Adjustable workstation table

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6810820
  • Patent Number
    6,810,820
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, September 25, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 2, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A workstation table includes at least two horizontally oriented spaced worksurface struts which allow a work platform to be placed atop the worksurface struts to extend between them. Leg struts having adjustable length extend downwardly from the workstation struts, and a crank link extending between the leg struts can be rotated to adjust the length of both of the leg struts simultaneously. Base struts extend from the ends of the leg struts opposite the worksurface struts to better support the base struts. Stabilizer struts, which also preferably have adjustable length, extend between the opposing base struts and/or between the opposing leg struts to help maintain them in spaced relation. The various struts are made of tubing and are affixed together with strut clamps formed of clamp shells, with each clamp shell being shaped to complementarily fit about portions of adjoining struts in such a manner that the clamp shells may be affixed about the adjoining portions to attach them together.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This disclosure concerns an invention relating generally to workstation tables, and more specifically to workstation tables configured for use in assembly and fabrication operations, and which can be assembled and broken down quickly with limited tools.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Work space is often in short supply in machine shops, factories, and other manufacturing operations. Workers often need to be able to rapidly move, set up, and/or break down work areas depending on the demands of the project at hand. Workstation tables that are currently available provide only a limited solution to this problem, because they are bulky and require extensive time and tools for assembly. Additionally, most current workstation table designs are welded, making them heavy, expensive, and difficult to ship. Existing workstation tables are also generally inflexibly configured, whereas it would be preferable to have a workstation table design which adjusts in one or more dimensions to accommodate a user's current needs.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention involves a workstation table which is intended to at least partially solve the aforementioned problems. To give the reader a basic understanding of some of the advantageous features of the invention, following is a brief summary of preferred versions of the workstation tables. As this is merely a summary, it should be understood that more details regarding the preferred versions may be found in the Detailed Description set forth elsewhere in this document. The claims set forth at the end of this document then define the various versions of the invention in which exclusive rights are secured.




A preferred version of the workstation table includes at least two horizontally oriented spaced worksurface struts which allow a work platform to be placed atop the worksurface struts to extend between them. Leg struts having adjustable length extend downwardly from the workstation struts, and a crank link extending between the leg struts can be rotated to adjust the length of both of the leg struts simultaneously. Base struts extend from the ends of the leg struts opposite the worksurface struts to better support the base struts. Stabilizer struts, which also preferably have adjustable length, extend between the opposing base struts and/or between the opposing leg struts to help maintain them in spaced relation. Owing to the adjustable length of the stabilizer struts, a base strut, leg strut, and worksurface strut situated on one side of a work platform may be spaced at a desired distance from the base strut, leg strut, and worksurface strut situated on the other side of the work platform, thereby allowing the spacing between them to be altered to accommodate differently-sized work platforms atop the worksurface struts.




The various struts are preferably made of tubing and are affixed together with strut clamps. Each strut clamp includes at least two clamp shells, with each clamp shell being shaped to complementarily fit about portions of adjoining struts in such a manner that the clamp shells may be affixed about the adjoining portions to attach them together. Most preferably, the strut clamps take a T-shaped form, with a stem portion (the base of the “T”) having a dead-end passage opening onto the middle of a branch portion (the top of the “T”) having a through passage. The branch portion may therefore receive any portion along the length of a tubular strut, and the stem portion may receive the end of another strut. Each strut clamp is preferably bisected into two identical strut clamp shells, each including half of the stem portion and half of the branch portion, so that the strut clamp shells can be affixed together with portions of adjoining struts fixed therebetween. Depending on the degree to which the strut clamp shells are affixed together, the passages within the strut clamps have variable size, and therefore they can be fixed about struts having somewhat different diameters. The strut clamps and their strut clamp shells advantageously allow rapid connection and disconnection of struts; do not require that specific struts be matched with specific strut clamps/clamp shells, since the strut clamps can be mated with different struts having different diameters; and allow variation in the configuration of the workstation table, since the branch portions of the strut clamps can be affixed at different locations along a strut.




The leg struts are preferably made to have adjustable length by providing them with leg strut segments which telescopically and coaxially slide with respect to each other. Each leg strut preferably includes a drive shaft which extends through the leg strut at an angle to its axis, wherein rotation of the drive shaft actuates telescopic extension or retraction of the leg strut. The crank link then extends between the drive shafts of the leg struts so that actuation of the crank link (or of any of the drive shafts affixed thereto) will effect actuation of all of the drive shafts, thereby simultaneously adjusting the length of all of the leg struts (and thus the height of the worksurface struts and any work platform thereupon). A crank can also be affixed to a drive shaft of a leg strut to allow easy actuation by a user.




Further advantages, features, and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the associated drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is perspective view of a preferred version of the workstation table, shown partially exploded such that the work platform


102


is shown elevated above the worksurface struts


108


.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a leg strut


104


, a base strut


106


, a worksurface strut


108


, and the stabilizer struts


110


and


112


of

FIG. 1

, shown with an exploded depiction of the strut clamps


116


used to attach the upper stabilizer strut


110


to the leg strut


104


, and to attach the lower stabilizer strut


112


to the base strut


106


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION




A particularly preferred version of a workstation table which exemplifies features of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings at the reference numeral


100


. Referring particularly to

FIG. 1

, the primary components of the workstation table


100


include a work platform


102


upon which workers may place items for assembly or other operations, and several struts


104


,


106


,


108


,


110


, and


112


connected by strut clamps


114


and


116


. The struts are each preferably made of one or more segments of tubular material, and they include leg struts


104


which extend from the work platform


102


toward the floor; base struts


106


which serve as an enlarged base for the leg struts


104


; worksurface struts


108


which support the work platform


102


atop the leg struts


104


; and stabilizer struts


110


and


112


which extend between any of the leg struts


104


, base struts


106


, and worksurface struts


108


to lend extra rigidity (with

FIG. 1

depicting an upper stabilizer strut


110


shown extending between the leg struts


104


, and also a lower stabilizer strut


112


extending between the base struts


106


). Each of these components will now be discussed in turn.




The work platform


102


, which is preferably made of sturdy, lightweight materials, rests atop the worksurface struts


108


. The work platform


102


does not need to be planar or rigid, nor need it have a single or continuous surface; all that is necessary is that it be capable of providing an elevated surface upon which activities may be conducted. For example, the work platform


102


shown in

FIG. 1

could be formed of a series of tiered shelves (as opposed to a planar slab); a flexible mesh supported by a framework; or a series of slabs which attach end-to-end, or which are affixed by hinges to allow folding from a collapsed state to the erected state shown. It is noted that while the work platform


102


is a beneficial component of the workstation table


100


when the workstation table


100


is in use, the work platform


102


is not an essential part of the invention. It is contemplated that some users would prefer to be provided with the various struts


104


,


106


,


108


,


110


and


112


without also being provided with a work platform


102


, so that they may provide their own work platform


102


.




The worksurface struts


108


, each of which is preferably formed of a length of tubing, support the work platform


102


and rest adjacent and parallel to the ends of the work platform


102


. Each worksurface strut


108


also rests parallel to a base strut


106


(with a leg strut


104


extending between each worksurface strut


108


and its corresponding base strut


106


). The worksurface struts


108


are affixed to the bottom of the work platform


102


by fasteners (not shown) which pass through the worksurface struts


108


to penetrate the work platform


102


. As shown by the lower stabilizer strut


112


in

FIG. 1

, it is possible to have stabilizer struts which also serve as base struts


106


(and it is similarly possible to have one or more upper stabilizer struts


110


which serve as worksurface struts


108


, though none are shown in the drawing). Caps


118


may be provided to fit within or cover exposed ends of struts, for example, at the ends of the worksurface struts


108


and base struts


106


.




The base struts


106


are similarly each formed of a length of tubing. Machine legs


120


are preferably provided at the bottoms of the base struts


106


. The machine legs


120


depicted in the drawings have discs


122


which support the base struts


106


upon the floor or other surface whereupon the workstation table


100


is placed, with the discs


122


having axially-extending threaded stems


124


, with these threaded stems


124


extending within the base struts


106


. Rotation of the discs


122


(and thus the stems


124


) allows the distance between the discs


122


and the base struts


106


to be variably adjusted. The machine legs


120


can thus be independently adjusted to level the workstation table


100


on the floor where it is situated. In addition to (or in place of) the discs


122


, the machine legs


120


can be provided with casters to allow the workstation table


100


to be easily rolled from place to place.




The stabilizer struts


110


and


112


have a segmented telescoping arrangement which allows them to support the base struts


106


and leg struts


104


in spaced relationship while allowing variation in their spacing (since the worksurface struts


108


, leg struts


104


, and base struts


106


on the opposing ends of the work platform


102


may be differently spaced when attached to work platforms


102


having different lengths). This segmented telescoping arrangement may be best visualized with reference to the lower stabilizer strut


112


in

FIG. 1

, wherein the lower stabilizer strut


112


is formed of two large-diameter outer strut segments


126


at its outer ends, and a middle smaller-diameter strut segment


128


telescopically received within the outer strut segments


126


. A series of apertures may then be provided along each of these strut segments to allow fasteners


130


to be inserted between interfit pairs of strut segments


126


and


128


within coaxially-aligned pairs of apertures. Thus, by aligning a selected aperture on the middle strut segment


128


with a selected aperture on an outer strut segment


126


, and inserting a fastener


130


into the aligned apertures, the outer and middle strut segments


126


and


128


are restrained from axially shifting in relation to each other. The outer and middle strut segments


126


and


128


may therefore be telescopically adjusted with respect to each other to adjust the overall length of the lower stabilizer strut


112


, and fasteners


130


may be inserted into the strut segments to secure them together and fix the length of the stabilizer strut


112


. Such an arrangement for both the upper and lower stabilizer struts


110


and


112


allows the workstation table


100


to accommodate work platforms


102


having different lengths.




Prior to reviewing the preferred structure of the leg struts


104


, it is first useful to review the strut clamps


114


and


116


used to join adjacent struts, which are shown in greater detail in FIG.


2


. The strut clamps are of two types, with the strut clamps


114


used to affix the leg struts


104


to the worksurface struts


108


having a different configuration than the strut clamps


116


used to affix the struts elsewhere. Throughout this document, the strut clamps


114


used to affix the leg struts


104


to the worksurface struts


108


may be more specifically referred to as upper strut clamps


114


, and the remaining strut clamps may be more specifically referred to as lower strut clamps


116


. With specific reference to

FIG. 2

, a T-shaped lower strut clamp


116


is used to join the base strut


106


to the leg strut


104


, and similar lower strut clamps


116


are used to join the stabilizer strut


110


to the leg strut


104


and to join the stabilizer strut


112


to the base strut


106


. The lower strut clamps


116


are preferably formed of two or more shells


132


which together define one or more interior passages shaped to complementarily receive adjoining ends of struts. Owing to the T-shape of the lower strut clamp


116


, it has a dead-end interior passage at the stem portion


134


of the strut clamp


116


(the portion forming the base of the “T”), and an open-ended interior passage at the branch portion


136


of the strut clamp


116


(the portion forming the top of the “T”). Holes for fasteners then extend through the strut clamp shells


132


so that when the shells


132


are arranged to form a strut clamp


116


, the fastener holes are aligned to allow a fastener


138


to extend from one shell


132


to the other, and through any struts resting therebetween. In

FIG. 2

, the lower strut clamps


116


are shown with four fastener holes in their strut clamp shells


132


, with the fastener holes being aligned in the midplanes of the passages defined by the combined strut clamp shells


132


. Two fastener holes are situated near opposite ends of the branch portion


136


of the strut clamp


116


, and two fastener holes are also situated along the length of the stem portion


134


of the strut clamp


116


. When fasteners


138


are extended through the lower strut clamp shells


132


(and any intermediate struts) and are adjusted to draw the strut clamp shells


132


together, the strut clamp shells


132


come together to bear against the struts resting within the interior passages defined by the strut clamp shells


132


. Advantageously, the structure of the lower strut clamps


116


allows a lower strut clamp


116


to accommodate different struts which are out of round (as when a strut becomes damaged after an extended period of use), or which have small variations in their diameters (thereby allowing a strut to be formed of whichever tube stock is presently least expensive on the market during the time of manufacture). Additionally, the ability of the lower strut clamps


116


to accommodate slight variations in diameter allows them to be clamped to adjoining ends of struts (as where a pair of shorter-length tubes are placed in abutment at their ends to form a single strut), or to the juncture of two coaxial and telescopically-interfit struts (as where a pair of shorter-length tubes are coaxially interfit to form a single strut). The lower strut clamps


116


(as well as the upper strut clamps


114


) thus greatly enhance the versatility of the workstation table


100


, in particular its ability to be rapidly assembled and disassembled from a compact collection of parts.




The leg struts


104


depicted in the preferred workstation table


100


shown in the drawings are dissimilar to the remaining struts


106


,


108


,


110


and


112


in that they have a continuously adjustable telescopic structure, with an upper outer strut segment


140


receiving a lower inner strut segment


142


within its interior. Turning of a crank


144


(shown in

FIG. 1

) will therefore axially adjust the upper outer strut segment


140


with respect to the lower inner strut segment


142


. The crank


144


has a handle


146


attached to a leg portion


148


, which is in turn attached to a hollow shaft


150


. The leg struts


104


then include a protruding drive shaft


152


(shown in

FIG. 1

) having a crank end


154


which may be received within the hollow shaft


150


of the crank


144


, and a crank fastener


156


may then be inserted through the hollow shaft of the crank


144


and the crank end


154


of the leg strut drive shaft


152


to engage the crank


144


and the leg strut drive shaft


152


together. Thus, when the crank


144


is turned (and the crank fastener


156


is engaged), the drive shaft


152


will also turn. The drive shaft


152


extends into the interior of the upper outer strut segment


140


wherein it engages structure for driving the upper outer strut segment


140


axially with respect to the lower inner strut segment


142


. As an example, the drive shaft


152


might actuate a nut and screw assembly, with an example of such structure being shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,357. As another example, the drive shaft


152


might drive a pinion that interacts with a rack in the lower inner strut segment


142


. In these and other arrangements, turning the crank


144


causes the upper outer strut segment


140


to axially move over the lower inner strut segment


142


, thereby causing the leg strut


104


to elongate or collapse (and thereby adjust the height of any work platform


102


atop the leg struts


104


and worksurface struts


108


).




Looking to

FIG. 1

, each leg strut drive shaft


152


extends through its leg strut


104


near its end (and through any upper strut clamp


114


thereon), and along an axis perpendicular to the axis of its leg strut


104


, so that the crank end


154


of the leg strut drive shaft


152


extends from one side of its leg strut


104


(as shown in

FIG. 1

) and an opposing link end


158


extends from the opposite side of the leg strut


104


(shown in FIG.


2


). An elongated crank link


160


, partially visible in

FIG. 1

, has hollow ends which may fit over the link ends


158


of the leg strut drive shafts


152


and engaged thereon with use of a fastener. Thus, when the workstation table


100


is assembled, the leg struts


104


at the opposite ends of the workstation table


100


are arranged so that their leg strut drive shafts


152


have their crank ends


154


facing outwardly (thereby allowing a user to easily access either leg strut drive shaft


152


to place a crank


144


thereon), and their link ends


158


face inwardly towards each other. The crank link


160


is then situated between the link ends


158


of the leg strut drive shafts


152


and engaged to the link ends


158


with a fastener, thereby rotationally linking the leg strut drive shafts


152


together. When a user then actuates a crank


144


installed on the leg strut drive shaft


152


of either leg strut


104


, the crank link


160


transmits the rotation from one leg strut drive shaft


152


to the other, causing them to rotate in tandem and thereby telescopically extend or collapse by the same distance. Both leg strut drive shafts


152


are thus rotated simultaneously to allow the opposing ends of the work platform


102


to raise or drop by the same amount. Alternatively, if the crank link


160


is disengaged from the link ends


158


of the leg strut drive shafts


152


(or is eliminated), each leg strut


104


can be independently cranked to attain a different height than the other leg strut


104


, though this arrangement might be limited by the work platform


102


and/or the upper stabilizer strut(s)


110


if these are rigidly linked to the upper outer strut segments


140


of the leg struts


104


. The crank link


160


may be formed of segments which are telescopically interfit (as with the stabilizer struts


110


and


112


), or which otherwise provide the crank link


160


with adjustable length, so that the length of the crank link


160


may be adjusted to accommodate any adjustment in the lengths of the stabilizer struts


110


and


112


, as when the struts are adapted to support a differently-sized work platform


102


.




The upper strut clamps


114


have a T-shaped configuration which is generally similar to that used for the other strut clamps


116


, but their upper strut clamp shells


162


have ears


164


on their stem portions


166


, and their stem portions


166


additionally include a drive shaft aperture


168


wherein a leg strut drive shaft


152


may be received. The branch portions


170


of the upper strut clamp shells


162


have two fastener holes situated near their opposite ends to allow insertion of fasteners through the branch portions


170


of two upper strut clamp shells


162


, and through any worksurface struts


108


situated therebetween, to engage the branch portions


170


of the upper strut clamp shells


162


to the worksurface struts


108


. Fasteners may also be extended through the ears


164


of the stem portions


166


of two upper strut clamp shells


162


to affix the stem portions


166


together about a leg strut


104


, with the leg strut drive shaft


152


resting within the drive shaft apertures of the stem portions. The upper strut clamps


114


therefore do not bear any fasteners which extend from their stem portions


166


into the leg strut


104


to bind its telescoping upper outer strut segment


140


and lower inner strut segment


142


together.




Since the foregoing workstation table


100


is clamped together rather than welded, it may easily be broken down into a compact size for transport. Clamping also allows different lengths of tubing to be used for differently-sized work platforms


102


; for example, use of worksurface struts


108


having different lengths allows use of the remaining struts with work platforms


102


of different width, and use of stabilizer struts


110


and


112


having different lengths allows use of the remaining struts with work platforms


102


of different length. Longer base struts


106


may be accommodated to increase stability of the workstation table


100


, or shorter base struts


106


may be accommodated in situations where the footprint of the workstation table


100


needs to be decreased. The use of tubing also allows more compact storage in situations where the various struts can be telescopically interfit together.




It is understood that the various preferred versions of the invention are shown and described above to illustrate different possible features of the invention and the varying ways in which these features may be combined. Apart from combining the different features of the foregoing versions in varying ways, other modifications are also considered to be within the scope of the invention. Following is an exemplary list of such modifications.




Initially, not all of the illustrated leg, base, worksurface, and stabilizer struts


104


,


106


,


108


,


110


, and


112


are essential, and one or more of these may be omitted (for example, one or both of the stabilizer struts


110


and/or


112


may be omitted). Alternatively, further struts could be added. While the struts are preferably made of tubular material, they may be made of solid materials instead, and they need not have a circular cross-section.




The leg struts


104


and stabilizer struts


110


/


112


need not have the telescoping structure described and could instead be formed (for example) of a unitary length of material. Conversely, when the base struts


106


and worksurface struts


108


are made of tubular materials, it may be advantageous to have either or both of these struts formed of two or more segments of tubular material, allowing larger-diameter strut segments to telescopically receive smaller-diameter strut segments (as with the arrangement discussed above for the stabilizer struts


110


and


112


). This allows strut segments to be telescopically stored as a unit, and additionally allows a strut to have adjustable length by telescopically expanding or collapsing mating pairs of strut segments. Consider

FIG. 2

, wherein a base strut


106


is shown affixed to a leg strut


104


via a strut clamp


116


. The base strut


106


might consist of a pair of base strut segments which rest end-to-end, and which are affixed together (and to the leg strut


104


) via the strut clamp


116


. The base strut segments forming the base strut


106


may have the same diameter, or may have different diameters to allow a telescoping arrangement. Slightly differing diameters between the base strut segments would not prevent the strut clamp


116


from firmly grasping both of them: because the fasteners used to affix the strut clamp shells


132


together are situated on each side of the branch portion


136


of the strut clamp


116


, each side of the branch portion


136


may be independently tightened to a sufficient degree about the strut segment it receives.




Where struts are formed in telescopically interfit segments, a number of arrangements may be used to fix them together in lieu of the aforementioned use of fasteners. As examples, the segments may have engaging threading; may be frictionally interfit; or may engage each other by collet/chuck arrangements or other structure whereby the diameter of an outer strut segment is reduced about the inner strut segment therein (or wherein the diameter of an inner strut segment is enlarged to engage the surrounding outer strut segment).




The strut clamps


114


and


116


may be formed as a unit rather than in two or more shells


132


and


162


, and may have a wide variety of configurations depending on the desired form of the assembled struts. Rather than allowing 3-way connections (as with the T-shaped strut clamps


114


and


116


, or a Y-shaped strut clamp), they may instead allow only 2-way connections (e.g., for use in connecting adjacent ends of strut segments), or could allow 4-way connections (e.g., as with an X-shaped strut clamp) or more.




The worksurface struts


108


need not be directly affixed to the bottom of the work platform


102


by fasteners, and might instead be attached (for example) by U-shaped brackets having protruding ears at their ends. The ears could be affixed to the bottom of the work platform


102


so that the bodies of the brackets descend to define passages wherein the worksurface struts


108


are situated. Thus, the worksurface struts


108


may be affixed to the work platform


102


by situating the work platform


102


atop the worksurface struts


108


, fitting the U-shaped brackets over the worksurface struts


108


so that the ears contact the bottom of the work platform


102


, and attaching the ears to the bottom of the work platform


102


with fasteners. The degree to which the fasteners would be tightened could affect the degree to which the worksurface struts


108


are fastened between the U-shaped brackets and the bottom of the work platform


102


, and the brackets could thereby accommodate worksurface struts


108


having different diameters.




To enhance the degree to which each strut clamp


114


and/or


116


may grasp any struts (or strut segments therein), each strut clamp shell


132


/


162


can optionally include a clamp liner which is shaped to complementarily fit within the strut clamp shell


132


/


162


, and which is preferably at least somewhat elastic and has a high coefficient of friction. As an example, such a clamp liner may be formed of a rubber coating provided on the interior surface of a strut clamp shell


132


/


162


. Such clamp liners, when provided in the strut clamp shells


132


/


162


, help to better engage the ends of the struts resting within the strut clamps


114


and


116


. Additionally, if the clamp liners are compressible, they can better engage adjoining struts which have marginally different outer diameters. However, any strut clamp liners need not necessarily cover the entireties of the interior surfaces of their strut clamp shells


132


/


162


. For example, rubber washers may be situated in the interior surfaces of the strut clamp shells


132


/


162


about the fastener holes, and can help serve to have the strut clamp shells


132


firmly grip the struts when they are fastened about the struts.




The various fasteners used to affix the foregoing components together are preferably of a sort that may be fastened and unfastened by hand or with the use of simple tools, e.g., bolts, pins, etc. Fasteners allowing assembly and disassembly without the use of tools are particularly preferred.




The invention is not intended to be limited to the preferred versions of the invention described above, but rather is intended to be limited only by the claims set out below. Thus, the invention encompasses all different versions that fall literally or equivalently within the scope of these claims.



Claims
  • 1. A workstation table comprising:a. at least two spaced worksurface struts, the worksurface being horizontally oriented to accommodate a work platform atop and between the worksurface struts; b. at least two spaced leg struts, each leg strut descending from one of the workstation struts, wherein the leg struts each include leg strut segments which slide with respect to each other in parallel relation to adjust the length of the leg strut; c. at least two base struts, each base strut extending horizontally from one of the leg struts; d. strut clamps wherein: (1) each strut clamp joints: i. one of the worksurface struts to one of the leg struts, or ii. one of the base struts to one of the leg struts, and (2) each strut clamp includes at least two clamp shells wherein: i. each lamp shell is adapted to accommodate a portion of at least one of the struts which it joins, and ii. the clamp shells of each strut clamp may be affixed together with at least one of the struts to which the strut clamp is joined resting therebetween: e. a crank link extending between the leg struts, wherein rotation of the crank link causes concurrent length adjustment in the leg struts.
  • 2. The workstation table of claim 1 wherein:a. within each leg strut, one of the leg strut segments has a drive shaft extending generally perpendicularly to the length of the leg strut and also extending through opposing sides of the leg strut; and b. the crank link extends between the drive shafts of the leg struts.
  • 3. The workstation table of claim 2 further comprising a crank affixed to the drive shaft of one of the leg struts.
  • 4. The workstation table of claim 2 wherein the leg strut segments within each leg strut are coaxially and telescopically fit together.
  • 5. The workstation table of claim 2 wherein the drive shafts extend through the strut clamps.
  • 6. The workstation table of claim 1 wherein the strut clamp shells are identical.
  • 7. The workstation table of claim 1 further comprising at least one stabilizer strut, each stabilizer strut extending between:a. a pair of the base struts, or b. a pair of the leg stats, wherein each stabilizer strut includes at least a pair of stabilizer strut segments which are slideable with respect to each other in parallel relation to thereby allow adjustment in the length of the stabilizer strut.
  • 8. A workstation table comprising:a. at least two spaced horizontally oriented worksurface struts whereupon a work platform may be placed; b. at least two spaced horizontally oriented base struts, each base strut also being spaced from one of the worksurface struts; c. at least two spaced leg struts, each leg strut extending downwardly from one of the workstations struts to one of the base struts, wherein the leg struts have adjustable length to thereby allow adjustment in the height of the worksurface struts; d. at least one stabilize strut each stabilizer strut extending between: i. a pair of the base struts, or ii. a pair of the leg struts, wherein each stabilizer strut includes at least a pair of stabilizer strut segments which slide with respect to each other in parallel relation to adjust the length of the stabilizer strut: e. strut clamps wherein: (1) each strut clamp joins: i. one of the base struts to one of the leg struts, or ii. one of the stabilizer struts to one of the base struts or one of the leg struts: (2) each strut clamp includes at least two clamp shells wherein: i. each clamp shell is shaped to receive a portion of at least one of the struts which it join, and ii. the clamp shells of each strut damp may be affixed together with the struts to which the strut clamp joined resting between the clamp shells.
  • 9. The workstation table of claim 8 wherein each strut clamp has:a. a sun portion affixed to one of the opposing ends of the stabilizer strut, and b. a branch portion having an internal passage sized to receive one of the base struts or one of the leg struts therein, wherein the internal passage has adjustable size.
  • 10. The workstation table of claim 8 wherein the strut clamp shells are identical.
  • 11. The workstation table of claim 8 wherein:a. the leg struts each include at least a pair of leg strut segments which slide with respect to each other in parallel relation to adjust the length of the leg strut; and b. a crank link extends between the leg struts and adjusts their lengths simultaneously.
  • 12. The workstation table of claim 11 wherein:a. each leg strut includes a drive shaft extending through opposing sides of the leg strut, b. the crank link extends between the drive shafts of the leg struts, and c. at least one of the leg struts has a crank affixed to its drive shaft.
  • 13. A workstation table comprising:a. at least two horizontally-extending worksurface struts, the worksurface struts being spaced to accommodate a work platform atop the worksurface struts and extending therebetween; b. at least two spaced leg struts, each leg strut extending downwardly from one of the workstation struts, wherein the leg struts have adjustable length; c. a crank link extending between the leg struts, wherein rotation of the crank link causes concurrent length adjustment in the leg struts; d. at least two base struts, each base strut: i. being spaced from one of the worksuface struts with one of the leg struts situated between the base strut and the worksurface strut, and ii. extending horizontally from one of the leg struts; e. at least one stabilizer strut, each stabilizer strut extending between: i. a pair of the base struts, or ii. a pair of the leg struts, wherein each stabilizer strut has adjustable length; f. strut clamps joining adjacent struts, the strut clamps each including at let two clamp shells, wherein: i. each clamp shell is adapted to accommodate a portion of at least one of the struts therein, and ii. the clamp shells may be affixed together with at least one of the struts resisting therebetween.
  • 14. The workstation table of claim 13 wherein each leg strut includes leg strut segments which slide with respect to each other in parallel relation to adjust the length of the leg strut.
  • 15. The workstation table of claim 13 wherein each stabilize so includes stabilizer strut segments which slide with e to each other in parallel relation to adjust the length of the stabilizer strut.
  • 16. The workstation table of claim 13 wherein:a. each leg strut includes a drive shaft, b. the crank link extends between the drive shafts of the leg struts, and c. the drive shaft of at least one of the leg struts includes a crank thereon.
  • 17. A workstation table comprising:a. at least two spaced horizontally oriented worksurface struts whereupon a work platform may be placed; b. at least two spaced horizontally oriented base struts, each base strut also being spaced from one of the worksurface struts; c. at least two spaced leg struts, each leg strut extending downwardly from one of the workstation struts to one of the base struts, wherein the leg struts have adjustable length to thereby allow adjustment in the height of the worksurface struts; d. at least one stabilizer strut, each stabilizer strut extending between: i. a pair of the base struts, or ii. a pair of the leg struts, wherein each stabilizer strut: (1) includes at least a pair of stabilizer strut segments which slide with respect to each other in parallel relation to adjust the length of the stabilizer strut; (2) has opposing ends with strut clamps thereon, each strut clamp having a. a stem portion affixed to one of the opposing ends of the stabilizer strut, and b. a branch portion having an internal passage sized to receive one of the base struts or one of the leg struts therein, wherein the internal passage has adjustable size.
  • 18. The workstation table of claim 17 wherein each strut clamp is formed of at least two strut clamp shells, wherein the strut clamp shells are each shaped to complementarily receive a portion of, and be fit about opposing sides of:a. a portion of one of the opposing ends of the stabilizer strut, and b. a portion of one of the base struts or one of the leg struts, with the strut clamp shells being affixed together.
  • 19. The workstation table of claim 18 wherein the clamp shells are identical.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/325,526 filed Sep. 27, 2001, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

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Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/325526 Sep 2001 US