Adjustable Footrest for Adjustable-Height Desk

• US 20140020606A1
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Original Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Inventors: Benden, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,961,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/50.14
• 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 2200/0053 Flat lifting device for desks with two telescopic sections
• 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 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

An adjustable desk has base members or sidewalls supporting the desk on a surface. Each sidewall has at least one support movably vertically relative to the sidewall. A tabletop is disposed above the base member and is supported on the supports. A footrest is disposed between the base members beneath the tabletop and can move between a back position toward a back of the desk and a front position toward a front of the desk. One or more mechanisms operatively couple to at least one of the supports and to the footrest. The one or more mechanisms move the at least one support vertically relative to the base member to raise and lower the tabletop relative to the sidewall. Likewise, the one or more mechanisms move the footrest between the back and front positions. Preferably, movement of the footrest is coordinated with the movement of the tabletop so that the footrest moves to the front position when the tabletop is raised for standing and moves to the back position when the tabletop is lowered for sitting.

Claims

1. A desk, comprising:

a tabletop;

at least one base member supporting the tabletop;

a footrest disposed on the at least one base member beneath the tabletop, the footrest movable between a back position toward a back of the desk and a front position toward a front of the desk; and

one or more mechanisms disposed on the at least one base member and operatively coupled to the footrest, the one or more mechanisms moving the footrest between the back and front positions.

2. The desk of claim 1, wherein the at least one base member comprises a support supporting the tabletop above the at least one base member and movable vertically relative to the at least one base member.

3. The desk of claim 2, wherein the one or more mechanisms are operatively coupled to the support and move the support vertically to raise and lower the tabletop between raised and lowered positions.

4. The desk of claim 1, wherein the at least one base member comprises adjacent base members supporting the tabletop, wherein the footrest is disposed between the adjacent base members beneath the tabletop.

5. A desk, comprising:

at least one base member having a support movable vertically relative to the at least one base member;

a tabletop supported on the support above the at least one base member;

a footrest disposed on the at least one base member beneath the tabletop, the footrest movable between a back position toward a back of the desk and a front position toward a front of the desk; and

one or more mechanisms disposed on the at least one base member and operatively coupled to the support and to the footrest, the one or more mechanisms moving the support vertically relative to the at least one base member to raise and lower the tabletop relative to the at least one base member, the one or more mechanisms moving the footrest between the back and front positions.

6. The desk of claim 5, wherein the at least one base member comprises adjacent base members disposed underneath the tabletop, wherein the footrest is disposed between the adjacent base members.

7. The desk of claim 5, wherein the one or more mechanisms coordinate the movement of the at least one support between lowered and raised positions to the movement of the footrest between the back and front positions.

8. The desk of claim 5, wherein the footrest comprises:

an arm pivotably connected to the at least one base member; and

a rest connected to the arm,

wherein the rest pivots with the arm between the back and front positions.

9. The desk of claim 8, wherein the rest comprises a cross member having an end connected to the arm.

10. The desk of claim 5, wherein the footrest comprises a rest connected in a channel in the at least one base member, wherein the rest slides in the channel between the back and front positions.

11. The desk of claim 10, wherein the rest comprises a cross member having an end disposed in the channel.

12. The desk of claim 5, wherein the footrest comprises a platform pivotably connected to the at least one base member, the platform pivotable between the back position in which the platform extends vertically under the tabletop and the front position in which the platform extends horizontally under the tabletop.

13. The desk of claim 5, wherein the one or more mechanisms comprises a gas spring incorporated into, part of, or coupled to the at least one support.

14. The desk of claim 5, wherein the one or more mechanisms comprises an electric actuator operatively coupled to the at least one support and operable to move the at least one support vertically.

15. The desk of claim 14, wherein the electric actuator comprises a rotatable motor or a linear actuator.

16. The desk of claim 14, wherein the electric actuator is operatively coupled to the footrest and is operable to move the footrest between the back and front positions.

17. An adjustable footrest for use below a work surface, comprising:

at least one base member disposed below the work surface;

a rest disposed on the at least one base member, the rest movable between a back position toward a back of the work surface and a front position toward a front of the work surface; and

one or more mechanisms disposed on the at least one base member and operatively coupled to the rest, the one or more mechanisms moving the rest between the back and front positions.

18. The footrest of claim 17, wherein the one or more mechanisms coordinate the movement of the rest between the back and front positions with movement of the work surface between lowered and raised positions relative to the base member.

19. The footrest of claim 17, wherein the at least one base member comprises adjacent base members disposed beneath the work surface, wherein the rest is disposed between the adjacent base members.

20. The footrest of claim 17, wherein the rest comprises:

an arm pivotably connected to the at least one base member;

a cross member connected to the arm,

wherein the cross member pivots with the arm between the back and front positions.

21. The footrest of claim 20, wherein the cross member comprises a bar having an end connected to the arm.

22. The footrest of claim 17, wherein the rest comprises:

a cross member connected in a channel in the at least one base member,

wherein the cross member slides in the channel between the back and front positions.

23. The footrest of claim 22, wherein the cross member comprises a bar having an end disposed in the channel.

24. The footrest of claim 17, wherein the rest comprises a platform pivotably connected to the at least one base member, the platform pivotable from the back position in which the platform extends vertically under the work surface to the front position in which the platform extends horizontally under the work surface.

25. The footrest of claim 17, wherein the one or more mechanisms comprises a gas spring incorporated into, part of, or coupled to the rest.

26. The footrest of claim 17, wherein the one or more mechanisms comprises an electric actuator operatively coupled to the rest and operable to move the rest.

27. The footrest of claim 26, wherein the electric actuator comprises a rotatable motor or a linear actuator.