Table height adjustment system and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020367641-A1
Application number	US-202016988889-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 10, 2020
Priority date	Jun 4, 2018
Publication date	Nov 26, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A table arrangement includes a height adjustment mechanisms for movement of one or more height adjustable tabletops. When more than one tabletop is present, each of the tabletops can be independently moveable. Embodiments of the table arrangement can be configured so that a user can manipulate an actuation mechanism to have the tabletop automatically moved to a pre-selected position without the user having to manually control the actuation mechanism to cause the tabletop to move to that pre-selected position.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A table arrangement comprising:
an actuator connectable to a tabletop, the actuator having an actuator member attached to the tabletop, the actuator member comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, an input mechanism being connected to the actuator member, the tabletop connected to a height adjustment system configured to vertically adjust a position of the tabletop between a first bottom position and a second top position; and a controller connected to the actuator, the controller having a processor connected to a non-transitory computer readable medium, the controller configured to store values corresponding to a first sitting position of the tabletop and a second standing position of the tabletop in the non-transitory computer readable medium so that, in response to a first input provided via motion or touching of the actuator member, the controller communicates with the height adjustment system to cause motion of the tabletop to automatically move to a height corresponding to the first sitting position of the tabletop and, in response to a second input via motion or touching of the actuator member, the controller communicates with the height adjustment system to cause motion of the tabletop to automatically move to a height corresponding to the second standing position of the tabletop.

22 . The table arrangement of claim 21 , wherein the second standing position is a vertically higher position than the first sitting position.

23 . The table arrangement of claim 21 , wherein:
the first input is provided via successive downward movements of the actuator member that occur within a pre-selected tap time period; and the second input is provided via successive upward movements of the actuator member that occur within a pre-selected tap time period.

24 . The table arrangement of claim 23 , wherein the controller is also configured to store a maximum position and a minimum position in the non-transitory computer readable medium to limit motion of the tabletop via the input mechanism.

25 . The table arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the actuator member has a first surface and the second side of the actuator member has a second surface and the input mechanism includes a first button recessed within the second surface and/or a second button positioned on the second surface, and the controller is also configured to store a maximum position and a minimum position in the non-transitory computer readable medium to limit motion of the tabletop via a storage process such that:
a desired minimum height position is stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium in response to one of:
(i) actuating the first button of the actuator and subsequently contacting the second surface of the actuator member within a pre-selected storage time after the first button is actuated to store a current height of the tabletop as a minimum height position in non-transitory computer readable medium, the tabletop being stationary while the actuator member is contacted during the pre-selected storage time period;
(ii) contacting the second button of the actuator and then holding the actuator member in a downward position while the second button is pressed for a minimum setting period of time to store a current position of the tabletop as a minimum height position for the tabletop in non-transitory computer readable medium; and
a desired maximum height position is stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium in response to one of:

(a) pressing the second button of the actuator and then holding the actuator member in an upward position while the second button is pressed for a maximum setting period of time to store a current position of the tabletop as a maximum height position for the tabletop in the non-transitory computer readable medium of the controller, and
(b) actuating the first button of the actuator and subsequently contacting the first surface of the actuator member within a pre-selected storage time after the first button is actuated to store a current height of the tabletop as a maximum height position in the non-transitory computer readable medium of the controller, the tabletop being stationary while the actuator member is contacted during the pre-selected storage time period.

26 . A method of adjusting a position of a tabletop comprising:
manipulating a first surface of an actuator member that is attached to the tabletop such that the actuator member extends from the tabletop, the manipulating of the first surface of the actuator member actuating a height adjustment system connected to the tabletop for moving the tabletop vertically higher to a standing height position; one of:
(i) contacting a first button positioned adjacent the actuator member while also holding the actuator member in an upward position for a pre-selected time period to store a current height of the tabletop as a programmed standing height position in a non-transitory computer readable medium of a controller connected to the actuator member, the second surface of the actuator member being opposite the first surface of the actuator member, the tabletop being stationary while the first button is contacted and the actuator member is also held in the upward position, and
(ii) actuating the first button and subsequently touching the first surface of the actuator member within a pre-selected storage time after the first button is actuated to store a current height of the tabletop as a programmed standing height position in a non-transitory computer readable medium of a controller connected to the actuator member, the tabletop being stationary while the actuator member is touched during the pre-selected storage time period;
moving the actuator member downwardly or touching the second surface of the actuator member to actuate the height adjustment system connected to the tabletop for moving the tabletop vertically lower to a sitting position; one of:
(a) contacting the first button while also holding the actuator member in a downward position for a pre-selected time period to store a current height of the tabletop as a programmed sitting height position in the memory, the tabletop being stationary while the first button is pressed and the actuator member is also held in the downward position, and
(b) actuating the first button and subsequently touching the second surface of the actuator member within a pre-selected storage time after the first button is actuated to store a current height of the tabletop as a programmed sitting height position in non-transitory memory of a controller connected to the actuator member, the tabletop being stationary while the actuator member is touched during the pre-selected storage time period;
multiple tapping the actuator member upwardly or multiple tapping the first surface of the actuator member to actuate automatic motion of the height adjustment system via the controller to move the tabletop to the standing height position; and multiple tapping the actuator member downward or multiple tapping the second surface of the actuator member to actuated automatic motion of the height adjustment system via the controller to move the tabletop to the sitting height position.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the first button is recessed within the second surface and a second button is positioned on the second surface of the actuator member, the method also comprising:
adjusting the tabletop to a desired minimum height position and subsequently performing one of:
(i) contacting the second button of the actuator and then holding the actuator member in the downward position while the second button is contacted for a minimum setting period of time to store a current position of the tabletop as a

Assignees

• Knoll Inc

Inventors

• Lee Jeffrey P

Classifications

• A47B9/00 Primary

  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

• A47B17/02

  with vertically-adjustable parts · CPC title

• A47B21/02

  with vertical adjustable parts · CPC title

• A47B2009/006

  of two distinct heights, e.g. coffee table - dining table · CPC title

• A47B13/088

  Sectional table tops · CPC title