Patent Publication Number: US-8985031-B2

Title: Desk top elevator

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention involves a desktop elevator for providing a platform with an elevation adjustable by a user. Such a device improves productivity and reduces strain associated with prolonged sitting. This invention can be applied to preexisting surfaces to convert them to the present desktop elevator and its corresponding adjustable platform. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In our current computer oriented society, large numbers of people find themselves sitting at a desk or workstation for extended periods of time. This has resulted in a variety of work related injuries and loss of productivity. There have also been numerous studies conducted over the past several years that have identified serious health risks associated with prolonged sitting. These include the risks of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity as well as back pain and strain. 
     Studies have also shown that alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day helps to reduce these risks, reduces general fatigue and increases productivity. 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a desktop elevator which, in large part, remedies the above-described health risks and does so without requiring that an entire desk or workstation be replaced or retrofitted with an elevating device. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a desktop elevator which is capable of simple attachment to the top of an existing desk or work station and which can provide a platform that can be quickly and easily be elevated to enable a user to assume a standing position or lowered to assume a sitting position. 
     These and further objects of the present invention will be readily appreciated when considering the following disclosure and appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a desktop elevator for providing a platform at an elevation adjustable by a user, said desktop elevator comprising a support surface sized to receive the desktop elevator, left, right, front and back frame members, the frame members being orthogonally attached end to end to one another, a platform vertically adjustable to and from said support, front and back rotatable brace members each positioned on two opposing frame members, each having a first end rotatable to the platform and a second end rotatable to a frame member, springs each rotatably bridging said opposing frame member to a back rotatable brace member along its length and locking arms bridging an opposing frame member to a front rotatable brace member, locking pins positioned proximate on end of each of said locking arms proximate each of said opposing frame members and locking latches releasably engageable to said locking pins, said platform being distanced from said support upon lifting said platform therefrom when said locking latches are disengaged from said locking pins, said platform being drawn to and remaining adjacent to said support when pressure is applied to said platform toward said support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the desktop elevator in its lowered orientation. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the desktop elevator of the present invention in its raised orientation. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of the desktop elevator of the present invention illustrating its rotating front and back braces for use herein. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a frame member of the present invention showing the details of the latch mechanism for use herein. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the present invention illustrating its positioning on a suitable base member. 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are partial cutaway views of a frame member illustrating the present locking latch in open and closed alternative orientations. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration description only and are not intended as definitions of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are recited with particularity in the claims. 
     There has been broadly outlined more important features of the invention in the summary above and in order that the detailed description which follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important therefore, that claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Certain terminology and the derivations thereof may be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similar words such as “inward” and “outward” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof. Reference in the singular tense include the plural and vice versa, unless otherwise noted. 
     As referenced previously, the desktop elevator of the present invention is capable of attaching to the top of an existing desk or workstation establishing a platform that can be quickly and easily elevated to enable a user to stand or lowered to enable a user to sit. These alternative positions can be readily appreciated in viewing the appended figures and particularly  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     In turning to  FIG. 1 , preexisting desk  5  having legs  9  is typical of an article of furniture one might use to support a computer acting as a workstation. In that legs  9  are generally not adjustable, the height of desk  5  is fixed resulting in an inflexible user orientation which can cause those health risks previously noted. In converting desk  5  into one which has an adjustable height, a frame is configured of parallel side frame members  12  and  8  ( FIG. 5 ), back frame member  17  and front frame member  18 , said frame members being orthogonally attached end to end to create a square or rectangular perimeter as illustrated. Finger grips  13  can be provided to enable one to remove or apply the present desktop elevator to desk  5  while handles  11  can be employed to elevate platform  10  from its position of  FIG. 1  to its elevated position of  FIG. 2 . 
     In order to gain further insight as to the functionality of the present invention, reference is made to  FIG. 3 . Specifically, back rotating brace  24  and front rotating brace  19  are substantially parallel to one another and are rotatably attachable to platform  10  at pivots  41  and  42  and side frame  12  at pivot points  43  and  54  respectively. 
     Back rotating brace  24  is further secured by spring  14  which, in its preferred embodiment, is an air spring pivotally connected to side frame  12  at  31  and to back rotating brace  24  at  36 . Front rotating brace  19  is secured by locking arm  15  connected to side frame  12  at pin  44  and to front rotating brace  19  at  32 . When platform  10  is lowered to base  25  as depicted in  FIG. 1 , pivot  36  can nest within cutout  34  while pivot  32  nests within cutout  33  of side frame  12  to ensure the appropriate seating of platform  10  proximate support  25 . 
     In order to maintain platform  10  in its selected altitude, it is noted that the present invention is provided with locking latch  16  as part of assembly  20 . In operation, locking latch  16  is capable of rotating about pivot  53  in a counterclockwise fashion to enable locking latch  16  to capture pin  44  projecting from locking arm  15 . If platform  10  is intended to be raised or lowered, locking latch  16  would move along channel  51  wherein pivot  53  ( FIG. 6 ) would move between cutouts  52 . Pin  44  would abut locking latch  16 . Locking latch  16  would then rotate counterclockwise about pivot  53  to fix the altitude of platform  10  as selected ( FIG. 7 ). It is further noted that platform  10  can be lowered by simply placing downward pressure upon its surface when latch  16  is disengaged from pin  44  ( FIG. 6 ) and can be raised by grasping handles  11  and pulling upwardly, again, when latch  16  has been disengaged. 
     As noted in reference to  FIG. 5 , a series of back and front rotating braces, springs and locking arms can be applied to opposing frame members  8  and  12  for stability and to ensure that as platform  10  moves away from or towards support  25 , that platform  10  remains substantially parallel thereto and generally in a horizontal orientation. The desktop elevator can also be provided with finger grips  13  to enable one to grasp the elevator and remove it from support  25  enabling support  25  to remain as a conventional desk or work surface and to enable the present desktop elevator to be positioned on yet another surface as desired. In doing so, suction cups  22  or similar securing means must be disengaged from support  25  and applied to a new surface as desired. 
     From the above discussion, it should be quite apparent that the present invention provides a significant improvement in the ergonomics of one&#39;s working environment and enable a user to alternate between sitting and standing to thus reduce health risks, and general fatigue while increasing productivity. 
     The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensions, relationships, or operations as described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed as suitable without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like. Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.