EP3989775A1

EP3989775A1 - Hinge assembly and article of furniture

Info

Publication number: EP3989775A1
Application number: EP20734933.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Angela STAFFA
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-06-26
Filing date: 2020-06-25
Publication date: 2022-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-25
Also published as: WO2020260509A1; DE102019117223B4; EP3989775B1; DE102019117223A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a hinge assembly and an article of furniture having such a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly serves to connect support legs to the article of furniture, wherein a coupling link assembly is provided to synchronize the pivoting movement of two associated support legs, which coupling link arrangement is arranged so as to be offset from a preloading means via which the support legs are preloaded in two positions, preferably a normal position and a crossover position. The preloading means preferably acts directly on one of the support legs.

Description

description

Joint arrangement and piece of furniture

The invention relates to a joint arrangement for connecting support legs to a piece of furniture according to claim 1 and a piece of furniture designed with such a joint arrangement.

Such joint arrangements are used, for example, to adjust a chair or a table in height. The joint arrangement is preferably designed such that two pairs of support legs between a base or

Normal position, in which the support legs run approximately parallel to each other or are slightly U- or V-shaped to each other, can be pivoted into a scissors or crossed position.

The construction of a joint arrangement that enables such a pivoting is described, for example, in the documents US Pat. No. 2,932,344 and DE 1 292 344 A. Accordingly, a piece of furniture is designed with four support legs which are pivotably articulated on a seat body, for example a frame of a seat surface. Two support legs are joined together to form a pair of support legs, with both

Pairs of supporting legs are operatively connected by means of a joint arrangement in such a way that the two pairs of ischial legs can be pivoted synchronously in the manner described above between the normal position and the cross / scissor position. In these two pivot positions, the pairs of ischial legs each rest against stops. The

The articulation arrangement has a coupling arm pivotably mounted on a base of the chair, the end sections of which are each connected to a pivot link which in turn engages one of the support legs. The coupling arm and the two swivel links connected to its end sections synchronize the

Pivoting movement of the two pairs of support legs and, in the normal position described, assume an approximately extended position in which the links (coupling arm and swivel link connected to it) are positioned slightly in a zigzag manner to one another. When adjusting to the crossed position, the angle of attack between the links is reduced, the coupling arm being pivoted in the direction of a vertical position (based on the standing surface of the furniture). The two pairs of support legs are connected to each other via cross struts, so that the synchronization of the

Pivoting movement only a coupling link arrangement is required. In these known solutions, a tension spring, which is fixed to a frame or a base of the piece of furniture, engages in the connection area of the coupling arm with one of the pivot links. This tension spring is positioned in such a way that the two pairs of supporting legs are in the two positions (normal position,

Cross-over position) are held on the stops by a bias of the tension spring and during the pivoting in the end pivoting area

Support swivel movement in the direction of the stop.

In the document DE 20 2013 100 020 U1, a similar joint arrangement is described in which the pivoting of two pairs of support legs is also synchronized via a joint arrangement with an approximately centrally arranged coupling arm and two swivel links connected to it. In this solution, a tension spring is also provided that the joint arrangement and thus also the two

Support leg pairs acted upon in the direction of the normal position. The pivoting into the crossover position then takes place against the force of the tension spring.

These known articulation arrangements allow a very simple adjustment of the support legs between the normal position and the crossed position. However, it is disadvantageous that the joint arrangement with the coupling link arrangement and the tension spring engaging it on the one hand requires a considerable amount of installation space (especially in the crossed position) and thus significantly influences the visual appearance of the piece of furniture. Furthermore, a considerable outlay in terms of device technology is required in order to integrate the coupling joint arrangement and the tension spring into the piece of furniture.

DE 199 28 829 A1 discloses a type of lifting platform

Seat construction in which an upper frame is held on a floor-side lower frame via four universal joints. This seat mechanism requires a considerable amount

device engineering effort, which is associated with a high weight and also does not meet high aesthetic standards.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a hinge arrangement and a piece of furniture executed therewith which, with little

Device technology effort allow an inconspicuous integration of the joint arrangement in the piece of furniture. This task is achieved with regard to the joint arrangement by the

Combination of features of claim 1 and solved with regard to the piece of furniture by the features of the independent claim 17.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The joint arrangement according to the invention is used for the articulated connection of

Support legs that are held on a piece of furniture via swivel joints. The

Joint arrangement has a coupling link arrangement with a pivotable

Coupling arm that is mounted on a base attached to the piece of furniture. End sections of the coupling arm are articulated with swivel links, the

Coupling arm arrangement is designed such that the support legs can be pivoted between a first position and a second position, preferably between a scissors or crossover position and a normal position in which the support legs are, for example, parallel or slightly U- or V-shaped to each other . The joint arrangement also has a pretensioning device for pretensioning a support leg at least in the direction of one of the positions.

According to the invention, the coupling link arrangement and the pretensioning device are not, as in the prior art described at the beginning, arranged in one plane to each other, but rather offset, preferably transversely to the pivot plane, so that, due to the resulting compact structure, the joint arrangement inconspicuously in the design of the piece of furniture can be integrated. As a result of the separate design with coupling link arrangement and offset pretensioning device that preferably acts directly on a support leg, the assembly and also the construction of the joint arrangement is significantly simplified compared to the conventional solutions.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pretensioning device is designed such that it has a dead center position in which a maximum pretensioning is effective. This dead center is in an area between the two

Reached the aforementioned positions of the support legs. This causes the

Pre-tensioning device the support legs after overcoming the dead center position in

Direction of the respective position (crossed position, normal position) is applied and thus supports the adjustment in the direction of this position.

In a particularly simple embodiment, the

Coupling link arrangement with the coupling arm and pivot links articulated thereon executed, which act directly or indirectly on a pair of support legs. Such a structure is characterized by high stability during the

Synchronization and a simple structure.

The joint arrangement can be made particularly compact if the

Coupling link arrangement and the pretensioning device offset in parallel

opposite sides of the base are arranged. With such a

Further development, the base dips in sections into the area between the coupling link arrangement and the pretensioning device, so that a very

space-saving compact design is realized.

The coupling link arrangement can be designed such that the coupling arm is arranged in the second position, preferably the crossed position, approximately perpendicular to a standing surface of the piece of furniture.

The aesthetic appearance of the joint arrangement can be further improved if the coupling link arrangement connects two supporting legs of a supporting leg pair with one another, while the pretensioning device engages one of the two remaining supporting legs. In other words, the coupling link arrangement lies approximately in the pivot plane of one of the two pairs of support legs, while the pretensioning device is arranged in the pivot plane of the remaining support legs which is arranged parallel thereto. Such a solution can be integrated into the design of the piece of furniture even more inconspicuously than the solution described above and also has the advantage that the weight distribution due to the spacing of the coupling link arrangement and the pretensioning device selected in this exemplary embodiment

is equalized.

In an alternative solution, as already indicated above, the

Coupling link arrangement and the prestressing element can be arranged in the region of the pivot plane of two support legs of the support leg pairs. The two remaining support legs, which can be pivoted in the parallel pivot plane, can then be assigned a stop which supports these support legs in the respective position.

In one embodiment it is provided that pivot joints formed in the area of the base are offset transversely to the pivoting direction of the support legs, so that no collision occurs when pivoting into the crossed position. It is preferred if the base has two swivel brackets, to each of which a support leg is articulated and which are arranged on the base with the aforementioned transverse offset.

The compact structure can be further improved if the coupling link arrangement and / or the pretensioning device are each sectioned through the

Transverse offset of the swivel consoles trained downgrading of the base are kept.

In a variant of the invention, the support brackets of the base are through a

Bridge web connected, on which the coupling arm is pivotably mounted.

According to a further development of the invention, this bridge web can form a stop for the support legs in one of the positions.

In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling arm is arranged in the dead center position approximately in the height adjustment direction, so that a height offset of the articulation of the pivot struts on the coupling arm is preferably maximal.

The force applied to the support legs via the pre-tensioning device can be optimized if the pre-tensioning device engages a lever arm which is offset from the pivot joint on the respective support leg.

This lever arm can be made in one piece with the support leg. In principle, it is also possible to form the support leg and elements of the pivot joint on the support leg in one piece.

The piece of furniture according to the invention preferably has four support legs, whose

Pivoting is synchronized / controlled by means of at least one joint arrangement of the construction described above.

The piece of furniture is preferably designed as seating furniture, for example as an armchair, chair, bench, sofa or table, sideboard.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it: Figures 1 to 7 a first embodiment of an inventive

Joint arrangement in different positions, each in a front view and a rear view and in a plan view;

FIGS. 8 to 11 are views of a piece of furniture according to the invention with a further exemplary embodiment of a joint arrangement according to the invention;

Figures 12 and 13 a variant of the embodiment according to Figures 8 to 1 1;

FIG. 14 shows an end fitting of a joint arrangement according to FIGS. 12 and 13; FIG. 15 shows an end fitting of an exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 8 to 11; FIGS. 16, 17 show a further exemplary embodiment of an inventive

Piece of furniture with a joint arrangement according to the invention;

FIGS. 18, 19 show detailed representations of the design of a swivel joint of a joint arrangement according to the invention;

Figures 20, 21 a further embodiment of an inventive

Joint arrangement;

Figures 22, 23 an embodiment of a joint arrangement according to the invention with an additional positional fixation in the positions of support legs and

FIGS. 24, 25 exemplary embodiments of pieces of furniture according to the invention with differently designed frames, on each of which a joint arrangement according to the invention is held.

The joint arrangement described below is used to link the support legs of a piece of furniture, for example a chair, an armchair or a table, in such a way that the functional height of this piece of furniture can be adjusted by adjusting the support legs between a normal position in which the support legs are roughly parallel or U- or V- are employed in the shape of one another, can be pivoted into a position in which two support legs each assume a crossed position (also called a scissor position).

The basic structure of the joint arrangement 1 according to the invention is first explained using a model of a piece of furniture shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, in which two support legs 2, 4 are hinged to a frame, a table top or a seat by means of the joint arrangement 1 according to the invention. In the model shown, the reference number 6 stands for a table top.

Figures 1 and 2 show the joint arrangement 1 in the aforementioned normal position, in which the support legs 2, 4 are positioned slightly obliquely to one another, the distance to the table top 6 being reduced. A base 8, the structure of which is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 3, is fastened to the table top 6 or a frame supporting it becomes. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the base 8 extends between the two mutually associated support legs 2, 4, each over a

Swivel joint 9, 10 are articulated on the base 8. In which the

Swivel joints 9, 10 adjoining the area, the base 8 in the illustration according to Figures 1, 2 downwards, i.e. towards the indicated standing surface 12, tapers trapezoidally, two inclined surfaces 14, 16 of the base 8 ending in an apex surface 18 running approximately parallel to the table top 6. In the field of

The apex surface 18 is on both sides of the base 8 by means of a joint 20

cantilevered coupling arm 22 which, in the normal position according to FIGS. 1 and 2, is employed at an angle to the standing surface 12 or to the table top 6. One end section of a pivoting link 24, 26 is articulated in each case on the two free end sections of the coupling arm 22, which is pivotable in the center about the joint 20. This articulation takes place in each case by means of a coupling joint 28, 30 which allows the pivoting links 24, 26 to pivot relative to the coupling arm 22. The end sections of the pivot links 24, 26 that are remote from the coupling arm 22 are in turn articulated to the respective support leg 2, 4 via leg joints 32, 34. In the normal position shown, the one formed by the coupling arm 22 and the pivot links 24, 26 takes place

Coupling link arrangement 36 a stretched position in which said links (22, 24,

26) are made approximately zigzag to one another, these being made only slightly, preferably at an acute angle (angle of incidence <45 °) to the standing surface 12 or to the table top 6.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the model according to FIG. 1. In this view, the coupling link arrangement 36 is partially covered by the base 8, so that only a part of the pivot link 26 engaging the support leg 2 and the pivot link 24 engaging the support leg 4 is pivotably connected to it End portion of the coupling arm 22 with the coupling joint 28 and the joint 20 is visible.

In this illustration it can be seen that a lever arm 38 protruding laterally towards the base 8 is formed on the support leg 4, which protrudes approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the support leg 4 towards the base 8 and at its end section a

Acts biasing device via which the support leg 4 is biased into the respective position, in Figure 2 into the normal position. In the illustrated embodiment, the pretensioning device is designed as a pressure cylinder 40, the cylinder of which has a

Cylinder joint 42 is articulated on the end portion of the lever arm 38. A piston rod 44 of the pressure cylinder 40 is articulated to the base 8 via a piston rod joint 46. In the normal position shown in FIG. 2, the lever arm 38 extends approximately parallel to the pivot arm 24. The axis of the pressure cylinder 40 is set at a slight angle to the lever arm 38, so that the support leg 4 in the direction of

Normal position is applied. Since the lever arm 38 at a distance to

Pivot joint 9 engages the support leg 4, a torque acting in the direction of the normal position is transmitted to the support leg 4, which is connected to the other support leg 2 via the coupling link arrangement 36, so that this is also correspondingly biased into the normal position . In this, the two support legs 2, 4 are each with their

End sections 48, 50 on the table top 6, so that their secure

Positioning is guaranteed. As explained below, the

The contact area of the end sections 48, 50 on the table top 6 or on the other supporting area of the piece of furniture designed in a suitable manner in order to transmit the supporting forces.

In the illustrated embodiment, the piston rod 44 engages the base 8 - of course, reverse assembly is also possible, in which the cylinder engages the base side and the piston rod 44 engages the support leg side.

FIG. 3 shows a view from the standing surface 12 of the joint arrangement 1 according to FIG. 1, so that the underside of the table top 6 of the model is visible. As explained above, the base 8, described in more detail below, is attached to this table top 6 (or the other support structure), to which the

Swivel joints 9, 10, the two support legs 2, 4 are articulated.

The two swivel joints 9, 10 are each formed on a swivel bracket 52, 54 of the base 8, the swivel brackets 52, 54 each having three hinge plates 56, 58, 60, which are formed at a distance from one another and between the hinge projections 62, 64 of the Immerse support legs 2, 4. In the illustration according to FIG. 3, only the hinge plates, hinge projections of the support leg 4 and the swivel bracket 52 are provided with reference symbols. The articulated connection of the hinge plates 56, 58, 60 and the hinge projections 62, 64 then takes place via a hinge pin 66, indicated by dash-dotted lines, which is also visible in the views according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As can be seen from the illustration, the two swivel brackets 52, 54 are arranged offset from one another transversely to the swivel direction. The pivot planes of the two support legs 2, 4 run approximately perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, so that the above-described offset accordingly lies in the vertical of the plane of the drawing according to FIG. This offset is - as explained in the preceding - necessary to move the support legs 2, 4 from the normal position shown into the one described below

To be able to bring crosswise position.

According to the illustration in FIG. 3, a bridge web 68 extends between the two pivot brackets 52, 54, the side surfaces of which, visible in FIG. 3, form the apex surface 18 and the two inclined surfaces 14, 16 extending towards this.

As explained above, the joint 20 is formed on this bridge web 68, which is specifically embodied by a stepped joint bolt 70 which is attached to the

Bridge web 68 is held. The coupling arm 22 protruding on both sides is then held on this stepped hinge pin 70 in such a way that it extends parallel to the bridge web 68. The two end sections of the coupling arm 22 are connected via the coupling joints 28, 30 to the pivot links 24, 26, the

End sections are connected via the leg joints 32, 34 to the respectively assigned support legs 2, 4. According to the representation in Figure 3, the leg joints 32, 34 are each designed with a joint extension 72 (in Figure 3 only the joint extension 72 of the support leg 4 is provided with a reference number), which is assigned a corresponding link extension 74, which is then in turn on a Hinge pin 76 indicated by dash-dotted lines is mounted. The handlebar approach of the other

Due to the transverse offset, the pivot link 26 of the pivot link 26 articulated on the support leg 2 has a greater length than that of the pivot link 24. As indicated in FIG. 3, corresponding pivot pins 78, 80 are also inserted into the coupling joints 28, 30.

The axial length of the hinge attachments 72 and the stepped hinge pin 70 is selected such that the coupling link arrangement 36 extends approximately parallel to the base 8 along the front side (above in FIG. 3) of the base 8 visible in FIG.

The pressure cylinder 40 is accordingly arranged on the rear side of the base 8. As explained above, the cylinder housing of the pressure cylinder 40 engages the lever arm 38 of the support leg 4 via the cylinder joint 42. The piston rod 44 is on the piston rod joint 46 indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG

Swivel bracket 54 articulated.

The arrangement of the pressure cylinder 40 on the rear side (bottom in FIG. 3) and the coupling link arrangement 36 on the front side of the base 8 dissolves one

Construction used that allows the geometry of the coupling link arrangement 36 and the pretensioning device, in the present case specifically the pressure cylinder 40, with the respective articulations in an optimal way to the spatial relationships and the To adapt the design of the respective piece of furniture. It is particularly advantageous that the coupling link arrangement 36 and the pretensioning device act separately from one another in the broadest sense on the support legs 2, 4, so that the

Leverage ratios can be easily adapted to the circumstances. This is an essential difference to conventional solutions in which the

Pretensioning device engages directly on the handlebar assembly.

As can also be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 3, the

Printing cylinder 40 approximately in the area of a step-down 82, which is formed by the lateral offset of the pivot bracket 54 with respect to the bridge web 68. In a corresponding manner, the coupling arm 22 lies in the region of a space that is created by a step 84 between the pivot bracket 52 and the bridge web 68

is trained. This integration of functional elements, for example the pressure cylinder 40 and the coupling arm 22, into the space delimited on both sides of the base 8 by the cantilevered pivot brackets 52, 54 becomes extremely

allows compact, space-saving construction of the joint arrangement 1 according to the invention.

From the view according to FIG. 3 it can also be seen that the positioning of the lever arm 38 takes place in such a way that it can be moved along the rear side of the swivel bracket 52 and the bridge web 68 located at the bottom in FIG.

In the model shown, only two support legs 2, 4 are provided. In most applications, four support legs are provided for a piece of furniture, for example two further support legs being arranged parallel to the support legs 2, 4. However, it is sufficient, only the support legs 2, 4 with the

execute described joint arrangement 1 and the two other, not shown support legs with the respectively assigned support legs 2, 4, for example by cross struts or the like, so that these support legs - not shown in Figures 1 to 7 - are taken along. This is explained on the basis of further exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show views corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2

Articulation arrangement 1 in an intermediate position between the normal position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7

Cross position. This intermediate position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is achieved, for example, by slightly tilting the piece of furniture or the model, see above that it only rests with one support leg, for example with the support leg 2, on the standing surface 12 and then a torque is applied such that the supported support leg 2 pivots about its pivot joint 10 in the direction of the crossed position. Of course, this pivoting can also be initiated by hand after lifting or turning the piece of furniture.

The pivoting movement of the support leg 2 is synchronously transmitted to the other support leg 4 via the coupling link arrangement 36, the coupling arm 22 being pivoted from the slightly inclined position shown in FIG is, the relative pivoting of the pivot links 24, 26 to the respectively assigned support leg 2, 4 is relatively small. This pivoting of the

Support legs 2, 4 are carried out - as explained - around the pivot joints 9, 10. During this first part of the pivoting, the piston rod 44 of the pressure cylinder 40, which is articulated on the bridge web 68, retracts - this pivoting movement thus takes place against the bias of the pressure cylinder 40. This is a

inadvertent pivoting almost impossible. In this retracted position of the piston rod 44 is that which is applied to the support leg 2 by the pressure cylinder 40

Restoring force maximum. The articulation of the pressure cylinder 40 on the support leg 2, i. the length and position of the lever arm 38 and the cylinder joint 42 and the

The position of the piston rod joint 46 on the bridge web 68 (base part 8) is selected so that the pressure cylinder 40 in the intermediate position between the two stated positions (normal position, crossed position), as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, reaches a dead center position with the maximum pretensioning force described above.

Upon further pivoting into that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7

Crossed position of the support legs 2, 4 is the coupling arm 22 against the

Swiveled clockwise from the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, so that the coupling link arrangement 36 accordingly reaches the articulated position shown in Figure 6, in which the two pivot links 24, 26 are brought from the stretched division into a position in which they are almost parallel or slightly inclined towards each other. In this cross-over position, the piston rod 44 according to FIG. 7 is again somewhat extended from the above-described dead center position, the support leg 2 and the support leg 4 connected to it via the coupling link arrangement 36 being held in the cross-over position by the bias applied by the pressure cylinder 40. In this crossed position, the support legs 2, 4 lie on the inclined surfaces 14 and 16 of the base 8, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 while the two end sections 48, 50 of the support legs 2, 4 are lifted off the table top 6.

Accordingly, the position of the pressure cylinder 40 is chosen so that in both

Positions, i.e. in the normal position shown in Figure 1, 2 and in the crossed position shown in Figures 6 and 7, the support legs 2, 4 through the

Pretensioning of the printing cylinder 40 in the direction of the respective stop position and are thus reliably positioned. The dead center position of the pressure cylinder 40 indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is accordingly between these two stop positions and can only be achieved by overcoming the respective bias, so that accidental or unintentional adjustment with an associated change in the fleas of the piece of furniture is prevented.

In the embodiment described above, the base 8 and the

Coupling link arrangement 36 made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material - of course, these components can also be made, for example, of metal or in a flybridge design, the base of plastic and the coupling link arrangement of metal.

Thus, FIGS. 8 to 11 show an exemplary embodiment of a table 86 or a chair in which the joint arrangement 1 according to the invention is made of metal. Figure 8 shows the table 86 in the normal position in which the support legs 2, 4 and the two additional support legs 2 ‘, 4, not shown in the above-described Figures 1 to 7, are positioned slightly V-shaped to one another. The support legs 2, 2 ‘and 4, 4‘ are each connected to one another by cross struts which are not visible in these figures. The support legs 2, 4 (lying at the rear in Figure 8) are in the manner described above via a coupling link arrangement 36 with the coupling arm 22 and the

Swivel links 24, 26 connected to one another. The coupling arm 22 is mounted on a bridge web 68 of a base 8, similarly to the embodiment described above. The latter is attached to a frame 88 of the table 86. The pretensioning device, which can be formed, for example, by a pressure cylinder 40 or a compression spring, is indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this pretensioning device is supported on the base 8 liegenden lying at the front in FIG. 8 and thus engages the support legs 2 ‘or 4‘.

A motor drive or the use of tension elements is also conceivable, in which case the articulation must be changed accordingly. In the illustrated embodiment, both the bases 8, 8 'and the coupling link arrangement 36 are designed as sheet metal components. As in the embodiment described above, the base 8 is designed with swivel joints 9, 10, via which the support legs 2, 4 (lying at the rear in FIG. 8) are articulated to the frame 88. The bridge web 68 of the base 8 is designed like a strut and arches away from the pivot joints 9, 10 towards the standing surface 12. Further details are explained with reference to FIG.

As mentioned above, the two support legs 2 ‘, 4‘ lying at the front in FIG. 8 are assigned a base 8 ‘with two swivel joints 9‘, 10 ', which has the same structure as the base of the support legs 2, 4. The support legs 2, 4, 2 ', 4' and the frame 88 are made of timber construction, the coupling-joint-side end sections of the support legs 2, 4, 2 ', 4' each having end fittings 90, the structure of which is also explained in more detail below . These end fittings 90 are like the joint arrangement 1 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9 in FIG

Metal construction formed.

The cross-over position shown in FIG. 9 can then be achieved - as explained above - by applying a force acting against the bias of the pressure cylinder 40 indicated by dash-dotted lines to assigned support legs 2, 274, 4 ', which force is used to adjust the coupling link arrangement 36 from the position shown in FIG Figure 8 leads into the not visible in Figure 9 (see Figure 6) bent position, the dash-dotted line pressure cylinder 40 is moved beyond its dead center position, so that in the crossed position the four support legs 2, 2 ', 4, 4' with Bias against the base 8, 8 ', specifically against the

Inclined surface 14 ‘, 16 '(14, 16 not visible) of the base 8' are biased.

FIG. 10 shows this crossed position in a slightly different view than in FIG. 9, the base 8 now being shown lying at the front. It can be seen in this view that the coupling link arrangement 36 in this exemplary embodiment is arranged on the front base 8 of the support legs 2, 4. The pressure cylinder 40, however, is arranged on the rear base 8 ', which is assigned to the two support legs 2', 4 '.

FIG. 11 shows a detailed representation of this base 8 ′, which is located at the rear in FIG. 10, with the articulation of the printing cylinder 40.

As explained, the base 8 'in this embodiment is designed as a bent sheet metal part, the bridge web 68' both acting as stop surfaces Inclined surfaces 14 ', 16' and the vertex surface 18 'connecting these forms. The base 8 'also has the two swivel brackets 52', 54 'on which the

Swivel joints 9 ‘, 10 'for connecting the support legs 2‘, 4' are formed. This base 8 'is - as explained - connected to the frame 88.

The piston rod 44 of the pressure cylinder 40 is - as in the exemplary embodiments described above - again connected to a support leg, in the present case the support leg 2 ', via a lever arm 38. Since this support leg 2 'is made of wood, the lever arm 38 is attached as a separate component. At the

The illustrated embodiment, the lever arm 38 is designed as a stamped sheet metal part and screwed to the support leg 2 '. The piston rod 44 is connected to the lever arm 38 via the piston rod joint 46.

The cylinder housing of the pressure cylinder 40 is articulated via the cylinder joint 42 to a support strut 92 which is designed as a sheet metal component and is attached to the frame 88.

In this embodiment, the coupling link arrangement 36 is thus the

Support legs 2, 4 and the pretensioning device, specifically the pressure cylinder 40, assigned to the two further support legs 2 ', 4'. Such an even more dissolved one

The construction has the advantage that the integration of these functional elements into the design of the piece of furniture is simplified and, moreover, the introduction of force through the two-sided arrangement of the coupling link arrangement 36 and the pressure cylinder 40 is made more uniform. In addition, the weight distribution is optimized compared to the solution described above.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a variant of the on the basis of FIGS. 8 to 11

illustrated embodiment, wherein the inventive joint arrangement 1 is not designed as a metal construction, but - similar to the embodiment described above - as a plastic construction. The structure of the base 8 with the bridge web 68 and the stop surfaces formed thereon

Inclined surfaces 14, 16 and the basic structure of the coupling link arrangement 36 with the two pivot links 24, 26 and the coupling arm 22 as well as the arrangement of the pressure cylinder 40 with the associated joints corresponds to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 7, so that further explanations in this regard with reference to the description of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 7 can be dispensed with. The piece of furniture shown in Figures 12 and 13 is made of wood, so that the table top 6 or the frame 88, which can support a table top or a seat, are also made of wood or another suitable material. The support legs 2, 4 are also designed as a wooden structure, the basic structure corresponding to that of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 8 to 11. Instead of the metallic end pieces 90, the end pieces 90 placed on the ends of the support legs 2, 4 are made of plastic. The end pieces 90 then rest in the normal position shown in FIG. 12 with the end sections 48, 50 formed thereon against the table top 6 or the frame 88. By choosing a suitable material, it can be ensured that this system does not cause wear in the system area.

In this embodiment too, the coupling link arrangement 36 and the pressure cylinder 40 are offset transversely to the pivoting direction on a base 8, i. arranged on the base 8 associated with the support legs 2, 4. In the case of a piece of furniture with four support legs, a single base 8 'with two swivel joints 9', 10 'without a coupling link arrangement 36 and without a pressure cylinder 40 would then be assigned to the other two support legs 2', 4 '.

As shown in Figure 13, a support leg,

For example, the support leg 4 can be pivoted inwardly against the force of the pressure cylinder 40, this pivoting being transmitted via the coupling link arrangement 36 to the other support leg 2, so that both support legs 2, 4 pivot synchronously into the crossed position. During this pivoting, the pressure cylinder 40 reaches its dead center position, so that, in the two positions shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the piston rod 44 is each extended somewhat with respect to this dead center position.

FIG. 14 shows an individual representation of an end piece 90 of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 12, 13. Accordingly, the end piece 90 is approximately cap-shaped so that it can be placed precisely on the end of the respective support leg 2, 4 on the tabletop side.

In the area in which the cap-shaped end piece 90 is placed on the support leg 2, 4, recesses 94, 96 are formed, the recesses 94 for the passage of a fastening screw 98 (see Figure 12) and the other recesses 96 for the passage of the leg joint 34 (see Figure 12) provided are. In FIG. 12, only the end piece 90 assigned to the support leg 4 is provided with the corresponding reference number.

The two are in a corner region of the end piece 90 on the tabletop side

previously described tab-shaped projecting joint projections 62, 64 of the respective pivot joint 9, 10. These joint projections 62, 64 engage - as explained for example with reference to FIG. 3 - between the joint plates 56, 58, 60 of the pivot brackets 52, 54 and can then be pivoted about the inserted joint pin 66. The respective end section 48, 50 of the end pieces 90 is then each designed as a stop surface 100.

FIG. 15 shows an end piece 90 in metal construction, as it is for example in the

Embodiment according to Figures 8 to 11 is used. This end piece is designed as a stamped and bent part and has an approximately U-shaped profile that is placed on the end of the respective support leg 2, 4. The reference numerals corresponding to the end piece 90 according to FIG. 14 are also shown in FIG. 15, so that in

With regard to the functionality of these elements, reference can be made to the description in FIG.

An exemplary embodiment is explained with reference to FIGS. 16, 17 in which the

To improve the aesthetic appearance, the attached end caps 90 are dispensed with.

In this embodiment of a piece of furniture is made of metal profiles

existing frame 88 provided on the support leg pairs 2, 4; 2 ‘, 4‘ are each attached by means of a base 8 or 8 ‘. The base 8, 8 'has a structure corresponding to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 7. According to the illustration in Figure 17, which is a view from below of the base 8 with a support leg 4 in the

Normal position shows the respective end piece 90 with a flat, the

The stop part 104 forming the stop surface 100 is carried out, on which the two joint plates 62, 64 are formed towards the base 8, which are in joint engagement with the associated joint bracket 54. In the support leg 4, bolts 106, 108 are inserted with an exact fit, which are diametrically penetrated by a threaded hole and in which, as shown in FIG. 17, for fixing the support leg 2, 4 on the

respective end piece 90 fastening screws 112, 114 can be screwed in from the support side in order to fasten the end piece 90 to the support leg 4. In the illustration according to FIG. 17, the support leg 4 with the end piece 90 mounted is shown on the right. You can see the flush-inserted bolts 106, 108 into which the aforementioned Fastening screws 112, 114 engage so that the respective support leg 2, 4 is connected to the end piece 90 without play. This can be made of metal or plastic.

Figures 18 and 19 show an embodiment corresponding to the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 7, in which the support leg 2 is made of metal or plastic. According to the detail in FIG. 19, the two joint projections 62, 64 are formed on the support leg 2 in one piece or by a material connection, which protrude laterally and are in joint engagement with the associated swivel bracket 52 of the base 8. As in the embodiments described above, the joint projections 62, 64 of the respective support leg 2 and the joint plates 56, 58, 60 are penetrated by a bore 116 (only one bore part is provided with a reference number in FIG Hinge pin 66 is used. In Figures 18 and 19, a cross strut 118 is also shown, via which the mutually associated support legs 2, 2 'and 4, 4' are connected to each other, so that, for example, four support legs 2, 2 ', 4, 4' for one via the coupling link arrangement 36 and the other via the cross struts 118 are connected to one another and are thus moved synchronously.

According to the illustration in FIG. 19, in the area between the two

Joint projections 62, 64 on the end section 48 of the support leg 2 form a recess 120 into which the central joint plate 58 (see FIG. 18) dips when pivoting.

The end face of the end section 48 is also designed as a stop face in this exemplary embodiment, which rests against the frame 88 in the normal position.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show an exemplary embodiment of a piece of furniture designed according to the concept according to FIGS. 18 and 19, in which four support legs 2, 2,, 4, 4 ‘are hinged to a metallic frame 88 by means of a hinge arrangement 1 according to the invention. Also in this embodiment are

Coupling arm arrangement 36 and the pressure cylinder 40 offset perpendicular to the plane of the drawing are arranged on the front or rear side of the base 8, which is assigned to the two front support legs 2, 4. The rear, invisible base is only with the swivel joints and the stops of the other two

Support legs 2 ‘, 4‘ executed. In this embodiment too, the

Piston rod 44 of the pressure cylinder 40 on a Flebelarm 38 arranged at a distance from the associated pivot joint 9, which is either in one piece or is formed integrally on the support leg 4. Base 8 is on this one

Embodiment again made of plastic.

FIGS. 22 and 23 show a possibility of improving the positional positioning in the respective positions even further. As stated above, the pressure cylinder 40 is designed in such a way that it supports the support legs 2, 4 in the direction of the respective position

(Normal position, crossed position). In addition, according to FIGS. 22 and 23, a magnet or the like can also be provided in the contact area which holds the respective support leg 2, 4 in the respective contact position. Thus, for example, in the area of the contact surface of the end section 48 of the end piece 90, a magnet 122 is provided which is in magnetic operative connection with a corresponding

formed counterpart can be brought on the frame 88, so that the associated support leg 4 is held on the frame 88 with a magnetic force effective in the direction of the arrow, which acts in addition to the pretensioning of the pressure cylinder 40.

A corresponding magnet 124 can also be integrated into the base 8 in the area of the inclined surfaces 14, 16, with a corresponding magnetizable counterpart then being provided on the associated support leg 4 in order to hold the support leg 4 in the

Keep crossed position (Figure 23).

Of course, the magnets 122, 124 shown can also be held in a kinematic reversal on the respective other component, so that, for example, the magnet 122 is mounted on the frame side and the magnet 124 is mounted on the support leg side.

Finally, FIGS. 24, 25, 26 show different concepts for forming a frame 88 on which a table top 6, a seat or some other functional section of a piece of furniture can then be fixed. With all of these

In embodiments, the frame 88 is designed as a sheet metal construction to optimize the weight and to simplify the production.

FIG. 24 shows a variant in which the frame 88 is designed approximately oval with a circumferential peripheral edge 126 and an approximately elliptical support surface 128. In this two recesses 130a, 130b are formed to optimize weight, which can also be designed with peripheral wall sections. Four support legs 2, 2 ', 4, 4' made of metal construction are then articulated to this oval frame 88 in the manner described above. FIG. 25 shows a variant of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 24, with a double-T construction being used instead of an approximately oval-shaped support frame 88, which is also designed as a bent sheet metal construction. The end sections of the double-T-shaped frame 88 on the support leg side are designed as end-side U-profile bodies 132, 134, the above-described bases 8, 8 'being inserted into these U-profile bodies 132, 134 formed at the ends, and thus the respective base 8, 8 'With their functional elements, for example the printing cylinder 40 and the

Coupling link arrangement 36, is covered towards the outside via the respective U-wall 136, 138. In this embodiment, the support legs 2, 2 ‘, 4, 4‘ are again made of plastic or metal.

FIG. 26 shows a variant of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 25, in which the support legs 2, 2 ‘, 4, 4‘ are designed as butted legs. Otherwise, the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 26 corresponds to that from FIG. 25, so that further explanations are unnecessary.

A joint arrangement and an item of furniture designed with such a joint arrangement are disclosed. The joint arrangement is used to connect support legs to the piece of furniture, with a coupling link arrangement being provided to synchronize the pivoting movement of two associated support legs, which is offset from a pretensioning device, via which the support legs are pretensioned in two positions, preferably a normal position and a crossed position. The pretensioning device preferably acts directly on one of the support legs.

Reference list:

1 joint arrangement

2 support legs

4 support legs

6 table top

8 base

9 swivel joint

10 swivel joint

12 stand space

14 bevel

16 bevel

18 apex

20 joint

22 coupling arm

24 swivel arms

26 swivel arms

28 coupling joint

30 coupling joint

32 leg joint

34 leg joint

36 Coupling link arrangement

38 lever arm

40 printing cylinders

42 cylinder joint

44 piston rod

46 Piston rod joint

48 end section

50 end section

52 swivel bracket

54 swivel bracket

56 joint bracket

58 joint bracket

60 joint bracket

62 joint protrusion

64 joint protrusion

66 pivot pins

68 bridge walkway 70 pivot pins

72 joint attachment

74 Handlebar attachment

76 pivot pins

78 pivot pins

80 pivot pins

82 Downgrade

84 Downgrade

86 table

88 frames

90 end piece

92 support strut

94 recess

96 recess

98 fasteners 100 stop surface 102 stop surface 104 stop part

106 bolts

108 bolts

112 fastening screw

114 fastening screw

116 bore

118 cross brace

120 recess

122 magnet

124 magnet

126 peripheral edge

128 support surface

130 recess

132 U-profile body

134 U-profile body

166 U-wall

138 U-wall

Claims

1. Joint arrangement for connecting support legs (2, 4) to a piece of furniture, which are held pivotably via pivot joints (9, 10), with a coupling link arrangement (36) which has a pivotable coupling arm (22) which is attached to a base (8 ) and whose end sections are directly or indirectly articulated to the support legs (2, 4) in such a way that they can be pivoted for height adjustment between a scissor or crossover position and a parallel, U or V position and with a pretensioning device for pretensioning a support leg (2, 4) at least in the direction of one of the positions, characterized in that the

Coupling arm arrangement (36) is arranged approximately transversely to the pivot plane of the support legs (2, 4) offset to the pretensioning device.

2. Joint arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the biasing device has a dead center position in which a maximum bias is effective, wherein the

Prestressing device is designed to reach the dead center position between the two positions of the support legs (2, 4), so that the prestressing is reduced in both positions compared to the dead center position.

3. Joint arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling arm (22) in the dead center position is arranged approximately perpendicular to a standing surface (12) of the piece of furniture.

4. Joint arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, with two pivot links (24, 26) which are articulated on the one hand to the coupling arm (22) and on the other hand articulated to one of the support legs (2, 4).

5. Joint arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling link arrangement (36) in operative connection with two approximately in one plane

pivotable support legs (2, 4) and the prestressing device is assigned to another support leg (2, 4).

6. Joint arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the

Coupling link arrangement (36) and the pretensioning device are assigned two support legs (2, 4) which can be pivoted approximately in one plane, and stops for support in both positions are assigned to the other two support legs (2 ', 4').

7. Joint arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot joints (9, 10) are offset transversely to the pivoting direction of the support legs (2, 4) pivotable approximately in a pivot plane.

8. Articulation assembly according to claim 7, wherein the base (8) has two

Has swivel brackets (52, 54) to each of which a support leg (2, 4) is articulated and which are arranged with the transverse offset.

9. Joint arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the coupling link arrangement (36) and / or the pretensioning device are each held approximately in a step-down (82, 84) formed by the transverse offset of the pivot bracket (52, 54).

10. Joint arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the swivel brackets (52, 54) of the base (8) are connected by a bridge web (68) on which the coupling arm (22) is pivotably mounted.

11. Joint arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the bridge web (68) forms a stop for the support legs (2, 4) in one of the positions.

12. Joint arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing device is a cylinder or a spring, preferably a pressure cylinder (40) or a compression spring.

13. Joint arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (8) and / or the coupling link arrangement (36) is made of plastic or metal.

14. Joint arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a support leg (2, 4) has a laterally cantilevered, offset to the pivot joint (9, 10) arranged lever arm (38) on which the prestressing device engages.

15. Joint arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein part of the swivel joint (9, 10) is formed in one piece on the respective support leg (2, 4).

16. Joint assembly, the pretensioning device approximately transverse to the

Height adjustment direction or at an acute angle inclined to this

Transverse direction is arranged.

17. Piece of furniture with four support legs (2, 4, 2 ‘, 4‘) and at least one joint arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

18. Piece of furniture according to claim 17, wherein this is designed as seating furniture or as a table (86).

19. Piece of furniture according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the support legs (2, 4, 2 ‘, 4‘) and / or a frame (88) carrying them is made of wood, metal or plastic.