EP0129941B1

EP0129941B1 - Table

Info

Publication number: EP0129941B1
Application number: EP84200908A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cornelis Franciscus De La Haye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-06-24
Filing date: 1984-06-22
Publication date: 1986-09-24
Also published as: ATE22392T1; DE3460817D1; EP0129941A1; NL8302257A

Abstract

A table comprising two or more legs at least one leg being fitted with a height adjustment mechanism, all legs being fitted with adjustment mechanisms that are adjustable both in separate and in interconnected relationship.

Description

The invention relates to a table comprising a central portion, at least one wing portion and a plurality of legs.
It is an object of the invention to construct a table which permits different combinations of central and wing portions and which is conveniently adjustable in height.
To this effect each leg of a table of the above described type is provided with a height adjustment mechanism, the mechanisms being in interconnected relationship, each mechanism comprising a worm-worm wheel transmission, located at the respective leg, the worms being interconnected through universal joints and detachable connecting rods with telescopically resilient portions.
When the legs are interspaced so that when the table is loaded, deflection thereof is feared, it is possible to dispose around the connecting rod a tube connected at each end pivotally to the respective leg. As a result, an additional support for the table top is provided and, moreover, the connecting rod is covered.
In further elaboration the connection between the wing portion and the central portion can extend according to a curved line of separation and the portions can be interconnected by a tie member. By using a curved line of separation, a considerably greater stability is obtained than in case a straight line of separation is used. Adjacent said line of separation, the central portion and the wing portion may each be provided with a groove, in which grooves there is provided a connecting strip. By using reversible wings, there can be arranged both at the left and the right of the central portion.
It is observed that German patent 64,229 discloses per se a table comprising legs fitted with height adjustment mechanisms, said legs being adjustable in height entirely or partly by means of one operating mechanism. For this purpose, the drive spindle is moved in axial direction. The construction described relates to the lifting and lowering or inclination of a table top, in this case a drawing-board. There is no question of a table comprising a central portion and at least one wing portion. Reference is also made to US patent 3,741,852, describing a table comprising various parts, and forms, respectively. However, this concerns each time separate tables, each having fixed legs and being loosely positioned in juxtaposed relationship when in use.
In order to ensure a good stability of the legs separately, each leg may consist of at least two telescopically coacting portions.
One embodiment of the table according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with partly exploded parts, of a leg adjustment mechanism;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the worm-worm wheel transmission used in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a top view of a table top;
Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 and
Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line V-V of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, a leg adjustment mechanism comprises an attachment plate 1 to which a depending jacket 2 is attached in a manner not shown, and a casing 3 for a worm-worm wheel transmission. The latter is further diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2: a worm 4 is fitted towards both ends with a worm stub shaft 5, to which a universal joint portion 6 is attached. A worm wheel 7 secured against rotation is mounted on a threaded shaft 8. This threaded shaft is received in a nut 9, which is affixed to the top of a support 10 fitted with a foot 11. As shown in Fig. 1, the jacket 2 is fitted with a slot 12, receiving a pin 13 affixed to the support 10. The edge of the slot may be fitted with a dimensioning, not further shown.
It will be clear that by rotation of the worm 4, the height of the attachment plate can be adjusted selectively.
The universal joint portion 6 connects to a corresponding universal joint portion 14, the free end of which is fitted with a cross-sectionally square pin 15. Said pin 15 is slidingly received in a corresponding recess of a connecting rod 16. Between the universal joint portion 15 and the connecting rod 16, there is provided a compression spring 17.
The top view of a table top shown in Fig. 3 diagrammatically shows as central portion 18 and wings 19 linking up therewith by means of a curved line of separation 30. Instead of the wings 19, use can also be made of the wing 34 shown at the right in Fig. 3. Naturally, also wings of different formats or sections, or a plurality of wings one behind the other are possible.
Underneath each wing, there is represented a leg adjustment mechanism 1-10 with a foot 11. As shown in the drawings, the leg adjustment mechanisms are interconnected by means of the worm stub shafts 5, the universal joint portions 6, 14 and the connecting rods 15. The central axes of the worm shafts and the connecting rods may be at an angle relative to each other different from 180°.
The leg adjustment mechanism mounted underneath the wing 34 is fitted at the projecting free universal joint portion 6 with a detachable or non-detachable crank 23 adapted to adjust the coupled leg adjustment mechanisms.
In order to prevent, especially with larger top formats, a deflection thereof, it is possible, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to provide a cross-sectionally rectangular tube 35 having lugs 36, the central axis of which extends through the pivot point of the universal joint 6, 14. The lugs 36 are rotatably connected, by elements not shown to the attachment plate 1, and a support 37 attached to the jacket 2, respectively.
The cross-section shown in Fig. 4 shows the attachment of the attachment plate 1 to the wing 19. As shown in the Figure, the wing 19 is fitted with a bore 20 having edge holes 21. In said bore and one of the edge holes, there is received an internally threaded bush 22. A screw 23 extending through an opening in the attachment plate 1 is adapted to coact with the bush.
The cross-section shown in Fig. 5 finally shows the attachment of the central portion 18 to the wing 19. In the wing 19 there is provided a hole, not further shown, wherein there is arranged both an internally and an externally threaded bush 24. The bush 24 coacts with a screwed spindle 25, the projecting end of which extends through a recess 26 in the central portion 18.
The screwed spindle 25 extends through the recess 26 into a recess 27 and is fitted at that location with a washer 28 and a nut 29. By tightening the nut 29, the wing is firmly pulled against the central portion 18.
As further shown in Fig. 5, both the central portion 18 and the wing 19, at the line of separation 30, is fitted with a recess 31, 32, wherein a connecting strip 33 is received.
The table according to the invention is particularly suitable among other things for placing thereon a computer-like terminal, while the terminal itself can be arranged on the central portion and auxiliary appliances, if any, and forms, respectively, can be disposed on the wing(s).

Claims

1. A table comprising a central portion (18) and at least one wing portion (19, 34), a plurality of legs (2), each leg being provided with a height adjustment mechanism (4-10), the mechanisms being adjustable in inter-connected relationship, each mechanism comprising a worm-worm wheel transmission (3, 4) located at the respective leg, the worms being interconnected through universal joints (6) and detachable connecting rods (16) provided with telescopically resilient portions (15, 17).

2. A table according to claim 1, characterized by a tube (35) arranged around the connecting rod (16), said tube being pivotally connected at each end to the respective leg, with the pivot axis of the tube and the universal joint coinciding.

3. A table according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection between the wing portion and the central portion extends according to a curved line of separation and the portions are interconnected by one tie member (24, 25, 28, 29).

4. A table according to claim 3, characterized in that the central portion and the wing portion at said line of separation are each provided with a groove (31, 32), in which grooves there is provided a connecting strip (33).