ES2259281T3 - SUPPORT FOR ADJUSTABLE TABLE IN HEIGHT AND METHOD TO MANUFACTURE IT. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a support for a height-adjustable table having at least one height-adjustable leg, consisting of an outer and an inner leg and means for height-adjustment of the leg. The means are completely concealed in the legs and substantially comprise a strip of resilient material to be mounted under tension in the outer leg and having its free end provided with a locking member, said locking member cooperating with complementary locking means mounted in the inner leg. The locking member can be brought in and out of locking engagement through an opening in the outer leg. <IMAGE>

Description

Table stand height and method adjustable to make it

The invention relates to a support for a table, or similar support surface, adjustable in height, which it comprises at least one height adjustable leg consisting of a external leg and an internal and height adjustment means of the paw.

In this type of tables there is a distinction between systems in which the leg or legs can be adjusted by leg individual in various height positions and systems in which the leg or legs can be adjusted, in a certain height range, using a system that is centrally operated and acts on several legs at the same time. The invention relates to the first system in particular, in which the adjustment must be made by individual leg and which can be manufactured essentially with lower costs compared to Second system

A very simple embodiment of a system of this type is a system that has a series of holes made to several heights in the inner leg, or in the inner and outer leg and opposite each other, through whose holes you can put a pin to the desired height. Although such a system works properly, it does not represent a design that can satisfy, for example, to current office furniture designers. He DE-U-29,818,599 describes a support according to the preamble of the independent claim one.

Consequently, the object of the invention is provide a stand for a table, which has a leg or some height adjustable legs, whose height adjustment means of the leg or legs do not protrude in the legs, which can be handled convenient and simple way, and that can also be manufactured at low relatively cost.

Accordingly, according to the invention, provides a support according to claim independent 1.

The main advantage is that now the means of lock are completely incorporated in the inner legs and external and are not visible from outside. This also improves greatly the security of the entity and gives you the possibility of have a much more attractive design, table and stand, in the that the blocking means will not bother you at all.

Preferably, the strip of flexible material is made of metal, such as steel or steel strip, for example, which is capable of exerting a sufficiently large elastic force throughout the length of the strip and which can also be easily mounted inside an outer leg. The blocking member can be part member of the strip, however, it is preferable to manufacture separately the locking member and then mount it on or near from the outer end of the strip. In this case the blocking member It is preferably made of aluminum or a plastic, because it is possible to model exactly the blocking member after complementary locking means of the inner leg in a way simple.

In addition, it has been done so that the part guide and the locking part of the locking member have been mounted on the side of the strip of flexible material facing inwards of the outer leg, protruding the guide part more than the part of blocking with respect to said side of the strip of flexible material which Look inside the outer leg.

This way you get that by releasing the part of locking of the notches of locking of the internal leg, for adjust a leg in height, the locking member with its part of lock is still in the guide groove in the inner leg, and with this the positioning is maintained, except in height, of the blocking part with respect to the locking notches.

To release the lock and perform the height adjustment should be removed from outside the member of blocking, at least its blocking part, of the blocking notches. To this end, an opening has been made in the leg external to the height of said blocking member, in which the outgoing part of the guide part in relation to said part of blocking. For this, the projecting part of the guide part is formed so that it fits perfectly in the circumference of the opening and come to fall exactly on the outer plane of the leg external, so that there will be no discontinuity in the table design, nor in the furniture that has a function comparable.

To prevent the guide part from becoming too much away from the guide, and that therefore the complete return movement of the flexible material strip, it has provided a stop part that protrudes in the direction of the opposite internal side of the leg and mounted on said member locking, or on the strip of flexible material, on the opposite side to which said guide part and said blocking part are located.

According to an additional elaboration, it has been carried out so that the locking part consists of cams mounted on both sides of the guide parts, said cams protruding laterally with respect to said guide parts, having the cams of the part of lock, views in normal position, on the lower side a flat surface approximately horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the legs, said cams being provided of edge portions at the edge of said flat surface that protrude down and spaced from the strip of material flexible.

In this way the weight of a table loads on the inner leg or inner legs by one or more strips of flexible material and horizontal flat contact surfaces of the cams of the locking member with the locking notches of the inner leg or inner legs. The edge parts of the cams they make the cams can only be removed from the locking notches moving the outer leg up a small distance first. This avoids the possibility that the blockage can be released hit against the protruding part of the blocking part and that can make the table bent or tilted.

In order to provide that between the inner legs and external there is enough room for at least the parts of the part of locking or the cams in which the edge parts are located, between said inner and outer legs guide means of so that said internal and external legs are kept separated between  yes, at least a predetermined distance, at the height of the strip made of flexible material mounted on the outer leg and the guide groove practiced in the internal leg and the locking notches.

The invention also comprises a method of manufacture a support according to independent claim 10.

Preferably, for tables that have a number pair of legs, the outer legs are formed in pairs from a continuous tubular part, in which a set of legs is used internal to form a complete armor of an adjustable table in height. Using two such armor, one or more joists to mount between said armors and a table top, it is possible assemble a height adjustable table. In this case, the method It comprises the additional steps of:

make notches and incisions in a tubular part, to be able to make an armor with two external legs from said tubular part;

mount the strips of flexible material, after notching the outer leg, constituting parts of said tubular part;

• layered the tubular part forming a armor with two external legs and weld the joints.

In what follows, the invention according to the example given in the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows an adjustable table in height, in a perspective view;

Figure 2 shows a sectional view transverse of the table;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the table;

Figure 4 shows a detail of the connection of a joist with armor;

Figure 5 shows a sectional view cross section of an external leg with a strip of material flexible;

Figures 6A, 6B show a side view and a plan view, respectively, of a strip of material flexible with a locking member;

Figures 7A, 7B, 7C are views of one part tubular pretreatment of an armature that has two external legs;

Figures 8A, 8B show two views different in perspective of a blocking member;

Figures 9A, 9B show two-sided views of an internal leg;

Figure 10 shows a cross section made according to line X-X of Figure 9B;

Figures 11A, 11B show two views different in perspective of guide means to mount between the leg internal and external; Y

Figures 12A, 12B, 12C show a view, a longitudinal cross section and a cross section lateral, respectively, of the internal telescopic legs and external

Figures 1, 2, 3 show an adjustable table in height 1 consisting of a support that has internal legs 2, 3, 4, 5, and external legs 6, 7, 8, 9 that partially overlap on them, said outer legs 6, 7 and 8, 9 being connected to intermediate horizontal parts 10, 11 forming reinforcements 12, 13. Beams 14, 15 have been mounted between said reinforcements has secured the top of the table.

Figure 4 shows in more detail the connection of a joist 14 to a horizontal part 11 of the frame 13. For this purpose a mounting plate 17 is mounted on a opening made in the horizontal part 11, said arrangement clamping plate of at least one threaded hole 18 intended for receiving a bolt 19. Preferably, the clamping plate 17 is provided in addition to one or more notches intended to receive parts or protruding pins that are located on the outer end of joist 14, as a result of which the position of the joist 14 with respect to the clamping plate 17, and with this with respect to the armor 13. Preferably after forming the armor, mounting plate 17 is mounted with the help of a positioning template, so that the possible manufacturing deviations.

The joist consists of a part 20 that extends over most of the length, said part having a height less than part 21 mounted at the outer ends, the which constitutes a transition part from said lower height up to the height of the horizontal part 11. This arrangement makes the available space (for the legs) under the table is what as wide as possible.

In addition, the cross section of the part horizontal 11 shows an outer end of a strip of material flexible 22, which is the outer end by which it has been held the strip 22 on the inner side of the outer leg 6.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of an outer leg 6 and a part of a horizontal part 11, being also visible in cross section the mounted strip 22. Strip 22 is held at the highest end 23 inside the leg outer 6. The outer end 23 is followed by a short part 24, limited on both sides by opposite folds, and a long part 25 having a blocking member 26 at the free end. The folds are such that strip 22, after clamping, together with the blocking member 26 it will end up being under tension against said outer leg 6, and partly inside an opening 31 practiced in said external leg 6.

In figures 6A, 6B strip 22 is shown with more detail At the highest end 23 several have been stamped protrusions 27, 28, 29 to be able to fix the strip 22 on the leg external 6 by extrusion welding. At its free end strip 22 is provided with a slot 30 intended to receive the blocking member 26. After inserting said blocking member 26 in slot 30 the end of the slot is pulled up to the point where the locking member is secured in the strip 22.

Figures 7A, 7B, 7C show the views lower, lateral and plan, respectively, of a tubular part from which an armor can be formed 13. With this purpose have been cut parts 32, 33 in the part tubular, separating the horizontal part 11 and the outer legs 6, 7, and trimmed parts 34, 35 on which the plates are to be mounted clamping 17 of joists 14, 15. On the other hand, in the figure the cut-out parts of the openings 31 of the external legs 6, 7 on which the blocking members 26. Said trimmed parts are made preferably with a laser cutting device, in order to Get a cut as straight and firm as possible.

After making the cut-out portions 32, 33, slits are made in the tubular part, according to lines 36, 37, in the position where the tubular part is to be bent. Then, before bending and welding the joints, the strips 22 are inserted into the outer legs 6, 7 and, after positioning the locking members 26 in relation to the openings, they are secured in the outer legs 6, 7 by welding by bumps. Welding of the joints between the horizontal part and the outer legs 6, 7 is preferably carried out by TIG welding ( tungsten inert gas - tungsten arc in inert gas) in order to obtain a joint that is as smooth and straight as possible .

Figures 8A, 8B show views in perspective of the blocking member 26. The blocking member 26 it has an elongated body 38 that has parallel sides 40, 41 and outer ends 42, 43 circular or rounded. In body 38 a throat 39 has been practiced at which height the blocking member it can slide in the groove and through the strip 22. In both sides 40, 41 of said body 38 have been applied cams 44, 45 by above throat 39. See Figure 8A, surfaces upper cams 44, 45 are located below the upper surface 46 of body 38. This height difference preferably corresponds to the wall thickness of an external leg 6 because the upper side 46 can be aligned with the surface external of an external leg 6.

The flat surfaces 47, 48 of the cams 44, 45 come to rest on the horizontal boundary surfaces of notches for locking arranged on the inner leg 2 and the edge portions 49, 50 are arranged so that the cams can only be released from the lock notches moving a small first up distance the outer leg.

On its lower side, the blocking member is additionally provided with a projection pin 51 that serves as a stop which prevents the blocking member 26, and with it the strip 22, gets into Too much inside the legs. The length of the pin 51 depends of the shape and diameter of the legs used.

Figures 9A, 9B show two different sides 52, 54 of an inner leg 2 that has the shape of a triangle Isosceles, cross-sectional view. Side 54 has a part cropped 55 which substantially consists of a central groove 56 and, on both sides of it and according to its course, in a series of lock notches 57, 58. The width of the groove 56 is such that the central body 38 of the locking member fits into it with the sides 40, 41 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the groove center 56. Cams 44, 45 fit exactly into notches opposite 57, 58. Of course, the width of the strip 22, which will arrive to rest on the inner leg behind the central groove 56, is greater than the width of the central groove 56.

In addition, it is also possible to arrange the notches lock at a distance from the central slot 56 and design the correspondingly blocking member, but this is not the variant more economical

In addition, the guiding means have been provided, illustrated in figures 11A, 11B, which substantially consist on a strip 63 that mounts around the inner leg 2. At least a strip is mounted on each side of the trimmed part 55. On the leg internal 2 several drills 59, 60, 61, 62 of fastening of the strips, see figure 10, within which the bumps 64, 65, 66, 67 inside the strip 63. By telescopically moving the inner and outer leg, the guide strips 63 will be fixed in their positions relative to the leg internal

On the outside of the strip 63 has been mounted a spacer 68, on the side corresponding to the side 54 of the leg internal 2 in which the clipped part 55 has been made. spacer 68 serves to maintain a sufficient distance between the inner side of outer leg 6 and outer side 54 of leg internal 2, in order to have enough space to move the cams 40, 41 with the edge portions 49, 50 on the edges of the lock notches 57, 58.

Figure 12A shows a telescopic leg internal and external 2, 6 with the locking member 26 located in the opening 31 made in the outer leg 6. The inner leg 2 is also provided with an adjustment foot 69.

Figure 12B shows a longitudinal section. of the inner and outer legs 2, 6 in which they are visible with clarity the long part 25 of the flexible material strip 22 and the locking member 26 arranged near its end. The figure it also shows throat 39 through which you can get into the slot 30 of the strip 22 the locking member. Strip 63 of the guide means is located on the upper side, being also visible its protuberance 64 protruding through the opening 59.

The cross section of Figure 12C shows the cams 44, 45 of the blocking member 26, which protrude laterally, and the guide strip 63 mounted between the inner legs and external 2, 6 and located below the blocking member 26.

Claims (14)

1. Support for a table (1), or similar, height-adjustable support surface, comprising at least one height-adjustable leg consisting of an external (6-9) and internal (2-5) telescopic leg and means for height adjustment of the leg, said means comprising a flexible strip (22) mounted on the outer leg (6-9) and having an outer end (23) secured to the inner part of the outer leg (6-9) , characterized in that at the opposite free outer end of the flexible strip (22) a locking member (26) is mounted, the outer leg (6-9) and the inner leg (2-5) being provided with openings (31, 56, 57, 58) for the blocking member (26), the flexible strip (22) extending inside the inner leg (2-5), and because the blocking member (26) comprises a guide part (38) and a locking part (44, 45, 47, 48), the guide part (38) being provided to fit into a guide slot (56) of the inner leg (2-5) and the locking part (44) being provided , 45, 47 , 48) fit into adjacent locking notches (57, 58) of said guide groove (56). 2. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide part (38) and the blocking part (44, 45, 47, 48) of the blocking member (26) protrude through the inner leg (2-5) in the blocking position, the guide part (38) protruding more than the blocking part (44, 45, 47, 48). 3. Support according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking part (44, 45, 47, 48) consists of cams (44, 45) mounted on both sides of the guide part (38), said cams protruding laterally (44, 45) with respect to said guide part (38). 4. Support according to claim 3, characterized in that the cams (44, 45) of the locking part (44, 45, 47, 48) have on their lower sides a flat surface approximately horizontal and approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the inner leg, wherein said cams (44, 45) are provided with edge portions (46) projecting downwards near the or at the edge of said flat surface, at a distance from the strip of flexible material (22). 5. Support according to claims 2-4, characterized in that on said blocking member (26) or on the strip of flexible material (22), on the opposite side to which said guide part (38) and said blocking part are located (44, 45, 47, 48), a stop part (51) that projects in the direction of the opposite inner side of the leg (2-5) is mounted. 6. Support according to claims 1-5, characterized in that between said internal (2-5) and external (6-9) legs guide means (63) have been mounted, such that said internal legs (2-5) and external (6-9) are kept separated from each other, at least a predetermined distance, at the height of the strip of flexible material (22) mounted on the external leg (6-9) and the guide groove (56) made in the inner leg (2-5) and the locking notches (57, 58). 7. Support according to claims 1-6, characterized in that the inner leg (2-5) and the outer leg (6-9) consist of three-sided or multi-sided tubular parts. Support according to claim 7, characterized in that the outer legs (6-9) are formed by pairs of a continuous tubular part and a bent tubular part and together with a pair of movable inner legs (2-5) form a reinforcement ( 12, 13) of said support. 9. Support according to claim 8, characterized in that a support is formed by a pair of reinforcements (12, 13) together with one or more joists that are held between the horizontal parts of the reinforcements. 10. Method of manufacturing a support according to one or more of claims 1-9, characterized in that said method comprises at least the following steps:

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preset a strip of material flexible;

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ride on the outer end of said strip a preformed locking member (26);

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practice an opening (31) in the outer tube, at the point where it is planned to end in the outer tube the blocking member (26);

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do in the inner tube the guide groove (56) and locking notches (57, 58);

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secure the strip (22) of flexible material inside the outer tube in the correct position; Y

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mount telescopically said internal and external tubes.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises the following steps
country:

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make notches and incisions in a tubular part to be able to make an armor (12, 13) with two external legs from said tubular part;

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mount the strips (22) of flexible material, after notching the outer leg, constituting parts of said tubular part;

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layer the tubular part forming an armor (12, 13) with two external legs and weld the together.

12. Method according to claims 10-11, characterized in that a strip (22) of flexible material is mounted on the outer leg by protrusion welding. 13. Method according to claims 10-12, characterized in that the notches are made with a laser cutting device. 14. Method according to claims 10-13, characterized in that it further comprises the following steps:

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arrange notches for means of securing one or more joists to be mounted between reinforcements (12, 13) consecutive, in the part of the armor located between the legs external;

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mount the fastening means on the notches, after forming the armor (12, 13) in a template of positioning.