WO2005053460A1

WO2005053460A1 - Work station

Info

Publication number: WO2005053460A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/004997
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan Mark Andrews
Original assignee: Alan Mark Andrews
Priority date: 2003-12-01
Filing date: 2004-11-26
Publication date: 2005-06-16
Also published as: GB0327887D0

Abstract

A workstation (1) including a seat assembly (2) and a table assembly (6), wherein the seat assembly (2) is arranged to tilt rearwardly from a first seat position to a second seat position, and/or a portion of the table assembly (6) is arranged to tilt between a first table position and a second table position.

Description

Work Station

The present invention relates to a workstation having a combined seating and table arrangement. The present invention further extends to a tiltable chair arrangement and a separate tiltable table arrangement.

It is known that people accomplish certain tasks more easily if they are in a comfortable working position. Through the increased use of computers and computer related products, such as keyboards, many people are spending more and more time seated working at keyboards and using VDU's. This is putting increased strain on the operator (the operators back in particular) especially if they are not seated and having good posture. Poor seating and use of key board has been linked to ^Repetitive Strain' related injuries and, with the increase of call centre type environments, good seating and posture when using a keyboard is becoming more of a concern.

Chairs have been devised that can be adjusted to each individual user, by permitting the back support portion of the chair to be moved relative to the seat portion of the chair. Whilst this is adequate to obtain a comfortable seating arrangement, it makes the use of a keyboard more difficult.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to alleviate at least some of the disadvantages identified above.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a combined desk and chair which is ergonomically arranged and comfortable to use.

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workstation including a seat assembly and a table assembly, wherein the seat assembly is arranged to tilt rearwardly from a first seat position to a second seat position, and/or a portion of the table assembly is arranged to tilt between a first table position and a second table position.

It is particularly preferred that both the seat assembly and the table assembly are arranged to tilt.

Preferably, the seat assembly tilts through an angle of about 10 to 90° from the horizontal when moving between the first seat position and the second seat position. Further preferably, the seat assembly tilts through an angle of about 30 to 60° from the horizontal when moving from the first seat position to the second seat position.

It is preferred that the seat assembly and the table assembly are both arranged to tilt through a preset angle. Typically, the seat assembly and the table assembly tilt through the same preset angle. Although, it is envisaged that they may be arranged to tilt substantially independently of each other and/or through different angles from the horizontal.

It is particularly preferred that there are a plurality of seat positions intermediate the first seat position and the second seat position, each intermediate seat position being arranged at a differing angle from the first seat position which is substantially horizontal. Therefore, it is particularly preferred that the seat assembly includes a seat locking device arranged to lock the seat assembly in the first seat position, the second seat position or a desired seat position intermediate the first seat position and the second seat position.

It is particularly preferred that there are a plurality of table positions intermediate the first table position and the second table position, each intermediate table position being arranged at a different angle from the first table position which is substantially horizontal. Therefore, it is particularly preferred that the table assembly includes a table locking device arranged to lock the table assembly in the first table position, the second table position or a desired table position intermediate the first table position and the second table position.

The seat assembly and the table assembly may be arranged to tilt substantially together (that is, at the same time) , alternatively (and preferably) they are arranged to tilt independently of each other.

The seat assembly typically includes a chair having a seat portion and a backrest portion. The backrest portion may also include a headrest portion for further comfort of the user. The seat assembly may also include armrests (preferably two) . The arm rests may be foldable between a stowed position and a use position.

The chair assembly typically further includes a base member. The base member being arranged to support the chair. The base member typically includes rotation means which permits the chair to rotate in an axis perpendicular to the seat portion. This is advantageous in permitting the user to get on and off the chair.

The table assembly typically includes a working surface supported by a table support frame. The portion of the table assembly that is arranged to tilt from the first table position to the second table position is the working surface. The working surface is typically arranged to receive a keyboard, monitor, or the like. The keyboard is typically attached to the working surface such that it substantially does not slide or move when the working surface is tilted. It is also envisaged that the working surface may include two or more portions, each portion being arranged to tilt independently of each other.

It is particularly preferred that the table assembly further includes at least one substantially stationary platform. The substantially stationary platform is typically adjacent the working surface. The stationary surface is typically fixed or locked in a substantially horizontal position. Therefore, the stationary surface is particularly advantageous as a surface for resting items, such as drinking vessels, pens and other stationary, paper or the like, that would slip or fall from the table assembly if they were positioned on the portion that tilts.

The table support frame typically includes four leg members. The leg members are arranged typically around the periphery of the stationary platform.

The workstation includes a footrest. The footrest is arranged to further increase the comfort of the user of the workstation.

The seat assembly and/or the table assembly may be arranged to tilt using known mechanical mechanisms, such as those known to a person skilled in the art, including use of a housing spring, gas strut mechanism or the like. The mechanical means may include a memory device (which could be electronically controlled) arranged to remember a preferred tilt of different users .

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat assembly which is arranged to tilt rearwardly from a first seat position to a second seat position. The seat assembly is substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a table assembly which is arranged to tilt between a first table position and a second table position.

The table assembly is substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the first aspect of the present invention.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 represents a plan view of the workstation according to the present invention in a first position;

FIGURE 2 represents a perspective view of the workstation according to the present invention in a first position;

FIGURE 3 represents a side elevation view of the workstation according to the present invention in a first position;

FIGURE 4 represents a rear view of the workstation according to the present invention in a first position;

FIGURE 5 represents a plan view of the workstation according to the present invention in a second position;

FIGURE 6 represents a perspective view of the workstation according to the present invention in a second position;

FIGURE 7 represents a side elevation view of the workstation according to the present invention in a second position; and FIGURE 8 represents a rear view of the workstation according to the present invention in a second position;

Referring to the drawings where like numerals have been used to represent like parts in the Figures, there is provided a workstation generally indicated by the numeral 1. The workstation 1 comprises a seat assembly 2 and a table assembly 6.

The seat assembly having a seating element 3 and a backrest 4, the seating element 3 being positioned on base 5. Base 5 is connected to table assembly 6 via connecting portion.

The table assembly comprises a tiltable portion 8 and two substantially stationary platforms 9a and 9b. Tiltable portion 8 is arranged to receive (and securely attach) a monitor 10 and keyboard 11. Monitor 10 and keyboard 11 are standard monitors available in the market.

In use, a person using the workstation 1 would be seated in chair assembly 2 and, if desired, could use the workstation in a conventional manner (that is, the seat assembly being in the first seat position and the table assembly being in the first table position. However, to achieve a more comfortable working position, the user could tilt the chair assembly rearwardly through about 45 degrees and/or the table assembly through about 45 degrees, to achieve the working position shown in figures 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Claims

1. A workstation including a seat assembly and a table assembly, wherein the seat assembly is arranged to tilt rearwardly from a first seat position to a second seat position, and/or a portion of the table assembly is arranged to tilt between a first table position and a second table position.

2. A workstation according to claim 1, wherein the seat assembly and the table assembly are arranged to tilt.

3. A workstation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seat assembly tilts through an angle of about 10 to 90° from the horizontal when moving between the first seat position and the second seat position.

4. A workstation according to claim 3, wherein the seat assembly tilts through an angle of about 30 to 60° from the horizontal when moving from the first seat position to the second seat position.

5. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat assembly and the table assembly are both arranged to tilt through a present angle.

6. A workstation according to claim 5, wherein the seat assembly and the table assembly tilt through the same preset angle.

A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein there are a plurality of seat positions intermediate the first seat position and the second seat position, each intermediate seat position being arranged at a differing angle from the first seat position which is substantially horizontal .

8. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat assembly includes a seat locking device arranged to lock the seat assembly in the first seat position, the second seat position or a desired seat position intermediate the first seat position and the second seat position.

9. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein it is particularly preferred that there are a plurality of table positions intermediate the first table position and the second table position, each intermediate table position being arranged at a different angle from the first table position which is substantially horizontal.

10. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the table assembly includes a table locking device arranged to lock the table assembly in the first table position, the second table position or a desired table position intermediate the first table position and the second table position.

11. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat assembly typically includes a chair having a seat portion and a backrest portion.

12. A workstation according to claim 11, where the backrest portion includes a headrest portion and/or an armrest.

13. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the chair assembly includes a base member arranged to support the chair, the base member including rotation means which permits the chair to rotate in an axis perpendicular to the seat portion.

14. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the table assembly includes a working surface supported by a table support frame, the working surface being arranged to tilt from the first table position to the second table position.

15. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the working surface is typically arranged to receive a keyboard, monitor, or the like.

16. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the working surface includes two or more portions, each portion being arranged to tilt independently of each other .

17. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the table assembly includes at least one substantially stationary platform.

18. A workstation according to claim 17, wherein the stationary surface is fixed on locked in a substantially horizontal position.

19. A workstation according to any preceding claim, which includes a footrest.

20. A workstation according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat assembly and/or the table assembly are arranged to tilt using mechanical mechanism

21. A workstation according to claim 20, wherein the mechanical means include a memory device (which could be electronically controlled) arranged to remember a preferred tilt of different users.

22. A seat assembly which is arranged to tilt rearwardly between a first seat position and a second seat position.

23. A table assembly which is arranged to tilt between a first table position and a second table position.