U.S. patent application number 12/384679 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-14 for electric-elevating desktop.
Invention is credited to Fred W. Coble.
Application Number | 20100258040 12/384679 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42933307 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100258040 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Coble; Fred W. |
October 14, 2010 |
Electric-elevating desktop
Abstract
An executive/clerical type office desk embodying a fully
contained electromechanical system for elevating and lowering the
desktop, between a user's seating position and a full standing
position. Three telescoping stanchions support and control the
desktop height from a standard-desk height to an upper height of
about 44 inches. The desktop rest directly on three poles sliding
inside the telescoping support stanchions. The sliding poles are
lifted and lowered by cables looped-under pulleys mounted in bottom
of said poles, and are drawn up and released by an
electric-motor-driven cable winch. Anti-friction treatments are in
place between the inner sliding members and the supporting
stanchions. By said cables looping under pulleys, installed in the
bottom of each inner telescoping member, and anchoring atop the
telescoping stanchions a lifting mechanical advantage of two is
obtained. The user operates a three position electrical switch to
raise and lower the desktop. An onboard rechargeable-electrical
battery powers the electric motor.
Inventors: |
Coble; Fred W.; (North
Hills, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Fred W. Coble
8745 Valjean Ave.
North Hills
CA
91343
US
|
Family ID: |
42933307 |
Appl. No.: |
12/384679 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/50.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 9/00 20130101; A47B
21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/50.02 |
International
Class: |
A47B 9/00 20060101
A47B009/00; A47B 21/00 20060101 A47B021/00 |
Claims
1. An Electric-Elevating Desktop comprising of: a) a desktop
composed of rigid, self-supporting materials, that spans an area
about that of a convention desktop working areas. b) a
desktop-elevating mechanism embodying a cable-winch drawn by a
high-ratio gear assembly driven by an electric motor. c) a
fabricated metal, plastic, or wood structure for supporting the
desktop, elevating mechanism, and electrical system(s). d) an
electrical system, located under said desktop, for powering said
elevating mechanism, and consisting of: electrical motor,
re-chargeable battery, and a user's three-position control switch.
c) an optional DC to AC inverter located under said desktop for
powering such as: computers, clock radios, electrical razors,
etc.
2. Said desk improves user's job efficiency and provides relief
from: mental and physical fatigue, physical impairment, and
lethargy, by rising users from a seated position to full
standing--without interrupting ongoing business responsibilities.
Spacious under-clearance of said desktop facilitates a variety of
drawers, and enables conferencing of up to six attendees.
3. An optional onboard DC to AC inverter supplies power for
electrical devices, such as: computers, clock radios, electrical
razors, etc.
4. Said desk's three-point suspension and method of desktop
attachment enables a variety of desktop compositions and colors.
Its weight, from being self-supporting, along with the weight of
the elevating mechanism, and the stanchion's anti-friction
treatment, insures reliable gravity force lowering of the desktop
when the cable winch is operated in the reverse direction. The gear
assemble driving the cable winch, being of high-ratio, eliminates
the need for electrical or mechanical braking. And a
motor-to-gear-box clutch negates the need for circuits to stop
motor drive at upper and lower ends.
5. Support structure of said desk, being artistically designed and
finished in appealing colors, makes its presence and decore
respectable in most offices and executive suites.
Description
REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS
TABLE-US-00001 [0001] 3,370,556 Kooi, J. P. E. Oct. 25, 1966
3,543,282 Sautereau, L. E. F. Apr. 4, 1968 4,619,208 Andrew
Kurrasch Oct. 28, 1986 4,651,652 Robert Wyckoff Mar. 24, 1987
5,438,939 John Clarke Aug. 8, 1995 5,682,825 Roland Manner Nov. 4,
1997 5,797,331 Richard L. Watt Aug. 25, 1998 6,152,049 Rainer
Schmidt Nov. 28, 2000 6,412,427 Manfred Merkt Jul. 2, 2002
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] According to Mayo Clinic: "Prolonged sitting can put one at
risk for a potentially fatal condition in which a blood clot forms
in the legs, breaking loose, and blocking an arteries in the lung."
Long periods of rudimentary work, while seated at a desk, also tend
to reduce one's productivity. Repeated relief breaks are costly,
whereas rising to a standing position can greatly enhance one's
productivity and avoid interruptions. The user can elevate or lower
the desk surface without losing train of thought. The proposed
assembly helps enhance user performance and guard against cardiac
impairment.
PRIOR ART
[0003] This section explains how and why none of the referenced
patents offer equivalent capabilities of: construction,
functionality, user friendliness, esthetics, and prestige--claimed
by this proposed Electric-Elevating Desk application.
[0004] U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,370,556 and 3,543,282 are not applicable to
office deskwork, are depended on counter balancing forces, and are
not adaptable to electrical control.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,208 does use electrical control, but is
wall mounted, uses house power and is not a stand along work
surface.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,652 alleges the same attributes and
functional desirability as the proposed application, but depends on
the force of a "gas spring" requiring the user to supply
compensating force to achieve the desired desktop elevation.
Electrical control is not feasible.
[0007] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,438,939, 5,682,825 and 5,797,331 are
drafting table configurations and not adaptable for office desk
functions.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,049, necessitates dual traction ropes
and dual rope drums for each support leg; lacks integral power
source if and when electrical drive were included, reducing
portability, necessitating external power requirements; and
necessitates a spring loaded counter force, a complex multiple
configured rope drum for two, three or four support legs. Whereas
my application is compliant to a self-contained unobtrusive
electrical power motive units, and uses a high gear ratio drive
unit that negates the need for counter force ropes, a multiple
configured drive drum, and locking mechanism. Weight of the desktop
supplies adequate downward force as the drive wench is reversed.
Frictionless plastic linings prevent binding during desktop
lowering. And my tri-legged support configuration provides self
leveling, negating the need for leveling legs.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,427 a device for adjusting the height of
a piece of furniture, is based on a two legged support structure.
This limitation is due to the method of employing the drive
elements. Its two supporting legs do not provide the stability and
lateral strength provided by a three-legged support. The dual drive
elements and dual cable to each supporting leg increase the
complexity and reduce the inherent reliability. My invention has
only single cables to each support leg and is collected on one
motorize winch--maximizing reliability and maintainability. The
need for dual cabling to each of support legs is negated by
dependency on: the weight of the desk/work top; plastic lined outer
telescoping tube; and by balance support of the inner
tube--insuring consistent centering of the tube though its vertical
excursions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0010] This application, on the other hand, provides a fully
configured universal office-desk design, acceptable and adaptable
for virtually any office decor and operational needs--from clerical
and engineer work stations to executive decor. The three-point
support structure provides: self-leveling, attractive furniture
decor, abundant legroom for the seated user, and self-contained
electrical power affording portability and positioning orientating.
The forward facing edge lends to conferencing--for up to six
conferees. Toggle switch control gives the user ready access for
rising and lowering the desktop. The electrical power is derived
from a rechargeable battery that may need recharging about every
one to four months.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 a forward facing two-dimensional drawing viewing from
under the proposed desk assembly, showing the location of the
electro-mechanical assembly, and control cables.
[0012] FIG. 2 a schematic diagram of the control cables, mechanical
lifting mechanism, and electric wiring.
[0013] FIG. 3 a bottom view of the desktop showing mountings of
electro-mechanical elements, control cable and electric wire
routing.
[0014] FIG. 3a a sectional drawing of the bottom of each
telescoping stanchion showing the pulleys that receive the down
directing cables and return them to an anchorage on top of
stanchions.
[0015] FIG. 3b a sectional drawing of the top of each supporting
stanchion showing the pulleys that receive the up-directing cables
and redirects them toward the lifting mechanism.
[0016] FIG. 4 a top view showing optional adaptable
augmentations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] FIG. 1 Support structure 1 consists of three vertical
telescoping stanchions of metal, plastic or wood members,
preferably each with square cross sections, securely affixed by
four cross members 1a, to form an evenly distributed support for
the desktop, and support for inner telescoping members that affix
to the desktop.
[0018] The said telescoping stanchions, each enclose poles 2 that
rise and lower upon activation of the electromechanical system. The
extending poles 2 are affixed to the desktop 3 via pillow blocks or
pipe flange, and have cable pulleys installed in their lower ends
to accommodate the control cables. The control cables 4 are routed
via pulleys to the electromechanical control unit 5. The desk
support system 1 is made mobile via lockable wheels 6 affixed to
each of the vertical stanchions.
[0019] FIG. 2. Cable pulleys 7 route each of the control cables to
the cable winch 8 which is driven by a speed reducing gear box 11,
which in turn is driven by an electrical motor 9, via a mechanical
clutch 10. Power for the motor is routed from a rechargeable
battery 12 via a three-pole electrical switch 13, readily
accessible to the user. Switch 13 controls the motor's rotational
direction to raise or lower the desktop. Cables extend from the
cable winch 8 over pulleys 7, down the insides of vertical
stanchions and around pulleys 14, mounted in the bottom end of the
telescoping inner members, and then up to the top of the
stanchions, where they are securely attached 15.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the desktop showing mountings of
the various control mechanisms. Added to the already mentioned
items are the two cable conduits 16 that carry control cables from
the stanchions to the cable winch 8. These conduits are firmly
affixed the bottom of desktop. Also added is the electrical conduit
17 that carries electrical circuits from the rechargeable battery
12 to the three-position switch 13 and on to the electrical motor
9. Cable pulley 18 reroutes one of the control cables to the cable
winch 8. A high-ratio gear-reduction mechanism 11 (located under
cable winch 8 and not shown) provides motor thrust re-direction to
the cable winch 8, providing a high-ratio mechanical advantage. The
mechanical clutch 10, between the motor 9 and gear reduction
mechanism 11, allows slippage if the three-position switch is held
in the up or down position after the inner telescoping element has
reached the bottom most position or the upper most position. The
motor's 9 high RPM offsets the high-gear reduction, in
accomplishing a suitable desktop elevating rate.
[0021] FIG. 3a is a sectional view of the lower end of the three
telescoping stanchions 1 showing cable pulley 14, installed in the
inner poles 2, that receives and redirects the vertically
descending control cables up the inside of the stanchions to top of
the stanchions, where they are firmly anchored.
[0022] FIG. 3b is sectional view of the top end of the three
telescoping stanchions 1 showing the cable pulley 7 that receives
the vertically ascending control cables from cable pulleys 14 and
re-routes them to the cable winch 8.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows adaptability of several stationary drawers 20,
and an optional DC to AC power inverter 21 with output receptacle
22 for supplying power to a variety of AC devices. Access around
the outer perimeter of the desktop provides leg room and desk space
for up to six conferees 19.
* * * * *