EP2165625A1 - Jointed ladder - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves dyeing a foot (3) with a ball (6) in a thermally insulated tool section at a temperature. The ball is arranged over a truncated cone surface and the foot is formed on the top in truncated cone shape. The ball with a mount (7) is molded in another thermally isolated tool section at a smaller temperature. An independent claim is included for a joint glider with a ball joint.

Description

The invention relates to a method for the production of a joint slider for insertion into a tubular furniture leg or the like and the joint slider itself.

Tube-like furniture legs, in particular of square or round cross-section, find many uses in furniture. In most cases, such furniture legs are closed by a plug clean to a floor, which also prevents damage to the floor. To compensate for unevenness of the floor, these plugs are often provided with a separately formed foot having an externally threaded shaft which is height adjustable in an internal thread of a bore of the plug by turning.

By means of such height-adjustable feet bumps in the vertical can be compensated so that, for example, a table top, a seat or the like can be set up horizontally. However, it proves to be problematic local inclined surfaces on which the foot can not be placed safely.

Comparable problems occur in furniture in which, for designerischen reasons legs are employed against a horizontally extending, flat floor. It is known to compensate for such incidence by introduced into the legs, opposing bevels having feet. However, this requires for a full-surface edition of the chamfer on the floor an exact match of the angle, which is rarely given for manufacturing reasons.

In order to counteract such a problem, joint feet or joint glides have been developed in which the foot is adjustable relative to a vertical axis of the furniture leg. In the from the DE 295 04 106.4 U1 Known Gelenkfuß is a aufzusetzende on a floor foot part with a socket, in which a ball is held free to pivot. For the connection of a furniture leg, the ball has a recess into which a furniture leg is pressed.

Held is the ball within a cylinder-like rising over the joint socket, elastic holding portion which is provided on the inside edge side with a circumferential nose which engages over the equator of the ball. Due to the elastic properties of the holding portion, the ball can be easily pressed under expansion of this holding portion in the socket in which it is then held by spring-back of the holding portion by the annular circumferential nose.

However, according to the introduction of the ball under elastic expansion of the holding portion, the ball can in principle be removed again from the foot part. Foot part and ball do not form a real unity. In addition, the one from the DE 295 04 106.4 U1 Known articulated foot formentechnisch very expensive only to produce.

Against this technical background, the object of the invention is to provide an articulated slide which can be produced in a simple manner and by means of which a non-separable unit is formed.

This technical problem is solved by the method for producing a joint slider for insertion into a tubular furniture leg or the like and in the joint slider itself by the measures explained in claims 1 and 4 measures.

In the method according to claim 1 is based on the fact that in a first manufacturing step in a first manufacturing step at a first temperature integrally formed on the upper side frusto-conical foot with a ball disposed above the truncated cone top is sprayed and that in a second thermally insulated Section of the tool in a second manufacturing step at a second, lower temperature, the ball is encapsulated with a socket having a bottom provided with an opening hollow spherical socket for receiving the ball, wherein the diameter of the opening is dimensioned smaller than the diameter of the ball , and integrally formed with an outgoing shank for insertion into the furniture leg.

The method according to the invention has a number of advantages. Basically, without any assembly, in two successive injection processes, the joint slider according to the invention is produced in a tool. In particular, a manual completion of the joint slider is avoided by a mounting, which allows a cheap production of the same.

Thus, in a first method step, in a first thermally insulated section of the tool, an upper side of a frusto-conical foot is integrally molded with a ball arranged above the truncated cone top. This is done, essentially as specified by the material to be sprayed, preferably a polyamide, PA, at a first temperature. In a second manufacturing step, the ball is encapsulated in the same tool with a socket having a bottom side provided with an opening hollow ball-like socket for receiving the ball. In this case, the injection process takes place at a second, lower temperature, which in turn is adapted to the material used, preferably a polypropylene, PP. By this temperature reduction as well as by the thermal insulation of the tool preferably below the ball melting of the foot and in particular a detention of the ball with the socket is safely avoided. The necessary between the ball and the socket for the subsequent function of the joint glider game results from the different shrinkage behavior of the materials preferably used PA and PP, of which the PA has a greater shrinkage.

Since the processing temperature of most polyamides is above 200 ° C, the melting temperature of most polypropylenes is between 160 ° C and 170 ° C, the temperature difference between the first and second temperatures should be at least 50 ° C.

As a result, an articulated slider is created in which it is ensured that the joint is operationally non-destructive separable ball joint.

Rather, an insertable into a furniture foot shaft with a socket and a foot a captive, not separable unit.

In order to still allow free pivoting through the joint, it is provided that the foot is formed on the upper side frusto-conical and that integrally via a frustoconical neck neck of the ball joint is connected to the foot. The height of the neck, as well as the material thickness of the above-explained version, determine u.a. the possible swivel angle between foot and socket or shaft.

The frustoconical design of the foot also makes it possible, over a full circle about a vertical axis, a comparatively large pivoting of the foot relative to the socket, even if their outer dimensions and thus the material thickness is chosen comparatively large. This material thickness, as well as the choice of material, ensure that the opening of the ball socket does not expand elastically and the ball releases.

It can be provided that the foot is covered on the underside by a separately formed cap, which is preferably made of a metal, in particular a VA steel. Such a cap can be pressed onto the foot in the usual way or otherwise secured.

In one embodiment variant is provided in the joint slider according to the invention that the foot has a recess on the underside for receiving an axially projecting floor slide. In a simple way so the attachment and exact positioning of the floor slider is ensured, which preferably consists of a different, eg, textile material, preferably from a felt.

Particularly in the case of a soft floor glider, it has proven useful if the receptacle has an undercut for grasping the floor glider, so that additional fastening measures, for example gluing, are not absolutely necessary.

It is provided that the undercut is wedge-shaped at a wedge angle of 1 ° to 5 ° relative to a vertical. This is spraying technically cheaper than an undercut, for example by a peripheral edge of the recess circumferential groove or the like.

The holding effect by the undercut is further enhanced if it is provided that the recess has at its edge, or in angular cross-sections at their edges, on a central axis pointing toward noses, which hook in a bottom slider, which is inserted into this recess. In particular, these noses can be formed sharp-edged to easily in a textile floor glides, for example. From a felt depress.

In a further structural embodiment, it is provided that the maximum pivoting angle relative to a vertical axis of symmetry over a full circle about the axis of symmetry is 30 °, in particular 25 °. The size of this pivoting angle is sufficient to ensure a secure support of the foot on a floor.

Even if the use of single-grade plastics is regularly preferred in view of disposing of components, the special case is that the foot and the shank are advantageously provided with a socket with a socket for receiving the ball made of different plastics. In terms of manufacturing technology, it is possible to safely prevent the plastics from bonding to the socket when the ball is overmoulded. Good sliding properties between the ball and the socket can also be ensured. A widening due to elastic properties of the plastic of the socket can be prevented so sure. In particular, it is contemplated that the foot and the ball of a polyoxymethylene, POM, especially from a lubricious polyamide, PA, as well as the shaft with socket made of a polypropylene, PP exist. POM is characterized by high strength, hardness and rigidity over a wide temperature range. Moreover, in the preferred PA, the abrasion resistance is high and the friction coefficient is low.

Fig. 1:

in einem Schnitt ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Gelenkgleiters nach der Erfindung,

Fig. 2:

teilweise geschnitten eine Seitenansicht eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels eines Gelenkgleiters nach der Erfindung,

Fig. 3:

einen zentralen Schnitt durch das zweite Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 4:

eine Unteransicht gemäß des Pfeils IV in Figur 2,

Fig. 5:

eine unterseitige, isometrische Darstellung des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Fig. 6:

eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung gemäß des Pfeils VI in Figur 5,

Fig. 7:

einen Schnitt durch ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel unter einem Verstellwinkel α von 25° gegenüber einer vertikalen Symmetrieachse.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which only exemplary embodiments are shown schematically. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1:

in a section a first embodiment of a joint slider according to the invention,

Fig. 2:

partially sectioned a side view of a second embodiment of a joint slider according to the invention,

3:

a central section through the second embodiment,

4:

a bottom view according to the arrow IV in FIG. 2 .

Fig. 5:

a bottom-side, isometric view of the second embodiment,

Fig. 6:

an enlarged detail according to the arrow VI in FIG. 5 .

Fig. 7:

a section through a third embodiment at an adjustment angle α of 25 ° with respect to a vertical axis of symmetry.

Shown in the drawing is a first embodiment of a hinge 1 of round cross-section. Other cross sections, in particular square-rectangular cross-sections are also possible without any problem. Regardless of this, the joint slider 1 will be formed regularly symmetrical to a vertical axis of symmetry 2.

The articulated slider 1 shown by way of example has a foot 3, which is formed on the upper side in the manner of a truncated cone 4. On the upper side of the truncated cone 4, a neck 5 of round cross section is provided, which holds a ball 6 on the upper side of the truncated cone 4. The foot 3 with truncated cone 4, neck 5 and ball 6 is injected integrally in a first manufacturing step, preferably from a PA, possibly from a POM.

In the manufacture of the joint slider 1 according to the invention, the ball 6 of the foot 3 is then encapsulated with a socket 7 in a second manufacturing step, which has a hollow ball-like socket 9 provided with an opening 8 for receiving the ball 6 on the underside. In this case, 7 different plastics are preferred for the production of the ball 6 and the foot 3 and the version, preferably PA or optionally a POM for the ball 6 and the foot 3 and a PP for the socket 9.

According to the invention, the first manufacturing step takes place at a first temperature in a first thermally insulated section of a tool and then in a second thermally insulated section of the tool, the second manufacturing step at a second, preferably at least 50 ° C lower temperature.

In the joint slider 1, the diameter of the opening 8 is dimensioned smaller than the diameter of the ball 6. Moreover, since an elastic widening of the opening 8 due to the selected plastic of the socket 7 as well as by their material thickness is not possible form the foot 3 and the Version 7 is a structural unit that can not be separated non-destructively.

Through the socket 9 in the socket 7, through which the ball 6 is caught, so that a ball joint 10 is formed, which is not non-destructively separable.

Integral with the socket 7, a shaft 11 is formed, which is insertable into a tubular furniture leg and is hardly retractable due to ribs 12 after insertion.

This shaft 11 may, given by the geometry of a furniture leg, also have other cross sections.

The foot 3 has a continuous and smooth underside 13, which is well suited for most floors due to the good lubricity and abrasion resistance of the preferably used material, PA.

In the second embodiment of a joint slider 14, in particular for high quality parquet floors or the like intended, has the edge continuously rounded foot 15 on the underside of a recess 16 which serves to receive an axially bottom of the bottom 17 of the foot 15 above floor slider, which is not shown in the drawing.

This floor slider, preferably made of a felt, is held by a wedge-shaped undercut 18 of the edge 19 of the recess 16, which is employed at a wedge angle β of 1 ° to 5 °, in this case 3 °, relative to a vertical.

The recess 16 also has at its edge 19 on the central axis of symmetry 20 indicative noses 21. The lugs 21 intersect or engage with a felt bottom glider, in particular by a sharp-edged formation, whereby the lugs 21 terminate in a pyramid-like manner towards a floor in a point 22 and point with a sharp edge 23 onto the symmetry axis 20, compare the enlarged cooking position acc. FIG. 5 ,

In the third embodiment of a joint slider 24 acc. Fig. 7 is shown as the ball joint 25, determined in the embodiment, inter alia, by the thickness of the socket 26, the angle of the truncated cone 27 and the diameter of the ball 28 with a pivot angle α of, 25 °, optionally of up to 30 ° opposite the vertical axis of symmetry 29 allowed. This, inter alia due to the symmetrical design of this symmetry axis 29, over a full circle about the axis of symmetry 29th

In the case of the articulated slider 24 shown there, furthermore, the underside 30 of the foot 31 is formed over the entire surface and flat. A cap 32, preferably made of a VA steel, covers the Bottom 30 in addition, so that abrasion practically does not occur. <B> LIST OF REFERENCES: </ b> 1. tilt glides 25th ball joint Second axis of symmetry 26th version Third foot 27th truncated cone 4th truncated cone 28th Bullet 5th neck 29th axis of symmetry 6th Bullet 30th bottom 7th version 31st foot 8th. opening 32nd cap 9th socket 10th ball joint α pivot 11th shaft β wedge angle 12th rib 13th bottom 14th tilt glides 15th foot 16th recess 17th bottom 18th undercut 19th edge 20th axis of symmetry 21st nose 22nd top 23rd edge 24th tilt glides

Claims (15)

Method for producing a joint slider for insertion into a tubular furniture leg or the like inside a tool, characterized - That in a first thermally insulated portion of the tool in a first manufacturing step at a first temperature integrally a top side frusto-conical shaped foot (3) with a disposed above the truncated cone top ball (6) is injected and - That in a second thermally insulated portion of the tool in a second manufacturing step at a second, lower temperature, the ball (6) with a socket (7) is encapsulated, which is provided at the bottom with an opening (8) hollow spherical socket (9) a receptacle of the ball (6), wherein the diameter of the opening (8) is dimensioned smaller than the diameter of the ball (6), and with which an outgoing shank (11) is integrally formed for insertion into the furniture leg. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature difference between the first and the second temperature is at least 50 ° C. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the underside of the foot (30) a cap (32) or a bottom slider is arranged. An articulated glider manufactured according to a method according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, comprising a shaft which can be introduced into a furniture foot and which is connected to a foot via a joint, characterized in that the hinge is a ball joint (10) which can not be separated non-destructively , An articulated glider according to claim 4, characterized in that the foot (3) is frusto-conical on the upper side and that a ball (6) of the ball joint (10) is integrally connected to the foot (3) via a frustoconical neck (5). Joint slider according to one or more of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the foot (31) is covered on the underside by a separately formed cap (32). Joint slider according to claim 6, characterized in that the cap (32) is made of a metal. Joint slider according to one or more of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the foot (15) has on the underside a recess (16) for receiving an axially projecting floor slide. Joint slider according to claim 8, characterized in that the recess (16) has an undercut (18) at its edge (19) for grasping the Floor glider. Joint slider according to claim 9, characterized in that the undercut (18) is wedge-shaped at a wedge angle (β) of 1 ° to 5 ° relative to a vertical (20). Joint slider according to one or more of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the recess (16) at its edge (19) or at its edges on a central axis (20) facing out lugs (21) which hook into a bottom slide , Joint slider according to claim 11, characterized in that the lugs (21) are sharp-edged. Joint slider according to one or more of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the maximum pivot angle (α) relative to a vertical axis of symmetry (29) over a full circle about the axis of symmetry (29) is 25 °. Joint slider according to one or more of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that the foot (3) and the shaft (11) with a socket (7) with a joint socket (9) for receiving the ball (6) molded from different plastics are. An articulated glider according to claim 14, characterized in that the foot (3) of a PA and the shaft (11) are sprayed with a socket (7) with a socket (9) for receiving the ball (6) made of PP.

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