Ergonomic workstation

Abstract

An ergonomic workstation with a reduced or minimal footprint comprises a modified treadmill component and a workstation component. In one embodiment, a substantial portion of the workstation's support structure fits under the treadmill component so that the overall footprint of the treadmill workstation is minimized. Additional lateral stability of the workstation component is ensured by its proximal location under the heavy treadmill component. A vertical support extends from the base of the workstation component and supports a vertically oriented desk and monitor. In another embodiment, a single vertical workstation support enables adjustability at more than one point. Because both the screen and the desk are connected to the single vertical support, a user may quickly adjust both the desk surface and the viewing monitor to appropriate, individually tailored heights with minimum effort. Once these adjustments are accomplished, the user may simultaneously type on a keyboard at a customized desk height, view a screen at customized eye level, and walk on the treadmill and reduce stress to the user's body.

1 . An article of furniture, comprising:
 an exercise element;   a substantially flat base having a first portion sized and configured to engage with a lower surface of the exercise platform;   a support structure extending from a second portion of the base and arranged toward a first end of an exercise element, the support structure having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is attached to the base;   a work platform attached to the support structure, wherein the work platform is adjustable relative to the support structure; and   a viewing monitor attached to the support structure at about the proximal end, wherein the monitor location is adjustable relative to the support structure.   
     
     
         2 . An ergonomic workstation, comprising:
 a workstation having a support base in communication with an exercise device, the support base comprising an elongate tongue to engage with a base of the exercise device, wherein the elongate tongue has an adjustable length and width to secure the base to the exercise device;   a generally vertical hollow telescoping support structure extending from the base upward having a first end attached to the base and a second end opposite the first end;   an adjustable work platform attached to the support structure;   an adjustable viewing monitor attached to the support structure at about the second end, wherein the monitor location is vertically adjustable between the second end and the work platform; and   a plurality of electrical connections extending from at least the viewing monitor through the hollow support structure to a central processing unit supported on the base.   
     
     
         3 . An article of furniture, comprising:
 an exercise platform;   a support structure extending from an upper surface of a first end of the exercise platform, the support structure having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end telescopes in a vertical direction;   a work platform attached to the support structure; and   a viewing monitor attached to the support structure at about the proximal end, wherein the monitor location is adjustable between the proximal end and the work platform.   
     
     
         4 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein any significant contact between the work platform and the exercise platform is significantly buffered by material that substantially prevents transfer of motion, transfer of vibration, and transfer of impulse between the two platforms. 
     
     
         5 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein the substantially vertical support is located on the bilateral axis of symmetry of the exercise platform. 
     
     
         6 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein the manipulation of the platform's exercise functions can be accomplished through the work platform. 
     
     
         7 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein the viewing monitor and the work platform may be independently adjusted. 
     
     
         8 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein the support structure comprises a single vertical support member, and wherein electrical connections related to the function of at least one of the viewing monitor, the computer, and the exercise platform, are substantially housed interior to the single vertical support. 
     
     
         9 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , where the viewing monitor and the work platform may be vertically adjusted at a constant ratio. 
     
     
         10 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , where a computer enclosure to prevent access is attached to the work platform. 
     
     
         11 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , where the operation of the work platform is exclusively maintained and adjusted by computer software that has been installed onto the operating system of a computer which is attached to any other component on the workstation. 
     
     
         12 . An article of furniture according to  claim 11 , where a single power cable supplies power to both the work platform and exercise platform. 
     
     
         13 . An article of furniture according to  claim 11 , including tamper proof means of securing the viewing monitor and computer's processing unit. 
     
     
         14 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , where a desk surface or work surface associated with the work platform is tilt adjustable in relation to the support structure. 
     
     
         15 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , where the viewing monitor may be a laptop computer that has been provided by an individual user and connected with any of the work additional components. 
     
     
         16 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , where the work platform features a laptop docking station that allows a user to connect his or her laptop to other components of the work platform. 
     
     
         17 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , where the viewing monitor is tilt adjustable. 
     
     
         18 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , where adjustment of the work platform is accomplished by at least one vertically oriented screw that is attached to at least one bevel gear. 
     
     
         19 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein adjustment of the work platform and monitor are accomplished by at least one pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         20 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein said adjustment is accomplished by at least one vertically oriented screw that is powered by an electric motor. 
     
     
         21 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein one or more substantially horizontal desk surfaces are attached to any of the supports disclosed herein. 
     
     
         22 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein one or more computer displays are attached to either a second vertical support or the third vertical support. 
     
     
         23 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , further comprising a treadmill associated with the exercise platform and treadmill struts or stabilizers operably connected to the treadmill that dissipate undesired transferred movement by a user of treadmill. 
     
     
         24 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein the support structure includes at least one vertical support member, and wherein struts or stabilizers or deployable struts or stabilizers are connected to any vertical support member. 
     
     
         25 . An article of furniture according to  claim 24 , wherein the means of connection to or between any of the vertical support members employ any material known to absorb an impulsive force, vibratory motion, or oscillatory motion. 
     
     
         26 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein a shroud is employed to obscure at least one side of the user's lower body. 
     
     
         27 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , including a treadmill associated with the exercise platform and wherein the treadmill features a padded or otherwise modified track that is designed to dampen the noise of foot impact thereon as the treadmill is used. 
     
     
         28 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein the exercise platform comprises a treadmill and supports that benefit the stabilization of the work platform more than they benefit the stabilization of the treadmill itself; where said treadmill features structures or supports that are exclusively intended to stabilize a part of the work platform or its vertical support. 
     
     
         29 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , wherein the work platform includes a desk surface that is foldable approximately 90 degrees from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. 
     
     
         30 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , including a fixed on pad or cushion located on the desk surface that is useful for both absorbing accidental user collision against desk edges and increasing stability of a users arms and or wrists by absorbing transferred motion. 
     
     
         31 . An article of furniture according to  claim 3 , including one or more ramps that allow a user to easily roll a chair onto a deck of a treadmill. 
     
     
         32 . An ergonomic, space-saving treadmill workstation comprising: a base, at least one hollow member extending as a vertical support from said base, which hollow member can substantially conceal wire that may be related or unrelated to the treadmill's functions; and one or more substantially horizontal desk surfaces supported by at least one of the said vertical supports. 
     
     
         33 . An article of furniture according to  claim 32 , wherein the weight of the second support may also include a third support that is connected to the second vertical support through connection means permitting vertical adjustment of the third vertical support relative to the first and the second vertical supports. 
     
     
         34 . An article of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the work platform is attached to the support structure by means of an adjustable arm; and   the viewing monitor is attached to the support structure by means of an adjustable arm.