US20060027146A1

US20060027146A1 - Ergonomically adjustable table set

Info

Publication number: US20060027146A1
Application number: US11/194,038
Authority: US
Inventors: Tien Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-09
Filing date: 2005-08-01
Publication date: 2006-02-09
Also published as: TW200605816A

Abstract

A table set includes: a writing board secured with an angle-adjusting device which is angularly adjustable on a basic table, and a reading board universally mounted on the writing board, so that either the writing board or the reading board can be optionally adjusted to obtain a comfortable ergonomic writing or reading angle or height.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,039 to Rudolf F. Schneider disclosed a writing table with adjustable working surface by providing a roller (4) situated beneath a rear portion of the working surface (1) for continuous adjustment of the inclination of the working surface.
However, when it is intended to obtain a big angle (namely, a steep angle) of the working surface (1), the roller (4) may be moved forwardly towards the operator or user as indicated with numeral (4 a) as dotted line shown in FIG. 7.
By the way, when depressing (P) the distal portion on the table surface, it will become unstable since the roller (4 a) for supporting the working plate has been moved forwardly. Alternatively, if the roller were enlarged (as numeral “4 b” as shown in FIG. 7), it will become a poor clumsy design and will be impractical.
The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the prior art and invented the present ergonomically adjustable table set.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a table set including: a writing board angularly adjustable on a basic table, and a reading board universally mounted on the writing board, so that either the writing board or the reading board can be optionally adjusted to obtain a comfortable ergonomic writing or reading angle or height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an illustration showing the adjusting mechanism of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the writing board of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the reading board of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an illustration showing an example when using the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows another example when using the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows the prior art of U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,039 and the inferential modification thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in the drawing figures, the present invention comprises: a writing board 1; a reading board 2; and a basic table 3 for mounting the writing board 1 and the reading board 2 thereon.
The present invention further includes a display means 4 which is also mounted on the basic table 3. The display means 4 may be a monitor or any other display devices.
The writing board 1 includes: a board member 11 generally rectangular shaped; at least an angle-adjusting device 12 formed on a back portion of the writing board 1 to be rested on the basic table 3; having a writing surface 10 formed on an upper surface of the board member 11 for writing or other working purposes on the board 1.
The angle-adjusting devices 12 may be a pair of the devices 12 to be disposed on a right and a left side portion of the writing board 1.
The angle adjusting mechanism for adjusting the angle or height of the writing board 1 is not limited in this invention. The following example is just a preferred embodiment, but not limited in this invention.
The angle-adjusting device 12 includes: a base frame 121 rested on the basic table 3, a supporting lever 122 pivotally secured to the base frame 121, a positioning pin 123 secured on an upper end of the supporting lever 122, and a rail 124 secured to a back surface (or back portion) of the writing board 1 having a plurality of locking teeth (preferably ratchet teeth) 125 lengthwise formed on the rail 124 to be adjustably engaged with the positioning pin 123 on the supporting lever 122 and having a front pivot 124 f for pivotally securing the base frame 121; whereby upon a forward movement of the positioning-pin 123 for engaging the positioning pin 123 with a “front” tooth of the teeth 125 on the rail 124, the supporting lever 122 may be biased forwardly to raise the writing board 1 as secured on the rail 124 to increase the sloping angle A of the board 1 of the table 3; and upon a rearward movement of the positioning pin 123 with a rear tooth of the teeth 125, the supporting lever 122 may be biased rearwardly to lower the writing board 1 to thereby adjust and obtain a preferred sloping angle A of the writing board 1 on the basic table 3.
The supporting lever 122 includes a lower end of the lever 122 pivotally secured to the base frame 121 by a pivot 122 a; a tension spring 122 s normally resiliently tensioning the lever 122 forwardly to pull the lever 122 for stably engaging the positioning pin 123 on the lever 122 with any one of the teeth 125 formed on the rail 124; and a rope 122 r leading rearwardly to be wound on a roller 122 w rotatably mounted on the base frame 121 after the pivot 122 a opposite to the tension spring 122 s; whereby when disengaging the positioning pin 123 from the tooth 125, the rope 122 r may be pulled to bias the lever 122 rearwardly to disengage the positioning pin 123 from the tooth 125, allowing a rearward biasing movement of the lever 122 in order to lower the writing board 1 to decrease the sloping angle A of the board 1 on the table 3.
A linking bar 120 is provided to link a pair of the supporting levers 122, thereby simultaneously operating a pair of angle-adjusting devices 12, 12 of the present invention. (In the figures, the right-side angle-adjusting device 12 can not be seen).
The rail 124 further includes a sliding groove 126 lengthwise formed in the rail 124 and juxtapositioned to the plurality of teeth 125 lengthwise formed in the rail 124, whereby when disengaging the positioning pin 123 on the supporting lever 122 from the tooth 125, the positioning pin 123 may be slidably moved within the groove 126 for lowering the writing board 1, or even for flattening the board 1 to be horizontally rested on the basic table 3.
The rail 124 further includes an upper slot 124 a formed in an upper portion of the rail 124 for slidably holding an upper bolt 111 protruding backward from an upper back portion of the writing board 1 within the upper slot 124 a, having an upper knob 111 k fastened to the upper bolt 111; and a lower slot 124 b formed in a lower portion of the rail 124 for slidably engaging a lower bolt 112 protruding backward from a lower back portion of the writing board 1 having a lower knob 112 k fastened to the lower bolt 112, thereby adjustably fastening said rail 124 to said writing board 1.
The lower bolt 112 includes a slim bolt portion 112 a slidably engaged with the lower slot 124 b in the rail 124, a shank portion 112 b contiguous to the slim bolt portion 112 a and having a diameter of the shank portion 112 b larger than a diameter of the slim bolt portion 112 a, with the shank portion 112 a adjustably engaged with one shank opening 124 c of a plurality of shank openings 124 c (continuously or intermittently) formed in the lower slot 124 b; whereby upon moving of the slim bolt portion 112 a along the lower slot 124 b until obtaining a preferred position, where the shank portion 112 b of the lower bolt 112 is engaged with the corresponding shank opening 124 c and the lower knob 112 k is then fastened to the lower bolt 112 for stably fixing the writing board 1 on the rail 124.
The reading board 2 includes: a base plate 21 for holding a book B thereon, a spine holder 22 having a cross section of U shape 220 and perpendicularly formed on a back (or rear) portion of the base plate 21 for holding a book spine in the spine holder 22, a clip member 23 pivotally resiliently secured to the base plate 21 for resiliently clamping the book B on the base plate 21 and on the spine holder 22, and an universal adapter 25 universally connecting the base plate 21 to the writing board 1 for universally adjusting a positioning angle, orientation, or height of the reading board 2 on the writing board 1.
The spine holder 22 further includes a sheet-attaching rod 24 made of ferromagnetic material and secured on the spine holder 22 for magnetically attracting a magnet (not shown) on the rod 24 for magnetically clamping a sheet (such as for music notations) between the magnet and the rod 24.
The sheet-attaching rod 24 may be adjustably secured on the spine holder 22 along a vertical slot 222 vertically formed in the spine holder 22 for optionally adjusting the height of the rod 24.
The clip member 23 includes a fine post 231 having a pair of bottom pins 232 pivotally secured to a pair of pin sockets 211 recessed in the base plate 21, a thin clip bar 233 slidably engaged on the post 231 for retaining the book pages, and a spring 234 resiliently fastening the post 231 through the base plate 21 to a retainer 221 which may be formed on a bottom portion of the spine holder 22 or on the base plate 21.
The universal adapter 25 (FIG. 4) includes: an insert 251 selectively inserted in one of a plurality of recesses 10 a recessed in the board member 11 of the writing board 1, a link member 252 having a vertical shaft 253 perpendicularly formed on a first end of the link member 252 to be rotatably engaged in a shaft hole 251 c formed in the insert 251 about a vertical axis Y1, and a universal coupling 254 universally connecting a second end 253 a of the link member 252 (opposite to the vertical shaft 253) and a rear portion of the base plate 21 of the reading board 2 for universally securing the reading board 2 on the writing board 1.
The universal coupling 254 includes: a horizontal sleeve portion 254 h rotatalby engaged with a horizontal shaft 253 a of the link member 252 about a horizontal axis X, and a shaft portion 254 v perpendicular to the horizontal sleeve portion 254 h and rotatably engaged with a sleeve portion 210 protruding upwardly from the base plate 21 of the reading board 2 about a longitudinal axis Y2 which is perpendicular to the horizontal axis X of the horizontal sleeve portion 254 h, so that the reading board 2 will be universally secured to the writing board 1.
The link member 252 includes two (or plural) link sections 252 a, 252 b slidably or telescopically coupled and fixedly fastened by a fastening knob 252 k.
An adjusting knob 254 b may be provided to fasten the universal coupling 254 with the link member 252, having a spring 254 s resiliently retained between the knob 254 b and the coupling 254.
The present invention is superior to the prior art because the writing board 1 may be gradually adjusted (through the engagement of the pin 123 with any tooth of the plural teeth 125) for optionally adjusting a preferred personal “favorite” angle (or height) of the writing board for his or her comfortable writing or working on the board 1. The angle-adjusting device 12 provides an ergonomic and logic design for the writing board.
Meanwhile, the reading board 2 can also be operated for optionally adjusting its orientation, angle, or height. The reading board 2 may be adjustably mounted on the writing board 1, like a daughter well carried by a mother. So, a mother-and-daughter double board design of this invention renders an ergonomic comfortable healthy and convenient writing and reading device.
The reading board 2 may also be directly universally mounted on the basic table 3. Other universal or adjusting mechanisms for adjusting the reading board may also be modified.
Besides, a plurality of “accessories” may be provided in this invention for enhancing multiple functions of a table set as hereinafter described.
The writing board 1 further includes a main chamber 13 formed or recessed in a rear portion of the board member 11 for storing a keyboard (k) of a computer on other equipments in the main chamber 13 having a cover 131 covering the main chamber; a central platform 14 pivotally formed on a central front portion of the board member 11 and normally being coplanar to the writing surface 10 of the board member 11 and covering a central chamber 140 recessed in the central front portion for storing a mouse or other accessories in the central chamber 140; with the central platform 14 having a rising stem 141 formed on a front portion of the central platform 14 to be upwardly raised until forming a horizontal plane by the central platform adapted to be rested or operated by the mouse (M) on the central platform by engaging and locking a bottom portion of the rising stem 141 with a locking socket 142 formed in a front wall of the central chamber 140.
By the way, the writing board 1 may become a working board for operating a computer as shown in FIG. 6. For reading or writing, the book B is clipped on the reading board 2 and the writing board can be adjusted to a desired angle (A) or height as shown in FIG. 5, in which a cup of drink (C) may be hung on the board 1.
The writing board 1 further includes: at least a side platform 15 pivotally formed on a side portion of the board member 11 and normally being coplanar to the writing surface 10 of the board member 11 to cover a side chamber 150 recessed in the side portion of the board member, having a stem 151 formed on a front portion of the side platform and operatively raised upwardly to be locked in a locking recess 152 formed in a side wall of the side chamber 150, having painting or drawing items or other small items stored in the side chamber 150, whereby upon raising of the side platform 15 to be horizontally positioned, a small item or a palette (not shown), for instance, may be placed on the side platform as horizontally positioned for painting or drawing purpose.
A pair of handrest pads 16 may be provided in this invention, each pad 16 having a protrusion 161 pivotally engaged in a hole 162 formed in the board member 11 for pivotally securing the pad 16 on the board member 11 for comfortably cushioning a user's or operator's elbow or hand when resting on the writing board 1.
A plurality of accessory recesses 17 or pen sockets 18 are recessed in the writing board 1 for storing stationery or inserting pen therein.
The display means 4 includes a supporting base plate 41 for holding a display device (a monitor) thereon, and an elevating (or descending) device 42 pivotally connected between the supporting base plate 41 and a base frame 121 rested on the basic table 3 for adjusting a height of the display device as laid on the display means.
The elevating device 42 includes a parallelogram-shaped link set pivotally secured between the supporting base plate 41 and the base frame 121, and an adjusting lever 43 having an upper lever end pivotally secured to the supporting base plate 41 and a lower lever end engageable with any one of a plurality of teeth 44 lengthwise formed in the base frame 121 (FIG. 2) for adjusting the height of the display device as laid on the supporting base plate 41.
Accordingly, the display device, the book or the writing surface may be optionally adjusted in accordance with the present invention for an ergonomic reading, writing and working on the table.
The present invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
On the cover 131 or platform 14, there may be fully or partially adhered with a ferromagnetic thin sheet thereon so that a magnet may be attracted on such a thin sheet.
A flap 19 is pivotally formed on a front edge of the writing board 1 so that the flap 19 may be erected to limit the book or stationery when downwardly sliding from the board 1.
For adjusting the locking position of the lower bolt 112 on the rail 124, other locking or engaging mechanisms may be modified, not limited in the present invention.

Claims

1. An adjustable table set comprising:

a writing board having a writing surface formed on a board member and having at least an angle-adjusting device formed on a back portion of the board member and rested on a basic table for optionally adjusting a sloping angle between said board member and the basic table for angularly adjusting said writing surface on said board member; and

a reading board universally mounted on said board member of said writing board for optionally adjusting an orientation or height of a book when clipped on said reading board.

2. A table set according to claim 1, wherein said angle-adjusting device includes: a base frame rested on the basic table, a supporting lever pivotally secured to the base frame, a positioning pin secured on an upper end of the supporting lever, and a rail pivotally secured with said base frame and secured to a back portion of the writing board having a plurality of locking teeth lengthwise formed on the rail to be adjustably engaged with the positioning pin on the supporting lever; whereby upon a forward movement of the positioning pin for engaging the positioning pin with a front locking tooth on the rail, the supporting lever will be biased forwardly to raise the writing board as secured on the rail to increase the sloping angle of the writing board of the table; and upon a rearward movement of the positioning pin with a rear locking tooth, the supporting lever will be biased rearwardly to lower the writing board to thereby adjust and obtain a preferred sloping angle of the writing board on the basic table.

3. A table set according to claim 2, wherein said supporting lever includes a lower end of the lever pivotally secured to the base frame; a tension spring normally resiliently tensioning the lever forwardly to pull the lever for stably engaging the positioning pin on the lever with any one of the teeth formed on the rail; and a rope leading rearwardly to be wound on a roller rotatably mounted on the base frame at a position opposite to the tension spring; whereby when disengaging the positioning pin from the locking tooth, the rope will be pulled to bias the lever rearwardly to disengage the positioning pin from the locking tooth, allowing a rearward biasing movement of the lever in order to lower the writing board to decrease the sloping angle of the writing board on the table.

4. A table set according to claim 2, wherein said writing board includes a linking bar provided to link a pair of said supporting levers to simultaneously operate a pair of said angle-adjusting devices.

5. A table set according to claim 2, wherein said rail further includes a sliding groove lengthwise formed in the rail and juxtapositioned to the plurality of teeth lengthwise formed in the rail, whereby when disengaging the positioning pin on the supporting lever from the locking tooth, the positioning pin will be slidably moved within the groove for lowering the writing board.

6. A table set according to claim 2, wherein said rail further includes an upper slot formed in an upper portion of the rail for slidably holding an upper bolt protruding backward from an upper back portion of the writing board within the upper slot, having an upper knob fastened to the upper bolt; and a lower slot formed in a lower portion of the rail for slidably engaging a lower bolt protruding backward from a lower back portion of the writing board having a lower knob fastened to the lower bolt, thereby adjustably fastening said rail to said writing board.

7. A table set according to claim 6, wherein said lower bolt includes a slim bolt portion slidably engaged with the lower slot in the rail, a shank portion contiguous to the slim bolt portion and having a diameter of the shank portion larger than a diameter of the slim bolt portion, with the shank portion adjustably engaged with one shank opening of a plurality of said shank openings formed in the lower slot; whereby upon moving of the slim bolt portion along the lower slot until obtaining a preferred position, where the shank portion of the lower bolt is engaged with the corresponding shank opening and the lower knob is then fastened to the lower bolt for stably fixing the writing board on the rail.

8. A table set according to claim 1, wherein said reading board includes: a base plate for holding a book thereon, a spine holder having a cross section of U shape and perpendicularly formed on a rear portion of the base plate for holding a book spine in the spine holder, a clip member pivotally resiliently secured to the base plate for resiliently clamping the book on the base plate and on the spine holder, and an universal adapter universally connecting the base plate to the writing board for universally adjusting a positioning angle and height of the reading board on the writing board.

9. A table set according to claim 8, wherein said spine holder further includes a sheet-attaching rod made of ferromagnetic material and secured on the spine holder for magnetically attracting a magnet on the rod for magnetically clamping a sheet between the magnet and the rod; said sheet-attaching rod adjustably secured on the spine holder along a vertical slot vertically formed in the spine holder for optionally adjusting the height of the rod.

10. A table set according to claim 8, wherein said clip member includes a fine post having a pair of bottom pins pivotally secured to a pair of pin sockets recessed in the base plate, a thin clip bar slidably engaged on the post for retaining pages of the book, and a spring resiliently fastening the post to a retainer formed on the base plate.

11. A table set according to claim 8, wherein said universal adapter includes: an insert inserted in a recess recessed in the board member of the writing board, a link member having a vertical shaft perpendicularly formed on a first end of the link member to be rotatably engaged in a shaft hole formed in the insert about a vertical axis, and a universal coupling universally connecting a second end of the link member, opposite to the vertical shaft, and a rear portion of the base plate of the reading board for universally securing the reading board on the writing board.

12. A table set according to claim 11, wherein said universal coupling includes: a horizontal sleeve portion rotatalby engaged with a horizontal shaft of the link member about a horizontal axis, and a shaft portion perpendicular to the horizontal sleeve portion and rotatably engaged with a sleeve portion protruding upwardly from the base plate of the reading board about a longitudinal axis which is perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the horizontal sleeve portion, so that the reading board will be universally secured to the writing board.

13. A table set according to claim 12, wherein said link member includes a plurality of link sections telescopically coupled with one another.

14. A table set according to claim 1, wherein said writing board further includes a main chamber formed in a rear portion of the board member for storing a keyboard of a computer in the main chamber having a cover covering the main chamber; a central platform pivotally formed on a central front portion of the board member and normally being coplanar to the writing surface of the board member and covering a central chamber recessed in the central front portion of the board member for storing a mouse in the central chamber; with the central platform having a rising stem formed on a front portion of the central platform to be upwardly raised until forming a horizontal plane by the central platform adapted to be operated by the mouse on the central platform by engaging and locking a bottom portion of the rising stem with a locking socket formed in a front wall of the central chamber.

15. A table set according to claim 14, wherein said writing board further includes: at least a side platform pivotally formed on a side portion of the board member and normally being coplanar to the writing surface of the board member to cover a side chamber recessed in the side portion of the board member, having a stem formed on a front portion of the side platform and operatively raised upwardly to be locked in a locking recess formed in a side wall of the side chamber, having small items stored in the side chamber, whereby upon raising of the side platform to be horizontally positioned, the small items are placed on the side platform as horizontally positioned.

16. A table set according to claim 14, wherein said writing board includes a pair of handrest pads formed thereon, each said pad having a protrusion pivotally engaged in a hole formed in the board member for pivotally securing the pad on the board member for comfortably cushioning a user's elbow or hand when resting on the writing board.

17. A table set according to claim 14, wherein said writing board includes a plurality of accessory recesses recessed in the writing board for storing stationery therein.

18. A table set according to claim 1, wherein said table set further includes a display means having a supporting base plate for holding a display device thereon, and an elevating device pivotally connected between the supporting base plate and a base frame rested on the basic table for adjusting a height of the display device as laid on the display means.

19. A table set according to claim 18, wherein said elevating device includes a parallelogram-shaped link set pivotally secured between the supporting base plate and the base frame, and an adjusting lever having an upper lever end pivotally secured to the supporting base plate and a lower lever end engageable with one tooth of a plurality of teeth lengthwise formed in the base frame for adjusting the height of the display device as laid on the supporting base plate.

20. A table set comprising: a base plate for holding a book thereon universally secured to a basic table by a universal adapter; a spine holder formed on a rear portion of said base plate for holding a book spine in the spine holder; a clip member pivotally resiliently secured to the base plate for resiliently clamping the book on said base plate and on said spine holder; and said universal adapter including at least a link member having a first end of said link member universally secured to said basic table and having a second end of said link member universally connected to said base plate.