Two-part table top

• US 5,845,587 A
• Filed: 08/25/1997
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Virco Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Signore, Incorporated
• Inventors: Ditonto, Alexander N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/918,001
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/3, 108/102, 108/138, 108/147, 108/147.11, 312/196, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0041 Height adjustable table top with parallel link arms
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0046 Desks with double worktop of which one at least is separately height adjustable

Abstract

A work station includes a work surface supported on a base via a pair of parallelogram linkages for vertical movement between upper and lower positions, while undergoing horizontal displacements towards and away from an operator; a monitor supporting surface mounted on the upper end of a standard having a lower end upstanding from the base. The work surface is formed with a through opening elongated in the direction of the horizontal displacements thereof, wherein parallel edges of the through opening slidably engage with the standard to constrain the work surface against horizontal movement transversely of the direction of its horizontal displacements.

Claims

1. A work station comprising in combination:

a work surface;

a monitor supporting surface;

a work station supporting base;

means for supporting said work surface directly to said base for vertical movement relative thereto between lower and upper positions; and

a standard having a lower end mounted directly to said base and an upper end for mounting said monitor supporting surface, said work surface being arranged to slidably engage with said standard independently of said means for supporting said work surface during vertical movement of said work surface relative to said base for stabilizing said work surface.

2. A work station according to claim 1, wherein adjustment means are provided to adjust the vertical position of said monitor supporting surface relative to said base independently of said work surface.

3. A work station according to claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said work surface includes a parallelogram linkage mechanism characterized as supporting said work surface for back and forth movement in a given horizontal direction incident to said vertical movement of said work surface back and forth between said lower and upper positions, and said standard and said work surface slidably engage for constraining said work surface against movement transversely of said given horizontal direction.

4. A work station according to claim 3, wherein said work surface is formed with a vertically extending, through guide opening for slidably receiving said standard.

5. A work station according to claim 1, wherein said base has a pair of upstanding, horizontally spaced pedestals interconnected by a horizontally extending back portion;

said means for supporting said work surface includes a pair of parallelogram linkages arranged in parallel and mounted one linkage on each of said pedestals; and

said lower end of said standard is mounted on said back portion.

6. A work station according to claim 5, wherein adjustment means are provided to adjust the vertical position of said monitor supporting surface relative to said back portion independently of said work surface.

7. A work station according to claim 5, wherein said work surface is formed with guide means extending parallel to said linkages and arranged for slidable engagement with said standard during said vertical movement of said work surface.

8. A work station according to claim 5, wherein said linkages are characterized as supporting said work surface in an essentially constant attitude during movement thereof back and forth between said lower and upper positions, while causing back and forth movement of said work surface in a horizontal direction extending essentially parallel to said linkages;

and said work surface has guide means extending parallel to said horizontal direction and arranged to slidably engage with said standard, thereby to constrain said work surface against horizontal movement transversely of said horizontal direction.

9. A work station according to claim 8, wherein said guide means is defined by facing edges of a guide opening extending vertically through said work surface and said edges being elongated in alignment with said horizontal direction.

10. A work station according to claim 9, wherein adjustment means are provided to adjust the vertical position of said monitor supporting surface relative to said back portion independently of said work surface.

11. A work station according to claim 10, wherein said standard includes a sleeve having upper and lower ends, a vertically extending screw threaded rod having a lower end portion fixed to said base, said sleeve being disposed concentrically of said rod and threadably connected thereto, whereby said upper end of said sleeve is displaced vertically relative to said base upon rotation of said sleeve relative to said rod, a manual adjustment wheel fixed for rotation with said upper end of said sleeve, and bearing means for mounting said monitor support surface on and for free rotational movement relative to said sleeve about an axis extending in alignment with said rod.

12. A work station according to claim 1, wherein said standard includes a sleeve having upper and lower ends, a vertically extending screw threaded rod having a lower end portion fixed to said base, said sleeve being disposed concentrically of said rod and threadably connected thereto, whereby said upper end of said sleeve is disposed vertically above said work surface and displaced vertically relative to said base upon rotation of said sleeve relative to said rod, a manual adjustment wheel fixed to and for rotation with said upper end of said sleeve, said work surface slidably engages with said sleeve intermediate said upper and lower ends, and bearing means for mounting said monitor support surface on and for free rotational movement relative to said sleeve about an axis extending in alignment with said rod.