EP0405157B1 - Height-adjustable leg for items of furniture or similar - Google Patents

Abstract

A height-adjustable leg (3) for items of furniture or similar has a bottom part (5) and a top part (6). One of these parts forms an inner wall (8) with a row (9) of adjustment holes while the other part has an adjacent outer wall (7) with at least one fixing hole (10). In order to hold the top part (6) in its position of height, there is a fixing device with at least one insertion member (11) which can be inserted through the assigned fixing hole (10) and the relevant adjustment hole (9). The fixing device forms a contact surface (12) which comes to rest on the outside of the outer wall (7), and the insertion member (11) comprises a hooking projection (15), projecting in the longitudinal direction of the leg, with a sloping surface (14) facing the contact surface (12). In the position of use, in which the insertion member (11) is seated on the bottom part (5) and the top part (6) is seated on the insertion member (11), the hooking projection (15) grips behind the edge region of the adjustment hole (9) and, with its sloping surface (14), holds the inner wall (8) against the outer wall (7) supported on the contact surface (12). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a height-adjustable leg of elongated shape for furniture or the like. With a lower part and an upper part, one of which has an inner wall with a row of adjustment holes arranged in the longitudinal direction of the leg and the other has an outer wall adjacent to the inner wall with at least one locking hole , and with a locking device holding the upper part in its respective height position on the lower part, which contains at least one plug-in element which can be inserted through the assigned fixing hole and which in the respective height position corresponds to this adjustment hole. A mainstay of this type has become known, for example, from FR-A-2 590 780.

So that tables, in particular desks or work tables for children and adolescents, can be adapted to the desired height or the size of the respective person, they can have height-adjustable legs. Such pillars are also conceivable for other pieces of furniture, for example for shelves, etc.

The object of the present invention is to provide a height-adjustable pillar of the type mentioned, in which the height adjustment is easy to use and the locking device provides a stable hold with a simple structure.

This object is achieved in that the locking device forms a contact surface on the outside of the outer wall opposite the inner wall and the plug-in member projects in the longitudinal direction of the leg, arranged at a distance from the contact surface and on its side facing the contact surface forming an inclined gripping projection has in the position of use, when under the weight of the upper part the plug-in member sits on the lower part and the upper part on the plug-in member, engages behind the hole edge region of the adjustment hole and holds the inner wall with its inclined surface against the outer wall supported on the contact surface.

With a slightly raised upper part, the plug-in element is inserted through the fixing hole and the relevant adjusting hole, after which the upper part is lowered. This reduces the clear cross-section of the passage formed by the locking hole and the adjusting hole, so that the inclined surface is effective, which converts the weight of the upper part into a transverse force, by means of which the two walls are firmly clamped to one another between the engagement grip projection and the contact surface. That way not only securely fixes the height of the upper part but at the same time prevents the possibility of the upper part wobbling, so that there is very stable cohesion. The connector holds securely in place without any additional part and cannot be accidentally pulled out of the adjustment hole.

If you want to make a height adjustment, you only have to lift the upper part slightly, so that the clear cross section of the passage formed by the fixing hole and the adjusting hole increases again to a level that enables the plug-in member to be pulled out.

It can be seen that there is also simple handling. Furthermore, only the aforementioned shape of the plug-in member is required to achieve the desired goal, so that the production costs are also low.

Appropriate embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Fig. 1

die schematische Darstellung eines Tisches in Vorderansicht,

Fig. 2

den Tisch nach Fig. 1 in Seitenansicht gemäß Pfeil II,

Fig. 3

eines der Standbeine des Tisches im zur Zeichenebene der Fig. 1 parallelen Längsschnitt zusammen mit der Feststelleinrichtung und einem Sicherungsstück, wobei die Feststelleinrichtung und das Sicherungsstück vom Standbein entfernt sind und das Oberteil des Standbeins in eine Lage angehoben ist, in der die Feststellöcher mit den Verstellöchern fluchten, so daß die Steckglieder der Feststelleinrichtung eingesteckt werden können,

Fig. 4

die Anordnung nach Fig. 3 bei in der Gebrauchslage befindlicher Feststelleinrichtung, wobei das Sicherungsstück mit ausgezogenen Linien in seiner entfernten Stellung und gestrichelt in seiner wirksamen Stellung dargestellt ist,

Fig. 5

die äußere Wand bei weggenommener Feststelleinrichtung in Draufsicht in die Lochgestalt zeigender Draufsicht,

Fig. 6

eine Anlageplatte der Feststelleinrichtung in Teildarstellung in Draufsicht gemäß Pfeil VI in Fig. 3 vom Standbein her gesehen, so daß die von der Anlageplatte abstehenden Steckglieder in Stirnansicht sichtbar sind,

Fig. 7

die Anlageplatte nach Fig. 6 im durch ein Steckglied gehenden Querschnitt gemäß der Schnittlinie VII-VII,

Fig. 8

die Anlageplatte in Aussenansicht gemäß Pfeil VIII in Fig. 3,

Fig. 9

das Sicherungsstück gemäß den Fig. 3 und 4 in vom Standbein her gesehener Draufsicht gemäß Pfeil IX in Fig. 3,

Fig. 10

das gleiche Sicherungsstück in Teildarstellung in Queransicht gemäß Pfeil X in Fig. 3,

Fig. 11

eine der Fig. 4 entsprechende Schnittdarstellung, wobei die Feststelleinrichtung die gleiche, das Sicherungsstück jedoch in einer anderen Ausführungsform dargestellt ist,
und

Fig. 12

ebenfalls eine der Fig. 4 entsprechende Schnittdarstellung, aus der eine Variante der Steckglieder hervorgeht.

Embodiments of the invention and these expedient configurations are now explained in detail with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

the schematic representation of a table in front view,

Fig. 2

1 in side view according to arrow II,

Fig. 3

one of the legs of the table in the longitudinal section parallel to the drawing plane of FIG. 1 together with the locking device and a locking piece, the locking device and the locking piece being removed from the supporting leg and the upper part of the supporting leg being raised into a position in which the locking holes with the adjustment holes aligned so that the plug-in elements of the locking device can be inserted,

Fig. 4

3 with the locking device in the position of use, the securing piece being shown with solid lines in its distant position and broken lines in its effective position,

Fig. 5

the outer wall with the locking device removed in plan view showing the hole shape in plan view,

Fig. 6

4 shows a contact plate of the locking device in partial view in plan view according to arrow VI in FIG. 3 from the mainstay, so that the plug-in members projecting from the contact plate are visible in front view,

Fig. 7

6 in cross section through a plug-in member according to section line VII-VII,

Fig. 8

the contact plate in external view according to arrow VIII in Fig. 3,

Fig. 9

3 and 4 in a plan view seen from the pillar according to arrow IX in Fig. 3,

Fig. 10

the same locking piece in partial representation in the transverse view according to arrow X in Fig. 3,

Fig. 11

4 shows a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, the locking device being the same, but the securing piece being shown in a different embodiment,
and

Fig. 12

also a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, from which a variant of the plug-in links emerges.

The table 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a table top 2 which is held by two legs 3 of the same design which are each arranged on a side end of the table. On each leg 3 a horizontal foot 4 is attached below, so that there is a stable table, although there are only two legs.

The legs 3 are adjustable in height so that the table top 2 can be brought to the desired height. Because of the same training, only one of the mainstays is below described. It is initially pointed out that the number of legs depends on the respective piece of furniture, which does not necessarily have to be a table but can also be a shelf, for example.

The elongated pillar 3 has a lower part 5 facing the floor and an upper part 6 which overlap and can be fixed to one another with different lengths of overlap. One of the two parts, in the case shown the upper part 6, forms an outer wall 7 facing the user when handling the locking device, while the other part, in the exemplary embodiment the lower part 5, is an inner wall adjacent to the outer wall 7 and parallel to it Wall 8 forms. In the case shown, both the lower part 5 and the upper part 6 are a tube with a rectangular cross section, metal being provided as the production material. The two tubes forming the lower part and the upper part are telescopically inserted into one another and, due to their rectangular cross-section, are non-rotatably guided together.

As mentioned, in the illustrated case the upper part 6 forms the outer wall 7 and the lower part 5 forms the inner wall 8 facing away from the user of the locking device on the outer wall 7. However, this could also be reversed, ie the upper part could be the inner wall and the lower part form the outer wall. This variant is not shown separately. The conditions in this variant result from simply turning the figures over. Furthermore, it is already pointed out at this point that the same locking device can be used in this reverse arrangement, which in turn is readily apparent by simply turning around, in particular FIGS. 3, 4, 11 and 12.

The inner wall 8 has a row of adjustment holes 9 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the leg and the outer wall 7 has at least one locking hole 10. In the exemplary embodiment there are three such fixing holes 10 which are arranged at a grid spacing or a multiple thereof of the adjusting hole row 9. The upper part 6 is held in its respective height on the lower part 5 by means of a locking device which contains at least one plug-in element 11 which can be inserted through the associated locking hole 10 and which in the respective height position corresponds to the adjusting hole 9. The number of plug-in links 11 corresponds to the number of locking holes 10. This number depends on the stability requirements, i.e. according to the weight that is taken up by the connector (s) from above.

The locking holes 10 have the same shape as the adjustment holes 9, so that, if the at least one plug-in member 11 has not yet been inserted, the locking hole 10 in question can be brought into an aligned position by lifting the upper part 6 into the adjustment hole 9 determining the height of the upper part which overlap the locking hole and the adjustment hole (Fig. 3). If you insert the at least one plug-in member 11, you can let go of the upper part 6, after which it sits on the at least one plug-in member 11, which in turn rests on the lower part 5, so that the height of the upper part 6 is fixed (FIG. 4).

The locking device forms a contact surface 12 on the outside of the outer wall 7 opposite the inner wall 8. This contact surface 12 is expediently covered by a contact plate 13 or the like. formed, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the leg and from which the at least one plug-in member 11 protrudes, has the shape of a peg or hook, and expediently integrally or similarly on the contact plate 13. is molded, if it is a plastic part. Furthermore, the plug-in members 11 each have a rear engagement projection 15 which projects in the longitudinal direction of the leg, is arranged at a distance from the contact surface 12 and forms an inclined surface 14 on its side facing the contact surface 12, which in the position of use shown in FIGS. 4, 10 and 12 when As already mentioned, the plug member 11 sits on the lower part 5 and the upper part 6 on the plug member 11 under the weight of the upper part 6, engages behind the hole edge region of the adjustment hole 9 in question and with its inclined surface 14 supports the inner wall 8 against the one supported on the contact surface 12 outer wall 7 holds.

Based on the position according to FIG. 3, this results in the following mode of operation:
When the locking device is removed, the upper part 6 raised by hand until the locking holes 10 are each aligned with an adjusting hole 9. Each locking hole 10 then forms with the facing adjustment hole 9 a passage with the largest possible cross section, so that the relevant plug member 11 fits through. Then the or the like on the contact plate 13. seated plug-in members 11 inserted through the pairs of holes 9,10. In this case, the rear grip projection 15 of each plug-in member 11 comes behind the inside of the inner wall 8 opposite the outer wall 7. Then the upper part 6 is lowered so that the clear height of the passage formed by the respective fixing hole 10 with the associated adjusting hole 9 is reduced, so that the relevant plug member 11 is seen in the vertical direction between the opposite hole edge regions of the locking hole and the adjustment hole. Here, the rear gripping projection 15 is displaced in the height direction relative to the hole edge region of the adjustment hole 9, so that the inclined surface 14 engages behind it. The weight of the upper part 6 presses the inclined surface 14 firmly against the inside edge of the adjustment hole wall area, so that it and thus the inner wall 8 are pressed outwards against the outer wall 7 and this against the contact surface 12. Via the inclined surface 14, the weight force is converted into a transverse force, by means of which the contact surface 12, the two walls 7, 8 and the inclined surface 14 are firmly clamped together.

In the case shown, as already mentioned, the inner wall 8 is formed by the lower part 5. Here, the rear gripping projection 14 projects downward from the plug-in member 11, so that it engages behind the lower edge region of the adjustment hole 9 concerned.

If, on the other hand, the inner wall is formed by the upper part, the rear gripping projection protrudes upwards and then engages behind with its inclined surface the upper edge area of the respective adjustment hole.

If you want to change the height of the upper part 6, you raise it until the passage cross-section formed by the pairs of holes 9, 10 allows the relevant plug-in member 11 to be pulled out.

12, which shows an otherwise identical arrangement, shows a varied plug-in shape in that the plug-in member 11a has a rear-engaging shoulder 16 which is opposite the rear-engaging projection 15 in the vertical direction and which, in the position of use, is arranged within the adjustment hole 9 and bears against the hole edge region of the locking hole 10 . This rear gripping heel 16 is not required per se for the solid cohesion of the various individual parts, but it additionally stabilizes the plug-in member 11a on the outer wall 7. The plug-in member 11a is supported on it on the side opposite the rear gripping projection 15, which may result in slight bending counteracts the plug member 11a by the force exerted on the inclined surface 14. The rear gripping shoulder 16 can form an inclined surface 17 engaging the hole edge region of the fixing hole 10 and holding the outer wall 7 against the contact surface 12.

The adjustment holes 9 and the at least one locking hole 10 are expediently elongated holes with rounded hole ends, as can be seen above all from FIG. 5. The at least one connector 11; 11a has a width essentially corresponding to the hole width, at least the plug-in part sitting on the inner wall 8 and the plug-in part on which the outer wall 7 is seated being rounded off in accordance with the elongated hole ends. In such a case, a large and therefore stable force absorption is obtained.

In order to insert the plug-in members 11; 11a into the fixing holes 10, the end region of the plug-in members facing away from the contact surface 12 can have a shape that tapers towards the end. This tapered shape can be obtained by a circumferential, essentially conical peripheral surface 18.

As explained, the weight of the upper part 6 is used to the respective connector 11; 11a to keep in the position of use. In the event that the entire piece of furniture is lifted, for example if you want to adjust the table 1 and lift it up on the table top 2, the upper part 6 is displaced relative to the lower part 5 so far that the respective fixing hole 10 and the adjacent adjusting hole 9 get into such a relative position to one another that the plug-in member 11; 11a fits through both, so that the locking device can accidentally fall off the mainstay.

To prevent this, the outer wall 7 can be an in Use position with an adjustment hole 9 corresponding securing hole 19; 19a, wherein a securing piece 20; 20a is present, which between one through the securing hole 19; 19a can be moved into the active position engaging the adjustment hole 9 and an inactive position removed from the adjustment hole 9.

The relevant securing piece 20; 20a thus engages in its effective position through the securing hole 19; 19a into the adjacent adjustment hole 9, the arrangement being such that the securing piece 20; 20a prevents the upper part 6 from being raised.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3, 4, 9 and 10, the securing piece 20 extends through the contact plate 13 or the like. The contact plate 13 or the like. a keyhole-like opening 21. Furthermore, the securing piece 20 has a hook-like end 22 which projects radially from a cylindrical securing piece section 23 which is divided into an area 24 of smaller diameter facing the hook end 22 and an area 25 of larger diameter facing away from the hook end 22. This locking piece 20 is through the opening 21 of the contact plate 13 or the like. pluggable. The part 23 passes through the cylindrical extension 26 of the keyhole-shaped opening 21, while the hook end 22 passes through the elongated hole region 27 of the opening 21. The cylindrical extension 26 of the opening 21 is stepped in such a way that there is an area 28 of larger diameter on the outside and an area 29 of smaller diameter on the inside.

The area 28 receives the area 25 and the area 29 the area 24 of the securing piece section 23. Here, the ring shoulder 30 of the securing piece section 23 present between the two areas 24 and 25 abuts against the step surface 31 of the opening 21. In the inserted state - the insertion takes place only when the upper part 6 is drained and the plug-in members 11 are in their locking position the securing piece 20 thus through the securing hole 19 and the facing adjustment hole 9, so that it assumes its effective position in which it is between a release position fitting through the opening 21 and the two holes 19.9 (corresponds to that in FIG. 4 with solid lines drawn rotational position) and a locking position (indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 4) in which the hook end 22 engages behind the inner wall 8. When rotating the locking piece 20 is mounted in the cylindrical extension 26 of the opening 21.

So that the hook end 22 holds in its locking position, its locking surface 32 engaging behind the inside of the inner wall 8 can be rounded, so that it can run well over the edge of the adjustment hole 9 when the locking piece is turned and then holds by self-locking. The hook end 22 cannot deflect towards the inside, since in the illustrated case the securing piece rests on the step surface 31 via the ring shoulder 30.

On the outside of the securing piece 20, a turning handle 33 is attached, which in the exemplary embodiment is plate-like Has shape.

The rotational position of the release position and the locking position of the securing piece 20 can be predetermined by a stop. For this purpose, or the like from the outside of the contact plate 13. project a stop pin 34 against which the rotary handle 33 runs both in the release position and in the locking position. The rotary handle 33 can have a can-shaped configuration with the can side open towards the stop body 34, the radial bars 35 to 39 (the other radial bars were not assigned a reference number for reasons of clarity) can run in the rotary handle 33, of which the radial bars 35 and 39, the approximately are offset from each other by 180 ^o , each form a stop for the stop pin in the release position or in the locking position. 9, the stop pin is shown in dash-dot lines at the bottom left of the radial web 35, the rotary handle and thus the securing piece 20 being in the release position in which it can be pulled out or inserted. If you turn the rotary handle 33 in the direction of arrow 40, the rotary handle 30 passes over the stop pin 34 until its radial web 39 comes into contact with the stop pin. The radial webs 36, 37, 38 between them each have a recess 41 for the passage of the stop pin when the twist grip is turned.

11 shows another embodiment for the securing piece. Again, the securing piece 20a passes through the contact plate 13 or the like, which is a threaded bolt that can be screwed back and forth.

In his or the like in the contact plate 13. pre-screwed, effective position, it penetrates through the securing hole 19a of the outer wall 7 and through the facing adjustment hole 9. If the upper part 6 is raised, the securing piece 20a strikes the edge of the hole in the adjusting hole 9 before the upper part 6 is raised so far that the Plug-in members 11 can emerge from the adjustment holes. If you screw the locking piece 20a outwards, it releases the associated adjustment hole 9, so that the contact plate 13 with the plug-in members 11 can be removed and the new height adjustment of the supporting leg can be carried out. The contact plate 13 or the like. has a threaded hole for the threaded bolt 20a or the like from a rotationally fixed in the contact plate 13. inserted nut 42 can be formed. Again, the securing piece 20a protrudes from a plate-shaped rotary handle 33a.

As adjustment hole through which the securing piece 20; 20a engages, each adjustment hole 9 of this row of holes can be used. For this purpose, the securing piece 20; 20a on the contact plate 13 or the like. stored in the appropriate place. The securing hole 19; 19a of the outer wall 6, on the other hand, is an additional hole whose distance to the fixing holes 10 does not correspond to the grid spacing of the adjusting holes 9. This is due to the fact that the locking holes 10 are aligned with the adjustment holes 9 before the insertion of the plug-in members 11 (FIG. 3) and are offset in height with the upper part 6 fixed via the plug-in links to the adjustment holes (FIG. 4), while the locking hole 19 ; 19a at through the plug-in links fixed altitude with the facing adjustment hole 9 must be aligned.

Claims (15)

1. Vertically adjustable leg (3) of an elongated form for pieces of furniture or the like, with a lower section (5) and an upper section (6), one of which has an inner wall (8) with a row of adjusting holes (9) arranged in the longitudinal direction of the leg, while the other has an outer wall (7) adjacent to said inner wall with one or more locating holes (10), and with a locking device securing the upper section (6) to the lower section (5) in the chosen vertical position, said locking device having one or more push-in elements (11; 11a) for inserting through the associated locating hole (10) and the adjusting hole (9) corresponding therewith in the chosen vertical position, characterized in that the locking device forms a locating face (12) contacting the outside of the outer wall (7) opposite the inner wall (8), and in that the push-in element (11; 11a) has a recessed overhang (15) projecting in the longitudinal direction of the leg at a distance from the locating face (12) and provided with a bevel (14) on the side facing the locating face (12), said overhang engaging behind the rim area of the adjusting hole (9) and holding with its bevel the inner wall (8) against the outer wall (7) supported on the locating face (12) when in the position of use, in which, under the weight of the upper section (6), the push-in element (11; 11a) rests on the lower section (5) and the upper section (6) rests on the push-in element (11; 11a).
2. Leg according to Claim 1, characterized in that the push-in element (11a) has a recessed shoulder (16) vertically opposed to the recessed overhang (15), said shoulder being located within the adjusting hole (9) and contacting the rim area of the locating hole (10) when in the position of use.
3. Leg according to Claim 2, characterized in that the recessed shoulder (16) has a bevel (17) engaging the rim area of the locating hole (10) and holding the outer wall (7) against the locating face (12).
4. Leg according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adjusting holes (9) and the one or more locating holes (10) are slots with rounded ends, that the width of the one or more push-in elements (11; 11a) substantially corresponds to the hole width, and that at least the push-in element section resting on the inner wall and the push-in element section supporting the outer wall (7) are rounded to correspond to the slot ends.
5. Leg according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the end area of the one or more push-in elements (11; 11a) which is averted from the locating face (12) is tapered towards the end.
6. Leg according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the outer wall (7) is provided with several locating holes (10) arranged consecutively along the leg and the locking device is provided with a corresponding number of push-in elements (11; 11a).
7. Leg according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking device is provided with a locating plate (13) or the like contacting the outer wall (7), from which the one or more push-in elements (11; 11a) project, being usefully integral therewith.
8. Leg according to Claim 7, characterized in that the locating plate (13) or the like forms the locating face (12).
9. Leg according to any of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the inner wall (8) is formed by the lower section (5) and the recessed overhang (15) projects downwards.
10. Leg according to any of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the inner wall is formed by the upper section and the recessed overhang projects upwards.
11. Leg according to any of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the outer wall (7) is provided with a retaining hole (19; 19a) aligned with one of the adjusting holes (9) in the position of use, and that a retaining piece (20; 20a) is provided for movement between an operative position in which it engages the adjusting hole through the retaining hole and an inoperative position in which it is withdrawn from the adjusting hole.
12. Leg according to Claim 11, characterized in that the retaining piece (20; 20a) extends through the locating plate (13) or the like.
13. Leg according to Claim 12, characterized in that the locating plate (13) or the like has a keyhole-shaped opening (21), and that the retaining piece (21) provided with a hook end (22) can be inserted through the opening (21), the retaining piece (20), in its inserted operative position, in which it engages the retaining hole (19) and the adjusting hole (9), being rotatable between a release condition fitting through the opening (21) and the two holes (19, 9) and a locked condition in which the hook end (22) engages behind the inner wall (8).
14. Leg according to Claim 13, characterized in that the rotational position of the release condition and the locked condition is determined by a stop.
15. Leg according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the retaining piece (20a) is an adjustable threaded bolt.

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