GB2293968A

GB2293968A - A lift and slide mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2293968A
Application number: GB9420773A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael David Charman
Original assignee: SAMAS RONEO Ltd
Current assignee: SAMAS RONEO Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-14
Filing date: 1994-10-14
Publication date: 1996-04-17
Also published as: GB9420773D0

Abstract

A lift and slide mechanism for a work surface is described fitted to a corner desk top station which comprises two rectangular desk tops (1) supported at their outer ends by ground supporting legs (2). The inner sides and the corner desk top (3) are supported on a pair of support members (4) and a pair of support members (5). The rectangular desk tops (1) and corner desk top (3) may be slid outwards in the direction of arrow (6) to uncover a continuous duct (7) running around the rear surface of the desk top station. The duct (7) is used to accommodate wires or cables to connect to wordprocessors or computer workstations located on the desk tops. The mechanism provides a means for lifting and sliding the corner desk top (3) independent of the adjacent rectangular desk top (1) to provide access to the duct (7). <IMAGE>

Description

A LIFT AND SLIDE NECHANISM This invention relates to a lift and slide mechanism for work surfaces and more particularly to a desk top.

In the furnishing of business offices, it is current practice to accommodate electrical wiring and electric sockets within the frames of office desks.

Particularly with adjoining desks, which are located against a wall or partition, it is usual to have a channel or conduit for housing and concealing the wires for computers or other electronic equipment to be supported on the work surface.

The need often arises where two rectangular desk surfaces are joined by a corner desk surface, to remove the corner desk surface for access to the channel or conduit housing the electrical wires. This has the disadvantage that the corner desk surface cannot be easily slid outwardly from the supporting wall, and is even more difficult when the corner desk surface is supporting electronic equipment such as a wordprocessor which is relatively heavy to support.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantage by providing a lift and slide mechanism to raise the desk surface above the surface of the adjacent desk surfaces, providing access to the channel and cable route.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lift and slide mechanism for a work surface, comprising a pair of first support members adapted to be secured to the underside of the work surface, a pair of second support members adapted to be secured to a frame of the work surface, wherein at least one wedge-shaped member is slideably located between the first and second pairs of support members such that movement of the wedgeshaped member relative to the first and second members permits the work surface to be slid outwardly relative to the pair of second support members.

Conveniently, the underside of the rear of the work surface is supported on at least one roller tensioned by a compression spring mounted between the frame of the work surface and the work surface to counterbalance the work surface and prevent it from tipping.

Preferably, there are two wedge-shaped members joined by a handle to slide the wedge-shaped members relative to the pairs of support members.

In a preferred construction a duct runs around the rear of the desk top station and is concealed or uncovered by slidably moving the work surface.

The invention also extends to a work surface station comprising adjacent desk tops arranged as a corner unit, wherein the corner desk top is fitted with a lift and slide mechanism as set forth in the four preceding paragraphs.

An embodiment of a lift and slide mechanism will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a desk top station for incorporating the mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lift and slide mechanism with the work surfaces removed; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the lift and slide mechanism roller spring unit; Figs. 4 to 6 are fragmentary side views of the lift and slide mechanism in three operative positions.

The lift and slide mechanism is fitted to a corner desk top of a desk top station shown in Fig. 1 which comprises two rectangular desk tops 1 supported at their outer ends by ground supporting legs 2. The inner sides and the corner desk top 3 are supported on a pair of support members 4 and a pair of support members 5.

The rectangular desk tops 1 and corner desk top 3 may be slid outwards in the direction of arrow 6 (see Figs. 1 and 4 to 6) to uncover a continuous duct 7 running around the rear surface of the desk top station.

The duct 7 is used to accomodate wires or cables (not shown) to connect to wordprocessors or computer workstations located on the desk tops.

When a wordprocessor or other electronic equipment is positioned on the corner desk top 3 it is difficult to obtain access to the wire duct 7 without disconnecting the supply cables from the electronic equipment, removing the equipment from the desk top and lifting the top clear of the rear wire duct 7.

The present invention provides a means for lifting and sliding the corner desk top 3 independent of the adjacent rectangular desk tops 1 to provide access to the duct 7. As the corner desk top 3 may be supporting relatively heavy equipment it is often difficult to lift and support the equipment while sliding the desk top outwardly to provide access to the wire duct 7 at the rear of the desk top 3.

The lift and slide mechanism is shown in side elevation in three operative positions viz Fig. 4 in the closed position; Fig. 5 with the wedge-shaped member and the roller spring unit in the engaged position and Fig. 6 in the slid-open position uncovering the duct 7.

The first pair of support members 4 are secured to the underside of the corner desk top 3 and the second pair of support members 5 are located at an acute angle to the underside of the desk top 3 and fixed by screws to the desk frame or legs 2. Slidably located between the first 4 and second 5 pair of support members are wedgeshaped members 8. These members 8 are connected by a handle 9 at its narrow end (see Fig. 2) by means of which it is pulled from its working or closed position in the direction of the arrow 6 (see Fig. 2). The desk top 3 is raised to clear the upper surface of adjacent rectangular desk top members 1 and can be slid outwards in the direction of arrow 6 to uncover the wire duct 7 for access to the electrical connections.

If the desk top 3 is supporting electrical or other equipment, the desk top 3 is counterbalanced and prevented from tipping by a coiled spring unit illustrated in detail in Fig. 3.

The spring unit comprises a first bracket 10 screwed to the desk frame and supporting legs 2, and a second bracket 11 pivoted at 12 to the first bracket 10.

Also pivoted at 13 to the first bracket is one end of a rod 14 of the spring unit which extends through a compression spring 15 the other end of the rod 14 is secured by a screw to a plate 16. The spring is compressed between the plate 16 and the second bracket 11.

A roller 17 is pivotably mounted on the upper surface of the second bracket 11 and is located to engage and support the underside of the desk top 3. When the desk top 3 is slid forward, the weight of the desk top and any object supported on the desk top is counterbalanced by pivoting the second bracket 11 about the pivot 12 compressing the spring 15 to take up the load of the rear of the desk top preventing it from tilting.

To return the corner desk top 3 to its supporting position, the user grips the desk surface and pushes it towards the rear wall until the wedge-shaped members 8 engage the forward ends of the first pair of supporting members 4. The handle 9 is then gripped and the wedgeshaped members are pushed to the rear ends of the first 4 and second 5 members lowering the corner desk top 3 into its supporting position flush with the adjacent rectangular desk tops 1 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the case of large L-shaped desk arrangements it is difficult to lift them, particularly if fitted with a lift and slide mechanism, and to locate them in the required position. To overcome this the lower sides of each leg 2 have a castor 18 with a vertical threaded spigot to allow for adjustment of the level of the working surface with adjacent furniture to compensate for irregularities in the floor surface. When a low profile is desired a cantilever foot 19 is fitted having a glide supporting surface 20 with a smooth convex underside.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lift and slide mechanism for a work surface, comprising a pair of first support members adapted to be secured to the underside of the work surface, a pair of second support members adapted to be secured to a frame of the work surface, wherein at least one wedge-shaped member is slidably located between the first and second pairs of support members such that movement of the wedgeshaped member relative to the first and second members permits the work surface to be slid outwardly relative to the pair of second support members.

2. A lift and slide mechanism as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the underside of the rear of the work surface is supported on at least one roller tensioned by a compression spring mounted between the frame of the work surface and the work surface to counterbalance the work surface and prevent it from tipping.

3. A lift and slide mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein there are two wedge-shaped members joined by a handle to slide the wedge-shaped members relative to the pairs of support members.

4. A lift and slide mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame for the mechanism is supported on ground supporting members.

5. A lift and slide mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a duct runs around the rear of the desk top station and is concealed or uncovered by slidably moving the work surface.

6. A lift and slide mechanism as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the spring roller comprssion unit comprises a first bracket, a rod pivotally secured to the first bracket which passes through a compression spring and is secured to one end thereof, the other end of the spring engaging the second bracket so that pivotal movement between the brackets is counterblaanced by the compression spring.

7. A lift and slide mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. A work surface station comprising adjacent desk tops arranged as a corner unit wherein the corner desk top is fitted with a lift and slide mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim.

9. A work surface station comprising adjacent desk tops arranged as a corner unit, the supporting legs of which have pivotable supporting castors and/or a cantilever foot and wherein the low profile of the cantilever foot is provided with a glide supporting surface with a smooth convex underside.

10. A work surface station substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 7. A lift and slide mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A work surface station as claimed in Claim 8, wherein adjacent desk tops are arranged as a corner unit, the supporting legs of which have pivotable supporting castors and/or a cantilever foot and wherein the low profile of the cantilever foot is provided with a glide supporting surface with a smooth convex underside.