Height adjustable desk system

A height-adjustable desk having a desktop, at least one cabinet positioned beneath the desktop, and at least one height-adjustable column. The height-adjustable column has an upper end secured to the desktop and a lower end secured within the cabinet. The height-adjustable column is selectively raised or lowered to move the desktop up or down. The cabinet has a storage compartment, and the lower end of the column is positioned behind the storage compartment. Substantially the entire length of the height-adjustable column is housed within and concealed by the cabinet when the height-adjustable column is in the lower position. The desk also includes various cable management channels and cable tracks to entirely conceal all electrical cable running throughout the desk to power and control the height of the desk, as well as to provide electrical power or other necessary electrical cables for any electrical equipment used on the desktop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a height adjustable desk. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a height adjustable desk that includes integrated storage, as well as wire and cable management.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Workstations used by employees in an office environment have evolved over the years. Originally, each employee used an individual desk. Those desks were then replaced by re-configurable systems furniture, which is commonly known as “cubicles.” Cubicles have now given way to benching or “linked benching,” in which workstations are aligned end-to-end with each other and each row of workstations may optionally be positioned to face against another row.

Another evolution of the office workstation has been to make the height of a desktop adjustable so that the user can selectively sit or stand while working, or to accommodate chairs of different heights. However, there are several drawbacks to using a height-adjustable desk. First, many of the height-adjustable desks available are actually more akin to a table having an adjustable height. These include separate drawers or cabinets positioned below the table to provide storage for the user's equipment and/or documents. In addition, any electronics sitting atop the surface of the workstation, such as a computer, monitor, phone, etc., will have electrical cords extending off the edge of the desktop to reach a power source or other electronics equipment. This can also lead to problems with electrical cables being snagged, caught, or pinched as the desk is raised or lowered. In addition, the resulting product may have a muddled and unrefined look due to the modular storage cabinets and numerous visible electrical cables.

The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art by providing a desk that is suitable for linked benching that is height-adjustable, includes integrated storage cabinets for housing drawers, and includes an integrated cable management and storage system for concealing and managing the extension and retraction of necessary cables. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a plurality of such desks that can be used to provide a linked benching system having a plurality of aligned desks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to workstations or multi-user desk systems with height adjustable work surfaces that are controlled manually by a user, such as by a keypad located on the workstation, or remotely by a computing device like a phone or a tablet. The workstations or systems can be made available in stand-alone or benching applications. The workstations or systems include electrically-powered motors that are housed in the workstations and control height-adjustable columns which are anchored in base supports. The workstations or systems can include multiple storage drawers housed within the height-adjustable desktop and/or cabinets positioned near the floor beneath the desktop.

The workstations or systems can also have ventilated drawers to house electronic equipment. For example, a drawer in the desktop can include a laptop docking station. In addition, the work surface can include at least one electrical outlet (e.g., a power outlet, a USB power outlet, a LAN outlet, etc.) positioned on the work surface to provide a wired connection for electronic equipment positioned atop the work surface. All wires for power and accessories extend through hidden channels in the height-adjustable columns and the desktop, and plug into wiring spines, or cable management channels, mounted within the desk to provide a clean aesthetic appearance of the workstations or systems.

Drawers may also be incorporated within the height-adjustable desktop. The desktop may be raised or lowered using a manual input from a user. This manual input could be a switch or keypad positioned on the desk. Alternatively, it could be remotely controlled by a computing device (e.g., a phone or tablet) or a dedicated remote control device using any suitable technology that is well-known in the art, including a Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth®, RFDI scanner, infrared light, and so forth.

More specifically, the present invention provides a height-adjustable desk comprising: (a) a desktop having an upper work surface; (b) at least one cabinet positioned beneath a portion of the desktop, the cabinet including at least one storage compartment; and (c) at least one height-adjustable column that is selectively raised into an upper position or lowered into a lower position, the height-adjustable column having an upper end and a lower end, and the lower end is secured within the cabinet, and the upper end is secured to the desktop.

The height-adjustable column can include a column channel extending along the length thereof through which electrical cables or wiring can pass to provide electrical power to the desktop. The electrical cable extends through the column channel, whereby a first end of the electrical cable is located at the desktop and can be electrically connected with an object at the desktop, and the electrical cable has a second end that can be electrically connected to a remote electrical connection.

Preferably the lower end of the height-adjustable column is positioned behind, and not within the storage compartment. In addition, preferably substantially the entire length of the height-adjustable column is housed within and concealed by the cabinet when the height-adjustable column is in the lower position.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a height-adjustable desk comprising: (a) a desktop having an upper work surface; (b) at least one height-adjustable column that is selectively raised into an upper position or lowered into a lower position, the height-adjustable column having an upper end and a lower end, and the lower end is secured to a base of the desk, and the upper end is secured to the desktop; (c) a column channel extending along the length of the height-adjustable column, the column channel having a top end that is secured to the height-adjustable column proximate to the upper end thereof, and a bottom end that is secured to the height-adjustable column proximate to the lower end thereof; and (d) at least one electrical cable that extends through the column channel, whereby a first end of the electrical cable is located at the desktop and can be electrically connected with an object at the desktop, and the electrical cable has a second end that can be electrically connected to a remote electrical connection not on the desk.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the present invention and as shown generally inFIG. 1, there is provided a height-adjustable desk10comprising: (a) a desktop12having an upper work surface14; (b) at least one cabinet16positioned beneath a portion of the desktop12, the cabinet16including at least one storage compartment18; and (c) at least one height-adjustable column20that is selectively raised into an upper position or lowered into a lower position, the height-adjustable column20having an upper end22and a lower end24, and the lower end24is secured within the cabinet16and the upper end22is secured to the desktop12.

As shown throughout the drawings, the cabinet16is positioned on the floor and provides a structural basis for the desktop12. Each cabinet16can include a floor26, a back wall28, sidewalls30, and a top wall32to form an enclosure. Preferably, there is provided a left cabinet34positioned on a left end of the desk10, and a right cabinet36positioned on the right end of the desk10.

Each cabinet16can optionally include one or more storage compartments18, which can include an open-top file drawer38, a shallow open-top drawer40for storing office supplies like pens, a stapler, etc., a fixed-position storage compartment that does not extend out of the cabinet16but is accessible by a door at the front of the cabinet16, or any other suitable type of storage compartment18that is well-known in the art. As will be discussed in greater detail below, it is noted that the storage compartments18do not use all of the available space within the cabinet16because space must be left to house the height-adjustable columns20as well.

A divider42can optionally be provided which is attached to a back surface of the workstation10and extends upwardly to provide some degree of privacy to an individual using the workstation10. This is particularly useful when the workstation10is positioned to face against another workstation10.

The desk10also includes a wire spine, or cable management channel44, that extends across the back of the desk10between the left cabinet34and the right cabinet36. The cable management channel44includes a plurality of walls46and has an open channel extending along the length thereof to receive at least one electrical cable48.

As mentioned above, there is provided a height-adjustable column20for raising or lowering the desktop12. Any suitable type of height-adjustable column that is well-known in the art for raising or lowering the desktop on a height-adjustable desk can be used. The height-adjustable column20can include a worm gear or any other suitable mechanical linkage or device for raising or lowering the desktop12. Preferably, the height-adjustable column20is electrically powered and includes a motor50for raising or lowering the height-adjustable column20. Although specific types of height-adjustable columns20will vary, preferably the motor50is mounted at the upper end22of the height-adjustable column20.

The height-adjustable column20has an upper end22and a lower end24. The upper end22is secured to the desktop12, and the lower end24is secured to the cabinet16. Preferably, the lower end24of the height-adjustable column20is mounted to the floor26of the cabinet16, and the height-adjustable column20extends upwardly through the cabinet16and through an opening in the top wall32of the cabinet16. The height-adjustable column20is mounted to the floor26in the cabinet16behind the storage compartment18so that the height-adjustable column20is concealed within the cabinet16for aesthetic purposes.

In addition, it is an objective of the invention to provide a desk10which appears similar to a traditional desk10when the desktop12is in a lower position. Therefore, when the desktop12is in a fully lowered position, substantially the entire length of the height-adjustable column20is housed within and concealed by the cabinet16so that the height-adjustable column20is preferably not visible while in the lowered position.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings includes two height-adjustable columns20: one positioned on a left end of the desk10and another positioned on a right end of the desk10. However, any other suitable number of height-adjustable columns20can be provided, and they can be positioned at any suitable location as well. For example, only one height-adjustable column20could be provided and be positioned near a midpoint with the desktop12near the back of the workstation10. Likewise, a workstation10could include three or more height-adjustable columns20positioned along the length of the desktop12if the desktop12is sufficiently long.

In addition to the mechanical components for actually raising or lowering the height-adjustable column20, the height-adjustable column20also includes a hollow column channel52that extends along the length of the height-adjustable column20. The column channel52includes a top end54and a bottom end56. The top end54is secured to the height-adjustable column20proximate to the upper end22of the column20, and the bottom end56is secured to the height-adjustable column20proximate to the lower end24of the column20. The top end54and bottom end56of the column channel52are open. The column channel52can optionally include two separate pieces, one being nested within the other and each of the pieces being secured to a respective end of the height-adjustable column20. Accordingly, the two pieces can therefore extend or retract as the height-adjustable column20is raised or lowered.

At least one electrical cable48is provided which extends through the column channel52so as to provide a source of electrical power to the desktop12. The electrical cable48can be a power cord, a network cord for a LAN, a telephone cord, an HDMI cable, or any other type of electrical cable48that is well-known in the art, and for which it would be beneficial to provide access to at the desktop12. A first end of the electrical cable48is located at the desktop12and can be electrically connected with any suitable object at the desktop12, such as a laptop computer, telephone, or the like. The electrical cable48has a second end that extends out of the bottom end56of the column channel52. The second end of the electrical cable48can connect directly to a power supply, such as plugging into an electrical outlet on the floor or wall.

When multiple workstations10are provided to form a system of workstations10, then the second end of the electrical cable48can extend through the cable management channel44where it can connect with a powered electrical cable48in the cable management channel44in an adjacent workstation10. Thus, it is seen that adjoining workstations10can be electrically connected to one another.

The desktop12includes an upper work surface14, as well as at least one drawer58and a wire management cavity60for housing electrical cables48and components. The desktop12also includes a centrally-positioned pull-out drawer58. Optionally the drawer58has a vent64along its bottom surface to allow the use and storage of electrical equipment within the drawer58. As discussed further below, the back wall28of the drawer58also includes an opening66to permit electrical access into the wire management cavity60, which is positioned behind the drawer58.

Optionally, the desktop12can also include additional pull-out drawers58to the left and/or right of the centrally located pull-out drawer58.

The desktop12has the upper work surface14, a bottom floor surface68, a back wall70, and the pair of sidewalls72which define an open cavity within the desktop12. The drawers58are positioned within the open cavity. In addition, the motor50for the height-adjustable column20can also be housed within the open cavity of the desktop12so that it is concealed.

A wire management cavity60is positioned within the open cavity of the desktop12, and is provided to house and manage the electrical cables48and various electrical components that are necessary to raise or lower the desktop12, as well as provide electrical power or connectivity to electrical equipment on the work surface14. The first end of the electrical cable48extends out of the top end54of the column channel52where it passes into the wire management cavity60. A cable track74, or cable carrier, can be located within the wire management cavity60and connected to the back wall70of the drawer58. As understood by those having ordinary skill in the art, a cable track74is a flexible hollow frame formed from a plurality of interlocking segments. Each segment is flexible with respect to the adjoining segments, and each segment has a hollow center to allow a cable to pass therethrough. The cable track74guides the electrical cable48passing therethrough as the cable is pushed and pulled to keep the electrical cable48from getting snagged or jammed.

The electrical cable48, or one of several provided electrical cables48, passing through the column channel52and up into the wire management cavity60provides the electricity to power the motors50to drive the height-adjustable columns20up and down. The electrical cable48is electrically connected to a controller76within the wire management cavity60. The controller76is electrically connected to the motor50of the height-adjustable column20to control when the motor50is powered, and whether the height-adjustable column20is being raised or lowered.

There is also provided a manual input78interface for providing instructions to the controller76. The input78is electrically connected to the controller76, and allows a user to manually instruct the desktop12to be raised or lowered. The input78can be a keypad provided on the desktop12(or on the bottom of the floor surface68or along the sidewall72of the desktop12). Alternatively, the input78can also be provided via a remote device, such as a computer, tablet, a phone, or a dedicated remote control, as is disclosed in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2013/0204438 to Hjelm, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The wireless signal can be sent from the remote input78device to a receiver in the desktop12using any suitable type of wireless connection, including but not limited to, a Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth®, RFDI scanner, infrared light, or the like.

Lastly, the desktop12includes at least one electrical interface connector80positioned on the work surface14to provide convenient access for any electrical equipment positioned on the work surface14. The electrical interface connector80can be an electrical outlet, a USB port, a phone jack, a LAN connection, an HDMI connection, or any other suitable type of electrical connector that would be useful to provide for objects on the work surface14. The electrical interface connector80is electrically connected to an electrical cable48that extends up through the column channel52.

As mentioned above, the workstation10has particular applicability when multiple workstations10are provided and positioned end-to-end and back-to-back in a linked benching arrangement. For example, when the workstations10are provided in this manner, the appropriate electrical cables48can be routed through the cable management channels44along the back of the workstations10to electrically link one workstation10to another. This linking functionality helps conceal the electrical cables48, which is a significant objective of the present invention.

According to the invention described above, a workstation is provided which provides for a height-adjustable desk that includes internal channels for routing electrical cables to conceal the electrical cables for aesthetic and ergonomic purposes, and which has the appearance and storage capabilities of a traditional desk.

As is apparent from the preceding, the present invention provides a workstation or desk that is suitable for linked benching that is height-adjustable, includes integrated storage cabinets for housing drawers, and includes an integrated cable management and storage system for concealing and managing the extension and retraction of necessary cables. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a plurality of such desks that can be used to provide a linked benching system including a plurality of aligned desks.