Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02550385 2006-06-05
INVENTION TITLE
Workstation Module for a Reclinable Office Chair
DESCRIPTION
[Para 1] Background of the Invention
[Para 2] Office workers often suffer fatigue and lost productivity due to long
hours
spent seated at a desk. Over the years, office furniture manufacturers have
responded with
a variety of ergonomic office chairs and desks designed to alleviate this
problem. One early
solution was the advent of swiveling, and castered office chairs that
permitted a worker to
more easily multitask between different workstations (for example: to scoot
between a
typewriter and a nearby filing cabinet). The advent of computers resulted in
even more
sedentary workers so recent improvements have focused more on optimizing the
ergonomics of their seating posture. Castered, swiveling and now ergonomically
adjustable
office chairs have therefore become ubiquitous in the office environment.
Typically these
ergonomic chairs possess a variety of mechanical controls for adjusting the
chair's seat-
height with respect to the floor, its angle between the seat cushion and
seatback cushion,
its overall tilt angle, its armrest height, its lumbar support etc.
[Para 3] Various efforts have also been made to optimally position an
ergonomic office
chair with respect to the keyboard and display of a computer. Cooper (US
5,056,864)
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provides the user with an optimal, recumbent posture by integrating the user's
chair with a
computer. May (US 6,102,476) also provides an integrated chair/computer
however it
appears somewhat less ergonomic. Maddox (US 6,056,363) provides yet another
reclining
"computer/chair". While these types of integrated solution may provide an
ergonomic
posture, they are massive, complicated and expensive. Furthermore, they cannot
make use
of existing ergonomic office chairs that a user may already have in their
possession.
[Para 4] Trimnell (US 5,893,607) and Sher (US 6,773,060) propose much simpler
and
inexpensive solutions that attach directly to an existing office chair. Such
devices are
relatively inexpensive however they provide no support to the user for a
reclining work
posture and are therefore ergonomically sub-optimal. Furthermore, their
cantilevered
geometry cannot support heavy work tools such as a CRT computer monitor.
Furthermore,
being attached to the chair, these devices encumber the user when attempting
to stand up
or sit down.
[Para 5] Brown (US 6,298,794) and Lin (6,425,631) propose compromise solutions
having either a totally separate computer workstation module (Brown) or one
that is quite
easily moved to permit the user to sit down or get up (Lin). Neither device
however
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facilitates a reclined working posture when used in conjunction with an
existing ergonomic
office chair.
[Para 6] Therefore there continues to be a need for a computer workstation
that is
ergonomic, easy to assemble or disassemble and inexpensive to manufacture.
Heading
Objectives and Advantages of the Invention
[Para 7] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a
reclining
workstation moduie for use with existing reclinable office chairs and existing
office desks.
[Para 8] It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a
compact and
geometrically strong workstation module that supports the user's legs in a
reclined posture
when the office chair is reclined while simultaneously supporting a laptop
computer at an
ergonomically correct position.
[Para 9] It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide a
workstation
module that has a minimum number of moving parts while still being adaptable
to different
sized users.
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[Para 10] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a
workstation
module optimized for use with laptop computer but that can optionally be
augmented for
use with desktop computers.
[Para 1 1] It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a
workstation
module that exploits the adjustments available in the existing office chair
with which it is
used, thereby minimizing the number of moving parts.
[Para 12] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
workstation module
that can provide supplemental adjustability to fit the needs of particularly
large or small
users.
[Para 13] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
workstation module
that can either stand alone for use with a laptop computer or else be used in
conjunction
with an existing office desk for tasks involving a desktop computer.
[Para 14] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
workstation module
that enables users to quickly and easily change their work posture.
[Para 1 5] Summary of the Invention
[Para 16] In order to satisfy the requirements identified above, my invention
is a
workstation module for a reclinable office chair. The chair comprises a mobile
base
supporting a seat having a top surface and a bottom surface. The seat includes
an
adjustable backrest, a left armrest having an upper surface and a right
armrest having an
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upper surface. The base comprises a central telescoping column supporting the
seat and a
plurality of radially extending supporting members each having an inside end
fixed to the
bottom of the column and an outside end adapted to carry swivel castors for
mobility. The
workstation comprises a supporting base comprising a first base member being a
cross-
member having a first end and a second end, a bottom surface and a top
surface, a second
base member fixed near its mid point to the first base member first end and
oriented
perpendicular thereto and a third base member fixed near its mid point to the
first base
member second end and oriented perpendicular thereto thereby forming an H-
shaped
supporting base. The support base may also have a "T" configuration, an "0"
configuration
or a squared "C" configuration. The second and third base members each have
first and
second ends that are adapted to carry feet or castors to support the base off
of the floor.
The workstation further includes a vertical column having a first and second
end. The first
end is fixed to the centre of the first base member top surface and the second
end is fixed
to an angled support member adapted to support a tilting worktable having a
top edge, a
bottom edge, a left edge, a right edge, an upper working surface and a lower
surface having
a centre point. There are also provided a left leg support platform and a
right leg support
platform fixed to the vertical column.
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[Para 17] In one embodiment of the workstation a four-legged table may be used
in
conjunction with the workstation or the four-legged table may be incorporated
into the
tilting worktable.
[Para 18] These and other objectives and embodiments will become more apparent
from
consideration of the following figures and their detailed description.
[Para 19] Brief Description of the Drawings
[Para 20] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective front view of one embodiment of
the present
invention with a user seated with back erect and legs outstretched working
with a laptop
computer.
[Para 211 Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the same embodiment shown in
Figure 1
with its user seated in a semi-reclined posture.
[Para 22] Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the same embodiment shown in
Figure 1 with
the user seated in an erect position with both feet on the ground.
[Para 23] Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the same embodiment shown in
Figure 1
which uses a modified office chair to safely permit a fully reclined user
posture.
[Para 24] Figure 5 illustrates a close-up, detailed view of the tilting
worktable shown in
Figure 4.
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[Para 25] Figure 6 illustrates a close-up, detailed view of the calf supports
shown in
Figure 1. Five instances of the support labeled A to E are shown mounted to
the central
support column to illustrate a preferred adjustment mechanism.
[Para 26] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the same embodiment of
the invention
as shown in Figure 1 and illustrating the use of the invention with a
conventional desk and
desk top computer.
[Para 27] Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the
invention
having a bolt-on table fixture augmenting the functionality of the invention
as shown in
Figure 1.
[Para 28] Figure 9 illustrates a monolithic embodiment of the invention having
no moving
parts or adjustments.
[Para 29] Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment of the invention which has
greater
adjustability than the embodiment shown in Figure 1.
[Para 30] Figure 11 illustrates another embodiment of the invention which is
easily
collapsible for storage.
[Para 31] Figure 1 1 a illustrates a similar collapsible embodiment to Figure
11 except that
the table top has both horizontal and tilted surfaces.
[Para 32] Figure 12 illustrates the same embodiment of the invention as shown
in Figure
11 in a collapsed configuration for storage.
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[Para 33] Figure 13 illustrates one embodiment of the invention that supports
the soles
of the user's feet rather than the calves of their legs for semi-recumbent
seating.
[Para 34] Figure 14 illustrates another embodiment of the invention which
attaches to the
base of an office chair.
[Para 35] Detailed Description.
[Para 36] Referring first to Figure 1 there is illustrated a front perspective
view of my
invention: a workstation module for a reclinable office chair. User 2 is
seated on a typical
office chair 4, which in turn is positioned adjacent to my workstation 6.
Office chair 4 is
ergonomically designed for user comfort and efficiency and comprises a base 8
supporting
seat 10, seatback 12 and typically also includes left and right armrests 14
and 16
respectively. Base 8 is typically comprised of 5 radial support members
denoted 18, 20, 22,
24 and 26, each radial being supported at its outboard end by swivel-caster
28, 30, 32, 34
and 36 (these numbers not all shown on figure) and centrally joined to chair
support
column 38). Support column 38 telescopes to provide seat height adjustability
and
typically employs a pneumatic piston mechanism.
[Para 37] User 2 sits on seat 10, leans against seatback 12 and utilizes
control levers 11
to adjust the chair's moveable parts until comfortable ergonomics are
achieved. For
example: lever 40 might adjust the length of telescopic support column 38,
lever 42 might
adjust the angle of seatback 12 with respect to seat 10 and lever 44 might
adjust the overall
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backwards tilt angle of the seat and seatback. More sophisticated controls
(not illustrated)
may be included to provide additional degrees of adjustment such as: armrest
height, fore
and aft seat position, lumbar support firmness, headrest position etc. In
order to insure
safety and stability, modern standards regulate the number and dimensions of
base radials
18 to 24 with respect to the maximum tilt angle of seatback 12. The office
chair 4 shown in
Figures 1 though 15 illustrate typical dimensions and proportions with respect
to the
illustrated, average-sized male human 2. My invention 6 is also shown with
typical
dimensions, proportions and mechanical configurations however further
variability may be
reasonably inferred to accommodate atypical user physiques or work habits.
[Para 381 My invention 6 is comprised of a base portion 50, which centrally
supports a
substantially vertical column 52 and to which inclined support arm 54 is
mounted. Working
platform 56 is tiltable and mounted to the upper end of inclined support arm
54 and two
leg support platforms 58 and 60 are adjustably mounted to opposite sides of
vertical
column 52. To use my invention, user 2 stretches out upon reclined office
chair 4 placed
adjacent to base portion 50 and straddles column 52 such that calves 62 and 64
rest on leg
support platforms 58 and 60. Working platform 56 is positioned for use by
adjusting the
reclinable chair's posture controls 40, 42 and 44 to locate and orient the
user such that
working platform 56 provides ergonomic support for office work object 66 (such
as the
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illustrated laptop computer). Other suitable work objects for support by table
56 might be:
a keyboard, reading material, or writing material.
[Para 39] Working platform 56 is typically affixed to inclined support arm 52
by means of
hinge clamp 68, thereby enabling adjustment of the table's tilt angle for
greater comfort.
When not being used as a workstation, the user may rotate table 56 to the
horizontal to
enable it to serve as a conventional table. See Figure 5 for more detail of
the hinge clamp
68.
[Para 40] Restraining member 70 forms a ridge along the lower edge of the
tilted
working platform 56 thereby preventing work object 66 from sliding off. The
upper rear
edge 72 of member 70 is typically rounded to provide a comfortable support for
the user's
wrist while keyboarding. The lower rear edge 74 of member 70 may also be
rounded to
prevent marring of armrests 14 and 16 in the event that chair 4 is positioned
such that the
working platform's lower edge contacts the armrests.
[Para 411 In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the base portion 50 is
comprised of an
"H" shaped configuration of three members. Base members 76, 78 and 80 are
typically
formed of rectangular cross-section steel and welded into the desired form
however other
member cross-sections, materials or joinery methods may be used (e.g.: bolted
aluminum
or glued wood). Cross-member 80 joins left and right foot-members 76 and 78 to
form an
"H-shaped" base having open ends into which the casters of chair 4 may be
advanced as
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required in order to adjust the horizontal position of the user 2 with respect
to worktable
56.
[Para 42] The cross-member 80 has a first end and a second end and is shown
joined
near the midpoints of members 76 and 78 however those "H" proportions may be
varied to
increase the depth 77 of the open end 79 presented towards the user 2. Moving
the cross-
member 80 forward ultimately transforms the "H-shaped" base in a "C-shaped"
base (see
Figures 10 and 11). An "E-shaped" base is also possible. This configuration
(not
illustrated) might also be employed in which the tip of its center prong is
used to support
the vertical column 52. Other configurations for base portion 50 may also be
used to
minimize construction costs or to immobilize vertical member 52. For example:
when
provided for use by students in a university study hail, base portion 50 might
be comprised
of a plate bolted to the floor or vertical member 52 may even be simply
embedded into a
concrete floor.
[Para 43] Other freestanding base portion shapes such as circular or radial
designs
(similar to base 8 of chair 4) are also within the scope of the invention.
[Para 44] Level adjuster feet 75 are typically provided at the corners of base
50 as
illustrated (lockable casters may also be used for increased mobility).
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[Para 45] Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown in Figure 2 the
same
embodiment of my invention 6 as illustrated in Figure 1 however the user 2 is
in a semi-
reclined position. The back 12 of the seat 4 is adjusted by use of one of the
controls 40, 42
or 44 depending on the design of the chair. The height of the chair seat on
column 38 is
also adjustable by the user. The user's calves 62 and 64 are resting on the
leg rests 58 and
50 adjustably fixed to vertical member 52.
[Para 46] Vertical member 52 is affixed at its first end 53 to cross-member 80
near its
mid-point 81. Fixation is typically by welding however appropriate bolted or
hinged
fixations may also be used. The second end 55 of vertical member 52 is affixed
to first end
57 of inclined support member 54. Again, monolithically welded construction is
typical
however a pivoting joint may also be provided at joint 59 in order to adjust
angle 61
between the vertical member 52 and angled member 54 for improved comfort and
ease of
storage and dismantling (see FIG 10 for example). The second end 63 of
inclined support
member 54 is fixed to work table 56 via fixation means 68. Fixation means 68
may be rigid
or articulated for more ergonomic adjustability.
[Para 47] Left and right leg support platforms 58 and 60 are affixed to
vertical member
52 such that the reclined user's caives 62 and 64 rest comfortably on them.
The means
used to affix platforms 60 and 62 to vertical may be a welded joint however
its preferred
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embodiment is comprised of a mechanism 90 allowing both positional and angular
adjustments of the platforms as further explained below.
[Para 48] The length and orientation of support member 54 result in both
horizontal and
vertical offsets of worktable 56 with respect to vertical member 52. The
support member's
length and orientation are chosen such that horizontal offset 92 is
approximately equal to
94 (the horizontal distance between the user's hands 96, 98 and calves 62, 64
when seat 4
back 12 is reclined). To provide comfortable ergonomics, distances 92, and 94
are also
approximately equal to distance 100 (the pullback distance resulting from
reclining
seatback 12).
[Para 49] Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is shown the same
embodiment of
my invention 6 but in this Figure 3 the user 2 is sitting in an upright
posture with both feet
on a floor surface. Distance 94 and 100 are both reduced when the user elects
to work in
the conventional upright office posture however, since the leg rests 58 and 60
are no longer
utilized the approximate equality of distance 92 to distances 94 and 100 is no
longer
required.
[Para 50] Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown the same embodiment of my
invention
6 as in Figures 1 to 3 however in the this Figure 4 the user 2 is in a fully
reclined position
and the seat back 12 is almost horizontal, that is, angle 110 approaches 180
degrees. In
this configuration, the user is able to adopt a comfortable resting position
while at the
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workstation 6 and rest legs 1 1 2 and 1 14 on leg rests 58 and 60. To provide
greater
support and stability to the reclined user, at least one 1 16 of the plurality
of radial chair
supports is extendable to a length 53 underneath the reclined chair back 12.
This prevents
tipping of the chair backwards. Alternatively, the fully reclining chair can
be stabilized
against tipping by integrating it into this embodiment (see Figure 13).
[Para 511 Referring now to Figure 5 there is shown the lower surface 120 of
the
worktable 56. Also shown is vertical member 52 joining the inclined support
member 54 at
joint 59. The second end 63 of inclined support member 54 is pivotally
attached to the
lower surface 120 of the work table 56 by means of an apertured hinge 122 over
an aligned
aperture (not shown) in the second end 63 of the inclined support member. The
hinge is
adjustably fixed by way of locking clamp 124. The hinge 122 is fixed to a
plate 126
comprising screw holes 128 at each of its corners 130. The lower surface 120
of the work
table has a plurality of holes 1 34 in linear trains that are adapted to
coincide with the screw
holes on the plate 126. The work table can be therefore adjusted to suit the
user and then
fixed into place by screws.
[Para 52] Referring now to Figure 6 there is shown one embodiment of my
invention in
which the left and right leg rest platforms140 and 142 are adjustably fixed to
vertical
column 144. To clarify how fore/aft adjustment of the leg rest platforms 140
and 142 can
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be done using a simple U-bolt clamping mechanism 146 the leg rest platforms
are shown in
a variety of positions A to E on the vertical column. In positions A and B,
between the left
and right leg rest platform is a leg rest axle 1 50. A first 1 52 and second 1
54 U-bolts are
used to fix the axle 1 50 against the outside surface 1 56 of the vertical
column 144. The
threaded ends 158 of the U-bolts are joined by a pressure plate 160 between
them. The
pressure plate includes a threaded aperture 162 at its centre which receives a
threaded
shaft 164 with a knob 166. As the knob is turned, the threaded shaft threads
into the
aperture and against the inside surface 170 of the vertical column 144 thereby
tightening
the U-bolts against the axle and the outside surface of the vertical column.
By loosening
the U-bolts the leg rest platforms can be moved up and down the vertical
column and
angles to suit the user. In positions C and D the leg rest platforms can be
reversed. In
position E the leg rest platforms can be lowered to the bottom of the vertical
column to act
as foot rests.
[Para 53] As Figure 6 illustrates, on the top surface 190 and 192 of each of
the leg rest
supports 140 and 142 there is a cushion 194 and 196 configured to provide a
comfortable
support for each of the user's calves. To provide optimal comfort, each
platform's upper
surface may be somewhat concave to roughly conform to the user's calf and may
also
include a cushioned covering that further relives pressure points.
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[Para 54] Still referring to Figure 6 the leg rest platforms may be adjustable
in a fore
and aft motion by an eccentric fore/aft fixation of axle 150 onto the leg-rest
platforms 140
and 142 to effect the desired movement. Note in position A that the distance
from axle 150
to the front end of the platform is somewhat greater than the distance from
the axle to their
back ends. In position B the axle is more centered on the platform and so
these distances
change. In position C and D the platforms have been mounted so that the axle
150 is
against the front surface 170 of column 144 and in the opposite direction,
thereby
reversing the eccentricity and moving the platforms further back thereby
providing two
more horizontal adjustment options for the two leg-rest platforms.
[Para 55] In order to accommodate the most complete range of user physiques
and work
desirable postures, my invention may be equipped with reversible platforms
that can
support either the user's calves or the user's feet. In position E the leg
rest platforms are
installed cushion side down to present a flat durable surface 198 suitable for
a footrest
when the user desires only a lightly reclined posture.
[Para 56] Referring now to Figure 7 there is illustrated another embodiment of
my
invention 200 being used in conjunction with a full-sized desktop computer
comprised of:
CRT monitor 202, CPU unit 204 and keyboard 206. The monitor 202 is too heavy
and bulky
to be supported by worktable 208 and so an existing, standard office desk 210
may be
positioned in front of and somewhat above my invention 200 such that the
reclined user
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212 can achieve a usage configuration similar to that shown in Figure 1 and
Figure 2. The
computer system's keyboard 206 resides on worktable 208 together with a
computer
mouse (not shown). The system's CPU unit 204 may be placed either on the floor
as shown
or on table 210.
[Para 57] Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of my invention 220 that
integrates the
same functionality as the configuration shown in Figure 7. Instead of resting
adjacent to an
existing office desk, a purpose-built desk 220 is dimensioned such that its
legs 224 to 230
affix onto base members 232 and 234 using fixation bolts 222. Figure 8 also
shows the
location of knob 166 used to adjust the location and angle of the leg
supports.
[Para 58] Now referring to Figure 9 there is shown yet another embodiment of
my
invention 250 which integrates a horizontal, monitor-supporting table 252 with
the tilted,
keyboard-supporting table 254. Table 252 and tilted supporting table are
joined at a fixed
or adjustable hinged joint 256. The horizontal table and the tilt table are
supported by a
vertical column 258 fixed to the mid-point of cross-member 260. If angular
adjustment is
provided, it may be used either to improve the ergonometric angle of keyboard
262 or to
make the horizontal table 252 coplanar with tilt table 254 when the invention
is not being
used as a work station.
[Para 59] Referring now to Figure 10 to facilitate compact retail packaging,
the frame
members used to form base 60 may be bolted together for assembly by the end-
user.
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Figure 10 illustrates a bolted embodiment that facilitates such disassembly
for compact
storage. The embodiment shown in Figure 1 also lends itself to compact
storage: if the
upper and lower ends of vertical member 52 have removable fixations to base 50
and table
56 then those upper and lower planar members can be boxed closely together for
efficient
shipping or compact storage. Even easier collapsibility can be incorporated
into this
general concept by utilizing lockable hinge joints (not illustrated) at the
two ends of vertical
member 52 thereby enabling base 50 and table 56 to be quickly folded into a
flattened
structure suitable for compact storage.
[Para 60] Still referring to Figure 10 vertical support member 302 comprises a
vertical
support column 304 and a flange 306. Both the vertical support column and
flange
comprise a plurality of apertures vertically 308 and horizontally 310. The
horizontal cross-
member 312 is also comprises a plurality of apertures 314. In this embodiment,
the top
end 316 of the vertical support column 304 is pivotally fixed by hinge 340 to
the first
horizontal component 320 first end 322. The first horizontal component 320
second end
324 has a telescoping relationship with second horizontal component 326 first
end 328 so
that the length of the combined horizontal support 330 can be adjusted towards
or away
from the user 332 so that different user physiques can be accommodated. The
first
horizontal component 320 is fixed positional with respect to the second
horizontal
component 326 by way of a locking camp 334. The second end 336 of second
horizontal
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component 326 is pivotally fixed to the underside 338 of work table 340 so
that the tilt
angle of the work table can be adjusted to suit the user. The second end of
the second
horizontal component is fixed to the underside of the table using the same
means as
illustrated in Figure 5 and described previously. Cross-member 312 and
apertured flange
306 can be moved towards or away from the user thereby adjusting the distance
of the leg
supports and table from the user. Similarly, the height of the support 330 can
be adjusted
by adjusting the aperture point at which the first end 322 of the first
horizontal member
320 is fixed to the vertical column 304. Therefore it is easy for the user 332
to establish
ideal ergonomics.
[Para 61] Referring now to Figure 11, there is shown yet another embodiment of
my
invention 350. The base 352 comprises first and second parallel members 354
and 356
having respective first ends 358 and 360 and second ends 362 and 364. The
first ends 358
and 360 of each of the first and second parallel members are joined by cross-
member 366
thereby forming a channel-shaped or "C"-shaped support. The angled support
member
368 is a single piece column that has a first end 370 and a second end 372.
The angled
support member first end 370 is pivotally fixed to the cross-member 366 at a
pivot located
at its mid-point so that the entire angled support member is able to pivot
from zero
degrees to 180 degrees around mid-point of cross-member 366. The pivot may be
fixed at
a desired angle using a clamp or cotter pin. In another embodiment a ratchet
mechanism
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would permit the user to raise and lock the table height. Releasing the
ratchet might be
accomplished using a lever iocated at the pivot point or by remote cable
actuation from the
user's seated position.
[Para 62] This embodiment also incorporates leg supports 380 and 382
adjustably fixed
to the angled support member by means previously described in respect of
Figure 6. The
second end 372 of the angled support arm is pivotally connected to the
underside 382 of
the tilt table 384 so that the angle of the tilt table can be adjusted and
fixed by a clamp. In
this embodiment the base 352 of the invention includes feet 386 at each of the
first and
second ends of the first and second parallel members 354 and 356. Casters may
also be
used.
[Para 63] Referring to Figure 11 a there is shown a similar embodiment to that
shown in
Figure 11 except that the table top has a horizontal surface 371 and an
inclined surface
373. The operator can use a keyboard 375 on the inclined table top while the
screen 377
rests on the horizontal portion. The operator retains the same inclined
posture as shown in
Figure 11.
[Para 64] Referring to Figure 12 there is shown the same embodiment as Figure
11 of
the invention 350. In Figure 12 the angled support member is shown at an angle
of zero
degrees with respect to the horizontal floor the base 352. The first 354 and
second 356
base members are shown parallel to the angled support member. The tilt table
384 is
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shown at an angle of zero with respect to the angled support member. In these
configurations the invention is easily folded and stored under a bed or in a
closet.
[Para 65] Referring now to Figure 13 there is shown another embodiment of my
invention 400 in which the "T"- shaped base 402 of the invention is directly
attached to a
support leg 404 of the chair 406. Adjustment of the base with respect to the
support leg
404 is accomplished by way of a clamp 410. In Figure 13 the leg support
platforms 412
and 414 are used as foot platforms.
[Para 66] Referring to Figure 14 which is the same embodiment as Figure 13,
the
operator is sitting upright with both feet on the floor.
[Para 67] This description contains much specificity that should not be
construed as
limiting the scope of the invention but merely provides illustrations of some
of its
embodiments. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the
appended
claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.
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