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Ergonomic work stationRelated Patent Categories: Supports: Racks, Knockdown, Vertically AdjustableErgonomic work station description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060144808, Ergonomic work station. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an ergonomic work station having a number of working positions. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,566 (Case 1997) discloses an ergonomic work station that will permit a disabled person to work in a convenient and comfortable fashion from a bed, a wheelchair, any chair or while standing. The Case reference is described as having a platform, a vertical shaft, a first arm extending from the vertical shaft that is adapted to support a keyboard, and a second arm extending from the vertical shaft that is adapted to support a computer screen. The first arm and the second arm are adjusted independently of each other in such a fashion to permit a user to utilize the computer keyboard and the computer screen in a comfortable manner from a variety of positions. [0003] While the Case reference was developed with a particular focus upon disabled persons, it is generally harmful for a person who is not disabled to maintain a static position for an extended period of time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] What is required is an ergonomic work station that enables a person who is not disabled to alter the position of his or her upper limbs and lower limbs during the course of the working day in order to relax their postural musculature; so as to avoid physical discomfort and chronic injuries that result from maintaining a static position. [0005] According to the present invention there is provided an ergonomic work station which includes a base with a standing surface adapted to support a person in a standing position. A first support member extends upwardly from the base. An anatomical support is mounted to the first support member. A second support member extends outwardly from the first support member. The second support member has an attachment end and a remote end. A third support member extends upwardly from the remote end of the second support. At least one office equipment support is mounted to the third support member. The office equipment support is height adjustable, thereby enabling a person to work from either a first position resting upon the anatomical support or a second working position standing upon the standing surface of the base. [0006] The ergonomic work station, as described above, enables a person to spend his or her working day alternating between working in the first position and in the second position. Being able to change working positions is a valuable first step toward avoiding a static working position that leads to chronic injuries. There are further enhancements which may be added to the basic structure of the work station to obtain further ergonomic benefits, as will hereinafter be further described. [0007] Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the ergonomic work station, as described above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when the standing surface slopes outwardly and downwardly from a central position on the base. When a person stands on a sloped surface a number of benefits are derived. The weight of the body is redistributed in an oblique fashion, which places the muscles of the legs into an active state. This subtly works the muscle groups and results in improved blood flow in the legs and feet. [0008] Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the ergonomic work station, as described above, even more beneficial effects may be obtained when the attachment end of the second support member pivots about an axis co-axial with the first support member, such that the third support member orbits the first support member. The third support member may be swung to enable the user to change his or her relation to the slope of the standing surface while working. The user may have both feet pointing down slope, a left foot at a top of the slope and a right foot at a bottom of the slope or the right foot at the top of the slope and the left foot at the bottom of the slope. In order to leave maximum room for the orbiting of the third support member, it is preferred that the first support member be positioned at a central position on the base. It is also preferred that the first support member be inserted into a receptacle in the base with the first support member rotating within the receptacle to follow the orbiting movement of the third support member. [0009] One way to facilitate the orbiting of the third support member is to provide an annular collar that is co-axial with the first support member and extends upwardly from the base on the outside of the first support member. The attachment end of the second support member can then take the form of a first sleeve which overlies and rotates about the collar. Another way to facilitate the orbiting of the third support member is to have the attachment end of the second support member fixedly attached to the first support member. This will result in all weight being transferred via the first support member to the receptacle in the base, with all vertical loads being transferred through the base to the floor. [0010] The anatomical support can take a number of forms. Beneficial results have been obtained through the use of a simple seat. [0011] The office equipment support can take a number of forms depending upon the nature of the office equipment that is to be supported. Beneficial results have been obtained when each office equipment support consists of a cantilever mounting arm extending radially outwardly from the third support member, with the arm carrying a mounting fixture. Each cantilever mounting arm is made height adjustable by an adjustable mounting which includes a second sleeve with an internally extending flange in combination with a deformable locking ring. The locking ring is disposed between the sleeve and the third support member. The locking ring is manually slidable along the third support member when the forces acting upon the locking ring are equally distributed. The locking ring becomes deformed between the second sleeve, the third support member and the internally extending flange when subjected to an unequal force resulting from a cantilevered mounting of the arm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein: [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ergonomic work station constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ergonomic work station illustrated in FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, in section, of a base of the ergonomic work station illustrated in FIG. 1. [0016] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, in section, of a height adjustable mounting on a third support member of the ergonomic work station illustrated in FIG. 1. [0017] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, in section, of a base of an alternative embodiment of the ergonomic work station. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0018] The preferred embodiment, an ergonomic work station generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4. [0019] Structure and Relationship of Parts: Continue reading about Ergonomic work station... Full patent description for Ergonomic work station Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ergonomic work station patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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