Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
ERGONOMIC, HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE WORK SURFACE
FIELD
Height Adjustable Work Surfaces.
BACKGROUND
Height adjustable work surfaces are well known, and commonly used in the
context of providing a surface for ironing clothes. Existing height adjustable
work surfaces
typically feature legs which are cross-connected with each other, forming a
folding
structure.
Height adjustable work surfaces can also be used for studying or working on
projects and crafts. Adjustment of the height of a work surface at frequent
intervals so as to
alternate between sitting and standing positions may be desirable. As well,
persons of
varying heights may wish to use the same work surface. Accordingly, the
mechanism for
raising and lowering a height adjustable work surface should be designed so
that height
adjustments are completed quickly and easily.
Transporting height adjustable work surfaces to multiple locations completing
different tasks may be desirable. Accordingly, height adjustable work surfaces
should be
designed so that transportation is convenient and comfortable.
Existing height adjustable work surfaces can require the performance of
multiple
actions in order to complete an adjustment of the work surface height, or to
collapse the
work surface completely. The task of completing of adjustments to the height
of the work
surface can interrupt work processes being performed. It is desirable that
interruptions to
other work processes be short in duration. Accordingly, the mechanism for
raising and
lowering a height-adjustable work surface should be designed so that
adjustments are simple
and require little time to complete.
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Manually raising and lowering existing height adjustable work surfaces
requires
the application of physical effort that is proportional to the size and weight
of the work
surface. Multiple adjustments to the height of a work surface may become
difficult for some
people due to the amount of physical effort necessary. Accordingly, the
mechanism for
raising and lowering a height adjustable work surface should be designed so
that the amount
of physical effort required to adjust the height of the work surface is
minimized and
comfortable.
SUMMARY
There is provided a work surface of adjustable height that is adapted to be
collapsed during storage and transportation comprising a table member of
predetermined
length and width having an upper and a lower surface, means for adjusting the
height of said
table attached to said lower surface and longitudinal support means. The
support means
includes two leg members which are cross-connected with each other, forming a
folding
structure. Leg members are hollow, rectangular, and have a transverse hollow
tubular foot
member attached to both ends of said leg members. It is desirable for
stability purposes that
the foot members be equivalent in length to the width of the table member. The
juncture
where the leg members are cross-connected is located one third of the distance
of the length
of the leg members from the upper foot members.
Typically, work surfaces of this field will have one of said leg members
pivotally
attached to said lower surface of table, with the other being pivotally
attached to a sliding
rail mechanism for adjusting height which is attached to said lower surface of
table. Said
mechanism will typically include of a friction lock which is releasable by a
lever attached to
the lower surface of the table. Conventional work surfaces are adjusted for
height by
grasping the both sides of the width of the table and lifting or lowering the
table top
manually. The friction lock lever is released when the table is at the desired
height.
In the present invention, the upper foot member of one leg member is pivotally
attached to the lower surface of the table. The other leg member is not
attached to the lower
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surface of table, allowing said table to rotate on the axis of that foot
member which is
attached the lower surface of table. The present invention does not include a
sliding rail
mechanism or friction lock lever.
A horizontally oriented handle will be attached or incorporated into the end
of
the table opposite that end of the table to which the attached leg member is
located. The
handle will be positioned in the middle of the width of the work surface.
A horizontally oriented handle will be attached or incorporated into the side
of
the table. The handle will be positioned along the length of the work surface,
one third of
the length of the table from that end to which the end handle is attached.
In its collapsed state, a foot member will protrude from beneath that end of
the
work surface where the end handle is located. Prior to raising the work
surface from its
collapsed position, the person performing the adjustment will position his or
her self at the
end of the table where the handle is located and brace against the floor with
his or her foot,
that lower foot member which is located at the same end as the handle. The
work surface is
then raised by grasping the handle and lifting this end of the table to a
diagonal position and
pulling the table inward.
Pulling the lifted end of the table inward will elevate the table in a
diagonal
motion and force the attached leg member to pivot at the foot member that is
attached to the
lower surface of the table. The attached leg member will also pivot on the
floor at the point
where it has been braced by the person raising the table. As the table is
pulled upward, the
attached leg member is raised. As the leg member that is attached to the table
is raised, that
leg member that is connected to the attached leg is also raised at the point
of their juncture.
The leg member that is connected to the attached leg will pivot freely at the
point of their
juncture, with its lower foot member resting on the floor while its upper foot
member rises
to a height which corresponds to the height of that upper foot member which is
attached to
the lower surface of the table.
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Adjustments to the height of the work surface are secured by lowering that end
of the table to which the handle is attached onto the upper foot of the
unattached leg
member, when said foot member is at the desired height. The lower surface of
the left side
of the table includes two corresponding rows of attached catches which are
spaced at
equivalent intervals. The placement of said catches will cause the upper foot
of the
unattached leg member to rest against the lower surface of the table.
Prior to lowering the work surface to a collapsed position, the person
performing
the adjustment will position his or her self at the end of the table where the
handle is located
and brace against the floor with his or her foot, that lower foot member which
is located at
the same end as the handle. The person will grasp the handle and pull inward
so that the
catches attached to the lower surface of the table are not in contact with the
upper foot
member. The end of the table is lifted to a diagonal position. The person will
lower the
work surface by extending that arm which is grasping the handle in a diagonal
and
downward direction towards the floor. As the table is lowered, the leg members
will fold at
their juncture. As the leg members fold, their respective foot members will
extend
horizontally outward. The lowered table will rest directly on top of the
folded leg members.
Prior to transporting the work surface, it is lowered to a collapsed position.
While it is in a collapsed state, the leg members are secured to the lower
surface of the table
by two adjustable catches. The work surface is then lifted onto its side using
the attached
handle. The work surface is transported by further lifting the table off of
the floor, allowing
it to be carried to a desired location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features will become more apparent from the following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
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FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the work surface of the present invention in
the
collapsed state.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a work surface of the present invention, said work
surface being shown during the initial phase of elevation from a collapsed
state.
FIG. 3 is a side view of a work surface of the present invention, said work
surface being shown during the secondary phase of elevation from a collapsed
state.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a work surface of the present invention, said work
surface being shown elevated to sitting height.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the work surface of the present invention, said work
surface being shown elevated to standing height.
FIG. 6 is an end view of the work surface of the present invention, said work
surface being shown elevated to standing height.
