WO2025185844A1 - Modular workstation having diverse user variants - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a multifunctional workstation (1) having the following components: a frame (10) with one or more supporting struts (11a, 11b) which project in the vertical direction and to which a desk top (20) is attached, a standing surface (30) which is attached to the frame (10) and is intended for working when standing in an upright standing position at the desk top (20), and one or more backrest struts (12a, 12b) to which a backrest (40) and a rotatably mounted seat (50) or folding seat are fastened, which seat can be actuated in its rotational position from a sitting position (S) into a leaning position (A), such that, depending on the rotational position, a desk user can either sit on the seat (50) in a sitting position or lean with the buttocks and/or an upper leg part against the seat (50) with a body posture which is at least slightly oblique in relation to the upright body posture.

Description

STAEGER & SPERLING

Modular workplace with various user variants

Description:

The invention relates to a modular workstation with a tabletop, wherein the workstation can be adapted to various user configurations, in particular as a standing workstation, a seated workstation, and a workstation with a posture leaning against a support. The invention particularly relates to such a modular workstation, which is composed of several detachably connected components.

A variety of table workstation systems are known from the state of the art. Workstation systems are also known in which the tabletop The height of the workstation is adjustable and can therefore be adjusted for either a sitting or a standing position.

Some table systems are known that have a table top at a first working height for the sitting working position and a second table top for the standing working position.

The disadvantage is that people have different heights and therefore height adjustment is usually essential in order to adjust the working height of the table tops to suit each user.

Furthermore, most commercially available and well-known table systems and office workstation systems are unwieldy and require a correspondingly large workstation.

However, there is a need for a compact and multifunctional workplace where a user can adopt different working positions and therefore postures in order to avoid one-sided and unhealthy permanent sitting or permanent standing for hours (such as at a lectern).

Standing desks or lecterns are also known in various forms. For example, there are lecterns used for lectures or presentations. These lecterns are usually a body consisting of three U-shaped walls that are perpendicular to each other and open towards the speaker. A sloped surface is attached to the top of the body, which serves to support a manuscript. This allows the speaker to stand close to the lectern and read from the manuscript without having to hold it in their hand. However, such inflexible solutions are unsuitable as office workstations for various reasons. Furthermore, a standing aid is known from German utility model DE 295 04 896. This standing aid has a base on which a support with a seat and backrest is arranged. This enables a kind of intermediate position between sitting and standing, which relieves pressure on the spine. Such standing aids can be used with standing desks. The disadvantage is that the standing aid cannot be easily adapted to the respective standing desk and the current user, and is also unstable itself. If known standing desks and such standing aids are arranged to form a standing workstation, the further problem arises that the theoretically achievable relief of the back cannot be achieved, as the user is unable to assume the optimal position they should assume with regard to their height and specific body type. This prevents comfortable and health-promoting working and instead leads to tension and health problems, which such a standing workstation is actually intended to prevent.

From DE 29818890 U1 an arrangement of a standing aid with a standing table is known, in which various adjustment options are provided in order to improve the ergonomic position when using the standing table.

This solution still has several disadvantages. On the one hand, it doesn't solve the problem of creating a workstation where the user can assume a variety of different postures (basic body positions).

Basic body positions in the sense of the present invention are those body positions at the work table that are fundamentally different and in which either the body position is different when standing (e.g. upright standing with an upright posture; relaxed standing with a slanted posture using support; sitting with typically bent legs (possibly with support for the feet); relieving the load on one leg when standing, etc.

The solutions known in the state of the art already do not adequately address how a table user can conveniently change positions during working hours or use without complex reconstruction measures.

With the solution known from the document DE 29818890 U1, a table user cannot, for example, work in an upright position with their buttocks supported, but with an inclined (backward-leaning) posture. Because of the seat, the table user is forced to sit on the seat. They can use the backrest but not stand. In a standing position, the seat itself is in the way and must be removed so that the user can even stand between the table and the seat. If the user wants to sit again, they have to reattach the seat and put it back in position. The inclined leaning posture is not intended per se and is also not possible. Because the foot sections are also fixed to one another, the standing aid is fixed in position compared to a standing desk. This also results in a lack of flexibility and disadvantages for ergonomic use.

Another solution is known from the document DE 202019005296 U1, in which a chair is placed next to the bar table, thus not forming a compact unit.

The invention is therefore based on the object of overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages and of providing an improved multifunctional workplace in which a user can, without major reconstruction measures, capable of quickly and conveniently changing its basic body postures and positions. A further object of the present invention is to provide a compact, space-saving solution that is particularly mobile, thus ensuring and enabling easy transport of the workstation, ideally by a single person.

This problem is solved by the combination of features according to patent claim 1.

A basic idea of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional workstation with the following components: a frame with one or more support struts projecting in the vertical direction to which a table top is attached, a standing surface attached to the frame for working while standing in an upright standing position on the table top and one or more backrest struts to which a backrest and a rotatable (swivel, tiltable) seat or folding seat are attached, which in its rotating position can be actuated from a sitting position (S) into a leaning position (A) for a standing person, so that a table user, depending on the rotating position, can either sit on the seat in a sitting position or lean with their buttocks and/or an upper leg section against the seat in a posture that is preferably at least slightly slanted (reclined) compared to the upright posture.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides for two backrest struts, at least for supporting the seat. These can preferably be arranged parallel in the vertical direction, to which a backrest is attached at a suitable height.

A solution in which the seat has a substantially flat seating surface is also advantageous. However, the invention is not limited to this, and other seating surfaces can also be used. The flat seat has the advantage of being particularly comfortable and practical as To serve as a leaning surface for a standing table user when the seat is folded away.

A similarly preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the seat to be attached to an axial pivot bearing on one or two backrest struts (pivoting or tilting). This allows the table to be quickly and conveniently converted for a table user, and the otherwise obstructive seat can be easily removed from the space required for standing work.

It is further advantageously provided that the seat is aligned with its seating surface in a horizontal position for sitting and that this position can be fixed with a positioning securing means and can be brought into an inclined position compared to the horizontal position for leaning.

Another advantageous solution is one in which the tabletop is mounted on sliding bearings or drawer-like axial bearings, allowing axial movement on the frame's cantilever arms. Telescopic extensions are particularly advantageous in this regard, allowing for several intermediate positions in which the tabletop is fixed in a specific position.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that at the upper end of the backrest struts these are connected to each other, preferably in an arc shape, and the backrest is attached in this connecting section.

For a modular and transportable solution, the following can be provided: the frame consists of at least three parts: a table frame, a floor frame, and a backrest frame. The three parts are preferably connected to each other via plug-in connectors or quick-release fasteners in a detachable and disassemblable manner. This allows the multifunctional workstation to be easily transported or stored in its individual components. It is advantageous if the backrest frame can be moved and positioned relative to the table frame by means of a telescopic section of the base frame, which makes the use even more versatile and flexible for many table users.

It can further be provided that the backrest frame and/or the table frame can be adjusted in length and thus in height by means of telescopic sections.

Furthermore, a floor mat, preferably made of elastic material, more preferably foam, PU foam, or integral foam, can be attached to the floor frame. This floor mat forms the base for the standing area, with inserts preferably made of a different, harder material being embedded. Integration into the floor frame offers the advantage that the table user always finds a floor support with the desired functions for feet and standing at the desired standing area in front of the table.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that cross struts are provided as footrests between the backrest struts.

Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that cross braces are provided as footrests between the support braces for the table top.

Thus, it can be provided that two straight or axial support struts are connected to two angled backrest struts via two straight floor struts and are arranged in a parallel construction, wherein the backrest struts preferably have an angle of between 105° and 125° relative to the floor.

The features disclosed above can be combined as desired, as long as this is technically possible and they do not contradict each other. Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below, together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures. They show:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multifunctional workstation according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a multifunctional workstation according to the invention with a standing table user;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 2 with a table user leaning against it;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 2 with a seated table user.

The figures are exemplary schematics and depict an exemplary embodiment of a multifunctional workstation. Identical reference numerals in the figures indicate identical functional and/or structural features.

The figures show a multifunctional workstation 1 with a frame 10, with two parallel support struts 11a, 11b extending vertically, to which a tabletop 20 is attached. Furthermore, a standing surface 30 for working while standing in an upright position is provided on the frame 10. The standing surface is located between two struts of the frame 10.

Furthermore, two backrest struts 12a, 12b are provided, to which a backrest 40 and a rotatably mounted folding seat 50 with a substantially flat seat surface 51 are attached. As can be clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2, the seat 50 can be actuated in its rotating position from a sitting position (S) to a leaning position (A), so that a table user, depending on the rotating position, can either sit on the seat 50 in a sitting position (see Figure 4) or lean with the buttocks and/or an upper leg section against the seat 50 in a body posture that is at least slightly inclined compared to the upright body posture (see Figure 3).

For the rotatable mounting of the seat 50, two backrest struts 12a, 12b are provided, between which an axial pivot bearing 52 is arranged. The seat is mounted on its underside with its central section on the pivot bearing 52. In Figure 2, the seat is arranged with its seating surface in a plane parallel to the plane spanned by the backrests 12a, 12b in this area, and is thus oriented at the same angle to the floor.

The table top 20 is mounted on telescopic sliding bearings 22 or drawer-like axial bearings so that its position can be axially displaced on cantilever arms 14a, 14b of the frame 10.

At the upper end of the backrest struts 12a, 12b, these are connected to each other in an arc shape and in this connecting section the backrest 40 is attached, which serves as a backrest for a seated table user.

In Figure 2, the frame 10 is constructed in three parts, consisting of a table frame 10a, a base frame 10b, and a backrest frame 10c. The three parts 10a, 10b, and 10c are connected to one another by means of plug-in connections 23 or quick-release fasteners, allowing them to be removed and disassembled. The frame can also be constructed in a modular manner from a different number of parts.

The backrest frame 10c and the table frame 10a are each adjustable in length and thus in height by means of a telescopic section. A floor mat 60 made of elastic material is integrated into the floor frame.

Between the backrest struts 12a, 12b, cross struts 12c serve as footrests. Likewise, a cross strut 11c serves as a footrest. The two backrest struts 12a, 12b are angled at an angle of between 105° and 125° relative to the floor.

The invention is not limited in its implementation to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable that utilize the solution presented even in fundamentally different embodiments.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Multifunctional workstation (1) comprising the following components: a. a frame (10) with one or more support struts (11a, 11b) projecting in the vertical direction, to which a table top (20) is attached, b. a standing surface (30) attached to the frame (10) for working while standing in an upright position on the table top (20); c. one or more backrest struts (12a, 12b) to which a backrest (40) and a rotatably mounted seat (50) or folding seat are attached, which in its rotating position can be actuated from a sitting position (S) to a leaning position (A), so that a table user, depending on the rotating position, can either sit on the seat (50) in a sitting position or lean with their buttocks and/or an upper leg section against the seat (50) in a posture that is at least slightly inclined compared to the upright posture. 2. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that two backrest struts (12a, 12b) of the frame (10) are provided at least for supporting the seat (50). 3. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seat (50) has a substantially flat seat surface (51). 4. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat (50) is mounted on an axial pivot bearing (52) on one or two backrest struts (12a, 12b) of the frame (10). 5. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat (50) with its seating surface (51) is aligned in a horizontal position for sitting and this position can be fixed with a positioning securing means and can be brought into an inclined position compared to the horizontal position for leaning. 6. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the table top (20) is mounted on sliding bearings or drawer-like axial bearings (22) in its position axially displaceable on cantilever arms (14a, 14b) of the frame (10). 7. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the upper end of the backrest struts (12a, 12b) these are preferably connected to one another in an arc shape and/or in this connecting section the backrest (40) is attached to the backrest struts (12a, 12b) of the frame (10). 8. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (10) is formed in at least three parts from a table frame (10a), a floor frame (10b) and a backrest frame (10c) and the three parts (10a, 10b, 10c) are connected to one another in a detachable and dismantled manner, preferably by means of plug connections (23) or quick-release fasteners. 9. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the backrest frame (10c) is displaceable and positionable relative to the table frame (10a) by means of a telescopic section of the floor frame (10b). 10. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the backrest frame (10c) and/or the table frame (10a) are adjustable in length and thus in height by means of a telescopic section. 11. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a floor mat (60) made of elastic material, preferably a foam, PU foam or integral foam, is attached to the floor frame, which represents the standing surface for the standing area, wherein inserts made of a harder material which differs therefrom are preferably embedded. 12. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more cross struts (12c) are provided as footrests between the backrest struts (12a, 12b). 13. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more cross struts (11 c) are provided as footrests between the support struts (11 a, 11 b). 14. Multifunctional workstation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two straight support struts (11 a, 11 b) are connected via two straight floor struts to two angled backrest struts (12a, 12b) and are arranged in a parallel construction, wherein the backrest struts (12a, 12b) preferably have an angulation with an angle between 105° and 125°. * * * * *