Videoconferencing carrel

• US 6,980,259 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Del R. Doty, Giacomo M. Strollo
• Original Assignee: Del R. Doty, Giacomo M. Strollo
• Inventors: Strollo, Giacomo M., Doty, Del R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M.
• Application Number:
  US10/247,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 348/836, 348/838.8, 348/39, 348/843, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 52/362, 235/379
• US Class Current: 348/836
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a videoconferencing carrel having a one-piece, rotationally molded shell defining an area for containing electronic videoconferencing equipment, having mounting flanges for a transparent screen to protect the electronic components, exit openings to allow wiring for handset attachment and connection to power and networking lines for use as a videoconferencing carrel. A method for manufacturing a one-piece rotationally molded videoconferencing carrel is also provided generally including the steps of providing a mold with a cavity, introducing a polymeric material into the mold cavity, molding the polymeric material into the shape of the videoconferencing carrel, removing the carrel from the mold and placing the molded carrel in a cooling fixture to produce a molded article of manufacture constituting the invention.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing one-piece rotationally molded videoconferencing carrel comprising:

a. a structure having a peripheral edge and being shaped and dimensioned to support videoconferencing equipment above a surface, said structure comprising a shelled cavity made of an external plastic wall and an internal plastic wall joined along said peripheral edge and defining therebetween a series of shallow chambers resulting in a pair of oppositely placed hollow side panels adjoining a hollow horizontal shelf/writing desk surface;

b. an interior shelf for placing videoconferencing components thereon;

c. a continuous path for electronic component wiring along the rear of the unit in a space physically separated from the carrel occupant;

d. a plurality of open wiring paths for electronic component communication wires to have access to any internal chamber cavity of the structure;

e. an exit point for videoconferencing equipment wiring to exit said unit;

f. a plurality of protective screen mounting flanges for securing a protective transparent screen in the front of the unit for viewing a television screen or video monitor;

g. a recessed area behind the protective screen mounting flanges to house the video or television monitor and its associated electronic components.

2. The videoconferencing carrel according to claim 1, wherein there is a wireway mounting cover at the rear of the structure to cover the wiring exiting from the unit in the back, secured by a plurality of fastening means.

3. The videoconferencing carrel according to claim 1, wherein there is installed thereon a protective screen of a transparent material by a plurality of fastening means to the protective screen mounting flanges on the structure, such that a television screen or video monitor installed behind the protective screen is protected from access by a person viewing said television screen or monitor.

4. The videoconferencing carrel according to claim 1, wherein said structure is manufactured by a rotational molding process comprising:

a. forming a mold having internal surfaces defining the external and surfaces of said carrel;

b. partially assembling the mold on the offset arm of a rotational molding machine;

c. placing molded-in threaded inserts for the feet or casters to be installed later on the bottom of the carrel;

d. depositing into said mold a volume of thermoplastic material;

e. inserting at least one vent tube of a “

non-stick”

material through openings in the mold to allow the interior of the mold to remain at atmospheric pressure throughout the molding process;

f. closing said mold;

g. rotating said mold about two perpendicular axis at a slow rate of speed such that the thermoplastic material falls to the bottom-most portion of the mold by way of gravity;

h. exposing said mold to a temperature high enough to melt the thermoplastic material;

i. rotating said mold about two perpendicular axes at speeds and for periods sufficient to gravitationally spread said plastic powder against said internal surface of the mold where it subsequently melts and builds up an even thickness;

j. cooling said mold to a temperature and for a period sufficient to phase transition said material to a hardened state while applying air pressure to the interior of the mold so that the sidewalls and top do not draw in during cooling; and

k. opening said mold to retrieve said structure.