Multi-functional enclosure

• US 5,993,216 A
• Filed: 09/26/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert B. Stogner
• Original Assignee: Robert B. Stogner
• Inventors: Stogner, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US08/938,713
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/724, 361/726, 312/223.3, 312/235.5, 312/235.9, 312/240, 52/36.2, 52/36.1, 52/79.1, 52/27, 434/29, 434/32, 434/34, 434/38, 434/43-45, 434/55, 434/62, 434/69, 434/237, 434/238, 434/258, 434/259, 434/260, 434/307 R, 434/308, 434/365, 472/130, 472/131, 472/135, 340/825.31, 340/825.33, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 434/29
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/025 Computer workstation with integrated seat
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

A fixed or portable multi-functional enclosure that is card-operated, climate controlled, and provides a quiet work place for use by students or businessmen. The enclosure has a generally semi-oval shaped housing comprising a front portion including a front cowling, a central portion with a curved door, and a rear portion with a lower section and a rear lid. The enclosure housing includes three magnetic card readers located on the opaque front cowling, the curved door, and the rear lid. The central portion includes an ergonomically designed seat or chair and a curved console containing a computer monitor. The ergonomically designed seat or chair is tiltable and is dimensionally adjustable up, down, forward, and backward. The console includes a fiber optic camera, a computer monitor, a computer printer, a modem, a facsimile machine, and a phone speaker. Positioned on the console are connection ports for a VOX head phone set and a virtual reality head set. The console also includes two floppy disc drives, one back-up tape drive, and a digital clock displaying day, date, and time. Housed beneath the monitor is a split computer keyboard and a small special function keypad that pulls forward to sit in front of each arm rest and is dimensionally adjustable for typing comfort. The central portion also includes a panel with controls for heat, air, and lights.

Claims

1. A multi-function enclosure for students or businessmen which is responsive to a planar magnetic card having magnetic data disposed thereon comprising:

a housing having a front portion, a central portion and a rear portion;

a front cowling including latch means for providing access to a front storage area mounted on said front portion of said housing;

a curved door including latch means for providing access to a main operational area mounted on said central portion of said housing;

a rear lid including latch means for providing access to a rear storage area and a rear utility area mounted on said rear portion of said housing;

three magnetic card readers supported by said front cowling, said curved door, and said rear lid, said card readers responsive to the planar magnetic card having the magnetic data disposed thereon for reading the magnetic data and providing an output signal in response to the magnetic data on the planar card, said card readers each having a card input opening;

a preprogrammed computer system supported in said front storage area and including program means for communicating with a user and for receiving coded data contained on said planar magnetic card and for providing an output signal to said computer responsive to said data;

said latch means coupled to the output of said computer system for opening and locking said front storage area, said main operational area, said rear storage area, and said utility area in response to the output signal from said computer system;

an ergonomic seat or chair mounted in said main operational area of said housing; and

a console mounted in said central portion of said housing including a fiber optic camera, a computer monitor, a computer printer, a modem coupled to said computer system, a facsimile machine coupled to said computer system, at least one floppy disc drive, at least one back-up tape drive, and a digital clock displaying day, date, and time.

2. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 1, further including heating means, air conditioning means, and lighting means.

3. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 2, wherein said main operational area of said housing includes control means for controlling said heating means, said air conditioning means, and said lighting means.

4. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said ergonomic seat or chair includes means for tilting said seat or chair, and for dimensionally adjusting said chair up, down, forward, and backward.

5. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said ergonomic seat includes two side extensions on either side of the top of said seat, and a stereophonic speaker housed in each side extension.

6. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said ergonomic seat or chair includes arm rests that articulate and are adjustable.

7. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 6, wherein said arm rests are concaved.

8. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 6, wherein said ergonomic chair or seat includes a palm shaped disc approximately two inches thick mounted at the front of each arm rest and having five shallow grooves that correspond to digits of a hand for operating the computer system.

9. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 1, including a split computer keyboard housed beneath said computer monitor and a small special function keypad that are movable forward to sit in front of each arm rest and is dimensionally adjustable for typing comfort.

10. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 9, wherein said split computer keyboard includes keys having braille.

11. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said main operational area includes passive, noninvasive monitors to record ambient temperature, heart rate, body temperature, breathing rate and stress levels of the users.

12. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said housing is made from a combination of opaque, high-impact plastic and clear plexiglass.

13. A multi-function enclosure for students or businessmen which is responsive to a planar magnetic card having magnetic data disposed thereon comprising:

a housing having a front portion and a rear portion;

a front cowling including latch means for providing access to a front storage area mounted on said front portion of said housing;

a rear lid including latch means for providing access to a rear storage area and a rear utility area mounted on said rear portion of said housing;

three magnetic card readers supported by said front cowling, and said rear lid, said card readers responsive to the planar magnetic card having the magnetic data disposed thereon for reading the magnetic data and providing an output signal in response to the magnetic data on the planar card, said card readers each having a card input opening;

a preprogrammed computer system supported in said front storage area and including program means for communicating with a user and for receiving coded data contained on said planar magnetic card and for providing an output signal to said computer responsive to said data;

said latch means coupled to the output of said computer system for opening and locking said front storage area, said main operational area, said rear storage area, and said utility area in response to the output signal from said computer system; and

a console mounted in a central portion of said housing including a fiber optic camera, a computer monitor, a computer printer, a modem coupled to said computer system, a facsimile machine coupled to said computer system, at least one floppy disc drive, at least one back-up tape drive, and a digital clock displaying day, date, and time;

wherein said rear portion is detachably connected to said front portion on rails to provide access to the interior of the enclosure by people in wheelchairs.

14. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 13, including heating means, air conditioning means, and lighting means.

15. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 14, wherein said main operational area of said housing includes control means for controlling said heating means, air conditioning means, and said lighting means.

16. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 13, including a split computer keyboard housed beneath said computer monitor and a small special function keypad that are movable forward to sit in front of each arm rest and is dimensionally adjustable for typing comfort.

17. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 16, wherein said split computer keyboard includes keys having braille.

18. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 13, wherein the main operational area includes passive, noninvasive monitors to record ambient temperature, heart rate, body temperature, breathing rate and stress levels of the users.

19. The multi-functional enclosure according to claim 13, wherein said housing is made from a combination of opaque, high-impact plastic and clear plexiglass.