Work station with adjustable flat electronic display screen

• US 5,537,290 A
• Filed: 06/13/1994
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teknion Furniture Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Teknion Furniture Systems (A Partnership of Teknion Holdings Incorporated and Birchgrove Investments Incorporated
• Inventors: Crinion, Jonathan, Brown, Mortimer
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/261,055
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 248/447, 248/458, 248/442.2, 248/283.1, 248/223.41, 248/225.11, 248/230.1, 248/125.1, 248/917-923, 312/223.1, 312/223.3, 312/223.6, 312/7.2, 52/36.1, 52/36.4, 52/36.5, 52/239, 364/708.1, 361/681, 361/682, 361/825
• US Class Current: 361/679.06
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/006 having an incorporated display screen
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/01 Office wall with desktop function
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7416 with free upper edge, e.g. for use as office space dividers
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• 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 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/068 being part of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment

Abstract

The present invention is directed to office panelling systems having a flat electronic display screen is supported to one side of an office panel, with the display screen visible to one side of the panel. An adjustable securing arm supports the display screen and is releasably attached to horizontal rails of the office panel. With this arrangement, the securing arm and display screen can be positioned at different angles and spacings from the office panel, utilizes space more effectively, and allows more efficient use of the work station for other tasks. In a preferred embodiment, the display screen can be released from the securing arm and separately supported on the work surface.

Claims

1. A work station comprising:

an office panel of a generally narrow depth having a horizontal work surface associated therewith,

a flat, thin profile electronic display screen, and

an adjustable securing arm having a free end and a mounting end;

said office panel including a structural frame and associated releasable decorative and functional elements supported thereby;

said panel including vertically spaced horizontally extending rail members intermediate the height of said structural frame;

said flat electronic display screen being pivotally mounted at said free end of said adjustable securing arm with said mounting end of said securing arm being releasably supported by at least one of said vertically spaced horizontally extending rail members at a position above said work surface,

said adjustable securing arm adjacent said panel having a vertical hinge axis to accommodate pivotting movement of said securing arm there about;

said adjustable securing arm adjacent said flat electronic display screen including a hinge arrangement having a vertical hinge axis with said flat electronic display screen pivotally movable about said hinge axis,

said flat electronic display screen being movable from a storage position immediately adjacent said office panel to an in use position in front of and spaced from said panel by said securing arm,

said securing arm in said storage position being generally parallel with the front of said office panel, with said securing arm being at an angle to the front of said office panel when said flat electronic display screen is in an in use position,

said in use position being variable by pivotting of said securing arm about said hinge axis adjacent said panel.

2. A work station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securing arm is releasably supported by two rail members by means of an intermediary vertical member which is secured to each rail and extends therebetween.

3. A work station as claimed in claim 2 wherein said intermediary vertical member is a circular rod which forms part of the hinge connection of said securing arm adjacent the panel.

4. A work station as claimed in claim 3 wherein said horizontal rail members are exposed between elements of said panel.

5. A work station as claimed in claim 3 wherein said securing arm has a spring latch movable by overcoming the spring force from a locked position engaging said rod and locking said securing arm on said taxi to a release position where said securing arm is freely movable along said rod.

6. A work station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display screen is vertically adjustable over the height of one of said elements.

7. A work station as claimed in claim 6 wherein said electronic display screen includes a rear support structure for supporting said electronic screen, said securing arm in a first support configuration releasably engaging said rear support structure to thereby secure said electronic display screen to said securing arm, said rear support member in a second support configuration cooperating with said electronic display screen to accommodate several angled support positions of said display screen on a flat surface.

8. A work station as claimed in claim 6 wherein said horizontal rails are part of a releasable element of said panel.

9. A work station as claimed in claim 8 said rear support structure releasably engages said horizontal rails of said releasable element of said panel.

10. A work station comprising:

an office panel of a generally narrow depth having a horizontal work surface associated therewith to one side of said panel,

a flat, thin profile electronic display screen, and

an adjustable securing arm;

said office panel including a structural frame and associated releasable decorative and functional elements supported thereby;

said panel including vertically spaced horizontally extending rail members;

said flat electronic display screen in a first support configuration being pivotally mounted at one end of said adjustable securing arm with an opposite end of said securing arm being releasably secured to said vertically spaced horizontally extending rail members in a cantilevered manner at a position above said work surface,

said adjustable securing arm adjacent said flat electronic display screen including a hinge arrangement which accommodates pivotting of said flat electronic display screen about a generally horizontal hinge axis, and

wherein said flat electronic display screen in a second support configuration is independently supported on said work surface in a plurality of different angled positions.

11. A work station as claimed in claim 10 wherein said flat electronic screen has attached to the rear surface thereof a mounting member and said mounting member acts as an intermediate securing said display screen to said securing arm.

12. A work station as claimed in claim 11 wherein said mounting member has a hinge connection with said screen which forms said hinge arrangement which accommodates pivotting of said flat electronic display screen about said horizontal hinge axis.