US 2,004,026,998 · Filed 2003-06-12
The Desk That Charges Your Phone While It Lifts You Up
Imagine a standing desk that doubles as a power station—it has a rechargeable battery built in that powers both the desk's lifting motors and USB-style outlets for your phone or laptop. The battery charges during cheap off-peak electricity hours, so you save money while staying productive.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a furniture unit, particularly one with a height-adjustable work surface, that combines a rechargeable battery power supply with low-voltage DC outlets and lift motors all fed by the same power system. What's protected here is the specific integration of battery storage, motor control, and device-charging outlets into a single furniture chassis, along with the smart-charging logic that times battery recharging to off-peak electrical rates.
Why it matters
This patent anticipates the modern office trend toward mobile and flexible workspaces. By embedding power and lift capability into a self-contained unit, it eliminates the need for separate wall outlets and heavy-duty fixed electrical infrastructure—a significant cost and installation advantage for offices that want reconfigurable, independently powered furniture. The battery-plus-smart-charging aspect also speaks to energy efficiency, letting workplaces reduce peak-hour electrical draw.
Real-world use
When you raise your standing desk with an electric motor while simultaneously charging your laptop and lighting a desk lamp, all from a single built-in battery that charged overnight at cheaper rates, you're using this patent's core innovation.
Original USPTO abstract
Low voltage DC electrification of a furniture unit is provided by a power supply having a rechargeable battery and an automobile passenger compartment power outlet which is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. In one embodiment, the power supply is mounted to a furniture unit having a height adjustable worksurface, the lift motors of the furniture unit also being powered by the power supply. Additionally, the power supply may include a control device prioritizing recharging of the battery to times of off-peak or low-cost AC power available. The low-voltage DC power outlet advantageously receives adapter plugs that are readily available for a wide range of portable appliances and other devices. Another embodiment of a furniture unit having a low-voltage DC power supply includes a computing device for controlling the recharging of the power supply and for controlling other accessories such as furniture unit lift motors, lighting, HVAC components, audiovisual components, or other such devices.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,004,026,998
- Filing date
- 2003-06-12
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Henriott Jay M. / Metcalf Keith E.
- Inventor(s)
- HENRIOTT JAY M., METCALF KEITH E.
- CPC class
- A47B21/06
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