Patent Application
20080072803
The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are considered in more detail, in relation to the following description of embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims may be better understood by referring to the following description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers are used for like parts. This description of an embodiment, set out below to enable one to build and use an implementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the enumerated claims, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
As shown in this embodiment and with reference to
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6-7, support panel 110 is a generally rectangular panel having a bottom side (visible in FIGS. 3 and 6-7) and a top side that preferably has a surface matching that of the top of work surface 200. Support panel 110 is also preferably provided a series of threaded openings 111 allowing connection of guide brackets 115 and pivot supports 112. Alternately, guide brackets 115 and/or pivot supports 112 may be formed integrally with support panel 110. Pivot supports 112 provide a pivot coupling 112a configured to engage pivots 121 on frame 120, thus pivotably mounting support panel 110 with respect to frame 120 (and thus with respect to work surface 200). At least one of pivot supports 112 also provides an extending arm 113 having a pin connection 114 receiving an end of a pull cable, as discussed in greater detail below. Likewise, at least one of pivot supports 112 provides a spring connector 310, such that a spring member (such as a gas spring 300) may be connected between spring connector 310 affixed to support panel 110 (through pivot support 112) and spring connector 124 on frame 120, preferably biasing support panel 110 toward an open position.
Brackets 115 preferably provide a roller guide channel 116 that engages rollers 131 on support tray 130, as discussed in greater detail below. Guide channels 116 are configured to allow movement of support tray 130 in a direction parallel to the bottom side of support panel 110. However, the open end of guide channels 116 allows rollers 131 of support tray 130 to escape the guide channels 116, such that after the rollers 131 exit guide channels 116, movement of support tray 130 is no longer limited to movement parallel to the bottom side of support panel 110. Brackets 115 also provide pivot slides 117 configured as open channels along brackets 115. Pivot slides 117 are configured to receive pivot pins 135 on support tray 130, allowing both lateral movement along slides 117 and pivoting movement between support tray 130 and brackets 115 (once rollers 131 of support tray 130 have escaped guide channels 116). Preferably, at least a portion of pivot slides 117 may be situated in a finger 118 of bracket 115, allowing finger 118 to be bent in slightly, in turn creating friction against support tray 130 so as to slow movement of support tray back towards a closed position, thus helping to avoid inadvertent slamming of support tray 130 into its closed position. Likewise, cushions 119 may be provided at the base of each bracket 115, each cushion provided a compressible stop against the back end of support tray 130 as support panel 120 moves toward its closed position.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8-9, support tray 130 includes a generally flat base and a slotted back wall 132 having one or more slots 133 extending through such back wall. Slots 133 allow cables to extend through back wall 132, such as power and/or data cables attached to a computer situated on support tray 130, while maintaining a wall structure to prevent unauthorized access to support tray 130 (and to a computer situated thereon) from behind. A first roller 131 is situated on at least one side of support tray 130, and engages roller guide channel 116 on bracket 115 as support panel 120 is moved into and out of its closed position. First roller 131 also engages stop ledge 125 on frame 120 to limit upward pivoting of support panel 110 as support tray is moved from its inaccessible position below work surface 200 to its deployed position. A second roller 137 is also preferably provided as a stop against stop ledge 125 on frame 120, in turn limiting the upward movement of support panel 120 as support tray 130 extends to its deployed position, after first roller 131 has cleared stop ledge 125. Rollers 131 and 137 may be attached to one another through a support finger 134 for additional support.
An underside of support tray 130 may be provide one or more strips of low friction material, such as TEFLON, to limit friction between the underside of support tray 130 and work surface 200 as support tray 130 moves into and out of its inaccessible and deployed positions. Support tray 130 may include a wrist support 139, and may include one or more high friction pads 139a to limit movement of a computer situated on support tray 130.
Support tray 130 also preferably includes notches 136 configured to receive pegs 136a on brackets 115 when support tray 130 is in its open position, providing an additional pivoting connection between support tray 130 and bracket 115.
As shown in
As shown in the bottom perspective view of
As best seen in
As the above-described structure allows closure of the workstation with a computer, such as a laptop, positioned on support tray 130 while maintaining power and data connections, a user may close the workstation without powering down the computer, thus making it readily and conveniently accessible when the workstation is reopened.
The invention has been described with references to a preferred embodiment. While specific values, relationships, materials and steps have been set forth for purposes of describing concepts of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the basic concepts and operating principles of the invention as broadly described. It should be recognized that, in the light of the above teachings, those skilled in the art can modify those specifics without departing from the invention taught herein. Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with such underlying concept. It is intended to include all such modifications, alternatives and other embodiments insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein. Consequently, the present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
This application is based upon and claims benefit of copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/846,917 entitled “Computer Workstation”, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Sep. 25, 2006 by the inventors herein, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60846917 | Sep 2006 | US |
