Desk with hidden return

Claim 2

A desk comprising: a primary work surface; 1 pedestal supporting said primary work surface; a secondary work surface mounted to said pedestal below said primary work surface; and a mechanism interconnecting said secondary work surface and said pedestal, said mechanism including pivoting means for allowing said secondary work surface to pivot about a vertical axis between a work position in which said secondary work surface is exposed for use and a hidden position in which said secondary work surface is hidden below said primary work surface, said mechanism further including a pullout means for allowing said secondary work surface to pull out from beneath said primary work surface while said secondary work surface is in said hidden position, said pivoting means carried by said pullout means.

Claim 3

The desk of claim 1 further comprising support legs hingedly secured to said secondary work surface for movement between a support position in which said support legs support said secondary work surface and a folded position in which said support legs are folded atop said work surface.

Claim 4

The desk of claim 2 further comprising a second pedestal, said second pedestal spaced apart from said first pedestal to define a kneehole, said secondary work surface extending above said kneehole when in said hidden position.

Claim 5

The desk of claim 3 further comprising a false drawer front mounted to said secondary work surface.

Claim 6

The desk of claim 4 wherein said mechanism includes a platform, said platform being secured to said pedestal by said pullout means and to said secondary work surface by said pivoting means.

Claim 7

A desk comprising: a desktop; a support spaced from said desktop to define a cavity; a work surface; and a mechanism for interconnecting said work surface and said support, said mechanism including pivoting means for allowing said work surface to pivot about a vertical axis between a work position in which said work surface is exposed for use and a hidden position in which said work surface is hidden below said desktop within said cavity, said mechanism includes a pullout means for allowing said work surface to pull out from beneath said desktop while said work surface is in said hidden position, said pivoting means carried by said pullout means.

Claim 8

A desk comprising: a desktop; a support spaced from said desktop to define a cavity; a work surface; and a mechanism for interconnecting said work surface and said support, said mechanism including pivoting means for allowing said work surface to pivot about a vertical axis between a work position in which said work surface is exposed for use and a hidden position in which said work surface is hidden below said desktop within said cavity, said mechanism includes a pullout means for allowing said work surface to pull out from beneath said desktop while said work surface is in said hidden position, said pivoting means carried by said pullout means.

Claim 9

The desk of claim 6 further comprising a pedestal supporting said support and said desktop.

Claim 10

The desk of claim 7 further comprising support legs hingedly secured to said work surface for movement between a support position in which said support legs support said work surface and a folded position in which said support legs are folded atop said work surface.

Claim 11

The desk of claim 8 further comprising a second pedestal, said second pedestal spaced apart from said first pedestal to define a kneehole, said work surface extending above said kneehole when in said hidden position.

Claim 12

The desk of claim 9 further comprising a false drawer front mounted to said work surface.

Claim 13

The desk of claim 10 wherein said mechanism includes a platform, said platform being secured to said support by said pullout means and to said work surface by said pivoting means.

Claim 14

A work surface for an article of furniture having a cavity with a longitudinal extent comprising: a generally horizontal panel having a longitudinal extent; a generally horizontal platform interconnected with said panel by a pivoting means for allowing said panel to pivot with respect to said platform about a vertical axis such that when mounted to the article of furniture said panel is movable between a storage position in which said longitudinal extent of said panel is approximately parallel to the longitudinal extent of the cavity and a work position in which said longitudinal extent of said panel is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the cavity; and pullout means attached to said platform for allowing said platform to mount to an article of furniture such that said platform and said panel are movable in a horizontal plane while said panel is in said storage position.

Claim 15

A work surface for an article of furniture having a cavity with a longitudinal extent comprising: a generally horizontal panel having a longitudinal extent; a generally horizontal platform interconnected with said panel by a pivoting means for allowing said panel to pivot with respect to said platform about a vertical axis such that when mounted to the article of furniture said panel is movable between a storage position in which said longitudinal extent of said panel is approximately parallel to the longitudinal extent of the cavity and a work position in which said longitudinal extent of said panel is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the cavity; and pullout means attached to said platform for allowing said platform to mount to an article of furniture such that said platform and said panel are movable in a horizontal plane while said panel is in said storage position.

Claim 16

The work surface of claim 12 further comprising support legs hingedly secured to said panel for movement between a support position in which said support legs support said panel and a folded position in which said support legs are folded atop said panel.

Claim 17

The work surface of claim 13 further comprising a false drawer front mounted to said panel.

Claim 18

The work surface of claim 14 wherein said platform is generally rectangular, said platform including a rounded corner to provide clearance for said false drawer front when said panel is pivoted with respect to said platform.

Claim 19

An article of furniture comprising: a body defining a cavity having a longitudinal extent; a return having a longitudinal extent; pivot means for pivotally mounting said return for horizontal movement between a storage position, wherein said longitudinal extent of said return is approximately parallel to said longitudinal extent of said cavity, and a use position, wherein said longitudinal extent of said return is approximately perpendicular to said longitudinal extent of said cavity; and pullout means for slidably mounting said return for linear movement into and out of said cavity while said return is in said storage position, said pivot means carried by said pullout means.

Claim 20

An article of furniture comprising: a body defining a cavity having a longitudinal extent; a return having a longitudinal extent; pivot means for pivotally mounting said return for horizontal movement between a storage position, wherein said longitudinal extent of said return is approximately parallel to said longitudinal extent of said cavity, and a use position, wherein said longitudinal extent of said return is approximately perpendicular to said longitudinal extent of said cavity; and pullout means for slidably mounting said return for linear movement into and out of said cavity while said return is in said storage position, said pivot means carried by said pullout means.

Claim 21

An article of furniture as defined in claim 16 wherein: said body further defines an opening for said cavity; and said return includes a closure member closing said opening when said return is in said storage position.