CN101014747B - telescopic support column - Google Patents

Abstract

A telescoping post shore having: an outer tube; a plurality of slots disposed longitudinally along the outer tube; an inner tube; at least one tongue member affixed to and protruding from the inner tube, the at least one tongue member configured to be received by the plurality of slots; wherein the inner tube and the at least one tongue member are sized to slide within the outer tube, and the inner tube and the at least one tongue member are rotatable within the outer tube to engage the at least one tongue member with at least one of the plurality of slots.

Description

telescopic support column

technical field

The present application relates to a support column, in particular, the present application relates to a telescoping support column for use in a system for building construction. the

Background technique

In a typical building construction system, support columns are used to help support an object, usually a ceiling or roof. Where ceiling heights vary, it is clearly advantageous to have a support column that can be quickly adjusted from one height to another while ensuring a safe working environment for all workers. the

Truss systems, such as listed in US Pat. No. 6,116,567, arise and involve screw jacks that can be rotated around a column to adjust the height of the column. While this configuration is fine for small adjustments, it can be very time consuming if one wishes to extend or retract the column by a few feet. the

Another type of support column described in Canadian patent CA2249921 is adjustable and can be used in a system or stand alone. These types of posts use screws, while other similar types of posts use pin-type assemblies. While both types of support columns are capable of extending the column faster than screw jacks, they require the use of small screws or pins which are difficult to use and easy to lose. the

Another prior art column is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,653,415 to Peri GmBH. The post in the '415 can be adjusted using pins for quick adjustment to an approximate height, and subsequently with fine adjustment means. The problem with this use of pins is that they are easy to lose and they are an extra component that is needed when erecting/detaching the column. the

Therefore, there is a need for a telescopic support column that can be quickly adjusted from one position to another. the

Furthermore, there is a need for a support column with a simple design involving very few parts.

Contents of the invention

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a support post comprising: a hollow outer leg; a plurality of slots along the length of the outer leg; an inner leg, dimensioned fabricated to fit within said outer leg; a tongue plate welded to one end of said inner leg, said tongue plate comprising a plurality of tongue members, wherein said inner leg is rotatable within said outer leg from a first position To a second position in which the tongue is fully within the outer leg and in a second position the tongue extends through the slot locking the inner leg in place relative to the outer leg. the

In addition, a preferred embodiment of the support column includes an adjustment screw assembly, an adjustment handle, and a plurality of support pins, wherein the screw assembly is used to make fine adjustments to the length of the column. A lower outer leg is also provided at the opposite end of the screw assembly. Another additional feature of the preferred embodiment is the inclusion of a plurality of slots along the length of the inner and outer legs. the

Accordingly, the present invention provides a telescoping support column comprising: an outer tube; a plurality of slots disposed longitudinally along the outer tube; an inner tube; at least one tongue affixed to the inner tube and extending from the the inner tube protrudes, the at least one tongue is configured to be received by the plurality of slots; wherein the inner tube and the at least one tongue are sized to slide within the outer tube, and the The inner tube and the at least one tongue are rotatable within the outer tube to engage the at least one tongue with at least one of the plurality of slots. the

Other aspects and advantages of the device will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. the

Description of drawings

The invention will be better understood with reference to the following figures. the

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support column according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the side view of preferred support column;

Figure 3a is a view taken from A-A of Figure 2 with the deadbolt in the unlocked position;

Figure 3b is a view taken from B-B of Figure 2, wherein the deadbolt is in the locked position;

Figure 4 is a side view of the inner tube;

Figure 5a is a view taken from C-C of Figure 4;

Figure 5b is a support tongue that can be fixed to the bottom of the inner tube of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side view of the outer tube;

Figure 7 is a view taken from D-D of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view taken from E-E of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side view of a support column with an alternative method for fine adjustment;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the inner tube and the outer tube, showing an alternative dimension design of the inner tube and the outer tube;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the inner tube and the outer tube, showing another alternative size design of the inner tube and the outer tube;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the inner tube and the outer tube, showing yet another alternative dimension design of the inner tube and the outer tube;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the inner and outer tubes showing an alternative dimensioning of the inner and outer tubes without channels. the

Detailed ways

The following description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In a preferred embodiment, each column 10 has an inner tube 12 and an outer tube 14 . As shown in FIG. 1 , the inner tube 12 is adapted to extend telescopically from within the outer tube 14 . The inner tube 12 can be seen better in Figures 4, 5a and 5b. the

In a preferred embodiment, the inner tube 12 has a tongue 19 integrally connected to one end thereof. Tongue plate 19 includes a plurality of tongues 20 positioned along inner tube 12 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the inner tube 12 may have as few as one tongue, or may have a plurality of tongues 20 that are vertically movable relative to each other when the inner tube 12 is in the support position. Furthermore, the tongues 20 are preferably arranged in groups on the same level, and in one embodiment cross each other. However, alternative embodiments may also include tongues at different height levels on each side of the inner tube 12 . the

In a preferred embodiment, the tongue 20 is located at the lower end of the inner tube 12 . However, this is not required and the tongues 20 may be located at various points along the length of the inner tube 12 . the

Tongue 20 extends perpendicular to, from, inner tube 12 and is dimensioned to extend through slot 22 of outer tube 14 . Tongue 20 and slot 22 are used to make large adjustments to post 10 very quickly. the

As shown in FIG. 2 , column 10 includes an upper outer tube 14 and a lower tube 16 in the preferred embodiment. The outer tube 14 includes screw holes at its lower portion, and the lower tube 16 includes screw holes at its upper end. Between the outer tube 14 and the down tube 16 is an adjustment screw assembly 24 . The screw assembly 24 is used to make fine adjustments to the length of the column 10 and includes an adjustment handle 26 and a plurality of support pins 28 . The fine adjustment screw assembly 24 has double threads, so a single rotation will allow twice the distance compared to a single thread. It will be appreciated that the support pin 28 supports the screw assembly 24 whereby this mechanism can be used to finely adjust the post 10 .

In a preferred embodiment, the screw assembly 24 is located at about a worker's waist height to facilitate fine adjustment of the post 10 and easy removal of the post 10 . the

Other fine adjustment methods can be used in this device, one of which is shown in Figure 9, wherein a release type system (release type system) 34 is used between the outer tube 14 and the down tube 16. The release system 34 and other fine adjustment systems are known to those skilled in the art. the

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment also includes a column head 18 at the end of the column 10, which is telescopic from the inner tube 12 and used for support. The length that the stud 18 extends from the inner tube 12 can be adjusted by any of several configurations, such as the use of screws, or a pin-type configuration. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 and Figure 9, spring pins 38 are used. the

A preferred embodiment of the outer tube 14 is shown in FIGS. 6-8 . As shown in FIG. 7 , the cross-section is substantially rectangular, with a corresponding set of outward rounded corners 30 and a corresponding set of inward rounded corners 32 . The dimensions of the outer tube 14 are such that the entire inner leg 12 and each tongue 20 fits completely within the outer leg 14 when each tongue 20 is located within the outwardly facing fillet 30 ( FIG. 3 a ). This configuration of the outer tube 14 is not essential to the device, but it allows for multiple recesses for the thumb and fingers. In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 8 , an external bore 44 is arranged, sized to receive the support pin 28 . the

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a rectangular cross section is one option and there are other possible cross sections. Reference is now made to FIGS. 10 to 12 . As shown in Fig. 10, a square cross-section may be used, wherein the tongue 20 may interact with the slot 22 (not shown in Fig. 10). Other cross-sections include circular cross-sections as shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12 . Various internal structures for the inner tube 12 are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 . the

Alternatively, FIG. 13 shows an outer tube 14 having similar dimensions to that of FIG. 10 . However, in the embodiment of Fig. 13, channel 42 need not be present. The embodiment of FIG. 13 shows two channels 42 , but these channels are not engaged by the tongue 20 . In alternative embodiments, channel 42 need not be present at all. It will be appreciated that tongue 20 is still able to engage slot 22 when no channel 42 is present. the

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the use of slots 22 in channel 42 as shown in FIG. 10 adds the further advantage of having a greater bearing area for tongue 20 . Specifically, slot 22 includes the walls of channel 42, thereby providing additional support. the

Figure 10 further illustrates the use of tongues 20 formed from slats. This is advantageous in the case, for example, when the tongue 20 is not located at the bottom of the inner tube 12 . However, the tongue plate 19 of FIG. 5b is preferred in most cases because the tongue plate 19 is placed below the outer diameter of the inner tube 12 thereby providing support for the entire inner tube 12 . the

The slots 22 in the outer tube 14 (as best shown in FIG. 1 ) are spaced so that when the inner tube 12 is rotated from a position where the tongue 20 is entirely within the outer tube 14 to a position where the tongue 20 extends through Passing the position of the slot 22 in the outer tube locks the inner tube 12 in place within the outer tube 14 . In a preferred embodiment, tongue 20 follows a non-resistance surface to allow easier rotation of inner tube 12 within outer leg 14 . There is also a small downward notch (not shown) in the slot 22, allowing the tongue 20 to lock into the notch due to gravity. This notch also precisely locks the tongue into the resting position. This avoids accidental rotation when lifting into place or when underloading. In a preferred embodiment, the notch is located both above and below the slot, allowing the column to be used upside down or upside down. Furthermore, the safety hole 41 accommodates a pin, thereby further preventing removal of the tongue 20 and thus the inner tube 12 . the

In one embodiment, the slots 22 are spaced 6 inches or 15 centimeters apart to allow quick coarse adjustment of the inner tube 12 within the outer tube 14 . Other dimensions are also possible. the

Post 10 is thereby configured to the proper length by adjusting inner tube 12 within outer tube 14 using tongue 20 and slot 22 . The inner tube 12 and outer tube 14 are adjusted to the approximate length required by the column 10 . Subsequently, fine adjustments may be accomplished using a fine adjustment structure such as screw assembly 24 or adjustment mechanism 34 . the

As best shown in Figure 7, the tongue 20 slides into the slot 22 by rotating the inner tube 12 through a 45 degree angle. However, other rotation angles are also possible. the

In a preferred embodiment of the inner tube 12, as shown in FIGS. In this embodiment the tongue 19 is welded to the bottom of the inner tube 12 . Alternatives to welding are known to those skilled in the art, and any integral connection is suitable. Also, as shown in Figures 5a and 5b, the preferred embodiment of the tongue plate includes two tongue members 20, however, a different number of tongue members may also be used. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the connector aperture 40 near the opposite end of the tongue plate 19 of the inner tube 12 is shown. the

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3 b , the support pin 28 fits through the inwardly facing radius 32 of the outer tube 14 . In this embodiment there is also a pair of spring pins 38 which pass through the support pins 28 to lock them in place. the

The embodiment of Figure 5b shows a pair of safety holes 41 which accommodate pins which further lock the tongue 20 in place. These safety pins, together with the notches in the slots 22, are not essential to the device, but are features that can greatly increase the overall safety of the support post. the

In the preferred embodiment of the support column 10 there are a plurality of channels 42 positioned along the length of both the inner tube 12 and the outer tube 14 . Another type of support device in a building construction system can be used to engage the channel 42 to add auxiliary support in different directions, or to attach any type of accessory or external support with connectors. the

As shown in Figures 1, 3b and 10, when the tongue 20 is engaged with the slot 22, the channel 42 of the inner tube 12 is aligned with the channel 42 of the outer tube 14, thereby allowing accessories or posts to be attached to the inner tube in the same plane. Tube 12 and outer tube 14. This is beneficial because the channel 42 can now be used along the entire length of the column 10 . Prior art solutions do not have this capability and generally do not have channels 42 on the inner tube 12 . the

Thus, by providing a tongue and groove system for coarse adjustment of the inner tube within the outer tube, the post system thus provides a means for quick removal or displacement of the post. The tongue is affixed to the inner tube 12 so that the post can be quickly removed and removed without having to find pins or align holes. The preferred shape of the outer tube 14 is configured for ease of manual handling to allow the worker's thumb and fingers to grasp the post. the

In a preferred embodiment, post 10 is constructed of aluminum. However, other materials may be used. the

These and other advantages of the invention are apparent from the foregoing description with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the foregoing description is not meant to limit the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.

Claims (17)

1. A telescopic support column, comprising: outer tube; a plurality of slots disposed longitudinally along the outer tube; inner tube; at least one tongue member rigidly affixed to and protruding from the inner tube, the at least one tongue member configured to be received by the plurality of slots; Wherein, the inner tube and the at least one tongue are sized to slide within the outer tube, and the inner tube and the at least one tongue are rotatable within the outer tube so that the At least one tongue is engaged with at least one of the plurality of slots. 2. The telescoping support column of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of slots further comprises a groove on an underside thereof, wherein when engaging the at least one of the plurality of slots, the plurality of slots The at least one tongue is locked into the slot. 3. The telescoping support column of claim 1 , wherein said at least one tongue includes an aperture, when said at least one tongue engages said at least one of said plurality of slots, thereby inserting said at least one tongue into said at least one slot. The aperture is adapted to receive a safety pin when the at least one tongue is locked in the at least one of the plurality of slots. 4. The telescoping support column of claim 1, wherein the outer tube includes a lower portion, an upper portion, and a fine adjustment mechanism disposed between the lower portion and the upper portion. 5. The telescoping support column of claim 4, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism includes threaded holes and adjustment screw assemblies in the lower and upper portions. 6. The telescoping support column of claim 4, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism comprises a release system. 7. The telescoping support column of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots are equidistantly spaced along the outer tube. 8. The telescoping support column of claim 1, wherein the inner tube includes two tongues affixed to a lower surface of the inner tube. 9. A telescoping support column according to claim 8, wherein the two tongues are placed diametrically opposed to each other. 10. The telescoping support column of claim 8, wherein the two tongues are part of a tongue that is affixed to the inner tube. 11. The telescoping support column of claim 1, wherein the inner tube includes a plurality of tongues disposed longitudinally thereon. 12. The telescoping support column of claim 1, wherein the inner tube and the outer tube include longitudinal channels, the longitudinal slots being adapted to receive connectors. 13. The telescoping support column of claim 12, wherein the channel in the inner tube aligns with the channel in the outer tube when the tongue engages the slot. 14. The telescoping support column of claim 12, wherein the support column is part of a support frame. 15. The telescopic support column according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the cross-section of the outer tube has a set of outwardly rounded corners and a set of inwardly rounded corners, the one A set of outwardly rounded corners is adapted to slidably receive the inner tube and at least one tongue. 16. A telescoping support column according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the outer tube comprises a circular cross-section. 17. A telescoping support column according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the outer tube comprises a square cross-section.

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