Load compensator for height adjustable table
First Claim
1. A table assembly comprising:
- a leg assembly having upper and lower ends, the leg assembly comprising;
(i) a fixed first member having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the fixed first member forming the lower end of the leg assembly;
(ii) a movable second member disposed in sliding engagement with the first member along a substantially vertical extension axis between an extended upper position in which the second member is disposed a maximum distance from the first member lower end and a retracted lower position in which the second member is disposed a minimum distance from the first member lower end;
(iii) a force equalizer assembly including;
(a) a cam member supported by the movable second member for rotation about an axis within a range of rotation from a first angular orientation corresponding to the upper position to a second angular orientation corresponding to the lower position, the cam member including a constant radius section and a cam section;
(b) a spring supported by the movable second member;
(c) at least a first strand operably coupling the spring, the cam member and the fixed first member together so that the spring and cam member together apply a force to the second member tending to drive the second member toward the upper position; and
(iv) a lock assembly that is separate from the force equalizer assembly, the lock assembly including a housing, a coupler and a locking member, the housing supported by the movable second member for movement with the table top member and forming a cavity, the coupler moving within the cavity along a trajectory other than a trajectory that is parallel to the vertical extension axis as the second member moves between the upper and lower positions, the locking member mounted to the housing and biased toward a surface of the coupler to contact the coupler and prohibit movement of the coupler within the housing; and
a table top supported by the second member for movement therewith.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A table assembly comprising a leg assembly having upper and lower ends, the leg assembly including a fixed first member having upper and lower ends, a movable second member disposed in sliding engagement with the first member, the engagement including a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration, a cam member including a cam section, the cam member operably coupled to one of the first and second members, the cam member having a rotational range of travel from a first angular orientation corresponding to the expanded configuration of the first and second members to a second angular orientation corresponding to the contracted configuration of the first and second members, a spring supported by the leg assembly and operably coupled to the cam member, wherein the cam member and the spring cooperate to apply a force to the second member tending to drive the second member toward the expanded configuration, a velocity governor supported by at least one of the first and second members for, while the second member is moving, restricting the speed with which the second member moves with respect to the first member to a maximum speed without completely stopping second member.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A table assembly comprising:
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a leg assembly having upper and lower ends, the leg assembly comprising; (i) a fixed first member having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the fixed first member forming the lower end of the leg assembly; (ii) a movable second member disposed in sliding engagement with the first member along a substantially vertical extension axis between an extended upper position in which the second member is disposed a maximum distance from the first member lower end and a retracted lower position in which the second member is disposed a minimum distance from the first member lower end; (iii) a force equalizer assembly including; (a) a cam member supported by the movable second member for rotation about an axis within a range of rotation from a first angular orientation corresponding to the upper position to a second angular orientation corresponding to the lower position, the cam member including a constant radius section and a cam section; (b) a spring supported by the movable second member; (c) at least a first strand operably coupling the spring, the cam member and the fixed first member together so that the spring and cam member together apply a force to the second member tending to drive the second member toward the upper position; and (iv) a lock assembly that is separate from the force equalizer assembly, the lock assembly including a housing, a coupler and a locking member, the housing supported by the movable second member for movement with the table top member and forming a cavity, the coupler moving within the cavity along a trajectory other than a trajectory that is parallel to the vertical extension axis as the second member moves between the upper and lower positions, the locking member mounted to the housing and biased toward a surface of the coupler to contact the coupler and prohibit movement of the coupler within the housing; and a table top supported by the second member for movement therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A table assembly comprising:
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a leg assembly having upper and lower ends, the leg assembly comprising; (i) a fixed first member having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the fixed first member forming the lower end of the leg assembly; (ii) a movable second member disposed in sliding engagement with the first member along a vertical extension axis between an extended position in which the second member is disposed a maximum distance from the first member lower end and a retracted position in which the second member is disposed a minimum distance from the first member lower end; (iii) a cam member pivotally supported by one of the first and second members for rotation about a pivot axis within a range of rotation from a first angular orientation corresponding to the extended position to a second angular orientation corresponding to the retracted position, the cam member including a constant radius section and a cam section; (iv) a compression spring supported by the one of the first and second members that supports the cam member; (v) at least a first strand operably coupling the spring, the cam member and the other of the first and second members together so that the spring and cam member together apply a force to the second member tending to drive the second member toward the extended position; and (vi) a lock assembly including a housing, a coupler and a locking member, the housing supported by the movable second member for movement with the movable second member and forming a cavity, the coupler moving within the cavity along a trajectory other than a trajectory that is parallel to the vertical extension axis as the second member moves between the extended and retracted positions, the locking member mounted to the housing and biased toward a surface of the coupler to contact the coupler and prohibit movement of the coupler within the housing; and a table top member mounted to the second member for movement therewith. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification