GB2227408A

GB2227408A - Computer workstation

Info

Publication number: GB2227408A
Application number: GB9002188A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Christopher Earne Harper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-01-31
Filing date: 1990-01-31
Publication date: 1990-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-31
Also published as: GB8902101D0; GB2227408B; GB9002188D0

Abstract

A computer workstation incorporating a keyboard for operation by a user is constructed such that, with a user seated with thighs sloping downwardly, the keyboard (17) is supported at a height corresponding to that of the users pelvis or thighs (13). The seat (10) is raked at an angle to the horizontal and the users lower legs (14) and/or knees (15) may be supported by pad(s) (16). The support structure for the items of equipment, e.g. visual display unit (25), computer module (27), mouse pad, printer unit (29), may comprise framers to which are secured shelves or brackets. The seat structure (10, 16) may be a separate unit from the workstation, or it may be integral with the workstation. <IMAGE>

Description

KEYBOARD WORKSTATIONS AND SUPPORTS THEREFOR This invention relates to workstations which incorporate a keyboard operated by a user to enter data and in particular to computer workstations which incorporate a keyboard and to supports for supporting equipment units of such workstations.

Computer workstations are frequently supported on desks, the keyboard for the workstation being located adjacent a front edge of the desk for operation by a user seated on a chair. A computer module is located immediately behind the keyboard and a visual display unit is supported on the computer module. Thus the keyboard is located in front of the user and in order for the user to reach the keys of the keyboard easily, the user is seated so that the desktop and hence the keyboard extends above the user's thighs.

In order to facilitate moving of workstations from place to place in an office and to provide compact accommodation for not only the computer module, keyboard and visual display unit but also for other equipment, such as a printer, associated with the workstation, support structures specifically designed to support the items of a workstation have been provided instead of a desk. Such support structures incorporate shelves to support the individual items of equipment. Usually, the computer module is supported on a main shelf with the visual display unit carried either on the computer module or on a shelf extending immediately over the computer module. The keyboard is supported on a forwardly extending portion of the main shelf or on a subsidiary shelf which is on a level slightly below the main shelf.The support structure is arranged such that with the user sitting on a chair, the shelf or shelf portion supporting the keyboard extends over the user's thighs.

When a user is comfortably seated on a chair, the user's thighs extend substantially horizontally. The desk top or shelf supporting the keyboard extends above the user's thighs and as a result the tops of the keys of the keyboard are disposed at a height which is above the pelvis of the user. This results in the user's arms having to be bent at the elbow such that the forearms extend horizontally or even upwards to the keyboard and with the rake of the keyboard the hands have to extend upwards. With the arms and hands in this position, pain and injury occur in the joints, ligaments and nerve fibres of the shoulders, upper back, neck, forearms and wrists.

This is particularly apparent in respect of the forearm and wrist which suffer due to engagement, which may occur with a degree of force, against desk and keyboard edges and which are frequently twisted beyond comfortable limits of flexure.

According to one aspect of the present invention a workstation incorporating a keyboard unit for operation by a user comprises structure to support the user in a position in which the thighs of the user slope downwardly and to support the keyboard unit at a height corresponding approximately to the height of the sloping thighs of the user.

According to another aspect, the invention encompasses a structure for supporting the user and keyboard unit as hereinbefore defined.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating an ergonomic configuration of the items of a workstation relative to a user, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front view illustrating the configuration of the items of the workstation, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view similar to that of Figure 1 illustrating variation in the position of items of the workstation, Figure 4 illustrates variations in lateral position of the items of the workstation, Figure 5 is a front elevation of a work station and supporting structure, and Figure 6 is a side elevation of the work station and supporting structure.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a user is supported on a support structure incorporating a seat 10 raked at an angle to the horizontal such that the front edge 11 is lower than the rear 12 of the seat so as to support the thighs 13 of a user at an angle to the horizontal such that the thighs slope downwardly with the knees lower than the hips. The lower legs 14, and or the knees 15, of the user are supported by a pad or pads 16 to prevent the user sliding forwards on the angled seat 10.

The items of equipment comprising the workstation are mounted on a further support structure. The specific manner of construction thereof is not important and it may be fabricated in any convenient manner. The support structure comprises frame members to which are secured shelf members constructed in a manner suitable to support the specific items of equipment in the positions shown in the drawings. One shelf member supports a keyboard 17 at a height which corresponds to the height of the sloping thighs1 preferably the lower portion of the thighs, of the user such that the arms of the user, shown diagrammatically at 18 fall naturally toward the keyboard 17.Thus the upper arm 19 hangs in a relaxed position from the shoulder joint 20, the forearm 21 extends downwards from the elbow 22, and the hand 23 extends generally in line with the forearm from the wrist 24.

With the keyboard in this position, only the tips of the fingers engage the keys of the keyboard and there is no part of the keyboard or supporting structure therefor which is able to be engaged by the forearms or wrists. A second shelf supports a visual display unit 25 at a height corresponding to the height at which the eyes 26 of the user are located. The computer module for the workstation often incorporates one or more drive units for exchangeable floppy diskettes on which data is recorded.

In use of the workstation, the floppy diskettes need to be inserted into or removed from the disc drives periodically and hence it is convenient to locate the computer module in such manner as to permit easy access to the disc drives. Accordingly a computer module 27 for the workstation is supported by a third shelf below the visual display unit with the disc drive 28 facing toward the user. A printer unit 29 is supported on a fourth shelf below the computer module. Some printer units which use continuous stationery are arranged to draw paper upon which printing is to be effected from an external supply of paper in fanfold formation. The supply of paper in fanfold formation may be located immediately below the printer unit. Accordingly, the supply of paper may be supported on the fourth shelf and the printer unit may be carried by a support resting on the fourth shelf.

Alternatively the printer and paper supply may be supported by separate shelves supported on the frame members. Other printer units, such as laser printers, which feed individual sheets of paper draw paper sheets from a paper container located within the printer. These latter printers with an internal paper supply tend to be of greater height than those which draw paper from an external supply. However the height of the laser printers is similar to the combined height of a printer and an external supply of paper. Accordingly a space of the same height above the fourth shelf will serve to accommodate either a printer unit with external paper supply or a printer of the laser type with an internal paper supply.

As may be seen from the drawings, the position of mounting of the keyboard and the computer unit enables the printer 29 to be within view of the eyes 26 of the user and to enable easy access to the printer without any need for the user to move from the seat for purposes of control of the operation of the printer. If required, an acoustic shroud may be provided around the printer to reduce transmission of noise from the printer. Such a shroud may take the form of a pair of clamshell doors hinged horizontally, one door swinging forwardly under the keyboard and the other door swinging upwardly towards the computer unit.

Many workstations incorporate a mouse for controlling operation of the workstation in which the mouse is moved manually on a surface of a mouse pad 31 to effect the desired control operations. The mouse pad may be supported on an extension of the first shelf to the right hand side of the keyboard. Alternatively the mouse pad may be supported on a further shelf separate from the first shelf and located to the right hand side of the first shelf. When entering data by means of the keyboard it is frequently required to read the data or information from a copy thereof on paper. A rack or holder 30 for such paper copies may be provided. The rack may be mounted adjacent to the visual display unit and may for example be offset to the left hand side and lower than the visual display unit.

As will be seen in Figures 3 and 4 the positions of the shelves and mountings for the various items of equipment may be adjustable so that the items can be mounted at the most convenient position and angle with respect to the user. Although the support for the mouse pad is shown at the right hand side of the keyboard, it may if desired be mounted adjacent the left hand side of the keyboard.

Preferably the adjustment on the mouse pad support provides for left-right movement, variation of fore and aft angle of rake, movement toward and away from the user and variation of the angle of skew, in a horizontal plane, relative to the keyboard. It is preferred to provide a heel 32 of approximately 25mm depth on the mouse pad support. The heel has a rounded upper edge and provides a support for one hand of the user when using the mouse.

The mouse pad may be conveniently positioned such that the heel 32 projects approximately 50mm in front of the front edge of the keyboard. This heel and the mouse pad support may be constructed to be sufficiently strong and rigid as to allow the user to use the heel as a partial support from time to time to facilitate change of position of the user and particularly to assist the user when rising from and vacating the workstation. In order to enable the workstation to be moved the frame members are provided with castors.

While the seat structure may be a separate unit from the workstation, the seat structure may be integrated with the workstation by providing supports for the seat 10 and pads 16 secured to the frame members of the workstation.

If the seat structure is integrated with the workstation means would be provided to make the structure stable and to retain the structure in a static position when a user is seated on the seat but to permit easy movement of the structure when no user is seated. The position of the seat and pads may be adjustable if required.

Instead of a support for the user as described hereinbefore in which the knees or lower legs are supported by pads 16, the support may take other forms in which the user is supported such that the thighs extend at an angle to the horizontal downwardly from the pelvis.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement and support of the items of equipment of the workstation as hereinbefore described enables easy and ergonomic access to all the items of equipment including access to the interior of the computer unit if that should be required for maintenance or other purposes. Preferably the supporting structure does not include any horizontal surface which is not occupied by equipment in order to prevent any attempt by a user to place undesirable objects such as cups of beverage in the vicinity of the equipment which, for example, by spillage could cause damage to the equipment. The upper face of the computer unit 27 could itself provide such a surface but the tilting of the unit prevents use of it for such undesirable purposes.

As described hereinbefore, the items of equipment are supported on shelves. It is to be understood that while shelves are a convenient form of support for the items of equipment, other forms of support may be utilised. For example, the support may take the form of one or more brackets secured to the frame members and so constructed as to provide the required supporting function.

An example of a support structure for the items of equipment comprising the workstation is shown in Figures 5 and 6 to which reference is now made. The structure comprises pairs of vertical frame members 33,34 secured to a base frame or member 35. The upper ends of the frame members 33 are connected to the frame members 34 by means of horizontal members 36. The frame members 34 extend higher than the frame members 33 and are interconnected at their upper ends by a horizontal member 37. A shelf 38 is secured between the horizontal members 37 to support a computer unit 27. As shown the shelf 38 supports the computer unit horizontally, however, as described hereinbefore, the shelf 38 may support the computer unit so that the unit slopes downwards away from the user. A shelf 39 is mounted on the vertical frame members 33,34, below the shelf 38, to support a printer 29.A further shelf 40 is mounted on the vertical frame members 33,34, below the shelf 39, to support a container or stack of paper 45 for feeding to the printer. Portions 41 of the vertical frame members 34 extending higher than the frame members 33 support a shelf 42. The shelf 42 is adjustable for height relative to the frame members 34 and supports a visual display unit 25. Adjustment of the height of the shelf 42 allows the user of the workstation to adjust the height of the visual display unit to a convenient height for viewing and if desired means may be provided to enable the visual display unit to be tilted so that the screen thereof is at a convenient angle of tilt for the user.

The keyboard 17 of the workstation is supported by means of an arm 43 mounted on one of the vertical frame members 33. A shelf may be mounted on the arm 43 to receive and support the keyboard. Alternatively the arm may be provided with other means to receive and support the keyboard. It should be appreciated that the support for the keyboard does not extend to the rear of the keyboard and hence access to the printer is not inhibited by the keyboard support and as result the user can operate control keys on the printer and remove printed sheets from the printer without moving from the normal working position in front of the workstation. In order to permit even more access to the printer than this allows, the arm 43 preferable is pivotally mounted on the vertical frame member 33 to permit the keyboard to be pivoted about a vertical axis between the normal operating position and a position to one side of the support structure. A further arm 44 mounted on the vertical frame member 33 provides a support for a mouse pad 31. The mountings of the arms 43 and 44 on the vertical frame member 33 are adjustable for height relative to the frame member to enable a user to position the keyboard and mouse pad at convenient and comfortable operating heights.

A power distribution unit 45 is secured to the vertical frame members 34 immediately below the shelf 38 and is provided with power outlet sockets to which the items of equipment requiring to be powered from a mains electricity supply may be connected.

Claims

1. A workstation incorporating a keyboard unit for operation by a user comprising structure to support the user in a position in which the thighs of the user slope downwardly and to support the keyboard unit at a height corresponding approximate ly to the height of the s loping thighs of the user.

2. A workstation incorporating a keyboard unit for operation by a user comprising structure to support the user in a position in which the thighs of the user slope downwardly and to support the keyboard unit at a height corresponding approximately to the height of the pelvis of the user or lower.

3. A workstation as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the structure includes means to support a mouse pad unit adjacent the keyboard unit.

4. A workstation as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the structure includes means to support a visual display unit at a height corresponding to the height of the eyes of the user when supported by the structure.

5. A workstation as claimed in claim 4 wherein the structure includes means to support a computer module unit below the visual display unit.

6. A workstation as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the structure includes means to support a printer unit below the computer module unit.

7. A workstation as claimed in any preceding claim including a printer unit located to the rear of the keyboard unit remote from the user and wherein access by the user to the printer is provided to the rear of the keyboard unit.

8. A workstation as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the structure comprises a first structure to support the user and a second structure to support the unit or units.

9. A workstation as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first and second structures are integral.

10. A workstation as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for supporting the keyboard unit is adjustable for height and for angle of rake.

11. A workstation as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means to support the mouse pad unit is adjustable for at least one of height, lateral position, angle of rake and skew relative to the keyboard unit.

12. A workstation as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the keyboard is supported by a mounting constructed to enable the keyboard to be pivoted about a vertical axis between operative and inoperative positions.

13. A workstation in which the items of equipment comprising the workstation are supported as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings or as modified by Figures 3 and 4.

14. A structure for supporting a user and the unit or units of a workstation as claimed in any preceding claim.

15. A workstation structure constructed to support items comprising a workstation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.