Active workstation apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method provide various desk structures as workstations to receive a user, standing or sitting, walking or stationary, exercising or sedentary. A double duty desk system may include multiple, dedicated “sitting desks” at seated height and fixed to a shared “standing desk,” the height of whose desktop stands accessible to a user exercising on an exercise bike, treadmill, stepper, or the like. A user in an exercise (e.g., standing) position may view materials set on the standing desk and on the attached sitting desks and returns. Heights of desks may be permanently fixed, adjustable, powered, mechanized, manual, or a combination. A user may selectively exercise or sit, in order to read, browse online, attend webinars, edit, monitor, handwrite, type, lecture, listen, answer phones, make calls, develop software, or the like from a standing or sitting position, at will.

Wherefore, we claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a plurality of desktops integrally interdependent on a shared support structure for mechanical support above a supporting surface;   positioning a first user in a sitting position at a first desktop of the plurality of desktops during a first dedicated time;   positioning a second user in a sitting position at a second desktop of the plurality of desktops during a second dedicated time;   alternately positioning the first and second users, during respective first shared time and second shared time, at a third desktop, of the plurality of desktops, positioned to be accessible as a desk to at least one of the first and second users when in a standing position at a standing station proximate the supporting surface at a location spaced between the first and second desktops in a horizontal direction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 working by the first and second users simultaneously at the plurality of desktops.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 positioning an exercise device on the supporting surface at the standing station.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 using, by the first and second users, respectively, during the respective first and second shared times, both the exercise device and the third desktop.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 using, by the first and second users, respectively, the first and second desktops during the respective first and second dedicated times.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 alternately adjusting a third height corresponding to the third desktop in accordance with the respective heights of the first and second users during the respective first and second shared times.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing an exercise machine between the first and second desktops;   working, by one of the first and second users, at the third desktop while exercising in cooperation with the exercise machine during a first shared time; and   working, alternatingly, by the other of the first and second users, at the third desktop while exercising in cooperation with the exercise machine during a second shared time distinct from the first shared time.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 working by the first and second users at the first and second desktops, respectively, as dedicated desktops at first and second dedicated times, respectively, distinct from the first and second shared times, respectively.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 fixing the first desktop at a first height selected according to a first preference of the first user; and   fixing the second desktop at a second height selected according to a second preference of the second user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 fixing the third desktop at a third height selected according to a third preference alternatingly corresponding to the first and second users during the first and second shared times, respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing modular desktops having a plurality of available widths and available lengths;   selecting, by one of the first and second users, an arbitrary desktop having a first width and a first length based on the preference of the one of the first and second users; and   installing a corresponding arbitrary desktop as one of the first and second desktops associated with the one of the first and second users.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 positioning the first, second, and third desktops, interconnected by the supporting structure in cubical.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 positioning the exercise device between the first and second desktops absent any direct mechanical connection between the supporting structure and the exercise device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a wing desktop, laterally spaced between the first desktop and the third desktop, and translated transversely to a position behind the first and second desktop, with respect to the first user.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 positioning the first and second desktops and the wing desktop to be sufficiently high to be visible and manually accessible to, and sufficiently low not to interfere with exercising by, the one of the first and second users when working at the third desktop.   
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing a plurality of desktops integrally interdependent on a shared support structure for mechanical support above a supporting surface;   positioning a first user in a sitting position at a first desktop of the plurality of desktops;   positioning a second user in a sitting position at a second desktop of the plurality of desktops, the first and second users and first and second desktops being positioned on opposite sides of a third desktop of the plurality of desktops, the third desktop being positioned to be accessible from a standing position;   working by the first and second users at the third desktop as a shared desktop, shared in alternating first and second shares of time, respectively; and   working by the first and second users at the first and second desktops, respectively, as dedicated desktops at first and second dedicated times, respectively, distinct from the first and second shares of time, respectively.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 working simultaneously by the first and second users by a combination of accessing the first desktop, accessing the second desktop, accessing the third desktop, and exercising on an exercise device positioned proximate the third desktop and laterally between the first and second desktops.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus configured as a system of structurally integrated, shared, work stations, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of desktops, each desktop thereof having a working height corresponding thereto;   a support structure interconnecting the plurality of desktops to provide mechanical support in vertical, lateral, and transverse directions, mutually orthogonal to one another, above a supporting surface;   the plurality of desktops integrally connected to be interdependent with respect to one another and the support structure;   the plurality of desktops further comprising a first desktop positioned at a first height corresponding to a sitting height of a first user, a second desktop positioned at a second height corresponding to a sitting height of a second user, and a third desktop positioned at a third height corresponding to the standing height of at least one of the first and second users and placed between the first and second desktops; and   the first and second desktops, each positioned to receive a user working thereat simultaneously; and   the third desktop positioned to receive a user working thereat simultaneously while at least one of the first and second desktops is occupied.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising an exercise device positioned proximate the third desktop to be simultaneously accessible and usable by a user working at the third desktop. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first and second desktops are configured to be at least one of adjustable, fixable, and fixed at a height corresponding to a seated user;   the third desktop is adjustable to correspond to the height of any of a plurality of users;   the first, second, and third desktops are positioned to be all occupied simultaneously; and   the third desk and supporting structure are configured to receive an arbitrary exercise machine selectively chosen, removable, and positionable for use by a user working thereat.