Universally mounted work surface height adjustor with suction cups

{
  "publication_number": "US9723918B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Universally mounted work surface height adjustor with suction cups",
  "abstract": "An apparatus for adjusting the height of a work surface comprising a height-adjusting mechanism and a universal mount that ensures compatibility with a wide variety of desks and other work surfaces. The apparatus may include one or more suction cups for securing the work surface to the height adjustment mechanism. The apparatus may also include a bent universal adapter bracket.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus for adjusting the height of a surface comprising: a telescoping tube assembly comprising an inner tube having a top plate, and an outer tube; and an adapter bracket comprising a first side connected to the telescoping tube assembly and a second side attachable to a fixed element by one or more adapters that protrude from the second side and are receivable in corresponding openings on the fixed element, wherein the top plate is connectable to the surface so that the surface is raised as the inner tube moves up and the surface is lowered as the inner tube moves down.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixed element is piece of furniture and the adapter bracket comprises an array of adapters, the size, shape, and placement of which permits the bracket to be selectively attachable to any of at least two or more pieces of furniture which differ from each other in the size, shape, or placement of their respective openings.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixed element is a desk.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixed element is a portion of an office cubicle system or a modular furniture system.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixed element is a wall.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface is a desktop.",
    "7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner tube is moved relative to the outer tube by a linear actuator driven by an electric motor.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second side of the adapter bracket comprises holes to accommodate fasteners.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter bracket first side comprises an array of generally hook-shaped adapters that are received in openings on the telescoping tube assembly, and wherein the telescoping tube assembly further comprises a sleeve affixed to the outer tube and the telescoping tube assembly openings are formed in the sleeve.",
    "10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more suction cups, wherein the top plate is coupled to the surface using the one or more suctions cups.",
    "11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more suction cups comprise two suction cups on each end of the top plate, each suction cup comprising a base and a handle for activating a suction effect and securing the surface to the top plate.",
    "12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the suction cup is coupled to the top plate using a pin and coupled to the surface using a suction cup base.",
    "13. An apparatus for adjusting the height of a work surface comprising: a lifting column comprising an electric linear actuator; a bracket coupled to the top of the lifting column, the bracket being adapted to support a work surface; and an adapter bracket adapted to connect the lifting column to a furniture system, the adapter bracket having a first side connected to the lifting column, and a second side comprising an array of adapters adapted to fit into an array of openings in a first furniture system, the array of adapters are also adapted to fit into an array of openings in a second furniture system, wherein the openings in the second furniture system differ in size, shape, number, or relative positioning compared to the openings in the first furniture system.",
    "14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the array of adapters is also adapted to fit into an array of openings in a third furniture system, the array of openings in the third furniture system differing from the array of openings in the first furniture system and the array of openings in the second furniture system as to the size, shape, number, or relative positioning of their respective constituent openings.",
    "15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the lifting column is a telescoping tube assembly comprising an inner tube that moves up and down relative to an outer tube.",
    "16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the adapter bracket first side comprises an array of adapters received in an array of openings on the lifting column, and wherein further the telescoping tube assembly comprises a sleeve connected to the outer tube and the array of openings in the lifting column is formed in a corner portion of the sleeve.",
    "17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising one or more suction cups configured to connect the bracket to the work surface.",
    "18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more suction cups comprise two suction cups on each end of the bracket, each suction cup comprising a base and a handle for activating a suction effect and securing the work surface to the bracket.",
    "19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the suction cup is coupled to the bracket using a pin and coupled to the work surface using a suction cup base.",
    "20. An apparatus for adjusting the height of a surface comprising: a telescoping tube assembly; an adapter bracket comprising a first side connected to the telescoping tube assembly and a second side attachable to a fixed element by one or more adapters that protrude from the second side and are received in openings on the fixed element, wherein the adapter bracket is bent at a first position and a second position such that the adapter bracket comprises a first lateral side, a second lateral side that is substantially perpendicular to the first lateral side, and a third lateral side that is substantially parallel to the first lateral side.",
    "21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the adapter bracket first side comprises an array of generally hook-shaped adapters received in an array of openings on the telescoping tube assembly."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention was not made with government funding or support.\n\nEmbodiments of the present invention relate generally to an apparatus for adjusting one or more adjustable elements of a linear, horizontal surface. More particularly, the embodiments of the present invention are directed to an apparatus for adjusting the height of a horizontal surface, such as a desktop.\n\nAdjustable height work surfaces such as adjustable height desktops are known. Such adjustable height work surfaces can accommodate individual user preferences for desktop height in order to maximize ergonomic efficiency and comfort within an office environment. Further, there is a trend toward working while standing. This is believed to have a number of health benefits and can increase comfort, particularly for individuals who find it difficult to sit for extended periods of time. Some individuals prefer to stand at the desk all or most of the time, whereas other individuals prefer to alternate standing and sitting at the desk. This trend thus increases the need for work surface height adjusting mechanisms which can be actuated quickly and conveniently by the end user, without the use of tools. Office furniture manufacturers have responded to this trend by offering motorized desk height adjustment as an option available with the manufacturer's own brand of desks and modular office furniture. However, this is often expensive, and the availability of such an option for new furniture does not address the needs of millions of users of existing desks that currently lack convenient, user-friendly height adjustment.",
  "cpc": [
    "A47B 21/02",
    "A47B 13/003",
    "A47B 2200/0056",
    "A47B 5/02",
    "A47B 57/40",
    "A47B 57/42",
    "A47B 83/001",
    "A47B 9/04",
    "A47B 9/20",
    "F16B 47/006"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47B 13/00",
    "A47B 21/02",
    "A47B 5/02",
    "A47B 57/40",
    "A47B 57/42",
    "A47B 83/00",
    "A47B 9/00",
    "A47B 9/04",
    "A47B 9/20",
    "F16B 47/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "WL INNOVATIONS LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "LAGER WILLIAM"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-09-14",
  "publication_date": "2017-08-08",
  "grant_date": "2017-08-08",
  "priority_date": "2014-04-08",
  "application_number": "US-201514853472-A",
  "family_id": "55016093",
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}