Ergonomic method for working in confined work spaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11723469-B2
Application number	US-202117550362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2021
Priority date	Dec 14, 2021
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

An ergonomic method for working in confined work spaces is disclosed. The method, in some cases, includes the steps of: a) providing a support structure that is generally in the configuration of a rectangular prism having six faces, a length, width, and a height in which the length, width, and height differ from one another so that the structure provides three different height positions when the support structure is placed on the floor of the workspace; b) placing the support structure with one of its faces in contact with a contoured floor surface in a confined work space; and c) sitting or standing on the support structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ergonomic method for working in confined work spaces, said method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a support structure that is generally in the configuration of a rectangular prism having six faces, a length, width, and a height, wherein the length, width, and height differ from one another so that said support structure provides three different height positions when said support structure is placed on the floor of a work space;
b) placing the support structure with one of its faces in contact with a contoured floor surface in a confined work space, wherein the support structure has a top surface that faces upward when the support structure is placed on a surface and a bottom surface that is placed upon the floor of the work space so that the top surface of the support structure is spaced a first distance from the floor of the work space, wherein the support structure is compressible so that the bottom surface will conform to the configuration of the floor of the work space sufficiently so that the support structure will provide a flat, level top surface for the worker to sit or stand upon when any of the faces is placed in contact with the floor of the work space; and
c) sitting or standing on said support structure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said contoured floor surface is curved.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said contoured floor surface is concave.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said contoured floor surface has protrusions thereon.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said contoured floor surface has protrusions thereon.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
d) changing position from a sitting or standing position on top of the support structure so that no weight is placed on the support structure, and the support structure can be turned;
e) turning the support structure onto a different face to form a new top surface wherein the new top surface of the support structure is spaced a second distance from the floor of the work space, and the second distance differs from the first distance; and
f) sitting or standing on the new top surface of the support structure that provides a different height above the floor of the work surface.

7. An ergonomic method for working in a confined work space having an entry opening wherein the interior of the confined space is lower than the entry opening, and the confined space has a floor surface to support a person therein, wherein the floor surface is contoured, said method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a support structure that is generally in the configuration of a rectangular prism having six faces, a length, width, and a height, wherein the length, width, and height differ from one another so that said structure provides three different height positions when said structure is placed on a floor surface, wherein the support structure is compressible so that the bottom surface will conform to the configuration of the contoured floor surface sufficiently so that the support structure will provide a flat, level top surface for the worker to sit or stand upon when any of the faces is placed in contact with the floor surface;
b) lowering the support structure onto the floor surface of the confined space so that one of its faces is in contact with the surface of the confined space;
c) entering the entry opening of the confined space and standing on the support structure;
d) changing from a standing position to sitting on said support structure to perform work within the confined space;
e) changing from a sitting position to standing on the support structure to exit the confined space, and exiting the confined space; and
f) removing the support structure from the confined space.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the floor surface is curved.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the floor surface is concave.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the floor surface has protrusions thereon.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the floor surface has protrusions thereon.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the confined work space is the inside of an aircraft fuel tank.

Assignees

• Us Gov Air Force
• Us Air Force

Inventors

• Fowler Eric
• Hayes Michael
• Eversley Kevin

Classifications

• A47C5/125 Primary

  completely made of foam material · CPC title

• A47C3/16 Primary

  of legless type, e.g. with seat directly resting on the floor (A47C3/14 takes precedence); Hassocks; Pouffes · CPC title

• A47C9/00

  Stools for specified purposes · CPC title

• A47C15/004

  Seating furniture for specified purposes not covered by main groups A47C1/00 or A47C9/00 · CPC title

• B64F5/40

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title