Table with extensible and raisable secondary work surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee tables are too low to support office-type tasks and peripheral items like personal computers and writing materials comfortably, as they are designed for social settings rather than office operations.
Innovation Solution
A convertible table with a deployable secondary work surface that elevates above the primary table top, optionally including an inclined tertiary surface, allowing for adjustable and elevated workspaces suitable for protracted use without interfering with the user's legs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If keyboard tray is added for office work, then office functionality is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard tray mechanism is merged with the table top lifting mechanism. Both functions share common components such as the lifting struts and mounting structure, reducing overall complexity compared to having separate mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard tray is designed to be manually deployed and retracted by the user without requiring additional power sources or complex control systems. The lifting struts provide mechanical advantage to enable easy manual operation, making the system self-sufficient.
Data Source
AI summary
A table including a conventional table top, a stowable secondary work surface and optionally a stowable tertiary work surface is disclosed. The table may have height characteristics of a conventional coffee table. The secondary and tertiary surfaces are stowed under the primary surface, and extend outwardly therefrom into deployed positions on a telescoping linkage. A parallelogram mechanism enables the secondary surface to be higher than and parallel to the primary surface, thus enabling the primary surface to assume functions of the coffee table while the secondary surface is elevated thereabove to make work tasks more convenient for a seated user. The tertiary surface may be inclined relative to the primary and secondary surfaces. The secondary and tertiary surfaces and the linkage are concealed from view by a skirt depending from the primary surface. The novel table is thus convertible between a coffee table and a working desk.