Tilting and Sliding Surface Assembly for a Table

This invention relates to a table in the nature of a worktable adapted for use with a computer or the like, and more particularly to a table including a movable surface for supporting the keyboard of a computer.

Worktables for supporting a computer are well known. Many workstations or tables for supporting a computer include a pad or surface for supporting the computer keyboard, and it is known to provide such a surface which is movable to varying positions according to individual user requirements.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard surface for use in combination with a worktable which is adapted to be received within an opening defined by the worktable, and which can be slid inwardly and outwardly relative to the table and moved to varying angular positions relative to the table. It is a further object of the invention to provide a tilting and sliding keyboard surface mechanism which is simple in its construction and operation, yet which provides highly satisfactory movement of the keyboard surface in response to user requirements. Another object of the invention is to provide a tilting and sliding mechanism for a keyboard surface which can be easily adapted for use with existing table construction.

In accordance with the invention, a movable surface assembly is adapted for use with a table which includes a pair of spaced vertically adjustable horizontal surfaces defining an opening therebetween within which the movable surface is received. The table further includes at least a pair of legs and a cross-member extending below and supporting the horizontal surfaces. The cross-member preferably extends across the opening, and is interconnected with the legs for supporting the horizontal surfaces. The invention provides a movable surface disposed within the opening, a bracket assembly engageable with the cross-member and secured to the movable surface, a manually operable pivot mechanism and a manually operable slide mechanism, both of which are interposed between the bracket assembly and the movable surface. The pivot mechanism provides movement of the movable surface about a substantially horizontal pivot axis relative to the horizontal surfaces, and the slide mechanism provides sliding inward-outward movement of the movable surface relative to the horizontal surface. The bracket assembly is defined by a first bracket stationarily mounted to the cross-member and a second bracket stationarily mounted to the movable surface. The pivot mechanism is interposed between the first and second brackets. A selectively operable tilt lock mechanism is interconnected between the first and second brackets for selectively locking the position of the second bracket relative to the first bracket to selectively lock the position of the movable surface relative to the fixed surface. The slide mechanism is in the form of a pair of laterally extending guide members secured to the second bracket. The guide members extend in an inward-outward direction parallel to the direction of movement of the movable surface. A slide member is mounted to the movable surface and defines channel structure within which the guide members are received. The guide members are defined by the ends of a plate member which is mounted to the second bracket. A bearing member is interposed between each guide member and the slide member channel structure. Each bearing member is fixedly engaged with one of the guide members, and is preferably in the form of a U-shaped member secured to each guide member. The slide member channel structure is preferably in the form of a pair of facing channels formed on a slide bracket member mounted to the underside of the movable surface, within a recess formed therein. The bearing members facilitate relative inward-outward movement between the slide and the second bracket, and thereby between the movable surface and the horizontal surfaces.

Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a table incorporating the tilting and sliding surface mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial isometric view of a portion of the table of FIG. 1, showing the movable surface moved outwardly relation the horizontal surfaces;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the movable surface in a tilted position relative to the horizontal surfaces;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the movable surface and a portion of the fixed surface, showing the tilting and sliding mechanism interconnecting the movable surface with the fixed surface, and in which the movable surface is in its inwardmost horizontal position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the movable surface in a tilted position; and

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, a split-surface worktable 10 generally includes a pair of horizontal front surfaces 12, 13, a rear surface 14, and a pair of leg assemblies 16, 18. Leg assembly 16 includes a front leg 20 and a rear leg 22, and leg assembly 18 includes a front leg 24 and a rear leg 26. Front legs 20, 24 support front surfaces 12, 13, respectively, and rear legs 22, 26 support rear surface 14. Leg assemblies 16, 18 also include a crank-type adjustable height mechanism interconnected with each of its respective front and rear legs for providing adjustability in the elevation of front surface 12 and rear surface 14 relative to the floor. Openings 27 are formed in surfaces 13, 14, and the crank-type height adjustment mechanisms extend through opening 27.

The components and assembly described above are generally known in the art, and are commercially available from Krueger International, Inc. of Green Bay, Wis., the assignee of the present application, under its designation WorkZone and/or DataBord.

In accordance with the invention, an adjustable or movable surface 28 is interconnected with front surface 12 and is received within an opening or space 29 between front surfaces 12 and 13. Movable surface 28 is particularly well suited for supporting a computer keyboard or the like, and rear surface 14 is well suited for supporting a computer monitor.

Movable surface 28 is interconnected with a tilting and sliding mechanism, shown generally at 30 in FIGS. 4-6, which provides movement of movable surface 28 in an inward-outward direction and about a horizontal tilt axis. FIG. 2 illustrates movable surface 28 in its outwardmost position in which movable surface 28 is slid outwardly relative to front surfaces 12 and 13. FIG. 3 illustrates movable surface 28 tilted about a horizontal tilt axis relative to front surfaces 12 and 13. Preferably, movable surface 28 may be movable outwardly a distance of approximately 5 inches, as shown in FIG. 2, and may be tiltable approximately 15.degree. from horizontal in either a forward tilt direction, as shown in FIG. 3, or in a rearward tilt direction.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, tilting/sliding mechanism 30 generally includes a fixed bracket assembly 32 and a movable bracket assembly 34. Fixed bracket assembly 32 is mounted to a cross-member 36 which extends below and between horizontal surfaces 12 and 13 between legs 20, 24 through space 29 within which movable surface 28 is received. Movable bracket assembly 34 is mounted to the underside of movable surface 28.

Fixed bracket assembly 32 includes a plate 38 engageable with the top of cross-member 36, and a clam shell member 40 engageable with the bottom of cross-member 36. A series of threaded screws 42 interconnect clam shell member 40 with plate 38 for clamping fixed bracket assembly 32 to cross-member 36.

A pair of bracket arms 44, 46 are welded to the ends of plate 38. Arms 44, 46 define down turnedforward ends, and aligned forward openings 48, 50 (FIG. 6) are formed in the forward end portions of arms 44, 46, respectively. Aligned rear openings 52, 54 (FIG. 6) are formed in the rearward portion of arms 44, 46, respectively.

Movable bracket assembly 34 includes a pair of side plates 56, 58 rigidly mounted to and extending downwardly from an upper guide plate 60. A cross-member (not shown) extends between and interconnects side plate 56, 58, and guide plate 60 is fixed thereto such as by welding or the like. A slide member 62 is fixed to the underside of movable surface 28 within a recess 64 formed therein, such as by a series of screws 66.

Guide plate 60 is bent at its ends to define longitudinally extending lateral end portions 68, 70. U-shaped bearing members 72, 74 made of a thermoplastic such as nylon are fixedly engaged with guide plate end portions 68, 70, respectively. Illustratively, spaced openings (not shown) may be formed in guide plate end portions 68, 70, and bearing members 72, 74 are formed with protrusions which snap into the spaced openings in guide plate end portions 68, 70 to secure bearing members 72, 74 thereto and to prevent longitudinal movement between bearing members 72, 74 and guide plate 60.

Slide member 62 includes a pair of facing channels 76, 78 at its ends. Channels 76, 78 are shaped so as to correspond to the outer shape of bearing members 72, 74, which are received within channels 76, 78, respectively. With this construction, movable surface 28 can be moved inwardly and outwardly relative to movable bracket assembly 34 in response to exertion of a manual inward-outward force exerted by the user, with channels 76, 78 moving over bearing members 72, 74, respectively. A stop member 80 is mounted to guide plate 60, and a plate bumper 81 is screwed into the underside of movable surface 28 to prevent movable surface 28 from being drawn off of guide plate 60.

Movable bracket assembly 34 is pivotably interconnected with fixed bracket assembly 32 by means of a pivot rod 82 which extends through openings 52, 54 in fixed bracket side plates 44, 46, respectively, and through aligned openings 84, 86 formed in movable bracket side plates 56, 58, respectively. Caps 88 are engaged with the ends of pivot rod 82 to fix pivot rod 82 in position relative to fixed bracket assembly 32 and movable bracket assembly 34.

A manually operable tilt lock mechanism, shown generally at 87, is interconnected between fixed bracket arms 44, 46 and movable bracket side plates 56, 58, respectively. Tilt lock mechanism 87 includes a sleeve 88 which defines a longitudinal passage therethrough. The ends of sleeve 89 bear against the facing surfaces of fixed bracket arms 44, 46. The passage in sleeve 88 is aligned with openings 48, 50 formed in fixed bracket arms 44, 46, respectively.

Arcuate slots 90, 92 are formed in movable bracket side plates 56, 58, respectively. A locking bolt 94 extends through the passage in sleeve 89 and through openings 48, 50 in fixed bracket arms 44, 46, respectively. Bolt 94 also extends through slots 90, 92, and includes a head 96 which bears against the outer surface of movable bracket side plate 58. Bolt 94 further includes a threaded shank 98 which extends through slot 90 in side plate 56, extending outwardly therefrom. A nut member 100, which includes a handle 102, is threadedly engaged with threaded shank 98. A washer 104 is interposed between nut member 100 and movable bracket side plate 56. Bolt head 96 extends through slot 92, and engages movable bracket side plate 58 on either side of slot 92.

In operation, tilting and sliding mechanism 30 functions as follows to provide tilting and sliding movement of movable surface 28 relative to horizontal surfaces 12 and 13. To draw movable surface 28 forwardly, the user grasps the underside of surface 28 between movable bracket side plates 56, 58, where a lip is formed by recess 64. The user exerts a pull-out motion, and surface 28 is drawn outwardly by sliding movement of slide member channels 76, 78 over bearings 72, 74, respectively. To move movable surface 28 inwardly, the user exerts a push-in force on movable surface 28 and sliding movement again occurs between slide member channels 76, 78 and bearings 72, 74, respectively. If desired, a slide lock can be manually operated to selectively lock the sliding position of movable surface 28. Illustratively, such a lock could be in the form of a threaded screw fixed to either or both of guide portions 68, 70, extending downwardly therefrom through longitudinal slots formed in the lower wall of channels 76, 78. A manually operable nut is engaged with each threaded screw, and selectively bears against the lower wall of channels 76, 78 to selectively clamp channels 76, 78 to guide portions 68, 70, respectively.

To adjust the tilting position of movable surface 28, the user rotates tilt lock mechanism nut member 100 using handle 102 to release engagement between movable bracket side plates 56, 58 and fixed bracket arms 44, 46, respectively, and moves movable surface 28 to a desired tilt position by exerting an appropriate upward of downward force on the forward or rearward end of movable surface 28, as desired. When the desired position of movable surface 28 is attained, the user tightens nut member 100 using handle 102. This functions to draw bolt 94 leftwardly (FIG. 6), to clamp movable bracket side plate 58 and fixed bracket arm 46 together between bolt head 96 and sleeve 89, and to clamp movable bracket side plate 56 and fixed bracket arm 44 together between washer 104 and sleeve 89. This frictional clamping of movable bracket assembly 34 to fixed bracket assembly 32 selectively maintains movable surface 28 in its desired tilting position.

As can be appreciated, the sliding movement of movable surface 28 is independent of the tilting of movable surface 28. That is, surface 28 can be slid inwardly and outwardly at any tilting position, and conversely the tilting position of movable surface 28 can be changed at any inward/outward position of surface 28.

In addition, tilting/sliding mechanism 30 and movable surface 28 can easily be retrofit onto an existing split-surface worktable by replacing an existing horizontal front surface with lateral horizontal surfaces 12 and 13 with space 29 therebetween, clamping tilting/sliding mechanism 30 to cross-member 40 using plate 38 and clam shell member 40, and then mounting movable surface 28 to slide member 62 using screws 66.

Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.