CN109965514B

CN109965514B - Height-adjustable workstation

Info

Publication number: CN109965514B
Application number: CN201710514905.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·诺克斯
Original assignee: Posturite Ltd
Current assignee: Posturite Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-29
Filing date: 2017-06-29
Publication date: 2021-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-29
Also published as: GB2551746B; DK3262979T3; GB2551746A; CN109965514A; EP3262979B1; US20180000239A1; EP3262979A1; GB201611254D0

Abstract

A height adjustable workstation is provided comprising a base (1), a lower table (3), an upper table (5) and a lifting mechanism (2) for raising and lowering the lower and upper tables relative to the base, the lower table (3) being for supporting a keyboard and the upper table (5) being for supporting a display of a computer. When the movable table part (8) is in the first position, the upper table (5) is provided with a substantially flat upper table top comprising a fixed table top (7) of the fixed table part (6) and a movable table top (9) of the movable table part (8). In the second position, the movable tabletop (9) is tilted upward relative to the fixed tabletop (7) to facilitate reading of any documents placed on the movable tabletop (9). When the movable table part is in the second position, the skirts (10, 12) fill the gap between the fixed table top (7) and the movable table top (9) to prevent the fingers of a person from being caught.

Description

Height-adjustable workstation

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a height adjustable workstation, in particular a height adjustable workstation having a lower table for supporting a keyboard and an upper table for supporting a computer monitor.

Background

The height adjustable workstation has a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the lower table and the upper table relative to the base. Known work stations of this type with a base are intended to be placed on a table, the lifting mechanism being in a retracted configuration when the user wishes to sit on the table and in an extended configuration when the user wishes to stand on the table. Work in a standing position may provide health benefits compared to work in a sitting position.

There is a desire to make the workstation more adjustable so that the user can change the table to better suit his requirements. For example, a user may wish to adjust the table in different ways from standing to sitting.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve upon the known art.

According to the present invention, there is provided a height adjustable workstation according to any of the appended claims. The height adjustable workstation has an upper table including a movable table portion and a fixed table portion, the movable table portion being pivotally connected to the fixed table portion. When the movable table section is in the first position, the upper table is provided with a substantially flat upper table top comprising a fixed table top of the fixed table section and a movable table top of the movable table section. The movable table section may be moved from the first position to the second position by pivoting a rear edge of the movable table top upward relative to the fixed table top, thereby tilting the movable table top upward relative to the fixed table top to facilitate reading of any documents placed on the movable table top. When the movable table section is in the second position, the gap between the fixed table top and the side edge of the movable table top is filled by the skirt of the height adjustable workstation to prevent the entry of a person's fingers into the gap.

Thus, the movable table top may be moved from the first position to the second position to act as a document holder, and the skirt helps prevent a person's fingers from becoming trapped between the fixed table portion and the movable table portion as the movable table top is lowered from the second position back to the first position.

The skirt may include a plurality of portions movable relative to each other to increase and decrease the width of the skirt, the width of the skirt gradually increasing as the rear edge of the movable table top pivots upward relative to the fixed table top from the first position to the second position. The width of the skirt is typically measured in a direction from the fixed table top towards a side edge of the movable table top when the movable table top part is in the second position. Allowing both an increase and a decrease of the width of the skirt means that the skirt requires less storage space when the movable table part is in the first position.

A channel may be fixedly connected to the fixed table portion below a side edge of the movable table top, the channel having opposing first and second sides. When the movable table portion is moved to the first position, the skirt may be retracted into a groove that receives the skirt and prevents it from being damaged.

The height setting member may be pivotally connected to the movable table portion and a plurality of height setting brackets may be connected to the fixed table portion for receiving an end of the height setting member or receiving a protrusion of the height setting member. The angle and height of the movable table part in the second position can then be set by selecting which height setting bracket in which the end or protrusion of the height setting member is placed. Alternatively, the height setting member may be pivotally connected to a fixed table portion and the plurality of height setting brackets may be connected to a movable table portion.

The movable table section may be pivotally connected to the fixed table section by a pivot shaft that is fixedly connected to the fixed table section adjacent a front edge of the movable table top opposite a rear edge of the movable table top when the movable table section is in the first position and the second position. Then, when the movable table top is moved to the second position, the front edge of the movable table top may remain at approximately the same height as the fixed table top. Alternatively, the front edge of the movable table top may form a portion of the front edge of the upper table top.

The movable table section may include a slide track beneath the movable table top that extends substantially parallel to a side edge of the movable table top. The pivot may be attached to a slider slidably connected to the slide rail, the slider being slidable from adjacent a front edge of the movable table top toward a rear edge of the movable table top to move the movable table portion forward to the third position. Thus, the movable table portion may slide forward toward the user to bring the upper table closer to the user.

The movable table portion may be fixedly connected to a socket slidable along a slot extending along the first or second side of the slot when the movable table portion is slid forward from the first position to the third position. The socket may be provided on the skirt or on a mounting bracket attached to the movable table portion. When moved from the first position to the third position, the plug prevents the movable table section from rotating about the pivot axis such that the movable table top remains in the plane of the substantially flat upper table surface.

The rear end of the slot may extend upwardly in a direction toward the fixed table top to allow the socket to move upwardly out of the slot when moving the movable table section from the first position to the second position, thereby allowing the rear edge of the movable table top to pivot upwardly.

The front end of the slot may extend upward toward the fixed table top such that when the movable table section is moved from the third position to the fourth position, the slot is allowed to move upward and the front edge of the movable table top pivots downward until the movable table section contacts the lower table. Then, when the movable table section is in the fourth position, the movable table top is provided with the document holder at a position below and closer to the user than when the movable table section is in the second position. Optionally, in the fourth position, the movable table portion may cover a keyboard placed on the lower table to protect the keyboard.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a height adjustable workstation according to a first embodiment of the invention, seen from above, with the lifting mechanism retracted to the base and the movable table part in a second position;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 1 when viewed from above with the lift mechanism extending from the base and the movable table portion in a second position;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 1 when viewed from below with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a second position;

FIG. 4 shows another perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 1 when viewed from below with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a second position;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 1 as viewed from above with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a first position;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 1 when viewed from below with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a first position;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 1 as viewed from above with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a third position;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 1 when viewed from below with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a third position;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 1 as viewed from above with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a fourth position;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 1 when viewed from below with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a fourth position;

fig. 11 shows, in a perspective view from above, the height-adjustable workstation according to the second embodiment of the invention, with the lifting mechanism and the base separated and the movable table part in a second position;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 11 when viewed from below with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a second position;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 11 as viewed from above with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a first position;

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 11 when viewed from below with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a first position;

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 11 as viewed from above with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a third position;

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 11 when viewed from below with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a third position;

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of FIG. 11 as viewed from above with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a fourth position; and

fig. 18 shows a perspective view of the height adjustable workstation of fig. 11 when viewed from below with the lift mechanism and base separated and the movable table portion in a fourth position.

Detailed Description

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to fig. 1 to 10. The perspective view 1 shows a height adjustable workstation comprising a base 1, a lifting mechanism 2 connected to the base, an upper table 5 connected to the lifting mechanism and a lower table 3 connected to the upper table 5 by a connecting portion 4. In normal use, the base 1 is intended to be placed horizontally on top of a table and the lifting mechanism 2 is used to raise and lower the height of the upper table 5 and lower table 3 to accommodate a user. Typically, a user places a computer display (not shown) on the upper table 5 and a keyboard (not shown) on the lower table 3. Fig. 1 shows the lifting mechanism in an extended configuration, for example if the user wishes to stand close to a table while operating the keyboard. Fig. 2 shows the lifting mechanism in a retracted configuration, for example if the user wishes to sit close to a table while operating a keyboard.

The upper table 5 comprises a fixed table part 6 and a movable table part 8. In this embodiment the fixed table part 6 and the movable table part 8 are wooden boards, but other materials may be used. The fixed table part 6 has a fixed table top 7, on which fixed table top 7a computer display can be placed, and the movable table part 8 has a movable table top 9. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the movable table section is shown in a second position, in which the rear edge 9R of the movable table top 9 is pivoted upwardly relative to the front edge 9F of the movable table top 9. Thus, when the movable table top 9 is in the second position, the movable table top 9 may act as a document holder to assist in reading documents placed thereon.

The movable table top 9 has a right side edge 9RS, and a first skirt 10 and a second skirt 12 are provided between the right side edge 9RS and the fixed table top 7 to prevent a person's fingers from entering a space (gap) between the right side edge 9RS and the fixed table top 7. For the same reason, similar first and second skirts (not shown in the figures) are present between the left side edge 9LS and the fixed table top 7. The first and second skirt portions are each generally triangular plates.

A first skirt 10 is fixedly attached to the movable table part below the right side edge 9RS and has a spigot 11 projecting outwardly in a direction away from the movable table top 9. The second skirt 12 is movably attached to the first skirt 10 and has an arcuate slot 13 extending along the width of the second skirt 12.

The perspective view 3 shows a view from below the workstation, wherein the base 1 and the lifting mechanism 2 are omitted for clarity, so that the movable appendages between the first skirt 10 and the second skirt 12 can be more easily seen. The first skirt 10 has a protrusion 14, and the protrusion 14 is protruded inwardly through the arcuate groove 13 of the second skirt 12. The protrusion 14 is shown resting in a cradle formed by the ends of the arcuate slot 13, with the second skirt 12 extending completely from the first skirt 10. When the movable table part 8 is pivoted from the first position shown in fig. 5 to the second position shown in fig. 2 and 3, the protrusion 14 engages the carrier at the end of the arcuate slot 13 and lifts the second skirt 12 upwardly to the position shown in fig. 2.

The fixed table section 6 has a cut-out 28 as shown in fig. 5 adjacent the rear edge 9R of the movable table top 9. The user can insert their finger into the cut-out 28 to lift the movable table portion 8 from the first position as shown in fig. 5 to the second position as shown in fig. 2.

As also shown in fig. 5, the CNTs are center-sliced by the workstation in a vertical orientation, and in this embodiment, the left and right sides of the workstation with respect to the center-sliced CNTs are completely symmetrical to each other. The center slice is conceptual only and is therefore shown in dashed lines. The portions referred to as outward extensions extend away from the center-slice CNT and the portions referred to as inward extensions extend toward the center-slice CNT. Also labeled on fig. 5 are an upward direction U, a downward direction D, a forward direction F, a rearward direction Rr, a left direction L, and a right direction R.

As shown in fig. 3, the fixed table portion 8 is fixed with a groove 20 below the movable table portion 6 beside the right side edge 9RS of the movable table top 9. The slot 20 has a first side wall 21 facing inwards towards the movable table portion 8 and a second side wall 22 facing outwards away from the movable table portion 8. The groove 20 is provided with a channel 20C (fig. 6) between the first side wall 21 and the second side wall 22.

When the movable table portion 8 is moved back to the first position shown in fig. 5, the first and

second skirts

10, 12 are received inside the channel 20C. When the first and

second skirts

10, 12 are moved back to the first position shown in figure 5, the second skirt 12 engages the bottom of the channel of the slot and then the projection 14 travels from the bracket and along the arcuate slot 13 to allow the movable table portion 8 to continue to move downwardly towards the position shown in figure 5.

As shown in fig. 4, there are two slots 20, but only the right slot is shown in fig. 3, so that the

height setting mechanisms

15, 16, 17, 18 can be seen in fig. 3. The height setting mechanism will now be described. Specifically, the fixed table portion 6 has a member 15 fixedly connected to the fixed table portion, and extends to directly below the central portion of the movable table portion 8, and has height setting brackets 16 formed in two parallel rows along the extension of the member. The movable table portion 8 has a height setting bracket 18 fixed on a lower surface thereof and a height setting member 17 pivotally connected to the height setting bracket 18. As shown in the enlarged view EN5 of fig. 8, the height setting member 17 includes a rod 19 connected between two parallel rods of the height setting member 17. In the position shown in fig. 3, the lever 19 is located in the height setting bracket 16, and sets the range (height) in which the rear edge 9R of the movable table portion 8 pivots upward in the second position.

Referring now to fig. 4, fig. 4 is another perspective view of the workstation in the second position when viewed from a different angle than fig. 3. Fig. 4 includes an enlarged view EN1 of the station, in which the second side wall 22 of the trough 20 can be seen. The second side wall 22 has a slot 23 aligned along the length of the slot, and the slot 23 has a front end 24 and a rear end 25. The front and rear ends of the slot are each inclined upwardly towards the fixed table top 7 and the middle area of the slot 23 between the front and

rear ends

24, 25 extends substantially horizontally.

Fig. 4 also includes an enlarged view EN2 of the workstation, generally indicated by arrow AR 1. As shown in EN2, the first side wall 21 of the slot 20 has a pivot 30, which pivot 30 pivotally connects the movable table part 8 to the fixed table part 6. The pivot 30 is fixedly connected to the slot 20 of the fixed table portion 6 at a position adjacent the front edge 9F of the movable table top when the movable table portion is in the first and second positions. The pivot 30 extends into a socket in the slider 31 to allow the slider 31 to pivot relative to the slot 20 and the fixed table portion 6. The slider 31 is slidably mounted on the slide rail 32. The slide rail 32 is fixedly attached to the lower surface of the movable table section 8 opposite to the movable table top 9 and is arranged parallel to the right side edge 9RS of the movable table top 9. The slider 31 is movable along the slide rail 32.

When the movable table section 8 is moved from the second position (shown in fig. 2) to the first position (shown in fig. 5), the rear edge 9R of the movable table top 9 pivots downward about the pivot 30 until the movable table top 9 and the fixed table top 7 together form a substantially flat surface. Fig. 6 shows a perspective view from below the workstation looking up when the movable table part 8 is in the first position. The enlarged view of the workstation, EN4, generally indicated by arrow AR2, shows that the slider 31 has been pivoted relative to the first side wall 21 of the slot, so that the slide rail 32 now extends substantially parallel to the slot.

Alternatively, the front edge 9F of the movable table top 9 may be provided with a small upward ridge to help retain any documents placed on the movable table top 9 in the second position, but the movable table top 9 and the fixed table top 7 are still considered to form a substantially flat surface in the first position as shown in FIG. 5, despite the possible presence of any such small upward ridge along the front edge 9F.

In addition, the rear end 25 of the slot 23 receives the socket 11 of the first skirt 10 as shown in the enlarged view EN3 in fig. 6 when the movable table portion 8 is moved from the second position (shown in fig. 2) to the first position (shown in fig. 5).

The perspective views 7 and 8 show the workstation with the movable table portion 8 having been moved to the third position by sliding the movable table portion 8 forward towards the user from the first position of fig. 5. As shown in the enlarged view EN5, the slot 11 has been slid along the slot 23 from the rear end of the slot to the front end of the slot to allow the movable table part 8 to reach the third position.

As also shown in fig. 8, the slider 31 has been slid along the slide rails 32 from the adjacent front edge of the movable table top 9 toward the rear edge 9R of the movable table top 9. The slot 11 in the middle area of the slot 23 prevents the slider 31 from pivoting about the pivot on the first side wall 21 so that it remains horizontal when the movable table top 9 is slid from the first position to the third position.

The perspective views 9 and 10 show the workstation when the movable table section 8 has been moved to the fourth position by sliding the movable table section 8 further forward and pivoting the front edge 9F of the movable table top 9 downward until the movable table section 8 contacts the lower table 3 as shown in fig. 9. This movement is guided by the movement of the socket 11 within the slot 23, as shown in the enlarged view EN6 of figure 10. In particular, as the movable table portion 8 slides further forward, the socket 11 enters the upwardly inclined front end 24 of the slot 23 in the second side wall of the channel 20. This causes the slider 31 to pivot about the pivot 30 connected to the first side wall 21 of the slot, as shown in the enlarged view EN7 of the workstation generally indicated by the arrow AR 3. Although EN6 shows a left-hand slot and EN7 shows a right-hand slot, it is understood that the left and right slots are symmetrical to each other with respect to the center-slice CNT labeled in fig. 5. Thus, each slot has a pivot 30 attached to its first side and a slot 23 on its second side.

A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to fig. 11 to 18. The base of the lifting mechanism of the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment and is therefore omitted from the drawings of the second embodiment.

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the workstation of the second embodiment. The upper table 5a comprises a fixed table part 6a and a movable table part 8 a. The fixed table part 6a has a fixed table top 7a, on which a computer monitor can be placed, and the movable table part 8a has a movable table top 9 a. The upper table 5a is connected to the lower table 3a by a connecting portion 4 a.

As shown in fig. 11, the movable table portion is in the second position in which the rear edge 9Ra of the movable table top 9a is pivoted upward relative to the front edge 9Fa of the movable table top 9 a. Thus, as with the first embodiment, when the movable table top 9a is in the second position, the movable table top 9a may act as a document holder to assist in reading documents placed thereon.

The movable table top 9a has a right side edge 9RSa, and a first skirt 10a and a second skirt 12a are provided between the right side edge 9RSa and the fixed table top 7a to prevent a person's fingers from entering a space (gap) between the right side edge 9RSa and the fixed table top 7 a. For the same reason, similar first and second skirts (not shown in the figures) are present between the left side edge 9LSa and the fixed table top 7 a. Similar to the first embodiment, the first and second skirt portions are each generally triangular plates.

The first skirt 10a is fixedly attached to the movable table part below the right side edge 9RSa, in contrast to the first embodiment, without any outwardly protruding sockets. The second skirt portion 12a is movably attached to the first skirt portion 10a and has an arcuate slot 13a extending along the width of the second skirt portion 12 a. The arcuate groove receives the projection of the first skirt portion 10a in the same manner as the first embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view from below the work station, the enlarged view EN8 showing the groove 20a, the first and second skirts being retractable into the slot 20a when the movable table part 8a is moved to the first position (shown in fig. 13), as in the first embodiment. The first side wall 21a of the groove 20a has a slot 23 a. The slot 23a is substantially identical to the slot 23 of the first embodiment, except that the slot 23a is provided on a first (inward) side wall 21a of the slot 20a, and the slot 23 is provided on a second (outward) side wall 22 of the slot 20 in the first embodiment. Further, as shown in the enlarged view EN8 in fig. 12, in the second embodiment, the first side wall 21a has the deep slot 19a extending in parallel with the slot 23 a. The slot 19a has a series of height setting brackets 16a arrayed along the length of the slot at the rear end of the slot 19a for receiving an outward projection at the end of the height setting member 17 a. The height setting bracket that receives this outward projection determines how far the rear edge 9Ra of the movable table top 9 pivots upward in the second position. As shown in fig. 18, the outward protrusion is designated 17 p.

The enlarged view EN8 also shows that the first side wall 21a of the slot 20a has an extension 33a extending inwardly from the first side wall 21 a. The extension has a pivot shaft that extends into a socket of the slider 31a in a similar manner to the pivot shaft 30 of the first embodiment. The pivot of the second embodiment is fixedly connected to the slot 20a of the fixed table portion 6a at a position adjacent to the front edge 9Fa of the movable table top when the movable table portion is in the first and second positions. The pivot allows the slider 31a to pivot relative to the slot 20a and the fixed table portion 6a, and the pivot is slidably attached to the slide rail 32a, similar to the slide rail 32 of the first embodiment.

When the movable table section 8a is moved from the second position (shown in fig. 11) to the first position (shown in fig. 13), the rear edge 9Ra of the movable table top 9a pivots downward about the pivot until the movable table top 9a and the fixed table top 7a together form a substantially flat surface. Each slot 20a also has a second side wall 22a opposite the first side wall 21a, and the first and second side walls define between them a channel 20Ca in which the first and

second skirts

10a, 12a are stored when the movable table part is in the first position, similar to the first embodiment.

As shown in fig. 13, the fixed table portion 6a has a cutout 28a so that the user can insert their finger into the cutout 28a to lift the movable table portion 8a from the first position shown in fig. 13 to the second position shown in fig. 11 in a manner similar to the first embodiment. Alternatively, as in the first embodiment, the front edge 9Fa of the movable table top 9a may be provided with a small upward ridge when the movable table section is in the second position to help retain any documents placed on the movable table top 9 a.

As also shown in fig. 13, the center slice CNTa is vertically oriented by the workstation, and in this embodiment, the left and right sides of the workstation with respect to the center slice CNTa are completely symmetrical to each other. The center slice CNTa is conceptual only and is therefore shown in dashed lines. The portions referred to as outwardly extending extend away from the central slice CNTa and the portions referred to as inwardly extending toward the central slice CNTa. Also labeled on fig. 13 are an upward direction U, a downward direction D, a forward direction F, a rearward direction Rr, a left direction L, and a right direction R.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view from below the workstation looking up when the movable table part 8a is in the first position. The enlarged view EN9 shows that the slider 31a has been pivoted relative to the extension 33a of the slot 20a, so that the sliding rail 32a now extends substantially parallel to the slot 20 a.

The first side wall 21a has a slot 23a aligned along the length of the slot, and the slot 23a has a front end 24a and a rear end 25 a. The front and rear ends of the slot are each inclined upwardly in the direction of the fixed table top 7a and the middle area of the slot 23a between the front and

rear ends

24a and 25a extends substantially horizontally.

The mounting bracket 35a is fixedly attached to the underside of the movable table portion 8a adjacent the rear edge 9Ra and the right side edge 9RSa of the movable table top. Since the workstation is symmetrical about the slices CNTa (fig. 13), equivalent mounting brackets (not shown) are attached near the rear edge 9Ra and the left edge 9 LSa. Mounting bracket 35a includes a socket 11a extending outwardly from mounting bracket 35a into slot 23a of slot 20 a. The rear end 25a of the slot 23a receives the socket 11a of the mounting bracket 35a when the movable table portion 8a is moved from the second position (shown in fig. 11) to the first position (shown in fig. 13).

As shown in the enlarged view EN9, the height setting member 17a is pivotally attached to the movable table portion 8 by the mounting bracket 35a, and as the movable table portion 8a moves to the first position, an outward projection 17p (shown in fig. 18) at the end of the height setting member 17a has moved out of the height setting bracket 16a and is allowed to slide along the slot 19 a. In the first position, the first side wall 21a of the channel is received in the gap between the mounting bracket 35a and the first skirt 10 a.

The height setting member 17a has a handle 36a attached thereto, and when the movable table part 8a is in the first position, the handle 36a extends substantially parallel to the rear edge 9Ra of the movable table top. The handle 36a may be used to help select which height setting bracket 16a receives the outward projection 17 p. In this embodiment, the handle 36a is attached to both the height setting member 17a on the right side of the workstation and the equivalent height setting member on the left side of the workstation, so both height setting members can be moved together by moving the handle 36 a.

The perspective views 15 and 16 show the workstation with the movable table portion 8a having been moved to the third position by sliding the movable table portion 8a forward towards the user from the first position of fig. 13. As shown in the enlarged view EN10, the slot 11a has been slid along the slot 23a from the rear end of the slot to the front end of the slot to allow the movable table part 8a to reach the third position.

As also shown in fig. 16, the slider 31a has slid along the slide rails 32a from the adjacent front edge of the movable table top 9a toward the rear edge 9Ra of the movable table top 9 a. The slot 11a in the middle area of the slot 23a prevents the slider 31 from pivoting about the pivot on the extension 33a of the first side wall 21a so that it remains horizontal when the movable table top 9a slides from the first position to the third position.

The perspective views 17 and 18 show the workstation when the movable table part 8a has been moved to the fourth position by sliding the movable table part 8a further forward and pivoting the front edge 9Fa of the movable table top 9a downwards until the movable table part 8a contacts the lower table 3a as shown in fig. 17. This movement is guided by the movement of the socket 11a within the slot 23a, as shown in the enlarged view EN11 of fig. 18. Specifically, as the movable table portion 8a slides further forward, the socket 11 enters the upwardly inclined front end 24a of the slot 23a in the first side wall 21a of the slot 20a (as shown in fig. 14). This causes the slider 31a to pivot about a pivot axis attached to the extension 33a of the first side wall 21 a.

Various other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A height adjustable workstation comprising a base, a lower table, an upper table and a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the lower table and the upper table relative to the base, the lower table for supporting a keyboard, and the upper table for supporting a computer monitor, wherein:

the upper table comprising a movable table portion and a fixed table portion, the movable table portion being pivotally connected to the fixed table portion,

the upper table provides a substantially planar upper table top when the movable table portion is in the first position, including the fixed table top of the fixed table portion and the movable table top of the movable table portion,

the movable table section is movable from the first position to the second position by pivoting a rear edge of the movable table top upwardly relative to the fixed table top, thereby tilting the movable table top upwardly relative to the fixed table top to facilitate reading of any documents placed on the movable table top;

wherein when the movable table section is in the second position, the gap between the fixed table top and the side edge of the movable table top is filled by the skirt of the height adjustable workstation to prevent a person's fingers from entering the gap;

wherein the skirt comprises a plurality of portions movable relative to each other to increase and decrease the width of the skirt, the width of the skirt gradually increasing as the rear edge of the movable table top pivots upwardly relative to the fixed table top to move from the first position to the second position;

wherein the skirt comprises a first part fixedly connected to the movable table part, a second part movably connected to the first part, and a cradle and a protrusion, the first part comprising the cradle and the second part comprising the protrusion, or the first part comprising the protrusion and the second part comprising the cradle, wherein when the movable table part is moved upwards from the first position to the second position, the protrusion moves into the cradle to lift the second part.

2. The height adjustable workstation of claim 1, wherein the bracket is formed by an end of an arcuate slot in the first portion where the first portion includes the bracket, or by an end of an arcuate slot of the second portion where the second portion includes the bracket.

3. The height adjustable workstation of claim 1 or 2, wherein the height adjustable workstation further comprises a channel fixedly connected to the fixed table portion below a side edge of the movable table top, the channel having opposing first and second sides, and wherein the skirt retracts into the channel when the movable table portion is moved to the first position.

4. The height adjustable workstation of claim 3, further comprising a height setting member pivotally connected to the movable table portion, and a plurality of height setting brackets connected to the fixed table portion for receiving an end of the height setting member or a protrusion of the height setting member, wherein when the movable table portion is in the second position, an end of the height setting member or the protrusion is selectively received in one of the height setting brackets to set the degree to which the rear edge of the movable table top pivots upwardly relative to the fixed table top in the second position.

5. The height adjustable workstation of claim 4, wherein the height setting bracket is formed within a first side of the channel and aligned along a length of the channel.

6. The height adjustable workstation of claim 4, further comprising a member fixedly connected to the fixed table portion, extending directly below a central portion of the movable table portion, and having height setting brackets formed in a row along the extension of the member.

7. The height adjustable workstation of claim 3, wherein the movable table portion is pivotally connected to the fixed table portion by a pivot that is fixedly connected to the fixed table portion at a location adjacent a front edge of the movable table top when the movable table portion is in the first position and the second position.

8. The height adjustable workstation of claim 3, wherein the movable table portion is pivotally connected to the fixed table portion by a pivot that is fixedly connected to the fixed table portion at a location adjacent a front edge of the movable table top when the movable table portion is in the first position and the second position, the pivot being attached to the channel at a location adjacent the front edge of the movable table top when the movable table portion is in the first position and the second position.

9. The height adjustable workstation of claim 7 or 8, wherein the movable table portion comprises a slide rail below the movable table top, the slide rail extending substantially parallel to a side edge of the movable table top, wherein the pivot is attached to a slider slidably connected to the slide rail, the slider sliding from an adjacent front edge of the movable table top towards a rear edge of the movable table top to move the movable table portion forward to the third position.

10. The height adjustable workstation of claim 9, further comprising a mounting bracket attached to the movable table portion, the mounting bracket including a socket slidable along a slot extending along either the first side or the second side of the channel, the socket sliding along the slot when the movable table portion is moved forward to the third position.

11. The height adjustable workstation of claim 10 wherein the pivotal connection of the height setting member to the movable table portion comprises a mounting bracket.

12. The height adjustable workstation of claim 11, further comprising a handle attached to the height setting member and extending substantially parallel to the rear edge of the movable table top when the movable table portion is in the first position.

13. The height adjustable workstation of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the skirt includes a socket slidable along a slot extending along either the first side or the second side of the channel, the socket sliding along the slot as the movable table portion moves forward to the third position.

14. The height adjustable workstation of claim 9, wherein a front end of the slot extending along the first or second side of the channel extends upwardly in a direction toward the fixed table top such that when the movable table portion is moved from the third position to the fourth position, the slot is allowed to move upwardly and the front edge of the movable table top is allowed to pivot downwardly until the movable table portion contacts the lower table.

15. The height adjustable workstation of claim 9, wherein a rear end of the slot extending along the first or second side of the channel extends upwardly in a direction toward the fixed table top such that the socket is permitted to move upwardly out of the slot when the movable table portion is moved from the first position to the second position.