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  Vertically-adjustable mobile computer workstation and method of using sameUSPTO Application #: 20060054751Title: Vertically-adjustable mobile computer workstation and method of using same Abstract: Mobile computer workstations must be sufficiently large in order to be stable, but small enough to be easily maneuverable through a work place. A vertically-adjustable mobile computer workstation of the present disclosure includes a pole rotatably attached to a base supported by a plurality of rotatable members. The pole includes a first arm rotatably attached to a second arm. A computer support is attached to the second arm and is moveable between a sitting user position and a standing user position, at least in part, by pivoting the arms of the pole with respect to one another and the moveable base. (end of abstract) Agent: Michael B. Mcneil Liell & Mcneil Attorneys PC - Bloomington, IN, US Inventors: Brian B. Johnson, Gary Coonan USPTO Applicaton #: 20060054751 - Class: 248123110 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Supports, Stand And Bracket, Having Adjustable Bracket, Counterbalanced The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060054751. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to computer workstations, and more particularly to a vertically-adjustable mobile computer workstation and a method of using same. BACKGROUND [0002] With the growing dependence on computers, mobile computer workstations have been developed so that employees have access to computers away from their desks or work stations. For instance, in hospitals, nurses or technicians can transport mobile computer workstations between patients' rooms while making their rounds, and thus, continually update patients' treatment records. However, unlike stationary computer workstations at which the user is generally sitting, the user of a mobile computer workstation may be either sitting or standing. Thus, in order to assure that the computer monitor to be comfortably used by either sitting or standing users, the computer workstation should be vertically-adjustable. [0003] A mobile computer workstation described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,402 B2, issued to Coonan et al., on May 28, 2002, is vertically-adjustable between a sitting and a standing user position. A pole couples a computer support, to which a computer can be attached, to a wheeled base. The pole includes a first arm moveable attached to a stationary arm that is attached to the base. The computer support is attached to move with the moveable arm. The first arm moves about the stationary arm along an arc between the standing user position and the sitting user position. When in the standing position, the computer support, and an attached computer, is at a greater vertical distance from the base than when in the sitting user position. Thus, because the center of gravity of the workstation is higher in the standing user position, a workstation is generally less stable in the standing user position than in the sitting user position. [0004] In order to increase stability in the standing user position, the Coonan workstation positions the computer support, and thus, the weight of the attached computer, close to a vertical line extending through the center of the base. Thus, when in the standing user position, the weight of a computer attached to the computer support is centered over the base, thereby increasing the stability of the workstation. [0005] Although the vertically-adjustable computer workstation described above has been designed to increase stability in the standing user position, when in the sitting user position, the computer support, and an attached computer, is off center with the base. Because of the lopsided nature of the computer workstation when in the sitting user position, a larger base may be needed to stabilize the computer workstation. The larger base can make maneuvering the computer workstation through the work place and accessing the computer during operation more difficult. [0006] The present disclosure is directed at overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a vertically-adjustable mobile computer workstation includes a pole attached to a base that is supported by a plurality of rotatable members. The pole includes a first arm that is connected to a second arm. The first and second arms include a rotational coupling that is operable such that rotation of one of the first and second arms results in rotation of the other of the first and second arms with respect to the base. [0008] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a vertically-adjustable computer workstation is used by coupling a head assembly that includes a computer support to a moveable base via a pole with multiple arms at least two of which are coupled to rotate with one another. The computer support is moved between a sitting user position and a standing user position, at least in part, by pivoting the at least two arms of the pole with respect to the moveable base. [0009] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a vertically-adjustable computer workstation includes a pole that is attached to a base supported by a plurality of rotatable members. The pole includes a first arm that is connected to a second arm. The first and second arms are rotatable with respect to the base. At least one neutral support mechanism is operably coupled between the base and the first arm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a computer workstation with a computer support being in a standing user position, according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure; [0011] FIG. 2 is a side sectioned side view of the computer workstation of FIG. 1 with the computer support being in a sitting user position; [0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side sectioned side view of a rotational coupling of the computer workstation of FIGS. 1 and 2; [0013] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a computer workstation, according to a first alternative embodiment of the present disclosure; [0014] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a pole of a computer workstation, according to a second alternative embodiment of the present disclosure; [0015] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a computer workstation, according to a third alternative embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0016] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a head assembly of a computer workstation, according to a fourth alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a vertically-adjustable mobile computer workstation 10 with a computer support in a standing user position 20b, according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. The computer workstation 10 includes a base 12 to which a pole 13 is attached. The base 12 is supported by a plurality of rotatable members 14. Although the present disclosure contemplates the base being of various shapes, including star-shaped, and including any number of rotatable members, the base 12 is preferably rectangular and is supported by four rotatable members, each positioned at a corner of the rectangular base 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that between 3 and 6 rotatable members provides for a more stable computer workstation 10. However, too many or too large of rotatable members can limit the maneuverability of the workstation through the work place. The rotatable members 14 are illustrated as rollers, but could be any suitable support members, such as spherical rotatable supports. The rotatable members can, but need not necessarily, include a locking mechanism known in the art for temporarily locking the rotatable member 14 against rotation. The base 12 preferably includes a stability enhancer 15 that includes a weight being suspended from the base 12. The weight is suspended underneath the base 12 in order to lower the center of gravity of the workstation 10. Although the weight can vary, the weight preferably includes a battery 16. Thus, the stability enhancer 15 is preferably a storage compartment for the battery 16 that not only increases the stability of the workstation 10 by lowering the center of gravity of the computer workstation 10, but also provides battery storage, reducing or eliminating the need for cumbersome power cords. The battery 16 can be electronically connected to a laptop type computer or in the case of a traditional computer, the monitor or the keyboard in any conventional manner, such as via a power cord concealed in pole 13. [0018] The pole 13 includes a first arm 11 that is rotatably attached to a second arm 17 via a connector assembly 36. The first and second arms 11 and 17 include a rotational coupling 18 (shown in detail in FIG. 3) that is operable such that rotation of one of the first and second arms 11 and 17 results in rotation of the other of the first and second arms 11 and 17. Preferably, the computer workstation 10 includes at least one computer workstation accessory 39, such as the illustrated retractable power cord reel, adjacent to the connector assembly 36, and attached to a casing 33 that has a fixed horizontal orientation and surrounds the connector assembly 36. It should be appreciated that the casing 33 around the connector assembly 36 could provide a storage area for various other computer work station accessories, such as a mouse or a basket. [0019] Each arm 11 and 17 preferably includes an inner longitudinal segment 11a and 17a that is partially positioned within an outer longitudinal segment 11b and 17b. Each inner segment 11a and 17a is the same length as the corresponding outer segment 11b and 17b. The inner segment 11a and the outer segment 11b of the first arm 11 are rotabaly attached to the base 12 via a first pair of pivotjoints 38a and 38b, respectively. A computer support 20 (shown in FIG. 2) of a head assembly 19 is attached to the inner segment 17a and the outer segment 17b of the second arm 17 via a second pair of pivot joints 50a and 50b (shown in FIG. 2), respectively. The arms 11 and 17 are operable to move the computer support 20 between a sitting user position 20a (shown in FIG. 2) and the standing user position 20b (as illustrated in FIG. 1). The standing user position 20b is to accommodate a standing computer user, and the sitting user position 20a is to accommodate a sitting computer user. Thus, the computer support 20 in the standing user position 20b is at a greater vertical distance from the base 12 than the computer support 20 in the sitting user position 20a. Continue reading... Full patent description for Vertically-adjustable mobile computer workstation and method of using same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vertically-adjustable mobile computer workstation and method of using same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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