U.S. patent number RE34,266 [Application Number 07/647,701] was granted by the patent office on 1993-06-01 for work station with underdesk display.
Invention is credited to Edward C. Schairbaum.
United States Patent |
RE34,266 |
Schairbaum |
June 1, 1993 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Work station with underdesk display
Abstract
A computer work station is described in which a work table has a
transparent generally horizontal work surface, a keyboard rested
upon this table, and a CRT. To make the work station more usable,
the CRT is movably suspended beneath the transparent work surface
so that the screen of the CRT is visible therethrough. The CRT is
preferably mounted for side to side, forward and back, swingable
and rotational motion so as to be movable to a variety of positions
and angles beneath the transparent work surface whereby its display
will be conveniently visible on many portions of the table desired
by the worker.
Inventors: |
Schairbaum; Edward C. (Fort
Worth, TX) |
Family
ID: |
27078138 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/647,701 |
Filed: |
December 21, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
580804 |
Feb 16, 1984 |
04590866 |
May 27, 1986 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/23; 108/28;
248/444.1; 312/208.1; 312/7.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
21/007 (20130101); A47B 2200/0043 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
21/00 (20060101); A47B 085/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/7.2,208,194
;108/23,28,26,5,6,4,50,161 ;248/444.1,917,918,920,442.2,639
;358/254 ;362/33 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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659370 |
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619022 |
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1222730 |
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Jan 1977 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Anderson; Gerald A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Olson & Hierl, Ltd.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A computer work station comprising a work table having a
transparent generally horizontal work surface, a CRT, a keyboard
movably associated with said .Iadd.work station and independently
movably associated with said .Iaddend.CRT, and .Iadd.CRT mounting
.Iaddend.means .Iadd.cooperative with said work table .Iaddend.to
.[.suspend.]. .Iadd.support bottom portions of .Iaddend.said CRT
.Iadd.and to uphold said CRT .Iaddend.beneath said transparent work
surface with the screen of said CRT at an angle to said work
surface so that .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.screen .[.of the
CRT.]. is visible therethrough at a downward angle to a worker
using .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.work station, .[.and.]. said
.Iadd.CRT mounting .Iaddend.means .[.to suspend said CRT.].
including means for moving said CRT to a variety of positions and
angles beneath .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.transparent work
surface whereby .[.its.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.display .Iadd.of said
screen .Iaddend.will be conveniently visible to said worker at many
positions about .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table.
2. A computer work station as recited in claim 1 in which said work
table is formed with a plurality of legs which support parallel
front and back horizontally extending telescoping tubes above which
said transparent work surface is supported, said CRT mounting means
including a pair of tubular supports interconnecting said
horizontal tubes and slidable therewith as said tubes are
telescoped to permit .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT to be moved
from side to side beneath .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table.
3. A computer work station as recited in claim 2 in which a pair of
tubular braces .[.are.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.fitted over said
last-named tubular supports and are slidable thereupon to permit
.[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT to be moved forward and back
beneath .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table.
4. A computer work station as recited in claim 3 in which said CRT
mounting means is carried by downwardly extending swing arms
pivoted to said last-named tubular .[.braces.].
.Iadd.supports.Iaddend..
5. A computer work station as recited in claim 4 in which said
transparent work surface is supported by raised elements carried by
said front and back horizontal tubes so that .[.the.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.CRT mounting means can slide on said horizontal tubes
without encountering .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.work
surface.
6. A computer work station as recited in claim 5 in which said
transparent work surface constitutes the entire top of .[.the.].
.Iadd.said .Iaddend.table, and is hinged at the back to slope said
work surface.
7. A computer work station as recited in claim 4 in which said legs
are adjustable in length to adapt the height of .[.the.].
.Iadd.said .Iaddend.table to .[.the user.]. .Iadd.said worker
.Iaddend., and the length of said downwardly extending swing arms
is adjustable to adapt the length of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.swing arms to the size of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.CRT.
8. A computer work station as recited in claim 7 in which said CRT
.[.is positioned in.]. .Iadd.mounting means includes .Iaddend.a
right angle .[.bracket which is.]. .Iadd.member on which said CRT
is positioned, and said CRT is inclined .Iaddend.at an angle to the
horizontal when .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.swing arms extend
downwardly, and said .[.bracket.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.is
rotatably mounted upon a support which interconnects the lower ends
of said swing arms.
9. A work table adapted to provide a computer work station
comprising a transparent generally horizontal work surface adapted
to support a keyboard rested thereupon, said work table having
means .[.to.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.movably .[.suspend said.].
.Iadd.supporting a .Iaddend.CRT beneath said transparent work
surface with the screen of said CRT at an angle to said work
surface so that .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.screen .[.of the
CRT.]. is visible therethrough at a downward angle to a worker
seated in front of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table, said
.[.suspending.]. .Iadd.supporting .Iaddend.means to move said CRT
from side to side, forward and back, swingably and rotationally so
as to be movable to a variety of positions and angles beneath
.[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.transparent work surface whereby
.[.its.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.display .Iadd.of said
screen.Iaddend.will be conveniently visible .[.on.]. .Iadd.through
.Iaddend.many portions of .[.the table.]. .Iadd.said transparent
work surface as .Iaddend.desired by .[.the.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.worker.
10. A work table as recited in claim 9 in which said table is
formed with a plurality of legs which support parallel front and
back horizontally extending telescoping tubes upon which said
transparent work surface is supported.
11. A work table as recited in claim 10 in which tubular supports
extend between said horizontal tubes .[.a.]. with .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.pair of tubular braces being fitted over said last-named
tubular supports and slidable thereupon to permit .[.the.].
.Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT to be moved forward and back beneath
.[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table.
12. A work table as recited in claim 11 in which said CRT
.[.suspending.]. .Iadd.supporting .Iaddend.means is carried by
downwardly extending swing arms pivoted to said last-named tubular
braces.
13. A work table as recited in claim 12 in which said transparent
work surface is supported by raised elements carried by said front
and back horizontal tubes so that .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT
.[.suspending.]. .Iadd.supporting .Iaddend.means can slide on said
horizontal tubes without encountering .[.the.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.work surface.
14. A work table as recited in claim 13 in which said transparent
work surface is hinged at the back .Iadd.thereof .Iaddend.to be
elevatable at the front .Iadd.thereof.Iaddend..
15. A work table as recited in claim 14 in which said legs are
adjustable in length to adapt the height of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.table to the .[.the user .]. .Iadd.said worker
.Iaddend.and the length of said downwardly extending swing arms is
adjustable to adapt the length of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.swing arms to the size of a selected .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.CRT.
16. A work table as recited in claim 15 in which .Iadd.said
supporting means includes .Iaddend.a right angle bracket .Iadd.that
is .Iaddend.adapted to support .[.a.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT,
.[.is.]. .Iadd.right angle bracket being .Iaddend.mounted on a
.[.support.]. .Iadd.holding means .Iaddend.which interconnects the
lower ends of said swing arms, said right angle bracket being
positioned at an angle to the horizontl when .[.the.]. .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.swing arms extend downwardly, and said .Iadd.right angle
.Iaddend.bracket .[.is.]. .Iadd.being rotatably mounted .Iadd.by
said .[.support.]. .Iadd.holding means .Iaddend.to permit rotation
of said CRT about a vertical axis. .Iadd.
17. A computer work station comprising a work table having a
transparent generally horizontal work surface, a CRT, a keyboard
associated with said work station and independently and movably
associated with said CRT, and bracket means cooperative with said
work table to support bottom portions of said CRT to uphold said
CRT beneath said transparent work surface with the screen of said
CRT being at an angle to said work surface so that said screen is
visible therethrough at a downward angle to a worker using said
work station, said bracket means including means for moving said
CRT to a plurality of heights and angles beneath said transparent
work surface whereby the display of said screen will be
conveniently visible to said worker through said work
surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A computer work station comprising:
(a) a flat surfaced member supported generally horizontally by
understanding leg means, at least a portion of said member being
transparent; and
(b) bracket means adjustably associated with said work station,
said bracket means having support means for upholding bottom
portions of a cathode ray tube, and having means for adjustably
mounting said support means beneath said flat surfaced member for
movement of said support means relative thereto including means for
pivotal movement vertically with (1) said cathode ray tube being
oriented for visibility at a downward angle through said
transparent portion and (2) a keyboard being independently
associated with said work station..Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A computer
work station comprising:
(a) a flat surfaced member supported generally horizontally by
upstanding leg means, said flat surfaced member including a
transparent portion;
(b) bracket means associated with said work station for supporting
and upholding bottom portions of a cathode ray tube beneath said
flat surfaced member with the screen of said cathode ray tube
disposed angularly for viewability by a worker looking downwardly
through said transparent portion from a location laterally adjacent
said flat surfaced member;
(c) said bracket means including adjustment means for adjustably
horizontally and vertically moving and positioning said bracket
means relative to said flat surfaced member; and
(d) a keyboard independently movably associated with said cathode
ray tube..Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A desk configuration comprising:
(a) a member having a planar work surface and having spaced
longitudinal front and rear edges;
(b) means supporting said planar work surface, and
(c) CRT support means mounted beneath said planar work surface
including means for longitudinal, vertical and/or lateral movements
of said CRT support means relative thereto and for adjustably
supporting and upholding bottom portions of a cathode ray tube,
such that said cathode ray tube is located entirely beneath said
work surface and is movable on said CRT support means to a variety
of positions and angles while associated with a keyboard that is
separately and independently associated with said desk
configuration; and
(d) at least a portion of said planar work surface being
transparent so as to provide visual access to said cathode ray
tube..Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A desk configuration for supporting a CRT
and a keyboard independently of one another, said desk
configuration comprising a supported, generally horizontal work
surface having a transparent portion; and bracket means associated
with said work station for adjustably supporting and upholding
bottom portions of said CRT beneath said work surface with the
screen of said CRT being at an angle to said work surface so that
said screen is visible through said transparent portion at a
downward angle to a worker using said CRT; said bracket means
including adjustment means for moving said CRT to a plurality of
heights and angles beneath said transparent portion whereby the
display of said screen will be conveniently visible to
said worker therethrough..Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A computer work
station as recited in claim 1 in which said work surface includes
non-transparent portions..Iaddend.
23. A work table as recited in claim 9 in which said work surface
includes
non-transparent portions. 24. A computer work station as recited in
claim 1 which said CRT mounting means includes a right angle member
for supporting said CRT.
Description
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a computer work station in which a
cathode ray tube (CRT) ispositioned in a manner which enhances the
user's capacity to work at the station.
2. Background Art
Computer work stations comprising a CRT and a keyboard for
operating it are well known. These frequently include disc drives
and printers which may be at the same or another location, but the
work station always includes a CRT and a keyboard for operating the
same. These are now both rested on a table, usually with the CRT
immediately above and behind the keyboard.
This is a poor location for the CRT in many circumstances. It is
difficult to see when the user wears glasses with bifocal lenses.
It is a poor location for one who wishes to work with the data on
the CRT, rather than to merely supply or change that data using the
keyboard. For some tasks it is desirable to have the CRT closely
associated with the keyboard, but for other tasks this is not the
case.
Despite these evident limitations, there has been no satisfactory
CRT location at the known work stations, and those who now use
these devices must accept the limitations which presently
apply.
Part of the problem may be due to the fact that it has been
customary for those who work with data to be different from those
who type it. The final work product is provided by several persons,
the individual using the computer work station supplying primarily
only the typing function. However, professional individuals are
today finding themselves more frequently doing all sorts of tasks,
including assembling the data they use, manipulating that data, and
also presenting their material in a form suitable for direct
print-out. Under these circumstances, the work station user must be
able to perform more varied activities, and this is not easy to do
with the presently constituted work stations.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, a computer work station
comprises a work table having a transparent generally horizontal
work surface, a keyboard rested upon the table, and a CRT, this CRT
being movably suspended beneath the transparent work surface so
that the screen of the CRT is visible therethrough. Since the CRT
is to be movable and since, as later pointed out, the keyboard may
be supported on various portions of the work table, the two are
obviously movably associated with one another.
More particularly, the CRT is mounted from side-to-side, forward
and back, swingable and rotational motions so as to be movable to a
variety of positions and angles beneath the transparent work
surface so that its display will be conveniently visible on many
portions of the table desired by the worker. To accomplish this,
the work table is formed with a plurality of legs which support
parallel front and back horizontally extending telescoping tubes
upon which the transparent work surface is supported, and the CRT
mounting means including a pair of tubular supports interconnecting
these horizontal tubes and slidable thereupon to permit the CRT to
be moved from side to side beneath the table. A pair of tubular
braces are fitted over these tubular supports and are slidable
thereupon to permit the CRT to be moved forward and back beneath
the table. The CRT mounting means is swingably carried by
downwardly extending swing arms pivoted to these last-named tubular
braces and is mounted for pivotal movement about the vertical axis.
The invention includes the table which will carry the keyboard and
CRT.
Also, the transparent work surface is preferably supported by
raised elements carried by the front and back horizontal tubes so
that the CRT mounting means can slide on the horizontal tubes
without encountering the work surface.
It will also be understood that the display will be visible at a
downward angle to a worker seated in front of the table. In this
way, he can use bifocal lenses more conveniently. He can also write
on a generally horizontal surface almost directly alongside the
information which he sees on the CRT.
The table in this invention is normally formed with four legs
(preferably vertically adjustable) which support the front and back
horizontal tubes. These legs are adjustable to suit the user. The
front legs can be placed in a lower position than the back legs to
give the work surface a slight incline which some users may like
for some purposes. Raised elements extend above the tubes near the
four legs so that the transparent work surface, which preferably
consititutes the entire top of the table, can rest above the tubes.
This is one way to free the CRT mounting means for motion beneath
the table. The swing-arm and the pivotal mounting permit the CRT to
rotate and swing to the desired viewing position after side-to-side
and forward and back motion has placed the CRT in a desired
location.
Means are also used to space the front and back tubes, and the
transparent work surface is preferably hinged to the back tubes so
that it can be pivoted to elevate it at the front, which eases the
burden of reaching the CRT to adjust some aspect of its operation.
Such adjustment is sometimes required, but it is not frequently
needed.
The length of the swing arms which carry the CRT is also variable
because different CRTs are of different dimensions. These supports
are adjusted so that the top of the CRT is just slightly beneath
the undersurface of the transparent work surface. This adapts the
length of the swing support to the size of the CRT by bringing the
data to be read as close as possible to the user.
In preferred construction, the CRT is positioned in a right angle
bracket which is at an angle to the horizontal when the swing arms
extend downwardly and this bracket is rotatably mounted upon a
support which interconnects the lower ends of the swing arms.
The invention will be more fully understood from the accompanying
drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is an end view of a work station constructed in accordance
with this invention; and
FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line of 2--2 of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 generally identifies a table
containing front legs 11 and back legs 12. As can be seen, these
legs 11 and 12 are telescoped so that their upper ends 13 and 14
can be elevated to any desired position using pins 15 which are
commonly used for this purpose. Clamps can be substituted. The
front and back legs are spaced apart by base spacer 16. The upper
ends of the front legs are interconnected by front and back tubes
17 and 18 in FIG. 1, the legs 11 and 12 are at slightly different
heights to provide a slope to the work surface, but that surface
can be horizontal, and the horizontal position would be preferred
in many circumstances.
The front and back tubes 17 and 18 carry lifts 19 and 20 upon which
are rested a transparent work surface 21, which normally would be
made of glass about 3/8th inch to 1/2inch in thickness. It is
preferred to hinge the glass work surface 21 to the rear tube 18,
one of the hinges being shown at 22.
The front and back tubes are interconnected by parallel tubes 30
and 31, only one of which can be seen in FIG. 1. These tubes 30 and
31 are each made in three telescoped sections. Thus, tube 30 more
particularly includes tube ends 30 and 30A and central portion 36,
while tube 31 more particularly includes tube end 31, central
portion 36', and a remote tube end, like tube end 30A, not shown,
including a central larger diameter portion 36 which carries the
CRT via swing arms 32 and 33 which telescope with respect to lower
portions 42 and are adjustable in length via pins 34. Tubes 30 and
31 are spaced apart by a spacing bar 35 which is secured to a
central portion of these tubes, as will be discussed, and
preferably positioned, as shown, near the front of the table.
The CRT is supported on a right angle bracket 40 which is rotatably
mounted on a horizontal support 41. In this illustration of the
invention, the rotatable mounting is by a downward spindle 44 fixed
to the bottom of bracket 40 and which is extended through a hole in
the support 41. The CRT is shown in phantom, and is simply placed
on the bracket 40 which may have openings therein to allow cables
to interconnect the CRT with the remaining portions of the
computer. As shown in FIG. 1, the CRT is positioned so that its
screen or display is at an angle to the work surface 21 to be
visible from the front of the table.
Support 41 is carried at the lower ends 42 and 42' of telescoping
swing arms 32 and 33, and these are pivotally mounted at their
upper ends by means of collars 43 and 43' which are secured to the
portions 36 asnd 36' of tubes 30 and 31. Since the portions 36 are
slidably disposed on the tubes 30 and 31, this means that the CRT
can be shifted front to back by manual operation.
The side to side shifting of the CRT is more fully shown in FIG. 2
where it will be seen that the back tube 18 has mounted thereon a
larger diameter tube 50 and the tubes 30 and 31 are connected
thereto. In this way as the tube 50 slides laterally along the back
tube 18 (a corresponding element 51 will slide laterally along the
front tube 17) the tubes 30 and 31 are shifted laterally, and the
CRT is shifted laterally along with them.
It is desired to be able to swing the swing arms 32 and 33 in order
to position the angle of the CRT, and this is done by means of the
element 60 which is of variable length as a result of the
combination of a central collar 61 with threaded bars 62 and 63.
Bar 62 is pivotally connected to the tube 36 and bar 63 is
pivotally connected to a lower portion 42 of the swing arm 32. One
or two of these may be used as desired, and it is well known that
rotation of the collar will vary the length of the combined bars so
as to position the swing arm and thereby vary the angle of the
CRT.
To summarize the operation, the table is adjusted to the user by
choosing the lengths of the legs 11 and 12 via the placing of pins
15. The CRT is placed on bracket 40 and its elevation selected by
appropriately placing pins 34. The lateral position of the CRT is
adjusted by pushing the assembly which carries the CRT to the side
which causes tubes 50 and 51 to slide over tubes 17 and 18. The
forward to back position is obtained by pushing the assembly which
carries the CRT forward or back to cause large diameter tubes 36 to
slide over tubes 30 and 31. It will be seen that these tubes 30 and
31 are formed in several sections so that the height of legs 11 and
12 may differ from one another. When the CRT is positioned, as
above indicated, it can now be rotated by turning spindle 44 in the
vertical hole 45 in the support 41 to allow easy viewing. The
collar 61 is now used to vary the length of the element 60 which
moves the swing arms 32 and 33 to adjust the angle of the CRT.
It should be observed that a tubular construction has been
illustratred, and this is the presently preferred form of the
invention. These tubes are preferably round, but any slidable
construction can be used. Moreoever, a sliding construction
represents only one particularly practical means for moveably
supporting the CRT beneath the transparent work surface, and other
constructions, such as jointed support arms, will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Also, and while it is presently preferred
to have the entire upper surface of the desk transparent, a portion
thereof may be of conventional opaque construction so long as a
sufficient transparent surface remains so that several executive
functions can be carried out on different portions of the
transparent surface with the CRT being moved to facilitate such
functions. This is illustrated by the fact that one might wish to
support a telephone and the keyboard on non-transparent portions of
the table or desk.
* * * * *