Cord system for height-adjustable furniture

The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/399,736, filed Sep. 26, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present invention relates to electrical power and data systems that are mountable along height-adjustable furniture, such as in a work area

Electrical power and data units or outlets are commonly installed along furniture articles such as tables, desks, and chairs, particularly in work areas. In some cases it is desirable to install electrical power and data units or outlets to a work surface that raises and lowers, such as along a height-adjustable table or desk. The cords and cables that connect the power and data units or outlets to fixed power or data outlets are carried up and down as the height changes. This movement creates a risk that moving cables will catch on other furniture or objects, potentially causing damage to the cables and their connections, or to the other furniture or objects. In some cases a poorly routed cable or cord can overturn a floor-mounted desktop computer, disconnect plugs of other electrical devices from their sockets, and cause other problems when a user raises a height-adjustable work surface.

The present invention provides an electrical power or data cord system, typically associated with electrical power and/or electronic data, for height-adjustable furniture, in which exposed cords or lines of the system remain substantially motionless during adjustment of the furniture height, so as to limit or prevent undesired interactions between the exposed cords or lines and other objects in their vicinity. The system can also improve the aesthetics of a workstation in which one or more devices requiring power, data, or fluid connections, can be connected to receptacles or outlets that move with the moving parts of the furniture (e.g., workstation) rather than to separate receptacles or outlets located in stationary surfaces (e.g., wall or floor mounted outlets) located nearby.

In one form of the present invention, an electrical power or data system includes a self-retracting cord section that extends and retracts a portion of a cord in response to an upper furniture portion raising and lowering with respect to a lower furniture portion. The system includes an electrical power or data cord having an input end portion and an output end portion, with the retracting cord section disposed between the input and output end portions, and with an electrical power or data outlet at the output end portion and configured for mounting along the upper furniture portion. The input end portion of the cord remains substantially motionless during raising and lowering of the movable portion of the furniture article, which can limit or avoid inadvertent engagement or entanglement of the cord with other objects in the vicinity of the furniture.

According to one aspect, the self-retracting cord section includes an elastic coil portion of the cord.

According to another aspect, the electrical power or data connector includes a high voltage AC power outlet or a low voltage DC power outlet.

According to a further aspect, the input end portion of the electrical power or data cord includes a high voltage AC power plug and/or a low voltage DC power plug and/or an electronic data signal plug.

According to yet another aspect, the electrical power or data system is taken in combination with the height-adjustable furniture. Optionally, the movable portion of the height-adjustable furniture includes a tabletop or desktop. The stationary portion of the height-adjustable furniture may include respective lower leg portions of a plurality of upright legs that are coupled to the table top or desktop. Optionally, the upright legs include respective upper leg portions that are telescopingly engaged with respective ones of the lower leg portions.

According to a still further aspect, a cord storage and support member is coupled to the tabletop or desktop and defines a hollow channel for receiving and concealing the self-retracting cord section.

According to still another aspect, at least one of the upright legs defines a hollow interior region, and the height-adjustable furniture further includes an elbow conduit in communication with both the hollow interior region and the hollow channel of the cord storage and support member. Optionally, an intermediate portion of the electrical power or data cord between the self-retracting cord section and the input end portion is routed through the elbow conduit, and the intermediate portion of the electrical power or data cord is movable through the elbow conduit as the height-adjustable furniture is raised and lowered.

According to another aspect, at least one of the upright legs defines a hollow interior region, and a portion of the electrical power or data cord located between the input end portion and the self-retracting cord section is disposed in the hollow interior region. Optionally, the lower leg portion of the at least one upright leg defines an opening through which the electrical power or data cord passes into the hollow interior region.

Thus, the electrical power or data system and height-adjustable furniture of the present invention substantially limits or precludes movement of exposed cord regions when the height-adjustable furniture is raised or lowered. The system and furniture may conceal a majority of the wiring or cords by routing them through hollow legs and/or support channels associated with the furniture, and may take up cord slack in concealed areas so that exposed wiring or cord sections remain substantially stationary during raising and lowering of the furniture.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a series of three front elevations of a height-adjustable table fitted with an electrical power system in accordance with the present invention, depicting three different table heights and with portions made transparent to show internal structure;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the height-adjustable table with electrical power system of FIG. 1 , shown in the lowest table height, and with three designated areas shown enlarged; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the height-adjustable table with electrical power system of FIG. 1 , shown in the highest position, and with three designated areas shown enlarged.

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a cord system 10 is specially adapted for installation along a height-adjustable furniture article 12 , such as a table, desk, or chair. In the illustrated embodiment, cord system 10 is an electrical power or data system 10 that is installed along furniture article 12 , and which allows the furniture article 12 to be raised and lowered such as in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 , without pulling or otherwise moving exposed portions of electrical power or data system 10 in a manner that could catch on other objects in the vicinity of the furniture article. Electrical power or data system 10 accomplishes this by substantially limiting cord movements to covered or shrouded areas of furniture article 12 , as will be described below in more detail.

Electrical power or data system 10 includes an electrical power or data cord 14 having an input end portion 16 and an output end portion 18 opposite the input end portion 16 , with a self-retracting cord section 20 disposed between the input end portion 16 and the output end portion 18 ( FIG. 1 ). In the illustrated embodiment, input end portion 16 is fitted with an electrical input receptacle 22 in the form of a female high voltage AC receptacle, although it will be appreciated that a male high voltage AC plug would be more typical in this application, and that substantially any desired type of high or low voltage power and/or data connector may be fitted at input end portion 16 . In addition, input end portion 16 could terminate with exposed wires that are ready for hard-wiring to an electrical power source. Similarly, output end portion 18 is fitted with its own electrical receptacle 24 , which is illustrated as a female high voltage AC receptacle, although substantially any type of high or low voltage power and/or data connector may be fitted at output end portion 18 provided that the electrical receptacles 22 , 24 are compatible with one another and with the conductors or conduits (including light conduits such as fiber optics) of electrical power or data cord 14 .

Output electrical receptacle 24 is mounted to a cord storage and support member 26 that is attached to an underside of a movable tabletop 28 of height-adjustable furniture article 12 , so that receptacle 24 is accessible to users of the furniture article 12 when the tabletop 28 is raised ( FIG. 1 at bottom), lowered ( FIG. 1 at top), or at an intermediate height ( FIG. 1 at middle). Support member 26 may be a generally L-shaped tray, a C-shaped tray, a rectangular or square section (or other shape) hollow tube, or substantially any other shape of elongate support that is capable of concealing and/or supporting electrical power or data cord including self-retracting cord section 20 . Input end portion 16 and input receptacle 22 may be flexible and generally loose as shown, and may extend outwardly from a lower stationary portion 30 a of one of a plurality of upright legs 30 for connection to an electrical power and/or data source such as floor-mounted or wall-mounted outlet or connector (not shown).

Self-retracting cord section 20 is supported in cord storage and support member 26 , and is extendable and retractable therein as movable tabletop 28 is raised and lowered, such as shown in FIG. 1 . In the illustrated embodiment, self-retracting cord section 20 is a coiled portion of electrical power or data cord 14 that contains a resilient material that causes cord section 20 to recoil to a retracted and shortened-length configuration ( FIG. 1 at top), but which permits cord section 20 to extend and assume a lengthened configuration ( FIG. 1 at middle and bottom) when sufficient tensile force is applied to electrical power or data cord 14 at opposite sides of cord section 20 . Greater tensile force results in longer extension of self-retracting cord section 20 . The tensile force is imparted to electrical power or data cord 14 by raising tabletop 28 , which is accomplished by extending and retracting legs 30 . Extending legs 30 imparts tension to electrical power or data cord 14 because electrical output receptacle 24 and output end portion 18 of cord 14 are held fixed relative to cord storage and support member 26 and tabletop 28 , while output end portion 16 of cord 14 is held fixed where it exits lower leg portion 30 a , as will be described in more detail below.

Retracting legs 30 reduces the tension in electrical power or data cord 14 , including across self-retracting cord section 20 , because less of cord 14 is drawn into the leg 30 through which the cord passes. Thus, when furniture article 12 is fully raised with legs 30 fully extended ( FIG. 1 at bottom), a relatively longer portion of cord 14 is drawn into the leg 30 causing self-retracting cord section 20 to extend a relatively long distance (e.g., substantially the full length of cord storage and support member 26 , as shown), whereas the self-retracting cord section 20 assumes a much shorter length, due to its resilience, when the legs 30 are fully retracted and the least amount of cord 14 is positioned in the leg 30 ( FIG. 1 at top).

Although self-retracting cord section 20 is illustrated as being an elastic coil region of cord 14 , which is well known in the art such as for telephone cords, electrical and air lines for tractor-trailer connections, and the like, it is envisioned that other types of self-retracting technologies would also be suitable. For example, a spring-actuated cord retractor or electrically-actuated (motorized) retractor may be mounted at cord storage and support member 26 or to an underside of movable tabletop 28 . Such a retractor would be capable of paying out cord 14 as legs 30 are extended and automatically winding the cord 14 in as legs 30 are retracted, while maintaining electrical continuity between the input end portion 16 and output end portion 18 of the electrical power or data system 10 , without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, upright legs 30 are generally tubular and are axially extendable and retractable in a telescoping manner, with lower stationary leg portions 30 a supported on a floor or other support surface, intermediate leg portions 30 b having a sufficiently large inner diameter to receive lower stationary leg portions 30 a , and upper leg portions 30 c having sufficiently large inner diameter to receive intermediate leg portions 30 b . Upper leg portions 30 c are secured at their upper ends to an underside of tabletop 28 . A powered or manual lifting system (not shown) is operable to raise and lower upper leg portions 30 c relative to lower stationary leg portions 30 a to thereby raise and lower tabletop 28 , with the leg portions 30 a - c of each upright leg 30 moving axially relative to one another in a telescoping manner. Because each of the leg portions 30 a - c is generally a hollow tubular shape, cord 14 may be held substantially fixed relative to stationary lower leg portion 30 a and may pass into and out of the intermediate leg portion 30 b and the upper leg portion 30 c as the legs 30 are extended and retracted. The powered lifting system may be substantially conventional, and may include, for example, electrically driven leadscrews, compressed gas struts or actuatable piston-cylinder arrangements, or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 , cord 14 passes through a tubular conduit 32 formed in lower stationary leg portion 30 a . Cord 14 exits a lower end portion of lower stationary leg portion 30 a at an opening 34 formed in a generally cylindrical sidewall of leg portion 30 a , as best shown in the enlarged view at left in FIG. 2 . Optionally, a rubber grommet or strain relief is provided at opening 34 , surrounding cord 14 , to secure the cord at lower leg portion 30 a . This permits cord 14 (including input end portion 16 ) to remain substantially fixed in the lower leg portion's tubular conduit 32 , even as the intermediate and upper leg portions 30 b , 30 c extend and retract relative to lower leg portion 30 a.

A 90-degree elbow conduit 36 is provided at an upper end portion of the upper leg portion 30 c through which cord 14 is routed, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (including center enlarged views). Elbow conduit 36 includes a substantially vertical lower portion 36 a that is coaxial with leg portions 30 a - c , and a substantially horizontal upper portion 36 b that is in communication with an end portion 26 a of cord storage and support member 26 . The hollow tubular interiors of the leg portions 30 a - c of the upright leg 30 , through which cord 14 is routed, are open to vertical lower portion 36 a of the 90-degree elbow conduit 36 , such that cord 14 is free to slide or otherwise move through elbow conduit 36 as tabletop 28 is moved (together with upper leg portion 30 c and elbow conduit 36 ) up and down relative to lower stationary leg portion 30 a.

To limit or prevent wear of cord 14 as it slides through elbow conduit 36 , an outer jacket of cord 14 may provide abrasion resistance, particularly in the region between self-retracting cord section 20 and input end portion 16 , while interior surfaces of 90-degree elbow conduit 36 may be generally smooth so as to limit or prevent abrasion. In addition, a dry or liquid lubricant may be applied along surfaces where cord 14 slides. Optionally, a pulley or sheave 38 ( FIG. 3 , enlarged view only) having a grooved outer contact surface, may be positioned along the 90-degree bend in an interior of elbow conduit 36 in order to limit or prevent sliding contact between cord 14 and other surfaces, thereby further reducing the likelihood of abrading the cord during raising and lowering of tabletop 28 .

As noted above, varying levels of tension are maintained in cord 14 of electrical power or data system 10 by the elasticity or recoiling force applied in self-retracting cord section 20 , throughout the full range of motion of tabletop 28 between its fully raised and fully lowered positions. When tabletop 28 is fully raised, self-retracting cord section 20 may expand to extend along substantially the full length of cord storage and support member 26 with a maximum amount of cord 14 disposed inside of the upright leg 30 , such as shown in FIG. 3 . The resulting tension imparted to cord 14 by self-retracting cord section 20 causes the cord 14 to be drawn out of the upright leg 30 , through elbow conduit 36 , and into cord storage and support member 26 , as tabletop 28 is lowered, such as shown in FIG. 2 and in the top and middle views of FIG. 1 . During this movement of tabletop 28 and cord 14 , input end portion 16 remains substantially motionless so as not to inadvertently catch on other objects or create a new trip hazard.

Various alternations and alternatives are envisioned without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. These include the different types of self-retracting cord sections and/or retracting devices or mechanisms described above, as well as different electrical power and/or data wiring and terminals or connectors, which may range from high voltage AC power receptacles (e.g., 110-volt and 220-volt), as well as low voltage DC power outlets (e.g., USB-style power-only or power-and-data connectors), and data signal wiring and connectors such as video and/or audio cables, fiber optic lines, and the like. It addition, principles of the present invention may be applied to air lines, gas lines, and other fluid conduits which may be desirable to terminate at an article of height-adjustable furniture, such as in a mechanical workshop, a scientific laboratory or a hospital setting, and thus are not necessarily limited to electrical wiring and electronic data applications.

Changes and modifications in the specifically-described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.