Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02590413 2014-02-28
WORKSTATION SYSTEM AND WORKSTATION WITH MULTIPLE,
ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT, WORK TOPS
HELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to office or institutional furniture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Groupings of work tops are needed in office or institutional environments.
Such
groupings need to be relatively robust, aesthetically-pleasing and inexpensive
to
manufacture, and are advantageously flexible, to permit reconfiguration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A workstation forms one aspect of the invention. The workstation comprises two
or more
work tops and modules. Each work top has a pair of ends. The modules are
secured to the
work tops in alternating relation such that each work top is supported at its
ends by a
respective pair of modules. The modules are adapted so as to support the work
tops in a
manner which permits the horizontal elevation of the work tops to be
independently
adjusted.
A module forms another aspect of the invention. The module comprises a pair of
.
uprights. Each upright is of adjustable height. The module is used in a
grouping of two or
more with an equal grouping of work tops, wherein said modules and worktops
are
secured to one another in alternating relation such that each work top is
supported at its
ends by a respective pair of modules and is independently height-adjustable.
A furniture system based on the module forms another aspect of the invention.
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According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a
workstation
=
comprising:
two or more work tops, each work top having a pair of ends; and
two or more modules secured to the work tops such that for each work top, each
end of the work top is secured to a different module than the other end of the
work top,
wherein the modules are adapted so as to support the work tops in a manner
which permits horizontal elevation of the work tops to be independently
adjusted;
wherein each module comprises:
a pair of uprights, each supporting a respective work top end and including an
inner leg and an outer leg assembled for telescopic movement relative to one
another to
provide for horizontal adjustability of the work top having the end which said
each
upright supports; and
a bridge rigidly securing the pair of uprights to one another;
wherein the inner legs are operatively secured to the work tops; and, in each
module, the outer legs are rigidly secured to one another, by means of said
bridge;
wherein the outer legs are fixed together and stationary, and the inner legs
are
moveable with respect to the outer legs;
wherein each upright contains, in the interior of the upright, an elevation
mechanism for causing telescopic movement of the inner leg with respect to the
outer leg
thereof,
wherein the elevation mechanism comprises a threaded shaft, a tower having a
threaded bore, and a gear set, wherein the threaded shaft is threadingly
engaged in the
tower bore and is rotatably mounted by a bearing to the inner leg, such that
the rotation of
the threaded shaft causes telescopic movement of the inner leg with respect to
the outer
leg;
the gear set includes a pair of 900 bevel gears, one being rigidly secured to
the
threaded shaft and the other being mounted to a stub shaft which is
operatively rotatably
mounted to the inner leg for rotation about an axis X2 normal to the axis X1
of threaded
shaft such that rotation of the threaded shaft causes rotation of the stub
shaft and vice
versa, the stub shaft terminating in a socket receptacle;
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wherein, of the uprights supporting each work top, only one of the uprights
has an
actuator for selectively driving the elevation mechanism of said one upright
to provide
for said telescopic movement, said actuator being provided at an upper end of
the inner
leg of the corresponding upright, said actuator comprising a crank shaft
rotatably
mounted to the inner leg of the corresponding upright and terminating in a
further 900
bevel gear in mesh with the gear secured to the threaded shaft;
wherein the workstation further comprises a transmission element for each work
top, said transmission element being provided at the upper ends of the inner
legs of the
uprights supporting said work top, said transmission element operatively
coupling the
elevation mechanisms of the uprights supporting said each work top such that
operation
of the actuator of the one upright causes telescopic movement of the uprights
supporting
said each work top and horizontal movement of said each work top;
wherein the ends of the transmission element are configured to be operatively
removably fitted into opposed stub shaft sockets.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
module
comprising:
a pair of uprights, each being of adjustable-height, and suitable for
supporting a
respective work top end;
wherein each upright comprises an inner leg and an outer leg assembled for
telescopic movement relative to one another to provide for height
adjustability;
wherein the outer legs are rigidly secured to one another by means of a
bridge;
and the inner legs are suitable for being secured to the work tops;
wherein the outer legs are fixed together and stationary, and the inner legs
are
moveable with respect to the outer legs
wherein each upright contains, in the interior of the upright, an elevation
mechanism for causing telescopic movement of the inner leg with respect to the
outer
legs thereof;
wherein the elevation mechanism comprises a threaded shaft, a tower having a
threaded bore, and a gear set, wherein the threaded shaft is threadingly
engaged in the
tower bore and is rotatably mounted by a bearing to the inner leg, such that
the rotation of
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the threaded shaft causes telescopic movement of the inner leg with respect to
the outer
leg;
wherein the gear set includes a pair of 90 bevel gears, one being rigidly
secured
to the threaded shaft and the other being mounted to a stub shaft which is
operatively
rotatably mounted to the inner leg for rotation about an axis X2 normal to the
axis X1 of
threaded shaft such that rotation of the threaded shaft causes rotation of the
stub shaft and
vice versa, the stub shaft terminating in a socket for removably receiving an
end of a
transmission element;
wherein only one of the uprights has an actuator for selectively driving the
elevation mechanism of said one upright to provide for said telescopic
movement, said
actuator being provided at an upper end of the inner leg of the corresponding
upright,
said actuator comprising a crank shaft rotatably mounted to the inner leg of
the one
upright and terminates in a further 900 bevel gear in mesh with the gear
secured to the
threaded shaft;
said module being used in a grouping of two or more with an equal grouping of
work tops, wherein said modules and worktops are secured to one another such
that for
each work top, each end of the work top is secured to a different module than
the other
end of the work top and wherein each work top is independently height-
adjustable.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
modular
furniture system comprising at least one modular furniture element wherein
each element
comprises:
a module as described herein;
a work top; and
a transmission element,
wherein,
each transmission element, in use, operatively couples the elevation
mechanisms
of the uprights supporting said each work top in use such that operation of
the actuator of
the one upright causes telescopic movement of the uprights supporting said
each work
top and horizontal movement of said each work top.
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Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as
well as
methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure,
and the
combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent
upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims
with
reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly described
hereinbelow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a workstation constructed according to
one
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a partially transparent view of the structure of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1,
namely, a
module, which forms one aspect of the invention, the illustrated module
being constructed according to one embodiment thereof;
FIG. 4 is a partially schematic, side cross-sectional view of the
structure of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view of the components or elements of a modular furniture
system
according to another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a partially schematic top plan view of a three-seat workstation
constructed according to another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a partially schematic top plan view of a fourteen-seat
workstation
constructed according to another embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 8 is a partially schematic top plan view of a four-seat workstation
according
to yet another embodiment of the invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A module which forms one aspect of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 and
designated
with general reference numeral 20. The module 20 comprises a pair of uprights
22A,22B
and a bridge 26.
Each upright 22A,22B comprises: an inner 28 and an outer 30 steel leg,
assembled for
telescopic movement relative to one another so as to provide for height-
adjustability of
said each upright 22A,22B; an elevation mechanism (not shown in FIG. 3 and
described
fully below) for causing said telescopic movement of the inner 28 and outer 30
leg; and a
work top bracket 34. One 22A of the uprights further comprises an actuator 36.
In FIG. 4, wherein the module 20 is shown, partially schematically, in cross-
section, the
inner legs 28 will be seen to be seated within slide bearings 38 of
polytetrafluorethylene
or other self-lubricating material inside the outer legs 30, to provide for
smooth
reciprocation.
The elevation mechanism comprises a threaded shaft 40, a tower 42 and a gear
set, all of
steel. The tower 42 has an interiorly-threaded tower bore 48 and extends
upwardly from
the base of the outer leg 30 to which it is rigidly secured. The threaded
shaft 40 is
threadingly engaged in the tower bore 48 and is rotatably mounted by a bearing
50,52 to
the inner leg 28, such that rotation of the threaded shaft 40 causes
telescopic movement
of the inner leg 28 with respect to the outer leg 30. The gear set includes a
pair of 90
bevel gears 44,46, one 44 being rigidly secured to the threaded shaft 40 and
the other 46,
shown in phantom outline, being mounted to a stub shaft 148 (identified in
FIG. 3) which
is operatively rotatably mounted to the inner leg 28 for rotation about an
axis X2 normal
to the axis X1 of threaded shaft 40 such that rotation of the threaded shaft
40 causes
rotation of the stub shaft 148 and vice versa. The stub shaft 148 terminates
in a female
socket receptacle 150, also seen in FIG. 3.
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The work top brackets 34 are secured one on each inner leg 28 and define
respective
horizontal, upwardly-presenting surfaces when the uprights 22A,22B are
oriented upright
and on the outer legs thereof 30.
As best seen in FIG. 4, actuator 36 is for selectively driving the elevation
mechanism of
the one upright 22A and comprises a crank shaft 54 rotatably mounted to the
inner leg 28
of the one upright 22A and terminating in a further 900 bevel gear 56 in mesh
with the
gear 44 secured to the threaded shaft 40.
The bridge 26 is a steel member welded to the outer legs 30 to rigidly secure
the outer
legs 30 together in spaced, parallel relation to one another.
A pair of the modules 20 is shown in use in FIGS. 1,2, in a workstation 58A
which forms
another aspect of the invention. In addition to the modules 20, the
workstation 58A
comprises a pair of rectangular work tops 60, specifically, two work tops 60,
arranged in
back-to-back relation.
Each work top 60 has a pair of ends 62.
The modules 20 are secured to the work tops 60 in alternating relation.
Specifically, the
inner legs 28 are secured to the work tops 60 via the brackets 34, which are
screwed (not
shown) or otherwise conventionally fastened to the underside of the work tops
60. So
secured, each work top 60 is supported at its ends 62,62 by a respective pair
of the
modules 20,20, each upright 22A,22B supports a respective work top end 62,62
and, in
the uprights 22A,22B supporting each work top 60, there is one of the uprights
22A
having the actuator 36.
Workstation 58A further comprises a rigid shaft transmission element 66A in
the form of
a rigid shaft for each work top 60 which operatively couples the elevation
mechanisms of
the uprights 22A,22B supporting said each work top 60 such that operation of
crank shaft
54 of the one upright 22A causes telescopic movement of the uprights 22A,22B
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supporting said each work top 60 and horizontal, independent movement of said
each
work top 60.
As best seen in FIG. 5, to provide for said operative coupling, the rigid
shaft transmission
element 66A terminates at its ends in male socket receptacles 68,70 shaped and
dimensioned for driving engagement with the female receptacles 50 of the stub
shafts 48.
One 70 of the male socket receptacles is spring-mounted, and can be manually
withdrawn
by retraction of a thumb latch 72, so as to enable the ends of the rigid shaft
transmission
element 66A to be fitted into opposed stub shaft sockets 50,50 in use.
According to another aspect of the invention, the module forms part of a
modular
furniture system 74 the elements of which include, in addition to the module
20, the
rectangular work top 60 and the rigid shaft transmission element 66A, an L-
shaped work
top 76, a generally boomerang-shaped work top 78, an arcuate work top 80, a
non-
rectangular quadrilateral work tops 82,83 of two orientations and an
articulated
transmission element 66B, all as shown in FIG. 5. The L-shaped work top 76,
boomerang
shaped work top 78, arcuate work top 80 and non-rectangular quadrilateral work
top
82,83 are all substantially similar to the rectangular work top 60, but for
their shape in
plan. The articulated tranmission element 66B is substantially similar to the
transmission
element 66A but includes a pair of shafts 182 coupled by a conventional
universal joint
84.
The furniture system elements can be deployed to form workstations with
multiple,
adjustable-height work tops, the workstations being characterized in that,
therein, the
module is used in a grouping of two or more with an equal grouping of work
tops, and
the modules and worktops are secured to one another in alternating relation
such that
each work top is supported at its ends by a respective pair of modules and is
independently height-adjustable.
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One configuration of the elements is shown in the workstation 58B shown in
FIG. 6,
which includes three of the boomerang-shaped work tops 78, three of the
modules 20 and
three of the articulated transmission elements 66B operatively coupled in a
closed loop.
Another configuration of the elements is shown in the workstation 58C shown in
FIG. 7,
which shows six of the quadrilateral work tops 82,83, six of the modules 20
and six of
the rigid shaft transmission elements 66A arranged in a Y grouping, and eight
of the
modules 20, eight of the arcuate work tops 80 and eight of the rigid shaft
transmission
elements 66A shown extending in an arc from one branch of the Y grouping.
Yet another configuration of the elements is shown in the workstation 58D
illustrated in
FIG. 8, which shows four of the L-shaped work tops 76, four of the modules 20
and four
of the articulated transmission elements 66B arranged in a cruciform
arrangement.
Whereas but a single embodiment of the module is herein shown, it will be
understood
that numerous changes thereto can be made thereto without departing from the
scope of
the invention.
For example, whereas the uprights illustrated take the form of inner and outer
tubes
arranged telescopically, other mechanisms for height adjustability could
readily be
provided, such as linear slides or turnscrews.
As well, whereas the bridge shown couples the top ends of the outer legs, the
bridge
could readily be lowered to an intermediate position, or to a position which
runs along
the floor in use, or could take the form of a panel or the like spanning
between the
uprights.
Similarly, whereas in the modules shown, the outer legs of the uprights are
fixed
together, the module could easily be reversed, such that the inner legs were
fixed
together, and the outer legs raised and lowered telescopically.
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Further, whereas the described elevation mechanism takes the form of a
threaded shaft
and shaft tower, other elevation mechanisms, for example, hydraulics or
pneumatics
could be employed.
Moreover, whereas a crank arrangement is shown, other forms of actuator could
be
employed, for example, a single electric motor. Alternatively, electric motors
could be
provided on each upright, in which case, the actuator could be a switch and
the
transmission element could be an electrical conductor.
Additionally, whereas only six work top variations are shown, other variations
are
possible. Further, whereas only four workstation configurations are shown, it
will be
readily appreciated that numerous variations are possible.
Accordingly, it should be understood that the invention is intended to be
limited only by
the accompanying claims, purposively construed.
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