DE20209687U1 - Height adjustable support for furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

The leg (2) is assembled of a horizontal stand (4), an outer bar (6), an inner bar (8) and a gas pressurized spring (24) fixed between them and accommodated inside the inner bar (8). A flat longitudinal element (14) is accommodated inside the outer bar (6) at a short distance from its inner surface, facilitating the insertion of the inner bar (8) between the inner surface of the outer bar (6) and the flat element (14). The spring (24) is stationary joined to a horizontal bolt (28) located at the top of the flat element (14) and hung with a hook (24b) to a plate (26) fixed inside the lower end of the inner bar (8), facilitating an axial motion of the spring (24) within the set limits. When a locking screw (22) guided through both of the bars (6, 8) and the flat element (14) is loosened, the tabletop is lifted by the forces of the spring (24) and can be adjusted by tightening the screw (22) at the appropriate height.

Description

Bremen,

Our reference: Direct dial:

21 June 2002

P 1092 JK/sol/ame/jo 0421/36 35

Patent attorneys
European Patent Attorneys
Dipl.-Ing. Günther Eisenführ
Dipl.-Ing. Dieter K. Speiser
Dr.-lng.WernerW. Rabus
Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Brügge
Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Klinghardt
Dipl.-Ing. Klaus G. Göken
Jochen Ehlers
Dipl.-Ing. Mark Andres
Dipl.-Chem. Dr. Uwe Stilkenböhmer
Dipl.-Ing. Stephan Keck
Dipl.-Ing. Johannes MB Wasiljeff

Lawyers
Ulrich H. Sander
Christian Spintig
Sabine Richter
Harald A. Foerster

Martinistrasse 24

D-28195 Bremen

Phone +49-10)421-36 35 0

Fax +49-10)421-337 8788 (G3)

Fax +49-10)421-328 8631 (G4)

mail@eisenfuhr.com

http://www.eisenfuhr.com

Patent Attorney

European Patent Attorney

Dipl.-Phys. Frank Meier

Lawyers

Rainer Boehm

Nicol A. Schrömgens, LL. M.

Munich

Patent attorneys

European Patent Attorneys

Dipl.-Phys. Heinz Nöth

Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing.RainerFritsche

Lbm.-Chem. Gabriele Leißler-Gerstl

Dipl.-Ing. Olaf Ungerer

Patent Attorney

Dipl.-Chem. Dr. Peter Schuler

Berlin

Patent attorneys

European Patent Attorneys

Dipl.-Ing. Henning Christiansen

Dipl.-Ing. Joachim von Oppen

Dipl.-Ing. Jutta Kaden

Patent Attorney

Dipl.-Phys. Dr. Andreas Theobald

Alicante

European Trademark Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Klinghardt

Applicant/Owner: PALMBERG OFFICE EQUIPMENT ...
Official reference number: New registration

Palmberg Office Equipment + Service GmbH Am Palmberg 9, 23921 Schönberg

Height adjustable support for furniture

The invention relates to a height-adjustable support for furniture, in particular tables, with a first support element that can be placed on a base, a second support element that can be moved in height relative to the first support element for holding a section of a piece of furniture, in particular a table top, and a spring element that connects the second support element to the first support element in such a way that it essentially resiliently prestresses the second support element relative to the first support element.

45 The support and thus also the two support elements usually have an elongated body which is essentially placed upright or vertically. The first support element forms the lower part of the support, which stands with its lower end directly or via a foot on a base. In contrast, the second support element is the upper part

so the support, at the upper end of which a section of the furniture, in the case of a

table, the table top. Usually, several, preferably three or four, supports of the type described above are provided on a piece of furniture, which can then be adjusted in height essentially synchronously.

Such supports are used in particular for tables with height-adjustable table tops in the office area. In order to lock the second support element and thus the section of the furniture it supports (for example the table top) at the desired height between an upper and a lower end position, a corresponding locking device is provided. A compression spring is used as the spring element, which preloads the second support element into the upper end position, so that when the locking device is released, the second support element is moved by the spring element into the upper end position. In practice, however, it has been found that the compression spring tends to deflect sideways, particularly when it is compressed particularly strongly in the area of the lower end position of the second support element, whereby the preload is undesirably reduced or even completely lost. To prevent this phenomenon, additional measures are required, such as guide rails or an additional tube to accommodate the spring, which, however, complicates the design of the height-adjustable support and causes higher manufacturing costs.

It is therefore an object of the invention to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art and to propose a simpler construction which more effectively enables the desired resilient prestressing of the second support element relative to the first support element.

This object is achieved in that, in a height-adjustable support of the type mentioned at the outset, the spring element is arranged such that its first end connected to the first support element is at a higher level relative to the ground than its second end connected to the second support element.

With the help of the construction according to the invention, the undesirable lateral migration of the spring element is avoided when the second support element is preloaded in its upper end position, since the spring element does not react to pressure,

but rather is subjected to tension. Special structural measures to guide the spring element and keep it in alignment are not necessary. The invention thus offers a simple, yet effective and at the same time inexpensive construction for a height-adjustable support for furniture, in which the second support element supporting a section of the furniture is subjected to a pre-tension by the spring element.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.
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The spring element should essentially be preloaded in tension, whereby the second support element is preloaded into the upper end position.

Conveniently, the first end of the spring element engages an upper portion of the first support element and the second end of the spring element engages a lower portion of the second support element which is located lower than the upper portion of the first support element.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the first support element has a first section and a second section spaced apart from the first section, the second support element is located with a section between the first and second sections of the first support element and the first end of the spring element is connected to the second section of the first support element. This embodiment allows a concealed arrangement of the spring element.

Usually, a locking device is also provided for selectively fixing the second support element relative to the first support element. In a further development of the last-described preferred embodiment, the locking device has means for generating a frictional connection between the first and second sections of the first support element and the second support element. Thus, for locking, the second support element is clamped with a section between the first and second sections of the first support element. For this purpose, the first and second sections of the first support element can preferably each have a bore and the section between them

of the second support element have an elongated hole extending in the direction of movement and the means for generating the frictional connection is a screw that extends through the holes and the elongated hole. The screw can be in screw engagement with the first or the second section of the first support element, depending on which of these two sections is further away from the head of the screw. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to secure the screw with a nut.

Usually, the first and second support elements comprise tubes which are telescopically guided into one another, of which the tube of the second support element should preferably be guided in the tube of the first support element.

In the event that the first support element has the previously mentioned first and second spaced-apart sections, the first section of the first support element should preferably be designed as an outer tube and its second section as an inner strip extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the support element, so that the tube of the second support element can be clamped with a section between the outer tube of the first support element and the inner strip.

Conveniently, the second end of the spring element can be anchored to a connecting element which rests or is arranged at the lower end of the tube of the second support element.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a height-adjustable

Support in partially sectioned perspective view; and

Figure 2 shows the main components of the support of Figure 1 in

disassembled or exploded, partially cut, perspective representation.

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The height-adjustable support 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 preferably forms part of a desk and supports the associated table top. Usually, at least two such supports are arranged, preferably one support on the right-hand side and another support on the left-hand side of the table. However, it is also conceivable to use the support 2 shown for other furniture where height adjustability is required.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the support 2 shown has a horizontally aligned foot element 4, which gives the support 2 sufficient stability so that the support 2 can stand safely on a surface not shown.

The support 2 has a lower first tubular support element 6, which is attached with its lower end 6a approximately at a right angle to the base element 4. The first tubular support element 6 is open at its upper end 6b, into which an upper second tubular support element 8 is inserted, so that the lower end 8a of the second tubular support element 8 lies within the first tubular support element 6. The upper end 8b of the second tubular support element 8 is located outside the first tubular support element 6 and lies above its upper end 6b. In the illustrated embodiment, a fitting 10 for holding a table top or the like is attached to the upper end 8b of the second tubular support element 8.

As can also be seen from Figure 1, in the erected state of the embodiment shown, the first and second tubular support elements 6, 8 are arranged approximately vertically or upright. However, an arrangement inclined relative to the ground would also be conceivable. The upper second tubular support element 8 is arranged approximately coaxially to the lower first tubular support element 6 and is arranged to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction relative to the latter. The first and second tubular support elements 6, 8, which are inserted into one another, thus form a telescopic arrangement for height adjustment, with the lower first tubular support element 6 being stationary and the upper second tubular support element 8 being movable relative to the ground (not shown). Because the upper second tubular support element 8 can be selectively pulled out and pushed into the ground over a limited distance, the upper second

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tubular support element 8 is height adjustable between a lower end position and an upper end position.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, the lower first support element 6 has a tube 12 and a strip 14 which is arranged inside the tube 12 and extends in its longitudinal direction. With its lower end 14a, the strip 14 is fastened to the tube 12 in the region of the lower end 6a of the first support element 6 by means of a screw 16, while the upper end 14b of the strip 14 protrudes from the tube 12 and thus lies above the upper end 6b of the first support element 6.

The strip 14 is arranged inside the tube 12 of the first support element 6 at such a distance from the inner wall of the tube 12 that the upper second tubular support element 8 with its adjacent section lies between the inner wall of the tube 12 of the first support element 6 and the strip 14. The arrangement can be such that the outer wall of the second tubular support element 8 can rest lightly on the inner wall of the tube 12 of the first support element 6 and the inner wall of the second tubular support element 8 can rest lightly on the strip 14, although there must still be enough play so that the second tubular support element 8 can be moved telescopically relative to the first tubular support element 6.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, a bore 18 is formed at a point in the tube 12 of the first support element 6 between the lower end 6a and the upper end 6b. At the same height and in alignment with this bore 18, a bore is also provided in the strip 14, although this cannot be seen in the figures. Furthermore, at the same height in the second tubular support element 8, an elongated hole 20 is formed, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the second support element 8. A locking screw 22 is inserted through the bore 18 in the tube 12 of the first support element 6, the elongated hole 20 in the second support element 8 and the bore in the strip 14, which, when tightened, creates a frictional connection between the tube 12 and the strip 14 of the first support element 6 on the one hand and the second support element 8 on the other. To achieve a screw engagement, the bore provided in the strip 14 is designed as a threaded bore; Alternatively, it is also conceivable, for example,

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the hole in the bar 14 is to be provided as a through hole and a nut is to be welded onto the rear side of the bar 14. The locking screw 22 therefore forms a locking device in order to be able to lock the second support element 8 at a desired height between the upper end position and the lower end position relative to the first support element 6. The stroke for the height adjustment between the upper end position and the lower end position is defined by the length of the elongated hole 20 in the second support element 8.

Within the second tubular support element 8, not only the strip 14 of the first support element 6 extends, but also a spring 24 in the longitudinal direction of the first and second tubular support elements 6, 8. The spring 24 has a lower hook-shaped end 24b which is anchored to a transverse and thus horizontally arranged plate 26 which rests on or is attached to the lower end 8a of the second tubular support element 8, but is not connected to the tube 12 or the strip 14, but is movable relative to the first support element 6. Furthermore, the spring 24 has a hook-shaped upper end 24a which is anchored to a transverse bolt 28 which is attached to the upper end 14b of the strip 14.

In the embodiment shown, the spring 24 is designed as a tension spring. Since its upper end 24a is attached to the upper end 14b of the strip 14, which is part of the stationary first support element 6, the upper end 24a of the spring 24 is also in a fixed position relative to the ground. In contrast, the lower end 24b of the spring 24 is movable, since it is anchored to the lower end 8a of the second support element 8, which is movable in height. Since a tension spring always has the property of assuming its shortest length, this means that when the locking screw 22 is loosened, the spring 24 pulls the second support element 8 upwards, thereby reducing the distance between the lower end 8a of the second support element 8 and the upper end 14b of the strip 14 of the first support element 6 to a minimum value, thus spring-loading the second support element 8 into the upper end position and thereby bringing the table top attached to the fitting 10 (not shown in the figures) to the greatest possible height relative to the base. If, on the other hand, the height is to be reduced, the tension must be counteracted.

-8th-

the spring 24 exerts pressure on the movable second support element 8 in order to move it in the direction of the lower end 6a of the first support element 6, wherein the support 2 is then fixed at the desired height by tightening the locking screw 22.

Claims (9)

1. Height-adjustable support for furniture, in particular tables, with a first support element ( 6 ) that can be placed on a base, a second support element ( 8 ) that is height-adjustable relative to the first support element ( 6 ) for holding a section of a piece of furniture, in particular a table top, and a spring element ( 24 ) that connects the second support element ( 8 ) to the first support element ( 6 ) in such a way that it essentially resiliently prestresses the second support element ( 8 ) relative to the first support element ( 6 ), characterized in that the spring element ( 24 ) is arranged in such a way that its first end ( 24a ) connected to the first support element ( 6 ) is at a higher level relative to the base than its second end ( 24b ) connected to the second support element ( 8 ). 2. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element ( 24 ) is essentially prestressed in tension. 3. Support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first end ( 24 a) of the spring element ( 24 ) engages an upper portion ( 14 a) of the first support element ( 6 ) and the second end ( 24 b) of the spring element ( 24 ) engages a lower portion ( 8 a) of the second support element ( 8 ) which is located lower than the upper portion ( 14 b) of the first support element ( 6 ). 4. Support according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first support element ( 6 ) has a first section ( 12 ) and a second section ( 14 ) spaced from the first section ( 12 ), the second support element ( 8 ) lies with a section between the first and second sections ( 12 , 14 ) of the first support element ( 6 ) and the first end ( 24a ) of the spring element ( 24 ) is connected to the second section ( 14 ) of the first support element ( 6 ). 5. Support according to claim 4, with a locking device for selectively fixing the second support element ( 8 ) relative to the first support element ( 6 ), characterized in that the locking device has means ( 22 ) for generating a frictional connection between the first and second sections ( 12 , 14 ) of the first support element ( 6 ) and the second support element ( 8 ). 6. Support according to claim 5, characterized in that the first and second sections ( 12 , 14 ) of the first support element ( 6 ) each have a bore ( 18 ) and the intermediate section of the second support element ( 8 ) has an elongated hole ( 20 ) extending in the direction of movement and the means for producing the frictional connection is a screw ( 22 ) which extends through the bores ( 18 ) and the elongated hole ( 20 ). 7. Support according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second support elements ( 6 , 8 ) have tubes which are guided telescopically into one another, characterized in that the tube of the second support element ( 8 ) is guided in the tube ( 12 ) of the first support element ( 6 ). 8. Support according to at least one of claims 4 to 6 and further according to claim 7, characterized in that the first section of the first support element ( 6 ) is designed as an outer tube ( 12 ) and the second section is designed as an inner strip ( 14 ) extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the first support element ( 6 ). 9. Support according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the second end ( 24b ) of the spring element ( 24 ) is anchored to a connecting element ( 26 ) which rests or is arranged on the lower end ( 8a ) of the tube of the second support element ( 8 ).