Customer lobby adjustable work surface and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting transactions with people of varying heights at a customer work lobby assembly of service stations. The method may include directing a person of short stature to a service station comprising a vertically adjustable work surface; vertically adjusting the vertically adjustable work surface from a vertical working position to a lower vertical working position to conduct transactions with the person of short stature; conducting the transactions with the person of short stature; and adjusting the adjustable work surface to the vertical working position upon completion of said transactions with the person of short stature. The service station having the vertically adjustable work surface is not physically attached to the service assembly and is positioned within the service assembly to appear uniform with a plurality of service stations having non-vertically adjustable work surfaces when the vertically adjustable work surface is at the vertical working position.

1 . A method for simultaneously conducting transactions with people of varying heights at a common customer work lobby assembly of service stations comprising:
 directing a person of short stature to a service station comprising a vertically adjustable work surface, wherein said service station appears uniform with service stations in the customer lobby assembly comprising non-vertically adjustable work surfaces when the vertically adjustable work surface is positioned at a first vertical working position;   vertically adjusting the vertically adjustable work surface from the first vertical working position to a second vertical working position to conduct a transaction with the person of short stature;   conducting the transaction with the person of short stature;   conducting a transaction with a person not of short stature at one of the service stations comprising a non-vertically adjustable work surface at the same customer lobby assembly and at the same time the transaction is being conducted with the person of short stature; and   adjusting the vertically adjustable work surface to the first vertical working position upon completion of said transaction with the person of short stature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein directing the person of short stature to the service station having the vertically adjustable work surface includes providing one or more visual cues identifying the vertically adjustable work surface service station as accommodating persons of short stature. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a person of short stature includes wheelchair bound individuals. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a person of short stature includes individuals with a height of about 58 inches or less. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vertically adjustable work surface is at a height of about 40 inches at the first vertical working position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vertically adjustable work surface is at a height of about 34 inches at the second vertical working position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the vertically adjustable work surface includes activating a linear actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating a linear actuator is performed by pressing a button located at the service station with the vertically adjustable work surface. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The customer lobby service assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the second service station further comprises a support frame; and
 one or more leg subassemblies, wherein each leg subassembly includes a receiving column, a retractable leg housed within said receiving column, and a base.   
     
     
         11 . The customer lobby service assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator, said linear actuator is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an electro-mechanical actuator, and a telescoping linear actuator. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The customer lobby service assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first height is about 40 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The customer lobby service assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the second height is about 34 inches. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The customer lobby service assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said first and second service stations are bank teller service station windows. 
     
     
         18 . The customer lobby service assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said first and second service stations are hotel lobby service stations. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A customer lobby service assembly comprising
 a first service station comprising a non-adjustable work surface, wherein the non-adjustable work surface is fixed at a first height;   a second service station comprising an adjustable work surface, wherein the first service station and second service station are joined to form at least a portion of the customer lobby service assembly; and   an actuator operably associated with the adjustable work surface, wherein activation of the actuator causes vertical displacement of the adjustable work surface from the first height to a second height, wherein the customer lobby service assembly appears as a uniform plurality of service stations when the adjustable work surface is positioned at the first height.   
     
     
         21 . The customer lobby service assembly of  claim 20  further comprising one or more additional service stations comprising a non-adjustable work surface. 
     
     
         22 . The customer lobby service assembly of  claim 21  further comprising one or more additional service stations comprising an adjustable work surface.