Patent Publication Number: US-11647831-B2

Title: Desk frame elevation structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a desk frame elevation structure and, more particularly, to a structure for reducing movement noise and increasing stability during vertical movement of a desk board. 
     A typical desk generally includes a desk board disposed on top of a plurality of legs. However, the desk board with a fixed height has limited applications. Currently, a desk frame with an adjustable height is available.  FIG.  6    shows a conventional desk frame including a base  1 ′, an elevation unit  2 ′, and a desk board  3 ′. A bottom portion of the elevation unit  2 ′ is coupled to the base  1 ′. The desk board  3 ′ is coupled to a top portion of the elevation unit  2 ′. The elevation unit  2 ′ includes telescopic outer and inner tubes  21 ′ and  22 ′, a pneumatic rod  23 ′, and a control device  24 ′. The outer tube  21 ′ is disposed around the inner tube  22 ′. A bottom end of the outer tube  21 ′ is coupled to the base  1 ′. A bottom plate  211 ′ is mounted in the bottom end of the outer tube  21 ′. The outer tube  21 ′ has an upper stop edge  212 ′ at an upper end thereof. The inner tube  22 ′ includes a top portion fixed to the desk board  3 ′. A stop block  221 ′ is mounted to an outer periphery of a bottom portion of the inner tube  22 ′. The pneumatic rod  23 ′ is disposed in the outer and inner tubes  21 ′ and  22 ′ and has a top end coupled to the inner tube  22 ′ and a bottom end coupled to the bottom plate  211 ′ of the outer tube  21 ′. The pneumatic rod  23 ′ has a control end  231 ′ at an upper portion thereof. The control device  24 ′ is disposed on the control end  231 ′ of the pneumatic rod  23 ′. When the control device  24 ′ presses against the control end  231 ′, the pneumatic rod  23 ′ telescopes to adjust the height of the desk board  3 ′. When the control device  24 ′ is released, the height of the desk board  3 ′ is fixed. 
     The above structure supports the weight of the desk board  3 ′ by the pneumatic rod  23 ′ which also assists in elevation of the desk board  3 ′. When the desk board  3 ′ is lifted, the stop block  221 ′ abuts against the upper stop edge  212 ′ to limit the height of the desk board  3 ′. However, when an operator operates in a wrong way causing the control device  24 ′ to continuously press against the control end  231 ′, the extending force of the pneumatic rod  23 ′ causes rapid elevation of the desk board  3 ′, resulting in larger impact noise caused by the stop block  221 ′ and the upper stop edge  212 ′ and larger shock of the desk board  3 ′. Furthermore, when the force applied by the operator on the control device  24 ′ for pressing against the control end  231 ′ causes an excessive downward pressing force on the desk board  3 ′, a louder impact noise is generated at the bottom end of the inner tube  22 ′ and the bottom plate  211 ′ of the outer tube  21 ′. 
     Furthermore, since a gap exists between the outer and inner tubes  21 ′ and  22 ′ to allow vertical movement of the inner tube  22 ′ in the outer tube  21 ′, the inner tube  22 ′ could deviate and cause friction between the outer periphery of the inner tube  22 ′ and the outer tube  21 ′, leading to wear to the outer periphery of the inner tube  22 ′ as well as unsmooth movement and noise. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a structure for reducing movement noise while increasing the stability of vertical movement of the desk board. 
     A desk frame elevation structure according to the present invention comprises a base unit, an elevation unit, a desk board unit, a movement control unit, and a shock absorbing unit. The base unit includes a base configured to be disposed on the ground. The elevation unit includes an elevation tube comprised of an outer tube and an inner tube. The inner tube is received in the outer tube and is telescopic relative to the outer tube. The outer tube includes a bottom end fixed to the base and includes an inner periphery and an outer periphery. A bottom plate is securely mounted to the bottom end of the outer tube. A first top plate is securely mounted to a top portion of the outer tube. The first top plate includes a central portion having a first through-hole through which the inner tube extends. The inner tube includes an inner periphery and an outer periphery. A second top plate is securely mounted to a top portion of the inner tube. The desk board unit is disposed on top of the elevation unit and coupled to the inner tube to move therewith. The movement control unit includes a telescopic rod having top and bottom ends and a control board. A control button is disposed on the top end of the telescopic rod. The telescopic rod is disposed in the elevation tube. The top and bottom ends of the telescopic rod are coupled to the outer tube and the inner tube, respectively. The control board is disposed in a position corresponding to the control button. The control board is operable to selectively press against or not press against the control button. 
     The shock absorbing unit includes a roller unit, an upper buffer pad, and a lower buffer pad. The roller unit includes a plurality of roller seats and a plurality of rollers. The plurality of roller seats is disposed on the outer periphery of the inner tube. A top face of an uppermost one of the plurality of roller seats forms an abutting edge. Each of the plurality of rollers is rotatably mounted on a respective one of the plurality of roller seats and is capable of rolling on the inner periphery of the outer tube. The upper buffer pad is made of soft material and is disposed below the first top plate of the outer tube. The upper buffer pad includes a central portion having a third through-hole through which the inner tube extends. The upper buffer pad further includes an upper face and a lower face. The upper face of the upper buffer pad abuts the first top plate. The lower face of the upper buffer pad abuts the abutting edge of the inner tube when the desk top unit is in the highest position. The lower buffer pad is made of soft material and is disposed above the bottom plate of the outer tube. The lower buffer pad includes an upper face and a lower face. The lower face of the lower buffer pad abuts the bottom plate. The upper face of the lower buffer pad abuts a bottom end of the inner tube when the desk top unit is in the lowest position. 
     By the desk frame elevation structure according to the present invention, the control board can be controlled to press against the control button to actuate the telescopic rod, thereby fixing the length of the telescopic rod and the height of the desk board unit. During the vertical movement of the desk board unit, the rollers of the roller unit roll on the inner periphery of the outer tube, preventing friction noise between the inner tube and the outer tube while improving the motion stability. When a user continuously uses the control board to press against the control button for keeping the telescopic rod in the extended state, the abutting edge of the roller unit abuts the lower face of the upper buffer pad. This further avoids large impact noise caused by the first top plate of the outer tube and the inner tube moving rapidly upward. This further avoids larger shock of the desk board unit, improving the motion stability. 
     When the control board is used to press against the control button, a force can be applied to press the desk board unit downward. When the desk board unit moves to the lowest position, the bottom end of the inner end abuts the upper face of the lower buffer pad, avoiding larger impact noise between the inner tube and the bottom plate of the outer tube. Furthermore, the desk board unit is prevented from larger shock to improve the motion stability and operational quality. 
     The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a partial, exploded, perspective view of a desk frame elevation structure of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a portion of the desk frame elevation structure of the embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the desk frame elevation structure after assembly. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross sectional view of the desk frame elevation structure with a desk board in the highest position. 
         FIG.  5    is a cross sectional view of the desk frame elevation structure with the desk board in the lowest position. 
         FIG.  6    is a cross sectional view of a conventional height-adjustable desk frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1 - 4    ( FIGS.  1 ,  2 , and  4    show a portion of the structure according to the present invention), a desk frame elevation structure of an embodiment according to the present invention comprises a base unit  1 , an elevation unit  2 , a desk board unit  3 , a motion control unit  4 , and a shock absorbing unit  5 . The base unit  1  includes two bases  11  configured to be disposed on the ground. The two bases  11  are disposed parallel to each other. Each of the two bases  11  includes a central portion having connection holes  12 . 
     The elevation unit  2  includes two elevation tubes each of which is comprised of an outer tube  21  and an inner tube  22 . The two outer tubes  21  are hollow and have corresponding structures. Each outer tube  21  includes an inner periphery  211  and an outer periphery  212 . Two bottom plates  213  are securely mounted to bottom ends of the two outer tubes  21 . Each bottom plate  213  can be welded to the inner periphery  211  of a respective outer tube  21  and includes connection holes  214 . Fasteners  6  extend through the connection holes  214  of each bottom plate  213  and the connection holes  12  of a respective base  11 . Two first top plates  215  are securely mounted to top portions of the two outer tubes  21 . Each of the two first top plates  215  can be welded to the inner periphery  211  of the respective outer tube  21  and includes a central portion having a first through-hole  216  through which the respective inner tube  22  extends. 
     The two inner tubes  22  have corresponding structures. Each inner tube  22  is telescopically received in the respective outer tube  21  and includes an inner periphery  221  and an outer periphery  222 . Two second top plates  223  are securely mounted to top portions of the two inner tubes  22 . Each of the two second top plates  223  can be welded to the inner periphery  221  of the respective inner tube  22  and includes a central portion having a second through-hole  224 . Each inner tube  22  includes a lower portion having a plurality of assembling holes  225 . Each of the plurality of assembling holes  225  extends from the inner periphery  221  through the inner periphery  222  of the respective inner tube  22 . 
     The desk board unit  3  is disposed on top of the elevation unit  2  and is coupled to the inner tube  22  to move therewith. 
     The movement control unit  4  includes two telescopic rods  41 , two control boards  42 , two control cables  43 , and a press button  44 . Each of the two telescopic rods  41  has top and bottom ends. Each of the two telescopic rods  41  is a rod that can be controlled to extend automatically, such as a pneumatic rod, a hydraulic rod, or any telescopic rod. Each of the two telescopic rods  41  includes a control button  411  on a top end thereof. Each of the two telescopic rods  41  is disposed in the respective elevation tube comprised of the respective outer tube  21  and the respective inner tube  22 . Each of the two telescopic rods  41  further includes a bottom end securely mounted to the bottom plate  213  of the respective outer tube  21 . Each control button  411  extends through the second through-hole  224  of the second top plate  223  of the respective inner tube  22  to move jointly with the respective inner tube  22 . Each of the two control boards  42  is disposed above a respective control button  411  and is operable to selectively press against or not press against the respective control button  411 . Each of the two control cables  43  is connected to a respective one of the two control boards  42 . The press button  44  is connected to the two control cables  43  and is disposed at a lower face of an outer side of the desk board unit  3  to permit easy control by an operator. The press button  44  can be operated to control the two control cables  43  to simultaneously actuate the two control boards  42 , providing better control convenience. 
     For each elevation tube, the shock absorbing unit  5  includes an upper buffer pad  51 , a lower buffer pad  52 , and a roller unit  53 . Each upper buffer pad  51  is made of rubber or other soft material. Each upper buffer pad  51  is disposed below the respective first top plate  215  of the respective outer tube  21  by adhering or other coupling mechanisms. Each upper buffer pad  51  includes a central portion having a third through-hole  511  through which the respective inner tube  22  extends. Each upper buffer pad  51  includes an upper face  512  and a lower face  513 . The upper face  512  of each upper buffer pad  51  abuts the respective first top plate  215 . Each lower buffer pad  52  is made of rubber or other soft material. Each lower buffer pad  51  is disposed above the respective bottom plate  213  of the respective outer tube  21  by adhering or other coupling mechanisms. Each lower buffer pad  52  includes a central portion having a through-hole  521  through which the respective telescopic rod  41  extends. Each lower buffer pad  51  includes an upper face  522  and a lower face  523 . The lower face  523  of each lower buffer pad  52  abuts the respective bottom plate  213 . Each roller unit  53  includes a plurality of roller seats  531  and a plurality of rollers  533 . The plurality of roller seats  531  is made of non-metal material. Each of the plurality of roller seats  531  includes a peg  532 . Each of the plurality of roller seats  531  is mounted to the outer periphery of the respective inner tube  22  by extending the peg  532  through a respective one of plurality of assembling holes  225 . A top face of the uppermost one of the plurality of roller seats  531  forms an abutting edge  534  for abutting the lower face  513  of the respective upper buffer pad  51 . Each of the plurality of rollers  533  is rotatably mounted on a respective one of the plurality of roller seats  531  and is capable of rolling on the inner periphery  211  of the respective outer tube  21 . 
     The press button  44  can be pressed to actuate the two control cables  43  to simultaneously control the two control boards  42  to press against the two control buttons  411 , thereby moving the two telescopic rods  41  synchronously. The desk board unit  3  can move upward or downward (when subjected to a force). After the desk board unit  3  is adjusted to a proper height, the press button  44  and the control boards  42  are released to retain the length of each telescopic rod  41  and the height of the desk top unit  3 . 
     During the upward or downward movement of the desk board unit  3  according to the present invention, the rollers  533  of the roller units  53  roll on the inner periphery  211  of the respective outer tube  21 , preventing friction noise between the respective inner tube  22  and the respective outer tube  21  while improving the motion stability. With reference to  FIG.  4   , when a user presses the press button  44  to make the two control boards  42  continuously press against the control buttons  411  for keeping the telescopic rods  41  in the extended state, the abutting edge  534  of the respective roller unit  43  abuts the lower face  513  of the respective upper buffer pad  51 . This prevents large impact noise caused by the first top plate  215  of the respective outer tube  21  and the respective inner tube  22  moving rapidly upward. This further avoids larger shock of the desk board unit  3 , improving the motion stability. The roller seats  531  are made of non-metal material, such as plastic, such that the impact sound between the abutting edge  534  formed by the uppermost roller seat  531  and the respective upper buffer pad  51  can be further reduced, providing a silence effect as well as improved motion quality effect. 
     With reference to  FIG.  5   , when the press button  44  is pressed to actuate the control boards  42 , which, in turn, press against the control buttons  411 , a force can be applied to press the desk board unit  3  downward to thereby shorten the length of each telescopic rod  41  while lowering the respective inner tube  22 . When the desk board unit  3  moves to the lowest position, the bottom end of each inner tube  22  abuts the upper face  522  of the respective lower buffer pad  52 , avoiding larger impact noise between the bottom end of the respective inner tube  22  and the bottom plate  213  of the respective outer tube  21 . Furthermore, the desk board unit  3  is prevented from larger shock to improve the motion stability and operational quality. 
     In view of the foregoing, the desk frame elevation structure according to the present invention can reduce the impact noise during vertical movement of the desk board unit  3  while improving the desk frame quality. The desk frame elevation structure according to the present invention can include only one base  11 , only one elevation tube comprised of an outer tube  21  and an inner tube  22 , only one telescopic rod  41 , only one control board  42 . Furthermore, in the elevation unit  2 , the inner tube  22  can be coupled with the base  11 , and the outer tube  22  can be coupled with the desk board unit  3 . 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.