US3338647A

US3338647A - Desk construction

Info

Publication number: US3338647A
Application number: US548536A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth D Schreyer
Original assignee: Lyon Metal Products LLC
Current assignee: Lyon Metal Products LLC
Priority date: 1966-05-09
Filing date: 1966-05-09
Publication date: 1967-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-29

Description

Aug. 29, 1967 Filed May 9, 1966 K. D. SCHREYER 3,338,647

DESK CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet I Inventor KENNETH D. SCHRE YER ATTYS.

Aug. 29, 1967 K. D. SCHREYER DESK CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 5' Filed May 9. 1966 Aug. 29, 1967 K. D. SCHREYER DESK CONSTRUCTION '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 9. 1966 mwv MOM vmm wmm mm mm 5 ON OMN NMM nmm Nmm mw 00v owv 2 v mwm mO wmm Aug. 29, 1967 K. 0. SCHREYER 3,338,647

DESK CCNSTRUCTION Filed May 9. 1966 7 Sheets-Sheet :3

IO! 0 v I45 250 FIG. 8

1967 K. D. SCHIIQEYER DESK CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 9, 1966 Aug-.29, I K SCHREYER 3,338,647

DESK CONSTRUCTION Fi-led May 9,1966 7 Sheets-Sheet v United States Patent 3,338,647 DESK CONSTRUCTION Kenneth D. Schreyer, Doylestown, Pa., assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 9, 1966, Ser. No. 548,536 12 Claims. (Cl. 312194) The present invention relates to desk constructions, and particularly to the construction of a machine bed desk.

It is highly desirable in modern offices to provide a machine bed desk wherein a first higher work surface is provided for normal writing, reading, and the like, and wherein a second lower or machine bed surface is provided for mounting calculating machines or the like, thereby to place the machine at the most convenient level for the operator.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved machine bed desk of the type set forth which is simple yet rugged in construction and which possesses all of the desired characteristics of a desk of this type.

More specifically, it is another object of the invention to provide an improved structure for interconnecting a desk top and a machine bed top to accommodate the different vertical positions thereof while providing strong interconnection therebetween.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of the invention to provide a desk top having a pair of spaced apart mounting channels secured to the underside thereof and extending substantially parallel to the front and rear edges thereof with leg structure adjacent to one end edge of the desk top for supporting it in the operative position above an underlying support surface, a machine bed top of the same general dimensions front to back as the desk top and having one edge thereof disposed beneath the other edge of the desk top with leg structure for supporting the other end edge of the machine bed top in the operative position above an underlying support surface, a pair of spaced apart mounting channels secured to the underside of the machine bed top and extending substantially parallel to the desk top mounting channels and in general longitudinal alignment therewith, a back panel disposed beneath the rear ones of the mounting channels and connected thereto and serving to interconnect the .desk top and the machine bed top at the rear thereof, and a reinforcing bracket disposed beneath the front ones of the mounting channels and connected thereto and serving to interconnect the desk top and the machine bed top at the front thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine bed desk of the type set forth a finishing panel disposed between the adjacent edges of the desk top and the machine bed top and filling the area bounded by the underside of the desk top and the upper side of the machine bed top and the front and rear edges of the tops, the finishing panel having an opening therethrough for receiving wiring for a machine disposed on the machine bed top.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a machine bed desk of the type set forth a back panel that.

is symmetrical about a plane extending longitudinally therethrough whereby the desk top and the machine bed top and the rear panel can be connected in a first configuration wherein the machine bed top is disposed to the right of the desk top and a second configuration wherein the machine bed top is disposed to the left of the desk top, all without any modification of the various parts involved.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular construction and arrangement of the parts whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

3,338,647 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a machine bed desk made in accordance with an embodying the principles of the present invention, the machine bed top being disposed to the right of the desk top;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine bed desk of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine bed desk of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the machine bed desk of FIG. 2 as seen from the right thereof;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the machine bed desk of FIG. 2 as seen from the left thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in vertical section with certain portions broken away through the machine bed desk substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in vertical section with certain portions broken way through the machine bed desk as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a portion of the underside of the machine bed desk of FIG. 7 as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 88 thereof;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a further enlarged view in vertical section of the portion of the desk contained within the circle designated by the numeral 10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section wtih certain portions broken away along the line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the rear panel forming a part of the machine bed desk of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a view showing a portion of the parts in FIG. 12 in an exploded position thereof;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the parts of the desk of FIG. 1 with the parts in an exploded position further to illustrate the interconnection between the desk top and the machine bed top and the desk pedestal and the rear panel; and

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but showing the parts rearranged to position the machine bed top to the left of the desk top.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated a machine bed desk made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the machine bed desk 100 including a desk top 101, a pedestal 150, a machine bed top 200, an end panel 300, and a rear panel 400', the parts being connected to position the machine bed top 200 to the right of the desk top 101.

Referring also to FIGS. 6 to 9 of the drawings, the details of construction of the desk top 101 will be described. The desk top 101 includes a generally flat top plate 102 that is generally rectangular in shape, the corners thereof being rounded, the periphery of the top plate 102 being generally the same as the periphery of the desk top 101. Disposed beneath the top plate 102 and extending around the periphery thereof is an edging 103 also formed of sheet metal, a substantially flat piece of sheet metal having been deformed to provide an attachment flange 104, a side flange 105', a mounting flange 106, a bottom flange 107 and an upturned flange 108. More specifically, the attachment flange 104 is disposed against the underside of the top plate 102 but is spaced inwardly with respect to the outer edge thereof, the outer edge of the attachment flange carrying thereon the mounting flange 106 which is offset downwardly away from the underside of the top plate 101 and extends outwardly slightly beyond the outer edge thereof. As illustrated, the side flange 105 is integral with the mounting flange 106 and depends therefrom and extends slightly inwardly toward the center of the top plate 102, the flange 105 making an angle of for example 75 with respect to the mounting flange 106. The bottom flange 107 is disposed on the lower edge of the side flange 105 and ex tends inwardly substantially parallel to the

flanges

104 and 106 and carries on the inner edge thereof the upturned flange 108 that extends upwardly toward the top plate 102 and is disposed substantially normal thereto and to the bottom flange 107.

Also disposed on the underside of the top plate 102 is a reinforcing sheet 110 formed from a substantially flat piece of sheet metal bent to provide attachment portions 111, ribs 112 having side walls 113, and connecting portions 114 at the periphery thereof. The attachment portions 111 are disposed toward the underside of the top plate 102, there being a body of mastic (not shown) applied therebetween through which a weld 116 is made to interconnect the attachment portions 111 and the top plate 102 to provide a firm connection therebetween, the mastic also serving to deaden sound transmission therebetween. The side walls 113 depend downwardly from the attachment portions 111 to form the ribs 112 which are spaced from the underside of the top plate 102. The connecting portions 114 are offset from the underside of the top plate 102 to accommodate therebetween portions such as the attachment flange 104 on the edging 103, the three layers mentioned being connected as by welding at 116.

Also mounted beneath the top 101 are two longitudinally extending and substantially parallel and spaced apart mounting channels 120, each mounting channel 120 including a longitudinally extending main wall 121 and a pair of depending side flanges 122 carrying on the lower ends thereof respectively inturned holding flanges 123. The mounting channels 120' are disposed with the longitudinal axes thereof extending substantially parallel to the front and rear edges of the desk top 101 and substantially normal to the end edges thereof. As will be explained in detail hereinafter, the pedestal 150 and the machine bed top 200 and the rear panel 400 are connected to the desk top 101 by means of the mounting channels 120.

Disposed on the upper surface of the top plate 102 is a covering 125 preferably formed of a synthetic organic plastic resin, an adhesive being applied both to the upper surface of the top plate 102 and to the lower surface of the covering 125 to provide a good bond therebetween. To complete the desk top 101, a decorative trim 130 is provide therearound, the trim 130 including a decorative body 131 having an associated mounting tongue 135 thereon that is releasably secured in a space defined between the top plate 102 and the flange 106, see FIG. 10 also.

Mounted on the lefthand end of the desk top 101 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and secured thereto via the mounting channels 120 is a pedestal 150', the pedestal 150 being generally rectangular in both vertical and horizontal cross sections. The pedestal 150 more specifically includes a body 151 having a rear wall 152 and a pair of forwardly extending side walls 153, a bottom wall 167 being provided therein and supporting a pair of legs 155 between which extends a reinforcing channel 156, the legs 155 serving to support the pedestal 150 above an underlying surface. The pedestal 150 further includes a front frame 160 (see FIG. 6) formed of a pair of U- shaped channels 161 joined by splice channels 164. The front frame 160 is provided with openings thereto for receiving bolts 145 that engage special nuts 140 disposed in the front mounting channel 120 for connecting the front end of the pedestal 150 thereto. A rear top support 170 is provided in the rear of the pedestal 150 (see FIG. 14) also having openings therethrough for receiving bolts such as the bolts that engage special nuts 140 in the rear mounting channel 120 to mount the rear end of the pedestal thereon. Finally, there is provided in the pedestal 150 in an opening generally defined by the front frame a shelf provided with a pull 176 and three box drawers 180 provided with pulls 181. In order to hold the drawers 180 in the closed positions thereof, a locking mechanism including a lock mounted on the fiont edging 103 has been provided, see FIGS. 1 and 2 a so.

Further details of the construction and arrangement of the desk top 101 and the pedestal 150 can be found in the copending application for United States Letters Patent Ser. No. 503,157, filed Oct. 23, 1965, by Kenneth D. Schreyer for Desk Construction. More specifically, the desk top 101 of the present invention has a construction identical to that of the desk top 101 in the aforesaid copending application and the pedestal 150 in the present application has the same construction as the pedestal 150 in the aforementioned copending application.

In accordance with the present invention, a machine bed top 200 is provided for connection to the desk top 101, the top 200 having a front to back dimension substantially the same as that of the desk top 101. Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 to 9 of the drawings, it will be seen that the machine bed top 200 includes a generally flat top plate 202 that is generally rectangular in shape, the corners thereof being rounded, the periphery of the top plate 202 being essentially the same as the periphery of the machine bed top 200. As may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the longitudinal extent of the machine bed top 200 is substantially less than and is more particularly about one-half that of the desk top 101, but referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the depth or front-to-back dimension of the machine bed top 200 is substantially equal to that of the desk top 101. Disposed beneath the top plate 202 and extending about the periphery thereof is an edging 203 also formed of sheet metal, a substantially flat piece of sheet metal having been deformed to provide an attachment flange 204, a side flange 205, a mounting flange 206, a bottom flange 207 and an upturned flange 208. More specifically, the attachment flang 204 is disposed against the underside of the top plate 202 but is spaced inwardly with respect to the outer edge thereof, the outer edge of the attachment flange 204 carrying thereon the mounting flange 206 which is offset downwardly away from the underside of the top plate 202 and extends outwardly slightly beyond the outer edge thereof. As illustrated, the side flange 205 is integral with the mounting flange 206 and depends therefrom and extends slightly inwardly toward the center of the top plate 202, the flange 205 making an angle of for example 75 with respect to the mounting flange 206. The bottom flange 207 is disposed on the lower edge of the side flange 205 and extends inwardly substantially parallel to the

flanges

204 and 206 and carries on the innerend thereof the upturne dflanges 208 that extends upwardly toward the top plate 202 and is disposed substantially normal thereto and to the bottom flange .207.

Also disposed on the underside of the top plate 202 is a reinforcing sheet 210 formed substantially from a flat piece of sheet metal bent to provide attachment portions 211, ribs 212 having side walls 213, and connecting portions 214 at the periphery thereof. The attachment portions 211 are disposed toward the underside of the top plate 202, there being a body of mastic (not shown) ap plied therebetween through which a weld 216 is made to interconnect the attachment portions 211 and the top plate 202 to provide a firm connection therebetween, the mastic also serving to deaden sound transmission therebetween. The side walls 213 depend downwardly from the attachment portions 211 to form the ribs 212 which are spaced from the underside of the top plate 202. The connecting portions 214 are offset from the underside of the top plate 202 to accommodate therebetween portions such as the attachment flange 204 on the edging 203, the three layers mentioned being connected as by welding at 216.

Also mounted beneath the machine bed top 200 are two longitudinally extending and substantially parallel spaced apart mounting channels 220, the mounting channels 220 being in longitudinal alignment with the associated one of the mounting channels 120 on the desk top 101. Each mounting channel 220 includes a longitudinally extending main wall 221 and a pair of depending side flanges 222 carrying on the lower ends thereof respectively inturned holding flanges 223. As Will be explained in detail hereinafter, the end panel 300 and the rear panel 400 are connected to the machine bed top 200 by means of the mounting channels 220.

Disposed on the upper surface of the top plate 202 i a covering 225 preferably formed of a synthetic organic plastic resin, an adhesive being applied both to the upp r surface of the top plate 202 and the lower surface of the covering 225 to provide a good bond therebetween. To complete the machine bed top 200, a decorative trim 230 is provided therearound, the trim 230 including a decorative body 231 having an associated mounting tongue 235 thereon that is releasably secured in a space defined between the top plate 202 and the flange 206.

As described above, the machine bed top 200 is substantially identical in construction to the desk top 101 described in the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 503,157, and accordingly, reference is made thereto for further details for the construction and arrangement of the parts of the machine bed top 200. In addition, however, the machine bed top 200 is provided with a pair of rectangular holes 218 therein in general alignment with the mounting channels 120 and 220 (see FIG. 8) and also is provided with a pair of openings 219 therein.

As will be described more fully hereinafter, the rear edges of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 are interconnected by the rear panel 400, but there is no corresponding panel structure for interconnecting the forward edges of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200. Accordingly, a top reinforcing bracket 250 has been provided for firmly interconnecting the forward edge of the desk top 101 and the forward edge of the machine bed top 200. Referring particularly to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings, there-is illustrated therein the top reinforcing bracket 250 including a first arm 251 disposed beneath the adjacent end of the forward mounting channel 120, the arm 251 having three countersunk openings 254 therethrough for receiving respectively three flat head screws 145 engaging a flat bar 140A having three tapped openings therein providing a tri-nut and disposed in the mounting channel 120; in this manner, one end of the bracket 250 is firmly connected to the underside of the desk top 101. Integral with the righthand end of the bracket arm 250 as seen in FIG. 6 is a downwardly extending connecting portion 252 carrying on the lower end thereof a second arm 253, the arm 253 extending from the connecting portion 252- in a direction opposite to that of the arm 251, the two

arms

251 and 253 being disposed substantially parallel to each other. The connecting portion 252 extends downwardly through one of the rectangular holes 218 in the adjacent end of the machine bed top 200 thereby to position the bracket arm 253 beneath the adjacent end of the forward mounting channel 220 on the underside of the machine desk top 200. The arm 253 has three countersunk openings 255 therethrough receiving respectively three flat head screws 145 that engage another tri-nut 140A in the mounting channel 220, thereby fixedly to secure the bracket arm 253 to the underside of the machine desk top 200. The reinforcing brackets 250 is of very heavy construction and as illustrated has a width equal to that of

themounting channels

6 and 220 and has a thickness of one-half inch, whereby when the bracket 250 is formed of steel, it possesses a very great strength.

In order to close the space between the underside of the desk top 101 and the upper side of the machine bed top 200, a filler or finishing panel 260 has been provided, the finishing panel 260 including a front wall 261 having a wiring opening 265 centrally thereof, the wall 261 extending downwardly from the underside of the flange 107 on the desk top 101 and downwardly to the upper surface of the covering 225 on the machine bed top 200, the width of the panel 260 being equal to the distance between the lower edges of the edging 103 on the desk top 101 (see FIG. 9). Disposed on each end of the front wall 261 respectively are side walls 262 which extend therefrom toward the pedestal to cover and to conceal the reinforcing bracket 250. There further is provided on the upper edge of the front wall 261 a top flange 263 and on the bottom edge thereof a bottom flange 264, the bottom flange 264 being secured by screws 266 to the machine bed top 200.

Disposed at the righthand end of the machine bed top 200 is the end panel 300, the details of construction of the end panel 300 being best seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and 15 of the drawings. The end panel 300 more specifically is disposed adjacent to the righthand edge of the machine bed top 200 and extends from a point substantially at the lower edge of the front edging 203 rearwardly to a point immediately below the lower edge of the back edging 203 and actually beyond the rear surface of the back panel 400. Referring to FIG. 7 it will be seen that the end panel 300 includes a pair of substantially rectangular side walls 301 formed of sheet metal and disposed substantially parallel to each other, the ends of the side walls 301 being enclosed by the end walls 302 and the bottom edges of the side walls 301 being provided with bottom flanges 303 that overlap and are suitably secured together as by welding. The inner side wall 301, i.e., the side wall disposed to the left in FIG. 7, has an inwardly directed upper flange 304 integral with the upper edge thereof and extending inwardly toward the pedestal 150. The outer side wall 301, i.e., the side wall 301 disposed to the right in FIG. 7, extends upwardly slightly beyond the upper flange 304 and has integral with the upper edge thereof an inwardly directed top flange 305 that overlies and bears against the upper flange 304 and is suitably secured thereto as by welding, the longitudinal extent of the

flanges

304 and 305 being somewhat less than the longitudinal extent of the end panel 300. Disposed between the side walls 301 and the end walls 302 is a filler 310 of cellular construction and formed of a paper product including a pair of outer layers and adhesively secured to an inner body of honeycomb construction and more specifically, formed by suitably bent strips of paper having adjacent surfaces glued together. The filler 310 is further secured by bodies of mastic (not shown) to the inner surfaces of the end panel side walls 301 throughout substantially the entire adjacent areas thereof, whereby to form a strong yet lightweight structure that has good sound deadening properties. Mounted in each end of the end panel 300 is a generally vertically arranged channel 320 having the lower end thereof spaced upwardly from the lower end of the end panel 300 and extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the end panel 300, the channel 320 including a main Wall 321 and a pair of side flanges 322 integral therewith and disposed substantially parallel to each other, whereby to provide a channel that is essentially U-shaped in cross section. The side flanges 322 are suitably secured as by welding to the inner surfaces of the side walls 301, the channel 320 extending completely between the side walls 301. There further is disposed within the lower end of each of the channels 320 a leg support 323 including a bottom wall 324 from which extends upwardly a pair of side walls 325. The side walls 325 are disposed within the side flanges 322 of the adjacent channel 320 and are suitably secured thereto as by welding. There further are provided in the bottom wall 324 two openings, and in alignment with each of the openings is an internally threaded nut 326 for mounting an associated leg 315 thereon by means of a bolt 327.

At the upper end of each of the channels 320 there is provided an anchor clip 330 formed of a single sheet of metal shaped to provide the several parts thereof including an attachment flange 331 resting upon the upper surface of the top flange 305 and suitably secured thereto as by welding. Extending upwardly from the attachment flange 331 is an upstanding flange 332 that carries on the upper edge therefor an outwardly directed mounting flange 333, both the upstanding flange 332 and the mounting flange 333 having wings 334 extending laterally therefrom and provided in the mounting flange 333 with fastener receiving openings therein to receive bolts 335 for engagement with nuts 140 in the associated mounting channel 220. Further, the mounting flange 333 has on the outer edge thereof a downturned flange 336 which is suitably secured as by welding to the main wall 321 of the associated upstanding channel 320, whereby the anchor clip 330 is fixedly secured both to the channel 320 and the side walls 301.

Further details of the construction and arrangement and the interconnection of the parts of the end panel 300 are set forth in the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 503,157, the end panel 300 of the resent invention being identical in construction with the end panel 450 in the aforementioned application.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9 and 12 to 15 of the drawings, there are illustrated therein the details of construction and mounting of the back panel 400, the back panel 400 being disposed toward the rear of the desk top 101 and immediately below the rear mounting channel 120 thereon and toward the rear of the machine bed top 200 and immediately below the rear mounting channel 220 thereon, the back panel 400 extending between the pedestal 150 and the end panel 300. More specifically, the

back panel 400 includes an outer wall 401 which at the righthand end thereof as viewed in FIG. 3 extends from substantially the lower end of the pedestal 150 upwardly to a point spaced just below the desk top 101 thereby to provide a lefthand section (as viewed from the front in FIG. 2) of a first greater predetermined height, and is cut way as at 402 adjacent to the righthand end of the desk top 101 to provide a second section of lesser vertical extent disposed beneath the machine bed top 200. More specifically, the upper edge of the outer wall 401 is divided into a desk top edge 403 having an inwardly directed desk top flange 404 thereon and a machine bed edge 405 having an inwardly directed machine bed flange 406 thereon. The lefthand edge of the outer wall 401 has a longer side flange 407 thereon and the righthand edge of the outer wall 401 a shorter side flange 408 thereon. There also is provided on the bottom of the outer wall 401 an inwardly directed bottom flange 409 that extends the entire length of the back panel 401. Finally, there is provided on the vertical edge joining the desk top edge 403 and the machine bed edge 405 a vertical flange 410 extending inwardly and substantially joining the adjacent edges of the desk top flange 404 and the machine bed flange 406.

The back panel 400 further comprises an inner wall 411 also having a first portion of greater vertical extent disposed to the left and a second portion of lesser vertical extent disposed to the right and beneath the machine bed top 200, the upper portion of the inner wall 411 being cut away as at 412 to provide the described structure. More specifically, a desk top edge 413 is provided to the left and having thereon an outwardly directed desk top flange 414, the desk top flange 414 being downwardly offset as at 414a (see FIG. 12) so as to receive thereover the desk top flange 404, the upper surfaces of the

flanges

404 and 414 being disposedin a common plane. Disposed beneath the machine bed top 200 is the machine bed edge 415 having an outwardly directed machine bed flange 416 thereon the outer portion of the flange 416 being offset downwardly as at 416a (see FIG. 12) so that the flange 406 can be received thereon in a manner such that the upper surfaces of the

flanges

406 and 416 are disposed in the same plane. The longer side edge of the inner wall 411 has a longer side flange 417 thereon extending outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto, the outer portion of the flange 417 being inwardly offset to receive thereon the side flange 407, the outer surfaces of the

side flanges

407 and 417 being disposed in common plane. The shorter or righthand edge of the inner wall 411 has a shorter side flange 418 thereon integral therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom, the outer portion of the flange 418 being offset inwardly to receive thereon the flange 408, the outer surfaces of the

flanges

408 and 418 lying in the same plane. Likewise the lower edge of the inner wall 411 has a bottom flange 419 thereon extending rearwardly therefrom and having an upwardly offset portion receiving the bottom flange 409 thereover, the lower surfaces of the flanges 409 and 419 lying in a common plane. Finally, the vertical edge joining the desk top edge 413 and the machine bed edge 415 has a rearwardly directed vertical flange 420 thereon having a laterally offset portion receiving the vertical flange 410 thereover (see FIG. 12), whereby the outer surfaces of the

flanges

410 and 420 are disposed in a common plane.

Disposed between the

walls

401 and 411 and the several end walls is a filler 430 (see FIG. 9) of cellular construction and formed of a paper product, the filler 430 being of the same construction as the filler 310 described above. The filler 430 is secured by bodies of mastic (not shown) disposed between the outer surfaces thereof and the inner surfaces of the

walls

401 and 411, thereby fixedly to mount the filler 430 in the back panel 400. After the

Walls

401 and 411 are assembled about the filler 430, the

walls

401 and 411 are secured together as by welding.

The back panel 400 is secured to the desk top 101 by attachment to the rear mounting channel thereof and is secured to the machine bed top 200 by mounting upon the rear mounting channel 220 thereof. To this end there have been provided two pairs of support brackets 440, the construction connection of the support brackets 440 being best illustrated in FIGS. 7, 12 and 13 of the drawings. Each of the brackets 440 includes a top wall 441 that is generally flat and is provided with an opening 442 therein to receive a bolt 145 that engages one of the special nuts in the associated mounting

channel

120 or 220, as the case may be. Integral with each end of the top wall 441 are downwardly extending legs 443 that extend downwardly through slots 421 formed in the overlapping

desk top flanges

404 and 414 and the overlapping

machine bed flanges

406 and 416, as the case may be. Integral with the lower end of each of the legs 443 is an outwardly directed attachment flange 444 which underlies the adjacent desk top flange 414 or machine bed flange 416 and is suitably secured thereto as by welding. When the support brackets 440 are in the mounted position upon the back panel 400, the legs 443 extend upwardly well above the associated desk top flange 404 or the associated machine bed flange 406 whereby to permit the insertion of the associated bolt through the opening 442 in the top wall 441. Engagement of the bolts 145 with the special nuts 140 in the mounting

channels

120 and 220 serve firmly to mount the back panel 400 on the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200. Such mounting of the back panel 400 also firmly interconnects the rear edges of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200, thereby to hold these parts in the proper assembled positions thereof.

In order to secure the lower lefthand corner of the back panel 400 to the adjacent rear portion of the pedestal 150, a clip 450 has been provided (see FIGS. 7 and 15, particularly). The clip 450 is generally a rectangular strip of metal bent and shaped to provide an attachment flange 9 451 which lies against the underside of the pedestal bottom wall 167 and is secured thereto as by a screw 455. Integral with the righthand end of the flange 451, as viewed in FIG. 7, is an upwardly curved portion 452 following the curvature of the pedestal 150 and extending upwardly through an opening in the lower lefthand corner of the back panel 400 and terminating in a back panel attachment flange 453 disposed substantially parallel to the flange 451. The flange 453 more particularly rests upon the upper surface of the bottom flange 419 and is secured thereto by a screw 455. The righthand end of the flange 453 carries thereon an offset flange 454 that is offset downwardly and extends through a second opening in the bottom flanges 409 and 419 and lying underneath the lower surface of the lowermost flange 409. In this manner, the lower lefthand corner of the back panel 400 is securely fastened to the rear righthand portion of the pedestal 150.

There further is provided between the lower right-hand corner of the back panel 400 and the lower rear corner of the end panel 300 a clip 460 interconnecting the two panels named (see FIGS. 7 and 15). The clip 460 is formed of a strip of metal bent to provide a back panel attachment flange 461 that is disposed within the back panel 400 and lies upon the upper surface of the bottom flange 419, a screw 455 passing through aligned openings in the bottom flanges 409 and 419 and threadedly engaging an opening in the attachment flange 461. The righthand end of the attachment flange 461 as viewed in FIG. 7 has integral therewith a downwardly curved portion 462 passing through an opening in the bottom of the back panel 400 and essentially conforming to the curvature at the lower end of the end panel 300 and connecting with a second attachment portion 463 and disposed beneath the end panel 300, a screw mounting the rear leg 315 upon the end panel 300 also connecting the clip 460 thereto.

The machine bed desk 100 thus described is strong in construction and readily accommodates both work at the usual desk height upon the desk top 101 and work upon a machine mounted on the machine bed top 200. As described above, the machine bed top 200 is disposed to the right of the desk top 101. In accordance with the present invention, the parts described above can be readily rearranged without any alteration thereof to provide a machine bed desk wherein the machine bed top 200 is disposed to the left of the desk top 101. More specifically, there is illustrated in FIG. 14 an exploded view of the parts of the machine bed desk 100 wherein the parts are arranged to have the machine bed top 200 disposed to the right of the desk top 101 when the parts are viewed from the front of the desk 100.

There is illustrated in FIG. 15 the same parts as in FIG. 14 rearranged to provide the machine bed top 200 disposed to the left with respect to the desk top 101 when the parts are viewed from the front of the desk 100. To accomplish this rearrangement of the parts, the various connections to the mounting channels 120 and the mounting channels 220 are first removed as are the

clips

450 and 460. The desk pedestal 150 is then reassembled to the desk top 101 adjacent to the righthand end thereof and more specifically is remounted upon the mounting channels 120 adjacent to the righthand ends thereof. The filler panel 260 is moved to the lefthand end of the desk top 101 as is the machine bed top 200, after which the reinforcing bracket 250 can be installed, the bracket 250 interconnecting the lefthand end of the desk top 101 and the righthand end of the machine bed top 200. The end panel 300 is mounted upon the lefthand end of the machine bed top 200 and specifically upon the mounting channels 220 thereof.

It is next necessary to turn the back panel 400 end for end, thereby to place what has been heretofore described as the outer wall 401 to the inside and to place what has been described hereinabove as the inner wall 411 on the outside. Such a rearrangement of the back panel 400 is possible because the back panel 400 is symmetrical for all practical purposes about a vertical plane extending longitudinally therethrough. More specifically, the

walls

401 and 411 are symmetrical with respect to such a plane as are the support brackets 440. Accordingly, the support brackets 440 can now be reattached to the rear mounting channels and 220 thereby to interconnect the parts. Finally, the

clips

450 and 460 can be reinstalled interconnecting the pedestal and the righthand end of the back panel 400 on the one hand, and the end panel 300 and the lefthand end of the back panel 400 on the other hand. It will be seen therefore that the very same parts can be utilized to provide either a first configuration of a machine bed desk wherein the pedestal 150 is disposed to the left of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 is disposed to the right of the desk top 101 or a second configuration wherein the pedestal 150 is disposed to the right beneath the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 is disposed to the left beneath the desk top 101.

From the above it will be seen that there has been provided an improved machine bed desk which fulfills all of the objects and advantages set forth above. More specifically, there has been provided an improved machine bed desk essentially of sheet metal that is simple in construction and economical in manufacture, and yet is rugged in construction and possesses all of the desired characteristics of a desk of this type. The improved machine bed desk includes a desk top 101 having a pair of spaced apart mounting channels 120 secured to the underside thereof and extending substantially parallel to the front and rear edges thereof with leg structure such as a pedestal 150' adjacent to one edge of the desk top 101 for supporting it in operative position above an underlying support surface, a machine bed top 200 of the same general dimensions front to back as the desk top 101 and having one edge thereof disposed beneath the other edge of the desk top 101 with leg structure such as the end panel 300 for supporting the other edge of the machine bed top 200 in the operative position above an underlying support surface, a pair of spaced apart mounting channels 220 secured to the underside of the machine bed top 200 and extending substantially parallel to the desk top mounting channels 120 and in general longitudinal alignment therewith, a back panel 400 disposed beneath the rear ones of the mounting

channels

120 and 220 connected thereto and serving to interconnect the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 at the rear thereof, and a reinforcing bracket 250 disposed beneath the front ones of the mounting

channels

120 and 220 and connected thereto and serving to interconnect the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 at the front thereof.

Further there has been provided a finishing panel 260 disposed between the adjacent edges of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 and filling the area bounded by the underside of the desk top 101 and the upper side of the machine bed top 200 and the front and rear edges of the tops 101 and 200, the finishing panel 260 having a wiring opening 265 therein for receiving the wiring for a machine disposed on the machine bed top 200.

Finally, there has been provided an improved machine bed desk wherein the back panel is symmetrical about a vertical plane extending longitudinally therethrough, whereby the parts may be assembled in a first configuration wherein the pedestal 150' is disposed beneath the lefthand end of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200 is disposed beneath the righthand end of the desk top 101, and a second configuration wherein the pedestal 150 is disposed beneath the righthand end of the desk top 101 and the machine bed top 200' is disposed beneath the lefthand end of'the desk top 101.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention,

it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine bed desk comprising a desk top having a front edge and a rear edge and a pair of end edges, a pair of spaced apart mounting channels secured to the underside of said desk top and disposed substantially parallel to said front and rear edges and substantially normal to said end edges, leg structure adjacent to one end edge of said desk top for supporting it in the operative position above an underlying support surface, a machine bed top having a front edge and a rear edge and a pair of end edges, said machine bed top front and rear edges being disposed substantially parallel to said desk top front and rear edges and disposed substantially in the same vertical plane and one of said machine bed top end edges being disposed below and substantially parallel to the other one of said desk top end edges, a pair of spaced apart mounting channels secured to the underside of said machine bed top and extending substantially parallel to said desk top mounting channels and in general longitudinal alignment therewith, leg structure adjacent to the other end edge of said machine bed top for supporting it in the operaitve position above an underlying support surface, a rear panel disposed beneath the rear ones of said mounting channels and connected thereto and serving to interconnect said desk top and said machine bed top at the rear edges thereof, and a reinforcing bracket disposed beneath the front ones of said mounting channels and connected thereto and serving to interconnect said desk top and said machine bed top at the front edges thereof.

2. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 1, wherein said leg structure adjacent to the one edge of the desk top is a pedestal mounted on said desk top mounting channels and having a plurality of drawers therein and a leg disposed therebelow for sup-porting the pedestal and the associated desk top in the operative position above an underlying support surface.

3. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 1, wherein said leg structure adjacent to the other end edge of the machine bed top is an end panel mounted on said machine bed mounting channels and having a leg thereunder for supporting the end panel and the attached end of the machine bed top in the operative position above an underlying support surface.

4. A machine bed desk set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear panel extends between and interconnects the leg structure on said desk top and the leg structure on said machine bed top.

5. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear panel is substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal plane therethrough, whereby said desk top and said machine bed top and said rear panel can be arranged in a first configuration wherein said machine bed top is disposed to the right of said desk top and a second configuration wherein said machine bed top is disposed to the left of said desk top.

6. A machine bed desk comprising a desk top having a front edge and a rear edge and a pair of end edges, a pair of spaced apart mounting channels secured to the underside of said desk top and disposed substantially parallel to said front and rear edges and substantially normal to said end edges, leg structure adjacent to one end edge of said desk top for supporting it in the operative position above an underlying support surface, a machine bed top having a front edge and a rear edge and a pair of end edges, said machine bed top front and rear edges being disposed substantially parallel to said desk top front and rear edges and disposed substantially in the same vertical plane and one of said machine bed top end edges being disposed below and substantially parallel to the other one of said desk top end edges, a pair of spaced apart mounting channels secured to the underside of said machine bed top and extending substantially parallel to said desk top mounting channels and in general longitudinal alignment therewith, leg structure adjacent to the other end edge of said machine bed top for supporting it in the operative position above an underlying support surface, a rear panel disposed beneath the rear ones of said mounting channels and connected thereto and serving to interconnect said desk top and said machine bed top at the rear edges thereof, a reinforcing bracket disposed beneath the front ones of said mounting channels and connected thereto and serving to interconnect said desk top and said machine bed top at the front edges therof, and a finishing panel disposed between the adjacent end edges of said desk top and said machine bed top and filling the area bounded by the underside of said desk top and the upper side of said machine bed top and the front and rear edges of said tops.

'7. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 6, wherein said finishing anel has an opening therethrough for receiving wiring for a machine mounted on said machine desk top.

8. A machine bed desk comprising a desk top including a substantially fiat first top plate, a first pair of mounting channels disposed adjacent to the underside of said first top plate and spaced inwardly from the front and rear edges thereof and secured thereto, a pedestal mounted on said first mounting channels adjacent to one end of said desk top, first leg structure on said pedestal for supporting the pedestal and the desk top in the operative position thereof above an underlying support surface, a machine bed top including a substantially fiat second top plate, a second pair of mounting channels disposed adjacent to the underside of said second top plate and spaced inwardly from the front and rear edges thereof and secured thereto, an end panel mounting said second mounting channels adjacent to one end of said machine bed top, second leg structure on said end panel for supporting the end panel and the machine bed top in the operative position thereof above an underlying support surface, a rear panel disposed beneath the rear ones of said mounting channels and extending between and interconnecting said pedestal and said end panel, means interconnecting the upper edge of said rear panel and the rear ones of said first and second mounting channels to interconnect said desk top and said machine bed top at the rear thereof through said rear panel, and a reinforcing bracket disposed beneath the front ones of said first and second mounting channels and connected thereto and serving to interconnect said desk top and said machine bed top at the front thereof.

9. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for interconnecting said rear panel and said mounting channels is a plurality of support brackets fixedly secured to the upper edge of said rear panel and having openings therethrough receiving bolts engaging nuts disposed in said rear mounting channels.

10. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 8, wherein said rear panel is substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal plane therethrough, whereby said desk top and said machine bed top and said rear panel can be arranged in a first configuration wherein said machine bed top is disposed to the right of said desk top and said pedestal is disposed to the left of said desk top and a second configuration wherein said machine bed top is disposed to the left of said desk top and said pedestal is disposed to the right of said desk top.

11. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 8, and further comprising a finishing panel disposed between the adjacent ends of said desk top and said machine bed top and filling the area bounded by the upper side of said desk top and the machine bed top and the front and rear edges of said tops.

12. The machine bed desk set forth in claim 11, wherein said finishing panel has an opening therein substantially centrally thereof for receiving wiring for a machine disposed on said machine desk top.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1959 Bullock 312-194 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A MACHINE BED DESK COMPRISING A DESK TOP HAVING A FRONT EDGE AND A REAR EDGE AND A PAIR OF END EDGES, A PAIR OF SPACED APART MOUNTING CHANNELS SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID DESK TOP AND DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID FRONT AND REAR EDGES AND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID END EDGES, LEG STRUCTURE ADJACENT TO ONE END EDGE OF SAID DESK TOP FOR SUPPORTING IT IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION ABOVE AN UNDERLYING SUPPORT SURFACE, A MACHINE BED TOP HAVING A FRONT EDGE AND A REAR EDGE AND A PAIR OF END EDGES, SAID MACHINE BED TOP FRONT AND REAR EDGES BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID DESK TOP FRONT AND REAR EDGES AND DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE SAME VERTICAL PLANE AND ONE OF SAID MACHINE BED TOP END EDGES BEING DISPOSED BELOW AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE OTHER ONE OF SAID DESK TOP END EDGES, A PAIR OF SPACED APART MOUNTING CHANNELS SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MACHINE BED TOP AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID DESK TOP MOUNTING CHANNELS AND IN GENERAL LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, LEG STRUCTURE ADJACENT TO THE OTHER END EDGE OF SAID MACHINE BED TOP FOR SUPPORTING IT IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION ABOVE AN UNDERLYING SUPPORT SURFACE, A REAR PANEL DISPOSED BENEATH THE REAR ONES OF SAID MOUNTING CHANNELS AND CONNECTED THERETO AND SERVING TO INTERCONNECT SAID DESK TOP AND SAID MACHINE BED TOP AT THE REAR EDGES THEREOF, AND A REINFORCING BRACKET DISPOSED BENEATH THE FRONT ONES OF SAID MOUNTING CHANNELS AND CONNECTED THERETO AND SERVING TO INTERCONNECT SAID DESK TOP AND SAID MACHINE BED TOP AT THE FRONT EDGES THEREOF.