US-12616301-B1 - Ergonomic seating system, tilt-lock control and remote powering method and apparatus

US12616301B1US 12616301 B1US12616301 B1US 12616301B1US-12616301-B1

Abstract

A work environment adjustment system includes multiple instances of controllable office equipment located within an office space, each instance associated with a specific office location and including an activator for controlling states of the instance, at least one presence sensor for detecting user presence within each space associated with each instance, and a master controller linked to each office equipment activator to control activation of each activator to control a current state of each instance. The master controller is programmed to perform the steps of receiving sensor signals from the at least a first presence sensor, determining user presence at each space associated with each instance, controlling states at each of the instances independent of user input when the space associated with the instance is vacant, and enabling user control of the state of each instance associated with a space that is occupied by a user.

Inventors

Jean-Paul Labrosse
Michael Xinjie Chu
Scott Sullivan

Assignees

STEELCASE INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240510

Claims (20)

1 . A workstation arrangement comprising: a control unit connectable to a worktop, the control unit having an input assembly attached to the worktop, the input assembly comprising a first surface and a second surface that is different than the first surface, the worktop connected to a height adjustment system configured to vertically adjust a position of the worktop between a first lower position and a second upper position; and a controller connected to the input assembly, the controller having a processor connected to a memory, the controller configured to store a first value corresponding to a sitting height of the worktop and to store a second value corresponding to a standing height of the worktop in the memory and programmed to perform the steps of: (i) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the first surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the sitting height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation; (ii) in response to a persistent touch activation via the first portion of the first surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop downward while the first surface remains activated; (iii) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the second surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the standing height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation of the second surface; and (iv) in response to a persistent touch activation of the first portion of the second surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop upward while the first surface remains activated, wherein the controller is further programmed to, upon activation of either the first or second surfaces while the controller is automatically moving the worktop toward one of the standing or sitting heights, halt movement of the worktop.
2 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces face substantially upward and substantially downward, respectively.
3 . The workstation arrangement of claim 2 wherein the first portion of the first surface is vertically above the first portion of the second surface.
4 . The workstation arrangement of claim 3 wherein the worktop includes an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the first surface is flush with the upper surface and the second surface is flush with the lower surface.
5 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the controller can detect a level of force applied to each of the first and second surfaces during persistent activation and wherein the controller controls the speed of movement of the worktop based at least in part on an applied persistent force.
6 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces face upward and are coplanar.
7 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the at least one quick touch and release activation via the first surface includes a sequence of quick touch and release activations.
8 . The workstation arrangement of claim 7 wherein the sequence includes a rapid succession of at least first and second quick touch and release activations.
9 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the at least one quick touch and release activation via the first surface includes a sequence of quick touch and release activations and wherein the at least one quick touch and release activation via the second surface includes a sequence of quick touch and release activations.
10 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to periodically move the worktop as a reminder encouraging a workstation arrangement user to use the input assembly to change the worktop height, wherein the periodic movement is restricted to a range about a current worktop height position so that during the period movement the user is supported at substantially the current worktop height.
11 . The workstation arrangement of claim 10 wherein the controller periodically moves the worktop as a reminder by causing the worktop to vibrate.
12 . The workstation arrangement of claim 10 further including a light indicator linked to the controller wherein the controller controls illumination of the light indicator as a reminder encouraging the workstation arrangement user to use the input assembly to change the worktop height.
13 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 further including a vibration transducer and a surface located at the workstation and operably coupled to the vibration transducer, the vibration transducer linked to the controller, the controller further programmed to periodically control the transducer to vibrate the surface thereby generating a signal that can be sensed by a workstation arrangement user, the signal for encouraging use of the input assembly to change the worktop height.
14 . The workstation arrangement of claim 13 wherein the surface operably coupled to the vibration transducer is a surface that at least periodically supports the workstation arrangement user so that the signal encouraging use can be haptically felt by the workstation arrangement user.
15 . The workstation arrangement of claim 14 wherein the surface operably coupled to the vibration transducer is an upper surface of the worktop.
16 . The workstation of claim 14 wherein the workstation includes a mat and wherein an upper surface of the mat forms the surface operably coupled to the vibration transducer.
17 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 further including an automatic safety cutoff assembly for detecting that worktop movement has been obstructed during movement and halting movement of the worktop irrespective of an activation state of the input device.
18 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the control unit that includes the first surface is mounted to the worktop and moves with the worktop as the worktop height is changed.
19 . The workstation arrangement of claim 2 wherein the worktop has an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the control unit is integrated into the worktop such that the first and second surfaces are substantially flush with the upper and lower surfaces, respectively.
20 . A workstation arrangement comprising: a control unit connectable to a worktop, the control unit having an input assembly attached to the worktop, the input assembly comprising a first surface and a second surface that is different than the first surface, the worktop connected to a height adjustment system configured to vertically adjust a position of the worktop between a first lower position and a second upper position; and a controller connected to the input assembly, the controller having a processor connected to a memory, the controller configured to store a first value corresponding to a sitting height of the worktop and to store a second value corresponding to a standing height of the worktop in the memory and programmed to perform the steps of: (i) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the first surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the sitting height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation; (ii) in response to a persistent touch activation of the first portion of the first surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop downward while the first surface remains activated; (iii) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the second surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the standing height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation of the second surface; and (iv) in response to a persistent touch activation of the first portion of the second surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop downward while the second surface remains activated, wherein the controller is further programmed to, upon activation of either the first or second surfaces while the controller is automatically moving the worktop toward one of the standing or sitting heights, halt movement of the worktop.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/063,893, filed on Oct. 6, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/810,353, filed on Mar. 5, 2020, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,863,825 on Dec. 15, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/507,704, filed on Jul. 10, 2019, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,631,640 on Apr. 28, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/115,008, filed on Aug. 28, 2018, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,390,620 on Aug. 27, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/689,849, filed on Aug. 29, 2017, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,085,562 on Oct. 2, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/409,041, filed Oct. 17, 2016, all of the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/063,893, filed on Oct. 6, 2020, is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/167,234, filed on Oct. 22, 2018, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,866,578 on Dec. 15, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/430,336, filed on Feb. 10, 2017, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,209,705 on Feb. 19, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/285,939, filed on Oct. 5, 2016, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,133,261 on Nov. 20, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/035,974, filed on Sep. 25, 2013, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,486,070 on Nov. 8, 2016, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/795,222, filed Oct. 10, 2012, all of the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field The present disclosure relates generally to powered furniture. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to powered rolling chairs that include electrical components and systems for providing such onboard components with remote power. The present disclosure also generally relates to devices and systems for benefiting the health and efficiency of workers in a workplace, and more particularly, to height-adjustable support surfaces and other devices to encourage health-benefiting movement by the worker. Chair Movement: A common misunderstanding is that sitting upright and straight in an office chair is the right way to sit at all times. To the contrary, many ergonomics experts have said “your best position is your next position” indicating that alternating between sitting upright and reclining slightly and other positions is ideal. This is because staying fixed in any one position can cause fatigue, lead to slouching, discomfort or other negative consequences. Sitting in an upright posture for a long period with the person's thigh to trunk angle at or near 90 degrees can cause a person's pelvis to rotate backwards, which in turn, flattens the normal lumbar curve of the user's spine. Changing the curvature of the spine in this manner has been found to significantly increase the lumbar disc pressure by as much as 40% compared to the disc pressure when standing. This increase in disc pressure can cause fatigue and lower back pain, and even pinched nerves. Lower back pain continues to be among the most common complaints for adults, and is one of the most common reasons given for doctor visits: According to a University of Missouri-Columbia School of Health Professions report, there is an 80% lifetime prevalence of low back pain for adults. At any given time, 20-30% of people will have back pain, and back pain is usually recurrent and often progressive. A spinehealth.com poll showed that 70% of all respondents report increased lower back pain after sitting at work (15% report no change and 15% report improved back pain—i.e., less). There are important benefits to change position while seated. The simple act of moving allows the user's muscles to effectively help pump blood throughout the user's body. Also, movement of the user's spine (for instance when reclining) can nourish and support health of discs of the user's vertebrae, and body movement of a user's joints is generally positive for joints and ligaments. All of this can support comfort and a reduction in the likelihood or incidence of back pain. In order to support users in changing positions regularly while seated, many current ergonomic chairs are designed with several different adjustments. However, once a chair is initially adjusted to fit a user, many users forget, or simply do not make use of the adjustment features for the purposes of changing the position during the day, due to lack of knowledge on how to make the adjustments, a lack of understanding of the benefits or due to being preoccupied with other priorities. Interestingly, often seated people seek to achieve different posture variations without adjusting the chair which can also have neg