Optimizing Adjustment Speed and Smoothness in Standing Desks
14 patents in this list
Updated:
Modern standing desks face a critical engineering challenge in movement control: rapid height adjustments must be balanced against smooth operation and stability. Current systems typically achieve adjustment speeds of 25-38mm per second, but at these speeds, loads of 50kg or more can introduce oscillations and compromise precision, especially at extended heights.
The fundamental challenge lies in maintaining smooth, controlled movement while managing variable loads, user force inputs, and the mechanical constraints of telescoping mechanisms.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including synchronized motor control systems, gas strut-assisted descent mechanisms, sensor-based obstacle detection, and adaptive counterbalance systems. These and other approaches focus on achieving reliable, precise adjustments while ensuring user safety and equipment longevity.
1. Adjustable Desk with Vertical and Tilt Actuators and Elongated Groove Bearings
Victor Hugo Hernandez, 2023
An adjustable desk featuring stable and quiet lifting and tilting capabilities, allowing for customizable height and angle adjustments to improve ergonomics and user comfort. The desk has a movable desktop supported by tilt plates and vertical members. Vertical actuators lift the desktop, while tilt actuators adjust their angle. Bearings slide in elongated vertical grooves within the vertical members, enabling smooth, low-friction vertical and tilt movements.
2. Height-Adjustable Table with Vertical Telescoping Leg Mechanism and Counterbalance System
Humanscale Corporation, 2023
A height-adjustable table featuring a vertical telescoping leg mechanism for easy and stable height adjustment. The telescoping legs slide vertically in parallel tracks to raise and lower the tabletop. A counterbalance mechanism equalizes the lifting force for effortless height adjustments. A brake prevents accidental adjustments, while a torque adjustment allows customization of the lifting force. The parallel sliding legs eliminate rocking and tilting when extended.
3. Height-Adjustable Desk with Rear-Mounted Lifting Mechanisms and Enhanced Stability Support Structures
Mateo Goods Co., 2023
A height-adjustable desk offering improved stability compared to traditional desks with side-mounted lifting mechanisms. This desk features lifting mechanisms at the rear, allowing for additional support structures that enhance stability when lifted. This design prevents the forward or backward flexing that can occur with side-mounted mechanisms. Additionally, the rear-mounted lifting mechanisms enable the desk to be positioned closer to the walls, as there are no side obstructions.
4. Electric Desk Stand with Interconnected Frame Structure and Telescopic Columns
TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2022
Lightweight electric desk stands designed to reduce weight, improve stability, and lower material costs compared to conventional designs. The stand features a frame structure with interconnected frames instead of a single beam. These frames include facing plates with risers and side plates that connect, creating a compact, lightweight frame with internal components. The telescopic columns, which connect to the frames, contain motors. Flanks cover the frame ends, and the controller is embedded in the bottom frame with covers and a pull buckle. The frames also have perforations, covers, and grooves for component access and placement. Additionally, the stand includes support feet for enhanced stability.
5. Desktop Lifting Platform with Integrated Obstacle and Tilt Detection Sensors
ZHEJIANG JIECANG LINEAR MOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2022
A desktop lifting platform with enhanced safety features, incorporating sensors to detect obstacles and tilting. The platform uses sensors such as tilt switches, mechanical switches, or strain gauges to identify if it hits an object or tilts. When an anomaly is detected, the controller is signaled to stop lifting, preventing damage to the platform and items on it. Lifting can resume once the obstacle is removed or the tilt is corrected. These sensors can be located on the column, desktop, or base.
6. Height-Adjustable Workstation with Integrated Position Feedback Sensor
Ergotron, Inc., 2022
A height-adjustable workstation featuring a height-adjustable work surface and a frame. The work surface can move vertically relative to the frame to change its height. The workstation also includes a sensor that provides feedback to the user about the position of the work surface relative to the frame. This allows the user to monitor and be aware of the exact height and location of the work surface as it moves up and down.
7. Variable Height Desk with Gas Strut and Spring-Integrated Lift Mechanism for Controlled Descent
BLUMENTHAL DISTRIBUTING, INC., 2022
A variable height desk featuring a lift mechanism designed to prevent sudden and uncontrolled lowering of the desktop. The mechanism incorporates a gas strut alongside a spring to assist in lifting the desktop. The gas strut also resists lowering forces, ensuring a slow and controlled descent. This design allows for safe lowering of the desk, protecting users and equipment from potential impacts.
8. Synchronized Height Adjustment System with Coupled Controllers for Desks and Monitor Mounts
CKnapp Sales, Inc. d/b/a VIVO, 2022
Synchronized height adjustment system for adjustable desks and monitor mounts that automatically adjust the monitor height when the desk height is changed, and vice versa, without manual intervention. The system has separate controllers for the desk and monitor height motors that are coupled to synchronize activation. This allows coordinated height adjustments between the desk and monitor when either is moved, providing optimal viewing ergonomics without requiring user intervention.
9. Table with Protruding Height-Adjustment Handles and Rotational Locking Mechanism
C.D. Great Furniture Co., Ltd., 2021
Height-adjustable table with handles that are easily visible and accessible for adjusting the table height. The handles protrude through the tabletop so they can be seen and reached without bending or searching under the table. The handles have a movable member that drives a rotating rod on the bottom of the table. Locking members can engage the rod to prevent it from rotating and lock the table height. Positioning members along the bottom guides the locking members to specific positions in the grooves. This allows easy adjustment and locking of the table height using the visible handles.
10. Height-Adjustable Desk with Front-Protruding Accessible Handles
C.D. Great Furniture Co., Ltd., 2021
A height-adjustable desk with handles that are easy to access and see during height adjustment. The handles are located on the front side of the desk, protruding out from the front edge. This allows the user to clearly see and easily grab the handles when adjusting the desk height, without having to reach underneath or look under the desk.
11. Workstation System with Dual-Axis Adjustable Pivots for Horizontal Surface Stability
FELLOWES, INC., 2021
A variable height workstation system with adjustable pivots that maintain a horizontal work surface as it moves between fully lowered and raised positions. The system has a base, lift mechanism, lower adjustable pivot assembly, upper adjustable pivot assembly, and a lock. The lower pivot rotates on a fixed axis while the upper pivot rotates on a separate axis that's spaced from the lower one. This allows the work surface to remain horizontal as it moves up and down. The lock prevents the upper pivot from rotating when the work surface is in a specific position.
12. Lifting Desk with X-Shaped Supports and Adjustable Sliding Upper End Mechanism
Shenzhen Minicute Technology Co. Ltd., 2020
A lifting desk with adjustable lifting power to prevent instability and manual lifting issues caused by varying desk loads. The desk has X-shaped lifting supports with articulated middle sections connecting the upper and lower ends. The upper end of each X-section slides on the desk support and the lower end articulates to the leg. This allows the lifting power to be adjusted by sliding the upper end up or down on the support based on the desk load.
13. Synchronized Automatic Height Adjustment System for Desks and Monitors with Sensor-Based User Position Detection
CKnapp Sales, Inc. d/b/a VIVO, 2020
Automatic height adjustment system for desks and monitors that synchronizes desk and monitor height movements without manual intervention. The system uses sensors and communication to detect user position and automatically adjust desk and monitor heights based on that position. The desk and monitor have height adjustment mechanisms controlled by a central controller. The controller receives position data from a camera or other sensor, then sends commands to adjust the desk and monitor heights synchronously. This eliminates the need for users to manually adjust monitor height every time they adjust the desk.
14. Height Adjustable Desk with Dual Energy Storage Devices for Consistent Lifting Force
Ergotron, Inc., 2020
Height adjustable desk with constant lifting force throughout the range. The desk uses two energy storage devices to provide a constant vertical lifting force. One device, like a gas spring, biases the desk surface upwards. The other device, like a torsion spring, biases the scissor joints between the legs. This counteracts the decreasing lifting force as the legs close. The torsion spring acts on angular motion at the joint, while the gas spring acts on horizontal motion at the desktop.
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The patents present different methods for attaining easy and seamless height adjustment for standing desks. Certain solutions, such as the use of gas struts for controlled descent and counterbalancing systems for effortless lifting, concentrate on the core adjustment mechanism itself; other methods address stability issues through creative frame designs and well-placed lifting mechanisms.