EP1080667A2

EP1080667A2 - An arrangement in a table

Info

Publication number: EP1080667A2
Application number: EP00202398A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Elof Jonsson; Micael Lyreborg
Original assignee: Kinnarps AB
Current assignee: Kinnarps AB
Priority date: 1999-08-06
Filing date: 2000-07-07
Publication date: 2001-03-07
Also published as: SE9902845D0; EP1080667A3; SE9902845L

Abstract

An undercarriage (1) for a table comprises at least two elongate profile elements (5) and a plurality of leg anchorages (3). The profile elements (5) include at least one longitudinal undercut groove (11). Each one of the leg anchorages (3) includes a rotary engagement member (9) for engagement in the undercut groove (11). Further, each one of the leg anchorages (3) includes at least one guide member (10) for guiding the leg anchorage (3) in the undercut groove (11) and for absorbing transversely directed forces. The rotary engagement member (9) is operable via an operating device (12) which is disposed inside the side surface of the leg anchorage (3).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an undercarriage for a table, comprising at least two elongate profile elements and a plurality of leg anchorages.

BACKGROUND ART

There exists a multiplicity of variations of methods for securing legs under table tops. In particular for writing tables for office use, constructions with a metal frame or a border are common. The table top rests on the upper side of the frame and is secured in it by means of a number of fixation elements, such as, for example, screws. The table legs are secured in the corners of the frame by means of angle fittings which extend between two adjacent sides of the frame. A fixing element in the form of a screw extends from the leg and through the fitting and a nut on the opposite side of the fitting retains the leg in its correct position. The table may be delivered dismantled or partly assembled in order to save space on transport, and the legs are mounted in place at the end user's, either by the user himself or by the supplier or the supplier's representatives.
One of the drawbacks inherent in the above-described construction is that at least the nuts are delivered loose and run the risk of disappearing before the table is assembled. Another drawback is that the legs can only be mounted in place in the corners of the frame and cannot be given any optional placing along the frame. If the intention is nevertheless to place a leg in the centre of the sides of the frame, this must be put into effect by creating a "corner" where the angle fitting may be secured. This is put into effect by securing a short piece of a frame beam under the table top substantially at right angles to the actual frame construction. Thereby, a "corner" is realised in which the fitting and the table leg may be secured.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

Thus, the intention is to realise a construction where there are no loose small parts and in which the table legs can be placed in principle at any optional position along the frame. In addition, the table should be simple to assemble.

SOLUTION

The object forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the arrangement intimated by way of introduction is given the characterising feature that the profile elements include at least one longitudinal undercut groove and each one of the leg anchorages includes a rotary engagement member for engagement in the undercut groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the arrangement according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a straight side elevation of a first embodiment of a leg anchorage with a clamping member mounted in place;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a beam included in the present invention and a leg anchorage in position prior to assembly;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the beam and the leg anchorage according to Fig. 3, but in which the leg anchorage has been mounted on the beam and a leg is secured in the leg anchorage and the beam is partly cut away;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the beam with a leg anchorage mounted in place; and
Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2 but showing a modified embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 shows an undercarriage 1 according to the present invention for a table. For the sake of simplicity and clarity, the table top and the legs are not shown, but merely a frame 2 and a number of leg anchorages 3, 4. According to Fig. 1, the frame 2 Consists of four pairwise equally long beams or profile elements 5 which are united with corners fittings 13 to form a rectangle. The leg anchorages 3 and 4 are placed, on the one hand, in the corners and, on the other hand, at any optional position on the sides of the frame 2. In order to increase the stability of the construction, the leg anchorages 4 which have been placed in the corners are of one type specifically adapted for the purpose, while the leg anchorage 3 which is disposed at the side of the frame is of another type.
Fig. 2 shows in close-up a first embodiment of a leg anchorage 3. The leg anchorage has a substantially circular anchorage member 6 in which a cylindrical leg is intended to be secured. From the circular anchorage member 6, two shanks 7 and 8 extend, in substantially the same direction. The one, outer shank 7 is disposed to be turned to face away from the frame 2, while the other, inner shank 8 is disposed at least partly to abut against the frame 2. Between the shanks 7, 8, there is a curved gap 14 which is connected to the circular anchorage member 6. Given that the anchorage member 6, which is in the form of a cylindrical socket or bushing, has a through-going, axially directed aperture from which the gap 14 departs, its diameter may be reduced or increased by displacing the shanks 7 and 8 towards and away from one another, respectively. Hereby, the shanks function as force amplifying levers for the clamping action about the table leg which the anchorage member or socket 6 constitutes.
On the inner shank 8, there are disposed two guide members 10 in the form of projecting heels on the side of the leg anchorage 3 turned to face towards the profile element 5, the heels being intended for accommodation and guiding in a groove 11 in the profile rods or elements 5 included in the frame 2. The groove 11 is best visible in Figs. 3-5. The heels extend, in the assembled state, a distance into the groove and since the fit between the guide member 10 and the groove 11 is without play, the guide members absorb any possible transversely directed forces to which the union between the profile rod or element 5 and the leg anchorage 3 is subjected. Between the guide members 10, which are fixed, there is at least one rotary engagement member 9 in the form of a so-called T-bolt. The engagement member 9 has, in the preferred embodiment, a rectangular head which is disposed on a neck 19. The rotary engagement member 9 is connected to an operating device 12. The operating device 12 is, in the preferred embodiment, located in its entirety inside the outer side surface of the outer shank 7 and the leg anchorage 3, i.e. on the side facing away from the profile rod or element 5.
On placing of the head of the T-bolt in the undercut section of the groove 11, the neck 19 is located in the narrower opening portion of the groove. The neck 19 has a non-rotational symmetrical cross section, with a first abutment surface 21 which, with the longitudinal direction of the head parallel with the longitudinal direction of the groove (free position), is transversely directed or at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the groove. After rotation of the head approx. one quarter of a turn in a clockwise direction (seen from the operating device), to an engagement position, the abutment surface 21 will come into engagement with one of the edges which defines the narrow open portion of the groove 11 and prevents further rotation of the T-bolt. Correspondingly, the neck 19 has a second abutment surface 22 which prevents rotation of the T-bolt in a counterclockwise direction when the head is located in its free position.
The neck 19 of the T-bolt extends through the interspace 14 and an aperture in a wall 20 which is included in the outer shank 7 and which constitutes its portion facing towards the inner shank 8 and outwardly defining the interspace 14. The neck of the T-bolt is threaded (not shown) which meshes in a corresponding thread in a pin 16 whose one end surface abuts against the outside of the wall 20 and which serves the function of a nut. Suitably, the thread fit may be somewhat tight so that a certain friction occurs on relative rotation. Such an increased friction may also be realised by means of a plastic compound in the thread, a plastic inlay, a clenching of the thread, etc. The pin has, on its outer end surface, an engagement member for a torque tool, e.g. a hexagonal configuration, an Alan key or the like.
On rotation of the pin 16 with the head inserted in the groove 11 of the profile element 5, the head is first rotated approx. one quarter of a turn before the first abutment surface 21 prevents further rotation. In this position, the head is in engagement in the undercut section of the groove and is, thus, located in its engagement position. On continued rotation of the pin 16, the wall 20 will be urged against the inner shank 8, on the one hand the head forcibly urging the profile element 5 against the inner shank 8 and, on the other hand, the diameter of the socket 6 being reduced so that a table leg inserted therein is fixedly clamped. The pin 16 thus functions as a common locking member for both the table leg in the leg anchorage and the leg anchorage on the profile element 5.
In a modified embodiment, the operating device 12 includes, as is apparent from Fig. 6, the above-described pin 16 with engagement with the neck 19 and an outer lever 17 which, via a shaft 23, is pivotally connected to the pin 16. The lever 17 has an eccentric surface 24 which abuts against the outside of the outer shank 7. On rotation of the lever 17 about the shaft 23, the pin will, therefore, be displaced in its longitudinal direction in relation to the outer shank 7 and will, as a result of its connection with the engagement member, be subjected to a corresponding movement.
With the lever 17 in the open position, the engagement member may be rotated between its free position and its engagement position. The thread connection between the neck 19 and the pin 16 affords, in this embodiment, an opportunity for adjustment.
In a further modified embodiment, the pin 16 may be dispensed with and a drawbar (not shown) pivotally secured about the shaft 23 may be in direct thread engagement with the neck 19.
Fig. 3 shows the leg anchorage 3 together with a beam 5 included in the frame 2. The beam or profile element 5 is elongate and, in the preferred embodiment, is hollow, which is a materials saving measure and also minimises its weight. The beam 5 is advantageously manufactured in piece goods form and, on production of the undercarriage, is cut to lengths suitable for the purpose.
That side of the beam 5 which is turned to face towards the observer of the Drawings has, as was mentioned above, an longitudinal groove 11. The side of the beam which is turned to face towards the leg anchorage 3 also has, in the preferred embodiment, a corresponding groove 11. The groove 11 is undercut, which implies that its width at the surface is less than its width at the bottom of the groove. The groove 11 may be a T-groove or some other type of undercut groove in which the engagement member 9 may engage. The open width of the groove 11 is always such that it somewhat exceeds the width of the engagement member 9 but is less than its length.
Fig. 4 shows the leg anchorage 3 in the mounted position on the beam 5. On assembly, the guide members 10 and the engagement member 9 are fitted into the groove 11 and the leg anchorage 3 is brought into abutment against the beam 5. Thereafter, the engagement member 9 is turned with the aid of the operating device 12. When the engagement member 9 has been turned approx. one quarter of a turn in the groove 11, the leg anchorage 3 is connected with the beam 5. In this position, the longitudinal axis of the head of the engagement member 9 should, in principle, be transversely directed in relation to the longitudinal direction of the groove 11.
Fig. 5 shows more closely the engagement of the engagement member 9 with the beam 5. The engagement member 9 is, as is clearly apparent, transversely directed in relation to the longitudinal direction of the groove 11 and, in addition, the abutment surface 22 is shown which prevents the "reverse rotation" of the engagement member 9 past its free position. Moreover, it should be observed that the height of the leg anchorage 3 is substantially equal to the width of the beam 5.
The variation 4 of the leg anchorage which is intended for corner mounting is, as is apparent from Fig. 1, designed to straddle the corner of the frame 2. The part of the leg anchorage 4 located on one side of the corner has the appearance according to Figs. 2 or 6, while the part located on the other side of the corner lacks the engagement member 9 and its operating device 12. On the other hand, there is at least one counterpart to the heels 10.
The present invention may be modified further without departing from the scope of the appended Claims.

Claims

An undercarriage (1) for a table, comprising at least two elongate profile elements (5) and a plurality of leg anchorages (3), characterised in that the profile elements (5) include at least one longitudinal undercut groove (11) and that each one of the leg anchorages (3) includes a rotary engagement member (9) for engagement in the undercut groove (11).
The undercarriage (1) as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that each one of the leg anchorages (3) includes at least one guide member (10) for guiding the leg anchorage (3) in the undercut groove (11) and absorbing transversely directed forces.
The undercarriage (1) as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the rotary engagement member (9) is operable via an operating device (12) which is disposed inside the side surface of the leg anchorage (3).
The undercarriage (1) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the engagement member (9) is rotary a quarter of a turn between a free position and an engagement position.
The undercarriage (1) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the engagement member (9) is substantially rectangular.
The undercarriage (1) as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the longitudinal axis of the engagement member (9) is approximately parallel with the groove (11) in the free position and is approximately at right angles to the groove in the engagement position.