Ergonomically designed computer workstation adjustable to various sitting and standing positions

• US 5,174,223 A
• Filed: 09/30/1991
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mavico, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Marta K. Nagy, Victor G. Foris
• Inventors: Foris, Victor G., Nagy, Marta K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US07/768,458
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 108/144, 108/6, 108/50, 108/146, 312/114, 312/208, 312/206, 312/312, 312/247, 312/235.6, 312/298, 312/194, 312/196, 248/917, 248/918, 248/920, 248/922, 248/923
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0321 Keyboard supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0335 mounted under the worksurface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0371 Platforms for supporting wrists
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0097 Foot rest being part of desk
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems

Abstract

An ergonomically designed computer workstation includes a computer stand, stool, footrest assembly, and keyboard and forearm support assembly being adjustable so that the workstation can accommodate users in various sitting and standing positions. The stand has a base member, an upright member supported by the base member for vertical movement, and a planar platform mounted by the upright member in a horizontal plane to provide a support surface for a variety of computer equipment. The stool includes a stationary base and a seat with a back for supporting a user thereon. The stool can be adjusted to vertically move the seat away from or toward the base to position the seat at a desired elevation. The footrest assembly is mounted to the base member of the stand and can be adjusted to and positioned at a desired elevation corresponding to the desired elevation selected for the stand platform and stool in order to permit the user to assume an ergonomically proper position at the stand and on the stool. The keyboard and forearm support assembly is mounted within a cutout region of the stand platform and adjustable in selected angular and height positions for supporting a computer keyboard and a user'"'"'s forearms and wrists at a selected one of a range of angles of inclination and selected height relative to a horizontal plane. A soft elbow support pad is mounted along an edge of the support assembly.

Claims

1. An ergonomically designed computer stand, comprising:

a base member for location in a stationary position on a supportive surface;

a movable vertical support member mounted on said base member adapted for movement in a generally vertical direction;

a platform supported by said movable vertical support member in a generally horizontal plane for supporting a computer thereon and adapted to move in a vertical direction together with said movable vertical support member;

a keyboard and computer user'"'"'s forearm support assembly pivotably mounted to said platform for supporting a computer keyboard and the forearms of the computer user, said assembly being pivotably adjustable over a range of angles of inclination relative to the platform;

said support assembly comprising separate means to support a computer keyboard and means to support the entirety of a user'"'"'s forearms, said means to support said keyboard comprising a first planar surface and said means to support said forearms comprising a second planar surface, said first and second planar surface each having a bottom and a top surface, said first and second planar surfaces connected by wall means so that said planar surfaces are offset with respect to one another such that said first planar surface is displaced in a different plane than said top surface of said top surface of said second planar surface to an extent such that said keyboard may be supported by said first planar surface in a manner such that planes formed by the keys of said keyboard and said top of said second planar surface are coplanar,

an elongated elbow stop positioned laterally along and extending upwardly from a portion of said second planar surface remote from said first planar surface; and

means interconnecting said movable vertical support member and said base member and being selectively operable for moving said movable member vertically relative to said base member to position said platform at a desired elevation above the surface supporting said base member.

2. The stand of claim 1 wherein said base member includes:

a base portion for location in a generally horizontal stationary position on the supportive surface; and

an upright channel rigidly mounted on said base portion and extending vertically in a generally orthogonal relation thereto.

3. The stand of claim 2 wherein said movable member includes:

an upright post slidably mounted vertically along said upright channel of said base member for movement in a generally vertical direction toward and away from said base portion of said base member.

4. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a footrest assembly which includes a footrest member and means to vertically move said footrest member in relation to said base member.

5. The stand of claim 4 wherein said means to vertically move said footrest member includes a ratchet mechanism interconnecting said footrest member and said base member.

6. The stand of claim 5 wherein said ratchet mechanism includes an upright guide track mounted to said base member and defining a plurality of generally vertically spaced latch portions.

7. The stand of claim 6 wherein said ratchet mechanism also includes a runner supporting said footrest member and slidably mounted to said guide track for generally vertical movement therealong.