Adjustable desk and footrest assembly

• US 8,061,278 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2009
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safco Products Co
• Original Assignee: Safco Products Co
• Inventors: Skiba, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, JOSE V
• Application Number:
  US12/350,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20090178596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920, 297/423.15, 297/423.16, 297/423.25, 297/426.28, 297/423.2, 297/423.22, 297/423.23, 297/423.24, 297/423.26, 297/423.3, 297/423.29, 297/423.19, 312/196, 312/194, 312/195, 312/257.1, 312/7.2, 312/208
• US Class Current: 108/50.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/00 Details of tables or desks drawers A47B88/00; feet for furniture in general A47B91/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/14 with pins coacting with holes

Abstract

A universal desk or workstation assembly for enhancing learning is incrementally adjustable in height from sitting to standing positions, and includes a pendulum swinging footrest assembly. The swinging footrest assembly may be provided in kit form and is configurable for retrofit attachment to existing desks and workstations. The swinging footrest provides height adjustment and mounting depth adjustment relative to the depth of the desk or workstation.

Claims

1. A desk comprising:

a. a top defining an upper working surface;

b. leg apparatus connected to said top operatively supporting said top above a floor support surface; and

c. a foot support assembly operatively mounted to said desk, comprising;

(i) at least one elongate arm member mounted to said desk and having a pivot point through which a generally horizontal axis passes, said arm member being suspended from said pivot point for pivotal motion about said first axis;

(ii) a foot engagable support member connected to said elongate arm member at a position downwardly spaced from said pivot point; and

(iii) wherein said elongate arm member and said foot engagable support member swing freely in back and forth oscillatory pendulum manner through an equilibrium position and about said first axis.

2. The desk as recited in claim 1, wherein said foot engagable support member comprises a pedal-like member rotatable about a generally horizontal second axis, parallel to and spaced downwardly from said first axis.

3. The desk as recited is claim 1, wherein said leg apparatus is adjustable to move said top between an operative sitting position height to an operative standing position height.

4. The desk as recited in claim 3, wherein said leg apparatus is adjustable to move said upper working surface of said top between heights of from about 24 inches to about 48 inches above said floor support surface.

5. The desk as recited in claim 4, wherein said leg apparatus is adjustable to move said upper working surface of said top between heights from about 26 inches to about 42 inches above said floor support surface.

6. The desk as recited in claim 1, wherein said foot engagable support member is supported by a plurality of said elongage arm members pivotally mounted to said desk for free oscillatory pendulum swinging motion about said first axis.

7. The desk as recited in claim 1, wherein said foot engagable support member is disposed along said elongate arm member so as to swing through the equilibrium position in close proximity to the floor support surface.

8. The desk as recited in claim 7, wherein said foot engagable support member, when at its lowermost position, swings within a distance of less than about 5 inches above said floor support surface.

9. The desk as recited in claim 1, herein said elongate arm member is pivotally connected to said desk at or near a first end of said elongate arm member.

10. The desk as recited in claim 9, wherein said elongate arm member has a second end, oppositely disposed from said first end thereof, and wherein said foot engagable support member is connected to said elongate arm member at or near said second end.

11. The desk as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongate arm member has a pendulum length measured between said first axis and said foot engagable member of greater than about 9 inches.

12. Said desk as recited in claim 1, wherein the length of said elongate arm member is adjustable to change the longitudinal distance between said first axis and said foot engagable support member.

13. The desk as recited in claim 1, wherein said desk includes mounting apparatus configured to pivotally receive and mount said elongate arm member to said desk at a plurality of selectable mounting positions spaced from one another in a front to back direction of said desk.

14. The desk as recited in claim 13, wherein said mounting apparatus is connected to or forms a part of said leg apparatus.

15. The desk as recited in claim 1, wherein said foot engagable support member is not operatively retained at any fixed angular position about said first axis.

16. A swinging foot support assembly of a type suitable for operative connection to a piece of furniture, comprising:

(a) a mounting bracket configured for operative connection to a piece of furniture;

(b) at least one elongate arm member;

(c) a low friction connector movably mounting said elongate arm member to said mounting bracket for pivotal suspension of said elongate arm member about a first axis;

(d) a foot engagable support member connected to said elongate arm member at a position along said arm member that is longitudinally spaced from said first axis; and

(e) wherein when said swinging foot support assembly is operatively attached to a piece of furniture at a position sufficiently above a floor surface upon which the furniture is designed to rest, said elongate arm member and said foot engagable support member swing freely in back and forth oscillatory pendulum manner about said first axis.

17. The swinging foot support assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein a swing radius as measured between said first axis and said foot engagable support member, is at least about 9 inches.

18. The swinging foot support assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said foot engagable support member includes a pedal-like member pivotable about a second axis, spaced from said first axis and adjacent a lower end of said elongate arm member.

19. The swinging foot support assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said swinging foot support assembly is configured for operative connecting to a desk or a work station.

20. The swinging foot support assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the swinging foot support assembly is configured in kit form.

21. The swinging foot support assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the length of said elongate arm member is adjustable to change the longitudinal distance between the first axis and said foot engagable support member.

22. The swinging foot support assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said mounting bracket and said low friction connector are cooperatively configured to pivotally mount said elongate arm member at a plurality of selective positions along said mounting bracket.