Abstract:
A figure-shaped ergonomic and secured computer workstation, or a plurality of such workstations with different features is installed in a location. The figure-shaped computer workstation is made of hollow tubes arranged at such a configuration as to create a figure-like frame. A computer monitor is mounted on a support at a location relating to the head, and a keyboard is mounted at a location relating to the hands creating an ergonomic figure-like computer support. Part of the power cable distribution connecting the different elements to the power network travels within the hollow frame tube and the frame is also equipped, when appropriate, with one or several accessories or any other visual design feature, such as color, frame orientation, to help associate the workstation with a contemplated use of the computer in the workstation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to computer workstations, and more particularly to a secure figure-like ergonomic computer workstation and the method of use of a plurality of such workstations in a location to guide users to predetermined workstations based on a visual association of external features with a contemplated use.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Computers are used in a wide variety of fields ranging from employment, recreation, study, research, and even therapeutic aides. While designers and engineers work to miniaturize computers, an ever-increasing need for complex and multi-tasking applications and a ease of use of large workstations guards against the dramatic miniaturization of computers. The frontier between desk top computers, portable laptops and hand held devices is ever changing, but workstations where a computer processing unit (CPU) is accessed in a public or private setting remains an essential part of data collection and data distribution in our society.  
         [0003]     In addition to being commonly available for a multitude of applications and in a variety of settings, personal computers are valuable and often singled out by thieves. This problem is amplified when a computer is accessible by the public or a small group of individuals. For this reason, computers must be secured to workstations and workstations in turn must be secured to locations where they are found.  
         [0004]     Most inventions relate to desk-based workstations as improvements of table-like supports where a monitor, a CPU and a keyboard is located. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,199, 5,118,172, 5,174,223, 5,480,224, 5,450,800, 6,098,936, 6,298,794, 6,619,765, and 6,712,008 are illustrative of such inventions. Some uses, such the use by a bed stricken patient in a hospital setting, warrants mobile and portable workstations. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,630,566, 6,394,402, and 6,683,784, are illustrative of such inventions. Mobile workstations raise issues of security and theft even if the components are secured to a workstation that can be moved to a more discrete location where components can be unsecured. U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,969 illustrates a sturdy, enclosed support adapted to the manufacturing environment that offers theft protection; this invention is bulky, sturdy, and un-ergonomic and non-adapted for non-manufacturing environments. This non-ergonomic invention also fails to provide users information regarding a contemplated use and the configuration is a lateral arm where both the keyboard and the monitor are attached. If two or more of the workstations described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,969 are placed in a single location, potential users must rely on external information to decide what workstation is better adapted to their contemplated use.  
         [0005]     Camera systems or human surveillance are often not adapted to the protection of the simplest equipment on a permanent basis. Communities, who acquire workstations and personal computers to be used by a multiplicity of users, first have to find a secure location where supervision is possible. Since a very limited selection of personal computer design is available, communities who would like to dedicate different workstations to contemplated uses often resort to paper signs, verbal instructions or simply end up installing all contemplated uses on each workstation. A sports club wishing to dedicate one workstation to baseball registration, a second to football registration, and a third to basketball registration, is currently unable to convey the information without resorting to auxiliary means.  
         [0006]     In these respects, the ergonomic and secure computer work station according to the present invention as described hereafter substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus and associated method of services, primarily developed for the purpose of enabling a user to select and use ergonomically a personal computer in a social and cordial setting while offering at the same time an adequate theft protection for the owner of the computer.  
         [0007]     While these devices fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents to do not disclose a new secure workstation support ergonomically designed to offer comfort of use, insuring that the support harmonizes with social surroundings, and provides visual information about a possible contemplated use of the CPU, while preventing theft.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     A figure-shaped ergonomic and secure computer workstation, or a plurality of such workstations with different features installed in a location, achieves the foregoing and also has other advantages. The figure-shaped computer workstation is made of hollow tubes arranged in such a configuration as to create a figure-like frame. A computer monitor is mounted on a support and secured using a securing means on the figure-like frame at a location on the frame relating to the head of the figure-like figure. A keyboard or other information entry device is mounted on a support and secured using a securing means at a location on the frame relating to the hand of the figure-like figure. The figure-like frame is secured to a location with a base and a securing means.  
         [0009]     The Computer Processor Unit (CPU) is also functionally connected and secured to the figure-like frame, and part of the power cable distribution connecting the different elements to the power network travels within the hollow frame. The frame is also equipped, when appropriate, with one or several accessories or any other visual design feature, such as color, frame orientation, to help associate the workstation with a contemplated use of the computer in the workstation.  
         [0010]     By using a figure-like frame, the computer monitor located at the top end of the figure-like frame, and the keyboard located at the extremity of a figure-like hand tube is ergonomic positioned at the height of the head of a user, and the hands of the user respectively. By using a figure-like frame, proportions of a human are automatically obtained, and a user standing before a similarly standing figure-like workstation will look directly at the monitor while naturally typing on the keyboard.  
         [0011]     By associating the accessories or design features to a contemplated use, users may be instantly directed to a specific workstation. For example, the owner of a hotel may want customers of all ages to freely access in their lobby four secure workstations to register for pool activities where a first would be dedicated to boys age of 4-14 years, a second for girls age of 4-14 years, a third for men age 15 years and up, and a fourth for women age 15 years and up. Two smaller figure-like frames would be built for the children workstations and two larger ones for the adult workstations. Design features would associate a sex with each figure, such as the color, some garment or expression. Each figure could also hold a symbol or lettering associated to the pool at this hotel. This invention secures personal computers to a location where risks of thefts are apparent, ergonomically provides workstations adapted to users, and guide users toward the workstation dedicated to a specific contemplated use.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     A better understanding of the present invention may be derived from the detailed description and the claims when considered in connection with these figures. The reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the figures, and:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a figure-like ergonomic computer workstation equipped with a symbol accessory according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the figure-like ergonomic computer workstation equipped with a sports accessory according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a rear isometric detailed view of the computer processing unit and the computer monitor support according to the present invention as illustrated generally in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a bottom isometric detailed view of the keyboard support and the keyboard fixation means according to the present invention as illustrated generally in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a kneeing figure-like ergonomic computer workstation equipped with a sports accessory according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram showing a series of method steps performed to implement the method for selecting between differently designed figure-like workstations.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Where reference numerals represent the same elements in all of the views,  FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of a figure-like ergonomic computer workstation equipped with a symbol accessory.  FIG. 2  illustrates a side-view of a figure-like ergonomic computer workstation equipped with a sports symbol accessory. A wide variety of figure-like computer figure-like supports  1  can be conceived based on the creative elements of an artist, such as human figures, animal figures, extra-terrestrial figures, celebrity-figures, etc. The figure-like computer support  1  of  FIG. 1  illustrates a standing person with a leg off the ground.  FIG. 5  illustrates a second possible position of a humanoid figure in a kneeling position. In the best mode contemplated by the inventor, the figure-like computer support  1  is a human figure either standing or kneeling.  
         [0020]     The figure-like computer support  1  is made of a plurality of hollow tubes. In the best mode contemplated, the tubes are painted steel. The hollow tubes allow for the internal passage of cables when needed to improve appearance, to protect cables and also to reduce the weight and manufacturing costs of the figure-like computer support. While a hollow tube section is illustrated, any metallic, plastic or ceramic profile with varied geometry may be used to achieve the same result. For the purpose of this application, the term tube is not limited to a circular profile but may include mechanically strong profiles with a closed internal section or an open profile where cables would be covered by a second segment.  
         [0021]     A plurality of different assembly methods may be contemplated to describe a figure-like computer support  1 . In a first method illustrated by  FIG. 1 , a frame  16  is composed of an essentially vertical hollow tube  2 , having two ends, the first end  3  located at the lower extremity corresponding to the foot of the figure-like computer support  1 , a second end  4  located at the higher elevation and corresponding to the neck area on the figure-like computer support  1 . The essentially vertical hollow tube  2  provides for a vertical elevation of the figure-like computer support  1  and is shaped according to the body shape given to the frame  16 , as a consequence, the first end  3  is located at a lower elevation than the second end  4 . A second essentially horizontally connected hollow tube  5 , has two ends  6 ,  7 . Both ends correspond in relation to the frame  16  to the location of a right and left hand respectively. The essentially vertical hollow tube  2  intersects the essentially horizontally connected hollow tube  5  at a junction point  8  at such a distance between both ends  3 ,  4  of the essentially vertical hollow tube  2  as to create a figure-like computer support  1 . Both segments of the essentially horizontally connected hollow tube  5  may be oriented in any direction, based on the requirements of the figure-like computer support  1 , for example, the preferred embodiments of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5  both illustrate a first end  6  of the essential horizontal hollow tube  5  in a lower vertical position than a second end  7 . Much like the arms of a person, the figure-like computer support  1  may hold any position. While the angle of departure of the essentially horizontally hollow tube  5  from both sides of the junction point  8  can vary in incidence, the nature of arms in relationship with a body in order to create an figure-like computer support  1  gives an impression that the tube is horizontally connected. For this reason, the term essentially horizontally connected is defined as being connected at the junction point  8  at such an incidence angle to create the illusion that a figure-like character is created. In the best mode contemplated, the junction point is located half way on the essentially horizontally connected hollow tube  5  and at a fraction of the vertical elevation on the essentially vertical hollow tube  2  under the second end  4 . The tubes are, in the best mode, welded at the junction point  8  but may be connected by any other mechanical means.  
         [0022]     In a second method of assembly of the figure-like computer support  1 , illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the frame  16  is composed of a figure-body tube  202 , and four other tubes, namely two figure-legs tubes  203 ,  204  and two figure-arms tubes  205 ,  206  each of these four tubes are attached to the figure-body tube  202  at one end. Both figure-legs tubes  203 ,  204  are attached to a first end of the figure-body tube  207 , and both figure-arms tubes  205 ,  206  are attached to the figure-body tube  202  at a second location  208  located between both ends of the figure-body tube  202 . The orientation of each figure-arm and figure-leg tube may be positioned and oriented on the figure-like computer support  1  so as to create a figure-like frame  16 .  
         [0023]     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the figure-like computer support  1  is secured to a location  11  by a base  9  mounted on the frame  16 . A securing means  10  is used to secure the base  9  to the location  11 . In one preferred embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 1 , the base is welded to the first end  3 , corresponding to the foot of the frame  16  of the essentially vertical hollow tube  2 . In a second preferred embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 5 , two similar bases  9  are used and a series of bolt  10  secure the frame  16  to the location at each of the figure-legs tubes  203 ,  204 . Once again, a plurality of attachments can be used to secure the frame  16  to the location  11  from any location on the frame  16 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the isometric figure-like ergonomic computer workstation equipped with a sports accessory  224 . A power cable  22  as illustrated is functionally connected at a first extremity  23  to the computer processor unit  15  and to the local power network  24  at a second extremity  25 . In the preferred embodiment, the computer processor unit  15  is located next to the computer monitor  13  on a support  19 . Part of the power cable  22  is inserted inside the essentially vertical support hollow tube  2  illustrated as  26 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear isometric detailed view of the computer processing unit and the computer monitor support. A computer monitor support  12  is mounted on the second end  4  of the essentially vertical hollow tube  2  on  FIG. 1 . The computer monitor support  12  is also mounted on the second end of the figure-body tube  211  on  FIG. 5 . The computer monitor  13  is connected by a securing means to the computer monitor support  12 . In the preferred embodiment, small bolts  14  are used to secure a flat screen monitor in place. A wide selection of securing means for small mechanical objects can be used to secure the computer monitor  13  to the computer monitor support  12  such as support vertical plates, metal clips, plastic ties, bolts, glue, magnets, etc. In the preferred embodiment, a computer processing unit  15  is mounted on a support  19 , the computer processing unit  15  is secured to the support  19  by plastic ties  20 . The computer processing unit  15  is functionally connected to the computer monitor by a monitor cable  215 . Other locations are contemplated for securing the computer processing unit  15  on or in the vicinity of the figure-like computer support  1 . A single computer processor unit  15  and computer monitor  13  as currently found in the marketplace would simply attach to the computer monitor support  12 . In the preferred embodiment, part of the cable  26  is inserted within the frame  16 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom isometric detailed view of the keyboard support and the keyboard fixation means according to the present invention. The first end of the essentially vertical hollow tube  6  as illustrated on  FIG. 1  or the second end of a figure-arm tube  205  as illustrated on  FIG. 5  is equipped with a computer keyboard support  17 . A keyboard  18  may be secured to the computer keyboard support  17  by a securing means. In the preferred embodiment, a two sided glued and shock absorbing mat  21  is used. Other securing means include, plastic ties, magnets, physical clamps, and bolts used in conjunction with holes  19  drilled in the computer support  17 . While the use of a keyboard is viewed as the best mode contemplated by the inventor when data entry is needed, other data entry devices such as a mouse, a light pen, a visual movement detector, a portable device, and other such data entry devices, but not limited to said list, can be used when appropriate.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric view of a kneeing figure-like ergonomic computer workstation equipped with a sports accessory. Unlike  FIG. 1  which illustrates a first model of figure-like computer support I equipped with a symbol accessory  224  located at the second end  7  of the essentially horizontally connected hollow tube  5 ,  FIG. 5  illustrates a figure-like computer support  1  equipped with a sports accessory  224  located at the second end of a figure-arm tube  206 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram showing a series of method steps performed to implement the method for selecting between differently designed figure-like workstations  1 . The object of the method is to use a plurality of figure-like computer support workstations as described in detail on  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5  and use the distinguishing features such as color and scale along with symbols  224 ,  225 , or frame  16  orientations to guide users toward a particular workstation. The method consists of a first step  101  where a contemplated use for each workstation, numbered as 1, 2, 3, . . . n is determined (n is defined as the total number of contemplated uses). For example, a gymnasium could determine it needs a workstation dedicated to the registration of baseball, football, basketball and hockey, in this example, n is four. Once n contemplated uses are known, a single or a plurality of distinguishing features are then associated with each use  102 . Continuing the same example, the distinguishing feature could be clothing associated with each sport, a sports accessory or even the color associated locally to each team. The third step in the method consists in designing each individual workstation  103 . In the same example, a baseball, a football, a hockey and a basketball could be selected. Each independent workstation is then produced  104  and displayed at a chosen location  105 . Each workstation is secured to the location  106  and displayed so as to provide users with a view of all of the designed workstations  107 . In the example, the gymnasium could select its lobby, install and secure to the floor each workstation and make sure that customers will simultaneously see from the entry door all four of the workstations. Access to each workstation must also be granted  108  in order to user to access the personal computers.  
         [0029]     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles and the method of use of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, operation and method shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.