Patent Application
20120048150
The present invention relates generally to laboratory tables for use in classrooms which are accessible to disabled individuals.
In current laboratory environments, laboratory tables are generally not designed to be accessible to both handicapped and non-handicapped individuals. This can cause problems for wheelchair-bound students in science classrooms as they have problems with accessing items in sinks as well as using tables at an appropriately comfortable height. Ideally, a laboratory table will be usable both for handicapped and non-handicapped individuals. Additionally, in current laboratory and classroom environments, laboratory tables generally do not have a means to control liquids spilled on the tables. This can be a problem, particularly in science classrooms where spills are common. Ideally, a laboratory table in a school classroom environment would have a way to control liquids spilled on the tables such that the liquids do not seep through holes in the table or off the edge of the table to the floor. Thirdly, presently available tables with lifting mechanisms are less than ideal because they typically rise to a certain point or lower to a certain point regardless of impediments they encounter. This can cause safety issues as well as stressing the motors by having them use too much torque to raise or lower the table. In a laboratory environment, if a child sits on a laboratory table, it is ideal for the laboratory table to not raise both for safety reasons and to preserve the motor. Similarly, if a child has his or her legs beneath the laboratory table, it is ideal for the table to stop lowering and instead rise up a few inches if it encounters resistance to ensure that a child's legs are not injured. The presently disclosed device solves each of these problems.
We disclose a handicap accessible laboratory table for use in lectures and laboratory experiments. The table has a base suitable for wheelchair access, a generally planar countertop mounted on at least three telescoping legs, a motor to raise and lower the countertop without requiring locking the legs into position, and a fixed-height sink mounted adjacent to the edge of the countertop and providing clearance for a wheelchair to fit beneath the sink. Optionally, the table can also have a marine edge to control spills, a two-depth sink to allow for handicap access which can have a faucet or a sprayer, a finger guard to protect children's fingers when the countertop is in motion, a storage area for rods, and a key-activated switch or remote for controlling the countertop height.
The handicap accessible laboratory table solves the problem of allowing access for both handicapped and non-handicapped individuals in a few ways. First, the table raises and lowers to allow access for a wheelchair. Next, there is a cutout in the housing beneath the sink allowing for knee room for an individual seated in a wheelchair. Finally, the sink is designed with a shallow front section and a deep rear section such that a handicapped individual may place a piece of equipment to be washed or filled with water on the shallower front section without having to reach deep into the sink.
The handicap accessible laboratory table solves the problem of controlling spilled liquids in two ways. First, in one embodiment, the handicap accessible laboratory table has a continuous top surface without holes through which liquids might seep. Additionally, in an embodiment addressing the issue of spillage, the handicap accessible laboratory table has a marine edge to contain spills on the surface of the table.
The handicap accessible laboratory table solves the problem of safety and preserving the motor from undue strain with a control or brain-like mechanism. If the table encounters a certain amount of force going up, the mechanism will not lift the countertop surface. If the table encounters a certain amount of force going down, the motor will reverse and rise a few inches to provide clearance.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings,
In reference to the drawings, there is shown a handicap accessible laboratory table 1 for use in lectures and laboratory experiments. The table 1 has a base 2, which, as shown in
The table 1 also has a countertop 3 which is generally planar and which is mounted on at least three telescoping legs 4 which are visible in
The base 2 is situated within a cutout 7 into the shape of the countertop 3. By using this configuration, the handicap accessible laboratory table 1 can be made of a smaller size without significantly cutting into the area of the table 1 that students can reach. In a preferred embodiment, a finger guard 14 as shown in
Now referring to
In a preferred embodiment, the countertop 3 can have a marine edge 8 to contain any spills on the table 1 without dripping on the floor. Additionally, the countertop 3 is formed as one piece 9 without holes through which spills might drip. Also in a preferred embodiment, the countertop 3 can have rod storage 15 beneath its surface for the storage of metal rods, not shown, used for performing experiments. Ideally, this rod storage 15 is provided with a lock, such that students cannot remove the rods and play with them when not permitted by an instructor.
