Integrated computer implement work area

• US 4,852,500 A
• Filed: 03/18/1987
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated Zeeland Ottawa Michigan
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Goldberg, Neil, Ryburg, Jon B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US07/027,611
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 108/105, 108/143, 108/141, 108/140, 108/139, 108/94, 108/95, 108/50, 108/64, 248/1 A, 248/1 B, 248/1 C-1 I, 248/639, 248/663, 248/662, 312/208, 312/196, 312/195, 312/194, 312/223
• US Class Current: 108/105
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/03 with substantially horizontally extensible or adjustable parts other than drawers, e.g. leaves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0073 Desk with integrated computer
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0081 Auxiliary apparatus with electrical connections for office furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0088 Appliance support having rotary joint or articulated connection
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2085 comprising means allowing sideward adjustment, i.e. left-right translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• 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 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support

Abstract

An integrated computer implement work area has a rail typically in a wall panel for supporting an articulating arm and another rail for supporting one or more work surfaces. The articulating arm supports a video display terminal for movement toward and way from the rail as well as vertically with respect to the rail. The arm is also pivotably mounted to the rail. The work surfaces are mounted to another rail for lateral movement therealong and rotation about a vertical axis with respect thereto. One work surface mounts peripheral equipment platforms along a peripheral surface for sliding movement therealong. Concealed wiring chases house communication wiring between a central processing unit mounted in the wall panel and the video display terminal on the articulating arm; between the central processing unit and peripheral equipment, such as a keyboard, and a printer or a disk drive mounted to the peripheral equipment platforms on the work surface. Power cabling is also housed in the concealed wire chases between a source of power and each of the computer components. The work surface can be raised or lowered with respect to the floor for further accommodation of the user.

Claims

1. An integrated computer implement work area system comprising:

a vertical wall panel mounted on a floor surface;

a rail mounted to said wall panel and extending horizontally a spaced distance from a floor surface at a working height therefrom; and

a computer central processing unit mounted within said wall panel;

an arm having one end and a video display terminal support at another end thereof;

means for mounting the arm one end to the rail for sliding movement therealong;

a video display terminal mounted to said video display terminal support;

cable guide means at least partially within said wall panel for guiding electrical cabling from said computer central processing unit to said video display terminal support when said arm is positioned at any selected location along the rail; and

electrical communication cabling through said cable guide means between said computer central processing unit and said video display terminal.

2. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 and further comprising support means spaced from said vertical wall panel;

a keyboard mounted on said support means and communication cabling interconnecting the computer central processing unit and the keyboard.

3. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 2 end further comprising a work surface having a peripheral edge and means mounting the work surface to the wall panel for articulating movement with respect thereof.

4. An intergrated computer implement work area system according to claim 3 and further comprising a peripheral platform forming said support means;

means mounting the peripheral platform to the work surface for movement along the peripheral edge of the work surface; and

said keyboard is positioned on said peripheral platform.

5. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 4 and further comprising a wiring chase means at least partially mounted to the work surface between the wall panel and the peripheral platform for housing communication wiring;

and the communication cabling between the computer central processing unit and the keyboard is at least partially positioned within the wiring chase.

6. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 4 and further comprising means for raising and lowering the height of the work surface with respect to the floor surface.

7. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 4 wherein the peripheral platform mounting means comprises a rail mounted to the undersurface of the work surface;

and trolley means mounted to the rail for movement therealong.

8. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 7 and further comprising means to retain the trolley on the rail.

9. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 4 wherein the work surface mounting means comprises means for mounting the work surface for lateral movement along the wall panel.

10. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 9 wherein the work surface means comprises means for mounting the work surface for rotation about a vertical axis with respect to the wall panel.

11. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 10 and further comprising means for raising and lowering the height of the work surface with respect to the floor surface.

12. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 4 wherein the work surface mounting means comprises means for mounting the work surface for rotation about a vertical axis with respect to the wall panel.

13. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 4 and further comprising a second peripheral platform and means mounting the second peripheral platform to the work surface at the peripheral edge for movement therealong;

a printer mounted on the second peripheral platform; and

electrical cabling extending between the computer central processing unit and the printer, whereby the printer can be driven by the computer central processing unit.

14. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 3 and further comprising means for raising and lowering the height of the work surface with respect to the floor surface.

15. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 and further comprising a work surface having a peripheral edge;

and means mounting the work surface to the wall panel for articulating movement with respect thereto.

16. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 15 and further comprising means for raising and lowering the height of said work surface with respect to the floor surface.

17. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 15 and further comprising a peripheral platform for supporting computer-driven peripheral equipment such as a printer or keyboard;

means mounting said peripheral platform to said work surface at said peripheral edge for movement with respect thereto;

computer peripheral equipment, such as a printer or keyboard, mounted on said peripheral platform; and

electrical cabling extending between said computer central processing unit and said peripheral equipment, whereby said peripheral equipment can be driven by said computer central processing unit.

18. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 15 wherein said work surface mounting means comprises means for mounting the work surface for lateral movement along the wall panel.

19. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 18 wherein the work surface mounting means further comprises means for mounting the work surface for rotation about a vertical axis with respect to the wall panel.

20. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 15 wherein the work surface mounting means comprises means for mounting the work surface for rotation about a vertical axis with respect to the wall panel.

21. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 15 wherein the arm includes means for moving the video display terminal toward and away from the wall panel.

22. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 21 wherein the arm further comprises means for raising and lowering the video display terminal with respect to the floor surface.

23. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 22 wherein the mounting means for the arm further comprise means for pivotably mounting the one end of the arm to the wall panel.

24. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 wherein the arm comprises means for moving the video display terminal toward and away from the wall panel.

25. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 24 wherein the arm further comprises means for raising and lowering the video display terminal with respect to the floor surface.

26. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 25 wherein the means for mounting the one end of the arm to the rail comprises means for pivotably mounting the arm on the wall panel for rotation about a vertical axis.

27. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 wherein the arm comprises means for raising and lowering the video display terminal with respect to the floor surface.

28. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the one end of the arm to the rail comprises means for pivotably mounting the arm to the wall panel for rotation about a vertical axis.

29. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 wherein the arm has a wiring chase extending therethrough and electrical communication cabling extends through the wiring chase in the arm to the video display terminal.

30. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 wherein the rail is mounted to a top portion of the wall panel.

31. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 wherein the rail is mounted to an outside surface of the wall panel.

32. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 wherein the rail is mounted within the wall panel between a bottom and top portion thereof.

33. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 1 and further comprising a second rail mounted to the wall panel;

a peripheral platform adapted to mount a computer peripheral unit;

means mounting the peripheral platform to the second rail for lateral movement therealong; and

communication cabling between the computer central processing unit and the peripheral platform for driving computer peripheral equipment mounted on the peripheral platform.

34. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 33 and further comprising a wiring chase between the wall panel and the peripheral platform for housing communication cabling;

and the communication cabling extends through the wiring chase.

35. An integrated computer implement work area system according to claim 33 wherein the second rail and the first-mentioned rail are separate from one another and spaced from each other.