Apparatus for determining an optimal ergonomic setup

• US 7,165,715 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lore, Vito, Elgie, Richard James, Pitcher, David, Brophy, Timothy James, Carr, Adam Ackley
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, THIEN T
• Application Number:
  US11/122,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/472.02, 235/375, 345/156, 345/168
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1072 measuring distances on the body, e.g. measuring length, height or thickness A61B5/1076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

A coding scheme is provided that relates to a dimension of a user. The dimension may be a hand size. Depending on the dimension, a code in the coding scheme may be determined. The code indicates an optimal ergonomic setup for a user. A user may thus use the determined code to adjust the product to a position corresponding to the code. At this position, the product may be in an optimal ergonomic setup for the user. Alternatively, the user may select a product according to the determined code.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a product; and

a coding scheme associated with the product, wherein the coding scheme comprises codes corresponding to dimensions of different users and optimal ergonomic setups for the different users, and

wherein when a user uses the apparatus, the user selects a code in the coding scheme after comparing a body part dimension to the codes, and the user adjusts the product to an optimal ergonomic setup after the user selects the code.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coding scheme comprises a plurality of different colors, each color indicating a different ergonomic position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product is adjustable to a position corresponding to a code in the coding scheme, wherein the position is the optimal ergonomic setup for the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the different users relate to the sizes of the different users'"'"' hands.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product is one selected from the group consisting of an adjustable chair, an adjustable mouse, an adjustable keyboard holder, an adjustable monitor stand, an adjustable footrest, and an adjustable mousepad.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product is an adjustable mouse comprising an adjustable housing mechanism, wherein the adjustable housing mechanism includes different colors.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coding scheme comprises a plurality of different colors comprising one or more of red, yellow, green, and blue, and wherein each color indicates a different ergonomic position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coding scheme is at an adjustable region of the product.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product comprises a body and includes separate parts that are each capable of being separately coupled to a body, wherein each part or the body has at least one code in the coding scheme.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the product is a keyboard holder.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the product has a plurality of detachable parts and is adjusted by using the detachable parts.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the product has two connected movable members, and is adjustable using the movable members.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the product is an adjustable monitor stand.

11. A system comprising:

an apparatus comprising (i) a product, and (ii) a coding scheme associated with the product, wherein the coding scheme includes codes corresponding to different dimensions of different users and optimal ergonomic setups, and wherein when a user uses the apparatus, the user selects a code in the coding scheme after comparing a body part dimension to the codes, and the user adjusts the product to an optimal ergonomic setup after the user selects the code; and

a reference guide comprising the coding scheme.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the product comprises a keyboard tray, mouse pad, monitor stand, or a document holder.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reference guide is in the form of a card.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a validation element adapted to verify an ergonomic position of the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the validation element is in the form of a card.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the codes in the coding scheme comprise a plurality of colors, wherein the colors indicate optimal ergonomic positions for different users.

17. A system comprising:

an apparatus comprising (i) a product, and (ii) an adjustment guide comprising a plurality of different codes, wherein the codes in the plurality of different codes correspond to different dimensions of different users and optimal ergonomic setups for the users, and wherein when a user uses the apparatus, the user selects a code in the coding scheme after comparing a body part dimension to the codes, and the user adjusts the product to an optimal ergonomic setup after the user selects the code; and

a reference guide comprising the plurality of different codes, wherein the reference guide further comprises images of differently sized hands.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a validation element for verifying an optimal ergonomic setup, and wherein the validation element and the reference guide are in the form of cards.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the codes are color codes.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the product is a mouse, a keyboard, or a chair.