Operator workstation

• US 6,449,143 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: The Foxboro Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Rooyakkers, Albert, Porter, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/776,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20010007523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680-689, 312/7.2, 312/208.1, 108/50.01, 248/917-923
• US Class Current: 361/679.04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0069 with rack
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems

Abstract

An operator workstation has a worksurface and left and right upper support members extending upward from the worksurface. Multiple flat-panel display units are mounted between the support members above the level of the worksurface. The displays are mounted above one another, between the support members. Lower support members support the workstation in connection with a base mounted between the lower support members. The base has a substantially triangular cross-section, while the lower support members have a substantially triangular shape.

Claims

1. A workstation comprising:

a worksurface,

left and right upper support members extending upward from the worksurface,

left and right lower support members supporting the left and right upper support members, and

a plurality of flat-panel display units positioned above the worksurface and mounted between the upper support members, wherein the display units are vertically aligned, and further wherein at least one of the display units is pivotally mounted between the support members.

2. A workstation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the left and right upper support members intersect the worksurface and extend downward from the worksurface.

3. A workstation as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base coupled to the left and right lower support members.

4. A workstation as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

an operator interface panel positioned above the worksurface and below the plurality of display units and mounted between the left and right support members.

5. A workstation as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operator interface panel forms an obtuse angle with the worksurface.

6. A workstation as claimed in claim 5, wherein the operator interface panel has a substantially vertical front portion.

7. A workstation as claimed in claim 6, wherein the substantially vertical front portion is adapted to accommodate a media drive.

8. A workstation comprising:

a worksurface,

left and right upper support members extending upward from the worksurface,

left and right lower support members supporting the left and right upper support members, and

a flat-panel display unit positioned above the worksurface and pivotally mounted between the support members.

9. A workstation as claimed in claim 8, wherein the left and right upper support members intersect the worksurface and extend downward from the worksurface.

10. A workstation as claimed in claim 8, further comprising

a base coupled to the left and right lower support members.

11. A workstation as claimed in claim 8, further comprising

an operator interface panel positioned above the worksurface and below the display unit and mounted between the left and right support members.

12. A workstation as claimed in claim 11, wherein the operator interface panel forms an obtuse angle with the worksurface.

13. A workstation as claimed in claim 12, wherein the operator interface panel has a substantially vertical front portion.

14. A workstation as claimed in claim 13, wherein the substantially vertical front portion is adapted to accommodate a media drive.

15. A workstation comprising:

a base,

a worksurface,

left and right upper support members extending upward and downward from the worksurface and intersecting the worksurface,

left and right lower support members supporting the left and right upper support members and coupled to the base, and

a plurality of flat-panel display units positioned above the worksurface and mounted between the left and right upper support members, wherein the display units are vertically aligned, and further wherein at least one of the display units is pivotally mounted between the left and right upper support members.

16. A workstation according to claim 15, further comprising

an operator interface panel positioned above the worksurface and below the plurality of display units and mounted between the left and right upper support members.

17. A workstation as claimed in claim 16, wherein the operator interface panel forms an obtuse angle with the worksurface.

18. A workstation as claimed in claim 17, wherein the operator interface panel has a substantially vertical front portion.

19. A workstation as claimed in claim 18, wherein the substantially vertical front portion is adapted to accommodate a media drive.

20. A workstation comprising:

a base,

a worksurface,

left and right upper support members extending upward and downward from the worksurface and intersecting the worksurface,

left and right lower support members supporting the left and right upper support members and coupled to the base, and

a flat-panel display unit positioned above the worksurface and pivotally mounted between the left and right upper support members.

21. A workstation according to claim 20, further comprising

an operator interface panel positioned above the worksurface and below the display unit and mounted between the left and right upper support members.

22. A workstation as claimed in claim 21, wherein the operator interface panel forms an obtuse angle with the worksurface.

23. A workstation as claimed in claim 22, wherein the operator interface panel has a substantially vertical front portion.

24. A workstation as claimed in claim 23, wherein the substantially vertical front portion is adapted to accommodate a media drive.

25. A workstation comprising:

a worksurface,

left and right support members extending upward and downward from the worksurface and intersecting the worksurface,

an operator interface panel positioned above the worksurface and forming an obtuse angle with the worksurface, and

a plurality of flat-panel display units positioned above the operator interface panel, wherein the display units are vertically aligned, and further wherein at least one of the display units is pivotally mounted between the left and right support members.

26. A workstation as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operator interface panel has a substantially vertical front portion.

27. A workstation as claimed in claim 26, wherein the substantially vertical front portion is adapted to accommodate a media drive.

28. A workstation as claimed in claim 25, further comprising

a flat-panel display unit positioned above the operator interface panel and pivotally mounted between the left and right support members.

29. A workstation as claimed in claim 25, wherein the left and right support members comprise left and right upper support members, and wherein the workstation further comprises left and right lower support members supporting the left and right upper support members.

30. A workstation as claimed in claim 29, further comprising

a base coupled to the left and right lower support members.

31. A workstation comprising:

a worksurface,

left and right support members extending upward from the worksurface,

a plurality of flat-panel display units positioned above the worksurface and mounted between the support members, wherein the display units are vertically aligned, and further wherein at least one of the display units is pivotally mounted between the support members, and

an operator interface panel positioned above the worksurface and below the plurality of display units and mounted between the left and right support members.

32. A workstation as claimed in claim 31, wherein the operator interface panel forms an obtuse angle with the worksurface.

33. A workstation as claimed in claim 32, wherein the operator interface panel has a substantially vertical front portion.

34. A workstation as claimed in claim 33, wherein the substantially vertical front portion is adapted to accommodate a media drive.

35. A workstation comprising

a base,

a worksurface,

left and right support members coupled to the base and supporting the worksurface,

a flat-panel display unit pivotally mounted above the plane of the worksurface, and

an operator interface panel positioned above the plane of the worksurface and below the flat-panel display unit.

36. A workstation as claimed in claim 35, wherein the base has a substantially triangular cross-section.

37. A workstation as claimed in claim 35, wherein the left and right support members extend above and below the plane of the worksurface.

39. A workstation as claimed in claim 35, wherein the left and right support members lean in a forward direction toward an operator position with respect to the workstation.

40. A workstation as claimed in claim 35, wherein the left and right support members have a substantially triangular shape with a vertex thereof disposed at the base.

41. A workstation as claimed in claim 35, wherein the flat-panel display unit is pivotally mounted between the left and right upper support members.

42. A workstation as claimed in claim 35, wherein the operator interface panel forms an obtuse angle with the worksurface.

43. A workstation as claimed in claim 42, wherein the operator interface panel has a substantially vertical front portion.

44. A workstation as claimed in claim 43, wherein the substantially vertical front portion accommodates a media drive.

45. A workstation as claimed in claim 35, wherein the operator interface panel includes at least one human interface device.

46. A workstation as claimed in claim 45, wherein the human interface device comprises at least one of an annunciator panel, a joystick, a trackball, a button, and a display.

47. A workstation as claimed in claim 46, wherein the operator interface panel includes a plurality of displays.

48. A workstation as claimed in claim 46, wherein the display comprises a flat-panel display.

49. A workstation as claimed in claim 46, wherein the display comprises a touch-screen display.

50. A workstation as claimed in claim 46, wherein the display comprises a touch-screen flat-panel display.

38. A workstation as claimed in claimed 37, wherein the left and right support members intersect the worksurface.

51. A workstation comprising

a base,

a worksurface,

left and right support members coupled to the base and supporting the worksurface,

a plurality of flat-panel display units positioned above the plane of the worksurface, wherein at least one of the display units is pivotally mounted, and

an operator interface panel positioned above the plane of the worksurface and below the plurality of flat-panel display units.

52. A workstation as claimed in claim 51, wherein the base has a substantially triangular cross-section.

53. A workstation as claimed in claim 51, wherein the left and right support members extend above and below the plane of the worksurface.

54. A workstation as claimed in claim 51, wherein the left and right support members intersect the worksurface.

55. A workstation as claimed in claim 51, wherein the left and right support members lean in a forward direction toward an operator position with respect to the workstation.

56. A workstation as claimed in claim 51, wherein the left and right support members have a substantially triangular shape with a vertex thereof disposed at the base.

57. A workstation as claimed in claim 51, wherein the at least one of the display units is pivotally mounted between the left and right upper support members.

58. A workstation as claimed in claim 51, wherein the plurality of display units are vertically aligned.

59. A workstation as claimed in claim 51, wherein the operator interface panel forms an obtuse angle with the worksurface.

60. A workstation as claimed in claim 59, wherein the operator interface panel has a substantially vertical front portion.

61. A workstation as claimed in claim 60, wherein the substantially vertical front portion accommodates a media drive.

62. A workstation as claimed in claim 51, wherein the operator interface panel includes at least one human interface device.

63. A workstation as claimed in claim 62, wherein the human interface device comprises at least one of an annunciator panel, a joystick, a trackball, a button, and a display.

64. A workstation as claimed in claim 63, wherein the operator interface panel includes a plurality of displays.

65. A workstation as claimed in claim 63, wherein the display comprises a flat-panel display.

66. A workstation as claimed in claim 63, wherein the display comprises a touch-screen display.

67. A workstation as claimed in claim 63, wherein the display comprises a touch-screen flat-panel display.