This invention relates to a joystick attachment. More specifically, it relates to a joystick attachment for attaching a joystick at a workstation such as to or at a shipmaster's chair, the joystick attachment including a mounting bracket for fixing the joystick attachment at the workstation and a joystick holder for attaching the joystick to the joystick attachment, and the joystick attachment including a tilting means for tilting the joystick relative to the mounting bracket.

Being able to take an ergonomically correct working position is important in order to avoid wear-and-tear and muscular problems, especially in the case of a monotonous and repetitive motion pattern.

The problem has been addressed in the NORSOK standards among other things, in which there are requirements for ergonomically correct working positions offshore, in shipmasters' chairs, among other things. It concerns the actual sitting position in the chair, but also the basic positions for arms/hands operating various control equipment, such as joysticks.

From US 2004/0221674 it is known to provide a joystick with a spherical attachment so that the joystick itself can be pivoted to the desired direction relative to the mounting bracket. All the same, the device according to the document mentioned provides a relatively limited possibility of adjustment.

The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention through the features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

A joystick attachment device is provided for attaching a joystick at a workstation such as to or at a shipmaster's chair, the joystick attachment including a mounting bracket for fixing the joystick attachment to the workstation and a joystick holder for the at- tachment of the joystick to the joystick attachment, and the joystick attachment including a tilting means for tilting the joystick relative to the mounting bracket, and the device being characterized by the joystick attachment being provided with a lockable height-adjustment means for adjusting the height of the joystick relative to the mounting bracket.

It is thereby possible to adjust the height of the joystick relative to the mounting bracket of the joystick attachment. If, for example, the joystick attachment is fixed to the arm rest of a chair, the height of the joystick relative to the arm rest can be adjusted. This function comes in addition to the tilting function which makes it possible to set the joystick at a desired angle relative to the arm rest.

The height-adjustment means may include at least a sliding bolt to which the joystick holder is connected, the sliding bolts being individually axially slidable relative to the mounting bracket.

To achieve the necessary stability, at least three sliding bolts should be arranged, distributed around the joystick. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, which is described in the characterizing part of the document, four sliding bolts are used.

The at least one sliding bolt may be lockably displaceable in a locking portion that is connected to the mounting bracket. The locking portion is typically at a fixed distance from the mounting bracket. In terms of height, the locking portion may be above or below the mounting bracket. In the preferred exemplary embodiment mentioned, it is below the mounting bracket.

The locking portion may include a locking ring which is arranged to be clamped radially against the at least one sliding bolt. The locking ring may be provided with an eccentric locking arm and an associated tie bolt of a design known per se.

The locking portion may include an upper guide plate and a lower guide plate, between which the locking ring is positioned in a radially displaceable manner. The locking ring is thus arranged to be displaced in a radial plane as it is being tightened or released. When the locking ring is being tightened, it rests against the sliding bolts, holding the sliding bolts in a desired position by means of friction.

The at least one sliding bolt may be connected to the joystick holder by means of a spherical coupling. The spherical coupling provides the necessary freedom between the sliding bolt and the joystick holder for the joystick to be placed at a desired angle. A compensating spring may be arranged in an encircling manner around the sliding bolt between the upper guide plate and the joystick holder. In the main, the compensating spring balances out the weight of the joystick holder and the joystick, facilitating the adjustment of both the height and the angle of the joystick.

In an alternative embodiment, the height-adjustment means may consist of a number of, typically at least three, for example electric, linear actuators.

In a further embodiment, the height-adjustment means may consist of a number of threaded screws which are preferably driven individually.

By means of the device according to the invention, the adjustment possibilities of a joystick are considerably expanded. Height adjustment in combination with angular setting provides for most operators to be able to find a satisfactory working position.

In what follows, an example of a preferred embodiment is described, which is visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which :

Figure 1 shows a joystick attachment according to the invention in perspective, in which a joystick is in an intermediate position in terms of height;

Figure 2 shows a section I-I of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a section II-II of figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a side view in which the joystick is in its lower position;

Figure 5 shows a side view in which the joystick is in its upper position;

Figure 6 shows an end view in which the joystick has been pivoted sideways; and

Figure 7 shows the joystick attachment in perspective, the joystick having been pivoted both sideways and backwards.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a joystick attachment for a joystick 2. The joystick 2 is of a design known per se and is not described in further detail.

The joystick attachment 1 includes a mounting bracket 4 which, in the exemplary embodiment, has the form of a plate. The mounting bracket 4 may have any suitable form and may form part of, for example, an arm rest not shown, on which the joystick attachment 1 is to be mounted. A locking portion 6 is attached by means of a number of first spacers 8 to the bracket 4. The locking portion 6 includes an upper guide plate 10 and a lower guide plate 12 which are kept spaced apart by means of a number of second spacers 14. A locking ring 16 is positioned in a radially displaceable manner between the upper guide plate 10 and the lower guide plate 12. The function of the locking portion 6 is explained below.

A number of sliding bolts 18, here four, are distributed around the centre axis 20 of the joystick attachment 1. The sliding bolts 18 are axially displaceable in respective sliding bushes 22 in the upper and lower guide plates 10, 12. Each sliding bolt 18 is attached by means of a spherical coupling 24 to a joystick holder 26, see figure 2. Between the upper guide plate 10 and the joystick holder 26, a compensating spring 28 is arranged, encircling each sliding bolt 18.

The joystick holder 26, to which the joystick 2 is attached, projects through an opening 30 in the mounting bracket 4. The joystick holder 26 is arranged to be adjustable in height and to be tiltable by displacement of the sliding bolts 18 in the locking portion. The compensating springs 28 balance out at least part of the weight of the joystick 2 and thereby facilitate the positional setting of the joystick 2.

The locking ring 16 is provided, in a manner known per se, with an eccentric locking arm 32 with an associated tie bolt 34, see figure 3. The sliding bolts 18 are on the inside of the locking ring 16. In this preferred exemplary embodiment, the sliding bolts 18 are positioned in grooves 36 in the locking ring 16. The locking ring 16, together with the sliding bolts 18 and spherical couplings 24, thus forms a tilting means and a lockable height-adjustment means 38.

When the joystick 2 and thereby the joystick holder 26 have been placed in the desired position, the locking ring 16 is tightened by the locking arm 32 being pivoted into a locking position. The locking ring 16, which is radially displaceable between the upper guide plate 10 and the lower guide plate 12, is clamped against the sliding bolts 18, holding these in the set position by means of friction.

By opening the locking arm 32, the joystick 2 can be pivoted and moved to a new desired position.

Figures 4 to 7 show the joystick in various positions relative to the mounting bracket