Patent Application
20230172364
In various scenarios, people find themselves working at a desk in a sitting position, typically in an ergonomic chair. In recent years, it has been found that such positions may be unhealthy over time. Therefore, many individuals choose to have standing desks, allowing the user to stand while working and adjust the desk to various heights. The issue with such desks is that the user may under use the standing features of the desk because it becomes tiring to stand or comfortable positions are not found. A standard or adjustable chair may be used in some scenarios, however, the positions achievable are limited and the support provided not sufficient.
Users are typically very excited to obtain a standing desk, merely to find that the standing features are rarely used. Therefore, in order to improve user help and increase their usage of the desk in a standing position, a solution is desirable. Since static positions that do not engage stretching of the body tend to be difficult to hold for a period of time, more dynamic and changing positioning may provide for a more comfortable experience for the user.
In one embodiment, a standing chair apparatus for improving stretching and comfort for a user, for use with a standing desk, includes a movable base (which may include locking wheels). The standing chair further includes a calf stretching plane on the movable base. The standing chair further includes a tower portion, extending from the movable base, the tower portioning including multiple stretch points. In one alternative, the movable base is mounted on wheels. Alternatively, the calf stretching plane on the movable base is hingably mounted, such that the calf stretching plane is rotatable to a first and a second position. In another alternative, the tower portion includes a vertically extending beam perpendicularly mounted on the movable base, the tower portion including a bar perpendicular to the vertically extending beam and a top plane mounted on top of the vertically extending beam. Alternatively, the top plane includes a pad on the top surface. In another alternative, the vertically extending beam is located in a central portion of the movable base. Alternatively, the top plane is hingably mounted to the vertically extending beam, such that the top plane is fixable in a variety of angles relative to the base (and to provide for easy storage and to take up less space when not in use). In another alternative, the vertically extending beam is telescoping.
In one embodiment, a workstation includes a standing desk, the standing desk including an apparatus for raising and lowering the height of the standing desk. The workstation further includes a standing chair, the standing chair sized to work with the standing desk. The standing chair includes a base portion. The standing chair further includes a tower portion, the tower portion extending vertically from the base portion and a calf stretching plane, the calf stretching connected to the base portion. Alternatively, the calf stretching plane is hingeably attached to the base portion, such that the calf stretching plane is positionable in a variety of calf stretching positions. In another alternative, the base portion is movably mounted. Alternatively, the base portion includes wheels. In another alternative, the wheels are lockable, to prevent the easy rolling of the base portion and to allow for vertical forces to be applied without having the base and platform roll away during a stretch. Alternatively, the tower portion includes a top plane. In another alternative, the tower portion includes a vertical beam. Alternatively, the vertical beam is telescoping. In another alternative, the standing chair further includes a stretch bar mounted on the vertical beam.
In one embodiment, a method of stretching at a workstation includes providing a workstation, the workstation including a standing desk and a standing chair. The standing chair includes a base portion. The standing chair further includes a tower portion, the tower portion extending vertically from the base portion and a calf stretching plane, the calf stretching connected to the base portion. The method further includes positioning the standing chair in front of the standing desk. The method further includes engaging the calf stretching plane with feet of a worker, the calf stretching plane providing a stretching position for the calves of the worker. In one alternative, the method further includes disengaging the calf stretching plane; and engaging a top plane of the tower portion with a side of a leg of the worker in order to stretch a glute of the worker. Alternatively, the method further includes disengaging the side of the leg from the top plane; and engaging the top plane with a lower portion of the leg in order to stretch the hamstring.
Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the embodiments of the systems and methods for a standing chair. In many embodiments, a standing chair includes a base portion and the tower portion, with the tower portion having several platforms, bars, and areas for stretching the limbs and other body parts of a user. In many embodiments, the base portion is movable. In many embodiments, the standing chair includes a calf stretch plane.
In many embodiments, the standing chair is designed to provide a place to sit as well as a place to stretch and exercise the body of a user. Typically, when people work for extended periods of time in a single position, typically sitting, the user's body may atrophy, tighten, or otherwise have issues. Additionally, standing in various positions may burn more calories than a seated position. This is one of the reasons for standing desks. However, an issue with standing desks, is that the user may experience fatigue and may not be able to be comfortable. This is at least in part because maintaining any position for an extended period of time, be it standing or sitting can cause fatigue. In ordinary circumstances, the positions that a user may maintain are somewhat limited with a standing desk and the chair and standing desk combination provide a limited number of positions and suggest for a limited number of positions. Embodiments of the standing chair not only provide for numerous healthful positions, but the apparatus also itself is suggestive of the user positioning themselves in such positions. Therefore, the increase potential of a standing desk can only be realized with embodiments of a standing chair.
In many embodiments, wheels 116 include a locking mechanism with a quick release. This is because it is desirable to move standing chair 100, however, standing chair 100 must maintain its position during stretching activities. Alternatives to locking wheels, in addition to the description above, are possible including but not limited to a kickstand, riser, or other device to prevent the standing chair 100 from moving. Typically, standing chair 100 will have a significant amount of weight, in order to resist forces applied to it during exercise, but of course depending on the bracing of the standing chair 100 or the size of base portion 110, various weights may be used. Base portion 110 is interconnected with a tower portion 120. In many embodiments, tower portion 120 is a vertical beam 125 that sits perpendicular to base portion 110. In some embodiments, vertical beam 125 is replaced by a telescoping beam. In some alternatives, tower portion may include horizontal bars, shelves, or angles that move up or down. These horizontal bars, shelves, or angles would be used to place your foot on for stretching. In some embodiments, vertical beam 125 may be of adjustable height having two parts as show in
Top plane 130 may also be used as a sitting platform. In many embodiments top plane 130 may include a stiff padding 131 on its surface in order to accommodate the body of a user in a comfortable fashion. Additionally, tower portion includes a stretch bar 140. Stretch bar 140 is typically mounted on beam part 127 such that its height may be adjusted along with beam part 127. A bar parallel to the base portion 110 is shown for stretch bar 140, however a variety of shapes and lengths may be utilized. Typically, stretch bar 140 is a sized to accommodate the leg/foot of a user. Stretch bar 140 may be rounded and/or may have a w-like shape or stirrup such that a user's foot will sit in place on stretch bar 140.
Base portion 110 is interconnected with calf stretch plane 150. Calf stretch plane 150 is typically hingably mounted to base portion 110 and may rotate outwards to provide multiple stretching positions. Alternative shapes to the one shown are possible, similar to top plane 130. A variety of shapes may be used for calf stretch plane 150. Additionally, in some embodiments a slidable wedge, slides into the vertex of where the calf stretch plane is hangable mounted, such that the calf stretch plane is braced in a position diagonal to the base portion 110. Alternatively, the calf stretch plane may include an arc and pin system whereby a spring-loaded pin may be fixed in a variety of holes in the arc, thereby holding the calf stretch plane in a variety of positions. The top of the calf stretcher may include sandpaper/skateboard tape for better traction at steep angles. In alternatives, any other type of friction increasing material may be used on the calf stretcher. In some embodiments, other parts of the standing chair 100 may also be finished with friction increasing materials, including those suggested here. This may provide advantages to the user, in that their limbs or other body parts may be easier to maintain in stretched positions.
Additionally, in many embodiments, base portion 110 includes pad 160. Pad 160 may slide into a slot underneath base portion 110, between wheels 116. Pad 160 may be removed and positioned into a variety of positions, allowing a user to kneel or take other floor bound positions.
In some embodiments, top plane 130 may be hingably mounted to vertical beam 125. This provides for top plane 130 to be oriented in a variety of positions and vertical beam 125 may include a pin and arc locking mechanism or other mechanism to hold top plane 130 in position. In some alternatives, vertical beam 125 may be hingably mounted to base portion 110 in a similar fashion, such that it may be rotated in held in a variety of positions. These configurations allow for easier storage and more stretching positions.
In alternative embodiments, multiple vertical beams may be used in order to provide a device with differing stability characteristics. Additionally, additional stretch bars 140 may be added, in order to provide more stretch positions.
In
Additionally, stretch bar 140 may be used for a variety of lower intensity stretching activities. For instance, instead of a high leg for the hamstring stretch of
Numerous other stretching positions may occur to the user. Not only does the standing chair accommodate these positions, it actually encourages them. This is because the structure of the device naturally accommodates the user taking various positions as described herein.
In some embodiments, the user is provided with a video demo of how to orient standing chair 100 in order to engage in various stretches. In alternatives, a booklet is provided. In alternatives, an app is provided. This application may be resident on a smart phone, tablet, computer or other computing device. Multiple timers may also accompany the product to quantify the duration each stretch is held.
Many embodiments of the standing chair may be made from aluminum or other strong and light material or any metal or wood. Additionally, the standing chair may include foam or rubber on various surfaces, especially where the body of the user may rest.
In many embodiments, the size of the base portion is sufficient to prevent the standing chair from tipping. This may be achieved by a combination of weight and size of the base. Typically, this means that the base width in two directions is at least half of the tower portion height. In some scenarios, the user may sit on the top plane. Additionally, in some embodiments, the top plane may be mounted on a flexible pivot that offers some resistance in order to create an active sitting platform.
While specific embodiments have been described in detail in the foregoing detailed description, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure and the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the particular examples and implementations disclosed herein but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.
