US 6,270,157 B1Granted

Floppy desk

OwnerStanley Joseph Kapushinskiinventor

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Abstract

The floppy desk is designed to interface with a modern personal computer system. It is anthropometrically sized for the average of the 95th percentile of males and females. The floppy desk consists of an upper assembly and a support base. The upper assembly is composed of a tubular frame, a seat, an adjustable back and head rest, a foot platform, a computer support and a single plane work surface for monitor, keyboard and mouse. The support base is composed of a welded tubular frame with integral brackets for the upper assembly pivot and the shock absorber. The most important feature of the floppy desk is that the entire upper assembly reclines relative to the support base and maintains the operator's relative position to the monitor, keyboard, and computer. Reclining is achieved by the offset weight of the operator as he or she takes the seated position. Afterwards, as the operator vacates the seat, the unbalanced computer component weights cause the upper assembly to return to its horizontal position. The recline angle being adjustable by means of an adjusting knob/stop located between the upper assembly and the support base. A shock absorber or gas spring is provided between the upper assembly and support base to dampen the recline and return motion. The entire structure is designed to be assembled with simple bolted connections.

A computer desk or workstation comprising, in combination:

a) an upper assembly and support base;
b) said upper assembly consisting of a tubular frame having members, a single plane work surface, a seat, with back and head rests for an operator, a recline adjustment knob, a shock absorber, a foot platform, and a computer support surface;
c) a support base consisting of a rigid frame that provides a platform for supporting the upper assembly, an integral attaching means for the upper assembly, and an attachment point for said shock absorber;
d) a yoke that provides a means for mating the members of the tubular frame, a pivot pin journal, and a threaded hole for said recline adjustment knob;
e) a pivot pin that mates the yoke to the support base and provides a means of rotation for the upper assembly;
f) said recline adjustment knob for limiting the angle of recline of the upper assembly;
g) said shock absorber is a gas spring to damp the reclining or return motion of the upper assembly;
h) said tubular frame consisting of a front support tube, seat tube, a vertical support tube, and a side arm support tube, said yoke, and connecting brackets;
i) said single plane work surface attached to the upper portion of the tubular frame, providing a securing means for a monitor, and a keyboard, and includes a side arm area for the operators arm while using a pointing device such as a mouse, track ball, or digitizer;
j) said computer support surface attached to the front and vertical support tubes, and providing a mounting surface for securing a personal computer;
k) said foot platform fixed to the front support tube of the tubular frame providing a foot rest for the operator;
l) said seat is fixed or adjustable and supports the upper legs and buttocks of the operator;
m) said back and head rest is fixed or adjustable and supports the back and head of operators of varying upper body proportions;
n) a clip attached to the front edge of the single plane work surface that retains a small amount of pointing device cord.

11 more elements

Abstract

Claims19