Quick crank adjustable height table
First Claim
1. An article of furniture, comprising:
- a worksurface;
a base including a pair of extendible and retractable supports interconnected with the worksurface for supporting the worksurface above a supporting surface, wherein each support includes a rotatable lead screw arrangement including an elongated lead screw member interconnected with the worksurface and a stationary mating threaded member, wherein rotation of the lead screw members relative to the stationary mating threaded members results in extension or retraction of the pair of supports to raise or lower the worksurface; and
a biasing arrangement configured to apply an axial upward biasing force to the worksurface, wherein the upward biasing force applied to the worksurface assists in rotation of the lead screw members when it is desired to rotate the lead screw members in a direction providing upward movement of the worksurface, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises one or more biasing members remote from the supports, and one or more force transmission members that transmit the biasing force from the one or more biasing members to the worksurface, wherein the one or more biasing members comprises a cylinder assembly interconnected with the base and having a biased extendible and retractable member interconnected with the worksurface for applying an upward biasing force on the worksurface.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A table or desk assembly (20) includes a base having a pair of legs (24), a worksurface (22) supported by and between the pair of legs, and a rapid, counterbalanced height adjustment mechanism interposed between the legs and the worksurface for providing adjustment in the elevation of the worksurface. The height adjustment mechanism includes a pair of high lead rotatable threaded rods (32) engaged with a mating stationary threaded member (33) associated with each leg. A handle (36) is engageable with one of the threaded rods for imparting rotation to the threaded rod, and a synchronizing arrangement, such as a sprocket (38) and chain system (40), is interconnected with the other of the threaded rods for rotating the threaded rods together. A lift assist or counterbalancing mechanism applies an upward bias, such as to the worksurface, to counteract the weight of the worksurface and any loads supported by the worksurface. The counterbalancing mechanism may be in the form of a cylinder assembly (54) having a biased retractable and extendible member, which is interconnected with each of the threaded rods via a cable (66) and pulley (68) arrangement. Alternatively, the lift assist or counterbalancing mechanism may be in the form of constant force spring arrangements (76), each of which has an extendible and retractable member. A retainer arrangement (90) is interposed between the crank or handle member (36) and the worksurface, for preventing inadvertent rotation of the threaded rod and thereby maintaining the elevation of the worksurface.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An article of furniture, comprising:
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a worksurface; a base including a pair of extendible and retractable supports interconnected with the worksurface for supporting the worksurface above a supporting surface, wherein each support includes a rotatable lead screw arrangement including an elongated lead screw member interconnected with the worksurface and a stationary mating threaded member, wherein rotation of the lead screw members relative to the stationary mating threaded members results in extension or retraction of the pair of supports to raise or lower the worksurface; and a biasing arrangement configured to apply an axial upward biasing force to the worksurface, wherein the upward biasing force applied to the worksurface assists in rotation of the lead screw members when it is desired to rotate the lead screw members in a direction providing upward movement of the worksurface, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises one or more biasing members remote from the supports, and one or more force transmission members that transmit the biasing force from the one or more biasing members to the worksurface, wherein the one or more biasing members comprises a cylinder assembly interconnected with the base and having a biased extendible and retractable member interconnected with the worksurface for applying an upward biasing force on the worksurface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An article of furniture, comprising:
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a worksurface; a base including a pair of extendible and retractable supports interconnected with the worksurface for supporting the worksurface above a supporting surface, wherein each support includes a rotatable lead screw arrangement including an elongated lead screw member interconnected with the worksurface and a stationary mating threaded member, wherein rotation of the lead screw members relative to the stationary mating threaded members results in extension or retraction of the pair of supports to raise or lower the worksurface; and a biasing arrangement configured to apply an axial upward biasing force to the worksurface, wherein the upward biasing force applied to the worksurface assists in rotation of the lead screw members when it is desired to rotate the lead screw members in a direction providing upward movement of the worksurface, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises one or more biasing members remote from the supports, and one or more force transmission members that transmit the biasing force from the one or more biasing members to the worksurface, wherein the one or more biasing members comprises a spring arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An article of furniture, comprising:
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a worksurface; a base including a pair of extendible and retractable supports interconnected with the worksurface for supporting the worksurface above a supporting surface, wherein each support includes a rotatable lead screw arrangement including an elongated lead screw member interconnected with the worksurface and a stationary mating threaded member, wherein rotation of the lead screw members relative to the stationary mating threaded members results in extension or retraction of the pair of supports to raise or lower the worksurface; and a biasing arrangement configured to apply an axial upward biasing force to the worksurface, wherein the upward biasing force applied to the worksurface assists in rotation of the lead screw members when it is desired to rotate the lead screw members in a direction providing upward movement of the worksurface, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises one or more biasing members remote from the supports, and one or more force transmission members that transmit the biasing force from the one or more biasing members to the worksurface, wherein the base includes a transversely oriented beam member that extends between and interconnects the pair of supports, and wherein the biasing member is mounted to the beam member, and wherein the force transmission member is extendible and retractable relative to the biasing member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An article of furniture, comprising:
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a worksurface; a base including a pair of extendible and retractable supports interconnected with the worksurface for supporting the worksurface above a supporting surface, wherein each support includes a rotatable lead screw arrangement including an elongated lead screw member interconnected with the worksurface and a stationary mating threaded member, wherein rotation of the lead screw members relative to the stationary mating threaded members results in extension or retraction of the pair of supports to raise or lower the worksurface; and a biasing arrangement configured to apply an axial upward biasing force to the worksurface, wherein the upward biasing force applied to the worksurface assists in rotation of the lead screw members when it is desired to rotate the lead screw members in a direction providing upward movement of the worksurface, wherein the biasing arrangement comprises one or more biasing members remote from the supports, and one or more force transmission members that transmit the biasing force from the one or more biasing members to the worksurface wherein at least one of the lead screw members is rotatable by means of a manually operable crank member, and further comprising a retainer arrangement interposed between the worksurface and the crank member for selectively preventing rotation of the crank member to prevent inadvertent rotation of the lead screw member, wherein the retainer arrangement includes a hub member interconnected with the crank member and mating engagement structure interposed between the hub member and the worksurface for preventing rotation of the hub member and thereby preventing rotation of the crank member and the lead screw member, wherein the hub member is movable between an operative position in which the mating engagement structure is engaged for preventing rotation of the hub member, and a disengaged position in which the mating engagement structure is disengaged for enabling rotation of the hub member and thereby rotation of the lead screw member. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. In combination, an article of furniture having a pair of supports, a worksurface, and a transverse member extending between and interconnecting the pair of supports, and a height adjustment mechanism for the article of furniture, the height adjustment mechanism comprising:
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a rotatable threaded member associated with each support, wherein each rotatable threaded member is engaged with a mating stationary threaded member associated with the support and is interconnected with the worksurface, wherein rotation of the rotatable threaded member functions to adjust the elevation of the worksurface; a biased extendible and retractable member engaged with each rotatable threaded member, wherein the biased extendible and retractable member is configured to apply an upward force on the rotatable threaded member, wherein the upward force tends to rotate the rotatable threaded member via engagement of the rotatable threaded member with the stationary threaded member; and an actuator arrangement configured to selectively impart rotation to a first one of the rotatable threaded members, wherein the actuator arrangement includes a synchronizing mechanism for imparting rotation to a second one of the threaded members upon rotation of the first threaded member, and wherein the actuator arrangement further includes a detent mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the first rotatable threaded member.
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18. In combination, an article of furniture having a pair of supports, a worksurface, and a transverse member extending between and interconnecting the pair of supports, and a height adjustment mechanism for the article of furniture, the height adjustment mechanism comprising:
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a rotatable threaded member associated with each support, wherein each rotatable threaded member is engaged with a mating stationary threaded member associated with the support and is interconnected with the worksurface, wherein rotation of the rotatable threaded member functions to adjust the elevation of the worksurface; a biased extendible and retractable member engaged with each rotatable threaded member for applying an upward force on the worksurface, wherein the upward force tends to rotate the rotatable threaded member via engagement of the rotatable threaded member with the stationary threaded member; and an actuator arrangement for selectively imparting rotation to a first one of the rotatable threaded members, wherein the actuator arrangement includes a synchronizing mechanism for imparting rotation to a second one of the threaded members upon rotation of the first threaded member, and wherein the actuator arrangement further includes a detent mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the first rotatable threaded member, and wherein the actuator arrangement includes a manually operable handle member engaged with the first rotatable threaded member for selectively imparting rotation to the first threaded member, wherein the detent mechanism is configured to selectively prevent rotation of the manually operable handle member. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. In combination, an article of furniture having a pair of supports, a worksurface, and a transverse member extending between and interconnecting the pair of supports, and a height adjustment mechanism for the article of furniture, the height adjustment mechanism comprising:
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a rotatable threaded member associated with each support, wherein each rotatable threaded member is engaged with a mating stationary threaded member associated with the support and is interconnected with the worksurface, wherein rotation of the rotatable threaded member functions to adjust the elevation of the worksurface; a biased extendible and retractable member engaged with each rotatable threaded member for applying an upward force on the worksurface, wherein the upward force tends to rotate the rotatable threaded member via engagement of the rotatable threaded member with the stationary threaded member, and wherein the biased extendible and retractable member is mounted to the transverse member and is configured to apply a transverse biasing force, and further comprising a cable and pulley system interconnected between the biased extendible and retractable member and the rotatable threaded members for translating the transverse biasing force into an upward biasing force applied to the worksurface; and an actuator arrangement for selectively imparting rotation to a first one of the rotatable threaded members, wherein the actuator arrangement includes a synchronizing mechanism for imparting rotation to a second one of the threaded members upon rotation of the first threaded member, and wherein the actuator arrangement further includes a detent mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the first rotatable threaded member.
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23. A method of adjusting the height of a worksurface in an article of furniture having a pair of spaced apart supports and a worksurface extending between and supported by the pair of supports, comprising the steps of:
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providing each support with a rotatable threaded member, wherein the rotatable threaded member is interconnected with the worksurface and is threadedly engaged with a stationary threaded member associated with a stationary portion of the support; providing a biasing force at a location remote from the supports; and transmitting the biasing force from the remote location via one or more force transmission members that transmit the biasing force to the worksurface and apply an upward bias to the worksurface, wherein the threads of the rotatable threaded member and the threads of the stationary threaded member are configured such that the upward bias on the worksurface imparts a rotational bias on the rotatable threaded member tending to rotate the rotatable threaded member relative to the stationary threaded member so as to assist in raising the worksurface, wherein the step of providing a biasing force is carried out by operation of a biased extendible and retractable member. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of adjusting the height of a worksurface in an article of furniture having a pair of spaced apart supports and a worksurface extending between and supported by the pair of supports, comprising the steps of:
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providing each support with a rotatable threaded member, wherein the rotatable threaded member is interconnected with the worksurface and is threadedly engaged with a stationary threaded member associated with a stationary portion of the support; providing a biasing force at a location remote from the supports; transmitting the biasing force from the remote location via one or more force transmission members that transmit the biasing force to the worksurface and apply an upward bias to the worksurface, wherein the threads of the rotatable threaded member and the threads of the stationary threaded member are configured such that the upward bias on the worksurface imparts a rotational bias on the rotatable threaded member tending to rotate the rotatable threaded member relative to the stationary threaded member so as to assist in raising the worksurface; and selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable threaded members so as to selectively fix the height of the worksurface, wherein the rotatable threaded members are interconnected together via a synchronizing mechanism that imparts rotation to a second one of the rotatable threaded members in response to rotation of the first rotatable threaded member, and wherein the step of selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable threaded members is carried out by selectively preventing rotation of the first threaded member other than when it is desired to adjust the height of the worksurface, wherein the step of selectively preventing rotation of the first threaded member is carried out by engaging a hub member with the first rotatable threaded member, providing engagement structure between the hub member and stationary structure associated with the article of furniture, and selectively positioning the hub member in an engaged position in which the engagement structure functions to prevent rotation of the hub and therefore the first threaded member. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A height adjustment mechanism for an article of furniture having a pair of supports, a worksurface, and a transverse member extending between and interconnecting the pair of supports, comprising:
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a pair of rotatable threaded members, each rotatable threaded member configured to associate with a support, wherein each rotatable threaded member is engaged with a mating stationary threaded member associated with the support and is interconnected with the worksurface, wherein rotation of the rotatable threaded member relative to the mating stationary threaded member functions to adjust the elevation of the worksurface; a biased extendible and retractable member engaged with each rotatable threaded member, wherein the biased extendible and retractable member is configured to apply an upward force on the worksurface, wherein the upward force tends to rotate the rotatable threaded member via engagement of the rotatable threaded member with the stationary threaded member; and an actuator arrangement configured to selectively impart rotation to a first one of the rotatable threaded members, wherein the actuator arrangement includes a synchronizing mechanism configured to rotate to a second one of the threaded members upon rotation of the first threaded member, and wherein the actuator arrangement further includes a detent mechanism configured to selectively prevent rotation of the first rotatable threaded member. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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32. A height adjustment mechanism for an article of furniture having a pair of supports, a worksurface, and a transverse member extending between and interconnecting the pair of supports, comprising:
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a pair of rotatable threaded members, each rotatable threaded member configured to associate with a support, wherein each rotatable threaded member is engaged with a mating stationary threaded member associated with the support and is interconnected with the worksurface, wherein rotation of the rotatable threaded member functions to adjust the elevation of the worksurface; a biased extendible and retractable member engaged with each rotatable threaded member for applying an upward force on the worksurface, wherein the upward force tends to rotate the rotatable threaded member via engagement of the rotatable threaded member with the stationary threaded member; and an actuator arrangement for selectively imparting rotation to a first one of the rotatable threaded members, wherein the actuator arrangement includes a synchronizing mechanism for imparting rotation to a second one of the threaded members upon rotation of the first threaded member, and wherein the actuator arrangement further includes a detent mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the first rotatable threaded member, and wherein the actuator arrangement includes a manually operable handle member engaged with the first rotatable threaded member for selectively imparting rotation to the first threaded member, wherein the detent mechanism is configured to selectively prevent rotation of the manually operable handle member. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification