Convertible carrel

Abstract

A convertible carrel which includes a desk assembly and a carrel assembly. The desk assembly includes a first desktop, a first sidewall coupled to the first desktop, and a second sidewall coupled to the first desktop. The carrel assembly includes a second desktop, a first partition wall coupled to the second desktop, and a second partition wall coupled to the second desktop. The carrel assembly is rotatable relative to the desk assembly between: (1) an open position whereby the second desktop and the first and second partition walls extend vertically upward from the first desktop to form a privacy barrier; and (2) a closed position whereby the second desktop extends across and covers the first desktop and the first and second partition walls are hidden from view.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A convertible carrel comprising:
 a desk assembly comprising a first desktop, a first sidewall coupled to the first desktop, a second sidewall coupled to the first desktop, a first slot, and a second slot;   a carrel assembly comprising a second desktop, a first partition wall coupled to the second desktop, and a second partition wall coupled to the second desktop;   wherein the carrel assembly is rotatable relative to the desk assembly between: (1) an open position whereby the second desktop extends vertically upward relative to the first desktop adjacent to a rear edge of the first desktop and the first and second partition walls extend beyond top edges of the first and second sidewalls of the desk assembly, respectively; and (2) a closed position whereby the second desktop extends across and covers the first desktop and the first and second partition walls do not extend beyond the top edges of the first and second sidewalls of the desk assembly; and   wherein the first and second partition walls pass through the first and second slots, respectively, as the carrel assembly transitions between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         2 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 1  further comprising a cylindrical member extending between the first and second sidewalls of the desk assembly, the cylindrical member extending between the first and second partition walls of the carrel assembly and passing through a first hole in the first partition wall and a second hole in the second partition wall to indirectly couple the carrel assembly to the desk assembly, and wherein the carrel assembly rotates around the cylindrical member when transitioning between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 2  wherein a first end of the cylindrical member nests within a first recess in the first sidewall and a second end of the cylindrical member nests within a second recess in the second sidewall, and wherein a rear edge of the first desktop is coupled to the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 3  further comprising:
 a first flanged bushing positioned around a first portion of the cylindrical member and disposed within the first hole in the first partition wall, a first flange of the first flanged bushing sandwiched between the first sidewall of the desktop assembly and the first partition wall of the carrel assembly to maintain a space between the first partition wall and the first sidewall; and 
 a second flanged bushing positioned around a second portion of the cylindrical member and disposed within the second hole in the second partition wall, a second flange of the second flanged bushing sandwiched between the second sidewall of the desktop assembly and the second partition wall of the carrel assembly to maintain a space between the second partition wall and the second sidewall. 
 
     
     
         5 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 2  wherein the desk assembly and the cylindrical member are stationary as the carrel assembly rotates between the open and closed positions, and wherein when the carrel assembly is in the open position an upper surface of the first desktop of the desk assembly is exposed and forms a working surface of the convertible carrel, and wherein when the carrel assembly is in the closed position the second desktop extends over the first desktop in a spaced apart manner and an upper surface of the second desktop forms the working surface of the convertible carrel. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 1  wherein the desk assembly further comprises a rear wall that is coupled to and extends between the first and second sidewalls, wherein the carrel assembly further comprises a stretcher beam that is coupled to and extends between the first and second partition walls, and wherein the stretcher beam is located below the first desktop of the desk assembly when the carrel assembly is in both of the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one damping device coupled to the desk assembly and to the carrel assembly, wherein the damping device transitions from a retracted state to an expanded state as the carrel assembly transitions from the closed position to the open position and the damping device transitions from the expanded state to the retracted state as the carrel assembly transitions from the open position to the closed position to prevent the carrel assembly from slamming as it transitions into either of the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 1  wherein the carrel assembly transitions from the open position to the closed position in response to a downward rotational force being applied onto the second desktop of the carrel assembly, and wherein the carrel assembly transitions from the closed position to the open position in response to an upward force being applied onto the second desktop of the carrel assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 1  further comprising a first notch formed into the first sidewall of the desk assembly and a second notch formed into the second sidewall of the desk assembly, and wherein a rear portion of the second desktop of the carrel assembly nests within the first and second notches when the carrel assembly is in the open position. 
     
     
         10 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 9  wherein each of the first and second partition walls is in a shape of a quarter circle, and wherein the desktop assembly further comprises a front leg and a rear leg coupled to each of the first and second sidewalls, the rear legs located in alignment with the first and second notches, respectively, and wherein a first height of the rear legs is less than a second height of the front legs. 
     
     
         11 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 1  wherein in the open position a lower edge portion of the first and second partition walls are located within the first and second slots, respectively, and wherein in the closed position an upper edge portion of the first and second partition walls are located within the first and second slots, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 1  wherein the carrel assembly maintains the open position or the closed position until a user imparts a force onto the carrel assembly to transition the carrel assembly from the open position to the closed position or from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         13 . A convertible carrel comprising:
 a desk assembly comprising a first desktop, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls being coupled to the first desktop;   a carrel assembly comprising a second desktop, a first partition wall having a first hole, and a second partition wall having a second hole, the first and second partition walls being coupled to the second desktop;   a cylindrical member coupled to the desk assembly, the cylindrical member extending between the first and second partition walls of the carrel assembly and passing through the first and second holes in the first and second partition walls; and   wherein the carrel assembly is configured to rotate around the cylindrical member to transition between: (1) an open position whereby the second desktop and the first and second partition walls extend vertically upward relative to the first desktop to form a privacy barrier at least partially around the first desktop; and (2) a closed position whereby the second desktop covers the first desktop and the first and second partition walls are located below the second desktop adjacent to inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls, respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 13  further comprising a first slot defined between a first side edge of the first desktop and an inner surface of the first sidewall and a second slot defined between a second side edge of the first desktop and an inner surface of the second sidewall, and wherein the first partition wall passes through the first slot and the second partition wall passes through the second slot as the carrel assembly is transitioned between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         15 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 13  wherein the first and second partition walls are fixedly coupled to the second desktop so that the first and second partition walls cannot move or rotate relative to the second desktop, and wherein the desk assembly is fixed in position and does not move as the carrel assembly rotates around the cylindrical member to transition between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         16 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 13  wherein the desk assembly further comprises a rear wall that is coupled to and extends between the first and second sidewalls, and wherein the carrel assembly further comprises a stretcher beam that is coupled to and extends between the first and second partition walls, wherein the stretcher beam is located below the first desktop of the desk assembly when the carrel assembly is in both of the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         17 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 13  wherein the desk assembly further comprises a rear wall that is coupled to and extends between the first and second sidewalls, and further comprising at least one a damping device coupled to the rear wall of the desk assembly and to one of the first and second partition walls of the carrel assembly, wherein the damping device is configured to apply a damping force as the carrel assembly transitions from the open position to the closed position and a lifting force when the carrel assembly transitions from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         18 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 17  wherein the damping device is a gas spring having a push-out force and end-damping at both ends of its stroke. 
     
     
         19 . The convertible carrel according to  claim 13  wherein each of the first and second sidewalls of the desk assembly comprises a notch, and wherein a rear portion of the second desktop nests within the notches of the first and second sidewalls when the carrel assembly is in the open position. 
     
     
         20 . A convertible carrel assembly comprising:
 a desk assembly comprising a first lower desktop, a second lower desktop, a first sidewall coupled to the first and second lower desktops, a second sidewall coupled to the first and second lower desktops, and a rear wall extending between the first and second sidewalls, each of the first and second sidewalls comprising a notch;   a first carrel assembly comprising a first upper desktop, a first partition wall coupled to the first upper desktop, and a second partition wall coupled to the first upper desktop;   a second carrel assembly comprising a second upper desktop, a third partition wall coupled to the second upper desktop, and a fourth partition wall coupled to the second upper desktop;   wherein the first carrel assembly is configured to rotate relative to the first lower desktop to transition between: (1) an open position wherein the first lower desktop forms a first work surface and the first carrel assembly forms a privacy barrier with a rear edge of the first upper desktop nesting within the notch in the first and second sidewalls of the desk assembly; and (2) a closed position wherein the first upper desktop of the first carrel assembly forms the first work surface; and   wherein the second carrel assembly is configured to rotate relative to the second lower desktop to transition between: (1) an open position wherein the second lower desktop forms a second work surface and the second carrel assembly forms a privacy barrier with a rear edge of the second upper desktop nesting within the notch in the first and second sidewalls of the desk assembly; and (2) a closed position wherein the first upper desktop forms the second work surface.