Load compensator for height adjustable table
First Claim
1. A table assembly comprising:
- a telescoping leg assembly having upper and lower ends and forming an internal passageway and further including a plurality of leg members, at least a first leg member is adapted to slide telescopically with respect to at least a second of the leg members along a substantially vertical extension axis between an extended position and a retracted position;
the table assembly further including a spring that generates a variable spring force, the spring having first and second ends, the first end of the spring coupled to one of the first and second leg members, the spring aligned substantially parallel to the vertical extension axis and located within the internal passageway;
a rotatable cam member supported by the one of the first and second leg members that the spring is coupled to, the cam member operatively linked with to the second end of the spring, the cam member and spring applying a force tending to drive the leg assembly into the extended position, the cam member rotating around an axis as the first leg member moves between the extended and retracted positions, the rate of cam member rotation changing in a non-linear fashion as the first leg member moves toward the extended position;
a worksurface mounted to the upper end of the leg assembly for substantially vertical movement between an upper position and a lower position as the first leg member moves between the extended and retracted positions, respectively; and
a lock adapted to prevent the plurality of members from sliding telescopically with respect to one another so that, when engaged, the first leg member is locked in a position incrementally between the extended and retracted positions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A table assembly comprising a telescoping leg assembly having upper and lower ends and forming an internal passageway and further including a plurality of leg members, at least a first leg member is adapted to slide telescopically with respect to at least a second of the leg members along a substantially vertical extension axis between an extended position and a retracted position, a spring that generates a variable spring force, the spring having first and second ends, aligned substantially parallel to the vertical extension axis and located within the internal passageway, a rotatable cam member supported by the leg assembly and operatively linked with the spring, the cam member and spring applying a force tending to drive the leg assembly into the extended position, a worksurface mounted to the upper end of the leg assembly and a lock adapted to prevent leg members from sliding telescopically with respect to one another when engaged.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A table assembly comprising:
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a telescoping leg assembly having upper and lower ends and forming an internal passageway and further including a plurality of leg members, at least a first leg member is adapted to slide telescopically with respect to at least a second of the leg members along a substantially vertical extension axis between an extended position and a retracted position; the table assembly further including a spring that generates a variable spring force, the spring having first and second ends, the first end of the spring coupled to one of the first and second leg members, the spring aligned substantially parallel to the vertical extension axis and located within the internal passageway; a rotatable cam member supported by the one of the first and second leg members that the spring is coupled to, the cam member operatively linked with to the second end of the spring, the cam member and spring applying a force tending to drive the leg assembly into the extended position, the cam member rotating around an axis as the first leg member moves between the extended and retracted positions, the rate of cam member rotation changing in a non-linear fashion as the first leg member moves toward the extended position; a worksurface mounted to the upper end of the leg assembly for substantially vertical movement between an upper position and a lower position as the first leg member moves between the extended and retracted positions, respectively; and a lock adapted to prevent the plurality of members from sliding telescopically with respect to one another so that, when engaged, the first leg member is locked in a position incrementally between the extended and retracted positions. - 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)
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31. A table assembly comprising:
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a telescoping leg assembly including a plurality of leg members and having upper and lower ends, at least a first upper leg member adapted to slide telescopically with respect to at least a second lower leg member along a substantially vertical extension axis between an extended position and a retracted position; the table assembly further including a spring that generates a variable spring force, the spring having first and second ends and mounted to one of the first and second leg members; a rotatable cam member supported by the one of the first and second leg members; a strand linking the spring and the cam member; a support member supported at the upper end of the upper leg member for substantially vertical movement between an upper and a lower position as the leg assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions, respectively; and a lock adapted to prevent the plurality of leg members from sliding telescopically with respect to one another so that, when engaged, the leg assembly is locked in a position incrementally between the extended and retracted positions; and wherein, the spring, cam member and strand are operatively linked together and to the leg assembly so that the cam member and spring applying a substantially constant force tending to drive the leg assembly into the extended position, the cam member rotating around an axis as the leg assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions, the rate of cam member rotation changing in a non-linear fashion as the leg assembly moves toward the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A table assembly comprising:
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a telescoping leg assembly including a plurality of leg members and having upper and lower ends, at least a first upper leg member adapted to slide telescopically with respect to at least a second lower leg member along a substantially vertical extension axis between an extended position and a retracted position; the table assembly further including a spring that generates a variable spring force, the spring having first and second ends and mounted to one of the first and second leg members; a rotatable cam member supported by the one of the first and second leg members at a height below a lower end of the spring; a strand linking the spring and the cam member; a support member supported at the upper end of the upper leg member for substantially vertical movement between an upper and a lower position as the leg assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions, respectively; a lock adapted to prevent the plurality of leg members from sliding telescopically with respect to one another so that, when engaged, the leg assembly is locked in a position incrementally between the extended and retracted positions, the lock including a spring loaded lever member that is biased by the spring toward a locked position; a lock activation cable that extends down at least an upper portion of the first leg member and that links to the lever member; and an activation lever mounted to an undersurface of the support member that is operably coupled to the activation cable such that when the activation lever is activated, the cable causes the lever member to pivot to an unlocked position; and wherein, the spring, cam member and strand are operatively linked together and to the leg assembly so that the cam member and spring applying a substantially constant force tending to drive the leg assembly into the extended position, the cam member rotating around an axis as the leg assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions, the rate of cam member rotation changing in a non-linear fashion as the leg assembly moves toward the extended position.
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Specification