US20150033990A1 - Protective student desk - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective student desk may include a set of base elements, a set of legs attached to the set of base elements, a desktop pivotably attached to the set of legs, and a panel connected to the set of base elements and attached to the set of legs. The protective student desk may provide a full body protective shield and be bullet resistant.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/862,416, filed Aug. 5, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to student desks and, more particularly, to student desks and the safety of the student.
• Currently, with student deaths on the rise, there has been some concern about student safety while at school. Current student desks provide very little to no safety for a student if a situation arises that involves shooting or other acts of violence. Most desks are made from wood, plastic and the like.
• As can be seen, there is a need for a student desk that provides protection when violent acts occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In one aspect of the present invention, a protective student desk comprises: a set of base elements having a bottom side and a top side; a set of legs having a front side, wherein the set of legs attach to the top side of the set of base elements; a desktop having a first end, pivotably attached to the set of legs; and a panel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the panel connects to the set of base elements, wherein the panel attaches to the front side of the set of legs.
• In another aspect of the present invention, a protective student desk comprises: a set of base elements having a bottom side and a top side; a set of legs having a front side, wherein the set of legs attach to the top side of the set of base elements; a desktop having a first end, pivotably attached to the set of legs, wherein a notched section runs along the first end of the desktop; and a panel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the panel connects to the set of base elements, wherein the panel attaches to the front side of the set of legs, wherein a notched section runs along the second end, wherein the first end f the panel has a set of cutouts.
• These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the desktop oriented in the safety configuration;
• FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the desktop oriented in the safety configuration;
• FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the desktop oriented in the safety configuration; and
• FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
• Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a protective student desk that may include a set of base elements, a set of legs attached to the set of base elements, a desktop pivotably attached to the set of legs, and a panel connected to the set of base elements and attached to the set of legs. The protective student desk may provide a full body protective shield and be bullet resistant.
• As is illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 7, theprotective student desk10 may include adesktop12, apanel14, a set oflegs16 and a set ofbase elements18. The set ofbase elements18 may be set against the ground in certain embodiments. A plurality offeet22 may be attached to a bottom side of the set ofbase elements18 in order to not damage the floor and to provide a more stable positioning. The set oflegs16 may attach to a top side of the set ofbase elements18. The set oflegs16 may also be attached to thedesktop12.
• Thedesktop12 may be attached to the set oflegs16 by a pivot system. The pivot system may include a set ofpivots20 and a set ofpivot brackets21. Thedesktop12 may have a flat top surface. A first end of thedesktop12 may have a notched section running along the first end. A set oflocking rods28 may be connected to the set ofpivot brackets21 along a bottom side of thedesktop12. Alocking mechanism26 may be positioned between and attached to eachlocking rod28. Connected to thelocking mechanism26 may be a guide handle withspring30. The pivot system may allow for thedesktop12 to be rotated from an approximately horizontal angle to an approximately vertical angle.
• Thepanel14 may be connected to the set ofbase elements18 and to the set oflegs16. Thepanel14 may have a first end and a second end. Thepanel14 may attach to a front side of the set oflegs16 through mountingbolts24 or the like. The first end of thepanel14 may have a set ofcutouts15. The set ofcutouts15 may be positioned around the set ofbase elements18, thereby limiting the space exposed along thepanel14. The second end of thepanel14 may have notched section running along the second end. The notched section of thepanel14 and the notched section of thedesktop12 may be oriented so that when both may be in the approximately vertical position, the notched sections may engage with each other. When engaged, the notched sections may provide a roughly flat even surface along a front side of theprotective student desk10.
• A method of using theprotective student desk10 may include the following. When in use for school work, thedesktop12 may be in the approximately horizontal position. Thelocking mechanism26 may be in a locked position so that thedesktop12 may be secured in position. In a situation where there may be danger, thedesktop12 may be rotated in the approximately vertical position. A user, such as astudent32, may unlock thelocking mechanism26 which may allow thedesktop12 to rotate. Thedesktop12 may be rotated into an approximately vertical position where thedesktop12 may connect with thepanel14. Both notched sections may align so that they fit flush against each other. Once thedesktop12 and thepanel14 may be aligned, thelocking mechanism26 may be set so that theprotective student desk10 may stay in the approximately vertical position. Thelocking mechanism26 may be controlled by the guide handle withspring30. Movement of the guide handle withspring30 may allow thelocking rods28 to move so that thedesktop12 may pivot along thepivots20. Once assembled, thedesktop12 of theprotective student desk10 may be easily tilted so that theprotective student desk10 may be positioned to create a barricade to protect the student. Thestudent32 may have protection from the floor to the top of thedesktop12 in the approximately vertical position allowing for a full body protective shield as shown inFIG. 7. Theprotective student desk10 may be bullet resistant. Material used for thedesktop12 and thepanel14 may be polycarbonate or the like.
• An example of a situation where the present invention may be used may be if a school has a lock-down situation. A teacher and thestudents32 may be able to tilt thedesktop12 and position themselves behind the rear side of theprotective student desk10 to create a safe place. The barricade may protect thestudent32 from such things as bullets and the like. When not in some type of lock-down situation, the protective student desk may act as a standard desk for school studies.
• In alternate embodiments, a plurality of wheels may be attached to the bottom side of the set ofbase elements18. Lamination of thedesktop12 may be added. Different sizes may be available for the invention along with different colors or patterns to be placed on the top of thedesktop12.
• It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (10)

What is claimed is:

1. A protective student desk comprising:

a set of base elements having a bottom side and a top side;

a set of legs having a front side, wherein the set of legs attach to the top side of the set of base elements;

a desktop having a first end, pivotably attached to the set of legs; and

a panel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the panel connects to the set of base elements, wherein the panel attaches to the front side of the set of legs.

2. The protective student desk ofclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of feet attached to the bottom side of the set of base elements.

3. The protective student desk ofclaim 1, wherein a notched section runs along the first end of the desktop.

4. The protective student desk ofclaim 1, further comprising a set of cutouts on the first end of the panel.

5. The protective student desk ofclaim 1, wherein a notched section runs along the second end of the panel.

6. The protective student desk ofclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels attached to the bottom side of the set of base elements.

7. The protective student desk ofclaim 1, wherein the material is bullet resistant.

8. A protective student desk comprising:

a set of base elements having a bottom side and a top side;

a set of legs having a front side, wherein the set of legs attach to the top side of the set of base elements;

a desktop having a first end, pivotably attached to the set of legs, wherein a notched section runs along the first end of the desktop; and

a panel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the panel connects to the set of base elements, wherein the panel attaches to the front side of the set of legs, wherein a notched section runs along the second end, wherein the first end f the panel has a set of cutouts.

9. The protective student desk ofclaim 8, further comprising a plurality of wheels attached to the bottom side of the set of base elements.

10. The protective student desk ofclaim 8, wherein the material is bullet resistant.

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