Abstract:
A mobile workstation comprises a generally horizontal work surface and a plurality of support structures coupled to the work station to support the work surface above a floor. The mobile workstation is configured to permit the workstation to be moved from one work area to another.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority under U.S.C. §119(c) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/807,132, filed Jul. 12, 2006, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present disclosure relates to workstations for use in an office, classroom or other facility. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a portable workstation that allows for ease of configuring a workspace.  
         [0003]     Generally, workstations are designed to provide a user with a place to conduct business or perform work and can be used in combination with a computer system and other devices to increase productivity. Workstations are, generally, fixed structures in the form of cubicles or desks having a horizontal work surface. Workstations are often heavy and cumbersome structures that cannot be easily moved from one place to another without the aid of multiple people and the need for partial or full disassembly.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     According to the present disclosure, a mobile workstation comprises a generally horizontal work surface and a plurality of support structures coupled to the work station to support the work surface above a floor. The work surface and support structures are arranged to permit use of the work surface by a user sitting in a chair. The mobile workstation is designed to permit the workstation to be transported from one work area to another and permit a classroom, office, or conference center to be rearranged to meet specific needs. Transportation of the workstation is accomplished by “tilting” and “rolling” the work station to a desired location.  
         [0005]     In illustrative embodiments, the mobile workstation includes a horizontal work surface supported by a “tripod style” support structure having two front legs and a centrally located posterior column. The column includes a wedge-shaped bottom surface that tapers toward the front of the column to form a leading edge. The column also includes wheels that are attached to the base of the column rearward of the leading edge and arranged so that when the workstation is level, the wheels are elevated off of the floor. When the workstation is being used, the front legs and the leading edge of the column are engaged with the floor to limit movement of the workstation. The workstation can be moved by raising the front end of the workstation, which re-elevates the front legs and the leading edge of the column off of the floor causing the wheels to engage the floor and permit movement of the workstation about the wheels.  
         [0006]     The column of the mobile workstation, comprises various power, universal serial bus (USB), and computer networking ports to provide hub functionality for USB computer peripherals or to provide pass-through connectivity to facility power outlets and computer networking. The column of the mobile workstation also includes a shelf for supporting and elevating a computer tower off of the floor. The column also includes an electrical accessory port adapted to receive lighting or a computer monitor.  
         [0007]     Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The detailed description particularly refers to the accompany figures in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mobile workstation, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a planar work surface supported by a “tripod-style” support structure having two front legs and a truck located at the rear of the work surface, wherein the truck includes a wedge-shaped bottom surface defining a wheel lifter and wheels attached to the base of the truck and arranged so that when the work station is level, the front legs and the leading edge of the wheel lifter engage the floor to limit movement, as shown in the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; the workstation can be moved by lifting the front end of the workstation, which elevates the front legs and the leading edge of the wheel lifter off of the floor to permit movement of the workstation about the wheels, as shown in the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the workstation of  FIG. 1 , showing the positioning of the legs and truck with respect to the work surface;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the workstation of  FIG. 1  showing the orientation of the legs and truck with respect to the work surface;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the workstation, similar to  FIG. 1  showing the orientation of the truck along the posterior side of the workstation;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the workstation of  FIG. 1  showing the workstation in a level use position with the front legs and the leading edge of the wheel lifter in contact with the floor and the wheels elevated off of the floor;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5   a  is an enlarged side elevation view of the wheel lifter of  FIG. 5  with portions broken away;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the workstation showing the workstation in a transport position with the front portion of the workstation being raised to elevate the front legs and the leading edge of the wheel lifter off of the floor to permit movement of the workstation about the wheels;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6   a  is an enlarged side elevation view of the wheel lifter of  FIG. 6  with portions broken away;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the upper portion of the truck showing various power, USB, and computer networking ports that provide hub functionality for USB computer peripherals or pass through connectivity to facility power outlets and computer networking;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 7  showing a lighting accessory coupled to the truck of the workstation;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view similar to  FIGS. 7 and 8  showing a computer monitor coupled to the truck of the workstation;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the mobile workstation showing a support shelf for supporting a computer tower and further showing a telescoping monitor secured to the rear side of the truck; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the lower portion of the workstation truck illustrating the support shelf supporting a computer tower. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     A mobile workstation  10  is designed to permit a user to raise the front of the workstation off of an underlying surface  11  to move workstation  10  to a desired location about wheels  48 , as shown in the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 6 . Workstation  10  includes a work table  12 , a truck  16 , and a lifting wedge  17 .  
         [0023]     Work table  12  is supported, in part, by legs  14 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 1 . The remainder of work table  12  is supported by truck  16 . Work table  12  can be manufactured from a variety of materials, including plastics, wood, and wood products that may be covered with a laminate or other material to create a smooth work surface. Work table  12  includes apertures  18  to permit the passage of cables and power cords from computer equipment or lighting.  
         [0024]     Work table  12  includes a front edge  20  and a spaced-apart rear edge  22 . Work table  12  also includes a top surface  24  and a spaced-apart bottom surface  26 . In illustrative embodiments, truck  16  is positioned adjacent rear edge  22  of work table  12 , and legs  14  are positioned adjacent front edge  20 . Work table  12  is a rigid structure that can support a computer and/or monitor and is set at an elevation to permit a standard chair and the legs of the user to fit beneath work table  12 .  
         [0025]     When workstation  10  is moved to a desired location, the front of workstation  10  is lowered to return workstation  10  to a use position, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 5 . In the use position, legs  14  and lifting wedge  17  are in contact with underlying surface  11 , while wheels  48  are elevated off of underlying surface  11 . In a transport position, legs  14  and lifting wedge  17  are moved away from underlying surface  11  while wheels  48  engage underlying surface  11  to permit movement of work station  10 . In illustrative embodiments, truck  16  includes a series of conductivity ports to permit the connection of computer equipment and other tools or accessories to workstation  10  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0026]     Legs  14  of workstation  10  support work table  12  and include a first end  34  and a spaced apart second end  36  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 1 . Legs  14  extend downwardly from bottom surface  26  of work table  12  in direction  32 , adjacent front edge  20 . While legs  14  are preferably manufactured from steel, it is contemplated that other materials can be used to manufacture legs  14  while still allowing them to perform their intended function, including aluminum, wood, and composite materials. Legs  14  can also be solid or hollow. Legs  14  include first end  34 , positioned to lie adjacent work table  12  and spaced apart from second end  36  positioned to lie adjacent underlying surface  11 . First end  34  of leg  14  is coupled to horizontal support member  30 . Second end  36  of legs  14  includes anti-skid caps  40  that have a high coefficient of friction to resist movement when leg  14  is in contact with underlying surface  11 . Legs  14  are slightly arched in order to position second end  36  of leg  14  outward from front edge  20  of work table  12 .  
         [0027]     Truck  16  is positioned to lie adjacent rear edge  22  of work table  12  and essentially provides a third leg to support work table  12 . Truck  16  includes a base  21 , wheels  48 , and an axle  49 . Base  21  includes a first end  54 , and a spaced apart second end  56 . Base  21  further includes a bottom surface  29  having a generally horizontal portion  31  and a downwardly facing angled portion  33 . Angled support members  46  and work table  12  are positioned to lie adjacent first end  54  of base  21 .  
         [0028]     In illustrative embodiments, base  21  also includes a relatively planar first side  58  and a substantially curved second side  60 . First and second sides  58 ,  60  meet along edges  62 ,  64  respectively. Base  21  is preferably manufactured from a plastics material. While a plastics material is preferred, it is contemplated that other materials may be used to manufacture base  21 . Base  21  also includes a top surface  70  that is sloped downward from edge  72  to edge  74 . Top surface  70  of base  21  may include necessary ports as described in more detail below.  
         [0029]     Lifting wedge  17  is coupled to and depends from base  21 . Lifting wedge  17  provides means for lifting wheels  48  away from underlying surface  11  to inhibit movement of work table  12  and truck  16  relative to underlying surface  11  in response to a tipping movement  51  of work table  12  and truck  16  relative to underlying surface  11  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . Lifting wedge  17  includes a top surface  23 , a downwardly facing angled surface  25 , and a vertical surface  27  as shown best in  FIGS. 5   a  and  6   a.  Top surface  23  is coupled to generally horizontal portion  31  of base  21  such that downwardly facing angled surface  25  and downwardly facing angled portion  33  form a co-planar surface  35 . Vertical surface  27  and downwardly facing angled surface  25  cooperate to define a leading edge  68 .  
         [0030]     In the use position, co-planar surface  35  and underlying surface  11  cooperate to define a first acute included angle  37  therebetween as shown in  FIG. 5   a.  In the transport position, co-planar surface  35  and underlying surface  11  cooperate to define a second acute included angle  39  therebetween which is smaller than first acute included angle  37  as shown in  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0031]     In illustrative embodiments, an axle  49  is coupled to base  21  and configured to support wheels  48  for rotation about an axis of rotation  53  as suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Wheels  48  permit workstation  10  to be moved around when truck  16  is tilted to the transport position.  
         [0032]     In illustrative embodiments,  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a “tilt and roll” feature of workstation  10 .  FIG. 5  illustrates workstation  10  in the static use position with legs  14  and leading edge  68  of lifting wedge  17  positioned on underlying surface  11 . When leading edge  68  and legs  14  are positioned to engage underlying surface  11 , wheels  48  are moved away from underlying surface  11  to create a gap  76  between a lowest point  41  of wheels  48  and underlying surface  11 . In the use position, work table  12  is oriented parallel to underlying surface  11  to provide a substantially horizontal work surface. When workstation  10  is in the use position, the user can position their legs and chair under the work table  12 .  
         [0033]     When it is desirable to move workstation  10  to a different location, front edge  20  of work table  12  is raised by the user causing legs  14  to move away from underlying surface  11  as suggested in  FIG. 6 . Raising work table  12  also causes leading edge  68  of lifting wedge  17  to move away from underlying surface  11  causing wheels  48  to engage underlying surface  11  to permit movement of work station  10  about wheels  48  in fore and aft directions. In the transport position suggested in  FIG. 6  and  6   a,  lowest point  41  of wheels  48  engages underlying surface  11  and leading edge  68  disengages and moves away from underlying surface  11  in response to the tipping movement  51  to create a gap  78  therebetween.  
         [0034]     Once a desired location is selected, the user lowers front edge  20  of work table  12  so that legs  14  and leading edge  68  of lifting wedge  17  once again engage underlying surface  11  to return workstation  10  to the use position. In the use position, wheels  48  are once again moved away from underlying surface  11 .  
         [0035]     Horizontal support members  30  each include a first end  42  and a spaced apart second end  44 . While horizontal member  30  is preferably tubular, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 3 , it is contemplated that horizontal support member  30  can be solid as well. First end  42  of each horizontal support member  30  is coupled to first end  34  of legs  14 . Legs  14  and horizontal support member  30  may be formed as one piece or can be formed as separate components that are coupled together. Second end  44  of each horizontal support member  30  is coupled to an angled support member  46 . Horizontal support member  30  can be formed with angled support member  46  or can be formed of separate components that are coupled together. Horizontal support member  30  is positioned adjacent bottom surface  26  of work table  12  and is secured by use of screws, bolts, rivets, adhesive or by other securing means known to those skilled in the art. Horizontal support structures  30  transfer a portion of the load placed on the work table  12  to legs  14 . The remainder of the load placed on work table  12  is transferred to truck  16  through angled support members  46 .  
         [0036]     Angled support members  46  are coupled to horizontal support members  30  at a first end  50  and extend from horizontal support members  30  to truck  16  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 3 . Angled support members  46  are secured to bottom surface  26  of work table  12  by fasteners, adhesive or other means known to those skilled in the art and are adapted to transfer loads placed on work table  12  to truck  16  or legs  14  through horizontal support members  30 . Angled support members  46  can be coupled to horizontal support members  30  by a tube-in-tube connection or can be formed as one piece with horizontal support members  30 . Angled support members  46  are coupled to truck  16  at a second end  52  by use of fasteners, bolts, rivets, welding adhesive or by other means known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 7 through 9  illustrate the various connections that are associated with base  21  to provide computer networking. Base  21  may include electrical outlets  80 , USB ports  82 , network cable ports  84 , indicator lights  86 , switches  88  and accessory port  90 . Accessory port  90  can be adapted to accept lighting  92  as shown in  FIG. 8  or a computer monitor  94  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Connections are routed through base  21  to second side  60  of base  21  near second end  56 .  
         [0038]     Workstation  10  also includes a shelf  96  that is coupled to base  21  along first side  58  and is adapted to support a computer tower  98 . Shelf  96  includes first and second side walls  100 ,  102  that are coupled to first side  58  of base  21 . Shelf  96  also includes bottom wall  104  that is coupled to side walls  100 ,  102  and is adapted to support computer tower  98 . Shelf  96  also includes front wall  106  that retains computer tower  98  on shelf  96 . Base  21  may also include a telescoping arm  108 , as shown, for example in  FIG. 10  that is adapted to support a computer monitor  110 .