Standing work chair for height adjustable tables

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for assisting a person when standing at a height-adjustable table, in particular a desk, the device being designed in the manner of a standing workstation chair having a base plate on which two side parts are arranged at a distance from one another, the base plate having a standing area on which the user stands when using the device, and the side parts accommodating a roller at their upper end which lies between the side parts, the roller preferably being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, the roller being height-adjustable in such a way that it is arranged approximately 5 - 10 cm above the kneecap of the user, the roller having padding, the standing area having a non-slip surface, e.g. a felt covering or the like.

Description

[0001] Increasing sedentary behavior, with all its consequences for posture, poses a health challenge for many people, especially in the professional world, but not only there. Sedentary office work makes people less fit, less active, and often, if people don't compensate for this through appropriate exercise in their free time, they experience muscle shortening, muscle tension, poor posture, headaches, neck and back pain, and other resulting health problems (e.g., sleep disorders, fatigue, lack of fitness).

[0002] Chairs, especially office chairs of any type and function, result in long-term health damage due to the ever-increasing sitting posture at a screen. For example, the constant sitting posture can cause persistent shortening of the hip flexors (psoas major and iliacus muscles). In addition, increased tension often occurs in the thigh muscles and other muscle groups, which can then trigger neck tension, headaches, back pain, and similar symptoms.

[0003] Attempts are already being made to address these challenges in workplaces with a variety of seating. Height-adjustable tables (desks) are being installed in a wide variety of workplaces, including private ones. This trend, along with the redesign of such workplaces with height-adjustable tables (desks), is increasing significantly.

[0004] One advantage of height-adjustable tables is that, on the one hand, users can sit at the table as usual when the table is lowered to a lower position. On the other hand, when the table is raised, they can stand upright, thus allowing them to adopt at least two fundamentally different postures: sitting and standing.

[0005] At the workplace, especially when standing at a height-adjustable desk, users often experience further problems, as people are no longer accustomed to standing upright in a relaxed position for extended periods. This leads to certain signs of fatigue and postural problems, not only in the legs, but also in the hips and other parts of the body. This often results in the desk being used in a standing position rarely.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide an aid that supports the user while standing at a desk and helps them adopt an ergonomically and occupationally sound upright posture that relieves strain and counteracts tendencies towards shortening, thus having a positive overall effect on the entire body and posture. This can strengthen the back muscles in particular, and also relax and stretch other muscle groups that are shortened and hardly used when sitting at a desk.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore also to make standing work at a height-adjustable desk more pleasant and attractive and to prevent and minimize health risk factors.

[0008] This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the subclaims. The invention proposes a standing aid which, as a standing workstation chair, provides support and / or leaning in the lower and thigh areas to the person standing at a height-adjustable desk. This makes standing overall easier over extended periods and also intrinsically entices the user to perform certain training and massage exercises with the rotating roller of the standing aid, e.g., by moving the roller back and forth with the front of the lower leg.

[0009] Muscles and tendons such as the hip flexors are automatically stressed and strengthened through training, which in the long run enables a straighter posture and promotes the fitness and health of the user.

[0010] In the device according to the invention, the base plate has a standing area on which the user regularly stands. This standing area is preferably covered with a non-slip surface to promote good standing stability for the user.

[0011] Two opposing side panels are fixed perpendicular to the base plate. These side panels accommodate an adjustable, padded, rotatable roller between them via a roller mount. The height of the roller is adjusted by the user so that they can lean against the roller with their thigh, preferably with a contact point 5-10 cm above the kneecap (patella).

[0012] The roller or roller holder of the side parts is ideally positioned at an angle of 60° to 80°, preferably 70°, from the horizontal of the base plate, from the standing area, so that the user can lean against the roller without effort and with only minimal movement. This automatically causes the user to extend the knee. This is beneficial for the overall structure; the tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the knee are stretched and beneficially stressed, which subsequently leads to the corresponding strengthening and functional improvement of these structures. The device according to the invention automatically brings the user closer to the neutral zero position ( Fig. 4 ; Fig. 5), i.e. a neutral position in which the user has the lower leg and thigh slightly bent forward compared to the vertical position and the upper body including neck and head are aligned very straight and not, as is often the case, bent forward at a standing desk.

[0013] Since the height of the kneecap (patella) depends on the individual's height, the height of the roller can be adjusted to various positions, for example, so that people with a height of 1.30 m to 2.10 m can easily adjust the roller correctly.

[0014] The side panels preferably have a height of approximately 60-70 cm, preferably 65 cm. As mentioned, the roller is positioned at an angle of 70° from the horizontal plane, approximately starting from the center of the standing area.

[0015] The roller then rests a few centimeters, for example, 5-10 cm, with its center point above the user's kneecap. When the user leans against this padded roller, they automatically extend their knee. They lean against the roller and thereby exert pressure on the roller, which, due to its soft texture, then slightly deforms and adapts.

[0016] The roll is preferably filled with a composite foam, thus exhibiting a compression strength according to EN ISO 3386 / 1 = 40% compression in the range of 12 to 35. The tensile strength of the material is according to EN ISO 1798 kpa and is in the range of 70 to 80, and the elongation at break according to DIN EN ISO 1798 is approximately 60 to 75%. The roll is preferably covered on the outside, e.g., with synthetic leather. After being leaned against a surface and deformed, the roll returns to its original shape when the pressure is released.

[0017] The standing area is particularly slip-resistant, which can be easily achieved with a felt covering, for example. The R-class (slip resistance class) in the standing area is 10 or higher, preferably in the range of 11 or closer to 12. This is important to prevent the user, who rests their lower thighs against the caster, from sliding backward with their feet away from the standing area of ​​the base plate.

[0018] To prevent the device according to the invention from tipping over, it is important that the user stands with at least one leg on the standing area and does not slip, thus preventing a possible fall and tipping over of the device according to the invention. The large base plate also contributes to the increased safety of the device according to the invention, ensuring that the center of gravity is always well away from the edge of the base plate, making tipping over the edge almost impossible or impossible.

[0019] The device according to the invention can be used with shoes, barefoot, or socks. As mentioned, a felt covering is suitable for the anti-slip floor slab, but other coverings with corresponding anti-slip properties of R classes R10 - R13 are also suitable.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment. Fig. 1 shows a standing workstation according to the invention for height-adjustable tables / desks in a side view, Fig. 2 shows further details of the device according to the invention from a different perspective, Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 show further views and details.

[0021] The device according to the invention, which serves as a standing support, thus as a standing aid or even as a standing workstation chair, comprises a base plate 1 with a standing area 2 (standing area). Two side parts 3a, 3b are formed on the left and right in front of this standing area. These are spaced parallel to each other and, directed away from the base plate, accommodate a caster 4 on the upper part, which is preferably rotatably mounted. The caster 4 is padded and height-adjustable.

[0022] For further stiffening and thus secure spacing of the two side parts, one or more connecting rods are inserted as spacers 5 between the side parts 3a, 3b and fastened to them, e.g. screwed.

[0023] The Figure 1The standing workstation chair shown consists of six parts: the base plate 1, the two side parts 3a, 3b, the castor 4, and two connecting rods 5. The two side parts are attached to the base plate by screwing (from below). The same applies to the connecting rods, so that by loosening the screws, the entire standing workstation chair can be folded up and easily packaged and shipped with minimal packaging volume.

[0024] The standing desk chair not only serves as a standing aid, but the roller can also be used as a seat on which the user can sit comfortably when lowering the desk to a sitting position.

[0025] When the user sits with the thigh and gluteal muscles on the cushion and rolls towards it, this leads to muscle strain in the sitting position and a training effect that is beneficial for the function, stretching and strengthening of the muscles.

[0026] In the Figure 2 The device according to the invention is shown from a different perspective, namely the side view. It can be clearly seen that, viewed from approximately the center of the standing area 2, the roller is located at an angle of approximately 70°. Figure 2 The screw connections that securely connect the side panels to the base plate are also visible.

[0027] In the Figure 2The side parts are designed in the manner of a plate; of course, it is also possible for the side parts to be designed in the manner of a rod or a tube, which accordingly have different holders for the roller so that its height can be adjusted.

[0028] In Figure 2 Four recesses (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) can be seen in the upper area of ​​the side panels. These recesses are located on the inside of the side panels, thus facing each other and at the same height, so that the caster, if it has a projection or bar on the outside, can be held horizontally in this recess. These recesses, arranged one above the other, are used for height adjustment, ensuring that the height of the caster is ideal for each user.

[0029] The roller also has a preferred diameter, for example 20 cm, so that the user can lean comfortably against the curve of the roller in the area above the patella.

[0030] Preferably, the device according to the invention also has a marking so that the user knows in which position to align this device according to the invention on the desk. Ideally, the device is positioned with its front edge (the front edge being the edge in front of the user's toes) directly below, level with the edge of the desk facing the user.

[0031] Figure 3 shows a user without the device according to the invention at a standing desk in several unfavorable body positions.

[0032] Figure 4shows a user standing at the device according to the invention, leaning against the roller with his thigh area + / - 10 cm above the patella while standing on the table. It is clearly visible that the posture is completely different, which is ultimately enforced by the arrangement of the roller and the thigh leaning against the roller, leading to a significantly improved medical-orthopaedic posture.

[0033] Figure 5 shows further examples of the possible use of the device, and Figure 5c also shows that the user can place his lower leg on the roller, which has a pleasant training effect.

[0034] Figure 6 shows the use of the furniture as a stool.

[0035] It is also possible to lock the castor using locking devices so that it can no longer rotate around its longitudinal axis, which simplifies its use as a stool.

[0036] Figure 7 shows the interaction of the side parts with the holders for the roller.

[0037] As mentioned, the increasingly sedentary behavior of the user at the desk leads to the users being physically less and less stressed and ultimately becoming increasingly physically unfit and suffering from the consequences of progressive muscle shortening and poor posture / muscle dysfunction.

[0038] The device according to the invention enables the user to counteract a permanently unfavourable posture when sitting and thus to improve his overall posture and also to alleviate the harmful consequences of excessive sedentary behaviour.

[0039] The standing area is preferably designed to be non-slip, meaning it has a slip resistance rating of R10 - R13, preferably R11 or R12. This can be achieved, for example, with a felt covering.

[0040] The roll is padded, but neither too soft nor too hard, so that it is comfortable to lean against the roll without painful pressure compressions occurring in the corresponding areas of the body with which the thigh leans against the roll, but on the other hand the roll is neither too soft nor too yielding.

[0041] The figures show four different height adjustments; this number can also be increased or decreased depending on the desired adjustment options.

[0042] The connecting rods are arranged between the side panels, as shown. These connecting rods have threads at their free ends that penetrate the side panels, allowing the connecting rods to securely fix the side panels using screws.

[0043] The surface of the roll can be made of leather, but also of a textile or another suitable material, such as artificial leather.

[0044] Preferably, the surface of the roll is removable so that it can be cleaned later.

Claims

1. Device for assisting a person when standing at a height-adjustable table, in particular a desk, the device being designed in the manner of a standing workstation chair having a base plate (1) on which two side parts (3a, 3b) are arranged at a distance from one another, the base plate (1) having a standing area (2) on which the user stands when using the device, and the side parts (3a, 3b) accommodating a roller at their upper end which lies between the side parts, the roller (4) preferably being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, the roller (4) being height-adjustable in such a way that it is arranged approximately 5 - 10 cm above the user's kneecap, the roller having padding, the standing area (2) having a non-slip surface, e.g. a felt covering or the like.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe roller (4) is in a position angled from the standing area (2) by approximately 60° to 80°, preferably 70° from the horizontal.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material of the device, in particular for the base plate (1) and the side parts (3a, 3b), is a multiplex carrier material.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side parts (3a, 3b) are connected by one or more connecting parts with which the side parts are held at a predetermined distance.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thaton the sides of the side parts (3a, 3b) which face one another, the side parts (3a, 3b) have a plurality of recesses (7) which are arranged one above the other, wherein a pair of opposite recesses (7) is each suitable for receiving the roller (4) and by forming a plurality of recesses one above the other the roller can be positioned at different heights above the base plate.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side parts are tubes or rods that have opposite receptacles for holding the roller.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller (4) has a diameter of 5 - 30 cm, preferably a diameter of 20 cm, and the roller has projections on its free end regions which can be inserted into the recesses of the side parts.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe base plate (1) has a size of approximately 600 mm x 800 mm and has a trough-like recess in which the anti-slip insert, e.g. a felt covering of the standing area, is arranged.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has an adjustable spacer bar (6) in the area below the roller, approximately where a user places his or her shoe or toe tips, the distance of which from the toe or shoe tip of the user can be adjusted at different positions.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side parts are made of wood, in particular plywood, metal, steel or the like.

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