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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
A PERSONAL WORK STATION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1990/002499
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A personal work station (1) comprises a support structure (2) and a work surface (3) pivotally mounted on the support structure for pivotal movement between an operative raised position and an inoperative lowered position. The support structure (2) has a pair of legs (5, 6 and 7, 8) at each side thereof movable relative to each other about pivot axes at their upper ends between open and closed positions. Strut means (11, 12) extending between the support structure (2) and the work surface (3) support the latter in its raised position.

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Inventors:
REANEY DESMOND FINBAR (GB)
CHOONG JOHN (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB1989/001069
Publication Date:
March 22, 1990
Filing Date:
September 12, 1989
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
FILOFAX PLC (GB)
International Classes:
A47B3/02; (IPC1-7): A47B3/02; A47B3/091
Foreign References:
FR432131A1911-11-29
FR1314944A1963-01-11
US1785342A1930-12-16
FR1331518A1963-07-05
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A personal work station (1) comprising a support structure (2) and a work surface (3) mounted on the support structure for pivotal movement between an operative raised position and an inoperative lowered position, the support structure (2) having, at each side thereof, a pair of legs (5, 6 and 7, 8), the legs of each pair being movable relative to each other about a respective pivotal connec¬ tion between a closed position and an in use, open posi tion, characterised in that said pivotal connections are at or adjacent the upper ends of said legs and that the support structure includes strut means (11, 12) connected to one (5, 7) of each of said pair of legs for supporting the work surface (3) from below when the latter is in its operative position.
2. A work station according to claim 1, in which the work surface (3) is arranged to be in a substantially horizontal position when in said operative raised position.
3. A work station according to claim 1, in which the two pairs of legs (5, 6 and 7, 8) are connected to opposite ends of an elongate transverse rigid bar (4), the pivoting axes of said two pivotal connections being aligned with the elongate axis (10) of said bar (4).
4. A work station, according to claim 3, in which one (5, 7) of each pair of legs iε fixed with respect to said rigid bar (4) and the other (6, 8) of each pair of legs is pivotally connected to said rigid bar at its corresponding pivotal connection.
5. A work station according to claim 1, in which the length of at least one leg (6, 8) of each pair of legs is adjustable to enable adjustment of the height of the work surface from the ground when the latter iε in its operative raised position.
6. A work station according to claim 1, in which the length of one leg (6, 8) of each of said pair of legs iε adjustable between a minimum length and a maximum length, the normal length of the other one of each of said pair of legs being substantially midway between said minimum and maximum lengths, and in which means (26) are provided to detachably mount the work surface (3) on the support structure so as to extend forwardly thereof when in its raised position either when the said one legs form the two front legs or the two rear legs of the work station.
7. A work station according to claim 6, in which cooperating pivotal connection means are provided on the desk top and each of said legs to enable the desk top to be detachably pivotally mounted on the two front legs.
8. A work station according to claim 6, in which the length of each of the said one legs is adjustable between three lengths, namely a retracted length, an extended length and an intermediate length which is substantially midway between the retracted and extended lengths and which iε substantially the same length as that of each of said other legs.
9. A work station according to claim 1, in which when the pairs of legs (5, 6 and 7, 8) are in their open posi¬ tions and the work surface (3) is in its operative raised position, the strut means (11, 12) extends from the two rear legs (5, 6) upwardly to support the underside of the work surface (3).
10. A work station according to claim 1, in which the strut means (11, 12) are arranged to be releasably locked to the work surface (3) when the latter is in its raised posi ion.
Description:
A personal work station

Technical Field

This invention relates to a personal work station of the kind comprising a support structure and a work surface mounted on the support structure for pivotal movement between an operative raised position and an inoperative lowered position, the support structure having, at each side thereof, a pair of legs, the legs of each pair being movable relative to each other about a respective pivotal connection between a closed position and an in use, open position. In particular, but not exclusively, the personal work station comprises a personal desk or table.

Background Art

A known personal work station of the kind referred to is a conventional card table having a pair of frames pivotally connected together substantially midway between their upper and lower ends and a top pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the frames. In the raised, i.e. horizontal, position of the table top with the frames pivoted into an opened out position, the upper end of the other frame also supports the table top from below.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention seeks to provide a novel design of personal work station.

According to the present invention a personal work station of the kind referred to is characterised in that said pivotal connections are at or adjacent the upper ends of said legs and that the support structure includes strut means connected to one of each of said pair of legs for supporting the work surface from below when the latter is

in its operative position.

Preferably the work station is in the form of a desk and the work surface is provided by a desk top conveniently arranged to be in a substantially horizontal position when in said operative raised position.

Preferably the two pairs of legs are pivotally con¬ nected to an elongate transverse rigid bar, the pivoting axes of said two pivotal connections preferably being aligned with the elongate axis of said bar.

Conveniently the support structure is adjustable in height to enable adjustment of the height of the work surface from the ground when the latter is in its operative raised position. One way of achieving height adjustment is to arrange for each leg to have an adjustable length. However the preferred method of achieving height adjustment is to arrange for the length of one leg of each of said pair of legs to be adjustable between a minimum length and a maximum length, the normal length of the other one of each of said pair of legs being substantially midway between said minimum and maximum lengths, and to arrange for the work surface to be detachably mounted on the support structure, e.g. to the "front" legs thereof, so as to extend forwardly when in its raised position either when the said one legs form the two front legs or the two rear legs of the work station. With this arrangement the personal work station can be stood in an inoperative condition with the said one legs adjusted to have a length at least substant ll the same as that of the said other legs, with the pairs of legs in their closed positions and with the work surface in its inoperative lowered position. To convert the work station into an operative condition, the said one legs are either both retracted or both ex¬ tended and the pairs of legs are moved into their open positions. If the said one legs are both retracted they will then form the two rear legs of the work station

whereas if the said one legs are both extended they will form the two front legs of the work station. In either case the work surface must extend forwardly when in its raised position and for this reason means must be provided to enable the work surface to be detachably mounted in alternative positions on the support structure in depen¬ dence on whether the said one legs form the front or rear legs of the work station. Preferably the length of each of the said one legs is adjustable between three lengths, namely a retracted length, an extended length and an intermediate length which is substantially mid-way between the retracted and extended lengths and which is substan¬ tially the same length as that of each of said other legs. By moving both the said one legs into either their retrac- ted positions or their extended positions, the level of the work surface from the ground can be selected to be respec¬ tively a first level or a higher, second level.

Although it is possible for the strut means to be attached to the front legs, it is preferred that when the pairs of legs are in their open positions and the work surface is in its operative raised position, the strut means extend from the two rear legs upwardly to support the underside of the work surface. In this case, and if the work station is so designed that either leg of said pairs of legs can provide the rear legs of the work station, the strut means are arranged to be detachably connected to the rear legs. Preferably, the strut means comprise first and second parts hinged together about a first pivoting axis, the first part also being pivotally connected to each rear leg for pivotal movement about at least substantially aligned second pivoting axes and the second part also being pivotally connected to the underside of the work surface for pivotal movement about a third pivoting axis, the first, second and third pivoting axes all being parallel to one another. In this case the second part, in addition to being pivotally connected to the work surface, is also slidably connected thereto to enable the strut means to

remain connected to the work surface during movement of the latter between its raised and lowered positions. Preferab¬ ly the hinged connection of the first and second parts moves through a centre position and into an "over-centre" position during movement of the work surface into its raised position. Preferably the strut means is arranged to be releasably locked to the work surface when the latter is in its raised position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying draw¬ ings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a personal work station according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a schematic view from the front of the personal work station shown in Figure 2,

Figures 3a-c are schematic views illustrating the personal work station shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a low operative condition, a collapsed storage condition and a high operative condition, respectively,

Figure 4 is a side view of the personal work station shown in Figures ' 1 and 2 with its work surface in a lowered position, and

Figure 5 is a side view of the personal work station shown in Figure 4 in a collapsed storage position. '

Best Mode of Carrying out the Invention

Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 show a personal work station according to the invention in the form of a desk 1. The desk 1 comprises a support structure generally designated

by the reference numeral 2 and a work surface in the form of a desk top 3 detachably attached to the support struc¬ ture 2.

The support structure 2 comprises a rigid steel bar 4 and pairs of legs 5, 6 and 7, 8 connected to opposite ends of the steel bar 4. A casing 9 of generally cylindrical form surrounds the bar 4 and has closable openings (not shown) therein to enable the storage of personal items within the casing 9. The two legs 5 and 7 are rigid with the bar 4 and the legs 6 and 8 are arranged to be pivotally connected to the bar 4 so as to pivot together about the axis 10 of the steel bar 4 through an angle of approximate¬ ly 33° between an open position (as shown) and a closed position. Furthermore the two legs 6 and 8 are of tele- εcopic form being adjustable in length to have either a maximum length (as shown), a minimum length or an inter¬ mediate length which is substantially midway between the maximum and minimum lengths and which corresponds in length to that of the other legs 5 and 7.

Adjustment means 20, e.g. a screw-threaded or spring urged member, are provided for releasably locking each leg 6, 8 at its selected length.

The desk top 3 is detachably pivotally mounted to the "front" legs for pivotal movement about an axis 26 parallel to, but spaced from, the axis 10 between an operative, raised position (shown in full lines in Figure 1) and an inoperative lowered position (shown in Figure 4 and in chain lines in Figure 1). Each of the legs 5-8 is pro¬ vided with pivot pins or sockets (not shown) for coopera- tion with corresponding sockets or pivot pins (also not shown) on the desk top 3 to enable the latter to be detach¬ ably connected to whichever pair of legs is to form the "front" legs of the desk. Strut means in the form of a lightweight cast aluminium frame 11 hinged at 13 to a strut 12 are connected between the support structure 2 and the

desk top 3 for supporting the desk top 3 in its raised position. The frame 11 is detachably pivotally connected at 14 and 15 to the legs 5 and 7 and the strut is detachab¬ ly pivotally and slidably connected to the bottom of the desk top at 16. A screw-threaded fastening device 17 mounted on the strut 2 is used to secure the strut 12 fast to the desk top 3 when the latter is in its raised posi¬ tion.

As mentioned previously it is preferred that the legs 6 and 8 move together when the legs are opened or closed.

Accordingly the legs 6 and 8 may be linked by a bar (not shown) positioned so as not to interfere with the frame 11 or to restrict leg or knee room beneath the desk.

The height of the desk 1 is adjustable between a "high" or a "low" position by adjusting the lengths of the legs 6 and 8. As can be seen schematically in Figures 1, 2 and 3c, when legs 6 and 8 are fully extended to their maximum length (x), the rear legs 5 and 7 are at an angle of approximately 4° from the vertical, the "long" legs 6 and 8 extend forwardly at an angle of approximately 29° from the vertical and the desk top 3 is supported in its "high" raised position by the strut means. By unscrewing the fastening device 17 the desk top 3 is movable about the axis 26 between its lowered and raised positions. In moving the desk top 3 from its lowered position to its raised position,* the hinge connection 13 moves from one side to the other side of an imaginary plane surface passing through the connection 16 and the pivotal connec¬ tions 14 and 15. In other words the hinge connection 13 moves into an over-centre position as the desk • top 3 is moved into its raised position.

The support structure 2 is collapsed into a storage position (shown in Figures 3b and 5) by pivoting the legs 6 and 8 in unison back towards the legs 5 and 7 into their closed positions and retracting the legs 6 and 8 into their

intermediate lengths (y). In Figure 3b the desk top 3 is shown detached from the support structure 2, although normally it would remain attached thereto and would pivot downwardly about its pivotal connections to the front legs 6 and 8. The strut means may also, if desired, be detached from the support structure 2 and/or the desk top 3. In the storage position of the desk 1 all the legs 5-8 have substantially the same length (y).

To convert the desk 1 into a low-level desk, the legs 6 and 8 are retracted further to their minimum lengths (z) and the legs are moved into their open positions - i.e. by pivoting the legs 6 and 8 apart relative to the fixed legs 5 and 7 through an angle of 33° about the axis 10. In this condition, the legs 6 and 8 now form the rear legs of the desk and the legs 5 and 7 from the front legs of the desk. It is thus necessary to re-mount the desk top 3 on the other side of the support structure 2 so that the desk top 3 is pivotally mounted to, and projects forwardly from, the "front" legs 5 and 7 when in its raised position (i.e. as shown in Figure 3a) and also to re-position the strut means so that the frame 11 is pivotally connected to connection points 21 on the legs 6 and 8. As shown in Figure 3a, the desk top 3 is pivotally connected to the legs 5 and 7 about axis 26" The desk 1 in its "low" position operates in substantially the same manner as when in its "high" posi¬ tion.

Although not described in detail, the desk top 3 may be provided with drawers 22, 23 slidable in directions indicated by double-headed arrows X and Y in Figure 2. A back screen 24 may also be detachably mounted to the desk top 3 or the support structure 2 for holding papers or the like. A specially adapted battery operated or re-charge¬ able torch or light (not shown) may be clipped to the back screen 24.

The particular design of desk 1 illustrated in the

drawings provides plenty of knee or leg room under the desk top 3 when the latter is in its raised position. The rigidity of the support structure and the strength of the lightweight frame 11 enables the latter to be disposed at a relatively shallow angle to the desk top 3 when supporting the desk top 3 in the raised position.

It is possible to design a desk according to the invention so that the desk top 3 is mounted on the support structure 2 for pivotal movement about axis 10 between its raised and lowered positions. However such a design does not allow, or renders more difficult, the storage of the desk top in the lowered position.