Ergonomic workstation

• US 5,845,586 A
• Filed: 08/28/1997
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B. A. L. T., Inc.
• Original Assignee: B. A. L. T., Inc.
• Inventors: Moore, Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/924,041
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/153.1, 108/155, 108/157.1, 108/1, 108/6, 108/9, 248/188.1, 312/195, 312/223.6
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0069 with rack

Abstract

A computer workstation that has an adjustable keyboard support is described. The workstation has a base having an upper end, a lower end, and a leg assembly. There is top having a bottom surface attached to the upper end of the base. A keyboard support having a longitudinal axis is pivotally attached to the top. The workstation is designed so that the keyboard support can be adjusted in height as well as angularly.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a base having an upper end, a lower end, and a leg assembly comprising legs that are generally Z-shaped; and

wherein the leg assembly comprises a first leg connected to a second leg by a support means, wherein said first leg and said second leg are generally Z-shaped, and wherein said first leg is parallel to and in juxtaposition with said second leg; and

a top having a bottom surface attached to the upper end of the base; and

a keyboard support means having a longitudinal axis pivotally attached to the top.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said first leg has an upper portion connected to a lower portion by a column portion and a first brace means positioned between the column portion and the lower portion of the first leg;

wherein said second leg has an upper portion connected to a lower portion by a column portion and a second brace means positioned between the column portion and the lower portion of the second leg, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the column form a Z-shape.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said first brace means forms an L-shaped leg having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion is attached to the column portion of the first leg and the bottom portion is attached to the lower portion of the first leg, said top portion of said first brace means being positioned generally parallel to the upper portion of the first leg, wherein said second brace means forms an L-shaped leg having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion is attached to the column portion of the second leg and the bottom portion is attached to the lower portion of the second leg, said top portion of said second brace means being positioned generally parallel to the upper portion of the second leg.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising a shelf means positioned in a plane parallel to the top, wherein said shelf means is attached to the first bracket means and the second bracket means, said shelf means having a front edge and a back edge, wherein said front edge forms a recess therein to accommodate the legs of a user.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the keyboard support means has an upper surface and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface of the keyboard support means is mounted to the bottom surface of the top by a generally L-shaped mounting means, said generally L-shaped mounting means having a short arm connected to a long arm, wherein said keyboard support means extends generally alongside the top.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the long arm has a first end and a second end and said first end is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the top, wherein said short arm has a first end pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the keyboard support means and a second end connected to the second end of the long arm.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the long arm of the generally L-shaped mounting means has a first tubular member attached to the first end and forms a T-shaped head, wherein said tubular member is rotatably mounted to the bottom surface of the top by a bracket means that is fastened to the bottom surface of the top, wherein said tubular member has a longitudinal axis and extends in a plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said long arm is capable of rotating in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the top via a first pivot means, so that the keyboard support means can be adjusted in height by a user.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said first pivot means comprises a first elongated guide member and a first shaft, said first shaft being fixed to the long arm of the generally L-shaped mounting means near the first end, said first elongated guide having a first end, a second end, and further including a slot extending between the first end and the second end, said first end being attached to the bottom surface of the top and a said slot being slidably received by the first shaft.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said first elongated guide member has a generally parabolic shape.

11. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said first end of said first elongated guide member is pivotally attached to the bottom surface of the top.

12. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said long arm pivots about the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member in a range of from about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees measuring from the bottom surface of the top.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12, further comprising a first locking means for maintaining the first elongated guide means in a desired position.

14. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said short arm has a first end pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the keyboard support means and a second end connected to the second end of the long arm.

15. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the short arm of the generally L-shaped mounting means further comprises a second tubular member having a longitudinal axis, said second tubular member being attached to the first end of the short arm to form a T-shaped head, wherein said second tubular member is rotatably mounted to the bottom surface of the keyboard means by a bracket means that is fastened to the bottom surface of the keyboard support means.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said keyboard support means is capable of rotating about the longitudinal axis of the second tubular member in a plane that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the short arm, via a second pivot means, so that the centerline of the keyboard support means can be adjusted relative to the longitudinal axis of the short arm by a user.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said second pivot means comprises a second elongated guide member and a second shaft, said second shaft being fixed to the short arm of the generally L-shaped mounting means near the first end, said second elongated guide member having a first end, a second end, and further including a slot extending between the first end and the second end, said first end being attached to the bottom surface of the top and a said second shaft being slidably received by the slot.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said first elongated guide member has a generally parabolic shape.

19. An apparatus as in claim 18, further comprising a second locking means for maintaining the second elongated guide means in a desired position.

20. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said first end of said second elongated guide member is pivotally attached to the bottom surface of the top.

21. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said keyboard support means rotates in a range of from about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees measuring from the longitudinal axis of the short arm.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a base having an upper end, a lower end, and a leg assembly;

a top having a bottom surface attached to the upper end of the base; and

a keyboard support means having a longitudinal axis pivotally attached to the top; and

wherein the keyboard support means has an upper surface and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface of the keyboard support means is mounted to the bottom surface of the top by a generally L-shaped mounting means, said generally L-shaped mounting means having a short arm connected to a long arm, wherein said keyboard support means extends generally alongside the top; and

wherein the long arm has a first end and a second end and said first end is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the top, wherein said short arm has a first end pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the keyboard support means and a second end connected to the second end of the long arm; and

wherein the long arm of the generally L-shaped mounting means has a first tubular member attached to the first end and forms a T-shaped head;

wherein said tubular member is rotatably mounted to the bottom surface of the top by a bracket means that is fastened to the bottom surface of the top, wherein said tubular member has a longitudinal axis and extends in a plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top.

23. An apparatus as in claim 22, wherein said long arm is capable of rotating in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the top via a first pivot means, so that the keyboard support means can be adjusted in height by a user.

24. An apparatus as in claim 23, wherein said first pivot means comprises a first elongated guide member and a first shaft, said first shaft being fixed to the long arm of the generally L-shaped mounting means near the first end, said first elongated guide having a first end, a second end, and further including a slot extending between the first end and the second end, said first end being attached to the bottom surface of the top and a said slot being slidably received by the first shaft.

25. An apparatus as in claim 22, wherein said short arm has a first end pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the keyboard support means and a second end connected to the second end of the long arm.

26. An apparatus as in claim 25, wherein the short arm of the generally L-shaped mounting means further comprises a second tubular member having a longitudinal axis, said second tubular member being attached to the first end of the short arm to form a T-shaped head, wherein said second tubular member is rotatably mounted to the bottom surface of the keyboard means by a bracket means that is fastened to the bottom surface of the keyboard support means.

27. An apparatus as in claim 26, wherein said keyboard support means is capable of rotating about the longitudinal axis of the second tubular member in a plane that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the short arm, via a second pivot means, so that the centerline of the keyboard support means can be adjusted relative to the longitudinal axis of the short arm by a user.

28. An apparatus as in claim 27, wherein said second pivot means comprises a second elongated guide member and a second shaft, said second shaft being fixed to the short arm of the generally L-shaped mounting means near the first end, said second elongated guide member having a first end, a second end, and further including a slot extending between the first end and the second end, said first end being attached to the bottom surface of the top and a said second shaft being slidably received by the slot.