Patent Application
20170196351
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ergonomic workplace environments and more particularly to an adjustable height standing desk that allows a user to work while standing up.
Background of the Invention
Sitting for long periods of time such as during a typical work day has long been associated with decreased wellbeing and overall quality of health. Taking regular breaks from sitting during the workday may have several positive outcomes. For example, standing for periods of time during the workday may provide a worker with more energy and may increase alertness. Standing for periods of time during the work day may also reduce weight and generally increase a worker's overall health.
Despite the known benefits of standing during the workday few office workers are able to stand for significant periods of time because the majority of office and cubical spaces are equipped with conventional height desks that are only suitable for office work when a worker is in a sitting position. Company rules generally prevent workers from removing or replacing their employer supplied desks. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a portable “high” desk that sits on top of a conventional desk. Ideally, such a desk will have an adjustable height range to accommodate workers of varying heights and preferences. Such a desk will allow workers to gain the health and wellbeing benefits available by standing for periods of time during the workday.
The present invention provides an adjustable height, standing desk for use on top of a conventional desk that allows office workers to work while standing during the work day and thereby gain the advantages of breaks from continual sitting for hours at a time. The standing desk of the present invention is readily portable between locations and is designed to allow for the ready replacement and/or repair of component parts, if needed, to enhance serviceability. In general, the standing desk includes a base frame assembly, an intermediate frame assembly and an upper frame assembly, where the upper frame assembly is equipped with a top support surface designed to support typical desktop materials, i.e. books, writing pads, keyboards, display monitors and like materials. The base and intermediate frame assemblies may optionally be equipped with similar base and intermediate support surfaces which may also be used to support desktop materials when the adjustable height, standing desk is in a raised position.
The base, intermediate and upper frame assemblies are generally planar assemblies which are interconnected by opposing scissor lift linkage assemblies which raise and lower the intermediate and upper frame assemblies in relation to the base assembly and maintain the assemblies in a generally parallel relationship relative to each other as the top support surface of the standing desk moves between raised and lowered positions.
In the exemplary embodiment of the standing desk depicted in the figures, the base, intermediate and upper frame assemblies are of generally rectangular configuration having short sides and longs sides with the scissor lift linkage assemblies being installed in the opposing short sides. The scissor lift linkage assemblies on the opposing sides are identical, therefore only one linkage assembly need be described in detail.
The exemplary scissor lift linkage assembly of the standing desk of the present invention, comprises a pair of interconnected lower and upper links, where each pair of links, i.e. upper and lower, is pivotally connected at mid-length. Each link of the upper and lower link pairs has an upper end and a lower end. The lower ends of the lower link pair are pivotally connected to a rail of the base frame assembly. One of the pivotal connections is a fixed connection where the lower end of the link is pinned to the rail, referred to as the base frame fixed pivot connection, and the other is a movable connection where the lower end of the link is connected to a roller that travels within the rail of the base frame assembly, referred to as the base frame movable pivot connection. The provision of a roller significantly reduces the frictional surface contact between the link and the rail of the base frame assembly.
The upper ends of the lower link pair are pivotally connected to lower ends of the upper link pair. One of the upper and lower link pivot connections is fixed to a rail of the intermediate frame assembly, referred to as the intermediate frame fixed pivot connection, and the other pair of upper and lower link connections is connected to a roller which is slidable within the rail in the intermediate frame assembly, referred to as the intermediate frame movable pivot connection.
Similarly, the upper ends of the upper link pair are pivotally connected to a rail of the upper frame assembly. One of the pivot connections is a fixed connection pinned to the rail of the upper frame assembly, referred to the as the upper frame fixed pivot connection, and other pivot connection is connected to roller which slides within the rail of the upper frame assembly, referred to as the upper frame movable pivot connection.
It should be noted that all of the fixed pivot connections are all vertically aligned, i.e. the base frame fixed pivot connection, the intermediate frame fixed pivot and upper frame fixed pivot connection are vertically aligned with each other. The horizontal position of the base, intermediate and upper frame fixed pivot connections does not change as the scissor linkages are used to raise and lower the top support surface. The movable pivots are also vertically aligned with each other, i.e. the base frame movable pivot connection, the intermediate frame movable pivot and upper frame movable pivot connections are vertically aligned with each other. The movable pivot connections however, move (slide) horizontally along the frame rails as the scissor linkages are used to raise and lower the top support surface. During horizontal movement of the base, intermediate and upper frame movable pivot connections, the movable pivot connections remain vertically aligned.
In one embodiment of the standing desk of the present invention, referred to as the “power” version, the scissor lift linkage assemblies are electrically operated. The drive mechanism for raising and lowering the linkage assemblies features ball screw assemblies which are located within the base frame assembly. One of the ball screw assemblies is disposed adjacent and parallel to one of short sides of the base frame assembly and the other of the ball screw assemblies is disposed adjacent and parallel to the opposite short side of the base frame assembly. One of the ball screw assemblies is motor driven by an electric motor. The two ball screw assemblies are synchronized via a chain and gear connection between the two screws.
As is known in the art, ball screw assemblies comprise a screw portion and a nut portion where the nut moves linearly along the length of the rotating screw. Typically clockwise rotation drives the nut forward along the length of the screw and counter-clockwise rotation drives the nut backwards. In the standing desk of the present invention, the nut of each ball screw assembly is connected to one of the opposing scissor lift linkage assemblies. The nuts of the ball screw assemblies are connected to their respective linkage assemblies via a drive arm.
Referring to one of the scissor lift linkage assemblies only, by way of example, each of the opposing linkages being the same, the drive arm is connected to the link of the lower link pair which has its lower end connected to the base frame movable pivot connection (i.e. the roller). The drive arm is rigidly fixed to the lower link, but is pivotally connected to the ball screw assembly nut. The ball screw assembly itself is pivotally mounted to the base frame assembly at one end and is free to move at the other end. Thus, as the screw of the ball screw assembly rotates clockwise (electric motor driven), the nut moves forwardly along the screw shaft while the ball screw assembly itself rotates upwardly as the scissor lift linkage assembly raises the top surface upwardly. Likewise, when the screw of the ball screw assembly is rotated counterclockwise, the nut moves backwardly along the screw shaft while the ball screw assembly itself rotates downwardly as the scissor lift linkage assembly lowers the top surface. As referenced above, both of the ball screw assemblies move in tandem because the assemblies are synchronized via the chain and gear assembly.
In another embodiment of the standing desk of the present invention, referred to as the “manual version,” power apparatus is not used to operate the scissor lift linkage assemblies. Rather, the manual version is equipped with biasing springs between the upper ends of the upper linkage pairs which bias the scissor lift linkage assemblies in a fully raised position. If less than the full height of the standing desk is desired, manual force exerted by a user is used to lower the top surface of the standing desk and a user actuated lock assembly is provided to lock the desk at the desired height. Release of the lock assembly returns the desk to its full extended height. A feature of the design is that the tensions springs are located such that they have an “over-center” position such that compression of the height of the desk to below an over-center height causes the tension springs to hold the standing deck in the fully lowered position.
In other embodiments, the standing desk of the present invention may be equipped with either slide out or clip-on keyboard trays for use with computers, word processors and the like.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled hi the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
The present invention is an adjustable height, standing desk 10 for use on top of a conventional desk or other elevated surface. The standing desk of the present invention 10 allows office workers to work while standing during the work day and thereby gain the advantages of breaks from continual sitting for hours at a time. The standing desk 10 is readily portable between locations and can be taken from job to job by a worker.
With reference to
The base frame assembly 12, intermediate frame assembly 14 and upper frame assembly 16 are generally planar assemblies composed of rails in the form of channel-style extrusions. In the exemplary embodiment of
The base frame assembly 12, intermediate frame assembly 14 and upper frame assembly 16 are interconnected by scissor lift linkage assemblies 42A and 42B which raise and lower the intermediate frame assembly 14 and upper frame assembly 16 in relation to the base frame assembly 12 and maintain the assemblies in a generally parallel relationship relative to each other as the top support surface 18 of the standing desk 10 moves between raised and lowered positions.
In the exemplary embodiment of the standing desk 10 depicted in the
With reference principally to
Link Connections to the Base Frame Assembly
The lower link end 60 of the lower link 48 is pivotally connected to the rail 32 of the base frame assembly 12 to form base frame fixed pivot connection 78 Base frame fixed pivot connection 78 is a fixed pivot, i.e. the lower link end 64 is pinned to the rail 32 such that it can rotate, but may not translate in any direction. The lower link end 64 of the lower link 50 is pivotally connected to a roller 98 via an axle 100 (see
Link Connections to the Intermediate Frame Assembly
Lower link end 72 of upper link 54 is pivotally connected to upper link end 66 of lower link 50 to form intermediate frame fixed pivot connection 82, i.e. intermediate frame fixed pivot connection 82 is pinned to the rail 28 of the intermediate frame assembly 14. Thus, the link ends 72 and 66 can rotate at the intermediate frame fixed pivot connection 82, but cannot translate in any direction. Lower link end 68 of upper link 56 is pivotally connected to upper link end 62 of tower link 48. Both link ends 68 and 62 are pivotally connected to roller 102 via a common axle 104. (See
Link Connections to the Upper Frame Assembly
The upper link end 70 of the upper link 56 is pivotally connected to the rail 24 of the upper frame assembly 16 to form upper frame fixed pivot connection 86. Upper frame fixed pivot connection 86 is a fixed pivot, i.e. the upper link end 70 is pinned to the rail 24 such that it can rotate, but may not translate in any direction. The upper link end 74 of the upper link 54 is pivotally connected to a roller 106 via an axle 108. (See
The provision of the rollers 98, 102 and 106 at the movable pivot connections 76, 80 and 84 significantly reduces the frictional surface contact between the link ends 64, 68 and 74 and the rails 32, 28 and 26 of the base, intermediate and upper frame assemblies.
It should be noted that the fixed pivot connections 78, 82 and 86 are all vertically aligned, i.e. the base frame fixed pivot connection 78, the intermediate frame fixed pivot connection 82 and the upper frame fixed pivot connection 86 are vertically aligned with each other. The horizontal position of the base, intermediate and upper frame fixed pivot connections 78, 82 and 86 does not change as the scissor linkages 42A and 42B are used to raise and lower the top support surface 18 of the standing desk 10. The base, intermediate and upper frame movable pivot connections 76, 80 and 84 are also vertically aligned with each other, i.e. the base frame movable pivot connection 76, the intermediate frame movable pivot connection 80 and the upper frame movable pivot connection 84 are all vertically aligned with each other. The movable pivot connections (76, 80, 84) however, move both horizontally (within the rails 32, 2834) of the base, intermediate and upper frame assemblies (12, 14, 16) and vertically as the scissor linkages are used to raise and lower the top support surface 18. Throughout the raising and lowering process, the base, intermediate and upper frame movable pivot connections remain vertically aligned.
With reference to
As is known in the art, ball screw assemblies comprise a screw portion and a nut portion where the nut 118 moves linearly along the length of the rotating screw 130. (See
The scissor lift linkage assemblies 42A and 42B and the ball screw assemblies 110A and 110B are essentially identical and the connections between the ball screw assemblies and the scissor lift linkages are likewise essentially identical. Therefore, the connection between only one ball screw assembly and one scissor lift linkage need be described in detail. For purposes of illustration, the connection between ball screw assembly 110A and scissor lift linkage assembly 42A will be described.
Referring to scissor lift linkage assembly 42A and
Thus, as the screw 130 of the ball screw assembly 110A rotates clockwise, the nut 118 moves forwardly along the screw 130 causing the ball screw assembly 110A to rotate upwardly as the scissor lift linkage assembly 42A raises the top support surface 18 of the standing desk 10 upwardly. Likewise, when the screw 130 of the ball screw assembly 42A is rotated counterclockwise, the nut 118 moves backwardly along the screw 130 causing the ball screw assembly 110A to rotate downwardly as the scissor lift linkage assembly 42A lowers the top surface 18. As referenced above, both of the ball screw assemblies 42A and 42B move in tandem because the assemblies are synchronized via the chain and gear connection 116.
Ball screw assembles suitable for use with the present invention are commercially available from Shangyu Appliance Corporation. Suitable electric motors, control electronics, and synchronizing chains and gears are commercially available and known to those of skill in the art. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention depicted in
With reference to
With reference to
The manual version of the standing desk 136 differs from the power version of the standing desk 10 in that a motor drive assembly is not used to actuate the scissor lift linkage assemblies 42A and 42B. Rather, the manual version of the standing desk 136 is equipped with biasing springs 138 which connect at one end to a cross brace 140. The cross brace 140 is rigidly connected at each end to the upper ends 70 of the upper links 56 of the linkage assemblies 42A and 42B. At their opposite ends, the biasing springs 138 are connected to the long side frame rail 26 disposed adjacent to the upper frame fixed pivot connections 86. Via this connection, i.e. to the cross brace 140 and to the long side frame rail 26 adjacent the fixed pivot connections 86, the biasing springs 138 bias the scissor lift linkage assemblies 42A and 42B such that the standing desk 136 tends to rise to a fully raised position, unless otherwise restrained. The biased linkages 42A and 42B are biased to rise to the fully raised position at linkage extensions of about ¼ height or greater.
The maximum height of the standing desk 136 is controlled by limiting the maximum extension of the scissor lift linkage assemblies 42A and 42B via an abutment 144 (see
If less than the full height of the manual version of the standing desk 136 is desired, a user exerts manual compressive force on the top support surface 18 sufficient to overcome the force exerted by the biasing springs to collapse the scissor lift linkages 42A and 42B and thereby lower the desk 136. A height adjustment linkage assembly 142 is provided for locking the desk height in a number of predetermined positions.
A feature of the manual version of the standing desk 136 is that the biasing springs 138 are located such that they have an “over-center” position which causes the springs 138 to bias the standing desk 136 to a closed position at scissor lift linkage extensions (heights) below about ¼ of maximum extension or height. Therefore, to fully collapse the manual version of the standing desk 136 a user need only exert compressive force on the top support surface 18 until the desk 136 is near fully collapsed, i.e. is compressed to about ¼ height or less, and the biasing springs 138 will hold the scissor lift linkage assemblies 42A and 42B in the closed position.
As referenced above, height adjustment of the manual version of the standing desk 136 is controlled by the height adjustment linkage assembly 142. With reference principally to
Height control is accomplished by equipping the short side frame rails 24 with a series of height adjustment holes 154. The retractable pins 146A and 146B upon engaging pairs of horizontally aligned holes 154 in the left and right side frame rails 24, lock the desk 136 in the height position predetermined by the hole placement in the frame rails. The height adjustment holes 154 may be placed directly in the frame rails 24 or, in the exemplary embodiment, for the purposes of improved cosmetics an inner channel 160 (best shown in
Optionally, either version of the standing desk of the present invention may be equipped with a keyboard tray. With reference to
With reference to
The standing desk of the present invention, both manual and power versions, may be made from a variety of materials. Metallic materials such as steel and aluminum are well suited for the frame and linkage members. Structural plastics and like materials may also be suitable. The support surfaces (desktop surfaces) may be made of metallic materials or plastic materials. Wood desktops may also be suitable.
The foregoing detailed description and appended drawings are intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. Those skilled in the art will understand that modifications and alternative embodiments of the present invention which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the foregoing specification and drawings, and of the claims appended below are possible and practical. It is intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments.
