Ergonomic desk

Abstract

A desk includes a base, a pedestal, a desktop panel, a desktop actuator, and a controller. The pedestal extends along a vertical axis and has a bottom end that is attached to the base. The desktop panel is supported by a top end of the pedestal, and extends transversely to the vertical axis. The desktop actuator is attached to the desktop panel and includes a motorized tilt mechanism, which is configured to pivot the desktop panel about a horizontal axis, which is transverse to the vertical axis, and adjust an angle of the desktop panel relative to the vertical axis, and a motorized lateral feed mechanism, which is configured to move the desktop panel along a feed axis that is fixed relative to the desktop panel, and extends transversely to the vertical axis and the horizontal axis. The controller controls the motorized tilt mechanism and the motorized lateral feed mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A desk comprising:
 a base;   a pedestal extending along a vertical axis and having a bottom end attached to the base;   a desktop panel supported by a top end of the pedestal, and extending transversely to the vertical axis;   a desktop actuator attached to the desktop panel and comprising:
 a motorized tilt mechanism configured to pivot the desktop panel about a horizontal axis, which is transverse to the vertical axis, and adjust an angle of the desktop panel relative to the vertical axis; and 
 a motorized lateral feed mechanism configured to move the desktop panel along a feed axis that is fixed relative to the desktop panel and extends transversely to the vertical axis and the horizontal axis; and 
   a controller configured to control the motorized tilt mechanism and the motorized lateral feed mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The desk of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the desk includes a fixed frame member attached to a top end of the pedestal;   the desktop actuator includes a pivotable frame member supported by the fixed frame member and configured to rotate about the horizontal axis relative to the fixed frame member; and   the desktop panel is connected to the pivotable frame member and moves relative to the fixed frame member with movement of the pivotable frame member.   
     
     
         3 . The desk of  claim 2 , wherein the motorized lateral feed mechanism comprises:
 a feed rail attached to the pivotable frame member and aligned substantially parallel to the feed axis;   a gantry configured to move along the feed rail relative to the pivotable frame member; and   the desktop panel is connected to the gantry and is configured to move along the feed axis with movement of the gantry.   
     
     
         4 . The desk of  claim 3 , wherein the motorized lateral feed mechanism comprises a first linear actuator including a first end having a fixed position relative to the pivotable frame member, and a second end connected to the gantry, the first linear actuator configured to drive movement of the second end relative to the first end, and movement of the desktop panel along the feed axis. 
     
     
         5 . The desk of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the feed rail comprises opposing channels extending along the feed axis; and   the gantry comprises a panel and a plurality of guide wheels attached to the panel, each guide wheel being received within one of the channels and having an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the feed axis.   
     
     
         6 . The desk of  claim 4 , further comprising a housing including:
 a housing base connected to the gantry and the second end of the first linear actuator, wherein the housing base is configured to move along the feed axis with movement of the gantry; and   an adaptor connected to the desktop panel and the housing base.   
     
     
         7 . The desk of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the pivotable frame member includes one or more guide channels, and the housing base includes one or more guide rails each received within one of the one or more guide channels; or   the housing base includes one or more guide channels, and the pivotable frame member includes one or more guide rails each received within one of the one or more guide channels,   wherein during movement of the housing base along the feed axis the one or more guide rails slide within the one or more guide channels.   
     
     
         8 . The desk of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the housing includes an interior cavity formed between the housing base and the adaptor; and   the controller is contained within the interior cavity.   
     
     
         9 . The desk of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the housing base includes a plurality of base magnets;   the adaptor includes a plurality of adaptor magnets; and   magnetic attraction between each of the adaptor magnets and one of the base magnets detachably connects the adaptor to the housing base.   
     
     
         10 . The desk of  claim 6 , wherein the gantry and the second end of the first linear actuator are directly connected to the housing base. 
     
     
         11 . The desk of  claim 3 , wherein the motorized tilt mechanism is configured to drive rotation of the pivotable frame member about the horizontal axis relative to the fixed frame member. 
     
     
         12 . The desk of  claim 11 , wherein the motorized tilt mechanism comprises:
 a second linear actuator having a first end attached to the fixed frame member, and a second end connected to the pivotable frame member, the second linear actuator configured to drive relative movement between its first and second ends, and pivot the desktop panel about the horizontal axis; or   a cam member having an axis of rotation that is fixed relative to the fixed frame member or the pivotable frame member, wherein rotation of the cam member about the axis of rotation pivots the desktop panel about the horizontal axis.   
     
     
         13 . The desk of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the desk comprises a pivotable connection joining the first and pivotable frame members and forming the horizontal axis;   the feed rail includes opposing first and second ends, the first end of the feed rail connected to the pivotable frame member; and   the desk includes a pivotable connection at the second end of the feed rail joining the second end of the feed rail to the second end of the second linear actuator.   
     
     
         14 . The desk of  claim 3 , further comprising a motorized pedestal mechanism configured to drive movement of the top end of the pedestal relative along the vertical axis relative to the bottom end, wherein the controller is configured to control the motorized pedestal mechanism to move the desktop panel along the vertical axis relative to the base. 
     
     
         15 . A desk comprising:
 a base;   a pedestal extending along a vertical axis and having a bottom end attached to the base;   a housing comprising a housing base connected to the top end of the pedestal and including a plurality of base magnets, and an adaptor attached to the housing base, the adapter including opposing top and bottom sides and a plurality of adaptor magnets; and   a desktop panel attached to the adapter,   wherein:
 magnetic attraction between each of the adaptor magnets and the base magnets detachably connects the adaptor and the desktop panel to the housing base when the desktop panel is in a first orientation relative to the adaptor; and 
 magnetic repulsion between each of the adaptor magnets and the base magnets prevents magnetic attachment of the desktop panel to the adaptor when the desktop panel is in a second orientation relative to the adaptor. 
   
     
     
         16 . The desk of  claim 15 , wherein the desktop panel includes opposing top and bottom sides, a top surface on the top side, and a plurality of desktop magnets on the bottom side. 
     
     
         17 . The desk of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a desktop actuator attached to the housing and comprising:
 a motorized tilt mechanism configured to pivot the housing and the desktop panel about a horizontal axis, which is transverse to the vertical axis, and adjust an angle of the desktop panel relative to the vertical axis; and 
 a motorized lateral feed mechanism configured to move the housing and the desktop panel along a feed axis that is fixed relative to the desktop panel and extends transversely to the vertical axis and the horizontal axis; and 
   a controller configured to control the motorized tilt mechanism and the motorized lateral feed mechanism.   
     
     
         18 . A desktop system comprising:
 a desktop panel having opposing top and bottom sides, a top surface on the top side, a plurality of pockets formed in the bottom side, and a plurality of desktop magnets on the bottom side, each desktop magnet received within one of the pockets; and   an accessory component comprising at least one accessory magnet, the accessory component configured for attachment to the top surface through magnetic attraction between the at least one accessory magnet and one or more of the at least one desktop magnets.   
     
     
         19 . The desktop system of  claim 18 , wherein the accessory component comprises a cup holder having a bottom comprising the at least one accessory magnet, and a sidewall extending from a perimeter of the bottom. 
     
     
         20 . The desktop system of  claim 18 , wherein the accessory component comprises an elongated member including a plurality of pockets formed in a bottom side of the elongated member, wherein each of the at least one accessory magnet is each received within one of the pockets of the elongated member.