Powered height adjustable desktop

• US 9,049,923 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stand Tall, LLC
• Original Assignee: Stand Tall, LLC
• Inventors: Delagey, Nico Vincent, Johnson, Brandon Daniel, Ferrell, Todd Allison
• Primary Examiner(s): ROHRHOFF, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/152,193
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 108/138, 108/144.11, 108/145, 108/147, 108/50.01, 108/90, 108/93, 108/96, 108/106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0041 Height adjustable table top with parallel link arms
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/18 with additional top or additional legs for varying the height of the top

Abstract

A powered height adjustable desktop having a base with a fixed peripheral wall defining a cavity and a cover defining a horizontal work surface. A lift mechanism supports the cover relative to the base. The lift mechanism includes a linkage with at least one pair of lift arms pivotably connecting each side of the base to a respective side of the cover and a powered actuator attached to the base and operatively connected to the linkage. The actuator selectively activates the linkage to rotate the lift arms from a relatively horizontal position to at least one substantially fixed upright position, thereby raising the work surface from a sitting height to a standing height. At the sitting height, the cover rests upon the peripheral wall to fully enclose the cavity. At the standing height, the cover is spaced above and offset forward of the base.

Claims

1. A height adjustable desktop, comprising:

a base having a fixed peripheral wall extending upwardly from the base to define a cavity;

a cover defining a horizontal work surface for the desktop; and

a lift mechanism supporting the cover relative to the base, wherein the lift mechanism comprises;

a linkage comprising at least one pair of lift arms pivotably connecting each side of the base to a respective side of the cover;

a powered linear actuator attached to the base and operatively connected to the linkage,

a connecting rod connected between a lift arm of each pair of lift arms; and

a lever directly or indirectly coupling the linear actuator to the connecting rod,

wherein motion of the linear actuator causes rotation of the connecting rod, and rotation of the connecting rod directly rotates the lift arms,

wherein the actuator is configured to selectively activate the linkage to rotate the lift arms from a relatively horizontal position to at least one substantially fixed upright position, thereby raising the work surface from a sitting height to a standing height, and

wherein the cover rests upon the peripheral wall at the sitting height to fully enclose the cavity, and the cover is spaced above and offset forward of the base at the standing height,

wherein each pair of lift arms includes a front lift arm and a rear lift arm, wherein the front lift arm and the rear lift arm each rotate in the same direction as the cover is raised and lowered.

2. The desktop according to claim 1, wherein the front lift arm has a lower arm portion and an upper arm portion, wherein the upper arm portion of the front lift arm is angled rearward relative to the lower arm portion thereof;

and

wherein the rear lift arm has a lower arm portion and an upper arm portion, wherein the upper arm portion of the rear lift arm is angled forward relative to the lower arm portion thereof, such that each pair of lift arms is capable of a compact nested position when the cover is at the sitting height.

3. The desktop according to claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism is triggered by a switch mounted to the fixed peripheral wall.

4. The desktop according to claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism is triggered by a remote control.

5. The desktop according to claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism is configured such that the cover may selectively stop and remain steady at various heights between the sitting height and the standing height.

6. The desktop according to claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism further comprises at least one support rod extending between at least one of the lift arms and the cover to provide support for a front portion of the cover when in the standing height.

7. The desktop according to claim 6, wherein the support rod is pivotably attached to the respective lift arm and slidably attached to the cover.

8. A support, comprising:

a base for placement upon an existing desk or table;

a cover defining a horizontal work surface; and

a lift mechanism supporting the cover relative to the base, wherein the lift mechanism comprises;

a linkage comprising at least one pair of lift arms pivotably connecting each side of the base to a corresponding side of the cover;

a powered linear actuator attached to the base and operatively connected to the linkage;

a connecting rod capable of rotation along with at least one of the lift arms; and

a lever directly or indirectly converting linear motion of the linear actuator to a torque rotating the connecting rod, and rotation of the connecting rod directly rotates the lift arms,

wherein the linear actuator is configured to selectively activate the linkage to rotate the lift arms from a relatively horizontal position to at least one substantially fixed upright position, thereby raising the work surface from a sitting height to a standing height, and

wherein the cover is spaced above and offset forward of the base at the standing height.

9. The support according to claim 8, wherein the base further comprises a fixed peripheral wall extending upwardly therefrom to define a cavity, and

wherein the cover rests upon the peripheral wall at the sitting height to fully enclose the cavity.

10. The support according to claim 9, wherein the lift mechanism is triggered by a switch mounted to the fixed peripheral wall.

11. The support according to claim 8, wherein the lift mechanism is configured such that the cover may selectively stop and remain steady at various heights between the sitting height and the standing height.

12. The support according to claim 8, wherein the lift mechanism further comprises at least one support rod rotatably coupled to at least one of the lift arms and slidably coupled to the cover, wherein the support rod is biased toward the cover.

13. The support according to claim 8, wherein each pair of lift arms includes a front lift arm and a rear lift arm,

wherein the front lift arm has a lower arm portion and an upper arm portion, wherein the upper arm portion of the front lift arm is angled rearward relative to the lower arm portion thereof;

and

wherein the rear lift arm has a lower arm portion and an upper arm portion, wherein the upper arm portion of the rear lift arm is angled forward relative to the lower arm portion thereof, such that each pair of lift arms is capable of a compact nested position when the cover is at the sitting height.

14. A device, comprising:

a cover defining a horizontal work surface; and

a lift mechanism supporting the cover, wherein the lift mechanism comprises;

a linkage comprising at least one pair of lift arms pivotably connected to each side of the cover;

a powered linear actuator operatively connected to the linkage;

a connecting rod connected between a lift arm of each pair of lift arms; and

a lever directly or indirectly coupling the linear actuator to the connecting rod,

wherein motion of the linear actuator causes rotation of the connecting rod, and rotation of the connecting rod directly rotates the lift arms, thereby raising the cover from the sitting height to the standing height.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the cover is a desktop, and the lift mechanism is integrated into a desk.