Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B21/00—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
  • A47B21/03—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards with substantially horizontally extensible or adjustable parts other than drawers, e.g. leaves
  • A47B21/0314—Platforms for supporting office equipment
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B21/00—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B21/00—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
  • A47B21/03—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards with substantially horizontally extensible or adjustable parts other than drawers, e.g. leaves
  • A47B21/0314—Platforms for supporting office equipment
  • A47B2021/0321—Keyboard supports
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B21/00—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
  • A47B21/03—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards with substantially horizontally extensible or adjustable parts other than drawers, e.g. leaves
  • A47B21/0314—Platforms for supporting office equipment
  • A47B2021/0364—Keyboard and monitor supports
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B2210/00—General construction of drawers, guides and guide devices
  • A47B2210/15—Keyboard drawers
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S248/00—Supports
  • Y10S248/917—Video display screen support
  • Y10S248/918—Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Definitions

• the present invention relates in general to computer display and keyboard work station assemblies, and in particular to copy holding mounting apparatus for such assemblies.
• CTR cathode-ray-tube
• the CRT screen is too low and too close to the operator.
• the conven ⁇ tional CRT screen placement permits excessive reflec ⁇ tions on the screen surface, which distracts operators, and places the screen in an intermediate focal distance from the eyes of an operator which is not compatible with the vision requirements of many people and which is particularly irritating to those people who wear bifocal glasses.
• mounting apparatus for a work station assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, which comprises support apparatus for support ⁇ ing copy material and at least the display with respect to a work surface such that the keyboard, or display actuator, the display, and the copy material may be disposed in line, with the display viewing screen dis ⁇ posed relatively above and longitudinally spaced from the display actuator so as to minimize reflections on the viewing screen as viewed by a work station operator and so as to position the viewing screen at a predetermined focal distance from a work station operator.
• support apparatus for supporting copy material mounted thereon such that the copy material is disposed intermediate the display and display actuator and such that the copy material is positioned relatively higher than the display actuating means and relatively, lower than the viewing screen, and at an inclined attitude with respect to a work sta ⁇ tion operator.
• support apparatus is also provided for supporting the display actuator at a level below the level of the work surface which is at a predeter ⁇ mined height relative to a work station operator so as to facilitate operation of the display actuator.
• the support apparatus comprises at least one platform defining a horizontal surface for each of the display and display actuator devices which is supported by the support apparatus, and first and
• ⁇ * - c second vertical positioning surfaces against which a rear surface of the display actuator and a front sur ⁇ face of the display, respectively, abut when the dis ⁇ play and display actuator are operatively mounted on the mounting apparatus.
• Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of mounting apparatus constructed in accord ⁇ ance with the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the embodi ⁇ ment illustrated in Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the embodi ⁇ ment illustrated in Figure 1 showing a display and display actuator disposed in operative relationship * therewith.
• Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of mounting apparatus constructed in accord ⁇ ance with the present invention.
• Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the embodi ⁇ ment illustrated in Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the embodi ⁇ ment illustrated in Figure 4 showing a display and display actuator disposed i operative relationship therewith.
• Figure 7 is a front perspective view of a guide member adapted for use with mounting apparatus con ⁇ structed in accordance with the present invention.
• Figure 8 is a front elevation view of a portion of the member illustrated in Figure 7. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
• the apparatus generally denoted 20, is shown mounted on a conven ⁇ tional table 10 which defines a work surface 12.
• Apparatus 20 generally comprises a first platform 30 mounted on work surface 12 for supporting copy material 14, which typically is in the form of work sheets, notebooks and the like, and contains input data to be fed into a conventional computer or other device (not shown) via a conventional keyboard 16 in order to actuate a conventional display 18.
• Apparatus 20 further generally comprises a second platform 40 mounted on work surface 12 in line with and adjacent to platform 30 for supporting display 18 in a prede ⁇ termined spatial relationship with respect to keyboard 16 and an operator..
• Platforms 30 and 40 advantageously are separable, modular units, as shown, for use with model of keyboard 16 and display 18 which are "hard ⁇ wired" together, to facilitate shipping and storage, and to allow the use together of units of different dimensions such that apparatus may be custom fit to different types of keyboards 16, displays 18, tables 10, and operators.
• platforms 30 and 40 also are advantageously constructed as an inte ⁇ gral one-piece unit for use with plug-compatible models of keyboard 16 and display 18.
• Platform 30 advantageously comprises a vertically oriented front panel 32 defining a front positioning surface 33 connected to two vertically oriented trape ⁇ zoidal side panels 34 having inclined upper edges, and a top panel 36 connected to the upper edges of panels 32 and 34 so as to define an inclined support surface 38.
• top panel 36 advantageously extends beyond front panel 32 to define an overhanging portion 37, and is provided with an upwardly projecting lip or flange 39 against which copy material 14 abuts when mounted on platform 30.
• flange 39 advantageously is slidably mounted on top panel 36 in a conventional manner, such as by means (not shown) of bolts which project from flange 39 and pass through longitudinal slots in panel 36 and which cooperate with clamping nuts dis ⁇ posed on the underside of panel 36 to releasable clamp flange 39 in a desired position.
• Front panel 32 advantageously is of sufficient height to allow keyboard 16 to be disposed on work sur ⁇ face 12 with respect to platform 30 such that the rear surface of keyboard 16 abuts positioning surface 33 and overhanging portion 37 of top panel 36 clears the top of keyboard 16.
• top panel 36 is configured such that the front edge thereof is coterminous with the top edge of front panel 32 and front panel 32 is dimensioned so as to be slightly shorter in height than the rear surface of keyboard 16.
• the rear surface of keyboard 16 acts as a stop for copy material 14 when keyboard 16 is operatively positioned with respect to mounting apparatus 20, and thus top panel 36 of platform 30 advantageously is not provided with flange 39 as in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-3.
• Platform 30 advantageously is further configured so as to define a vertically oriented rear .positioning surface 35 against which display 18 abuts when display 18 is operatively mounted on platform 40.
• Surface 35 serves, in cooperation with surface 33, to position dis ⁇ play 18 such that the viewing screen 19 thereof is a predetermined longitudinal distance from keyboard 16, and thus is at a predetermined focal length from an operator conventionally positioned with respect to key ⁇ board 16.
• Surface 35 can be defined by the rear edge of top panel 36, as shown, or can be defined by a separate panel or the like (not shown) , which advan ⁇ tageously can be slidably mounted to platform 30 in a conventional manner (not shown) such that the distance between surfaces 33 and 35 can be varied to accomodate different operators.
• front positioning surface 33 advantageously also is defined by a separate panel (not shown) rather than by front panel 32, to allow po ⁇ sitioning of keyboard 16 relative to an operator inde ⁇ pendently of the positioning of display 18.
• Top panel 36 of platform 30 preferably is dimen ⁇ sioned such that support surface 38 is large enough to accomodate standard sizes of copy material 14.
• Plat ⁇ form 30 is preferably further configured such that .the angle of inclination of support surface 38 is sufficient to facilitate visual inspection by an operator of copy material 14 mounted thereon, and to position the rear edge of panel 36 longitudinally of surface 33 so as to define surface 35, or so as not to interfere with the operation of surface 35 in embodiments of mounting apparatus 20 which utilize other structure to define surface 35.
• top panel 36 is also pivotably mounted to front panel 32 and lateral panels 34 in a conventional manner (not shown) such that the angle of inclination of surface 38 may be adjusted to accomodate individual operators.
• Platform 40 advantageously is of any conventional construction which defines a horizontal planar support surface 42 which is disposed at a predetermined height above work surface 12 such that the viewing screen 19 of a display 18 mounted thereon is centered with respect to the line of sight of an operator.
• a horizontal planar support surface 42 which is disposed at a predetermined height above work surface 12 such that the viewing screen 19 of a display 18 mounted thereon is centered with respect to the line of sight of an operator.
• a platform 40 having a support surface 42 disposed approximately six to seven inches (15.2-17.8 cm) above work surface 12 has proven satisfactory in minimizing reflections on viewing screen 19 which are distracting to an opera ⁇ tor positioned for conventional seated operation of keyboard 16.
• platform 40 advantageously is sectioned into upper and lower sections and the sections joined in a conventional manner (not shown) to allow vertical displacement of the upper platform section with re ⁇ spect to the lower platform section, and thereby allow the height of support surface 42 to be adjusted to accomodate individual operators.
• Mounting apparatus 20 preferably is further pro ⁇ vided as shown with openings 50 disposed in selected vertically oriented panels through which pass the cables 52 which electrically connect conventional models of keyboard 16 to conventional models of CRT display 18 and which connect display 18 to the associated computer and/or power source (not shown) .
• openings 50 disposed in selected vertically oriented panels through which pass the cables 52 which electrically connect conventional models of keyboard 16 to conventional models of CRT display 18 and which connect display 18 to the associated computer and/or power source (not shown) .
• an opening 50 in front panel 32 is advan ⁇ tageous.
• an opening 50 defined by the absence of a rear panel for platform 30, as shown, is advantageous.
• openings 50 constitute notches or slots as shown, formed in the bottom edges of platform 30 and which communicate with work surface 12 such that models of keyboard 16 and display 18 having cable 52 "hardwired” or permanently attached may be operatively disposed with respect to mounting apparatus 20 without disconnecting cables 52.
• FIGs 4-6 a second embodiment of mounting apparatus constructed -in accordance with the present invention will now be described.
• the embodiment of Figures 4-6 is similar to the embodiment of Figures 1-3, and like elements have been denoted by like references numerals with primes attached. For clarity of description, only those features which differ in the two embodiments will be described hereinbelow.
• Mounting apparatus 20' is particularly adapted for use with a work surface 12 which is disposed at a level which is higher than that at which keyboard 16 can be conveniently operated by an operator, and ad ⁇ vantageously comprises, as shown, a unitary platform 70 having a first platform section 71 defining a hori ⁇ zontal support surface 72 for supporting keyboard 16, a second platform section 40' defining a horizontal support surface 42' for supporting display 18 in a pre ⁇ determined spatial relationship with' respect to key ⁇ board 16 and an operator, and a third platform section 30' defining an inclined support surface 38' for supporting copy material 14.
• platform 70 is preferably further con ⁇ figured such that the bottom or base 74 thereof has a step-like configuration comprising a horizontal rear section 76 which engages work surface 12, a horizontal front section 80 which defines support surface 72, and a vertical section 78 which connects front section 80 to rear section 76, which defines vertical positioning surface 33' , and which abuts the edge 13 of work sur ⁇ face 12 when platform 70 is operatively disposed on work surface 12.
• Front base section 80 extends out ⁇ wardly from work surface 12 at a predetermined level therebelow so as to position support surface 72 at a predetermined height relative to an operator which facilitates operation of keyboard 16 thereby.
• ⁇ li surface 72 advantageously is disposed approximately 26-27 inches (66-68.6 cm) above the floor on which work surface 12 is supported.
• front base section 80 comprises a panel 82 defining support surface 72 which extends transversely between the lateral panels 34 ' " of platform 70 and is slidably mounted thereto in a conventional manner (not shown) such that panel 82 may be displaced vertically so as to adjust the relative height of sur ⁇ face 72.
• vertical section 78 defines a slot or opening 50' through which the cable 52 electrical connecting keyboard 16 to display 18 passes.
• mounting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention advantageously further comprises a guide mem ⁇ ber 90 releaseably and slidably mounted thereon for securing copy material 14 to inclined support surface 38 and for facilitating reading of the text of copy material 14 supported on surface 38.
• Guide member 90 preferably is made of a clear plastic material such as acrylic or the like so that an operator can reference lines of text on copy material 14 above and below the line being read.
• guide member 90 preferably comprises an elongate band 92 which extends transversely across and parallel to support surface 38, and depending lateral legs 94 which straddle platform 30 and engage lateral panels 34 thereof.
• legs 94 is flexibly joined to band 92 such that the at least one leg 94 must be flexed outwardly with respect to the other leg 94 under tension in order for legs 94 to operatively engage platform lateral panels 34.
• legs 94 are angled or bent such that base portions 96 thereof are inclined inwardly with respect to each other and the distal portions 98 are inclined outwardly away from each other, and substantially
• vertex portions 99 engage lateral panels 34. Further, at least vertex portions 99 are spaced apart from each other in the unflexed condition of legs 94 by a distance which is less than the distance between lateral panels 34.
• mount ⁇ ing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, and a work station assembly comprising such apparatus, aligns keyboard 16, the associated display 18, and the copy material 14 containing the data to be used to actuate display 18 in an optimum relation ⁇ ship with respect to each other and with respect to an operator. Transcribing time and errors are decreased, and productivity is thus increased, because shifts of focus by an operator are minimized, and because dis ⁇ play 18 and copy material 14 are disposed at optimal focal distances from an operator.

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• Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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ID=22300230

Family Applications (1)

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Citations (8)

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• 1979
  • 1979-12-17 US US06/104,385 patent/US4313112A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1980
  • 1980-12-15 CA CA000366835A patent/CA1135392A/en not_active Expired
  • 1980-12-16 EP EP81900191A patent/EP0044315B1/en not_active Expired
  • 1980-12-16 DE DE8181900191T patent/DE3071701D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1980-12-16 BR BR8008982A patent/BR8008982A/pt unknown
  • 1980-12-16 JP JP56500399A patent/JPS6333172B2/ja not_active Expired
  • 1980-12-16 WO PCT/US1980/001687 patent/WO1981001761A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (8)

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