The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 31, 1998
Andrew B Hodge, San Francisco, CA (US);
Steven P Vassallo, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Alan M Vale, Marblehead, MS (US);
Jonathan I Kaplan, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Bradley D Youngs, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Steelcase Development Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A counterbalance mechanism for height adjustable computer equipment supports and the like that includes a drive shaft mounted on an associated support for axial rotation. The drive shaft is operably connected with a worksurface to facilitate vertical adjustment of the same within a predetermined range. The counterbalance mechanism has a first energy storage device operably connected between the support and the drive shaft, which applies a first axial torque to the drive shaft in a first rotational direction. The first energy storage device is configured such that the first axial torque diminishes at a predetermined rate as the drive shaft rotates in the first rotational direction. A second energy storage device is operably connected between the support and the drive shaft, and applies a second axial torque to the drive shaft in a second rotational direction, opposite to the first rotational direction, thereby defining a resultant counterbalance force which facilitates vertical adjustment of the worksurface. The second energy storage device is configured such that when the drive shaft rotates in the first rotational direction, the second axial torque diminishes at a rate which is substantially equal to the predetermined rate of the first energy storage device, whereby the resultant counterbalance force remains generally constant throughout the predetermined range of vertical adjustment of the worksurface.