Synergistic body positioning and dynamic support system

• US 6,644,748 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Source Machine, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MED-Venture Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Tholkes, Alan L., Dandurand, DuWayne, Hockenberry, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/750,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 248/125.7, 248/286.1, 248/287.1, 248/280.11, 248/281.11, 248/286.11, 108/50.02, 108/95, 108/94, 108/96, 108/103, 297/172, 297/187, 297/423.11, 297/423.12, 297/423.26, 297/174, 297/301.1, 297/135, 297/344.19, 312/223.3
• US Class Current: 297/423.12
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/025 Computer workstation with integrated seat
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0041 Height adjustable table top with parallel link arms
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0072 Computer work stations with integrated seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0095 Computer mouse platform
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/002 with exercising means or having special therapeutic or ergonomic effects
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/005 with forwardly inclined seat, e.g. with a knee-support
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/022 movably mounted on a working-table or the like for hairdressers A47C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/025 Stools for standing or leaning against, e.g. in a semi-standing or half-seated position

Abstract

An operator adjustable workstation is provided, ranging from a seated work level to a standing work level with an infinite number of health posture arrangements and work surface levels in between. Two trigger controlled height and angle adjustment body support actuators and a foot controlled lower leg and lower leg support pivot actuator, provide the operator with independent control to quickly lock into place and/or release each health posture and work surface at any level within the adjustment range. The workstation includes a base structure, a body support area, a work surface area, and lift arm. The work surface area incorporates two substantially planar work surfaces. The body support area incorporates seat, back, lower leg and lower leg support components. The body support and work areas incorporate two separate lift arms. The lift arms have first ends and second ends. The first ends are pivotally secured to the base structure while the second ends are pivotally secured to their respective body support and work area components. These first ends and second ends pivot through a range of motion to raise and lower the work and body support areas from a seated to a standing work level.

Claims

1. An adjustable height work station, wherein the height of said work station is adjustable from a seated work level through a standing work level, comprising:

a base structure;

a work area supported on a bracket and having a substantially planar surface adapted to be adjusted from a seated work level through a standing work level; and

a lift arm and a follower arm, said follower arm parallel to and disposed below said lift arm, said lift arm and said follower arm each having a first end and a second end, each of said first ends pivotally secured to said base structure and said second ends being pivotally secured to the bracket of said work area, said first ends and said second ends being pivotable through a range of motion to raise and lower said work area between a seated work level and a lifted work level while maintaining said planar surface in a substantially horizontal position throughout said range of motion; and

an air cylinder fixedly secured to said base structure at a first end and fixedly secured to said work area, at a second end, wherein said air cylinder is disposed adjacent said lift and follower arms, wherein said air cylinder assists said lift arm in raising said work area from said seated level through said lined work level.

2. The adjustable height work station of claim 1, further comprising a second lift arm and a second follower arm parallel to the first lift and follower arms.

3. The adjustable height work station of claim 1, further comprising a second work area mounted to the work area, wherein said second work area has an adjustable depth position relative to a depth position of said work area.

4. The adjustable height work station of claim 1, further comprising a second work area, wherein said second work area is angularly adjustable in reference to the work area.

5. The adjustable height work station of claim 1, further comprising a handle, wherein said handle is operably coupled to said lift arm.

6. An adjustable height work station, wherein the height of said work station is adjustable between a seated work level and a lifted work level, comprising:

support means for supporting a lifting means;

work means supported on a bracket for providing a planar work surface area adapted to be adjusted from a seated work level through a standing work level; and

lifting means for lifting said work means between a seated work level and a lifted work level and for maintaining said work means in a substantially horizontal orientation when said work means is transitioned from said seated work level and through said standing work level;

a second lift means secured to a bracket on said work means below said lifting means, said second lift means for operating in conjunction with said lifting means for lifting said work means between a seated work level and a lifted work level and for maintaining said work means in a substantially horizontal orientation when said work means transitioned between said seated work level and said lifted work level; and

air lift means for providing pneumatic assistance to said lifting means in lifting said work means between a seated work level and a lifted work level, air lift means secured to said work means and said support means and disposed adjacent said first and second lift means.

7. The adjustable work station of claim 6, further comprising handle means for pressing against to provide manual assistance to said lifting means in lifting said work means from a seated work level through a standing work level.

8. The adjustable work station of claim 6, further comprising second work means for providing a planar work surface in addition to and mounted to said work means.

9. The adjustable work station of claim 8, wherein said second work means is angularly adjustable in reference to said work means.

10. The adjustable work station of claim 8, wherein said second work means for providing a planar work surface has an adjustable depth position relative to a depth of said work means.

11. A work station system, comprising:

an adjustable height work station, wherein the height of said work station is adjustable from a seated work level through a standing work level, wherein said adjustable height work station comprises;

a base structure;

a work area supported on a bracket having a substantially planar surface adapted to be adjusted from a seated work level through a standing work level; and

a lift arm and a follower arm, said follower arm parallel to and disposed below said lift arm, said lift arm and said follower arm each having a first end and a second end, each of said first ends pivotally secured to said base structure and said second ends being pivotally secured to the frame of said work area, said first ends and said second ends are being pivotable through a range of motion to raise and lower said work area between a seated work level and a lifted work level while maintaining said planar surface in a substantially horizontal position throughout said range of motion; and

a body positioning system positioned proximate said adjustable height work station, wherein said body positioning system comprises;

a chair structure adapted to be adjusted from a seated work level through a standing work level;

lower leg support assembly; and

a support structure having a plurality of wheels for repositioning said support structure, wherein said support structure supports said chair structure and said lower leg support assembly in a co-linear orientation, and wherein the supported chair structure, in combination with the supported lower leg support assembly, is adjustable to provided a seated work position through a standing work position corresponding to the seated work level and lifted work level of said adjustable height work station, respectively.

12. A work station system, comprising:

an adjustable height work station, wherein the height of said work station is adjustable between a seated work level and an elevated work level, the elevated work level being elevated with respect to the seated work level, wherein said adjustable height work station comprises;

a work surface member supported on a frame by a suspension assembly that includes two spaced apart parallelogram support links, the work surface member having a substantially planar work surface adapted to be adjusted from a seated work level through a standing work level, and wherein the suspension assembly spaced apart parallelogram support links each have a first end pivotally coupled to a work station frame and each have a second end pivotally coupled to the planar work surface;

wherein the adjustable height work station suspension assembly includes a work surface actuator assembly for selectively shifting a locking actuator assembly between a locked disposition and an unlocked disposition;

a keyboard surface member operably, shiftably coupled to the work surface member;

the suspension assembly being selectively shiftable through a range of motion to raise and lower said planar work surface from a seated work level through a standing work level while maintaining said planar work surface in a substantially horizontal disposition throughout said range of motion; and

a body positioning system positionable proximate said adjustable height work station for cooperative interaction therewith for ergonomically positioning a user relative to the planar work surface, wherein said body positioning system comprises;

a base member;

a chair assembly operably shiftably coupled to the base member adapted to be adjusted from a seated work level through a standing work level;

a lower leg support assembly operably shiftably coupled to the base member;

the base member supporting said chair assembly and said lower leg support assembly in a co-linear disposition, and wherein the supported chair structure, in combination with the supported lower leg support assembly, is adjustable to provide a seated work position through a standing work position corresponding to the seated work level through a lifted work level of said adjustable height work station, respectively.

13. The work station system of claim 12, wherein the adjustable height work station suspension assembly includes a locking actuator assembly, the actuator assembly being operably coupled at a first end to the work station frame and being operably coupled at a second end to the planar work surface, the actuator assembly fixing the planar work surface relative to the work station frame when the actuator assembly is in a locked disposition, the actuator assembly being selected from a list consisting of art air cylinder, a powered hydraulic actuator, and a powered mechanical actuator.

14. The work station system of claim 12, wherein the adjustable height work station suspension assembly includes at least one biasing member, the at least one biasing member exerting an upward directed bias on the planar work surface.

15. The work station system of claim 12, wherein the keyboard surface member is selectively elevatable relative to the work surface member planar work surface such that the keyboard surface member may be disposed at a height relative to the work surface member planar work surface.

16. The work station system of claim 15 wherein the keyboard surface member is operably, shiftably coupled to the work surface member by a keyboard surface suspension, the keyboard surface suspension selectively fixing the disposition of the keyboard surface relative to the work surface member in both height and tilt.

17. The work station system of claim 12, wherein the body positioning system base member includes an elongated connector arm, the connector arm being adjustable to affect the distance that the chair assembly is displaced from the lower leg support assembly.

18. The work station system of claim 12, wherein the body positioning system base member includes at least one supporting surface engaging wheel.

19. The work station system of claim 18, further including four wheels disposed in pairs, a first pair of wheels being disposed proximate the lower leg support assembly and a second pair of wheels being disposed proximate the chair assembly, the first pair of wheels being rotatable plane that is substantially parallel to the co-linear disposition of the chair assembly and lower leg support assembly and the second pair of wheels castoring for being rotatable in at least two planes.

20. The work station system of claim 12 wherein the chair assembly chair seat includes a pair of side supports fixedly coupled to the seat and disposed flanking the seat.

21. The work station system of claim 20 wherein the chair assembly chair seat side supports each include an actuation trigger disposed thereon, a first actuation trigger for enabling a seat inclination adjustment and a second actuation trigger for enabling a height adjustment of the chair assembly.

22. The work station system of claim 20 wherein the chair assembly chair seat includes an arm support operably, shiftably coupled to each of the side supports, the arm support being linearly and rotatably adjustable relative to the respective side support.

23. The work station system of claim 22 wherein each of the arm supports is frictionally, rotatably coupled to the respective side support, the arm support being rotatable relative to the side support upon overcoming a certain frictional force.

24. The work station system of claim 12 wherein the lower leg support assembly includes a link member operably coupled to the base member and supports a lower leg pad, the lower leg support assembly being adjustable in a plane that includes the co-linear disposition.

25. The work station system of claim 24 wherein the link member of the lower leg support assembly includes a lockable gas spring, the gas spring exerting a rotational bias on the link member when the gas spring is in an unlocked disposition the gas spring acting to urge the link member in a rearward disposition proximate to the chair assembly.

26. The work station system of claim 25 wherein the link member of the lower leg support assembly is pivotally coupled to the base member at a first pivot point and the gas spring is pivotally coupled to the base member at a second pivot point, the first and second pivot points being spaced apart.

27. The work station system of claim 25 further including an actuator assembly being operably coupled to the lockable gas spring of the link member, the actuator assembly for selectively locking and unlocking the gas spring.

28. The work station system of claim 27 wherein the gas spring actuator assembly is disposed in the base member.

29. The work station system of claim 27 wherein the gas spring actuator assembly includes a foot pedal, the foot pedal being selectively shiftable between a locked disposition and an unlocked disposition, the foot pedal unlocking the lockable gas spring when in the unlocked disposition.

30. The work station system of claim 29 wherein the foot pedal of the gas spring actuator assembly is biased in the locked disposition.

31. The work station system of claim 12 wherein the lower leg support assembly is adjustable in a plane that is substantially vertical and includes the co-linear disposition.

32. The work station system of claim 12 wherein the lower leg pad of the lower leg support assembly is selectively adjustable in at least one dimension.

33. The work station system of claim 32 wherein the lower leg pad of the lower leg support assembly is selectively linearly adjustable.

34. The work station system of claim 32 wherein the lower leg pad of the lower leg support assembly is selectively rotatably adjustable.

35. The work station system of claim 12 wherein the chair assembly chair back is incrementally adjustable in height relative to the chair seat.

36. The work station system of claim 12 wherein the chair assembly chair seat and chair back are operably coupled, the inclination of the chair seat being adjustable independent of the chair back.

37. The work station system of claim 12 wherein the chair assembly chair seat and chair back are operably coupled, the elevation of the chair seat being adjustable in concert with the elevation of the chair back.

38. The work station system of claim 12, wherein the chair assembly includes a chair having a seat and a back, a height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the chair relative to the base member, and an inclination adjustment assembly for adjusting the inclination of the chair seat relative to the back.

39. The work station system of claim 38 wherein the chair seat and the chair back are operably, shiftably coupled by a multi-bar linkage, the multi-bar linkage effectively decoupling a inclination adjustment of the chair seat from the inclination of the seat back.

40. The work station system of claim 39 wherein the multi-bar linkage linking the chair seat and the chair back is a parallelogram linkage.

41. The work station system of claim 39 wherein the multi-bar linkage linking the chair seat and the chair back includes an auxiliary gas spring, the auxiliary gas spring exerting a bias on the chair seat acting to incline the seat relative to a generally horizontal seat disposition.

42. The work station system of claim 38 wherein the chair assembly includes a pedestal assembly, the pedestal assembly being pivotally, operably coupled to the base member for accommodating swiveling motion of the chair relative to the base member.

43. The work station system of claim 42 wherein the chair assembly height adjustment assembly is operably coupled to the pedestal assembly and to the chair, the height adjustment assembly including an actuator selected from a list consisting of a lockable gas cylinder assembly, a powered hydraulic actuator, and a powered mechanical actuator.

44. The work station system of claim 43 wherein a lockable gas cylinder of the height adjustment assembly is operably coupled to a second actuation trigger for enabling a seat elevation adjustment, actuation of the second actuation trigger acting to unlock the lockable gas cylinder assembly.

45. The work station system of claim 44 wherein the lockable gas cylinder exerts a substantially upward directed bias on the chair when the lockable gas cylinder is in an unlocked disposition.

46. An adjustable height work station, comprising:

a work surface member supported on a frame by a suspension assembly, the work surface member having a substantially planar work surface adapted to be adjusted from a seated work level through a standing work level;

a keyboard surface member operably, shiftably coupled to the work surface member;

the suspension assembly being selectively shiftable through a range of motion to raise and lower said planar work surface from a seated work level through a standing work level while maintaining said planar work surface in a substantially horizontal disposition throughout said range of motion;

wherein the suspension assembly includes two spaced apart parallelogram support links, each having a first end pivotally coupled to a work station frame and each having a second end pivotally coupled to the planar work surface;

where in the suspension assembly includes an actuator assembly selected from a list consisting of a locking compressed gas spring assembly, a powered hydraulic actuator, and a Dowered mechanical actuator, the actuator assembly being operably coupled at a first end to the work station frame and being operably coupled at a second end to the planar work surface, the actuator assembly fixing the planar work surface relative to the work station frame when the actuator assembly is in a locked disposition; and

wherein the height of said work station is adjustable from a seated work level through an elevated work level, the elevated work level being elevated with respect to the seated work level.

47. The adjustable height work station of claim 46 wherein the keyboard surface member is selectively elevatable relative to the work surface member planar work surface such that the keyboard surface member may be disposed at a height relative to the work surface member planar work surface.

48. The adjustable height work station of claim 47 wherein the keyboard surface member is operably, shiftably coupled to the work surface member by a keyboard surface suspension, the keyboard surface suspension selectively fixing the disposition of the keyboard surface relative to the work surface member in both height and tilt.