Height-adjustable support for an article of furniture

• US 20060081157A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Scott J., Gayhart, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US11/295,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/50.20
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0082 Cable inlet in worktop or desk, e.g. grommet

Abstract

A table or desk unit includes a worksurface and leg structure, and a wire management arrangement located below the worksurface. The wire management arrangement includes upper and lower wire management members that support wires or cables for providing power and/or communication capability to items or equipment on the worksurface, and front and rear access covers which are movable between open and closed positions for providing access to the upper and lower wire management members. The rear access cover is configured to provide access to the lower wire management member, and engages the upper wire management member when in the closed position. A portion of the upper wire management member above the rear access cover is exposed, to mount power outlets that can be accessed from the rear of the worksurface. The front access cover is engaged with the worksurface when in the closed position, and is configured to provide access to both the upper and lower wire management members when in the open position. A wire cover member is releasably engageable with the leg structure, and includes an internal passage that receives wires or cables. The wire cover member includes a lower end received within an upwardly facing recess formed in a foot member forming a part of the leg structure, and an upper end that extends into an opening in one of the wire management members for supplying power or communication wiring thereto. An adjustable height support assembly is engaged with the foot member, for adjusting the worksurface height. The support assembly includes an upper adjustment member threadedly engaged within a receiver associated with the foot member, and a lower adjustment member threadedly engaged with the upper adjustment member. The upper and lower adjustment members include engagement structure which locks the upper and lower adjustment members together When the lower adjustment member is extended to a predetermined position. Subsequent rotation of the lower adjustment member rotates the upper and lower adjustment members together, to provide a telescoping construction for adjusting the height of the worksurface.

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33. An adjustable height support member for supporting an article of furniture on a supporting surface such as a floor, wherein the article of furniture includes a threaded receiver, comprising:

an engagement member adapted to engage the supporting surface;

a sleeve threadedly engaged with the receiver; and

a stem secured to and extending upwardly from the engagement member, wherein the stem is threadedly engaged with the sleeve such that rotation of the stem relative to the sleeve is operable to provide a first range of height adjustment for the engagement member relative to the article of furniture, and wherein the stem and the sleeve include engagement structure for preventing rotation between the stem and the sleeve when the stem is rotated relative to the sleeve to reach an outer extent of the first range of height adjustment, and wherein subsequent rotation of the stem and the sleeve together is operable to cause rotation of the sleeve relative to the receiver to provide a second range of height adjustment for the engagement member relative to the article of furniture.

34. The adjustable height support member of claim 33, wherein the stem is threadedly engaged with the sleeve via a set of external threads formed on the stem that are engaged with a set of internal threads defined by the sleeve.

35. The adjustable height support member of claim 34, wherein the sleeve defines an internal passage within which the stem is received.

36. The adjustable height support member of claim 35, wherein the sleeve defines a lower wall and wherein the internal threads defined by the sleeve are formed in an opening associated with the lower wall of the sleeve.

37. The adjustable height support member of claim 36, wherein the engagement structure comprises an expanded area of the stem located above the threads of the stem, wherein the expanded area of the stem is engageable with the lower wall of the sleeve adjacent the opening in the lower wall to prevent rotation of the stem relative to the sleeve.

38. The adjustable height support member of claim 37, wherein the expanded area of the stem comprises a generally conical section formed toward an upper end defined by the stem, and wherein the lower wall of the sleeve includes a beveled surface adjacent the opening adapted to receive and engage the conical section of the stem when the stem attains a predetermined position relative to the sleeve upon rotation of the stem relative to the sleeve.

39. An adjustable height support member for an article of furniture, comprising:

an engagement member for engaging a supporting surface such as a floor;

a lower adjustment member extending upwardly from the engagement member;

an upper adjustment member engaged with the article of furniture via first mating thread structure provided on the upper adjustment member and a receiver member associated with the article of furniture such that the upper adjustment member is movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the article of furniture;

wherein the lower adjustment member and the upper adjustment member are engaged with each other via second mating thread structure such that the lower adjustment member is movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the upper adjustment member; and

engagement structure interposed between the upper and lower adjustment members for preventing rotation between the upper and lower adjustment members when the lower adjustment member attains a predetermined position as the lower adjustment member is moved outwardly relative to the upper adjustment member, wherein further rotation of the lower adjustment member causes rotation of the upper adjustment member to move the upper adjustment member outwardly relative to the article of furniture.

40. The adjustable height support member of claim 39, wherein the upper adjustment member comprises a generally cylindrical member having a lower wall and a threaded outer surface engaged with the receiver, and wherein the lower adjustment member is threadedly engaged within a threaded opening in the lower wall of the generally cylindrical member.

41. The adjustable height support member of claim 40, wherein the lower adjustment member comprises a threaded shaft extending upwardly from the engagement member and engaged within the threaded opening in the lower wall of the generally cylindrical member.

42. The adjustable height support member of claim 41, wherein the engagement structure comprises an expanded section associated with the threaded shaft, wherein the expanded section is configured to engage the lower wall of the generally cylindrical member adjacent the threaded opening when the threaded shaft is rotated to extend the threaded shaft relative to the generally cylindrical member.

43. The adjustable height support member of claim 40, wherein the upper adjustment member and the lower adjustment member include noncircular engagement structure for facilitating rotation of the upper and lower adjustment members.