Patent US4516508A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4516508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Desk apparatus
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1983-05-04
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Granted: 1985-05-14
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Expires: 2003-05-04
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for selectively adjusting the angle of inclination of a work surface, such as a desk top, comprising a casing attached to the bottom side of one end of the work surface, with a foot device comprising a circular cylindrical part with positioning channels in the periphery thereof and a foot member extending therefrom and with the cylindrical part contained within the casing, an engaging member projecting in the inside of the casing and for locking selected ones of the channels, and resilient member for holding the cylindrical part against the engaging member, whereby manual rotation of the foot member to different locking positions of the channels and engaging member, enables adjustment of the length and angle of extension of the foot member outside of the casing, and thus determine the space between the work surface and a base, with the other end of the work surface being pivotally connected.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitumasa Kako
- 👤 Michifumi Ishigami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:32
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B23/00; A47B23/04; A47B23/042; A47B23/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
382 words
An angle adjusting mechanism for use in selectively adjusting the angle of inclination of a work surface and disposed between said work surface and a base, said mechanism comprising a casing comprising a lower casing and an upper casing, with a pair of elliptical holes formed on opposite side walls of said casing and in the area of the boundary between said upper casing and lower casing, said upper casing being attachable to said work surface and said lower casing being contactable with said base in a level position of said work surface; a foot device positioned within said casing and comprising a cylindrical portion having a plurality of channels in the periphery thereof, a pair of shafts extending from both ends of said cylindrical portion, and a foot member extending from said periphery of said cylindrical portion and having an end thereof contactable with said base in inclined positions of said work surface; an engaging member positioned within and attachable to said upper casing and above said cylindrical portion within contactable distance to said plurality of channels in said cylinder portion to determine the distance between the base and the work surface dependent on the particular one of said plurality of channels to which said engaging member is engaged, said distance determining said angle of inclination of said work surface; and resilient means for urging said cylindrical member against said engaging means, wherein said shafts are positioned within said elliptical holes to be rotatable and vertically movable therein so that in a level locked position of said work surface, said foot member is within the casing and said lower casing contacts said base, and the engaging member is engaged with one of said plurality of channels on the periphery of the cylindrical member, and so that in said inclined positions of said work surface the foot member is manually rotated outside of the casing and against the resilient force of said resilient means to disengage the engaging member from said one or other of said plurality of channels, until the cylindrical member presents another selected channel for engagement and said selected other channel is engaged by the engaging member with said foot member having said end portion thereof thereupon resting on said base at a selected distance from said work surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
382 words
An angle adjusting mechanism for use in selectively adjusting the angle of inclination of a work surface and disposed between said work surface and a base, said mechanism comprising a casing comprising a lower casing and an upper casing, with a pair of elliptical holes formed on opposite side walls of said casing and in the area of the boundary between said upper casing and lower casing, said upper casing being attachable to said work surface and said lower casing being contactable with said base in a level position of said work surface; a foot device positioned within said casing and comprising a cylindrical portion having a plurality of channels in the periphery thereof, a pair of shafts extending from both ends of said cylindrical portion, and a foot member extending from said periphery of said cylindrical portion and having an end thereof contactable with said base in inclined positions of said work surface; an engaging member positioned within and attachable to said upper casing and above said cylindrical portion within contactable distance to said plurality of channels in said cylinder portion to determine the distance between the base and the work surface dependent on the particular one of said plurality of channels to which said engaging member is engaged, said distance determining said angle of inclination of said work surface; and resilient means for urging said cylindrical member against said engaging means, wherein said shafts are positioned within said elliptical holes to be rotatable and vertically movable therein so that in a level locked position of said work surface, said foot member is within the casing and said lower casing contacts said base, and the engaging member is engaged with one of said plurality of channels on the periphery of the cylindrical member, and so that in said inclined positions of said work surface the foot member is manually rotated outside of the casing and against the resilient force of said resilient means to disengage the engaging member from said one or other of said plurality of channels, until the cylindrical member presents another selected channel for engagement and said selected other channel is engaged by the engaging member with said foot member having said end portion thereof thereupon resting on said base at a selected distance from said work surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said foot member has a recess opening at the unattached end thereof for gripping by a human finger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said resilient means causes said shaft to move vertically upward in said elliptical holes when engaging a selected channel, and against said resilient force, said shaft moves downward vertically when disengagement of said engaging member and said channel is taking place.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of flat springs attached at one end thereof to a wall of said casing, and at the other end thereof held against said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of elastic pieces formed integrally with a wall of said casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
285 words
An angle adjusting mechanism for use in selectively adjusting the angle of inclination of a work surface and disposed between said work surface and a base, said mechanism comprising a casing comprising an upper casing in contact with said work surface and a lower casing, with a pair of elliptical holes formed on opposite side walls of said casing and in the area of the boundary between said upper casing and lower casing; a foot device positioned within said casing and comprising a cylindrical portion having a plurality of channels in the periphery thereof, a pair of shafts extending from both ends of said cylindrical portion and positioned within said elliptical holes, and a foot member extending from said cylindrical portion, said foot member being within said casing in one position and rotatable outside of said lower casing in other positions, and in contact with said base so as to incline the work surface; an engaging member positioned within said casing, engagable with a channel on the periphery of the cylindrical member and disengagable from the engaged channel until the cylindrical member presents another channel for engagement thereby; and resilient means for urging said cylindrical member against said engaging means and to position said shafts within said elliptical holes to be vertically movable therein and to be rotatable therein, thereby to selectively position said foot member in a desired position for selected inclination of the work surface, with said engaging means in a selected channel to lock said foot member in a position outside of said lower casing against said base for an inclined position of said work surface or in a position inside said lower casing for a level position of said work surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
285 words
An angle adjusting mechanism for use in selectively adjusting the angle of inclination of a work surface and disposed between said work surface and a base, said mechanism comprising a casing comprising an upper casing in contact with said work surface and a lower casing, with a pair of elliptical holes formed on opposite side walls of said casing and in the area of the boundary between said upper casing and lower casing; a foot device positioned within said casing and comprising a cylindrical portion having a plurality of channels in the periphery thereof, a pair of shafts extending from both ends of said cylindrical portion and positioned within said elliptical holes, and a foot member extending from said cylindrical portion, said foot member being within said casing in one position and rotatable outside of said lower casing in other positions, and in contact with said base so as to incline the work surface; an engaging member positioned within said casing, engagable with a channel on the periphery of the cylindrical member and disengagable from the engaged channel until the cylindrical member presents another channel for engagement thereby; and resilient means for urging said cylindrical member against said engaging means and to position said shafts within said elliptical holes to be vertically movable therein and to be rotatable therein, thereby to selectively position said foot member in a desired position for selected inclination of the work surface, with said engaging means in a selected channel to lock said foot member in a position outside of said lower casing against said base for an inclined position of said work surface or in a position inside said lower casing for a level position of said work surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-05-13 | 1988-11-12 | 1989-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-05-13 | 1992-11-12 | 1993-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-05-13 | 1996-11-12 | 1997-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |