30 patents in this list

Updated:

Manual standing desk mechanisms face significant engineering constraints around user effort and stability. Current designs require between 15-25 pounds of force to initiate movement, while maintaining positional accuracy within 0.5 inches across a typical 20-inch height adjustment range. The challenge is compounded by the need to support distributed loads up to 150 pounds while preventing racking or wobble during transitions.

The fundamental challenge lies in balancing smooth, low-effort operation with robust stability and precise positioning across the full range of motion.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including counterbalanced telescoping legs, buffered roller systems, gas spring assists, and sliding bracket architectures. These and other approaches focus on achieving reliable daily operation while minimizing user strain and maintaining workspace stability.

1. Manual Lifting-Lowering Computer Table with Independent Tabletop and Keyboard Height Adjustment Mechanism

Gangwei Huang, 2023

A manual lifting-lowering computer table that allows adjusting the height of the tabletop and keyboard independently. The table has a sliding mechanism on the bottom of the tabletop that allows raising and lowering the tabletop while keeping the keyboard stationary. The sliding mechanism consists of hinged feet with sliders that glide on channels in the base. This allows the tabletop to be lifted and lowered independently of the keyboard. The keyboard is fixed to the base and doesn't move. The sliding mechanism also has features like brackets and baffles to secure the components in place during lifting and lowering.

2. Table with Vertical Telescoping Legs and Counterbalance Mechanism for Height Adjustment

Humanscale Corporation, 2023

A height-adjustable table with a vertical telescoping leg mechanism that allows easy and stable adjustment of table height. The telescoping legs slide vertically in parallel tracks to raise and lower the tabletop. A counterbalance mechanism equalizes the lifting force to make height adjustment easy. A brake prevents accidental adjustment. A torque adjustment allows customizing the lifting force. The parallel sliding legs eliminate rocking and tilting when extended.

US20230218076A1-patent-drawing

3. Height-Adjustable Table with Telescoping Leg Assemblies and Threaded Bore Set Screw Mechanism

Smith System Manufacturing Company, 2023

A height-adjustable table with selectively adjustable leg assemblies that allow easy height adjustment without tools. The leg assemblies have telescoping sections with threaded bores. Set screws can be inserted into the bores to fix the leg lengths or withdrawn to allow adjustment. This allows the user to quickly and easily adjust the table height by turning the set screws. The screws can then be locked in place to secure the leg lengths. This provides tool-less height adjustment without needing to disassemble or loosen any connections.

4. Writing Desk with Manual Screw and Nut Height Adjustment Mechanism

ZHONGSHAN YILI OFFICE FURNITURE CO LTD, 2023

Writing desk with mechanical lift that allows adjusting the desk height without electricity or motors. The desk has a lifting mechanism that uses a screw and nut assembly with a handle to raise and lower the desk surface. This provides an adaptive height adjustment for users without needing power or complex electronics. The handle turns the screw to move the nut and lift the desk.

CN218682793U-patent-drawing

5. Height-Adjustable Desktop with Toothed Column and Integrated Mechanical Lifting Mechanism

ANHUI AITONG FURNITURE TECH CO LTD, ANHUI AITONG FURNITURE TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2023

Height-adjustable multifunctional desktop that allows one person to easily adjust the height using a mechanical system. The desk has a lifting mechanism with a toothed column, transmission, limit, and driving components. The column attaches to the desktop and slides in the leg. The transmission connects the legs. The limit prevents over-extension. The driving component, like a handle, rotates the transmission to move the column and desk up and down. This allows precise height adjustment without external tools or requiring two people.

CN115670115A-patent-drawing

6. Telescopic Desk Frame with Inner Tube Rollers and Outer Tube Buffer Pads for Noise Reduction and Stability

Douglas Pan, 2023

A desk frame elevation structure that reduces movement noise while increasing stability during vertical movement of the desk board. The structure has an elevation unit with an inner tube received in an outer tube that is telescopic. A roller unit with rollers on the inner tube and buffer pads on the outer tube allows smooth vertical movement. The rollers roll on the outer tube's inner periphery and the buffer pads prevent impact noise between the tubes. This reduces noise compared to a gap between the tubes allowing friction. The rollers and buffers also provide stability during movement.

US20230028331A1-patent-drawing

7. Height Adjustable Work Surface with Biased Arm Locking Mechanism

Colebrook Bosson & Saunders (Products) Limited, 2022

Height adjustable work surface with a locking mechanism to secure the height in various positions. The surface has a platform with a height adjustment assembly, leg assembly, and locking assembly. The leg assembly moves between raised, lowered, and intermediate positions. The locking assembly engages the height adjustment assembly to secure the leg assembly in a selected position. The locking assembly has biased arms that extend from underneath the platform and can be engaged by the user to lock or release the height.

8. Telescopic Desk Lifting Mechanism with Integrated Buffer Pads and Control Actuation

Douglas Pan, 2022

A silent desk lifting mechanism that reduces noise and improves stability when raising and lowering a desk surface. It uses a single telescopic tube inside another tube, with upper and lower buffer pads. The inner tube is fixed to the base and the outer tube is connected to the desk. A control button on the telescopic rod raises/lowers the desk. The buffer pads absorb impacts when the desk reaches the limits of travel. This setup reduces impact noise compared to separate base and desk lifts.

9. Adjustable Height Table with X-Shaped Bracket and Slide Mechanism

NINGBO LEADER INTELLIGENT DEVICE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., 2022

A lifting table-on-table design that allows adjustable height and leveling without complex mechanisms or uneven stresses. The table has an upper panel, lower panel, bracket component, and base. The upper panel has slides on the lower side. The base has parallel bottom rods with inner slides. The bracket connects the upper and lower panels. It has X-shaped brackets with slides at the ends. The slides on the upper panel match the slides on the base to move the bracket. A lifting mechanism on the lower bracket raises the upper panel. This allows height adjustment and leveling without telescopic rods or uneven stresses.

10. Height Adjustable Desktop with Upper Work Surface Platform and Integrated Height Adjustment Mechanism

Office Kick, Inc., 2022

Height adjustable desktop that allows a user to move the work surface to a desired and/or ergonomic position. The desktop includes an upper work surface platform, a base platform, and a height adjustment mechanism that allows the work surface to rise and lower to the desired height of the operator.

11. Desk-Mounted Lifting Platform with X-Shaped Lifting Arm and Detachable Keyboard Tray

Loctek Inc., 2022

Desk-mounted lifting platform with a unique lifting mechanism and detachable keyboard tray for improved user experience compared to prior art platforms. The lifting platform has an X-shaped lifting arm configuration with gas springs between the upper and lower supports. This allows vertical height adjustment by operating the gas spring valve on the upper support. The gas spring axis intersects the workbench plane at an angle. The platform also has a detachable keyboard tray that can be easily removed without tools. The tray connects to a frame on the upper support and has a detachable hanger that disconnects from the frame.

US11382419B2-patent-drawing

12. Three-Column Desk with Manual Hand-Crank Lifting Mechanism and Gear-Shaft-Nut System

SHENGZHOU ZHIDING TRANS EQUIPMENT CO LTD, SHENGZHOU ZHIDING TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT CO LTD, 2021

Hand-cranked three-column desk with manual lifting mechanism instead of electric motors to save cost, be cleaner and easier to maintain. The desk has three columns connected by a lifting mechanism driven by a hand crank. The columns raise and lower together using gears, shafts, and nuts. This allows the desk surface to be lifted and lowered manually. The hand-crank mechanism replaces electric motors for cost savings, cleaner operation, and simpler maintenance compared to electric desks. The three-column design provides more space for items on the desk compared to two-column desks.

CN213720504U-patent-drawing

13. Height-Adjustable Desk with Linear Guides and Integrated Actuator System

URBAN PLOUGH LLC, 2021

Variable height desk that allows a user to move between lowered and raised positions by a user and may be supported at any position between the lowered and raised positions. The desk includes a main support, a number of linear guides mounted to the main support, a desk mounting panel mounted to and configured to move along the linear guides, a desk surface mounted to the desk mounting panel, and an actuator accommodated in the main support and configured to raise and lower the desk mounting panel.

US10939752B2-patent-drawing

14. Height Adjustable Desktop Riser with Base Frame, Dual Support Members, and Gas Strut Mechanism

Posturite Ltd., 2020

Height adjustable desk that can be placed on top of an existing desktop to raise and lower the overall height of the desktop. The desk includes a base frame for placing on an existing desktop, a desktop that is connected to the base frame by first and second support members, and a gas strut.

US10842257B2-patent-drawing

15. Mobile Workstation with Coordinated Telescoping Vertical Adjustment Mechanism

Midmark Corporation, 2020

A mobile workstation with a vertical adjustment mechanism that allows a broad range of height adjustment while maintaining stability. The adjustment assembly has three telescoping segments - bottom, middle, and top - that can retract simultaneously at the same rate. This coordinated retraction prevents wobbling and keeps the workstation balanced as it raises and lowers. The segments are connected with pulleys and cables or just cables.

US10813450B2-patent-drawing

16. Work Surface with Trapezoidal Frame and Height Adjustable Lift Mechanism

DSA International, LLC, 2020

Height adjustable work surfaces that can be raised or lowered by any person. The surface includes a conventional table portion, a height adjustable portion, a trapezoidal frame structure, a lift mechanism and legs.

17. Workstation with Adjustable Pivots for Horizontal Surface Maintenance

FELLOWES, INC., 2020

Variable height workstation with adjustable pivots that maintain a horizontal work surface as it moves between fully lowered and raised positions. The workstation has a base, lift mechanism, lower adjustable pivot, upper adjustable pivot, and lock. The lower pivot rotates vertically to lower/raise the platform. The upper pivot rotates vertically. The lock prevents upper pivot rotation when lowered. This allows a horizontal work surface at any height. The lower pivot force regulator adjusts rotation force. The upper pivot force regulator adjusts rotation force. The lock releases at a preset height.

18. Desk Height Adjustment Mechanism with Knee Action Safety Device and Gas Spring Integration

Anthony A. Paul, Joseph G. Paul, 2020

A desk raising and lowering mechanism that prevents injury during descent by using a knee action safety device in combination with a gas spring. The mechanism allows adjusting the desk height. As the desk lowers, the knee action safety device engages to provide resistance. The gas spring assists lowering. This creates a weightless final descent, preventing limbs or hands from getting crushed. The knee action safety device co-acts with the gas spring to control lowering and provide safety.

19. Foldable Height-Adjustable Desk with Synchronous Link Mechanism for Single-Handed Operation

Jiaxing Haihong Mechanical and Electrical Technology Co., Ltd., 2020

Foldable height-adjustable desk workstation that allows one-handed raising and lowering without the spanners on both sides having to be turned simultaneously. It uses a synchronous link mechanism between the lifting bars that keeps them in sync when one is raised or lowered. This allows unlocking and moving the desktop with one hand.

20. Height-Adjustable Desktop System with Glide-Supported Linkage Mechanism for Retrofitting Fixed Desks

Ergotron, Inc., 2020

A height-adjustable desktop system that can be retrofit onto a fixed-height desk to convert it into a sit-stand desk. The system has a height-adjustable work surface, a foot assembly, and a linkage mechanism. The work surface has a glide support and a bracket. The foot assembly has a bracket. The linkage connects the glide and foot brackets. Sliding the glide moves the work surface up/down via the linked brackets. This allows converting a fixed desk to a height-adjustable one by placing the foot assembly on the desk surface.

21. Manually Adjustable Desk with Lever-Activated Telescoping Legs and Spring-Assisted Height Modulation

22. Hand-Cranked Height Adjustment Mechanism for Tables Utilizing Rope Winding and Pulley System

23. Manual Chain-Driven Height Adjustment Mechanism for Composite Desk Legs

24. Desk with Manual Height Adjustment Featuring Bottom-Mounted Release Lever and Hydraulic Slider Locking Mechanism

25. Height-Adjustable Table with Manual Hand Crank and Turbine Screw Mechanism

Advances in low-effort manual actuation, ranging from a focus on novel lifting mechanisms like independent tabletop and keyboard adjustments to locking mechanisms ensuring stability at different desk heights, make more accessible and user-friendly standing desks that encourage better ergonomics and healthier work habits possible.

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