Work station with underdesk display

• US RE34,266 E
• Filed: 12/21/1990
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward C Schairbaum
• Original Assignee: Edward C Schairbaum
• Inventors: Schairbaum, Edward C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US07/647,701
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 312/7.2, 312/208, 312/194, 108/23, 108/28, 108/26, 108/5, 108/6, 108/4, 108/50, 108/161, 248/444.1, 248/917, 248/918, 248/920, 248/442.2, 248/639, 358/254, 362/33
• US Class Current: 108/23
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/007 with under-desk displays, e.g. displays being viewable through a transparent working surface of the table or desk
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0043 Inclination adjustable work top

Abstract

A computer work station is described in which a work table has a transparent generally horizontal work surface, a keyboard rested upon this table, and a CRT. To make the work station more usable, the CRT is movably suspended beneath the transparent work surface so that the screen of the CRT is visible therethrough. The CRT is preferably mounted for side to side, forward and back, swingable and rotational motion so as to be movable to a variety of positions and angles beneath the transparent work surface whereby its display will be conveniently visible on many portions of the table desired by the worker.

Claims

1. A computer work station comprising a work table having a transparent generally horizontal work surface, a CRT, a keyboard movably associated with said .Iadd.work station and independently movably associated with said .Iaddend.CRT, and .Iadd.CRT mounting .Iaddend.means .Iadd.cooperative with said work table .Iaddend.to .[.suspend.]. .Iadd.support bottom portions of .Iaddend.said CRT .Iadd.and to uphold said CRT .Iaddend.beneath said transparent work surface with the screen of said CRT at an angle to said work surface so that .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.screen .[.of the CRT.]. is visible therethrough at a downward angle to a worker using .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.work station, .[.and.]. said .Iadd.CRT mounting .Iaddend.means .[.to suspend said CRT.]. including means for moving said CRT to a variety of positions and angles beneath .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.transparent work surface whereby .[.its.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.display .Iadd.of said screen .Iaddend.will be conveniently visible to said worker at many positions about .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table.

2. A computer work station as recited in claim 1 in which said work table is formed with a plurality of legs which support parallel front and back horizontally extending telescoping tubes above which said transparent work surface is supported, said CRT mounting means including a pair of tubular supports interconnecting said horizontal tubes and slidable therewith as said tubes are telescoped to permit .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT to be moved from side to side beneath .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table.

3. A computer work station as recited in claim 2 in which a pair of tubular braces .[.are.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.fitted over said last-named tubular supports and are slidable thereupon to permit .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT to be moved forward and back beneath .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table.

4. A computer work station as recited in claim 3 in which said CRT mounting means is carried by downwardly extending swing arms pivoted to said last-named tubular .[.braces.]. .Iadd.supports.Iaddend..

5. A computer work station as recited in claim 4 in which said transparent work surface is supported by raised elements carried by said front and back horizontal tubes so that .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT mounting means can slide on said horizontal tubes without encountering .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.work surface.

6. A computer work station as recited in claim 5 in which said transparent work surface constitutes the entire top of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table, and is hinged at the back to slope said work surface.

7. A computer work station as recited in claim 4 in which said legs are adjustable in length to adapt the height of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table to .[.the user.]. .Iadd.said worker .Iaddend., and the length of said downwardly extending swing arms is adjustable to adapt the length of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.swing arms to the size of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT.

8. A computer work station as recited in claim 7 in which said CRT .[.is positioned in.]. .Iadd.mounting means includes .Iaddend.a right angle .[.bracket which is.]. .Iadd.member on which said CRT is positioned, and said CRT is inclined .Iaddend.at an angle to the horizontal when .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.swing arms extend downwardly, and said .[.bracket.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.is rotatably mounted upon a support which interconnects the lower ends of said swing arms.

18. said worker therethrough..Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A computer work station as recited in claim 1 in which said work surface includes non-transparent portions..Iaddend.

20. non-transparent portions. 24. A computer work station as recited in claim 1 which said CRT mounting means includes a right angle member for supporting said CRT.

9. A work table adapted to provide a computer work station comprising a transparent generally horizontal work surface adapted to support a keyboard rested thereupon, said work table having means .[.to.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.movably .[.suspend said.]. .Iadd.supporting a .Iaddend.CRT beneath said transparent work surface with the screen of said CRT at an angle to said work surface so that .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.screen .[.of the CRT.]. is visible therethrough at a downward angle to a worker seated in front of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table, said .[.suspending.]. .Iadd.supporting .Iaddend.means to move said CRT from side to side, forward and back, swingably and rotationally so as to be movable to a variety of positions and angles beneath .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.transparent work surface whereby .[.its.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.display .Iadd.of said screen.Iaddend.will be conveniently visible .[.on.]. .Iadd.through .Iaddend.many portions of .[.the table.]. .Iadd.said transparent work surface as .Iaddend.desired by .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.worker.

10. A work table as recited in claim 9 in which said table is formed with a plurality of legs which support parallel front and back horizontally extending telescoping tubes upon which said transparent work surface is supported.

11. A work table as recited in claim 10 in which tubular supports extend between said horizontal tubes .[.a.]. with .Iadd.a .Iaddend.pair of tubular braces being fitted over said last-named tubular supports and slidable thereupon to permit .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT to be moved forward and back beneath .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table.

12. A work table as recited in claim 11 in which said CRT .[.suspending.]. .Iadd.supporting .Iaddend.means is carried by downwardly extending swing arms pivoted to said last-named tubular braces.

13. A work table as recited in claim 12 in which said transparent work surface is supported by raised elements carried by said front and back horizontal tubes so that .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT .[.suspending.]. .Iadd.supporting .Iaddend.means can slide on said horizontal tubes without encountering .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.work surface.

14. A work table as recited in claim 13 in which said transparent work surface is hinged at the back .Iadd.thereof .Iaddend.to be elevatable at the front .Iadd.thereof.Iaddend..

15. A work table as recited in claim 14 in which said legs are adjustable in length to adapt the height of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.table to the .[.the user .]. .Iadd.said worker .Iaddend.and the length of said downwardly extending swing arms is adjustable to adapt the length of .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.swing arms to the size of a selected .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT.

16. A work table as recited in claim 15 in which .Iadd.said supporting means includes .Iaddend.a right angle bracket .Iadd.that is .Iaddend.adapted to support .[.a.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.CRT, .[.is.]. .Iadd.right angle bracket being .Iaddend.mounted on a .[.support.]. .Iadd.holding means .Iaddend.which interconnects the lower ends of said swing arms, said right angle bracket being positioned at an angle to the horizontl when .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.swing arms extend downwardly, and said .Iadd.right angle .Iaddend.bracket .[.is.]. .Iadd.being rotatably mounted .Iadd.by said .[.support.]. .Iadd.holding means .Iaddend.to permit rotation of said CRT about a vertical axis. .Iadd.

19. A work table as recited in claim 9 in which said work surface includes

17. A computer work station comprising a work table having a transparent generally horizontal work surface, a CRT, a keyboard associated with said work station and independently and movably associated with said CRT, and bracket means cooperative with said work table to support bottom portions of said CRT to uphold said CRT beneath said transparent work surface with the screen of said CRT being at an angle to said work surface so that said screen is visible therethrough at a downward angle to a worker using said work station, said bracket means including means for moving said CRT to a plurality of heights and angles beneath said transparent work surface whereby the display of said screen will be conveniently visible to said worker through said work surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A computer work station comprising:

(a) a flat surfaced member supported generally horizontally by understanding leg means, at least a portion of said member being transparent; and

(b) bracket means adjustably associated with said work station, said bracket means having support means for upholding bottom portions of a cathode ray tube, and having means for adjustably mounting said support means beneath said flat surfaced member for movement of said support means relative thereto including means for pivotal movement vertically with (1) said cathode ray tube being oriented for visibility at a downward angle through said transparent portion and (2) a keyboard being independently associated with said work station..Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A computer work station comprising;

(a) a flat surfaced member supported generally horizontally by upstanding leg means, said flat surfaced member including a transparent portion;

(b) bracket means associated with said work station for supporting and upholding bottom portions of a cathode ray tube beneath said flat surfaced member with the screen of said cathode ray tube disposed angularly for viewability by a worker looking downwardly through said transparent portion from a location laterally adjacent said flat surfaced member;

(c) said bracket means including adjustment means for adjustably horizontally and vertically moving and positioning said bracket means relative to said flat surfaced member; and

(d) a keyboard independently movably associated with said cathode ray tube..Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A desk configuration comprising;

(a) a member having a planar work surface and having spaced longitudinal front and rear edges;

(b) means supporting said planar work surface, and

(c) CRT support means mounted beneath said planar work surface including means for longitudinal, vertical and/or lateral movements of said CRT support means relative thereto and for adjustably supporting and upholding bottom portions of a cathode ray tube, such that said cathode ray tube is located entirely beneath said work surface and is movable on said CRT support means to a variety of positions and angles while associated with a keyboard that is separately and independently associated with said desk configuration; and

(d) at least a portion of said planar work surface being transparent so as to provide visual access to said cathode ray tube..Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A desk configuration for supporting a CRT and a keyboard independently of one another, said desk configuration comprising a supported, generally horizontal work surface having a transparent portion; and

bracket means associated with said work station for adjustably supporting and upholding bottom portions of said CRT beneath said work surface with the screen of said CRT being at an angle to said work surface so that said screen is visible through said transparent portion at a downward angle to a worker using said CRT;

said bracket means including adjustment means for moving said CRT to a plurality of heights and angles beneath said transparent portion whereby the display of said screen will be conveniently visible to