Apparatus and method for a sit-stand workstation

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and a workstation that includes a work table, wherein the work table includes: a first work surface and a second work surface, wherein the second work surface is configured to have vertical movement such that the second work surface can be selectively placed in a first plurality of vertical positions relative to the first work surface, and a first motor operatively coupled to the second work surface and configured to power the vertical movement of the second work surface; and a plurality of legs coupled to the work table, wherein the plurality of legs is configured to support the work table above a ground surface, and wherein the plurality of legs includes a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the plurality of legs such that the work table can be selectively placed in a plurality of height configurations relative to the ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A workstation comprising:
 a work table, wherein the work table includes:
 a plurality of work surfaces including a first work surface and a second work surface, wherein the second work surface is configured to have vertical movement relative to the first work surface such that the second work surface can be selectively placed in a first plurality of vertical positions relative to the first work surface, and 
 a first motor operatively coupled to the second work surface and configured to power the vertical movement of the second work surface; and 
   a plurality of legs coupled to the work table, wherein the plurality of legs is configured to support the work table above a ground surface, and wherein the plurality of legs includes a lift mechanism configured to increase or decrease a vertical extent of the plurality of legs such that the work table can be selectively placed in a plurality of height configurations relative to the ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of vertical positions of the second work surface includes a lowest vertical position, and wherein the second work surface is flush with the first work surface when the second work surface is in the lowest vertical position. 
     
     
         3 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of work surfaces further includes a third work surface that is in an offset-height configuration relative to the first work surface. 
     
     
         4 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of work surfaces further includes a third work surface that is in an offset-height configuration relative to the first work surface, wherein the first plurality of vertical positions of the second work surface includes a lowest vertical position, and wherein the second work surface is flush with the third work surface when the second work surface is in the lowest vertical position. 
     
     
         5 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of work surfaces further includes a third work surface, wherein the third work surface is configured to have vertical movement such that the third work surface can be selectively placed in a second plurality of vertical positions relative to the first work surface, and wherein the first motor is further configured to power the vertical movement of the third work surface such that the vertical movement of the third work surface is simultaneous with the vertical movement of the second work surface. 
     
     
         6 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of work surfaces further includes a third work surface, wherein the third work surface is configured to have vertical movement such that the third work surface can be selectively placed in a second plurality of vertical positions relative to the first work surface, the work table further including:
 a second motor operatively coupled to the third work surface and configured to power the vertical movement of the third work surface such that the vertical movement of the third work surface is independent of the vertical movement of the second work surface.   
     
     
         7 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of work surfaces further includes a third work surface, wherein the third work surface is configured to have vertical movement such that the third work surface can be selectively placed in a second plurality of vertical positions relative to the first work surface, wherein the second work surface is flush with the third work surface and in an offset-height configuration relative to the first work surface when both the first work surface and the second work surface are in a lowest vertical position. 
     
     
         8 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of legs includes a first leg coupled to a first side of the work table and a second leg coupled to a second side of the work table, the workstation further comprising:
 a horizontal bracket coupled between the first leg and the second leg in order to provide side-to-side stabilization for the workstation.   
     
     
         9 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the work table further includes an operator switch configured to provide user control for the first motor. 
     
     
         10 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the work table further includes:
 a first operator switch configured to provide user control for the first motor, and   a second operator switch configured to provide user control for the lift mechanism of the plurality of legs.   
     
     
         11 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of vertical positions of the second work surface includes a lowest vertical position, wherein the second work surface is flush with the first work surface when the second work surface is in the lowest vertical position, and wherein the work table further includes an operator switch configured to provide user control for the first motor. 
     
     
         12 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of vertical positions of the second work surface includes a lowest vertical position, wherein the second work surface is flush with the first work surface when the second work surface is in the lowest vertical position, wherein the plurality of legs includes a first leg coupled to a first side of the work table and a second leg coupled to a second side of the work table, the workstation further comprising:
 a horizontal bracket coupled between the first leg and the second leg in order to provide side-to-side stabilization for the workstation.   
     
     
         13 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of work surfaces further includes a third work surface that is in an offset-height configuration relative to the first work surface, wherein the plurality of legs includes a first leg coupled to a first side of the work table and a second leg coupled to a second side of the work table, the workstation further comprising:
 a horizontal bracket coupled between the first leg and the second leg in order to provide side-to-side stabilization for the workstation.   
     
     
         14 . The workstation of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of work surfaces further includes a third work surface, wherein the third work surface is configured to have vertical movement such that the third work surface can be selectively placed in a second plurality of vertical positions relative to the first work surface, the work table further including:
 a second motor operatively coupled to the third work surface and configured to power the vertical movement of the third work surface such that the vertical movement of the third work surface is independent of the vertical movement of the second work surface,   a first operator switch configured to provide user control for the first motor,   a second operator switch configured to provide user control for the second motor, and   a third operator switch configured to provide user control for the lift mechanism of the plurality of legs.   
     
     
         15 . A method for forming a workstation comprising:
 providing a work table that includes a plurality of work surfaces including a first work surface and a second work surface, wherein the second work surface is configured to have vertical movement relative to the first work surface such that the second work surface can be selectively placed in a first plurality of vertical positions relative to the first work surface;   providing a first motor;   operatively coupling the first motor to the second work surface in order to provide power for the vertical movement of the second work surface;   providing a plurality of legs; and   coupling the plurality of legs to the work table, wherein the plurality of legs supports the work table above a ground surface, and wherein the plurality of legs includes a lift mechanism configured to increase or decrease a vertical extent of the plurality of legs such that the work table can be selectively placed in a plurality of height configurations relative to the ground surface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of work surfaces further includes a third work surface, wherein the third work surface is configured to have vertical movement such that the third work surface can be selectively placed in a second plurality of vertical positions relative to the first work surface, the method further comprising:
 providing a second motor; and   operatively coupling the second motor to the third work surface in order to provide power for the vertical movement of the third work surface such that the vertical movement of the third work surface is independent of the vertical movement of the second work surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of work surfaces further includes a third work surface, wherein the third work surface is configured to have vertical movement such that the third work surface can be selectively placed in a second plurality of vertical positions relative to the first work surface, the method further comprising:
 operatively coupling the first motor to the third work surface in order to provide power for the vertical movement of the third work surface such that the vertical movement of the third work surface is simultaneous with the vertical movement of the second work surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of legs includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the coupling of the plurality of legs to the work table includes attaching the first leg to a first side of the work table and attaching the second leg to a second side of the work table, the method further comprising:
 providing a horizontal bracket; and   connecting the horizontal bracket between the first leg and the second leg in order to provide side-to-side stabilization for the workstation.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing an operator switch;   electrically connecting the operator switch to the first motor in order to provide user control for the first motor; and   attaching the operator switch to the work table.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a work table that includes a plurality of work surfaces;   means for raising and lowering at least one of the plurality of work surfaces relative to another one of the plurality of work surfaces; and   means for supporting the work table above a ground surface, wherein the means for supporting the work table includes means for changing a height of the means for supporting.