FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a workstation. The workstation may be suitable for use with a computing device such as a laptop computer, a pad computer, a smartphone or any other similar computing device. The workstation is intended to help create a Professional Working Environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A known workstation includes a display monitor to which a user can connect a laptop. However, however such workstations are typically permanent fixtures, and are not readily transportable.

Portable stands for holding computing devices such as laptops are known in the art, for example as described in US 2007/0159781. However, such stands typically fail to replicate the same working environment as a full desktop personnel computer placed upon a desk. For example, the size of the display screen and available workspace may be significantly reduced.

It is therefore an aim of the invention to provide an improved workstation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a workstation having working and stowed configurations, the workstation comprising a worktop assembly and a case assembly, wherein the worktop assembly comprises a desktop and a display screen for use in the working configuration, wherein the case assembly forms a support structure for mounting the worktop assembly on top of the case assembly in the working configuration, and wherein the worktop assembly is storable inside the case assembly in the stowed configuration. The use of the case assembly as both a storage solution for the worktop assembly in the stowed configuration and a support structure for the worktop assembly in the working configuration provides a lightweight workstation that is easily transported from place to place. The desktop may be used to protect the display screen when in the stowed configuration.

The case assembly preferably comprises mounting points for connecting the worktop assembly above the case assembly in the working configuration. Then, the worktop assembly is fixedly held in a stable position on top of the case assembly, where it can be safely used. The mounting points may comprise camlock or push-lock levers, or interlocking parts or latches to secure the desktop to the case assembly.

The case assembly may comprise a first panel and the mounting points may comprise one or more mounting points positioned along a side edge of the first panel. The first panel may then be orientated vertically in the working configuration, with the side edge having the mounting point(s) being the uppermost edge of the first panel, and the mounting point(s) supporting the desktop in a horizontal orientation.

The worktop assembly may be repeatedly removable and attachable to the case assembly, allowing the worktop assembly to be used in a different location from the case assembly if and when desired.

The case assembly may also comprise a second panel, the first and second panels being closable together with one another to enclose the worktop assembly in the stowed configuration, and openable away from one another to form the support structure in the working configuration. The panels may be connected to one another along an edge of each of the first and second panels in the working configuration, and set at an angle to one other to form the support structure as a V shape in the working configuration. The two connected edges preferably extend vertically when the workstation is in the working configuration, with the first and second panels set at an angle to one another, and so the V shape corresponds to the cross section of the case assembly in a horizontal plane. That is, the V-shape exists in a plane perpendicular to the two connected edges of the first and second panels in the working configuration. The first and second panels may be set at an angle of between 30 degrees and 130 degrees to one another in the working configuration, depending on the positions of the mounting points and the desktop. The V-shape provides space for the legs of the user to enter when the user sits on a chair in front of the desktop to view the display screen in the working configuration. The V-shape also allows the workstation to take up a minimal amount of floorspace in the working configuration.

The mounting points may comprise a mounting point adjacent the edges of the first and second panels that are connected together in the working configuration, a mounting point adjacent an edge of the first panel opposite from the edge connected to the second panel, and a mounting point adjacent an edge of the second panel opposite from the edge connected to the first panel, wherein the mounting points define the three vertices of a triangle. The case assembly may therefore provide three mounting points that can stably support the desktop in a horizontal orientation when the connected edges of the first and second panels are arranged vertically.

The first and second panels are preferably first and second halves of the case assembly, and so may form a clamshell arrangement that can be closed to enclose the worktop assembly inside of them in the stowed configuration, and that can be opened into the V-shape to stably support the desktop on top of the case assembly in the working configuration. To simplify manufacturing, the first and second panels may be moulded from a same mould as one another.

To make the case assembly lightweight and hard wearing, the first and second panels may each comprise an outer polyethylene skin that surrounds a core of polyurethane foam. In an embodiment, the polyethylene skin may have a thickness of 2mm. Such a case assembly may for example be formed by rotomolding.

The workstation is preferably carryable by hand in the stowed configuration, and may be expanded into the working configuration to help provide a professional working environment in which the display screen can be utilised. In particular, the display screen may be a large size, externally powered display screen. The display screen may be used to power a computing device that is connected to the display screen, such as a computer laptop. The workstation is considered to be carryable by hand in the stowed configuration when it is small enough and lightweight enough to be picked up off the ground and transported from place to place by the hands of one un-assisted person, preferably by one hand of one unassisted person using a handle provided on the case assembly.

The case assembly preferably comprises wheels at a bottom edge of the case assembly to enable the workstation to be wheeled from place to place when in the stowed configuration. The wheels may be removable from the bottom edge of the case assembly, for example during transit when the workstation is in the stowed configuration, or to prevent the wheels from causing a trip hazard when the workstation is in the working configuration. The wheels may be example be attached to the bottom edge of the case assembly by clips that allow for easy removal of the wheels when desired.

The workstation may be suitable for use with a computing device, and/or the workstation may comprise an integral computing device. If an integral computing device that forms part of the workstation is provided, then a further computing device in addition to the workstation is not required to make use of the workstation display screen. The integral computing device may for example be integrated together with the display screen. Accordingly, the workstation may be a workstation for a computing device, or a workstation incorporating a computing device. A computing device is considered to be a device that includes a processor for performing computations. For example, a laptop computer, tablet, or mobile phone.

The worktop assembly may comprise a device holder for holding a computing device. Then the computing device may be viewed by the user whilst using the desktop and the display screen. Preferably the device holder is connected to the desktop, and may be adjustable to hold the computing device in a desired position. In the working configuration, the workstation may allow display data from the computer to be viewed on the display screen, and provide space on the desktop for human interface device(s) to be used such as a mouse and/or keyboard. The workstation may also allow the human interface devices to be stored within the case assembly in the stowed configuration.

The workstation may provide a computer connection interface for connecting to a computing device and displaying data from the computing device on the display screen. Accordingly, a user of the workstation may not need to solely rely on an in-built display of their computing device, but can use the display screen in preference to or in addition to the in-built display of the computer, to provide a much larger view of displayed data and thereby help create a professional working environment.

The computer connection interface may comprise a cable for connecting to the computing device. Alternatively, the display screen may be connectable to a computing device via a wireless computer connection interface.

The device holder may be pivotally connected to the desktop, and may comprise a support bar for supporting a front portion of the computing device. A paddle may extend from the support bar for supporting a rear portion of the computing device. Preferably, the support bar is provided with a clip that is configured to clip over a front edge of the computing device, to help hold the computing device in place on the device holder.

The device holder may be pivotally connected to the desktop at the support bar, and the pivotal connection may enable pivoting of the support bar in two different planes that are perpendicular to one another, so that the device holder can be easily moved to hold the computing device at a desired position. This ease of use may be further improved by a locking device such as a cam-lock or pushlock lever that is configured to simultaneously lock the position of the pivotal connection in both of the two different planes. In the stowed configuration, the support bar may be pivoted underneath the desktop with the paddle laid flat against the underside of the desktop. The paddle may for example be formed in the shape of a curved member that loops from a first end of the support bar back to a second end of the support bar opposite from the first end, or may be formed as a plate extending along the support bar and in one radial direction away from the support bar.

The display screen may be connectable to a mains power supply via a power supply interface provided as part of the workstation. Accordingly, the display screen may not draw any significant power from a computing device that is connected to it, maintaining the battery life of the computing device. The power supply interface may comprise a power cable for connecting to the mains power supply.

Preferably, the display screen is situated within an interior of the workstation in the stowed configuration to protect the display screen during transportation, and the display screen is visible for use when the workstation is in the working configuration.

The workstation in the working configuration may be additionally configured to position the desktop at a vertical height of between 0.7m and 1 ,3m above a floor on which the workstation stands. Such a height is convenient for a user to work upon whilst sitting on a chair beneath the desktop, or standing up. The workstation may be configured to provide a range of adjustment for the height of the desktop, for example the mounting points may comprise telescopic rods that are extendable to raise and lower a height of the desktop relative to the case assembly. These are lightweight and allow for a large range of height adjustment, which is particularly important to accommodate users of different heights when working in the standing position.

The workstation in the stowed configuration preferably has a height of less than 0.7m, a width of less than 0.85m, and a depth of less than 0.25m. Even more preferably, the workstation has a height of less than 0.6m, a width of less than 0.75m, and a depth of less than 0.15m. The display screen may have a diagonal dimension of between 0.6m to 0.8m, more preferably between 0.65m to 0.75m. Then, a case assembly sized to fit the display screen inside of it in the stowed configuration, will support the display screen at a convenient height for sitting at the workstation when the display screen is mounted on top of the case assembly. Such display screen dimensions have also been found to provide an efficiently expandable / packable workstation configuration, and to provide sufficient viewing area for a Professional Working Environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a workstation according to an embodiment of the invention, in a stowed configuration;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the workstation of Fig. 1 when being used in the working configuration;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of one of the mounting points shown in Fig. 1 when in the working configuration;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram taken from beneath the workstation when in the working configuration of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5a shows a schematic diagram of the workstation when in the working configuration of Fig. 2 but with the computing devices and display screen removed for clarity;

Fig. 5b shows a schematic cross-sectional diagram through one of the panels forming the workstation of Fig. 5a;

Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a device holder of the workstation of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 shows a support member and push screw lock lever of the device holder of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows schematic diagrams illustrating adjustability of the device holder of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 shows a schematic diagram of a workstation in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

The figures are not to scale, and same or similar reference signs denote same or similar features.

The schematic diagram of Fig. 1 shows a workstation 10 in a stowed configuration, to enable easy transport and storage of the workstation. The workstation 10 comprises a case assembly that includes first and second panels 12 and 14, defining opposing halves of the case assembly. Both of the panels 12 and 14 have substantially the same shape as one another, having been produced from the same mould as one another using a rotomolding process. Each of the panels has a main face in that shape of a rectangle, and side edges that extend perpendicular from the main face all around the periphery of the main face. The side edges of the panels are aligned with one another with the main faces directed outwardly, defining a cavity inside which a worktop assembly can be held.

One of the side edges of the panel 12 is connected to one of the side edges of the panel 14 by a pivotal connection 13 that allows the panels to pivot apart from one another. The pivotal connection has a pivot axis that extends parallel the two connected side edges, which is vertically downward as viewed in Fig. 1. The case assembly also comprises a clasp 19 which is opposite from the pivotal connection 13 and which holds the panels 12 and 14 together, keeping the case assembly closed.

The bottom edge of the panel 14 is fitted with wheels 16 to assist in transportation of the workstation. The wheels 16 are held in by clips, which can be released to allow removal of the wheels from the case assembly and storage of the wheels 16 inside the case assembly if desired. The side edges of the panels are fitted with two handles 15a and 15b, one handle 15a along one of the shorter side edges of the rectangular main face, for pulling the case assembly along on the wheels 16, and one handle 15b along one of the longer side edges of the rectangular main face, for lifting and carrying the case assembly off the ground using the handle 15b. The schematic diagram of Fig. 2 shows the workstation of Fig. 1 when it has been expanded out into the working configuration, and with the addition of two computing devices 41 and 42. Specifically, the clasp 19 has been released from a latch 19a (see Fig. 3), the panels 12 and 14 have been pivoted apart from one another about the pivotal connection 13, and a worktop assembly has been withdrawn from between the panels. The worktop assembly comprises a desktop 20, a display screen 30, and two device holders 50 and 60. The device holder 50 is shown holding a laptop computer, and the device holder 60 is shown holding a tablet computer. The upper surface 21 of the desktop 20 can be used to support documents and/or user interface devices such as a computer keyboard and/or a mouse.

The panels 12 and 14, now pivoted apart from one another about the pivotal connection 13, provide a V-shaped support structure upon which the worktop assembly is mounted. Specifically, the desktop 20 is mounted onto the top side edges of the panels 12 and 14 using mounting points 17a and 17b, shown in Fig. 1 . An enlarged view of the mounting point 17a beneath the desktop 20 is shown in Fig. 3, and the mounting point 17b is similar to this. The mounting points 17a and 17b are each formed as depressions in the top side edges of the panels 12 and 14, into which corresponding protrusions from the lower surface 21 of the desktop are fitted. The mounting points 17a and 17b each have a push lock screw lever 2 which allows the desktop 20 to be quickly and easily secured to the top side edges of the panels 12 and 14. The mounting points 17a and 17b are at an opposite side of the top side edges from the pivotal connection 13, and there is another mounting point 18 adjacent the pivotal connection 13. The mounting point 18 has two halves 18a and 18b, formed as depressions within the interior surfaces of the side edges of the panels, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 . The three mounting points 17a, 17b, and 18 are positioned at the three vertices of a triangular shape when the workstation is in the working configuration, and so provide a stable base on which the desktop 20 is supported. The desktop 20 is therefore held in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the pivot forming the pivotal connection 13. The details of the mounting point 18 can be seen in Fig. 4, which shows a view from beneath the desktop 20 in the working configuration. The lower surface 22 of the desktop has a retaining plate 25 with two separate wings 25a and 25b. The wings 25a and 25b extend downwardly and then parallel to the lower desktop surface 22, leaving a gap between the lower desktop surface 22 and each wing 25a and 25b. During mounting the desktop to the panels 12 and 1 , the wings 25a and 25b are slid horizontally into the depressions 18a and 18b on the interior surface of the top side edge of the panels 12 and 14, interlocking with one another and preventing relative vertical movement between the desktop 20 and the panels.

The schematic diagram of Fig. 5a shows a view of the workstation in the working configuration, but without the display screen 30 and the computing devices 41 and 42, so that the entities holding those elements can be more easily seen. The display screen 30 is connected to a bracket 34 using standard mounting configuration. The bracket 34 has a locking slide connection to the support member 32 which is pivotally connected to the desktop 20 with two lugs 33. The support member 32 has two legs 35 for abutting against a lower edge 38 of the display screen to assist in holding the display screen in a stable position relative to the desktop. This is particularly advantageous in the stowed configuration, to provide additional assistance to the support mount in stopping the display screen from moving about when the workstation is in transit. Each leg 35 may be pivotally connected to a respective one of the lugs 33, to pivotally connect the support member 32 to the desktop 20.

In the working configuration, the support member is hinged upwardly from the desktop and substantially perpendicular with the desktop so the display screen 30 is in a substantially vertical plane. The angle that the support member is hinged up to can be adjusted to hold the monitor at a desired viewing angle, and the bracket 34 can be moved up and down the support member 32 to modify the height of the display screen. In the stowed configuration, the support member 32 is hinged downwardly towards the desktop until it rests against the desktop, substantially parallel to the desktop, enabling the desktop to be easily fitted between the panels 12 and 14. The support member 32 comprises a retention band in the form of an elastic loop 36 at a distal end of the support member, and the elastic loop 36 is pulled over a front edge of the desktop 20 and hooked over a hook 37 (see Fig. 4) on the lower surface 22 of the desktop, to secure the support member 32 in the stowed configuration.

The device holders 50 and 60 are connected to the desktop 20 with mounts that allow the device holders to rotate underneath the desktop when in the stowed configuration. The device holder 50 comprises a support bar 52 and a paddle in the form of a U-shaped member 51 that extends radially from the support bar 52. The paddle 51 has a retention band 51a similar to the retention band 36, for securing the paddle 51 flat against the desktop in the stowed configuration. The device holder 60 comprises a paddle in the form of a flat plate 61 , for supporting the computing device 42. The device holder also has a front clip bar 63 that extends along an edge of the flat plate 61 , defining a space between the front clip bar 63 and the flat plate 61 , into which a front edge of the computing device can be slid and held in place.

The panels 12 and 14 are formed by rotomolding in this embodiment, and each have a polyethylene skin and a core of polyurethane foam, to maximise strength whilst minimising overall weight. The schematic diagram of Fig. 5b shows a cross-sectional view through the panel 12, taken along line 5 marked on Fig. 5a. The panel 12, and similarly the panel 14, both have an outer skin 6 of 2mm thick polyethylene, an inner core 7 of polyurethane foam, and an inner skin 8 of 2mm thick polyethylene.

The device holder 50 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figs 6 to 8. As shown in Fig. 6, the device holder 50 further comprises two clips 53 positioned at opposing ends of the support bar 52. These two clips 53 are configured to clip over the front edge of the laptop computer 41 (see Fig. 2) to hold the laptop computer in place. The support bar 52 is connected to the desktop 50 with a pivotal connection, as shown in the enlarged cross-section 59. Specifically, the end of support bar 52 is held by a collar 55, which has a circular base that fits against the underside of the desktop 20, and a tubular aperture running parallel to the desktop and into which the end of the support bar 52 is fitted. The collar 55 is retained against the desktop 20 by a push lock screw lever 56 which passes through the desktop 20 and the collar 55, and into the support bar. When the push lock screw lever 56 is released, the collar 55 is therefore free to rotate against the underside of the desktop 20, allowing the support bar 52 to rotate about the axis of the push lock screw lever 56. This direction of rotation is illustrated as 58a in Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig, 7, the support bar 52 has a grommet 57, into which the threaded end 56b of the push lock screw lever 56 is secured. The grommet 57 is free to rotate inside of the support bar 52, and the support bar 52 has a circumferential slot 54 for the threaded end 56b of the push lock screw lever to travel along during this rotation. When the push lock screw lever 56 is released by turning the lever 56a, the support bar 52 is therefore free to rotate as far as allowed by the length of the slot 54, and this direction of rotation is illustrated as 58b in Fig. 8.

The directions of rotation 58a and 58b are in two different planes that are perpendicular to one another, with 58a constituting pivoting of the support bar in a plane that is parallel to a plane of the desktop, and 58b constituting pivoting of the support bar about a longitudinal axis of the support bar. The pivoting in both of those directions is simultaneously locked by actuating the lever 56a, providing a simple and effective manner of allowing the user to adjust the position of the device holder to suit their requirements. Since the collar 55 is mounted to the underside 22 of the desktop, the support bar 52 can be rotated fully underneath the desktop and the paddle 51 rotated to lie flat against the desktop for compact storage when the workstation is moved into the stowed configuration. The device holder 60 also has the same type of pivoting arrangement as the device holder 50.

The schematic diagram of Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment which is the same as that described previously, except for that the mounting points 17a and 17b used to secure the desktop to the top side edges of the panels 12 and 14, further comprise telescopic rods 70a and 70b. A further telescopic rod (not visible) forms part of the mounting point 18 adjacent the pivotal connection between the panels 12 and 14. The telescopic rods are of the twist-lock variety, meaning that they can be extended to the desired height and then locked by twisting their upper and lower sections relative to one another. The telescopic rods retract into the panels 12 and 14 in the stowed configuration, and allow the user to adjust the height of the desktop 20 in the working configuration, for example if the user wishes to work at the workstation in a standing position.

Many other variations of the described embodiments falling within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.