HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE DESK SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20170156488A1
• Filed: 02/22/2017
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ergotron Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Mensing, Jeffrey Randall, Ergun, Mustafa A., Fluhrer, Robert William, Trish, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,808,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/02 with balancing device, e.g. by springs, by weight
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/10 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/12 with flexible height-adjusting means, e.g. rope, chain
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/20 Telescopic guides

Abstract

A height adjustable desk can include a work surface; and at least one leg assembly connected to the work surface. The at least one leg assembly can include: a first member; and a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis; and a counterbalance mechanism connected to the desk and configured to counteract a force exerted on the work surface. The counterbalance mechanism can include: a wheel; a gas spring having a cylinder and a moveable piston; a wheel moveably connected to the gas spring; and the tension member is connected to the leg assembly.

Claims

1. A height adjustable desk comprising:

a work surface;

a first leg assembly attached to the work surface;

a second leg assembly attached to the work surface;

each of the first and second leg assemblies including a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism including;

a first member;

a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis;

a third member moveable relative to the second member along the longitudinal axis;

a synchronization assembly coupled to at least one of the first and second leg assemblies, wherein the synchronization assembly is configured to balance movement between the first and second members with movement between the second and third members; and

a counterbalance mechanism assembly configured to counteract a force exerted on the first and second leg assemblies and attached to a bottom surface of the work surface.

2. The height adjustable desk of claim 1, wherein the counterbalance mechanism assembly further comprises:

a bracket coupled to the bottom surface of the work surface;

a cam/wheel assembly rotatingly coupled to the bracket, the cam/wheel assembly rotating about a vertical axis, the cam/wheel assembly including an upper wheel, a lower wheel, and a cam assembly;

an energy storage member coupled to the bottom surface of the work surface;

a first tension member coupled to the upper wheel and the first leg assembly;

a second tension member coupled to the lower wheel and the second leg assembly; and

third tension member coupled to the cam assembly and the energy storage member.

3. The height adjustable desk of claim 1, the counterbalance mechanism assembly further comprising:

an adjustment assembly configured to adjust a lift capacity of the counterbalance mechanism assembly.

4. The height adjustable desk of claim 2, wherein the bracket is attached to the bottom surface of the work surface and is configured to enclose the cam/wheel assembly and the energy storage member.

5. The height adjustable desk of claim 2, the energy storage member comprising at least one of an extension spring, a compression spring, a gas spring, a linear actuator, or a hydraulic actuator.

6. The height adjustable desk of claim 2, the energy storage member further comprising:

a plurality of extension springs, wherein each extension spring is attached to a first spring holding bracket and a second spring holding bracket.

7. The height adjustable desk of claim 6, wherein the third tension member is coupled to the first spring holding bracket, and the second spring holding bracket is coupled to an adjustment assembly configured to adjust a lift capacity of the counterbalance mechanism assembly.

8. The height adjustable desk of claim 1, the synchronization assembly further comprising:

a first pulley wheel moveably connected to a first end of the second member; and

a second pulley wheel moveably connected to a second end of the second member.

9. The height adjustable desk of claim 8, the synchronization assembly further comprising:

a tension member assembly configured to engage the first pulley wheel and the second pulley wheel_;

wherein the tension member assembly is attached to the first member and the third member.

10. The height adjustable desk of claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism further includes:

a first glide set positioned between the first member and the second member; and

a second glide set positioned between the third ember and the second member.

11. The height adjustable desk of claim 10, wherein the first glide set includes a first inner glide attached to the first member at a top inner edge and a first outer glide attached to the second member at a bottom outer edge, and wherein the second glide set includes a second inner glide attached to the second member at a top inner edge and a second outer glide attached to the third member at a bottom outer edge.

12. The height adjustable desk of claim 11, wherein the first and second inner glides include a plurality of bumps on an inner face and wherein the first and second inner outer glides include a plurality of bumps on an outer face.

13. The height adjustable desk of claim 11, wherein the first inner glide is a first one piece molded plastic member that engages a full inner perimeter of a portion of the first member, wherein the first outer glide is a second one piece molded plastic member that engages a full outer perimeter of a portion of the second member, wherein the second inner glide is a third one piece molded plastic member that engages a full inner perimeter of a portion of the second member, and wherein the second outer glide is a fourth one piece molded plastic member that engages a full outer perimeter of a portion of the third member.

14. A height adjustable desk comprising:

a work surface; and

a first leg assembly attached to the work surface;

a second leg assembly attached to the work surface;

each leg assembly including a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism including;

a first member;

a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis;

a structural bracket attached to a bottom surface of the work surface;

a counterbalance mechanism assembly configured to counteract a force exerted on the first and second leg assemblies, the counterbalance mechanism assembly including;

an energy storage member oriented in a horizontal plane, the energy storage member coupled to the structural bracket;

a cam/wheel assembly rotatingly coupled to the structural bracket, the cam/wheel assembly coupled the energy storage member, the first leg assembly, and the second leg assembly, wherein the cam/wheel assembly is configured to provide a constant lift force.

15. The height adjustable desk of claim 14, wherein the counterbalance mechanism assembly further comprises:

the cam/wheel assembly including an upper wheel, a lower wheel, and a cam assembly;

a first tension member coupled to the upper wheel and the first leg assembly;

a second tension member coupled to the lower wheel and the second leg assembly; and

a third tension member coupled to the cam assembly and the energy storage member.

16. The height adjustable desk of claim 14, the counterbalance mechanism assembly further comprising:

an adjustment assembly configured to adjust a lift capacity of the counterbalance mechanism assembly.

17. The height adjustable desk of claim 14, wherein the structural bracket is configured to enclose the cam/wheel assembly and the energy storage member on at least three sides.

18. The height adjustable desk of claim 14, wherein the lift mechanism further includes:

a glide set positioned between the first member and the second member.

19. The height adjustable desk of claim 15, the energy storage member further comprising:

a plurality of extension springs, wherein each extension spring is attached to a first spring holding bracket and a second spring holding bracket, and wherein the third tension member is coupled to the first spring holding bracket.

20. A height adjustable desk comprising:

a work surface; and

a first leg assembly attached to the work surface;

a second leg assembly attached to the work surface;

each leg assembly including a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism including;

a first member;

a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis;

a third member moveable relative to the second member along the longitudinal axis;

a structural bracket attached to a bottom surface of the work surface;

a synchronization assembly coupled to at least one of the first and second leg assemblies, the synchronization assembly including;

a first pulley wheel moveably connected to a first end of the second member;

a second pulley wheel moveably connected to a second end of the second member;

a tension member assembly configured to engage the first pulley wheel and the second pulley wheel, wherein the synchronization assembly is configured to balance movement between the first and second members with movement between the second and third members;

a counterbalance mechanism assembly including;

an energy storage member oriented in a horizontal plane_;

the energy storage member coupled to the structural bracket, the first leg assembly, and the second leg assembly_;

a cam/wheel assembly rotatingly coupled to the structural bracket, the cam/wheel assembly including an upper wheel, a lower wheel_;

and a cam assembly;

a first tension member coupled to the upper wheel and the first leg assembly;

a second tension member coupled to the lower wheel and the second leg assembly; and

a third tension member coupled to the cam assembly and the energy storage member, wherein the counterbalance mechanism assembly is configured to counteract a force exerted on the first and second leg assemblies.