U.S. patent application number 12/198834 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for computerized flex workstation, tray, cabinet and cart.
This patent application is currently assigned to DENTAL EQUIPMENT, LLC DBA PELTON & CRANE. Invention is credited to Nathan A. Hemmer.
Application Number | 20100052486 12/198834 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41724274 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100052486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hemmer; Nathan A. |
March 4, 2010 |
COMPUTERIZED FLEX WORKSTATION, TRAY, CABINET AND CART
Abstract
A workstation includes a keyboard integrated therein and a
substantially planar work surface. The keyboard may be disposed
between an upper and lower portion of the workstation such that a
substantially planar upper surface is provided. Additionally, the
keyboard may be formed within a portion of the workstation so that
an exposed surface of the keyboard is flush with or underlying the
substantially planar upper surface. Advantageously, the workstation
may provide an interface between a user and the keyboard that may
be efficiently cleaned, sterilized and disinfected.
Inventors: |
Hemmer; Nathan A.; (Rock
Hill, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TRASKBRITT, P.C.
P.O. BOX 2550
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84110
US
|
Assignee: |
DENTAL EQUIPMENT, LLC DBA PELTON
& CRANE
Charlotte
NC
|
Family ID: |
41724274 |
Appl. No.: |
12/198834 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.3 ;
108/50.01; 108/50.11; 211/133.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 15/14 20130101;
A47B 21/0314 20130101; A47B 2200/0023 20130101; A47B 2200/0008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.3 ;
108/50.01; 108/50.11; 211/133.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20060101
A47B081/00; A47B 21/04 20060101 A47B021/04; A47B 37/00 20060101
A47B037/00 |
Claims
1. A workstation to provide an aseptic interface between a user and
a keyboard, comprising: a substantially planar work surface; and a
keyboard integrated into the workstation and accessible through the
work surface.
2. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the workstation includes an
upper portion overlying the keyboard and a lower surface positioned
generally parallel to and opposing the upper portion.
3. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the upper portion comprises
a panel formed from a transparent material or a translucent
material, the panel being sized and configured to render the
underlying keyboard visible to the user.
4. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the upper portion and the
lower portion are selectively attached to one another using a
fastener.
5. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the upper portion and the
lower portion are integrally formed into a single, unitary
structure.
6. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the keyboard fitted into a
receptacle in the work surface that is sized and configured to
receive the keyboard.
7. The workstation of claim 6, wherein an upper surface of the
keyboard is exposed through and is substantially planar with the
work surface.
8. The workstation of claim 7, wherein a gap between the keyboard
and the work surface is filled or fused to form a substantially
planar work surface.
9. The workstation of claim 1, further comprising a support
pivotally attached to the workstation.
10. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the workstation comprises
an upper portion formed around the keyboard and a lower portion
attached to and providing support for the upper portion.
11. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the work surface and the
keyboard are integrated as a single, unitary structure.
12. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is fitted
within a receptacle in the surface, the receptacle being sized and
configured to receive the keyboard.
13. The workstation of claim 1, further comprising a lower portion
underlying the work surface and providing generally uniform
strength and structural integrity to the work surface.
14. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is disposed
between an upper portion and a lower portion of the planar work
surface.
15. The workstation of claim 1, wherein the surface is a
thermoplastic material disposed over the keyboard.
16. The workstation of claim 1, further comprising: an upper
portion having a substantially planar upper surface and at least
one panel sized and configured to render a portion of the keyboard
visible to a user; a keyboard disposed substantially between the
lower portion and the upper portions a lower portion disposed
generally parallel to and spaced apart from the upper portion; a
fastener for securing the upper portion to the lower portion with
the keyboard
17. The workstation of claim 16, wherein the portion of the
keyboard visible to the user is accessible by the user.
18. The workstation of claim 16, wherein the upper and lower
portions enclose a hollow interior portion containing the
keyboard.
19. A cart integrated with a keyboard, comprising: a workstation
comprising a keyboard integrated into a surface thereof and having
a substantially planar work surface; a support configured to
support the workstation; and a base connected to the support and
providing movement and stability to the cart.
20. A dental tray with an integrated keyboard, comprising: a
workstation configured to have a substantially planar upper surface
and having a keyboard therein; and a support pivotally connected to
the lower portion of the workstation.
21. The dental tray of claim 20, wherein the support is moveably
secured to a mounting surface.
22. A cabinet with an integrated keyboard, comprising: a work
surface having a substantially planar upper surface; a keyboard
integrated into and accessible to a user via the work; and a base
sized and configured to support the work surface, the base
including at least one storage space therein.
23. The cabinet of claim 22, wherein the keyboard is disposed
within a receptacle in the work surface, the receptacle sized and
configured to receive the keyboard so that an upper surface of the
keyboard is flush with the work surface.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a workstation with an
integrated keyboard and a substantially planar surface, and more
particularly, to a cart, a cabinet and a tray having a keyboard
integrated into a surface thereof such that the surface may easily
be cleaned, sterilized and disinfected to maintain an aseptic
environment.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Sterilization and disinfection of work surfaces in dental
and medical settings requires a large amount of time and effort. A
keyboard is universally used in the medical and dental fields to
input data and comments on patients. During the examination or
treatment, the hands of the dental or medical professional can
become unsanitary and the keyboard will be likely be contaminated,
particularly if a patient is suffering from an infectious disease.
Moreover, the keyboard may collect dust and debris that
conventionally accumulate on its surfaces over time. Therefore,
keyboards must be regularly cleaned and disinfected to maintain an
aseptic environment.
[0003] Keyboards are problematic in maintaining a
contamination-free or aseptic environment, such as in medical and
dental settings, because they cannot be autoclaved and therefore,
must be cleaned by hand. Keyboards are conventionally made from
materials that are porous and, thus, allow pathogens, such as
bacteria and virus, to be trapped and remain viable. Moreover,
keyboards include hard-to-reach spaces that are difficult to clean
and sterilize using conventional methods. Adequately cleaning,
disinfecting and sterilizing may be time-consuming and
ineffective.
[0004] One solution to this problem is a cover, conventionally
formed from plastic or rubber that may be fitted over the keyboard.
These covers include depressions between keys on the keyboard that
are often difficult to clean, are easily contaminated, and
interfere with the user's ability to type on the keyboard.
Furthermore, materials that impart the necessary flexibility for
the keyboard cover are often formed from porous materials that
easily trap pathogenic materials.
[0005] A keyboard that may be easily used and as well as
efficiently and effectively cleaned, disinfected and sterilized by
conventional methods is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One aspect of the invention includes a workstation that
provides an aseptic interface between a user and a keyboard. The
workstation may advantageously include a substantially planar work
surface and a keyboard integrated into the workstation and
accessible through the work surface. For example, the workstation
may include an upper portion overlying the keyboard and a lower
portion positioned generally parallel to and opposing the upper
portion, which may be fastened to one another with the keyboard
disposed therebetween. The upper portion may include a panel
configured to expose the keyboard and formed from a translucent or
transparent material. Additionally, the upper portion and the lower
portion may be integrally formed to render a single, unitary
structure.
[0007] Another aspect of the invention is a workstation that
includes a keyboard integrated into the workstation to render a
surface having a substantially planar configuration. The keyboard
may be exposed through the surface so that the keyboard and the
surface form a single, continuous structure. As an example, the
keyboard may be fitted within a receptacle in the surface that is
sized and configured to receive the keyboard. The substantially
planar surface advantageously enables the workstation including the
keyboard to be efficiently and effectively cleaned, sterilized and
disinfected.
[0008] In a further aspect, a workstation may include an upper
portion having a substantially planar upper surface and at least
one panel sized and configured to expose a portion of a keyboard.
The keyboard may be disposed substantially between the lower
portion and the upper portions. The lower portion is disposed
generally parallel to and spaced apart from the upper portion. A
fastener secures the upper portion to the lower portion with the
keyboard therebetween. The workstation may, optionally, include a
support rotatably attached thereto. The upper and lower portions
may enclose a hollow interior portion containing the keyboard. The
panel may include at least one of a transparent material or a
translucent material overlying and visually exposing the
keyboard.
[0009] In yet another aspect, a cart integrated with a keyboard
includes a workstation, a support configured to support the
workstation and a base connected to the support and providing
movement and stability to the cart. The workstation may include a
keyboard integrated into a surface thereof and providing a
substantially planar work surface.
[0010] In yet another aspect, a dental tray with an integrated
keyboard is provided. The dental tray includes a workstation
configured to have a substantially planar upper surface and having
a keyboard therein, a support pivotally connected to the lower
portion of the workstation and a base connected to the support and
being sized and configured to support the support structure. The
keyboard is disposed between an upper portion and a lower portion
of the workstation.
[0011] In yet another aspect, a cabinet with an integrated keyboard
includes a work surface, a keyboard integrated into the work
surface to advantageously render an upper surface of the work
surface substantially planar and a base sized and configured to
support the work surface, the base including at least one storage
space therein. The keyboard may be disposed within a receptacle in
the work surface, the receptacle sized and configured to receive
the keyboard so that an upper surface of the keyboard is flush with
the work surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] While the specification concludes with claims particularly
pointing out and distinctly claiming that which is regarded as the
present invention, this invention can be more readily understood
and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the
following description of the invention when read in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0013] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate embodiments of workstations having a
keyboard integrated therein;
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a cart including an
integrated keyboard; and
[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a cabinet including an
integrated keyboard.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Although the foregoing description contains many specifics,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present
invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some
representative embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the
invention may be devised that do not depart from the spirit or
scope of the present invention. Features from different embodiments
may be employed in combination.
[0017] Reference will now be made to the drawings. Like elements
are identified by like numerals. The drawings are not necessarily
to scale.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a workstation 100 having a
substantially planar work surface 104 and an integrated keyboard
102 is shown. The workstation 100 may be, for example, a dental
tray or medical tray. As shown in FIG. 1, a particular embodiment
of the workstation 100 may have a substantially hexalateral shape.
Additionally, the work surface 100 may be formed in any other
suitable shape, for example, substantially in the shape of a
rectangle, triangle, quadrilateral, square, trapezoid,
pentalateral, ellipse, oval, circle, rhombus, or other suitable
geometrical shape sufficient to provide adequate support for the
keyboard 102. The workstation 100 may include an integral outer
periphery 103, at least a portion of which can be beveled to
provide comfort to a user. The keyboard 102 may be imbedded within
or disposed beneath the work surface 104 so that the work surface
104 is substantially planar.
[0019] Conventional workstations and keyboards have a rough or
uneven surface including crevasses, gaps or channels that
inevitably collect and trap microorganisms, pathogens, such as
bacteria and virus, and other undesirable particles. By providing a
planar surface, the workstation 100 may be substantially free of
gaps or depressions that may trap pathogenic agents or debris and,
thus, may be easily cleaned, sterilized and disinfected using
conventional methods. The work surface 104 of the workstation 100
may be advantageously provided as a substantially planar or smooth
surface by a variety of means, non-limiting examples of which are
provided herein. Additionally, by incorporating the keyboard under
the surface of the workstation, the surface of the workstation can
be used without the keyboard getting in the way and can also
maximize the workstation surface area when the keyboard is
operational and when it is not. The workstation 100 may be attached
to a support 111, which may optionally be used to moveably secure
the workstation 100 to a mounting surface (not shown) such, for
example, as a floor, a ceiling, or a countertop.
[0020] The keyboard 102 may be a touch sensitive keyboard including
a mouse touch pad, such CLEANKEYS which is commercially available
from Touch Free Computing (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). The touch
sensitive keyboard may include a smooth glass surface that may be
easily incorporated into the workstation 100. The touch sensitive
keyboard allows a user to easily input and access data without
having to remove their gloves to operate the keyboard mouse.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the workstation 100 may include a
keyboard 102 disposed between an upper portion 106 and a lower
portion 108. The upper portion 104 may be formed from any material
that enables visibility of the underlying keyboard 102. For
example, the upper portion 108 may be formed from a transparent or
translucent material, such as a glass, a plastic, an acrylic, a
vinyl or a polycarbonate. Alternatively, the upper portion 108 may
include a panel 110 that is sized and configured to enable a
portion of the keyboard 102 underlying the panel to be visible to
the user. The panel 110 may be formed from a transparent or
translucent material, such as those as described above, while the
regions of the upper portion 106 surrounding the panel 110 may be
opaque. By way of non-limiting example, the panel 110 may be formed
from a clear acrylic material while the remaining portions of the
upper portions may be formed from a glass, a plastic, an acrylic
polymer, an acrylic polymer including alumina trihydrate, or a
mixture, combination, or composite thereof, in any desired color or
pattern.
[0022] The upper portion 106 may be configured to be substantially
planar on opposing surfaces or may include a lip 112, as shown in
broken lines in FIG. 2. The lip 112 may downwardly extend from the
outer periphery 114 of the upper portion 106. The lip 112 may be
integrally formed and may have a substantially planar
configuration.
[0023] As a non-limiting example, the keyboard 102 may be formed
within the upper portion 104. The keyboard 102 may be disposed
within the upper portion 106 of the workstation 100 such that the
upper portion 106 and the keyboard 102 form a single, unitary
structure. For example, a molding process may be used to
encapsulate the keyboard 102 within the upper portion 106. A
flowable material (not shown), such as a thermosetting plastic or
of thermoplastic polymer, may be heated and dispensed into a mold
(not shown) including the keyboard 102. Advantageously, the
flowable material may be used to form a substantially planar or
substantially flat surface 104 overlying the keyboard 102 to
facilitate cleaning, disinfecting and sterilization of the
workstation 100. Additionally, the surface of the flowable material
overlying the keyboard 102 may be planarized to form the
substantially planar surface 104.
[0024] Alternatively, the flowable material may be formed around a
bottom surface 114 and sides 116 of the keyboard 102 and
substantially planar to the upper surface 118 of the keyboard so
that the upper surface 118 of the keyboard 102 is exposed through
the flowable material (not shown). Since the upper surface 118 is
exposed, the keyboard touch panel may be easily accessed while the
substantially planar surface 104 may be easily cleaned and
sanitized. Other suitable methods for forming a unitary structure
including the keyboard 102 and the upper portion 106 are apparent
to one of ordinary skill in the art and are also within the scope
of this invention.
[0025] The upper portion 106 may be attached to the lower portion
108 by means of fasteners (not shown) disposed about the outer
periphery of the workstation 100. The fasteners may generally
detachably engage and secure the upper portion 106 of the
workstation 100 to the lower portion 108 of the workstation 100.
The fasteners may also penetrate both the surface 104 and an
adjacent point of contact of the lower portion 108. As will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, a variety of other
suitable means or methods for attaching the upper portion 106 and
the lower portion 108 may be employed, including, but not limited
to, clamps, rivets, screws, bolts, glues, epoxies, or other bonding
materials. For example, the lip 112 downwardly extending from the
periphery of the upper portion 106 may be sized and configured to
receive the lower portion 108. Alternatively, the lower portion 108
may be sized and configured to receive the upper portion 106 which
may be disposed within the lower portion 108.
[0026] The lower portion 108 be formed from a hard material used to
impart the workstation 100 with sufficient rigidity and sturdiness
and providing strength to the structural integrity of worksurface
104. Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to
a glass, a plastic, an acrylic polymer, an acrylic polymer
including alumina trihydrate, or a mixture, combination, or
composite thereof. In this configuration, lighter weight or more
brittle materials may be used to form the upper portion 106 with
this novel construction without sacrificing rigidity or structural
integrity of the workstation. As a non-limiting example, the upper
portion 106 may include glass while the lower portion 108 may
include a polymeric material, such as an acrylic polymer or a
polycarbonate. The lower portion 108 may have a substantially
planar surfaces or may include an upwardly extending lip 122, shown
in broken lines in FIG. 2.
[0027] Optionally, the lower portion 108 may include a receptable
124 sized and configured for receiving the keyboard 102, shown in
broken lines. The receptacle 124 may be formed as a depression
within the lower portion 106 or may be a protruding structure that
extends upwardly from a surface of the lower portion 108. The
keyboard 102 may be fitted within the receptacle 124 such that the
surface 104 is flat or smooth and to advantageously facilitate
cleaning to maintain an aseptic environment.
[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the workstation 100 as being formed
from multiple pieces. However, the keyboard 102 may also be
integrally formed in the workstation 100, as depicted in FIG. 3. As
a non-limiting example, the workstation 100 may include a surface
104 with a receptacle 124 for receiving the keyboard (not shown)
and a body 126 for providing structural integrity. The body 126 may
be formed in any desired size, shape, configuration, design or
color depending, for example, upon the intended use and may include
a material such as a glass, a polymer, or a resin. The body 126 may
be formed from a solid or integral piece or, as shown in broken
lines, may include an upper portion 104 and a lower portion 108
that are attached to one another using, for example, adhesive
bonding or conventional fasteners.
[0029] The body 126 may include at least one receptacle 124 sized
and configured to receive the periphery of the keyboard (not
shown). The receptacle 124 may receive and retain the keyboard by
way of an adhesive or a conventional fastener. The receptacle 124
may have sidewalls 130 and a lower surface 132, each defined by a
portion of the body 126. The sidewalls 130 of the receptacle 124
may have a height substantially equal to a thickness of the
keyboard so that the exposed surface of the keyboard and the body
form a substantially planar surface 104.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, the keyboard 102 may be inset into the
body 126 of the workstation 100. A gap 134 may remain between the
keyboard 102 and the sidewalls 130 of the receptacle 124 after
fitting the keyboard 102 within the receptacle 128. To render the
surface 104 substantially planar or aseptic, the gap 134 may be
filled using a material such as a thermosetting plastic or a
thermoplastic polymer. Alternatively, the keyboard 102 may be fused
to the sidewalls 130 to bridge the gap 134 to make the surface 104
substantially planar or aseptic. For example, the portion of the
body 126 exposed by the sidewalls 130 of the receptacle 128 may be
formed from a thermoplastic material which may be heated to conform
to the periphery of the keyboard 102. Additionally, the body 126 of
the workstation may be formed as a single integral piece
encompassing the keyboard 102 using, for example, a molding
process.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, a sealant 136 may optionally be applied
over and in contact with the body 126 and, optionally, the keyboard
102. The sealant 136 may include, for example, a glass or a
thermoplastic polymer, such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a
polyacrylate, an acrylic, or a thermosetting polymer such as a
polyimide, melamine or an epoxy resin. Additionally, the sealant
136 may be a preformed film, such as a thermoplastic film, which
may be sealed to a surface of the body 126 using heat. After
application of the sealant 136, the surface 104 of the workstation
100 may optionally be planarized using conventional techniques to
form a substantially planar surface that may be easily cleaned,
disinfected and sterilized.
[0032] The workstation 100 may be selectively attached to a
mounting surface (not shown) by way of a support 111. The support
111 may be pivotally attached to the mounting surface, permitting
the workstation 100 to be moved between a variety of positions.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 6, a cart 600 that may be used in a dental
or medical setting is shown with a keyboard 102 integrated into a
workstation 100 such that the surface 104 is substantially planar
or flat. Advantageously, the workstation 100 may be formed having
the substantially planar surface by any of the means described
above or, as will be appreciated by those skill in the art, any of
a variety of means which are consistent with the spirit and scope
of the present invention. Because the surface 104 is substantially
free of depressions, cavities, channels or other porous
imperfections, the workstation 100 of the cart may be easily
cleaned, disinfected or sterilized using conventional techniques.
The workstation 100 of the cart 600 may be secured to a base 602 by
the support 111.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 7, a cabinet 700 that includes a
workstation 100 having a substantially planar surface 104 and a
keyboard 102 integrated therein. The cabinet 700 may additionally
include a base 702 and any number of storage areas 704a and 704b.
The workstation 100 may be formed as a substantially planar surface
by any of the means described above or, as will be appreciated by
those skill in the art, any of a variety of means which are
consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention. The
inclusion of the keyboard 102 in the workstation 100 having a
substantially planar surface using this novel design enables the
surface to easily be made aseptic using conventional means.
[0035] Although the foregoing description contains many specifics,
these are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present
invention, but merely as providing certain representative
embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention can be
devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present
invention. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated and
limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents,
rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions,
and modifications to the invention, as disclosed herein, which fall
within the meaning and scope of the claims, are encompassed by the
present invention.
* * * * *