Patent Publication Number: US-9883737-B2

Title: Height-adjustable table and method of assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/166,145, which was filed on May 26, 2015 and titled “Multi-Station Height Adjustable Table”. The entire content of this application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to tables and, more particularly, to multi-station, height-adjustable tables. 
     Recently, there has been a rise in the popularity of standing desks, i.e., desks that are designed to be used while standing. Such desks are intended to improve health by reducing the amount of time users spend sitting. Another related trend involves standing meetings in which the participants stand instead of sitting around a table. In such situations, it would be beneficial to have a shared table at standing height so that the participants set down documents, electronic devices, etc. Also, tables in public spaces are sometimes intended to be used by multiple people simultaneously. For example, locations, such as airports, now have charging stations where people can charge their electronic devices. These tables are also sometimes placed at standing height. However, as people come in a variety of heights, a single table height is unlikely to be suitable for all of the participants. In view of the above, there is a need in the art for a standing-height table having individual height-adjustable portions so that the table can be comfortably and conveniently shared by multiple people. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a height-adjustable table and a method of assembling the table. The table includes a first tabletop and a second tabletop. A first height adjustment mechanism is configured to vertically shift the first tabletop relative to a support surface on which the table is supported. A second height adjustment mechanism is configured to vertically shift the second tabletop relative to the support surface. The table also includes a base in direct contact with the support surface. Each of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms is directly coupled to the base. 
     In one embodiment, the table further includes a central post and an accessory directly coupled to the central post. Preferably, the accessory is a sign, a display screen, a light or a shelf. The accessory can be removably coupled to the central post. 
     In another embodiment, the table further includes a guard configured to eliminate a pinch point located between the first tabletop and the second tabletop. The guard is directly coupled to the central post, and the guard is fixed in place such that the guard does not move when the first and second tabletops are vertically shifted. In still another embodiment, the guard is directly coupled to the first tabletop such that the guard is vertically shifted when the first tabletop is vertically shifted. 
     In yet another embodiment, the central post is directly coupled to the base. In a further embodiment, a housing is in direct contact with the base, and the housing is configured to at least partially cover each of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms. Preferably, the housing is also configured to at least partially cover the central post. 
     In one embodiment, the first and second tabletops define at least a portion of a circle when the table is viewed from above. In another embodiment, the table includes a first user interface configured to control the first height adjustment mechanism and a second user interface configured to control the second height adjustment mechanism. 
     Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to common parts in the several views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a table in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a top down view of the table of  FIG. 1A ; and 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a table in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention. 
     In addition, certain objects are described below as being coupled or directly coupled to one another. For purposes of the present invention, direct coupling is intended to encompass: 1) two objects being in direct contact with one another; and 2) two objects being in indirect contact with one another through one or more other objects specifically designed to couple the objects together. This second definition is not intended to encompass a housing, for example, that encloses a variety of different structure. Instead, the second definition is intended to recognize that objects are often coupled to one another through the use of other objects, such as brackets, whose primary purpose is to enable or facilitate coupling. 
     Furthermore, even though certain objects are described below as defining a portion of a circle, for purposes of the present invention, this does not require that such objects define a portion of a perfect circle. Instead, the terms “circle” and “circular” are defined as including a margin of error of +/−5%. Specifically, these terms encompass ellipses where the maximum and minimum diameters are each within 10% of the mean diameter. The terms “center” and “central” also include a margin of error of +/−5% such that, for instance, the center of a 100 cm long object is located between 45 and 55 cm. In addition, any specific numerical value listed includes a margin of error of +/−5%. Accordingly, a length of 100 cm includes lengths between 95 and 105 cm. Similarly, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “parallel” and “perpendicular” are defined as including a margin of error of 5° such that an object need not be perfectly horizontal, for example. The term “approximately” increases these various margins to 10% and 10°. 
     With initial reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , there is shown a table  100  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Table  100  is divided into four tabletops  105 - 108 , which collectively define a geometric shape when table  100  is viewed from above (as in  FIG. 1B ). In this case, tabletops  105 - 108  define a circle. However, other shapes can also be used in connection with the present invention. For example, tabletops  105 - 108  can define an oval, a square, a rectangle or some other polygon. Also, table  100  can be divided into some other numbers of tabletops, e.g., two, three or five. Each of tabletops  105 - 108  lies along a horizontal plane and includes an upper surface  110 - 113  on which a user of table  100  can place one or more objects such as electronic devices, documents, pens, etc. In other words, tabletops  105 - 108  are configured to support physical objects placed thereon by a user. 
     Tabletops  105 - 108  are separated by guards  115 - 118 . In the first embodiment, guards  115 - 118  serve dual functions. First, guards  115 - 118  eliminate the pinch points that would otherwise exist between adjacent tabletops  105 - 108 . These pinch points are due to the fact that tabletops  105 - 108  are vertically adjustable, as will be described in more detail below. This means that the relative vertical distance between adjacent tabletops  105 - 108  can vary. If an object is located between adjacent tabletops  105 - 108  during a vertical adjustment of one or both tabletops  105 - 108 , the object can be compressed or pinched by the adjacent tabletops  105 - 108 , thereby potentially damaging the object. With respect to tabletop  105  specifically, it can be seen that a first pinch point  120  would exist between tabletops  105  and  106  if guard  115  was not present and that a second pinch point  121  would exist between tabletops  105  and  108  if guard  118  was not present. As should be apparent, corresponding pinch points would also exist between the other tabletops  105 - 108  if guards  115 - 118  were removed. 
     Second, guards  115 - 118  act as dividers or privacy screens such that when table  100  is placed in a public space, for example, multiple people can use table  100  without worrying that their fellow users can see what they are doing. To accomplish this, guards  115 - 118  are relatively tall. In particular, guards  115 - 118  preferably begin at approximately 28 inches (˜711 mm) above a support surface  125  on which table  100  rests, which is roughly thigh height for the average human. Guards  115 - 118  then end at approximately 60 inches (1524 mm) above support surface  125 , which is roughly head height for the average human. This results in guards  115 - 118  being approximately 32 inches (˜813 mm) tall. In addition, the height of each guard  115 - 118  is preferably greater than the vertical distance over which tabletops  105 - 108  are adjustable. 
     Guards  115 - 118  are directly coupled to a central post  130 , which is located in a center of table  100 . As a result, guards  115 - 118  are fixed in place vertically, i.e., guards  115 - 118  do not move when tabletops  105 - 108  are vertically adjusted. Post  130  extends vertically above guards  115 - 118 , and an optional accessory  135  is shown directly coupled to this portion of central post  130 . Since accessory  135  can take a variety of forms, accessory  135  is shown schematically. As one example, accessory  135  can be a sign on which an advertisement is displayed. In another example, accessory  135  can be a display screen, e.g., a television or a computer monitor. Accessory  135  can also be a light that provides illumination to table  100  and the area surrounding table  100 . Furthermore, accessory  135  can take the form of one or more shelves for holding office supplies, food service items, etc. Of course, it should be recognized that multiple accessories  135  can be coupled to post  130  (either of the same type or of varying types). Also, post  130  can have no accessory  135  coupled thereto, with post  130  ending at the top of guards  115 - 118 . Accessory  135  can be removably coupled to post  130 . Alternatively, at least some portion of accessory  135  can formed integrally with post  130 . In addition, post  130  can include multiple, vertically stacked posts (not shown) that are removably coupled to one another. Such an arrangement is especially beneficial when accessory  135  is formed integrally with post  130  because it allows accessory  135  to be removed. 
     The bottom end of post  130  is directly coupled to a base  140 , which is in direct contact with support surface  125 . Base  140  can optionally include feet or padding (not shown) on the bottom. In such an arrangement, base  140  is still considered to be in direct contact with support surface  125  since the feet and padding are part of base  140 . Preferably, base  140  is weighted so as to provide stability to table  100 . In addition, a housing  145  is in direct contact with base  140  and serves to cover the lower portions of post  130  and height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153 . That is, housing  145  hides the lower portions of post  130  and height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  from view and also prevents foreign objects from interfering with height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153 , thereby protecting height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153 . Each of height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  is directly coupled to base  140  at one end and one of tabletops  105 - 108  at the other end. In particular, height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  include brackets  155 - 158 , which are used to directly couple height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  to tabletops  105 - 108 . As a result, height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  can selectively shift or adjust tabletops  105 - 108  relative to base  140  and therefore relative to support surface  125 . In an alternative arrangement, base  140  can be omitted, and certain portions of table  100  (e.g., post  130  and height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153 ) are secured directly to support surface  125  to provide stability to table  100 . 
     Height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  can take a variety of forms. Preferably, height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  are electric-motor-driven actuators, such as screw-drive linear actuators. However, height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  can also be gear driven, cable driven or pneumatically driven, for example. As shown, height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  include outer shafts  160 - 163  directly coupled to base  140  and inner shafts  165 - 168  directly coupled to tabletops  105 - 108 . Outer shafts  160 - 163  are fixed in place, while inner shafts  165 - 168  are movable relative to outer shafts  160 - 163 . This shifting of inner shafts  165 - 168  relative to outer shafts  160 - 163  results in vertical movement of tabletops  105 - 108 . As noted above though, other arrangements can be used to provide the desired vertical adjustability of tabletops  105 - 108 . Height adjustment mechanisms, in general, are known in the art such that height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  are primarily intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. 
     Height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  are controlled by user interfaces  170 - 173 , one of which is located at each of tabletops  105 - 108  so that a person at a given tabletop  105 - 108  can control its height, i.e., its vertical position relative to support surface  125 . Specifically, user interfaces  170 - 173  sends signals to respective height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  to control height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153 . Each of user interfaces  170 - 173  takes the form of one or more buttons located in upper surfaces  110 - 113 . Alternatively, user interfaces  170 - 173  can be located in the lower surfaces of tabletops  105 - 108 , for example. Preferably, tabletops  105 - 108  are adjustable over a distance of 20 inches (508 mm) and more preferably over a distance of 12 inches (˜305 mm). Also, tabletops  105 - 108  are preferably adjustable from a minimum height of approximately 36 inches (˜914 mm) above support surface  125  to a maximum height of approximately 48 inches (˜1219 mm) above support surface, with the specific heights of course dependent upon the distance over which tabletops  105 - 108  are adjustable. Such a range allows a majority of the population to comfortably use table  100 . 
     Table  100  further includes power outlets  180 - 183 , one of which is coupled to each of tabletops  105 - 108 . Power outlets  180 - 183  are located on upper surfaces  110 - 113  so as to be accessible to users of table  100 . Preferably, power outlets  180 - 183  each include one or more AC (alternating current) sockets as well as one or more USB (universal serial bus) ports. Power outlets  180 - 183  can of course include additional sockets or ports if desired, e.g., Ethernet ports. As a result, a user can charge his or her laptop and smartphone, for example, while using table  100 . Preferably, power is routed to power outlets  180 - 183  through corresponding cables (not shown) located in housing  145 . These cables can pass through a hole in base  140  or housing  145  in order to be connected to a mains electricity. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a table  100 ′ in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Table  100 ′ generally functions in the same manner and includes the same structure as table  100 . Accordingly, table  100 ′ will not be described in as great of detail. The primary difference between table  100 ′ and table  100  relates to guards  200 - 203 . Specifically, rather than having a plurality of relatively tall guards fixed to a central post  130 ′, table  100 ′ includes guards  200 - 203  that move along with tabletops  105 - 108 ′ as tabletops  105 - 108 ′ are shifted vertically by height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153 ′. To accomplish this, guards  200 - 203  are directly coupled to tabletops  105 - 108 ′. As compared with guards  115 - 118 , guards  200 - 203  are relatively shorter. This is because guards  200 - 203  are not meant to provide privacy for users of table  100 ′. Instead, table  100 ′ is intended to be used in a standing meeting, for example, where the users are communicating with one another. 
     Each of guards  200 - 203  extends above a respective one of upper surfaces  110 - 113 ′ of tabletops  105 - 108 ′. This arrangement prevents objects from sliding off the sides of tabletops  105 - 108 ′ and also helps eliminate pinch points between adjacent tabletops  105 - 108 ′. Along these lines, each of guards  200 - 203  also extends below a respective one of tabletops  105 - 108 ′, with adjacent ones of guards  200 - 203  overlapping one another along imaginary vertical planes located between adjacent tabletops  105 - 108 ′. For example, the overlap of guards  200  and  201  eliminates a pinch point  120 ′ that would otherwise exist along a vertical plane located between tabletops  105 ′ and  106 ′, and the overlap of guards  200  and  203  eliminates a pinch point  121 ′ that would otherwise exist along a vertical plane located between tabletops  105 ′ and  108 ′. As should be apparent, corresponding pinch points would also exist between the other tabletops  105 - 108 ′ if guards  200 - 203  were removed. 
     In order for guards  200 - 203  to overlap one another in all tabletop positions, the height of each guard  200 - 203  is at least equal to, and preferably greater than, the vertical distance over which tabletops  105 - 108 ′ are adjustable. As discussed above, this vertical distance is preferably 12 to 20 inches (˜305 to 508 mm). Accordingly, guards  200 - 203  are preferably at least 12 to 20 inches (˜305 to 508 mm) tall. More preferably, guards  200 - 203  are 15 inches (381 mm) tall when tabletops  105 - 108 ′ are adjustable over a 12 inch (˜305 mm) range. In such an arrangement, guards  200  are tall enough that vertical movement of tabletops  105 - 108 ′ does not result in a pinch point being created between adjacent tabletops  105 - 108 ′. 
     Although each of guards  200 - 203  is shown as extending along both sides of a respective one of tabletops  105 - 108 ′, separate guards can be used for each side. For example, guard  200  can be replaced with two guards (not shown), one guard being located between tabletops  105 ′ and  106 ′ at a side  205  of tabletop  105 ′ and the other guard being located between tabletops  105 ′ and  108 ′ at a side  206  of tabletop  105 ′. In addition, guards  200 - 203  need not extend above upper surfaces  110 - 113 ′ so long as guards  200 - 203  extend a sufficient distance below tabletops  105 - 108 ′ so that adjacent guards  200 - 203  overlap one another and thereby eliminate any pinch points. 
     While all of tabletops  105 - 108  and  105 - 108 ′ have been shown as being vertically adjustable, it should be recognized that some of tabletops  105 - 108  or  105 - 108 ′ can be fixed in place if desired. Also, although height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  and  150 - 153 ′ are shown as being separate, height adjustment mechanisms  150 - 153  and  150 - 153 ′ can be included in common housings. 
     Based on the above, it should be readily apparent that the present invention provides a standing-height table having individual height-adjustable portions so that the table can be comfortably and conveniently shared by multiple people. Although described with reference to preferred embodiments, it should be readily understood that various changes or modifications could be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.