Adjustable computer work table

• US 4,637,322 A
• Filed: 02/20/1985
• Issued: 01/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Commerical Products LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rubbermaid Commerical Products LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Groth, Hugh F., Collins, John M., Hampshire, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, James T.
• Application Number:
  US06/703,582
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 74/104, 74/422, 74/107, 108/1, 108/5, 108/6, 108/7, 108/8, 108/9, 108/102, 108/144, 108/145, 108/147, 108/105, 312/231, 312/198, 312/280
• US Class Current: 108/102
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0036 Table tops pivotable around longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 37/02 Tables specially adapted to be used with domestic photographic projectors, e.g. tables with levelling arrangements tables with adjustable height A47B9/00; tables with adjustable inclination of the top A47B13/00, A47B19/06, A47B23/00, A47B27/00
• 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: Y10T 74/18936 Slidable connections

Abstract

An adjustable work table is disclosed comprising a frame having spaced apart sides (6), a horizontal shaft (60) supported between the sides of the frame, and a table surface assembly (10) rotatively mounted to the shaft. Camming angular adjustment means (98, 110) is provided for rotating the table surface assembly into selective angular positions about the shaft. Vertically actuating scissor arms (44, 46) are further provided for moving the support shaft upward and downward whereby providing a vertical adjustment.

Claims

1. An adjustable work table comprising:

a frame having spaced-apart vertical sides;

a horizontal through-shaft having a longitudinal axis extending between said frame sides;

each said frame side including support means for supporting opposite ends of said shaft;

a table surface assembly rotatively mounted to said shaft between said frame sides;

camming angular adjustment means for rotating said table surface assembly into selective angular positions about said shaft;

said angular adjustment means comprising rotary control means having an axis of rotation coincident with said shaft axis.

2. An adjustable work table comprising:

a frame having spaced-apart vertical sides;

a horizontal through-shaft having a longitudinal axis extending between said frame sides;

each said frame side including support means for supporting opposite ends of said shaft;

a table surface assembly rotatively mounted to said shaft between said frame sides;

camming angular adjustment means for rotating said table surface assembly into selective angular positions about said shaft;

said angular adjustment means comprising actuator means mounted to at least one said frame side movable along a linear path transverse to said shaft axis, and said work table assembly comprising means responsive to said linear actuator means movement for rotating said table assembly.

3. An adjustable work table as set forth in claim 2, wherein said work table assembly means responsive to said actuator means comprising at least one depending cam plate.

4. An adjustable work table as set forth in claim 3, said cam plate being located adjacent to said actuator means and having a central aperture for receiving an end of said shaft therethrough, whereby said cam plate being rotatable about said shaft.

5. An adjustable work table as set forth in claim 4, said cam plate further having at least one camming slot therein, comprising at least one upwardly concave arcuate slot segment located below said central aperture, and said camming slot being defined by top and bottom camming surfaces.

6. An adjustable work table according to claim 5, wherein said actuator means having at least one pin projecting inwardly for close receipt into said camming slot, whereby concurrently with said linear actuator means movement, said pin travels along said camming slot engaging said arcuate camming surfaces.

7. An adjustable work table according to claim 6, said cam plate supporting said work table assembly means such that the weight of said work table assembly means is transmitted through said cam plate and brought to bear upon said actuator means pin.

8. An adjustable work table according to claim 7, or claim 2, said actuator means comprising:

an elongate rack segment having gear teeth along one side, and mounted to move axially along said linear path; and

a rotary pinion member mounted transversely of said rack segment and having annular teeth for meshing engagement with said gear rack teeth.

9. An adjustable work table according to claim 8, wherein said pinion member being rotatively mounted to said frame side support means and having a central axial bore for coaxial receipt of an end of said shaft therein.

10. An adjustable work table according to claim 9, wherein said support means comprising an inward facing vertical support plate having an upper transverse channel portion for receiving said gear rack segment, and a through-aperture above said channel portion for retaining said pinion member therein.

11. An adjustable work table according to claim 10, wherein said support means further comprising a stationary bearing plate, said support plate further having a lower portion slideably mounted to said bearing plate such that said support plate is free to reciprocally move in a vertical direction.

12. An adjustable work table according to claim 11, wherein said work table further comprising vertical adjustment means for integrally moving said shaft and said vertical support plate upward and downward.

13. An adjustable work table comprising:

a frame having spaced apart vertical sides;

a horizontal through-shaft having a longitudinal axis extending between said frame sides;

vertically positionable support means mounted to each said frame side for supporting opposite ends of said shaft;

a table surface assembly rotatively mounted to said shaft between said frame sides;

angular adjustment means mounted to said support means for rotating said table surface assembly into selective angular positions about said shaft;

vertical adjustment means for moving said support means and said shaft upward and downward.

14. An adjustable work table according to claim 13, said vertical adjustment means acting upon said through-shaft.

15. An adjustable work table according to claim 14, said table surface assembly having a generally horizontal surface plate and dependent end portions rotatively affixed to said through-shaft, whereby an exposed mid-length of said shaft proceeds between said dependent portions and beneath said surface plate.

16. An adjustable work table according to claim 15, said vertical adjustment means comprising:

a horizontal threaded lead screw situated below and parallel to said shaft, and having opposite ends rotatively supported by said frame sides;

first and second crossing jack linkages, each comprising two parallel and spaced apart scissor arms having bottom arm ends threadedly journalled to said lead screw, and upper arm ends slideably coupled to said shaft mid-length portion, whereby directional rotation of said lead screw causing selective extension and retraction of said jack linkages and correspondent ascent and descent of said shaft.

17. An adjustable work table according to claim 16, further comprising tension spring means connecting lower portions of said first and second scissor arms whereby spring assisting extension of said jack linkages.

18. An adjustable work table having integral locking means comprising:

a. an elongate through shaft having a longitudional major axis;

b. means for supporting opposite ends of said through shaft;

c. table surface means comprising at least one dependent cam plate for supporting said surface means;

said cam plate having a central aperture receiving said shaft therethrough whereby said cam plate rotating about said shaft, and said cam plate further having at least one cam slot therethrough defined by top and bottom camming surfaces; and

d. pin projection means closely residing within said slot and frictionally engaging said arcuate camming surfaces.

19. An adjustable work table according to claim 18, said cam slot comprising at least one upwardly concave slot segment located below said central aperture.

20. An adjustable work table according to claim 19, further comprising actuator means for moving said pin projection means along said slot segment, whereby imparting rotational torque to said cam plate.

21. An adjustable work table according to claim 20, further comprising adjustment means for selectively moving said shaft and said means supporting said shaft laterally of said shaft axis.

22. An adjustable work table according to claim 21, wherein said adjustment means acting upon said shaft.

23. An adjustable work table according to claim 19, said actuator means being movable along a linear path transverse to said shaft axis.

24. An adjustable work table according to claim 23, said actuator means comprising:

a gear rack segment axially movable along said linear path, and having gear teeth along one side, and said pin projection means extending from an inward facing second side of said gear rack segment;

a rotary pinion member situated transverse to said gear rack segment said and having annular gear teeth for meshing engagement with said rack segment.

25. An adjustable work table according to claim 24, said pinion member having a central axial bore for coaxial receipt of an end of said shaft therein.