WO2018137739A1

WO2018137739A1 - Height-adjustable desk

Info

Publication number: WO2018137739A1
Application number: PCT/DK2018/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steffen Nielsen OESTERBERG; Andreas Lolle
Original assignee: Flowdesk Aps
Priority date: 2017-01-24
Filing date: 2018-01-23
Publication date: 2018-08-02
Also published as: DK201700050A1; DK179639B1

Abstract

A height-adjustable desk (1) comprising a tabletop (2), two scissor mechanisms (3) arranged to support the tabletop and configured for moving the tabletop between a raised position and a lowered position, and a linear actuator (4) arranged to adjust the position of the scissor mechanisms, characterized in that the linear motion provided by the linear actuator is transferred to the scissor mechanisms by a pull bar (5) coupled to a first scissor arm (31) of each of the scissor mechanisms.

Description

HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE DESK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a height-adjustable desk comprising a tabletop and a scissor mechanism arranged to support the tabletop and configured for moving the tabletop between a raised position and a lowered position .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Height-adjustable desks or tables are widely used and come in many variations and designs. Being able to adjust the height of a desk is desirable for a number of reasons, such as to improve workplace ergonomics. Traditional, height-adjustable desks have been massive constructions making transportation difficult and often requiring the different parts of the desk to be assembled onsite. If the desk subsequently needs to be moved to another location or stored for a shorter or longer period, at least partial dismantle is often required. A need therefore exists for a height-adjustable desk that is more compact and can be stored, transported and setup in an effective manner. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to wholly or partly overcome the above disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. More specifically, it is an object to provide a height-adjustable desk that can be transported without dismantling key components, such as the tabletop and the legs, and that takes up less space during storing and transportation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, the above described object and several other objects are intended to be obtained in a first aspect of the invention by providing a height-adjustable desk comprising a tabletop; two scissor mechanisms arranged to support the tabletop and configured for moving the tabletop between a raised position and a lowered position ; and a linear actuator arranged to adjust the position of the scissor mechanisms; characterized in that the linear motion provided by the linear actuator is transferred to the scissor mechanisms by a pull bar coupled to a first scissor arm (31) of each of the scissor mechanisms.

By transferring the forces provided by a single actuator to both scissor

mechanisms, a simple and reliable construction is achieved.

In one embodiment the of the above defined height-adjustable desk the pull bar may be releasably coupled to the first scissor arms to allow decoupling of the pull bar from the scissor mechanisms.

Hereby it is possible to completely separate the connection between the linear actuator and the scissor mechanisms. This will enable the scissor mechanism to be fully collapsed to make the height-adjustable table more compact in a collapsed position . Without being able to decouple the linear actuator from the scissor mechanisms, the operation range of the linear actuator limits the extend to which the scissor mechanisms can be collapsed. A compact height-adjustable table is advantageous in relation to amongst others shipping and storage.

Furthermore, the pull bar may be releasably coupled to a free moving end of each of the first scissor arms. Herby a good transfer of forces is achieved and the pull bar may serve to guide the free moving end of the scissor arms.

According to one embodiment of the height-adjustable desk opposite ends of the bull bar may be releasably coupled to each of the first scissor arms by a removable fastening means, such as a bolt, a connecting ping or other connecting means connecting the first scissor arms to the pull bar.

Additionally, the pull bar may consist of a longitudinal extending connection member provided with transversal extending guiding members at opposite ends, wherein the guiding members are adapted to be releasably coupled to the free moving end of each of first scissor arms.

By providing the longitudinal extending connection member with guiding members, the movement of the pull bar is stabilized and the transfer of forces between the linear actuator and the scissor mechanisms is improved. Especially, as the pull bar serves to transfer considerable forces between the linear actuator and the scissor mechanisms, the guiding elements secure smooth operation of the pull bar. Additionally, the longitudinal extending connection member and the transversal extending guiding members extend in a plane parallel with the tabletop. Hereby the pull bar is able to move in the plane parallel to the tabletop.

In a further embodiment, the connecting points between the pull bar and the scissor arms are offset in the transversal direction from a connecting point between the pull bar and the linear actuator.

The connection between the pull bar and the scissor arms and the linear actuator, respectively, should be understood as the point where the different elements are connected to one another and where the effective transfer of forces takes place. By including an offset between the connecting point as described above, the operation range of the linear actuator, i.e. the distance the trolley is able to move, can be reduced and thus the total length of the linear actuator can be reduced. Moreover the height-adjustable desk may comprising a top frame for being mounted underneath the tabletop, and the second scissor arms of the scissor mechanisms may be mounted on the top frame. In addition, the guiding members may comprise guiding faces adapted to engage with and slide along transversal extending elements of the top frame. Further, the free moving end of the first scissor arms may engage with and moves along the same transversal extending elements.

Furthermore, the height-adjustable desk described above may comprising a bottom frame to which the first scissor arms are pivotally connected and adapted to support a free moving end of the second scissor arms.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The height-adjustable desk according to the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

Figure 1 shows a height-adjustable desk in an intermediate position,

Figure 2 shows the height-adjustable desk without a tabletop in a raised position, Figure 3 shows the height-adjustable desk without a tabletop in a lowered position,

Figure 4 shows a linear actuator and a pull bar of the height-adjustable desk, Figure 5 shows the pull bar interconnecting the scissor mechanisms and the linear actuator,

Figure 6 illustrates how the pull bar is connected with a scissor mechanism,

Figure 7 shows a bracket for securing alignment of a bottom frame and a scissor arm of the scissor mechanism, and

Figure 8 shows the height-adjustable desk in a collapsed position with the scissor arms being arranged parallel to the bottom frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Fig . 1 shows the height-adjustable desk 1 comprising a tabletop 2 provided with two scissor mechanisms 3 arranged at opposite ends 21, 22 of the tabletop. The scissor mechanisms 3 each comprises two scissor arms 31, 32 connected by a pivot 33. As seen from the figure, the desk further comprises a bottom frame 7 supporting the scissor mechanisms. A first 311 end of the first scissor arm 31 is pivotally mounted on the bottom frame and an opposite second end of the first scissor arm (not shown) is able to translate in a transversal direction of the tabletop. Opposite, a first 321 end of the second scissor arm 32 of each scissor mechanisms is pivotally mounted to a top frame 6 as seen in Fig. 2-4. An opposite second end 322 of the second scissor arm is able to translate in the transversal direction along the bottom frame 7. The free moving second ends 312, 322 of both the first and the second scissor arms are shown to include a roller or wheel 34 allowing transversal movement along the top frame 6 and the bottom frame 7, respectively. The wheels 34 support the weight of the tabletop and reduces friction during the transversal movement. As envisaged by the skilled person alternatives to the rollers or wheels, such as a rail and a trolley, are also within the scope of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the frame is shown to extend along the circumferential edges of the tabletop. However, in an alternative embodiment the top frame smaller than the tabletop and retracted from the edges.

Fig . 2 shows the height-adjustable desk without the tabletop. The top frame 6 comprises four circumferential elements 61, 62 arranged in a rectangular formation and configured to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the edges of the tabletop, respectively. Further, the top frame is shown to comprise two supporting frame elements 63 extending in a transversal direction between the longitudinal extending circumferential frame elements 61. As best seen from Fig. 5, the supporting frame elements engage with the wheels 34 provided at the second ends 312, 322 of the second scissor arms as described above.

As shown in Fig. 2, the height-adjustable table further comprises a linear actuator 4 arranged to be mounted underneath the tabletop. In one embodiment, the linear actuator is mounted directly on a bottom face of the tabletop, for example by screws mounted in pre-drilled holes. The linear actuator generally extends in a transversal direction parallel to the supporting frame elements. Referring to Fig. 4, the linear actuator comprises an electrical motor 41 driving a spindle (not shown) provided inside a rail device 42. The spindle engages a displaceable trolley 43 guide by the rail device. Thus, as the spindle rotates the trolley 43 moves along the rail device in a transversal direction .

Referring again to Fig. 2, the height-adjustable desk is shown in the extreme raised position and the trolley 43 of the linear actuator is positioned in an extreme position at one end of the rail device. In Fig. 3, the height-adjustable desk is shown an extreme lowered position and the trolley is positioned at the opposite end of the rail device. The linear motion provided by the movement of the trolley 43 is transferred to the scissor mechanisms by a pull bar 5 best seen from Fig. 4. The pull bar comprises a longitudinal extending connection member 51 provided with transversal guiding elements 54 at opposite ends 53. The trolley is mounted in a bracket 52 provided at a center of the connection member 51 between the opposite ends. As shown in Fig . 4, the connection member may consist of a centerpiece constituting the bracket and two end pieces constituting the opposite ends. However, the connecting member can also me made from a single element with an integrated bracket or with the bracket mounted in the center. The guiding elements are arranged transversal to the force member 51 and extend parallel to the supporting frame elements 63. Each of the guiding elements 54 are provided with a guiding face 55 adapted to engage with a face of each of the supporting frame elements. To reduce friction, the guiding faces 55 may be provided with a low-friction material, such as a polymer or a polymer composition. Thus when the trolley moves the pull bar the guiding elements slide along the frame elements to ensure the stability of the pull bar and an efficient transfer of the linear motion of the linear actuator to the scissor mechanisms.

As seen from Fig. 5 and 6, the guiding elements further serve to connect the pull bar to the scissor arms of the scissor mechanisms. In the shown embodiment, the guiding elements 54 are connected with the first scissor arms by a blot 8 extending through the wheel mounted at the end 312 of the scissor arm. In an alternative embodiment, the guiding elements may be omitted and the opposite ends 53 of the force member 51 may be directly coupled to the free moving ends of the first scissor arms 31. An advantage of the guiding elements is that they serve to offset the trolley and the connecting point of the free moving end of the first scissor arms to the pull bar. An effect of this offset is that the moving range of the trolley can be reduced, while the desks ability to get into the extreme lower position is maintained. The extreme lower position require the free moving end of the first scissor arms to be moved all the way to the longitudinal extending circumferential frame element 61, as illustrated by the arrow in Fig. 5. When the trolley is moved in the opposite direction to raise the desk to the extreme raised position, the effect of the offset between the trolley and the connecting point of the scissor arms, does not impede the functionality of the desk, as the first scissor arms can only be moved a certain distance towards the fixed ends of the second scissor arms mounted on the top frame without compromising the structural stability of the desk.

To fully collapse the height-adjustable desk as shown in Fig. 8, the pull bar should be disconnected from the free moving end of the first scissor arms. In one embodiment, this is done by removing the bolt 8. Hereby the movement of the first scissor arms are no longer controlled by the linear actuator. By arranging the first and second scissor arms parallel to the transversal frame elements of the bottom frame, the height-adjustable desk may be fully collapsed and arranged in a very compact position . In an alternative embodiment, the pull bar may be releasable mounted on the trolley and the released from the trolley to allow the desk to be placed in the fully collapsed position.

Finally, Fig . 7 illustrates an additional functionality of the height-adjustable desk in the form of a displaceable bracket 9 for securing alignment of the transversal frame elements of the bottom frame and the free moving end of the second scissor arms. The bracket is pivotally mounted to the scissor arm and extends underneath the bottom frame. Hereby, if an upwards acting motion is applied to the second scissor arms, e.g . if someone tries to lift the tabletop or the top frame, the wheel 34 is kept in position on the bottom frame. When the linear actuator is operated, the bracket moves along the bottom frame together with the free moving end of the scissor arm .

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms "comprising" or "comprises" do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as "a" or "an" etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention . Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.

Claims

A height-adjustable desk (1) comprising :

- a tabletop (2);

- two scissor mechanisms arranged to support (3) the tabletop and

configured for moving the tabletop between a raised position and a lowered position ; and

- a linear actuator (4) arranged to adjust the position of the scissor

mechanisms;

characterized in that the linear motion provided by the linear actuator is transferred to the scissor mechanisms by a pull bar (5) coupled to a first scissor arm (31) of each of the scissor mechanisms.

A height-adjustable desk (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pull bar is configured to be releasably coupled to the first scissor arms to allow decoupling of the pull par from the scissor mechanisms.

A height-adjustable desk (1) according to claim 2, wherein the pull bar is releasably coupled to a free moving end (312) of each of the first scissor arms.

A height-adjustable desk (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein opposite ends (53, 54) of the bull bar are releasably coupled to each of the first scissor arms by a removable fastening means (8), such as a bolt

connecting the first scissor arms to the pull bar.

A height-adjustable desk (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pull bar comprises a longitudinal extending connection member provided with transversal extending guiding members (54) at opposite ends (53), and wherein the guiding members are adapted to be releasably coupled to the free moving end (311, 321) of each of first scissor arms (31).

A height-adjustable desk (1) according to claim 5, wherein the connecting points between the pull bar and the scissor arms are offset in the transversal direction from a connecting point between the pull bar and the linear actuator.

7. A height-adjustable desk (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a top frame (6) for being mounted underneath the tabletop, and wherein second scissor arms (32) of the scissor mechanisms are mounted on the top frame.

8. A height-adjustable desk (1) according to claim 7, wherein the guiding members comprises guiding faces adapted to engage with and slide along transversal extending elements (63) of the top frame.

9. A height-adjustable desk (1) according to claim 8, wherein the free moving end 312 of the first scissor arms engage with and moves along the transversal extending elements (63) of the top frame.

10. A height-adjustable desk (1) according to any of the claims 7-9, further comprising a bottom frame (7) adapted to support a free moving end (322) of the second scissor arms.