Height adjustable desktop apparatus

Abstract

A height adjustable desktop apparatus including a flat work surface that may be adjusted between a raised and a lowered position, as well as any desired intermediate position, is provided. The flat work surface moves upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction, and is supported by a pair of hinged support members. The hinged support members are pivotally attached, on a top portion, to the underside of the flat work surface, and may be attached on a bottom portion to a sliding base member, which slides in a horizontal, lateral direction. The apparatus includes a fixed hutch, preferably having a fixed base member and a pair of fixed, raised shelves, wherein each shelf is supported by a pair of fixed vertical support members. The sliding base member is slidably attached to the fixed base member of the hutch, and moves in a lateral, sideways direction during adjustment.

1 . A height adjustable desktop apparatus comprising:
 a flat work surface;   a sliding base member;   a pair of hinged support members, disposed in parallel relation, pivotally attached to an underside of said flat work surface, and pivotally attached to said sliding base member so that said flat work surface may be moved in a vertical direction and said sliding base member may be moved in a lateral, horizontal direction.   
     
     
         2 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a hutch having a fixed base member, at least two fixed vertical supports and at least one raised shelf attached to said fixed vertical supports, wherein said sliding base member is slidably attached to said fixed base member of said hutch. 
     
     
         3 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , further including means for securing said flat work surface at any desired height level. 
     
     
         4 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a gas piston or spring mechanism attached between one of said hinged support members and said sliding base member or work surface. 
     
     
         5 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said flat work surface includes guide means extending from a back side thereof for engaging a surface of at least one of said fixed support members in order to prevent said flat work surface from moving in a horizontal, lateral direction. 
     
     
         6 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said shelf is removable and includes height adjustment means. 
     
     
         7 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said sliding base member does not extend laterally beyond a plane defined by any side of said flat work surface when said flat work surface is in a lowered position. 
     
     
         8 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 2 , further including a start lever pivotally attached to a side of said sliding base member, wherein said pivoting start lever includes a handle on one end and a hook member on an opposed end thereof, and wherein said hook member engages a fixed pin attached to said fixed base member of said hutch when said flat work surface is in a raised position. 
     
     
         9 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a pad removably attached to an upper side of said flat work surface. 
     
     
         10 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising means for reducing the amount of force necessary to lift said work surface to a raised position. 
     
     
         11 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said means for reducing the amount of force necessary to lift said work surface to a raised position is selected from the group consisting of a lever and gas piston assembly, springs, a scissor mechanism or a ball and screw mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . A height adjustable desktop apparatus comprising:
 a flat work surface;   a pair of sliding base members;   each said sliding base member being attached to a pair of hinged support members, disposed in parallel relation, pivotally attached to an underside of said flat work surface, and pivotally attached to said sliding base member so that said flat work surface may be moved in a vertical direction and said sliding base members may be moved in a lateral, horizontal direction;   wherein said hinged support members form an A-frame configuration when said flat work surface is in a raised position; and   wherein said sliding base members are positioned so that they slide in opposed directions to one another while said flat work surface is raised or lowered.   
     
     
         13 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 12  further comprising a hutch having a fixed base member, at least two fixed, vertical supports, and at least one raised shelf attached to said vertical supports, wherein said sliding base members are slidably attached to said fixed base member of said hutch. 
     
     
         14 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 13 , further including means for synchronizing angular motion of said hinged support members, so that each support member moves at the same rate and distance as the other. 
     
     
         15 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 13 , further including means for securing said flat work surface at any desired height level. 
     
     
         16 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising a gas piston or spring mechanism attached between one of said hinged support members and said corresponding sliding base member or work surface. 
     
     
         17 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said flat work surface includes guide means extending from a back side thereof for engaging a surface of at least one of said fixed support members in order to prevent said flat work surface from moving in a horizontal, lateral direction. 
     
     
         18 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising means for reducing the amount of force necessary to lift said work surface to a raised position. 
     
     
         19 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said means for reducing the amount of force necessary to lift said work surface to a raised position is selected from the group consisting of a lever and gas piston assembly, springs, a scissor mechanism or a ball and screw mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . A height adjustable desktop apparatus comprising:
 a flat work surface;   a pair of hinged support members pivotally attached to an underside of said flat work surface, so that said flat work surface may be moved in a vertical direction and said hinged support members may move angularly in opposed directions as said flat work surface is raised or lowered; and   wherein said hinged support members form an A-frame configuration when said work surface is in a raised position.   
     
     
         21 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 20 , further comprising a hutch having a fixed base member, at least two fixed, vertical supports, and at least one raised shelf attached to said vertical supports, wherein a lower portion of said hinged support members is slidably attached to said fixed base member of said hutch. 
     
     
         22 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 21 , further including means for synchronizing angular motion of said hinged support members, so that each support member moves at the same rate and distance as the other. 
     
     
         23 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 21 , further comprising means for reducing the amount of force necessary to lift said work surface to a raised position. 
     
     
         24 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 23 , wherein said means for reducing the amount of force necessary to lift said work surface to a raised position is selected from the group consisting of a lever and gas piston assembly, springs, a scissor mechanism or a ball and screw mechanism. 
     
     
         25 . The height adjustable desktop apparatus set forth in  claim 21 , further including means for securing said flat work surface at any desired height level.