Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Vertically adjustable – Articulated link shifts surface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-13
2001-09-04
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Vertically adjustable
Articulated link shifts surface
C108S147000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283047
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a height-adjustable table or the like.
2. Descussion of the Prior Art
It is advisable, for considerations concerned with health and safety at work, for a person to avoid the same working postures for prolonged periods, which calls for work stations which enable different working postures to be adopted even during monotonous work. Particularly in the case of work stations predominantly involving a seated activity, such as, for example, video or CAD work stations, there is the risk, because of the working posture remaining the same for a long period, of excessive fatigue or even an occurrence of muscular-skeletal complaints.
WO 95/15097-A1 discloses a height-adjustable table which permits the table height to be adjusted using gas-filled compression springs. This table has the disadvantage that a height adjustment is only possible if there are no heavy loads on the table, and so this table is not suitable, for example, for a video or CAD work station in which the working equipment, in particular the video screens which are customarily relatively large and correspondingly heavy, stands on the table. A further disadvantage of the known height-adjustable table resides in the fact that even small changes in local necessitate changing the position of the gas-filled compression spring by means of a setting screw in order to compensate for the change in load so as then to be able to adjust the table height.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a height-adjustable table or the like whose height can be adjusted in a simple manner even when the loads in effect are relatively large.
The invention is achieved, in particular, by means of a height-adjustable table comprising a base, a support for holding a tabletop, a moveable connecting means which supports the support in a height-adjustable manner with respect to the base, and also a pneumatic, pressure-actuable counterweight element which is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to a reservoir and is operatively arranged between the base and the support in such a manner that a reaction force can be generated acting counter to a gravitational force acting on the support. The counterweight element together with the reservoir form a closed volume containing a fluid.
The counterweight element and also the reservoir connected to it in a fluid-conducting manner form a closed volume, so that the amount of fluid enclosed in the closed volume is constant. A gas, in particular air, is suitable as the fluid. A cylinder having a displaceable piston, a balloon, a bellows cylinder, a U-type bellows cylinder, a tubular cylinder or a gas-filled compression spring is particularly suitable as the counterweight element. During a state hereby termed the normal state, the pressure of the air in the closed volume is adapted in such a manner to the gravitational force G acting on the support that a force is generated acting counter to the gravitational force G and the tabletop, together with all of the objects situated on it, is approximately in a position of equilibrium. For this purpose, a fluid has first of all to be supplied to the closed volume in order to compensate for the gravitational force G acting on the support and thereby to achieve the normal state. After that, the fluid is only supplied to or removed from the closed volume if the acting gravitational force G changes.
In order to avoid unintentionally adjusting the table height, a locking device is provided which fixes the position of the table at a designated working height.
One advantage of the height-adjustable table according to the invention resides in the fact that a height adjustment is possible manually and without external power. For this purpose, the locking device is released, the table height adjusted in a smooth-running manner and with negligibly little effort, and after that the locking device is again engaged. Since the table is in an at least approximate position of equilibrium, its height can be adjusted in a very smooth-running manner even with relatively heavy loads situated on the table.
In a preferred embodiment, the locking device permits an infinitely variable locking of the working height. In a further preferred embodiment, the locking device is arranged on the table surface or in the vicinity of the table surface in such a manner that the locking device can be operated and, at the same time, the height of the table can be adjusted using the same hand. Owing to the smooth-running height adjustment, the table can be brought very easily to the working height desired in each case, it being particularly convenient for the table height to directly follow the hand movement, which gives the person setting the height immediate feedback over the actual height, so that the person setting it can very conveniently and very rapidly establish which height is optimum for the particular requirements. In addition, it is possible, by means of a slight movement to and from around the preferred height range, to establish which height is felt to be the most convenient. A substantial advantage of the height-adjustable table according to the invention resides in the fact that the height adjustment takes place in a manner which is agreeable in every aspect for the person setting it, since a setting is possible which is rapid, can be set precisely, is smooth-running and is associated with a tactile or motor feedback. It is only thanks to this convenient operability that the person is motivated to undertake a height adjustment of the table more frequently, under some circumstances even several times daily, which is desirable for reasons concerned with ergonomics or health and safety at work. The previously known height-adjustable tables, for example driven by motor, do indeed permit a height adjustment, but this is generally felt to be so awkward or inconvenient that the height adjustability is only used rarely and not regularly.
The air pressure in the counterweight element and also in the reservoir can be set in such a manner that the tabletop, together with all of the objects situated on it, is approximately in a position of equilibrium. If additional, heavier objects are placed onto the tabletop, for example when a video screen is being replaced, air is pumped into the otherwise closed volume of the counterweight element and reservoir. For this purpose, use can be made, for example, of a separate compressed air container whose compressed air can be discharged via a valve of the reservoir in a meterable manner to the otherwise closed volume in such a manner that the table is again in a position of equilibrium. The compressed air could also, for example, be generated using a bicycle pump which can supply it directly to the otherwise closed volume via a valve. If the load resting on the table surface is reduced, the pressure in the otherwise closed volume can be reduced in such a manner that a position of equilibrium can again be produced, which is possible, for example, by virtue of the fact that an actuable valve permitting a controlled escape of air is arranged on the reservoir. One advantage of the height-adjustable table according to the invention resides in the fact that adaptation to a changed weight load to be supported by the table is possible in a simple manner without spring elements being replaced, without intervention by specialist staff and without the necessity of external power.
One advantage of the height-adjustable table according to the invention resides in the fact that a counterweight element can be produced with any desired flat spring characteristic, which has the result that the height adjustment of the tabletop from the lowest position to the uppermost position requires approximately the same small effort. The spring characteristic is all the flatter the larger the volume of the reservoir is selected to be. The volume is dimensioned in such a manner that the entire closed volume formed by the reservoir, the counterweight element and a connecting tube possibly
Anderson Jerry A.
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Cuomo Peter M.
Techinnovation GmbH
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