Patent Application
20240292944
This disclosure relates to adjustable height desks.
Adjustable height desks allow users to customize workspace and viewing heights to their individual preferences for both standing and sitting.
Adjustable height desk frames disclosed herein include adjustable height legs interconnected with an adjustable fame suitable for mounting different desktops of a range of widths and heights. Examples include two motors, each configured to drive extension and retraction of two separate legs. The motors can operate in unison to maintain a level desktop surface.
In one example, an adjustable desk frame includes a first extendable table leg including a first outer housing, a first inner housing, and a first actuation mechanism to selectively extend and retract the first inner housing relative to the first outer housing, a second extendable table leg including a second outer housing, a second inner housing, and a second actuation mechanism to selectively extend and retract the second inner housing relative to the second outer housing, a motor configured to drive the first actuation mechanism to selectively extend and retract the first inner housing relative to the first outer housing, and a linkage coupling the motor to the second actuation mechanism such that the motor is configured to drive the second actuation mechanism in unison with the first actuation mechanism.
In another example, a kit for an adjustable desk frame includes a first extendable table leg including a first outer housing, a first inner housing, and a first actuation mechanism to selectively extend and retract the first inner housing relative to the first outer housing, a second extendable table leg including a second outer housing, a second inner housing, and a second actuation mechanism to selectively extend and retract the second inner housing relative to the second outer housing, a first motor configured to drive the first actuation mechanism to selectively extend and retract the first inner housing relative to the first outer housing, a first linkage configured to couple the first motor to the second actuation mechanism such that the first motor is configured to drive the second actuation mechanism in unison with the first actuation mechanism, a third extendable table leg including a third outer housing, a third inner housing, and a third actuation mechanism to selectively extend and retract the third inner housing relative to the third outer housing, a fourth extendable table leg including a fourth outer housing, a fourth inner housing, and a fourth actuation mechanism to selectively extend and retract the fourth inner housing relative to the fourth outer housing, a second motor configured to drive the third actuation mechanism to selectively extend and retract the third inner housing relative to the third outer housing, a second linkage coupling the second motor to the fourth actuation mechanism such that the motor is configured to drive the fourth actuation mechanism in unison with the third actuation mechanism, a first crossbar coupling the first outer housing of the first extendable table leg to the second outer housing of the second extendable table leg, and a second crossbar coupling the third outer housing of the third extendable table leg to the fourth outer housing of the fourth extendable table leg.
Adjustable desk frame 100 includes four extendable table legs: two motorized extendable table legs 108, and two adjustable extendable table legs 110. Each extendable table leg 108, 110 includes an outer housing 120, an inner housing 130, and an actuation mechanism 140 to selectively extend and retract the inner housing 130 relative to the outer housing 120. Outer housing 120 includes an optional cap 122 on one end and an open end on the opposite end. Inner housing 130 protrudes out the open end of outer housing 120. Inner housing 130 includes a cap 133 including a threaded hole that adjustably receives the threaded shaft of leg foot 136 (
Extendable table legs 108 include a motor 150 mounted to the outer housing 120 to drive their actuation mechanisms 140. Specifically motor assembly 150 includes a mounting plate 155 which is secured to a corresponding mounting plate 156 on outer housing 120 with screws 157. Mounting plate 156 may be secured to outer housing 120 by any suitable technique such as welding, screws, or rivets.
In contrast to extendable table legs 108, extendable table legs 110 do not include a motor 150. Instead, extendable table legs 110 each include a socket 125 configured to couple to an external drive to drive their actuation mechanism 140 to selectively extend and retract their inner housing 130 relative to their outer housing 120. In the assembled adjustable desk frame 100, linkages 109 couple the motor 150 of an extendable table leg 108 to the actuation mechanism 140 of the adjacent extendable table leg 110 such that the motor 150 is configured to drive the actuation mechanism 140 of the extendable table leg 110 in unison with the actuation mechanism 140 of the extendable table leg 108.
The adjustable desk frame 100 includes two crossbars 172 coupling an extendable table leg 108 to the adjacent extendable table leg 110. The adjustable desk frame 100 further includes two crossbars 174 coupling the outer housing 120 of an extendable table leg 108 to the outer housing 120 of the extendable table leg 110 on the other side of the desk frame. As shown in
The crossbars 172, 174 each include multiple segments that facilitate adjustable spacing between the extendable table legs 108, 110. Linkage 109 is extendable to facilitate driving the second actuation mechanism 140 in unison with the first actuation mechanism 140 at various spacings between the extendable table leg 108 and the extendable table leg 110. In some examples, crossbars 172, 174 may be adjusted to provide a minimum frame size of 33.5 inches by 59 inches, a maximum frame size of 41.5 inches by 110 inches or incremental frame sizes between the minimum and maximum. The various frame sizes are suitable for table top sizes ranging from a minimum size of 36 inches by 60 inches to a maximum size of 60 inches by 130 inches. Other examples are suitable for smaller or larger desktops.
The multiple segments of each crossbar 172 include a tubular short left crossbar 101 and a tubular short right crossbar 103 coupled together with an inner crossbar 102. The inner crossbar 102 fits within the tubular crossbars 101, 103 to facilitate the adjustable spacing. The multiple segments of each crossbar 174 include a long left crossbar 106 and a long right crossbar 104 coupled together three additional crossbar segments: two long middle crossbars 107 and a short middle crossbar 105. The relative positions of crossbars 104, 105, 106, 107 may be selected to facilitate different lengths of crossbar 174. In particular, each long middle crossbar 107 includes a plurality of mounting holes for adjustable attachment to the adjacent long left crossbar 106 or the adjacent the long right crossbar 104. For example, the individual mounting holes may be spaced between 1 and 12 inches apart, such as 8 inches apart. In addition, even smaller lengths of crossbar 174 may be provided by using a single long middle crossbar 107 to connect the long left crossbar 106 to the long right crossbar 104, thereby omitting the short middle crossbar 105 and the other long middle crossbar 107.
Using multiple segments for crossbars 172, 174 allow adjustable desk frame 100 to conform to multiple desktop sizes. In addition, the multiple segments for crossbars 172, 174 reduce overall package dimensions for a kit used to build adjustable desk frame 100. In some examples, a packaging size with a maximum box length of 18 inches may reducing shipping expenses compared to designs requiring larger packaging. In the same or different examples, the components of crossbars 172, 174 may be formed from a thin-walled metal tubes, such as a steel or aluminum tubing. Because the crossbars 172, 174 are mounted to the desktop, lighter weight materials may be utilized.
In the assembled adjustable desk frame 100, linkages 109 couple the motor 150 of an extendable table leg 108 to the actuation mechanism 140 of the adjacent extendable table leg 110 such that the motor 150 is configured to drive the actuation mechanism 140 of the extendable table leg 110 in unison with the actuation mechanism 140 of the extendable table leg 108. The extendable table legs 110 are mechanically equivalent to the extendable legs 108 such the extendable leg 110 extends and retracts in unison with the extendable leg 108 in response to rotation of the motor 150.
The linkage 109 includes a telescopic drive shaft including an outer tube 162 with a central lumen, an inner rod 164 within the central lumen and a fitting 166 configured to selectively fix a position of the inner rod 164 within the central lumen relative to the outer tube 162. In the example of linkage 109, the fitting 166 is a threaded compression fitting 166.
The extendable leg 108 includes a linear actuator 140 including a drive gear 124 coupled to the motor 150, and rotatably fixed relative the outer housing 120, a threaded shaft 142 coupled to the drive gear 124 and extending within the first inner housing 130, and a threaded nut 144 engaged with the threaded shaft 142 and coupled to the inner housing 130 to facilitate the extension and retraction of the inner housing 130 relative to the outer housing 120. The drive gear 124 includes a right angle gear box with an input gear 126 coupled to the motor 150 and an output gear 127 coupled to the threaded shaft 142. A housing of the right angle gear box is coupled to the outer housing 120, e.g., using rivets 123. Outer housing 120 includes an optional cap 122. In some examples, the adjustable desk frame 100 further includes a gear reducer 152 between the motor 150 and the drive gear 127. For example, the gear reducer may include a right angle gear between the motor 150 and the drive gears 124 of the adjustable height legs 108, 110.
As shown in
Next, the assembly process includes securing adjustable desk frame 100 to desktop 210. adjustable desk frame 100 is position upside down on the underside of desktop 210. The width of adjustable desk frame 100 may be adjusted as desired and screws are inserted into left and right short crossbars 101, 103 using a 4 mm Allen wrench. This fixes the spacing of legs 108, 110 in each of the two leg assemblies 190.
Connecting power to adjustable desk frame 100 includes connecting the cord from both adjustable height legs 108 to the two slots on control panel 111. Optional extension cable 112 can be connected to adjustable height legs 108 if extra length is needed to reach control panel 111 Power adapter 113 is connected to control panel 111 and power cable 115 is connected to power adapter 113 and a wall outlet. Cable clips 117 may be used to secure the cables to desktop 210. For example, cable clips 117 may include an adhesive layer with a removable backing to facilitate easy attachment to the underside of desktop 210. In some examples, cable clips 117 may be injected molded components formed from plastic materials.
Control panel 111 includes up and down arrows to raise and lower desktop 210. It also includes memory buttons to allow a user to save and recall preset heights. When raising or lowering desktop 210, control panel 111 delivers simultaneous signals to the two motors 150 such that each of the legs 108, 110 extends and retracts in unison.
The specific techniques for adjustable desk frames, including techniques described with respect to adjustable desk frame 100 and adjustable desk 200, are merely illustrative of the general inventive concepts included in this disclosure as defined by the following claims.
