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(11) | EP 0 963 716 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Height adjustable workstand or -table construction |
(57) Height adjustable woking stand or -table construction comprising
By positioning the first pair of columns (1) closer to the user side of the table than the second pair of columns (2), a space saving construction is achieved, as the table top (4) moves away from the user during the movement from the top position to the seated position of the table. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a height adjustable workstand or -table construction of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] A construction of this kind is known from e.g. SE-501,178. This construction provides a height adjustable table, where any point in the table top describes an arc of a circle during its movement from the lowest to the highest position. In this construction, the table top is closest to the user in a mid-position, corresponding approximately to the position for use of the table sitting on a chair, whereas the table top is in a position away from the user in the highest position, corresponding to the position for use of the table when the user is in a standing position.
[0003] It is the object of the invention to provide a construction of the kind referred to above, by which it is possible to save some of the space necessary for the use of the construction. The invention is based on the recognition of the fact that the user when standing needs less space on the user side of the table and more space when seated in a chair. This is among other things due to the back rest of the chair, assuming that the chair is removed from the table when the user is standing.
[0004] The invention makes use of this fact and the above described movement of the conventional table in a horizontal direction towards and away from the user, by reversing the last-mentioned movement, whereby the space needed for sitting is provided by the movement of the table top away from the user during the movement from the top position to the seated position of the table.
[0005] This reversing of the movement is achieved by placing the columns connected to the floor standing base closer to the user side of the table than the columns connected to the table top.
[0006] DE-44 24 564 discloses a table construction with a similar reversed movement. However, this document does not mention any functions achieved thereby nor anything about the space saving problem which is solved by the present invention.
[0007] Furthermore, the table construction in DE-44 24 564 is of an other kind, with only a single column.
[0008] As a supplementary advantageous feature the invention provides a construction, in which the side of the table distant from the user, which side will normally support e.g. computer and computer screen, i.e. heavy components, is directly supported by the columns connected to the table top, resulting in a more stable construction.
[0009] Further advantages are that the lifting movement for raising the table is directed towards the user, giving an ergonomically more correct lifting, a front plate can be placed on columns connected to the table top, whereby insight under the table is prevented in almost all positions of the construction, and the table top can be placed close to an opposing wall in the sitting position.
[0011] In the following detailed description, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiment of the construction according to the invention shown in the drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a side view of a height adjustable table construction in accordance with the invention, and
Figure 2 is a front view of the table in Figure 1.
[0012] The height adjustable workstand or -table construction shown in Figure 1 comprises a first pair of colums 1 connected to a floor standing base 3 at a mutual distance corresponding approximately to the side-to-side width of the table. A second pair of columns 2 are connected to the table top 4 at approximately the same mutual distance as the first pair of columns 1. A system of parallel rods 5 pivotally connects each of the columns 1 in the first pair with the corresponding colums 2 in the second pair to enable a movement of the table top between a lowered position and a raised position, with the two columns 1 and 2 moving parallel to each other. A spring arrangement 11 is mounted to balance the construction, in such a way that the raising and lowering of the table top 4 is felt as "weight-less". As an alternative, the table can be actuator-driven for raising and lowering the table top 4, e.g. electrically driven. The floor standing base 3 comprises a U-shaped frame of beams, the two legs of the U being connected by a traversing beam positioned opposite the user side. The first pair of colums 1 is connected directly to the legs of the U and stabilized by tiers 10 connected at an angle between the first pair of columns 1 and the two beams forming the legs of U in the floor standing base 3.
[0013] The second pair of columns 2 is connected to the table top 4 via a frame 7 supporting the table top 4. A covering plate 6 is mounted on the second pair of columns 2 for preventing insight under the table from the side opposite the user side.
[0014] When raising or lowering the table, the table top will move as indicated by the arrow 8. As can be seen this provides extra space for the user in the sitting position as indicated above. In the standing position, where less space is needed for the user on the user side of the table, this movement along the arrow 8 will provide less space for the user and more space for other purposes on the side of the table opposite the user.
[0015] The horizontal component of the movement along the arrow 8, and correspondingly the space necessary for the chair of the seated user can be of the order 10-20 cm. With the construction in accordance with SE-501,178, the space needed for one working place is correspondingly approximately 10-20 cm greater in the front-to-back direction and accordingly this space is saved by using the construction in accordance with the present invention. In an office landscape with several working places this space saving may amount to approximately 5-10% more working places in the same room or tables with an extra front-to-back width of 10-20 cm.
1. Height adjustable woking stand or -table construction comprising
- a first pair of colums (1) connected to a floor standing base (3) at a mutual distance corresponding approximately to the side-to-side width of the table,
- a second pair of columns (2) conencted to the table top (4) at approximately the same mutual distance as the first pair of colums (1), and
- a system of parallel rods (5) pivotally connecting each of the columns (1) in the
first pair with the corresponding columns (2) in the second pair,
characterized in that the first pair of columns (1) is positioned closer to the user side of the
table than the second pair of columns (2).
2. Construction in accordance with claim 1, characterized by further comprising a covering plate (6) mounted on the second pair of columns
(2) for preventing insight under the table from the side opposite the user side.
3. Construction in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized by the second pair of columns (2) being connected to a frame (7) for supporting the
table top (4).
4. Construction in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized by the floor standing base (3) comprising two beams parallel to the sides of the
construction and mutually connected by a traversing beam positioned opposite the user
side.
5. Construction in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized by further comprising tiers (10) connected at an angle between the first pair of
columns (1) and the floor standing base (3).
6. Construction in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized by further comprising at least one spring arrangement (11) mounted to balance the
construction.
7. Construction in accordance with claim 6, characterized by the spring arrangement (11) being adjustable to different loads on the table.
8. Construction in accordance with any of the preceding claims 6 or 7, characterized by the spring arrangement (11) comprising locking means for locking the table in
an adjusted position.
9. Construction in accordance with any of the claims 1-5, characterized by comprising at least one actuator (11) for raising and lowering the table top (4).
10. Construction in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising table top mounted devices for adjusting the position of a computer
screen.