Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Vertically adjustable – By telescoping
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-12-11
Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Vertically adjustable
By telescoping
C248S188400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327985
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a desk and, more particularly, to a desk which is preferably used in offices or at home.
BACKGROUND ART
Desks are generally standardized at a height of a top plate to a certain degree. However, if several different standards exist or the standard varies in countries, a desk having a different specification has to be made according to the standard. In addition, a learning desk for children has to be changed in a height of a top plate in accordance with a growth degree of a child. However, it is a waste if the desk is traded for a new one every time the child grows.
Under these circumstances, a desk wherein a height of a top plate can be changed by means of a height adjust mechanism has been developed and is in use presently.
Generally, in an ordinary desk, adjusters are provided at a plurality of positions where each of a bottom end of the legs is supported and level adjustment by means of the adjusters makes it possible to cooperate with an uneven floor on which the desk is placed. In the above-mentioned desk, an adjuster adjust mechanism and a height adjust mechanism are separately incorporated into the desk. This increases a number of components and processing steps and it would become a factor which hinders a promotion of lowering cost and weight or of simplifying an arrangement of the desk.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, attention is paid to a point that both an adjuster adjust mechanism and a top plate height adjust mechanism are done by an operation of up and down. From the above viewpoint, these functions are carried out by a common mechanism in the desk of the invention.
More specifically, the desk in accordance with the invention is characterized by that a height of a top plate can be changed through a height adjust mechanism within a predetermined range which is larger than a level adjust amount by means of an ordinary adjuster wherein the top plate is supported by a plurality of expansible leg support posts, and the height adjust mechanism makes use of the leg support posts and can adjust an expansile amount of the leg support posts individually within the predetermined range through a little larger than the predetermined range. In the above case, the range within the predetermined range through a little larger than the predetermined range means both a range within the predetermined range and a range within a little larger than the predetermined range.
The leg support post may comprise a support post member and a grounding member which is arranged at the lower end of the support post member and which can protrude or recede, and the height adjust mechanism may be provided with a fixing member which fixes the grounding member to the support post member at a predetermined position.
To obtain an improved operationability and stability with a simple arrangement, it is effective if the leg support post comprises a support post member and a grounding member which is arranged at the lower end of the support post and which can protrude or recede, and the height adjust mechanism comprises a screw means which helically connects the support post member and the grounding member with allowing the support post member to make an up and down movement.
More concretely, it is effective if the screw means comprises a nut member which is mounted on the support post member unrotatably and a screw shaft which projects upward over the grounding member and the projecting side is helically connected with the nut member.
It is preferable that the grounding member is provided with a handling portion which is to allow the screw shaft to screw up and down relative to the nut member.
To improve appearance regardless of a position at which the leg support post is adjusted, it is preferable that a cover is mounted on the support post member with the upper end thereof allowed to make a sliding movement up and down and the cover is so arranged that a lower end thereof covers the grounding member and the handling portion.
In the above case, to secure an improved operationability, it is effective if a movable position which alternatively exposes the handling portion is provided at a part of an underside of the cover.
As described above, the desk in accordance with the invention has an arrangement in which the top plate is supported by a plurality of expansible leg support posts and the height adjust mechanism makes use of the leg support posts and can adjust an expansile amount of the leg support posts individually within the predetermined range through a little larger than the predetermined range.
In accordance with the arrangement, when each of the leg support posts is adjusted to change substantially the same amount by operating the height adjust mechanism, the height of the top plate is also changed within the predetermined range in accordance with the adjusted amount. When several of the leg support posts are adjusted to change just a little, the level of the adjusted leg support posts only is changed, thereby to be able to cope with an uneven floor.
As mentioned above, the height adjust mechanism carries out a function to adjust not only the height of the top plate but also the level of each leg support posts. Therefore, the cost and the weight of the desk can be reduced due to a common component used for different objects, and appearance of the desk can also be kept in a good looking condition. In addition, with the adjustment applied, it becomes possible to effectively adjust the top plate so as to be horizontal when placed on a steeply inclined floor.
As a result, it becomes possible for the height adjust mechanism to carry out a function not only to adjust the height of the top plate but also to adjust a level of every leg support post individually and it can effectively conduct adjustment to an inclined floor.
If the leg support post comprises a support post member and a grounding member and the height adjust mechanism is provided with a fixing member which fixes the grounding member to the support post member at a predetermined position, the leg support post can be expansible with a simple arrangement and stability can also be secured.
Especially, if the leg support post comprises a support post member and a grounding member and the support post member and the grounding member are connected by a screw means which comprises a nut member and a screw shaft, an improved operationability and stability can be obtained with a simple arrangement. In addition, since the leg support post can be kept in an adjusted position by itself when expansile amount is adjusted, there is no need of other fixing operation and fixing members.
If the grounding member is provided with a handling portion which gives a force to operate the screw means, the handling portion and the grounding member can be made integrally, resulting in a merit in a processing step.
If a cover is mounted on the support post member with the upper end thereof allowed to make a sliding movement up and down and the cover is so arranged that a lower end thereof covers the grounding member and the handling portion, appearance of the leg support post can be kept in a good looking condition no matter what position the leg support post is adjusted.
In this case, if a movable member which alternatively exposes the handling portion to a side of the cover is mounted on the lower end of the cover, there is no need to move the cover so as to slide every time the handling portion is handled, thereby to simplify the operation of adjusting a level of the leg support post.
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patent: 0743033 (1996-11-01), None
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patent: 10-211046 (1998-08-01), None
Frenkler Fritz
Kolberg Justus
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Chen José V.
Kokuyo Co. Ltd.
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