GB2541450A

GB2541450A - A desk for standing or sitting

Info

Publication number: GB2541450A
Application number: GB1514866.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elkington Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-08-20
Filing date: 2015-08-20
Publication date: 2017-02-22
Also published as: GB201514866D0

Abstract

A height adjustable desk and chair combination arranged that both desktop and chair lower to a normal seated position under the weight of the user and rise together to a convenient standing height once the users weight is removed. The desk and chair combination will preferably supported by a single vertical column which allows both desk and chair to move vertically and rotationally about said column for ease of access. The desk and chair combination will preferably be supported vertically by mechanical springs, gas springs, or a combination of mechanical and gas springs to allow the desktop and chair to descend/ascend in a controlled manner. The desk/chair combination will also preferably be guided by internal/external pegs that allow the desk and or chair to be rotated away from the previous to allow ease of access.

Description

A DESK FOR STANDING OR SITTING

Background:

Temporary use of office desks, or 'hot-desking', is becoming ever more common in the UK. This, in large measure, is due to the rise of the service industries where jobs are much less location specific. It is further compounded by the ever increasing cost of office space. Employees are consequently working more from home, or at client premises. Some offices are now being built to accommodate only a part of a company's workforce meaning work places need to be much more flexible and less user specific.

The traditional office desk does not encourage collaborative working. It is not easy for two people to assume equal access at a traditional desk, nor to access all items on the desk. A standing position at a raised desk, however, provides much better, and more equal access to areas and items on the desk. In this way it promotes a more creative and collaborative approach to work tasks.

Health and Safety guidance encourages employees to vary their working position during the working day. Some desk tasks are also more easily performed in a standing position whilst others are more conducive to sitting. This is difficult for those employees allocated to a single desk. An alternative standing work position can provide this variety but if readjustment or relocation takes any significant effort will rarely be selected.

The above observations suggest a more flexible desk that can rapidly and ergonomically change between a standing desk and a sitting desk could be very beneficial in a large number of office environments.

Office cleaning is carried out mostly after office hours so as to minimise any disruption. Normal desks and chairs provide a complex and varied assortment of obstacles to the cleaning process. A raised desk and chair, both supported by a single column would significantly reduce the number of obstacles and increases the access to floor areas for better and more economic cleaning.

Statement of Invention:

The invention is for a combined desk and chair arranged so that both desktop and chair lower to a normal seated position under the weight of the user and which rise together to a convenient standing height when the user's weight is removed.

The invention promotes a healthy working style and encourages collaboration between colleagues by ensuring the choice of standing, or sitting at the desk can be made at each approach to the desk.

The invention also makes efficient use of office space and provides enhanced access for office cleaning.

Advantages:

Commercial standing & sitting desks are available. Most are power operated with separate chairs which, whilst providing easy height adjustment does not ensure regular use of both options. They are also expensive items of furniture, aimed at the high value, specialist market. This invention, on the other hand is aimed at a mass market. It provides a flexible desk option for any busy office environment. Requiring less than 1.5sq m plan area for both desk & chair it represents an efficient use of valuable office space whilst at the same time providing a stylish, ergonomically designed solution for temporary or permanent desk users.

By assuming a raised position when unattended this invention presents the user with an option of standing or sitting at each approach to the desk. By sitting on the chair the invention quickly and effortlessly converts to a normal desk position. Using this invention in place of the standard desk therefore provides all employees with the option of working in a seated position or in a standing position without the need to rearrange stationary and equipment, and without requiring relocation to another desk.

This ability to stand or sit at the same desk with no additional effort or adjustment encourages a range of healthy and varied working postures. By offering good access for anyone standing at the raised desk this flexibility also promotes collaboration between colleagues thereby encouraging creativity.

The invention is based on ergonomic principles in both the standing and sitting positions. Sitting on the chair brings the desk quickly and smoothly towards the user. When vacating the seat the desk rotates clear of the user for easier egress and reduced potential for strain injury.

When not in use the desk and chair assume a high level, ordered appearance ensuring a self-tidying office environment. This feature also greatly improves access for cleaning the floor area around and below the desk and reduces degradation of floor areas due to the absence of chair wheels. This benefit can reduce office maintenance costs.

Description of Drawings:

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which;

Figure 1 is a general view according to the invention in the standing position. Figure 2 is a plan view according to the invention in the standing position.

Figure 3 is a general view according to the invention in the sitting position.

Figure 4 is a plan view according to the invention in the sitting position.

Figure 5 is a section of the central support column (section A-A of Figure 4) with the desk and chair in the sitting position.

Description and Discussion of Examples:

The desk and chair are arranged as a single assembly and move from the standing position to the sitting position in a coordinated fashion so as to enable easy access by the user.

The desktop and chair are normally raised to their highest level Figs-1 and 2 with the desktop at a height ergonomically located for a normal standing working position. With the desktop in this position two or more people can access the desktop and thereby collaborate freely.

The desktop and chair are supported on a single column 1 located to either the right side or the left side of the chair. In the figures the column is shown positioned to the right side of the chair. The desktop 2 moves vertically against a lockable gas spring 3 incorporated in the said support column 1 whilst at the same time rotating though 90deg about the support column. Simultaneously the chair 4 moves only vertically being guided down the outer barrel of the support column 1.

When a person sits on the elevated chair the user's weight overcomes the gas spring preload causing the desktop and chair to simultaneously lower under the weight of the person with the desktop rotating through 90 degrees to smoothly bring the desktop in front of the seated person Fig-3 and 4. When the seated person lifts his or her weight from the seat the desktop and chair freely rise whilst the desktop rotates 90 degrees clear of the occupant allowing unrestricted departure from the desk.

The rotation of the desktop is arranged in the direction towards the chair when the desktop and chair descend and the desktop rotates away from the chair when the desktop and chair rise. Alternatively, the desktop may be arranged to move only vertically whilst the chair moves both vertically and rotationally.

The aforementioned gas spring 3 provides an almost constant resistance together with smooth controlled rising and lowering. The desk is also able to be locked at any intermediate height using a manual locking facility provided in the gas spring. This locking function is provided by a needle valve intrinsic to the gas spring and activated via a cam 5 linked to a switch 6 at the front edge of the desk top 2.

The rotation of the desktop is achieved using pegs 7 fitted to the lower portion of the column central piston 8 and guided down a spiral pathway 9 on the inside of the supporting column outer barrel. The chair is supported vertically from a bearing 10 located under the desktop 2 and laterally at a plain slide bearing 11 guided down a track fitted to the outer barrel of the supporting column 1. This arrangement guides the chair in a vertical motion simultaneous with the desktop moving vertically and rotationally.

When vacating the seated position the user raises him/herself from the seat.

This reduces the load on the support column which rises under the gas pressure in the gas spring lifting the seat and desk via the upper bearing with the pegs 7 following the spiral pathway to rotate the desk away from the user. Thus the desk and seat rise to the standing position, the motion speed controlled by gas spring internal flow restriction.

The gas spring rating is selected to be greater than that required to support the weight of the desktop, the chair and reasonable amounts of additional load placed on the desktop, but less than that required to support the desktop and the chair plus the added weight of a small adult. Thus the desktop and chair remain in the raised position Figs-1 and 2 when the chair is unoccupied and both descend to the lower position Figs-3 and 4 when the chair is occupied. This arrangement also prevents improper use by smaller children.

All motions are speed restricted by flow restriction within the gas spring to achieve a smooth comfortable action and to dampen motions resulting from any sudden load variation. The upper end of travel position and the lower end of travel position are further damped to ensure motions are gently brought to a halt at these positions. The manual valve lock described above will also enable the desk to better support a range of unusually heavy loads placed on the desktop.

Claims

Claims:

1. A combined desk and chair arrange so that both desktop and chair lower to a normal seated position under the weight of the user and which rise together to a convenient standing height when the user's weight is removed.

2. A combined desk and chair according to claim 1 where both the desktop and chair are supported at a single vertical column which allows both the desktop and the chair to move vertically and rotationally about the said column so as to allow unimpeded access and egress by the user.

3. A combined desk and chair according to claims 1 and 2 where the chair moves only vertically whilst the desktop moves vertically and rotationally about its vertical support to bring the desktop towards the occupant when sitting and away from the occupant when the occupant vacates the seat.

4. A combined desk and chair according to claims 1 and 2 where the desktop moves only vertically whilst the chair moves vertically and rotationally about its vertical support to bring the chair and occupant towards the desktop when sitting and away from the desktop when the occupant vacates the seat.

5. A combined desk and chair according to the preceding claims where the desktop and chair are supported vertically by mechanical springs, or by gas springs, or by a combination of mechanical springs and gas springs to allow the desktop and chair to descend under the added weight of the user and for the desktop and chair to rise when the user's weight is removed.

6. A combined desk and chair according to the preceding claims where the desktop is guided by internal or external pegs following a prescribed path to bring the desktop towards the seated user in a predefined rotational motion as the desktop lowers to a normal seated height together with the attached chair.

7. A combined desk and chair according to the preceding claims where the chair is guided by internal or external pegs following a prescribed path to bring the user and chair towards the desktop in a predefined rotational motion as the desktop lowers to a normal seated height together with the attached chair.

8. A combined desk and chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.