U.S. patent application number 10/529998 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-11 for height adjustable desk.
Invention is credited to ChristopherC Sykes.
Application Number | 20060096505 10/529998 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32046574 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060096505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sykes; ChristopherC |
May 11, 2006 |
Height adjustable desk
Abstract
A desk assembly (10) comprises a base (12) adapted to stably
engage a floor surface. An upright support member (14) is secured
to and extends upwardly from the base. A planar desk (34) is
connected in slidable engagement to the support member (14) between
a lower (L) and an upper position (U). Biasing means, preferably a
gas spring (100), is connected between the base (12) and the desk
(34). The biasing means biases the desk upwardly from said lower
position (L) toward said upper position (U). Locking means is
operable to selectively secure said desk intermediate said lower
and upper positions. The provision of an upwardly biased force by
biasing means, between the upper and lower positions, improves
convenience for the user when adjusting height of the desk.
Inventors: |
Sykes; ChristopherC;
(Paddington, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY LLP
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE
SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
32046574 |
Appl. No.: |
10/529998 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
October 2, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CA03/01527 |
371 Date: |
August 15, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/50.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 21/02 20130101;
A47B 41/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/050.01 |
International
Class: |
A47B 37/00 20060101
A47B037/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2002 |
CA |
2406320 |
Claims
1. A desk assembly comprising: a base adapted to stably engage a
floor surface; an upright support member secured to and extending
upwardly from said base; a planar desk, connected in slidable
engagement to said support member between a lower and an upper
position; biasing means connected between said base and said desk
and biasing the desk upwardly from said lower position toward said
upper position; and locking means operable to selectively secure
said desk intermediate said lower and upper positions.
2. A desk assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said desk is
connected to said support member by support means.
3. A desk assembly as recited in claim 1 where said biasing means
is a gas spring.
4. A desk assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said gas spring
comprises a single acting piston acting in a cylinder of compressed
gas.
5. A desk assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said support
member is an extruded column including a vertical wall, the wall
having inner and outer vertical surfaces.
6. A desk assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said support means
comprises: forwardly laterally extending brackets, each bracket
having an upper planar surface for supporting said desk; a carrier
plate secured to said brackets, said carrier plate positioned on
said outer vertical surface of the column in sliding engagement
therewith; a sliding channel piece positioned along said inner
vertical surface, secured to said carrier plate by a connector
screw, said connector screw extending through a vertically
extending slot in said column, the slot extending between said
upper and lower positions, the sliding channel piece secured in
sliding engagement, moving in unison with the carrier plate between
said upper and lower positions along said slot, said gas spring
positioned below the sliding channel piece engaging an end piece of
said channel piece.
7. A desk assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said brackets
incline forwardly outwardly with respect to a median plane of the
assembly.
8. A desk assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the locking means
comprises a clamp, operable to releasably secure said support means
to said support member.
9. A desk assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said clamp
comprises a locking screw having a screw head abutting a front face
of the carrier plate, the locking screw extending through said
carrier plate, said slot and said channel piece and is threadably
engaged with a clamp plate, said clamp plate positioned adjacent
said vertical wall inner surface, such that selectively threadably
engaging said clamp plate engages said clamp plate in frictional
engagement in a clamped position with the vertical wall to retain
the channel piece and carrier plate in a fixed position between
said upper and lower positions.
10. A desk assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein the locking means
further comprises a locking rod, having a forwardly positioned
locking knob for rotation of said rod about its axis, said locking
rod, engaged with the locking screw, such that rotation of said
locking knob rotates said locking screw to selectively engage said
clamp plate in said clamped position.
11. A desk assembly as recited in claim 10, where said locking rod
is rotatably supported by a bracket secured to and extending from
an underside of said desk.
12. A desk assembly as recited in claim 5 where said carrier plate
includes wheel arrangements rotatably mounted thereto, which engage
in an outer surface of the column.
13. A desk assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein forwardly
opening vertically extending channels are integrally formed with
the vertical wall of the column on each side of the carrier plate,
each adapted for accepting one of said wheel arrangements in
rolling engagement therewith.
14. A desk assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein each said bracket
includes an outwardly extending horizontal flange upon which the
desk may be attached.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a height adjustable desk and more
particularly to a height adjustable desk which utilizes an upwardly
biased force to provide lift to the desk.
[0002] It is known to provide desks or work stations which allow
the user to adjust the height thereof. This height adjustment
allows for differences in the heights of the users or to adjust the
height of the work surface depending on the task at hand. Height
adjustment of desks and work stations is achieved in various
manners. Often, to adjust the height of the desk, significant time
and effort is involved. For example, rudimentary systems involve
manually adjusting the length of each of the legs of the desk.
Other height adjustment systems have the desk attached to a base
support via a telescoping support member or members which may be
secured at various vertical positions. Such systems require the
user to manually expand or retract the telescoping support member
and then fix it in place at the desired height. The weight of the
desk and/or the weight of the items positioned on the surface
thereof make this height adjustment somewhat cumbersome as it may
be difficult to simultaneously lock the desk in place and resist
the gravitational forces acting on the desk. Certain other height
adjustment mechanisms are complex and expensive to manufacture. It
is desirable to provide an improved, more efficient and inexpensive
height adjustable desk.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved
height adjustable desk.
[0004] In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is
provided a desk assembly comprising a base adapted to stably engage
a floor surface. An upright support member is secured to and
extends upwardly from the base. A planar desk is connected in
slidable engagement to the support member between a lower and an
upper position. Biasing means is connected between the base and the
desk. The biasing means biases the desk upwardly from said lower
position toward said upper position. Locking means is operable to
selectively secure said desk intermediate said lower and upper
positions. The provision of the upwardly biased force, preferably
in the form of a gas spring between the upper and lower positions,
improves convenience for the user when adjusting height of the
desk.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way
of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings throughout
which like reference numerals are used to refer to similar elements
and features, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a lower perspective view of an embodiment of the
desk assembly in accordance with the invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is all upper perspective view of an embodiment of the
desk assembly in accordance with the invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the desk
assembly in accordance with the invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the desk assembly of FIG.
3;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
3;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of desk
assemblies in accordance with the invention, positioned adjacent
each other;
[0012] FIG. 7A is a top view of a plurality of desk assemblies
positioned in a first group position; and
[0013] FIG. 7B is a top view of a plurality of desk assemblies
positioned in a second independent work position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS:
[0014] Shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is an embodiment of the desk assembly
in accordance with the invention. The desk assembly 10 has a front
F and a rear R.
[0015] A base 12 is preferably an approximately isosceles
trapezoidal shape with a concavely curved inner side, and may be
comprised of steel and is adapted to stably engage a floor surface.
An upright support member, preferably an extruded aluminum column
14 defining a hollow interior space 16, and having a vertical wall
18 is secured to the base and extends upwardly there from. The wall
has inner 20 and outer 22 vertical surfaces. The column may include
a removable cap 21 which may be press fitted into engagement with
the top of the column.
[0016] Preferably the column 14 is secured to the base by means of
screws (not shown) extending through the base and into screw bosses
24 in the column 14 and the column 14 is positioned adjacent a rear
edge portion 26 of the base.
[0017] Support means, preferably forwardly and diagonally extending
brackets 28, secured to a carrier plate 30 are connected in
slidable engagement along the column 14 between lower L and upper U
positions. Preferably the brackets have upper planar outwardly
extending horizontal flanges 32 upon which planar desk top 34 may
be attached. The desk has a rearwardly positioned groove 33 in
which the column 14 may be positioned. Although, it is preferred
that a planar desk 34 is supported by the brackets 28, it should be
understood that any suitable work piece may be supported by the
brackets.
[0018] In the preferred form, the range of movement of the desk top
permitted by movement of the support means between L and U includes
or at least corresponds to positions of the desk top 34 employed by
users of normal height when in seated and in standing positions,
respectively.
[0019] A sliding channel piece 36 defines a vertical channel 38,
having a lower end closed by an end piece 36a, is positioned along
the inner vertical surface 20, and secured to the carrier plate 30
by a connector screw 42. Preferably, the sliding channel piece is
guided along said inner vertical surface 20 by means of guide ribs
41 formed integrally with the inner vertical surface 20 of the
extruded column 14. The connector screw 42 connects the carrier
plate 30 and channel piece 36 so that the two move vertically in
unison between the upper U and lower L positions. The connector
screw extends rearwardly through a hole 44 in said carrier plate,
through a vertically extending slot 46 machined in the column
vertical wall 18 and in threaded engagement with nut 48 welded to
the inner face of the channel piece in alignment with hole 44
formed through the channel piece 36. Vertical travel is limited at
the lower position L by the connector screw 42 contacting the
bottom of the slot 46 and at the upper position U by locking screw
43 contacting the top of the slot 46.
[0020] Preferably a wheel assembly 50 is rotatably mounted on each
side of the carrier plate 30. Each wheel assembly SO is secured to
the carrier plate 30 by means of an axle assembly 52 which extends
through rearwardly extending side portions 54 of the carrier plate
on each side of the carrier thereof. Each portion 54 extends within
a forwardly opening vertically extending channel 56 formed
integrally with the vertical wall 18 of the extruded column 14.
Preferably the brackets 28 are secured to the side portions 54 on
each side of carrier plate 30 and the portions 54 and brackets as
well as channels 56 extend at an acute angle with respect to one
another and with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry 55. Each
wheel assembly 50 comprises a pair of wheel members 60 rotatably
engaged on said axle assembly 52. The wheels are normally in
rolling engagement with the column wall outer surface within
channel 56.
[0021] A locking device is provided, preferably in the form of a
clamp operable from adjacent the desk top 34, to selectively secure
the support means in positions intermediate said upper U and lower
L positions. Preferably locking screw 43 extends through the
carrier plate 30 and sliding channel piece 36 via screw bosses
formed therein, and is threadably engaged within a tapped hole 70A
in a clamp plate 70 which is positioned adjacent said sliding
channel piece 36 rearward of said channel piece within the column.
Preferably, the clamp plate 70 comprises a main portion 70B
extending transversely of the plane 55 and two outwardly rearwardly
including wing portions 70C each engaging and extending parallel to
the inner surfaces 20 of the portions of the bases of the forwardly
opening vertically extending channels 56. The locking screw 43 has
an enlarged head 43a abutting the front face of the carrier plate
30 which prevents the screw from advancing through the carrier
plate. The locking screw may be rotated to threadably engage the
clamp plate 70. With the head 43a flush with the carrier plate 30,
threadably engaging the clamp plate 70 with the locking screw head
43a deforms the carrier plate 30 resiliently into engagement with
the vertical wall outer surface 22 and the resulting tension in the
screw 43 presses the wings 70C of the clamp plate 70 tightly
against the inner side of the bases of the channels 56. In this
condition, the frictional engagement of plates 30 and 70 with the
column 14 locks the support means 28 and 30 in a selected position
in the range of movement between the upper U and lower L
positions.
[0022] A rotatable locking rod 80 is supported by bracket 82,
secured to and extending from the underside of said desk top 34 and
has a forwardly positioned locking knob 84 for rotation of said rod
about its axis. The locking rod 80 is fixed to, for example with a
set screw (not shown) passing radially through the head 43a, the
head 43a so that rotation of the locking knob 84 rotates the
locking screw and thus allows locking of the support means by
threading the locking screw 43 into the clamp plate 70 as described
above by rotation of the knob 84 in one sense or release of the
clamp plate 70 and carrier plate 30 by rotation of the knob in an
opposite sense. It should be understood that any suitable locking
device may be utilized to lock the desk in positions intermediate
the upper U and lower L positions. For example, other clamping
devices, could be used to selectively secure the brackets, the
carrier plate or the channel piece to the column. While the above
arrangement provides infinite adjustment within the permitted
range, it is contemplated that the support means could be secured
to the column 14 by locking pins, dowels or the like that allow the
support means to be fixed to the column at a number of discrete
positions in the range.
[0023] Upwardly biasing means (which is preferably a gas spring)
100 is positioned between and connected between the base and the
desk, for providing upward force sufficient to lift said support
means and desk from the lower L to upper U positions without
application of upward force by the user. In particular, the biasing
means, gas spring 100, is preferably positioned within the column
14 below the sliding channel piece 36 and biases the latter
upwardly. Preferably biasing means, gas spring 100, includes an
axially extending pin at each end. The lower pin is seated in an
opening 112 in the base 12. At the upper end, the pin 100A is
received in an opening 36b in the end piece 36a. Preferably the gas
spring comprises a single-acting non lockable piston, that simply
compresses the gas in the cylinder on pressing the desk top 34 down
on movement from U to L, the reaction against the piston providing
the upward force that lifts the desk top 34 unassisted from L to U.
The gas spring may be for example a Suspa (TM) gas spring, such as
the Suspa 41090 available from Suspa Incorporated of Grand Rapids,
Mich., U.S.A. It should be understood that the upward biasing force
could be provided by other means such as a compression spring or
the like positioned in a same manner or similar to the gas spring
100 shown in the drawings.
[0024] In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the brackets 28
may be integrally formed with the carrier plate 30.
[0025] A monitor support bracket 122 may be mounted to the extruded
column 14 or desk 34 for holding a computer monitor 400. A vertical
partition member 124 may be secured to the extruded column 14,
positioned rearwardly of the column to provide a sound and sight
barrier for the desk. A rail 300 acting as a foot rest for the user
may be secured to the base 12
[0026] Shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are a plurality of desk assemblies 10
positioned adjacent each other. The desk assemblies of FIGS. 6 and
7 include rectangular shaped desk tops 34 and bases 12. The desk
tops 34 are slightly larger than the bases 12. The side edges. 15
of adjacent desk tops 34 are aligned with each other. The use of a
centrally located support member 14, as opposed to peripherally
positioned leg members of the prior art, allows the positioning of
work space equipment and accessories between the desk and bases and
thus the positioning adjacent to each other of a number of desk
assemblies, without taking up any additional space. Such equipment,
for example computer processing units (CPUs) 144 or filing cabinets
146 may be secured in place by vertical support bars 148 which are
secured to the desk tops 34 and extend downwardly toward the base
12. Brackets 150 insertable over the support bar 148, secure the
equipment in place between the desk and base. Brackets 150 are
rotatably mounted on the support bar 148, allowing the equipment
secured to the brackets to be rotated from a first position (shown
in FIG. 6) in the direction N to an inwardly nested position.
[0027] The desk assemblies 10, such as those shown in FIG. 6 may be
easily moved and repositioned without having to disconnect and
separately move work space equipment such as CPUs 144 or filing
cabinets 146. Such easily movable desk assemblies 10 are highly
desirable in today's office environment for various reasons. For
example, there is a growing awareness that projects which involve
team work, require not just work stations and desks, but common
areas and desk orientation which facilitates interaction and
teamwork. Boardrooms offer such space, however because workers must
relocate from their usual work space, there is a loss of efficiency
and spontaneity. Furthermore, there are additional costs to keep a
separate boardroom available for team projects. The space shown in
FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrates how desk assemblies 10 in accordance
with the invention, and particularly those in FIG. 6, could be used
to form a work space which may be adapted quickly from a position
where the desks may be used for independent work (shown in FIG. 7B)
to a position which facilitates group/team work (shown in FIG.
7A).
[0028] In light of the desirability of the desk to be moveable, it
should be understood that any known suitable means may be utilized
to allow the desk assembly to move along a floor surface. Such
means may comprise smooth slider members 166 positioned on the
lower surface of the base as shown in the drawings, or other means
such as wheels or the like.
[0029] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light
of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are
possible in the practice of this invention without departing from
the spirit or scope thereof Accordingly, the scope of the invention
is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the
following claims.
* * * * *