Patent Publication Number: US-6220181-B1

Title: Ergonomic CAD (computer aided design) workstation

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to computer workstations, and especially to a workstation for computer aided design. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A preliminary novelty search in connection within this invention developed various U.S. Patents that are identified on an attachment to an accompanying Information Disclosure Statement. 
     The state of the art shows various kinds of tables and workstations, including workstations for personal computers. 
     For an individual who must spend significant amounts of time at a computer workstation, personal comfort and ease of use of equipment are important. The design of certain workstations may cause physical discomfort and even pain for a certain persons. A person may become easily fatigued. These factors may reduce personal productivity and create problems in a work environment. Many jobs today, such as engineering and design jobs, require a person to sit for a substantial number of working hours at a CAD workstation. 
     Therefore, in an effort to avoid difficulties like those just mentioned, workstations should be designed to be as ergonomically correct as possible, and many known workstations have been designed with that consideration in mind. However, it is believed that further improvements can be made, and the present invention is directed toward a workstation having such improvements. The invention is especially concerned with a CAD workstation where a user sits before a monitor and must utilize a keyboard and other equipment like a computer mouse, a space, or roller, ball, and keypad. 
     A general aspect of the present invention relates to a computer workstation comprising a platform comprising a generally horizontal support surface large enough to support a monitor and a table disposed frontally of the platform and comprising a flat support surface having a center expanse large enough to support a computer keyboard and wings extending from laterally opposite sides of the center expanse that are themselves sufficiently expansive to support auxiliary computer equipment that requires manual manipulation by a user while allowing a user who is situated frontally of the table and facing a monitor supported on the horizontal support surface of the platform to rest his or her forearms on the wings while manipulating auxiliary equipment supported on the wings. A mechanism operatively relates the table to the platform to allow the table to be positioned in a desired spatial relationship to the platform. 
     Another general aspect relates to a table and mechanism for use at a computer workstation. The table is adapted to be disposed frontally of a platform that supports a monitor and comprises a flat support surface having a center expanse large enough to support a computer keyboard and wings extending from laterally opposite sides of the center expanse that are themselves sufficiently expansive to support auxiliary computer equipment that requires manual manipulation by a user while allowing a user who is situated frontally of the table and facing the monitor to rest his or her forearms on the wings while manipulating auxiliary equipment supported on the wings. The mechanism operatively relates the table to the platform to allow the table to be positioned in a desired spatial relationship to the platform. 
     Other general and more specific aspects will been set forth in the ensuing description and claims. More specifically the table may be tilted and/or elevated as desired. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings that will now be briefly described are incorporated herein to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the upper right front looking at a workstation that embodies principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the lower left front looking at the workstation. 
     FIG. 3 is a left side elevation view of the workstation. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the workstation. 
     FIG. 5 is view like FIG. 3, but showing a different position of adjustment of the workstation. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a portion of the workstation. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is top plan view of the portion of the workstation shown in FIG. 6 illustrating a person using the workstation. 
     FIG. 9 is a right side view of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1-4 show the general organization and arrangement of a workstation  10  that embodies principles of the present invention. Workstation  10  comprises a stand  12  and a table  14 . Stand  12  comprises a platform  16  that is rectangular in shape and provides a horizontal support surface  18  that is sufficiently large to support at least a computer monitor  20 . The drawings show a desktop model computer  22  supported directly on surface  18 , with monitor  20  supported on computer  22 . Monitor  20  comprises a frontal screen  24  that is viewed by a user of the workstation. Computer  22  has a front face that contains certain manual switches and slots of disk drives that are conveniently accessible by a user. Below screen  24 , monitor  20  contains manual switches and controls that are also conveniently accessible by a user. Stand  12  further comprises uprights  26 ,  28  spaced apart to either lateral side of the stand for stable support of platform  16  at a suitable distance above a floor  30 . 
     Table  14  is disposed frontally of platform  16  and comprises a flat support surface  32 . Surface has a shape that provides a center expanse  34  large enough to support a computer keyboard  36  and wings  38 ,  40  extending from laterally opposite sides of the center expanse  34 . Wings  38 ,  40  are themselves sufficiently expansive to support auxiliary computer equipment that requires manual manipulation by a user while allowing a user who is situated frontally of table  14  and facing monitor screen  24  to rest his or her forearms on the wings while manipulating the auxiliary equipment supported on the wings, as shown by FIG.  8 . Examples of auxiliary equipment shown are a computer mouse pad  42 , a computer mouse  44 , and a space ball  46 . Mouse pad  42  is disposed on wing  40 , with mouse  44  supported on pad  42 . Space ball  46  is supported on wing  38 . 
     All Figures show surface  18  of platform  16  to be horizontal, but FIGS. 1-3 show surface  32  of table  14  to be tilted slightly from horizontal, inclining upward in the direction toward platform  16 . FIG. 5 shows surface  32  to be horizontal. That ability to change the inclination of table  14  relative to platform  16  is provided by a metal bracket  48  that appears in FIGS. 2,  3 ,  5 ,  6 , and  7 . 
     Bracket  48  comprises a fixed portion  50  that attaches to stand  12 , a fixed portion  52  that attaches to table  14 , and a positionable portion  54  that enables the two fixed portions  50 ,  52  to be relatively positioned. Fixed portion  50  comprises two parallel bars  56 ,  58  spaced laterally apart to either side of platform  16  and fastened to the underside of the platform, such as by screws. 
     Bars  56 ,  58  extend forward beyond the forward edge  59  of platform  16 . At the forward end of each bar  56 ,  58 , a corresponding end of a respective link  60 ,  62  is pivotally connected to provide for the two links to pivot relative to the bars about a common horizontal axis  64  that is perpendicular to the lengths of the bars and links. The two links  62 ,  64  form the positionable portion  54  of bracket  48 . 
     Fixed portion  52  comprises a rectangular perimeter frame  66  fastened centrally to the underside of table  14 . At two corners of the frame, it also comprises L-shaped bars  68 ,  70 . At the free ends of the L-shaped bars  68 ,  70 , the ends of links  60 ,  62  that are opposite axis  64  are pivotally connected to provide for the links to pivot relative to fixed portion  52  about a common horizontal axis  72  spaced from, but parallel to, axis  64 . Bracket  48  therefore operatively relates table  14  to platform  16  to allow table  14  to be positioned in a desired spatial relationship to platform  16 . 
     An advantage of having two pivot axes  54 ,  72  is that table  14  can be pivoted relative to links  60 ,  62 , and the links can themselves be pivoted relative to platform  16 . Various degrees of table inclination are possible for suiting the needs of various individual users. The elevation of the table can also be set while allowing its support surface to be either horizontal or tilted. With proper dimensioning, the table can even be swung downward to be vertically disposed against the front of uprights  26 ,  28  for storage. 
     The specific dimensions for table  14  marked on FIGS. 8 and 9 are believed very well suited for most individual users. The table serves to keep the user at a distance from monitor screen  22 . FIG. 8 shows a seated user resting forearms on wings  38 ,  40  while using the equipment on the table. The support provided by the wings and the ability to position the table relative to the platform makes the workstation ergonomically well-suited for most individuals. 
     In order to maintain a desired position of adjustment, locking devices, such as screw and wings nuts, may be used to lock the pivot joints once a desired adjustment has been obtained. Alternatively, counterbalance mechanisms, such as coil- or gas-springs may be used. Conventional materials, like melamine, may be used to fabricate table  14 . 
     While a presently preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it is to be appreciated that the invention may be practiced in various forms within the scope of the following claims.