Electrically-lifted computer desk and office desk thereof
Patent No. US10159336 (titled "Electrically-lifted computer desk and office desk thereof") on Oct 25, 2016. The application was issued on Dec 25, 2018.
What is this patent about?
’336 is related to the field of adjustable furniture, specifically focusing on the mechanical architecture of electrically-lifted desks. It addresses the stability and load-bearing limitations of conventional sit-stand converters by introducing a more robust, integrated lifting framework.
The underlying idea behind ’336 is to replace flimsy, multi-pivot lifting points with a centralized frame-shaped driving mechanism that distributes force through a rigid transverse link. By utilizing a screw rod flanked by two parallel guide rods, the system ensures that the lifting force is applied symmetrically, preventing the side-to-side wobbling common in single-screw or belt-driven designs.
The claims of ’336 focus on a desk assembly where a driving mechanism, comprising a screw rod and two parallel guide rods, moves a nut sliding rod seat to actuate the lift. This seat is pivotally connected to a transverse link that bridges two side-support members, ensuring that the motor's linear force is translated into a synchronized vertical movement of the face plate.
In practice, the invention works by using a motor to rotate the central screw rod, which pulls the sliding seat along the dual guide rods. This motion pushes or pulls the transverse link, which in turn manipulates the scissor-like side supports. Because the side supports are tied together by this rigid link and guided by wheels in tracks under the desktop, the entire surface rises evenly even under an off-center load.
This approach differs from prior solutions by consolidating the drive components into a single, reinforced unit on the bottom plate rather than relying on synchronized independent screws. By anchoring the movement to a triple-rod guide system (the screw rod plus two guide rods), the invention achieves higher weight capacity and lower operating noise while maintaining a compact, foldable profile.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical Landscape
In the mid-2010s when ’336 was filed, height-adjustable workstations were typically implemented using manual crank systems or basic motorized scissor lifts that often relied on dual-screw synchronization belts. At a time when systems commonly relied on cantilevered supports or lightweight pivot joints, achieving structural rigidity during vertical transition was a significant challenge, as hardware constraints made lateral stability and load-bearing capacity non-trivial. Engineering practices of the era frequently struggled with mechanical play and vibration in motorized desks, particularly when the lifting mechanism was required to operate as a standalone unit rather than an integrated component of a larger furniture assembly.
Prosecution Position
The disclosed invention achieves a technical advancement in mechanical stability and load distribution through a specialized frame-based driving architecture. By integrating a central screw rod flanked by parallel guide rods within a rigid frame, the system transitions from a simple pivot-based lift to a guided reciprocating motion that minimizes lateral sway. The structural solution utilizes a nut sliding rod seat that traverses multiple guide paths simultaneously, coupled with a transverse link that synchronizes the movement of dual side-support members. This architectural shift enables the desk to maintain high bearing power and low operational noise while overcoming the technical constraint of structural instability inherent in traditional multi-pivot lifting devices.
Claims
This patent contains a total of 18 claims, with claim 1 serving as the sole independent claim. The independent claim focuses on the structural assembly of an adjustable desk, specifically detailing a driving mechanism composed of guide rods, a screw rod, and a motor-driven sliding seat that facilitates the raising and lowering of a face plate relative to a bottom plate. The dependent claims serve to further define the mechanical framework and connection points, specifying details such as the arrangement of fixing pieces, the pivotal or sliding relationships between support members and the desktop, the inclusion of an intermediate support member, and the addition of a keyboard plate.
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US10159336
- Application Number
- US15333207A
- Filing Date
- Oct 25, 2016
- Publication Date
- Dec 25, 2018
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO , Google Patents