Height adjustable desk system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9510671-B2
Application number	US-201514883010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Aug 19, 2013
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A height adjustable desk can include a work surface; and at least one leg assembly connected to the work surface. The at least one leg assembly can include: a first member; and a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis; and a counterbalance mechanism connected to the desk and configured to counteract a force exerted on the work surface. The counterbalance mechanism can include: a wheel; a gas spring having a cylinder and a moveable piston; a wheel moveably connected to the gas spring; and the tension member is connected to the leg assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A height adjustable desk comprising:
a work surface; and
at least one leg assembly configured to attach to the work surface, the at least one leg assembly including a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism including:
a first member;

a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis, wherein the second member is configured to form a telescoping assembly;
a pulley assembly including:
a pulley bracket, the pulley bracket having a first end and extending along the longitudinal axis to a second end;
a first wheel rotatably attached near the first end of the pulley bracket;
a second wheel rotatably attached near the second end of the pulley bracket;
a first tension member extending around the first wheel, the first tension member attached to the second member and to the first member; and
a second tension member extending around the second wheel, the second tension member attached to the second member and to the first member; and
a counterbalance mechanism configured to counteract a force exerted on the lift mechanism, the counterbalance mechanism including:
a gas spring having a cylinder and a moveable piston slidably attached to the cylinder, wherein the cylinder is coupled to one of the first member, and the pulley bracket, and wherein the moveable piston has a piston end coupled to another one of the first member, and the pulley bracket.

2. The height adjustable desk of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder extends from a closed end to the piston end, the closed end being coupled to the first member.

3. The height adjustable desk of claim 1 , comprising:
a base, wherein the second member is attached to the base, wherein the cylinder is coupled to the first member, and wherein the worksurface is attached to the first member.

4. The height adjustable desk of claim 1 , comprising:
a base, wherein the first member is attached to the base, wherein the cylinder is coupled to the first member, and wherein the worksurface is attached to the second member.

5. The height adjustable desk of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder extends from a closed end to a piston end, the closed end being coupled to the second member.

6. A height adjustable desk comprising:
a work surface; and
at least one leg assembly configured to attach to the work surface, the at least one leg assembly including a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism including:
a first member;
a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis;
a third member moveable relative to the second member along the longitudinal axis;
a synchronization assembly configured to balance movement between the first and second members with movement between the second and third members, wherein the synchronization assembly includes a first pulley wheel moveably connected to a first end of the second member and a second pulley wheel moveably connected to the second end of the second member; and
a counterbalance mechanism configured to counteract a force exerted on the lift mechanism, the counterbalance mechanism including:
a gas spring having a cylinder and a moveable piston slidably attached to the cylinder.

7. The height adjustable desk of claim 6 , wherein the cylinder is coupled to one of the first member, the second member, and the third member, and wherein the moveable piston has a piston end coupled to another one of the first member, the second member, and the third member.

8. A height adjustable desk comprising:
a work surface; and
at least one leg assembly configured to attach to the work surface, the at least one leg assembly including a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism including:
a first member;

a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis;
a third member moveable relative to the second member along the longitudinal axis;
a synchronization assembly configured to balance movement between the first and second members with movement between the second and third members, wherein the synchronization assembly includes a first pulley wheel moveably connected to a first end of the second member and a second pulley wheel moveably connected to a second end of the second member; and
a counterbalance mechanism configured to counteract a force exerted on the lift mechanism, the counterbalance mechanism including:
a gas spring having a cylinder and a moveable piston slidably attached to the cylinder, the cylinder coupled to the lift mechanism;

a counterbalance pulley wheel rotatingly coupled to the gas spring; and
a tension member coupled to the first member and the second member and extending around the counterbalance pulley wheel.

9. The height adjustable desk of claim 8 , wherein the cylinder is coupled to one of the first member, the second member, and the third member.

10. The height adjustable desk of claim 8 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the gas spring.

11. The height adjustable desk of claim 8 , wherein the second member is configured to fit inside the first member and the third member is configured to fit inside the second member and form a telescoping assembly.

12. The height adjustable desk of claim 8 , wherein the first member is configured to fit inside the second member and the second member is configured to fit inside the third member and form a telescoping assembly.

13. The height adjustable desk of claim 6 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the gas spring.

14. The height adjustable desk of claim 6 , wherein the second member is configured to fit inside the first member and the third member is configured to fit inside the second member and form a telescoping assembly.

15. The height adjustable desk of claim 6 , wherein the first member is configured to fit inside the second member and the second member is configured to fit inside the third member and form a telescoping assembly.

16. The height adjustable desk of claim 1 , wherein the first tension member and the second tension member are portions of a single tension member.

17. The height adjustable desk of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the gas spring.

18. A height adjustable desk comprising:
a work surface; and
at least one leg assembly configured to attach to the work surface, the at least one leg assembly including a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism including:
a first member;

a second member moveable relative to the first member along a longitudinal axis, wherein the second member is configured to form a telescoping assembly;
a pulley assembly including:
a pulley bracket, the pulley bracket having a first end and extending along the longitudinal axis to a second end;
a first wheel rotatably attached near the first end of the pulley bracket;
a second wheel rotatably attached near the second end of the pulley bracket;
a first tension member extending around the first wheel, the first tension member attached to the second member and to the first member; and
a second tension member extending around the second wheel, the second tension member attached to the second member and to the first member; and
a counterbalance mechanism configured to counteract a force exerted on the lift mechanism, the counterbalance mechanism including:
a gas spring having a cylinder and a moveable piston slidably attached to the cylinder, wherein the cylinder is attached to one of the first member, and the pulley bracket, and wherein the moveable piston has a piston end attached to another one of the first member, and the pulley bracket.

Assignees

• Ergotron Inc

Inventors

• Ergun Mustafa A
• Fluhrer Robert William
• Trish Scott
• Mensing Jeffrey Randall

Classifications

• A47B21/02

  with vertical adjustable parts · CPC title

• A47B9/20

  Telescopic guides · CPC title

• A47B9/10

  with vertically-acting fluid cylinder · CPC title

• A47B9/02 Primary

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

• A47B9/12

  with flexible height-adjusting means, e.g. rope, chain · CPC title