Variable height platform device

• US 10,114,352 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Inventors: Matlin, Tai Hoon K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V
• Application Number:
  US15/200,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20170000254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 108147, 108145, 10814411, 254122, 254124, 254 2 C, 254 8 C, 254 9 C
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0056 with a motor, e.g. an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/02 with balancing device, e.g. by springs, by weight
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/10 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/16 with means for, or adapted for, inclining the legs of the table for varying the height of the top, e.g. with adjustable cross legs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A variable height desktop workstation system that includes a base, a variable height platform, a lift mechanism, and a secondary force assist device is provided. The lift mechanism is configured to move the variable height platform within a range of motion between a fully lowered position and a raised position. The lift mechanism comprises a plurality of articulated members and has a lower raising force leverage in a lower part of the range of motion and a higher raising force leverage in an upper part of the range of motion. The secondary force assist device is configured to provide an additional force to the lift mechanism directed to the variable height platform in an upward direction from the fully lowered position towards the raised position only in the lower part of the range of motion so as to compensate for the lower raising force leverage of the lift mechanism.

Claims

1. A variable height desktop workstation system comprising:

a base;

a variable height platform;

a lift mechanism configured to move the variable height platform within a range of motion between a fully lowered position and a raised position, the lift mechanism comprising a plurality of articulated members and having a lower raising force leverage in a lower part of the range of motion and a higher raising force leverage in an upper part of the range of motion,

wherein the lift mechanism is configured to lift the variable height platform from the fully lowered position to the raised position by a lifting force in an upward direction; and

a secondary force assist device configured to provide an additional force to the lift mechanism directed to the variable height platform in the upward direction from the fully lowered position towards the raised position only in the lower part of the range of motion so as to compensate for the lower raising force leverage of the lift mechanism.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a prime mover configured to provide the lifting force to the lift mechanism directed to the variable height platform in the upward direction from the fully lowered position towards the raised position in both the upper and lower parts of the range of motion, and wherein the prime mover is selected from the group consisting of a motor arrangement, a pneumatic arrangement, and a hydraulic arrangement.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the prime mover is a motor arrangement, and wherein the motor arrangement is configured to be operatively connected to a portion of the lift mechanism to provide the lifting force to the lift mechanism.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the secondary force assist device is selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic assist arrangement, a hydraulic assist arrangement, a spring assist arrangement, a variable or an adjustable force spring assist arrangement, and an adjustable force sensing motor assist arrangement.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the secondary force assist device comprises a spring arrangement that includes an extension spring member and at least one compression spring member.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one compression spring member is configured to provide the additional force to the lift mechanism directed to the variable height platform in the upward direction only in the lower part of the range of motion to reduce the lifting force required to lift the variable height platform from the fully lowered position to the raised position.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein, when the variable height platform is in the fully lowered position, the extension spring member is fully expanded and the at least one compression spring member is fully compressed.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the raised position of the variable height platform is a fully raised position, and wherein, when the variable height platform is in the fully raised position, the extension spring member is compressed and the at least one compression spring member is disengaged from the lift mechanism.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the raised position of the variable height platform is an intermediate position between the fully raised position and the fully lowered position, and wherein, when the variable height platform is in the intermediate position, the extension spring member is extended.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one compression spring member is configured to provide a compressive force to the lift mechanism to soften a landing of the variable height platform into the fully lowered position.

11. The system according to claim 5, wherein one end portion of the extension spring member is connected to a portion of the lift mechanism.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the other end portion of the extension spring member is connected to a portion of the base.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the secondary force assist device is a variable force spring tensioner arrangement, and wherein the other end portion of the extension spring member is connected to a portion of the variable force spring tensioner arrangement.

14. The system according to claim 5, wherein one end portion of the at least one compression spring member is connected to a portion of the base and the other end position of the at least one compression spring member is configured to engage with a portion of the lift mechanism to provide the additional force to the lift mechanism.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism comprises a leg assembly that includes two leg members that are connected to each other using a pivotal connection.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein one end portion of each leg member is connected to the base and the other end portion of each leg member is connected to the variable height platform.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the latch mechanism comprises:

a latch member connected to one of the lift mechanism and the variable height platform;

a latch engaging portion connected to the other of the lift mechanism and the variable height platform; and

an actuator configured to selectively engage the latch member with the latch engaging portion to releasably latch the variable height platform at the fully lowered position, the raised position or the position therebetween.

18. The system according to claim 1, further comprises a latch mechanism configured to releasably latch the variable height platform at the fully lowered position, the raised position or a position therebetween.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism is a scissors lift mechanism.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lifting force is applied manually.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the secondary force assist device is selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic assist arrangement, a hydraulic assist arrangement, a spring assist arrangement, a variable or an adjustable force spring assist arrangement, and an adjustable force sensing motor assist arrangement.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the secondary force assist device comprises a spring arrangement that includes an extension spring member and at least one compression spring member.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least one compression spring member is configured to provide the additional force to the lift mechanism directed to the variable height platform in the upward direction only in the lower part of the range of motion to reduce the lifting force required to lift the variable height platform from the fully lowered position to the raised position.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein, when the variable height platform is in the fully lowered position, the extension spring member is fully expanded and the at least one compression spring member is fully compressed.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the raised position of the variable height platform is a fully raised position, and wherein, when the variable height platform is in the fully raised position, the extension spring member is compressed and the at least one compression spring member is disengaged from the lift mechanism.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the raised position of the variable height platform is an intermediate position between the fully raised position and the fully lowered position, and wherein, when the variable height platform is in the intermediate position, the extension spring member is extended.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one compression spring member is configured to provide a compressive force to the lift mechanism to soften a landing of the variable height platform into the fully lowered position.

28. The system according to claim 22, wherein one end portion of the extension spring member is connected to a portion of the lift mechanism.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the other end portion of the extension spring member is connected to a portion of the base.

30. The system according to claim 28, wherein the secondary force assist device is a variable force spring tensioner arrangement, and wherein the other end portion of the extension spring member is connected to a portion of the variable force spring tensioner arrangement.

31. The system according to claim 22, wherein one end portion of the at least one compression spring member is connected to a portion of the base and the other end position of the at least one compression spring member is configured to engage with a portion of the lift mechanism to provide the additional force to the lift mechanism.

32. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system has no prime mover.

33. The system according to claim 1, wherein the additional force provided by the secondary force assist device to the lift mechanism is in addition to the lifting force provided to the lift mechanism.

34. A variable height desktop workstation system comprising:

a base;

a variable height platform;

a lift mechanism configured to move the variable height platform within a range of motion between a fully lowered position and a raised position, the lift mechanism comprising a plurality of articulated members and having a lower raising force leverage in a lower part of the range of motion and a higher raising force leverage in an upper part of the range of motion,

wherein the lift mechanism is configured to lift the variable height platform from the fully lowered position to the raised position by a lifting force in an upward direction; and

a secondary force assist device configured to provide an additional force to the lift mechanism directed to the variable height platform in the upward direction from the fully lowered position towards the raised position in the range of motion so as to compensate for the lower raising force leverage of the lift mechanism.