Patent Application
20100288168
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to workstations generally and more specifically to a two sided workstation that includes different level worksurfaces to accommodate both sitting and standing workstation users.
A workstation usually includes a support structure, at least one horizontal worksurface supported by the support structure and one or more computers including processors, display screens and data entry devices such as keyboards, a mouse, etc. Some workstations are used in many different ways by several different users at different times and, in some cases, simultaneously. For instance, in the case of a nurse station located in a medical facility, workstations have been routinely used for many different purposes. For example, some medical facilities operate twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week and are used by three or more shifts of nurses and doctors during the course of a typical day. In these cases, a station may simultaneously generally serve the needs of several nurses and doctors in a facility as well as serve as a reception station for patients and/or visitors arriving at an area of the facility.
In the past, nurses and administrators using a station have often been assigned different general tasks. For instance, some administrative nurses have been primarily responsible for entering data into databases using a computer, maintaining a schedule of resource use within an associated area of a facility, greeting patients within an area of a facility etc., while other patient attending nurses have been primarily responsible for tending to patients within an associated area of the facility.
In the past, patient attending nurses have typically used paper reporting tools for tracking/recording patient care activities while administrative nurses have routinely used computers to perform their tasks (e.g., data entry including entering data recorded by the patient attending nurses, scheduling, etc.). In these cases, patient attending nurses typically have only stopped at a nurse station for short periods to obtain information required to complete their duties associated with tending to patients and providing information to the administrative nurses while administrative nurses have generally spent a relatively greater portion of their time at the nurse station to complete their assigned tasks.
To support both administrative and patient attending nurses as well as serve as a reception area for patients/visitors, nurse stations have usually included a relatively large worksurface at a height suitable for use by a sitting nurse and a relatively small horizontal surface at a height suitable for use by a standing nurse or a patient/visitor. Here, the station typically included one or more computers with displays located for use by administrative nurses and the smaller, standing height surface was generally for use by the patient attending nurses. Because the patient attending nurses and patients/visitors performed only few tasks at the station, the smaller standing height surface was always considered adequate to meet their periodic and minimal needs. Because some nurses where tasked with stationary tasks and others with ambulatory tasks, the stations often included complete surrounding structure to, in effect, close off the space used by the administrative nurses and operate as a barrier to easy access. The surrounding configuration was also seen as advantageous as it restricted access by patients or other facility visitors to locations where sensitive patient information was accessible/viewable (e.g., via a display).
In these cases, the side of the station on which patients/visitors approached was usually finished in a particularly aesthetically appealing manner while the side on which the administrators were seated had a design dictated more by function than form. Computer housings, network routers and other electronic equipment was usually stored under the large sitting height worksurface in a location accessible from adjacent the large worksurface but hidden from view on the other side of the station (i.e., hidden from the side from which a patient would typically approach the station).
Today, while there are still nurses that are assigned to different tasks within medical facilities, the lines between the duties performed by nurses of different types are not as bright as they once were. For instance, in the case of a patient attending nurse, often the nurse will record care information using an electronic palm type computing device and will transfer the recorded information corresponding to several patients (e.g., the patients associated with one round made by the nurse) to a persistent patient database linked to a facility computer network for permanent storage. In these cases, data transfer is usually performed at a nurse station where the nurse has the ability to review and modify the recorded data via a relatively large display screen (e.g., a desk top computer display as opposed to a smaller palm type display) prior to final storage in the persistent database.
As another instance, patient attending nurses in many facilities now also use computers based at nurse stations for other purposes such as obtaining detailed information about patients, additional information about drugs and/or treatments, checking or modifying schedules, entering narrative information concerning patients, etc.
While the tasks performed by different types of nurses have changed, unfortunately, nurse station configurations for supporting the different tasks have not changed very much. To this end, when a patient attending nurse has to access a computer to access information or enter information, in order to access the computer, the nurse has to physically enter the workstation structure that separates the station space from the surrounding common or “public” area. While movement into the surrounding station structure may not seem too burdensome at first blush, in reality, a patient attending nurse may have to access a computer at the station twenty or more times during an eight hour shift and in some cases for only a very short period (e.g., 20 seconds), and movement into and out of the station space can be a nuisance.
One solution is to open up the station space so that the large sitting height worksurface can be approached from lateral sides in addition to along a front edge. In this case, a patient attending nurse can move into a position adjacent the sitting height worksurface to access a computer without having to move through a circuitous path through an entry space into the station surrounding structure.
While existing “open” nurse stations are advantageous in some applications, such stations still have several shortcomings. First, while the sitting height worksurface is approachable from multiple sides by a nurse, the surface is also approachable from the same sides by any patient or facility visitor in the general area and all of the clutter associated with computer equipment located under the worksurface is observable.
Second, while an open nurse station allows a generally ambulatory nurse to move into a seated position adjacent a display and computer input devices, even the action of assuming a seated position is a nuisance in cases where a nurse has to access a computer for multiple short durations (e.g., 20 seconds) during a typical shift. Here, the simple task of assuming a seated position as opposed to maintaining a standing position during short computer access periods is time consuming and burdensome.
Third, where an ambulatory nurse requires a worksurface for a short period, the small standing height surfaces provided by known nurse stations are typically too small for a nurse's needs. This is particularly true in cases where a nurse still records services via paper mounted to clip boards where, in many cases, the clipboards themselves are larger than a depth dimension of the standing height surface or where a nurse uses a laptop computer and attempts to support the laptop on top of the worksurface.
It has been recognized that a dual height workstation can be configured that includes standing and sitting height worksurfaces where each of the surfaces has a depth dimension that is suitable for supporting data entry type computing devices including displays, keyboards, a mouse, etc., and where a housing resides below the worksurfaces that forms a cavity in which computers, routers and other electronic components can be stored in a hidden fashion. This configuration is particularly advantageous as all computing devices except for data entry and output devices can be hidden from view and therefore a station can be constructed wherein the station has an uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing appearance regardless of the vantage points of persons viewing the station. In at least some cases the station is generally open in that there is no structure that restricts access to the sitting height surface from the sides.
It has also been recognized that, in at least some applications, it is advantageous to provide display screens for data entry and access while using the standing height worksurface so that persons can use computer interface devices in either standing or sitting positions, depending on the user's current needs. In at least some applications the display screens are flat panel monitors so that output can be provided without requiring a large amount of space on the worksurface. In some embodiments the worksurfaces are supported by two vertical, rigid and elongated support legs where the standing height surface is substantially the same height as top ends of the legs and where the monitor support arms are mounted to the top ends of, and are supported by, the legs. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the leg structure serves a dual purpose of supporting the worksurfaces and the display arm so that additional mounting structure for a support arm is not required or is substantially minimized. In at least some cases two monitor arms are mounted to the top end of at least one of the legs where one monitor is arranged to be used on one side of the station and the other monitor is to be used on the other side of the station.
Where the station is also used as a reception structure, displays provided above the standing height worksurface can be moved via articulating arms to locations generally out of the way so that a patient/visitor being “received” can communicate with a nurse located at the sitting height worksurface. In other cases, one or more of the displays may be moved to locations suitable for presenting information to arriving patients/visitors and may be used to presenting greeting or check in information.
In at least some embodiments the worksurface forming members have curved shapes that, in effect, define different worksurface areas that are intended for different types of activities. For instance, in at least some embodiments, each of the worksurface forming members includes a curved front edge where the curved edge has first and second ends, is convex near both ends and is concave near a center portion between the two convex end portions. In this case, each convex portion provides an area that is relatively deep and that is suitable for supporting data entry and display components and each concave portion is relatively shallow Thus, where a member includes two convex portions, the member can form two separate workstation spaces that are spatially separated by a concave portion therebetween.
Where the worksurface forming members have the concave portions generally aligned, the concave portions together form a space which is suitable for reception purposes. In this regard, when a nurse is receiving a patient/visitor, communication is enhanced when the space between a nurse and the patienVvisitor is reduced. During reception activities, a nurse can assume a position within the concave portion of the sitting height worksurface and the patient/visitor can likewise assume a position within the concave portion of the standing height worksurface and the overall distance between the nurse and patienVvisitor can be reduced appreciably. Thus, the convex portions can provide suitable and relatively deep workstation spaces while the concave portions provide suitable and relatively narrow reception areas.
In at least some embodiments the station housing below the worksurface forming tops includes first and second lateral side walls that form a housing cavity space therebetween and front and rear covers that are used to close the front and rear areas of the cavity between the side walls. In some embodiments the covers below the worksurface forming members are spaced apart from the supporting legs so that a relatively wide portion of the cavity is formed therebetween. In some embodiments a top rear cover extends from the undersurface of the standing height worksurface to a height substantially at the height of the top surface of the sitting height worksurface. In some cases, the top rear cover is located within a space defined by the supporting legs and in fact, in some cases, portions of the supporting legs stand “proud” of the top rear cover so that the legs and external surface of the cover form a recessed cavity. In some cases a rear edge of the standing height work surface forming member extends past the external surface of the top rear cover to further define the cavity. In some cases the external surface of the top rear cover includes slat wall structure so that monitor arms and other accessories can be secured to, and supported by, that surface as well known in the office furniture art.
In at least some embodiments one or more of the covers are supported in a fashion so that the covers are easily moved from closed positions wherein the housing cavity is enclosed to an open position wherein a user can gain ready access to the cavity for installing, maintaining and/or replacing electronic components and/or power and data cables. In some embodiments one or more covers are mounted to hinges proximate bottom edges so that the covers can be easily moved into open positions.
Some embodiments includes a worksurface arrangement comprising at least a first support member extending upward from a base end when the base end is received on a support surface, a first worksurface forming member supported by the first support member at a first vertical height and extending to a first side from the first support member, a second worksurface forming member supported by the first support member at a second vertical height and extending to a second side opposite the first side of the first support member where the second vertical height is different than the first vertical height, a housing forming a housing cavity, the housing including (i) a front cover extending below the first worksurface forming member, (ii) a substantially vertical upper back cover extending downward from the first worksurface forming member substantially to the second vertical height proximate the second worksurface forming member and spaced from the front cover wherein the upper back cover and the front cover bound an upper housing cavity width and (iii) a lower back cover extending below the second worksurface forming member and spaced from the front cover wherein the lower back cover and the front cover bound a lower housing cavity width that is larger than the upper housing cavity width.
In some cases the support member includes at least first and second substantially vertical and spaced apart leg members. In some cases the first and second leg members include first and second parallel surfaces that are within first and second leg planes and wherein the front and upper back and lower back covers are located within a space between the first and second leg planes. In some cases the first and second leg members together define a vertical arrangement plane and wherein the lower back cover and the front cover are substantially the same distance from the vertical arrangement plane. In some cases at least one of the second worksurface forming member and the first worksurface forming member forms first and second openings and wherein the first and second leg members pass at least in part through the first and second openings, respectively.
In some cases the at least one of the first and second worksurface forming members that forms the first and second openings includes a rear edge proximate the first and second leg members and wherein the first and second openings include first and second notches in the rear edge through which portions of the first and second leg members pass. In some cases the at least one of the first and second worksurfaces forming members is the first worksurface forming member. In some cases the second worksurface forming member forms an opening and wherein the first and second leg members pass at least in part through the opening formed by the second worksurface forming member.
In some cases each of the first and second worksurface forming members includes a rear edge proximate the first and second leg members and wherein the first and second openings include first and second notches in the rear edge of the first worksurface forming member and the opening formed by the second worksurface forming member includes a notch formed in the rear edge of the second worksurface forming member through which portions of the first and second leg members pass. In some cases a portion of the first worksurface forming member proximate the rear edge of the first worksurface forming member vertically overlaps a portion of the second worksurface forming member proximate the rear edge of the second worksurface forming member. In some cases top ends of the first and second leg members are substantially flush with a top surface of the second worksurface forming member.
In some cases each of the first and second worksurface forming members includes a rear edge proximate the support member and wherein a portion of the first worksurface forming member proximate the rear edge of the first worksurface forming member vertically overlaps a portion of the second worksurface forming member proximate the rear edge of the second worksurface forming member. In some cases the front cover is hingedly supported by the support member to allow movement between a substantially vertical closed position wherein the front cover restricts access to the housing cavity and an open position wherein the front cover is positioned to enable access to the cavity. In some cases the upper back cover includes a slat wall portion that faces a top surface of the second worksurface forming member. In some cases the arrangement further includes a monitor support assembly mounted at a top end of at least one of the first and second leg members. In some cases the arrangement further includes first and second support assemblies mounted at the top end of at least one of the first and second leg members and flat panel monitors supported by each of the first and second support assemblies. In some cases the first and second leg members each have oppositely facing front and back surfaces, the front surfaces facing in the same direction and lying within a front surface plane and the back surfaces facing in the same direction and lying within a back surface plane, the front and back surface planes defining a support structure volume therebetween. In some cases the upper back cover is positioned within the support structure volume so that a portion of the support structure volume is exposed between the upper back cover and the back surface plane.
In some embodiments the second worksurface forming member includes a rear edge proximate the first and second leg members and wherein the rear edge of the second worksurface forming member forms a gap with a facing surface of the upper back cover where the gap leads into the housing cavity. In some cases the front cover, upper back cover and lower back cover are substantially parallel. In some embodiments the upper housing cavity width is between two inches and ten inches and wherein the lower cavity width is between five inches and twenty-four inches. In some cases at least one of the first and second worksurface forming members has a rear edge proximate the support member and a curved front edge wherein the curved front edge includes at least first and second convex portions and at least one concave portion between the first and second convex portions where a depth dimension of each of the convex portions is greater than a depth dimension of the concave portion.
In some embodiments each of the first and second worksurface forming members has a rear edge proximate the support member and a curved front edge wherein the curved front edge includes at least first and second convex portions and at least one concave portion between the first and second convex portions where a depth dimension of each of the convex portions is greater than a depth dimension of the concave portion and wherein the concave portions of the first and second worksurface forming members are aligned.
Other embodiments include a workstation comprising first and second vertical and spaced apart leg members wherein the first and second leg members each have oppositely facing front and back surfaces, the front surfaces facing in a first direction and lying within a front surface plane and the back surfaces facing in a second direction and lying within a back surface plane, the front and back surface planes defining a support structure volume therebetween, a first worksurface forming member supported by and extending from the leg members at a first vertical height and in the first direction, a second worksurface forming member supported by and extending from the leg members at a second vertical height and in the second direction, a front cover extending downward from an undersurface of the first worksurface forming member, an upper back cover extending downward from the first worksurface forming member substantially to the second vertical height proximate the second worksurface forming member and a lower back cover extending downward from an undersurface of the second worksurface forming member, wherein, the front cover and lower back cover are spaced on opposite sides of the support structure volume and the upper back cover is positioned within the support structure volume and extends between the first and second leg members.
In some embodiments the upper back cover is spaced from and substantially parallel to the back surface plane. In some cases the upper back cover extends from the undersurface of the first worksurface forming member. In some embodiments the second worksurface forming member includes a rear edge proximate the first and second leg members and wherein at least a portion of the rear edge of the second worksurface forming member forms a gap with an adjacent surface of the upper back cover.
Other embodiments include a worksurface arrangement comprising at least a first support member extending upward from a base end when the base end is received on a support surface, a first worksurface forming member supported by the first support member at a first vertical height and extending to a first side from the first support member and a second worksurface forming member supported by the first support member at a second vertical height and extending to a second side opposite the first side of the first support member where the second vertical height is different than the first vertical height, wherein each of the first and second worksurface forming members has a rear edge proximate the support member and a curved front edge wherein the curved front edge includes at least first and second convex portions and at least one concave portion between the first and second convex portions where a depth dimension of each of the convex portions is greater than a depth dimension of the concave portion and wherein the concave portions of the first and second worksurface forming members are aligned.
Still other embodiments include a worksurface arrangement comprising at least a first support member extending upward from a base end when the base end is received on a support surface, the first support member having a top end, a worksurface forming member supported by the first support member at a vertical height and extending to a first side from the first support member and a monitor support assembly mounted to the top end of the support member for supporting a flat panel monitor above a top surface of the worksurface forming member.
In some embodiments the first support member forms an opening at the top end, the arrangement further including an insert that is received in the opening at the top end of the first support member, the insert forming at least one socket for receiving an end of the monitor support assembly. In some cases the insert forms at least two sockets, each socket for receiving and retaining a separate one of the monitor support assemblies. In some cases the top end of the first support member is substantially flush with a top surface of the worksurface forming member. In some embodiments the first worksurface forming member forms an opening and wherein the top end of the first support member extends through the opening formed by the worksurface.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the invention. However, these aspects are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention can be employed. Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals correspond to similar elements throughout the several views, the present invention will be described in the context of an exemplary workstation 110 including a support structure/member 112 that supports a first or upper worksurface forming member or upper member 114, a second or lower worksurface forming member or lower member 116, and a workstation housing 118. Referring specifically to
Referring now to
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The convex portions of member 114 are dimensioned so that each portion is suitable as a workstation and, to that end, will often have a depth dimension D1 (see
In at least some embodiments notches 160U may a (?) slightly larger than the portions of legs 128 received therein so that a gap (see 1210 in
Referring again to
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To install lower work surface forming member 116, rear edge 158L is positioned adjacent rear leg surfaces 538 with notch 160L aligned with legs 128 and with bottom surface 264U resting on top edges of gussets 448L. Member 116 is slid toward legs 128 until the legs are received within notch 160L to a desired extent. Next, member 116 is secured to gussets 448L. When installed, the convex portions of members 114 and 116 are generally aligned as illustrated best in
Referring now to
Lower back cover 178 is a rigid, flat rectilinear member having internal and external surfaces and has a width dimension similar to the width dimension of front cover 174 and a height dimension approximately half the height dimension of front cover 174 so that when installed below lower member 116 to extend down therefrom, a bottom edge thereof is at essentially the same height as the bottom edge of front cover 174.
Upper back cover 176 is a rigid, substantially flat rectilinear member having internal and external surfaces. In at least some embodiments the external surface of upper back cover 176 forms slats or grooves for receiving mechanical fasteners for fastening accessories such as light support arms, flat panel monitor arms, pencil holders, shelf members, etc. An exemplary slat forming cover structure in common use today is generally referred to as slat wall. Cover 176 has a width dimension equal to the distance between the facing surfaces of legs 128 and a height dimension that is, in at least some embodiments, less than the vertical distance between the bottom surface 264U of upper member 114 and the top surface 156L of lower member 116, so that when cover 176 is installed and extends down from the bottom surface of member 114 as illustrated, a bottom edge thereof stops short of the vertical height of the top surface 156L of member 166 (see
Referring still to
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Intermediate horizontal edge 189 and vertical edge 191 are parallel to the top edge 181 and lateral edge 187, respectively, and clip off approximately one-quarter of the area defined by bottom edge 183 and lateral edge 185. In the illustrated embodiment, a second width dimension W2 between lateral edge 185 and intermediate edge 191 is approximately one-half dimension W1. A height dimension between bottom edge 183 and intermediate edge 189 is substantially equal to the height dimension of bottom rear cover 178. Each side wall 180 forms mounting holes collectively labeled 193 in
Referring now to
Next, tray member 120 is positioned adjacent the lower edge of cover 176 with member 123 parallel to and generally coplanar with the front slat wall surface of cover 176 and with member 125 extending generally in the direction of surface forming member 116. Here, the dimensions of cover 176 and member 123 of tray member 120 should be such that upon installation, member 125 is in a vertical plane which is below (e.g., one to two inches) the top surface of member 116 (see
To install side walls 180, each wall is positioned adjacent an interior surface 530 of a separate one of legs 128 with the top edge 181 and intermediate edge 189 abutting the bottom surface 264U and 264L of worksurface forming members 114 and 116, respectively. Screws or other mechanical fasteners are used to secure side walls 180 to legs 128 in the positions illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring still to
To maintain cover 174 in the closed and generally vertical position as in
As seen in
As seen in
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Workstation 110 may be modified from the above description without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in some embodiments, referring to
As another example, referring to
As still one other example,
From the above disclosure it should be appreciated that workstation 110 is appropriate for simultaneous use by multiple individuals. For example, two individuals may use the upper worksurface 114 and two individuals may use the lower worksurface 116 simultaneously. As another example, two individuals may use the lower worksurface 116 simultaneously while interacting with patients/visitors that approach the upper worksurface 114. Here, to reduce the distance between a nurse and a visitor at station 110, both the nurse and visitor may move into the concave portions of the members 114 and 116. As yet another example, two individuals may use the upper worksurface 114 for some tasks (e.g., performing a quick fact check related to a patient to be visited) and the lower worksurface 116 for other tasks (e.g., transferring data form a palm type device to a network and reviewing/altering the information prior to persistent storage).
It should also be appreciated that the above described embodiment provides a station configuration where multiple height surfaces have been provided that can be used for different purposes that are encouraged by the station design. In this regard, on one hand the lower worksurface forming member 116 is positioned in a semi-private space where upper cover 176 as well as the portion of top member 114 adjacent a rear edge thereof and portions of leg members 128 together form a recessed alcove. Upper back or rear cover 176 is positioned within the support structure formed by legs 128 so that a portion of the cavity/support structure volume 544 is positioned between the upper rear cover 176 and the back surface plane 540 (see
Moreover, it should be recognized that the configuration illustrated has a particularly aesthetically pleasing symmetrical configuration when viewed from the side (see
Several specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
Thus, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
To apprise the public of the scope of this invention, the following claims are made:
