EP2392226A1

EP2392226A1 - Arrangement for vertically adjustable furniture

Info

Publication number: EP2392226A1
Application number: EP10165118A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans Pettersson
Original assignee: KIH Utveckling AB
Current assignee: KIH Utveckling AB
Priority date: 2010-06-07
Filing date: 2010-06-07
Publication date: 2011-12-07

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for vertically adjustable furniture, comprising: an upper support part (10); a lower support part (20); a first telescopic device (50) connected to the upper support part (10) and the lower support part (20), the first telescopic device having a longitudinal axis (X₂) extending between the upper support part (10) and the lower support part (20). The arrangement further comprises a second telescopic device (60) connected to the upper support part (10) and the lower support part (20), the second telescopic device having a longitudinal axis (X₃) extending between the upper support part and the lower support part. The arrangement further comprises a driving device (40) for displacement of the upper support part in relation to the lower support part, the driving device (40) having a longitudinal axis (X₁) substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes (X₂,X₃) of the first telescopic device (50) and the second telescopic device (60).

Description

Technical field

The present disclosure relates to an arrangement for vertically adjustable furniture, and especially to an arrangement for vertically adjustable furniture having an upper support part, a lower support part, two telescopic devices and a driving device for displacement of the upper support part in relation to the lower support part. The invention also relates to a vertically adjustable furniture comprising such an arrangement.

Background

A typical vertical adjustable furniture is a vertically adjustable table comprising an arrangement for vertical adjustment, on which upper support part a table top is arranged. Such a vertically adjustable table typically has one leg arranged at each side of the table, in the longitudinal direction of the table. Such a prior art arrangement is shown in W02004041027 , in which each leg has a number of telescopic tubes that are co-axial, and a power driven adjusting gear for displacement of the upper support part in relation to the lower support part. The spindle of the gear is arranged inside the telescopic tubes. To make such a table stable, i.e. that it can withstand forces exerted on the table, a housing for each leg has to be formed that take up such forces.
Consequently, another arrangement for vertical adjustment is needed that results in a stable vertical adjustable furniture, which arrangement at the same time is cost-efficient.

Summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution that alleviates at least some of the above mentioned drawbacks with present devices. Furthermore, it is an object to provide a vertical adjustment arrangement for vertically adjustable furniture, which arrangement takes up external forces exerted onto the arrangement and which is cost-efficient.
This is achieved by an arrangement for vertically adjustable furniture, comprising: an upper support part, a lower support part, a first telescopic device connected to the upper support part and the lower support part, the first telescopic device having a longitudinal axis extending between the upper support part and the lower support part, the first telescoping device being arranged for telescoping along its longitudinal axis. The arrangement further has a second telescopic device connected to the upper support part and the lower support part, the second telescopic device having a longitudinal axis extending between the upper support part and the lower support part, the second telescoping device being arranged for telescoping along its longitudinal axis. The arrangement further has a driving device for displacement of the upper support part in relation to the lower support part, the driving device having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the first telescopic device and the second telescopic device. The arrangement is characterized in that the longitudinal axes of each of the first telescopic device, the second telescopic device and the driving device are distanced from each other.
By distancing the first and second telescopic device and the driving device from each other, i.e. to make them non-coaxial, a stable arrangement is achieved, i.e. an arrangement that can withstand forces from many possible directions. Consequently, it is not necessary to have an extra stabilizer in the arrangement, such as a stable housing, for achieving such stability. Thereby, a leg housing surrounding the first and second telescopic device and the driving device can be formed in any way wanted, e.g. for design purposes. For example, the leg housing could be designed as a covered side, as shown in figure X. In addition, an arrangement is achieved that results in a vertically displaceable furniture having fewer components than prior art displaceable furniture. I.e. a cost-efficient solution is achieved. It is also not necessary for the stability to have a cross bar connecting a first leg having such an arrangement to a second leg in a vertically adjustable furniture having such an arrangement.
According to an embodiment, the first telescopic device, the second telescopic device and the driving device are arranged in one plane. Such an arrangement will take little space in a direction perpendicular to the plane it occupies. Thereby a user will have plenty of space below the furniture. Further, by such an arrangement the devices can be placed in one and the same housing that becomes like a vertical side of the arrangement.
According to another embodiment, the lower support part, the first telescoping device, the second telescoping device and the part to which the spindle nut is attached rotationally prevented constitutes a lower support unit arranged as a frame. Thereby, a stable construction is achieved.
According to another embodiment, the upper support part, the outer elongated element of the first telescopic device and the outer elongated element of the second telescopic device constitutes a second frame, and wherein the first frame and the second frame is arranged such that, when the spindle is rotated by the driving means and the spindle nut moves along the spindle, the first frame moves into or out of the second frame. Thereby, an even more stable construction is achieved that performs a controlled telescopic movement.
According to yet another embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a second driving device for displacement of the upper support part in relation to the lower support part, the second driving device having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the first telescopic device, the second telescopic device and the first driving device, wherein the longitudinal axis of the second driving device is distanced from the longitudinal axes of each of the first telescopic device, the second telescopic device and the first driving device. By having a second driving device, e.g. a second longitudinal spindle, arranged in parallel to the first spindle, extra stability is achieved. The spindles are then advantageously driven by the same driving means. If an even more stable construction is needed, more than two longitudinal spindles may be arranged in parallel, between the first telescopic device and the second telescopic device.
According to yet another embodiment, the distance between the first telescopic device and the second telescopic device is at least 100 mm, preferably at least 200 mm, most preferably at least 300 mm. As the distance increases, the more stabile construction is achieved.
According to still another embodiment the arrangement comprises a housing that encloses the driving device, the first telescopic device and the second telescopic device. By using such a housing there is less risk for a user to get trapped in moving parts. Further, having one housing encompassing the driving device and the two telescopic devices instead of one housing each for at least the two telescopic devices as in prior art, may be more cost-efficient. In addition, such a housing could be designed in any possible way that may be advantageous for design and sales purposes.
According to another aspect of the invention, a vertically adjustable furniture is claimed, comprising two vertical adjustment arrangements of the invention, and a connecting device, such as a table top, arranged on top of the upper support part of each arrangement, thereby connecting the two arrangements. I.e. the vertically adjustable furniture has two arrangements according to the invention that each forms a leg and a device such as a table top or a bed that connects the legs. The legs may be placed e.g. at two opposite short sides of the device that connects the legs, e.g. of the table top.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will in the following be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

Fig 1 is a schematic perspective view of an arrangement for vertically adjustable furniture according to the invention, in an expanded condition.
Fig 2 is a schematic perspective view of an arrangement according to the invention, in a contracted condition.
Fig 3 is a schematic front view of an arrangement according to the invention.
Fig 4 is a schematic cross-section along section A-A in figure 2.
Fig 5 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention.
Fig 6 is a side view of a vertically adjustable furniture according to the invention.

Description of Embodiments

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
Figures 1-4 describe an arrangement 1 for vertical adjustment of a vertically adjustable furniture. The arrangement comprises an upper support part 10 and a lower support part 20. The upper support part 10 is to be fastened to a table top or similar appliance that is to be vertically displaced compared to the ground or floor onto which the furniture stands. The lower support part 20 is to be arranged towards a floor or ground onto which the furniture stands. When the arrangement is in use, the lower support part 20 is not vertically displaced compared to the ground or floor onto which the furniture stands. The lower support part 20 is a substantially horizontal part which in normal use is in contact with the floor on which the arrangement stands. The upper support part 10 is a substantially horizontal part that is to be firmly connected to a table top or similar appliance.
The arrangement 1 further comprises a first telescopic device 50 connected to the upper support part 10 and to the lower support part 20. The first telescopic device 50 has a longitudinal axis X₂ extending between the upper support part 10 and the lower support part 20, along which axis the first telescopic device is arranged to telescope.
The arrangement 1 further comprises a second telescopic device 60 connected to the upper support part 10 and to the lower support part 20. The second telescopic device 60 has a longitudinal axis X₃ extending between the upper support part 10 and the lower support part 20, along which axis the second telescopic device is arranged to telescope.
The arrangement further comprises a driving device 40 for displacement of the upper support part 10 in relation to the lower support part 20. The driving device 40 comprises a longitudinal spindle 42 driven by an electric motor 41, or any other possible driving means, such as a manually driven crank. The longitudinal spindle of the driving device has a longitudinal axis X₁ substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X₂ of the first telescopic device 50 and also parallel to the longitudinal axis X₃ of the second telescopic device 60.
According to the invention, the first telescopic device 50, the second telescopic device 60 and the driving device 40, i.e. the longitudinal spindle 42 of the driving device, are arranged separated from each other. In other words, the first telescopic device, the second telescopic device and the driving device are non-coaxial. The first telescopic device, the second telescopic device and the driving device are distanced from each other in such a way that there is a distance between the longitudinal axes of each of the first telescopic device, the second telescopic device and the driving device. In addition, the first telescopic device 50, the second telescopic device 60 and the driving device 40 are arranged such that the longitudinal axes of the first telescopic device 50, the second telescopic device 60 and the driving device are arranged in parallel and in the vertical same plane. Further, the longitudinal axis of the driving device 40, i.e. the longitudinal spindle 42, is arranged between the longitudinal axis of the first telescopic device 50 and the second telescopic device 60. More specifically, the longitudinal spindle 42 may be arranged halfway between the first telescopic device 50 and the second telescopic device 60. The distance between the longitudinal axis of the first telescopic device and the longitudinal axis of the second telescopic device is according to an embodiment 400 mm.
The first telescopic device 50 comprises an inner elongated element 51 and a first elongated section 52 securely arranged to the inner elongated element 51, an outer elongated element 53 and a second elongated section 54 securely arranged to the outer elongated element. The first telescopic device 50 further comprises a guiding element 55, 56 for connecting the first elongated section 52 to the second elongated section 54 and for guiding a telescoping movement between the first elongated section 52 and the second elongated section 54. Such a telescopic movement would take place along the longitudinal axis X₂ of the first telescopic device. Further, the inner elongated element 51 of the first telescopic device 50 is attached with one end 51 a to the lower support part 20. The outer elongated element 53 of the first telescopic device 50 is attached with one end 53a to the upper support part 10. The first elongated section 52 and the second elongated section 54 telescopes into each other or towards each other, guided by the guiding element 55, 56 to a position shown in figure 2, where the arrangement 1 according to the invention is in its most contracted state. The first elongated section 52 and the second elongated section 54 can also telescope away from each other, guided by the guiding element 55, 56 to a position shown in figure 1, where the arrangement 1 according to the invention is in its most extended state.
The second telescopic device 60 comprises an inner elongated element 61 and a first elongated section 62 securely arranged to the inner elongated element 61, an outer elongated element 63 and a second elongated section 64 securely arranged to the outer elongated element. The second telescopic device 60 further comprises a guiding element 65 for connecting the first elongated section 62 to the second elongated section 64 and for guiding a telescoping movement between the first elongated section 62 and the second elongated section 64. Such a telescopic movement would take place along the longitudinal axis X₃ of the second telescopic device. Further, the inner elongated element 61 of the second telescopic device 60 is attached with one end 61 a to the lower support part 20. The outer elongated element 63 of the second telescopic device 60 is attached with one end 63a to the upper support part 10. The first elongated section 62 and the second elongated section 64 telescopes into each other, or towards each other, guided by the guiding element 65 to a position shown in figure 2, where the arrangement 1 according to the invention is in its most contracted state. The first elongated section 62 and the second elongated section 64 can also telescope away from each other, guided by the guiding element 65 to a position shown in figure 1, where the arrangement 1 according to the invention is in its most extended state.
The driving device 40 may be a linear actuator. The electrical motor 41 of the linear actuator may be arranged in a recess 57 in the upper support part 10. The driving device further comprises a spindle nut 43 that is in threaded connection with outward threads of the spindle 41. The spindle nut 43 is further attached rotationally prevented to a substantially horizontal cross-bar 22, which cross-bar 22 is attached to the lower support part 20. When the spindle 42 is rotated, the spindle nut 43 will, due to the threaded connection to the spindle, move along the spindle. As a result of that movement also the horizontal cross bar 22 and the lower support part will perform the same movement.
The cross-bar 22 is firmly attached to the lower support part 20 via the inner elongated elements 51, 61 of the first and second telescopic device, respectively. The cross-bar 22, the inner elongated element 51 of the first telescopic device 50, the lower support part 20 and the inner elongated element 61 of the second telescopic device 60 together form a substantially rectangular first frame.
Further, the upper support part 10, the outer elongated element 53 of the first telescopic device 50 and the outer elongated element 63 of the second telescopic device 60 forms a second frame that is open downwards, i.e. in a direction towards the lower support part 20. The second frame has a substantially rectangular form, except for the recess 57 for receiving the motor 41 in the upper support part 10. The second frame has larger dimensions than the first frame. When the spindle 42 is rotated by the motor 41, the spindle nut 43 moves along the spindle whereby the first frame moves into or out of the second frame, depending on the rotation direction of the spindle 42. The first frame further has two substantially parallel cross-bars 23, 24 arranged at its lower end, i.e. the end through which the first frame moves. A purpose of the two cross-bars 23, 24 is to stabilize the structure of the first frame.
In figure 4, an example of a guiding element 55, 56 for guiding the movement between the first and second elongated section 52, 54 of the first telescopic device 50 is shown. A similar guiding element could of course also be used for the second telescopic device 60. At their cross-sectional ends 52a, 52b, 54a, 54b, the first elongated section 52 and the second elongated section 54 are each shaped such that an elongated guide is provided. Each of the elongated guides is arranged to receive a set of rolling bearings 58, 59. Together, the guides and the set of rolling bearings provides the guiding element 55, 56 for connecting the first elongated section 23 to the second elongated section 24 and for guiding a telescoping movement between the first elongated section and the second elongated section. The rolling bearings may be arranged in ball holders (55, 65 in figure 1). Such guiding elements and elongated sections are described in more detail in co-pending European patent application 09153948.6 , applicant ROL Ergo AB.
Such guiding elements 55, 56 may alternatively be formed without using any bearings, by forming the cross-sectional ends of the first and second elongated sections such that they are in contact with each other, such that a sliding movement is performed between the first and second elongated element when telescoping.
Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment having two driving devices arranged in parallel. Apart from the first driving device 40, there is a second driving device 140 for displacement of the upper support part 10 in relation to the lower support part 20. More particularly, the second driving device 140 is arranged as a second longitudinal spindle 140 that is parallel to the first longitudinal spindle 42. The second longitudinal spindle 140 is connected to the motor 41 via a transmission (not shown). The second longitudinal spindle 140 has a longitudinal axis X₄ substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes X₁, X₂, X₃ of the first telescopic device 50, the second telescopic device 60 and the first longitudinal spindle 42. The longitudinal axis X₄ of the second longitudinal spindle 140 is distanced from the longitudinal axes X₁, X₂, X₃ of each of the first telescopic device 50, the second telescopic device 60 and the first driving device 40.
Figure 6 shows a vertically adjustable table comprising two vertical adjustment arrangements 1 according to the invention, each forming a leg of the table. The table further comprises a table top 100 arranged on top of the upper support part 10 of each arrangement. The legs are placed at two opposite short sides of the table top. Further, each adjustment arrangement 1 is enclosed in a housing 80 that forms a covered vertical side of the table.
According to an alternative embodiment, the arrangement of the invention further comprises inclined cross-bars arranged with their first ends to the upper support part 10 and with their second ends to the first telescopic device 50 or the second telescopic device 60, respectively. The first end is connected to the upper support part in a position distanced from a position where the first/ second telescopic device 50, 60 is connected to the upper support part 10. Also, there may be inclined cross-bars arranged with their first ends to the lower support part 20 and with their second ends to the first telescopic device 50 or the second telescopic device 60, respectively. The first end is connected to the lower support part in a position distanced from a position where the first/ second telescopic device 50, 60 is connected to the upper support part 10. Such inclined cross-bars would then have an extension direction inclined to the longitudinal axes of the first and the second telescopic device. Such an alternative embodiment is used for achieving extra stability for the arrangement. This is especially interesting for an arrangement not having two frames moving into each other, for example if the arrangement of the invention is arranged such that the spindle nut 43 is arranged to a part 22 that is directly attached to the lower support part 20 and not attached to the first and the second telescopic devices.
In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

Arrangement (1) for vertically adjustable furniture, comprising:
An upper support part (10);

A lower support part (20);

A first telescopic device (50) connected to the upper support part (10) and the lower support part (20), the first telescopic device having a longitudinal axis (X₂) extending between the upper support part (10) and the lower support part (20), the first telescoping device being arranged for telescoping along its longitudinal axis (X₂);

A second telescopic device (60) connected to the upper support part (10) and the lower support part (20), the second telescopic device having a longitudinal axis (X₃) extending between the upper support part and the lower support part, the second telescoping device being arranged for telescoping along its longitudinal axis (X₃);

A driving device (40) for displacement of the upper support part in relation to the lower support part, the driving device (40) having a longitudinal axis (X₁) substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes (X₂, X₃) of the first telescopic device (50) and the second telescopic device (60), characterized in that the longitudinal axes (X₁, X₂, X₃) of each of the first telescopic device (50), the second telescopic device (60) and the driving device (40) are distanced from each other.
Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first telescopic device (50), the second telescopic device (60) and the driving device (40) are arranged in one plane.
Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving device (40) is arranged between the first telescopic device (50) and the second telescopic device (60).
Arrangement according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the first telescoping device (50) comprises:
an inner elongated element (51) and a first elongated section (52) securely arranged to the inner elongated element (51),

an outer elongated element (53) and a second elongated section (54) securely arranged to the outer elongated element (53),

and a guiding element (55, 56) for connecting the first elongated section (52) to the second elongated section (54) and for guiding a telescoping movement between the first elongated section (52) and the second elongated section (54).
Arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the inner elongated element (51) of the first telescoping device (50) is attached with one end to the lower support part (20) and the outer elongated element (53) of the first telescoping device (50) is attached with one end to the upper support part (10).
Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second telescoping device (60) comprises:
an inner elongated element (61) and a first elongated section (62) securely arranged to the inner elongated element (61),

an outer elongated element (63) and a second elongated section (64) securely arranged to the outer elongated element (63),

and a guiding element (65) for connecting the first elongated section (62) to the second elongated section (64) and for guiding a telescoping movement between the first elongated section (62) and the second elongated section (64).
Arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the inner elongated element (61) of the second telescoping device (60) is attached with one end to the lower support part (20) and the outer elongated element (63) of the second telescoping device (60) is attached with one end to the upper support part (10).
Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the driving device (40) comprises a longitudinal spindle (42) driven by a driving means (41), such as an electric motor, attached to the upper support part, and a spindle nut (43) attached rotationally prevented to a part (22) firmly attached to the lower support part (20).
Arrangement according to claims 8, wherein the lower support part (20), the first telescoping device (50), the second telescoping device (60) and the part (22) to which the spindle nut (43) is attached rotationally prevented constitutes a first frame.
Arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the upper support part (10), the outer elongated element (53) of the first telescopic device (50) and the outer elongated element (63) of the second telescopic device (60) constitutes a second frame, and wherein the first frame and the second frame is arranged such that, when the spindle (42) is rotated by the driving means (41) and the spindle nut (43) moves along the spindle, the first frame moves into or out of the second frame.
Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a second driving device (44) for displacement of the upper support part (10) in relation to the lower support part (20), the second driving device (140) having a longitudinal axis (X₄) substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes (X₁, X₂, X₃) of the first telescopic device (50), the second telescopic device (60) and the first driving device (40), wherein the longitudinal axis (X₄) of the second driving device (140) is distanced from the longitudinal axes (X₁, X₂, X₃) of each of the first telescopic device (50), the second telescopic device (60) and the first driving device (40).
Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distance between the first telescopic device (50) and the second telescopic device (60) is at least 100 mm, preferably at least 200 mm, most preferably at least 300 mm.
Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a housing (80) that encloses the driving device (40), the first telescopic device (50) and the second telescopic device (60).
A vertically adjustable furniture comprising two arrangements according to any of claims 1-13, and a connecting device 100, such as a table top, arranged on top of the upper support part (10) of each arrangement, thereby connecting the two arrangements.