AU2016204557A1

AU2016204557A1 - Desk with height adjustment

Info

Publication number: AU2016204557A1
Application number: AU2016204557A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shelby GRAINGER; Ian Harker
Original assignee: ZENITH INTERIORS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ZENITH INTERIORS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-02
Filing date: 2016-06-30
Publication date: 2017-01-19
Also published as: NZ721795A; CN106308035A

Abstract

A desk including a working platform for supporting work materials and a support structure arranged to sit on a floor surface and to support the working platform relative to 5 the support structure, wherein the desk further includes a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting height of the working platform relative to the support structure, a cable conduit extending between the support structure and the working surface, and a cable housing carried by the working platform for housing a surplus length of the cable conduit, the cable conduit being arranged to feed progressively inwardly to the cable housing as the working 10 platform is lowered relative to the support structure and to feed progressively outwardly from the cable housing as the working platform is raised relative to the support structure.

Description

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Field of the Invention 5 The invention relates to a desk with height adjustment and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a desk with height adjustment providing a neat and convenient cabling arrangement.

Background of the Invention 10

It is known to provide a desk having a working surface which is able to be adjusted in height relative to a floor surface, for example to enable a user to select between sitting at the desk and standing at the desk. While this type of arrangement may be beneficial to the posture and general health of a user, the applicant has identified that there are drawbacks in 15 relation to the cabling necessary to accommodate the height-adjustability of the desk.

In particular, the applicant has identified that electronic devices typically mounted on a desk working surface, such as a computer and/or a telephone, may not have a cable length sufficient to accommodate the full range of height adjustability of the desk. 20 Specifically, the cables may reach their full extent causing the cables to become unplugged, possibly limiting height movement of the desk, or even causing damage to the electronic devices. Alternatively, sufficient cable length may be provided, however that may lead to an unsightly and potentially dangerous surplus of cables when the desk is in a lowered configuration. The applicant has determined that it would be advantageous to 25 address one or more of these disadvantages of existing desk arrangements.

Examples of the present invention seek to provide an improved height-adjustable desk which overcomes or at least alleviates disadvantages associated with existing desks. 2016204557 30 Jun2016 2

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a desk including a 5 working platform for supporting work materials and a support structure arranged to sit on a floor surface and to support the working platform relative to the support structure, wherein the desk further includes a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting height of the working platform relative to the support structure, a cable conduit extending between the support structure and the working platform, and a cable housing carried by the working 10 platform for housing a surplus length of the cable conduit, the cable conduit being arranged to feed progressively inwardly to the cable housing as the working platform is lowered relative to the support structure and to feed progressively outwardly from the cable housing as the working platform is raised relative to the support structure. 15 In a preferred form, the cable conduit is arranged to roll into a loop in the cable housing as the working platform is lowered relative to the support structure.

Preferably, the cable conduit is arranged to overlap itself within the cable housing, progressively with more overlap as the working platform is lowered relative to the support 20 structure.

Preferably, the cable conduit is fixed relative to the working platform at a fixing, and wherein the cable conduit is arranged to roll distally progressively further beyond the fixing as the platform is lowered. More preferably, the fixing is located inside the cable 25 housing.

In a preferred form, the cable conduit rolls in a plane as it rolls into said loop. More preferably, the cable conduit is restricted from bending outside said plane. 30 Preferably, the cable conduit is articulated. 3 2016204557 30 Jun2016

In one form, the cable conduit has a bend and the bend moves progressively along the length of the cable conduit as the working platform is lowered relative to the support structure. 5 In a preferred form, the cable conduit is formed of a plurality of links, each link being pivotally mounted to one or more adjacent links such that each link is pivotable along an axis substantially transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the cable conduit.

Preferably, the desk includes a power supply cable for supplying power to the 10 working platform, and the power supply cable is fed along the cable conduit between the support structure and the working platform. More preferably, the desk includes a power socket carried by the working platform and the power socket is supplied with power by the power supply cable. Even more preferably, the power socket is located inside the cable housing. 15

Preferably, the cable housing has an opening which is moveable between a closed condition in which an interior of the cable housing is concealed and an open condition in which the interior is accessible to a user. More preferably, the cable housing is formed as a flexible pouch moulded from a non-woven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) panel. 20

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 25

Figure 1 is a front view of a desk in accordance with an example of the present invention, with the desk shown in a raised condition;

Figure 2 is a detailed view of a cable housing of the desk; 30

Figure 3 is a detailed view of a cable conduit leading to a power outlet mounted inside the cable housing; 4 2016204557 30 Jun2016

Figure 4 shows the cable conduit extending between a support structure of the desk and the cable housing; 5 Figure 5 shows a perspective front view of the desk in the raised condition;

Figure 6 shows a cable housing in accordance with an alternative example of the present invention; 10 Figure 7 shows a desk in accordance with another example of the present invention; and

Figure 8 shows detail of a lower end of a cable conduit of the desk shown in Figure 7. 15 Detailed Description

With reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the drawings, there is shown a desk 10 having a neat, convenient and safe arrangement for cabling which allows for the full degree of height-adjustability of the desk 10. Advantageously, the desk 10 includes a cable housing 20 for housing a cable surplus, as well as an articulated cable conduit which is able to coil itself inside the cable housing to neatly accommodate a length of cabling kept in reserve. The desk 10 may also have split cabling such that appliances mounted on a surface of the desk are plugged into an outlet which moves with the working surface of the desk, thereby avoiding the cables becoming unplugged inadvertently when the height of the desk is 25 adjusted. The arrangement shown also enables the desk to maintain a neat appearance and avoids excessive cabling becoming a safety issue, particularly as excessive cabling can become an obstacle which can cause tripping and injuries in the workplace.

More specifically, with reference to Figures 1 to 8, there is shown a desk 10 30 including a working platform 12 (see Figure 5) for supporting work materials/devices and a support structure 14 arranged to sit on a floor surface 16 and to support the working 2016204557 30 Jun2016 5 platform 12 relative to the support structure 14. As shown in Figure 5, the support structure 14 may include legs 18 and a horizontal body 20 which may be used for feeding cabling to the desk 10 and/or for feeding cabling through the desk 10 to be connected to adjacent desks so that cabling in a bank of desks can be supported above the floor surface 5 16 and potentially hidden from view.

The desk 10 includes a height adjustment mechanism 22 which may include telescopic struts 24 as well as a control system for controlling height adjustment of the working platform 12 relative to the support structure 14. A cable conduit 26 extends 10 between the support structure 14 and the working platform 12, and a cable housing 28 is carried by the working platform 12 for housing a surplus length of the cable conduit 26. The cable conduit 26 is arranged to feed progressively inwardly to the cable housing 28 as the working platform 12 is lowered relative to the support structure 14 and to feed progressively outwardly from the cable housing 28 as the working platform 12 is raised 15 relative to the support structure 14.

The cable conduit 26 is arranged to roll into a loop 30 in the cable housing 28 as the working platform 12 is lowered relative to the support structure 14. In particular, the cable conduit 26 is arranged to overlap itself within the cable housing 28, progressively 20 with more overlap as the working platform 12 is lowered relative to the support structure 14. In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 5, the desk 10 is shown with the working platform 12 in a raised condition in which the cable conduit 26 is extended to its full extent to bridge the distance between the working platform 12 and the horizontal body 20, as depicted by the absence of surplus length at the upper end of the cable conduit 26 as shown 25 in Figures 2 and 3. As will be appreciated, as the working platform 12 is lowered towards the horizontal body 20 a smaller length of the cable conduit 26 is required to bridge the distance between the working platform 12 and the horizontal body 20. Accordingly, the cable conduit 26 will progressively enter the cable housing 28 through the aperture 32 formed in the cable housing 28 such that the cable conduit 26 coils into the cable housing 30 28 with the loop 30 moving progressively further away from the aperture 32. 6 2016204557 30 Jun2016

The cable conduit 26 is fixed relative to the working platform 12 at a fixing 34 located on a floor 36 of the cable housing 28. Accordingly, the cable conduit 26 rolls distally progressively further beyond the fixing 34 as the working platform 12 is lowered toward the horizontal body 20. The fixing 34 is located inside the cable housing 28 and is 5 positioned such that cabling conveyed by the cable conduit 26 is able to terminate at or near a power outlet and/or a data outlet depending from the working platform 12 and preferably mounted inside the cable housing 28.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the cable conduit 26 is articulated and rolls in a plane as 10 it rolls into the loop 30, being restricted from bending out of the plane by virtue of the arrangement of the articulation. The loop 30 is formed by a bend in the cable conduit 26 at the point of the cable conduit 26 which is innermost of the cable housing 28. This bend moves progressively along the length of the cable conduit 26 by virtue of the articulation, as the working platform 12 is lowered relative to the support structure 14. More 15 specifically, the cable conduit 26 is formed of a plurality of links 38, each link 38 being pivotally mounted to one or more adjacent links 38 such that each link 38 is pivotable along an axis 40 substantially transverse to a central longitudinal axis (or central line) or the cable conduit 26. 20 The desk 10 includes a power supply cable for supplying power to the working platform 12, and the power supply cable is fed along the cable conduit 26 between the support structure 14 and the working platform 12. As can be seen in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the desk 10 includes a power socket 42 carried by the working platform 12 so as to move upwardly and downwardly with the working platform 12. The power socket 42 is supplied 25 with power by the power supply cable. In the example shown in the drawings, the power socket 42 is located inside the cable housing 28. Advantageously, the power socket 42 facilitates a split cabling arrangement of the desk 10 in which devices/appliances to be mounted on the working platform 12 (for example, a workstation computer, telephone and dictaphone) are able to be plugged into the socket 42 for power and/or data so that the 30 cabling between the devices/appliances and the socket 42 can be fixed in length to avoid inadvertent unplugging of those devices/appliances as the desk 10 is raised and lowered. 2016204557 30 Jun2016 7

The cable housing 28 has an opening 44 which may be in the form of a cover flap 46, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The opening 44 is movable between a closed condition (see Figure 1) in which an interior of the cable housing 28 is concealed and an open 5 condition (see Figures 2 and 3) in which the interior is accessible to a user. The cable housing 28 may be formed as a flexible pouch moulded from a non-woven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) panel. Although the opening 44 may be in the form of a hinged cover flap 46 as shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment in which the opening 44 is facilitated by way of deformability of the cable housing 28 which is in the 10 form of a unitary flexible pouch. In order to open the cable housing 28 shown in Figure 6, an upper edge of a front wall of the cable housing 28 is lowered by bending the wall forwards, towards a user, thereby providing access to the interior of the flexible pouch.

With reference to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown a further example of a desk 10 15 embodying the present invention. Figure 7 depicts a length of the cable conduit 26 which is seen to be extending inwardly along a floor 36 of the cable housing 28. Figure 8 shows a lower end of the cable conduit 26 which is mounted to the horizontal body 20 of the support structure 14, having cabling (for example, a power cable and a data cable) fed into the cable conduit 26 from a power source external from the desk 10. 20

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope 25 of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an 30 acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or 2016204557 30 Jun2016 8 information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context 5 requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A desk including a working platform for supporting work materials and a support structure arranged to sit on a floor surface and to support the working platform relative to the support structure, wherein the desk further includes a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting height of the working platform relative to the support structure, a cable conduit extending between the support structure and the working platform, and a cable housing carried by the working platform for housing a surplus length of the cable conduit, the cable conduit being arranged to feed progressively inwardly to the cable housing as the working platform is lowered relative to the support structure and to feed progressively outwardly from the cable housing as the working platform is raised relative to the support structure.
2. A desk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable conduit is arranged to roll into a loop in the cable housing as the working platform is lowered relative to the support structure.
3. A desk as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cable conduit is arranged to overlap itself within the cable housing, progressively with more overlap as the working platform is lowered relative to the support structure.
4. A desk as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cable conduit is fixed relative to the working platform at a fixing, and wherein the cable conduit is arranged to roll distally progressively further beyond the fixing as the platform is lowered.
5. A desk as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fixing is located inside the cable housing.
6. A desk as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cable conduit rolls in a plane as it rolls into said loop.
7. A desk as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cable conduit is restricted from bending outside said plane.
8. A desk as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cable conduit is articulated.
9. A desk as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cable conduit has a bend and the bend moves progressively along the length of the cable conduit as the working platform is lowered relative to the support structure.
10. A desk as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cable conduit is formed of a plurality of links, each link being pivotally mounted to one or more adjacent links such that each link is pivotable along an axis substantially transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the cable conduit.
11. A desk as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the desk includes a power supply cable for supplying power to the working platform, and the power supply cable is fed along the cable conduit between the support structure and the working platform.
12. A desk as claimed in claim 11, wherein the desk includes a power socket carried by the working platform and the power socket is supplied with power by the power supply cable.
13. A desk as claimed in claim 12, wherein the power socket is located inside the cable housing.
14. A desk as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cable housing has an opening which is moveable between a closed condition in which an interior of the cable housing is concealed and an open condition in which the interior is accessible to a user.
15. A desk as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cable housing is formed as a flexible pouch moulded from a non-woven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) panel.
16. A desk substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.