The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Standing and/or other height-adjustable desks enable users to write and/or while standing, sitting on a stool, etc. Standing desks can be adjustable to suit particular environments, tasks, etc. For example, legs of the standing desk can be adjustable to accommodate a particular table height, person's height, etc. Use of a standing and/or height-adjustable desk can provide ergonomic and/or other health benefit to the user.
A standing and/or other height-adjustable desk can mount and/or otherwise be positioned with respect to other furniture, such as a regular desk, table, chair, etc. For example, the desk can be set on, bolted to, and/or otherwise be positioned on top of another piece of furniture such as a sitting desk, table, etc., to convert a sitting desk or table to a standing desk. Other standing desks are freestanding and provide an adjustable height to enable a person to stand, rather than sit, and utilize the desk surface.
Standing desks offer many health benefits to users beyond typical sitting desks. Studies show that sitting for too long is harmful to a person's health and can be a contributing factor in developing diabetes, cancer, high cholesterol, blood clots, heart problems, and other harmful health conditions. More and more people, however, have school work, jobs, and other activities that require them to sit at a desk in front of a computer. A standing and/or other height-adjustable desk allows a user to stand, rather than sit, and still utilize the desk's surface for a laptop, tablet, paperwork, etc.
Standing and/or other height-adjustable desks, however, suffer from wobbling and/or other instability, which can impair a user's ability to reliably, comfortably use the desk. Particularly at taller height settings, the desk can be too unstable for use.
The figures are not to scale. Instead, the thickness of the layers or regions may be enlarged in the drawings. In general, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts. As used in this patent, stating that any part (e.g., a layer, film, area, region, or plate) is in any way on (e.g., positioned on, located on, disposed on, or formed on, etc.) another part, indicates that the referenced part is either in contact with the other part, or that the referenced part is above the other part with one or more intermediate part(s) located therebetween. Stating that any part is in contact with another part means that there is no intermediate part between the two parts. Although the figures show layers and regions with clean lines and boundaries, some or all of these lines and/or boundaries may be idealized. In reality, the boundaries and/or lines may be unobservable, blended, and/or irregular.
Descriptors “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. are used herein when identifying multiple elements or components which may be referred to separately. Unless otherwise specified or understood based on their context of use, such descriptors are not intended to impute any meaning of priority or ordering in time but merely as labels for referring to multiple elements or components separately for ease of understanding the disclosed examples. In some examples, the descriptor “first” may be used to refer to an element in the detailed description, while the same element may be referred to in a claim with a different descriptor such as “second” or “third.” In such instances, it should be understood that such descriptors are used merely for ease of referencing multiple elements or components.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples that may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the subject matter, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and/or other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, provided to describe example implementations and not to be taken as limiting on the scope of the subject matter described in this disclosure. Certain features from different aspects of the following description may be combined to form yet new aspects of the subject matter discussed below.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Certain examples provide an adjustable clamp-on desk and/or table stabilizer. Certain examples provide a stabilizer bar designed to clamp on to a furniture element such as the legs of a desk or table. The bar is adjustable in length to fit many different desk sizes by adjusting to fit the width of the desk's legs. At each end of the bar is an adjustable clamp that tightens to each leg of the desk to secure the stabilizer to the desk legs.
A large number of height adjustable desks currently available do not include a stabilizer bar. As a result, such desks become increasingly unstable as they are raised. That is, an adjustable desk's best stability is found when the desk is in its lowest position, unsuitable for most users. As the height of the desk is raised, instability increases, often in proportion to height, as the weight of the desk and the size of the legs create a tendency for movement, particularly when interacted with by a user.
In addition, currently available stabilizer bars must be either bolted in place or attached using another device such as hooks, requiring the legs of the desk to include provisions for mounting these stabilizers. Unfortunately, the majority of height adjustable desks that do not include stabilizer bars also do not include provisions for mounting currently available stabilizer designs. A stabilizer bar with a mounting design not dependent on these mounting provisions is needed to improve the stability of these desks, and the stabilizer's mounting system must be sturdy enough to firmly secure to the desk while providing the intended function.
Certain examples provide a stabilizer which, by using clamps combined with a telescopic design, is able to fit a majority of ergonomic floor standing height adjustable desks currently available. By attaching this product to the legs of the desk, the instability often found in these desks is greatly reduced, allowing for safer and more comfortable usage of the desk. In addition, installation of the stabilizer is quick and simple, requiring no modification to the desk.
A main stabilizer bar can be constructed using formed metal plates, by using a metal bar inserted into metal tubing, or by using metal tubing inserted into metal tubing of a larger size, for example. In certain examples, the stabilizer bar is telescopic, allowing it to extend to different lengths to fit desks and tables of many different sizes. The length of the stabilizer bar can be secured by inserting bolts into a series of aligned holes placed along the length of the stabilizer bar, or by inserting bolts, screws, pins, etc., into a series of aligned slots placed along the length of the stabilizer bar, etc. A clamp is attached to each end of the stabilizer bar, allowing the stabilizer to clamp onto the legs of the desk or table. The clamp can have a single clamp bolt design or a multiple clamp bolt design. The clamp can be attached to the stabilizer bar using a series of bolts inserted through aligned holes in the clamp and stabilizer bar, through slots in the stabilizer bar aligned with holes in the clamp, or by welding directly to the stabilizer bar, for example.
Additionally, each end of the stabilizer bar 100 includes a clamp or mounting portion 130, 140 attached to the bar 100 via one or more screws, bolts, etc. 132, 142. The clamp/mounting 130, 140 allows the bar 100 to attach to the legs 102, 104. The clamp 130, 140 allows the bar 100 to be a “universal” clamp-on stabilizer bar 100 to adjustably clamp on to a variety of height-adjustable desks at various lengths and/or heights with respect to the legs 102, 104, for example. Placement of the bar 100 can vary to provide desired stability, such as placing the bar 100 in the center or lower of the legs 102, 104 because the desk top is holding the top of the legs 102, 104 at a specific distance, and the bar 100 locks the middle or lower middle of the legs 102, 104 at a defined distance as well (e.g., the same as the top distance or another distance depending an angle, slope, taper, etc., of the legs 102, 104), for example.
If a desk is raised to a certain height, the desk and anything on the desk (e.g., a monitor, keyboard, etc.) will shake when a user is typing, moving a mouse, and/or otherwise interacting with items on the desk, for example. The stabilizer bar 100 helps to prevent the legs 102, 104 from being able to move so that user interaction with items on the desk does not shake the desk or items on the desk.
To provide strength in support, as well as ease of installation, movable bolts and/or other clamp device(s) can be used to removably affix the bar 100 between the legs 102, 104 of an adjustable desk. In certain examples, padding can be added to the clamp 130, 140 (e.g., a soft thin foam or other material of a few millimeter thickness, etc.) to help prevent scratches or other damage. In certain examples, the clamping portion 130, 140 includes two bolts in the clamp 130, 140 for stability (e.g., 1.5 inch clamps, etc.). In other examples, a larger bolt allows for one to support the clamp 130, 140 (e.g., to provide 3-4 inches of surface pressure in one or more bolts to help ensure the leg 102, 104 does not move, etc.).
In certain examples, the stabilizer bar 100 is a telescoping bar 100 including holes or openings 112, 122 spaced apart (e.g., approximately every 2 inches, etc.). As shown in the example of
Thus, a variety of clamping mechanisms 130, 140 can enable the stabilizer bar 100 to be adaptively configured and positioned to secure the legs 102, 104 of a standing and/or other adjustable height desk, table, etc.
Example Methods of Manufacture
At block 1910, the first segment 110 of the stabilizer bar 100 is formed. For example, a length, width, and depth of the segment 110 is defined, and holes/openings 112 are formed in the segment 110 to allow for adjustability of the segment 110 in the bar 100. The segment 110 can be formed from a rigid material (e.g., spring steel, mild steel, aluminum, etc.) sufficient to stabilize the leg 102 and support stress from leg 102 and/or associated desk/table motion, for example. In certain examples, the material (e.g., metal, composite, plastic, etc.) used to form the segment 110 can be treated, such as with paint, rust inhibitor, etc.
At block 1920, the second segment 120 of the stabilizer bar 100 is formed. For example, a length, width, and depth of the segment 120 is defined, and holes/openings 122 are formed in the segment 120 to allow for adjustability of the second segment 120 with respect to the first segment 110 to define a length of the stabilizer bar 100. The segment 120 can be formed from a rigid material (e.g., spring steel, mild steel, aluminum, etc.) sufficient to stabilize the leg 104 and support stress from leg 104 and/or associated desk/table motion, for example. In certain examples, the material (e.g., metal, composite, plastic, etc.) used to form the segment 120 can be treated, such as with paint, rust inhibitor, etc.
At block 1930, the first clamp portion 130 is formed such as through bending and/or fusing of metal segments to enable positioning and tightening of the stabilizer bar 100 with respect to the leg 102. Simultaneously or separately, at block 1940, the second clamp portion 140 is formed such as through bending and/or fusing of metal segments to enable positioning and tightening of the stabilizer bar 100 with respect to the leg 104.
At block 1950, the second segment 120 is arranged with respect to the first segment 110. For example, the second segment 120 can be slid and/or otherwise positioned over the first segment 110, or vice versa. The position of the second segment 120 with respect to the first segment 110 can be removably secured with one or more screws, bolts, etc., 132, 142. For example, the screws 132, 142 can be tightened but are able to be loosened and moved to another hole 112, 122, etc.
At block 1960, one or more bolts, screws, and/or pins 134, 136, 144, 146 are inserted in the clamp portions 130, 140. For example, the clamp portion 130, 140 can be formed at block 1930 such as shown in one or more of
At block 1970, the stabilizer bar 100 is output for installation, other use, etc. For example, the stabilizer bar 100 can be packaged and sold, shipped, displayed, etc., for purchase, use, etc.
While a certain example method 1900 of manufacturing the stabilizer bar is disclosed and described above, one or more of the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in
“Including” and “comprising” (and all forms and tenses thereof) are used herein to be open ended terms. Thus, whenever a claim employs any form of “include” or “comprise” (e.g., comprises, includes, comprising, including, having, etc.) as a preamble or within a claim recitation of any kind, it is to be understood that additional elements, terms, etc. may be present without falling outside the scope of the corresponding claim or recitation. As used herein, when the phrase “at least” is used as the transition term in, for example, a preamble of a claim, it is open-ended in the same manner as the term “comprising” and “including” are open ended. The term “and/or” when used, for example, in a form such as A, B, and/or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as (1) A alone, (2) B alone, (3) C alone, (4) A with B, (5) A with C, (6) B with C, and (7) A with B and with C.
Thus, certain examples provide an adjustable stabilizer bar including: a first segment having a first end and a second end; a second segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second segment to at least partially overlap the second end of the first segment; an attachment mechanism to position the second segment with respect to the first segment; a first clamping portion at the first end of the first segment to removably affix the first segment to a first furniture element; and a second clamping portion at the second end of the second segment to removably affix the second segment to a second furniture element.
Certain examples provide a method of manufacturing an adjustable stabilizer bar. The example method includes forming a first segment having a first end and a second end. The example method includes forming a second segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second segment to at least partially overlap the second end of the first segment. The example method includes positioning the second segment with respect to the first segment with an attachment mechanism. The example method includes forming a first clamping portion at the first end of the first segment to removably affix the first segment to a first furniture element. The example method includes forming a second clamping portion at the second end of the second segment to removably affix the second segment to a second furniture element. The example method includes outputting the adjustable stabilizer bar.
Certain examples provide an adjustable stabilizer bar apparatus including: means for attaching a first segment with respect to a second segment; first means for clamping to a first furniture element; and second means for clamping to a second furniture element.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been disclosed that provide a new stabilizer bar that can be positioned to support a standing desk, height adjustable desk, height adjustable table, etc. The disclosed methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture improve existing standing/height-adjustable desks/tables by improving stability and increasing usability of a full range of height adjustment, enabling the desk/table to be stable when fully extended as well as when fully retracted. The disclosed apparatus, articles of manufacture, methods, etc., provide an adjustable stabilizer bar with both gross adjustment (e.g., positioning of multiple segments with respect to each other to define the length of the stabilizer bar, etc.) and fine adjustment (e.g., adjusting the clamp mechanism to help ensure secure, stable, fitted support by the bar between legs of a desk, table, etc.).
Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.