Height Adjustable Desktop
Patent No. US10893748 (titled "Height Adjustable Desktop") was filed by Poniatowski Nathan Mark on Jul 6, 2018.
What is this patent about?
’748 is related to the field of height-adjustable furniture, specifically a desktop platform designed to be placed on an existing desk to convert it into a standing desk. The background acknowledges the health benefits of standing while working and the desire for a more affordable alternative to replacing an entire desk with a height-adjustable one.
The underlying idea behind ’748 is to provide a compact and easily adaptable solution for converting a standard desk into a height-adjustable workstation. This is achieved using a scissor-lift mechanism driven by two actuators, ensuring a stable and level lifting motion for the work surface.
The claims of ’748 focus on a height-adjustable desktop comprising an upper work surface, a base platform, a height adjustment mechanism with two sets of scissoring arms, and two actuators. Crucially, the claims specify feedback sensors on the actuators and a control box that uses this feedback to ensure the actuators move in unison, keeping the work surface level.
In practice, the user would place the base platform of the device on their existing desk. The actuators, controlled by the control box, then drive the scissoring arms to raise or lower the upper work surface to the desired height. The feedback sensors constantly monitor the position of each actuator, allowing the control box to make fine adjustments and maintain a level work surface even with uneven weight distribution.
This design differentiates itself from simpler adjustable desks by actively monitoring and correcting for imbalances. The use of two actuators with feedback, managed by a control box, provides a more robust and stable lifting mechanism compared to single-actuator or manually adjusted systems. This ensures the work surface remains level and prevents wobbling, enhancing the user experience and the longevity of the device. The leveling control is a key feature.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’748 was filed, height-adjustable desks were becoming more prevalent at a time when such systems commonly relied on mechanical or electromechanical actuators to adjust the height of a work surface. At this time, feedback sensors and control systems were increasingly being integrated to ensure synchronized movement and stability, when hardware or software constraints made precise control of multiple actuators non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The claims were amended during prosecution. Claims 27-30 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103. Applicant's arguments filed on September 29, 2020, were considered but were not persuasive. The Office action was made final. Claims 1-2, 10-26 were allowed.
Claims
This patent contains 18 claims, with claims 1 and 5 being independent. The independent claims are directed to a height adjustable desktop using a scissoring mechanism, actuators, and a control box to maintain a level work surface. The dependent claims generally add specific features, components, or configurations to the height adjustable desktop described in the independent claims.
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Date
Description
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US10893748
- Application Number
- US16029399
- Filing Date
- Jul 6, 2018
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Dec 29, 2038
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents