FR2503049A1 - Multi-user office fitting for computer equipment - uses vertical column with pivoted horizontal arm to allow equipment to be moved to different stations - Google Patents

Abstract

The multi-user office fixture comprises a central support with radiating arms which carry equipment such as terminals and peripheral devices for a computer, or possibly microcomputers. The support may be rotated to rest close to one of a group of desks around the central support. The central support has a vertically mounted shaft which has a horizontal radial arm pivoted from it. At the end of the arm a support is pivoted to allow orientation of the equipment it carries to suit the user. The height and arm length are adjustable, and clamping facilities hold the equipment in the set place. The radial arm can be locked in any one position. The support (8) is also lockable in its orientation about a horizontal axis.

Description

 The present invention relates to a support device for office devices usable by several operators, such as, for example, computer terminals or peripherals, or even microcomputers.

 In general, we know that there are already many types of furniture intended for this use, some manufacturers even offering relatively sophisticated furniture, suitable for one type or family of computers of the same brand and in which the various elements or peripherals are integrated into this furniture.

 It therefore turns out that the furniture thus equipped cannot be used for other uses than that of the devices they support.

 Consequently, the operators are obliged to move each time they have to use the computer or the peripheral, which constitutes a significant loss of time, in particular in the case where the same computer or peripheral is intended to be used by several operators.

 In addition, this furniture does not allow a good adaptation of the devices they support, to the convenience of users (adaptation in position, height, orientation or tilt).

 The invention therefore aims to eliminate all these drawbacks. It therefore proposes, instead of mounting these devices on a piece of furniture such as a desk, as previously, to mount them on a support device comprising a fixed vertical column provided, in its upper part, with a pivot on which is rotationally mounted the end of a horizontal arm on which is articulated, at its other end, around a vertical axis and possibly a horizontal axis, an element of the appropriate support.

 Thus} thanks to such an arrangement, the support element can first of all perform around the abovementioned pivot, general rotational movements making it possible, for example, to bring the apparatus from one fixed work station to another . It can also perform rotational movements on itself around the above vertical axis, as well as possibly tilting movements around the above horizontal axis, these two types of movements making it possible to adapt the position of the device to user convenience.

Furthermore, the aforesaid column can be equipped with a device for adjusting the height of the pivot,
It can be mounted on a base such as a base, possibly offset, or else be secured to a piece of furniture, preferably weighted.

 The invention further relates to an assembly formed by the combination of the support device described above and several work stations which may, for example consist of desks, arranged, at least in part, in the area of movement of the element. of support.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the above-mentioned workstations are arranged in a configuration, for example in the year U, at least partially surrounding the support device, or else in a radiant configuration, for example in tripod, in the center of which the device is placed. of support.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic vertical section of a support device;
Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an arrangement for serving three workstations arranged in a U-shaped configuration;
Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an arrangement for serving three work stations arranged in a tripod configuration.

 With reference to Figure 1, the support system consists of a vertical column 1, mounted on a base 2. In this column 1 is mounted sliding a barrel 3 adjustable in height which can be locked in position by means of a system blocking. More precisely, this barrel 3 can be mounted on a roller in column 1.

In this case, the movements of this barrel 3, preferably compensated by a pneumatic spring, can be ensured by means of a vertical screw driven by a motor and which cooperates with a nut integral with the column 1. The blocking in height can also be obtained by means of a vertical screw cooperating with a disengageable nut remotely controllable.

 The barrel 3 comprises, at its upper end, a pivoting with vertical axis 4, on which pivots (arrow 5), a horizontal radial arm 6. The rotation blocking of this arm 6 can between obtained by means of a device controllable locking with friction disc.

 On the other end of the radial arm 6 is mounted a support element 8 on which is placed and possibly fixed an apparatus such as for example a microcomputer 9.

 The mounting of this support element 8 on the end of the radial arm 6 is carried out by means of a device for orientation with a vertical axis 10 which allows the support element 8 to pivot on itself in a horizontal plane (arrow 11) and a tilting device with horizontal axis 12 which allows the support element 8 to pivot in a vertical plane (arrow 13).

 Of course, the orientation device and the tilting device can include controllable rotation locking means.

 One of the advantages of the previously described support device is illustrated by the arrangement shown in FIG. 2.

 According to this arrangement, the base 2 of the support device is arranged in the space between three desks BÂ, Bg, Bc, arranged in a U-shaped configuration.

 These three offices concretize three workstations to which are assigned three employees using only in a discontinuous manner the microcomputer 9 carried by the support element.

 Each of these employees can have their own memory set which they file in the office assigned to them.

 In the event that none of these employees has to use the microcomputer 9, it is arranged outside the three offices in position 1 shown in broken lines. In this position, the offices Ba, Bb, Bc are completely free and can be used as usual by the employees.

 In the event that one of the employees wishes to use the microcomputer 9, he pivots the radial arm 6 to bring the microcomputer 9 above his desk, the barrel 3 then being placed in an elevated position to allow the support element 8 as well as the arm 6 to pass over the business located on the desks.

 The user can then adjust the position of the microcomputer 9, by lowering it, orienting it and tilting it as desired.

 In the example described above, the support device is independent of the offices used.

 Of course, it remains possible to incorporate it into a piece of furniture such as a desk or a table which may have various shapes or dimensions.

 In this case, the vertical column, devoid of its base, can be secured to the structure of this furniture, possibly ballasted.

 The arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 involves three desks or work tables, 13, 14, 15 of rectangular shape substantially contiguous at one of their ends and which extend to 1200 from one another.

 The work stations are then materialized by three rotary office chairs 16, 17, 18 respectively assigned to each of the offices 13, 14, 15.

 In the triangular central space 19 delimited by the junction of these three desks 13, 14, 15 is installed a support device such as that previously described, the support element 8, mounted at the end of the radial arm 6 carries a device 20, such as a microcomputer.

 It is clear that by rotating the radial arm 6 (arrow 21) around the vertical pivot 4, the operator can bring the device 20 to his work station without having to move, and choose the position of work that suits him best.

 An important advantage of such an arrangement is that, using positions of the type shown in FIG. 3, according to which in each of the work stations, the apparatus 20 and the desk 13, 14, 15 are located on either side of the chair 16, 17, 18, the operator, by turning (arrow 23) can both have his desk 13, 14, 15 and the device 20 without being hindered by the latter as this would be the case if the device 20 was located above the desk 13, 14, 15.

Claims (9)

 1.- Support device for office apparatus (9) usable by several people, such as, for example, computer terminals or peripherals or even microcomputers, characterized in that it comprises: a vertical column fixed (1) provided in its upper part with a pivot with vertical axis (4) on which is rotatably mounted the end of a horizontal radial arm (6) on which is articulated, at its other end, around a vertical axis (10) and possibly a horizontal axis (12), a support element (8) intended to receive said device (9).  2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said column (1) is mounted on a base (2) or is integral with a possibly weighted piece of furniture.  3.- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said column (1) comprises means for adjusting the height of the said pivot, possibly remotely controllable.  4.- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for locking in rotation of the radial arm (6).  5.- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for blocking the orientation of the support element (8).  6.- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for blocking the inclination of the support element (8).  7. - An assembly formed by the combination of the support device according to one of the preceding claims and several work stations which may consist of offices arranged at least, partly in the area of movement of the support element.  8.- An assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the above workstations are arranged in a configuration, for example in a U, at least partially surrounding the support device.  9. An assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the aforesaid work stations are arranged in a radiating configuration, for example a tripod, in the center of which is placed the support device.