Abstract:
The utility workstation selectively positions a suspended workpiece before a typically seated operator. It is height adjustable and accepts various types of holding and support attachments that allow various kinds of workpieces to be positioned at various angles and rotations. It provides local light and magnifier sources as well as display and storage options for tools and supplies useful for working with a workpiece. It allows a workpiece to be moved laterally from a fully retracted position, where the workpiece is out of the way of someone getting out of or into his or her seat, to a working position, where the workpiece is suspended at a preferred location and orientation before the operator. It is designed to be operated from the left side or right side of a chair, easy chair, stool, couch, or other type of seating means.

Description:
This application is a division of prior application Ser. No. Ser. No. 09/038,485, filed Mar. 7, 1998 U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,459. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The claimed invention relates to a utility workstation for positioning various types of workpieces, and especially for positioning workpieces requiring adjustable vertical and/or horizontal rotation. The claimed invention further relates to a utility workstation employing display, storage, and local light and magnifier means. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The claimed invention is a utility workstation, which is herein defined as an adaptable workpiece positioning device for presenting a suspended workpiece before an operator. The claimed invention permits employing local light and magnifier sources and auxiliary components designed to facilitate the work process; auxiliary components being holders, supports, trays, storage units, and the like. 
     The work desk is a very familiar example of the basic workstation. We typically place the everyday things that we use to do our work either in, on, or about our desk, while we use the top of our desk to display and negotiate our work. We do this to maintain organization in our work affairs and to minimize our having to get up from our desk to find and use the basic tools and materials of our work. So it is with the utility workstation concept as applied in this document. Auxiliary components provide means for displaying and storing the tools and aids for the work to be performed and the positioning device provides means for displaying and negotiating the work itself. 
     How one might use the claimed invention is a function of the requirements of the work to be performed in much the same way that the nature of our work principally determines what we put in and on our desk; there are numerous applications which could be claimed for it. For example, the claimed invention is particularly useful for arts and crafts pursuits in that (1) it allows a hobbyist or artist to work while sitting, (2) it provides for an assortment of specialty holders and supports, (3) it allows an object or material to be presented in a variety of positions, (4) it provides local light and magnifier sources, and (5) it provides for various types of trays and containers for tools and supplies. 
     The claimed invention is a free-standing workpiece positioner that easily accommodates various seating means as it allows the workpiece to be swiveled away from the working position and out of the way of an operator leaving or entering his or her seat. The swivel action of the claimed invention is not found in the prior art. 
     Several U.S. patents include design aspects recognizable in the claimed invention under examination in this application. These include: Nolting, U.S. Pat. No. 1,432,725; Webb, U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,006; Dubbs et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,980; and Adams, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,211. Adams, Jr. is nearest in approximating some of the design concepts of the claimed invention but even it does not anticipate the swivel action of the claimed invention or its integration of auxiliary components into its overall structure as integral parts of the device rather than as add-on extras. 
     The ability to swivel the workpiece into and away from the working position and to match the auxiliary requirements for accomplishing a task with the basic and adaptive features of the claimed invention results in an exceptional tool for task-specific and general purpose utilization not present in the related prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The overall object of the claimed invention is to provide a typically seated operator with means for positioning a suspended workpiece as needed, wherein the operator is allowed unencumbered access to a seating means by permitting the workpiece to be moved from a retracted position, where the workpiece is out of the entry and exit path, to a working position, where the workpiece is at a preferred location and orientation for working. The claimed invention includes local light and magnifier sources as well as means for incorporating auxiliary components that provide display and storage options for tools and supplies. 
     Therefore, one principal object of the claimed invention is to provide a versatile means for positioning a suspended workpiece, permitting that workpiece to be raised, lowered, and rotated horizontally and/or vertically. 
     Another principal object of the claimed invention is to permit a workpiece to be laterally moved fully into or away from a working position. 
     Another principal object of the claimed invention is to provide light and magnifier sources. 
     Another principal object of the claimed invention is to provide for auxiliary components such as holders, supports, trays, and containers as would be useful for a given application. 
     Another principal object of the claimed invention is to provide a base system that can be configured for operation of the claimed invention from the left side or right side. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiment of the claimed invention as presented in this section is a utility workstation adapted for needlework applications. It is made of wood so as to accomplish a generally traditional furniture look for the utility workstation that fits in well with needlework&#39;s typical home environment work setting. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the work positioning part of the utility workstation  10  illustrated consists of a holding assembly  11 , a headblock assembly  12 , a crossbar assembly  13 , an adjustable-arm lamp  14  with a built-in magnifier  15 , a shaft assembly  16 , a peg member  17 , a column assembly  18 , and a base assembly  19 . A first tray member  20 , second tray member  21 , and storage container  22  are auxiliary components that have been incorporated into the basic work positioning device. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the holding assembly  11  comprises a support member  23  having two threaded studs  24  perpendicularly projecting from one side for providing a standard means for accepting various types of holding and support attachments, and a standardized cylindrical mounting handle  25  perpendicularly projecting from the opposite side for pivotal insertion into an opening  26  in the end section of the headblock assembly  12 . This opening  26  accepts various types of holding and support attachments employing the standardized mounting handle  25 . 
     The first tray member  20  is used to display charts, patterns, magazines, and the like, and consists of a thin, metal backboard  27  fitted into a vertical slot  28  running the length of an elongated horizontal member  29  that mounts onto the top section of the headblock assembly  12 . A thumbscrew  30  is passed through a washer  31  and one of two holes  32  in the horizontal member and into one of two embedded threaded inserts  33  in the headblock assembly  12 . The pairs of mounting holes  32  and inserts  33  permit the same relative positioning of the first tray member  20  for both left side and right side configuration of the workstation. (Note the positions of the headblock assembly and first tray member in FIG.  6  &amp; FIG.  7 ). A metal backboard  27  is employed because it allows small magnets and magnetic strips to be used to hold material against the backboard. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a first opening  34  at the front end of the crossbar assembly  13  is for pivotally receiving the headblock assembly  12  which is mounted by passing an all-thread bolt  35  through an enlarged recessed lower portion  36  of the opening, an upper portion  37  of the opening, a washer  38 , and into an embedded threaded insert  39  in the bottom section of the headblock assembly  12  followed by a washer  40  and a lock nut  41  that threads onto the all-thread bolt  35  to secure the headblock assembly  12 . FIG. 4 shows a second opening  42  at the rear end of the crossbar assembly  13  for pivotally receiving the mounting shaft member  43  of the adjustable-arm lamp  14  and a third opening  44  between the first opening  34  and second opening  42  for pivotally mounting the crossbar assembly  13  onto the shaft assembly  16  by passing a bolt  45  through a flanged ball bearing  46  embedded in the enlarged upper portion  47  of the opening, the lower portion  48  of the opening, a washer  49 , and into an embedded threaded insert  50  in the top section of the shaft assembly  16 . The ball bearing  46  is used to improve rotational movement. A cap  51  covers the bolt head  52  and the ball bearing for aesthetic purposes. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the second tray member  21  provides immediate access to such items as scissors, thread, needles, and the like, placed in the tray. The tray consists of an arm member  53  with a rectangular tray part  54  at one end and an opening  55  at the other end for pivotally mounting onto the bottom section  56  of the front end of the crossbar assembly  13 . 
     The column assembly  18  receives the shaft assembly  16  through a first opening  57  at its upper end. Selective height adjustment of the shaft assembly  16  is accomplished by passing the peg member  17  through a second opening  58  at the upper end of the column assembly  18  and one of the several stops  59  in the shaft assembly  16 . 
     The storage container  22  is used for storing such items as magazines, charts, fabric, notebook binders, floss boxes, and the like. In this embodiment, the storage container  22  is adhesively bonded to the column assembly  18  to create a sturdier base support structure. A rear leg member  60 , support leg member,  61 , and front leg member  62  of the base assembly  19  are attached to the storage container  22  and the column assembly  18  by passing bolts  63  through openings  64  in the leg members and into the bottom sections of the storage container  22  and the column assembly  18 . The support leg member  61  connects at a first attachment point  65  with the rear leg member  60  and the front leg member  62  connects at a second attachment point  66  with the rear leg member  60  through alignment notches  67  located in the leg members. FIG. 5 shows threaded inserts  68  embedded in the bottom sections to receive the bolts  63  used to mount the leg members. The representation of the leg members as shown are arranged to provide the proper orientation of the leg members for right side use. FIG.  2  &amp; FIG. 5 illustrate the arrangement for left side use. FIG. 6 presents an overhead view of the left side setup and includes an example of a scroll frame fabric holder  69 . The scroll frame fabric holder  69  is a type of specialty holder for securing the fabric  70  used in needlework projects. The scroll frame  69  mounts onto the holding assembly  11  where a plate  71  and knobs  72  are employed for securing the holder in place. FIG. 7 presents an overhead view of the setup for right side use. 
     Referring back to FIG. 3, the mounting part of the second tray member  21  is illustrated in detail. As both the headblock assembly  12  and the second tray member  21  are mounted onto the same all-thread bolt  35 , a flanged ball bearing  73  is embedded in an enlarged lower portion  74  of the arm opening  55  to improve rotational movement and ensure independent rotation of the two members. A washer  75  is interposed between the arm member  53  and the bottom section  56  of the crossbar assembly  13  to further improve movement. An all-thread bolt  35  is employed because it is a simple way of providing a threaded stud  76  that projects below the bottom section  56  of the crossbar assembly  13 . This allows the use of a wing nut  77  to secure the second tray member  21 , thereby simplifying the installation of this tray which is removed when the workstation  10  is boxed for shipping or general transport, as when taken along on a trip or vacation. In the absence of a tray or the like at this location, or if a different, separate mounting means was to be employed for mounting auxiliary components here, a standard bolt or bolts could replace the all-thread bolt  35 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a mechanism within the headblock assembly  12  for maintaining the holding assembly and various other holding and support means at a fixed position. A thumbscrew  78  is advanced through a threaded insert  79  to make contact with a friction bar member  80  which presses against the mounting handle  25  to lock the handle in place. The friction bar member  80  fits generally within a slot  81  abutting the headblock assembly opening  26  where its movement is restricted to ranging between being completely out of the opening  26  and being partially into the opening  26 . The friction bar member  80  movement is restricted by a pair of vertical posts  82  located within the slot  81  area that pass through openings  83  in the friction bar member  80  to serve as stops for this member. 
     In FIG. 9, an alternate embodiment of the utility workstation  84  is illustrated which shows a basic work positioning device consisting of a headblock assembly  85 , a crossbar assembly  86 , a lamp  87  and magnifier  88 , a shaft assembly  89 , a peg member  90 , a column assembly  91 , and a base assembly  92  comprising a plate member  93 , a rear leg member  94 , a support leg member  95 , and a front leg member  96 . A rotatable, universal support attachment  97  is included to illustrate a holding and support means which inserts directly into the headblock assembly  85 . The column assembly  91  shown is a modified form of the column assembly  18  utilized in the needlework utility workstation embodiment and represents a typical embodiment for this assembly. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 10, the plate member  93  is mounted onto the bottom section  98  of the column assembly  91  by bolts  99 . The rear leg member  94 , support leg member  95 , and front leg member  96  are attached to the plate member  93  by passing bolts  100  through openings  101  in the leg members and into threaded openings  102  in the plate member  93 . These openings  102  are arranged so as to properly orient the leg members for left side or right side use. Auxiliary components can be mounted directly onto the plate member  93  or, absent leg members, the plate member  93  can be mounted directly onto a floor or other type support surface. 
     FIG. 11 presents a detailed view of the scroll frame  69  shown earlier in FIG.  6  &amp; FIG.  7 . The scroll frame  69  consists of two lockbars  103 , two scroll rods  104 , and two sidebars  105 , and is used to scroll fabric or other material. One end of a piece of fabric or the like is laid over a slot  106  in the scroll rod  104  such that it extends slightly beyond the slot  106 . A lockbar  103  is placed over the fabric, and pressed down into the slot  106 , carrying the fabric along with it. This operation is repeated for the other end of the material using the remaining scroll rod  104  and lockbar  103 . 
     The sidebar  105  is made up of two half-sections  107  held in alignment by bolts  108  that pass through first openings  109  in the half-sections  107  and terminate in threaded knobs  110 . Second openings  111  receive the ends of the scroll rods  104 , and third openings  112  allow the scroll frame  69  to be mounted onto the holding assembly  11  as shown in FIG.  6  &amp; FIG.  7 . The openings for the scroll rods  104  and the holding assembly  11  are arcs in each of the half-sections  107  that form circular openings because one half-section  107  is inverted with respect to the other. First arcs  113  in the second openings  111  are of a radius such that the two half-sections  107  form an opening having a diameter approximately that of the scroll rods  410 . However, the depth of the first arcs  113  is such that a small gap  114  exists between the half-sections  107  that permit a clamping action to be exerted on the scroll rods when the threaded knobs  110  are advanced on the alignment bolts  108 . Second arcs  115  of a radius slightly greater than that of the threaded studs  24  of the holding assembly  11  create third openings  112  in the sidebar  105  for easy mounting of the scroll frame  69  onto the holding assembly  11 . 
     The fabric, having been secured in the scroll rods  104  by the lockbars  103 , is now scrolled on the scroll rods  104  until the distance between the two rods is approximately that of the space between the second openings  111 . The ends of the scroll rods  104  are inserted into the second openings  111  of the sidebars  105 , and one of the scroll rods  104  is clamped in place by advancing either the upper pair of threaded knobs  110  or the lower pair. The fabric is further wrapped around the unclamped scroll rod  104  until the fabric is taut. Once taut, the unclamped rod is then clamped in place. The scroll frame  69  is mounted onto the holding assembly  11 , which in turn is mounted onto the headblock assembly  12 . The fabric is scrolled up or down on the scroll frame  69  by loosening the threaded knobs  110 , scrolling the fabric up or down, and retightening the threaded knobs  110 . 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the utility workstation adapted for needlework use. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the utility workstation illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the front end of the crossbar assembly showing the members that are mounted within this area. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the middle and end sections of the crossbar assembly showing the members that are mounted within this area. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the bottom sections of the storage container and the column assembly showing how leg members are mounted. 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the utility workstation and a specialty holder configured for left side utilization. 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the utility workstation and a specialty holder configured for right side utilization. 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the headblock assembly holding mechanism. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the utility workstation. 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the structural base support members of the alternate embodiment illustrated in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the scroll frame members.