EP2272397B1 - Lengthways-adjustable support - Google Patents

Abstract

The length-adjustable support (1) has an outer supporting element (2) and an internal supporting element (3), where the internal supporting element is adjustably arranged in the outer supporting element. The support has a gear-tooth profile (6), which is arranged at inner side (19) of the internal supporting element, and a gear wheel (5), which is decisively arranged in the gear-tooth profile.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to supports for furniture or the like, and more particularly to a length-adjustable support for furniture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are generally known supports or support elements for furniture, which are height-adjustable or adjustable in length in different ways, such as in height-adjustable tables or sliding support or Beistellflächen.

Starting from e.g. height-adjustable supports in which displaceable support members are firmly clamped together, a variety of height-adjustable supports in the prior art is known in which, for example, a spring-loaded actuator locks the mutually displaceable parts or releases. With such actuators a tool-free height adjustment is generally possible.

Such supports typically have an outer and a inner ear slidably disposed in the outer tube. A, for example, spring-loaded actuating element typically has engagement elements in such known supports which engage in corresponding engagement elements which are fixedly arranged in the interior of the support. When the actuator is in the locked position, the engagement members of the actuator engage the engagement members inside the support and thus hold the outer tube and the inner tube in a fixed position relative to each other. If the actuating element, however, in a release position, the engagement elements are not engaged with each other and the outer and inner tubes are freely against each other.

For example, the utility model discloses DE 202 11 968 U1 Such a height-adjustable support with an outer tube and a displaceable inner tube in which a height adjustment with engagement elements is fixedly arranged. A spring-loaded actuator extends through the outer tube, the inner tube. and the height adjustment and engages inside the support in the engagement elements of the height adjustment.

A similar system reveals the utility model DE 20 2008 000 628 U1 and DE 20 2008 012 616 U1 in which no separate height adjustment is used in the inner tube, but has an inner wall of the inner tube engagement elements for the actuating element in the form of specially shaped openings. The actuator has correspondingly shaped projections which can engage in the openings. A similar system with openings in an inner wall of the inner tube and projections on the actuator also discloses the DE 196 39 691 C1

In such known height-adjustable supports, for example, the spring action is relatively strong, since the blocking effect of the height adjustment is based on the engagement of the engagement elements of the actuating element and arranged in the interior of the support engaging elements. In order to achieve the blocking effect, the engagement elements must be pressed firmly against each other, otherwise they could separate from each other due to the weight force acting partially on them. Consequently, a corresponding application of force to actuate the actuator and to overcome the spring force is necessary.

WO 2007/112738 A1 describes a system according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved length-adjustable and in particular height-adjustable support or a support element for furniture or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, therefore, the present invention provides a length-adjustable support for furniture or the like comprising: at least one outer and at least one inner support member, the inner support member being slidably disposed in the outer support member; a tooth profile disposed on an inner side of the inner support member; a gear which is arranged engaging in the tooth profile, wherein the gear has an external toothing and an internal toothing; an actuating element which engages in the internal toothing of the toothed wheel; wherein the actuating element is displaceable from a locking position to a release position and the actuating element in the locked position fixes the gear and releases the gear in the release position.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the accompanying drawings and the following description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

• Fig. 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer längenverstellbaren Stütze für Möbel oder dergleichen in Übereinstimmung mit der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer Vorderansicht veranschaulicht;
• Fig. 2 die Stütze nach Fig. 1 in einer perspektivischen Schnittansicht veranschaulicht;
• Fig. 3 die Stütze in einer ersten Längsquerschnittsansicht darstellt;
• Fig. 4 die Stütze in einer zweiten von der in Fig. 3 verschiedenen Längsquerschnittsansicht darstellt; und
• Fig. 5 die Stütze in einer Breitenquerschnittsansicht veranschaulicht.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1 an embodiment of a length-adjustable support for furniture or the like in accordance with the present invention in a front view illustrated;
• Fig. 2 the support after Fig. 1 illustrated in a perspective sectional view;
• Fig. 3 the support in a first longitudinal cross-sectional view represents;
• Fig. 4 the prop in a second from the in Fig. 3 different longitudinal cross-sectional view represents; and
• Fig. 5 illustrates the support in a width cross-sectional view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In Fig. 1 an embodiment of a length-adjustable support element 1 for furniture or the like is illustrated in accordance with the present invention. Before a detailed description follows first general explanations to the embodiments and their advantages.

As mentioned in the introduction, known in the art supports, such as in DE 20 2008 000 628 U1 . DE 20 2008 012 616 U1 or DE 196 39 691 C1 discloses, typically an outer tube and a inner ear slidably disposed in the outer tube. An example. Spring-loaded actuator has engagement elements which engage in corresponding engagement elements which are fixedly disposed in the interior of the support. In the locked position, the engagement elements of the actuating element engage in the engagement elements in the interior of the support and in this way hold the outer tube and the inner tube in a fixed position relative to each other.

In such known height-adjustable supports for furniture is the spring action for the actuating element relatively strong, so that, as mentioned above, the weight force acting on the support does not solve the engagement elements from each other. This spring force must accordingly overcome a user to actuate the actuator. In addition, the proposed solutions of the documents mentioned above entail the risk that the engagement elements can come loose. This is related to the fact that the weight force acting on the support is transmitted substantially to the meshing engagement elements. Consequently, the spring force must be formed at least so strong that the force component caused by the weight force acting on the engagement elements, which points in the direction of displacement of the actuating element, does not exceed the spring force.

In the above-mentioned prior art, which provides openings as engagement elements in the inner tube, the steps in which the height adjustment or length adjustment can be made ultimately depend on the opening size. However, the opening size can not be too small, otherwise there is a risk that the engaging in the openings engagement elements of the actuating element, which would then also be designed to be correspondingly small, structurally no longer able to withstand the weight forces acting on them , In addition, in these height-adjustable supports the weight of the furniture to be supported also partially on the engagement elements, which can complicate the operation of the actuator or can lead to jamming of the engagement elements.

The inventor has now recognized that the mechanism for the length adjustment of a support or and in particular for height-adjustable supports can be improved by, for example, that the weight force acting on the support is converted into a torque. This makes it possible, for example, that the weight force does not rest directly on the engagement elements, which ensure the blocking of the height or length adjustment.

Thus, the embodiments of the present invention include an adjustable-length support at least one outer and at least one inner support member, wherein the inner support member is slidably disposed in the outer support member. The inner and / or outer support member may / may be, for example, a hollow profile having a round, oval, rectangular or any other cross-section. The outer and inner support members are telescopically slidable, so that the overall length of the telescopically arranged outer and inner support member can be changed. As a result, for example, the height of a piece of furniture supported by the support or, for example, the distance between two (furniture) parts connected to the support can be changed.

In some embodiments, the adjustable support is arranged substantially perpendicular to the footprint and thus height adjustable. It can be arranged in other embodiments, but also at a different angle to the footprint or earth's surface and, for example, serve as a horizontal support or horizontal support. Thus, for example, the support can also be arranged horizontally and, if necessary, lengthened in the horizontal direction in order, for example, to enlarge the working surface of a table by displacing a work surface coupled to the support. The support is therefore generally suitable for providing a variable distance between two parts or surfaces with which it is in contact. Also, the term "support" should not be limited to a vertical position, but can exercise in any working position a supporting or supporting function, in particular on a furniture part.

On an inner side of the at least one inner support element, a tooth profile is arranged. The tooth profile may, for example, be formed on a toothed rack which is fixedly arranged on the inner support element, or it may be formed, for example, on an inner side of the inner support element. The tooth profile is arranged vertically in the inner support member, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the support member which is also the direction of displacement at the same time. The tooth profile is formed, for example, rib-like, wherein the ribs serve as engagement elements for a gear. The gear has engagement elements in the form of teeth and it is arranged in the interior of the support so that it can engage in the tooth profile. Thus, for example, the external toothing of the toothed wheel engages in the ribs of the toothed rack or in the ribs which are formed on an inner side of the inner supporting element. The tooth profile or the ribs can be designed in any desired form and, for example, be formed by elevations, depressions or recesses. The tooth profile provides a surface that is suitable as an engagement surface for the gear.

In this case, the engagement element of the gear and the engagement elements of the tooth profile For example, in each case a specific distance, through which a specific locking measure for the height or length adjustment is formed. The farther the engagement elements are spaced, the greater the distances in which an engagement element of the gear engages in the corresponding engagement element of the tooth profile and the greater is therefore the locking measure in which the height or length adjustment can be adjusted. The gear has, in addition to the external toothing, which is formed engaging in the tooth profile, an internal toothing. In some embodiments, the screening or the locking measure can also be formed by the internal toothing. In this case, for example, the diameter on which the gear rolls and the internal teeth with their angle and their number of teeth are decisive for the locking dimension. Assuming, for example, that the gear has 20 teeth in the internal toothing, that is, per angular distance of 18 ° one (360 ° / 18 ° corresponds to 20 teeth on the entire circumference), this results in a rotation of 18 ° with a corresponding pitch circle Diameter of about 3.2 cm a circular arc of about 5 mm, and thus a stroke or a locking measure of about 5 mm.

Furthermore, the length-adjustable support comprises an actuating element which is designed to engage in the internal toothing of the toothed wheel. The actuating element is displaceable from a blocking position to a release position, wherein the actuating element in the locking position fixes the gear and releases the gear in the release position.

The actuator extends in some embodiments through the outer and inner support members, for example, in the transverse direction, i. substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support elements. For this purpose, the inner and the outer support member each have an opening. In some embodiments, the outer support element has an opening which is adapted to the outer shape of the actuating element, e.g. a round hole, while the inner support member has, for example, a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the inner support member.

In some embodiments, the actuating element has a longitudinal section which, for example, also serves as a rotation axis for the toothed wheel and on which the toothed wheel is rotatably mounted when the actuating element is in the release position. This longitudinal or axial portion of the actuating element engages, for example, in a guide or is rotatably mounted in this, which on an inner side the outer support member is mounted. In some embodiments, the actuator is also designed as a fixed axis, which is rotationally fixed both in the release position and in the locked position. It can also be provided two guides which are arranged opposite to each other on the respective inner side of the outer support member. In this case, the actuating element, for example, projections or at least one projection which can engage in a matched to the projection counter-groove in a guide, when the actuating element is in the locked position. The projection and the counter-groove can also be designed so that the actuating element is non-rotatable even in the release position. The actuator can of course be arranged in a non-rotatable manner in another way, for example, it is tightly clamped or screwed. Thus, in some embodiments, the projection is formed by a bolt, for example a cylinder dowel, which engages in the guide so that the axis of rotation of the actuating element is non-rotatable. In the area where the guide (s) is / are mounted, the inner support member may also have longitudinally extending openings. Moving now the inner support member relative to the outer, so the actuator or its longitudinal portion and the guide in the respective longitudinal opening of the inner support member can move along.

In some embodiments, the actuator has a protrusion that engages the internal teeth of the sprocket when the actuator is in the locked position. For this purpose, in some embodiments, the longitudinal axis of the actuating element, for example. Designed as a safety bolt, which engages in the guide. For example, the gear may additionally be rotatably mounted on the securing bolt. In addition, for example, the securing bolt has a projection or a plurality of projections which form an outer toothing, which engages in the inner toothing of the toothed wheel when the actuating element is in the blocking position.

The actuating element may, for example, be designed as a one-piece safety bolt. As a result, in some embodiments, the assembly and manufacture of the actuating element is particularly simple.

Further, the actuating element may have a recess, wherein the inner toothing of the gear is arranged to be freely movable in the recess when the actuator is in the release position. This recess may, for example, be integrally formed on the securing bolt.

So that the actuating element remains in the blocking position or returns to it after actuation, it is mechanically biased in some embodiments. Thus, for example, a spring is arranged in a guide, so that the actuating element must be pressed against this spring to move it from the locking position to the release position.

In the blocking position, therefore, engage engaging elements of the actuating element in the inner toothing of the gear, which is in engagement with the tooth profile in some embodiments. Consequently, any translational movement of the tooth profile attached to the inner support member will be transmitted to the meshing gear, thus translating the translational motion into rotational movement of the gear. The gear transmits the rotational movement to the engaging with the internal toothing actuator. The actuating element is non-rotatable at least in the locked position and, as stated above, continue to protrude beyond projections into engagement with grooves in a guide. The actuator and thus the gear which engages the tooth profile are thus locked in the locked position. Accordingly, in the locked position, the weight force acting vertically on the tooth profile is translated into torque by the meshing gear. This torque is transmitted to the engaged non-rotatable actuator. The non-rotatable actuating element transmits the torque, for example. Through the firmly seated in the groove projection on the guide, which in turn is attached to the outer support member.

By this power transmission exists virtually no component of the weight, which acts in the direction of the actuation path of the actuating element. As a result, the actuating element can not reach the release position due to the weight force from the locking position. Consequently, for example, a bias of the actuator is sufficient, which ensures only the return of the actuating element in the locked position after actuation.

If the actuating element is now displaced out of the blocking position into the release position, the external toothing formed by the projections of the actuating element shifts into a hollow region of the toothed wheel, so that the toothed wheel and the toothed wheel are displaced Actuator no longer engaged with each other. The hollow portion of the gear may be formed so as to correspond to the outer circumference of the outer teeth portion of the operating member, which thus rotatably supports the gear in this range. Consequently, the gear, which is no longer in engagement with the actuator, rotate freely and thus the inner and the outer support member can be moved against each other.

In some embodiments, more than one inner and / or outer support member are present. In general, the outer or inner support member may be that which is placed on a footprint or attached to a surface or area of a piece of furniture or the like. For example, if the outer support member of a height-adjustable support on the floor or a floor space, the (last) inner support member may carry a corresponding part of a piece of furniture and arranged accordingly, such as. In a corner of a desk top, on a seat of an office chair at the bottom of a cabinet, etc. In some embodiments, the arrangement is also reversed so that the inner support member rests on the floor or a footprint while the outer support member is connected to a piece of furniture.

In some embodiments, the support is designed to support the furniture or the like vertically, i. it is essentially perpendicular to the ground. By this arrangement substantially parallel to the weight of the furniture to be supported, it is possible, for example. Form the support elements accordingly as hollow sections. Hollow sections are generally longitudinal, i. in the direction of the extending cavity, much stiffer than in the transverse direction and are lighter than solid profiles due to the material savings.

Further, the actuating element may be formed such that it is flush with the outside of the outer support member. The actuating element has, for example, a key area which, in the blocking position, terminates flush with the outer side of the outer support element. This reduces the risk that a user injures his leg on a protruding actuating element, for example.

Coming back to the Fig. 1 to 5 illustrate this an embodiment of a length-adjustable support 1 for furniture or the like, such as a height-adjustable support for a work table, in accordance with the present Invention.

The support 1 has an outer support member 2 and an inner support member 3 disposed in the outer support member 2. An operation member 4 is disposed in the outer support member 2 and inner support member 3 so as to extend across the longitudinal direction (FIG. Fig. 1 shows only the front of the actuator 4). In this case, the outer support member 2 has an adapted to the round shape of the actuating element 4 opening.

The actuator 4 can be moved from a locking position in which it is flush with the outside of the outer support member 2 in a release position, in which the inner support member 3 is telescopically displaceable against the outer support member.

The actuating element 4 has an integrally formed securing bolt 11, which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction through the outer 2 and inner support member 3 (see Fig. 2 . 3 and 5 ). On the securing bolt 11, a gear 5 is mounted, which engages with its outer toothing 23 in ribs 7 of a rack 6. The rack 6 is fixedly mounted with screws 17 on an inner side 20 of the inner support member 3. The rack 6 is engaged with the gear 5, so that each force acting in the longitudinal direction on the rack 6 force is transmitted to the gear 5, which converts the force into a torque.

The gear 5 has a cavity on the inside, in which an internal toothing 24 is arranged. In this internal toothing 24 of the gear 5 engage projections 13 on the outside of the locking bolt 11 when the actuator 4 is in the locked position. The projections 13 thereby form an external toothing on the surface of the round-shaped securing bolt 11, which is designed to fit the internal toothing 24 of the toothed wheel 5.

Now, if the inner support member 3 is to be moved relative to the outer support member 2, the rack 6 moves the engaging it gear 5, which in turn engages over its internal teeth 24 in the projections 13 of the securing bolt 11, which also wants to be moved. In this way, the rack 6, together with the gear 5, the longitudinal movement during displacement of the inner support member 3 relative to the outer support member 2 in a rotational movement of the gear 5 and thus also the securing bolt 11 of the actuating element 4 to. The securing bolt 11 forms an axis of rotation 18 about which the gear 5 can rotate. Similarly, the rack 6 transmits the weight force acting on the support 1 to the gear 5, whereby the acting weight force is converted into a torque.

The gear 5, the rack 6 and the internal teeth 24 are formed in this embodiment such that the screening for the length adjustment or 5 mm with a corresponding arrangement of the support for the height adjustment. By a corresponding change in the size of the gear 5, the rack 6 and the internal teeth 24 and a change in the corresponding tooth profiles, other locking values can be realized, for example. Between 2-15 mm.

The securing bolt 11 of the actuating element 4 further has projections 14 which engage in a guide 16, which in turn each has a counter-groove to the projections 14. The projections 14 engage in the corresponding counter-grooves of the guide 16 so that the securing bolt 11 is non-rotatable when the actuating element 4 in the in the Fig. 1 to 5 is shown locked position. The guide 16 is arranged on an inner side of the outer support element 2.

The length adjustment is thus blocked by the fact that the projections 14 are firmly seated in the respective counter-grooves of the guide 16 when the actuating element 4 is in the locked position. As a result, the actuating element 4 is rotationally fixed, which in turn prevents rotation of the meshing with him gear 5, which in turn prevents a displacement of the rack 6. Consequently, the inner support member 2 can not be displaced against the outer support member 3, as long as the actuator 4 is in the locked position.

To release the gear 5, the securing bolt 11 has a recess 12. The recess 12 is formed on the securing bolt 11 so as to be located at the position of the internal teeth 24 of the gear 5 when the operating member 4 is in the releasing position.

The actuator 4 comes from the locked position to the release position by a user applying force to the actuator in the direction of the interior of the support 1. Such a force causes a displacement of the actuating element to the inside, so that the recess 12 enters the region of the internal toothing 24 of the gear 5. The recess 12 forms a cavity at the location of the internal toothing 24 of the gear 5, so that it can rotate freely. The projections 13 thereby reach into a rear hollow region 22 of the toothed wheel, on which there is no internal toothing 24, so that the toothed wheel 5 is no longer in engagement with the actuating element 4. The hollow portion 22 of the gear 6 is adapted to the outer periphery of the projections 13 of the securing bolt 11 so that they form a pivot bearing for the gear 5 when the securing bolt 11 is in the release position. The securing bolt 11 is mounted rotatably in the release position by the projections 14.

The safety pin 11 is mechanically biased by a spring 9, which keeps it in the locked position. The spring 9 extends on the one hand into a cavity 21 of the securing bolt 11 and on the other hand into a guide bush 10, which is mounted on an inner side 20 of the outer support member 2 and the guide 16 is opposite. Consequently, the spring 9 abuts on the one hand on a rear wall of the guide bushing 10 and on the other hand on a rear wall of the cavity 11 in the safety bolt 11. The safety pin is held in the guide 16 and the guide bush 16. A retaining ring 8 limits the path of the securing bolt 11 such that it is not displaceable out of the outer support member 2, but in the locking position with the outside of the outer support member 2 is flush.

The safety pin 11 is used, for example, in the assembly of the support 1 in accordance with the guides 10, 16 and the spring 9 is biased accordingly by being compressed. Then the so-biased securing bolt 11 is secured with the retaining ring 8 in the guide 10, 16.

If a user now presses on the securing bolt 11 of the actuating element 4, he shifts it against the spring force of the spring 9 and thus presses the securing bolt 11 in the release position.

In the release position, the inner support member 3 can now be moved relative to the outer support member 2 as described above, since the gear 5 can now rotate freely. So that the securing bolt 11, the guide bushing 10 and the guide 16, the displacement of the inner support member 3 does not hinder, has Support element 2 correspondingly arranged opposite recesses 15 on ( Fig. 2 . 3 and 5 ). The recesses 15 are arranged in the walls of the inner support member 3, that the guide bush 10 and the guide 16 can slide in the recesses 15 during the displacement of the inner support member 3 along. The recesses 15 extend in the longitudinal direction of the inner support member 3, so that the inner support member 3 can be moved accordingly. In this case, the recesses 15 form a limitation of the displacement both to the inside and to the outside by the guide bush 10 and the guide 16 abut each at the end of the recesses 15 when the inner support member pulled too far outward or pushed too far inward becomes.

The inner support member 3 is slidably disposed in the outer 2. To guide the inner support member and to improve the sliding properties, a sliding system is provided in some embodiments. The sliding system comprises slide rails or sliding elements, such as sliding carriages, on the inside of the outer support element 2 in the corresponding slide rails or correspondingly formed sliding elements on the outside of the inner support member 3 engage and can slide along them.

Claims (15)

1. A longitudinally adjustable support for furniture or the like, with:

   at least one outer support element (2) and at least one inner support element (3), wherein the inner support element (3) is arranged so as to be displaceable in the outer support element (2);

   a tooth profile (6) which is arranged on an inner side (19) of the inner support element (3);

   a toothed wheel (5) which is arranged engaging in the tooth profile (6),

   characterized in that the toothed wheel (5) has an external set of teeth (23) and an internal set of teeth (24);

   an actuating element (4) which engages in the internal set of teeth of the toothed wheel (5), wherein the actuating element (4) is displaceable from a locking position into a release position and the actuating element (4) fixes the toothed wheel (5) in the locking position and releases the toothed wheel (5) in the release position.
2. A longitudinally adjustable support according to any one of the preceding claims [sic], in which the toothed wheel (5) is mounted in a rotatable manner on the actuating element (4).
3. A longitudinally adjustable support according to one of the preceding claims, in which the actuating element (4) has a recess (12), wherein the internal set of teeth (24) of the toothed wheel (5) is arranged so as to be freely movable in the recess (12) when the actuating element (4) is in the release position.
4. A longitudinally adjustable support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the actuating element (4) has at least one projection (13) which engages in the internal set of teeth (24) of the toothed wheel (5) when the actuating element (4) is in the locking position.
5. A longitudinally adjustable support according to claim 4, in which the projections (13) form an external set of teeth of the actuating element (4).
6. A longitudinally adjustable support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the outer support element (2) has a guide (10) on the inner side (20).
7. A longitudinally adjustable support according to claim 6, in which the actuating element (4) engages in the guide (10).
8. A longitudinally adjustable support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the actuating element (4) is pre-stressed mechanically.
9. A longitudinally adjustable support according to claim 8, in which a spring (9) is arranged in the guide (10) and in a cavity (21) in the actuating element (4).
10. A longitudinally adjustable support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a guide bush (16), which has at least one matching groove which is adapted to at least one projection (14) on the actuating element (4), is arranged on an inner side of the outer support element (2).
11. A longitudinally adjustable support according to claim 10, in which the projection (14) engages in the matching groove when the actuating element (4) is in the locking position.
12. A longitudinally adjustable support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the inner support element (3) has at least one recess (15) in the longitudinal direction of the inner support element (3).
13. A longitudinally adjustable support according to claim 12, in which the guide (10) and/or the guide bush (16) engages or engage in the recess (15) in the inner support element (3).
14. A longitudinally adjustable support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the actuating element (4) is designed in such a way that it terminates flush with the outer side of the outer support element (3) [sic] in the locking position.
15. A longitudinally adjustable support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the actuating element (4) is designed in the form of a one-piece safety bolt (11).

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