Adjustable work table and modular system for the assembly thereof

• US 5,443,017 A
• Filed: 07/30/1993
• Issued: 08/22/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mayline Co LLC (Liberty Diversified International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mayline Co LLC (Liberty Diversified International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wacker, Robert W., LaFond, Ronald K., Smies, Ronald J., Hemberger, Dale M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/101,595
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.1, 312/194, 312/196, 108/50, 108/5, 108/3, 108/10, 108/147
• US Class Current: 108/3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/02 with vertically-adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0043 Inclination adjustable work top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0046 Desks with double worktop of which one at least is separately height adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0076 Vertical technical column supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/04 with vertical spindle

Abstract

A modular work station includes a dual column construction with a separately adjustable work surface supported on each column. Each of the columns utilizes a tubular telescoping construction and can provide as many as three individual modes of adjustable movement to the work surface, including lift, tilt, and horizontal back and forth movements. Supporting columns can be selected with varying functions to provide extremely broad versatility. The lift and tilt functions are preferably provided by motor driven linear actuators mounted within the telescoping column with appropriate controls to prevent contact between adjacent work surfaces when one or both of the surfaces is also provided with back and forth sliding movement.

Claims

1. A work station having a pair of independently adjustable work surfaces having parallel adjacent edges, at least one of which work surfaces is supported by a separate vertically telescoping column including a movable upper tubular column member and a fixed lower tubular column member and with both work surfaces supported on a common base, the improvement comprising:

adjustable mounting means for attaching one work surface to the upper end of the upper column member;

first actuator means secured within one lower column member, extending upwardly through the corresponding upper column member and into operative engagement with said mounting means for moving the attached work surface vertically;

second actuator means secured within said corresponding upper column member, extending upwardly into operative engagement with said mounting means for pivoting the attached work surface about a horizontal axis parallel to the surface;

said mounting means for at least one of said work surfaces including means for moving said work surface relative to its supporting column in a direction in the plane of said surface; and

,

said moving means including lockout means for disenabling operation of said actuator means in response to movement of one of the adjacent edges of said work surfaces through a vertical plane containing the other of said edges.

2. The work station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second actuator means comprise linear actuators.

3. The work station as set forth in claim 1 wherein the other of said work surfaces is supported by a second vertically telescoping column including a movable upper tubular column member and a fixed lower tubular column member.

4. The work station as set forth in claim 3 including second adjustable mounting means for attaching the other of said work surfaces to the upper end of the upper column member for said second vertically telescoping column.