Linkage-Arm Work Station for Focused and Collaborative Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional work stations are not conducive to collaborative or interactive work, requiring employees to leave their stations for collaborative activities, such as meetings in conference rooms, as they lack reconfigurability to accommodate both focused and collaborative work settings.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable work station with a pivotally connected linkage arm that allows the work surface to be moved to multiple positions relative to a fixed member, such as a wall panel or floor, enabling adjustment in position, orientation, and height, thereby facilitating both focused and collaborative work configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid work surface is used to provide stable support for devices, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to reconfigure the workspace for collaborative or focused work deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The work surface is made dynamically reconfigurable through a linkage mechanism with pivoting connections. The linkage arm connects the work surface pedestal to the wall panel, allowing the work surface to pivot between different positions and orientations while maintaining structural integrity during use. This enables transition between focused work configuration (work surface perpendicular to wall) and collaborative work configuration (work surface parallel to wall).
Solution Approach 2:
The workspace system is segmented into movable and fixed components. The work surface is separated from the wall panel through the linkage mechanism, allowing independent movement of the work surface while the wall panel remains fixed. This segmentation enables flexible reconfiguration without moving the entire wall structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If wall panels are arranged in fixed geometrical configurations to define work stations, then workspace definition is improved, but the flexibility to accommodate different work modes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed wall panel arrangement is combined with a dynamic work surface positioning system. The linkage mechanism allows the work surface to pivot between multiple positions (focused work, collaborative work, presentation modes) while the wall panels remain in their defined geometrical configuration, providing both stability and flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If employees leave their work stations for collaborative activities, then collaborative work capability is improved, but productivity loss due to movement and time spent traveling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The work station is designed with multi-functionality to accommodate both focused individual work and collaborative group work within the same physical location. The linkage mechanism enables the work surface to reconfigure for different work modes, eliminating the need for employees to physically relocate to conference rooms or meeting areas for collaborative activities.
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable work station includes a work surface supported atop a pedestal and base. A linkage arm is affixed to the base or pedestal at a first end and pivotally connected to a fixed member at a second end. The work station can pivot, with the linkage arm, about the fixed member to be selectively positioned in multiple positions. The pedestal may be height adjustable and the work surface may be rotatable atop the pedestal. Alternatively, the work station can include two pedestals and the linkage arm can be rotatably connected to one of the pedestals to rotate the work station, as well as to pivot the work station about the fixed member. A work space includes the work station and at least one wall panel, and a work space system includes multiple work spaces. Work stations within respective work spaces can be selectively positioned in focused or collaborative configurations.