Load compensator for height adjustable table

A table assembly comprising:

• a telescoping leg assembly including a plurality of leg members and having upper and lower ends, at least a first upper leg member adapted to slide telescopically with respect to at least a second lower leg member along a substantially vertical extension axis between an extended position and a retracted position;
• the table assembly further including a spring that generates a variable spring force, the spring having first and second ends and mounted to one of the first and second leg members;
• a rotatable cam member supported by the one of the first and second leg members;
• a strand linking the spring and the cam member;
• a support member supported at the upper end of the upper leg member for substantially vertical movement between an upper and a lower position as the leg assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions, respectively;
• and
• a lock adapted to prevent the plurality of leg members from sliding telescopically with respect to one another so that, when engaged, the leg assembly is locked in a position incrementally between the extended and retracted positions;
• and
• wherein, the spring, cam member and strand are operatively linked together and to the leg assembly so that the cam member and spring applying a substantially constant force tending to drive the leg assembly into the extended position, the cam member rotating around an axis as the leg assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions, the rate of cam member rotation changing in a non-linear fashion as the leg assembly moves toward the extended position.

A table assembly comprising:

• a telescoping leg assembly including a plurality of leg members and having upper and lower ends, at least a first upper leg member adapted to slide telescopically with respect to at least a second lower leg member along a substantially vertical extension axis between an extended position and a retracted position;
• the table assembly further including a spring that generates a variable spring force, the spring having first and second ends and mounted to one of the first and second leg members;
• a rotatable cam member supported by the one of the first and second leg members at a height below a lower end of the spring;
• a strand linking the spring and the cam member;
• a support member supported at the upper end of the upper leg member for substantially vertical movement between an upper and a lower position as the leg assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions, respectively;
• a lock adapted to prevent the plurality of leg members from sliding telescopically with respect to one another so that, when engaged, the leg assembly is locked in a position incrementally between the extended and retracted positions, the lock including a spring loaded lever member that is biased by the spring toward a locked position;
• a lock activation cable that extends down at least an upper portion of the first leg member and that links to the lever member;
• and
• an activation lever mounted to an undersurface of the support member that is operably coupled to the activation cable such that when the activation lever is activated, the cable causes the lever member to pivot to an unlocked position;
• and
• wherein, the spring, cam member and strand are operatively linked together and to the leg assembly so that the cam member and spring applying a substantially constant force tending to drive the leg assembly into the extended position, the cam member rotating around an axis as the leg assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions, the rate of cam member rotation changing in a non-linear fashion as the leg assembly moves toward the extended position.