Adjustable table with worksurface having write-on surface adapted for use as projection screen

• US 6,354,227 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Niewiadowski, Mitchell, Keane, James P., Branc, Joseph R., Feldpausch, Thomas G., Weller, George V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/481,191
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 108/144.11, 108/147.19, 108/148, 108/147, 108/50.11, 108/23, 108/10, 108/7, 108/145, 248/188.2, 248/188.5, 248/412, 248/414, 248/157
• US Class Current: 108/50.11
• 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 85/06 Tables convertible otherwise into beds A47C17/62; into billiard tables A63D15/04

Abstract

A portable table including a vertically adjustable upright support, a worksurface connected to the upright support and a one-way locking apparatus engagable with the upright support for locking the upright support in a vertically adjustable position. While the one-way locking apparatus is engaged, the upright support is only upwardly vertically adjustable. The one-way locking apparatus disengages from the upright support when the upright support is fully extended and reengages with the upright support when the upright support is lowered to a lowest vertical position.

Claims

1. A portable table comprising:

a vertically adjustable upright support;

a worksurface connected to the upright support; and

a one-way locking apparatus engagable with the upright support for locking the upright support in a vertically adjustable position;

wherein while the one-way locking apparatus is engaged, the upright support is only upwardly vertically adjustable;

wherein the one-way locking apparatus disengages from the upright support when the upright support is fully extended and reengages with the upright support when the upright support is lowered to a lowest vertical position;

wherein the one-way locking apparatus comprises an inner tube within the upright support, a wedge-engaging device adjacent the inner tube, and a wedge located between the inner tube and the wedge-engaging device frictionally holding the inner tube and the upright support in the vertically adjustable position;

wherein the wedge includes a cylindrical roller; and

wherein a fin fixed on the inner tube disengages the one-way locking apparatus when the upright support is fully extended.

2. The portable table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the wedge-engaging device includes a ledge; and

the fin disengages the one-way locking apparatus by raising the cylindrical roller onto the ledge of the wedge-engaging device.

3. The portable table as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

a reset flange on the top of the inner tube reengages the one-way locking apparatus when the upright support is lowered to the lowest vertical position.

4. The portable table as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the wedge-engaging device further includes a frictional surface; and

the reset flange reengages the one-way locking apparatus by knocking the cylindrical roller from the ledge on the wedge-engaging device into a space between the inner tube and the frictional surface on the wedge-engaging device.

5. The portable table as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

the upright support includes floor-engaging castors for easily moving the table.

6. The portable table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the worksurface is pivotally connected to the upright support; and

an extendable locking device is pivotally connected to the upright support and to the worksurface for locking the worksurface in an angularly adjustable position.

7. The portable table as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the extendable locking device comprises a locking gas spring connected to the upright support and the worksurface;

wherein the locking gas spring has a release handle that allows the locking gas spring to adjust an angle of the worksurface.

8. The portable table as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the locking gas spring has a release valve; and

the release handle depresses the release valve on the locking gas spring thereby allowing the locking gas spring to adjust the angle of the worksurface.

9. The portable table as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

hinges pivotally connect the worksurface to the upright support.

10. The portable table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the worksurface comprises a translucent panel with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface.

11. A portable table comprising:

a vertically adjustable upright support;

a worksurface connected to the upright support; and

a one-way locking apparatus engagable with the upright support for locking the upright support in a vertically adjustable position;

wherein while the one-way locking apparatus is engaged, the upright support is only upwardly vertically adjustable;

wherein the one-way locking apparatus disengages from the upright support when the upright support is fully extended and reengages with the upright support when the upright support is lowered to a lowest vertical position;

the worksurface comprises a translucent panel with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and

wherein the first surface has a surface finish configured to be used as a projection screen and a first erasable marker board, the first surface is configured to reflect a first projected image to be viewed on the projection screen, the worksurface is configured to transmit the first projected image through the worksurface to be viewed from the second surface on the projection screen, and the worksurface is movable between a horizontal position for doing paperwork and a vertical position for acting as a double-sided projection screen, whereby the worksurface can be used for many tasks by people on either side or on both side of the worksurface.

12. The portable table as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the one-way locking apparatus comprises;

an inner tube within the upright support;

a wedge-engaging device adjacent the inner tube; and

a wedge located between the inner tube and the wedge-engaging device frictionally holding the inner tube and the upright support in the vertically adjustable position.

13. The portable table as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

the wedge includes a cylindrical roller.

14. The portable table as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the second surface has a surface configured to be used as a second erasable marker board.

15. A portable table comprising:

a vertically adjustable upright support;

a worksurface connected to the upright support; and

a one-way locking apparatus engagable with the upright support for locking the upright support in a vertically adjustable position;

wherein while the one-way locking apparatus is engaged, the upright support is only upwardly vertically adjustable;

wherein the one-way locking apparatus disengages from the upright support when the upright support is fully extended and reengages with the upright support when the upright support is lowered to a lowest vertical position;

wherein the worksurface comprises a rigid transparent sheet with a first surface and a second surface, a medium coating applied to the second surface, a translucent film applied on the first surface, and a low gloss coating applied on the translucent film.

16. The portable table as set forth in claim 15, including at least one gas spring operably connected to the upright support for counterbalancing a weight of the worksurface during vertical height adjustment of the worksurface.

17. A portable table comprising:

a vertically adjustable upright support;

a translucent planar member pivotally connected to the vertically adjustable upright support; and

an extendable locking device pivotally connected to the upright support and to the translucent planar member for locking the translucent planar member in an angularly adjustable position;

the extendable locking device comprising a locking gas spring connected to the upright support and the translucent planar member;

wherein the locking gas spring has a release handle that allows the locking gas spring to adjust the angle of the translucent planar member;

the locking gas spring having a release valve;

wherein the release handle depresses the release valve on the locking gas spring thereby allowing the locking gas spring to adjust the angle of the translucent planar member; and

the translucent planar member comprises a rigid transparent sheet with a first surface and a second surface, a medium gloss coating applied to the second surface, a translucent film applied on the first surface and a low gloss coating applied on the translucent film.

18. The portable table as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

hinges pivotally connect the worksurface to the upright support.

19. A worksurface comprising:

a translucent panel with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface

the first surface having a surface finish configured to be used both as a projection screen and as a first erasable marker board;

wherein the first surface is configured to reflect a first projected image to be viewed on the projection screen;

wherein the translucent panel is configured to transmit the first projected image through the worksurface to be viewed from the second surface on the projection screen; and

whereby the translucent panel can be used for many tasks by people on either side or on both sides of the translucent panel;

a vertically adjustable upright support, with the translucent panel connected to the upright support; and

a one-way locking apparatus engagable with the upright support for locking the upright support in a vertically adjustable position;

wherein while the one-way locking apparatus is engaged, the upright support are only upwardly vertically adjustable; and

wherein the one-way locking apparatus disengages from the upright support when the upright support is fully extended and reengages with the upright support when the upright support is lowered to a lowest vertical position.

20. The worksurface as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

the one-way locking apparatus comprises;

an inner tube within the upright support;

a wedge-engaging device adjacent the inner tube; and

a wedge located between the inner tube and the wedge-engaging device frictionally holding the inner tube and the upright support in the vertically adjustable position.

21. A worksurface comprising:

a translucent panel with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

the first surface having a surface finish configured to be used both as a projection screen and as a first erasable marker board;

wherein the first surface is configured to reflect a first projected image to be viewed on the projection screen;

wherein the translucent panel is configured to transmit the first projected image through the worksurface to be viewed from the second surface on the projection screen; and

whereby the translucent panel can be used for many tasks by people on either side or on both sides of the translucent panel;

a vertically adjustable upright support, with the translucent panel pivotally connected to the vertically adjustable upright support; and

an extendable locking device pivotally connected to the upright support and to the translucent panel for locking the translucent panel in an angularly adjustable position.

22. The worksurface as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

the extendable locking device comprises a locking gas spring connected to the upright support and the translucent panel; and

wherein the locking gas spring has a release handle that allows the locking gas spring to adjust the angle of the translucent panel.

23. The worksurface as set forth in claim 22, wherein:

the locking gas spring has a release valve; and

the release handle depresses the release valve on the locking gas spring thereby allowing the locking gas spring to adjust the angle of the translucent panel.

24. The worksurface as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

hinges pivotally connect the translucent panel to the upright support.

25. A method of using a worksurface comprising:

providing a translucent panel with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

configuring the first surface to have a surface finish to be used both as a projection screen and as a first erasable marker board;

configuring the first surface to reflect a first projected image to be viewed on the projection screen;

configuring the panel to transmit the first projected image through the panel to be viewed from the second surface on the projection screen; and

moving the panel between a horizontal position for doing paperwork and a vertical position for acting as a double-sided projection screen.

26. The method of using a worksurface as set forth in claim 25, further including:

providing the second surface with a surface finish configured to be used a second erasable marker board.

27. The method of using a worksurface as set forth in claim 25, further including:

providing an upright support;

connecting the panel to the upright support; and

providing the upright support with floor-engaging castors for easily moving the upright support.

28. The method of using a worksurface as set forth in claim 25, further including:

providing an upright support;

connecting the panel to the upright support;

pivotally connecting the panel to the upright support; and

pivotally connecting an extendable locking device to the upright support and to the worksurface for locking the worksurface in an angularly adjustable position.

29. The method of using a worksurface as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

the panel includes a rigid transparent sheet with the first surface and the second surface;

the surface finish includes a translucent film and a low gloss coating;

further including the steps of applying a medium coating to the second surface, applying the translucent film on the first surface and applying the low gloss coating on the translucent film.

30. The method of using a worksurface as set forth in claim 25, further including:

providing a vertically adjustable upright support; and

connecting the panel to the upright support.

31. The method of using a worksurface as set forth in claim 25, further including:

providing an upright support;

connecting the panel to the upright support; and

engaging a one-way locking apparatus with the upright support for locking the upright support in a vertically adjustable position, the upright support being only upwardly vertically adjustable while the one-way locking apparatus is engaged, but the one-way locking apparatus being configured to disengage from the upright support when the upright support is fully extended and being configured to reengage with the upright support when the upright support is lowered to a lowest vertical position.