초록 ▼

The elevation and angle of a desk top are independently adjustable with the exertion of a minimum of manual force, thereby facilitating the use of the desk by handicapped or disabled persons. The desk is provided with a torsion bar to substantially ease elevational adjustments and with a parallel le

The elevation and angle of a desk top are independently adjustable with the exertion of a minimum of manual force, thereby facilitating the use of the desk by handicapped or disabled persons. The desk is provided with a torsion bar to substantially ease elevational adjustments and with a parallel lever arm construction which permits such adjustments without changing the angle of the desk top. The height and tilt angle of the desk top are each securely fixed by means of a pair of serrated, interlocking discs which are spring loaded to permit them to be easily locked or unlocked with only a few turns of an adjustment handle. In addition, frictional washers are utilized in conjunction with this spring loading to substantially maintain the position of the desk top even after the discs are unlocked, further facilitating angular and elevational adjustments by persons of impaired physical strength. The desk is designed and suitably dimensioned to accommodate a wheel chair, and the desk top is provided with a removable clamp and a raised peripheral edge to prevent books, paper, writing utensils and the like from falling off.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A desk for use by a handicapped or disabled person, comprising: a desk top for supporting books, paper and the like; a base for supporting said desk top, said base being dimensioned and constructed without obstructions so that it will accomodate a wheel chair, and the like, which may be used

1. A desk for use by a handicapped or disabled person, comprising: a desk top for supporting books, paper and the like; a base for supporting said desk top, said base being dimensioned and constructed without obstructions so that it will accomodate a wheel chair, and the like, which may be used by said handicapped or disabled person; lever arm means for attaching said desk top to said base and permitting the adjustability of the height of said desk top, said lever arm means including: torsional means for facilitating said adjustment of the height of said desk top by said handicapped or disabled person; first locking means for selectively fixing the height of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked and permitting adjustments in the height of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked; and first frictional means for assisting said torsional means in maintaining the height of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked to further facilitate said adjustment in the height of said desk top by said handicapped or disabled person; means for mounting said desk top on said lever arm means and permitting adjustability of the angle of said desk top independent of the adjustment of the height of said desk top, said mounting means comprising: second locking means for selectively fixing the angle of said desk top when said locking means is locked and for permitting adjustments in the angle of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked; and second frictional means for maintaining the angle of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked to further facilitate the adjustment of said desk top by said handicapped or disabled person. 2. The desk of claim 1 wherein said torsional means comprises a torsion bar for aiding said handicapped or disabled person in increasing the height of said desk top and maintaining the height of said desk top when said first locking means is unlocked. 3. The desk of claim 1 wherein said first and second locking means comprises a pair of interlocking discs which are easily locked and unlocked by said handicapped or disabled person with a minimum of manual dexterity. 4. The desk of claim 1 wherein said desk top further comprises means for preventing said books, papers and the like from falling off of said desk top. 5. The desk of claim 4 wherein said prevention means comprises removable clamp means for holding said books, papers and the like on said desk top, said clamp means being attachable to said desk top at least in two locations on said desk top. 6. The desk of claim 5 wherein said prevention means further comprises a raised lip extending substantially completely around the periphery of said desk top. 7. The desk of claim 1 wherein said base is sufficiently sturdy to prevent the tipping or falling of said desk, regardless of the position of said desk top, when said desk is incidentally contacted by said handicapped or disabled person in said wheel chair, and the like. 8. A desk for use by a person of less than average physical strength, comprising: a desk top; a base for supporting said desk top; first means for mounting said desk top on said base to permit the adjustability of the height of said desk top, said first mounting means comprising means for facilitating said height adjustment of said desk top by said person of less than average strength; second means for mounting said desk top on said base to permit the adjustment of the angle of said desk top, said first and second mounting means each comprising: locking means for fixing the position of said desk top when said locking means is locked and for permitting adjustment in the position of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked; and frictional holding means for substantially maintaining the position of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked to further facilitate said adjustment in the position of said desk top by said person of less than average physical strength. 9. The desk of claim 8 wherein said first mounting means comprises parallel lever arm means for permitting changes in the height of said desk top without changing the angle of said desk top. 10. The desk of claim 8 further comprising retractable clamp means for holding books, papers and the like on said desk top. 11. A desk for use by a handicapped person having less than average physical strength and manual dexterity, comprising: a desk top for supporting books, paper and the like; a pair of side plates, one of said side plates located on either side of said desk top; first means for rotatably mounting said desk top on said side plates to permit adjustments in the angle of said desk top; a base for supporting said desk top, said base being dimensioned and constructed to provide sufficient clearance beneath said desk top to accomodate a wheel chair or other supportive seating device that may be used by said handicapped person; two pair of substantially parallel lever arms providing means for adjusting the height of said desk top without changing its angular position, one of said pair located on either side of said desk top, each said lever arm attached at one end to one of said side plates and attached to its opposite end to said base; second means for rotatively mounting said one end of said lever arms to said side plates, said first and second mounting means each comprising: a pair of interlocking discs; operating means for manually selectively (i) engaging said interlocking discs to prevent rotating of one of said interlocking discs relative to the other and securely fix the position of said desk top, and (ii) disengaging said interlocking discs to permit adjustments in the position of said desk top; means biasing said interlocking discs to facilitate disengagement of said interlocking disc by said operating means; and at least one pair of frictional washers to provide means for substantially maintaining the position of said desk top when said interlocking discs are disengaged to facilitate adjustment in the position of said desk top by said handicapped person; third means for rotatively mounting said opposite end of said lever arms on said base, said third mounting means including a torsion bar to provide means for further facilitating said adjustments in the height of said desk top, said torsion bar and said fictional washers substantially equalizing the force of gravity acting on said desk top to maintain said desk top in position when said locking discs are disengaged. 12. The desk of claim 11 wherein said operating means comprises a handle capable of engaging or disengaging said interlocking discs with only a few turns, said handle of said first mounting means and said handle of said second mounting means being located close to one another and within easy accessability by said handicapped person. 13. An adjustable desk wherein the position of the working surface of said desk can be adjusted to suit the needs and desires of the user of said desk, comprising: a base; a desk top supporting said working surface; first means for mounting said desk top on said base to provide adjustability of the elevational position of said desk top relative to said base, said mounting means comprising: torsional means for facilitating the adjustment of the position of said desk top by biasing said mounting means; first locking means for selectively (i) fixing the position of said desk top when said locking means is locked, and (ii) permitting adjustments in the position of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked; and holding means cooperating with said torsional means for substantially maintaining the position of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked. 14. The desk of claim 13 wherein said locking means comprises a pair of interlocking members having adjacent serrated surfaces to prevent rotation of one said member relative to the other. 15. The desk of claim 14 wherein said interlocking members are biased to facilitate said disengagement and adjustments of the position of said desk top. 16. The desk of claim 13 wherein said holding means comprises frictional means for inhibiting the movement of said desk top to substantially maintain its position when said locking means is disengaged thereby facilitating adjustment in the position of said desk top. 17. An adjustable desk adopted for use by users who may from time to time need to vary the position of the upper surface of said desk comprising: a base; a desk top supporting said upper surface; means rotatively mounting said desk on said base to permit the rotational adjustability of the position of said desk top about an axis; locking means for selectively locking the position of said desk top or unlocking said desk top to permit adjustment in the position of said desk top; and means for frictionally substantially maintaining the position of said desk top when said locking means are unlocked. 18. The adjustable desk of claim 17 wherein said locking means comprises a pair of juxtaposed interlocking discs for (i) preventing rotation of said desk top relative to said mounting means to fix the position of said desk top when said discs are engaged, and (ii) allowing the rotation of said desk top relative to said mounting means to permit the adjustment of the position of said desk top when said discs are disengaged. 19. The desk of claim 18 wherein the adjacent mating surfaces of said interlocking discs are serrated. 20. The desk of claim 17 wherein means for maintaining the position of said desk top comprises frictional means for inhibiting the rotation of said desk top relative to said mounting means. 21. The desk of claim 20 wherein said interlocking discs and said frictional means are both mounted on said axis, said interlocking discs being biased to facilitate said disengagement, said biased disengagement enhancing the operation of said frictional means to substantially maintain the position of said desk top when said interlocking discs are disengaged. 22. An adjustable desk, comprising; a desk top; means for mounting said desk top on said desk to permit the adjustment of the position of said desk top relative to said desk; locking means coupled to said mounting means for fixing the position of said desk top when said locking means are locked and for permitting adjustment in the position of said desk top when said locking means are unlocked, said locking means being biased to facilitate said unlocking; holding means connected to said mounting means for substantially maintaining the position of said desk top when said locking means are unlocked, said maintaining action of said holding means being assisted by said biasing of said locking means. 23. The adjustable desk of claim 13 wherein said holding means comprises first means for frictionally resisting the movement of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked to further facilitate adjustment of the elevation of said desk top. 24. The adjustable desk of claim 13 further comprising: second means for rotatively mounting said desk top on said base to permit adjustment of the angular position of said desk top; second locking means for selectively (i) fixing the position of said desk top when said locking means is locked, and (ii) permitting adjustment in the position of said desk top when said locking means unlocked; and means for resisting the rotation of said desk top when said locking means is unlocked to moveably substantially maintain the position of said desk top thereby facilitating its angular adjustment. 25. The adjustable desk of claim 24 wherein said second locking means comprises means for facilitating the unlocking of said locking means, said facilitating means increasing the resistance provided by said resisting means.