GB2480157A

GB2480157A - Water washable hygienic enclosure for a computer terminal

Info

Publication number: GB2480157A
Application number: GB1107570A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Neal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-06
Filing date: 2011-05-06
Publication date: 2011-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-06
Also published as: GB2480157B; GB201007541D0; GB201107570D0; GB2480157A8; GB2480157B8

Abstract

Disclosed is an enclosure that fits around a computer terminal. The enclosure is designed to be water washable and thus hygienic, for use for example in the food manufacturing. The enclosure has a viewing window for the computer display, sealed user controls and is wall mountable. There are ventilation openings on the rear, the openings have covers, which are provided with downward facing openings so as to define a ventilation passage between the inside of enclosure and the outside. The passage has baffles projecting between the rear portion of the enclosure and the opening to the outside. The baffles may be panels angled downwards, attached to the inside of the ventilation passage's walls and project into the passage enough to block direct passage along the centre of the passage. The enclosure may have fans inside next to the openings.

Description

Hygienic Enclosure for a Computer Terminal The present invention relates to a hygienic enclosure for a computer terminal and in particular to such an enclosure adapted to being cleaned using a pressurised water jet.

In many working environments it is customary to monitor progress or potential problems by use of a computer terminal. In many environments, it is relatively straight forward to install a standard computer terminal at a convenient location.

In environments where a high level of hygiene is required, such as a food production line, the computer terminal must be adapted such that it will not present a contamination risk. Typically, this is achieved by providing the terminal within a wall mounted enclosure with a smooth wipe-clean surface. An example of such an enclosure would have a front portion having a viewing window through which a display unit attached to the terminal can be viewed and one or more sealed user actuable controls. To prevent the computer terminal overheating (and thus malfunctioning) one or more downwardly directed vents can be provided at the rear of the enclosure.

If cleaned manually, using a cloth or similar, there is usually no problem with water ingress into such an enclosure. Commonly, such environments are washed down using a hose or similar to provide a jet of water. In such circumstances it has been found that water can ingress through the downwardly directed vents. This ingress can cause the terminal to malfunction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hygienic enclosure for a computer terminal that at least partially overcomes or alleviates the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hygienic enclosure for a computer terminal comprising: a front portion having a viewing window and one or more sealed user actuable controls; a rear portion adapted for mounting on a wall or other upright surface and having one or more openings therein for ventilation; and one or more ventilation covers mounted on the exterior of the rear portion, each ventilation cover being provided over one or more openings and defining a ventilation passage between the opening and a downwardly directed opening at the lower end of the ventilation cover, the ventilation passage further being provided with one or more projecting baffles between the or each rear portion enclosure and the downwardly directed opening.

The provision of one or more projecting baffles in a passageway between vertically separated inlets substantially reduces the possibility of water ingress reaching a terminal provided within the enclosure.

The ventilation passage may be provided with a single baffle. More preferably, the ventilation passage is provided with a pair of baffles. Each baffle may comprise an angled panel projecting into the ventilation passage. The angled panel may further comprise a tab for attaching the angled panel to the ventilation passage wall. Each such angled panel is preferably downwardly directed. This helps to impede water ingress even when a jet of water is forced directly up the ventilation passage.

In a preferred embodiment two baffles are provided mounted on opposing waIls of the ventilation passage. Most preferably, the baffles project sufficiently far as to block direct passage along the centre of the ventilation passage.

The ventilation cover may have an extended box like fonn. The ventilation cover may have extended tab portions along its edges facilitating secure sealed fixing between the cover and the rear portion of the enclosure. The downwardly directed opening at the Lower end of the ventilation cover may open to substantially the full cross-section of the ventilation passage or may be partially covered by an additional panel.

One or more fans may be provided within the enclosure. The fans may be mounted adjacent to the openings. Additionally or alternatively, one or more fans may be positioned so as to provide an air flow across the surface of a display screen of the computer terminal. In this manner, the air flow can relieve or prevent excessive heat build up in hot conditions and relive or prevent condensation build up in cold conditions.

Jn order that the invention is more clearly understood, one embodiment will be described further herein, by way of example only, and with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of a hygienic enclosure for a computer terminal according to the present invention in an open condition; Figure 2 is a rear view of the hygienic enclosure for a computer terminal of figure 1; Figure 3a is a front view of a ventilation cover defining a ventilation passage for the hygienic enclosure of figures 1 and 2; Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view of the ventilation cover of figure 3a along line A-A; Figure 3c is a cross-sectional view of the ventilation cover of figure 3a along line B-B; Figure 3d is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the ventilation cover of figure 3a along line B-B; and Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hygienic enclosure to the present invention with one or more fans providing an air flow across the screen of the computer terminal.

Referring now to figure 1, there is shown a hygienic enclosure 100 for a computer terminal. The enclosure 100 has a front portion 110 having a viewing window 111 and one or more sealed user actuable controls 112 for the terminal provided on a projecting portion 113. The front portion is further provided with a mount 114 for a display unit 115 attached to the terminal.

The enclosure 100 also has a rear portion 120 adapted for mounting on a wall or other upright surface. A pair of fans 121 are mounted on the rear portion 120 for driving air into and out of the enclosure 100. The fans 121 are operable to drive air through openings in the rear potion 120 over which they are mounted.

In order to prevent the unwanted ingress of water, the openings are covered by ventilation covers 130. The ventilation covers 130 are mounted on the exterior of the rear portion 120. Each ventilation cover 130 defines a ventilation passage 131 between the opening and a downwardly directed opening 132 at the lower end of the ventilation cover 130. The opening 132 is partially covered by an additional panel 133.

Turning now to figures 3a-3c, the ventilation cover 130 is illustrated in more detail. The ventilation cover 130 has a box like form with an opening at its front defined by extended tab portions 134. The tab potions 134 allow the ventilation cover to be connected to the rear portion 120. The opening defined by the tab portions 134 is aligned with an opening in the rear portion 120 enabling the transfer of air between the inside of the enclosure 100 and the exterior via ventilation passage 131.

As a further impediment to water ingress, the ventilation passage is provided with a projecting baffle 140. The projecting baffle 140 shown in figures 3a-3c is mounted on the tab portions 134.

The baffle 140 comprises a downwardly directed angled panel 141 projecting into the ventilation passage 131. The angled panel 141 is integrally formed with a tab 142. The tab 142 facilitates the attachment of the baffle 140 to the tab potion 134.

Since the angled panel 141 is downwardly directed it is particularly suited to impede water ingress even when a jet of water is forced directly up the ventilation passage 131.

Turning now to figure 3d, an illustrative view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. This embodiment differs from the previously described embodiment in that an additional baffle 140 is provided in the ventilation passage 131. The additional baffles 140 is provided mounted on the opposing wall of the ventilation passage 131, specifically the rear wall of the ventilation cover 130.

This preferred embodiment also shows how the angled panels 141 of each baffle 140 overlap the centreline of passage 131. This blocks direct passage of water along the centre of the ventilation passage 131.

Turning now to figure 4, in some embodiments of the present invention one or more further fans 116 may be provided adjacent to the display screen 115. The further fan or fans 116 are adapted to provide an air flow 117 across the surface of the display screen 115. In hot coilditions, the air flow 117 can prevent heat build up on the screen 115 thereby reducing or preventing the possibility of heat damage to the screen 115. In cold conditions, the air flow 117 can reduce or prevent the formation of condensation on the screen 115 or viewing window 111.

It is of course to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

Claims 1. A hygienic enclosure for a computer terminal comprising: a front portion having a viewing window and one or more sealed user actuable controls; a rear portion adapted for mounting on a wall or other upright surface and having one or more openings therein for ventilation; and one or more ventilation covers mounted on the exterior of the rear portion, each ventilation cover being provided over one or more openings and defining a ventilation passage between the opening and a downwardly directed opening at the lower end of the ventilation cover, the ventilation passage further being provided with one or more projecting baffles between the or each rear portion enclosure and the downwardly directed opening.
2. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in claim I wherein each ventilation passage is provided with a single baffle.
3. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each ventilation passage is provided with a pair of baffles.
4. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each baffle comprises an angled panel projecting into the ventilation passage.
5. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the angled panel comprises a tab for attaching the angled panel to the ventilation passage wall.
6. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the angled panel is downwardly directed.
7. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein two baffles are provided mounted on opposing walls of the ventilation passage.
8. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the baffles project sufficiently far as to block direct passage along the centre of the ventilation passage.
9. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the ventilation cover has an extended box like fomi.
10. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the ventilation cover has extended tab portions along its edges facilitating secure sealed fixing between the cover and the rear portion of the enclosure.
11. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the downwardly directed opening at the lower end of the ventilation cover opens to substantially the full cross-section of the ventilation passage.
12. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the downwardly directed opening at the lower end of the ventilation cover is partially covered by an additional panel.
13. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one or more fans are provided within the enclosure.
14. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in claim 13 wherein each fan is mounted adjacent to the openings.
15. A hygienic enclosure as claimed in claim 13 or claim i4 wherein one or more fans are positioned so as to provide an air flow across the surface of a display screen of the computer terminal.