Patent US4604956A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4604956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustment mechanism for work station
Assignee: Wright Line Inc
•
Filing: 1984-05-18
•
Granted: 1986-08-12
•
Expires: 2004-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable height table comprising a telescoping table support assembly including stationary and movable posts interconnected in telescoping relationship to one another and positionable by a drive screw and a captive nut. The screw is mounted for rotation about its own axis, and is secured against translation along its axis, relative to one of the posts (preferably, the fixed post) such that its axis of rotation is roughly parallel the direction of the telescoping motion between the two posts. The nut is secured against rotation as the screw is rotated. The nut is provided with a female connection dimensioned to loosely captivate a pin secured to the other post (e.g., in the preferred embodiment, the movable post) so as to be roughly normal to the axis of rotation of the screw. Preferably, the bearing surface between the nut and the pin is minimized and restricted to a region of the nut proximate the surface of the screw.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Grebel
- 👤 Robert K. Neunherz
- 👤 David W. McGrath
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:43
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B9/00; A47B9/04; A47B2200/00; A47B2200/0035; A47B2200/004; A47B2200/0046; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18576; Y10T74/18656; Y10T74/18696
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
In an adjustable height table comprising a pair of telescoping table support and elevating assemblies each including a first stationary post and a second movable post, means securing said stationary posts in fixed spatial relation to each other, a table top secured to said movable posts so as to move therewith relative to said stationary posts, and a pair of synchronized post drive means for causing said movable posts to telescope up or down relative to said stationary posts, said post drive means each comprising a screw, means mounting said screw for rotation about its own axis, an elevating nut mounted on said screw so as to permit relative rotation between it and the screw, means holding said elevating nut against rotation as said screw is rotated, and a support pin connecting said elevating nut to the movable post of an adjacent one of said table support and elevating assemblies so as to cause said movable post to be telescoped relative to the stationary post of said adjacent table support and elevating the assembly as said screw is rotated, the improvement wherein each of said nuts has a kerf located to one side and extending transversely of its center axis, said kerf being defined by a pair of parallel flat side surfaces and a flat bottom surface extending between said flat side surfaces, and further wherein each of said support pins has one end connected to one of said movable posts and an opposite end that extends into the kerf of one of said nuts and is movable in said kerf parallel to side surfaces, whereby said elevating nuts and said support pins are coupled so as to (a) cause said movable posts to move with said elevating nuts as said screws are turned and (b) allow said pins to shift in said kerfs relative to said elevating nuts as said screws are turned so as to accommodate and compensate for misalignment of said screws.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
In an adjustable height table comprising a pair of telescoping table support and elevating assemblies each including a first stationary post and a second movable post, means securing said stationary posts in fixed spatial relation to each other, a table top secured to said movable posts so as to move therewith relative to said stationary posts, and a pair of synchronized post drive means for causing said movable posts to telescope up or down relative to said stationary posts, said post drive means each comprising a screw, means mounting said screw for rotation about its own axis, an elevating nut mounted on said screw so as to permit relative rotation between it and the screw, means holding said elevating nut against rotation as said screw is rotated, and a support pin connecting said elevating nut to the movable post of an adjacent one of said table support and elevating assemblies so as to cause said movable post to be telescoped relative to the stationary post of said adjacent table support and elevating the assembly as said screw is rotated, the improvement wherein each of said nuts has a kerf located to one side and extending transversely of its center axis, said kerf being defined by a pair of parallel flat side surfaces and a flat bottom surface extending between said flat side surfaces, and further wherein each of said support pins has one end connected to one of said movable posts and an opposite end that extends into the kerf of one of said nuts and is movable in said kerf parallel to side surfaces, whereby said elevating nuts and said support pins are coupled so as to (a) cause said movable posts to move with said elevating nuts as said screws are turned and (b) allow said pins to shift in said kerfs relative to said elevating nuts as said screws are turned so as to accommodate and compensate for misalignment of said screws.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said stationary and movable posts are tubular and said pins are inserted in holes in said movable posts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said stationary and movable posts have polygonal cross-sections and each pin is mounted in a pair of diametrically opposed holes in one of said movable posts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each pin has a radially-extending shoulder limiting the extent to which said pin may be inserted in the said holes of a movable post.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said nuts has a polygonal configuration characterized by a plurality of flat side surfaces, and said flat bottom surface extends parallel to one of the side surfaces of said nut.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each nut has upper and lower surfaces and the kerf in said each nut extends between and parallel to said upper and lower surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said opposite end of each pin has an enlarged head to facilitate pivoting of said pin in the said kerf of the nut to which said each pin is coupled.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of said stationary and movable posts is rectangular in cross-section and said stationary posts have longitudinally extending slots having a width greater than the diameter of said pins, and further wherein said pins extend through said slots between said nuts and said movable posts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said kerfs are sized so as to limit movement of said pins relative to said nuts in a direction parallel to said screws.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
244 words
In an adjustable height table comprising a pair of telescoping table support assemblies each including a first stationary post and a second movable post, means securing said stationary posts in fixed spatial relation to each other, a table top secured to said movable posts so as to move therewith relative to said stationary posts, and a pair of synchronized post drive means for causing said movable posts to telescope up or down relative to said stationary posts; the improvement wherein each of said post drive means comprises a screw, means mounting said screw for rotation about its own axis, a nut mounted on said screw so as to permit relative rotation between it and said screw, a slot in said nut located to one side of and extending transversely of its center axis, and a support pin having one end slidably disposed in said slot and an opposite end connected to the movable post of an adjacent one of said table support assemblies, said slot being sized so as to prevent relative movement of said pin and nut in a direction parallel to said axis while permitting relative movement of said pin and nut in a direction at a right angle to said axis, whereby as said screws are turned (a) said movable posts move with said nuts lengthwise of said screws and (b) said pins are free to shift in said slots so as to accommodate and compensate for misalignment of said screws.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
244 words
In an adjustable height table comprising a pair of telescoping table support assemblies each including a first stationary post and a second movable post, means securing said stationary posts in fixed spatial relation to each other, a table top secured to said movable posts so as to move therewith relative to said stationary posts, and a pair of synchronized post drive means for causing said movable posts to telescope up or down relative to said stationary posts; the improvement wherein each of said post drive means comprises a screw, means mounting said screw for rotation about its own axis, a nut mounted on said screw so as to permit relative rotation between it and said screw, a slot in said nut located to one side of and extending transversely of its center axis, and a support pin having one end slidably disposed in said slot and an opposite end connected to the movable post of an adjacent one of said table support assemblies, said slot being sized so as to prevent relative movement of said pin and nut in a direction parallel to said axis while permitting relative movement of said pin and nut in a direction at a right angle to said axis, whereby as said screws are turned (a) said movable posts move with said nuts lengthwise of said screws and (b) said pins are free to shift in said slots so as to accommodate and compensate for misalignment of said screws.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US981113A
Cited
SU48007A1
Cited
DE1192492B
Cited
US2991030A
Cited
US3385238A
Cited
US3606801A
Cited
US3587482A
Cited
US3745840A
Cited
US4018217A
Cited
GB2078902A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-11 | 1990-02-10 | 1990-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-11 | 1994-02-10 | 1994-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-11 | 1998-02-10 | 1998-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |