Claims
- 1. In a counterbalance apparatus, the improvement which comprises:(a) a first tubular member defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end with at least one wall between the ends which forms the tubular member having an inner cavity, wherein a first cam surface is provided on the wall in the inner cavity and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member; (b) a second tubular member slidably mounted in the first tubular member so as to be along the longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end and at least one wall between the ends forming an inner cavity, wherein a second cam surface is provided on at least one wall in the inner cavity of the second tubular member along the axis and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member, wherein the first and second cam surfaces are oppositely inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis and wherein at least one of the second or first tubular members is movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the other of the tubular members to move the tubular members together; (c) cam follower means mounted on and between the first and second cam surfaces, wherein the cam follower means moves on both cam surfaces simultaneously as the tubular members are moved together; and (d) resilient means having opposed ends and mounted along and around the longitudinal axis of the tubular members so as to bias the tubular members apart and wherein the resilient means is shortened in length between the ends when the tubular members are moved together.
- 2. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second cam surfaces are formed by a pair of first inserts and a pair of second inserts which are mounted in the inner cavities of the first and second members, respectively.
- 3. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1 wherein a pair of torque compensation rollers are mounted on the second end of the second member and wherein the pair of first inserts have guide surfaces parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein the torque compensation rollers move along and are in contact with the guide surfaces to assist in moving the first and second members together.
- 4. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second cam surfaces are inclined so as to provide increasing leverage so that a relatively constant force can be applied between the ends of the tubular members which are distal to each other to move the tubular members together.
- 5. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a dampening means having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower means mounted at the other one of the ends of the dampening means.
- 6. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 5 wherein an adjustment means is mounted on the dampening means for varying a length of and compression of the resilient means mounted around the dampening means.
- 7. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a dampening means having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower means mounted at the other end of the dampening means and wherein the resilient means is a series of three coil springs mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampening means so as to bias the tubular members apart.
- 8. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a dampening means having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower means mounted at the other end of the dampening means, wherein the resilient means is a series of three coil springs mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampening means so as to bias the tubular members apart and wherein the coil springs have non-linear coils along a length of the coil springs so as to require a variable force to compress the coil springs along the length.
- 9. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a dampening means having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower means mounted at the other end of the dampening means, wherein the resilient means is a series of coil springs mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampening means so as to bias the tubular members apart and wherein an adjustment means is mounted on the dampening means for varying a length and thus compression of the coil springs when the tubular members are biased apart.
- 10. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a dampening means having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower means mounted at the other of the ends of the dampening means, wherein the resilient means includes several coil springs mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampening means so as to bias the tubular members apart and wherein the coil springs have non-linear coils along a length of the coil springs so as to require a variable force to compress the coil springs along the length and wherein an adjustment means is mounted on the dampening means for varying the length of and thus compression of the coil springs when the tubular members are biased apart.
- 11. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a dampening means having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower means mounted at the other of the ends of the dampening means wherein the resilient means is provided by several coil springs and is mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampening means to bias the tubular members apart and wherein an adjustment means is mounted on the dampening means for varying a length of and thus compression of the coil springs when the tubular members are biased apart.
- 12. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a dampening means having opposed ends is mounted at one of the ends on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower means mounted at the other one of the ends of the dampening means, wherein the resilient means is provided by several coil springs mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampening means so as to bias the tubular members apart and wherein a rotatable adjustment means for compression or decompression of the coil springs is provided by a threaded member on the dampening means and a threaded retaining means mounted on the threaded member, the threaded retaining means having a projection which movably engages a longitudinally oriented portion of at least one wall of the second tubular member.
- 13. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a dampening means having opposed ends is mounted at one of the ends on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower means mounted at the other of the ends of the dampening means, and wherein the resilient means is a series of three coil springs mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampening means to bias the tubular members apart, wherein the coil springs have non-linear coils along a length of the coil spring means so as to require a variable force to compress the coil spring means along the length, wherein a rotatable adjustment means for compression or decompression of the coil spring means is mounted on the dampening means for varying the length of the coil spring means when the tubular members are biased apart, wherein the adjustment means is provided by a threaded member on the dampening means and a threaded retaining means mounted on the threaded member, the threaded retaining means having a projection which engages a longitudinally oriented portion of at least one wall of the second tubular member and wherein the ends of the coil springs are mounted between the retaining means and the cam follower means.
- 14. The counterbalance apparatus of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the second and first tubular members have a circular cross-section.
- 15. The apparatus of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein multiple of the first and second cam surfaces and the cam follower means are provided on the tubular members around the longitudinal axis.
- 16. The apparatus of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a dampening means having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower means mounted at the other end of the dampening means, and wherein the resilient means is a series of three coil springs mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampening means to bias the tubular members apart, wherein the coil springs have non-linear coils which require a variable force to compress the coil springs along a length of the coil springs, wherein a rotatable adjustment means for compression or decompression of the coil springs is mounted on the dampening means for varying the length of the coil springs when the tubular members are biased apart, and wherein the adjustment means is provided by a threaded member on the dampening means and a threaded retaining means mounted on the threaded member, the retaining means having a projection which engages the second tubular member, wherein the coil springs have ends which are mounted between the retaining means and the cam follower means and wherein the second and first tubular members have a circular cross-section.
- 17. The counterbalance apparatus of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein a pair of anti-cantilever rollers are mounted on the second end of the second member perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and adjacent to the wall of the first tubular member to prevent cantilevering of the second tubular member in the first tubular member.
- 18. A work station with a counterbalance movable work surface and a support means for the work surface with a counterbalance apparatus between the support means and the work surface for the movement which comprises:(a) the counterbalance apparatus including a first tubular member defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end with at least one wall between the ends which forms the tubular member, wherein a first cam surface is provided on the wall and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member; a second tubular member slidably mounted in the first tubular member so as to be along the axis and having a first end and a second end and at least one wall between the ends, wherein a second cam surface is provided on the wall along the axis and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member, wherein the first and second cam surfaces are oppositely inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis and wherein at least one of the second or first tubular members is movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the other of the tubular members to move the tubular members together; cam follower means mounted on and between the first and second cam surfaces, wherein the cam follower means moves on both cam surfaces simultaneously as the tubular members are moved together; and resilient means with opposed ends which are mounted along and around the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member so as to bias the tubular members apart and which is shortened in length between the ends of the resilient means when the tubular members are moved together; and (b) locking means for securing the work surface of the work station against movement.
- 19. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 18 wherein an anti-racking mechanism is mounted on the counterbalance apparatus and includes a first and second upper spool mounted on a shaft and a first lower spool and having a first strap wrapped around the first upper and lower spools and a second strap wrapped around the second upper spool wherein the straps are mounted on the upper spools such that when the upper spools rotate in the same direction, one of the straps winds around the upper spool and the other strap unwinds around the other upper spool.
- 20. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first strap is wrapped around the first upper spool in a counter clockwise direction with one end of the strap extending downward around the lower spool in a counter clockwise direction and wherein an other end of the strap extends upward and is secured to the first end of the second tubular member such that as the second tubular member moves into the first tubular member, the first strap wraps around the first upper spool.
- 21. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 20 wherein the first lower spool is movable to allow for tensioning the first and second straps.
- 22. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 20 wherein the second strap is wrapped around the second upper spool in a clockwise direction with one end of the second strap extending downward and is secured to the second end of the second tubular member such that as the second tubular member moves into the first tubular member, the second strap unwinds from around the second upper spool.
- 23. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 19 wherein the spools are mounted adjacent a first end of the first tubular member.
- 24. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 19 wherein the work station has a second counterbalance apparatus, the shaft having the upper spool connected to a shaft of an anti-racking mechanism of the second counterbalance apparatus such as to align the two counterbalance apparatuses during movement.
- 25. In a counterbalance apparatus, the improvement which comprises:(a) a first tubular member defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end with at least one wall between the ends which forms the tubular member having an inner cavity, wherein a first cam surface is provided on at least one wall in the inner cavity and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member; (b) a second tubular member slidably mounted in the first tubular member so as to be along the axis and having a first end and a second end and at least one wall between the ends forming an inner cavity, wherein a second cam surface is provided on at least one wall in the inner cavity of the second tubular member along the axis and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member, wherein the first and second cam surfaces are oppositely inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis and wherein at least one of the second or first tubular members is movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the other of the tubular members to move the tubular members together; (c) cam follower mounted on and between the first and second cam surfaces, wherein the cam follower moves on both cam surfaces simultaneously as the tubular members are moved together; and (d) force storage mechanism with opposed ends which is mounted along and around the longitudinal axis of the tubular members so as to bias the tubular members apart.
- 26. The counterbalance apparatus of claim 25 wherein the first and second cam surfaces are inclined so as to provide increasing leverage so that a relatively constant force can be applied between the ends of the tubular members which are distal to each other to move the tubular members together.
- 27. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 25 or 26 wherein a dampener having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower mounted at the other one of the ends of the dampener.
- 28. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 25 or 26 wherein a dampener having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower mounted at the other end of the dampener and wherein the force storage mechanism is a coil spring mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampener so as to bias the tubular members apart.
- 29. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 25 or 26 wherein a dampener having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower mounted at the other end of the dampener, wherein the force storage mechanism is a series of three coil springs mounted inside of the second tubular member and around the dampener so as to bias the tubular members apart and wherein the coil springs have non-linear coils along a length of the coil springs so as to require a variable force to compress the coil springs along the length.
- 30. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 25 or 26 wherein an adjuster is mounted on the dampener for varying a length of and thus compression of the force storage mechanism mounted around the dampener.
- 31. The counterbalance apparatus of any one of claims 25 or 26 wherein a dampener having opposed ends is mounted at one end on one of the ends of the second tubular member with the cam follower mounted at the other end of the dampener and wherein an adjuster is mounted on the dampener for varying a length of and thus compression of the force storage mechanism mounted between the end of the second tubular member and the cam follower which biases the tubular members apart.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based upon Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/173,782 filed Dec. 30, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (32)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
281884 |
Dec 1927 |
GB |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/173782 |
Dec 1999 |
US |