U.S. patent application number 15/177425 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-29 for height adjustable work platform apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Anthony Paul Maas. Invention is credited to Anthony Paul Maas.
Application Number | 20160278514 15/177425 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56974605 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160278514 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maas; Anthony Paul |
September 29, 2016 |
Height Adjustable Work Platform Apparatus
Abstract
A height adjustable work platform apparatus. The height
adjustable work platform apparatus includes a frame slidably
supporting a cantilevered platform for supporting articles thereon.
The platform is slidably engaged with a pair of rails disposed on
the frame, which allows the platform to be adjusted vertically. The
apparatus further includes a spring-biased pin disposed on the
undersurface of the platform that is configured to engage
complementary slots disposed on the surface of the upright members
of the frame. A vertically-biased pulley system internal to the
frame biases the platform to a raised position in order to reduce
the amount of effort required to lift the platform. The frame of
the apparatus includes a lower portion that is sized and shaped to
receive the frame of the platform, thereby allowing the platform to
rest flush against the lower portion when fully lowered.
Inventors: |
Maas; Anthony Paul; (League
City, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Maas; Anthony Paul |
League City |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56974605 |
Appl. No.: |
15/177425 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14886925 |
Oct 19, 2015 |
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15177425 |
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13975526 |
Aug 26, 2013 |
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14886925 |
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61768928 |
Feb 25, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 9/18 20130101; A47B
9/08 20130101; A47B 9/14 20130101; A47B 21/02 20130101; A47B 9/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 9/00 20060101
A47B009/00; A47B 9/02 20060101 A47B009/02; A47B 9/12 20060101
A47B009/12; A47B 9/14 20060101 A47B009/14; A47B 5/00 20060101
A47B005/00 |
Claims
1) A height-adjustable platform apparatus, comprising: a first
upright member including a first rail extending longitudinally
therealong; a second upright member including a second rail
extending longitudinally therealong; a platform including a frame,
a first distal end of the frame including a wheel slidably engaged
with the first rail and a second distal end of the frame including
a wheel slidably engaged with the second rail; a spring-biased pin
disposed on the platform, the spring-biased pin biased towards an
extended position; the first upright member including a plurality
of slots disposed along a surface thereof, the plurality of slots
configured to receive the spring-biased pin; wherein engagement of
the spring-biased pin with one of the plurality of slots prevents
the platform from moving longitudinally along the first upright
member and the second upright member; a vertically-biased pulley
assembly comprising a pulley disposed within the first upright
member, the pulley including a cable; wherein the vertically-biased
pulley assembly is configured to bias the platform to a raised
position; a first end of the cable connected to a spring and a
second end of the cable connected to the frame of the platform; and
wherein the spring is biased to exert a vertical force on the
platform via the pulley.
2) The height-adjustable platform apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
vertically-biased pulley assembly is enclosed within the first
upright member.
3) The height-adjustable platform apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising a lever in mechanical communication with the
spring-biased pin, the lever configured to retract the
spring-biased pin when actuated.
4) The height-adjustable platform apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising: an upper frame portion including the first upright
member and the second upright member; a lower frame portion
extending perpendicularly from the upper frame portion, the lower
frame portion including an open interior configured to receive the
frame of the platform.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/886,925 filed on Oct. 19, 2015, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/975,526 filed
on Aug. 26, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/768,928 filed on Feb. 25, 2013, each hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety in order to provide
continuity of disclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to desks and office furniture
items. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a new
and novel desktop surface that can be raised and lowered from a
work surface, allowing the keyboard and monitor height to be
adjusted from the work surface for improved ergonomics.
[0003] Many jobs in the modern economy require an individual to
spend much of their day in a seated position and in front of a
computer. The computer improves worker productivity, allows for
rapid communication between distant parties, and facilitates the
efficient creation of data or a platform for analyzing the same
without requiring the user to engage in much physical exertion.
With this improvement in productivity, however, comes with it the
fact that the common computer user is sedentary and in a static
body position for long periods of time. This positioning of the
body and inactivity may not be ideal for the human body, and can
lead to physical injuries over time.
[0004] Work place ergonomics specialists and occupational health
professionals analyze these types of work place environments and
have developed many solutions for alleviating physical pain and for
preventing common work place injuries related to office employees.
These solutions include ergonomic furniture items such as
specialized chairs and desks, as well as ergonomic computer
equipment such as adjustable computer stands and shaped keyboards
that prevent wrist injuries. These devices are varied in the art
and relate to a means of adjusting the work environment or
positioning the user such that physical injuries are prevented.
These injuries most often include some form of back injury, wrist
or shoulder injury, neck soreness or eyesight issues.
[0005] The typical workday for many people requires that they sit
at a desk, remaining seated for an extended period of time. This
can decrease blood flow to extremities and cause soreness
throughout the day. Over time, chronic problems, particularly in
the back, can develop. In order to promote increased blood flow or
stretch, many people leave their desk and take a short break.
Wellness programs and workplace awareness campaigns exist for
addressing these office maladies, however the most direct means of
combatting long term office injuries is furniture and computer
peripherals that position the user in the most ergonomic and
healthy body posture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of office furniture articles now present in the prior art,
the present invention provides a new adjustable work surface device
that can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when
supporting a computer and desk articles in an elevated position for
improved user ergonomics.
[0007] The present height adjustable work platform apparatus
includes a frame slidably supporting a cantilevered platform
adapted to support articles thereon. The platform is slidably
engaged with a pair of rails disposed on the frame, which allows
the platform to be adjusted vertically. The apparatus further
includes a spring-biased pin disposed on the undersurface of the
platform that is configured to engage complementary slots disposed
on the interior surface of the rails. An internal vertically-biased
pulley system biases the platform to a raised position in order to
reduce the amount of effort required to lift the platform. The
frame of the apparatus includes a lower portion that is sized and
shaped to receive the frame of the platform, thereby allowing the
platform to rest flush against the lower portion when fully
lowered
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new and improved adjustable work surface device that has
all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the
disadvantages.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
adjustable work surface device that is deployable from an existing
work surface, whereby no installation or modification thereof is
required prior to deployment.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable work surface device that can support an office computer
and its peripheral items, common work place items, and the user
bearing down on the device without risk of collapsing the device
during use.
[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable work surface device that is securely lockable in a given
position with respect to the underlying work area and provides an
assisted means of adjustment that requires low levels of input from
the user during changes in position.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable work surface device that is of simple construction and
offers a single degree of freedom, wherein the assembly can be
readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy that
are commensurate with durability.
[0013] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Although the characteristic features of this invention will
be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and
manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood
after a review of the following description, taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are
provided throughout.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an illustrative
embodiment of the present height-adjustable work surface.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the underside of the work
surface of an illustrative embodiment of the present
height-adjustable work surface.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the platform frame of an
illustrative embodiment of the present height-adjustable work
surface along line 3-3.
[0018] FIG. 4A shows a sectional view of an upright member of an
illustrative embodiment of the present height-adjustable work
surface along line 4-4, wherein the work surface is in a raised
position.
[0019] FIG. 4B shows a sectional view of an upright member of an
illustrative embodiment of the present height-adjustable work
surface along line 4-4, wherein the work surface is in a lowered
position.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of an upright member of an
illustrative embodiment of the present height-adjustable work
surface along line 5-5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like
reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like
or similar elements of the height adjustable work surface. The
figures are intended for representative purposes only and should
not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view
of an illustrative embodiment of the present height-adjustable work
surface. The apparatus comprises an L-shaped frame having an upper
frame portion 11 and a lower frame portion 21. The upper frame
portion 11 comprises a U-shaped assembly having a pair of upright
members 12 connecting to an upper, horizontal member 13 that form
an inverted U-shaped structure. The lower frame portion 21
comprises a substantially rectangular frame having side members 22
that are adapted to provide a widened base having sufficient weight
to support the load of the frame and any anticipated working loads
without tipping forward or rearward. The upper frame portion 11 and
the lower frame portion 21 are secured together to form an overall
L-shaped structure.
[0023] The work space platform 31 is supported below its upper
surface 32 by way of a platform frame 33. The distal ends of the
frame platform 33 are slidably engaged with the rails 14 of the
upright members 12. The platform frame 33 comprises a substantially
rectangular structure that is adapted to fit within the interior
perimeter of the L-shaped frame lower portion 21 when the platform
31 is in its lowest position. In this way, the platform frame 33
and frame lower portion 21 share a common geometry and overlap one
another to allow the platform upper surface 32 to descend as far as
possible towards the underlying support surface while providing
stable support therefor. When in its lowest position, i.e. when the
platform frame 33 is received within the lower frame portion 21,
the undersurface of the work space platform 31 is configured to
rest flush against the surface of the lower frame portion 21.
[0024] Each of the upright members 12 of the upper frame portion 11
includes a rail 14. Each rail 14 is an elongated slot that is
configured to slidably receive one of the distal ends of the
platform frame 33. Therefore, the work space platform 31 is
slidably connected to both rails 14 and is cantilevered from the
upper frame portion 11. In one embodiment of the present apparatus,
the rails 14 extend partially up the lengths of the upright members
12 in order to limit the upper extent with which the work space
platform can be raise. In an alternative embodiment of the present
apparatus, the rails 14 extend the entire length of the upright
members 12. The upper surface 32 of the work space platform 31
provides a height-adjustable work surface for supporting articles
thereon, e.g., a personal computer and its peripherals. The surface
32 may also be sufficiently large enough to accommodate a writing
space and support work materials thereon for the standing or seated
user.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 2-3 and 5, there are shown a
perspective view of the underside of the work surface, a sectional
view of the platform frame along line 3-3, and a sectional view of
an upright member along line 5-5 of an illustrative embodiment of
the present height-adjustable work surface. The height-adjustable
work surface further includes a lever 41 disposed on the
undersurface of the platform frame 33. The lever 41 is mechanically
connected to a pin 51 such that actuation of the lever 41 causes
the pin 51 to be extended or retracted. In the depicted embodiment
of the present apparatus, the lever 41 is a member extending
perpendicularly from a distal end of the pin 51. The assembly of
the pin 51 and the lever 41 are slidably supported within a bracket
42 attaching the assembly to the platform frame 33.
[0026] The pin 51 is biased to its extended position by a spring
53. In one embodiment of the present invention the pin 51 extends
through a helical spring 53. The pin 51 further includes a stop 54
fixedly disposed thereon. The spring 53 extends between the stop 54
and a surface of the bracket 42. When the pin 51 is drawn
backwardly by actuating the lever 41, the stop 54 bears against the
spring 53 and thereby compresses the spring 53. When the lever 41
is released, the elastic potential energy of the compressed spring
53 is released and the pin 51 extends back to its resting, extended
position.
[0027] The upright members 12 further include a plurality of slots
52 disposed on the surface of the upright members 12 adjacent to
the channel through which the distal ends of the platform frame 33
extend to engage the rails 14. The slots 52 are configured to
receive the pin 51 therein. When the pin 51 is engaged with a slot
52, the pin 31 locks the work surface platform 31, preventing the
work space platform 31 from moving vertically. Each slot 52 allows
the work space platform 31 to be positioned a discrete elevation
level, thereby allowing a user to position the work space platform
31 at a desired height.
[0028] In an illustrative embodiment of the present apparatus, the
platform frame 33 is slidably attached to each of the upright
members 12 via wheels 91 disposed at the distal ends of the
platform frame 31 that are configured to engage with each rail 14.
The slidable engagement between the wheels 91 and the rails 14
allows for the work space platform 31 to be translated
longitudinally along the upright members 12, without any
corresponding lateral movement permitted. In alternative
embodiments of the present apparatus, other slidable engagements
between the platform frame 31 and the upper frame portion 11 are
contemplated.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, there are shown sectional
views of an upright member of an embodiment of the present
height-adjustable work surface along line 4-4, wherein the work
surface is in a lowered position and a raised position,
respectively. The height-adjustable work surface further includes a
vertically-biased pulley mechanism configured to bias the work
surface platform 31 to a raised position. The vertically-biased
pulley mechanism includes a spring 61 that extends within and along
each upright member 12 of the frame upper portion 11. The
vertically-biased pulley mechanism further includes a cable 63 that
is threaded through a pulley 62. The cable is attached at a first
end to the spring 61 and at a second end to the distal end of the
platform frame 33. The spring 61 biases the work space platform 31
away from the underlying work surface and the lower frame portion
21 in order to facilitate lifting of the work space platform 31 and
any contents thereon.
[0030] In the depicted embodiment of the present apparatus, the
spring 61 is biased towards the work space platform 31 being in a
raised position. When the work space platform 31 is in a lowered
position, as shown in FIG. 4A, the spring 61 is stretched, thereby
storing elastic potential energy. If the work space platform 31 is
locked in place, i.e. the pin 51 is engaged with a corresponding
slot 52, then the work space platform 31 will be held in place.
When the locking mechanism is disengaged, then the bias of the
spring 61 to return to its non-stretched state will facilitate the
raising of the work space platform 31 to its raised position, as
shown in FIG. 4B. The work exerted by the spring 61 when the
locking assembly is disengaged decreases the amount of effort
necessary from a user to lift the work space platform 31.
[0031] In an illustrative embodiment of the present apparatus, the
vertically-biased pulley mechanism, i.e. the assembly of the spring
61, the pulley 62, and the cable 63, are wholly enclosed and
contained within the respective upright member 12. In one
embodiment of the present apparatus, each upright member 12
includes a vertically-biased pulley mechanism. In an alternative
embodiment of the present apparatus, only one of the upright
members 12 includes a vertically-biased pulley mechanism.
[0032] It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has
been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized,
however, that departures may be made within the scope of the
invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person
skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it
is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for
the parts of the invention, to include variations in size,
materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly
and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in
the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in
the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be
encompassed by the present invention.
[0033] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *