Height adjustable desktop work surface

• US 10,524,565 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2018
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Ergun, Mustafa A., Wong, Thiem, Theis, John William
• Primary Examiner(s): Ing, Matthew W
• Application Number:
  US15/892,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20180213929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 108145, 10814711, 108116-120, 108147
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 1/04 with supplementary leaves or drop leaves arranged at the periphery A47B1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2009/185 being positioned between the table top and the legs or underframe
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/04 characterised by means for holding or fastening typewriters or computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/04 supported from table, floor or wall
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/02 with balancing device, e.g. by springs, by weight
• 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: A47B 9/18 with additional top or additional legs for varying the height of the top

Abstract

In one example, a height adjustable desktop system is described that can include a work surface, a foot assembly and a linkage assembly that adjustably connects the work surface to the foot assembly allowing vertical adjustment of the work surface. The linkage assembly can include a pair of adjustment assemblies, each having a transverse linkage that maintains the work surface in a horizontal orientation as the work surface is elevated or lowered. A biasing mechanism, such as an extension spring or a torsion spring, biases the work surface toward the elevated position.

Claims

1. A height adjustable desktop system, comprising:

a work surface defining an underside;

a foot assembly, including a lock housing defining a first lock notch;

a linkage system configured to support the work surface through a plurality of height adjustable positions including a lowered position, and wherein the linkage system operably connects the work surface to the foot assembly;

a first lock assembly configured to maintain the work surface at an individual one of the plurality of height adjustable positions;

a second lock assembly adapted to secure the work surface in the lowered position, the second lock assembly including;

a first lock lever including a first arm, the first arm adapted to selectively engage with the first lock notch and thereby securing the work surface in the lowered position, the first lock lever rotatable between a locking configuration and a release configuration, wherein;

in the locking configuration;

the first lock assembly maintains the work surface at an individual one of the plurality of height adjustable positions, and

with the work surface in the lowered position the first arm of the first lock lever is received within the first lock notch to secure the work surface in the lowered position, and

in the release configuration;

the first arm is unseated from the first lock notch, and

the first lock assembly allows for adjustment of the work surface between the plurality of height adjustable positions.

2. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1, wherein the first lock notch is positioned on a first side of the foot assembly, and the foot assembly includes a second lock notch on a second side of the foot assembly, and further comprising a second lock assembly, the second lock assembly including:

a second lock lever including a second arm, the second arm adapted to selectively engage with the second lock notch and thereby securing the work surface in the lowered position, the second lock lever moveable between a locking configuration and a release configuration, wherein;

in the locking configuration, the second arm is engaged with the second lock notch,

in the release configuration, the second arm is disengaged from the second lock notch.

3. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1, wherein in the locking configuration, a portion of the first arm extends into the first notch.

4. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1, wherein the first lock lever is positioned proximate a front of the work surface.

5. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 4, wherein the first lock lever is coupled to the underside of the work surface.

6. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1, further comprising a shelf coupled with the work surface at a height lower than the work surface.

7. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 6, wherein the second lock assembly is positioned proximate the shelf.

8. The height adjustable desktop system claim 7, wherein the first lock lever is positioned proximate a front of the work surface.

9. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1, wherein the second lock assembly is positioned within a footprint of the work surface.

10. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1, further comprising at least one adjustment assembly, the adjustment assembly including:

a support frame configured to couple to the underside of the work surface;

a glide rod configured to be supported by the support frame, the glide rod defining a plurality of indentations; and

a glide bracket defining opposing glide holes, wherein the glide rod is configured to extend through the opposing glide holes, the glide bracket is configured to couple to the linkage system, wherein at least one of the opposing glide holes is configured to engage at least one of the plurality of indentations to prevent movement of the glide bracket relative to the glide rod and thereby position the work surface in one of the plurality of height adjustable positions.

11. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1, wherein the first lock lever rotates about an axis in moving between the locking configuration and the release configuration.

12. The height adjustable desktop system claim 1, wherein the arm is sized and shaped to have a J-shaped cross-section.