Vertically adjustable desk lifting device

• US 6,021,722 A
• Filed: 09/28/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marc E. Raycraft
• Original Assignee: Marc E. Raycraft
• Inventors: Raycraft, Marc E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/162,223
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 108/147, 108/147.21, 108/147.2, 108/147.19, 108/144.11, 108/10, 248/439, 248/188, 248/118.5, 248/188.2
• US Class Current: 108/147
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/10 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder

Abstract

Provided is a vertically adjustable desk lifting device having a plurality of gas pressurized cylinders for urging a desk in an upward direction, thereby facilitating the raising and lowering of a desk by a single user. The desk can be locked into a multitude of vertical positions and easily released via a foot pedal. The lifting device comprises a pair of spaced-apart gas pressurized cylinders positioned on both sides of a desk. The gas pressurized cylinders are chosen or calibrated to provide an adequate upward force to slightly urge the desk in the upward direction, depending upon the weight of the desk and the distribution of such weight. Additional gas pressurized cylinders can be easily inserted adjacent any one of the four standard gas pressurized cylinders to counterbalance the weight distribution of the desk if needed. Positioned between the two gas pressurized cylinders is a locking mechanism, comprising telescoping cylindrical members and a hinged-pin and spring arrangement, for stabilizing and securing the desk in a desired vertical position. A foot pedal and cables are provided to release the locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A vertically adjustable desk lifting device for use on a desk having a first side and a second side, said lifting device comprising:

a first mounting frame having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side of said first mounting frame is attached to and facing the first side of the desk;

a second mounting frame having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side of said second mounting frame is attached to and facing the second side of the desk;

a first support base interconnected with said first mounting frame;

a second support base interconnected with said second mounting frame;

first urging means carried on said first side of said first mounting frame for urging a desk in the upward direction;

second urging means carried on said first side of said second mounting frame for urging a desk in the upward direction;

first hinged latching means carried on said first side of said first mounting frame for removably latching the desk in a desired vertical position;

second hinged latching means carried on said first side of said second mounting frame for removably latching the desk in a desired vertical position; and

,

means attached to said first side of said first mounting frame and to said first side of said second mounting frame for unlatching said first hinged latching means and said second hinged latching means, wherein said unlatching means serves to simultaneously unlatch said first hinged latching means and said second hinged latching means.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first urging means are at least two vertically positioned gas pressurized cylinders each having a plunging rod and a cylinder portion, said plunging rods of said first urging means rest against said first support base and said cylinder portion is fixed to said first side of said first mounting frame, whereby said plunging rods urge against said first support base thereby urging the first side of the desk in the upward direction;

and, wherein said second urging means are at least two vertically positioned gas pressurized cylinders each having a plunging rod and a cylinder portion, said plunging rods of said second urging means rest against said second support base and said cylinder portion is fixed to said first side of said second mounting frame whereby said plunging rods urge against said second support base thereby urging the second side of the desk in the upward direction.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said gas pressurized cylinders are selected to provide sufficient force to evenly raise the desk in the upward direction accounting for an uneven weight distribution of the desk.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said first hinged latching means is defined by a hinged pin, an upper telescoping member, a lower telescoping member, a throughhole formed in said upper telescoping member and a plurality of throughholes vertically positioned in said lower telescoping member, said upper telescoping member is attached to said first side of said first mounting frame and said lower telescoping member is attached to said first base support so that said lower telescoping member remains in a fixed vertical position and said upper telescoping member travels with the vertical movement of the desk, wherein said lower telescoping member is telescoped within said upper telescoping member, one of said plurality of throughholes of said lower telescoping member aligns with said throughhole of said upper telescoping member and wherein said pin extends through said aligned throughholes to prevent vertical movement of said upper telescoping member and said lower telescoping member, thus preventing vertical movement of the first side of the desk.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said second hinged latching means is defined by a hinged pin, an upper telescoping member, a lower telescoping member, a throughhole formed in said upper telescoping member and a plurality of throughholes vertically positioned in said lower telescoping member, said upper telescoping member is attached to said first side of said second mounting frame and said lower telescoping member is attached to said second base support so that said lower telescoping member remains in a fixed vertical position and said upper telescoping member travels with the vertical movement of the desk, wherein said lower telescoping member is telescoped within said upper telescoping member, one of said plurality of throughholes of said lower telescoping member aligns with said throughhole of said upper telescoping member and wherein said pin extends through said aligned throughholes to prevent vertical movement of said upper telescoping member, thus preventing vertical movement of the second side of the desk.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said unlatching means comprises a foot pedal means, a first cable having a first end and a second end, and a second cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first cable and said first end of said second cable are attached to said foot pedal means, said second end of said first cable is attached to said first hinged latching means, said second end of said second cable is attached to said second hinged latching means, wherein when said foot pedal means is depressed, said first cable and said second cable are retracted thereby unlatching said first hinged latching means and said second hinged latching means.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said foot pedal means comprises a base portion and a pedal portion, said pedal portion is hinged to said base portion wherein said pedal portion can move in a generally upward and downward direction.

8. A vertically adjustable desk lifting device for use on a desk having a first side and a second side, said lifting device comprising:

a first mounting frame having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side of said first mounting frame is attached to and facing the first side of the desk;

a second mounting frame having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side of said second mounting frame is attached to and facing the second side of the desk;

a first support base interconnected with said first mounting frame;

a second support base interconnected with said second mounting frame;

first urging means carried on said first side of said first mounting frame for urging a desk in the upward direction;

second urging means carried on said first side of said second mounting frame for urging a desk in the upward direction;

first hinged latching means carried on said first side of said first mounting frame for removably latching the desk in a desired vertical position;

second hinged latching means carried on said first side of said second mounting frame for removably latching the desk in a desired vertical position; and

,

a foot pedal unlatching means having a first cable, said first cable having a first end and a second end, and a second cable, said second cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first cable and said first end of said second cable are attached to said foot pedal unlatching means, said second end of said first cable is attached to said first hinged latching means, said second end of said second cable is attached to said second hinged latching means, wherein when said foot pedal means is depressed, said first cable and said second cable are retracted thereby simultaneously unlatching said first hinged latching means and said second hinged latching means.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said first urging means are at least two vertically positioned gas pressurized cylinders each having a plunging rod and a cylinder portion, said plunging rods of said first urging means rest against said first support base and said cylinder portion is fixed to said first side of said first mounting frame, whereby said plunging rods urge against said first support base thereby urging the first side of the desk in the upward direction;

and, wherein said second urging means are at least two vertically positioned gas pressurized cylinders each having a plunging rod and a cylinder portion, said plunging rods of said second urging means rest against said second support base and said cylinder portion is fixed to said first side of said second mounting frame, whereby said plunging rods urge against said second support base thereby urging the second side of the desk in the upward direction.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said gas pressurized cylinders are selected to provide sufficient force to evenly raise the desk in the upward direction accounting for an uneven weight distribution of the desk.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said first hinged latching means is defined by a hinged pin, an upper telescoping member, a lower telescoping member, a throughhole formed in said upper telescoping member and a plurality of throughholes vertically positioned in said lower telescoping member, said upper telescoping member is attached to said first side of said first mounting frame and said lower telescoping member is attached to said first base support so that said lower telescoping member remains in a fixed vertical position and said upper telescoping member travels with the vertical movement of the desk, wherein said lower telescoping member is telescoped within said upper telescoping member, one of said plurality of throughholes of said lower telescoping member aligns with said throughhole of said upper telescoping member and wherein said pin extends through said aligned throughholes to prevent vertical movement of said upper telescoping member and said lower telescoping member, thus preventing vertical movement of the first side of the desk.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein said second hinged latching means is defined by a hinged pin, an upper telescoping member, a lower telescoping member, a throughhole formed in said upper telescoping member and a plurality of throughholes vertically positioned in said lower telescoping member, said upper telescoping member is attached to said first side of said second mounting frame and said lower telescoping member is attached to said second base support so that said lower telescoping member remains in a fixed vertical position and said upper telescoping member travels with the vertical movement of the desk, wherein said lower telescoping member is telescoped within said upper telescoping member, one of said plurality of throughholes of said lower telescoping member aligns with said throughhole of said upper telescoping member and wherein said pin extends through said aligned throughholes to prevent vertical movement of said upper telescoping member, thus preventing vertical movement of the second side of the desk.

13. A vertically adjustable desk lifting device for use on a desk having a first side and a second side, said lifting device comprising:

a first mounting frame having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side of said first mounting frame is attached to and facing the first side of the desk;

a second mounting frame having a first side and a second side, wherein said second side of said second mounting frame is attached to and facing the second side of the desk;

a first support base interconnected with said first mounting frame;

a second support base interconnected with said second mounting frame;

at least one gas pressurized cylinder, said at least one gas pressurized cylinder having a plunging rod and a cylinder portion, said plunging rod rests against said first support base and said cylinder portion is fixed to said first side of said first mounting frame whereby said plunging rod urges against said first support base thereby urging the first side of the desk in the upward direction;

at least one gas pressurized cylinder, said at least one gas pressurized cylinder having a plunging rod and a cylinder portion, said plunging rod rests against said second support base and said cylinder portion is fixed to said first side of said second mounting frame whereby said plunging rod urges against said second support base thereby urging the second side of the desk in the upward direction;

first hinged latching means carried on said first side of said first mounting frame for removably latching the desk in a desired vertical position;

second hinged latching means carried on said first side of said second mounting frame for removably latching the desk in a desired vertical position; and

,

a foot pedal unlatching means having a first cable, said first cable having a first end and a second end, and a second cable, said second cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first cable and said first end of said second cable are attached to said foot pedal unlatching means, said second end of said first cable is attached to said first hinged latching means, said second end of said second cable is attached to said second hinged latching means, wherein when said foot pedal means is depressed, said first cable and said second cable are retracted thereby simultaneously unlatching said first hinged latching means and said second hinged latching means.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said gas pressurized cylinders are selected to provide sufficient force to evenly raise the desk in the upward direction accounting for an uneven weight distribution of the desk.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said first hinged latching means is defined by a hinged pin, an upper telescoping member, a lower telescoping member, a throughhole formed in said upper telescoping member and a plurality of throughholes vertically positioned in said lower telescoping member, said upper telescoping member is attached to said first side of said first mounting frame and said lower telescoping member is attached to said first base support so that said lower telescoping member remains in a fixed vertical position and said upper telescoping member travels with the vertical movement of the desk, wherein said lower telescoping member is telescoped within said upper telescoping member, one of said plurality of throughholes of said lower telescoping member aligns with said throughhole of said upper telescoping member and wherein said pin extends through said aligned throughholes to prevent vertical movement of said upper telescoping member and said lower telescoping member, thus preventing vertical movement of the first side of the desk.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said second hinged latching means is defined by a hinged pin, an upper telescoping member, a lower telescoping member, a throughhole formed in said upper telescoping member and a plurality of throughholes vertically positioned in said lower telescoping member, said upper telescoping member is attached to said first side of said second mounting frame and said lower telescoping member is attached to said second base support so that said lower telescoping member remains in a fixed vertical position and said upper telescoping member travels with the vertical movement of the desk, wherein said lower telescoping member is telescoped within said upper telescoping member, one of said plurality of throughholes of said lower telescoping member aligns with said throughhole of said upper telescoping member and wherein said pin extends through said aligned throughholes to prevent vertical movement of said upper telescoping member, thus preventing vertical movement of the second side of the desk.