CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/636,494 filed on Feb. 28, 2018 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/759,983 filed on Nov. 12, 2018, the entire content of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD The present application relates generally to a variable height desk. More specifically, the present application relates to a desk which may be manually actuated to move between a sitting configuration, a standing configuration, and various height configurations therebetween.
BACKGROUND Current school desks are stationary and allow only a sitting position. School activities, including group activities, lab exercises, experiments, etc. may require a student to move between the desk and a standing or higher table to perform the activity. Furthermore, students sit for a significant portion of the day during classroom lectures which may have negative health impacts. Thus, a need exists for a school desk which may be moved between various height configurations by the student as needed.
SUMMARY According to an embodiment, a desk includes a desktop; a lever coupled to a lower surface of the desktop; a leg coupled to the lower surface and including an inner leg telescopically moveable with respect to an outer leg; and a pin extending through an aperture in the outer leg and coupled to the lever with a linkage system. The lever is configured to retract the pin into the inner leg or outer leg allowing the desktop to move between a first height and a second height.
According to an embodiment, the linkage system includes a rod coupled to the lever; a cable coupled at a first end to the rod and at a second end to the pin, wherein pressing the lever rotates the rod to lift the cable and retract the pin.
According to an embodiment, the cable is coupled at the second end to the pin via an actuating member and a cantilever bar.
According to an embodiment, upward movement of the cable within the leg retracts the actuating member and pin into the leg, the retracting permitting movement between the first height and the second height.
According to an embodiment, the actuating member retracts against the force of a biasing member.
According to an embodiment, a biasing member biases the pin into the aperture.
According to an embodiment, a biasing member within the outer leg, the biasing member configured to bias the desktop to an upward position.
According to an embodiment, the lever is coupled to a second linkage system coupled to a second pin in a second inner leg and a second outer leg, and wherein pressing the lever retracts the second pin.
According to an embodiment, a second lever coupled to a third linkage system coupled to a third pin in a third inner leg and a third outer leg, the second lever coupled to a fourth linkage system coupled to a fourth pin in a fourth inner leg and a fourth outer leg, and wherein pressing the second lever retracts the third pin and retracts the fourth pin.
According to an embodiment, the lever and the second lever are configured to be pressed simultaneously to move the desktop between the first height and the second height.
According to an embodiment, an elastic member located in the leg, the elastic member adapted to bias the inner leg and outer leg away from one another.
According to an embodiment, a second lever coupled to a second linkage system, the second linkage system coupled to a second pin in a second inner leg and a second outer leg, wherein pressing the second lever retracts the second pin.
According to an embodiment, the lever and the second lever are configured to be pressed simultaneously to move the desktop between the first height and the second height.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing aspects and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings, wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a standing desk, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a leg of the standing desk of FIG. 1A, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2A is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a leg of the standing desk of FIG. 1A in a first position, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a leg of the standing desk of FIG. 1A in a second position, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3A is a partial cross-sectional view of a standing desk, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3B is a perspective view of elastic members for use with the standing desk of FIGS. 1A and 3A, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a standing desk, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a standing desk, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the standing desk of FIG. 5 in a first position, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the standing desk of FIG. 5 in the first position, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the standing desk of FIG. 5 in a second position, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a partial bottom view of the standing desk of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a partial bottom view of the standing desk of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of a leg of the standing desk of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of a leg and a foot of the standing desk of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of a leg and a foot of the standing desk of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of a leg and a foot of the standing desk of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 15A is a partial bottom view of a lower surface of the desk of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 15B is a partial bottom view of a lower surface of the desk of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 16A is a bottom perspective view of a handle of the desk of FIG. 5, the handle in a first position, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 16B is a bottom perspective view of the handle of the desk of FIG. 16A, the handle in a second position, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a schematic of an actuation system for a standing desk, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the standing desk of FIG. 5 in a raised position, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the standing desk of FIG. 5 in a lowered position, according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other equivalent parts can be employed and other methods developed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a desk (such as a floor-standing desk) which may be manually adjusted from a sitting position to a standing position and various positions therebetween. The desk may be a school desk or standing desk. The desk may have multiple height positions. The desk may be actuated by depressing a lever on one or both sides of the desk to release a latch in the legs of the desk allowing for telescoping movement of an inner leg within an outer leg. The lever(s) may be released to re-engage the latch when the desk is at the desired height location. The legs may be spring-loaded to assist with raising the desktop, and/or to provide resistance when lowering the desktop.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a desk 10 is shown. The desk 10 may have a desktop 12 and four legs 14, although more or fewer legs may be provided. The desk 10 may include a base 16. The base 16 may include one or more elongated members, such as tubular members. The base 16 may be angled upward from a front surface end of the desk 10 to a rear end of the desk 10 such that a user may rest their feet on the base 16. Although the base 16 is depicted as two cross-members intersecting two end members, the base 16 may alternatively be a single member, similar to the desktop 12, extending at an upward angle from the front of the desk 10 to a rear of the desk 10. Alternatively, more or fewer cross-members and/or end members and/or a flat, horizontal base or no base may be provided. In some examples, end members between forward and rear legs may be provided with no cross-members.
With continued reference to FIG. 1A, each leg 14 may comprise an inner leg 14a and an outer leg 14b. The outer leg 14b may have a foot at the base of the leg 14 capable of leveling the desktop 12. The outer leg 14b may have one or more apertures 20 on an inwardly facing surface of the outer leg 14b. Although six apertures are depicted, more or fewer apertures may be provided. The number and location of the apertures may be selected based on the number of desired height positions and corresponding height of those positions. Although depicted on an inwardly facing surface of the outer leg 14b, the apertures may be provided on any surface of the leg 14, the inner leg 14a, and/or the outer leg 14b. The inner leg 14a may be slidingly and telescopically moveable within the outer leg 14b. The inner leg 14a may have a pin 22 (FIG. 1B) that selectively engages one of the one or more apertures 20. The inner leg 14a and the outer leg 14b may be hollow, tubular members.
The desk 10 may have one or more levers 18, for example, located on or attached to an underside of the desktop 12. The one or more levers 18 may be located along an edge of the desktop 12, where the lever 18 can be grasped by a user's hand. The one or more levers 18 may be located along the edge of the desktop 12 between a forward and a rear leg, although other placements are contemplated. The one or more levers 18 may pivot with respect to an underside of the desktop 12. The one or more levers 18 may alternatively slide with respect to the desktop 12. The one or more levers 18 may be handles. Although only one lever 18 is visible in FIG. 1A, a second lever may be provided on an opposing side of the desktop 12.
The lever 18 may be coupled to one or more pins 22 by a linkage system, such as depicted in FIG. 1B or FIG. 17. For example, the lever 18 depicted in FIG. 1A may be coupled to a pin 22 (not shown) of each of the two legs 14 depicted in the foreground of FIG. 1A, that is a forward leg and a rear leg on one side of the desktop 12. The pin 22 may be coupled to an outer surface of the inner leg 14a. Alternatively, the pin 22 may be coupled in an interior of the inner leg 14a. The lever 18 on the opposing side of the desktop 12 (not visible) may be coupled to a pin of each of the two legs 14 depicted in the background of FIG. 1A, that is a forward leg and a rear leg on the other side of the desktop 12. Accordingly, as will be explained in more detail, when the lever 18 shown in FIG. 1A is depressed toward the underside of the desktop 12 by a user (e.g., by pivoting, with a hand, the lever 18 upward toward the desktop 12), the pins in the legs 14 in the foreground will retract and when the lever 18 on the opposing side of the desktop 12 is depressed in a similar manner, the pins in the legs 14 in the background will retract. Retracting the pins 22 allows them to exit the respective apertures 20, permitting adjustment of the height of the desktop 12. The handles or levers 18 may be operated simultaneously to retract all four pins from all four legs at the same time, thus permitting level adjustment of the height of the desktop 12.
Referring to FIG. 1B, the lever 18 (not visible in FIG. 1B) may be coupled to the pin 22 via a linkage rod 24 (FIG. 3A) and a cable 28. The lever 18 may be welded or otherwise fastened to the linkage rod 24. The lever 18 may be fixedly coupled to the linkage rod 24 on an interior side of the linkage rod 24 such that when the lever 18 is pressed or pivoted upward toward a lower surface of the desktop 12, the linkage rod 24 rotates. The linkage rod 24 may extend through an aperture 26 (FIG. 1A) in the inner leg 14a. Referring to briefly to FIG. 3B, the linkage rod 24 may be an elongated member. The linkage rod 24 may include openings (not visible) at each of the opposing, terminal ends of the linkage rod 24. The openings of the linkage rod 24 may be located such that they are within an interior of the inner leg 14a. That is, the linkage rod 24 of the lever 18 in the foreground may extend into the aperture 26 of each of the inner legs 14a depicted in the foreground such that an opening on the linkage rod 24 is within the interior of the inner legs 14a. The linkage rod 24 of the lever on the opposing side may similarly extend into the aperture of each of the inner legs 14a depicted in the background. The cable 28 may be coupled to each of the openings of the linkage rod 24.
Referring to FIGS. 1B, 2A, and 2B, a cable 28 may extend from the coupling at the openings of the linkage 24 through each leg 14 to an actuating member 34. The cable 28 may be coupled to the actuating member 34 at a distal end of the cable 28. The actuating member 34 may be coupled to the pin 22. The actuating member 34 may be a block located within a spring 32. The actuating member 34 may be coupled to a first side (e.g., a side facing the interior of the leg) of a bar 30, such as a cantilever bar. The pin 22 may be coupled to a second, opposing side (e.g., a side facing the interior wall of the leg), of the bar 30. The spring 32 may bias the bar 30 and thus the pin 22 into an aperture 23 of the inner leg 14a. The aperture 23 of the inner leg 14a may be aligned with an aperture 20 of the outer leg 14b. The bar 30 may have an upper end 30a fixedly coupled to the hollow interior of the inner leg 14a. The bar 30 may have a lower end 30b fixedly coupled to the pin 22 and the actuating member 34. The lower end 30b may be unattached to the inner leg 14a. In this manner, the lower end 30b may be retracted by actuation of the lever 18 to retract the pin 22 out of alignment with the apertures 23 and 20 to permit movement and height adjustment of the desktop 12.
Referring to FIGS. 1A, 2A, and 2B, during operation, when the lever 18 is pressed or pivoted upward toward the lower surface of the desktop 12, the linkage rod 24 coupled to the lever 18 may be rotated. Rotation of the linkage rod 24, which is fixedly coupled to the cable 28, may cause lifting, upward motion, or vertical raising of the cable 28 as shown from FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B. The upward motion of the cable 28 may apply tension to the end of the actuating member 34 to which the cable 28 is coupled. The tension on the actuating member 34 may move the actuating member 34 inward and upward within the hollow interior of the inner leg 14a. The inward movement may act against the biasing force of the spring 32. Since the actuating member 34 is coupled to the lower end 30b and to the pin 22, the lower end 30b and pin 22 move inwardly within the hollow interior of the inner leg 14a against the force of the spring 32 with the movement of the actuating member 34. The upper end 30a is a fixed point allowing the lower end 30b to move with respect to the inner leg 14a. Inward movement of the lower end 30b moves the pin 22 out of alignment with the apertures 20 and 23.
Referring to FIG. 2B, at this point, the pin 22 may be located within the interior of the inner leg 14a and may be moved out of alignment with the aperture 20 of the outer leg 14b, permitting the inner leg 14a to telescope within the outer leg 14b. The desktop 12 may be raised or lowered as desired. When the lever 18 is released, the cable 28 may move downward towards the initial position of FIG. 2A. The lowering of the cable 28 may release the tension on the actuating member 34 allowing the spring 32 to bias the pin 22 into the aperture 23 and the corresponding aperture 20 on the outer leg 14. Thus, the spring 32 may normally bias the pin 22 into the apertures 20, 23 such that height adjustment of the desk is not permitted when the lever 18 is in the resting position (e.g., a position where the lever 18 is not depressed or pivoted). Alternatively, the pin 22 may be coupled to an outer surface of the inner leg 14a and there may be a gap between the outer surface of the inner leg 14a and the inner surface of the outer leg 14b such that when the pin 22 is retracted, the pin 22 is located in this gap and allowed to travel longitudinally upward and downward in the gap.
Referring now to FIG. 3A, the outer leg 14b is shown transparent to facilitate understanding of the desk 10. A biasing member 36 is depicted within the outer leg 14b. The biasing member 36 may be adjacent to and/or coupled to the distal, lower surface of the inner leg 14a. The biasing member 36 may bias the inner leg 14a upward. When the pin 22 is out of alignment with an aperture 20, the biasing member 36 may bias the inner leg 14a upward. Thus, the desktop 12 may be biased toward a raised position. When the pin 22 is in alignment with the aperture 20, it may be prevent the bias of the spring or biasing member 36 from extending the desktop 12 upward. Referring to FIG. 3B, the biasing member 36 may be a coil spring, compression spring, gas spring, elastomeric bumper, or other spring type.
With the components described, and with reference to FIGS. 1-3, operation of the desk 10 may be understood. The desk 10 may be placed with the pin 22 located in a first aperture 20 corresponding to a first height. A user may wish to move the desk 10 to a different height configuration, such as a second height. The user may place a hand on the desktop 12 and grasping each of the two opposing levers 18. In one example, the user may put a thumb on the desktop 12 and grasp the lever 18 with one or more of the remaining fingers. The user may the pivot or depress the lever 18 toward the thumb and the desktop 12. The user may depress both of the levers 18 simultaneously toward a lower surface of the desktop 12. As previously described, this will cause the linkage rod 24 to rotate, causing the cable 28 to lift, pulling or moving the actuating member 34 and pins 22 inward (each lever 18 will move the two pins 22 of the adjacent two legs 14). Once the pins 22 are moved inward, they may be out of alignment with the aperture 20 corresponding to the first, original height configuration. If the second height configuration is to be taller than the first height configuration, the user may guide the desktop 12 (while depressing the levers 18) upward until the pin 22 is aligned with a second, higher aperture 20. The biasing or return force of the biasing member 36 may alleviate the force required to lift the desktop 12 to the higher position, thus assisting the user in raising the desktop 12 to the taller position. The user may then release the levers 18 such that the spring 32 biases the pin 22 to extend through the second aperture 20. If the second height configuration is to be lower than the first height configuration, the user may push on the desktop 12, against the force of the biasing member 36 and with the levers 18 depressed, until the desktop 12 is lowered and the pin 22 is aligned with a second, lower aperture 20. The user may then release the levers 18 such that the spring 32 biases the pin 22 to extend through the second aperture 20.
The desk 10 may be raised or lowered at any time by the user simply by pressing the levers 18. The number and position of the apertures 20 on the legs 14 may be selected to allow for any number of heights of the desktop 12. The heights may range between a sitting height, where the user may sit at the desk 10 and a standing height, where the user may stand at the desk 10. Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 4, a desk 50 may be provided with only two legs 52. With only two legs 52, each lever 54 may be coupled to only a single cable (not visible) and a single pin extending through an aperture in a an outer leg 52b. The desk 50 may operate in substantially the same manner as the desk 10, except that the levers 54 operate a pin associated with a single leg. Although the apertures are shown on the exterior surface of the outer leg 52b, the apertures may be provided on the interior surface facing the other leg, such as described with respect to the desk 10 of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 5, a desk 100 is shown. The desk 100 may have a desktop 112 and two legs 114, although more or fewer legs may be provided. The legs 114 may include one or more feet 116. The feet 116 may rest on a ground surface. A member 117 may couple a first leg 114 to a second leg 114. The member 117 may be horizontal, lateral, or angled. More or fewer members 117 may be provided. Additionally, or alternatively, a foot rest, such as shown in FIG. 1, may be provided.
With reference to FIGS. 5-7, each leg 114 may comprise an inner leg 114a and an outer leg 114b. The outer leg 114b may be coupled to the foot 116 at the base of the leg 114. The foot 116 may allow for leveling the desktop 112. The outer leg 114b may have one or more apertures 120 on an inwardly facing surface of the outer leg 114b. Although fifteen apertures 120 are depicted on each of the outer legs 114b, more or fewer apertures may be provided. The number and location of the apertures 120 may be selected based on the number of desired height positions and corresponding height of those positions. The inner leg 114a may be slidingly and telescopically moveable within the outer leg 114b. The inner leg 114a may have a pin 122 that selectively engages one of the one or more apertures 120. The inner leg 114a and the outer leg 114b may be hollow, tubular members. Operation of the height adjustment of the table may be the same or similar as the desks 10 and 50, as will be described.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show the desk 100 in a collapsed, un-assembled position. The legs 114 may be in a collapsed or pivoted position. In this position, the legs 114 may be substantially parallel to the desktop 12. The feet 116 may be provided in a position where they are not coupled to the legs 114. One or more tools 127 may be provided to assemble the desk 100. One or more fasteners 133 may be provided to couple the feet 116 to the legs 114 and/or to couple other portions of the desk 100 together.
Referring to FIG. 8, the desk 100 may have one or more levers 118, for example, located on an underside 119 of the desktop 112 along an edge of the desktop 112, where the lever 118 can be grasped by a user's hand. Although two levers 118 are shown, more or fewer may be provided. The lever 118 may be coupled to the one or more pins 122 by the linkage system depicted in FIG. 1B or FIG. 17. For example, the lever 118 depicted in FIG. 8 may be coupled to a pin 122 of a respective leg 114. The pin 122 may be coupled to an outer surface of the inner leg 114a. Alternatively, the pin 122 may be coupled in an interior of the inner leg 114a. The second lever on the opposing side of the underside 119 of the desktop 112 may be coupled to the pin 122 of the second leg 114. The lever 118 may be coupled to the pin 122 on the same side of the desktop 112 as the lever 118, or on the opposing side of the desktop 112 as the lever 118. Alternatively, a single lever 118 may be provided and may be coupled to a pin in each of the legs 114.
Accordingly, as will be explained in more detail, when the lever 118 in the foreground is depressed or pivoted toward the underside 119 of the desktop 112 by a user, the pin 122 in the leg 114 in the foreground will retract and when the lever 118 on the opposing side of the desktop 112 is depressed in a similar manner, the pin 122 in the leg 114 in the background will retract. Depressing or pivoting the levers 118 may be performed simultaneously to allow for height adjustment of the desktop 112. Retracting the pins 122 allows the pins 122 to exit the respective apertures 120, permitting adjustment of the height of the desktop 112. Retracting of the pins 122 by the levers 118 may be accomplished as previously described by the linkage system in FIG. 1B or FIG. 17.
The underside 119 of the desktop 112 may have one or more brackets 121. The brackets 121 may be affixed or secured to the underside 119 of the desktop 112. The brackets 121 may be removably or permanently fixed to the underside 119 of the desktop 112. The brackets 121 may couple a respective leg 114 to the underside 119 of the desktop 112. The inner leg 114a may be coupled to the bracket 121 and the outer leg 114b may be coupled to the foot 116. In this manner, the desktop 112 may move with the inner leg 114a upward and downward with respect to the foot or feet 116. The inner leg 114a may be coupled to the bracket 121 in a manner which permits folding or rotating of the leg 114 with respect to the underside 119 of the desktop 112. For example, the inner leg 114a may be coupled to the bracket 121 in a manner which permits rotation between the position of FIG. 8 and the position of FIG. 7. The one or more levers 118 may be coupled to the bracket 121. Each lever 118 may be coupled to a linkage rod 124. The linkage rod 124 may in turn be coupled to a cable 128 (FIG. 17). Rotation of the lever 118 may rotate the linkage rod 124 and lift the cable 128. The linkage rod 124 and the cable 128 may be coupled together in the same or similar manner as linkage rod 24 and cable 28, as previously described.
FIG. 9 shows a partial view of the bracket 121 as coupled to the inner leg 114a of the leg 114. One or more fasteners 125 may couple the inner leg 114a to the bracket 121. Referring to FIG. 10, the tool 127 (e.g., a screw driver, hex key, etc.) may be used to secure the fastener 125, thus securing the bracket 121 to the inner leg 114a. The legs 114 may rotate between a position parallel to the desktop 112 and/or aligned with the brackets 121 (FIG. 6) and a position perpendicular to the desktop 112 (FIG. 8). Thus, the desk 100 may be moved between a stored position and a deployed position. The one or more fasteners 125 may be loosened or removed to permit relative rotation or movement of the inner leg 114a, and thus the leg 114, with respect to the bracket 121 and the desktop 112. The one or more fasteners 125 may be secured to prevent relative movement between the inner leg 114a and the bracket 121 to maintain the desktop 112 in either the position of FIG. 6 or the position of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 shows a partial view of an end 114e of the outer leg 114b. The end 114e may have one or more apertures 129. Although not visible in FIG. 11, the second leg 114 may also include one or more apertures. The one or more apertures 129 may accommodate fasteners 133 (FIG. 13) to secure the foot 116 (FIG. 12) to the outer leg 114b. Referring to FIG. 12, the foot 116 may include one or more apertures 131. The foot 116 may be placed on the end 114e of the leg 114 such that each of the one or more apertures 131 align with a respective one of the one or more apertures 129. As shown in FIG. 13, the one or more fasteners 133 may installed within each of the aligned one or more apertures 129 and 131. A tool 127 may secure the one or more fasteners 133 within the aligned apertures. In this manner, the foot 116 may be secured to the outer leg 114b. Referring to FIG. 14, the foot 116 may have one or more pads 137 which may provide protection to the floor and/or may allow for leveling of the desktop 112.
Accordingly, the desk 100 may be stored in the condition of FIG. 6. That is, the desk 100 may be stored with the legs 114 in the lowermost condition such that the inner leg 114a is substantially within the outer leg 114b. The legs 114 may be rotated or pivoted such that the legs 114 are parallel with the desktop 112 and/or the brackets 121. To assemble the table, the desktop 112 may be placed on the floor with the underside 119 facing upward. The legs 114 may be rotated, separately or simultaneously, to the upright position (FIG. 8). The one or more fasteners 125 may be secured such that the inner legs 114a are secured to the bracket 121 and thus the legs 114 remain in the upright position (FIG. 10). The feet 116 may be aligned with the ends 114e of the legs 114 and secured thereto (FIG. 13). The desk 100 may then be rotated such that the feet 116 are placed on the floor and the desktop 112 is facing upward. The desk 100 may then be operated between the raised position (FIG. 18) and lowered position (FIG. 19) and positions therebetween, as will be discussed in more detail. To disassemble the desk, the desk 100 may be rotated such that the desktop 112 is placed on the floor with the underside 119 facing upward. The fasteners may be removed from the feet 116 and the inner leg 114a to disconnect the feet 116 and to allow for rotation of the legs 114 back to the parallel position of FIG. 6 for storage.
FIGS. 15A and 15B show a partial view of one of the desktop 112 with the levers 118 coupled to the bracket 121. As previously described, the lever 118 may include a linkage rod 124. The linkage rod 124 may extend through a first aperture 121a in a first wall 113a and a second aperture 121b in a second wall 113b of the bracket 121. The linkage rod 124 may be coupled to a device 115. The linkage rod 124 may rotate with the lever 118. When the lever 118 is rotated, the linkage rod 124 may rotate, thus moving the device 115 between a first position (FIG. 16A) and a second position (FIG. 16B). The device 115 may be coupled to an inner portion of the cable 128. Movement of the device 115 may pull the cable 128 longitudinally along the bracket 121 and thus upward within the leg 114. This may release the pin 122 from the aperture, as will be described with respect to FIG. 17 and/or described in FIG. 2. The device 115 may secure the cable 128 to the linkage rod 124 in a manner which permits the cable 128 to move with rotation of the linkage rod 124. The device 115 may be c-shaped or claw shaped. The inner portion of the cable 128 may include a securing point, such as an enlarged ball, which is located within the device 115 in a manner which prohibits removal therefrom. For example, FIG. 15B shows a ball 128a on the end of the cable 128 that is located underneath the c-shaped portion of the device 115, thus prohibiting removal of the cable 128 from the device 115. Also shown in FIG. 15B, the outer portion of the cable 128 may be secured to the bracket 121 with a nut or other securing device, to allow relative motion of the inner portion of the cable 128 with respect to the outer portion of the cable 128, thus permitting the aforementioned height adjustment of the desk 100.
Referring to FIGS. 16A, 16B and 17, each lever 118 may be coupled to the pin 122 via a linkage rod 124. The lever 118 may be fixedly coupled to the linkage rod 124 on a side of the linkage rod 124 such that when the lever 118 is pressed or pivoted upward toward the underside 119 (FIG. 16B) of the desktop 112, the linkage rod 124 rotates. The linkage rod 124 may be connected to a cable 128. At a distal end of the cable 128, the cable 128 may be coupled to an actuating member 134 (FIG. 17) that is coupled to the pin 122. The actuating member 134 may be a block located within a spring 132. The actuating member 134 may be coupled to a first side of a bar 130, such as a cantilever bar. The pin 122 may be coupled to a second, opposing side, of the bar 130. The spring 132 may bias the bar 130 and thus the pin 122 into an aperture 123 of the inner leg 114a. The aperture 123 of the inner leg 114a may be aligned with an aperture 120 of the outer leg 114b. The bar 130 may have an upper end 130a fixedly coupled to the hollow interior of the inner leg 114a. The bar 130 may have a lower end 130b fixedly coupled to the pin 122 and the actuating member 134. The lower end 130b may be unattached to the inner leg 114a. Operation of the linkage system may be the same or similar as described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.
During operation, when the lever 118 is pressed or pivoted upward toward the lower surface of the desktop 112 (FIG. 16B), the linkage rod 124 may be rotated thus cause tension in the cable, lifting the cable 128 within the leg 114. The upward motion of the cable 128 applies tension to the end of the actuating member 134 to which the cable 128 is coupled. The tension on the actuating member 134 may move the actuating member 134 inward and upward within the hollow interior of the inner leg 114a. Since the actuating member 134 is coupled to the lower end 130b and to the pin 122, the lower end 130b and pin 122 move inwardly within the hollow interior of the inner leg 114a against the force of the spring 132. The upper end 130a is a fixed point allowing the lower end 30b to move with respect to the inner leg 114a.
At this point, the pin 122 may be located within the interior of the inner leg 114a and may be moved out of alignment with the aperture 120 of the outer leg 114b, permitting the inner leg 114a to telescope within the outer leg 114b. The desktop 112 may be raised (e.g. to FIG. 18) or lowered (e.g. to FIG. 19) as desired. When the lever 118 is released (FIG. 16A), tension in the cable 128 may be released and the cable 128 may move downward towards the initial position. The lowering of the cable 128 may release the tension on the actuating member 134 allowing the spring 132 to bias the pin 122 into the aperture 123 and the corresponding aperture 120 on the outer leg 114. Alternatively, the pin 122 may be coupled to an outer surface of the inner leg 114a and there may be a gap between the outer surface of the inner leg 114a and the inner surface of the outer leg 114b such that when the pin 122 is retracted, the pin 122 is located in this gap and allowed to travel longitudinally upward and downward in the gap.
Not visible, but as described with respect to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a biasing member may be located within the outer leg 114b. The biasing member may be adjacent to and/or coupled to the distal, lower surface of the inner leg 114a. The biasing member may bias the inner leg 114a upward. When the pin 122 is out of alignment with an aperture 120, the biasing member may bias the inner leg 114a upward. The biasing member may be a coil spring, compression spring, gas spring, elastomeric bumper, or other spring type.
With the components described, and with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, operation of the desk 100 is described. The desk 100 may be placed with the pin 122 located in a first aperture 120. A user may wish to move the desk 100 to a different height configuration. The user may place a hand on each side of the desktop 112 and grasp each of the two opposing levers 118. The user may depress or pivot the levers 118 toward the underside 119 of the desktop 112. As previously described, this will move the pins 122 of the respective leg 114 inward. Once the pins 122 are moved inward, the pins 122 may be moved out of alignment with the aperture 120 of the first, original height configuration. If the second height configuration is to be taller (e.g. a raised position such as FIG. 18) than the first height configuration, the user may guide the desktop 112 (while depressing the levers 118) upward until the pin 122 is aligned with a second, higher aperture 120. The biasing or return force of the biasing member located within the leg 114 may alleviate the force required to lift the desktop 112 to the higher position. The user may then release the levers 118 such that the pin 122 extends through the second aperture 120. If the second height configuration is to be lower (e.g. a lowered position such as FIG. 19) than the first height configuration, the user may push on the desktop 112, against the force of the biasing member located within the leg 114 and with the levers 118 depressed, until the desktop 112 is lowered and the pin 122 is aligned with a second, lower aperture 120. The user may then release the levers 118 such that the pin 122 extends through the second aperture 120. The levers 118 may operate each leg 114 independently of the other leg 114. Alternatively, operation of both levers 118 may be required to operate the legs. Alternatively, the levers 118 and/or legs 114 may operate simultaneously. The desk 10 and/or 50 may operate in a similar or the same manner.
As described the levers 18 and 118 are moved or rotated to a position toward the underside of the desktop 12, 112 respectively to allow for unlocking or unsecuring the desktop 12, 112 with respect to the legs 14, 114. The levers 18 are shown rotating or moving toward to the two lateral sides or edges of the desktop 12 and the levers 118 are shown rotating or moving toward the front side or edge of the desktop 112. Although, the levers 18, 118 may be rotated in any direction, toward the front, toward one or more lateral sides, and/or toward the rear of the desktop.
Although described as a desk, it may be appreciated that the desks 10, 100 may be a school desk, such as an elementary, middle, or high school desk, or other table types. The desks 10, 100 are depicted and described as a rectangular desk, however, it will be appreciated based on this disclosure that the table may take any shape, for example, the table may be square, elongated, oval, elliptical, circular, polygonal, or any other shape. The legs 14, 114 may comprise any material capable of supporting the desktop such as wood, plastic, metal, composite, etc. The desktop may comprise, for example, wood, plastic, metal, composite, laminate, stone, marble, concrete, glass, or other known materials.
The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
