Lift-top desk system

Abstract

An item of furniture having a lift-top working surface configured to elevate a part of the furniture above other, similar components. This lifting functionality is configured so that the item is usable in a variety of human ergonomic positions, such as seated and standing. Typically, the furniture is a desk, and the lift-top surface elevates a portion of the desktop from a seated to standing position using a lift mechanism or lift means hidden within a compartment of the desk body during non-use. The compartment may double as a storage, such as for cables, wires, and other typical office equipment.

1 . A desk comprising:
 a desktop configured for seated use by a human having a work surface and a cutout moveable section configured to generally conform to said cutout;   an unmotorized a lift means for lifting and suspending said moveable section above said work surface at a height for standing use by a human; and   a storage compartment disposed beneath said desktop at said cutout;   wherein when said moveable section is not lifted, said lift means is disposed within said storage compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The desk of  claim 1 , wherein said desktop is generally in the configuration of a rectangle. 
     
     
         3 . The desk of  claim 1 , wherein said cutout is generally in the configuration of a rectangle. 
     
     
         4 . The desk of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the moveable section is less than the width of the desktop. 
     
     
         5 . The desk of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the moveable section is less than the length of the desktop. 
     
     
         6 . The desk of  claim 1 , wherein said moveable section comprises a top surface and an opposing bottom surface and said lift means is attached to said bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The desk of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one grip hole disposed in said moveable section and sized and shaped to accept at least one human finger to lift or lower the movable section. 
     
     
         8 . The desk of  claim 1   7 , wherein said storage compartment comprises a first internal support and an opposing second internal support attached to the bottom side of said desktop on opposing sides of said cutout, said lift means attached to each of said first and second internal supports. 
     
     
         9 . The desk of  claim 1 , wherein said lift means is configured to elevate and suspend said moveable section directly above said cutout section. 
     
     
         10 . The desk of  claim 1 , wherein said lift means is configured to suspend said moveable section above said desktop such that a line from the center of said moveable section to the center of said cutout is not generally perpendicular to said desktop. 
     
     
         11 . The desk of  claim 1 , wherein at least one side of said storage compartment is an apron of said desk. 
     
     
         12 . The desk of  claim 11 , wherein said apron is the front apron of said desk. 
     
     
         13 . A method for adjusting the height of a work surface comprising:
 providing a desk having a portion moveable with respect to a desktop of said desk and attached to said desk by an unmotorized a lifting means disposed within a storage compartment beneath said desk, said moveable portion having a closed position in which said moveable portion is configured for seated use by a human and an open position in which said moveable portion is configured for standing use by a human;   when said moveable portion is in said closed position, using said lifting means to lift said moveable portion to said open position; and   using said lifting means, suspending said moveable portion in said open position.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the width of said moveable portion is less the width of said desktop. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the length of said moveable portion is less than the length of said desktop. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said moveable portion is generally in the configuration of a rectangle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the center of said moveable portion when in said open position is directly above the center of said moveable portion when in said closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the center of said moveable portion when in said open position is not directly above the center of said moveable portion when in said closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The desk of  claim 7 , further comprising a ridge disposed within said storage compartment and adapted to prevent the moveable surface from descending below a top plane of the desk. 
     
     
         20 . The desk of  claim 19 , further comprising a power supply disposed within the storage compartment.