Wall-mounted computer work station

• US 8,441,782 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PNC Bank National Association (The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enovate It
• Inventors: Thomas, Rendell
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US13/036,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.02, 361/679.08, 36167921-67923
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 43/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling folding of the cabinet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 51/00 Cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down for cabinets with parts rotating about a horizontal axis A47B46/005; for show or display A47F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/008 Suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/005 mounted on the wall
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/166 electromagnetic

Abstract

Computer workstation includes a mounting bracket for attachment to a wall, and a cabinet connected to the mounting bracket. A track, attached to the cabinet, is engaged with the mounting bracket to vertically guide the cabinet. A non-contacting sensor detects a computer operator. An input device tray is rotatably connected to the cabinet, and has i) an operating position that holds computer input device(s) in an input position and ii) a stowed position substantially preventing access. First electromagnet selectively retains the tray in the stowed position. Second electromagnet selectively retains the tray in the operating position. An electronic lock control panel accepts authentication input from the operator. An electronic lock control module, in a lockable compartment of the cabinet, is connected to the lock control panel and the sensor. The lock control module separately controls electric current flow through the electromagnets in response to authentication by the lock control module.

Claims

1. A wall-mounted computer workstation, comprising:

a mounting bracket for fixable attachment to a wall;

a cabinet operatively connected to the mounting bracket, the cabinet having a front side to face away from the wall, and a rear side to be adjacent to the wall;

a track rigidly attached to the cabinet and operably engaged with the mounting bracket to guide the cabinet in a vertical direction;

a non-contacting sensor operably disposed on the cabinet to detect a presence of a computer operator;

an input device tray to receive at least one computer input device, the tray rotatably connected to the cabinet, the tray having an operating position such that the at least one computer input device is held in an input position and having a stowed position such that access to the at least one computer input device is substantially prevented;

a first electromagnet disposed on the cabinet to selectively magnetically retain the input device tray in the stowed position;

a second electromagnet disposed on the cabinet to selectively magnetically retain the input device tray in the operating position;

an electronic lock control panel operably disposed on an exterior surface of the cabinet to accept authentication input from the operator; and

an electronic lock control module disposed in a lockable compartment of the cabinet, the lock control module connected to receive signals from the electronic lock control panel and the non-contacting sensor, the lock control module connected to the first and second electromagnets to separately control electric current flow through the first and second electromagnets in response to an authentication by the lock control module.

2. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the authentication causes the first electromagnet to release the input device tray to allow the tray to be rotated into a magnetic engagement zone and to be magnetically retained by the second electromagnet in the operating position until authentication is revoked; and

an absence of the authentication causes the second electromagnet to release the input device tray such that the tray automatically rotates to the stowed position and is retained in the stowed position.

3. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 1 wherein a center of rotation of the input device tray is substantially through a lowermost rear corner of the cabinet which causes the input device tray to swing below the cabinet a distance that is substantially equal to a thickness of the cabinet.

4. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge having a first hinge plate pivotally attached to a second hinge plate, the first hinge plate rigidly attached to the cabinet and the input device tray rigidly mounted to the second hinge plate;

a first magnetically responsive strike plate disposed on the input device tray; and

a second magnetically responsive strike plate rigidly mounted to the second hinge plate;

and wherein;

the first electromagnet selectively magnetically attracts the first magnetically responsive strike plate to selectively magnetically retain the input device tray in the stowed position; and

the second electromagnet alignably attaches to the first hinge plate via a self-aligning mount to selectively magnetically attract the second magnetically responsive strike plate, to selectively draw the input device tray to the operating position, and to selectively magnetically retain the input device tray in the operating position when the second electromagnet is in an energized state and release the input device tray when the second electromagnet is in a de-energized state.

5. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 4 wherein a magnetic attraction force between each electromagnet and the respective magnetically responsive strike plate is from 50 lbf to 150 lbf when the electromagnet and the respective strike plate are in contact and the electromagnet is in the energized state.

6. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 4, further comprising a cooling fan disposed adjacent the second electromagnet to cool the second electromagnet when the input device tray is in the stowed position.

7. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 4, wherein the self-aligning mount includes:

a mounting flange rigidly attached to the second electromagnet; and

two shoulder bolts threadingly attached to the first hinge plate through oversized holes in the mounting flange, the oversized holes having a diameter ranging from about 0.03 inch to about 0.04 inch larger than a maximum shoulder diameter of the shoulder bolts, wherein a clearance between the shoulder bolts and the oversized holes enables the second electromagnet to self-align with the second strike plate to maximize a magnetic attraction force therebetween.

8. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 1, further comprising a gas-spring attached to the cabinet to cause a tension force in a cable attached to an adjustable crank-arm mounted on the tray which produces a closing torque adjustable to rotate the tray to the stowed position when the second electromagnet is in a de-energized state.

9. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 8 wherein the gas-spring is biased to elongate.

10. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

a linear slider assembly having a sliding member and a stationary member, the linear slider assembly disposed on the cabinet; and

a post disposed on the sliding member;

and wherein;

the adjustable crank-arm includes a leadscrew rotatably attached to the second hinge plate and a complementary nut operably disposed on the leadscrew, the nut having a slot formed therein and a clevis pin disposed orthogonally through the slot;

the cable has a first loop formed on a slider end of the cable and a second loop formed on a distal end of the cable, the first loop engaging the post and the second loop engaging the clevis pin to transmit tensile force from the gas-spring through the cable to the nut to exert the closing torque on the input device tray; and

turning the leadscrew causes the nut to move along the leadscrew, which adjusts the closing torque.

11. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 10 wherein the sliding member includes a male slide member and the stationary member includes a female slide member complementarily shaped to slidingly receive the male slide member.

12. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a bearing affixed to the mounting bracket and operably engaged with the track, the bearing substantially preventing relative motion between the mounting bracket and the track in all directions other than vertical.

13. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electric-powered linear drive assembly rigidly attached to the cabinet and operably connected to the mounting bracket for adjusting a vertical position of the cabinet along the track.

14. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 1, further comprising a computer monitor mounted to the cabinet.

15. The wall-mounted computer workstation as defined in claim 1 wherein the non-contacting sensor is chosen from an infra-red sensor, an ultra-sonic sensor, a biometric sensor, a microphone, and combinations thereof.