Abstract:
Apparatus for facilitating the operation of computer systems connected to very large display systems. The invention comprises monitor and keyboard supports which are independently adjustable vertically, horizontally, and angularly. The keyboard support is designed to allow the monitor to pass behind for any given vertical, horizontal, or angular orientation of the monitor relative to the keyboard. The invention is configurable to facilitate operators in the standing or sitting positions and can collapse to allow mobility through typical doorways.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119(e) 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the priority benefit of the filing date of a provisional application, Ser. No. 61/401,177, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 6, 2010. 
     
    
     STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
       [0002]    The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    With the advances in computer and display technology, and the dramatic shift in people&#39;s work responsibilities and task demands, small, standard computer monitors are no longer the norm because they no longer meet the demands of the workplace. In fact, there has been an increasing trend in the integration of large displays into the workplace. However, while there has been a great deal of work conducted on designing ergonomically friendly office furniture, to date no published guidelines exist for large display workstations. What works for a small monitor does not work for a large monitor. For example, maintaining a 20 inch viewing distance (recommended for small computer displays) in front of a 56 inch display creates significant visual discomfort for the user. Moreover, utilizing traditional workstation design for large displays will not allow the user the ability to view the entire computer screen. An ergonomically designed workstation is of paramount importance to the productivity, safety, and satisfaction of those who would use it, especially when used for extended periods of time. In the absence of an ergonomically designed workstation, potential side effects and physical problems include, but are not limited to, neck and shoulder pain, lower back pain, and strain of the wrists. Therefore, what is needed is an ergonomically designed workstation compatible with large computer monitors. 
         [0004]    There have been various attempts to design ergonomic computer workstations. Some such workstations facilitate different orientations of the computer monitor relative to the user. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,800 to Leonard (hereinafter Leonard) discloses an ergonomically adjustable computer workstation having a means to vary both the height and angle of the monitor support platform. The invention in Leonard neither provides nor discloses any means for supporting a keyboard. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,586 to Moore (hereinafter Moore) discloses an ergonomic workstation having means for keyboard height and angle adjustment. The invention in Moore discloses no means for adjustment of monitor height or angle. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,223 to Nagy (hereinafter Nagy) discloses an ergonomic computer workstation for standing and sitting operators. The invention in Nagy utilizes a monitor support with a vertical lift means to raise and lower the monitor height. The Nagy invention also utilizes a keyboard support with a means for adjusting the inclination of the keyboard. In the Nagy invention, however, the keyboard height is neither separately adjustable in height from the monitor height nor is it horizontally extendable in any fashion whatsoever. 
         [0008]    U.S. Design Pat. D371,255 to Richard (hereinafter Richard) discloses a design for an ergonomic computer workstation having separate and apparently movable means for supporting a monitor and keyboard support shelf relative to a “seated&#39; user. The Richard design discloses no features which would suggest the design is capable of accommodating users in the standing position. 
         [0009]    U.S. Design Pat. D459,610 to Coonan et al (hereinafter Coonan) discloses a design for a vertically adjustable computer workstation which depicts an apparent means for vertical height adjustment of the monitor and keyboard in unison, without any apparent means to adjust the height of the monitor and keyboard independently of each other. There is no apparent means for horizontal keyboard extension. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,752 to Walser (hereinafter Walser) discloses an ergonomic computer workstation having a power lift means to provide vertical height adjustment of both the computer monitor and keyboard supports. Walser also discloses using a gas pressure lift mechanism to provide vertical lift of the workstation. The invention in Walser discloses no means to provide vertical lift of the computer monitor independently of the vertical height of the keyboard. Additionally, Walser provides no means to extend or retract the keyboard in the horizontal direction. Nor does the invention in Walser accommodate large computer monitor displays, nor operators in the standing position. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,936 to Birrell (hereinafter Birrell) discloses an ergonomic workstation having an independently rotatable monitor and keyboard support means. The keyboard support means also incorporates vertical height adjustment means. The keyboard support means has no provision for extending in the horizontal direction. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,415 to Richard (hereinafter Richard) discloses an ergonomic computer workstation having a means for varying the height and angle of both the monitor support shelf and the keyboard support shelf relative to a “seated’ user. Richard discloses no means for nor appears to be mechanically capable of accommodating users in the standing position. In this same regard, the invention in Richard provides no means to elevate a large computer display to the proper viewing height. 
         [0013]    In view of the deficiencies of the above described prior art, what is needed therefore is an apparatus which can facilitate the effective viewing of very large computer displays from either a standing or sitting operator orientation while still retaining portability and mobility. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    One objective of this present invention is to provide an apparatus for facilitating the operation of computer systems connected to very large display systems. 
         [0015]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for operating computer systems connected to very large display systems while the operator is either standing or sitting. 
         [0016]    Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for facilitating the operation of computer systems connected to very large display systems in which the monitor height and keyboard height are independently adjustable vertically, horizontally, and angularly relative to the operator. 
         [0017]    Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for facilitating the operation of computer systems connected to very large display systems which can collapse for transportability and mobility. 
         [0018]    Briefly stated, the present invention provides an apparatus for facilitating the operation of computer systems connected to very large display systems. The invention comprises monitor and keyboard supports which are independently adjustable vertically, horizontally, and angularly. The keyboard support is designed to allow the monitor to pass therethrough and/or behind for any given vertical, horizontal, or angular orientation of the monitor relative to the keyboard. The invention is configurable to facilitate operators in the standing or sitting positions and can collapse to allow mobility through typical doorways. 
         [0019]    The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts the present invention with monitor attachment means and work surface in a stowed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  depicts the present invention with monitor attachment means and work surface in a vertically extended position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  depicts the present invention with monitor attachment means stowed and work surface horizontally partially extended. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  depicts the present invention with monitor attachment means stowed and work surface horizontally fully extended. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  depicts the present invention configured for a sitting user with monitor attachment means rotated to a positive angle. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  depicts the present invention configured for a sitting user with monitor attachment means at a zero angle. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  depicts the present invention with the work surface in a stowed position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  depicts the present invention with the work surface in an extended position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  depicts a frontal view of the present invention with the monitor attachment means in a stowed position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  depicts the rear of the present invention with the articulating guide fully extended. 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  depicts the rear of the present invention with the articulating guide fully collapsed. 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  depicts photographs of the reduced-to-practice present invention in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment present invention comprises a large screen computer monitor stand with a telescoping work surface  130  (i.e., keyboard/mouse and forearm support assembly) that can be extended arbitrary distances from the monitor or other large screen display  170 , where up to 45″ is typical for one embodiment, though it is within the scope of the present invention to extend to greater distances. The monitor  170  and work surface  130  can also be adjusted to various height positions independently of each other. This permits users of various anthropometric characteristics to use it in various sitting and standing positions. The entire system is on casters  150  for portability. The monitor attachment means  100  can be tilted and locked into any position in the range of 15° backward to 5° forward giving the monitor  170  a like angular displacement. The tilting monitor attachment means  100  is derived from a commercial product that was modified to provide the amount of backward tilt required. The monitor lift system, or extensible support,  120  is a commercial product attached to the base of the unit. The work surface lift system  110 , is also an alternately extensible and retractable structure, being attached to the base  140 , and used to adjust the work surface height and is also commercially available. In one embodiment two extensible supports  120  are employed in the monitor lift system and four extensible supports  110  are employed in the work surface lift system with two on each side. However, it is well within the scope of the invention and those skilled in the art to fashion any number and configuration of extensible supports to lift and lower the monitor attachment means and worksurface. The complete system described by the present invention herein is unique because it integrates these parts with a telescoping or articulating work surface  130  that allows the use of a large screen display  170  for a variety of computer desktop activities and collapses to a depth of 32.5″ in one embodiment to allow it to fit through a standard 3′ doorway for improved portability via wheels, casters, or rollers  150 . 
         [0033]    Still referring to  FIG. 1  shows a side view of the present invention, an ergonomically-designed large-screen display workstation, with the monitor  170  and the work surface  130  at their lowest positions and work surface  130  fully retracted. This configuration of the present invention affords mobility, transportability, and storage. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 2  shows a side view of the present invention with the monitor  170  and the work surface  130  at their highest positions but with work surface  130  still fully retracted. This configuration would be suitable, but not limited to, when using the present invention for display to an audience. Positioning the monitor  170  and work surface  130  at their highest positions is coincident with the first vertically extensible support  120  and second vertically extensible support  110  being fully extended. The monitor  170  and work surface  130  heights can each be adjusted independently and at any position within the minimum and maximum height range. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 3  shows a side view of the present invention with the monitor  170  and the work surface  130  at their lowest positions with the work surface  130  partially extended. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 4  shows a side view of the present invention with the monitor  170  and the work surface  130  at their lowest positions and with the work surface  130  fully extended. This configuration would be suitable, but not limited to, when using the present invention while sitting as the full extension of the work surface  130  allows an unobstructed view of the monitor  170  even while seated. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 5  shows a side view of the present invention utilized by a user in the seated position with the work surface  130  fully extended and monitor  170  angled via the function of the monitor attachment means  100 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 6  shows a side view of the present invention utilized by a user in the seated position with the work surface  130  fully extended and monitor  170  not angled (i.e., perpendicular to horizontal) via the function of the monitor attachment means  100 . The work surface  130  can be positioned anywhere within the range from fully retracted to fully extended and locked in place. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 7  shows a top view of the present invention with the work surface  130  in a fully retracted position. It should be noted that the horizontal extensibility means of the work surface  130  permits the monitor  170  to pass through without interference therebetween, thereby facilitating independent vertical height adjustment of the monitor  170  and work surface  130 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 8  shows a top view of the present invention with the work surface  130  in a fully extended position. It should be noted that the present invention allows for full viewing of the monitor  170  from a seated position if the work surface  130  is fully extended. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 9  shows a front view of the present invention. It should be noted that the horizontal extensibility means of the work surface  130  permits the monitor  170  to pass through without interference therebetween, thereby additionally facilitating the monitor  170  and work surface  130  to be stowed in a compact configuration having minimal dimensions. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 10  shows the rear of present invention. An articulating guide  160  houses, protects, and keeps orderly power and signal cables running from the computer (not shown) to the monitor  170 . The articulating guide may be comprised of a plurality of sections, all such configurations being within the scope of the present invention.  FIG. 10  depicts the articulating guide  160  in a fully extended configuration coincident with the vertically extensible supports  120  being fully extended so as to raise the monitor  170  to a maximum height. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 11  shows the rear of present invention depicting the articulating guide  160  in a fully collapsed configuration coincident with the vertically extensible supports  120  being fully retracted so as to lower the monitor  170  to a minimum height. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 12  shows photographs of the reduced-to-practice present invention that was developed in use with a standing and sitting user. 
         [0045]    The present invention allows a wide variety of users to comfortably use a large-display workstation in both sitting and standing positions. None of the prior art inventions claim or disclose any means for standing and sitting while using the very large monitors accommodated by the present invention. The particular prototype of the present invention that was built was intended to allow greater use of a high resolution 56″ LCD display that could not be effectively used as computer monitor for routine software development and testing. The present invention is not limited to 56″ monitors, however, as any size monitor may be used. Typically displays this large are not used as desktop monitors in a seated position. Based on ergonomic principles the viewing area of the monitor should be between 15° and 50° below horizontal eye level. A downward gaze angle improves a user&#39;s ability to accommodate and converge. This requires the bottom of a 56″ display to be positioned below the work surface as illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . Appropriate viewing distance is also much further away than conventional prior art computer furniture allows. With a viewing distance of up to 45″, the user is able to view the entire computer screen without any portion(s) of the telescoping work surface blocking the bottom portion of the screen by virtue of the design of the telescoping/articulating means of the work surface  130 . The present invention allows greater utilization of high-resolution large screen displays by not limiting their use solely for presentation and group viewing. Although designed around a 56″ display, the same design principles would be within the scope of the present invention to build a workstation for both smaller and even larger displays to accommodate a wider range of users and applications than traditional computer furniture, including that disclosed by the prior art. 
         [0046]    Initial research to locate a commercial-off-the-shelf solution revealed several alternatives for height-adjustable workstations, including products available from AFC Industries (http://afcindustries.com/), Anthro Technology Furniture (http://www.anthro.com/), and Biomorph Interactive Desk (http://www.biomorphdesk.com/height_adjustable_desks.html). Existing vendor offered custom solutions for independently adjustable monitors and keyboard tray lifting systems. However, the manufacturers of prior art products do not offer any solutions to accomplish the work surface (or keyboard tray) extension requirement provided by the articulation means of work surface  130 , nor the monitor tilt provided by the monitor attachment means  100 , nor the compact footprint, all being features of the present invention. The work surface  130  extension requirement of the present invention was completely devoid in any manufacturer&#39;s adjustable computer furniture. To solve this requirement, the present invention utilizes a unique design which employs linear actuators to raise and lower the work surface  130  and monitor  170  independently, but with the added benefit of a heavy-duty telescoping or articulating mechanism to extend the work surface  130  to the required distance. The present invention also comprises features to allow its base to be small enough to fit through a standard doorway, but, by using material that would lower the center-of-gravity, to prevent it from being top heavy when the monitor is at its highest position. 
         [0047]    Relative to the solutions provided by the prior art, and their limitations, the present invention represents a unique integration of components designed to provide an appropriate viewing distance for such a large display. Durability and portability are important features that have been integrated in the present invention. In particular, in addition to having minimal footprint, allowing the invention to fit through a standard 3′ door (when collapsed) the design is very flexible during transportation, especially when used for non-office related work, such as presentations and collaborative meetings.