Ergonomic computer workstation

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6374752
  • Patent Number
    6,374,752
  • Date Filed
    Monday, March 13, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 23, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Cuomo; Peter M.
    • Anderson; Jerry A.
    Agents
    • Thompson & Gustavson, L.L.P.
Abstract
A computer workstation (10) is provided which allows vertical motion of a monitor and keyboard through a power lift (20). Further, the mounted monitor is mounted on a monitor support (22) which allows the monitor to be pivoted about a horizontal axis through an angle of about 30°. The keyboard is mounted on a keyboard support (32) which allows the keyboard to be moved vertically relative to the monitor and the workstation and locked in place by a locking mechanism such as a cam (34). The keyboard can also be pivotally adjusted about a horizontal axis for proper positioning. A mouse pad plate (44) is pivoted from the front of the keyboard support (32) to allow a negative angle for use of the mouse. A reference material plate (54) can be mounted on the workstation for reference materials. The workstation is preferably mounted on swivel casters (14) allowing the workstation to be readily moved from position to position. In another embodiment, the workstation(100) has a gas pressure lift assembly(102). In another embodiment, the workstation(150) has a motor driven lift assembly(152).
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




This invention relates to workstation design, particularly for use with a computer.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The normal computer layout requires a person to be seated with a computer monitor placed on a desk or credenza and the keyboard placed in an undercounter tray. This locks the person into a rigid, fixed dimension computer arrangement. The only adjustment permissible is laterally. In the case of the monitor, angular adjustment about a horizontal and vertical axis is sometimes possible. The sitting height of the person may be changed by adjustment of the chair. However, the person's line of sight is usually slightly up and about 18″ to 24″ away from the monitor. People with vision deficiencies requiring bifocal or reading glasses very quickly develop neck muscle strain due to the backward arch of the head required to view the monitor through the near vision part of the bifocal lenses.




Many computer operators today utilize a mouse as well. The hand and arm that uses the mouse is usually required to be at a full extended position with an acute angle between the wrist and hand. This position not only is tiring, but can contribute to problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome.




For the reasons set forth above, a need exists for a computer workstation which improves the working environment for the operator.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a workstation for a computer is provided. The computer has a monitor and a keyboard. The workstation includes a base and a pedestal mounted on the base for vertical movement relative to the base. A monitor support is secured to the pedestal and mounts the monitor thereon for horizonal pivotal motion. A keyboard support is also secured to the pedestal and mounts the keyboard for horizontal pivotal motion independent of the monitor.




In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a mouse pad plate is mounted to the keyboard support for horizontal pivotal motion relative thereto. In another aspect, a reference material plate is mounted to the monitor support for pivotal motion relative thereto.




In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, a computer tower support can be mounted on the base to support a computer tower. The axis of horizontal pivotal motion of the keyboard support can be below and behind the keyboard position. The base can be mounted on swivel casters for easy movement around the work area.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view of a workstation forming a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a right-hand isometric view of the workstation of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a left-hand isometric view of the workstation of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is a top view of the workstation of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 5

is a front view of the workstation of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a right-hand side view of the workstation of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 7

is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 8

illustrates details of the embodiment of

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 9

is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention; and





FIG. 10

is an exploded view of the lift assembly of the third embodiment.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




With reference now to the accompanying drawings, wherein like or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and with specific reference to

FIG. 1

, a computer workstation


10


forming a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As will be described, computer workstation


10


provides an easily adjustable arrangement to fit the bodily differences and preferences of computer users around the world.




The workstation


10


includes a base assembly


12


which is mounted on four casters


14


. This renders the workstation readily portable.




Mounted on the base assembly


12


is a bracket


15


which supports vertical lift cylinder


16


. Mounted at the upper end of the lift cylinder


16


is platform assembly


18


. The vertical lift cylinder


16


can lift the platform assembly


18


vertically by rotation of the power lift


20


mounted on the base assembly


12


. The lift cylinder


16


preferably allows a vertical adjustment of approximately 6″ and also permits horizontal rotation of the platform assembly


18


of about 90°.




A monitor support


22


is mounted to the platform assembly


18


near the back of assembly


18


and forms a double yoke cradle including a yoke receiver


24


and a monitor yoke


26


. The yoke receiver


24


is rigidly secured to the platform assembly


18


. The monitor yoke


26


is pivotally attached to the yoke receiver


24


for rotation about a horizonal axis


28


. The monitor


30


is mounted on the monitor yoke


26


for pivotal motion about the horizontal axis


28


. Preferably the double yoke cradle formed by monitor support


22


allows approximately a 30° rotation of the monitor about the horizontal axis


28


. This can allow the operator to position the monitor in a manner perpendicular to the operator's line of sight, just above the back edge of the keyboard. Adjusting the vertical lift cylinder


16


and pivoting the monitor about axis


28


allows the operator's line of sight to be approximately 15° to 20° below horizontal. This angle permits the user of bifocal glasses or reading glasses to view the monitor through the near vision lens while the head and neck are in a very comfortable relaxed position. The monitor can be positioned 14″ to 16″ from the operator's eves, thus reducing eye strain and neck strain.




The monitor is preferably mounted on the monitor yoke


26


in a near balance position about axis


28


, with Friction mounts between the monitor yoke


26


and yoke receiver


24


to permit the operator to easily change the viewing angle by merely pushing on the monitor in the desired direction of rotation. When released, the monitor will stay in that position because of the friction mounts until again moved by the operator. The height of the monitor can be adjusted using lift cylinder


16


.




A keyboard support


32


is mounted near the front end of the platform assembly


18


and can move vertically relative thereto. The keyboard support


32


is locked in a desired vertical position relative the platform assembly


18


by a locking cam


34


. A keyboard plate


36


is mounted to the keyboard support


32


by a pair of support angles


38


. The support angles


38


permit the keyboard plate


36


to pivot about a horizontal axis


40


below and at the back of the position of the keyboard


42


on the keyboard plate


36


.




This design permits the position of keyboard


42


to be adjustable independently of the monitor position, height and angle. Moving the monitor vertically with lift cylinder


16


, of course lifts keyboard plate


36


initially as well. However, the keyboard support


32


can be used to readjust the height of keyboard plate


36


as desired. The vertical adjustability of the keyboard support


32


and the pivotal motion of the keyboard plate


36


relative to the keyboard support


32


provides for an optimum positioning. The adjustment of the keyboard plate


36


allows the keyboard to be positioned just about 2″ above the operator's lap while in a seated position so that the forearm position is nearly horizontal while typing. A wrist pad


45


can be used on keyboard plate


36


.




A mouse pad plate


44


can be mounted to either side of the keyboard plate


36


by a hinge rod


41


and a support track


48


secured to keyboard plate


36


by bracket


46


. While the figures illustrate the mouse pad plate mounted on the right side of the keyboard plate


36


, convenient for right-handed operators, the mouse pad plate can as readily be mounted on the left side of the keyboard plate


36


for left-handed operators. The mouse pad plate


44


is hinged by rod


41


for movement about a horizontal axis


50


near the front edge of the keyboard plate


36


. This allows the mouse pad plate


44


to be rotated to a negative angle from horizontal, i.e., away the operator, so that the wrist and hand can work in an almost straight line, rather than at an acute angle. In this position, the upper arm can work in an almost true vertical plane—the most relaxed position for operator's arms and hands. Because of this position, a bar


52


is mounted at the back of the mouse pad plate


44


so that the mouse


55


will not fall off the plate. The support track


48


preferably has sufficient friction in the engagement with the mouse pad plate


44


to hold the plate


44


in a desired position during normal use of the mouse, but permits adjustment about axis


50


by the application of sufficient force to overcome the friction.




Most operators who use a computer for word processing will require a stand on which to position material that they are transcribing. To provide this feature, a reference material plate


54


is mounted to the monitor support


22


through a support rod


56


. One end of the support rod


56


is mounted in a bracket attachment


58


mounted on the yoke receiver


24


. The bracket attachment


58


allows the support rod


56


to pivot about a vertical axis. At the other end of the support rod


56


is a ball


60


forming part of a ball and socket joint, with the mating socket on the back of reference material plate


54


. This permits the reference material plate


54


to be adjustable about all six degrees of freedom of movement for a convenient and comfortable positioning of reference papers or books. Again, while the reference material plate


54


is shown on the left side of the computer workstation


10


, the plate


54


can as readily be mounted on the right side. In fact, a bracket attachment


58


can also be mounted on the right side of the yoke receiver


24


to allow the support rod


56


and reference material plate


54


to be shifted from one side of the workstation to the other.




A computer cradle


62


is mounted on the base assembly


12


to receive the computer tower


64


of the computer. The cradle


62


can be mounted either to the left or right of the operator on the workstation


10


for an easy accessibility to the disk drives. Should the computer tower


64


require maintenance, the entire workstation can be moved for ease of access and the tower cover removed while still in the mounting cradle


62


. Cables can run from the computer


64


to the keyboard and monitor as needed.




As can be appreciated, the invention, as embodied by computer workstation


10


, provides an easily adjustable computer workstation arrangement to fit the bodily differences and preferences of computer users around the world. The power lift


20


can be utilized to both raise or lower the monitor and keyboard. The monitor can be adjusted independently of the keyboard and the keyboard can be adjusted independently of the monitor. The adjustment in either case is very simple. To adjust the keyboard, the locking cam


34


need only be manipulated to release keyboard support


32


, allowing the keyboard support


32


and keyboard to move vertically and, when the desired height is reached, the locking cam


34


is again manipulated to lock keyboard support


32


to platform assembly


18


. Pivoting of the keyboard itself is accomplished by simply pivoting the keyboard plate


36


about the support angles


38


. Pivoting of the monitors is readily accomplished by pivoting the monitor and monitor yoke


26


about the horizontal axis


28


. Only one power connector and any network or modem connections are necessary to be disconnected for movement of the workstation


10


and the computer thereon from station to station or room to room. The workstation


10


mounts the components of the computer on a single frame and provides a very efficient space saving arrangement. The computer workstation will help solve most of the ergonomic considerations people encounter while working on computers. It will also allow each operator the freedom to quickly adjust all the workstation components to their individual personal preferences at their desire. This is a most convenient, comfortable solution for a computer workstation arrangement.




With reference now to

FIG. 7

, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described and is identified as workstation


100


. Most of the elements of workstation


100


are identical to those in workstation


10


, and are identified by the same reference numerals. However, the power lift


20


in workstation


10


has been replaced by a gas pressure lift assembly


102


, which has a cylinder


104


and piston


106


. The gas pressure lift assembly


102


has high pressure gas sealed therein to provide a force on the piston


106


to counteract the weight of the portion of the workstation supported by the piston


106


. The platform assembly


112


, mounted on the piston


106


, can be moved vertically, along with the elements supported on the platform assembly


112


to achieve the desired height. The design of the gas pressure lift assembly


102


is such as to hold the platform assembly


112


in the selected position through normal use. At the top of the piston


106


is mounted a base


108


which contains valving. A handle


110


extends from the base


108


for use by an operator to vary the height of the piston


106


and platform assembly


112


. When the height is to be changed, the lever is depressed, activating a valve mechanism within the base


108


, permitting the platform assembly


112


, and components supported thereby, to be moved vertically. When the desired final position is achieved, the handle


110


is released, closing the valve mechanism in base


108


, causing the piston


106


to be fixed relative to the cylinder


104


. Gas pressure lift assemblies of the type used for business chairs are suitable for this application. One gas pressure lift assembly found adequate for the workstation


100


is the model C19-62014 gas cylinder manufactured by Suspa, Inc. of 3970 Roger B. Chaffee Blvd., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49508-3497 which provides 8 inches of vertical lift. This design eliminates the need for the power lift


20


.




With reference to

FIGS. 7 and 8

, the platform assembly


112


can be seen to have a forward end defined as an angle


114


. An aperture


116


is provided in the angle and a threaded nut


118


is welded or otherwise secured to the angle over the aperture


116


. The keyboard support


120


is also formed with an angle


122


to cooperate with the angle


114


of the platform assembly


112


. In addition, the angle


122


has one or more vertical slots


124


formed therein. A knob


126


with a threaded shaft


128


is utilized to secure the keyboard support


120


to the platform assembly


112


with the threaded shaft


128


of the knob


126


passing through the slot


124


and threaded into the threaded nut


118


secured to the platform assembly


112


. The knob


126


, or a spacer between knob


126


and angle


122


, comes into contact with angle


122


as the knob is tightened, squeezing angle


122


between the knob


126


and angle


114


. Thus, the keyboard support


120


is secured relative to the platform assembly


112


by simply tightening the knob


126


, forcing the angle


122


of the keyboard support


120


against the angle


114


of the platform assembly


112


to resist movement. When adjustment is needed, the knob


126


can simply be loosened, permitting the keyboard support


120


to move vertically relative the platform assembly


112


with the threaded shaft


128


of the knob


126


sliding in the slot


124


until the desired vertical position is achieved. The knob


126


is then again tightened to secure the keyboard support


120


in place relative the platform assembly


112


. Two slots


124


can be provided, for example. Each slot


124


can be 4 inches long, for example. This would provide about 9 inches of vertical height change if there was a 1 inch separation between the end of one slot


124


and the beginning of the other slot


124


.




A receiver


130


is mounted on the base


12


to receive a power protection monitor, or other computer related device. While the computer cradle


62


is illustrated as a U-shaped bracket, it can, alternatively, be a wire frame.




With reference now to

FIGS. 9 and 10

, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described and is identified as workstation


150


. Many of the elements of work station


150


are identical to those in workstations


10


and


100


and these elements are identified by the same reference numerals.




However, workstation


150


includes a powered lift assembly


152


which is mounted on base


154


and supports a platform assembly


198


. As can best be seen in

FIG. 10

, the lift assembly


152


includes upper base plate


158


and lower base plate


160


which are positioned on the upper surface


162


and lower surface(not shown) of the base


154


, respectively, and secured together by bolts or other suitable fasteners to clamp the plates


158


and


160


to the base


154


. An electric motor


164


and gear reduction unit


166


are mounted to the plates


158


and


160


and to a motor mounting plate


168


also secured to plates


158


and


160


. The electric motor


164


is reversible and rotates a motor shaft


170


through the gear reduction unit


166


. Of course, the gear reduction unit


166


can be eliminated, if desired, and the motor shaft


170


directly driven by the electric motor


164


. Alternatively, the electric motor


164


can be replaced by an air operated motor or actuator, a hand operated motor or actuator, or any other suitable device.




A stationary vertical cylinder


172


is mounted on top of the base plates


158


and


160


and is generally concentric with the motor shaft


170


. A shaft extension


174


is mounted on the motor shaft


170


and extends upwardly within the stationary vertical cylinder


172


. The shaft extension


174


has a passage


176


formed thorough at least the upper portion thereof of hexagonal cross section which opens through the upper end


178


of the shaft extension


174


. A lifting rod


180


is provided which has a lower portion


182


of hexagonal cross section and an upper threaded portion


184


. At least a portion of the lower portion


182


is received in the passage


176


, which insures the lifting rod


180


will rotate with the shaft extension


174


when the motor shaft


170


rotates, but allows the lifting rod


180


to move vertically with respect to the shaft extension and base


154


.




A lifting cylinder


186


is mounted concentric with the stationary vertical cylinder


172


. A threaded nut


188


is fixedly mounted near the upper end


190


of the stationary vertical cylinder


172


and threaded onto the threaded upper portion


184


of the lifting rod


180


. Bearings


192


are set between the stationary vertical cylinder


172


and the lifting cylinder


186


to allow the lifting cylinder


186


to slide vertically relative the stationary vertical cylinder


172


. The upper end


194


of lifting rod


180


either bears against or is mounted for rotation relative thereto to a plate


196


secured at the top of the lifting cylinder


186


.




As can be understood, when the motor shaft


170


is rotated in a first direction, the shaft extension


174


and lifting rod


180


are rotated in the same direction. However, because the nut


188


to which the lifting rod


180


is threaded is fixed, the lifting rod


180


will be lifted vertically upward, pushing the lifting cylinder


186


upward also due to contact between the lifting rod


180


and plate


196


. When the motor shaft


170


is rotated in the opposite direction, the lifting rod


180


is lowered vertically, causing the lifting cylinder


186


to be lowered also. Preferably, the threaded upper portion


184


and lower portion


182


are each long enough to provide for a lift of 6 inches or more.




Platform assembly


198


is mounted to plate


196


at the upper end of the lifting cylinder. The platform assembly


198


, as platform assemblies


18


and


112


, supports the monitor support


22


, keyboard plate


36


, mouse pad plate


44


, and other components. As the motor shaft


170


is rotated in either direction, the lifting cylinder


186


, platform assembly


198


and components mounted thereon are lowered or lifted, depending upon the direction of motion of the motor shaft


170


. Preferably a switch(not shown) is mounted within reach of the person using the workstation


150


, such as on yoke receiver


24


, to allow the operator to operate the electric motor


164


to rotate the motor shaft


170


in either direction to lift or lower the platform assembly as desired. As the lifting cylinder


186


is supported by bearings


192


and lifting rod


180


, the lifting cylinder


186


, and the platform assembly


198


and components thereon, can be pivoted about the vertical axis, as desired, to position the monitor


30


and keyboard


42


relative the base


154


.




The platform assembly


198


can be seen to be formed of a top plate


200


, side plates


202


and a front plate


204


. The plate


196


is secured to the top plate


200


by bolts received through matching holes


206


formed in the top plate


200


and plate


196


. Two vertical guide rods


208


are secured between the front edge


210


of the top plate


200


and two extensions


212


formed on the front plate


204


.




A keyboard support


214


is mounted to the platform assembly


198


at the guide rods


208


and slidable vertically along the guide rods


208


to allow adjustment of the keyboard plate


36


and other components mounted on the keyboard support


214


vertically relative the platform assembly


198


. As can be seen, the keyboard support


214


includes a vertical plate


216


having a height less than the length of rods


208


to allow vertical motion and horizontally extending portions


218


extending from the top and bottom edge thereof. The horizontally extending portion


218


have aligned apertures


219


to receive the guide rods


208


, with bearings


220


in each aperture to guide the keyboard support


214


on the guide rods


208


.




A number of mechanisms can be used to secure the keyboard plate


36


in the desired position relative the platform assembly


198


. For example, a threaded rod can be threaded through the vertical plate


216


with one end facing the front plate


204


of the platform assembly


198


. The opposite end, on the side of vertical plate


216


away from the platform assembly


198


, can mount a knob. The end facing the front plate


204


can mount a friction pad. To secure the keyboard plate


36


to the platform assembly


198


, it is only necessary to rotate the threaded rod with the knob until the friction pad tightly engages the front plate


204


, securing the keyboard plate


36


in a fixed relation to platform assembly


198


.




As with workstations


10


and


100


, the mouse pad plate


44


can be mounted on either side of the keyboard plate


36


desired, or mouse pad plates


44


can be mounted on both sides of the keyboard plate


36


simultaneously, if desired.




A first leg


232


of the base


154


has holes


254


to receive a wire bracket


226


, as shown, to mount a printer


228


and a plate


229


to support the printer


228


on the wire bracket


226


and backup power supply


230


, for example. Similarly, the second leg


222


of the base


154


has holes


254


to receive a wire bracket


234


to mount computer tower


64


, for example. Preferably, the holes


254


are equally spaced on the legs to allow the operator to mount the brackets


226


and


234


on which ever side of the base


154


is desired. Alternatively, two brackets


226


can be mounted on the base


154


or two brackets


234


can be mounted on the base, if desired. Preferably, a wire tray


260


is mounted on the back of the base


154


through which computer and power cables can be routed to restrain the cables and provide a neater appearance to the workstation


150


.




While several embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A workstation for a computer having a monitor and a keyboard, comprising:a base; a pedestal mounted on said base for a vertical movement relative the base; a monitor support secured to the pedestal and mounting the monitor for horizontal pivotal motion; a keyboard support secured to the pedestal and mounting the keyboard for horizontal pivotal motion independent of the monitor; and a mouse pad plate mounted to the keyboard support for horizontal pivotal motion.
  • 2. A workstation for a computer having a monitor and a keyboard, comprising:a base; a pedestal mounted on said base for a vertical movement relative the base; a monitor support secured to the pedestal and mounting the monitor for horizontal pivotal motion; a keyboard support secured to the pedestal and mounting the keyboard for horizontal pivotal motion independent of the monitor; and the keyboard support being moveable vertically relative to the pedestal and further includes a locking mechanism to lock the keyboard support in a predetermined position relative to the pedestal.
  • 3. A workstation for a computer having a monitor and a keyboard, comprising:a base; a pedestal mounted on said base for a vertical movement relative the base; a monitor support secured to the pedestal and mounting the monitor for horizontal pivotal motion; a keyboard support secured to the pedestal and mounting the keyboard for horizontal pivotal motion independent of the monitor; and a reference material plate mounted to the monitor support.
  • 4. The workstation of claim 3 wherein the reference material plate is mounted to the monitor support for six-way motion.
  • 5. A method for adjusting a workstation mounting a computer monitor and a computer keyboard, comprising the steps of:vertically raising a platform assembly mounted on a base, the platform assembly mounting a monitor support to support the monitor and a keyboard support to mount the keyboard; pivoting the monitor about a horizontal axis with the monitor supported on a monitor yoke mounted to a yoke receiver for pivotal motion about said horizontal axis; pivoting a keyboard support plate about a horizontal axis, the keyboard support plate supporting the keyboard thereon, the keyboard support plate pivotally mounted to a keyboard support secured to the platform assembly; and vertically raising the keyboard support relative to the platform assembly and locking the keyboard support in a predetermined location with a locking cam.
  • 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of positioning a reference material plate mounted to the workstation in a desired position.
  • 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of pivoting a mouse plate pivotally mounted to the keyboard plate to a position for operator use of a mouse supported on the mouse plate.
  • 8. A workstation for a computer having a monitor and a keyboard, comprising:a base; a pedestal mounted on said base for a vertical movement relative the base; a monitor support secured to the pedestal and mounting the monitor for horizontal pivotal motion; a keyboard support secured to the pedestal and mounting the keyboard for horizontal pivotal motion independent of the monitor; and the keyboard support providing for a horizontal pivotal motion below and behind the keyboard mounted on the keyboard support.
  • 9. A workstation for a computer having a monitor and a keyboard, comprising:a base; a pedestal mounted on said base for a vertical movement relative the base; a monitor support secured to the pedestal and mounting the monitor for horizontal pivotal motion; a keyboard support secured to the pedestal and mounting the keyboard for horizontal pivotal motion independent of the monitor; and the pedestal permiting pivotal motion of the monitor support and keyboard support about a vertical axis relative to the base.
  • 10. The workstation of claim 9 wherein the range of vertical pivotal motion of the pedestal is about 90°.
  • 11. A workstation for a computer having a monitor and a keyboard, comprising:a base; a pedestal mounted on said base for a vertical movement relative the base; a monitor support secured to the pedestal and mounting the monitor for horizontal pivotal motion; a keyboard support secured to the pedestal and mounting the keyboard for horizontal pivotal motion independent of the monitor; and the monitor support being formed by a monitor yoke and a yoke receiver, the monitor yoke mounted on the yoke receiver for pivotal motion about a horizontal axis.
  • 12. A workstation for a computer having a monitor, keyboard, computer tower and mouse, comprising:a base mounted on swivel casters; a pedestal mounted on said base permitting a portion of said pedestal to move vertically relative the base; a platform assembly mounted on said portion of said pedestal; a monitor support secured to the platform assembly, said monitor support having a monitor yoke and a yoke receiver, the mointor yoke receiving said monitor, said monitor yoke and yoke receiver pivotally secured together to permit horizontal pivotal motion of said monitor yoke and said monitor relative the workstation; a keyboard support mounted to said platform assembly for vertical motion relative thereto, a locking mechanism locking the keyboard support in a predetermined relation relative to the platform assembly; and a keyboard plate mounted to said keyboard support for horizontal pivotal motion by support angles, the keyboard being supported on said keyboard plate.
  • 13. The workstation of claim 12 further having a reference material plate mounted on the workstation.
US Referenced Citations (23)
Number Name Date Kind
4365561 Tellier et al. Dec 1982 A
D280478 Stephens Sep 1985 S
4567835 Reese et al. Feb 1986 A
D288157 Sandor Feb 1987 S
D293398 Kwiecinski Dec 1987 S
4779922 Cooper Oct 1988 A
4815392 Soot Mar 1989 A
4848710 Newman Jul 1989 A
4852500 Ryburg et al. Aug 1989 A
4884773 Becker Dec 1989 A
5118172 Ugalde Jun 1992 A
5174223 Nagy et al. Dec 1992 A
D339257 Scharer et al. Sep 1993 S
D344420 Rodriquez Feb 1994 S
5287815 Gross Feb 1994 A
D345064 Adams, Jr. Mar 1994 S
5450800 Leonard Sep 1995 A
5522323 Richard Jun 1996 A
5589849 Ditzik Dec 1996 A
5618020 Hegarty et al. Apr 1997 A
5704298 Corpuz, Jr. et al. Jan 1998 A
D393382 Rutter et al. Apr 1998 S
5918841 Sweere et al. Jul 1999 A
Non-Patent Literature Citations (5)
Entry
internet printout “Your Back and Neck” Feb. 17, 1999 1 page.
internet printout “About Computer-Related Ergonomics and This Web Site” Feb. 17, 1999 2 pages.
internet printout “Ergonomics and Workstation Design” Feb. 17, 1999 2 pages.
internet printout “Computers and Your Vision” Feb. 17, 1999 1 page.
internet printout “Arms, Wrists and Fingers” Feb. 17, 1999 1 page.