AU659918B2 - Improved height adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

65991

D

Name of Applicant: CARLTON MANUFACTURING CO PTY LTD Actual Inventor: GRAEME STANLEY WARD Address for Service: R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: IMPROVED HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT DEVICE Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PL 1204 dated 6th March 1992.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

-1- This invention relates to improvements in furniture construction and in particular to a height adjustment means which may allow for example work surfaces or desk tops to be adjusted in height, and to furniture that is provided with service ducting.

One aspect of this invention will find many applications, and in particular it will be extremely useful in the adjustment of work surfaces such as desks and table tops. However, it should be realised that this aspect of the invention is not restricted to this particular application, as it may also be useful for other applications where the adjustment of height of a particular article or fixture is required. However, for convenience, the invention will be described in relation to its application to furniture such as desks.

The provision of height adjustable work surfaces on desks is relatively common, and is generally accepted as a requirement for a comfortable and safe working environment.

Anatomical differences, and differences in the type of S" seating used mean that a work surface on a desk will need to be adjustable to suit any one particular individual.

In the past, such height adjustment means have normally used cumbersome frames and control mechanisms which are rather unsightly in appearance. Such arrangements give the impression that the height adjustment mechanism is an add on or after thought, and therefore result in a design having a 3D displeasing appearance.

It is an object of this invention to provide a height adjustment means that is less obvious, while at the same time provide an ease of use that readily facilitates height adjustment.

In its broadest form the invention is a height adjustment means /operable between eachleg of the desk and the desk work surface to adjust the height of the work 2 surface comprising, a substantially hollow elongate leg member, having a vertical slot along one side, a vertically arranged track located within said leg member, a roller carriage having at least two track engaging rollers which allow said carriage to move along said track, but which prevent rotation of the carriage with respect to the track, a bracket attached at one end of said carriage and at the other end to said work surface that is arranged to move vertically within said slot, and jacking means positioned between said work surface and said leg member for adjusting the vertical position of said work surface.

Preferably, the bracket and carriage are integrally formed, with the rollers rotatably secured thereto. The track means may comprise a single longitudinal rod. In this example, a pair of rollers may be used to engage either side of the elongate rod which will allow longitudinal movement of the carriage along the track means while at the same time preventing rotation of the carriage with respect to the track means.

"As a preferred alternative, at least four rollers may be eeoc used on the carriage, and the track means may comprise a pair of track channels which face one another so that the carriage 25 locates between the tracks.

Preferably, the leg member comprise a hollow section with the tracks being located within the hollow section. In one example, the leg member and track channels may be .0 integrally formed in an extruded hollow section. A slot is formed on one side of the hollow section so as to allow location of the bracket within the slot.

The jacking means may comprise a number of different types of devices arranged between the work surface and leg member. Examples include jacking screws and pneumatic cylinders, Preferably a post is secured to the underneath surface of the work surface and the leg member has a recess 3 within which the post slidably locates. The post may be tubular and the jacking means may be located within the post.

A preferred embodiment will now be described, but it should be realised that the scope of the invention is not to be confined or restricted to the precise nature of this embodiment.

This embodiment is illustrated in the following representations in which: Fig 1 which shows an exploded view of a desk leg incorporating the height adjustment means; Fig 2 which shows a cross-sectional view of the height adjustment means; In this embodiment, as illustrated in Fig 1 the height adjustment means 10 comprises a roller carriage 11, a track means comprising a pair of track channels 12, a leg member 13 and a post 14.

As can be seen in the illustration, the carriage is fitted with four rollers 16 which are spaced so as to allow the carriage to locate between the track channels 12 with respective rollers 16 engaging each of the tracks 12. This illows vertical movement of the carriage 11 with respect to the track channels 12 while at the same time preventing rotation of the carriage 11 with respect to the track channels 12.

.30 In this embodiment, the leg member 13 is formed from an extruded aluminium section which is best illustrated in Fig 2. The leg member 13 comprises walls 18 with tubular ends 19. The tracks 12 are formed on the internal surface of the tubular ends 19. The leg member 13 is provided with an elongate slot 20 on one side which enables the bracket 21 to extend therethrough. The bracket 21 is integrally formed with the roller carriage 11, and has an arm 22 which in this embodiment is attached to the work surface of a desk (not drawn).

4 In this embodiment, the post 14 comprises a tube 24 which is secured to the desk working surface. A jacking bolt is used to adjust the height of the work surface. The tube 24 slidably locates within one of the tubular ends 19 of the leg member 13. The tubular end 19 acts to guide the tube 24, thereby assisting in maintaining a level orientation of the desk work surface.

The jacking bolt 25 threadably engages an bush 26 which in turn which is secured to the leg member 13. The head of the jacking bolt 25 is rotatably secured with respect to the upper end of the tube 24. Therefore, by rotating the jacking bolt 25, the work surface of the desk can be raised or lowered.

To further increase the stability of the height adjustment means 10, the arm 22 is secured to the tube 24.

This improves the rigidity of the height adjustment means thereby improving the stability of the desk working surface.

S As shown in Fig 1, the leg member 13 is attached to a foot 28 for support of the desk. The leg member 13 thereby forms the leg of the desk. To improve the rig.dity of the desk leg, a further tube 29 may be located throigh the tubular end 19 of the leg member 13. As seen in Fig 2, the leg member 13 has a planar edge 30 which enables the edge to be secured to other fittings associated with the desk.

For example, it may be secured to a further hollow section which is used to convey electricity and data cables to the .3b top of the desk. Alternatively, as shown in Fig 2 a decorative channel 31 may be secured thereto with a further support tube 32 located therein. The support tube 32 may be used to support partitions or other panels, and is secured to the tube 29 via threaded fastener 33. The decorative channel 31 is secured to the cover means 13 via clips 34.

Obviously, height adjustment means 10 may be provided on either side of a desk, such that a mirror image of the 5 arrangement shown in Fig 1 is provided for the right hand side of a desk. In addition, although Fig 1 shows a jacking bolt 25 used to adjust the height of a desk work surface, hydraulic or pneumatic operating mechanisms may be incorporated within the tube 24.

In addition to supporting a desk work surface, the leg member 13 may also support shelf fittings and fixtures or partitions which may be associated with the desk. In these instances, support tubes which are located in the tubular ends 19 may extend upwardly so as to support shelves or other cabinets at an elevated height. In addition, these tubes ma'r be used to support additional partitioning both at the rear and the sides of the desk.

It will be realised from the above description, that the invention not only provides a unique means of providing for height adjustment, but in addition facilitates the construction of desks by inclusion of other fittings and features which results in a desk having a clean and pleasing design.

6

Claims (8)

1. A height adjustment means for a desk operable between a leg of the desk and the desk work surface to adjust the height of the work surface comprising, a substantially hollow elongate leg member, having a vertical slot along one side, a vertically arranged track located within said leg member, a roller carriage having at least two track engaging rollers which allow said carriage to move along said track, but which prevent rotation of the carriage with respect to the track, a bracket attached at one end of said carriage and at the other end to said work surface that is arranged to move vertically within said slot, and jacking means positioned between said work surface and said leg member for adjusting the vertical position of said work surface.

2. A height adjustment means according the claim 1 wherein Ssaid track comprises a pair of track channels that face each other between which said carriage locates. S

3. A height adjustment means according to claim 2 wherein said carriage has four rollers, two rollers arranged to engage each said track channel.

4. A height adjustment means according to either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said leg member is an extrusion having said track channels formed within said extrusion.

5. A height adjustment means according to any one of the oeooo preceding claims wherein a post is secured to the under surface of said work surface, and said leg member has a recess within which said post slidably locates to retain said post as the work surface is moved up or down. -7-

6. A height adjustment means according to claim 5 wherein said jacking means comprises a screw threaded shaft extending through said post that is rotatably secured at one end to said work surface so that movement of said shaft along its longitudinal axis is restrained but so that rotation of said shaft is not, the other end of said shaft threadably engaged with said leg member so that rotation of said shaft in either direction causes the work surface to either raise or lower with respect to said leg.

7. A height adjustment means according to claim 5 wherein said post is a tube and said jacking means comprises a pneumatic cylinder secured between the work surface and said leg member that is located within said tube.

8. A height adjustment means as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying representations. Dated this 15th day of March, 1995. CARLTON MANUFACTURING CO PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys S" R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES 1- V ABSTRACT This invention relates to a height adjustment means which will allow adjustment of the height of work surfaces or desk tops. In its broadest form the height adjustment means operates between each leg of a desk and the desk work surface so as to adjust the height of the work surface, and comprises a substantially hollow elongate leg member (13) having a vertical slot (20) along one side, a vertically arranged track (12) located within the leg member a roller carriage (11) having at least two track engaging rollers (16) which allow the carriage (11) to move along the track but which prevent rotation of the carriage (11) with respect to the track a bracket (21, 22) attached at one end of the carriage (11) and at the other end to the work surface, the bracket (21, 22) being arranged to move vertically within the slot and jacking means (14) positioned between the work surface and leg member (13) for adjusting the vertical position of the work surface. A height adjustment means in accordance with the invention results in a mechanism having a much cleaner and neater appearance. V.o o o oooo