Height Adjustable Desks with Ultraviolet Light Irradiation of Keyboard Tray

Abstract

Height adjustable desks with a keyboard tray system that is irradiated by an ultraviolet light disinfectant unit. The ultraviolet light unit resides parallel to and above the keyboard tray while being rigidly affixed to the underside of the desktop. The ultraviolet light unit also has the ability to irradiate the keyboard tray top when it is extended for typing and/or when it is retracted under the desktop for storage. And the ultraviolet light unit may be manually activated using a power switch located, for example, with the telescopic desk legs user control panel. And/or the ultraviolet light unit may be automatedly controlled, such as by being connected to a motion sensor to detect when a user is within close proximity to the keyboard, and thus turn off the UV light; and/or via a timer mechanism that activates the UV light unit for a regularly scheduled eradiation session.

Claims

1-20) (canceled)

21) A height adjustable desk with a keyboard tray disinfectant unit, the desk comprising: a) a desktop; b) a plurality of telescopic height adjustable desk legs; c) a keyboard tray; and d) an ultraviolet light unit configured to irradiate at least a portion of the keyboard tray.

22) The height adjustable desk of claim 21 further comprising: a) a bent keyboard support member affixed to said keyboard tray; b) a keyboard guide rail affixed to an underside of said desktop; c) wherein said bent keyboard support member is disposed within said keyboard guide rail; d) wherein said bent keyboard support member is configured to slide within said keyboard guide rail between a first position wherein said keyboard tray is disposed beneath said desktop and a second position wherein said keyboard tray is extended from said desktop.

23) The height adjustable desk of claim 22, wherein said ultraviolet light unit is connected to an underside of said desktop.

24) The height adjustable desk of claim 23, wherein said ultraviolet light unit is disposed above said keyboard tray.

25) The height adjustable desk of claim 24 wherein said ultraviolet light unit is configured to activate only when said keyboard support member is disposed in said first position.

26) The height adjustable desk of claim 21 further comprising a telescopic leg switch configured to extend said height adjustable desk legs and retract said height adjustable desk legs.

27) The height adjustable desk of claim 21, further comprising an ultraviolet light unit power control switch.

28) The height adjustable desk of claim 21, further comprising a timer connected to said ultraviolet light unit.

29) The height adjustable desk of claim 21 further comprising a motion sensor configured to deactivate said ultraviolet light unit when motion is detected.

30) The height adjustable claim as in claim 29 further comprising a motion sensor power control switch.

31) The height adjustable desk of claim 30 further comprising: a) a bent keyboard support member affixed to said keyboard tray; b) a keyboard guide rail affixed to an underside of said desktop; c) wherein said bent keyboard support member is disposed within said keyboard guide rail; d) wherein said bent keyboard support member is configured to slide within said keyboard guide rail between a first position wherein said keyboard tray is disposed beneath said desktop and a second position wherein said keyboard tray is extended from said desktop.

32) The height adjustable desk of claim 31, wherein said ultraviolet light unit is connected to an underside of said desktop.

33) The height adjustable desk of claim 32, wherein said ultraviolet light unit is disposed above said keyboard tray.

34) The height adjustable desk of claim 33 wherein said ultraviolet light unit is configured to activate only when said keyboard support member is disposed in said first position.

35) The height adjustable desk of claim 34, further comprising an ultraviolet light unit power control switch.

36) The height adjustable desk of claim 35, further comprising a timer connected to said ultraviolet light unit.

37) The height adjustable desk of claim 36 further comprising a telescopic leg switch configured to extend said height adjustable desk legs and retract said height adjustable desk legs.

38) A method for disinfecting a keyboard tray on a desk comprising a) providing a desk comprising i) a desktop; ii) a plurality of telescopic height adjustable desk legs; iii) a keyboard tray; and iv) an ultraviolet light unit configured to irradiate at least a portion of the keyboard tray b) activating said ultraviolet light unit; c) deactivating said ultraviolet light unit.

39) The method as in claim 38 wherein said desk further comprises a motion detector, said method further comprising detecting motion by said motion detector.

40) The method as in claim 38 wherein said desk further comprises a timer, wherein activating said ultraviolet light unit is performed at a predetermined time established by said timer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where in FIGS. 1-18, the view is described from the perspective of the user facing backside of the desk, such as if they were sitting at the desk back side and facing towards the opposing desk front side. Therefore, the right side of the desk is the user's right side, and the left side of the desk is the user's left side.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective right view of the back side (user side) of a first embodiment comprising a two legged height adjustable desk with the keyboard tray extended and the UV disinfectant unit pointing down on the tray.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective left view of the back underside of the two legged desk with the key board tray extended.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the desktop with the keyboard tray extended.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a left side view with the keyboard tray extended.

[0031] FIG. 5 is another top plan view with the keyboard tray extended and showing a projection line 6-6.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional left side view of the two legged desk along the projection line of FIG. 5.

[0033] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective, left side view illustrating the components of the desktop tray system and the UV disinfectant unit.

[0034] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of FIG. 2 illustrating the components of the desktop from a perspective left underside view.

[0035] FIG. 9 is a magnified view of the keyboard tray, user power activation switches and the overhead UV disinfectant unit.

[0036] FIG. 10 is a perspective right view of the back side (user side) of a second embodiment comprising a four legged height adjustable desk with the keyboard tray extended and the UV disinfectant unit pointing down on the tray.

[0037] FIG. 11 is a perspective left view of the back underside of the four legged desk with the key board tray extended.

[0038] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the desktop with the keyboard tray extended.

[0039] FIG. 13 is a left side view with the keyboard tray extended.

[0040] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the four legged desk with the keyboard tray extended and showing a projection line 14-14.

[0041] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional left side view of the four legged desk along the projection line of FIG. 14.

[0042] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective, left side view of FIG. 10 illustrating the components of the desktop tray system and the UV disinfectant unit.

[0043] FIG. 17 is an exploded view of FIG. 11 illustrating the components of the desktop from a perspective left underside view.

[0044] FIG. 18 is an expanded view of the keyboard tray, user activation switches, and the overhead UV disinfectant unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0045] The following description should not be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other examples, features, aspects, embodiments, and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which includes by way of illustration, multiple various example embodiments. As will be realized, the disclosure is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. It should therefore be understood that the inventors contemplate a variety of embodiments that are not explicitly disclosed herein.

[0046] FIGS. 1-18 illustrate two exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure: a two legged height adjustable desk 100 (FIGS. 1-9); and a four legged height adjustable desk 700 (FIGS. 10-18). The desk 100 further comprises two telescopic desk legs 500 that expand to raise the desktop 110 to a standing position, and retract to lower it to a sitting position. The desktop 110 is a flat rectangular member that is oriented parallel to the ground in all positions for sitting and standing, and any height in between the two.

[0047] The desktop 110 may further comprise a cable cover 130 attached to and extending vertically downward from the front side of the desktop 110. The purpose of the cable cover is to house electric cables for office equipment residing on top of the desktop 110, such as computer cables and light fixture cables. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, the cable cover 130 is an open-ended or close-ended rectangular housing extending the length of the desktop front side.

[0048] Similarly, desk 700 further comprises four telescopic desk legs 550 that expand to raise the desktop 710 to a standing position, and retract to lower it to a sitting position. The desktop 710 may have a similar shape, size and orientation as the desktop 110. Desk 700 may further comprise a cable cover 730 extending vertically downward from the desktop underside. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 10-18, the cable cover 730 is an open-ended or a close-ended triangular housing extending the length of the desktop front side.

[0049] In all embodiments of the present disclosure, the height adjustable desk 100 and 700 further comprises: an extendable-retractable keyboard tray system 200; an ultraviolet (UV) light disinfectant unit 300; and a user control panel 400. Desk 100, 700 may further comprise a motion sensor device (not shown) that is co-located with the UV light unit 300, or located elsewhere on the desk, e.g. the top of the desktop 110.

Keyboard Tray System

[0050] As best illustrated in the exploded FIGS. 7, 8, 16 and 17, the keyboard tray system 200 comprises: a keyboard tray 210 upon which the keyboard 600, mouse 610 and mouse pad rest (see FIG. 1); a bent arm support member 220 rigidly affixed to the underside of the keyboard tray 210 on a backend; a keyboard tray guide rail 230 that the member 220's front end slides within; and a plurality of fixation mechanism(s) 240 that affix the guide rail 230 to the underside of the desktop 110. In the exemplary embodiments of, for example FIGS. 7, 8, 16 and 17, the plurality of fixation mechanism comprises: 1) three blocks 240 that are a few inches in width and are the length of the guide rail 230, and 2) with one each of mechanisms 240 positioned perpendicular to the front, middle, and back end of the rail 230, and 3) affixed between the rail 230 and the desktop 110 underside.

[0051] As illustrated in the exemplary embodiments of the figures, the bent arm support member 220 comprises two diagonally positioned, parallel flat plates spaced approximately four to six inches apart, one diagonally above and towards the desktop front side, and one below and towards the desktop backside. The two parallel flat plates are also attached to each other via a third flat plate positioned between and connecting the two flat plates, and oriented at about a forty-five degree angle to them. The three plates may be manufactured as one plate with a bent mid-section (i.e. the third flat plate).

[0052] Other embodiments of the member 220 are envisioned as long as the member 220 is able to maintain the keyboard tray 210 in a stable position parallel to the ground, and is able to slide the tray 210 from an extended position suitable for typing to a retracted position fully stored beneath the desktop 110. For example, the bent arm support member 220 may instead comprise a three plate member with the top and bottom plate parallel relative to each other, and connected via a middle third plate perpendicular to both. The top end of the middle plate is rigidly attached to the backend of the top plate and the bottom end of the middle plate is rigidly attached to the frontend of the bottom plate.

[0053] In all embodiments, the top plate may further comprise mechanisms to assist in sliding the member 220 through the guide rail 230, such as the exemplified right and left side extenders.

Ultraviolet (UV) Light Disinfectant Unit

[0054] The UV light unit 300 of the present disclosure comprises any UV light source that is mounted on the desk 100, 700 and able to effectively eradicate microbial agents growing on the top side of the keyboard tray 210. Therefore, the unit 300 may be any shape and size and located anywhere on the desk 100, 700 so that its UV rays are directed onto the topside of the keyboard tray 210, but not onto areas surrounding tray 210.

[0055] In one embodiment, this directed UV light is only activated when the tray 210 is fully retracted beneath the desktop 110, 710. In other embodiments, the directed UV light is activated when the tray 210 is in any position as long as the user is not near the backside of the desk 100, 700 (i.e. a motion sensor detects when a user is near).

[0056] One of skill in the art would know how to adjust the magnitude and duration per the type of UV light unit 300 to effectively eradicate microbial agents on the keyboard tray. In one embodiment, the ultraviolet light unit 300 irradiates UV-C rays that are less than or equal to 280 nanometers. UV-C light emitted may also be set for about 265 nanometers and/or for about 185 nanometers, both of which have been shown to be the most effective at eradicating microbial agents.

[0057] The UV light unit 300 may be on for a continuous period or repeatedly pulsed. Durations of exposure are dependent upon the type of UV light unit 300 device (e.g. manufacturer, wavelength, continuous, pulsed, etc.) and should be operated in accordance with manufacturer's instruction. Durations of exposure may range from seconds to minutes, for example about 5 seconds (Umezawa et al) to about 10 minutes (Nerandzic et al).

[0058] In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1-18, the UV light unit 300 is a thin rectangular UV light emitting unit that is rigidly mounted onto the underside of the desktop 110, 710 at the edge of the desktop's backside. Unit 300 is centered over the keyboard tray 210, and with a length of between about as long as, or about two-thirds the length of, the tray 210.

[0059] Means of activating the UV light unit 300 may comprise one or more of the following. The user may turn on/off the unit 300 with a manual activation switch, such as one on the user control panel 400 or on the side of the UV light unit 300. The user would stand away from the keyboard tray 210 to prevent exposure, such as standing to the right of the desk 100, 700 to easily reach the right side user control panel 400 while the keyboard tray 210 is fully retracted underneath of the desktop 110, 710.

[0060] Additionally, or alternatively, means for activating the UV light unit 300 may comprise automated mechanisms attached to the unit 300. For example, unit 300 may be connected to and under the operational control of a motion sensor that detects when a user is not near the keyboard tray 210. The UV light unit 300 could also be programmed to activate on pre-set conditions, such as whenever the keyboard tray 210 is returned to the retracted position.

[0061] And, additionally or alternatively, activation mechanisms may also comprise a timer that is set by the user for a one time use, or pre-set for regular scheduled irradiation (e.g. every morning at 3:00 am for 10 minutes).

User Control Panel

[0062] In the various embodiments, the user control panel 400 comprises one activation/deactivation power switch for a user to turn on/off the motors that extend and retract the telescopic desk legs 500, 550.

[0063] In another embodiment, the user control panel 400 comprises at least two activation/deactivation power switches: one for raising/lowering the desk legs 500, 550; and one for turning the UV light unit 300 on/off.

[0064] The user control panel 400 may further comprise a third power switch to turn a motion sensor on/off. Again, the motion sensor may be located anywhere on or near the backside of the desktop as long as it is able to detect the user behind the desk and near the keyboard tray 210. For example, the panel 400 may be have an activation switch for a motion sensor device that is located on the top surface of the desktop 110, 710 that can communicate wirelessly with, or is wired to, the UV light unit 300 and with the panel 400.

[0065] The user control panel 400 is also easily accessible to the user, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1-18, by being located on the right backside of the desktop 110, 710. It is understood that the user control panel 400 may be located elsewhere, such as on the left backside of the desktop for left handed users, or on top of the desktop 110, 710 while within easy arms reach when sitting behind the desk.

[0066] Although the present disclosure has been fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanied figures-drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present disclosure, then they should be construed as being included within the various embodiments.

REFERENCES

[0067] Nerandzic et al, Evaluation of a pulsed xenon ultraviolet disinfection system for reduction of healthcare-associated pathogens in hospital rooms, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2015 February; 36(2): 192-7. [0068] Nwankiti et al., Computer Keyboard and Mouse: Etiological Agents for Microbial Infection, Nature and Science, 2012, 10(10): 162-166. [0069] Pope et al, Spine Ergonomics, Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 4: 49-68. [0070] Pronk et al., Reducing Occupational Sitting Time and Improving Worker Health: The Take-a-Stand Project, 2011, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012, Oct. 11; Vol. 9. [0071] Umezawa et al, A comparative study of the bactericidal activity and daily disinfection housekeeping surfaces by a new portable pulsed UV radiation device, Curr Microbiol, 2012 June; 64(6): 581-7.