Adjustable height desk having a deployable floor mat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11006744-B2
Application number	US-201916570719-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2019
Priority date	Jul 20, 2012
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

A desk includes a tabletop and at least one base member supporting the tabletop. A footrest is disposed on the at least one base member beneath the tabletop. The footrest is movable between a stowed position toward a back of the desk and a deployed position toward a front of the desk. At least one mechanism is disposed on the at least one base member and operatively coupled to the footrest. The at least one mechanism moving the footrest between the stowed and deployed positions. A floor mat is disposed with the footrest. The floor mat is movable with the footrest between a stowed mat position and a deployed mat position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A desk, comprising:
a tabletop;
at least one base member supporting the tabletop, the at least one base member being slidably movable between a sitting position and a maximum standing position;
a footrest coupled to the base member, the footrest rotatable relative to the base member between a stowed, substantially vertical, position and a deployed, substantially horizontal, position, the footrest being biased towards the stowed position by a weight of the footrest; and
a flexible tension member coupled to the at least one base member and operatively coupled to the footrest, the flexible tension member rotating the footrest from the stowed position to the deployed position and having a substantially constant length as the base member moves between the sitting position and the maximum standing position.

2. The desk of claim 1 , comprising two spaced base members.

3. The desk of claim 2 , wherein the footrest is disposed between the two spaced base members.

4. The desk of claim 1 , wherein the footrest comprises at least one leg extending therefrom.

5. The desk of claim 1 , wherein the footrest is coupled to the base member by at least one arm.

6. The desk of claim 1 , wherein the base member moves telescopically.

7. A desk, comprising:
at least one base member having a support movable vertically relative to the at least one base member;
a tabletop supported on the support above the at least one base member, the tabletop being movable with the support between a sitting position and a maximum standing position;
a footrest assembly disposed on the at least one base member beneath the tabletop, the footrest assembly movable between a stowed position toward a back of the desk and a deployed position toward a front of the desk, the footrest being biased towards the stowed position by a weight of the footrest;
a flexible tension member coupling the footrest to the tabletop, the flexible tension member having a substantially constant length when the tabletop is moved from the sitting position to the maximum standing position; and
at least one mechanism disposed on the at least one base member and operatively coupled to the support, the at least one mechanism moving the support vertically relative to the at least one base member to raise and lower the tabletop relative to the at least one base member.

8. The desk of claim 7 , wherein the flexible tension member is a cord.

9. The desk of claim 7 , wherein the footrest assembly comprises:
two spaced parallel arms, each arm of the two spaced parallel arms being pivotably coupled to the at least one base member; and
a footrest coupled to and disposed between the two spaced parallel arms.

10. The desk of claim 9 , wherein the flexible tension member is coupled to each arm of the two spaced parallel arms such that the footrest rotates to the deployed position when tension is applied to the flexible tension member.

11. The desk of claim 10 , wherein tension is applied to the flexible tension member when the tabletop is moved from the sitting position to the maximum standing position.

12. The desk of claim 10 , wherein tension is relived from the flexible tension member when the tabletop is moved from the maximum standing position to the sitting position.

13. A method of deploying a footrest with an adjustable-height desk, the method comprising:
coupling a base member to a tabletop, the base member having a support that is vertically movable relative to the base member so as to move the tabletop between a sitting position and a maximum standing position;
coupling a footrest assembly to the base member the footrest assembly being rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the footrest being biased towards the stowed position by a weight of the footrest; and
co-actuating the footrest assembly with the tabletop such that, when the tabletop moves from the sitting position to the standing position, the footrest rotates to the deployed position as a result of a constant force applied to the footrest by a flexible tension member, the flexible tension member having a substantially constant length as the tabletop is moved between the sitting position and the maximum standing position.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the footrest assembly comprises a connection bar coupled to and displaced from a footrest.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the footrest rotates around the connection bar.

Assignees

• Texas A & M Univ Sys

Inventors

• Benden Mark E

Classifications

• A47B9/04 Primary

  with vertical spindle · CPC title

• A47B2200/0052

  with two telescopic parts · CPC title

• A47B2200/0097

  Foot rest being part of desk · CPC title

• A47B9/00

  Tables with tops of variable height ({lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02}; seats with variable height A47C3/20) · CPC title

• A47B2200/0053

  Flat lifting device for desks with two telescopic sections · CPC title