WO2001091610A1

WO2001091610A1 - Workstation container

Info

Publication number: WO2001091610A1
Application number: PCT/DE2001/001988
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Bitsch
Original assignee: König + Neurath AG
Priority date: 2000-05-31
Filing date: 2001-05-28
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Also published as: DE20009853U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a workstation container that comprises a cabinet-design body (1) that can be opened and closed and that is provided with casters (7). The body (1) is composed of a frame (16) on which a shell (2, 3) is mounted on each side. Said shells (2, 3) consist of a substantially planar surface (9, 10) with a periphery (9') that determines the shell depth (T). The shells (2, 3) substantially correspond in size to the opening of the frame (16). At least one of the shells (2, 3) is articulated on the frame (16) and can be pivoted like a door leaf. At the frame's end elements (14) for ranging things are disposed on at least one of the shells (2, 3) and the body (1) is provided with a pull-out or drop-leaf worksurface.

Description

Work container

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The invention relates to a so-called workplace container for installation in the office area but also in other areas such as supermarkets, exhibition stands, information centers, workshops or the like.

2. Description of the prior art

The frequently occurring need, in particular for the quick installation of a mobile office workstation or a place where, among other things, office work can be carried out and which generally also requires the accommodation of PCs and corresponding documents, has so far only been satisfied by the fact that in conventionally set up a table and a shelf, although depending on the size of the table or counter, it was and is sometimes necessary to provide a separate installation option for setting up a PC in order to keep the table top free for other work or storage. This situation or the requirement for a compact workstation has already been attempted by a so-called workspace module according to German patent 693 10 777 T2, the object of which, however, is a very complex, stationary scaffold construction that acts as a support and / or Holder for add-on shelves and also for the enclosure and delimitation of a workplace or chair to be arranged within the scaffolding serves. The requirement for such a compact workplace, which can be set up anywhere and in a room or wherever quickly and which contains all the equipment necessary for modern office operations or offers accommodation and set-up options, is in comparison to the subject of the above German patent DE 693 10 777 T2 already suffices better by a workplace according to the German utility model G 94 o4 456.2. This work place consists of at least two space-saving parts that define a storage space after assembly and a work place when open. These two parts forming wall elements have internals defining free spaces on their facing sides. At least one of the walls has internals projecting beyond a plane defined by the wall edges, which project into the other wall part when the two parts are closed. Specifically, this is a top view of an elliptical or oval structure made up of two appropriately curved walls, which, provided with base rollers, can be pivoted, opened and closed, like a shell, around a common, vertical axis arranged at one end of the oval. The appropriately shaped and protruding from the bowl-shaped walls, plate-shaped internals for setting up e.g. a PC, keyboard and printer and also a base plate for parking the computer housing must be arranged so that the closing of the two bowl-shaped walls through them and the devices arranged on them is not hindered. A disadvantage of this compact workstation is the cross-sectional shape mentioned, which, if several such workplaces are to be put together in the closed state, prevents space-saving accommodation. Furthermore, there is a requirement for the plate-shaped internals or storage plates for Having to arrange devices with correspondingly large distances on the walls so that they do not collide with the devices placed on them when the walls are closed. Finally, it is necessary to keep free the areas or spaces in the two housing halves that are used by the internals with the devices on the other half when the halves are closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly a main object or object of the present invention to provide a new, improved and compact workplace container, which is a stable, mobile structure in itself, on which at least one of its two large surfaces can be opened and is designed such that this in the closed state of the container enlarges its interior and finally ensures that a larger work surface is available in the open state than it would correspond to the horizontal cross section of the closed structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container in which the "inner" user side is also accessible from the outside in the open state.

It is also an object of the invention to provide the container with a shape so that it can be put together with other, form-fitting containers to save space. Yet another object of the invention is to design the container so that the opened container can be used at least on one side in the form of a service counter. Further objects of the invention are explained in more detail in the description of exemplary embodiments. This object is achieved according to the present invention with a workstation container which comprises an openable and closable, cabinet-like body with castors; this body is formed from a frame; a shell is arranged on each side of the frame; these shells consist of a substantially flat surface with a peripheral edge which determines the depth of the shell; the size of the shells corresponds essentially to the opening size of the frame; at least one of the shells is hinged to the frame like a door leaf; On at least one of the trays, elements for organizing storage are arranged on the frame side and the body is provided with an extendable and / or fold-out worktop.

Advantageous further developments and embodiments, which are explained in more detail in the special part of the following description, result from the dependent claims.

Just to convey a size concept for such a workplace container, this container according to the invention has, for example, dimensions, without these being binding, in the order of magnitude of approximately 2 x 1.2 xo, 5 m ³ and thereby claimed in the closed state a correspondingly small footprint of only 1.2 xo, 5 m ² , that is, the container is "edgewise" with such exemplary dimensions and is opened for use like a book at least by about 90 ° so that the user in the free space between the frame and the swung open shell.

If there is a requirement after the end of use of the container, business documents, information material or the like. , the opp. existing PC or whatever else is in the container should be to avoid direct access by strangers, the container is simply "closed" and closed with suitable means.

Apart from the later detailed explanation of advantageous embodiments, it should be pointed out here, however, to the particularly preferred embodiment, according to which the frame is formed from tubular profiles which form a first and a second frame part, elements for the cross connection and elements for the formation of the between the two frame parts Frame walls are arranged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.l shows the workplace container in front view and in the closed state;

2 shows a plan view of the container in the open state;

Fig. 3-5 show perspective opening phases of the container;

6 shows in perspective the opened container with, for example, interior equipment shown;

7 shows a perspective, schematic and partial view of the preferred embodiment of the container and

Fig. 8 shows in perspective in the form of an exploded view the preferred construction of a part of the container body. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The workplace container according to the invention is shown in its front view and in plan view in FIGS. 1, 2 with its basic shape, the plan view clarifying the open state.

The workplace container comprises a cabinet 1 which can be opened and closed and which can be set up in a cabinet-like manner and provided with castors 7. This cabinet 1 is formed according to the invention from a frame 16 on which a shell 2, 3 is arranged on each side. These shells 2, 3 consist of an essentially flat surface 9, 10 with a circumferential edge 9 ′ which determines the shell depth T, these shells 2, 3 essentially corresponding in size to the opening size of the frame 16. At least one of the shells 2, 3 is hinged to the frame 16 in the manner of a door leaf, and elements 14 for storage organization are arranged on the frame on at least one of the shells 2, 3. In addition, the body 1 is provided with a pull-out and / or fold-out worktop 8. In the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 7, the embodiment is shown in which only the shell 3 is hinged to the frame 16 in the manner of a door leaf, which embodiment is also preferred.

The bottom of the frame 16 is equipped with the castors 7 at its corners, the pivotable shell 3 of the body 1 being provided with a pivotable and lockable castor 7 'at its lower end region remote from the joint. In addition, at least one of the castors 7 of the frame 16 is also designed as a lockable castor. Such lockable castors, which are also referred to as tea trolley rolls, are well known and do not require any further details Explanation. In the present case, they serve to hold the container as a whole and the swung-open shell in place in the blocked state.

The castors 7 of the frame 16 are attached to cantilever arms 7 ″ arranged on the frame, at least one pair of the castors 7 being formed from the aforementioned, pivotable and lockable tea trolley rolls.

The frame 16, whose construction according to the invention will be explained later with reference to FIG. 8, is dimensioned with a width B that is greater than the respective depth T of the shells 2, 3. The shells 2, 3 assigned to the frame 16 on both sides are preferably identical in shape and size in order to be able to produce both using the same pressing or molding tool. As far as the worktop 8 is concerned, it is arranged in the frame 16 according to the invention at a conventional working height as a pull-out and / or fold-out top, as shown. Since corresponding pull-out and fold-out fittings are also well known, the pull-out and / or fold-out ability of the worktop does not require any special explanation.

Special embodiments of the container are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5. Thereafter, at least some of the surfaces 9, 10 of the shells 2, 3 are designed to be removable above the table top 8. This can be done in different ways. The removable part of the surface 9, that is to say the shell 2, which in this case is firmly seated on the frame 16, can be designed in the form of a roller blind or slide 9 ", as is indicated only schematically and in dashed lines in FIG. 5. It is but also possible, with reference to the embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 5, a part of the areas 9, 10 of the one and / or other shell 2, 3 forming the body wall in the form of a flap 11 which can be pivoted into the plane of the table top 8 and fixed in the horizontal position. As a result, the container can be transformed into a kiosk-like work station, so that it can be used, for example, as a checkout or information stand, in which the operator sits inside and to which the customer or information seeker can approach from outside.

The aforementioned elements 14 for workplace organization, i.e. for the orderly filing of files, information material, other papers or the like, are, for example. around shelves, storage boxes, hooks or the like. 6 shows such a shelf in the upper part of the shell 3 above the flap 11, for example

Appropriate configurations of the container also consist of the following:

The frame 16 is provided on the bottom side with a mounting web 12 on which at least one device support element 13 is arranged, for example for receiving a PC part (see FIG. 6). Furthermore, in the body 1, i.e. in the frame 16 an interior lighting 17 indicated only in dashed lines in FIG. With regard to such interior lighting, at least a part 18 of the walls surrounding the interior of the body 1 is also designed to be translucent, so that when the container is used as a checkout or information stand, for example, it can be clearly recognized by the lighting effect when it is set up in a large room.

As such a workplace container, as mentioned, can be equipped with all possible electrically operated devices and, as a rule, a PC can also be equipped with a central computer. switch, is in the lower area of the frame 16 or one of the shells 2, 3, a header 20 for the connections of devices to be placed in the container, such as a PC, printer, telephone, typewriter, interior lighting or the like. arranged. Such a header 20 is only schematic in FIG. 6 and is indicated on the frame 16 in this embodiment. From this plug connector 20, a collecting cable 20 'containing all the necessary strands then goes outwards. In order to make the above-described container accessible for rational production and to be able to consider series production, the frame 16, as an essential part of the container with reference to FIG. 8, is formed according to the invention from tubular profiles 19, which have a first and a second frame part 21, 22 form, elements 23 for cross-connection and elements 24 for forming the frame walls 25 being arranged between the two frame parts 21, 22. The frame parts 21, 22 are each fastened with the lower ends of their tubular profiles 19 to a crossmember 26, the ends of which advantageously form the aforementioned cantilever arms 7 "for the attachment of the castors 7. These cantilever arms 7" also contribute significantly to the stability of the whole Containers at. For the connection of the tubular profiles 19, which also include the elements 24 for forming the frame walls 25, appropriately adapted plug-in connectors 27 are used in a known manner, of which only a few are shown for the tubular profiles 19 formed from round tube in FIG. The elements labeled 24 'therein are, for example, transparent plastic blanks. In addition, as can also be seen from FIG. 8, the two crossbars 26 (shown in FIG. 8 only one crossbar) are connected by the aforementioned assembly web 12, which is also a tubular profile.

Claims

Expectations:

1. Workplace container comprising an openable and closable, cabinet-like, body (1) provided with castors (7); the body (1) is formed from a frame (16); a shell (2, 3) is arranged on the frame (16) on each side; the shells (2, 3) consist of an essentially flat surface (9, 10) with a peripheral edge (9 ') determining the shell depth (T); the size of the shells (2, 3) essentially corresponds to the opening size of the frame (16); at least one of the shells (2, 3) is hinged to the frame (16) in the manner of a door leaf; On at least one of the shells (2, 3), elements (14) for storing storage are arranged on the frame side and the body (1) is provided with an extendable and / or fold-out worktop (8).

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (16) is equipped on the bottom at its corners with the castors (7) and that the at least one part of the body (1) which can be swiveled open at its lower end regions remote from the joint with a Swivel and lockable castor (7 ') is provided, at least one of the casters (7) of the body (1) being designed as a lockable castor.

3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the castors (7) of the frame (16) on the frame arranged on the cantilever arms (7 ") are attached and at least one pair of castors (7) is formed from pivotable tea trolley rollers.

4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (16) is dimensioned with a width (B) which is greater than the respective depth (T) of the shells (2, 3).

5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that the shells (2, 3) assigned to the frame (16) on both sides are identical in shape and size.

6. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the extendable and / or swing-out worktop (8) is arranged in the frame (16).

7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that at least part of the surface (9, 10) of at least one of the shells (2, 3) above the table top (8) is designed to be removable.

8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the removable part of the surface (9) is designed in the form of a roller blind or slide (9 ').

, Container according to Claim 6, characterized in that part of the surfaces (9, 10) of the one and / or other shell (2, 3) forming the body wall in the form of a flap which can be swung out into the plane of the table top (8) and can be fixed in the horizontal position (11) is formed.

10. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (1) is provided on the bottom with a mounting web (12) on which at least one device support element (13) is arranged.

11. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that an interior lighting (17) is arranged in the body (1).

12. Container according to claim 11, characterized in that at least a part (18, 24) of the walls surrounding the interior of the body (1) is made translucent.

13. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that in the lower region of the frame (16) or one of the shells (2, 3) a collecting connector strip (20) for the connections of devices to be placed in the container, such as PC, printer, Telephone, typewriter, interior lighting or the like is arranged.

14. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (16) from tubular profiles (19) is formed form a first and a second frame part (21, 22), elements (23) for cross-connection and elements (24, 18) for forming the frame walls (25) being arranged between the two frame parts (21, 22).

15. Container according to claim 14, characterized in that the frame parts (21, 22) with the lower ends of their tubular profiles (19) are each fastened to a crossmember (26), the ends of which as cantilever arms (7 ") for fastening the casters (7) are formed and that the two trusses (26) are connected by a mounting web (12) which is also designed as a tubular profile.