GB2542196A

GB2542196A - Sit stand desk and bench desk system comprising the same

Info

Publication number: GB2542196A
Application number: GB1516178.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillips Roger
Original assignee: Office Initiative Ltd
Current assignee: Office Initiative Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-14
Filing date: 2015-09-14
Publication date: 2017-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-14
Also published as: GB2542196B; GB201516178D0

Abstract

A desk comprising a desktop 11 fixed to a pair of lifting columns 2 detachably fixed to a pair of spaced support frames 6, 7, 9. Preferably the desktop comprises a flap 10 the upper side of which sits flush with the upper surface of the desk, which is affixed to the desktop by means such a hinges or magnets such that the flap can be deflected upwards. Preferably the desk is a system comprising a set of desks with multiple desktops adjacent to one another built around one large set of support frames. When the system is in a bench desk arrangement or in use next to a fixed height desk the flap prevents injury to the fingers or hands of a user that might get injured as the desk is descending.

Description

Sit Stand Desk and Bench Desk System Comprising the Same

The present disclosure relates to a sit stand desk arrangement, in particular to such an arrangement that may form part of a modular bench desk system.

Recently, due to the health benefits attributable to standing rather than sitting, standing desks have become increasingly popular. Standing desks have a desktop that is higher than a conventional desk, wherein a user may use the desk whilst standing. To provide flexibility, sit stand desks have been developed that may be lowered and raised to be usable in the manner of a conventional desk or in the manner of a standing desk, as desired.

Whilst such sit stand desks function well, they suffer from a number of drawbacks. They tend to be cumbersome due to the mechanisms required to raise and lower the desktops. Moreover, they are generally of non-standardised design and pose a hazard to trapped fingers during the lowering of the desktop, which factors have prevented the incorporation of sit stand desks into modular bench desk systems found in many communal/open plan offices.

The present invention arose in a bid to provide an improved sit stand desk arrangement that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art arrangements.

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a desk comprising a desktop that is fixed to a pair of lifting columns for altering the vertical height of the desktop between seated and standing configurations, and a desk frame for supporting the lifting columns and desktop, which comprises a pair of spaced support frames, wherein each of the lifting columns is detachably fixable to a respective one of the support frames to allow for selective attachment and detachment of the lifting columns and desktop from the desk frame.

According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a bench desk system comprising a desk as defined above, wherein the desk frame forms part of a bench desk system frame for supporting one or more further desktops.

According to the present invention in a yet further aspect, there is provided a desk comprising a desktop that is fixed to one or more lifting columns for altering the vertical height of the desktop between seated and standing configurations, wherein the desktop comprises a flap extending along one of its edges, the flap having a planar upper surface that is substantially co-planar with a planar upper surface of the desktop, the flap being attached to the desktop by fixing means that permit the deflection upwards of the flap.

Further, preferable, features are presented in the dependent claims.

Non-limiting embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a desk according to an embodiment of the present invention, which forms part of a bench desk system, in a standing configuration with the desktop raised;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the desk of Figure 1 in a seated configuration with the desktop lowered;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a desktop suitable for use in the desk of Figure 1, which comprises a pair of edge flaps;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of an alternative desktop suitable for use in the desk of Figure 1, which comprises an alternative edge flap arrangement comprising three edge flaps; and

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an edge flap in operation, deflecting upwards to avoid damage to the trapped fingers of a user.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a desk comprising a desktop 1 that is fixed to a pair of lifting columns 2 for altering the vertical height of the desktop between seated and standing configurations. The desk is shown in the standing configuration in

Figure 1. In this configuration the lifting columns have been extended and the desktop is raised. The desk is shown in the seated configuration in Figure 2. In this configuration the lifting columns have been retracted and the desktop is in its lowest position. The desk further comprises a desk frame (unlabelled) for supporting the lifting columns 2 and desktop 1. The desk frame comprises a pair of spaced support frames 3 to which the lifting columns are detachably fixable. The detachable fixing of the lifting columns 2 to the support frames 3 allows for selective attachment and detachment of the lifting columns and desktop from the desk frame. This is particularly beneficial in a bench desk system, which may be configured/re-configured as desired.

As may be seen, the desk in the present arrangement forms part of a bench desk system, wherein the desk frame forms part of a larger bench desk system frame for supporting one or more further desktops 4.

In the present arrangement, the lifting columns are suspended from the support frames. They hang down from the support frames to be supported off the floor. In alternative arrangements they could rest on the floor. The lifting columns are provided inwards of the support frames in a length direction of the desk. With such an arrangement, a sit stand desk module, which comprises the desktop 1 and the lifting columns 2, may be provided between adjacent support frames in any desk position within the bench desk system.

The lifting columns 2 may be of any suitable conventional form, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. They will generally be telescopic and powered, although could take alternative non-powered forms. When powered, a suitable controller will be provided such that the two lifting columns are raised and lowered synchronously.

The desk frame of the present arrangement is self-supporting, which is preferred and will generally be the case when the desk frame forms part of a larger bench desk system frame. However, frame arrangements could be provided that were not self-supporting, such as arrangements where a fixed desktop or the sit stand desk module joins the support frames 3 to one another. The support frames 3 each comprise a pair of support frame legs 6 and a support frame rail 7 that extends substantially horizontally between the legs in a width direction of the desk. The lifting columns are detachably fixable to the support frame rails 7. The support frames 3 are joined by a desk frame rail 8 that extends substantially horizontally between the support frames in a length direction of the desk. The legs 6 and rails 7, 8 may all be of tubular construction. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the present arrangement provides one possible desk frame arrangement only, which may be varied by omission or modification of any of the described elements. The present arrangement is beneficial in the context of a bench desk system, wherein the rails 7, 8 may be extended in the width direction and the length direction, as part of the larger bench desk system frame, to provide support rails for additional desks in the bench desk system, which may comprise further sit stand desks and/or fixed desks.

The lifting columns 2 may comprise housings 9, which are useful to contain connections and wiring for the lifting columns and include attachment means for the fixing the lifting columns 2 to the rails 7 of the support frames 3. Whilst numerous fixing means will be envisaged by those skilled in the art, in the present arrangement the housings 9 are provided with a pair of lugs (not shown) that are received by suitable openings in the rails 7 and are maintained in situ using bolts or similar fixings. Of course, in alternative arrangements the housings may be omitted with the lifting columns 2 fixed directly to the support frames 3 using alternative fixing means. Whatever, the arrangement, it is preferable that the lifting columns are provided inwardly of the support frames 3 in the length direction to allow for a fully modular system.

In the present arrangement there is provided a bench desk system that comprises two adjacent rows of desks. Desk screens 20 are optionally provided between the desks of the adjacent rows of desks.

The bench desk system frame supports two rows of desktops that are provided side by side with each row comprising a plurality of desktops that are arranged end to end in a length direction. The bench desk system frame has a length substantially equal to the combined length of the plurality of desktops extending in the length direction. Adjacent desks of the two rows of desks are opposed to one another in the width direction and aligned with one another in the length direction. The bench desk system frame has a width substantially equal to the combined width of the plurality of desktops.

As will be appreciated numerous configurations will be possible. This is particularly the case where the bench desk system frame is modular such that additional support frames 3 and rails 8 may be added as needed to add desks or likewise can be removed to reduce the number of desks provided. The arrangement is such that the support frames 3, which form part of the bench desk system frame, extend beyond the edges of any of the desktops that they support so as to support a further desktop that lies adjacent thereto in the width direction. The desk frame rail 8 also extends beyond the edge of the desktop to support a further desktop that lies adjacent thereto in the length direction. The arrangement provides a plurality of interconnected desk frames wherein adjacent desk frames in the width direction share a desk frame rail and adjacent desk frames in the length direction share a support frame 3. Fixed or sit stand desks may be arranged in any of the interconnected desk frames as desired.

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, a fixed desk is provided adjacent to the sit stand desk in the length direction. The fixed desk comprises a fixed desktop that is supported by a pair of support frames 3 and a desk frame rail 8. The desktop may be fixed to the frame in any suitable conventional manner. An attachment rail may be fixed to the underside of the desktop, which engages the openings in the rails 7 and is maintained in situ using bolts or similar fixings. Regardless of the attachment means, which need not be limited, the bench desk system of the present arrangement is configured such that an upper surface of the desktop of the sit stand desk is substantially co-planar with an upper surface of the desktop of the fixed height desk, as may be seen in Figure 2. (Where sit stand desktops are provided adjacent to one another the upper surfaces of those desktops will also be substantially co-planar with one another). Adjacent desktops in the length direction, whether fixed or movable, are preferably spaced from one another by less than 25mm, more preferably by less than 10mm.

To allow for the close fitting arrangement of adjacent desktops when one or more of the desktops is movable between seated and standing configurations, there is preferably provided a safety flap arrangement for the vertically movable sit stand desktops.

With reference to Figure 3, there is shown a plan view of the desktop 1 of the present arrangement. The desktop 1 comprises a flap 10 extending along each of its side edges that extends in the width direction. The flaps 10 have planar upper surfaces 12 that are substantially co-planar with a planar upper surface 11 of the desktop. The flaps are attached to the desktop 1 by fixing means that permit the deflection upwards of the flaps 10, as shown in Figure 5. The fixing means for the flaps is not limited. Suitable fixing means will, however, allow a reasonable downward force to be applied to the flap without deflection (such that the flaps 10 form a usable portion of the working surface provided by the desktop), whilst deflecting upwards when they catch an obstruction (such as a user's fingers) during downward travel of the desktop. The force required for a deflection upwards will be greater than the force required for a deflection downwards. The flaps may be arranged to only deflect upwards. Exemplary suitable fixing means include appropriately configured hinges and suitably arranged magnets. With the magnetic arrangement, one or more magnets may be provided on an underside of the desktop (or embedded in an underside of the desktop) and a corresponding flap may have one or more suitable magnetic elements projecting beyond an inner edge of the flap on an underside thereof which engage the one or more magnets to hold the flap in place, wherein with an upward force on the flap, the flap will pivot to break the magnetic connection.

The flaps 10 preferably extend along substantially the entire lengths of the respective side edges of the desktop. The flaps preferably each have a width of at least 25mm.

As will be appreciated, whilst there are flaps provided along two edges of the desktop in Figure 3, there may be only a single flap provided, which extends along an edge adjacent another desktop, or there may be flaps provided to extend along three edges, as seen in Figure 4. Moreover, desks in accordance with the present invention, although not preferred, may omit the flaps entirely with the spacing between desktops increased.

Whilst the desktop comprising the flaps is described in the context of the present arrangement, it may be used in the context of alternatively arranged sit stand desks that omit the desk frame and/or only comprise a single lifting column, including standalone sit stand desks.

Numerous alternative arrangements will be possible within the scope of the appended claims. In particular, although not preferred, desks in accordance with the present invention could be configured as stand alone desks that do not form part of a bench desk system.

Claims

1. A desk comprising a desktop that is fixed to a pair of lifting columns for altering the vertical height of the desktop between seated and standing configurations, and a desk frame for supporting the lifting columns and desktop, which comprises a pair of spaced support frames, wherein each of the lifting columns is detachably fixable to a respective one of the support frames to allow for selective attachment and detachment of the lifting columns and desktop from the desk frame.

2. A desk as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the lifting columns are suspended from the support frames.

3. A desk as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the desk frame is self-supporting.

4. A desk as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support frames each comprise a pair of support frame legs and a support frame rail that extends substantially horizontally between the legs, and the lifting columns are detachably fixable to the support frame rails.

5. A desk as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support frames are joined by a desk frame rail that extends substantially horizontally between the support frames.

6. A desk as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the desktop comprises a flap extending along one of its edges, the flap having a planar upper surface that is substantially co-planar with a planar upper surface of the desktop, the flap being attached to the desktop by fixing means that permit the deflection upwards of the flap.

7. A desk as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the flap extends along substantially the entire length of the edge of the desktop.

8. A desk as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the fixing means comprises one or more hinges and/or one or more magnets.

9. A desk as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the flap has a width of at least 25mm.

10. A desk as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 8, wherein one, two or three edges of the desktop are provided with a flap as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 9.

11. A desk as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the desk frame forms part of a bench desk system frame for supporting one or more further desktops.

12. A bench desk system comprising a desk as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the bench desk system frame supports a plurality of desktops that extend end to end in a length direction and the bench desk system frame has a length substantially equal to the combined length of the plurality of desktops and/or supports a plurality of desktops that lie adjacent to one another in a width direction and the bench desk system frame has a width substantially equal to the combined width of the plurality of desktops.

13. A bench desk system as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the support frames extend beyond the edge of the desktop to support a further desktop that lies adjacent in the width direction.

14. A bench desk system as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, when dependent on Claim 5, wherein the desk frame rail extends beyond the edge of the desktop to support a further desktop that lies adjacent in the length direction.

15. A bench desk system comprising a desk as claimed in Claim 11 and a fixed height desk, which comprises a desktop that is fixed to the bench desk system frame, wherein in the seated configuration, an upper surface of the desktop is substantially co-planar with an upper surface of the desktop of the fixed height desk.

16. A bench desk system as claimed in Claim 15, when dependent on any of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the desk and the fixed height desk are adjacent to one another and the flap extends along an edge of the desk that lies adjacent to an edge of the desktop of the fixed height desk, wherein, in the seated configuration, the flap is spaced from the desktop of the fixed height desk by a distance of less than 25mm.

17. A desk comprising a desktop that is fixed to one or more lifting columns for altering the vertical height of the desktop between seated and standing configurations, wherein the desktop comprises a flap extending along one of its edges, the flap having a planar upper surface that is substantially co-planar with a planar upper surface of the desktop, the flap being attached to the desktop by fixing means that permit the deflection upwards of the flap.

18. A desk as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.

19. A bench desk system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.