Height adjustable platforms and associated mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10646033-B2
Application number	US-201916290840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2019
Priority date	Mar 2, 2018
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A mobile workstation can include a head unit assembly. A worksurface can be coupled to the head unit assembly and configured to translate with respect to the head unit assembly between an open configuration and a closed configuration. A glide can be rotatably coupled to the head unit assembly and engaged with the worksurface. The glide can include a latch configured to translate with respect to a glide body of the glide. The mobile workstation can include a worksurface opening mechanism having a locking configuration and an unlocking configuration. The worksurface opening mechanism can include a latch release handle moveably coupled to the head unit assembly. Movement of the latch release handle can transition the worksurface opening mechanism between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration. A release assembly can selectively engage with the first latch. A lift system can bias the worksurface away from the head unit assembly.

First claim

The claimed invention is:

1. A mobile workstation, comprising:
a height adjustable riser;
a head unit assembly coupled to the riser;
a worksurface coupled to the head unit assembly and configured to translate with respect to the head unit assembly between an open configuration and a closed configuration;
a first glide rotatably coupled to the head unit assembly and engaged with the worksurface, wherein the first glide includes a first latch configured to translate with respect to a first glide body of the first glide; and
a worksurface opening mechanism having a locking configuration and an unlocking configuration, the worksurface opening mechanism including:
a latch release handle moveably coupled to the head unit assembly, wherein movement of the latch release handle is configured to transition the worksurface opening mechanism between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration;
a release assembly coupled to the latch release handle and configured to selectively engage with the first latch;
a lift system configured to bias the worksurface away from the head unit assembly; and
a catch configured to engage with the first latch to restrain the first glide and maintain the worksurface in the closed configuration.

2. The mobile workstation of claim 1 , wherein the worksurface is received in a worksurface channel of the first glide, and further comprising an ejection assembly including:
an ejection sled slidingly coupled with the first glide, the ejection sled including an ejection tab extending into the worksurface channel; and
an ejection spring configured to bias the ejection sled in a first direction,
wherein the ejection sled engages with the worksurface and biases the worksurface in the first direction.

3. The mobile workstation of claim 2 , wherein the ejection tab extends into the worksurface channel through a slot, and the slot extends a first distance along a length of the worksurface channel.

4. The mobile workstation of claim 3 , wherein the ejection tab is configured to engage with a wall of the slot, and the engagement of the ejection tab with the wall of the slot prevents translation of the ejection tab with respect to the first glide.

5. The mobile workstation of claim 2 , further comprising an angled bracket coupled with a portion of the worksurface and configured to engage with the head unit assembly, wherein the engagement of the angled bracket with the head unit assembly displaces the worksurface in a second direction.

6. The mobile workstation of claim 2 , wherein the ejection assembly is located proximate to a hinge.

7. The mobile workstation of claim 1 , wherein the work surface opening mechanism includes:
a shaft coupled with the latch release handle and rotatingly coupled with the head unit;
a lobe coupled to the shaft, wherein movement of the latch release handle rotates the shaft and displaces the lobe; and
a push rod slidingly engaged with the head unit and configured to engage with the latch, wherein the lobe is engaged with push rod and displacement of the lobe translates the push rod with respect to the head unit,
wherein translation of the push rod with respect to the head unit selectively engages the push rod with the latch to translate the latch with respect to the first glide and allows the latch to disengage from the catch.

8. The mobile workstation of claim 7 , further comprising a guide bracket coupled with the head unit assembly and sized and shaped to receive the push rod.

9. The mobile workstation of claim 1 , wherein the worksurface is slidingly coupled with the first glide, and the work surface is removable from the first glide.

10. The mobile workstation of claim 1 , wherein the lift system includes:
a plunger configured to engage with the first glide;
a biasing member located between the head unit assembly and the plunger and configured to bias the plunger in a first direction;
wherein engagement of the plunger with the first glide biases the first glide in the first direction.

11. The mobile workstation of claim 1 , wherein the worksurface is configured to be received in a worksurface channel of the first glide, and further comprising an ejection assembly including:
an ejection sled slidingly coupled with the first glide the ejection sled including an ejection tab extending into the worksurface channel; and
an ejection spring configured to bias the ejection sled in a first direction,
wherein the ejection sled is configured to engage with the worksurface and bias the worksurface in the first direction.

12. The mobile workstation of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second glide rotatably coupled to the head unit assembly and engaged with the worksurface, wherein the second glide includes a second latch configured to translate with respect to the second glide, and
wherein the release assembly is configured to selectively engage with the second latch.

13. The mobile workstation of claim 1 , further comprising a storage compartment configured to receive one or more electronic devices.

14. The mobile workstation of claim 1 , wherein a hinge is located proximate to an end of the first glide.

15. A worksurface opening mechanism for a mobile workstation, comprising:
a support bracket;
a latch release handle moveably coupled to the support bracket; wherein movement of the latch release handle is configured to translate the worksurface opening mechanism between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration;
a release assembly coupled to the latch release handle and configured to selectively engage with a latch;
a lift system configured to bias a first glide away from the support bracket; and
a catch configured to engage with the latch to restrain the glide and maintain the worksurface in a closed configuration.

16. The worksurface opening mechanism of claim 15 , further comprising:
a shaft coupled with the latch release handle and rotatingly coupled with the support bracket;
a first lobe coupled to the shaft, wherein movement of the latch release handle rotates the shaft and displaces the first lobe; and
a first push rod slidingly engaged with the support bracket and configured to engage with the latch, wherein the first lobe is engaged with first push rod and displacement of the first lobe translates the first push rod with respect to the support bracket,
wherein translation of the first push rod with respect to the support bracket is configured to selectively engage the first push rod with the latch to translate the latch to disengage the first latch from the catch.

17. The worksurface opening mechanism of claim 16 , wherein the latch is a first latch and the catch is a first catch, and further comprising:
a second lobe coupled to the shaft, wherein movement of the latch release handle rotates the shaft and displaces the second lobe; and
a second push rod slidingly engaged with the support bracket and configured to engage with the second latch, wherein the second lobe is engaged with the second push rod and displacement of the second lobe translates the second push rod with respect to the support bracket,
wherein translation of second first push rod with respect to the support bracket is configured to selectively engage the second push rod with a second latch to translate the second latch to disengage the second latch from a second catch.

18. The worksurface opening mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the lift system includes:
a first plunger configured to engage with the first glide;
a first biasing member located between a first lift housing and the first p

Assignees

• Ergotron Inc

Inventors

• Lindblad Shaun Christopher
• Mensing Jeffrey Randall
• Runger George Charles Willard

Classifications

• F16M2200/048

  for balancing translational movement of the undercarriage · CPC title

• A47B21/04

  characterised by means for holding or fastening typewriters or computer equipment · CPC title

• F16M11/24

  changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, {e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other}(F16M11/42 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47B9/02 Primary

  with balancing device, e.g. by springs, by weight · CPC title

• A47B3/00

  Folding or stowable tables (folded and suspended or hinged, or wall tables A47B5/04) · CPC title