1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to an adjustable workstation system movable between a sitting configuration and a standing configuration.
2. Description of Related Art
Standing and seated worktables are known. Some of these worktables include both a desktop surface and a seat. Typically, the height of the worktable's work surface relative to the floor or a desk where it is installed is adjustable to accommodate users of different heights. The height of the seat relative to the floor or relative to the work surface may also be adjustable. However, these worktables do not include tiltable work surfaces and/or foldable seats that facilitate conversion of the worktable from a worktable used while seated to a worktable used while standing.
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an adjustable workstation system movable between a sitting configuration and a standing configuration. The workstation system is positionable on a floor surface. The workstation system comprises a body, a desktop, a tilt mechanism, a seat, and/or other components.
The body has a first end and a second end. The body includes a base located toward the second end. The base is configured to engage the floor surface. In some embodiments, the body comprises a support member coupled to the tilt mechanism, the seat, the base, and/or other components of the workstation system. The support member is configured to support the desktop, the tilt mechanism, and the seat, and be supported by the base. The support member extends from the tilt mechanism to the base. In some embodiments, the support member comprises at least two telescoping support poles configured to adjust the distance between the floor surface and the desktop. In some embodiments, the base comprises at least two legs (e.g., four legs) configured to support the desktop, the tilt mechanism, and the seat on the floor surface. In some embodiments, at least two of the at least two legs (e.g., two of the four legs) are coupled with rolling devices (e.g., wheels) configured to facilitate movement of the workstation system on the floor surface. In some embodiments, the body forms an angle of between about 45° and about 90° with the floor surface. For example, the body may form an angle of about 80° with the floor surface.
The desktop has a first surface, a second surface, and/or other surfaces. The desktop is located toward the first end of the body. The first surface of the desktop is configured to facilitate desktop activity by a user. The second surface is located opposite the first surface. The second surface may be, for example, an underside of the desktop. In some embodiments, the desktop is configured to support up to about 50 lbs. of weight.
The tilt mechanism couples the desktop to the body. The tilt mechanism is configured to facilitate adjustment by a user of an angle formed between the desktop and the floor surface. In some embodiments, the support member and the tilt mechanism are configured such that a distance between the floor surface and the desktop is adjustable. In some embodiments, the tilt mechanism comprises a guide rail coupled to the body and the second surface of the desktop, and a linkage member coupled to the guide rail and the second surface of the desktop. The guide rail has a first end located toward the seat and a second end opposite the first end. The guide rail is pivotally coupled to the second surface of the desktop toward the first end of the guide rail. The guide rail forms engagement slots configured to facilitate adjustment of the angle formed between the desktop and the floor surface. In some embodiments, the linkage member has a first end pivotally coupled to the second surface of the desktop and a second end movably coupled to the guide rail. The second end of the linkage member forms engagement features configured to engage the slots in the guide rail to facilitate the adjustment of the angle formed between the desktop and the floor surface. In some embodiments, the guide rail is configured such that the engagement slots are formed to facilitate adjustment of the angle formed between the desktop and the floor surface between a substantially horizontal position relative to the floor surface, a 15° position, a 30° position, and a 45° position. By way of a non-limiting example, the guide rail may be configured such that the engagement slots include first engagement slots that correspond to a first angle between the desktop and the floor surface, and second engagement slots that correspond to a second angle between the desktop and the floor surface. The linkage member may be configured such that disengaging the engagement features from the first engagement slots and engaging the engagement features with the second engagement slots changes the angle between the desktop and the floor surface from the first angle to the second angle.
The seat is coupled to the body and configured to facilitate sitting at the workstation system. The seat is movable between the sitting configuration and the standing configuration. In the sitting configuration, the seat and the body support weight of the user when the user sits in the seat. In the standing configuration, the seat is positioned in closer proximity to the body to facilitate standing at the workstation system. In some implementations, the seat comprises a collar configured to couple the seat with the support member such that a position of the collar on the support member is adjustable by the user to change a distance between the seat and the floor surface and/or a distance between the seat and the desktop. In some embodiments, the collar comprises a moveable pin configured to facilitate movement of the seat between the sitting configuration and the standing configuration; and positioning of the seat at one or more angles relative to the floor surface while the seat is in the sitting configuration. In some embodiments, the seat, the body, the tilt mechanism, the desktop and/or components of the system are configured such that a distance along an axis of the workstation that is substantially parallel to the floor surface between the seat and the desktop is adjustable. In some embodiments, the seat is configured to support up to about 275 lbs. of weight.
In some embodiments, the system further comprises a secondary table configured to facilitate secondary desktop activity of the user. Secondary desktop activity may include operating a mouse, writing, drawing, typing, supporting a notebook and or other objects, and/or other secondary desktop activity, for example. The secondary table may have a smaller surface area than the desktop. The secondary table is slidably coupled to the body. The secondary table is configured to extend along an axis of the workstation that is substantially parallel to the floor surface. For example, the secondary table may be configured such that a user seated in the seat may pull the secondary table toward himself and/or a user may slide the secondary table out from under the desktop toward the right or left of the user (as described herein, these directions are just examples and are not intended to be limiting.)
These and other aspects of various embodiments of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. In one embodiment of the invention, the structural components illustrated herein are drawn to scale. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In addition, it should be appreciated that structural features shown or described in any one embodiment herein can be used in other embodiments as well. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
All closed-ended (e.g., between A and B) and open-ended (greater than C) ranges of values disclosed herein explicitly include all ranges that fall within or nest within such ranges. For example, a disclosed range of 1-10 is understood as also disclosing, among other ranged, 2-10, 1-9, 3-9, etc.
For a better understanding of embodiments of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:
Body 200 has a first end 202 and a second end 204 with a first axis 206 running between first end 202 and second end 204. Body 200 includes a base 208 located toward second end 204 configured to engage a floor surface (not shown in
Support member 210 is configured to support desktop 400, tilt mechanism 300, and seat 500, and be supported by base 208. Support member 210 extends from tilt mechanism 300 to base 208 along first axis 206. As shown in
Baseplate 225 may be coupled to legs 220, support member 210, and/or other components of system 100. Baseplate 225 may be coupled with legs 220 and/or support member 210 toward second side 204 of body 200. Baseplate 225 may be coupled to legs 220 and/or support member 210 by way of screws 237, nuts (not shown in
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In some embodiments, desktop 400 may have a length 450 running from at or near a third side 290 of system 100 toward a fourth side 295 of system 100 of up to about 30 inches. In some embodiments, desktop 400 may have a length 450 of between about 20 inches and about 30 inches. For example, desktop 400 may have a length 450 of about 27 and ½ inches. In some embodiments, desktop 400 may have a width 452 running from at or near first side 280 of system 100 toward second side 285 of up to about 25 inches. In some embodiments, desktop 400 may have a width 452 of between about 15 inches and about 25 inches. For example desktop 400 may have a width 452 of about 20 and ¼ inches. In some embodiments, desktop 400 may have a thickness 454 of up to about 1 inch. In some embodiments, desktop 400 may have a thickness 454 of between about ¼ of an inch and about 1 inch. For example, desktop 400 may have a thickness 454 of about 11/16 inches.
In some embodiments, hand rest 460 may be up to about 20 inches long. In some embodiments, hand rest 460 may be between about 15 and about 20 inches long. For example, hand rest 460 may be about 18½ inches long. In some embodiments, hand rest 460 may include an implement cut-out 462 configured to hold writing and/or other implements used while a user is at desktop 400. Implement cut-out 462 may be about 10 inches long, for example. However, this is not intended to be limiting. Hand rest 460 and/or implement cut-out 462 may have any size and/or shape that allow system 100 to function as described herein.
Second surface 404 is located opposite first surface 402 toward second end 204.
Tilt mechanism 300 is illustrated in
In some embodiments, tilt mechanism 300 comprises a guide rail 306 coupled to body 200 and second surface 404 (shown in
In some embodiments, guide rail 306 is configured such that engagement slots 314 are formed to facilitate adjustment of the angle formed between desktop 400 and the floor surface between a substantially horizontal position relative to the floor surface, a 15° position, a 30° position, a 45° position, and/or other positions. By way of a non-limiting example, guide rail 306 may be configured such that engagement slots 314 include first engagement slots 330 that correspond to a first angle between desktop 400 and the floor surface, and second engagement slots 340 that correspond to a second angle between desktop 400 and the floor surface. Linkage member 309 may be configured such that disengaging engagement features 322 from first engagement slots 330 and engaging the engagement features with second engagement slots 340 changes the angle between desktop 400 and the floor surface from the first angle to the second angle. This is illustrated in
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In some implementations, seat 500 comprises a sitting portion 502, a seat support member 504, a collar 505, and/or other components. Sitting portion 502 is configured to facilitate sitting by the user. Sitting portion 502 may be and/or include a padded surface. In some embodiments, sitting portion 502 may have substantially rectangular, oval, pear-shaped, and/or other cross sectional shapes. Seat support member 504 is configured to link sitting portion 502 to collar 505. Collar 505 is configured to couple sitting portion 502 and seat support member 504 with support member 210 such that seat support member 504 and sitting portion 502 extend away from support member 210 toward first side 280 of system 100. Collar 505 is configured to couple sitting portion 502 and seat support member 504 with support member 210 such that a position of collar 505 on support member 210 is adjustable by the user to change a distance between seat 500 and the floor surface, and/or a distance between seat 500 and desktop 400. In some embodiments, collar 505 comprises an adjustment handle 508 configured to facilitate the adjustment of the position of seat 500 on support member 210. For example, a user may loosen adjustment handle 508, move seat 500 to a desired position on support member 210, and then re-tighten adjustment handle 508. In some embodiments, collar 505 is adjustable such that the distance between the floor surface and seat 500 is up to about 36 inches. In some embodiments, collar 505 is adjustable such that the distance between the floor surface and seat 500 is between about 20 inches and about 36 inches. In some embodiments, collar 505 comprises a moveable pin 506 configured to facilitate movement of seat 500 between the sitting configuration and the standing configuration.
In some embodiments, moveable pin 506 facilitates positioning of seat 500 at one or more angles (e.g., substantially horizontal, 30°, etc.) relative to the floor surface while seat 500 is in the sitting configuration. This is illustrated in
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Secondary table 600 is slidably coupled to body 200 toward first end 202 of body 200 near second surface 404 of desktop 400, tilt mechanism 300, and/or other components of system 100.
At an operation 1002, the desktop is coupled to the body with the tilt mechanism. The desktop has a first surface, a second surface, and/or other surfaces. The tilt mechanism couples the desktop to the body between the first end and the second end of the body along the first axis. The desktop is located toward the first end of the body. The first surface of the desktop is configured to facilitate desktop activity by a user. The second surface is located opposite the first surface. The second surface may be, for example, an underside of the desktop. In some embodiments, the desktop is configured to support up to about 50 lbs. of weight.
In some embodiments, the body comprises a support member coupled to the tilt mechanism, the seat, the base, and/or other components of the workstation system. The support member is configured to support the desktop, the tilt mechanism, and the seat, and be supported by the base. The support member extends from the tilt mechanism to the base along the first axis. In some embodiments, the base comprises at least two legs (e.g., four legs) configured to support the desktop, the tilt mechanism, and the seat on the floor surface. In some embodiments, at least two of the at least two legs (e.g., two of the four legs) are coupled with rolling devices (e.g., wheels) configured to facilitate movement of the workstation system on the floor surface. In some embodiments, the body is configured such that the first axis forms an angle of between about 45° and about 90° with the floor surface. For example, the body may be configured such that the first axis forms an angle of about 80° with the floor surface. Operation 1002 may be performed by a tilt mechanism that is the same as or similar to tilt mechanism 300 (shown in
At an operation 1004, adjustment of an angle formed between the desktop and the floor surface is facilitated by the tilt mechanism. In some embodiments, the tilt mechanism comprises a guide rail coupled to the body and the second surface of the desktop, and a linkage member coupled to the guide rail and the second surface of the desktop. The guide rail has a first end located toward the seat and a second end opposite the first end. The guide rail is pivotally coupled to the second surface of the desktop toward the first end of the guide rail. The guide rail forms engagement slots configured to facilitate adjustment of the angle formed between the desktop and the floor surface. In some embodiments, the linkage member has a first end pivotally coupled to the second surface of the desktop and a second end movably coupled to the guide rail. The second end of the linkage member forms engagement features configured to engage the slots in the guide rail to facilitate the adjustment of the angle formed between the desktop and the floor surface. In some embodiments, the guide rail is configured such that the engagement slots are formed to facilitate adjustment of the angle formed between the desktop and the floor surface between a substantially horizontal position relative to the floor surface, a 15° position, a 30° position, and a 45° position. Operation 1004 may be performed by a tilt mechanism that is the same as or similar to tilt mechanism 300 (shown in
At an operation 1006, adjustment of a distance between the desktop and the floor surface is facilitated. Adjustment of the distance between the desktop and the floor surface may be facilitated by the body, the tilt mechanism, and/or other components of the workstation system. In some embodiments, the support member (of the body) comprises at least two telescoping support poles configured to extend along the first axis to adjust the distance between the floor surface and the desktop. Operation 1006 may be performed by a body that is the same as or similar to body 200 (shown in
At an operation 1008, the seat is coupled to the body. The seat is coupled to the body and configured to facilitate sitting at the workstation system. In some implementations, the seat comprises a collar configured to couple the seat with the support member such that a position of the collar on the support member is adjustable by the user to change a distance between the seat and the floor surface and/or a distance between the seat and the desktop. In some embodiments, the seat, the body, the tilt mechanism, the desktop and/or components of the system are configured such that a distance along a second axis of the workstation that is substantially parallel to the floor surface between the seat and the desktop is adjustable. In some embodiments, the seat is configured to support up to about 275 lbs. of weight. Operation 1008 may be performed by a collar that is the same as or similar to collar 505 (shown in
At an operation 1010, movement of the seat between a sitting configuration and a standing configuration is facilitated. In the sitting configuration, the seat and the body support weight of the user when the user sits in the seat. In the standing configuration, the seat is positioned in proximity to the first axis to facilitate standing at the workstation system. In some embodiments, the collar comprises a moveable pin configured to facilitate movement of the seat between the sitting configuration and the standing configuration. In some embodiments, the moveable pin facilitates positioning the seat at one or more angles relative to the floor surface while the seat is in the sitting configuration. Operation 1010 may be performed by a collar that is the same as or similar to collar 505 (shown in
Although the disclosure has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.