17 patents in this list

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Modern office spaces face significant constraints, with average workspace footprints shrinking from 225 square feet per employee in 2010 to 151 square feet in 2022. Standing desks, while beneficial for worker health, traditionally require fixed floor space and often lack the adaptability needed for dynamic environments where space utilization must be optimized hourly or daily.

The fundamental challenge lies in creating desk structures that can transform between compact and functional states while maintaining stability and user ergonomics across all configurations.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including synchronized height adjustment mechanisms, tool-free assembly systems, interlocking modular components, and sliding rail configurations for peripheral attachments. These and other approaches focus on maximizing space efficiency while preserving the core functionality and ergonomic benefits of standing desks.

1. Desk System with Tool-Free Assembly and Integrated Top-Access Storage Compartment

Poppin, Inc., 2022

A desk system designed for easy assembly, reducing time and eliminating the need for special tools while providing customization options without increasing manufacturing costs. The desk features an internal storage compartment accessible from the top surface, suitable for holding items like phones and cables. This design allows assembly without external hardware or tools. Additionally, the desk can expand to accommodate multiple users in open workspace environments.

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2. Desk System with L-Shaped Surface, Adjustable Keyboard Tray, and U-Shaped Configuration with Unobstructed Movement

Abhishek Parekh, 2022

An ergonomic and efficient desk system designed to support both paper and paperless workflows while promoting good physical health. The desk features an L-shaped work surface with a cutout in the corner. A keyboard tray slides into the cutout and can be moved forward and backward, allowing the user to position the keyboard comfortably relative to the main work surface, thereby reducing strain and fatigue compared to a fixed keyboard. The desk also has a U-shaped configuration with a corner piece, side pieces, and a separate middle piece, enabling easy movement between the sides without obstructions. The desk frame includes horizontal supports that connect the vertical legs without impeding side-to-side movement.

3. Expandable Workstation with Vertically Movable Carriage and Pivoting Front Panel

WERXCO PTY LTD, 2022

A stowable workstation that can be compactly stored in a small footprint and then expanded to provide a full-sized workspace. The workstation has panels and side pillars that form a rectangular enclosure when stowed. In this configuration, the carriage with workstation equipment is at a lower position. To expand, the top panel lifts, the carriage moves vertically, and the front panel pivots outwardly. This exposes an opening for the equipment to pass through and extends the front panel to form a desk surface. The panels and upper portions of the side pillars define an open cabinet above the desk.

4. Modular Workstation Assembly with Detachable and Configurable Modules for Adjustable Height and Storage

Garth Hubert, 2022

Modular workstation assembly that can be configured in multiple styles with detachable modules for flexible workspaces. The assembly includes a desk module, upper cabinet module, lateral cabinet modules, and door modules that hinge between open and closed positions. The modules can be coupled sequentially to form workstations with features like sitting/standing height, shelving, hidden storage, and portable mobility. The modular design allows customization, disassembly, and assembly with minimal tools.

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5. Modular Desk and Table Assembly with Adjustable Sliding Channel and Support System

Steelcase Inc., 2022

Desk and table assembly system that allows easy configuration and reconfiguration into different workstation arrangements using a small number of components. The system has adjustable channel members that can slide between fixed locations on the legs. This allows wires to pass through the leg openings when the channels are aligned. The channel members also provide wire management. The adjustable channels allow flexibility in workstation layouts. The system also has adjustable support surfaces that can slide between fixed locations on the legs. This allows wire-passing alignment. The adjustable channels and supports allow easy reconfiguration into different workstation arrangements using a small number of components.

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6. Modular Desk System with Central Attachment Frame and Interchangeable Components Using Threaded Holes and Magnetic Connections

Jacob Atherton, Dennis Shaw, 2022

Modular desk system with interchangeable components that allows users to easily customize and reconfigure their desks as their needs change. The system uses a central attachment frame that can be modified by adding/removing components like legs, storage compartments, and desktop surfaces. The frame has threaded holes and magnets to attach the components in various orientations. This allows users to mix and match components to create customized desks without needing new furniture.

7. Interlocking Furniture System with Tool-less Assembly Using Rotatable Bracket Mechanism

Knoll, Inc., 2021

Adjustable furniture system with interlocking components that allow easy installation and configuration of workstations without tools or fasteners. The furniture system has a main beam with interlocking side panels and attachment brackets. The side panels have projections that interlock with teeth on the brackets. The brackets slide into the beam groove and rotate to lock. This allows tool-less attachment and disassembly of the furniture components. The interlocking joints enable adjustable configuration of the furniture without needing screws or bolts.

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8. Desk with Slide Rail System for Movable Furniture Attachment

Pei Ying Lin, 2020

An adjustable desk that allows office furniture like keyboard holders and drawers to move along slide rails on the desk bottom. This allows the furniture to be positioned based on the user's seating location, improving desk utilization and ergonomics compared to fixed furniture. The furniture connects to sliding members in the rails.

9. Modular Workspace System with Tool-Free Reconfigurable Base Components and Interchangeable Accessory Interfaces

Steelcase Inc., 2020

Workspace system with components that can be easily reconfigured and moved without tools. The system has base components like tables and carts with wheels, interchangeable accessories, and common interfaces. Accessories like storage containers, screens, and power blocks can be attached to the common interfaces on the base components. Different shaped interfaces on some base components allow unique accessories to be attached there. This allows customizing and connecting accessories between bases without tools or adapters. The movable base components can then be rearranged to create different workspaces.

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10. Foldable Height-Adjustable Desk with Synchronous Link Mechanism for One-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.

11. Modular Desk System with Interchangeable Components and Connectors for Flexible Configuration

Paragon Furniture, LP, 2019

Modular desk system with interchangeable components that allows flexible configuration for various uses and easy pairing with other desks. The system uses components like tops, shelves, storage, hooks, stands, channels, kickstands, etc. that can be linked together in different ways to create customized workspaces. The components have features like lips, pivots, ridges, etc. to enable flipping, folding, stacking, storing, etc. The system also has connectors like shelves, planters, dividers, platforms, etc. to join desks together. This modularity allows configuring workspaces for tasks like writing, reading, storage, display, organization, etc.

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12. Connector Hub with Crown Module and Adjustable Slots for Modular Workspace Integration

HNI Technologies Inc., 2018

A connector hub for modular workspace systems that provides versatile framing, electrical, and communication connections for attaching and integrating components like desks, cabinets, screens, and electronics. The hub has a crown connector module with a crown base, top cover, connector, and gap member that can be attached to the body assembly of a modular workstation. It allows connecting the workstation arms to the hub instead of directly to the body, enabling customization and expansion of the workspace by adding or removing modules. The hub also has slots for the gap member to allow adjustment of the arm position.

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13. Modular Laboratory Table Assembly with Interchangeable Sub-Frames and Adjustable Components

SAMIN SCIENCE CO., LTD., 2017

Laboratory table assembly system with modular, configurable components to allow customization of table size, shape, and height. The table has a modular design with interchangeable sub-frames, spacers, brackets, and corner members that can be assembled in various configurations to extend, deform, and adjust the table surface and height. The sub-frames slide into hollow sections of the support frames to adjust length. Brackets connect perpendicular to the frames, corner members join them, and cross members connect them at right angles. This allows flexible, modular assembly of the table frames to create customized table sizes, shapes, and heights.

14. Repositionable Ganging Mechanism with Slotted Connecting Piece for Tool-less Furniture Interconnection

Dates Weiser Furniture Corporation, 2017

A ganging mechanism for connecting tables and other furniture pieces together in a flexible and tool-less way. The mechanism allows interchangeable table-to-table connections without requiring tools. It consists of a repositionable ganging member with a connecting piece that extends from a table and can be adjusted to gang the table with adjacent furniture in different configurations. The connecting piece has slots and holes to securely lock onto furniture posts while preventing the head from passing through. This allows the table to be ganged to a single piece or multiple pieces in series. The ganging member can be easily repositioned to switch between configurations.

15. Triangular Ergonomic Desk with Curved Front Edge and Adjustable Features for Modular Hexagonal Configuration

David Mata Valdes, Carlos Riquelme Ruiz, 2016

Ergonomic adjustable desk designed for collaborative workspaces that allows multiple desks to be combined into a hexagonal configuration for easy collaboration. The desk has a unique triangular shape with a curved front edge that surrounds the user. It also has adjustable features like height, angle, and footrest position controlled by a touchscreen device. The modular design allows multiple desks to connect and form a shared workspace with users seated adjacent to each other.

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16. Modular Desking System with Configurable Stabilizing Leg Assemblies and Adjustable Pedestals

Kimball International, Inc., 2015

Modular desking system for open plan offices that provides configurable options for desk sizes, shapes, and layouts. The desking system uses stabilizing leg assemblies with angled columns for stability, adjustable back-to-back pedestals with vertical stanchions for privacy, interchangeable leg assemblies, and tapered chair mounting features on beams. This allows users to create custom desking arrangements by combining and reconfiguring the modular components.

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17. Portable Workstation with Adjustable Spatial Configuration and Universal Chair Coupling Mechanism

Fariborz Tajbakhsh, 2015

Portable workstation with adjustable spatial configuration that can be easily moved around and configured to suit different user preferences and workspace requirements. The workstation has a base with a universal chair coupling mechanism to securely attach to any type of chair. It also has rollers for easy transport. The workstation has a vertical post with adjustable support members that can move laterally and rotate over 280 degrees. This allows users to customize the layout and positioning of the workstation components to optimize ergonomics and organization.

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Request the PDF report with complete details of all 17 patents for offline reading.

The innovative designs for foldable and modular standing desks are demonstrated in these patents. There are several inventions that ease assembly, such as mechanisms that don't require tools. Others take care of ergonomic requirements; these include integrated wire management or movable keyboard trays.