Handicap Accessible Laboratory Table

Abstract

A handicap accessible laboratory table is disclosed for use in lectures and laboratory experiments. The table has a base suitable for wheelchair access, a generally planar countertop mounted on at least three telescoping legs, a motor to raise and lower the countertop without requiring locking the legs into position, and a fixed-height sink mounted adjacent to the edge of the countertop and providing clearance for a wheelchair to fit beneath the sink. Optionally, the table can also have a marine edge to control spills, a two-depth sink to allow for handicap access which can have a faucet or a sprayer, a finger guard to protect children's fingers when the countertop is in motion, a storage area for rods, and a key-activated switch or remote for controlling the countertop height.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to laboratory tables for use in classrooms which are accessible to disabled individuals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In current laboratory environments, laboratory tables are generally not designed to be accessible to both handicapped and non-handicapped individuals. This can cause problems for wheelchair-bound students in science classrooms as they have problems with accessing items in sinks as well as using tables at an appropriately comfortable height. Ideally, a laboratory table will be usable both for handicapped and non-handicapped individuals. Additionally, in current laboratory and classroom environments, laboratory tables generally do not have a means to control liquids spilled on the tables. This can be a problem, particularly in science classrooms where spills are common. Ideally, a laboratory table in a school classroom environment would have a way to control liquids spilled on the tables such that the liquids do not seep through holes in the table or off the edge of the table to the floor. Thirdly, presently available tables with lifting mechanisms are less than ideal because they typically rise to a certain point or lower to a certain point regardless of impediments they encounter. This can cause safety issues as well as stressing the motors by having them use too much torque to raise or lower the table. In a laboratory environment, if a child sits on a laboratory table, it is ideal for the laboratory table to not raise both for safety reasons and to preserve the motor. Similarly, if a child has his or her legs beneath the laboratory table, it is ideal for the table to stop lowering and instead rise up a few inches if it encounters resistance to ensure that a child's legs are not injured. The presently disclosed device solves each of these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We disclose a handicap accessible laboratory table for use in lectures and laboratory experiments. The table has a base suitable for wheelchair access, a generally planar countertop mounted on at least three telescoping legs, a motor to raise and lower the countertop without requiring locking the legs into position, and a fixed-height sink mounted adjacent to the edge of the countertop and providing clearance for a wheelchair to fit beneath the sink. Optionally, the table can also have a marine edge to control spills, a two-depth sink to allow for handicap access which can have a faucet or a sprayer, a finger guard to protect children's fingers when the countertop is in motion, a storage area for rods, and a key-activated switch or remote for controlling the countertop height.

The handicap accessible laboratory table solves the problem of allowing access for both handicapped and non-handicapped individuals in a few ways. First, the table raises and lowers to allow access for a wheelchair. Next, there is a cutout in the housing beneath the sink allowing for knee room for an individual seated in a wheelchair. Finally, the sink is designed with a shallow front section and a deep rear section such that a handicapped individual may place a piece of equipment to be washed or filled with water on the shallower front section without having to reach deep into the sink.

The handicap accessible laboratory table solves the problem of controlling spilled liquids in two ways. First, in one embodiment, the handicap accessible laboratory table has a continuous top surface without holes through which liquids might seep. Additionally, in an embodiment addressing the issue of spillage, the handicap accessible laboratory table has a marine edge to contain spills on the surface of the table.

The handicap accessible laboratory table solves the problem of safety and preserving the motor from undue strain with a control or brain-like mechanism. If the table encounters a certain amount of force going up, the mechanism will not lift the countertop surface. If the table encounters a certain amount of force going down, the motor will reverse and rise a few inches to provide clearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a front plan view of the handicap accessible laboratory table.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of the handicap accessible laboratory table.

FIG. 3 illustrates a right side plan view of the handicap accessible laboratory table.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the handicap accessible laboratory table from above and to the left showing the countertop lowered.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the handicap accessible laboratory table showing its construction and internal structure and having a central kick-plate.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the handicap accessible laboratory table showing its construction and internal structure and having metal rear knee shrouds.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the handicap accessible laboratory table from above and to the left showing the countertop raised.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In reference to the drawings, there is shown a handicap accessible laboratory table 1 for use in lectures and laboratory experiments. The table 1 has a base 2, which, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, has a cut-out section allowing access for a wheelchair (not shown). Optionally, the base can have an outlet 5 allowing for electrical access. The base 2 also houses a fixed-height sink 6. The sink 6 can optionally have a shallower first depth 11 at the front of the base 10 to allow access to people sitting in a chair or wheelchair as well as a deeper second depth 12 towards the back of the sink 6 allowing for washing or filling of larger containers. The sink 6 can optionally be provided with one or more faucets 13 as shown, or can be provided with sprayers (not shown) in the case of tables not requiring faucets 13, for example tables for use in physics classes only. Additional access, such as gas or vacuum access, can also optionally be provided on the base 2.

The table 1 also has a countertop 3 which is generally planar and which is mounted on at least three telescoping legs 4 which are visible in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6. These legs 4 are controlled by a motor (not shown). An example of a leg and control box combination that can be used for the table 1 is the Linak® Desklift DL6 legs combined with the Linak® Control Box CBD4. In a preferred embodiment, the control box is programmed with sensors, not shown, included in the legs 4 which sense the amount of pressure which the countertop 3 encounters when raising or lowering. If the amount of pressure raising up exceeds a pre-set pound limit, the legs 4 will not raise. If the amount of pressure when lowering exceeds another pre-set limit, the legs 4 will stop lowering and will raise a certain distance. In a preferred embodiment, the legs 4 will raise two inches if resistance is encountered when lowering to allow space for a child to remove his or her legs from beneath the table. Ideally, the countertop 3 can raise to a height of 30 inches to accommodate standing students performing experiments and lower to a height of 36 inches to accommodate seated students. In alternate embodiments, the motor may be activated by a key-activated switch, not shown, or by a remote control, not shown, which sends signals to a remote sensor 22. The key-activated switch, remote control, and remote sensor 22 can each be purchased from Linak®.

The base 2 is situated within a cutout 7 into the shape of the countertop 3. By using this configuration, the handicap accessible laboratory table 1 can be made of a smaller size without significantly cutting into the area of the table 1 that students can reach. In a preferred embodiment, a finger guard 14 as shown in FIG. 7 is disposed on the cutout 7 of the countertop 3 such that when the countertop 3 is raised above the height of the base 2, a child cannot insert his or her fingers into the space between the countertop 3 and the base 2 and have his or her fingers pinched when the countertop 3 is lowered.

Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the legs 4 connect to the countertop 3 by a metal top frame support 17. The legs 4 are contained in a leg-frame bracket 18. A metal leg support frame 19 supports the legs 4 structurally. The leg area beneath the countertop 3 can be contained by either a metal rear cover 20 as shown in FIG. 5, or a metal rear knee shroud 21 as shown in FIG. 6.

In a preferred embodiment, the countertop 3 can have a marine edge 8 to contain any spills on the table 1 without dripping on the floor. Additionally, the countertop 3 is formed as one piece 9 without holes through which spills might drip. Also in a preferred embodiment, the countertop 3 can have rod storage 15 beneath its surface for the storage of metal rods, not shown, used for performing experiments. Ideally, this rod storage 15 is provided with a lock, such that students cannot remove the rods and play with them when not permitted by an instructor.

Claims

1. A handicap accessible laboratory table for use in lectures and laboratory experiments, said laboratory table comprising:

(a) a base suitable for wheelchair access;

(b) a generally planar countertop mounted on at least three telescoping legs;

(c) a motor to raise and lower said countertop without requiring locking said telescoping legs into position; and

(d) a fixed-height sink disposed adjacent to the peripheral edge of said countertop and mounted to provide clearance below the sink for a wheelchair.

2. The handicap accessible laboratory table of claim 1 wherein said tabletop comprises a marine edge and a continuous surface.

3. A laboratory sink having a front, a first depth and a second depth, said second depth deeper than said first depth and located farther from said front.

4. The handicap accessible laboratory table of claim 1 wherein said fixed-height sink has a faucet.

5. The handicap accessible laboratory table of claim 1 wherein said fixed-height sink has a sprayer.

6. The handicap accessible laboratory table of claim 1 wherein said fixed-height sink is surrounded by a finger guard

7. The handicap accessible laboratory table of claim 1 further comprising a storage area.

8. The handicap accessible laboratory table of claim 7 wherein said storage area is lockable.

9. The handicap accessible laboratory table of claim 1 wherein said motor is controllable by a key-activated switch.