EP3349616A1

EP3349616A1 - Workstation intended for use in an office environment

Info

Publication number: EP3349616A1
Application number: EP16775506.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alain Rudolf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-09-16
Filing date: 2016-09-16
Publication date: 2018-07-25
Also published as: US20190038016A1; WO2017046375A1; FR3040865B1; FR3040865A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a workstation (20) intended in particular for use in an office environment, comprising a work surface (12) supported by at least one support element (14) comprising a set of feet, the workstation being intended to be placed directly on the ground, the work surface having an angle α to the horizontal plane, characterised in that the angle α is greater than or equal to 2° and less than or equal to 4°.

Description

Workstation intended for use in an office environment

The present invention relates to a workstation comprising a work plane supported by at least one support element.

The workstation is intended to receive documents, such as book, sheet, and tools, such as telephone, computer, allowing the user to perform his work, including office work where the user is seated.

Many studies demonstrate a link between desktop layout and user comfort, comfort, safety and efficiency. The layout of the workstation is even more important that the user spends a lot of time at his workstation.

As a result, the prolonged use of the workstation can become unpleasant for the user to cause pain that may require the rest of the user penalizing the latter to perform his work.

There is therefore a continuing need to improve the comfort and well-being of users, in particular there is a need to improve the ergonomics of the workstations.

There is therefore a need for a workstation that offers improved user comfort compared to existing workstations.

The present invention aims to provide a new workstation that meets this need. For this purpose, the present invention relates to a workstation in particular intended to be used in an office environment comprising a work plan supported by at least one support element comprising a set of feet, the station being intended to be placed directly on the floor, the work surface having an angle α with a horizontal plane, characterized in that the angle a is greater than or equal to 2 ° and less than or equal to 4 °. By "horizontal plane" means here a plane substantially parallel to the ground on which the user is positioned.

Advantageously, the inclination of the work plane with an angle greater than or equal to 2 ° and less than or equal to 4 ° provides a better comfort of use of the workstation. The workstation according to the invention may also include one or more of the following features, considered individually or in any technically possible combination:

the angle a is greater than or equal to 2.5 °; and or

the angle a is less than or equal to 3.5 °; and or

the work plane comprises a longitudinal direction and the work plane is supported by the at least one support element so that the line defined by the intersection of the work plane and the horizontal plane is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the plane of work; job ; and or

- The worktop is arranged so that its side intended to receive the user is lower than the opposite side of the worktop; and or

- The workstation includes tilting means for adjusting the angle a between 2 ° and 4 °; and or

- the worktop has a depth greater than or equal to 70 cm and less than or equal to 85 cm; and or

- The support is a frame on which the worktop is mounted cantilever; and or

the support comprises a set of feet; and or

- the feet are adjustable in height from a sitting position to a standing position; and or

- the workstation has a single, uniformly inclined work surface.

The invention will be better understood in the light of the following description which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit said invention, accompanied by the figures below:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a workstation according to the prior art,

• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a workstation according to the invention. In the various figures, the analogous elements are designated by identical references. In addition, the various elements are not necessarily represented on the scale in order to present a view making it easier to understand the invention.

Figure 1 shows a workstation 10 according to the prior art. It comprises a single work plane 12 supported by a support element 14. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a user 30 uses the work station while seated on a chair 40.

The working plane 12 is usually arranged with a zero inclination angle with respect to a horizontal plane whose direction axis is substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by the ground on which the work plane 12 rests. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the horizontal configuration of the work plane 12 causes a position leaning forward of the user. In this position, the user's spine is bent forward causing tension in the spine, particularly in the cervical spine. Holding this position leaning forward for long periods, typically several hours, can eventually lead to cervical lesions.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a workstation 20 according to the invention.

The workstation 20 according to the invention comprises a single work plane 12 supported by a support element 14. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the working plane 12 is uniformly inclined and has an angle α with a horizontal plane, angle a being greater than or equal to 2 ° and less than or equal to 4 °.

The inventors have found that the inclination of the working plane 12 by an angle of between 2 ° and 4 ° significantly increases the comfort of the user.

This improvement in comfort is even more visible when the inclination of the work surface is greater than or equal to 2.5 ° and less than or equal to 3.5 °.

Indeed, as shown in Figure 2, the inclination of the work plane 12 according to the invention promotes the recovery of the user's spine, thus avoiding cervical lesions resulting from a prolonged leaning posture. In addition, the inclination of the work plane 12 according to the invention allows better support for the forearms of the user. This better support reduces the risk of pain in the wrists of the user especially the risk associated with the so-called carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition, the inclination of the work surface 12 according to the invention allows the user to have the elbows lower allowing relaxation of the shoulders.

The inventors were able to confirm the selection of inclination angle values of the invention by performing a test with a population of 400 users representative in terms of morphology. Each user has performed routine work tasks, such as writing, reading and typing on a computer, on a workstation according to the prior art and a workstation with a work surface inclined at an angle with a horizontal plane.

The results of this test show that 100% of the users feel an improvement of the comfort of use when they realize the common tasks of work on a workstation whose work plan is inclined of an angle has greater than or equal to 2 ° and less than or equal to 4 °.

The ergonomic study, carried out on the panel of users, has demonstrated that the use of a worktop according to the present invention causes a natural recovery of the upper part of the body, thus generating a better balanced posture and reducing in fact tensions on muscles, ligaments and joint surfaces.

This study also revealed that beyond 4 ° inclination, the device gradually loses its interest. We obtain 100% positive results at an inclination of 3 ° and then we observe a gradual decrease in user satisfaction from 4 °. The inventors have found that an angle of inclination of less than 2 ° does not significantly increase the comfort of the user.

Similarly, when the angle of inclination is greater than 4 ° discomfort occurs, which is due in particular to the sliding of elements on the work plane. As shown in FIG. 2, the worktop 12 is arranged so that its side 12a intended to receive the user is lower than the opposite side 12b of the worktop 12.

According to one embodiment, the work plane of a workstation 12 according to the invention has a rectangular shape with a longitudinal direction. The work plane is supported by the support element so that the line defined by the intersection of the work plane and the horizontal plane is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the work plane.

The workstation according to the invention has a single uniformly inclined work plane. Traditional sloping workstations have disadvantages beyond a certain inclination, such as a sliding of the cylindrical objects placed on their surface. To overcome these disadvantages so-called ergonomic workstations sometimes have a plurality of worktop more or less inclined. The workstation according to the invention makes it possible to obtain the advantages of the inclined plane while maintaining a single work plan. This is only possible by the particular angle of inclination that was determined by the inventor after ergonomic studies conducted on a panel of several hundred users.

Although not shown in Figure 2, the workstation according to the invention may also include tilting means for adjusting the angle of inclination a between 2 ° and 4 °. Advantageously, the tilting means allow each user to adjust the angle of inclination thus increasing the comfort of the user.

The tilting means can be manual, for example by means of a screw, or be motorized, for example by using an electric motor driving a screw.

Typically, the work plan of a workstation according to the invention has a depth greater than or equal to 70 cm, for example greater than or equal to 75 cm, and less than or equal to 85 cm.

As shown in Figure 2, the support 14 of a workstation 20 according to the invention may comprise a set of feet, for example 2 or 4 feet, the station being intended to be placed directly on the ground. According to a variant of the invention, the support 14 is a frame on which the worktop is mounted cantilever.

Recent studies tend to prove that the standing position is suitable for office work, this position decreases especially back and neck pain due to prolonged sitting. Office-type offices allow the user to perform office work while standing.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support of the workstation comprises a set of feet that can be adjusted in height from a sitting position to a standing position. The seated position corresponds to the height of use of the workstation for a user sitting on an office chair, for example a height greater than or equal to 65 cm and less than or equal to 85 cm. The standing position corresponds to the height of use of the workstation for a user standing, for example a height greater than or equal to 100cm and less than or equal to 140cm. These height-adjustable legs allow the user of the workstation to move from a sitting position to a standing position while retaining the benefits of the particular angle of inclination of the worktop.

The invention has been described above with the aid of embodiments shown in figures, without limitation of the general inventive concept.

Many other modifications and variations are suggested to those skilled in the art, after reflection on the various embodiments illustrated in this application. These embodiments are given by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is determined exclusively by the claims below.

In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that different features are enumerated in mutually dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features can be advantageously used. Finally, any reference used in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

A workstation (20) especially intended for use in an office environment, comprising a work surface (12) supported by at least one support element (14) comprising a set of feet, the station being intended to be installed directly on the ground, the working plane having an angle α with a horizontal plane, characterized in that the angle a is greater than or equal to 2 ° and less than or equal to 4 °.

2. Workstation according to the preceding claim, wherein the angle is greater than or equal to 2.5 °.

3. Workstation according to the preceding claim, wherein the angle is less than or equal to 3.5 °.

4. Workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the work plane comprises a longitudinal direction and the work plane is supported by the at least one support element so that the line defined by the intersection of the plane working and the horizontal plane is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the work plan.

5. Workstation according to the preceding claim, wherein the work plane is arranged so that its side (12a) for receiving the user is lower than the opposite side (12b) of the work plane.

6. Workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising tilting means for adjusting the angle a between 2 ° and 4 °.

7. Workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the work plane has a depth greater than or equal to 70 cm and less than or equal to 85 cm.

8. Workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support is a frame on which the worktop is mounted cantilever.

9. Workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feet are adjustable in height from a sitting position to a standing position.

10. Workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a single work plane uniformly inclined at an angle.