US 2006/0075941 A1 · Quick crank adjustable height table

Abstract

A table or desk assembly (20) includes a base having a pair of legs (24), a worksurface (22) supported by and between the pair of legs, and a rapid, counterbalanced height adjustment mechanism interposed between the legs and the worksurface for providing adjustment in the elevation of the worksurface. The height adjustment mechanism includes a pair of high lead rotatable threaded rods (32) engaged with a mating stationary threaded member (33) associated with each leg. A handle (36) is engageable with one of the threaded rods for imparting rotation to the threaded rod, and a synchronizing arrangement, such as a sprocket (38) and chain system (40), is interconnected with the other of the threaded rods for rotating the threaded rods together. A lift assist or counterbalancing mechanism applies an upward bias, such as to the worksurface, to counteract the weight of the worksurface and any loads supported by the worksurface. The counterbalancing mechanism may be in the form of a cylinder assembly (54) having a biased retractable and extendible member, which is interconnected with each of the threaded rods via a cable (66) and pulley (68) arrangement. Alternatively, the lift assist or counterbalancing mechanism may be in the form of constant force spring arrangements (76), each of which has an extendible and retractable member. A retainer arrangement (90) is interposed between the crank or handle member (36) and the worksurface, for preventing inadvertent rotation of the threaded rod and thereby maintaining the elevation of the worksurface.

Claims34

Dependent claims

An article of furniture, comprising:

a worksurface;
a base including a pair of extendible and retractable supports interconnected with the worksurface for supporting the worksurface above a supporting surface such as a floor, wherein each support includes a rotatable lead screw arrangement including an elongated lead screw member interconnected with the worksurface and a stationary mating threaded member, wherein rotation of the lead screw members results in extension or retraction of the pair of supports;
and
a biasing arrangement configured to apply an axial upward biasing force to the worksurface so as to assist in rotation of the lead screw members when it is desired to rotate the lead screw members in a direction providing upward movement of the worksurface.

1 more element

A height adjustment mechanism for an article of furniture having a pair of supports, a worksurface, and a transverse member extending between and interconnecting the pair of supports, comprising:

a rotatable threaded member associated with each support, wherein each rotatable threaded member is engaged with a mating stationary threaded member associated with the support and is interconnected with the worksurface, wherein rotation of the rotatable threaded member functions to adjust the elevation of the worksurface;
a biased extendible and retractable member engaged with each rotatable threaded member for applying an upward force on the worksurface, wherein the upward force tends to rotate the rotatable threaded member via engagement of the rotatable threaded member with the stationary threaded member;
and
an actuator arrangement for selectively imparting rotation to a first one of the rotatable threaded members, wherein the actuator arrangement includes a synchronizing mechanism for imparting rotation to a second one of the threaded members upon rotation of the first threaded member, and wherein the actuator arrangement further includes a detent mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the first rotatable threaded member.

1 more element

A method of adjusting the height of a worksurface in an article of furniture having a pair of spaced apart supports and a worksurface extending between and supported by the pair of supports, comprising the steps of:

providing each support with a rotatable threaded member, wherein the rotatable threaded member is interconnected with the worksurface and is threadedly engaged with a stationary threaded member associated with the support;
and
applying an upward bias to the worksurface, wherein the threads of the rotatable threaded member and the threads of the stationary threaded member are configured such that the upward bias on the worksurface imparts a rotational bias on the rotatable threaded member tending to rotate the rotatable threaded member relative to the stationary threaded member so as to assist in raising the worksurface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Quick crank adjustable height table

Life of this patent

Quick crank adjustable height table

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34