Technician's work chair

1. A technician's work chair comprising:

a frame having a first forward leg portion, a second forward leg portion and a rearward leg portion, the frame further having, a seat supporting portion located proximate the rearward leg portion and extending at least partially over the rearward leg portion, a tool supporting portion and a hardware supporting portion installed to the frame proximate one of the first forward leg portion or the second forward leg portion, the first forward leg portion extending forward from the seat supporting portion, the second forward leg portion extending forward from the seat supporting portion such that the first forward leg portion and the second forward leg portion define an angle therebetween that is an obtuse angle α 1 greater than 100 degrees;

a first air cushion device attached to the first forward leg portion proximate a distal end thereof;

a second air cushion device attached to the second forward leg portion proximate a distal end thereof;

a third air cushion device attached to the rearward leg portion proximate a distal end thereof, each of the first air cushion device, the second air cushion device and the third air cushion device being spaced apart from one another and being supplied with compressed air; and

a seat assembly having a cushion portion and a seatback portion, the cushion portion being attached to the seat supporting portion of the frame and the seatback portion having an inclination adjusting mechanism operable to change an angle of inclination of the seatback portion relative to the frame such that a technician seated in the seat assembly ergonomically operates tools and completes tasks with arms raised over the technician's head, the seat assembly and the frame being positioned such that a forward most portion of the cushion portion is located rearward of the first forward leg portion and the second forward leg portion, the cushion portion being cantilevered in a forward direction from the seat supporting portion of the frame;

wherein

the frame, the seat assembly and the air cushion assembly are dimensioned and configured such that with the technician seated in the seat assembly the technician's feet freely engage the floor surface in order to move the frame and the seat assembly using his/her feet with little or no effort due to near friction free characteristics provided by the air cushion assembly, and wherein the technician's feet engage the floor at a location that is between respective distal ends of the first forward leg portion and the second forward leg portion.

2. The technician's work chair according to claim 1 , further comprising

an electronic task guiding system attached to the frame, the electronic task guiding system being configured to provide the technician with task related signals, and wherein

the electronic task guiding system includes a communication link to an assembly plant monitoring system, the link being one of a wireless communication device or a direct wired connection.

3. The technician's work chair according to claim 2 , wherein

the electronic task guiding system includes an electronic controller and at least one light with a task switch, the light being illuminated in response to determining that the technician has started performing a specific task, and

in response to the technician operating the task switch, the electronic controller of the electronic task guiding system sends a signal to the assembly plant monitoring system that indicates completion of the specific task.

4. The technician's work chair according to claim 1 , wherein

the seat assembly includes at least one work light attached thereto that is configured for flexible movement in order to aim the at least one work light.

5. The technician's work chair according to claim 1 , wherein

the tool supporting portion includes at least one bracket dimensioned and positioned to removably retain an electric tool retained therein such that the at least one bracket positions the electric tool at a height above the cushion portion of the seat assembly and to one side of the seat assembly, and

the hardware supporting portion includes at least one hardware bin adjacent to the tool supporting portion, the at least one of a hardware bin being installed to the frame such that the technician can retrieve a corresponding one of hardware or a part therefrom for installation to an underside of a vehicle, the at least one hardware bin being at a height located proximate the technicians waist line and to one lateral side of the cushion portion of the seat assembly.

6. The technician's work chair according to claim 1 , wherein

the first air cushion device and the second air cushion device are spaced apart from one another by a first distance, the first air cushion device and the second air cushion device both being spaced apart from the third air cushion device by a second distance, the second distance being less that 80 percent of the first distance.

7. The technician's work chair according to claim 1 , wherein

the cushion portion of the seat assembly extends in a forward direction relative to the frame and is supported to the seat supporting portion of the frame via a pneumatic mechanism that is operated for height adjustment of the cushion portion by mechanical switches that control amounts of compressed air from a compressed air source.

8. The technician's work chair according to claim 1 , wherein

the inclination adjusting mechanism of the seatback portion of the seat assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder supplied with compressed in from a compressed air source, the pneumatic cylinder being connected to a switching mechanism configured to manipulate air pressure within the pneumatic cylinder to change an angle of inclination of the seatback portion.

9. A technician's work chair comprising:

a frame having a plurality of leg portions, a seat supporting portion, a tool supporting portion and a hardware supporting portion installed to the frame, the frame having a V-shape as viewed from above;

a plurality of air cushion devices, each of the plurality of air cushion devices being attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of leg portions of the frame, each of the plurality of air cushion devices being supplied with compressed air;

a seat assembly having a cushion portion and a seatback portion, the cushion portion being supported to the seat supporting portion of the frame and the seatback portion having an inclination adjusting mechanism operable to change an angle of inclination of the seatback portion relative to the frame such that a technician seated in the seat assembly ergonomically operates tools and completes tasks with arms raised over the technician's head;

a work light attached to the seat assembly that is configured for flexible movement for aiming the work light; and

at least one hardware bin fixed to the frame such that the technician can retrieve hardware or a part therefrom for installation to an underside of a vehicle,

the plurality of air cushion portions including a first air cushion device attached to the frame at a location forward of and to a first side of the seat assembly, a second air cushion device attached to the frame at a location forward of and a second side of the seat assembly, and a third air cushion device attached to frame below the seat supporting portion below the seat assembly, each of the first air cushion device, the second air cushion device and the third air cushion device being spaced apart from one another and each being supplied with compressed air from a compressed air source, wherein

the frame having the V-shape, the seat assembly and the plurality of air cushion devices are dimensioned and configured such that with the technician seated in the seat assembly the technician's feet freely engage the floor surface in order to move the frame and seat assembly using his/her feet with little or no effort due to near friction free characteristics provided by the plurality of air cushion devices, and wherein the technician's feet engage the floor at a location that is within a space defined by the V-shape of the frame.

10. The technician's work chair according to claim 9 , wherein

the plurality of leg portions including a first forward leg portion, a second forward leg portion and a rearward leg portion, the frame further having, a seat supporting portion located proximate the rearward leg portion, a tool supporting portion and a hardware supporting portion installed to the frame proximate one of the first forward leg portion or the second forward leg portion.

11. The technician's work chair according to claim 10 , wherein

the first air cushion device is attached to the first forward leg portion proximate a distal end thereof, the second air cushion device is attached to the second forward leg portion proximate a distal end thereof, and the third air cushion device is attached to the rearward leg portion proximate a distal end thereof.

12. The technician's work chair according to claim 11 , wherein

the cushion portion of the seat assembly is a saddle style seat with a rear section and a forward section, the rear section having a first width and the forward section having a second width, the first width being greater than the second width, the forward section of the seat assembly being cantilevered forward from the seat supporting portion of the frame.

13. The technician's work chair according to claim 12 , wherein

the seatback portion is inclined rearward from the cushion portion, an angle of inclination of the seatback portion being adjusted via a pneumatic cylinder operated by a pair of mechanical switches installed to one side of the seatback portion, and

the cushion portion of the seat assembly is supported to the seat supporting portion of the frame via a pneumatic mechanism that is operated for height adjustment of the cushion portion by mechanical switches that control amounts of compressed air from the compressed air source.

14. The technician's work chair according to claim 13 , wherein

the cushion portion of the seat assembly includes a pressure switch that operates a shutoff valve connected to the compressed air source such that with the cushion portion being vacant, the pressure switch operates the shutoff valve to close, cutting off flow of compressed air to at least the first air cushion device, the second air cushion device, the third air cushion device, the pneumatic mechanism and the pneumatic cylinder, and

with the cushion portion occupied by the technician, the pressure switch operates the shutoff valve to open such that compressed air flows to at least the first air cushion device, the second air cushion device and the third air cushion device, the third air cushion device, the pneumatic mechanism and the pneumatic cylinder.

15. The technician's work chair according to claim 11 , wherein

the first air cushion device and the second air cushion device are supplied with compressed air at a first air pressure, and the third air cushion device is supplied with compressed air at a second air pressure, the second air pressure being greater than the first air pressure.

16. The technician's work chair accordion to claim 11 , wherein

the first air cushion device and the second air cushion device are supplied with compressed air via an air line having a first diameter, and the third air cushion device is supplied with compressed air via an air line having a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

17. The technician's work chair according to claim 11 , further comprising

an air pressure regulator installed to the frame between the compressed air source and the first, second and third air cushion devices such that the first air cushion device and the second air cushion device are supplied with compressed air at a first air pressure, and the third air cushion device is supplied with compressed air at a second air pressure, the second air pressure being greater than the first air pressure.

18. The technician's work chair according to claim 9 , wherein

the frame further has an electronic task guiding system installed thereto at a lateral side of the seat assembly, the electronic task guiding system includes a communication link to an assembly plant monitoring system and a technician signal mechanism, the link being one of a wireless communication device or a direct wired connection.

19. The technician's work chair according to claim 18 , wherein

the electronic task guiding system further includes an electronic controller and the technician signal mechanism includes at least one light with a task switch, the light being illuminated in response to determining that the technician has started performing a specific task, and

in response to the technician operating the task switch, the electronic controller of the electronic task guiding system sends a signal to the assembly plant monitoring system that indicates completion of the specific task.

20. A technician's work chair comprising:

a frame having a first forward leg portion, a second forward leg portion and a rearward leg portion, the first forward leg portion and the second forward leg portion defining a V-shape as viewed from above, the frame further having, a seat supporting portion located proximate the rearward leg portion, a tool supporting portion and a hardware supporting portion installed to the frame proximate one of the first forward leg portion or the second forward leg portion, the first forward leg portion extending forward from the seat supporting portion, the second forward leg portion extending forward from the seat supporting portion and the rearward leg portion extending rearward away from the first and second forward leg portions, with a distal end of the first forward leg portion being spaced apart from a distal end of the second forward leg portion;

a first swivel joint attached to the distal end of the first forward leg portion;

a second swivel joint attached to the distal end of the second forward leg portion;

a third swivel joint attached to the distal end of the rearward leg portion;

a first air cushion device attached to first swivel joint;

a second air cushion device attached to the second swivel joint;

a third air cushion device attached to the third swivel joint such that each of the first, second and third air cushion devices has freedom of movement in response to movement along a non-planar surface, each of the first, second and third air cushion devices being supplied with compressed air; and

a seat assembly having a cushion portion and a seatback portion, the cushion portion being attached to the seat supporting portion of the frame and the seatback portion having an inclination adjusting mechanism operable to change an angle of inclination of the seatback portion relative to the frame such that a technician seated in the seat assembly ergonomically operates tools and completes tasks with arms raised over the technician's head, the seat assembly and the frame being positioned such that a forward most portion of the cushion portion is located rearward of the first forward leg portion and the second forward leg portion such that the technician's feet freely contact the floor within a space defined between the first and second forward leg portions within the V-shape, the cushion portion being cantilevered in a forward direction from the seat supporting portion of the frame.