Work Surface Height Adjustment Stop to Prevent Damage to Items Below
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Solution Overview
Problem
Height adjustable work surfaces can pose a hazard by potentially contacting items positioned below them during height adjustments, leading to damage or dislodgement of electrical wiring and other items.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a stop element is positioned adjacent to the work surface, featuring an elongated upper member with side grooves for attaching stop elements that prevent the work surface from moving below a certain position, thereby protecting items from damage and dislodgement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the work surface is made height adjustable to improve ergonomics and usability, then user comfort and adaptability are improved, but the risk of contacting and damaging items below the work surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by installing a stop element that preemptively prevents the work surface from reaching positions where it could contact and damage items below. The stop element is positioned to intercept the work surface's downward motion before it can affect electrical wiring or other items, thereby counteracting the potential harmful effect before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop element serves as an intermediary component between the height-adjustable work surface and the items below it. This intermediary structure absorbs the impact and prevents direct contact between the work surface and vulnerable items, resolving the contradiction by introducing a protective intermediate element that allows height adjustment while preventing damage.
2Ease of operation
If the work surface range of motion is increased to allow both sitting and standing positions, then ergonomic flexibility is improved, but the likelihood of dislodging electrical wiring and other items increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop element provides preliminary anti-action by establishing a predetermined lower limit for the work surface's range of motion. This prevents the work surface from moving far enough to dislodge electrical wiring or other items while still allowing sufficient range for both sitting and standing ergonomic positions, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If no stop mechanism is installed to maintain device simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but corrective actions such as re-plugging and re-adjusting items are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the stop function from the main work surface structure, implementing it as a distinct, attachable stop element. This modular approach adds minimal complexity to the overall system while effectively preventing the need for corrective actions, thus resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and time loss from corrections.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop element performs preliminary action by preventing harmful contact before it occurs, eliminating the need for subsequent corrective actions such as re-plugging electrical wiring or re-adjusting items. This upfront preventive measure saves time that would otherwise be spent on corrections while adding only minimal structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus configured to provide a stop for a height adjustable work surface can be configured to provide a stop to help stop a work surface from moving lower than a pre-selected height position. Embodiments of the apparatus can be configured to protect items below the work surface from being contacted by the work surface. This can help avoid dislodging electrical plugs or damage being accidentally caused to plugs or other devices that may be positioned below the work surface and within the range of motion of the vertically adjustable work surface.