GB2318505A - Telescopic leg - Google Patents
Telescopic leg Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2318505A GB2318505A GB9622054A GB9622054A GB2318505A GB 2318505 A GB2318505 A GB 2318505A GB 9622054 A GB9622054 A GB 9622054A GB 9622054 A GB9622054 A GB 9622054A GB 2318505 A GB2318505 A GB 2318505A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- leg
- locking member
- adjustable
- leg part
- thumb
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000003813 thumb Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C3/00—Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats
- A47C3/20—Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats
- A47C3/38—Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats with additional seat or additional legs for varying height of seat
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K97/00—Accessories for angling
- A01K97/22—Platforms or seat-boxes specially adapted for angling, e.g. tackle boxes for use as seats
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B91/00—Feet for furniture in general
- A47B91/02—Adjustable feet
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B2/00—Friction-grip releasable fastenings
- F16B2/20—Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
- F16B2/22—Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material
- F16B2/24—Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material of metal
- F16B2/241—Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material of metal of sheet metal
- F16B2/245—Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material of metal of sheet metal external, i.e. with contracting action
- F16B2/246—Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material of metal of sheet metal external, i.e. with contracting action the clip being released by tilting the clip or a part thereof to a position in which the axis of the openings surrounding the gripped elements is parallel to, or coincides with, the axis of the gripped elements
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Legs For Furniture In General (AREA)
Abstract
An adjustable leg comprises an inner part 12 which is telescopically adjustable with respect to an outer part 10 and an apertured locking member 40 held on the outer part 10, wherein the locking member 40 is urged by a resilient member to adopt an angle such that the edges of the aperture 46 engage the inner part 12 and preclude movement thereof. The locking member 40 may be provided with a thumb-engageable portion 44 projecting outwardly from the outer part 10, wherein the resilient member, which may be in the form of a helical spring 48, is preferably located between the thumb-engageable portion 44 and a portion of, or a portion which is attached to, the outer part 10. A second telescopic leg is also described which comprises an abutment member 34 to resist transverse movement of the locking member 40. The second leg may further include a housing 16 substantially surrounding the locking member 40, wherein the housing 16 may be provided with a recess to accommodate the helical spring 48 and may be secured to a lower end of the outer part 10.
Description
Adjustable leg
The present invention relates to an adjustable leg comprising inner and outer parts the inner part of which is slidable within the outer part to enable the leg to be telescopically adjustable in length, there being a locking member provided with an aperture through which the inner leg passes, which locking member is held directly or indirectly on the outer leg portion and is resiliently urged to adopt an angle with regard to the inner leg portion so that edge portions defining the aperture engage the inner leg part and hold it in position relative to the outer leg part.
Such a leg is useful as part of a chair, a bedchair, or a tackle box, for example, where the length of the leg needs to be adjustable to account for uneven ground.
In one such telescopically adjustable leg which has already been proposed, the resilient member comprises a helical spring which surrounds the inner leg portion. As a result, any slight lateral movement thereof will tend to reduce the ease with which the inner leg will slide relative to the outer leg.
The present invention seeks to provide a remedy.
Accordingly a first aspect of the present invention is directed to an adjustable leg having the construction set out in the opening paragraph of the present specification, in which the resilient member is positioned substantially wholly to one side of the inner leg part.
Preferably the resilient member comprises a helical spring.
In one advantageous construction, the locking member is provided with a thumb-engageable portion which projects outwardly from the outer leg part, and the helical spring is positioned between that thumb-engageable portion and a portion of, or a portion which is attached to, the outer leg part.
An advantage of such a construction is that the length of the leg can be readily adjusted with the use of one hand only, in that the locking member can be shifted so that it is substantially perpendicular to the inner leg, whereupon the inner leg will readily drop down to the desired position under gravitational action. The locking member can then be released to secure the inner leg once again relative to the outer leg.
A further problem encountered with previously proposed constructions of adjustable leg is that the locking member does not have adequate abutment to resist lateral movement of the locking member relative to the inner leg.
This again can result in friction contact between the locking member and the inner leg even when the locking member is substantially perpendicular thereto, to the extent that gravitational forces acting on the inner leg part are insufficient to move it.
The present invention seeks to provide a remedy to this problem as well.
Accordingly a second aspect of the present invention is directed to an adjustable leg having a construction set out in the opening paragraph of the present specification, in which the locking member is provided with a thumb-engageable portion which extends outwardly from the outer leg part, and in which an abutment is provided to resist transverse movement of the locking member in a direction away from the side of the outer leg part from which the thumb-engageable portion projects.
Preferably the portion of the locking member which surrounds the inner leg part is surrounded by a housing which is secured to a lower end of the outer leg part. A slot may then be provided therein through which extends the thumb-engageable portion of the locking member.
A helical spring may be received in a recess in a surface of the housing defining a lower lip of the slot.
This reduces the risk of the spring accidentally coming away from the leg, as can happen with the previously proposed adjustable leg described herein in the event that the inner leg part comes right out of and away from the outer leg part.
The recess may be formed within an insert of the housing. The latter may have a T-shape cross-section received in a T-shape recess in the rest of the housing.
This enables the housing to be more readily moulded by injection moulding.
The abutment may be provided on the inside of the housing, on the opposite side of the inner leg part to the thumb-engageable portion of the locking member. The abutment and a lower limit of the slot may be positioned relative to one another so that when the locking member is pushed to abut the lower limit of the slot the locking member is substantially perpendicular to the inner leg part.
An example of an adjustable leg made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional axial view of the
adjustable leg; and
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the leg taken
in the plane indicated by the line II-II in
Figure 1.
The adjustable leg shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an outer leg part 10 and an inner leg part 12 which, apart from a locking mechanism which is to be described hereinafter, is slidable in the outer leg part 10 so that the leg is telescopically adjustable in length.
An upper sleeve-shaped portion 14 of a housing 16 fits tightly and is secured to an intended lower end 18 of the outer leg part 10. The housing 16 is hollow, having an internal cross-section which is square-shaped, and which generally conforms to the inner cross-section of the outer leg part 10. The internal cross-section of the housing 16 is wicer beyond an internal shoulder 26 thereof, so that the sleeve portion 14 of the housing 16 has a cross-section generally conforming to the outer cross-section of the outer leg portion 10. As a result, the inside surfaces of the lower portion of the housing 16 are flush with the inside surfaces of the upper leg part 10.
A lower part 28 of the inner leg 12 thereof slides within and projects downwardly beyond the internal surfaces of the housing 16.
A tapering slot 30 extends from one side of the housing 16 where it defines a mouth 32 inwardly to an abutment 34 on the inside surface of the opposite side of the housing 16.
The slot tapers in the direction from the mouth 32 to the abutment 34 as viewed from one side so that the lower surface 36 of the slot is generally perpendicular to the inner and outer leg parts 10 and 12, and the upper surface 38 is on a slant relative thereto.
A locking plate 40 has an inner end 42 which rests against the abutment 34, and a thumb-engageable portion 44 which projects outwardly from the housing 16.
The plate 40 is provided with a square-shape aperture 46 which is slightly larger than the external cross-section of the inner leg part 12, and surrounds the latter.
A helical compression spring 48 has a lower part situated in a recess of an insert 50, and the upper end of the spring 48 abuts the thumb-engageable portion 44 of the plate 40 to urge the plate 40 upwardly against the slanted surface 38. In this position, inner edges of the aperture 46 dig in to the inner let part 12 and lock the latter in position relative to the outer leg part 10.
To operate the adjustable leg, the outer leg 10 is grasped by one hand and the thumb is used to push the thumb-engageable portion 44 of the plate 40 downwardly in to the position shown in Figure 1, against the action of the helical spring 48. In this position, the inner edges of the aperture 46 no longer dig into the inner leg part 12 and the leg is free to slide within the outer leg 10. If the leg is pointed in a generally downwardly direction as shown in Figure 1, the inner leg thereby slides outwardly from the outer leg 10 under the force of gravity until it reaches the desired position whereafter the locking plate 40 is released so that once again the inner and outer leg parts are held firmly relative to one another.
The lower end of the inner leg part 12 is provided with a flanged foot 52 which is swivelable relative to the end of the inner leg part 12 by means of a ball and socket joint 54.
Numerous variations and modifications will readily occur to the reader of the present invention without taking it outside the scope of the present invention. For example, the resilient member can conceivably be placed on the opposite side of the inner leg part 12 relative to the thumb-engageable portion 44, although this would clearly result in a weaker leverage action.
The spring 48 does not necessarily have to be a helical spring but can indeed be a leaf spring or any other kind of resilient member to urge the locking plate 40 into its locking position.
The lower surface 36 may be on a slant relative to the leg parts 10 and 12, albeit at a lesser slant than the upper surface 38.
Means may be provided on the inner leg part and/or the outer leg part to inhibit removal of the inner leg part from the outer leg part beyond a fully extended position of the leg.
Claims (12)
1. An adjustable leg comprising inner and outer parts the inner part of which is slidable within the outer part to enable the leg to be telescopically adjustable in length, there being a locking member provided with an aperture through which the inner leg passes, which locking member is held directly or indirectly on the outer leg part and is resiliently urged by a resilient member to adopt an angle with regard to the inner leg part so that edge portions defining the aperture engage the inner leg part and hold it in position relative to the outer leg part, in which the resilient member is positioned substantially wholly to one side of the inner leg part.
2. An adjustable leg according te claim 1, in which the resilient member comprises a helical spring.
3. An adjustable leg according to laim 2, in which the locking member is provided with a thumb-engageable portion which projects outwardly from the outer eg part, and the helical spring is positioned between that thumb-engageable portion and a portion of, tr a portion which is attached to, the outer leg part.
4. An adjustable eg comprising manner and outer parts the inner part of which is slidable within the outer part to enable the leg to be telescopically adjustable in length, there being a locking member provided with an aperture through which the Inner leg passes, which locking member is held directly or indirectly on the outer leg part and is resiliently urged to adopt an angle with regard to the inner leg part so that edge portions defining the aperture engage the inner leg part and hold it in position relative to the outer leg part, in which the locking member is provided with a thumb-engageable portion which extends outwardly from the outer leg part, and in which an abutment is provided to resist transverse movement of the locking member in a direction away from the side of the outer leg part from which the thumb-engageable portion projects.
5. An adjustable leg according to claim 4, in which the portion of the locking member which surrounds the inner leg part is surrounded by a housing which is secured to a lower end of the outer leg part.
An at adjustable leg according to claim 5, in which a slot is provided in that lower end through which extends the thumb-engageable portion of the locking member.
7. An adjustable leg according to any preceding claim, in which a helical spring is received in a recess n a surface of the housing defining a lower lip of the slot.
8 An adjustable leg according to claim 7, in which tne recess is formed within an insert of the housing
9. An adjustable leg according to claim 8, in which the
Insert has a T-shape cross-section received in a T-shape recess in the rest of the noosing.
3 An adjustable leg accordion to any one of claims 4 to in in which tne abutment is provided on the inside of the housing, on the opposite side o the inner leg part to the thumb-engageable portion of the locking member.
11. An adjustable leg according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 10 read as appended to claim 6, in which the abutment and a lower limit of the slot are positioned relative to one another so that when the locking member is pushed to abut the lower limit of the slot the locking member is substantially perpendicular to the inner leg part.
12. An adjustable leg substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9823722A GB2327872B (en) | 1996-10-23 | 1996-10-23 | Adjustable leg |
| GB9622054A GB2318505B (en) | 1996-10-23 | 1996-10-23 | Adjustable leg |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9622054A GB2318505B (en) | 1996-10-23 | 1996-10-23 | Adjustable leg |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9622054D0 GB9622054D0 (en) | 1996-12-18 |
| GB2318505A true GB2318505A (en) | 1998-04-29 |
| GB2318505B GB2318505B (en) | 1999-03-24 |
Family
ID=10801836
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9622054A Expired - Lifetime GB2318505B (en) | 1996-10-23 | 1996-10-23 | Adjustable leg |
| GB9823722A Expired - Lifetime GB2327872B (en) | 1996-10-23 | 1996-10-23 | Adjustable leg |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9823722A Expired - Lifetime GB2327872B (en) | 1996-10-23 | 1996-10-23 | Adjustable leg |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB2318505B (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2365761A (en) * | 2000-08-12 | 2002-02-27 | Chub Leisure Ltd | Adjustable telescopic strut |
| WO2005019591A1 (en) * | 2003-08-22 | 2005-03-03 | Michael Stokes | Adjustable support device |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1719923A1 (en) * | 2005-05-03 | 2006-11-08 | JRC Products Limited | Telescopic leg |
| DE202006003232U1 (en) | 2006-03-01 | 2006-06-08 | Mafell Ag | Table, in particular work bench, comprising at least one height adjustable leg operated with spring mechanism |
| GB201005055D0 (en) | 2010-03-25 | 2010-05-12 | Fox Int Group Ltd | An adjustment device for use in adjusting the length of a telescopic arrangement |
| GB2483876A (en) * | 2010-09-22 | 2012-03-28 | Nicholas David Le Sueur | Seat height adjustment mechanism |
| US8544392B2 (en) | 2011-02-04 | 2013-10-01 | Jack Wynn Fields | Releasable engagement apparatus |
| CN106839611A (en) * | 2017-03-17 | 2017-06-13 | 合肥华凌股份有限公司 | Refrigerator and its refrigerator regulation pin |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0254003A1 (en) * | 1986-06-19 | 1988-01-27 | Häfele KG | Stable device which can be put down on an uneven surface, and a self-levelling element therefor |
| GB2258151A (en) * | 1991-07-29 | 1993-02-03 | R J C | Telescopic adjustable leg |
-
1996
- 1996-10-23 GB GB9622054A patent/GB2318505B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-10-23 GB GB9823722A patent/GB2327872B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0254003A1 (en) * | 1986-06-19 | 1988-01-27 | Häfele KG | Stable device which can be put down on an uneven surface, and a self-levelling element therefor |
| GB2258151A (en) * | 1991-07-29 | 1993-02-03 | R J C | Telescopic adjustable leg |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2365761A (en) * | 2000-08-12 | 2002-02-27 | Chub Leisure Ltd | Adjustable telescopic strut |
| WO2005019591A1 (en) * | 2003-08-22 | 2005-03-03 | Michael Stokes | Adjustable support device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2327872B (en) | 1999-03-24 |
| GB2318505B (en) | 1999-03-24 |
| GB2327872A (en) | 1999-02-10 |
| GB9622054D0 (en) | 1996-12-18 |
| GB9823722D0 (en) | 1998-12-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Expiry date: 20161022 |