Modular Workstation

• US 20070228680A1
• Filed: 04/02/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc. (Ali Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: Metro Industries, Inc. (Ali Holding Srl)
• Inventors: Steele, Robert R., Reppert, David A., Shinkle, Scott, Salus, David J., Orlove, Craig F., Janick, James
• Application Number:
  US11/695,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20070228680A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/47.350
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2031/006 Medication carts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0019 Auxiliary use of table underframes, e.g. incorporating: cooling, drainage, air supply or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0023 Columnar component for computer, stand or trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0069 Trays for holding or distributing medicines display trays A47F3/14; serving trays A47G23/06

Abstract

A point of application workstation is disclosed and generally includes a base unit, a power unit, a support unit, a work surface and storage unit, a monitor assembly and a control unit. Extending upward from the base unit is the support unit which carries the work surface and storage unit, control unit and monitor assembly. The workstation may be stationary or mobile. The power unit is housed in the base unit. The work surface and storage unit may be configured with a variety of storage solutions for any of a number of work environments and tasks. The work surface and storage unit may house a computer that is integrated into the workstation. The control unit provides a measure of security for the workstation by allowing access to the workstation and control over its features only by authorized users.

Claims

1. A modular computer workstation, comprising:

a base unit comprising a cover and a pan, the cover and pan cooperable to define a cavity therebetween;

a power unit housed within the cavity of the base unit, the power unit comprising a charging system and at least one rechargeable battery, the power unit operable to power the workstation independent of the presence or operational condition of the at least one rechargeable battery;

a support unit mounted to and extending vertically upward from the base unit;

a work surface and storage unit mounted on the support unit and above the base unit, the work surface and storage unit comprising a generally flat work surface at an upper end and a computer compartment at a lower end, the work surface and storage unit further comprising a modularly configurable storage compartment located intermediate the work surface and the computer compartment, the storage compartment housing a lockable, enclosed keyboard compartment;

a monitor assembly mounted to the support unit and above the work surface and storage unit, the monitor assembly comprising a monitor and a monitor mounting structure, the mounting structure enabling the monitor to pivot about at least one axis;

a control unit housed within one of the monitor assembly or the work surface; and

a computer housed within the computer compartment.

2. The modular workstation of claim 1 wherein the base unit further comprises:

a plurality of wheels, wherein at least two of the wheels pivot and at least two of the wheels have a lock to prevent rotation thereof; and

at least one handle mounted to the work surface and storage unit.

3. The modular workstation of claim 1, the support unit comprising:

a first telescoping member attached to the base;

a second telescoping member within which the first telescoping member is disposed and to which the work surface and storage unit is attached; and

a height adjustment mechanism comprising one of an adjusting bar gas spring located within the support unit and an electric motor located within the support unit.

4. The modular workstation of claim 1, the support unit further comprising:

a plurality of wires within the support unit, the wires running from the power unit within the base unit through the support unit to the monitor assembly.

5. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a plurality of status lights to indicate a charge level of the at least one rechargeable battery.

6. The modular workstation of claim 1, the monitor assembly further comprising an input device operable with the computer, the input device being one of a bar code scanner, a card reader, and a touch panel.

7. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the monitor mounting structure enables the monitor to rotate within a plane lying perpendicular to the work surface.

8. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the monitor assembly further comprises a privacy screen affixed to the monitor.

9. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the modularly configurable storage compartment further comprises:

a cassette assembly, the cassette assembly being removeable from the work surface and storage unit by a manually operated release mechanism.

10. The modular workstation of claim 9, wherein the cassette assembly further comprises at least one cassette tray.

11. The modular workstation of claim 10, wherein the cassette tray further comprises at least one cassette bin.

12. The modular workstation of claim 11, wherein the cassette assembly further comprises a lock operable to secure the at least one cassette bin within the at least one cassette tray and the at least one cassette tray within the cassette assembly.

13. The modular workstation of claim 9, wherein the work surface and storage unit further comprises an electrically powered lock mechanism for securing the cassette assembly within the work surface and storage unit.

14. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the keyboard compartment comprises a drawer that may be extended from the storage compartment to a use position and retracted into the storage compartment to a stowed position.

15. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the work surface and storage unit further comprises at least one storage bin located in a top surface adjacent to the work surface.

16. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the work surface and storage unit further comprises an electrically powered lock mechanism, and the modularly configurable storage compartment houses a plurality of drawers, the drawers being lockable within the work surface and storage unit by the lock mechanism.

17. The modular workstation of claim 16, wherein the lock mechanism comprises an electric motor, a catch bracket, a catch bar, and a lock catch located at an end of the catch bar, the electric motor operable to move the catch bracket, catch bar and lock catch to catch and lock the drawers.

18. The modular workstation of claim 17, the lock mechanism further comprising:

an override lock accessible from outside of the work surface and storage unit and operable to override the operation of the electric motor.

19. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the computer compartment comprises a shelf hinged at one end so as to permit access to the computer compartment and a lock for selectively locking the shelf and preventing access to the computer compartment.

20. The modular workstation of claim 19, wherein the shelf comprises at least one vent permitting air to pass through the shelf.

21. The modular workstation of claim 20 further comprising a fan mounted to the shelf, the fan operable to create airflow through the at least one vent.

22. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment comprises:

a plurality of drawers;

a locking mechanism for locking the drawers comprising a catch bracket; and

a manual override lock accessible from outside of the work surface and storage unit and operable to override the locking mechanism, the override lock comprising a cam that engages the catch bracket to enable locking and unlocking of the drawers.

23. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment comprises:

a plurality of drawers;

a lock bar;

a switch bar tab attached to the lock bar;

a gearmotor; and

a cam attached to the gearmotor, wherein the cam contacts the switch bar tab to move the lock bar into lock and unlock positions to lock and unlock the drawers.

24. The modular workstation of claim 23, further comprising:

a switch bar; and

a limit switch, wherein the switch bar contacts the limit switch to activate and deactivate the gear motor.

25. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a user accessible input device that controls access to the modular workstation, the input device being at least one of an alpha/numeric keypad, a numeric keypad, an alphabetic keypad, and a biometric access device.

26. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a plurality of LEDs for indicating at least one of battery charge level and workstation accessibility or inaccessibility.

27. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a user accessible input device for user code acceptance to grant access to the storage compartment and the computer compartment.

28. The modular workstation of claim 1, the support unit comprising a linear actuator and the control unit comprising a user accessible input device that permits height adjustment of the work surface upon entry of a user code.

29. The modular workstation of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a power switch to control power to the computer.

30. A modular computer workstation, comprising:

a base unit adapted to house a power unit;

the power unit comprising a charging system and at least one rechargeable battery module;

a support unit mounted to and extending vertically upward from the base unit;

a work surface and storage unit mounted on the support unit and above the base unit, the work surface and storage unit comprising a generally flat work surface and a modularly configurable storage compartment located below the work surface, the storage compartment adapted to accommodate one or more of a drawer, tray, shelf, storage cassette and storage bin;

a monitor assembly mounted to the support unit and above the work surface and storage unit, the monitor assembly comprising a monitor and a monitor mounting structure; and

a control unit housed within one of the monitor assembly or the work surface.

31. The modular workstation of claim 30, wherein the work surface and storage unit further comprises a computer compartment.

32. The modular workstation of claim 31, wherein the computer compartment further comprises:

a hinged access panel attached along the bottom of the storage compartment and operable to provide access to the computer compartment from a bottom of the storage compartment.

33. The modular workstation of claim 32, wherein the hinged access panel further comprises a keyed lock to prevent unauthorized access to the computer compartment.

34. The modular workstation of claim 30, wherein the base unit comprises:

a base cover; and

a ventilated base pan, wherein the base cover and ventilated base pan define a cavity within which the power unit resides.

35. The modular workstation of claim 30, wherein the power unit is operable to power the workstation independent of the presence or operational condition of the at least one rechargeable battery module.

36. The modular workstation of claim 30, further comprising a computer, wherein the charging system is operable to charge the at least one battery module regardless of either an operational or a non-operational state of the computer.

37. The modular workstation of claim 30, wherein the at least one rechargeable battery module comprises a plurality of individual batteries.

38. A modular computer workstation, comprising:

a base unit adapted to house a power unit;

the power unit comprising a charging system and a plurality of battery modules, each battery module comprising a plurality of rechargeable batteries, the charging system comprising a separate control circuit for charging each battery module;

a support unit mounted to and extending vertically upward from the base unit;

a work surface and storage unit mounted on the support unit and above the base unit, the work surface and storage unit comprising a generally flat work surface and a modularly configurable storage compartment located below the work surface;

a monitor assembly mounted to the support unit and above the work surface and storage unit, the monitor assembly comprising a monitor and a monitor mounting structure; and

a control unit housed within one of the monitor assembly or the work surface.

39. The modular workstation of claim 38, further comprising:

a computer; and

a computer compartment within which the computer resides, the computer compartment accessible from a bottom of the work surface and storage unit.

40. The modular workstation of claim 39, further comprising:

a hinged access panel at a bottom of the work surface and storage unit that provides access to the computer.

41. The modular workstation of claim 40, wherein the hinged access panel further comprises a keyed lock to prevent unauthorized access to the computer compartment.

42. The modular workstation of claim 41, wherein the control unit further comprises a power switch to control power to the computer.

43. The modular workstation of claim 38, wherein the modularly configurable storage compartment comprises:

at least one drawer; and

a removable cassette assembly;

and wherein a motor-driven locking mechanism is operable to lock the plurality of drawers and the cassette assembly within the modular workstation.

44. The modular workstation of claim 43, wherein the cassette assembly further comprises a hand-operated release mechanism operable to disengage the cassette assembly from the work surface and storage unit and permit its removal from the modular workstation.

45. The modular workstation of claim 43, wherein the cassette assembly comprises a plurality of cassette bins.

46. The modular workstation of claim 45, wherein the cassette assembly further comprises a lock to lock the plurality of cassette bins within the cassette assembly.

47. The modular workstation of claim 38, wherein the work surface and storage unit further comprises a keyboard compartment comprising a drawer that can be retracted within the work surface and storage unit when in a stowed position.

48. The modular workstation of claim 47, wherein the keyboard compartment is lockable with a motor-driven locking mechanism.

49. The modular workstation of claim 38, wherein the control unit comprises a user input device for controlling access to the modular workstation.

50. The modular workstation of claim 49, wherein the user input device is selected from the group consisting of a bar code scanner, a magnetic stripe card reader, a radio frequency card reader, an optical card reader and a biometric access device.