Mobile clinical workstation

• US 6,721,178 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InterMetro Industries Corporation (Ali Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: FHS Acquisition, LLC
• Inventors: Jacobs, Michael R., Clark, Richard A., Flemig, Steven B.
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/171,582
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686, 361/680, 361/681, 361/682, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/197, 312/239, 312/208.2, 248/161, 248/404, 248/676-678, 248/158, 248/370, 248/127, 248/129, 248/918-919, 108/3, 108/25, 108/50.19, 108/147, 108/50.11, 108/150, 108/50.02, 606/32, 606/202
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0023 Columnar component for computer, stand or trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A mobile workstation includes an adjustable-height horizontal tray and a pull-out keyboard tray mounted beneath the horizontal tray to support a keyboard. A device, such as computer terminal, mounts to the horizontal tray through installation into a vertically-mounted docking station mounted to the horizontal tray, or through a mounting bracket mounted adjacent to the horizontal tray. A tiltable bracket mounts the docking station to the horizontal tray, and a clutch assembly allows the angle of the bracket and the angle of the docking station and the computer terminal, to be adjusted to avoid glare on the terminal'"'"'s display screen. With a mounting bracket, a tiltable bracket mounts a vertically-mounted display screen to the top of the horizontal tray. The mobile workstation also carries a power unit including an extended-life battery and a battery charger that connects to an AC power supply to charge the conventional battery pack connected to the computer terminal as well as the extended-life battery carried on the mobile workstation. When the computer terminal is stored in the mobile workstation, the wireless computer terminal can communicate through a radio transceiver in communication with a computer network, such a distributed patient-care computer network. Furthermore, a mobile workstation with a docking station includes a spring-mounted vertically-movable leveling tray that allows the computer terminal to be easily removed from the docking station using a push-down-and-tilt motion. An electronic and/or key lock selectively prevents vertical movement of the leveling tray to secure the computer terminal within the docking station.

Claims

1. A mobile workstation, comprising:

a wheeled chassis;

a substantially horizontal tray supported by the chassis and having a lower surface and an upper surface defining a substantially horizontal work surface;

a pull-out tray mounted below the horizontal work surface to support a keyboard;

a display screen positioned above the work surface so that the display screen is tiltable relative to the work surface; and

a power unit supported on the chassis to supply power to the device and the display screen.

2. The mobile workstation of claim 1, wherein the chassis further comprises:

a dolly assembly;

a vertical beam having a first end connected to the dolly assembly and a second end connected to the tray; and

means for altering the length of the vertical beam and maintaining the tray at a plurality of selectable distances from the dolly assembly.

3. The mobile workstation of claim 1, wherein the device is a computing device.

4. The mobile workstation of claim 1, wherein the device is a wireless computing device.

5. The mobile workstation of claim 1, wherein the power unit further comprises:

a rechargeable battery for supplying power to the device; and

a battery charger connectable to an AC power source for charging the rechargeable battery.

6. The mobile workstation of claims 1, further comprising:

a back mounting bracket supported adjacent to the lower surface of the tray and configured to support a power converter.

7. The mobile workstation of claim 5, wherein the power unit further comprises:

a power cord for connecting the battery charger to the AC power source; and

a power cord storage assembly operable for retracting the power cord when the power cord is not connected to the AC power source.

8. A mobile workstation, comprising:

a moveable chassis;

a substantially horizontal tray supported by the chassis that defines a work surface;

a height adjustment mechanism for altering the height of the horizontal tray;

a display screen adjacent to the work surface that is tiltable relative to the work surface;

an input device tray supported adjacent to the work surface; and

a power unit supported by the chassis for supplying power to the display screen.

9. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the horizontal tray is adapted to support a computing device.

10. The mobile workstation of claim 9, wherein the horizontal tray includes a means for supporting the computing device below the work surface.

11. The mobile workstation of claim 10, wherein the means for supporting the computing device is substantially parallel to the work surface.

12. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the chassis is adapted to support a computing device.

13. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the input device tray is selected from the group consisting of:

a pull-out tray, an adjustable tray, and a height adjustable tray.

14. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the input device tray positions an input device in front of and below the work surface.

15. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the input device tray is retractable so that when retracted at least a portion of the input device tray is positioned below the work surface.

16. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the chassis includes a vertical beam and wherein a power cable connected to the power unit is routed inside the vertical beam.

17. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the chassis includes a vertical beam, the vertical beam includes a shaft and a vertical beam cover, and wherein a power cable connected to the power unit is routed between the shaft and the cover for the vertical beam.

18. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the chassis comprises:

a plurality of wheels;

at least two substantially horizontal beams, wherein each beam connects at least two of the wheels; and

an arched support plate connected between a selected pair of the horizontal beams.

19. The mobile workstation of claim 18, wherein the power unit is mounted to the arched support plate so that a portion of the power unit extends below an upper surface of the horizontal beams.

20. The mobile workstation of claim 18, further comprising:

a support bracket connected between the selected pair of the horizontal beams.

21. The mobile workstation of claim 18, further comprising:

an arched cross beam for connecting the selected pair of the horizontal beams.

22. The mobile workstation of claim 21, further comprising:

a vertical beam that connects the arched cross beam to the horizontal tray.

23. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the chassis comprises:

a plurality of wheels;

a plurality of base supports connecting the wheels; and

a support plate connected to at least two of the base supports to support a power unit so that a portion of the power unit extends below an upper surface of the wheels.

24. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the display screen is attached to the work surface.

25. The mobile workstation of claim 8, wherein the display screen extends through a recess in the work surface.

26. A mobile workstation, comprising:

a moveable chassis;

a substantially horizontal tray supported by the chassis that defines a work surface;

a display screen positioned so that at least a portion of the display screen is visible above the work surface, wherein the display screen is tiltable relative to the work surface;

an input device tray proximate to the work surface;

a computing device positioned below the work surface; and

a power unit for supplying power to the computing device.

27. The mobile workstation of claim 26, wherein the chassis comprises a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the chassis to adjust the height of the work surface.

28. The mobile workstation of claim 26, wherein the horizontal tray is adapted to support the computing device.

29. The mobile workstation of claim 26, wherein the chassis is adapted to support the computing device.

30. The mobile workstation of claim 26, wherein the input device tray is selected from the group consisting of:

a pull-out tray, an adjustable tray and a height adjustable tray.

31. The mobile workstation of claim 26, wherein the chassis comprises:

a plurality of wheels;

a plurality of base supports connecting the wheels; and

a support plate connected to at least two of the base supports to support a power unit so that a portion of the power unit extends below an upper surface of the wheels.

32. The mobile workstation of claim 26, wherein the display screen is attached to the work surface.

33. The mobile workstation of claim 26, wherein the display screen extends through a recess in the work surface.

34. A mobile workstation, comprising:

a moveable chassis;

a tray supported by the chassis that defines a work surface, wherein the tray is adapted to support a computing device so that at least a portion of the computing device is covered by the work surface;

an input device tray located proximate to the work surface;

a display screen positioned so that at least a portion of the display screen is visible above the work surface, wherein the display screen is tiltable relative to the work surface; and

a power unit supported by the chassis for powering the computing device.

35. The mobile workstation of claim 34, wherein the chassis includes a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the tray.

36. The mobile workstation of claim 34, wherein the input device tray is selected from the group consisting of:

a pull-out tray, an adjustable tray, and a height adjustable tray.

37. The mobile workstation of claim 34, wherein the chassis comprises:

a plurality of wheels;

a plurality of base supports connecting the wheels; and

a support plate connected to at least two of the base supports to support a power unit so that a portion of the power unit extends below an upper surface of the wheels.

38. The mobile workstation of claim 34, wherein the display screen is attached to the work surface.

39. The mobile workstation of claim 34, wherein the display screen extends through a recess in the work surface.

40. A mobile workstation, comprising:

a moveable chassis;

a substantially horizontal tray supported by the chassis that defines a work surface;

a height adjustment mechanism for altering the height of the horizontal tray;

a support for a computing device having an integrated display screen that is adjacent to the work surface and that allows the display screen to tilt relative to the work surface;

an input device tray supported adjacent to the work surface; and

a power unit supported by the chassis for supplying power to the display screen.

41. The mobile workstation of claim 40, wherein the input device tray is selected from the group consisting of:

a pull-out tray, an adjustable tray, and a height adjustable tray.

42. The mobile workstation of claim 40, wherein the input device tray positions an input device in front of and below the work surface.

43. The mobile workstation of claim 40, wherein the input device tray is retractable so that at least a portion of the input device tray is positioned below the work surface.

44. The mobile workstation of claim 40, wherein the chassis comprises:

a plurality of wheels;

a plurality of base supports connecting the wheels; and

a support plate connected to at least two of the base supports to support a power unit so that a portion of the power unit extends below an upper surface of the wheels.