Method for determining an optimal ergonomic setup

• US 7,188,772 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• 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): Lee; Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Tae W.
• Application Number:
  US11/122,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• 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. A method comprising:

obtaining an apparatus comprising a product including a plurality of codes associated with the product, wherein the plurality of codes comprises codes corresponding to dimensions of different users and optimal ergonomic setups for the different users, wherein the plurality of codes is on a two or three-dimensional guide; and

adjusting the product according to one of the codes in the plurality of codes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of codes comprises a plurality of different colors, each color indicating a different ergonomic position.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the guide comprising the plurality of codes to determine a person'"'"'s code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is one selected from the group consisting of an adjustable chair, an adjustable mouse, an adjustable keyboard platform, an adjustable monitor stand, an adjustable footrest, an adjustable computer case, an adjustable copyholder, an adjustable monitor arm, and an adjustable mousepad.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the product comprises moving a portion of the product.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of codes comprises a plurality of different colors comprising red, yellow, green, and blue, and wherein each color indicates a different ergonomic position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of codes is also at an adjustable region of the product.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is a keyboard platform.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of codes is printed on the guide.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining and adjusting are manually performed by a user.

4. A method comprising:

obtaining an apparatus comprising a product including a plurality of codes associated with the product, wherein the plurality of codes comprises codes corresponding to dimensions of different users and optimal ergonomic setups for the different users; and

adjusting the product according to one of the codes in the plurality of codes, and wherein the method further comprises using the guide comprising the plurality of codes to determine a person'"'"'s code, wherein the guide is a card and comprises handprints with different sizes.

9. A method comprising:

obtaining an apparatus comprising a product including a plurality of codes associated with the product, wherein the plurality of codes comprises codes corresponding to dimensions of different users and optimal ergonomic setups for the different users; and

adjusting the product according to one of the codes in the plurality of codes, wherein the product comprises a body and at least one adjustment element that is physically separable from the body, and wherein adjusting the product comprises placing the at least one adjustment element on the body.

11. A method comprising:

determining a code in a plurality of codes, wherein the plurality of codes comprise codes corresponding to dimensions of different users and optimal ergonomic setups for the different users, wherein the plurality of codes is on a two or three-dimensional guide; and

selecting or adjusting a product using the determined code.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of codes comprises color codes.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the method comprises selecting the product, wherein the product has the determined code.

13. A method comprising:

determining a code in a plurality of codes, wherein the plurality of codes comprise codes corresponding to dimensions of different users and optimal ergonomic setups for the different users; and

selecting or adjusting a product using the determined code, wherein the plurality of codes is associated with a plurality of handprints.

15. A method comprising:

obtaining a validation element, wherein the validation element is one in a plurality of validation elements, and wherein the validation elements in the plurality of validation elements have dimensions or characteristics corresponding to dimensions of different users and optimal ergonomic setups for the different users; and

adjusting or positioning the product using the validation element, wherein the plurality of validation elements comprise cards of different sizes.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the product is an adjustable product.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the validation elements have different colors.

18. The method of claim 15 the validation element is selected using a reference guide.