Dynamic workstation apparatus, methods, and systems

Abstract

Aspects of dynamic workstation apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed. One aspect disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a frame; an equipment support that is operable with the frame to position a piece of exercise equipment at a plurality of different equipment support heights relative to the frame; a work surface that is attachable to the frame and selectively positionable at a plurality of different work surface heights relative to the frame, the plurality of different work surface heights including at least a standing height and a seated height; and an actuator that is attachable to and operable with the frame to move the work surface within a range of movement including the plurality of different work surface heights while maintaining an orientation of the work surface relative to the frame.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a load bearing structural tube that extends between a lower portion that is vertically supportable on a floor and an upper portion that is spaced apart vertically from the lower portion;   a linear actuator that is contained within the load bearing structural tube, vertically supported by the load bearing structural tube when vertically supported by the floor, and selectively moveable between a plurality of heights relative to the floor, the plurality of heights including a standing height, a seated height, and a floor height;   a motor that is operatively attached to the linear actuator at a location proximate to the upper portion of the load bearing structural tube and electronically operable to cause vertical movements of the linear actuator within the range of movement responsive to a controller; and   a support arm that extends outside the load bearing structural tube and is operable to transfer vertical loading forces to the load bearing structural tube via the linear actuator at each height of the plurality of heights,   wherein the linear actuator is operable with the controller and the load bearing structural tube to move the support arm within the range of movement while maintaining an orientation of the support arm relative to the load bearing structural tube during the vertical movements.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the load bearing structural tube comprises an elongated opening and the support arm extends outwardly from the linear actuator through the elongated opening. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the load bearing structural tube comprises vertical walls forming a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape;   the elongated opening extends through the quadrilateral cross-sectional shape via a front wall of the vertical walls; and   the linear actuator is vertically and horizontally supported within the quadrilateral cross-sectional shape by interior surfaces of the vertical walls.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a free-standing or wall-attached frame, wherein the load bearing structural tube is part of the free-standing or wall-attached frame and the lower portion of the load bearing structural tube is vertically supported on the floor by the free-standing or wall-attached frame. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator is vertically supported by the lower portion of the load bearing structural tube and horizontally supported by the interior surfaces of the upper portion of the load bearing structural tube. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at the floor height, the support arm is adjacent a floor and accessible by a user when sitting on the floor;   at the seated height, the support arm is above the floor height and accessible by the user when sitting on a chair on the floor; and   at the standing height, the support arm is above the seated position and accessible by the user when standing on the floor.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of heights comprise:
 a squat height, at which the support arm is between the floor height and seated height and accessible by the user when squatting on the floor; and   a ceiling height, at which the support arm is above the standing height.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator comprises:
 an upper rotational bearing attached to the upper portion of the load bearing structural tube;   a lower rotational bearing attached to a lower portion of the load bearing structural tube;   a threaded rod that is vertically supported with the lower rotational bearing, horizontally supported with the upper rotational bearing and the lower rotational bearing, and rotatable between the upper rotational bearing and the lower rotational bearing with the motor; and   an actuator element comprising:
 threads that are operable with corresponding threads of the threaded rod to cause the vertical movements when the threaded rod is rotated with the motor, stabilize the support arm during the vertical movements, and maintain a vertical position of the support arm at each height of the plurality of heights when the threaded rod is not being rotated by the motor to cause the vertical movements; and 
 exterior surfaces that act on the interior surfaces of the load bearing structural tube to maintain the orientation of and stabilize the support arm during the vertical movements. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the linear actuator comprises a sprocket that operatively attaches the motor to the threaded rod at the location proximate to the upper portion of the load bearing structural tube so that linear actuator is operable with an input torque applied to the threaded rod by the motor via the sprocket. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is attached to the upper portion of the load bearing structural tube. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the motor is contained in the upper portion of the load bearing structural tube. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises an input device and a sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is operable to cause the vertical movements by directing electricity to the motor responsive to one or more of:
 control signals generated with the input device; and   voltage information obtained with the sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the controller comprises software operable to:
 prompt a user to manually cause the vertical movements with the input device;   prompt the user to set a timer;   automatically cause the vertical movements responsive to the timer; and   automatically stop the vertical movements responsive to the voltage information.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the controller is attached to the load bearing structural tube; and   the input device comprises a mobile device with a mobile application that is in data communication with the controller over a network and remotely operable to receive data from the sensor, activate the motor, and configure the controller.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the input device comprises a combination of a button, a display, a camera, a microphone, a screen, a switch, and a mobile device; and   the controller comprises a processing unit that attached to the load bearing structural tube, in data communication with the combination, and remotely configurable with the mobile device.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising a power source that is operable with the mobile application via the mobile device to power the motor and the controller. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the apparatus comprises an environment modulator that is attached to the load bearing structural tube, in data communication with the controller, and powered by the power source; and   the environment modulator comprises one or more of a full spectrum light, a fan, a heater, an air purifier, and a humidifier, and a speaker that is powered by the power source that is operable with the mobile application via the mobile device.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm is operable with the load bearing structural tube to position a work surface or an equipment at each height of the plurality of heights while maintaining the orientation of the support arm relative to the load bearing structural tube during the vertical movements. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the load bearing structural tube vertically and horizontally supports the linear actuator, the motor, and the support arm by resisting forces applied to interior surfaces of the load bearing structural tube by the linear actuator when moving the support arm within the range of movement.