Adjustable table for EDP system

[0002] This application is the US national phase of PCT application PCT/DE99/00980 filed Mar. 31, 1999 with claim to the priority of German patent application 19818457.3 itself filed Apr. 24, 1998.

[0003] The invention relates to an adjustable table for a monitor and a keyboard of an EDP system, the table having at least one telescoping column with a fixed part and a movable part and a table top on which a subpanel is pivotal about an axis parallel to a front edge of the table top.

[0004] Tables for EDP systems are used in many applications as work spaces for persons of different sizes. Although the tables are normally adjustable with respect to height and even usually tippable about a longitudinal axis, they typically have the disadvantage that the distance from the head of the user to the monitor and the angle of inclination of the head of the user change when the table is used by people of different size.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a table where a predetermined angle of inclination of the head of a user directed at the monitor of an EDP system mounted on the table can be adjusted independently of the size of the user in a simple manner.

[0006] This object is attained for a table of the above-described type in that the subpanel is connected via a strut with the fixed part of the telescoping column.

[0007] Thus an adjustable table for an EDP system can have a monitor and a keyboard, the table having a telescoping column with at least one fixed part and one movable part and a table top on which a subpanel is pivotal about an axis parallel to a front edge of the table top. The subpanel is connected via a strut with the fixed part of the telescoping column.

[0008] With the table according to the invention the arrangement of the monitor of the EDP system on the table-top subpanel which is pivotal about an axis that extends parallel to the front edge of the table top, with the table top supported by at least one strut, ensures that when the movable part of the telescoping column is moved relative to the fixed part of the telescoping column, i.e. the table-top height is adjusted, the angle of the table-top subpanel on which the monitor of the EDP system is mounted is automatically changed such that the user of the EDP system looks at the same angle at the monitor of the EDP system. This positioning is achieved with the table according to the invention by the strut connected to the telescoping column in a remarkable manner without the help of additional adjustment motors and solely through the relative movement of the movable part of the telescoping column relative to the fixed part thereof. The length of the strut is set such that for example in the seated position of a user it produces a predetermined ergonomically comfortable angle of inclination of the head of the user while looking at the monitor of the EDP system. As a result of the interaction of the various parts of the table according to the invention only under these circumstances is the inclination angle even maintained when the movable part of the telescoping column moves upward out of the fixed part in a raised position of the table in which the EDP-system user is standing.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment the strut is connected to a floor plate that carries the telescoping column.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the table according to the invention a pivot axis of the subpanel is set 2 cm to 5 cm below an upper surface of the table top. In this manner on the one hand there is an ergonomically very comfortable angle of the head of the user looking at the monitor and on the other hand the monitor lies somewhat below the overall table-top upper surface so that the user can easily see over the monitor out into the surrounding space so as to more easily make contact with other people and to be able to communicate from the work space unhindered in all directions.

[0011] The strut is preferably connected by a hinge to an underside of the subpanel. This is a very simple connection of the strut to the subpanel. The strut is pivotally mounted in a recess in the fixed part of the telescoping column. This ensures a simple but robust connection of the strut to the telescoping column.

[0012] According to a further important feature of the table according to the invention, the fixed part of the telescoping column has a plurality of vertically offset recesses. This ensures that the strut can be fitted in a bore at a plurality of different levels so that the inclination angle of the subpanel and thus the angle of the head of a user relative to the monitor of an EDP system is also settable ergonomically optimally for users of different sizes.

[0013] The table according to the invention can have according to a preferred embodiment two struts which are pivotally mounted in respective bores in the fixed part of the telescoping column. In this manner the table according to the invention an be overall quite strong.

[0014] In order to provide more foot space, as a further feature the telescoping column is inclined at an angle of 10° to 20° from the vertical toward a user.

[0015] In order to be able to change the angle of the subpanel simply relative to the table top, the strut is formed of an upper partial strut element and a lower partial strut element that are connected together by a threaded sleeve.

[0016] Further adjustability for setting height is achieved when the fixed part of the telescoping column is provided with an outrigger to which the strut is connected. In the lowest position of the table top the strut extends nearly over the entire width of the table top but below it so that a longer strut is available for setting the height of the table top.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment the strut is braced with its free end on a bar extending at an angle to the vertical from the fixed part of the telescoping column so that the strut does not need to be fixedly connected to the telescoping column and the force can be conducted at a constant angle to the telescoping column.

[0018] To this end the strut is fixed on the subpanel so that the subpanel can be loaded and above all the subpanel is subject to less vibration which makes it harder to look at the monitor.

[0019] With respect to simplicity of construction it is preferably that the free end of the strut is formed as a slide surface. Alternatively a roller is provided on the free end of the strut.

[0020] In order to prevent the strut from lifting off the bar the free end of the strut engages in a lateral groove of the bar.

[0021] In order to be able to vary the angle of the subpanel the inclination of the bar is variable.

[0022] The stability of the table is increased when the bar is supported by its free end on the floor, thereby taking the function of a table leg and thus replacing the floor plate.

[0023] The table according to the invention is described in the following with reference to a preferred embodiment which is shown in the drawing. Therein:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the table according to the invention with a seated user;

[0025] FIG. 2 is the table shown in FIG. 1 with a standing user;

[0026] FIG. 3 is side view of an alternative embodiment of the table shown in FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a table of the type shown in FIG. 2 with an outrigger on the fixed part of the telescoping column;

[0028] FIG. 5 is an overlain view of a table in three different height positions of the table top with a strut sliding on the fixed part of the telescoping column;

[0029] FIG. 5A is a detail of another embodiment; and

[0030] FIG. 6 is an embodiment with a roller on the free end of the strut.

[0031] In the table 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for an EDP system 17, 18 a table top 11 has a subpanel 12 that is pivotal about an axis 22 set 5 cm underneath an upper face of the table top 11 and that serves as support surface for a monitor with a screen 17. The subpanel 12 is connected via a strut 13 with a fixed part 14 of a telescoping column 14, 15 whose movable part is fixed to the underside of the table top 11 and carries the table top 11.

[0032] The strut 13 is connected by means of a hinge 31 to the subpanel, an end 32 of the strut 13 opposite the hinge 31 being fitted in a recess 24 in the fixed part 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15 and being pivotal in this recess 24. In order to change the inclination angle of the screen 17 of a monitor sitting on the subpanel 12 relative to a head 19 of a user 20 of the EDP system 17, 18 in dependence on the size of the person 20, further recesses 24′, 24″, 24′″, and 24″″ are provided in the fixed part 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15 for pivotally receiving the end 32 of the strut 13. The fixed part 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15 is fixed in a floor support or plate 16 provided with rollers 26.

[0033] The adjustable table 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in a position in which the keyboard 18 of the EDP system 17, 18 is being used by a seated person 20. The strut 13 of the subpanel 12 which is coupled to the monitor with the screen 17 is so mounted with its end 32 in the recess 24 in the fixed part 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15 that the angle of the head of the user 20 of the EDP system 17 ,18 relative to the screen 17 is such that the user assumes an ergonomically natural and comfortable body position while working with the EDP system 17, 18.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the adjustable table 10 according to the invention in a position in which the user 20 is working while standing at the EDP system 17, 18. To this end the movable part 15 of the telescoping column 14, 15 is raised so far up from the fixed part 14 that the arm 27 of the user 20 is set generally parallel to the floor 28 and to the table top 11 when the keyboard of the EDP system 17, 18 is being used. As a result of the connection of the subpanel 12 on which the monitor with the screen 17 is mounted with the fixed part 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15 via the strut 13, in an extended position of the movable part relative to the telescoping column 14, 15 the subpanel assumes relative to the table top 11 a large angle β instead of a small angle α. In this manner the screen 17 changes its position relative to the table top 11 and assumes the changed positions shown at 17 in FIG. 2. In order to emphasize the change in position of the screen 17FIG. 2 shows the original position from FIG. 1 in dashed lines next to the new position 17′.

[0035] The adjustable table 10′ according to the invention shown in FIG. 3 is generally identical to the table 10 shown in FIG. 2. The table 10′ is braced however by a strut 13′ which sits on the floor plate 16. The strut 13′ is made of two elements, and upper element and a lower element which are interconnected by a threaded sleeve 23. The threaded sleeve 23 has an internal screwthread that coacts with the externally threaded ends of the partial strut elements such that the strut 13 gets longer on rotation of the sleeve in one direction and gets shorter on rotation in the opposite direction so as to adjust the inclination angle of the subpanel 12.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment where an outrigger connected to the strut 13 is provided on the fixed part of the telescoping column.

[0037] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the strut 13 with its free end 37 bearing on a bar 36 inclined to the vertical and connected to the fixed part 14 of the telescoping column 14, 15 so as not to be fixed to the telescoping column 14, 15. Alternatively there is the possibility of forming the free end 37 as a slide surface or to provide a roller 39 on the free end 37 of the strut 13. In this case the strut 13 is fixed with respect to the subpanel 12.

[0038] According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5A the free end 37 of the strut 13 engages in the bar 36 in lateral groove whose angle is variable in order to influence he angle of the subpanel 12.

[0039] FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the bar 36 has a lower end standing on the floor so that it serves as a table leg and thus increases the stability and the load-carrying capacity of the table.