EP2716180B1 - Height-adjustable office desk in particular for monitor screen work places - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a height-adjustable office table for particular screen workstations, with at least one table top, at least one fixed to the table top guide rail, further with at least one column for the table telescoping guide rail, at least one interposed between the table column and the guide rail spring element, and with at least one guide element defining the telescoping movement between the guide rail and the desk column.

A height-adjustable office table will be available in the DE 198 15 444 C1 the applicant described. Comparable embodiments are the subject of DE 101 12 940 A1 , The spring element used at this point is typically a gas spring or gas pressure spring. This ensures that the table top is balanced up to, for example, a total weight of 20 kilos or 30 kilos. That is, as long as the total weight of the table top, including equipment parked on it, falls short of the previously stated specifications, the table top can be adjusted fully automatically after releasing a brake in its height. For this it is only necessary to release the brake.

Following this, the guide rail emerges from the table column until the brake recovers or an end stop is reached. This has proven itself and is associated with the particular advantage that no motorized adjustment of the table top is required. Consequently eliminates electrical connections and costly engines, which also unnecessarily drive the weight of the appropriately equipped office desk in the air.

It is conceivable that the guide rail telescoped more or less gap-free in the table column. In this case, the interlocking profiles act on the one hand the guide rail and on the other hand, the table column as as the telescoping movement between the guide rail and the desk column defining guide elements.

In the generic state of the art according to the DE 198 15 444 C1 come at this point guide pulleys for vertical guidance of the guide rails used, the guide roller discs are arranged between each round arches and indentations. This results in a complex management, which is also prone to repair on large time scales. In fact, such height-adjustable office tables are often used for several decades, so that any problems in the leadership of the guide rails relative to the associated table columns after intensive use and / or long duration noticeable.

Similar effects are in the also relevant prior art after DE 101 12 940 A1 observed. For here, the guide element is designed as a vertical slot, which serves to couple the respective table columns together via a connecting rod. However, the vertical slots can not prevent the ingress of dirt or dust, so again malfunction or at least impaired functionality is observed on long time scales.

The DE 38 03 407 A1 is concerned with a mechanical height adjustment device having a threaded tubular spindle and an outer tube connected to the spindle at one end. The height adjustment device in question may be in a chair, table or similar objects be used. In this case, a relatively simple mechanical height adjustment is followed, in which the rotation of a base or a supported platform is unnecessary.

As part of the DE 10 2005 002 920 A1 a piece of furniture is described with a horizontal support surface in the functional state, which is operatively connected to the vertical displacement along a vertical axis with at least one lifting means. The lifting means is associated with a mechanical self-locking device.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a height-adjustable office table so that its perfect functionality is given even after decades, in particular with regard to the height adjustment. At the same time a particularly compact, weight-reduced and cost-effective construction is to be made available.

To solve this technical problem, a height-adjustable office table is provided in the context of the invention according to claim 1.

In the context of the invention, therefore, a special guide element is used, namely a threaded spindle drive. Although such a threaded spindle drive is in principle in the DE 101 12 940 A1 described here, but ultimately provides for a fine adjustment of the height of the table top and is applied for this purpose by means of a hand crank. Such hand cranks are eg also in the US Pat. No. 6,484,648 B1 or the US 5,845,590 but have the disadvantage that they are not very comfortable and overall lead to a complicated and costly construction. In contrast, the guide element is acted upon in the invention only by the spring element. An additional hand crank or other manual to be actuated elements for applying force to the threaded spindle drive are expressly not provided.

In addition, on the head side of the threaded spindle drive provided connection element two (or more) threaded spindle drives can be mechanically coupled together in the invention, namely the head side. Since the head side of the threaded spindle drive is typically arranged below the table top, eliminating any vertical slots or other openings in the guide rail or the table column, as in the known teaching of the DE 101 12 940 A1 are required to couple the two guide rails or table columns together. Rather, in the context of the invention, the respective guide rail and the table column can be formed as each closed tubes on one side, telescoping each other as described. As a result, the two cross sections of one hand, the guide rail and on the other hand, the associated table column can be adapted to each other directly, so that a generally attractive appearance without pronounced steps or paragraphs is provided.

In addition, the precise fit of the cross-section ago connection of one hand, the guide rail and the other hand, the table column in the course of telescoping movement into each other any contamination in the interior excludes from the outset or kept to a minimum. Only the head side of the threaded spindle drive is the connection element, so that for example two threaded spindle drives can be mechanically connected to each other by a likewise provided on the head side coupling element. In this way, the invention ensures that, for example, two in each table columns telescoping engaging guide rails are moved without tilting against the table columns in the height adjustment. This is true even in the event that the respective guide elements or

Threaded spindle drives each act exclusively on acting spring elements with different force on the threaded spindle drive or press out with different force telescoping in the table column guide rail out of this. In addition, that the two head-side connection elements mechanically connecting coupling element protected can be placed directly below the table top and thus does not interfere with the Teleskopierbewegung. In addition, the space under the table top is completely free of elements of the table frame. At the same time a protected attachment of the coupling element can be realized in this context, for example, in the interior of a closed or open frame, which carries the top of the table top. To this frame, in turn, the respective guide rail is connected to the underside and telescoped as described in the associated table column with the interposition of the spring element or a gas pressure element. Here are the main benefits.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the threaded spindle drive has a rotating or rotatable threaded spindle and a stationary spindle nut. In principle, however, the procedure can be reversed. As a rule, however, the rotating threaded spindle is provided, which more or less immersed in the contrast stationary spindle nut. Since the rotating or rotatable threaded spindle is coupled to the guide rail (and consequently to the frame and the table top), the rotating movement of the threaded spindle relative to the stationary spindle nut is translated upwards and downwards into a corresponding linear movement. As a result, the guide rail telescopes against the table column.

By resorting to the acted solely by the spring element threaded spindle drive with head-side connection element, it is possible to arrange the threaded spindle drive inside the guide Holmes. The same applies to the spring element, which is typically designed as a gas spring element. In principle, at this point, of course, a coil spring or other spring can be used. In any case, both the threaded spindle drive and the spring element or the gas spring can be arranged in the interior of the guide Holmes and consequently also in the interior of the table column. In most cases, in the case of a rectangular cross-sectional profile of the guide rail, an arrangement of, on the one hand, the threaded spindle drive and, on the other hand, the spring element is recommended in succession in the direction of the longer side of the rectangular profile.

Since the cross sections of one hand, the guide rail and the other hand, the table column are usually adapted to each other, also has the table column advantageous over a rectangular cross-section. As already explained, the mostly rectangular guide rail engages in the likewise rectangular column of the desk virtually without gaps, so that any soiling inside can be virtually ruled out.

The spindle nut as part of the threaded spindle drive is regularly connected to a coupled to the table column holding element. In this way, the invention ensures the fixed attachment and interpretation of the spindle nut, namely on the holding element in question. Since the holding element is coupled to the table column, which in turn is designed stationary, it is ensured that the spindle nut in turn has the required stationary attachment. The retaining element may be a housing that encloses the threaded spindle drive. As a result, the threaded spindle drive undergoes a further protection against possible contamination. In addition, this ensures that any permanent lubrication maintained between the threaded spindle and the spindle nut.

The head-side connecting element of the threaded spindle drive is advantageously a gear, which is preferably connected to the translation of its rotational movements of the threaded spindle in question. That is, the rotations of the threaded spindle relative to the stationary spindle nut are translated by means of the head side provided as a connection element transmission, that is converted into faster rotations. This is of course only to be understood as an example.

Because of this larger translation, the two threaded spindles can be braked particularly sensitively via the intermediate gear each mechanically connecting coupling element. As a result, the office table according to the invention or its tabletop can be adjusted continuously and in small increments at the desired height. For this purpose, the coupling element is formed regularly as two coupling elements connected to the threaded spindles at the head end.

The coupling rod may be associated with a brake, which in turn is connected to a manual triggering element. This can be done via a Bowden cable. With the help of this manual release element, the coupling element can be selectively set and solved. In the fixed position, the table top is blocked and is not supported by the respective spring elements or gas springs. To change the height of the table top, it is only necessary to ventilate the brake with the help of the trigger element. In this case, the spring elements and the table top can be moved by the force of the spring elements in the height.

This procedure requires that each guide rail is equipped with an associated threaded spindle drive. In addition, the respective threaded spindles are mechanically connected to each other by the previously mentioned coupling element, which is the coupling rod.

As a result, a height-adjustable office table is provided, which has a mechanically simple structure. At the same time the respective spring element and trained as a threaded spindle guide member are received in the interior of the guide Holmes and consequently the associated table column, so experience maximum protection against any damage. The fact that the threaded spindle drive is equipped with a head-side connection element, the two threaded spindle drives in realization of a table frame with two corresponding table columns telescopically engaging guide rails directly below the table top and thus protected by the coupling element and the coupling rod mechanically connected. The protection can then be increased by the fact that the coupling element or the coupling rod is guided within a frame on which the table top rests. The frame can in turn be closed or, if necessary, be closed with a cover, so that the described effect is thereby increased. This shows the main advantages.

Fig. 1

den höhenverstellbaren Bürotisch in einer Seitenansicht teilweise im Schnitt und

Fig. 2

einen Blick von oben auf das Tischgestell mit abgenommener Tischplatte ebenfalls teilweise im Schnitt.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

Fig. 1

the height-adjustable office table in a side view partly in section and

Fig. 2

a view from the top of the table frame with removed tabletop also partially in section.

In the figures, a height-adjustable office table is shown, which is particularly suitable for VDU workstations. The office table has a table top 1. The table top 1 rests in the embodiment on the upper side on a frame 2. On the frame 2, a guide rail 3 is connected on the underside. The guide rail 3 telescopically engages in a table column 4. The table column 4 is substantially perpendicular to a transversely extended foot 5.

As a result, the guide rail 3 with respect to the table column 4 telescope in the vertical direction, as a double arrow in the FIG. 1 suggests. In order to effect the telescoping movement, a spring element 6 interposed between the column 4 and the guide rail 3 is provided. The spring element 6 is present and not restrictive to a gas spring or gas spring.

Both the guide rail 3 and the table column 4 are each formed as rectangular profiles and adapted to each other in terms of their cross-section. That is, the guide rail 3 telescoped gap-free or predominantly gap-free in the interior of the table column 4. For additional guidance of the guide rail 3 relative to the table column 4 in the in the FIG. 1 reproduced vertical telescoping additionally provides a guide element 7, 8, 9. The guide element 7, 8 thus defines the telescoping and by the double arrow in the FIG. 1 indicated movement between the guide rail 3 and the table column. 4

Of particular importance according to the invention is the fact that the guide element 7, 8, 9 is designed as a threaded spindle drive 7, 8 with head-side connection element 9. The threaded spindle drive 7, 8 is acted upon exclusively by the spring element 6 according to the invention. That is, the height adjustment of the table top 1 by means of the spring element 6 and realized at this point gas spring, which acts with its inherent spring force the threaded spindle drive 7, 8 such that the guide rail 2 emerges from the table column 4. In order to move the table top 1 in the opposite direction, a corresponding force exceeding the force of the spring element 6 must be exerted on the table top 1 by an operator. The threaded spindle drive 7, 8 is thus explicitly not, for example, with a hand crank or otherwise applied manually, but rather solely and solely by the spring element 6 inherent spring force.

To realize this in detail, the threaded spindle drive 7, 8 is equipped with a rotatable threaded spindle 7 and a stationary spindle nut 8. In principle, the procedure can also be reversed. In the embodiment, however, the spindle nut 8 has a fixed attachment. The holding element 10 is in the exemplary embodiment a threaded spindle drive 7, 8 largely einhausendes housing 10. The holding element or housing 10 is connected to the base foot 5 and consequently the table column 4 and consequently designed stationary. The same applies to the fixed in the interior of the holding element or housing 10 spindle nut. 8

As soon as the spring element 6 exerts a typically upward force or spring force on the table top 1 and the spindle drive 7, 8, this force ensures that the relative to the spindle nut 8 freely rotating Threaded spindle 7 is unscrewed from the spindle nut 8 as it were. In fact, the threaded spindle 7 is designed to be free from the foot on the holding element or housing 10. The head-side end of the threaded spindle 7 dips in contrast to the local connection element 9 and is rotatably received in the connection element 9. In this way it is immediately clear that corresponding rotational movements of the threaded spindle 7 lead directly into a vertical movement of the table top 1.

The transmission 9 provides for a translation of the rotational movement of the threaded spindle 7 and also for the fact that rotational movements of the threaded spindle 7 are transmitted to the table top 1 and lead into local linear movements. The translated rotational movement of the threaded spindle 7 is transmitted on the output side of the transmission 9 to a local coupling element 11, in which there is evidently the FIG. 2 is a coupling rod 11. The gear 9 is in turn designed as a reversing gear 9, because the rotational movement of the threaded spindle 7 is converted in the vertical direction into a horizontal rotational movement of the coupling element or the coupling rod 11.

The table top 1 rests on a total of a table frame 2, 3, 4, 5, which in the example according to the illustration FIG. 2 from the frame 2 and two connected to the frame 2 guide rails 3 composed. The guide rails 3 telescope in associated table columns 4, which are supported by corresponding feet 5 as described. Each guide rail 3 is equipped with an associated threaded spindle drive 7, 8, 9.

As already explained, the respective threaded spindles 7 are mechanically connected to one another via the connecting elements 9 or gear or angular gear mechanism 9 with the interposition of the coupling element or the coupling rod 11. That is, the coupling element or the coupling rod 11 connects the two connected at the head end to the threaded spindles 7 gear 9 together. In this way, a brake 12 engage approximately centrally on the coupling element 11. The brake 12 is acted upon via a trigger element 13 which is to be actuated mechanically and actuates a Bowden cable 14. This Bowden cable 14 ensures in the exemplary embodiment that one with the coupling rod 11 with rotating sleeve 15 with, for example, internal toothing on a stationary sleeve 16 is plugged or released.

In this case, the overall design is such that the spring-assisted with the coupling rod 11 with rotating movable sleeve 15 is attached to the stationary sleeve 16. That's the norm. In this normal position, the coupling rod 11 is blocked by means of the brake 12 and the table top 1 can not be moved. Only when an operator manually applied the trigger 13 and thereby actuates the connected Bowden cable 14, the movable sleeve 15 can be removed from the stationary sleeve 16. As a result, then, the coupling rod 11 can rotate freely, so that the two spring elements 6 as described provide the desired height adjustment of the table top 1 and can also provide.

In this context, it is of particular importance that when the brake 12 is locked, the two spring elements 6 are not active and are not loaded, for example, by the table top 1. D. h., The blocked brake 12 corresponds to the fact that the spring elements 6 are as it were decoupled from the table top 1. In this way, a long-lasting function of the two Spring elements 6 provided. In addition, the spring elements 6 are relieved when the brake 12 is locked.

Claims (7)

1. A height-adjustable desk in particular for monitor workstations, having at least

   - a desk top (1),

   - a guide pillar (3) fixed to the desk top (1),

   - a desk column (4) for the guide pillar (3) telescoping therein,

   - a spring element (6) inserted between the desk column (4) and the guide pillar (3) and having

   - a guide element (7, 8, 9) defining the telescoping movement between the guide pillar (3) and the desk column (4)

   characterized in that the guide element (7, 8, 9) is configured as a threaded spindle drive (7, 8) with a connection element (9) on the head side acted upon exclusively by the spring element (6), wherein
   the desk top (1) rests on a desk frame (2, 3, 4, 5) having at least two guide pillars (3) telescoping in associated desk columns (4) and
   each guide pillar (3) is equipped with an associated threaded spindle drive (7, 8), wherein the respective threaded spindles (7) are mechanically connected to one another by a coupling element (11) and, in addition,
   a brake (12) is assigned to the coupling element (11).
2. The desk according to claim 1, characterized in that the threaded spindle drive (7, 8) is arranged inside the guide pillar (3).
3. The desk according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the threaded spindle drive (7, 8) is equipped with a rotatable threaded spindle (7) and a fixed spindle nut (8), or vice versa.
4. The desk according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spindle nut (8) is attached to a retaining element (10) coupled to the desk column (4).
5. The desk according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining element (10) is configured as a housing (10) for the most part housing the threaded spindle drive (7, 8).
6. The desk according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the threaded spindle (7) is attached to a gear (9) as the connection element (9), which is preferably used to translate its rotational movement.
7. The desk according to claim 1 to 6, characterized in that the coupling element (11) is configured as two gears (9) in each case attached to the threaded spindles (7) at the head end
   as a coupling rod (11) connecting connection elements (9) to one another.

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