US 6,102,476 · Granted 2000-08-15
The Reclining Chair That Hides a Whole Computer Inside Its Armrest
Imagine a super comfortable reclining chair where one of the armrests is actually hollow and contains all the guts of a desktop computer—the motherboard, power supply, hard drive, the works. The keyboard and monitor mount on an arm attached to the other side, and speakers hide in the headrest, turning your lounger into a complete computing station.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers the specific design and arrangement of integrating a personal computer's internal components (circuit boards, power supply, hard disk drive) into the hollow structure of a furniture piece, particularly an armrest or desk leg. What's protected is the placement of removable media drives in an accessible console, the mounting of display and input device supports on pivoting arms, and the integration of speakers into the furniture structure itself. The patent also covers the mechanical reclining and footrest extension features that work alongside this integrated setup.
Why it matters
This patent represents an attempt to blend computing hardware with comfort furniture in the late 1990s, before laptops and mobile devices made desktop computers less central to everyday life. The design addressed a real problem of that era: desktop computers took up valuable desk space and looked industrial in living rooms. By hiding the processing power inside upholstered furniture, the inventor created a more livable, integrated solution. Though such all-in-one furniture never became mainstream, the patent exemplifies how inventors have tried to make computers blend seamlessly into home environments.
Real-world use
Someone settling into a reclining chair with built-in computing—leaning back with the keyboard tray swung into position, adjusting the recline lever, and immediately having a full workstation without needing a separate desk or tower.
Original USPTO abstract
A furniture with an integrated computer comprises an easy chair with large, thick cushions, and a pair of wide armrests that extend from about waist level to almost the ground. The right armrest is hollow, and serves as the case of a personal computer by housing the circuit boards, power supply, and hard disk drive. A small console at the front of the right armrest houses removable media drives within easy reach. A pad on the right armrest supports a mouse, joystick, or other input device. A monitor support and a keyboard support are mounted on a horizontal arm pivotally attached to the left armrest, and respectively support a monitor and a keyboard. A pair of speakers are mounted on either side of a headrest. A reclining mechanism arranged under the seat enables a backrest to be reclined, and a footrest to be extended by moving a lever on a side of the chair. In a second embodiment, a furniture with an integrated computer comprises a desk with a wide hollow leg housing a personal computer, and a disk drive console pivotally mounted on a desktop. The console is retractable flush into the desktop.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,102,476
- Filing date
- 1998-03-11
- Grant date
- 2000-08-15
- Assignee
- May; Gordon G. / May; Arden
- Inventor(s)
- MAY; GORDON G., MAY; ARDEN
- CPC class
- A47B21/00
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