GB2178651A

GB2178651A - Knock-down desk

Info

Publication number: GB2178651A
Application number: GB08619117A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Thomas Alison; Vivian John Teasdale
Original assignee: TOOLROOM SERVICES
Current assignee: TOOLROOM SERVICES
Priority date: 1985-08-05
Filing date: 1986-08-05
Publication date: 1987-02-18
Also published as: AU6086886A; GB8619117D0

Abstract

A knock-down desk includes two side members (10, 12), at least one transverse member (14, 16, 18) which carries on opposed ends hook shaped formations (28, 32) which are releasably engageable with formations (26, 22) on the side member (10, 12) to hold the side members (10, 12) in a horizontally spaced relationship to provide a frame and a desk top which is releasably attachable to the frame by e.g. double sided adhesive tape 38. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A desk This invention relates to a knock-down office desk.

Articles of furniture, such as office desks, are bulky and consequently difficult and so expensive to transport. Desks are known which consist of a basic frame unit which invariably includes a top and selected subordinate components such as drawer units, L-pieces and the like. These desks, because of their frame units, remain bulky and it is necessary for the seller of the desks to provide expensive skilled workmen to assemble the desks at their site of use.

It is the object of this invention to provide a desk which will minimise the above problems with known desks.

A desk according to the invention includes two side members, at least one transverse member which carries on opposed ends hook shaped formations which are releasably engageable with formations on the side members to hold the side members in a horizontally spaced relationship to provide a frame and a desk top which is releasably attachable to the frame.

The transverse member is conveniently a modesty panel which in use is releasably located vertically between the side members.

Further according to the invention the desk includes two elongate transverse members, the hook shaped formations of which are releasably engageable with apertures in the side members so that the elongate members are held to the side members in a horizontally spaced relationship for supporting the desk top.

In one form of the invention two spaced transvere members adjacent the desk top carry rails with which formations on a subordinate desk unit such as a drawer unit or Lpiece are releasably engageable.

The invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the drawing which is an exploded perspective view of the frame of the desk of the invention.

The frame of the desk of the invention is shown in the drawing to include two side units 10 and 12, a modesty panel 14, two cross-members 16 and 18 and a drawer unit 20 all of which are made from metal.

The side units of the desk are H-shaped in side elevation and each carries, on the inside of the upper leg of the H, two pairs of slots 22 and 24 and a vertical row of three slots 26 on the cross-member of the H.

The modesty panel carries on each of its vertical edges, three downwardly directed hook formations 28 which are spaced complementally to the slots 26 in the side units 10 and 12 and two inwardly directed lip formations 30. The modesty panel is, as are the cross-members 16 and 18, longer than shown in the drawing with the gap between the formations 30 being at least as wide as the width of the drawer unit 20.

The cross-members 16 and 18 carry at each of their ends pairs of robust upwardly directed hook formations 32 which are dimensioned to enter and engage in the pairs of slots 22 and 24 in the side units. At least the member 18 includes a forwardly directed lip 33 which extends over the Length of the member.

As will be appreciated from the drawing, the desk frame units which have been described above may simply be transported in a flat container.

At the site of use of the desk, the formations 32 on the two cross-members are engaged in the slots 22 and 24 on the side units and the units are rotated downwardly to a substantially vertical position. The side units are then splayed slightly apart from their bases and the formations 28 on the edges of the modesty panel are engaged in the slots 26 in the end units when they are again brought to the vertical.

The drawer unit 20 carries on the front and back edges of its upper surface catch formations 34 and 36. The catch formation 36 is engaged with the lip 33 on the cross-member 18 and the unit is slid along the lip until the formation 34 is located between the lip formations 30 of the modesty panel. The rear end of the drawer unit is then lifted until the formation 34 is between and above the lips 30.

The entire drawer unit is then moved to the left or right, in dependence of its desired position of location, for the formation 34 to engage a formation 30 which then, with the lip 33 on the cross-member, holds the drawer unit in suspension below the desk top. The lip formations 30 could be made slightly longer than the catch formation 34 on the drawer unit and could carry at one or both of their ends slits so that a small section of the lip between the slits could be bent upwardly on the outside of the formation 34 to prevent lateral movement of the drawer unit.

A typing L-piece, which may require adjustable bottom supports, could be located in the same manner as the drawer unit on the opposite side of the desk to the drawer unit.

Any suitable desk top may now be located on the cross-members 16 and 18 between the side units 10 and 12. Conveniently, pads 38 of double-sided adhesive material are located on the cross-members so that the top may merely be placed in position and pressed downwardly to locate it on the desk frame without the need for fastening screws or the like.

The invention is not limited to the precise details as herein described and the desk side units could, for example, be of any suitable design provided that they include some suit able means for releasably engaging spanning components without the need for tools.

Claims

1. A desk including two side members, at least one transverse member which carries on opposed ends hook shaped formations which are releasably engageable with formations on the side members to hold the side members in a horizontally spaced relationship to provide a frame and a desk top which is releasably attachable to the frame.

2. A desk as claimed in Claim 1 in which the transverse member is conveniently a modesty panel which in use is releasably located vertically between the side members.

3. A desk as claimed in Claim 2 in which two opposed sides of the modesty panel carry the hook formations and the side members each include apertures in which the hooks are releasably engageable.

4. A desk as claimed in any one of the above claims including two elongate transverse members, the hook shaped formations of which are releasably engageable with apertures in the side members so that the elongate members are held to the side members in a horizontally spaced relationship for supporting the desk top.

5. A desk as claimed in Claim 4 in which the elongate transverse members each carry double sided adhesive tape by means of which the desk top is releasably attached to the members.

6. A desk as claimed in either one of Claims 4 or 5 in which two spaced transverse members each have a lip or rail from which a drawer unit or the like may be suspended.

7. A frame for a desk substantially as herein described.

8. A desk substantially as herein described with reference to the drawing.