US20120161597A1 - Wall-mounted workstation - Google Patents

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 ofFIG. 3.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a drawer unit used in the work station ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 5 is a partial view of a wire basket used in the work station ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a paper/magazine holder ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a dry erase board, a cork board, or a combination board in work station ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a pencil cup used in the work station ofFIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring toFIG. 1, an embodiment of awork station10 is shown. Thework station10 is comprised of aleft side15 and aright side20. Each of theleft side15 and theright side20 includes a top25, twoside walls30, abottom wall33 and aback wall35.
• Referring toFIG. 1A with continued reference toFIG. 1, each of theback walls35 of theleft side15 andright side20 has a plurality of spaced-apartslats40 mounted thereon. Each of theslats40 has aback portion45 that is mounted to asmaller stud50 so that a top portion55 and abottom portion60 of eachslat40 creates atop overhang65 and abottom overhang70 relative to thestud50. Afirst connector75, which has an upwardly extendingflange80, ahorizontal portion85 attaching at afirst end90 to the upwardly extendingflange80 and a downwardly extendingflange85 attaching to anotherend95 of thehorizontal portion85, cooperates with theoverhangs65,70. In at least one embodiment, theconnector75 is ahook75. The upwardly extendingflange80 fits under a slat40bottom overhang70 while thehorizontal portion85 sits on a contiguouslower slat60 and the downwardly extendingflange85 attaches to anaccessory87 as will be discussed infra.
• Alternatively, asecond hook100 has a horizontal portion105, a first downward portion110 that hangs over atop overhang65 of theslat40, and a second downward portion115 that attaches to anaccessory120, as will be discussed infra.
• Because there is a plurality ofslats40 on the left andright sides15,20, a number of accessories can be disposed therein. Theright side20 of thework station10 side, bottom andtop walls25,35,33 are deeper than the left side of thework station10 side, bottom andtop walls25,35,33 to allow for larger accessories that are desired in awork station10. Theright side20 of thework station10 may be attached to a wall (not shown) typically by screws, bolts, or mollies or the like. Theleft side15 of thework station10 is attached to theright side20 by plurality offurniture hinges120 that allow for easily opening and closing of theleft side15 of thework station10 relative to theright side20 of thework station10. Typically, theright side20 of theworkstation10 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 theslats40 in both theleft side15 and theright side20 of theworkstation10, a user may choose to turn theworkstation10 upside down to allow the door on theleft side15 now to be on the right side of the workstation should that orientation be desired.
• Theleft side15 has a length L and theright side20 has a length LL and the length L is shorter than LL such that the top and bottom of theleft side15 is shorter than the top and bottom of theright side20. Because of this length differential, theleft side15 of theworkstation10 may be opened without interference from the ground. And if the work station is inverted to allow theleft side15 to open on aright side20. Similarly theside walls30, bottom wall,33 andtop wall25 of theright side20 are wider than theside walls30, bottom wall,33 andtop wall25 of theleft side15 to give theworkstation10 stability if opening and closing. Thicker or wider accessories are mounted on theright side20.
• The top andbottom overhangs65,70 will take the first andsecond hooks75,100 on either theleft side15 or theright side20 whether theworkstation10 is oriented for the opening of theleft side15 or turned upside down and oriented so that theleft side15 opens to the right hand side.
• Referring now toFIG. 2 with continued reference toFIG. 1, acube unit130 is shown. Acube unit130 has atop135, abottom140, twosides145, eachside145 having aconnector aperture150 connecting to aside wall30 of theright side20 of theworkstation10, and a plurality ofcubes155 that slide into and out of thecube unit130. The cubes may be separated bypanels160 oriented between thetop135 andbottom140 for user customization. The connector apertures150 in the sides of the cube unit attach by screws or pegs or the like to theopenings165 inside ofwalls30 of theright side20 of theworkstation10. Thecube unit130 is shown herein at the top of the right side of theworkstation10 but could be placed withinother openings165 at other positions within thesides30 of theworkstation10.
• Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 3A with continued reference toFIG. 1, ashelving unit200 is shown. Ashelving unit200 includes atop205 and twosides210 that haveapertures215 similar to thecube unit130 to allow theshelving unit200 to be attached to theopenings165 in theright side20. Ashelf220 may be conventionally attached to an interior portion of theshelving unit200 by ahinge225 shown inFIG. 3A. Ahinge pin230 is attached to thesides210 of theshelving unit200 and sits in anaxial slot235 in abracket240. To close theshelving unit200, theshelf220 is pulled out so that aback portion245 thereof clears the top205 of theshelving unit200 thereby allowing theshelving unit200 to rotate about thehinge pin230 in a downward direction. To open theshelving unit200 to a horizontal position as shown, theshelf220 is rotated upwardly about thehinge pin230 and then pushed backwards towards inwardly so the hinge pin slides in theslot235 until theshelf220 fits under the top205 of theshelving unit200 to be secured from rotating downwardly therein. Theshelf220 is rotated downwardly in theright side20 of theworkstation10 so that theleft side15 of theworkstation10 may be closed without interference from theshelving unit200.
• Referring toFIG. 4, adrawer storage unit300 is shown. The drawer storage unit has atop portion305, twoside portions310 and abottom portion315. Aconventional drawer320 fits in thedrawer storage unit300. The drawer may be attached to the sides of the drawer unit by aslide325 as is known in the art. The drawer has anotch330 for allowing the drawer to be manipulated inwardly and outwardly from thedrawer storage unit300. Hardware is not included on thedrawer320 to allow ease of closing theworkstation10. Thedrawer storage unit300apertures215 similar to thecube unit130 to allow thedrawer storage unit300 to be attached to theopenings165 in theright side20.
• Referring now toFIGS. 5-8, adaptable storage for theleft side15 is shown. However, a user should not have accessories on theleft side15 interfere with accessories on theright side20 so that thework station10 may be easily opened and closed. Even though theFIGS. 5-8 are shown as usable on theleft side15, they are also usable on theright side20 because of the top andbottom overhangs65 and70 associated with each slot that accept hooks75 and100 and other similar hooks. The connectors shown herein may be integral with each accessory.
• Referring specifically now toFIG. 6, awire basket400 for use on theleft side15 andright side20 is shown. Thewire basket400 has aconnector475 or plurality of connectors for attaching within theslats40 as shown inFIG. 1A interwoven in thewires405. To install thestorage unit400 within theworkstation10, thewire basket400 is and its connector(s) are rotated upwardly from the bottom of thewire basket410 so that the top480 of the connector fits within theunderhang70 of aslat40. Rotating thewire basket400 downwardly allows thehorizontal portion485 of theconnector475 to rest on a bottom contiguous slat40 (seeFIG. 1A) and hold the wire basket securely. Thewire baskets400 may have adivider485 that has atop gripper490 and aside gripper495 for grabbing portions of thewire basket400 and creating divisions within thewire basket400.
• Referring toFIG. 6, a paper ormagazine holder600 has aconnector675 extending along the back of the paper/magazine holder, atop opening605, anangled front610, two taperedsides615, a bottom620 and a back625. As with thewire basket400, theconnector675 is rotated upwardly from the bottom of theholder600 so that the top680 of theconnector675 fits within theunderhang70 of aslat40. Rotating theholder600 downwardly allows thehorizontal portion685 of theconnector675 to rest on a bottom contiguous slat40 (seeFIG. 1A) and hold theholder600 securely. The width of the paper/magazine holder600 can be as wide as the left orright side15,20, or can be smaller so that a user can customer can customize theworkstation10. As depicted inFIG. 1, a smaller narrower paper/magazine holder600 may be mounted on the left side of theworkstation10 and a width of the interior paper/magazine holder on the right side of theworkstation10.
• Referring toFIG. 7, aflat board700, which may have many different functions, is shown. Eachflat board700 has aconnector775, also shown as75 inFIG. 1A, for attaching to theslats40. Theboard700 on the left705 is completely a dry erase board that can extend the width of either theleft side15 or theright side20 of theworkstation10. Themiddle door710 is completely a cork board, again that may be placed on the left side or the right side of theworkstation10. On the right side of the drawing, a combination cork board and dry eraseboard715 is shown. As with the paper/magazine holders600, theseboards705,710,715 may be of different widths.
• Referring toFIG. 8, an embodiment of aholder800 is shown. Thisholder800 is rectangularly-shaped and has theconnector875, also shown as75 inFIG. 1A, for attaching to theslats40. One of ordinary skill will recognize that theholder800 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 theworkstation10, but the thinner accessories, such aswire basket400,paper holder600,holder800,board710, may be placed on the left or movingside15 and theright side20 as shown, and the thicker accessories, such asshelving unit200,cube unit200,drawer unit300 andshelf295 may be placed on the right orstationary side20 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 (16)

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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 1 wherein said connector is an integral part of said first accessory.

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

7. The workstation ofclaim 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 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

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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 8 wherein said connector is an integral part of said first accessory.

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

14. The workstation kit ofclaim 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 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,

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 ofclaim 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.

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