Multi-media workstation having a master rail system

• US 7,802,407 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Forecast Console Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Forecast Console Incorporated
• Inventors: Haberman, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): KATCHEVES, BASIL S
• Application Number:
  US12/221,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20080290768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 52/361, 521/695, 525/62, 522/933, 522/61, 522/361, 522/369
• US Class Current: 52/236.9
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0013 Desks with central bearing beams
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0046 Desks with double worktop of which one at least is separately height adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0085 Supplementary support fixed on the edge of a desk or table

Abstract

A multi-media workstation having a master rail system for permitting horizontal adjustment of the various components of the workstation. The workstation generally includes a console having a work surface and a master rail system for supporting various audiovisual equipment. The master rail system includes a rail extrusion connecting at least two frames and having a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of its surfaces. The various components of the workstation each include a finger engaged in the longitudinal slot of the rail extrusion, wherein the component is able to be horizontally translated along a length of the rail extrusion.

Claims

1. A multi-media workstation comprising:

at least two substantially vertical frames, each of said vertical frames having at least one upper mounting surface;

a first rail extrusion mounted to an upper mounting surface of said vertical frames and connecting said frames, said first rail extrusion including an upper surface and a lateral surface;

a second rail extrusion having an upper surface and a lateral surface, said second rail extrusion being mounted to an upper mounting surface of said vertical frames and connecting said frames such that said second rail extrusion is not in vertical alignment with said first rail extrusion when said multi-media workstation is assembled;

a desktop unit supported by at least one of said first rail extrusion and said vertical frames, wherein said desktop unit has a substantially planar work surface area; and

a console box for supporting equipment, said console box being translatably mounted on said second rail extrusion and having an equipment containing area that is disposed at an incline relative to the substantially planar work surface area of said desktop unit, wherein said console box is able to be horizontally translated along a length of said second rail extrusion,

wherein said desktop unit and said console box extend outwardly in opposite directions from said lateral surface of said first rail extrusion, and said console box is disposed directly above said vertical frames.

2. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, wherein said console box comprises an enclosed structure for containing equipment therein, said enclosed structure being horizontally translatable along a length of said second rail extrusion.

3. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, wherein said first rail extrusion includes longitudinal slots formed in both of said upper surface and said lateral surface.

4. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, wherein said second rail extrusion includes longitudinal slots formed in both of said upper surface and said lateral surface.

5. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 4, wherein said second rail extrusion is square in cross-section and includes T-shaped longitudinal slots formed on each side of said second rail extrusion.

6. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, further comprising a bracket assembly connected between said first and second rail extrusions.

7. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 6, wherein said bracket assembly comprises a flat panel extending between said first and second rail extrusions and at least one bracket for supporting said flat panel.

8. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 7, wherein said flat panel encloses a cavity between said first rail extrusion, said second rail extrusion and said vertical frames for containing electrical wiring for said workstation therein.

9. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, wherein said vertical frames have first and second upper mounting portions, said first rail extrusion being mounted to said first upper mounting portion of said vertical frames and said second rail extrusion being mounted to said second upper mounting portion of said vertical frames.

10. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, wherein the first rail extrusion has a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of said upper and lateral surfaces thereof.

11. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 10, wherein the second rail extrusion has a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of said upper and lateral surfaces thereof.

12. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 11, wherein said longitudinal slots in said first and second rail extrusions are T-shaped.

13. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 10, wherein the desktop unit has a finger engaged in the longitudinal slot of the first rail extrusion such that the desktop unit may be horizontally translated along a length of the first rail extrusion.

14. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, wherein the second rail extrusion has a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of said upper and lateral surfaces thereof.

15. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 14, wherein the console box has a finger engaged in the longitudinal slot formed in the second rail extrusion.

16. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the second rail extrusion is disposed vertically lower than said upper surface of said first rail extrusion when said multi-media workstation is assembled, and the console box is supported by the upper surface of the second rail extrusion such that the console box is disposed at an incline relative to the substantially planar work surface area.

17. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, wherein the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface of the vertical frames are formed of a single surface at or near a top of the vertical frames.

18. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, wherein the console box is disposed above and between front and rear surfaces of the vertical frames.

19. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 1, further comprising a vertical support stand for supporting audiovisual equipment, the vertical support stand being mounted to one of the first and second rail extrusions so as to be able to be horizontally translated along a length thereof.

20. A multi-media workstation comprising:

at least two substantially vertical frames;

a first rail extrusion mounted to said vertical frames and connecting said frames, said first rail extrusion including an upper surface, a lateral surface and a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of said upper and lateral surfaces;

a second rail extrusion having an upper surface, a lateral surface and a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of said upper and lateral surfaces, said second rail extrusion being mounted to said vertical frames and connecting said frames such that said upper surface of said second rail extrusion is disposed vertically lower than said upper surface of said first rail extrusion when said multi-media workstation is assembled;

a desktop unit having a finger engaged in said longitudinal slot of said first rail extrusion, wherein said desktop unit is able to be horizontally translated along a length of said first rail extrusion; and

a console box for supporting a first piece of audiovisual equipment, said console box being translatably mounted on said second rail extrusion, wherein said console box is able to be horizontally translated along a length of said second extrusion,

wherein said first rail extrusion includes longitudinal slots formed in both of said upper surface and said lateral surface, and

wherein said desktop unit is engaged in said longitudinal slot formed in said lateral surface of said first rail extrusion, and wherein said workstation further comprises a vertical support stand for supporting a second piece of audiovisual equipment, said vertical support stand being engaged in said longitudinal slot formed in said upper surface of said first rail extrusion.

21. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 20, wherein said vertical support stand is adapted to support a video monitor.

22. A multi-media workstation comprising:

at least two substantially vertical frames;

a first rail extrusion mounted to said vertical frames and connecting said frames, said first rail extrusion including an upper surface, a lateral surface and a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of said upper and lateral surfaces;

a second rail extrusion having an upper surface, a lateral surface and a longitudinal slot formed in at least one of said upper and lateral surfaces, said second rail extrusion being mounted to said vertical frames and connecting said frames such that said upper surface of said second rail extrusion is disposed vertically lower than said upper surface of said first rail extrusion when said multi-media workstation is assembled;

a desktop unit having a finger engaged in said longitudinal slot of said first rail extrusion, wherein said desktop unit is able to be horizontally translated along a length of said first rail extrusion; and

a console box for supporting a first piece of audiovisual equipment, said console box being translatably mounted on said second rail extrusion, wherein said console box is able to be horizontally translated along a length of said second extrusion,

wherein said second rail extrusion includes longitudinal slots formed in both of said upper surface and said lateral surface, and

wherein said workstation further comprises a vertical support stand for supporting a second piece of audiovisual equipment, said vertical support stand being engaged in said longitudinal slot formed in said upper surface of said second rail extrusion.

23. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 22, wherein said vertical support stand is adapted to support a video monitor.

24. A multi-media workstation comprising:

at least two vertical frames each having at least one upper mounting surface;

a first rail extrusion mounted to a mounting surface of said vertical frames and connecting said frames, said first rail extrusion having an upper surface and a lateral surface and a longitudinal slot formed in said upper surface;

a desktop unit supported by at least one of the first rail extrusion and the vertical frames, the desktop unit having a substantially planar work surface area;

a vertical support stand for supporting a piece of audiovisual equipment, said vertical support stand having a finger engaged in said longitudinal slot of said upper surface of said first rail extrusion, wherein said support stand is able to be horizontally translated along a length of said first rail extrusion;

a second rail extrusion having an upper surface and a lateral surface, said second rail extrusion being mounted to an upper mounting surface of said vertical frames and connecting said frames such that said second rail extrusion is not in vertical alignment with the first rail extrusion when said multi-media workstation is assembled; and

a console box for supporting equipment, said console box being translatably mounted on said second rail extrusion and having an equipment containing area that is disposed at an incline relative to the substantially planar work surface area, wherein said console box is able to be horizontally translated along a length of said second rail extrusion, and wherein said desktop unit and said console box extend outwardly in opposing directions from said lateral surface of said first rail extrusion, and said console box is disposed directly above said vertical frames.

25. A multi-media workstation as defined in claim 24, wherein the first rail extrusion has a longitudinal slot formed in the lateral surface thereof, and the desktop unit has a finger engaged in said longitudinal slot of said lateral surface of said first rail extrusion, wherein said desktop unit is able to be horizontally translated along a length of said rail extrusion.