U.S. patent application number 12/044331 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-11 for adjustable work surface with tilt.
Invention is credited to Alan J. JONES.
Application Number | 20080216717 12/044331 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39740357 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080216717 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JONES; Alan J. |
September 11, 2008 |
ADJUSTABLE WORK SURFACE WITH TILT
Abstract
The invention is directed at workstation having a workstation
that is able to be tilted The tilting assembly for the workstation
includes a actuator, a cable and a gas cylinder.
Inventors: |
JONES; Alan J.; (Waterloo,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP;Anne Kinsman
WORLD EXCHANGE PLAZA, 100 QUEEN STREET SUITE 1100
OTTAWA
ON
K1P 1J9
CA
|
Family ID: |
39740357 |
Appl. No.: |
12/044331 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60893468 |
Mar 7, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 41/02 20130101;
A47B 21/02 20130101; A47B 27/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/6 |
International
Class: |
A47B 21/00 20060101
A47B021/00 |
Claims
1. A workstation having an adjustable work surface comprising: a
top portion; a rear support portion; and a tilting mechanism,
including a gas cylinder connected at one end to the top portion
and at a second end to the rear support portion; wherein when the
tilting mechanism is actuated, the gas cylinder causing the top
portion to tilt with respect to the rear support portion.
2. The workstation of claim 1 where the tilting mechanism further
comprises: an actuator button, located within the top portion; and
a cable connecting the actuator button and the gas cylinder.
3. The workstation of claim 1 further comprising side supports for
the top portion.
4. The workstation of claim 3 wherein the top portion is mounted to
the side supports.
5. The workstation of claim 3 wherein the top portion is bracketed
to the side supports.
6. The workstation of claim 1 wherein the gas cylinder is selected
from at least one of the following criteria: thickness of top
portion, width of top portion, depth of top portion, material of
top portion, maximum angle of tilt, weight of top portion, height
of rear portion and rate of acceleration of top portion during
tilt.
7. The workstation of claim 6 wherein the gas cylinder with an
appropriate Newton rating to match the criteria is selected.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/893,468 filed Mar. 7, 2007,
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to workstations.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a workstation
having a primary work surface with tilt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Desks, or workstations, have been used for many years to
provide a work surface to individuals. Desks provide a flat surface
on top of which an individual can do various tasks such as
drafting, writing or working on a computer. However, many of these
desks provide a single position for a work surface and do not
include an adjustable work surface. More recently, some desks have
been produced which allow for the height of the work surface to be
adjustable to accommodate individuals of varying height. This has
assisted in providing a work surface in an ergonomically desired
vertical position.
[0004] It is, therefore, desirable to provide a novel adjustable
work surface with tilt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate at
least one disadvantage of previous desks, or office furniture with
a work surface.
[0006] In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a
workstation having an adjustable work surface comprising a top
portion; a rear support portion; and a tilting mechanism, including
a gas cylinder connected at one end to the top portion and at a
second end to the rear support portion; wherein when the tilting
mechanism is actuated, the gas cylinder causing the top portion to
tilt with respect to the rear support portion.
[0007] Other aspects and features of the invention will become
apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the
following description of specific embodiments of the invention in
conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way
of example only, with reference to the attached Figures,
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a workstation having an
adjustable work surface with tilt;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective of the workstation of FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the workstation of FIG.
1 with the work surface in a tilted position;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the workstation of FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a
workstation having an adjustable work surface with tilt;
[0014] FIG. 6 is second perspective view of the workstation of FIG.
5;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective of the workstation of FIG.
5;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the workstation of FIG.
1 with the work surface in a tilted position;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a workstation in a closed
position;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a workstation with the
work surface in a tilted position;
[0019] FIGS. 11a to 11c are examples of a system for mounting the
top portion to side supports; and
[0020] FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of another embodiment
of a workstation with an adjustable work surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Generally, the present invention provides a workstation, or
desk, having an adjustable work surface with tilt.
[0022] Turning to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a first embodiment
of a workstation, in accordance with the invention, is shown. The
workstation 10 includes a pair of side support portions, or legs,
12 (seen as 12a and 12b), a back, or rear, portion 14 and a top
portion 16. The top portion 16 can also be seen as a work surface
atop which a user can perform tasks such as writing, drawing,
painting, sketching, drafting and the like. A button 18, is located
within the top portion 16 and is used to activate a tilting
mechanism 24 (as shown in FIG. 2).
[0023] Each of the support portions 12 are attached to opposite
ends of the back portion 14 of the workstation in order to provide
a structured support to the top portion 16. As can be seen in FIG.
1, the top portion 16 is mounted, via a bracket system 20, at a
front location 22, to the leg 12a to provide further support.
Although not shown, a similar bracketing system is located between
the top portion 16 and the support portion 12b.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the tilting mechanism 24 includes a
cable 26 which is connected to the button 18 and a cylinder 28,
preferably pneumatic and filled with gas, which is attached to a
bottom side of the top portion 16 and the back portion 14. A piston
29 is also located within the cylinder 28. In the preferred
embodiment, the gas cylinder 28 has two sections for storing gas
with an orifice, or dividing wall, separating the two sections.
[0025] The bracket system 20 is also shown in more detail and
includes a post 30 about which the work surface 16 pivots when the
work surface is tilted.
[0026] Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, a perspective view and a side view
of the workstation with the work surface in a tilted position are
provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the top portion 16 is tilted with
respect to its normal, or closed, position (shown in FIGS. 1 and
2). This allows the user to perform tasks on the work surface in a
more ergonomically desired position. The angle 32 at which the top
portion 16 can be tilted is between 0 and 90 degrees, and more
specifically, between 0 and 30 degrees, but preferably between 0
and 12.5 degrees with respect to the closed position.
[0027] In operation, assuming that the work surface is in the
normal position (FIG. 1), when a user wishes to tilt the top
portion 16, the user presses the button 18, which causes the cable
26 to actuate the gas cylinder 28 by opening the orifice, thereby
allowing gas to flow between the two sections. When activated, or
actuated, gas flows from one section to the other section thereby
extending the piston which causes the piston 29 to extend and tilt
the top portion 16. This is schematically shown with respect to
FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0028] When the top portion 16 has reached a preferred angle, the
user can release the button 18 in order to lock the work surface 16
in place. If the user wishes to decrease the angle 32 (i.e. move
the top portion 16 in a downward direction), the button 18 is once
again pressed, to open the orifice, and the user applies a downward
pressure to the top portion 16 thereby pushing the gas back through
the orifice to the other section. The speed at which the top
portion 16 tilts and the resistant force to the downward pressure
being applied by the individual is controlled by the cylinder,
which is selected in accordance with various criteria.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, schematic diagrams of an example
for the selection, and placement, of the cylinder, with respect to
the top portion 16 and the back portion 14 is shown. In the closed
position of FIG. 9, the cylinder 28 is mounted to the back portion
14 at a predetermined distance B, preferably 12 inches, from the
top surface 16.
[0030] By knowing various characteristics or measurements of the
top portion 16 such as the length, or depth (D), width (W), weight,
thickness (T), material which the top portion is manufactured from
and the maximum angle or tilt, a calculation can be performed to
determine the appropriate type of cylinder 28 required based on the
pressure point (Newton rating) and the shaft throw distance of the
cylinder 28. Other determining factors are also considered and
listed below,
[0031] In this example, it is assumed that the top portion is
11/8'' thick (T=11/8'') by 44'' wide (W=44'') by 24'' deep (D=24'')
and manufactured from medium density fibreboard (M.D.F.) board with
laminate. Therefore, the weight of the top portion 16 can be
calculated using these variables. The maximum tilt angle (such as
12.5 degrees) is also a predetermined value which can be between 0
and 90 degrees, but preferably at an angle whereby pens and pencils
do not roll off the top surface when the work surface is in a
maximum tilted position. Using these values, an appropriate
cylinder can be selected based on the required forces. In this
current example, a cylinder with a Newton rating of 150 is
selected. Further factors in determining the appropriate cylinder
include, but are not limited to, the rate of acceleration to move
the top portion from the normal position to a tilted position and
the force required to push the top portion back down. For instance
if the user desires to have the top portion quickly tilted, the
appropriate cylinder can have a higher Newton rating.
[0032] Therefore, after determining the appropriate cylinder to be
used based on the requirements for the workstation, the cylinder
28, having a set length L, can then be mounted to the back and top
portions. The distances A and B are selected based on further
criteria such as a distance B whereby an individual's knees do not
contact the cylinder 28 when using the workstation. In some cases,
one of the distances A or B is pre-determined and therefore, the
other distance is determined by the equation
A.sup.2=B.sup.2+L.sup.2 where L is the length of the cylinder in
the non-extended position (and a known value).
[0033] Other factors which can affect the determination of the
appropriate cylinder include, but are not limited to, the size of
the top portion 16, predetermined, or specific request for values
of A and B, increased or decreased maximum tilt angle and rate of
acceleration required to move the top portion from the normal
position.
[0034] Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of a
workstation having an adjustable work surface is shown. In this
embodiment, the workstation 50 includes an adjustable top portion
52 and a non-adjustable top portion 54. Individual legs 56 are
located on an underside of each of the top portions 52 and 54 to
provide support to the top portions 52 and 54. Office panels, or
walls 58, surround the top portions 52 and 54 with some of the
walls 58 being attached to the top portions 52 and 54 to also
provide side or rear support. In this embodiment, the top portions
52 and 54 are preferably mounted to the walls 58 such as with a
system, as shown in FIGS. 11a to 11c.
[0035] As with the previous embodiment, a button 60, which is used
to activate a tilting mechanism, is located within the surface of
the adjustable top portion 52.
[0036] Turning to FIG. 7, a bottom perspective view of the
workstation is shown. As can be seen, a tilting mechanism 62,
comprising a cable 64 and a pneumatic cylinder 66, is shown. The
cylinder 66 includes a piston 68 and has a first end connected to
an underside of the adjustable top portion 52 and a second end to
one of the legs 56a, or a rear support. In an alternative
embodiment, the second end of the cylinder 66 can be connected to
the wall 58 located behind the leg 56a. The locations where the
cylinder 66 are connected can be calculated as disclosed above with
the previous embodiment. Selection of the appropriate cylinder can
also be performed as discussed above.
[0037] As further shown in FIG. 7, the top portion 52 is connected
to a pair of support beams 70 which provide additional support to
the adjustable top portion 52. As discussed above with respect to
FIGS. 5 and 6, the support beams 70 are mounted to the side walls
58. Turning to FIG. 11a, the support beams 70 include a hook system
72 which mates with corresponding holes within the wall 58, or a
support structure within the wall. This is also shown in FIGS. 11b
and 11c.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the workstation with the
adjustable top portion tilted. As disclosed above, if the uses
wishes to move the work surface to a tilted position, the user
presses the button 60 which causes the pneumatic cylinder 66 to be
actuated via the cable 64. After the cylinder 66 is actuated, the
adjustable top portion 52 is slowly urged in an upward direction by
the piston 68. When the adjustable top portion 52 arrives at the
desired position, the user can release the button thereby stopping
the actuation of the cylinder 66. Similarly, if the user wishes to
return the top surface 16 to the normal position, or decrease the
amount of tilt, the user can press the button and slowly provide a
force to the top portion 16 to move it in a downward direction.
[0039] Turning to FIG. 12, a bottom perspective view of another
embodiment is shown. Operation of this embodiment is identical to
the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 8 discussed above with the difference
in the support structure provided to the top portion.
[0040] In this embodiment, the support structure includes a support
beam 80 which is mounted parallel to the side wall 58. A pivotable
bracket is 82 is connected to the support beam 80 and the
adjustable top portion 52 so that the top portion can pivot when
the button is pressed. A similar support beam 84 is located on an
opposite side of the adjustable top portion 52 having a pivotable
bracket 86 mounted thereon and also to the adjustable top portion
52. Both of the support beams 80 and 84 are connected to a rear
support beam 88 to provide further sturdiness to the support
structure. As shown in this embodiment, the rear portion, to which
the cylinder is connected, is also connected to a leg extending
from the rear support beam 88.
[0041] In the above description, for purposes of explanation,
numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough
understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one
skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in
order to practice the invention.
[0042] The above-described embodiments of the invention are
intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and
variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those
of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the
invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended
hereto.
* * * * *