U.S. patent application number 10/512989 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-15 for electrical control panel preferably for height adjustable tables.
This patent application is currently assigned to LINAK A/S. Invention is credited to Jacobsen, Finn, Nielsen, Jens Jorgen, Riis, Martin.
Application Number | 20050199520 10/512989 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34917116 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050199520 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nielsen, Jens Jorgen ; et
al. |
September 15, 2005 |
Electrical control panel preferably for height adjustable
tables
Abstract
An electrical operating panel, in particular for
height-adjustable tables equipped with actuators or lifting columns
driven by an electric motor. The panel has a first part (1)
intended for fixed mounting of the panel and a second part (2) with
operating keys (19) for activating electrical switches. The two
parts are hinged together, and the hinge is formed with a rotary
shaft (10) on the no part and a bearing with a cylindrical face
(13) on the other part and formed with interengaging projections
(16) and depressions (15) such that the second part may assume
various angular positions relative to the first part, the force
between projections and depressions bearing greater than the
necessary operative pressure on the operating keys, but smaller
than the force necessary to manually move the second part between
the various angular positions. The panel is of simple structure and
easy to mount and use. The users may easily set the keyboard part
in the desired angular position. Furthermore, the panel yields so
that it is not damaged in case of collision with an object.
Inventors: |
Nielsen, Jens Jorgen;
(Broager, DK) ; Jacobsen, Finn; (Nordborg, DK)
; Riis, Martin; (Nordborg, DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC
FRANKLIN SQUARE, THIRD FLOOR WEST
1300 I STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
LINAK A/S
Nordborg
DK
|
Family ID: |
34917116 |
Appl. No.: |
10/512989 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 1, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DK03/00285 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/326 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 9/00 20130101; A47B
21/02 20130101; A47B 2200/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/326 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 1, 2002 |
DK |
PA 2002 11659 |
Claims
1. An electrical operating panel, in particular for adjustable
articles of furniture, such as height-adjustable tables equipped
with actuators or lifting columns driven by an electric motor, said
panel comprising a mounting part (1) intended for fixed mounting of
the panel and a keyboard part (2) having operating keys (23) for
activating electrical switches (23), said two parts being hinged
together, characterized in that the hinge is formed with a rotary
shaft (10) on one part and bearing a cylindrical face (13) on the
other part, said hinge being formed with retaining means such that
the keyboard part (2) may assume various angular positions relative
to the mounting part (1), said retaining means exerting a retaining
force in the hinge which is greater than the necessary operative
pressure on the operating keys (19), but smaller than the force
necessary to manually move the keyboard part (2) between the
various angular positions.
2. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
at least one end, preferably both ends (29), of the keyboard part
(2) is inclined or curve-shaped inwards toward the centre of the
free edge (30) of the keyboard part (2).
3. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the retaining means are formed as interengaging projections (16)
and depressions (15) on the rotary shaft (10) and the cylindrical
face (13), respectively, in the bearing for the shaft.
4. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the retaining means are formed by one or more O-rings (27) of
rubber or a corresponding material disposed between the rotary
shaft (10) and the cylindrical face (13) in the bearing for the
shaft.
5. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the rotary shaft is formed by two stub shafts (10).
6. An operating panel according to claim 3, characterized in that
the depressions (15) are formed in the bearing, and that the
projection(s) (16) is(are) formed in the rotary shaft (10).
7. An operating panel according to claim 6, characterized in that
the depressions are groove-shaped, and that the projections are
strip-shaped.
8. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the mounting part (1) consists of a flat box (3), which may
preferably be closed by a cover (4), and that a recess (6) is
provided in three sides for selective guidance of a cable.
9. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
at least one screw hole (7) extends through the box and terminates,
on the lower side of the box as well on the upper side of the
cover, in a countersink (8) for a screw head.
10. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the keyboard part (2) comprises a housing (11) which, in outline,
essentially appears as an isosceles trapezium, with the longest
side facing inwards toward the mounting part (1).
11. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the bearing (12) for the rotary shaft (10) has an opening
sufficiently large for the shaft (10) to be pressed inwards through
it in a snap-like manner.
12. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the part (2) has a curved flap (17) which acts against a flap (18)
on the part (1) for additional fixing of the rotary shaft.
13. An operating panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the part (2) moreover has two arms (25) which, through notches,
protrude inwards over the entry opening(s) to the bearing to secure
the rotary shaft additionally.
14. An operating panel according to claim 8, characterized in that
a tensile relief (26) for the cable is provided at the bottom of
the mounting part, preferably in the centre of it.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical control
panel, in particular for height adjustable articles of furniture,
such as height-adjustable tables equipped with actuators or lifting
columns driven by an electric motor, said panel comprising a
mounting part intended for firm fixed mounting of the panel and a
keyboard part having operating keys for activating electrical
switches, said two parts being hinged together.
[0002] Height-adjustable tables equipped with actuators or lifting
columns driven by electric motors are adjusted via an operating
panel. The arrangement of the operating panel causes problems,
however, as it should preferably be easy to operate, and on the
other hand it must not be provided at a location where it is liable
to be damaged. A position where it protrudes beyond the tabletop is
inexpedient, since it is hereby liable to be damaged both during
storage, transport and movement. An example of such an operating
panel is known from DE 298 18 567 to Vibradorm GmbH, where the
keyboard part is arranged removably in the mounting part, but the
latter constantly protrudes forwardly of the edge of the table. A
position on or mounting in the tabletop has also been found to be
inexpedient, since the operating panel quickly gets covered by
objects that are left on the table. A solution where the operation
takes place via a PC, has not been found to be optimum either;
typically, there is a wish for a separate operating panel so that
the table may be operated independently of the PC.
[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a simple operating
panel which is easy to use and easy to mount.
[0004] The object is achieved according to the invention in that
the hinge is formed with a rotary shaft on one part and a bearing
with a cylindrical face on the other part, said hinge being formed
with retaining means such that the keyboard part may assume various
angular positions relative to the mounting part, said retaining
means exerting a retaining force in the hinge which is greater than
the necessary operative pressure on the operating keys, but smaller
than the force necessary to move the keyboard part manually between
the various angular positions. The keyboard part may thus be
adjusted to an angular position convenient to the user, while the
part yields to unintentional impacts and blows. In this respect, it
is expedient to make at least one end, preferably both ends, of the
keyboard part, inclined or curved, whereby the keyboard part
rotates away more easily when it hits an obstacle with this
edge.
[0005] The retaining means of the hinge may be formed as
interengaging projections and depressions on the rotary shaft and
the cylindrical face in the bearing for the shaft, respectively,
which gives a stepwise adjustment of the keyboard part. In a
preferred embodiment, the retaining means are formed by one or more
O-rings of rubber or a corresponding material interposed between
the rotary shaft and the cylindrical face in the bearing for the
shaft. This gives a stepless adjustment of the keyboard part. The
O-ring is embedded either in a groove in the shaft or in the
cylindrical face. U.S. Pat. No. 6,249,426 B1 uses a hinge with
O-rings to retain the screen of a portable computer, while the
keyboard is arranged on a fixed substrate. Of course, there are
other means for generating the retaining force, it being thus
possible to use frictional coatings on the surface. The retaining
force may also be generated by means acting on end faces of the
hinge.
[0006] The advantages of the invention defined in the additional
dependent claims will become apparent from the following, just as
further features of the invention will be discussed.
[0007] The invention will be explained more fully below with
reference to the embodiment of an operating panel particularly
intended for a height-adjustable work table, which is shown in the
accompanying drawing. In the drawing:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows an operating panel seen from above,
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a box-shaped part for the mounting part of the
operating panel,
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a cover for the parts shown in FIG. 2,
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a housing seen from above for the operating
part of the operating panel,
[0012] FIG. 5 shows the housing of FIG. 4, seen from the lower
side,
[0013] FIG. 6 shows a set of operating keys for the keyboard
part,
[0014] FIG. 7 shows a printed circuit board for the keyboard
part,
[0015] FIG. 8 shows a cover plate for the keyboard part,
[0016] FIGS. 9 to 13 show various positions of the keyboard part,
and
[0017] FIG. 14 shows a box-shaped part for the mounting part of the
operating panel similar to that shown in FIG. 2, but constructed
for O-rings as retaining means.
[0018] The operating panel comprises a mounting part 1, called
mounting part intended for mounting on the table in the following,
and a keyboard part 2, called the keyboard part in the following.
The mounting part 1 consists of a flat box 3 which may be closed by
a cover 4 retained by snap locks on legs 5. A recess 6 is formed in
the three sides for selective guidance of a cable which is passed
through a tensile relief 26 consisting of a square tower having two
openings which are mutually offset and through which the cable is
inserted. Two screw holes 7, defined by a ring wall, extend through
the box, said screw holes terminating on the lower side of the box
as well as on the upper side of the cover 4 in a countersink 8 for
a screw head.
[0019] One long side of the box 3 has two protruding brackets 9
which are cylindrically rounded forwardly. On the sides of the
brackets facing away from each other there is a stub shaft 10, and
these two together form a rotary shaft for the keyboard part 2.
[0020] The keyboard part 2 comprises a housing 11 which, in
outline, essentially appears as an isosceles trapezium. A bearing
housing 12 is arranged at the ends of the long side, said bearing
housing having a cylindrical face 13 which corresponds to the stub
shaft 10. The bearing housing 12 has an opening sufficiently large
for the stub shaft 10 to be just pressed through it. The stub shaft
10 is formed with depressions in the form of closely spaced grooves
15, and the cylindrical face of the bearing housing is formed with
a projection in the form of a rib 16 which fits the grooves 15.
[0021] The keyboard part 2 is secured to the mounting part 1 by
clicking the stub shafts 10 down into the respective bearing
housings 12. For additional fixing, the housing 11 of the keyboard
part has a curved flap 17 which acts against a flap 18 on the cover
4 of the mounting part when this is snapped firmly on to the
housing of the mounting part.
[0022] A set of operating keys 19 may be inserted into the cavity
in the housing 11 of the keyboard part, said operating keys
protruding through recesses, designed for the purpose, in the upper
side of the housing. One operating key is formed with a knob 20 on
the upper side for recognition with the finger tips. A printed
circuit board 22 is arranged on carrier bosses 23 in the housing,
having two switches 23 located below the operating keys 19.
Finally, the housing is closed with a bottom plate 24, which holds
the printed circuit board and thereby the generating panel in
position. The bottom plate 24 moreover has two arms 25 which,
through notches, protrude inwards over the entry openings to the
bearing housings in order to additionally protect the stub shafts
from dropping out.
[0023] A wire (not shown) from the printed circuit board runs
through an opening into the mounting part.
[0024] The keyboard part 2 may be set with the fingers in various
angular positions relative to the mounting part, as shown in FIGS.
9 to 13, determined by the number and the position of the
groove-shaped depressions 15. The holding force between the
depressions 15 and the two strip-shaped projections 16 is adjusted
such that the keyboard part maintains its position when the keys 19
are operated.
[0025] FIG. 14 shows another embodiment, where the retaining force
is generated by O-rings 27 of rubber or rubber-like plastics
embedded in grooves 28 in the stub shafts 10. One shaft stub is
provided with an O-ring, the other with a groove for the O-ring.
The bearing housing 12 for the stub shafts is formed for
cooperation with the O-rings, which just rise above the surface of
the stub shafts and slide against the cylindrical face 13, cf. FIG.
5, where the strip-shaped projection 16 is now omitted.
[0026] The operating panel may be mounted below a table with two
screws from the lower side of the mounting part 1 and with the
keyboard part 2 protruding forwardly of the edge of the table.
Here, the keyboard part 2 may be set in various positions, e.g.
straight out from the table, in several different inclined angles
or vertically down from the tabletop where the keyboard part 2 is
seated completely below the tabletop.
[0027] In case of collision with the operating panel, e.g. during
movement of the table, the keyboard part rotates down to a vertical
position. The inclined or wedge-shaped end faces 29 promote this
movement, since the collision generates a power component which
actively rotates the keyboard part. The collision need not be very
great before the keyboard part yields, viz. corresponding to the
force to be applied in order to move the keyboard part between the
various positions.
[0028] It should be noted that the mounting part may also be
mounted with the keys facing upwards, and if desired completely
concealed below the tabletop.
[0029] The invention thus provides an operating panel which is
simple and easy to mount. The users can easily set the keyboard
part in the desired angular position, their functions may readily
be recognized with the knob on the one key. The panel is simple to
mount, and the wire may readily be run in the correct
direction.
[0030] It will be appreciated that the operating panel may be
mounted in another manner than with screws, a simple alternative
being a self-adhesive tape. It is likewise evident that the
operating panel may be equipped with more than two operating keys
or just with a single one, just as the operating keys and the
switches may be of another structure than those shown here, it
being possible e.g. to use switches with integrated operating keys
or sheet keys of their own. The keyboard part may of course also be
provided with a display for showing various items of information,
e.g. height, user codes, etc.
[0031] It will readily be appreciated that the groove-shaped
depressions and the strip-shaped projection may be provided on the
opposite parts, i.e. in the bearing housing and on the stub shafts,
respectively. It will moreover be appreciated that the depressions
and the projections do not necessarily have to be in the shape
shown in the drawing. The depressions might e.g. have the shape of
a ball face and the projections correspondingly, just as there
might be more projections in engagement with depressions at the
same time and not just one projection in engagement with a
depression.
[0032] In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the rotary shaft is
formed by two stub shafts, but it will be appreciated that it may
also be constructed as a single through-going shaft, or with a
shorter shaft at the centre. Although the invention has been
described here especially in connection with height-adjustable
tables, it will be appreciated that the operating panel may of
course be used in connection with other forms of furniture. It is
contemplated that the operating panel is mounted such that the
rotary shaft is horizontal, but it will be appreciated that it may
of course also be mounted with the rotary shaft in a vertical
position.
* * * * *