Adjustable height desk having a deployable floor mat

• US 10,426,260 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Original Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Inventors: Benden, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ayres, Timothy M
• Application Number:
  US15/808,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20180132608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 108 5014, 10814411, 108147, 3123199
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/00 Details of tables or desks drawers A47B88/00; feet for furniture in general A47B91/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/02 with vertically-adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0052 with two telescopic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0053 Flat lifting device for desks with two telescopic sections
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0059 in telescoping table legs
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0097 Foot rest being part of desk
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/04 with vertical spindle
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A desk includes a tabletop and at least one base member supporting the tabletop. A footrest is disposed on the at least one base member beneath the tabletop. The footrest is movable between a stowed position toward a back of the desk and a deployed position toward a front of the desk. At least one mechanism is disposed on the at least one base member and operatively coupled to the footrest. The at least one mechanism moving the footrest between the stowed and deployed positions. A floor mat is disposed with the footrest. The floor mat is movable with the footrest between a stowed mat position and a deployed mat position.

Claims

1. A desk, comprising:

a tabletop;

at least one base member supporting the tabletop, the at least one base member being slidably movable between a sitting position and a standing position;

a connection bar rotatably coupled to the at least one base member;

a footrest coupled to and displaced from the connection bar, the footrest rotatable with the connection bar between a stowed position toward a back of the desk and a deployed position toward a front of the desk;

at least one mechanism disposed on the at least one base member and operatively coupled to the footrest, the at least one mechanism rotating the footrest between the stowed and deployed positions while moving the base member between the sitting position and the standing position; and

a floor mat coupled to the connection bar, wherein rotation of the footrest and the connection bar causes movement of the floor mat between a stowed mat position and a deployed mat position.

2. The desk of claim 1, comprising two spaced base members.

3. The desk of claim 2, wherein the connection bar is disposed between the two spaced base members.

4. The desk of claim 1, wherein the footrest rotates about the connection bar.

5. The desk of claim 1, wherein rotation of the footrest from the deployed position to the stowed position gathers the floor mat into the stowed mat position.

6. The desk of claim 1, wherein the footrest is coupled to the connection bar by at least one arm.

7. The desk of claim 1, wherein the base member moves telescopically.

8. A method of deploying a floor mat with an adjustable-height desk, the method comprising:

coupling a base member to a tabletop, the base member having a support that is vertically movable relative to the base member so as to move the tabletop between a sitting position and a standing position;

coupling a footrest assembly to the base member the footrest being rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position;

coupling a floor mat with the footrest assembly such that the floor mat is in a deployed mat position when the footrest is in the deployed position; and

co-actuating the footrest assembly with the tabletop such that, when the tabletop moves from the sitting position to the standing position, the footrest rotates to the deployed position and the floor mat moves to the deployed mat position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the footrest assembly comprises a connection bar coupled to and displaced from a footrest.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the floor mat is coupled to the connection bar.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the footrest gathers the floor mat into a stowed mat position when the connection bar rotates to the stowed position.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the footrest rotates around the connection bar.