Height adjustable desktop work surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11033102-B2
Application number	US-201916709228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2019
Priority date	Apr 14, 2014
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

In one example, a height adjustable desktop system is described that can include a work surface, a foot assembly and a linkage assembly that adjustably connects the work surface to the foot assembly allowing vertical adjustment of the work surface. The linkage assembly can include a pair of adjustment assemblies, each having a transverse linkage that maintains the work surface in a horizontal orientation as the work surface is elevated or lowered. A biasing mechanism, such as an extension spring or a torsion spring, biases the work surface toward the elevated position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A height adjustable desktop system, comprising:
a first platform defining an underside and including a glide rod and a support bracket positioned on the underside of the first platform;
a foot assembly including at least one foot bracket;
an adjustment assembly including:
a glider slidable on the glide rod between a first position proximate to a first end of the support bracket and a second position distal to the first end of the support bracket;
a first linkage rotatably connected to the glider and rotatably connected to the foot bracket, wherein the first linkage is rotatable within a first plane;
a second linkage rotatable within a second plane parallel to and offset from the first plane; and
a transverse linkage rotatably connected to the support bracket and rotatably connected to the second linkage;

a handle movably coupled to the underside of the worksurface;
a lock assembly including:
the glide rod;
the glider;
the handle; and
wherein the lock assembly includes an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration:
in the engaged configuration, the lock assembly immobilizes linear translation of the glider with respect to the glide rod and the handle,
in the disengaged configuration, the lock assembly allows the linear translation of the glider with respect to the glide rod and the handle, and
wherein movement of the handle changes the lock assembly between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration; and

wherein the glide rod extends through first and second through-holes of the glider, wherein the first through-hole has a circular profile, and the second through-hole has a non-circular profile.

2. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1 , further comprising a bushing coupled with at least the glider, wherein the bushing provides guidance between the glide rod and the glider during the linear translation of the glider with the lock assembly in the disengaged configuration.

3. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1 , wherein the glide rod includes a plurality of indentations, and wherein:
in the engaged configuration, the glider is engaged with at least one of the plurality of indentations to immobilize the glider with respect to the glide rod and the handle, and
in the disengaged configuration, the glider is disengaged from the plurality of indentations to allow the linear translation of the glider with respect to the glide rod and the handle.

4. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 3 , further comprising a flat edge partially defining the second through-hole, wherein in the engaged configuration the flat edge is engaged with the glide rod to immobilize linear translation of the glider with respect to the glide rod.

5. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured to engage an end of the glide rod and allow a user to rotate the glide rod with respect to the support bracket.

6. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1 , wherein the support bracket defines two opposing bores configured to receive and support the glide rod.

7. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 6 , wherein the first, second and transverse linkages are:
extended when the glider is positioned in the first position to position the first platform at an elevated position, and
collapsed when the glider is positioned in the second position to position the first platform at a lowered position.

8. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1 , further comprising a counterbalance mechanism including a biasing member configured to bias the first platform toward an elevated position.

9. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second platform connected to the first platform; and
wherein the second platform is suspended from the first platform.

10. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment assembly positions the second platform below the bottom surface of the foot assembly in the lowered position and positions the second platform above the bottom surface of the foot assembly in the elevated position.

11. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 1 , wherein the second linkage is rotatable with the first linkage, the second linkage rotatably connected to the glider and rotatably connected to the foot bracket.

12. A height adjustable desktop system, comprising:
a platform defining an underside;
a first glide rod and a first support bracket positioned on the underside of the platform;
a second glide rod and a second support bracket positioned on the underside of the platform;
a foot assembly including at least one foot bracket;
an adjustment assembly including:
a first glider slidable on the first glide rod between a first position proximate to a first end of the support bracket and a second position distal to the first end of the support bracket;
a second glider slidable on the second glide rod;
a first linkage rotatably connected to the first glider and rotatably connected to the foot bracket, wherein the first linkage is rotatable within a first plane;
a second linkage rotatable within a second plane parallel to and offset from the first plane; and
a transverse linkage rotatably connected to the first support bracket and rotatably connected to the second linkage;

a handle movably coupled to the underside of the worksurface;
a lock assembly connected between the handle and the first glider, wherein the lock assembly includes:
the first glide rod;
the first glider;
the handle; and
wherein the lock assembly includes an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration:
in the engaged configuration, the lock assembly immobilizes linear translation of the glider with respect to the glide rod,
in the disengaged configuration, the lock assembly allows the linear translation of the first glider with respect to the first glide rod, and
wherein movement of the handle changes the lock assembly between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration; and
wherein the lock assembly extends through first and second through-holes of the first glider, wherein the first-through-hole has a circular profile, and the second through-hole has a non-circular profile.

13. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 12 , further comprising a flat edge partially defining the second through-hole wherein in the engaged configuration, the flat edge is engaged with the first glide rod to immobilize linear translation of the first glider with respect to the glide rod.

14. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 12 , wherein the first glide rod includes a first planar face and the first glider includes a second planar face opposing the first planar face, the second planar face configured to slidably engage the first planar face as the first glider moves.

15. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 12 , further comprising a bushing wherein the bushing is coupled with at least the first glider, wherein the bushing provides guidance between the first glide rod and the first glider during the linear translation of the first glider with the lock assembly in the disengaged configuration.

16. The height adjustable desktop system of claim 12 , wherein the glide rod includes a plurality of indentations and wherein:
in the engaged configuration, the glider is engaged with at least one of the plurality of indentations to immobilize the glider with respect to the slide rod and the handle, and
in the disengaged configuration, the glider is disengaged from the plurality of indentations to allow the line

Assignees

• Ergotron Inc

Inventors

• Ergun Mustafa A
• Wong Thiem
• Theis John William

Classifications

• A47B9/16 Primary

  with means for, or adapted for, inclining the legs of the table for varying the height of the top, e.g. with adjustable cross legs · CPC title

• A47B13/003

  Connecting table tops to underframes (connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42) · CPC title

• A47B9/18

  with additional top or additional legs for varying the height of the top · CPC title

• A47B2009/185

  being positioned between the table top and the legs or underframe · CPC title

• A47B23/04

  supported from table, floor or wall · CPC title