Stowable computer workstation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9944235-B2
Application number	US-201414317312-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2014
Priority date	Nov 16, 2013
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A stowable computer workstation (“SCW”) for a workplace within a vehicle is described, where the workplace has an inner sidewall of the vehicle. The SCW may include a video display mount assembly and a deployment support attached to the video display mount assembly. The deployment support is configured to deploy and stow the video display mount assembly against the inner sidewall and the deployment support is secured to the inner sidewall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stowable computer workstation (“SCW”) for a workplace within a vehicle, wherein the workplace includes a seat and an inner sidewall of the vehicle, wherein the seat is adjacent to the inner sidewall, the SCW comprising:
a video display mount assembly, wherein the video display mount assembly includes
a first portion having a first mounting fixture, wherein the first mounting fixture is configured to attach to a first video display,
a second portion having a second mounting fixture,
a hinge, wherein the second portion is rotatably coupled to the hinge, and
a trolley; and
a deployment support attached to the video display mount assembly,
wherein the deployment support includes a post secured to the inner sidewall at a location forward to the seat and extending in a z-direction, normal from a deployment arm,

wherein the deployment arm has a first end coupled to the post and a second end that is rotatable in a plane normal to the z-direction, and
wherein the deployment arm is moveably attached to the video display mount assembly,
wherein the deployment support is configured to deploy the video display mount assembly and stow the video display mount assembly against the inner sidewall,
wherein the video display mount assembly is configured to open and close the second portion in a rotational direction that is in a normal direction to the deployment support,
wherein the trolley is configured to slide along the deployment arm, and
wherein the deployment arm includes a deployment mechanism for coupling a rotation motion of the deployment arm to a translation motion of the trolley along the deployment arm.

2. The SCW of claim 1 ,
wherein the deployment support is configured to deploy the video display mount assembly in front of the seat.

3. The SCW of claim 1 , wherein the inner sidewall includes a curvature and the video display mount assembly is stowed against the inner sidewall in the curvature of the inner sidewall.

4. The SCW of claim 1 , wherein the inner sidewall includes a storage space and the video display mount assembly is stowed against the inner sidewall within the storage space in the inner sidewall.

5. The SCW of claim 1 ,
wherein the video display mount assembly includes the first video display attached to the first mounting fixture and a flat shelf attached to the second mounting fixture, and
wherein the first video display and the flat shelf are attached to the video display mount assembly in a clamshell configuration.

6. The SCW of claim 1 ,
wherein the video display mount assembly includes the first video display attached to the first mounting fixture and an input device or second video display attached to the second mounting fixture, and
wherein the first video display and the second video display or input device are attached to the video display mount assembly in a clamshell configuration.

7. The SCW of claim 6 , wherein the first and second video displays are flat panel video displays.

8. The SCW of claim 7 , wherein the second video display is a touch-screen display configured to be an input device.

9. The SCW of claim 8 , wherein first video display is a touch-screen display.

10. The SCW of claim 6 ,
wherein the first video display includes a first display screen and the second video display includes a second display screen,
wherein the first mounting fixture and second mounting fixture of the video display mount assembly are configured to position the first display screen and the second display screen in an adjacent face-to-face position when the video display mount assembly is positioned in a closed position,
wherein the first mounting fixture and second mounting fixture of the video display mount assembly is configured to position the first display screen in an approximately vertical position and the second display screen at a downward angle position when the video display mount assembly is positioned in an open position, and
wherein the downward angle position of the second display screen is at an obtuse angle from the approximately vertical position of the first display screen.

11. The SCW of claim 10 ,
wherein the deployment mechanism includes
a plurality of pulleys mounted to an underside of the deployment arm,
a cable wound around the pulleys,
ends of the cable secured to a non-rotatable portion of the post, and
the trolley secured to a point on the cable,
wherein the first portion of the video display mount assembly further includes
an end of the first portion attached to the trolley,
a cam at the hinged end, and
a locking pin, and
wherein the cam is configured to push the locking pin through a hole in the trolley and engage an opening in the deployment arm when the hole in the trolley and opening in the deployment arm are aligned.

12. A stowable computer workstation (“SCW”) for both stowing and deploying a video display in a workplace within a vehicle, wherein the workplace has a seat and an inner sidewall of the vehicle, and wherein the inner sidewall is adjacent to the seat, the SCW comprising:
a deployment support having
a deployment arm rotatable between a stowed position and
a deployed position and a deployment mechanism coupled to the deployment arm;
a trolley translationally coupled to the deployment arm, wherein the trolley is configured to slide along a length of the deployment arm;

wherein the deployment support includes a post secured to the inner sidewall at a location forward to the seat and extending in a z-direction, normal from the deployment arm, and
wherein the deployment arm has a first end coupled to the post and a second end that is rotatable in a plane normal to the z-direction, and
a video display mounting assembly attached to the trolley, wherein the video display mount assembly includes
a first portion having a first mounting fixture, wherein the first mounting fixture is configured to attach to a first video display,
a second portion having a second mounting fixture, and
a hinge,

wherein the second portion is rotatably coupled to the hinge,
wherein the deployment mechanism is configured to slide the trolley along the deployment arm when the deployment arm is rotating, whereby the video display mounting fixture is translated along the deployment arm as the deployment arm is rotated between the stowed position and the deployed position,
wherein the deployment support is configured to deploy the video display mount assembly in front of the seat and stow the video display mount assembly against the inner sidewall, and
wherein the video display mount assembly is configured to open and close the second portion of the video display mounting assembly in a rotational direction that is in a normal direction to the deployment arm.

13. The SCW of claim 12 ,
wherein the video display mount assembly includes the first video display attached to the first mounting fixture and a flat shelf attached to the second mounting fixture, and
wherein the first video display and the flat shelf are attached to the video display mount assembly in a clamshell configuration.

14. The SCW of claim 12 ,
wherein the video display mount assembly includes the first video display attached to the first mounting fixture and an input device or second video display attached to the second mounting fixture,
wherein the first video display and the second video display or input device are attached to the video display mount assembly in a clamshell configuration.

15. The SCW of claim 14 , wherein the first and second video displays are flat panel video displays.

16. The SCW of claim 15 ,

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Fischer Brian Gregory
• Dugger Frank Henry
• Owen Bryant Scott
• Wong Alan J

Classifications

• B60R2011/0084

  with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position · CPC title

• B60R2011/0082

  collapsible, e.g. for storing after use · CPC title

• B60R2011/0087

  around two axes · CPC title

• F16M11/10

  around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R11/0252 Primary

  for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks · CPC title