Adjustable and stowable workstation assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workstations do not efficiently adjust to user posture changes and occupy excessive space when not in use, impacting user satisfaction and ergonomic positioning.
Innovation Solution
An articulating arm assembly with a stowable workstation that translates between stowed and extended orientations, featuring a height-adjustable arm and a keyboard tray that folds for space-saving storage, allowing easy adjustment of electronic devices and input devices relative to a structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the workstation is mounted in an extended orientation for use, then user accessibility and ergonomic positioning are improved, but the space occupied by the workstation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The workstation is designed with dynamic positioning capabilities through an articulating arm assembly that allows the workstation to be moved between a stowed orientation (close to the mounting location) and an extended orientation (away from the mounting location). This dynamic adjustment enables the workstation to adapt to different usage states, providing easy accessibility when needed while minimizing space occupation when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The workstation utilizes vertical mounting on a wall or structure, transitioning from traditional horizontal desk occupation to vertical space utilization. The articulating arm assembly allows the workstation to extend horizontally when needed while maintaining a compact vertical profile when stowed, effectively using another spatial dimension to resolve the contradiction between accessibility and space occupation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the workstation is frequently adjusted to match user posture changes, then ergonomic positioning is improved, but the complexity of manipulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating arm assembly provides multiple adjustment functions including height adjustment and articulation movements, allowing the workstation to adapt to various user postures and positions. This multi-functional design consolidates several adjustment capabilities into a single mechanism, enabling ergonomic adaptation without proportionally increasing manipulation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating arm assembly allows continuous adjustment of multiple parameters including height, horizontal position, and articulation angle. These parameter changes enable the workstation to match varying user postures throughout the day, providing ergonomic versatility while maintaining relatively simple manipulation through standardized adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A workstation holding one or more electronic devices, e.g., a display, keyboard, or the like, can be mounted on a structure, e.g., a wall, using an articulating arm assembly including one or more arms. The one or more arms can be rotatingly coupled to the structure on one end and a work surface can be coupled to the other end. At least one of the one or more arms can be height adjustable. The workstation can rotate about a horizontal axis between a use configuration and a storage configuration. The one or more arms can be configured to translate the workstation between a contracted orientation and extended orientation. The height adjustable arm can include a counterbalance mechanism to counter a weight of the one or more components coupled to the workstation. A tension of the one or more springs contained in the counterbalance mechanism can be adjustable.