EP3808213A1

EP3808213A1 - Table comprising a round extendable table leg for supporting a table

Info

Publication number: EP3808213A1
Application number: EP20198693.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Leonardus Hubertus Geertruda Van Der Steen; Henricus Reinier Martina Verhappen; Franciscus Adrianus Antonius Willems
Original assignee: Koninklijke Ahrend NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Ahrend NV
Priority date: 2019-10-17
Filing date: 2020-09-28
Publication date: 2021-04-21
Also published as: NL2024036B1; CN112674469A

Abstract

Table comprising a round extendable table leg (2) for supporting a table (1), comprising telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7, 8) with a circular cross-section, which tubes (6, 7, 8) fit into each other and which tubes (6, 7, 8) comprise in their interior a spindle (4) for displacing the tubes (6, 7, 8) with reference to each other for placement of the tabletop (1') at a desired height, wherein the table leg (2) further comprises a ground-base (5) that extends at right angles with respect to the telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7, 8), wherein the spindle construction (4) provided within the telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7, 8) with a circular cross-section comprises telescopically extendable tubes (12, 13) with a rectangular cross-section, and that the spindle (4) with the telescopically extendable tubes (12, 13) with the rectangular cross-section are placed in the interior of the telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7, 8) with the circular cross-section, wherein the telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7) with the circular cross-section are rotationally fixed with a connection to the telescopically extendable tubes (12, 13) with the rectangular cross-section, and wherein a lowest tube (13) with the rectangular cross-section is rotationally fixed to the ground-base (5).

Description

The invention relates to a table comprising round extendable table legs for supporting a tabletop, comprising telescopically extendable tubes with a circular cross-section, which tubes fit into each other and which tubes comprise in their interior a spindle construction for displacing the tubes with reference to each other for placement of the tabletop at a desired height, wherein the table legs further comprise a ground-base that extends at right angles with respect to the telescopically extendable tubes.
Such a table with round extendable table legs with a circular cross-section is well known. In another well-known table with extendable table legs, the legs do not have a circular cross-section but a rectangular cross-section. The table with round extendable table legs with a circular cross-section is disadvantageous in comparison with the table provided with extendable table legs with a rectangular cross-section in that it requires specific measures to be taken to prevent that the ground base of the table can be rotated with reference to the tabletop. For that purpose it is known in the prior art to apply for instance a welded strip on the inside of the tubes of the round extendable table legs that prevents rotation of the extendable tubes of the round extendable table legs with respect to each other. This has the disadvantage that it increases the costs of manufacturing of such tables with round extendable table legs, which are therefore appreciably cost-lier than tables provided with extendable table legs having a rectangular cross-section.
CN 203 168 365 discloses a table with the features of the preamble of claim 1, wherein each table leg comprises telescopically extendable tubes with a circular cross-section, which tubes fit into each other and comprise in their interior a spindle construction for displacing the tubes with the circular cross-section with reference to each other for placement of the tabletop at a desired height. The table legs further comprise a ground-base that extends at right angles with respect to the telescopically extendable tubes, wherein the spindle construction provided within the telescopically extendable tubes with a circular cross-section comprises at least one tube with a rectangular cross-section placed in the interior of the telescopically extendable tubes with the circular cross-section. In CN 203 168 365 a highest tube with a circular cross-section is rotationally fixed to the tabletop, and the lowest tubes with a circular cross-section are mutually connected with a separate sidebar that extends between the legs. These measures are necessary to avoid mutual rotation of the tubes with circular cross-section, which would otherwise result in the ground base not being fixed in position with respect to the tabletop.
It is an object of the invention to provide a table with round extendable table legs at (very) low cost, or at least at costs that are comparable with the manufacturing costs of the table with extendable table legs with a rectangular cross-section, and that manufacturing of the table with the round extendable table legs does not involve expensive after work, but can use low cost standard tubing avoiding any sidebars that connect the respective legs of the table, whilst still preventing that the ground base can rotate with reference to the tabletop and with reference to the upper parts of the tubing of the round extendable table legs.
The table with the round extendable table legs of the invention has the features of one or more of the appended claims.
Basically the table of the invention comprising round extendable table legs has the feature that the spindle construction comprises plural telescopically extendable tubes with a rectangular cross-section, wherein the highest tube of the telescopically extendable tubes with the circular cross-section is rotationally fixed with a connection to at least one of the telescopically extendable tubes with the rectangular cross-section, and wherein a lowest tube with the rectangular cross-section is rotationally fixed to the ground-base. With these measures mutual rotation of the tubes of the telescopically extendable tubes with the circular cross-section can be avoided, whilst this result is accomplished using mainly standard elements which are available at relatively low cost.
Suitably a lowest tube with a circular cross-section is also rotationally fixed to the ground-base.
Preferably between each tube of the telescopically extendable tubes with the circular cross-section above the lowest tube, and a tube of the telescopically extendable tubes with the rectangular cross-section an engagement piece or pieces are provided that have a rectangularly shaped side that engages the tube of the telescopically extendable tubes with the rectangular cross-section, and that has a circularly shaped side opposite to the rectangularly shaped side, which circularly shaped side engages and connects to respective tubes of the telescopically extendable tubes with the circular cross-section. With this engagement piece or pieces it can be accomplished that the extendable tubes can move in the axial direction and at the same time be secured against rotation.
Suitably the engagement piece or pieces are applied in two types, a first type engagement piece that enables sliding along the telescopically extendable tube with the rectangular cross-section, and a second type engagement piece which is disabled to slide along the telescopically extendable tube with the rectangular cross-section. In this manner a series of longitudinally extendable tubes can be applied to move concertedly between a fully retracted and a fully extended position.
Preferably the first type engagement piece that enables sliding along the telescopically extendable tube with the rectangular cross-section is connected to a highest telescopically extendable tube with a circular cross-section.
In a preferred construction the second type engagement piece which is disabled to slide along the telescopically extendable tube with the rectangular cross-section is provided with a protrusion that cooperates with an aperture in the telescopically extendable tube with the rectangular cross-section.
The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a round extendable table leg according to the invention that is not limiting as to the appended claims.
In the drawing:

figure 1 shows a table of the invention provided with round extendable table legs in an isometric view;
figure 2 shows one round extendable table leg of the table of the invention in both an assembled view and in an exploded view;
figure 3 shows a first type engagement piece to be used in the round extendable table leg of the table of the invention; and
figure 4 shows a second type engagement piece to be used in the round extendable table leg of the table of the invention.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.
For clarity figure 1 shows a table 1 which is provided with round extendable table legs 2 according to the invention.
The table leg 2 of the table 1 of the invention comprises telescopically extendable tubes 6, 7, 8 with a circular cross-section, which tubes 6, 7, 8 fit into each other and which tubes 6, 7, 8 comprise in their interior a spindle construction for extending and retracting the tubes 6, 7, 8 with reference to each other for placement of the tabletop 1' at a desired height. The spindle construction will in as far as necessary hereinafter be further explained with reference to figure 2, it being noted that the spindle construction as such is well known from the prior art and requires therefore no further elucidation. Before doing so, reference is first again made to figure 1 which shows that the table leg 2 further comprises a ground-base 5 that extends at right angles with respect to the telescopically extendable tubes 6, 7, 8.
Referring now to figure 2 it is shown that the spindle construction 4 that is provided within the telescopically extendable tubes 6, 7, 8 with a circular cross-section, comprises telescopically extendable tubes 12, 13 with a rectangular cross-section. Further it is remarked that, although not shown in figure 2, the highest tube 7 of the telescopically extendable tubes 6, 7 with the circular cross-section is rotationally fixed with a connection to at least one of the telescopically extendable tubes 12, 13 with the rectangular cross-section, and a lowest tube 13 with the rectangular cross-section is rotationally fixed to the ground-base 5. Rotation of the lowest tube 13 with the rectangular cross-section and of the lowest tube 8 with the circular cross-section is thus prevented. Preferably a lowest tube 8 with a circular cross-section is also rotationally fixed to the ground-base 5.
It is thus clear that the spindle construction 4 with the telescopically extendable tubes 12, 13 with the rectangular cross-section are placed in the interior of the telescopically extendable tubes 6, 7, 8 with the circular cross-section. Preferably the telescopically extendable tubes 6, 7 with the circular cross-section are rotationally fixed with a further connection 3, 14 to the telescopically extendable tubes 12, 13 with the rectangular cross-section.
The following features are not essential but assist in preventing rotation of the rotation of the tubes 6, 7 with the circular cross-section that are above the lowest tube 8 with the circular cross-section.
Between each tube 6, 7 of the telescopically extendable tubes with the circular cross-section above the lowest tube 8, and a selected tube 12 of the telescopically extendable tubes with the rectangular cross-section an engagement piece or pieces 3, 14 are provided that serve as a rotationally fixed connection between the tubes 6, 7 with the circular cross-section and the tube 12 with the rectangular cross-section. This is accomplished by arranging that the engagement piece or pieces 3, 14 have a rectangularly shaped side 3', 14' (see figures 3 and 4) that engages the tube 12 with the rectangular cross-section. It is further shown in figures 3 and 4 that these engagement pieces 3, 14 have a circularly shaped side 3", 14'' opposite to the rectangularly shaped side 3', 14', which circularly shaped side 3", 14" engages and also connects to the respective tubes 6, 7 of the telescopically extendable tubes with the circular cross-section.
Figure 3 and figure 4 further depict that the engagement piece or pieces 3, 14 are applied in two types, a first type engagement piece 14 which is shown in figure 3 that enables sliding along the telescopically extendable tube 12 with the rectangular cross-section, and a second type engagement piece 3 which is shown in figure 4 and that is disabled to slide along the telescopically extendable tube 12 with the rectangular cross-section and fixed to a lower part of the tube 12. Figure 4 shows further that the second type engagement piece 3 which is disabled to slide along the telescopically extendable tube 12 with the rectangular cross-section is for that purpose provided with a protrusion 3"' that cooperates with a corresponding aperture (not shown) in the telescopically extendable tube 12 with the rectangular cross-section.
Figure 2 finally shows that the first type engagement piece 14 that enables sliding along the telescopically extendable tube 12 with the rectangular cross-section is connected to a highest telescopically extendable tube 7 with a circular cross-section. As mentioned the second type engagement piece 3 that cannot slide along the telescopically extendable tube 12 and that is connected to a lower part of this tube 12, is further connected to a telescopically extendable tube 6 with a circular cross-section which is below the highest telescopically extendable tube 7 with a circular cross-section.
Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the round extendable table leg with a circular cross-section according to the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.

Claims

Table (1) comprising round extendable table legs (2) for supporting a tabletop (1'), each table leg (2) comprising telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7, 8) with a circular cross-section, which tubes (6, 7, 8) fit into each other and comprise in their interior a spindle construction (4) for displacing the tubes (6, 7, 8) with the circular cross-section with reference to each other for placement of the tabletop (1') at a desired height, wherein the table leg (2) further comprises a ground-base (5) that extends at right angles with respect to the telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7, 8), wherein the spindle construction (4) provided within the telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7, 8) with a circular cross-section comprises at least one tube with a rectangular cross-section placed in the interior of the telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7, 8) with the circular cross-section, characterized in that the spindle construction (4) comprises plural telescopically extendable tubes (12, 13) with a rectangular cross-section, wherein the highest tube (7) of the telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7) with the circular cross-section is rotationally fixed with a connection to at least one of the telescopically extendable tubes (12, 13) with the rectangular cross-section, and wherein a lowest tube (13) with the rectangular cross-section is rotationally fixed to the ground-base (5) .
Table according to claim 1, characterized in that a lowest tube (8) with a circular cross-section is rotationally fixed to the ground-base (5).
Table according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that between each tube (6, 7) of the telescopically extendable tubes with the circular cross-section above the lowest tube (8), and a tube (12) of the telescopically extendable tubes with the rectangular cross-section an engagement piece or pieces (3, 14) are provided that have a rectangularly shaped side (3', 14') that engages the tube (12) of the telescopically extendable tubes (12, 13) with the rectangular cross-section, and that has a circularly shaped side (3", 14") opposite to the rectangularly shaped side (3', 14'), which circularly shaped side (3", 14") engages and connects to respective tubes of the telescopically extendable tubes (6, 7) with the circular cross-section.
Table according to claim 3, characterized in that the engagement piece or pieces (3, 14) are applied in two types, a first type engagement piece (14) that enables sliding along the telescopically extendable tube (12) with the rectangular cross-section, and a second type engagement piece (3) which is disabled to slide along the telescopically extendable tube (12) with the rectangular cross-section.
Table according to claim 4, characterized in that the first type engagement piece (14) that enables sliding along the telescopically extendable tube (12) with the rectangular cross-section is connected to a highest telescopically extendable tube (7) with a circular cross-section.
Table according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the second type engagement piece (3) which is disabled to slide along the telescopically extendable tube (12) with the rectangular cross-section is connected to a lower part of this tube (12), and is further connected to a telescopically extendable tube (6) with a circular cross-section which is below the highest telescopically extendable tube (7) with a circular cross-section.
Table according to any one of claims 4 - 6, characterized in that the second type engagement piece (3) which is disabled to slide along the telescopically extendable tube (12) with the rectangular cross-section is provided with a protrusion (3"') that cooperates with an aperture in the telescopically extendable tube (12) with the rectangular cross-section.