초록 ▼

An adjustable table is easily moved from coffee table height to dining table. The weight of the table top is supported by a pneumatic cylinder, preferably exerting a force slightly greater than the weight of the table top. The cylinder connects to a much larger air tank, so that essentially constant

An adjustable table is easily moved from coffee table height to dining table. The weight of the table top is supported by a pneumatic cylinder, preferably exerting a force slightly greater than the weight of the table top. The cylinder connects to a much larger air tank, so that essentially constant lifting force is exerted. For stability of the table top a guide mechanism firmly retains the table against rotation, side movement or tilting. A unique locking mechanism retains the table at a selected height and is easily released with a finger lever.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An adjustable-height table, comprising: a base plate,a table top with a frame, positioned above the base plate,a single pneumatic cylinder connected to the base plate and with a cylinder rod extending from the cylinder and engaged with the table top frame so as to exert an upward pushing force on

1. An adjustable-height table, comprising: a base plate,a table top with a frame, positioned above the base plate,a single pneumatic cylinder connected to the base plate and with a cylinder rod extending from the cylinder and engaged with the table top frame so as to exert an upward pushing force on the table top when the pneumatic cylinder is charged with a gas, the single pneumatic cylinder being a sole means of lifting the table top,a guide assembly stabilizing the table top against lateral and tipping motion, including a plurality of shafts fixed to the base plate and extending upwardly, and a substantially frictionless slide member slidable vertically on each shaft as the table top is moved up or down relative to the base plate, the table top frame being secured to each of the slide members, the guide assembly further including a stabilizing structural member connected to a top end of each shaft and extending from the shaft generally horizontally and having a connection to the base plate, the shafts being spaced apart and extending upward from the base plate, and further including a generally vertical anchoring post secured to the stabilizing member and to the base plate, and wherein the stabilizing structural member comprises a structural bar extending between and connected to the tops of the shafts and the anchoring post, anda position locking mechanism connected to and operable between the table top and the base such that when the locking mechanism is released the table top can be moved up or down by a user, and when the locking mechanism is engaged the table top is fixed in position. 2. The table of claim 1, wherein the connection to the base plate comprises a generally vertical anchoring post secured to the stabilizing member and to the base plate. 3. An adjustable-height table, comprising: a base,a table top with a frame, positioned above the base,a pneumatic cylinder connected to the base and with a cylinder rod extending from the cylinder and engaged with the table top frame so as to exert an upward pushing force on the table top when the pneumatic cylinder is charged with a gas,a guide assembly stabilizing the table top against lateral and tipping motion, including one or more vertical shafts fixed to the base and extending upwardly, and a substantially frictionless slide member slidable vertically on each shaft as the table top is moved up or down relative to the base, the table top frame being secured to each of the slide members, anda position locking mechanism connected to and operable between the table top and the base such that when the locking mechanism is released the table top can be moved up or down by a user, and when the locking mechanism is engaged the table top is fixed in position, the position locking mechanism including a bell crank pivotly attached on the table top frame, with a finger lever extending essentially horizontally and positioned under the table top surface so as to be accessible to a user, for pushing up manually on the finger lever to rotate the bell crank so as move the locking mechanism to the released position to allow the table top to be moved up or down, and the bell crank including a downwardly depending arm, and the locking mechanism including a cam connected to the table top frame and spring-biased to engage firmly against one said vertical shaft to latch the table top in place against vertical movement, and the depending arm of the bell crank being effective, when the finger lever is pushed up, to disengage the cam from the vertical shaft against the spring-bias. 4. An adjustable-height table, comprising: a base,a table top with a frame, positioned above the base,a pneumatic cylinder connected to the base and with a cylinder rod extending from the cylinder and engaged with the table top frame so as to exert an upward pushing force on the table top when the pneumatic cylinder is charged with a gas,a guide assembly stabilizing the table top against lateral and tipping motion, including one or more vertical shafts fixed to the base and extending upwardly, and a substantially frictionless slide member slidable vertically on each shaft as the table top is moved up or down relative to the base, the table top frame being secured to each of the slide members, anda position locking mechanism connected to and operable between the table top and the base such that when the locking mechanism is released the table top can be moved up or down by a user, and when the locking mechanism is engaged the table top is fixed in position, wherein the position locking mechanism is connected to the table top frame and includes two opposed cams biased by a spring to engage firmly against one said vertical shaft, the two cams being spaced apart along said vertical shaft and operating in opposed directions of rotation, such that force on the table top in either vertical direction will cause one or the other of the cams to tend to rotate in and engage the shaft more tightly to thereby firmly lock the table top in place. 5. An adjustable-height table, comprising: a base,a table top with a frame, positioned above the base,a single pneumatic cylinder connected to the base and with a cylinder rod extending from the cylinder and engaged with the table top frame so as to exert an upward pushing force on the table top when the pneumatic cylinder is charged with a gas, the pneumatic cylinder being a single-acting cylinder with an upper end open to atmosphere above a piston, and the pneumatic cylinder being a sole means of lifting the table top and being in a closed system which, once charged with air via an air inlet valve, is sealed with an essentially permanent charge of air that acts as a spring urging the table top upwardly without connection to any outside source of pressurization,a guide assembly stabilizing the table top against lateral and tipping motion, including one or more vertical shafts fixed to the base and extending upwardly, and a substantially frictionless slide member slidable vertically on each shaft as the table top is moved up or down relative to the base, the table top frame being secured to each of the slide members, anda position locking mechanism connected to and operable between the table top and the base such that when the locking mechanism is released the table top can be moved up or down by a user, and when the locking mechanism is engaged the table top is fixed in position. 6. The table of claim 5, wherein the pneumatic cylinder includes a gas displacement chamber, and further including a large gas pressure tank in said closed system, much larger than the cylinder's gas displacement chamber and connected in fluid communication with the cylinder's gas displacement chamber, such that when the table top is lowered or raised the lifting pressure on the table top from the pneumatic cylinder remains essentially constant. 7. The table of claim 6, wherein the pneumatic cylinder exerts an upward force greater than the weight of the table top, table top frame and cylinder rod, so that when the locking mechanism is released the table top tends to rise toward an upper limit position, requiring downward pushing to lower the table top. 8. The table of claim 6, wherein the gas pressure tank includes a gas fill fitting to allow tank pressure to be adjusted when desired. 9. The table of claim 6, wherein the large gas pressure tank has a volume at least about 4 times the volume of the cylinder's gas displacement chamber. 10. The table of claim 6, wherein the pneumatic cylinder has a lower end which is positioned within the large gas pressure tank, and the lower end having an opening to the gas displacement chamber of the cylinder, without gas fittings between the cylinder and tank. 11. The table of claim 5, further including a large gas pressure tank in said closed system, and wherein the pneumatic cylinder is built into the large gas pressure tank. 12. The table of claim 11, wherein the large gas pressure tank has a volume at least about 5 times a displacement volume of the cylinder. 13. The table of claim 5, wherein the base comprises a removable, interchangeable floor-engaging pedestal.