Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF TEIE I~7ENTION
The present invention relates to a transportable
device for supporting components which can be moved to a
specific location for use of said components.
BACRGROlJND OF TEIE I~lE~lTIO~
.
The public has come to rely on the use of
various electronic components for innumerable functions
in society. However r mobility and physical set-up of the
components have been a problem when the components are
cumbersome and need special supports to be properly
positioned for various uses by various persons.
Therefore, the objects of the present
invention are to provide means for storage, transport
and use of electronic components which is easily movable
and which can be adjusted for various uses by various
persons.
SUM~ARY OF T~ INVENTION
The objects of the present invention are
realized by a transportable component stand comprising
means foe mounting one or more components for user
interaction, means for selectively varying component
height and means for physical movement of the device~
The means Eor mounting the components
include a component module, in which the components are
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device for storage and or use of the components apaet
feom the transportable stand. The component module,
however, as contemplated herein, is left in the stand
for use of the mounted components while on the
transportable stand, allowing the components to be rnoved
to a designated location and used without additonal
support means~
The means for mounting the components may al~o
include means for tilting one or more of the components
to the angle best suited to the specific user.
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Means for selectively varying component height
allows adjustment of the components on the transportable
stand from a low position to a high position enabling
the stand to function for a variety of different uses.
The means for varying component height associated with
the stand preferably comprises a crank or jack or
ratchet-type elevating means wherein the height of the
components can be adjusted without removal of the
components themselves.
Means for physical movement is also included,
i.e., wheels, casters, rollers, etc., or combinations
thereof. The means are enhanced by one or more handles
to help maneuver the transportable component stand.
The means for physical movement allows easy
transportation of the stand to a designated location for
use of the components. This feature is particularly
important when the components supported in the stand ca~
include electronic voting means, children's educational
computers, information computers and the like, which
preferably can be relocated depending on need.
Storage compartments can also be incorporated
into the stand as desired For specific uses. For
instance, use as a voting booth may include a compartment
for concealing enclosure hardware, i~e., a curtain support
structure, as well as a compartment for storing the
privacy curtains. Also, a cover for the back of the
component compartment, optionally including a locking
means, may be desirable to limit access to the back of
the componen~s and to consolidate the power needs of the
components into a single power supply cord. Similarly,
a locking cover for the front of the components can be
included to prohibit unauthorized use.
D~SCRIPTI0~ OF T~E DRAWI~S
The following figures, in which like reference
characters indicate like parts, merely illustrate an
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embodiment of the present invention and are not intended
to limit the invention in any manner whatsoever.
FIG~RE 1 is a perspective view of the
transportable stand of the present invention being moved
with the components in the low position;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the stand
used as an information kiosk;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the stand
used as a voting enclosure in the high position;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the stand
being used as a portable child education station in the
low position;
FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the
stand at its variable low, medium and high positions:
FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the back of
the portable stand in the closed and open configurations;
and
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the
component module removed frvm the transportable stand
being used at a desk.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E PREFE~ED E~BODIM~T
As shown in the FIGURES, and specifically
FIGURE 1, the transportable component stand 2 of the
present invention is comprised of a frame 4 including
an upper frame member 6 and a lower frame member 8. The
components are shown located within a component module
10 which is attached to the upper frame member 6.
Wheels 12 are attached to the lower frame mem~er 8 for
mobility and handle means 14 are included on the upper
3Q frame member 6 to facilita~e maneuverability. An
elevating means, such as a crank 16, is located on one
of the sides of the lower frame member 8 to raise and
lower the upper frame member 6, including the component
module 10, to the desired height.
3S The frame 4 can be made of any suitable
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materials including metals, alloys, wood, plastic,
combinations of these, or other materials able to achieve
the intended use, with a me~al being most preferred.
For transporting the stand 2, as shown in
FIGURE 1, it is preferred that the upper frame member 6
is in the low position to lower the center of gravity
and avoid toppling. Although a different number of
wheels can be used, the preferred stand 2 has four
wheels 1~ on the bottom of the lower frame member 8 to
maximize maneuverability and stability. As shown in the
FIGURES, the back wheels 12a are of larger slze, extend
rearwardly out from the back plane of the unit 2, to
facilitate traversing stepped changes in elevation and
are fixed laterally. The front wheels 12b are
preferably swivel or caster type to facilitate turning.
This wheel configuration, although not essential to the
invention, has been found to achieve good result~ for
mobility, maneuverability and stability.
Stability is also improved by the placement of
the wheels at the corners of a square, the si~e of which
is dependant on the intended use. It has been found
that, for use with a computer sy~tem including monitor,
drive and keyboard, a distance of about 24" between the
wheels on any side is appropriate to combine stability
and efficient use of space.
Once the stand 2 is positioned into place, the
wheels 12 are locked or fixed to avoid inadvertant
movement of the stand. Alternatives may include
retractable wheels to allow the stand 2 to rest on the
lower frame member 8 or extensions thereof, i.e., pOfitS,
attached to the lower member 8.
The lower frame member 8 is recessed between
the front wheels 12b to allow a wheelchair, or the
user's legs when seated on a standard chair, to rest
under the component module 10 and place the user within
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reach of the components. The tops of the sides 1~ of the
lower frame member 8 have female openings substantially
the size and shape of the bottom of the sides 20 of the
upper frame member 6, adapted to securely receive the
bottom of the male sides 20 in inserted relationship.
Thus, the upper frame member 6 i5 engaged and securely
held by the lower frame member 6.
A crank 16 is located on the lower frame
member 8 which internally cooperates with the inserted
portion of the side 20 of the upper frame member 6 to
raise or lower the upper frame member 6 on the lower
frame member 8. The crank 16 need only be on one side
of the lower frame member 8 with means to level and
secure the upper frame member 6 cooperating with the
other side 20, by means of cooperating gears.
The upper frame member 6~ which supports the
component module 10 is enclosed on its sides 20 in the
present embodiment, the bottom of said sides 20 fitting
lnto the opening 18 of the lower frame member 8
(described above~. The front and back of the upper
frame member 6 are open to accept the component module
10 with means for mounting the component module 10
within the upper Erame member 6. A handle 14 i5
included on the back of the fram~ 4 at the top of the
2S upper frame member 6 to improve maneuverability during
transportation. Of course, the handle can be any handle
means including two protruding handles, one on each side
of the back of the frame ~ or protruding Erom planes 20,
rather than the single handle shown~
The top of the upper frame member 6 includes a
top storage compartment closed by a hinged door 22~ rn
its preferred embodiment, to permit use of the s~and 2
for many functions, the top storage compartment houses
an unfolding curtain support structure 24 for supporting
a privacy curtain 26 adapted to enclose the component
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module 10 during use as a voting booth or at other times
when privacy is desired (see FIGURE 3).
The curtain support structure 24 can be made
of any material capable of supporting the privacy
curtain 26, such as a metal or high strength plastic, or
a combination of these. Hinges 23 are provided in the
structure 24 to allow folding of the structure 24 into
the top storage compartment and opening of the "doors"
of the privacy curtain for entrance and exit. The
hinges 23 are preferably stop hinges which limit the
pivot motion of the sections of the structure.
The upper frame member 6 can employ any means
to support components desired for use with the
transportable stand 2, including shelves, a rack-type
system, side mounts, etc.
In any event, the components or component
module 10, or means for support, whichever is lower,
cannot be below the point on the upper frame member
sides 20 which fit into thP lower rame member sides 18
when the upper frame member 6 is in its lowest position.
This is necessary to assure ~hat the upper frame member
6 can be moved into its lowest position without
interference.
Generally, the desired components are
contemplated ~o include a touch input screen or monitor,
a computer drive system and possibly a keyboard for user
interaction. Other possible components may include a
sound or video system. Preferably, however, the
components are placed in a component module 10 which is
engaged by the upper frame member 6 by engagement means
including bolts, hooks and shelves. The component
module 10 cont~ining the components is preferably
removable from the frame 4 for use of the component
system apart from the transportable stand 2, as shown in
FIGURE 7.
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The module 10 includes support means for a
monitor 30 to be placed on/or attached thereto. Said
support means can be tilted to the appropriate angle by
the use of levers 28 which engage the support means.
This arrangement allows the monitor 30 to be tilted or
angled to the proper alignment for use by the individual
user. The lever 28 may be an assembly which allows the
monitor 30 to be locked into set angles and require
deliberate activation of a lever lock to change angle.
This locking featùre would immobilize the monitor 30
thereby facilitating touch inputs to the monitoring
screen. The optional keyboard 32 cooperates with the
levered support means to provide a relatively constant
relationship between the angle of the screen 30 and the
keyboard 32 when the screen 30 is tilted.
An advantage of the component module 10 is the
ability to close and lock the components therein,
preventing theft or unauthorized use, through the use of
a locking cover 34. The locking cover 34 attaches to
the module lO, or sides of the upper frame member 6, to
lock all or merely some of the components.
Another advantage of the component ~odule 10
is the ability to retain di~ferent component modules 10
for di~ferent components, being interchangeable in the
frame 4. For example in a school used as a polling
place, the same frame 4 can be used with computer
educational modules for student's use whicn are
replaceable with voting modules for elections.
As shown in FIGURE 5, the height of the upper
frame member 6 is adjustable from a low position throu~h
to a high position, depending on the desired use, by
rota~ion of a crank 16 which cooperates with a ratchet
or gear train. When used with children's educational
components (shown in FIGURE 4), the stand 2 is in its
low configuration, designated as "A" in FI~URE 5 and
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being approximately 52" from the floor to the top of the
upper frame member 6. When used as an information
kiosk, shown in FIGURE 2, the stand 2 can be in its
medium configuration, designated as "B" and being
approximately 57" to allow use by sitting adults or
persons seated in wheelchairs. The high position,
designated as "C" and being approximately 66" from the
floor to the top of the upper frame member 6, can be
used for a voting booth or the like when standing adults
are contemplated utilizing the components.
The mean height of the components on the stand
is generally about 15-18 inches below the height of the
top of the upper frame member 6. The tilting means
a~tuated by the levers 28, described above, provide for
adjustment of the angle of the screen 30 to the specific
height of the user.
The component module 10 is also preferred
wherein the back of components contained therein are not
exposed. As shown in FIGURE 6, a back cover 38 cooperates
with the component module 10 to enclose the compone~ts.
The back cover 38 preferably includes a power switch 40
to control power to an internal power outlet 42 to which
the components are connected. A power cord compar~ment
44 contains the power cord to access a wall outlet,
providing power to the componen~s contained in the
component module 10. Vents and a small electric fan are
insorporated into the back cover 38 to control the
operating temperature of the enclosed component module
compartment.
The back cover 38 also contains a compartment
for a ~eyboard. An access panel in the outside surface
of the back cover 38 allows access to a por~ion of the
keyboard which is used to reset computer components when
used in a voting configuration.
Another closable compartment 46, shown in
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FIGURE 6, can optionally be included on the back of the
lower frame member 8 to provide additional storage.
Shown in FIGURE 6, the compartment 46 contains the
privacy curtains 26 employed when the stand 2 is adapted
5 for use as a voting booth.
Obvious variations of the above-identified
invention will make themselves apparant to those o~
ordinary skill in the art and are intended to fall
within the spirit and scope of the present invention,
10 limited only by the appended claims.
