Refrigerator Standing Desk

Abstract

While standing desks take up their own floor space in a home or housing unit, which can diminish the usability of the space and be costly to work, working-from-home, and daily life, and are a separate item a home resident/worker/student must acquire, the refrigerator installed in or near the kitchen is considered essential to a home, or housing unit and already takes up an expected place on the home's unit's floor space. The space in front of the refrigerator is also already presumed to remain clear, because via the front refrigerator door is the way that food and beverages are stored in and accessed from the refrigerator. Because this is naturally already used space in a home, the resident utilizing that space for a second productive function of dwelling in a home—being able to work or study from home—is an improved use of the space directly in front of the refrigerator. The already-assumed refrigerator location, having an essential and unchanged footprint, also affords a top surface already. The Refrigerator Standing Desk invention is the solution to using the outer surfaces of the appliance where housing residents store food as a highly ergonomic and sustainably functioning desk where the resident can stand for work or study. By not taking up floor space, the Refrigerator Standing Desk benefits residents, homeowners, tenants, landlords, homebuilders, housing developments, work-from-home employees, work-from-home entrepreneurs, and students. The user also benefits with the proximity and ease of chilled and stored food access. The invention's frame consists of an alcove for the input human-computer interaction (HCI) devices and the user's arms, which is a deep indentation of empty space providing the area for the adjustable platform on which can rest the computer keyboard, mouse, and user's hands, wrists, and forearms. The alcove shaped area in the Refrigerator Standing Desk affords use of the keyboard and mouse in an ergonomic standing position. Additional innovation consists of: A platform to secure, support, protect, raise, lower, tilt, shift left and right, and connect the user' s laptop or portable computer. A monitor attachment system, consisting of a groove into which a flat monitor can be secured An addition of cabling space designated within the walls of the known refrigerator appliance, and surfacing through the walls at designated port-connection locations such as the unit top surface and the mid-height alcove surface. The cabling channels are spaces through which data typical connection cables (such as USB) can be fed, connecting keyboard, mouse, and monitor connection with the state-of-the-art technology. The connection cables can be fed in-factory or by user. A single connector cord (e.g. USB) extends out of the top of the appliance for the laptop to plug into. This single computer connector also connects with the Connection Hub where the numerous interface devices are all connected. Connection feeds then run from the Hub to the Alcove, where would rest the keyboard and mouse. Access doors to chilled food and beverage being placed above and below the Alcove in a way of storing and accessing them that maximizes access with minimized infringement on concentration and work. The food and drink storage and door innovations minimize distracting stepping, turning, bending, or reaching, such as when doing a video call, meeting, or simply focused on the work or study.

1 ) A technological apparatus for supporting and working on a computer device in an ergonomical, standing position, which also stores food in a cold and frozen state functioning as the main chilled food storage appliance (e.g., refrigerator) for the residence, domicile, housing unit, home, or home-office, comprising:
 (a) joining the food refrigeration function with the standing desk function into one footprint of the Refrigerator Standing Desk, which is no larger on the floor space than the appliance typically used for food refrigeration in a housing unit.   (b) providing a height of the computer platform accommodating its use by people of varying heights, by having the top-surface height-adjustable computer platform begin (as its lowest position) at eye-level for a person of below-average height.   (c) providing non-slip surface on the top of the Refrigerator Standing Desk (RSD) when a user's laptop or portable computing device and other devices are placed on it, using a top shape with slight raised edges at the front, left, right, and back edges of the RSD top, for securing the user's portable or laptop computing device in a resting position atop the refrigerator, and prevent the slipping or topping and falling of one's portable or laptop computer off of the RSD's top surface.   (d) providing a platform to adjustably raise, lower, and tilt the user's laptop computer, as on a platform, on top of the top of the refrigerator, which also has apparatus for securing the non-slippage and non-falling of the computing device off of the platform's edges, to raise or lower the height of the resting laptop computer or portable computing device, and is able to adjust and secure the angle of a tablet computer.   (e) providing a holding and supporting surface for the user's hands, wrists, forearms, a keyboard, and a computer mouse, at a front “alcove” of the Refrigerator Standing Desk; providing ergonomic and convenient access at the front of the Refrigerator Standing Desk through a deep indentation (“alcove”) in the front frame of the RSD, as wide as the width of the Refrigerator Standing Desk's from left inner-frame to right inner-frame; and deep enough to hold state-of-the-art computer keyboards, mouse surfaces, and the forearm and wrist support padding for the user; with a placement, dimensions, and volume of space sufficient to encompass the range, from below average to above average, of the heights and lengths of the human forearms and hands while a person is in an ergonomic, standing, computer-operating and typing position.   (f) providing the resting place for a keyboard of the user's own keyboard and mouse, as well as forearms, wrists, and hands; upon a height-adjustable platform upon the base of the alcove, with ergonomic support for the person's wrists and forearms in position for typing while standing.   (g) providing the top, sides, front, back, and alcove of the Refrigerator Standing Desk (RSD) being uncluttered by cabling while connecting all devices and interfaces (keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor, and user's computer)—so that there is surface-space for the user's portable computer, a removable VR Headset Holder, and organized upright papers upon the top of the Refrigerator Standing Desk apparatus' and space for food and beverage upon the external dish-support tray and cup holders—with cable feed-channels running internally, concealed inside the RSD body nearby the insulation material, from the computer platform on the top of the RSD apparatus to the alcove, and to the large monitor attachment, and to the audio speakers, with the cable Connection Hub enabling one single plug-in for easy connection between the user's computer and the RSD apparatus, as the ends of the cables that emerge through the ends of the channels may extend to reach to the user's computer port; and the user's ability to also use the RSD audio speaker connection port.   (h) providing secure attachment of a flat-screen monitor with no additional protrusions to the back of the Refrigerator Standing Desk facing forward, for a monitor of size up to the width of the RSD frame, which is easily removable when vertical clearance space is not available above the RSD top surface; including the latching of the monitor to the back of the frame facing forward, and the cabling channel for connecting the monitor to the user's laptop to prevent cable clutter on the top of the Refrigerator Standing Desk; and providing the benefit which, when positioned atop the refrigerator at the back, facing the user, it is a means of affording the user a larger view of the computer display at a greater and healthier distance between the user and the screen.   (i) providing connection to audio speakers at the top of the Refrigerator Standing Desk unit, connectable by cord to the laptop to switch the sound signal to the audio speakers, while keeping the top of the RSD uncluttered and without adding any components to the Refrigerator Standing Desk, via feed channels between the end of the cabling at the user's computer atop the computer platform, and the audio speakers.   (j) providing paper holders and dividers for organizing papers specifically in a position atop the Refrigerator Standing Desk placed for easy reference and viewing the papers hands-free, accessible next to the laptop platform, and to the side of the monitor view, for facilitating work and study with paper materials while using the RSD.   (k) providing a removable compartment for a Virtual Reality (VR) Headset/Goggles, for securely holding and protecting such a headset and holding it near eye level, to be easily retrieved for its use and also returned when its use session is finished; and for the VR Headset Holder to be removed for user not using VR/metaverse, for ease of seeing the flat-screen monitor.   (l) providing internal cabling channels for cable to run through the refrigerator body alongside the insulation material (polyurethane, typically), between the insulation and the outer refrigerator body, without infringing on the form and function of the insulation, from the top computer platform to the alcove to the monitor attachment and to the audio speakers.   (m) providing that the power supply of the main appliance delivers electrical power to the speakers, the monitor, and the user's connected laptop, keeping it charged.   (n) providing doors and refrigerated compartments where chilled and frozen foods are stored, accessed, and replaced, that minimize interference with the user's workflow while standing at the computer using the arm alcove, with the refrigerator doors placed both fully above the alcove, and fully below the alcove.   (o) providing refrigerated compartments and doors located and shaped to optimize convenience of storing, accessing, and returning uneaten meals, snacks, smoothies, and drinks to be consumed during standing work in front of the RSD, including plated dish stackers to hold meals inside chilled compartments, fold-out bowl-holders, cup-holders, and plate holders above and to the side of the arm-keyboard alcove, for holding snacks, meals, and beverages to be presently eaten.   (p) providing a slot for storage and attachment of accessory standing pads, foot pads, lift, tactile, haptic, biofeedback interactive technology, pressure point, massage, and exercise accessories, and a cable connection in this accessory attachment slot via a cable channel connecting to the system Connection Hub.   (q) providing an alternative entry option to the refrigerated food storage area through the side wall so that, in a conducive floor layout, a second refrigerator user may retrieve and stock the apparatus with food items while the alcove and front-door area, where an RSD user most often stands, is occupied.   (r) providing center-opening doors, see-in windows in doors, outer doors with windows, and sliding doors that form a seal when in the closed position, using of state-of-the-art cold-insulating stripping and gasketing, that providing the ability for the user to access food, eat, and return food while at the standing and working position, while remaining in use of the computer without distraction from work, disturbance from video-calls, or unwanted changing of the working body position.
 1. The removability of the Refrigerator Standing Desk's upper monitor and paper organizer allow the invention to be installed and function even with low clearance above it. For example, if the kitchen is designed with cabinetry above the refrigerator nook, the RSD may be used there with only the portable computer above the refrigerator, without the back monitor and perhaps without the paper organizer. 
   
     
     
         2 ) A means of providing the above apparatus and the equipment required to utilize it with no separate electronic or analog parts (beyond the user's connected connecting a portable computing device) needed, comprising:
 (a) pre-installing a computer-keyboard and laser mouse and mouse-surface, these being fully cable-connected through the interior cable feeds to the pre-installed cable Connection Hub (as in a USB hub); the keyboard and mouse yet being detachable at their cable ports and interchangeable for the user's preference of keyboard and mouse items, which rest upon the height-adjustable platform in the “alcove” of the Refrigerator Standing Desk.   (b) pre-installing state-of-the-art cabling, hubs, and selector switches (such as USB) such that these components run in the cable feed channels inside the body of the Refrigerator Standing Desk, running alongside the insulation in a configuration allowing the user to add no additional electronic parts to the provided standard and simply to plug in the one, uncluttered cable-end provided to their computer on the top computer platform, and begin to immediately use the RSD, and be able to easily replace and customize the keyboard and mouse in the alcove, if desired.   (c) pre-installing cabling into the Refrigerator Standing Desk connecting the user's portable computer to the attached yet removable, large computer monitor and audio speakers.   (d) pre-installing an attached, yet removable, flat-screen monitor to the back of the Refrigerator Standing Desk, facing forward, of monitor size up to the width of the Refrigerator Standing Desk, which is pre-connected to the pre-installed cable Connection Hub, connecting the monitor to the user's laptop through an internal cable channel that prevents any cabling clutter or tangling on the top surface of the Refrigerator Standing Desk apparatus.   (e) pre-installing a switch for the user to select that audio and visual signals, according to the user's desires, go either the Refrigerator Standing Desk's speakers and monitor, or the user's laptop computer's own speakers and monitor.   (f) providing for virtual reality (VR) and “metaverse”-related standing usage with minimized distance and uncomplicated standardized movements required to access fresh food items while user is wearing VR Headset or Goggles, because of the simplified food-access motions with the Refrigerator Standing Desk apparatus being capable of becoming routinized, safe, habitual, and undistracting even while sightless with a VR Headset on during sessions; when unused, the VR Headset being secured in the removable VR Headset Holder where they can be retrieved and placed on the head for use, and returned to the VR Headset holder when usage session is complete.   (g) providing the unprecedented advantage of working at the front of the Refrigerator Standing Desk without doors that disturb the user's work while accessing and replacing food, including sliding sealing doors which utilize cold-stripping and gasketing which open and close for food access on the front of a refrigerator for seamless access of food while remaining in videoconference or operating the computer.