A height adjustable desk for placing on an existing desktop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing desks are often not adjustable in height, failing to meet ergonomic requirements for users who need to switch between sitting and standing positions, and existing height-adjustable desks are difficult to operate or require permanent fixation.

Innovation Solution

A height-adjustable desk with a base frame and desktop connected by pivotally connected support members and a gas strut, allowing easy raising and lowering with a scissoring action, assisted by a spring and damper system, and featuring a retainer device for secure height adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a height adjustable desk is provided to meet ergonomic requirements for both sitting and standing positions, then ergonomic comfort is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveergonomic comfortVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The desk is divided into a base frame and a desktop that can be independently adjusted in height. The support members connect these segments, allowing the desktop to be raised or lowered relative to the base frame, providing ergonomic adaptability without requiring complete redesign of the entire desk structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The desk transitions from a static fixed-height structure to a dynamic adjustable-height structure. The support members enable the desktop to move between different height positions, allowing the user to switch between sitting and standing positions while maintaining structural integrity through the scissoring mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If existing height adjustable desks are made permanently fixed to the existing desktop, then stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gas strut is pre-configured to provide the necessary lifting force to overcome the weight of the desktop and any items on it. This preliminary mechanical advantage is built into the system, so the user only needs to trigger the release mechanism rather than manually lift the entire desktop assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gas strut acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the user's manual input and the heavy desktop. It amplifies the user's small activating force into sufficient lifting force, mediating the interaction between human capability and the weight of the desktop while maintaining stability during adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If the desktop is made fully lowerable to the base frame for compact transport, then portability is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are designed to nest within each other when the desktop is lowered to its minimum height. The scissoring structure allows one support member to be contained within or alongside the other, minimizing the overall vertical space required and enabling compact storage or transport configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy height adjustment of the desktop to accommodate both sitting and standing positions, ensuring ergonomic comfort while being easy to operate and stable under heavy loads, with a compact design for transport.

Implementation Method 1

a gas strut, wherein the first and second support members are pivotally connected to one another and are pivotable about the pivotal connection to raise and lower the desktop from the base frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas spring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The first and second support members pivot relative to one another in a scissoring action to increase and reduce the space between the desktop and the base frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP3593671B1A height adjustable desk for placing on an existing desktop
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 POSTURITE
  • EP3593671B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3593671B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3593671B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

There is provided a height adjustable desk (5) for placing on an existing desktop. The height adjustable desk (5) comprises a base frame (50) for placing on the existing desktop, a desktop (10) that is connected to the base frame (50) by first (40) and second (45) support members, and a gas strut, wherein the first and second support members (40, 45) are pivotally connected (41) to one another and are pivotable about the pivotal connection to raise and lower the desktop (10) from the base frame (50). The ends of the second support member (45) are slidable along the base frame (50) and along the desktop (10), and one of those ends is pivotably connected to a shuttle, the shuttle being drivable by the gas strut to slide along a shuttle frame of the desktop or base frame.