Work surface with extendable and retractable storage compartments

Abstract

A desk or other piece of furniture having a horizontal work surface and at least one retractable storage compartment. The storage compartment is movable between a retracted or closed position and an extended or opened position. When in the retracted position the horizontal top of the storage compartment is substantially planar with the horizontal work surface. When in the extended position and when moving between the retracted position and the extended position the horizontal top of the storage compartment is substantially parallel to the horizontal work surface. Optionally a wire management system is used to extend one or more electrical cables between the storage compartment and the area below the work surface.

1 . A work surface and retractable storage combination, comprising: 
 a horizontal work surface having an area and having at least one opening defined in the area;    at least one storage compartment having a horizontal top surface and movable between a retracted position located below said horizontal work surface and an extended position located above said horizontal work surface;    a lifting mechanism operable to move said storage compartment between said retracted position and said extended position;    wherein said storage compartment top surface is substantially planar with said horizontal work surface when said storage compartment is in said retracted position;    wherein said storage compartment passes through said at least one opening in said horizontal work surface when moving between said retracted position and said extended position; and,    a flexible conduit having at least two ends, with at least one upper end in communication with said storage compartment and having at least one lower end located below said work surface.    
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said conduit encloses at least one electrical cable.  
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein said conduit encloses a plurality of electrical cables.  
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 1  comprising a connector panel mounted in said storage compartment adjacent said at least one upper end of said conduit.  
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein said conduit encloses a plurality of electrical cables engaged to said connector panel.  
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 4  further comprising a second connector panel adjacent said at least one lower conduit end.  
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said conduit encloses a plurality of electrical cables operably connected between connector plugs on said first connector panel and corresponding connector plugs on said second connector panel.  
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein said lifting mechanism comprises a sliding scissors assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein said lifting mechanism is powered.  
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said powered lifting mechanism comprises at least one powered lifting column.  
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said storage compartment comprises an inner shell and an outer shell, wherein said inner shell is received within said outer shell in a stored configuration and wherein said inner shell is selectively horizontally adjustable forward of said outer shell.  
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said inner shell is mounted to said outer shell with a horizontal adjustment mechanism.  
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein said horizontal adjustment mechanism comprises a scissors arrangement.  
   
   
       14 . An article of furniture comprising: 
 a horizontal work surface;    at least one base member to support said work surface;    at least one storage compartment movable between a retracted position located below said work surface and an extended position located above said work surface;    a powered lifting mechanism operable to move said storage compartment between said retracted position and said extended position;    wherein said storage compartment is substantially flush with said horizontal work surface when said storage compartment is in said retracted position;    wherein said storage compartment raises a portion of said horizontal work surface when moving between said retracted position and said extended position; and,    a flexible wire management system extending between said storage compartment and said base member below said work surface.    
   
   
       15 . The article of furniture of  claim 14 , wherein said wire management comprises at least one electrical cable having an upper end in communication with said storage compartment and a lower end terminating below said work surface.  
   
   
       16 . The article of furniture of  claim 15 , comprising a connector panel mounted to said storage compartment and engaged to said upper end of said at least one electrical cable.  
   
   
       17 . The article of furniture of  claim 16 , comprising a second connector panel engaged to said lower end of said electrical cable.  
   
   
       18 . The article of furniture of  claim 17 , wherein said second connector panel is mounted to said at least one base member.  
   
   
       19 . The article of furniture of  claim 18 , wherein said second connector panel is mounted within a compartment in said at least one base member.  
   
   
       20 . The article of furniture of  claim 18 , comprising a plurality of electrical cables extending from a plurality of connectors on said first connector panel to a second corresponding plurality of connectors on said second connector panel.  
   
   
       21 . The article of furniture of  claim 20 , wherein said wire management system comprises a flexible conduit extending from said storage compartment to below said work surface and enclosing said plurality of electrical cables.  
   
   
       22 . The article of furniture of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of connectors in said first connector each form a male or female connector point and wherein the corresponding connectors in said second panel each form the opposite of the corresponding male or female connector point.  
   
   
       23 . The article of furniture of  claim 14 , wherein said lifting mechanism includes a first scissors arm and a second scissors arm connecting with a pivot point along their length, wherein an upper end of said first scissors arm and a lower end of said second scissors arm are pivotally connected to fixed anchor points on said storage compartment and adjacent said work surface respectively, wherein a lower end of said first scissors arm is pivotally connected to a lower track and slide anchor system adjacent said work surface, and wherein an upper end of said second scissors arm is pivotally connected to an upper track and slide anchor system on said storage compartment.  
   
   
       24 . The article of furniture of  claim 14  wherein said powering lifting mechanism comprises at least one lifting column.  
   
   
       25 . The article of furniture of  claim 24  wherein said powering lifting mechanism comprises at least two lifting columns.  
   
   
       26 . The article of furniture of  claim 25  wherein said at least two lifting columns are mounted to said storage compartment adjacent opposing sides of said storage compartment.  
   
   
       27 . The article of furniture of  claim 26  wherein each said lifting column includes a lower base and vertical column portion mounted to a frame portion of said piece of furniture, a bracket portion mounted to said storage compartment and said column portion, and an actuator to raise and lower said bracket portion along said vertical column portion.  
   
   
       28 . The article of furniture of  claim 14 , wherein said storage compartment comprises an inner shell and an outer shell, wherein said inner shell is received within said outer shell in a stored configuration and wherein said inner shell is selectively horizontally adjustable forward of said outer shell with a horizontal adjustment mechanism.  
   
   
       29 . The article of furniture of  claim 28 , wherein said horizontal adjustment mechanism comprises a scissors arrangement.  
   
   
       30 . A desk, comprising: 
 a horizontal work surface mounted on a desk frame, said work surface having at least one opening and defining an area below said work surface;    at least one storage compartment movable between a retracted position below said work surface and an extended position located above said horizontal work surface;    a powered scissors lifting mechanism operable to move said storage compartment between said retracted position and said extended position;    wherein said scissors lifting mechanism includes a first scissors arm and a second scissors arm connecting with a pivot point along their length, wherein an upper end of said first scissors arm and a lower end of said second scissors arm are pivotally connected to fixed anchor points on said storage compartment and said desk respectively, wherein a lower end of said first scissors arm is pivotally connected to a lower track and slide anchor system on said desk frame, and wherein an upper end of said second scissors arm is pivotally connected to an upper track and slide anchor system on said storage compartment;    wherein said storage compartment has a top surface which is substantially planar with said horizontal work surface when said storage compartment is in said retracted position;    a first connector panel mounted within said storage compartment with a first plurality of connectors;    a second connector panel mounted within said area below said work surface with a second plurality of connectors;    a plurality of electrical cables extending from said first plurality of connectors on said first connector panel to corresponding connectors from said second plurality of connectors on said second connector panel; and,    a flexible conduit extending between said first connector panel and said second connector panel and enclosing said plurality of electrical cables.    
   
   
       31 . The desk of  claim 30 , wherein said desk frame comprises at least two base portions in said area below said work surface.  
   
   
       32 . The desk of  claim 31 , wherein said second connector panel is mounted within a compartment defined in one of said base portions.  
   
   
       33 . The desk of  claim 30 , comprising a kick panel pivotally mounted below said work surface and oriented in a closed position to conceal at least one of said lifting mechanism or said flexible conduit.  
   
   
       34 . The desk of  claim 30 , wherein said powered scissors lifting mechanism comprises an electric motor and a worm gear configured to selectively extend and retract said lower track and slide anchor system.  
   
   
       35 . The article of furniture of  claim 30 , wherein said storage compartment comprises an inner shell and an outer shell, wherein said inner shell is received within said outer shell in a stored configuration and wherein said inner shell is selectively horizontally adjustable forward of said outer shell with a horizontal adjustment mechanism.