Height adjustable support surface and system for encouraging human movement and promoting wellness

• US 10,802,473 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2019
• Issued: 10/13/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Labrosse, Jean-Paul, Chu, Michael Xinjie, Sullivan, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ayres, Timothy M
• Application Number:
  US16/251,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20190155253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 108147, 108 5011
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/02 with vertically-adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2097/003 Cable holders; cable organisers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0054 with three telescopic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0056 with a motor, e.g. an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0061 Height-adjustable desk, electronically regulated with no mechanical link between the legs
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0062 Electronically user-adaptable, height-adjustable desk or table
• 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: A47B 9/20 Telescopic guides
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/01 for supporting or guiding the pipes, cables or protective tubing, between relatively movable points, e.g. movable channels
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/416 characterised by control of velocity, acceleration or deceleration G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24015 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35491 Workpiece date display, position, height
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

A height adjustable table assembly system comprising a worktop, a frame, a height adjustment subassembly integrated into the table assembly and adapted to cause worktop elevation adjustment, a user interface and a processor programmed to perform the steps of, while the worktop is at a current elevation position, upon sensing a quick multiple activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop to a stored elevation position and upon sensing a prolonged activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to change worktop elevation while the prolonged activation persists.

Claims

1. A height adjustable table assembly system comprising:

a worktop;

a frame supporting the worktop;

at least one integrated height adjustment subassembly integrated into the table assembly and adapted to cause worktop elevation adjustment;

a user interface including at least one user input control for receiving manual direct selection from a workstation user to initiate worktop elevation adjustment; and

a processor programmed to store multiple elevation positions and to perform the steps of, while the worktop is at a current elevation position;

upon sensing a quick multiple upward activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop upward to a one of the stored elevation positions located above the current elevation position; and

upon sensing a prolonged activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to change worktop elevation while the prolonged activation persists.

2. The table assembly system of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes a member having a lower surface and wherein the quick multiple upward activation includes applying a sequence of upward forces to the lower surface.

3. The table assembly of claim 2 wherein the member that includes the lower surface also includes an upper surface above the lower surface and wherein, upon application of a sequence of quick downward forces on the upper surface, the processor controls the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop to a stored elevation position that is below the current elevation position.

4. The table assembly of claim 3 wherein the member that forms the upper surface and the lower surface of the interface includes the worktop.

5. The table assembly of claim 1 wherein, upon a quick multiple downward activation of the user input control, the processor controls the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop to a stored elevation position that is below the current elevation position.

6. The table assembly of claim 5 wherein the user input control includes a paddle member mounted to the worktop to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis upon activation.

7. The table assembly of claim 1 wherein the quick multiple activation includes a first activation rapidly followed by a second activation.

8. The table assembly of claim 1 wherein the processor is further programmed to periodically provide a reminder to an assembly user to change the worktop height elevation position.

9. The table assembly of claim 8 wherein the processor provides the reminder by automatically moving the worktop independent of any user input via the interface.

10. The table assembly of claim 8 wherein the processor causes the worktop to vibrate to provide the reminder.

11. The table assembly of claim 10 wherein the processor controls the height adjustment subassembly to vibrate the worktop to provide the reminder.

12. Table assembly of claim 1 wherein the stored elevation position is a position specified by a user prior to being stored.

13. The table assembly of claim 12 wherein the interface enables the user to specify the stored elevation position.

14. A height adjustable table assembly system comprising:

a worktop;

a frame supporting the worktop;

at least one integrated height adjustment subassembly integrated into the table assembly and adapted to cause worktop elevation adjustment;

a user interface including at least one user input control for receiving manual direct selection from a workstation user to initiate worktop elevation adjustment; and

a processor programmed to store multiple elevation positions and to perform the steps of, while the worktop is at a current elevation position;

wherein the worktop is positionable in a second stored elevation position that is below the first stored elevation position upon sensing a quick multiple upward activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop upward to one of the stored elevation positions; and

upon sensing a prolonged upward activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move worktop elevation toward the one of the stored elevation positions while the prolonged upward activation persists;

upon sensing a quick multiple downward activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop downward to another of the stored elevation positions; and

upon sensing a prolonged downward activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move worktop elevation toward the another of the stored elevation positions while the prolonged downward activation persists.

15. A height adjustable table assembly system comprising:

a worktop;

a frame supporting the worktop;

at least one integrated height adjustment subassembly integrated into the table assembly and adapted to cause worktop elevation adjustment;

a user interface including at least one user input control for receiving manual direct selection from a workstation user to initiate worktop elevation adjustment; and

a processor programmed to perform the steps of;

(i) storing a plurality of stored worktop elevation positions;

(ii) while the worktop is at a current elevation position, upon sensing a quick multiple upward activation of the user interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop upward to one of the stored elevation positions above the current position.

16. The table assembly system of claim 15 wherein the processor is further programmed to perform the steps of, upon sensing a prolonged activation of the user interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to change worktop elevation while the prolonged activation persists.

17. The table assembly of claim 15 wherein the user interface includes a member having a lower surface and wherein the quick multiple upward activation includes applying a sequence of upward forces to the lower surface.

18. The table assembly of claim 17 wherein the member that forms the upper surface of the interface includes the worktop.

19. The table assembly of claim 18 wherein, upon a quick double downward activation of the user input control, the processor controls the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop to another of the stored elevation positions that is below the one of the stored elevation position.

20. The table assembly of claim 15 wherein the processor is further programmed to periodically provide a reminder to an assembly user to change the worktop height elevation position.

21. The table assembly of claim 20 wherein the processor causes the worktop to vibrate to provide the reminder.

22. The table assembly of claim 21 wherein the processor controls the height adjustment subassembly to vibrate the worktop to provide the reminder.

23. A height adjustable table assembly system comprising:

a worktop;

a frame supporting the worktop;

at least one integrated height adjustment subassembly integrated into the table assembly and adapted to cause worktop elevation adjustment;

a user interface including at least a user input control for receiving manual direct selection from a workstation user to initiate worktop elevation adjustment; and

a processor programmed to store a plurality of stored worktop heights and to perform the steps of, while the worktop is at a current elevation position;

upon sensing a quick, double upward activation of the user input control, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop upward to one of the stored elevation position, and

upon sensing a prolonged upward activation of the first user input control, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop elevation upward while the prolonged activation persists.

24. The table assembly of claim 23 wherein the user interface includes a member having a lower surface and wherein the quick multiple upward activation includes applying a sequence of upward forces to the lower surface.

25. The table assembly of claim 24 wherein the member that includes the lower surface also includes an upper surface above the lower surface and wherein, upon application of a sequence of quick downward forces on the upper surface, the processor controls the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop to another stored elevation position that is below the current elevation position.

26. The table assembly of claim 23 wherein the processor is further programmed to periodically provide a reminder to an assembly user to change the worktop height elevation position.

27. The table assembly of claim 26 wherein the processor provides the reminder by automatically moving the worktop independent of any user input via the interface.

28. The table assembly of claim 26 wherein the processor causes the worktop to vibrate to provide the reminder.

29. The table assembly of claim 28 wherein the processor controls the height adjustment subassembly to vibrate the worktop to provide the reminder.