Task oriented workstation with adjustable supports and variable assist pulley

Abstract

A task-oriented workstation having a plurality of adjustable supports and work surfaces. The supports are linked to work surfaces as well as holders for workstation paraphernalia such as monitors and keyboards. In preferred embodiments, each support is preferably highly articulated, offering multiple degrees of freedom, i.e., translation and rotation about the several axes. A feature of a workstation embodiment is a variable assist pulley used to provide biased approximated linear bias to an object to be elevated. Another feature concerns the ability to easily modify the initial level of elevation bias provided to a track mounted support. Additional features of the workstation include car-mounted horizontal supports and constant angle horizontal surfaces.

1 . A workstation element comprising: 
 a vertical column having a generally vertical track portion;    a car slidingly engagable with the vertical track portion, and having means for receiving a support arm; and    a motion arresting element pivotal relative to the car and having a track or column contacting portion whereby in a first mode, the coefficient of friction between the element and the track, column or track and column is insufficient to prevent bidirectional motion of the car relative to the track, and in a second mode, the coefficient of friction between the element and the track, column or track and column is sufficient to prevent at least unidirectional of the car relative to the track.    
   
   
       2 . The workstation element of  claim 1  wherein the motion arresting element comprises the support arm receiving means.  
   
   
       3 . The workstation element of  claim 1  wherein the motion arresting element engages the track or the column when biased in one direction but not another.  
   
   
       4 . The workstation element of  claim 1  wherein a longitudinal axis of the car remains congruent with an axis of the track or column during operation of the motion arresting element.  
   
   
       5 . The workstation element of  claim 1  wherein the support arm comprises a first vertical support member to which is coupled a first horizontal support having an extending portion wherein one of the first vertical support member is rotationally coupled to the support arm receiving means or the first horizontal support is rotationally coupled to the first vertical support member.  
   
   
       6 . The workstation element of  claim 5  wherein the support arm receiving means accommodates two support arms, and the workstation element further comprises a second vertical support member to which is coupled a second horizontal support having an extending portion wherein one of the second vertical support member is rotationally coupled to the support arm receiving means or the second horizontal support is rotationally coupled to the second vertical support member.  
   
   
       7 . The workstation element of  claim 6  further comprising a generally planar member linked to the extending portions of the first and the second horizontal supports.  
   
   
       8 . The workstation element of  claim 5  further comprising a peripheral support member rotationally attached to the extending portion.  
   
   
       9 . A workstation element comprising: 
 a vertical column having a generally vertical track portion;    a car slidingly engagable with the vertical track portion, and having means for receiving a support arm;    a variable assist pulley having a drum, and a rotational bias element linked to the drum and a mechanical ground; and    a cable having a first end linked to the drum and a second end linked to the car whereby motion of the car imparts motion to the variable assist pulley and vice versa.    
   
   
       10 . The workstation element of  claim 9  wherein a portion of the drum has a frusto-conical geometry.  
   
   
       11 . The workstation element of  claim 10  wherein the cable interfaces a different portion of the drum during each revolution thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The workstation element of  claim 9  wherein the drum circumference is user definable.  
   
   
       13 . The workstation element of  claim 12  wherein the drum defines an axis and a axially translatable diverging element radially displaces a surface of the drum.