Electrical control panel preferably for height adjustable tables

• US 7,538,284 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linak A/S (Linak Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: Linak A/S (Linak Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Riis, Martin, Jacobsen, Finn, Nielsen, Jens Jørgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAROC, LHEIREN MAE ANGLO
• Application Number:
  US11/790,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20070227865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 200/296, 200/61.7
• US Class Current: 200/296
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/082 with substantially radial friction, e.g. cylindrical friction surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/105 the maintaining means acting perpendicularly to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furnitures, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

An electrical operating panel, in particular for height-adjustable tables equipped with actuators or lifting columns driven by an electric motor. The panel has a first part (1) intended for fixed mounting of the panel and a second part (2) with operating keys (19) for activating electrical switches. The two parts are hinged together, and the hinge is formed with a rotary shaft (10) on the no part and a bearing with a cylindrical face (13) on the other part and formed with interengaging projections (16) and depressions (15) such that the second part may assume various angular positions relative to the first part, the force between projections and depressions bearing greater than the necessary operative pressure on the operating keys, but smaller than the force necessary to manually move the second part between the various angular positions. The panel is of simple structure and easy to mount and use. The users may easily set the keyboard part in the desired angular position. Furthermore, the panel yields so that it is not damaged in case of collision with an object.

Claims

1. An electrical operating panel which comprises:

a mounting part and means for fixedly attaching the mounting part to a support structure;

a keyboard part having a front side and a rear side and at least one manually-operable operating key exposed on said front side for activating electrical switches, and

hinge means for adjustably connecting said keyboard part to said mounting part at various angular positions, said hinge means including a rotary shaft connected to a first of said mounting part and said keyboard part and a bearing connected to a second of said mounting part and said keyboard part, said bearing providing a cylindrical inner wall for positioning around said rotary shaft to enable rotational movement between said shaft and said bearing, and retaining means for resisting rotational movement between said rotary shaft and said bearing with pressing of said at least one operating key.

2. The electrical operating panel according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the keyboard part is inclined or curve-shaped inwards toward a centre of a free edge of a keyboard part.

3. The electrical operating panel according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprise at least one projection which interengages with depressions.

4. The electrical operating panel according to claim 3, wherein the depressions are formed in the bearing, and the at least one projection is formed on the rotary shaft.

5. The electrical operating panel according to claim 4, wherein the depressions are groove-shaped, and each projection is strip-shaped.

6. The electrical operating panel according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprise one or more O-rings disposed between the rotary shaft and the cylindrical inner wall of the bearing.

7. The electrical operating panel according to claim 1, wherein the rotary shaft comprises two stub shafts.

8. The electrical operating panel according to claim 1, wherein the mounting part consists of a flat box with a cover, and wherein said box includes a respective recess in three sides for selective guidance of a cable.

9. The electrical operating panel according to claim 8, including at least one screw hole that extends through the box and terminates on a lower side of the box as well on an upper side of the cover in a countersink for a screw head.

10. The electrical operating panel according to claim 8, wherein the mounting part includes a tensile relief for the cable at a bottom thereof.

11. The electrical operating panel according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard part comprises a housing which, in outline, essentially appears as an isosceles trapezium, with a longest side facing inwards toward the mounting part.

12. The electrical operating panel according to claim 1, wherein the bearing has an opening sufficiently large for the shaft to be pressed inwards therethrough in a snap-like manner.

13. The electrical operating panel according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard part has a curved flap which acts against a flap on the mounting part for additional fixing of the rotary shaft.

14. The electrical operating panel according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard part has two arms which, through notches, protrude inwards over entry opening(s) to the bearing to secure the rotary shaft.

15. The operating panel according to claim 1, wherein said means for fixing the mounting part to a support structure comprises at least one screw.

16. The operating panel according to claim 1, wherein said means for fixing the mounting part to a support structure comprises self-adhesive tape.

17. An article of furniture which includes an electrical operating panel according to claim 1.