 4, a drawer storage unit 300 is shown. The drawer storage unit has a top portion 305, two side portions 310 and a bottom portion 315. A conventional drawer 320 fits in the drawer storage unit 300. The drawer may be attached to the sides of the drawer unit by a slide 325 as is known in the art. The drawer has a notch 330 for allowing the drawer to be manipulated inwardly and outwardly from the drawer storage unit 300. Hardware is not included on the drawer 320 to allow ease of closing the workstation 10. The drawer storage unit 300 apertures 215 similar to the cube unit 130 to allow the drawer storage unit 300 to be attached to the openings 165 in the right side 20.
Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, adaptable storage for the left side 15 is shown. However, a user should not have accessories on the left side 15 interfere with accessories on the right side 20 so that the work station 10 may be easily opened and closed. Even though the FIGS. 5-8 are shown as usable on the left side 15, they are also usable on the right side 20 because of the top and bottom overhangs 65 and 70 associated with each slot that accept hooks 75 and 100 and other similar hooks. The connectors shown herein may be integral with each accessory.
Referring specifically now to FIG. 6, a wire basket 400 for use on the left side 15 and right side 20 is shown. The wire basket 400 has a connector 475 or plurality of connectors for attaching within the slats 40 as shown in FIG. 1A interwoven in the wires 405. To install the storage unit 400 within the workstation 10, the wire basket 400 is and its connector(s) are rotated upwardly from the bottom of the wire basket 410 so that the top 480 of the connector fits within the underhang 70 of a slat 40. Rotating the wire basket 400 downwardly allows the horizontal portion 485 of the connector 475 to rest on a bottom contiguous slat 40 (see FIG. 1A) and hold the wire basket securely. The wire baskets 400 may have a divider 485 that has a top gripper 490 and a side gripper 495 for grabbing portions of the wire basket 400 and creating divisions within the wire basket 400.
Referring to FIG. 6, a paper or magazine holder 600 has a connector 675 extending along the back of the paper/magazine holder, a top opening 605, an angled front 610, two tapered sides 615, a bottom 620 and a back 625. As with the wire basket 400, the connector 675 is rotated upwardly from the bottom of the holder 600 so that the top 680 of the connector 675 fits within the underhang 70 of a slat 40. Rotating the holder 600 downwardly allows the horizontal portion 685 of the connector 675 to rest on a bottom contiguous slat 40 (see FIG. 1A) and hold the holder 600 securely. The width of the paper/magazine holder 600 can be as wide as the left or right side 15, 20, or can be smaller so that a user can customer can customize the workstation 10. As depicted in FIG. 1, a smaller narrower paper/magazine holder 600 may be mounted on the left side of the workstation 10 and a width of the interior paper/magazine holder on the right side of the workstation 10.
Referring to FIG. 7, a flat board 700, which may have many different functions, is shown. Each flat board 700 has a connector 775, also shown as 75 in FIG. 1A, for attaching to the slats 40. The board 700 on the left 705 is completely a dry erase board that can extend the width of either the left side 15 or the right side 20 of the workstation 10. The middle door 710 is completely a cork board, again that may be placed on the left side or the right side of the workstation 10. On the right side of the drawing, a combination cork board and dry erase board 715 is shown. As with the paper/magazine holders 600, these boards 705, 710, 715 may be of different widths.
Referring to FIG. 8, an embodiment of a holder 800 is shown. This holder 800 is rectangularly-shaped and has the connector 875, also shown as 75 in FIG. 1A, for attaching to the slats 40. One of ordinary skill will recognize that the holder 800 may hold pencils, pens and other types of materials that need to be stored.
The accessories shown may be mixed and matched on either side of the workstation 10, but the thinner accessories, such as wire basket 400, paper holder 600, holder 800, board 710, may be placed on the left or moving side 15 and the right side 20 as shown, and the thicker accessories, such as shelving unit 200, cube unit 200, drawer unit 300 and shelf 295 may be placed on the right or stationary side 20 as shown.
Although a combination of features is shown in the illustrated examples, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefits of various embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, a system designed according to an embodiment of this disclosure will not necessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the Figures or all of the portions schematically shown in the Figures. Moreover, selected features of one example embodiment may be combined with selected features of other example embodiments.
The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

1. A workstation comprising:

a first side having a first plurality of slats disposed thereon said slats creating an overhang and an underhang, said side having a plurality of openings therein,

a second side rotatable relative to said stationary side, said second side having a second plurality of slats disposed thereon said slats creating an overhang and an underhang,

a hinge connecting said first side and said second side,

a connector fitting into one of said underhang and said overhang,

a first accessory attaching to said connector for fitting one of said underhang and said overhang in one of said first side and said second side,

a second accessory attaching to said first side, and

a fastener,

wherein said first side further defines an opening,

wherein said second accessory further defines an aperture, and

wherein said fastener passes through said aperture into said opening for attaching said second accessory to said first side.

2. (canceled)

3. The workstation of claim 2 wherein said second accessory comprises one or more of a cube unit, a shelving unit, a drawer unit and a shelf.

4. The workstation of claim 1 wherein said first accessory comprises one or more of a cork board, a dry erase board, a tapered holder, a wire holder, and a rectangular holder.

5. The workstation of claim 1 wherein said connector is an integral part of said first accessory.

6. The workstation of claim 1 wherein said second side is shorter than said first side such that said second side opens freely.

7. The workstation of claim 1 wherein said second side is shorter than said first side such that said second side opens freely when said workstation is oriented upside down.

8. A workstation kit comprising:

a first side and a first plurality of slats to be disposed thereon, said slats creating an overhang and an underhang, said first side having a plurality of openings therein,

a second side rotatable relative to said stationary side, said second side having a second plurality of slats to be disposed thereon said slats creating an overhang and an underhang,

a hinge connecting said first side and said second side,

a connector for fitting into one of said underhang and said overhang,

a second accessory attaching to said first side, and

an opening,

a hole in said second accessory, and

a fastener for passing through said hole into said opening for attaching said second accessory to said first side.

9. (canceled)

10. The workstation kit of claim 9 wherein said second accessory comprises one or more of a cube unit, a shelving unit, a drawer unit and a shelf.

11. The workstation kit of claim 8 wherein said first accessory comprises one or more of a cork board, a dry erase board, a tapered holder, a wire holder, and a rectangular holder.

12. The workstation kit of claim 8 wherein said connector is an integral part of said first accessory.

13. The workstation kit of claim 8 wherein said second side is shorter than said first side such that said second side opens freely.

14. The workstation kit of claim 8 wherein said second side is shorter than said first side such that said second side opens freely when said workstation is oriented upside down.

15. A workstation comprising:

a hinge connecting said first side and said second side,

a connector fitting into one of said underhang and said overhang,

wherein said second side is shorter than said first side such that said second side opens freely when said workstation is oriented upside down.

16. The workstation of claim 15 wherein said first side has a lesser length than said second side so that whether the second side is right-side up or upside-down and contacting ground, said first side does not contact ground.