Height adjustable wall desk

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a frame structure (4) including at least one elongate guide member (6) along which a carriage unit (8) is moveable, said frame structure being connected to a unit including a display device (12), a mounting assembly (14) serving to mount the frame structure (4) and the unit connected thereto to a substantially vertical surface, wherein said carriage unit (8) is arranged to move along the at least one elongate guide member (6) to change the position of the display device relative to the mounting assembly (14).

Description

[0001] APPARATUS

[0002] The present specification relates to a foldable workstation, particularly though not exclusively, to one affixed to a wall.

[0003] Many jobs involve working at a desk to provide a surface where a user can use a computer while typing on a keyboard and using a mouse, or other activities. However, when not in use, the desk takes up space and this may be inconvenient, and its appearance is obtrusive, especially in a home office environment or anywhere else where office space is relatively small.

[0004] People can spend many days per year sat behind a desk, yet few give any thought to how their desks are set-up. Many people have no idea that there is an ergonomically correct height our desks and office chairs should be set to.

[0005] The average desk sits at a height of around 73cm off the floor which is ideal if the user is 6 feet tall, but less than ideal if you’re not the “average height” the office world is designed for. For example, the average British male isn’t 6 feet tall but rather 5 feet 9 inches, which means that the desk they use is, most likely, set up incorrectly.

[0006] This is important because not only can an incorrect desk set up cause short term discomfort as users arms struggle to reach the keyboard or your knees constantly bump off the underside, but studies have concluded that sitting in these positions can lead to chronic back pain.

[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a frame structure including at least one elongate guide member along which a carriage unit is moveable, said frame structure being connected to a unit including a display device, a mounting assembly serving to mount the frame structure and the unit connected thereto to a substantially vertical surface, wherein the carriage unit is arranged to move along the at least one elongate guide member to change the position of the display device relative to the mounting assembly.

[0008] Owing to this aspect of the invention, positional adjustments of the display device can be made while keeping the frame structure and unit to which it is connected securely mounted to the substantially vertical surface. Advantageously, the frame structure includes first and second guide members disposed on respective opposite side regions of the frame structure and corresponding first and second carriage units. In addition, the at least one guide unit is driven by a drive device, advantageously in the form of an electric motor to so move it along the elongate guide member. Preferably, the electric motor is a screw drive motor, but other suitable motors could be used. Alternatively, the at least one carriage unit could be manually operated with, for example, a hand crank.

[0009] Preferably, the display device is a screen in the form of a visual display device, such as a computer monitor or television and the like.

[0010] In addition, the unit is preferably part of a workstation in which the unit forms a housing section within which the frame structure is located and additionally comprising a substantially planar panel section hingedly connected to the unit and being thereby configured to move between a first position with the substantially planar panel section substantially parallel to the substantially vertical surface in which position the display device is encased between the unit and the substantially planar panel section and a second position with the substantially planar panel section at substantially a right angle to the substantially vertical surface and the substantially planar panel section forming a substantially horizontal work surface from which a user can view the display device. Alternatively, the substantially planar panel section could be disposed with, and the display device can simply be mounted to the unit.

[0011] In order that the present invention can be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

[0012] Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention,

[0013] Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a frame structure of Figure 1 , and

[0014] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a lift mechanism 2 for a workstation comprises a frame structure 4 including at least one elongate guide member 6, a pair of such guide members 6 being shown at respective opposite lateral edge regions of the frame structure 4. Respective carriage units 8 are arranged to be moveable along the or each elongate guide member 6. The frame structure 4 is connected to a rear part of a unit 10 which, in a front part, opposite the rear part, includes one or more display devices 12 (see Figure 2) housed within the unit 10. A mounting assembly 14 serves to mount the frame structure 4 and the unit 10 connected thereto to a substantially vertical surface, such as a wall, wherein the carriage unit(s) 8 are caused to move along the respective elongate guide members 6 to change the position of the display device 12 relative to the mounting assembly 14.

[0016] The workstation further comprises a substantially planar panel section 16 in the form of a desktop surface hingedly connected at a lower edge region of the unit 10 and being configured to move between a first position with the substantially planar panel section substantially parallel to the substantially vertical wall surface in which position the display device 12 is encased between the unit 10 and the substantially planar panel section 16 and a second position with the substantially planar panel section 16 at substantially a right angle to the substantially vertical wall surface forming the desktop surface.

[0017] The frame structure 4 which is substantially rectangular as shown includes first and second elongate guide members 6 disposed on respective opposite side regions of the frame structure 4 and corresponding first and second carriage units 8. At least one of the carriage units 8 is powered by a drive device 9 such as an electric motor located within the frame structure to move it along the elongate guide members 6. Preferably, the electric motor is a linear actuator type of screw drive motor which comprises a threaded ball screw rod 9a extending from a motor housing 9b across the frame structure 4. However, other suitable motors could be used.

[0018] Alternatively, the at least one carriage unit 8 could be manually operated with, for example, a hand crank.

[0019] The lift mechanism 2 thereby allows the user to adjust the height position of the desktop surface to it optimal height from the floor for the particular user.

[0020] The frame structure 4 is preferably attached to a rearward side of the unit 10. The unit 10 essentially forms a carcass of the workstation and a dividing panel 18 which separates the rearward side from a front region 20 where the display device 12 is located. More than one display device 12 may be mounted in this front region 20.

[0021] A horizontal rail 22 connects each carriage unit 8. The mounting assembly 14 comprises a supporting member 24 in the form of part of a split batten fixing system. The supporting member 24 is secured to the wall and the horizontal rail, which is L- shaped in cross-section forms the second part of the split batten fixing system and hooked onto the supporting member 24. The ball screw rod 9a passes through openings in the horizontal rail 22 such that when the drive device is activated, the screw ball rod 9a rotates about its longitudinal axis (in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction as required) with the screw thread co-operating with the openings in the horizontal rail through which the rods 9a pass to cause the carriage units 8 linked by the horizontal rail 22 to move the frame structure 4 and the unit 10 to which it is connected to move in a substantially vertical plane. This movement raises and lowers the frame and desktop in relation to the wall-mounted supporting member 24. Whilst only an arrangement for vertical movement is shown, it would also be possible with a further drive device and carriage units to provide for side-to-side movement also.

[0022] This movement allows the desk height to be adjusted and locked in place at various levels suitable for not only sitting but also standing, as is increasingly common in work environments, such as that known as hot-desking. In this way, different height desktop surfaces do not need to be provided since the workstation of the present invention provides for the necessary range of height positions required.

[0023] A control device (not shown) may be provided at a convenient location on the unit 10 or other location to operate the lifting mechanism.

[0024] In Figure 1 , the desktop of the workstation when in its second position provides a support for any work device such as a laptop connected to the workstation via a wired or wireless connection, however it will be understood that any type of suitable user device could be used in conjunction with the workstation, that is any device that a user may wish to carry out work on. The workstation comprises a device interface which operates according to currently accepted electronic and communications standards and connects the user device to the display device 12. When in its first position, the surface of the desktop facing outwardly which is seen by people around may comprise a piece of artwork that can be interchangeable. The workstation can comprise a variety of other accessories for the user device to connect to, such as speakers, microphones, cameras, keyboards, and electronic mice.

[0025] Referring to Figure 3, in a second embodiment of the lifting mechanism, the substantially planar panel section 16 in the form of the desktop surface is simply replaced with the display device 12 in the form of a flat panel television that remains in a substantially vertical orientation when the unit 10 is mounted to the mounting assembly 14 fixed to the wall. In the same way as for the embodiment of Figure 1 , the height of the television 12 can be changed by utilising the drive device. Watching television in the wrong direction, viewing angle, distance, and height in the long term not only affects the user’s eyesight but is also one of the reasons someone may suffer from neck strain.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus comprising a frame structure including at least one elongate guide member along which a carriage unit is moveable, said frame structure being connected to a unit including a display device, a mounting assembly serving to mount the frame structure and the unit connected thereto to a substantially vertical surface, wherein the carriage unit is arranged to move along the at least one elongate guide member to change the position of the display device relative to the mounting assembly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame structure includes first and second guide members disposed on respective opposite side regions of the frame structure and corresponding first and second carriage units.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one carriage unit is driven by a drive device.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 as appended to claim 2, wherein the first and second carriage units are driven by respective drive devices.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the or each drive device is an electric motor.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the or each electric motor is a screw drive motor.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said drive device is a hand crank.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, and further comprising a horizontal rail connecting the first and second carriage units.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 as appended to claim 5, wherein a threaded ball screw rod of the screw drive motor passes through openings in said horizontal rail.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the display device is a visual display device.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the unit is part of a workstation in which the unit forms a housing section within which the frame structure is located and additionally comprising a substantially planar panel section hingedly connected to the unit and being thereby configured to move between a first position in which the display device is encased between the unit and the substantially planar panel section and a second position with thesubstantially planar panel section at substantially a right angle to the substantially vertical surface and the substantially planar panel section forming a substantially horizontal work surface.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claim 1 to 7, wherein the display device is a flat panel television mounted to the unit.

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