ERGONOMIC DESK

Abstract

A desk includes a base, a pedestal, a desktop panel, a desktop actuator, and a controller. The pedestal extends along a vertical axis and has a bottom end that is attached to the base. The desktop panel is supported by a top end of the pedestal, and extends transversely to the vertical axis. The desktop actuator is attached to the desktop panel and includes a motorized tilt mechanism, which is configured to pivot the desktop panel about a horizontal axis, which is transverse to the vertical axis, and adjust an angle of the desktop panel relative to the vertical axis, and a motorized lateral feed mechanism, which is configured to move the desktop panel along a feed axis that is fixed relative to the desktop panel, and extends transversely to the vertical axis and the horizontal axis. The controller controls the motorized tilt mechanism and the motorized lateral feed mechanism.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/057,420, filed Jul. 28, 2020, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a desk and, more specifically, to a desk having ergonomic features.

BACKGROUND

Tables and desks (hereinafter “desks”) are commonly used in home and office environments. Such desks may offer ergonomic features that benefit the user. For example, some desks allow the desktop to be vertically raised and lowered to accommodate sitting and standing user positions using a motorized pedestal or leg.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an ergonomic desk and a desk system. One embodiment of the desk includes a base, a pedestal, a desktop panel, a desktop actuator, and a controller. The pedestal extends along a vertical axis and has a bottom end that is attached to the base. The desktop panel is supported by a top end of the pedestal, and extends transversely to the vertical axis. The desktop actuator is attached to the desktop panel and includes a motorized tilt mechanism and a motorized lateral feed mechanism. The motorized tilt mechanism is configured to pivot the desktop panel about a horizontal axis, which is transverse to the vertical axis, and adjust an angle of the desktop panel relative to the vertical axis. The motorized lateral feed mechanism is configured to move the desktop panel along a feed axis that is fixed relative to the desktop panel, and extends transversely to the vertical axis and the horizontal axis. The controller is configured to control the motorized tilt mechanism and the motorized lateral feed mechanism.

Another embodiment of the desk includes, a base, a pedestal, a housing, and a desktop panel. The pedestal extends along a vertical axis and has a bottom end that is attached to the base. The housing includes a housing base and an adaptor. The housing base is connected to the top end of the pedestal and includes a plurality of base magnets. The adaptor is attached to the housing base and includes opposing top and bottom sides and a plurality of adaptor magnets. The desktop panel is attached to the adapter. Magnetic attraction between each of the adaptor magnets and one of the base magnets detachably connects the adaptor and the desktop panel to the housing base.

One embodiment of the desktop system includes a desktop panel and an accessory component. The desktop panel has opposing top and bottom sides, a top surface on the top side, a plurality of pockets formed in the bottom side, and a plurality of desktop magnets on the bottom side. Each desktop magnet is received within one of the pockets. The accessory component includes at least one accessory magnet. The accessory component is configured for attachment to the top surface through magnetic attraction between the at least one accessory magnet and one or more of the at least one desktop magnets.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the Background.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating a desk, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front isometric views, and FIGS. 4-6 are side views of an example of a desk, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a back view of an upper portion of the desk of FIG. 3, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an upper portion of the desk of FIG. 2 with a desktop panel removed, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9-11 are exploded isometric views illustrating components of a motorized tilt mechanism and a motorized lateral feed mechanism, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are simplified diagrams illustrating a motorized cam of a tilt mechanism, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is an exploded isometric view of a housing and a desktop panel, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 14A and 14B respectively are top and bottom views of an example of an adaptor, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a bottom isometric view of an example of a desktop panel, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a desktop system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are top and bottom isometric views of an example of a cup holder accessory component, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are top and bottom isometric views of an example of a ledge accessory component, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements that are identified using the same or similar reference characters refer to the same or similar elements. The various embodiments of the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits, systems, networks, processes, frames, supports, connectors, motors, processors, and other components may not be shown, or may be shown in block diagram form in order to not obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected,” “coupled,” or “attached” to another element, it can be directly connected, coupled, or attached to the other element, or it can be indirectly connected, coupled, or attached to the other element where intervening or intermediate elements may be present. In contrast, if an element is referred to as being “directly connected,” “directly coupled” or “directly attached” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Drawings illustrating direct connections, couplings or attachments between elements also include embodiments, in which the elements are indirectly connected, coupled, or attached to each other.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a desk having one or more ergonomic features. FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating a desk 100, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 2 and 3 are front isometric views, and FIGS. 4-6 are side views of an example of the desk 100, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

The desk 100 generally includes a desktop 102, a pedestal 104 and a base 106. The pedestal 104 includes a bottom end 108 that is attached to the base 106, and extends along a vertical axis 110 that is generally perpendicular to a floor surface 112. The desktop 102 is supported at a top end 114 of the pedestal 104, and includes a top surface 116 that may be used as a working surface by a user. While the pedestal 104 is shown as including a single leg structure, it is understood that the pedestal 104 may be formed using multiple leg structures, such as three or four leg structures. The base may include wheels 119 that simplify movement of the desk 100 along the floor surface 112.

In some embodiments, the desk 100 includes a motorized pedestal mechanism 118 that extends telescoping members 120 of the pedestal 104 along the vertical axis 110 to adjust the height of the top surface 116 of the desktop 100 relative to the base 106 and the floor surface 112. In one example, the telescoping members include members 120A, 120B and 120C that may be extended relative to each other using an electric motor (not shown). This allows the pedestal 104 to have a retracted position, such as shown in FIG. 4, multiple intermediary positions, such as the intermediary position shown in FIG. 5, and a fully extended position, such as shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, a user may adjust the height of the desktop panel 102 to accommodate various sitting or standing positions.

In some embodiments, the desk 100 includes a desktop actuator 122 that operates to adjust the position and/or orientation of the desktop panel 102. In one embodiment, the desktop actuator 122 includes a motorized tilt mechanism 124, which is generally configured to pivot the desktop panel 102 about a horizontal axis 126, which is transverse to the vertical axis 110. This allows for the adjustment of an angle 128 of the desktop panel 102 relative to the vertical axis 110 and the floor surface 112, as generally shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In one example, the tilt mechanism 124 allows the user to adjust the angle 128 from a non-tilted position (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5), in which the top surface 116 is substantially parallel to the floor surface 112 and oriented at approximately 90 degrees to the vertical axis 110, as shown in FIG. 5, to a tilted position (FIGS. 3 and 6), in which the top surface 116 is transverse to the floor surface 112 and at an acute angle 128 (e.g., approximately 30-89 degrees) relative to the vertical axis 110, as shown in FIG. 6.

In some embodiments, the desktop actuator 122 includes a motorized lateral feed mechanism 130, which is generally configured to move the desktop panel 102 along a feed axis 132 that is fixed relative to the desktop panel 102, generally parallel to the top surface 116, and extends transversely to the vertical axis 110 and the horizontal axis, as indicated in FIG. 1. This allows the desktop panel 102 to be extended either toward or away from a user relative to the pedestal 104. Thus, the desktop panel 102 has a retracted position, in which a leading edge 134 of the desktop panel 102 is located a distance 136 from a reference, as shown in FIG. 4, and an extended position, in which the leading edge 134 is extended a greater distance 136′ from the reference, as shown in FIG. 5. The desktop panel 102 may also be positioned along the feed axis 132 between the retracted and extended positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In some embodiments, the desk 100 includes a controller 140, memory 142, and/or a power source 144, as indicated in FIG. 1. The controller 140 may represent one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit) that control components of the desk 100 to perform one or more functions described herein in response to the execution of instructions that may be stored in the memory 142. The memory 142 represents local and/or remote memory or computer-readable media. Such memory 142 comprises any suitable patent subject matter eligible conventional computer readable media that do not include transitory waves or signals such as, for example, hard disks, CD-ROMS, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, etc.

In one embodiment, the controller 140 controls electric motors of the pedestal mechanism 118, the tilt mechanism 124, and/or the lateral feed mechanism 130 to respectively adjust the height of the desktop panel 102, the angle 128 of the desktop panel 102, and the distance 136 the desktop panel is extended from the pedestal 104, such as in response to an input received from an input device 146 and the execution of instructions contained in the memory 142. The controller 140 may also be used to control other functions described herein.

The input device 146 may take on any suitable form. For example, the input device 146 may represent a control panel attached to the desk 100, a remote-control device, an application running on a mobile computing device (e.g., smartphone), or another suitable input device that may communicate commands to the controller 140 to control one or more of the functions of the desk 100.

The desk 100 may also include one or more sensors, such as sensors for detecting an occupancy, an acceleration, a height of the desktop panel 102, the angle 128 of the desktop panel 102, the distance 136 the desktop panel is extended along the feed axis 132, etc. The controller 140 may use the sensors to allow for local or remote control of the desk functions, to monitor the desk 100, to produce analytics, to provide cognitive feedback to users, and/or provide other features.

The power source 144 may include any suitable power source for powering the electronic components of the desk 100, such as the controller 140, the motorized pedestal mechanism 118, the motorized tilt mechanism 124, the motorized lateral feed mechanism 130, and other electrical components of the desk 100 described herein. Examples of suitable power sources 144 include a rechargeable battery and corresponding circuitry, such as circuitry used to recharge the battery. The power source 144 may also represent circuitry for receiving line level power, such as from an AC outlet. In one embodiment, the power source 144 includes one or more solar panels 148 attached to the top surface 116 of the desktop panel 102, as indicated in FIG. 1, and the corresponding circuitry for processing and distributing the power generated by the solar panels 148, such as circuitry for using the power generated by the solar panels 148 to charge a battery, for example. Other suitable power sources may also be used. Additionally, the power source 144 may supply DC and AC power to auxiliary components and accessories, such as a monitor, without the need to be connected to line level power through a wall socket, for example.

A detailed discussion of examples of the tilt mechanism 124 and the lateral feed mechanism 130 will be provided with reference to FIGS. 7-11. FIG. 7 is a back view of an upper portion of the desk 100 of FIG. 3, FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an upper portion of the desk 100 with the desktop panel 102 removed, and FIGS. 9-11 are exploded isometric views illustrating components of the motorized tilt mechanism 124 and the motorized lateral feed mechanism 130, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the desk 100 includes a fixed frame member 150 (FIG. 9) that is connected to the top end 114 of the pedestal 104, and has a fixed position and orientation relative to the top end 114 of the pedestal 104. In some embodiments, the desktop actuator 122 or the tilt mechanism 124 includes a pivotable frame member 152 that is supported by the fixed frame member 150, and is configured to rotate about the horizontal axis 126 relative to the fixed frame member 150, as generally illustrated in FIG. 10. Thus, the pivotable frame member 152 is attached to the fixed frame member 150 through a suitable pivotable connection 154 (FIG. 10), such as a hinge, or another suitable pivotable connection. In one embodiment, the desktop panel 102 is connected to the pivotable frame member 152 and pivots about the horizontal axis 126 relative to the fixed frame member 150 in response to rotation of the pivotable frame member 152 about the axis 126.

In some embodiments, the motorized tilt mechanism 124 is configured to drive rotation of the pivotable frame member 152 and the desktop panel 102 about the horizontal axis 126 relative to the fixed frame member 150 using a linear actuator 156 having an end 158 attached to the fixed frame member 150, and an end 160 connected to the pivotable frame member 152, as generally indicated in FIG. 9. The end 158 may be attached to the fixed frame member 150 through a hinge 162 or another suitable pivotable connection, and the end 160 may be attached to the pivotable frame member 152 through a hinge 163 or another suitable pivotable connection. In one embodiment, the end 160 is connected to a feed rail 164 that is attached to the pivotable frame member 152 and has a fixed position and orientation relative to the pivotable frame member 152.

The linear actuator 156 is configured to drive relative movement between the ends 158 and 160 including extending the end 160 away from the end 158, or retracting the end 160 toward the end 158. This relative movement of the ends 158 and 160 of the actuator 156 pivot the pivotable frame member 152 and desktop panel 102 about the horizontal axis 126 relative to the fixed frame member 150, the pedestal 104 and the vertical axis 110, to adjust the angle 128 (FIGS. 5 and 6) of the desktop panel 102. In some embodiments, the linear actuator 156 comprises a screw drive, or another suitable actuator that may be driven using an electric motor 166 (FIG. 9).

It is understood that other actuators may be employed by the tilt mechanism 124 to drive rotation of the feed rail 164, the pivotable frame member 152 and the desktop panel 102 about the horizontal axis 126. One alternative is the use of a motorized cam 170, such as that illustrated in the simplified diagrams of FIGS. 12A and 12B. The motorized cam 170 generally includes a cam member 172 having an axis of rotation 174 that is fixed relative to either the fixed frame member 150 or the pivotable frame member 152, and is generally aligned parallel to the horizontal axis 126. When the cam member 172 is supported by the fixed frame member 150, such that the axis of rotation 174 has a fixed position relative to the fixed frame member 150, the cam member 172 includes an exterior surface 176 that engages the feed rail 164 or another component having a fixed position relative to the pivotable frame member 152. When the cam member 172 is supported by the feed rail 164 or another component having a fixed position relative to the pivotable frame member 152, such that the axis of rotation 174 of the cam member 172 has a fixed position relative to the pivotable frame member 152, the exterior surface 176 of the cam member 172 engages the fixed frame member 150 or another component having a fixed position relative to the fixed frame member 150. Rotation of the cam member 172 about the axis 174 by a motor 178, such as in response to the commands received from the controller 140, drives the pivotable frame member 152 and the desktop panel 102 to rotate about the horizontal axis 126 relative to the fixed frame member 150, to thereby adjust the tilt angle 128 of the desktop panel 102, such as from a relatively flat position (FIG. 12A) to a tilted position (FIG. 12B).

In some embodiments, the desk includes an actuator housing 180 that is attached to, and has a fixed position relative to, the fixed frame member 150. The actuator housing 180 includes an interior cavity 182 that receives the linear actuator 156, as indicated in FIG. 9. The end 158 of the linear actuator 156 may be attached to a base 184 of the housing through the pivotable connection 162, and the end 160 of the linear actuator 156 may extend through an opening of a cover 186 of the housing 180, as shown in FIG. 9.

In one embodiment, the feed rail 164 is aligned substantially parallel to the feed axis 132, and forms a component of the lateral feed mechanism 130 that guides movement of the desktop panel 102 along the feed axis 132. In one embodiment, the lateral feed mechanism 130 also includes a gantry 190 (FIG. 8) that is configured to move along the feed rail 164 and the feed axis 132 relative to the pivotable frame member 152. In one example, the feed rail 164 includes one or more channels 192, such as opposing channels, as shown in FIG. 8. The gantry 190 may include a panel 194 and a plurality of guide wheels 196 that are attached to the panel 194, as shown in FIG. 11. The guide wheels 196 are received within the channels 192 of the feed rail 164. In the illustrated example, the guide wheels 196 generally have an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the feed axis 132, however, alternative arrangements may be used. The guide wheels 196 secure the panel 194 to the feed rail 164 and rotate with movement of the panel 194 along the feed axis 132 to provide low-resistance movement of the panel 194 along the feed rail 164 and the feed axis 132. The desktop panel 102 is connected to the panel 194 of the gantry 190, and travels along the feed axis 132 relative to the pivotable frame member 152 with movement of the gantry 190. The gantry 190 may be substituted with another suitable gantry or similar mechanism.

In one embodiment, the lateral feed mechanism 130 includes a linear actuator 200 and a motor 202, as shown in FIG. 8. An end 204 of the linear actuator 200 has a fixed position relative to the pivotable frame member 152, and an opposing end 206 is connected to the gantry 190, either directly, or through an intermediary component. The linear actuator 200 is configured to drive movement of the end 206 relative to the end 204, and thus, movement of the gantry 190 and the desktop panel 102 along the feed axis 132 relative to the pivotable frame member 152 (e.g., the reference discussed above), as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In some embodiments, the desk 100 includes a housing 210 that is supported by the top end 114 of the pedestal 104 and is connected to the desktop panel 102, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. FIG. 13 is an exploded isometric view of the housing 210 and the desktop panel 102. In some embodiments, the housing 210 includes an interior cavity 212 that contains one or more components of the desk 100, such as the controller 140, the memory 142, the power source 144, components of the tilt mechanism 124, components of the lateral feed mechanism 130, and/or other components of the desk 100, as indicated in FIG. 1. Advantages to this configuration include the simplification of the management of cables used in connection with the power source 144, the controller 140 and the electric motors, the ability to conceal components of the desk 100, and other advantages.

In one embodiment, the housing 210 includes a housing base 214 that is connected to the gantry 190 and the end 206 of the linear actuator 200, such as through a hinge connector 208, as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the housing base 214 is configured to move along the feed axis 132 relative to the pivotable frame member 152 with movement of the gantry 190, and pivot about the horizontal axis 126 with rotation of the pivotable frame member 152.

In some embodiments, the housing 210 includes an adaptor 216, which generally covers the interior cavity 212 defined by the housing base 214. FIGS. 14A and 14B respectively are top and bottom views of an example of the adaptor, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The desktop panel 102 may be fixed to a top 218 of the adaptor 216 using any suitable means, such as screws, adhesive, or other suitable fasteners, as indicated in FIG. 13. Alternatively, the adaptor 216 may be integrated in a bottom side 220 (FIG. 7) of the desktop panel 102, as discussed below.

In one embodiment, the adaptor 216 is attached to the housing base 214 in a manner that allows its easy removal by hand, and without the use of tools. In one embodiment, the housing base 214 includes a plurality of base magnets 222, and the adaptor 216 includes a plurality of adaptor magnets 224 that are used to magnetically attached the adaptor 216 to the housing base 214. In one embodiment, the base magnets 222 may be contained within pockets 226 of the housing base 214 that operate to position the base magnets 222 in predefined locations, as shown in FIG. 13. Similarly, the adaptor magnets 224 may be contained within pockets 228 of a bottom side 230 of the adaptor 216 that operate to position the adaptor magnets 224 in predefined locations, such as illustrated in FIG. 14B. When the adaptor 216 is positioned on the housing base 214, magnetic attraction between the base magnets 222 and the adaptor magnets 224 secures the adaptor 216 and the attached desktop panel 102 to the housing base 214 in a manner that allows the removal of the adaptor 216 and the desktop panel 102 from the housing base 214 by a user without the use of tools.

FIG. 15 is a bottom isometric view of an example of a desktop panel 102, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The desktop panel 102 may be 3D printed, or formed of glass, wood, plastic, or another suitable material. The desktop panel 102 may also be double-sided, such as by combining different surface finishes or colors on each side of the panel 102.

In one embodiment, features of the adaptor 216 are integrated into a bottom side 232 of the desktop panel 102. Thus, the desktop panel 102 may include adaptor magnets 224, which may be contained within pockets 228, to facilitate the detachable connection between the desktop panel 102 and the housing base 214. Additionally, the desktop panel 102 may include a perimeter wall 234 that forms a socket 236 that receives and substantially conforms to the top end of the housing base 214. The socket 236 may be used to simplify the alignment of the desktop panel 102 relative to the housing base 214 during attachment, and may also assist in maintaining the connection between the desktop panel 102 and the housing base 214 during use.

In one embodiment, the base magnets 222 and the adaptor magnets 224 are arranged in a manner that predefines an orientation of the adaptor 216 relative to the housing base 214 that is required to secure the adaptor 216 to the housing base 214. This may be accomplished by the selective positioning of the base and adaptor magnets 222 and 224 or the pockets 226 and 228 containing the magnets 222 and 224, the selective orientation of the base and adaptor magnets 222 and 224 (north and south poles of the magnets are oriented for attraction or repulsion), and/or through physical guides that restrict the attachment of the adaptor 216 to the housing base 214 to a single orientation of the adaptor 216 relative to the housing base 214. For example, when the adaptor 216 is not properly oriented with the housing base 214, the adaptor magnets 224 may be repulsed by the base magnets 222, and when the adaptor 216 is properly oriented with the housing base 214, the base magnets 222 may attract the adaptor magnets 226 to secure the adaptor 216 to the housing base 214.

In some embodiments, guide channels and guide rails are used to guide or stabilize the movement of the desktop panel 102 along the feed axis 132 when driven by the lateral feed mechanism 130. For example, guide rails 240 attached to a bottom side 242 of the housing base 214 may be received within corresponding guide channels 244 that are connected to the pivotable frame member 152, as indicated in FIG. 11. This arrangement may obviously be reversed, such that the one or more guide channels are attached to, or formed in, the housing base, and one or more guide rails are attached to, or formed in, the pivotable frame member. During movement of the housing base 214 and the attached desktop panel 102 along the feed axis 132, the one or more guide rails 240 slide within the corresponding one or more guide channels 244 to stabilize the housing base 214 and desktop panel 102.

One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a desktop system 250 comprising one or more embodiments of the desktop panel 102 described above, and one or more accessory components, generally referred to as 252, such as shown in the isometric view of FIG. 16. Here, the desktop panel 102 is configured to facilitate magnetic attachment of the accessory components 252 to the top surface 116. Examples of the accessory components 252 include, a cup holder 252A and a ledge 252B, as shown in FIG. 16. However, other similar accessory components 252 may also be used. The magnetic attachment of the accessory components 252 to the top surface 116 of the desktop panel 102 allows the top surface 116 to be free from fasteners, sockets, and other features that may disrupt the top surface 116, while allowing for the secure attachment of the accessory components 252 to the top surface 116.

In one embodiment, the bottom side 232 of the desktop panel 102 includes a plurality of pockets 254. The desktop panel 102 may also include a plurality of desktop magnets 256, such as magnets 256A-E, each of which may be received within one of the pockets 254. The accessory components 252 of the desktop system 250 each include at least one accessory magnet 258 that operates to attach the accessory component 252 to the top surface 116 through magnetic attraction between the at least one accessory magnet 258 and at least one of the desktop magnets 256. Thus, the accessor components 252 may be selectively positioned on the desktop panel 102 through the attraction of the desktop and accessor magnets 256 and 258. Top and bottom isometric views of an example of the cup holder 252A are shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. In one embodiment, the cup holder 252A includes a bottom 260 and a side wall 262 extending from the perimeter of the bottom 260 to define an interior cavity 264 that is configured to receive a drink container, pencils, pens, and/or other items. The cup holder 252A includes at least one accessory magnet 258 that is supported by the bottom 260, such as in a pocket 266. The cup holder 252A may be positioned, for example, on the top surface 116 of the desktop panel 102 such that the accessory magnet 258 of the cup holder 252A is aligned and magnetically attracted to one of the desktop magnets 256, such as desktop magnet 256A (FIG. 15), to magnetically secure the cup holder 252A to the top surface 116, as shown in FIG. 16.

Top and bottom isometric views of one example of the ledge 252B are provided in FIGS. 18A and 18B, respectively. The ledge 252B generally includes an elongated member 270 and one or more accessory magnets 258. In one embodiment, the accessory magnets are each contained in one of a plurality of pockets 272 that may be formed in a bottom side 274. Each of the pockets 272 in the elongated member 270 may include an accessory magnet 258 that secures the ledge 252B to the top surface 116 of the desktop panel 102 (FIG. 16) when the one or more accessory magnets 258 are aligned with the corresponding one or more desktop magnets 256, such as desktop magnets 256B-E (FIG. 15).

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A desk comprising:

a base;

a pedestal extending along a vertical axis and having a bottom end attached to the base;

a desktop panel supported by a top end of the pedestal, and extending transversely to the vertical axis;

a desktop actuator attached to the desktop panel and comprising: a motorized tilt mechanism configured to pivot the desktop panel about a horizontal axis, which is transverse to the vertical axis, and adjust an angle of the desktop panel relative to the vertical axis; and a motorized lateral feed mechanism configured to move the desktop panel along a feed axis that is fixed relative to the desktop panel and extends transversely to the vertical axis and the horizontal axis; and

a controller configured to control the motorized tilt mechanism and the motorized lateral feed mechanism.

2. The desk of claim 1, wherein:

the desk includes a fixed frame member attached to a top end of the pedestal;

the desktop actuator includes a pivotable frame member supported by the fixed frame member and configured to rotate about the horizontal axis relative to the fixed frame member; and

the desktop panel is connected to the pivotable frame member and moves relative to the fixed frame member with movement of the pivotable frame member.

3. The desk of claim 2, wherein the motorized lateral feed mechanism comprises:

a feed rail attached to the pivotable frame member and aligned substantially parallel to the feed axis;

a gantry configured to move along the feed rail relative to the pivotable frame member; and

the desktop panel is connected to the gantry and is configured to move along the feed axis with movement of the gantry.

4. The desk of claim 3, wherein the motorized lateral feed mechanism comprises a first linear actuator including a first end having a fixed position relative to the pivotable frame member, and a second end connected to the gantry, the first linear actuator configured to drive movement of the second end relative to the first end, and movement of the desktop panel along the feed axis.

5. The desk of claim 4, wherein:

the feed rail comprises opposing channels extending along the feed axis; and

the gantry comprises a panel and a plurality of guide wheels attached to the panel, each guide wheel being received within one of the channels and having an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the feed axis.

6. The desk of claim 4, further comprising a housing including:

a housing base connected to the gantry and the second end of the first linear actuator, wherein the housing base is configured to move along the feed axis with movement of the gantry; and

an adaptor connected to the desktop panel and the housing base.

7. The desk of claim 6, wherein:

the pivotable frame member includes one or more guide channels, and the housing base includes one or more guide rails each received within one of the one or more guide channels; or

the housing base includes one or more guide channels, and the pivotable frame member includes one or more guide rails each received within one of the one or more guide channels,

wherein during movement of the housing base along the feed axis the one or more guide rails slide within the one or more guide channels.

8. The desk of claim 6, wherein:

the housing includes an interior cavity formed between the housing base and the adaptor; and

the controller is contained within the interior cavity.

9. The desk of claim 6, wherein:

the housing base includes a plurality of base magnets;

the adaptor includes a plurality of adaptor magnets; and

magnetic attraction between each of the adaptor magnets and one of the base magnets detachably connects the adaptor to the housing base.

10. The desk of claim 6, wherein the gantry and the second end of the first linear actuator are directly connected to the housing base.

11. The desk of claim 3, wherein the motorized tilt mechanism is configured to drive rotation of the pivotable frame member about the horizontal axis relative to the fixed frame member.

12. The desk of claim 11, wherein the motorized tilt mechanism comprises:

a second linear actuator having a first end attached to the fixed frame member, and a second end connected to the pivotable frame member, the second linear actuator configured to drive relative movement between its first and second ends, and pivot the desktop panel about the horizontal axis; or

a cam member having an axis of rotation that is fixed relative to the fixed frame member or the pivotable frame member, wherein rotation of the cam member about the axis of rotation pivots the desktop panel about the horizontal axis.

13. The desk of claim 12, wherein:

the desk comprises a pivotable connection joining the first and pivotable frame members and forming the horizontal axis;

the feed rail includes opposing first and second ends, the first end of the feed rail connected to the pivotable frame member; and

the desk includes a pivotable connection at the second end of the feed rail joining the second end of the feed rail to the second end of the second linear actuator.

14. The desk of claim 3, further comprising a motorized pedestal mechanism configured to drive movement of the top end of the pedestal relative along the vertical axis relative to the bottom end, wherein the controller is configured to control the motorized pedestal mechanism to move the desktop panel along the vertical axis relative to the base.

15. A desk comprising:

a base;

a pedestal extending along a vertical axis and having a bottom end attached to the base;

a housing comprising a housing base connected to the top end of the pedestal and including a plurality of base magnets, and an adaptor attached to the housing base, the adapter including opposing top and bottom sides and a plurality of adaptor magnets; and

a desktop panel attached to the adapter,

wherein: magnetic attraction between each of the adaptor magnets and the base magnets detachably connects the adaptor and the desktop panel to the housing base when the desktop panel is in a first orientation relative to the adaptor; and magnetic repulsion between each of the adaptor magnets and the base magnets prevents magnetic attachment of the desktop panel to the adaptor when the desktop panel is in a second orientation relative to the adaptor.

16. The desk of claim 15, wherein the desktop panel includes opposing top and bottom sides, a top surface on the top side, and a plurality of desktop magnets on the bottom side.

17. The desk of claim 16, further comprising:

a desktop actuator attached to the housing and comprising: a motorized tilt mechanism configured to pivot the housing and the desktop panel about a horizontal axis, which is transverse to the vertical axis, and adjust an angle of the desktop panel relative to the vertical axis; and a motorized lateral feed mechanism configured to move the housing and the desktop panel along a feed axis that is fixed relative to the desktop panel and extends transversely to the vertical axis and the horizontal axis; and

a controller configured to control the motorized tilt mechanism and the motorized lateral feed mechanism.

18. A desktop system comprising:

a desktop panel having opposing top and bottom sides, a top surface on the top side, a plurality of pockets formed in the bottom side, and a plurality of desktop magnets on the bottom side, each desktop magnet received within one of the pockets; and

an accessory component comprising at least one accessory magnet, the accessory component configured for attachment to the top surface through magnetic attraction between the at least one accessory magnet and one or more of the at least one desktop magnets.

19. The desktop system of claim 18, wherein the accessory component comprises a cup holder having a bottom comprising the at least one accessory magnet, and a sidewall extending from a perimeter of the bottom.

20. The desktop system of claim 18, wherein the accessory component comprises an elongated member including a plurality of pockets formed in a bottom side of the elongated member, wherein each of the at least one accessory magnet is each received within one of the pockets of the elongated member.