Ergonomic work station

Abstract

An ergonomic work station (10) includes a base (12) with a standing surface (14) adapted to support a person in a standing position. A first support member (16) extends upwardly from the base (12). An anatomical support (18) is mounted to the first support member (16). A second support (20) member extends outwardly from the first support member (16). The second support member (20) has an attachment end (22) and a remote end (24). A third support member (26) extends upwardly from the remote end (24) of the second support member (20). At least one office equipment support (28) is mounted to the third support member (26). The office equipment support (28) is height adjustable, thereby enabling a person to work from either a first position resting upon the anatomical support (18) or a second working position standing upon the standing surface (14) of the base (12).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ergonomic work station having a number of working positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,566 (Case 1997) discloses an ergonomic work station that will permit a disabled person to work in a convenient and comfortable fashion from a bed, a wheelchair, any chair or while standing. The Case reference is described as having a platform, a vertical shaft, a first arm extending from the vertical shaft that is adapted to support a keyboard, and a second arm extending from the vertical shaft that is adapted to support a computer screen. The first arm and the second arm are adjusted independently of each other in such a fashion to permit a user to utilize the computer keyboard and the computer screen in a comfortable manner from a variety of positions.

While the Case reference was developed with a particular focus upon disabled persons, it is generally harmful for a person who is not disabled to maintain a static position for an extended period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is required is an ergonomic work station that enables a person who is not disabled to alter the position of his or her upper limbs and lower limbs during the course of the working day in order to relax their postural musculature; so as to avoid physical discomfort and chronic injuries that result from maintaining a static position.

According to the present invention there is provided an ergonomic work station which includes a base with a standing surface adapted to support a person in a standing position. A first support member extends upwardly from the base. An anatomical support is mounted to the first support member. A second support member extends outwardly from the first support member. The second support member has an attachment end and a remote end. A third support member extends upwardly from the remote end of the second support. At least one office equipment support is mounted to the third support member. The office equipment support is height adjustable, thereby enabling a person to work from either a first position resting upon the anatomical support or a second working position standing upon the standing surface of the base.

The ergonomic work station, as described above, enables a person to spend his or her working day alternating between working in the first position and in the second position. Being able to change working positions is a valuable first step toward avoiding a static working position that leads to chronic injuries. There are further enhancements which may be added to the basic structure of the work station to obtain further ergonomic benefits, as will hereinafter be further described.

Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the ergonomic work station, as described above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when the standing surface slopes outwardly and downwardly from a central position on the base. When a person stands on a sloped surface a number of benefits are derived. The weight of the body is redistributed in an oblique fashion, which places the muscles of the legs into an active state. This subtly works the muscle groups and results in improved blood flow in the legs and feet.

Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the ergonomic work station, as described above, even more beneficial effects may be obtained when the attachment end of the second support member pivots about an axis co-axial with the first support member, such that the third support member orbits the first support member. The third support member may be swung to enable the user to change his or her relation to the slope of the standing surface while working. The user may have both feet pointing down slope, a left foot at a top of the slope and a right foot at a bottom of the slope or the right foot at the top of the slope and the left foot at the bottom of the slope. In order to leave maximum room for the orbiting of the third support member, it is preferred that the first support member be positioned at a central position on the base. It is also preferred that the first support member be inserted into a receptacle in the base with the first support member rotating within the receptacle to follow the orbiting movement of the third support member.

One way to facilitate the orbiting of the third support member is to provide an annular collar that is co-axial with the first support member and extends upwardly from the base on the outside of the first support member. The attachment end of the second support member can then take the form of a first sleeve which overlies and rotates about the collar. Another way to facilitate the orbiting of the third support member is to have the attachment end of the second support member fixedly attached to the first support member. This will result in all weight being transferred via the first support member to the receptacle in the base, with all vertical loads being transferred through the base to the floor.

The anatomical support can take a number of forms. Beneficial results have been obtained through the use of a simple seat.

The office equipment support can take a number of forms depending upon the nature of the office equipment that is to be supported. Beneficial results have been obtained when each office equipment support consists of a cantilever mounting arm extending radially outwardly from the third support member, with the arm carrying a mounting fixture. Each cantilever mounting arm is made height adjustable by an adjustable mounting which includes a second sleeve with an internally extending flange in combination with a deformable locking ring. The locking ring is disposed between the sleeve and the third support member. The locking ring is manually slidable along the third support member when the forces acting upon the locking ring are equally distributed. The locking ring becomes deformed between the second sleeve, the third support member and the internally extending flange when subjected to an unequal force resulting from a cantilevered mounting of the arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ergonomic work station constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ergonomic work station illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, in section, of a base of the ergonomic work station illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, in section, of a height adjustable mounting on a third support member of the ergonomic work station illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, in section, of a base of an alternative embodiment of the ergonomic work station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment, an ergonomic work station generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

Referring to FIG. 1, ergonomic work station 10 includes a base 12 having a standing surface 14 adapted to support a person in a standing position. A first support member 16 adapted with an anatomical support 18 extends upwardly from base 12. In the illustrated embodiment anatomical support 18 is a seat. It will be appreciated, however, that it may merely consist of a pad against which one may lean. A second support member 20 is provided having an attachment end 22 and a remote end 24. Second support member 20 extends outwardly from first support member 16. A third support member 26 extends upwardly from remote end 24 of second support member 20. At least one adjustably positioned office equipment support 28 is mounted on third support member 26. In the illustrated embodiment, adjustably positioned office equipment supports 28 are in the form of cantilever mounting arms 30 adapted with mounting fixtures 32. Referring to FIG. 3, first support member 16 with anatomical support 18 rotates within base 12. Third support member 26 orbits first support member 16 radially spaced by second support member 20. Referring to FIG. 2, adjustably positioned office equipment supports 28 orbit third support member 26. Referring to FIG. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, base 12 is shown with a sloping standing surface 14 and is adapted with a receptacle 34. An annular collar 36 is fixedly positioned within receptacle 34. First support member 16 is in co-axial relation within annular collar 36 such that first support member 16 may rotate freely within annular collar 36. Attachment end 22 of second support member 20 is adapted with a first sleeve 38. Annular collar 36 is in co-axial relation within first sleeve 38 such that first sleeve 38 with second support arm 20 may rotate freely about annular collar 36. Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, each of adjustable office equipment support 28 is adapted with an adjustable mounting 40 having a second sleeve 42 that is positioned around third support arm 26. Second sleeve 42 has an internally extending flange 44. An adjustably positioned deformable locking ring 46 is disposed between second sleeve 42 and third support member 26. When forces acting upon adjustably positioned deformable locking ring 46 are equally distributed, it is manually slidable along third support arm 26 as shown in FIG. 4a. However, when forces acting upon adjustably positioned deformable locking ring 46 are unequally distributed, it is deformed between second sleeve 42, third support member 26 and internally extending flange 44 and is consequently firmly positioned along third support member 26 as shown in FIG. 4b.

Operation:

The use and operation of an Ergonomic Work Station generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4. Referring to FIG. 1, A user, upon commencing work, may choose a first position orientation, wherein the user rests upon anatomical support 18. Anatomical support 18 and third support member 26 will rotate freely according to the users needs as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, a combination of adjustments by the user of third support member 26, orbiting around first support member 16, and at least one of adjustably positioned office equipment supports 28, slidably adjusted vertically along third support member 26 and orbiting about third support member 26, will adapt and configure ergonomic work station 10 to the needs of the user and the users work. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, when a user wishes to change from a first position to a second position, the user re-adjusts ergonomic work station 10 as outlined above to adapt to a standing position of the users choice.

Variations:

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated Another way to facilitate the orbiting of the third support member is to have the attachment end of the second support member fixedly attached to the first support member. This will result in all weight being transferred via the first support member to the receptacle in the base, with all vertical loads being transferred through the base to the floor.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An ergonomic work station (10) comprising: a base (12) with a standing surface (14) adapted to support a person in a standing position, the standing surface (14) sloping outwardly and downwardly from a central position on the base (12); a first support member (16) extending upwardly from the central position on the base (12); an anatomical support (18) mounted to the first support member (16); a second support member (20) extending outwardly from the first support member (16), the second support member (20) having an attachment end (22) and a remote end (24); a third support member (26) extending upwardly from the remote end (24) of the second support member (20); at least one office equipment support (28) mounted to the third support member (26), the at least one office equipment support (28) being height adjustable, thereby enabling a person to work from either a first position resting upon the anatomical support (18) or a second working position standing upon the standing surface (14) of the base (12).

12. The ergonomic work station (10) according to claim 11, wherein the third support member (26) orbits the first support member (16).

13. The ergonomic work station (10) according to claim 11, wherein the anatomical support (18) is a seat.

14. The ergonomic work station (10 according to claim 11, wherein the first support member (16) is positioned at a central position on the base (12).

15. The ergonomic work station (10) according to claim 11, wherein the first support member (16) is inserted into a receptacle (34) in the base (12), the first support member (16) being adapted to rotate within the receptacle (34).

16. The ergonomic work station (10) according to claim 15, wherein the attachment end (22) of the second support member (20) is fixedly attached to and rotates with the first support member (16).

17. The ergonomic work station (10) according to claim 12, wherein an annular collar (36) co-axial with the first support member (16) extends upwardly from the base (12) on the outside of the first support member (16), and the attachment end (22) of the second support member (20) is in the form of a first sleeve (38) which overlies and rotates about the collar (36).

18. The ergonomic work station (10) according to claim claim 11, wherein each of the at least one office equipment support (28) consists of a cantilever mounting arm (30) extending radially outwardly from the third support member (26), the arm (30) carrying a mounting fixture (32).

19. The ergonomic work station (10) according to claim 18, wherein each cantilever mounting arm (30) is made height adjustable by an adjustable mounting (40) which includes a second sleeve (42) with an internally extending flange (44) in combination with a deformable locking ring (46), the locking ring (46) being disposed between the second sleeve (42) and the third support member (26), the locking ring (46) being manually slidable along the third support member (26) when the forces acting upon the locking ring (46) are equally distributed, the locking ring (46) deforming between the second sleeve (42), the third support member (26) and the internally extending flange (44) when subjected to an unequal force resulting from a cantilevered mounting of the arm (30).