1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for selectively positioning objects near a wall or a similar surface.
2. Background and Relevant Art
A builder or installer may use modular walls to divide an open space within a building into individual spaces. Generally, modular walls may include a series of wall modules, which may connect to each other. The individual wall modules may be free-standing or rigidly attached to one or more support structures. In particular, a manufacturer or assembler can usually align and join the various wall modules together to divide an open space and form one or more individual spaces, such as an office, a room, a hallway, etc.
At least one advantage of modular walls is that they can be relatively easy to configure. In addition, modular wall systems can be less expensive to set up and can allow for reconfiguration more easily than permanent office dividers. For example, using modular wall systems, an installer may quickly form offices, conference areas, hall spaces, and other areas, in an undivided space of the building. If an office space needs change, the users or occupants of the building may readily reconfigure the space and may at least partially reuse existing wall modules or modular walls.
Unfortunately, many conventional modular walls do not provide movable shelves, cabinets, work surfaces, or other similar furniture without requiring disassembly, repositioning, and reassembly of various components of the modular wall. Some conventional modular walls that automate movement of furniture elements, often require unsightly mechanisms that may interfere with selecting a position of such shelves or other components and the modular wall.
Accordingly, there are a number of disadvantages in wall modules and modular walls that can be addressed.
Implementations of the present invention comprise systems, methods, and apparatus configured to assist in the vertical placement of furniture items, in particular, furniture items that are attached to a wall system. Implementations of the present invention can comprise a movement assembly that allows an object, such as a work surface, to be moved vertically along a wall. The present invention also provides safety benefits incorporated into the movement assembly. For example, in implementations of the present invention a work surface can be safely moved from a sitting position to a standing position and vice versa.
At least one implementation of the present invention can comprise an apparatus for adjusting the height of a furniture item. The apparatus can further comprise a frame structure that includes a vertically positioned track member that extends a particular height. A furniture item can be in communication with the frame structure through the vertically positioned track member. Additionally, an adjustment guide can be in communication, through a cable, with both the furniture item and the frame structure. The adjustment guide can further comprise a cable tensioner device in communication with the cable, wherein the cable extends from the cable tensioner device to the frame structure. Additionally, actuating the cable tensioner device can cause the furniture item to change vertical location with respect to the frame structure.
In an additional implementation of the present invention, a system for adjusting the height of a furniture item attached to a modular wall system can comprise a modular furniture item configured to connect to a modular wall system. The modular furniture item can comprise an adjustment guide. The adjustment guide may be configured to adjust the vertical positioning of the modular furniture item relative to the modular wall system. Additionally, the adjustment guide may comprise a cable engagement point disposed on a tension plate that is configured to receive and hold a cable. The tension plate may be connected to a cable tensioner device that is configured to move the tension plate and thereby extend or retract the cable.
In yet another implementation of the present invention, a system for adjusting the height of a furniture item attached to a wall system can comprise a wall mounted furniture item in communication with a channel bracket. The wall mounted furniture can comprise an upper surface and a lower surface. Additionally, the channel bracket can be physically attached to a wall. The wall mounted furniture item can comprise an adjustment guide attached to the lower surface. The adjustment guide can be configured to adjust the vertical positioning of the modular furniture item relative to the channel bracket. In addition, the adjustment guide can comprise a driving mechanism, wherein the driving mechanism is configured to exert an active force in only a single direction.
Additional features and advantages of exemplary implementations of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter.
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention extends to systems, methods, and apparatus configured to assist in the vertical placement of furniture items, in particular, furniture items that are attached to a wall system. Implementations of the present invention can comprise a movement assembly that allows an object, such as a work surface, to be moved vertically along a wall. The present invention also provides safety benefits incorporated into the movement assembly. For example, in implementations of the present invention a work surface can be safely moved from a sitting position to a standing position and vice versa.
Accordingly, implementations of the present invention allow users to easily and safely adjust the heights of various wall-attached furniture items, including but not limited to horizontal surfaces, such as desks. Additionally, implementations of the present invention increase user safety by not exerting an active downward force on the furniture items when they are being lowered. For example, when a user is lowering a surface such as a desk from a standing position to a sitting position, in at least one implementation, the only downward pressure applied to the desk is the weight of the desk and the objects on the desk (along with any other additional downward pressure that a user may be physically exerting). Accordingly, if the desk is lowered when a user is underneath the desk, or while other objects are beneath the desk, the ability of the desk to cause harm or damage will be limited.
For example,
While
As depicted, the manual adjustment guide 200 is attached to the bottom surface of the furniture item or work surface 110. As used herein, an “interface surface” of a furniture item is the surface or surfaces that a user most directly interacts with. For example, a user most directly interacts with the top (see
Additionally, in at least one implementation, the screw 340 can comprise a unique head that only allows particular tools to attach. As such, adjustment of the height of work surfaces 110 can be limited to only individuals with the particular tool. This may be beneficial in situations where an organization does not want individuals adjusting the height of work surfaces 110 at will.
Further, in at least one implementation, a single manual adjustment guide 200 can be used to control the height of a plurality of work surfaces 110. For example, multiple work surfaces 110 can be physically connected such that adjusting the height of one work surface 110 adjusts the height of all of the attached work surfaces 110. In at least one implementation, a single manual adjustment guide 200 can be in communication with cables 210 that route through multiple work surfaces 110. As such, driving the single manual adjustment guide 200 can adjust the height of the multiple work surfaces 110. One will understand that the single manual adjustment guide 200 can be in communication with a single set of cables 210 that routes through multiple work surfaces 110, or with multiple sets of cables 210 that route through multiple work surfaces 110 in parallel.
Allowing a single manual adjustment guide 210 to control multiple work surfaces 110 may provide several benefits. For example, controlling multiple work surfaces 110 with a single manual adjustment guide 210 may allow an organization to control the aesthetic of a work area. In contrast, if each individual work surface 210 can be positioned at a different height the resulting mixture of work surface 210 heights might create a jumbled aesthetic. Similarly, limiting the number of manual adjustment guides 210 that are attached to work surfaces 110 may create a better aesthetic by removing the manual adjustment guide 210 from direct sight. Additionally, controlling multiple work surfaces 110 with a single manual adjustment guide 200 may save costs by requiring fewer manual adjustment guides 200 and less accompanying maintenance.
While not fully depicted in
In at least one implementation, the screw 340 can include a bolt head or other similar attachments that allows standard tools, such as drills, socket wrenches, wrenches, screw drivers, etc., to be attached to and drive the screw 340. When the manual or automated driving means 240 rotates the screw 340, a thread on the body of the screw 340 causes the cable tension plate 350 to travel longitudinally along the length of the manual adjustment guide 200. The direction in which the screw 340 is rotated determines the direction in which the cable tension plate 350 travels. As the cable tension plate 350 travels along the length of the manual adjustment guide 200, the cable engagement points 330 pull (i.e., retract) the cable 210, or relax (i.e., extend) the cables 210 based upon the direction that the cable tension plate 350 travels.
In at least one implementation, retracting the cables 210 towards the spacer 325 exerts an active force on the cables 210, as rotating the screw 340 actually pulls the cables towards the drive plate 320. In contrast, in at least one implementation, extending or relaxing the cables 210 by rotating the screw 340 the other direction does not actively push the cables 210 out of the manual adjustment guide 200. For example, as shown in
As depicted, the function of the depicted power adjustment guide 400 is similar to that of the manual adjustment guide 200, with an exception that the driving mechanism 450 (i.e., the drill 240 of
Using either the manual adjustment guide 200 or the power adjustment guide 400, a user can cause the work surface 110 to raise or lower with respect to a modular wall section 150. For example, when a user drives the adjustment guide (200, 400) to retract the cable 210, the retracting cable 210 will cause the work surface 110 to rise. In contrast, when a user drives the adjustment guide (200, 400) to extend or relax the cable 210, the weight of the work surface 110, along with any additional external force, will cause the work surface to lower and at the same time cause the cables 210 to again become tense.
One will appreciate based upon the above disclosure and accompanying figures that the manual adjustment guide 200 and the power adjustment guide 400 can be easily interchanged. For instance, a user may initially install work surfaces 110 of the present invention with the manual adjustment guide 200. Eventually though, the user may decide to install power adjustment guides 400 instead. As described and depicted above, one will understand that a power adjustment guide 400 can easily be interchanged with a manual adjustment guide 200, and vice versa. In particular, in a least one implementation the adjustment guide bracket 300 is interchangeable between the manual adjustment guided 200 and the power adjustment guide 400 such that only the driving components would need to be changed.
In contrast to a retracting cable 210 pulling the work surface 110 towards the head beam 130 and causing the work surface 110 to rise (as shown in
In at least one implementation, not exerting a downwards force on the work surface 110 can provide a safety feature to users. For example, if a system were to exert a downwards force on the work surface 110 in order to lower the surface, the lowering work surface 110 may inadvertently smash a user or other valuable items that happen to be below the work surface 110. In contrast, in at least one implementation of the present invention and as described above, when a user is driving an adjustment guide (200, 400) to lower a work surface 110, the only force applied is the weight of the work surface 110 and any objects that happen to be on the work surface 110. Accordingly, implementations of the present invention can minimize or reduce the likelihood that a user or valuable object is significantly injured or damaged when bearing only the weight of the work surface 110.
In other words, the bearings (710, 720) have a “loose” fit or attachment in channel bracket 120 that allows an amount of rotation of the work surface 110. For example,
One will appreciate therefore that, in at least one implementation, the ability for the work surface 110 to tilt can comprise a safety feature for a user. For instance, generally a user will be positioned with respect to the work surface 110 in a way that only the front portion of the work surface 110 would come in contact with the user if the work surface were being lowered (i.e., the area where the arrow is pointing in
Additionally, at least one implementation of the present invention can include a leveler that enables each work surface 110 to be adjusted such that it is level and flush with a neighboring work surface 110. In at least one implementation of the present invention, work surfaces 110 form a portion of a cantilever. Because these conditions reflect a cantilevered load, there is a great likelihood that, through normal deflection, work surfaces 110 would not rest in a level state if left unadjusted. In order to provide leveling adjustment, the lower arm bearing 720 may be mounted to an adjustable pivot block (not shown). By adjusting this lower bearing 720 in or out, the angular relationship between the upper 710 and lower 720 bearings can be modified. One having ordinary skill in the art will understand that adjusting the angular relationship between the upper 710 and lower 720 bearings can bring the work surfaces 110 into level and flush conditions, regardless of the mass of the cantilevered load.
Implementations of the present invention can comprise a method of actuating an adjustment guide. For example, in at least one implementation, a user can actuate an adjustment guide using a manual method or automatic method of actuation. The manual method can comprise using an external tool to drive the adjustment guide.
When actuated, the adjustment guide can increase tension or loosen tension on one or more cables that connect a furniture item to a modular wall. Increasing and loosening tension can be accomplished by the relative horizontal placement of a tension plate. In particular, the one or more cables may be connected to a tension plate. Moving the tension plate may cause the cables to increase tension on the cables or to loosen tension on the cables based upon the direction of movement of the tension plate.
In at least one implementation, the one or more cable device can be connected to a tensioning device other than a tension plate. For example, the cables can be connected to a rotatable spool. In this case, the rotatable spool can be actuated, either manually or automatically, and can increase or decrease tension on the one or more cables.
The one or more cables can extend from the adjustment guide to a vertical position on a modular wall. Increasing the tension on the one or more cables can cause the furniture item to rise vertically with respect to the modular wall. As such, a user can raise or lower the furniture item on the wall by actuating an adjustment guide.
Accordingly, as described above and depicted in the accompanying figures, the present invention provides methods, systems, and apparatus for adjusting the height of furniture items attached to a wall. While most of the above examples of an object have focused around a work surface 110, one will understand that a variety of different furniture items may be used. Additionally, one will also understand that multiple modular wall sections 150 can be used together, with a plurality of the wall sections 150 comprising their own height adjustable work surface 110.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
The present invention is a 35 U.S.C. §371 U.S. National Stage of PCT Application No. PCT/US2014/50586 entitled WALL-MOUNTED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING OBJECTS, filed Aug. 11, 2014, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/864,786, filed Aug. 12, 2013. The entire content of each of the foregoing patent applications is incorporated by reference herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2014/050586 | 8/11/2014 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61864786 | Aug 2013 | US |