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News Release
January 17, 2018
New Patent Offers Employers Effective Use of Sit-Stand Desks
Foot-Activated
SitStand SmartMat Simplifies Position Changes
Gainesville, Georgia. The U.S. Patent Office has issued a
Utility
Patent for a “Slidable Anti-Fatigue Mat” designed for use
with
sit-stand desks. The patent, effective January 9, 2018, was issued
to John C. Burkhalter, President of OiC Innovations.
The device described is an anti-fatigue mat which can be moved
back and forth under a desk with a foot-activated touch point.
Light
pressure with one foot on the activation spot moves the mat,
but
heavier foot pressure prevents movement for stability and
safety.
“The problem in using anti-fatigue mats with sit-stand desks is
that
while they’re excellent for standing, the mat gets in the way for
sitting,”
according to Burkhalter. "Chairs must either be pushed on top
of hard,
uncomfortable mats, or users must bend down to floor level to pick
up
and move the mat. These additional efforts can create or
exacerbate
back problems and discourage users from changing positions.”
The benefits and solutions outlined in the patent describe the
features
of the company's “Sit-Stand Smart Mat.” The product is designed
for
use on both carpets and hard surfaces, a feat achieved by
using
different materials for the activation areas. Made in the USA, the
mats
are customizable to obtain the desired ease of movement on all
types
of floor surfaces.
“By making it quick and easy to switch between sitting and
standing,
users cycle back and forth more often, and allows for the use of a
soft, comfortable anti-fatigue mat.” said Burkhalter. “This leads
to an
increase in standing time, which enhances the core purpose and
value of sit-stand desks. And for the many people who work at a
desk, this means a healthier and more productive work
environment."
Michael Craggs, CEO of the Micwilll Group and ErgoCanada.com
believes “For a sit-stand desk user, this is
the only product which
doesn’t introduce additional risk
factors associated with the movement
of the mat. It’s a uniquely
capable sit-stand anti-fatigue mat solution.”
Ergonomic office products and particularly sit
and stand desks have
become highly popular as employers seek to both
improve
employee health and increase productivity.
Large office furniture
companies
such as Herman-Miller and Steelcase have begun
mass-producing adjustable height desks, and
more ancillary products
are emerging.
OiC experimented with almost 50 mats and materials before finding
the right combination of movability, grip, stability and
compression.
John Fuire, owner of Prime Contract Sales in Huntington
Beach,
California says “The Sit-Stand SmartMat is an ingenious
product
because it’s so easy to re-position, but at the same time it’s
not
slippery. And it provides tremendous comfort when standing."
OiC Innovations, a subsidiary of E Biz
Communications, Inc., was
one of the first companies to manufacture a
sit-stand desktop for use
on existing desks. But that market
quickly became saturated as dozens
of large companies began producing
height-adjustable desks. A privately
held
company, OiC transitioned to other ergonomic products, such
as
the Sit-Stand SmartMat, which
is now patent-protected in the United
States. Patents for
the Mat are also pending in 37 other countries.
The company recently added a new manufacturing
partner to increase
the scale of production, but also plans to
explore licensing agreements
with other ergonomic organizations.
U.S. Patent No. 9,861,220
____________________________________________________
OiC
Innovations
3338
Harbour Point Pkwy
Gainesville,
GA 30506
John
Burkhalter, President
Phone
+ 1 404-840-4999
[email protected]
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