Patent Application
20080116327
The present invention relates to a mobile workstation for electronic equipment such as computers, multimedia components and the like.
Typical workstations include various storage and work surfaces to position computers, monitors, various electronic components and the like at desired locations. Various adjustments are provided to tailor the workstation to the type of equipment used as well as user preferences. Some workstations are better suited for portable computer equipment. Other workstations are better suited for desktop computer equipment. Some workstations provide security and storage functions. It is desirable to provide a mobile workstation that is simple to configure and flexible in its configuration options.
The invention is directed to a mobile workstation having a mobile base and a post. One or more accessories are secured to the post in order to configure the workstation for a particular application. The post has a plurality of mounting surfaces, each mounting surface having a plurality of accessory mounting locations. One or more accessories (e.g., work surface, footrest or equipment holder) can be coupled to the post at an appropriate accessory mounting location. In general, an equipment holder is configured to accept at least one piece of equipment (e.g., a computer, portable computer, keyboard or display). Each of the plurality of mounting surfaces generally faces outward in a different radial direction. In one example, each of the plurality of accessory mounting locations are generally associated with a mounting hole. In another example, the plurality of accessory mounting locations are associated with at least two mounting holes having a first spacing, and the accessory (or accessories) having at least two mounting holes with a second spacing that generally corresponds to the first spacing. The mounting holes can optionally be threaded.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.
a is a pictorial view of a mobile workstation with a post, a mobile base and a horizontal work surface, shown with mounting details, in accordance with the invention.
b is a pictorial view of a mobile workstation with a post, a mobile base and a horizontal work surface in accordance with the invention.
a is a pictorial view of a mobile workstation with a post, a mobile base and a portable computer platform, shown with mounting details, in accordance with the invention.
b is a pictorial view of a mobile workstation with a post, a mobile base and a portable computer platform in accordance with the invention.
a and 7b are pictorial views of a computer holder(s) in accordance with the invention.
Turning to the drawings,
The post 20 has a plurality of accessory mounting locations 25. The mounting locations are associated with one or more mounting holes 26 that are generally configured to receive one or more accessories, discussed in detail below. Each mounting location is generally associated with one or more mounting holes 26. Mounting holes 26 can be arranged in one or more groups (e.g., two or more mounting holes) with pre-determined vertical and horizontal spacing between the various mounting holes. In this example, the four upper groups 28 are provided with four mounting holes and two lower groups 29 are provided with eight mounting holes. It is understood that additional spacing configurations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.
In this example, mounting holes 26 are threaded to receive threaded fasteners for securing one or more accessories to the post 20. A variety of fastener types can be utilized including fasteners that do not require threaded mounting holes. In this example, the post is generally hollow. On or more openings 27 are provided in the front mounting surface 21. Openings 27 provide access to the interior of the post 20 and can be used for cable management. It is understood that additional openings can be provided, and can be arranged in a variety of configurations on any of the various mounting surfaces.
Referring to
In this example, post mount 30 is comprised of a pair of brackets 31. Brackets 31 have a post mounting surface 32 that is coupled to the post 20. In this example, brackets 31 are formed with a plurality of post mounting holes 33 that have substantially the same vertical and horizontal spacing between holes as the mounting holes 26 formed in the post 20. In this example the brackets 31 are manufactured from metal. However, the brackets 31 can be manufactured from a variety of other materials such as wood, plastics, laminated structures, composites and the like. Appropriate fasteners are used to couple the mounting brackets to the post. In this example, threaded fasteners 34 are passed through the holes in the brackets 31, threaded into the holes 26 formed in the post, and are appropriately tightened thereby securing brackets 31 to the post.
Brackets 31 are also formed with a base mounting surface 35 that is coupled to the mobile base 40. Brackets 31 may also be strengthened as required for the particular application. For example, one or more gussets 37 may be used to provide additional stiffness between the post mounting surface and the base mounting surface. In this example, brackets 31 are formed with a plurality of base mounting holes 36 with appropriate spacing between holes to correspond with mounting holes 26 formed in the post mounting surface 46 of the mobile base 40. Appropriate fasteners are used to couple the mounting brackets to the mobile base. In this example, threaded fasteners 38 (e.g., nuts and bolts) are passed through the base mounting holes and the nuts are tightened from the underside of the mobile base thereby securing the brackets 31 to the post mounting surface 46 of the mobile base 40.
As stated above, the workstation has a mobile base 10 and a post 20. The post is generally oriented vertically with respect to the plane of the base. One or more accessories are secured to the post in order to configure the workstation for a particular application. Accessories can include variously shaped work surfaces, footrests, equipment holders (such as portable computers, desktop computers, keyboards, displays and the like). The post 20 has a plurality of mounting surfaces, each facing outward in a different radial direction. Accordingly, one or more accessories may be mounted to any of the mounting surfaces, thereby yielding numerous configuration options.
a and 4b show a post 20, a mobile base 40 and a generally horizontal work surface 50 coupled to the front mounting surface 21, in accordance with the invention. In this example, the work surface 50 is generally rectangular in shape. It is appreciated that other work surface shapes are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The work surface 50 is attached to the post 20 via support 52. The support has a frame 53 and a mounting surface 54 formed with a plurality of post mounting holes 55 that have substantially the same vertical and horizontal spacing between holes as the mounting holes 26 formed in the post 20. In this example, the mounting surface 54 has four mounting holes 55. Appropriate fasteners are used to couple the frame 53 to the post. In this example, threaded fasteners (not shown) can be passed through the holes in the mounting surface 54 and threaded into the holes 26 formed in the post to secure the frame 53 to the post. Appropriate fasteners can be used to secure the mounting surface 50 to the frame 53, as is well known in the art. The work surface 50 and frame 53 can be formed using a variety of materials such as wood, metal, plastics, laminated structures, composites and the like as is well known in the art. In this example, the work surface 50 is formed of wood with a plastic laminate surface and the frame 53 is formed of metal.
a and 5b show a post 20, a mobile base 40 and a portable computer mount 60 coupled to the front mounting surface 21, in accordance with the invention. In this example, the portable computer mount 60 is generally rectangular in shape. It is appreciated that other computer or equipment mount shapes are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The portable computer mount 60 has a tray 61 that is attached to the post 20 via support 62. The support 62 has a tray support surface 63 formed with a plurality of tray mounting holes 64 that have substantially the same vertical and horizontal spacing between holes as the mounting holes 64 formed in the tray 61. Appropriate fasteners 66 (e.g., nuts and bolts) are used to couple the tray 61 to the support 62. It is appreciated that the provision of multiple sets of holes in the tray support surface 61 allows for tray depth adjustment (i.e., the spacing between the tray and the post 20).
The support 62 also has a post mounting surface 67 formed with mounting holes 68. Appropriate fasteners are used to couple the support 61 to the post 20. In this example, one or more threaded fasteners 69 can be passed through the holes in the post mounting surface 67 and threaded into the holes 26 formed in the post 20 to secure the support 62 to the post 20. Portable computer mount 60 can also be equipped with security features so that a portable computer can be securely retained. For example, a security bar 65 or other security features can be provided, as is well known in the art.
a and 7b show a computer holder 80 coupled to post 20 in accordance with the invention. The computer holder 80 is generally configured to hold a desktop computer or other equipment. The computer holder 80 is generally formed of two portions, namely a main body 81 and a wall 82. The main body 81 includes a computer support surface 83 and a post mounting surface 84. In this example the computer support surface 83 and mounting surface 84 are generally disposed at 90 degrees with respect to each other. The post mounting surface 84 is formed with a plurality of mounting holes 85. Appropriate fasteners are used to couple the main body 81 to the post 20. In this example, one or more threaded fasteners 86 can be passed through the mounting holes 85 in the main body 81 and threaded into the holes 26 formed in the post 20 to secure the main body 81 to the post 20.
In this example, the wall 82 is generally disposed at a 90 degree angle with respect to the computer support surface 83. The wall 82 is also adjustable with respect to its location relative to the post mounting surface 84 thereby providing a width adjustment for a range of equipment dimensions (i.e., the distance between the wall 82 and the post mounting surface 84). The wall 82 has a plurality of mounting holes 87. The computer support surface 83 has a pair of grooves 88 that have substantially the same spacing as the mounting holes 87 formed in the wall 82. Appropriate fasteners are used to couple the wall 82 to the main body 81. In this example, one or more threaded fasteners 89 can be passed through the mounting holes 87 in the wall 82 and the slots 88 in the main body 81. The main body 81 can then be adjusted to the desired location and secured with washers and nuts.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the post 20 may be composed of a plurality of accessory mounting locations such that a single mounting hole is used for mounting an accessory to the mobile workstation.
Another embodiment of the mobile workstation utilizes a channel 100 that runs vertically along the post 20 with respect to the plane of a floor.
It is readily apparent that numerous configurations are possible based on the foregoing disclosure. It is also readily apparent that other accessories can be combined with the invention to provide additional configuration options without departing from the scope of the invention. While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
