Adjustable word processor work station

• US 4,515,086 A
• Filed: 04/21/1982
• Issued: 05/07/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sorter Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sorter Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Kwiecinski, Alfred, Yauger, Jon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, James T.
• Application Number:
  US06/370,467
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 108/94, 108/95, 108/96, 108/104, 108/105, 108/140, 108/141, 108/143, 312/196, 312/312, 312/208, 312/239, 248/419, 248/421
• US Class Current: 108/96
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0321 Keyboard supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0335 mounted under the worksurface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular

Abstract

A work station for a word processor having a keyboard and a separate console, the work station having a planar work surface with a front opening therein in which a keyboard receiving front platform is adjustably mounted for both upward and downward movement and for tilting movement relative to the work surface, the work surface also having a rear opening therein in which a console mounting rear platform is mounted, the rear platform being movable vertically relative to the work surface and additionally provided with means permitting forward and rearward as well as rotational and tilting movement of the console, all of the controls for adjusting the positions of the keyboard and console being accessible to an operator from the front of the work station.

Claims

1. A work station for a word processor having a keyboard and a separate console, said work station comprising:

a planar general rectangular work surface;

a front opening in said work surface extending inwardly from the front edge of said work surface intermediate the opposite ends thereof;

a front platform of a size to mount a keyboard thereon received within said front opening;

means for raising and lowering said front platform relative to said work surface;

a rear opening in said work surface extending inwardly from the rear edge thereof intermediate the opposite ends thereof, said rear opening terminating short of said front opening;

a rear platform of a size to be received within said rear opening, said rear platform being adapted to mount a console thereon;

means for raising and lowering said rear platform relative to said front opening, means in association with said rear platform for moving a console mounted thereon forwardly and rearwardly relative to said rear platform, means in association with said rear platform for rotating a console mounted thereon in a horizontal plane relative to said rear platform, and means in association with said rear platform for tilting said rear platform about a horizontal axis, whereby the front and rear platforms may be independently adjusted relative to said planar work surface to thereby adjust the relative positions of the keyboard and console of a word processor.

2. The work station claimed in claim 1 including means in association with said front platform for tilting the platform about a horizontal axis.

3. The work station claimed in claim 1 wherein end walls project downwardly from the opposite ends of said front opening, wherein each of said end walls has a vertical slot therein, and wherein the means for raising and lowering said front platform comprises adjustment knobs having threaded shanks projecting inwardly through said slots, the inner ends of said threaded shanks being in threaded engagement with the adjacent ends of said front platform.

4. The work station claimed in claim 3 including means for tilting said front platform relative to said planar work surface about a horizontal axis extending lengthwise of said front platform.

5. The work station claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for tilting said front platform comprises additional vertically disposed slots in said end walls, and pins projecting outwardly from the ends of said front platform, said pins being engaged in said additional slots.

6. The work station claimed in claim 1 wherein a bottom wall underlies said rear opening in spaced relation thereto, and wherein the means for raising and lowering said rear platform comprises a lifting mechanism mounted on said bottom wall and operatively connected to said rear platform, said lifting mechanism including actuating mechanism accessible from the front of said work station.

7. The work station claimed in claim 6 wherein said rear opening and said bottom wall define a well therebetween, and panel means closing the rear of said well, said panel means comprising a first panel secured and projecting upwardly from said botton wall to close the lower rear portion of said well, and a second panel secured to and projecting downwardly from said rear platform, said second panel overlapping said first panel, whereby said second panel will move relative to said first panel as said rear platform is raised and lowered.

8. The work station claimed in claim 1 wherein the means in association with said rear platform for moving a console mounted thereon forwardly and rearwardly comprises a base member overlying said rear platform, and slide means mounting said base member for slidable movement relative to said rear platform.

9. The work station claimed in claim 1 wherein the means in association with said rear platform for rotating a console mounted thereon comprises a base member overlying said rear platform, and means mounting said base member for rotational movement relative to said rear platform.

10. The work station claimed in claim 8 including turntable means in association with said slide means for additionally mounting said base member for rotation relative to said rear platform.

11. The work station claimed in claim 1 wherein the means in association with said rear platform for tilting said rear platform comprises a base member overlying said rear platform, and adjustment means for tiltably mounting said base member relative to said rear platform.

12. The work station claimed in claim 11 wherein said adjustment means comprises rockers depending from said base members for contact with an underlying supporting surface, bracket means projecting upwardly from the underlying surface adjacent said rockers, arcuate slots in said rockers, and adjustment knobs having threaded shanks extending through said slots and in threaded engagement with said bracket means.

13. The work station claimed in claim 12 wherein the underlying support surface comprises a second base member interposed between said rear platform and said first named base member, and means mounting said second base member for movement in a horizontal plane relative to said rear platform.

14. The work station claimed in claim 13 wherein the means mounting said second base member for movement in a horizontal plane comprises a combined slide and turntable mounting said second base member for front to rear sliding movement and for rotational movement relative to said rear platform.