ERGONOMIC COMPUTER WORKSTATION AND TREADMILL COMBINATION

• US 20040067821A1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John M. Kehrbaum
• Original Assignee: John M. Kehrbaum
• Inventors: Kehrbaum, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,808,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/06 incorporated in cabinets

Abstract

An article of furniture (10) including a plurality of wall panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) enclosing a work-exercise space (40) with shelving (46) mounted therewithin for supporting a computer (48) at a height enabling a standing operator to work ergonomically. A foldup treadmill (58) is stored in the space under the shelving (46) when not in use and folded down onto the floor in front of the computer enabling simultaneous exercising on the treadmill and ergonomic operation of the computer.

Claims

1. An article of furniture for an office or other workplace, comprising:

two side, bottom, and fixed top panels edge connected to enclose a work-exercise space while leaving one side and part of the top open;

a swingable top panel connected to the fixed top panel for selectively closing off the top open part of the enclosed space;

a door selectively manipulable to close off the open side of the enclosed space;

computer support shelving secured to certain wall panels within the space enclosed by the wall panels at an upward location for accommodating a standing computer operator; and

an exercising treadmill including a continuous belt, which treadmill is dimensioned to be folded up while resting on the floor panel for storage in the space enclosed by the wall panels.

2. An article of furniture as in claim 1, in which the computer support shelving is located upwardly at a predetermined height from the bottom panel enabling ergonomic operation of the computer by an operator while in a standing position and in motion.

3. An article of furniture as in claim 2, in which the support shelving is movable in a first direction toward the open side to a maximum position for combined computer operation and exercising on the treadmill, and movable in a second direction further into the space enclosed by the wall panels for storage of the treadmill.

4. An article of furniture as in claim 1, in which the swingable top panel is connected to the fixed top panel via a hinge such that said swingable top panel can swing from a position enclosing the top of the enclosed space to a further position exposing the top of the enclosed space to provide individual ergonomic operator posture adjustment and access for ambient lighting of the space between the panels.

5. An article of furniture as in claim 4, in which the door is edge connected via a hinge to a jamb adjacent the open side providing swinging movement of the door from a first position covering the panel space open side to a second position free from covering the open side.

6. An article of furniture as in claim 5, in which a locking pin affixed to an edge of said swingable top panel has an outer end portion received within an opening in the door on the swingable top panel being closed on the top opening of the enclosed space and the door being closed to lock the door and swingable top panel together.

7. An article of furniture as in claim 5, in which a locking post affixed to the door is received within an opening in the adjacent doorjamb on closing the door for locking the door and jamb to each other.

8. An article of furniture as in claim 1, in which said article is restingly incorporated within a cubicle workstation constructed of wall panels.

9. An article of furniture as in claim 4, in which a length of chain has first and second ends connected to the swingable top panel and the intervening portion of the chain hangs downwardly under the action of gravity.

10. In a workstation of the cubicle variety generally formed by a plurality of floor-mounted upstanding wall panels, an article of furniture enabling simultaneous ergonomic computer work function operation and treadmill exercising, comprising:

first and second side panels, a bottom panel, and a fixed top panel edge connected to form a unitary structure enclosing a work-exercise space while leaving a top and one side open;

computer support shelving located within the work-exercise space and vertically mounted for enabling a standing and moving computer operator to ergonomically operate a computer, said shelving being movable from a forward maximum enabling ergonomic computer operation to a maximum position inwardly of the work-exercise space providing additional empty storage space toward the open side of the work-exercise space;

a door mounted for lateral swinging movement from a first maximum position closing the work-exercise space open side to a second maximum position leaving the open side accessible for work and exercise;

a swingable top wall panel having an edge connected to a top edge of the second wall panel for movement from a first maximum position closing off the open top of the work-exercise space to a second maximum leaving the open top of the work-exercise space accessible;

a length of flexible material having its opposite ends secured to what is the lower surface of the swingable top wall panel when it closes off the open top of the work-exercise space;

a locking pin secured to said swingable top panel having an end portion slidingly received within an opening in the door when the top panel is closed on the top opening of the work-exercise space and the door is closed on the work-exercise space side opening; and

a locking post secured to the door and extending into an opening in an adjacent doorjamb when the door is closed upon the work-exercise space open side.