GB2387322A

GB2387322A - Height adjustment apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2387322A
Application number: GB0304428A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Deveraux
Original assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Current assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Priority date: 2002-04-11
Filing date: 2003-02-27
Publication date: 2003-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-27
Also published as: GB2387322B; GB0304428D0; GB0208352D0

Abstract

Height adjustment apparatus 10 comprising two support bodies 12 pivotally linked together by a connection arrangement comprising two linkage arms, 16a, 16b. The pivot arrangement 28 pivots an arm of the connection arrangement from a first higher position to a second lower position. The pivot arrangement 28 may comprise a pivot member 30 that is disc-shaped and locates comprises a centrally located pivot projection 32 located within a recess 34. Each linkage arm may comprise an aperture to locate on the pivot projection. The two heights may compensate for the thickness of the linkage arm. The linkage arms may be joined to provide linear adjustment of the distance between the support bodies. Each support body has spaced projections 14a, 14b that may locate against either straight S or angled portions C of an item I to be supported and do not protrude significantly from the item. The height of the apparatus may be varied using releasably attachable raisers 50.

Description

Height Adjustment Apparatus The present invention relates to height

adjustment apparatus, particularly but not exclusively to apparatus for adjusting the height of furniture and the like.

There are many occasions where it is necessary or desirable to adjust the normal height of an item of furniture. For example, the height of seating may be increased to facilitate use thereof by the elderly, infirm or disabled.

Similarly, it can be necessary or desirable to increase the height of a bed for similar reasons. These are just two examples of circumstances where an increase in the normal height of an item of furniture is required.

Conventionally, adjusting the height of furniture has been achieved by standing the furniture on a number of separate raising blocks. However, using separate blocks in this way has been considered potentially hazardous as generally only the weight of the furniture bearing thereon holds the blocks in place, such that the blocks can be prone to displacement.

According to the present invention there is provided height adjustment apparatus comprising two support bodies interconnected by a connecting arrangement one end of which locates with one of said bodies by a pivot arrangement having a pivot member selectively moveable between a first condition in which the said end locates at an in use relatively high position, and a second condition in which the end locates at a relatively low position.

Preferably the pivot member is rotatably located on the support body and connected to the connecting arrangement for pivotal movement thereof on the body. The pivot member is desirably located within the support body and preferably pivotally located within a generally circular recess.

Preferably the pivot member comprises a formation arranged to receive said one end of the connecting arrangement for connection thereto, the

formation being located at a relatively high position when the member is in the first condition and at a relatively low position when the member is in the second condition. Preferably the formation comprises a recess and is located substantially above the mid-height position of the pivot member when in the first condition and therebelow when in the second condition. Preferably the recess is in a surface of the pivot member. The recess is preferably shaped to I receive the connecting arrangement and to hold the said end thereof against pivotal movement relative to the pivot member.

Preferably the connecting arrangement comprises a pair of adjusting interconnected linkage arms, each arm connected to a respective support body, desirably by a respective pivot arrangement.

Preferably the height difference between the relatively high position and i the relatively low position is substantially equal to the thickness of the linkage arm when measured in the direction of the height difference.

The pivot arrangement preferably enables the linkage arm to be pivoted through at least 45 and desirably through at least 90 .

Preferably the linkage arms are pivotally joined, desirably to provide linear adjustment of the distance between the support bodies and also provide further pivotal adjustment therebetween.

Preferably the linkage arms are generally straight and desirably locate one on the other when joined. Preferably the pivot member in one of said support bodies is in the first condition and the pivot member in the other member connected thereto is in the second condition to enable the linkage arm of the said one support body to locate directly above the linkage arm of the said other support body.

Preferably each support body comprises spaced projections thereon arranged to be locatable in use against both an angled portion and a generally

straight portion of an item mounted on the support bodies.

Preferably each projection has a first surface against which an angled portion of a supported item locates and a second surface against which a substantially straight portion of a supported item locates. Preferably the first surfaces are arranged to receive therebetween an angled portion of a supported item. The first surfaces are preferably generally mutually perpendicular and in use receive a portion comprising a substantially 90 corner.

Preferably the second surfaces of the projections are in substantially spaced co-linear arrangement.

Preferably the projections locate against an item so as not to protrude significantly from the item, and in particular so as not to present a significant potential for tripping a person walking around a supported item.

Preferably the projections extend generally upwardly on a support body, desirably from generally one side thereof, such that in use the majority of the support body is beneath an item locatably mounted thereon.

Preferably the support body comprises height adjustment means to enable the height of the body to be selectively varied. The means may comprise one or more releasably attachable raisers. The raiser(s) may be selectively attachable to the in-use underside of the body. The or each raiser may comprise an attachment formation operable to co-operate with the underside of the body, or any raiser located under the body, desirably by way of a snap fit arrangement. Preferably the snap fit arrangement enables selective release of each raiser.

The invention still further provides a pivot member substantially as hereinbefore described.

The invention further provides a support body substantially as

hereinbefore described.

Also provided is a raiser substantially as hereinbefore described.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described I by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of an upper part of a support body of the apparatus in the direction III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the upper part of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view of the upper part of Fig. 3, in the direction V of Fig. 2; Fig. is a side view of the upper part support body in the direction VI of Fig. 1;] Fig. 7 is a plan view of a pivot member according to the present invention; Fig, 8 is a cross- sectional view along the line VIII of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a view of the member of Fig. 7 in the direction of arrow IX; Fig. 10 is a view of the member of Fig. 7 in the direction of arrow X; Fig. 11 is a view of the underside of the member in Fig. 7;

l Fig. 12 is a cross-section of Fig. 11 in the direction XII-XII; Fig. 13 is a plan view of a raiser according to the present invention; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view along the lines XIV-XIV of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement according to the present invention in use in supporting an item of furniture; Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement according to the present invention in use in a further position supporting an item; Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement in a still further position supporting an item of furniture; and Fig. 18 is an even further diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement in a still further position supporting an item of furniture.

Referring to the drawings, height adjustment apparatus 10 comprises two support bodies 12 interconnected by a connecting arrangement comprising linkage arms 16a, 16b. One end of each arm 16a, 16b locates with a respective body 12 by a pivot arrangement 28 having a pivot member 30 selectively moveable between a first condition in which the said end is connected at an in use relatively high position, and a second condition in which the end is connected at a relatively low position.

The pivot arrangement 28 is provided pivotally connecting the linkage arms 16a, 16b to the respective body 12. The pivot arrangement 28 enables each linkage arms 16a, 16b to be pivoted through at least 45 relative to the respective body 12. It is preferred that at least 90 is provided to enable each body 12 to locate against both an angled and generally straight portion of a locatably mounted item I.

The pivot arrangement 28 comprises a pivot member 30 (Figs. 7 to 12).

The pivot member 30 is generally disc-shaped and comprises a centrally located pivot projection 32 located within a recess 34. The recess 34 is generally rectangular (Figs. 7 and 11) and extends from a portion of the circumferential surface 36 of the member 30 to receive a respective linkage arm 16a, 16b as shown in Fig. 8. Each linkage arm 16a, 16b comprises a circular aperture 38 which locates over the projection 32. The arm 16a, 16b is held against pivotal rotation relative to the member 30 by the location of the arm 16a, 16b in the recess 34.

The recess 34 is provided in one surface 40 of the member 30 and extends generally half way through the thickness of the member 30. A passage 44 extends through the projection 32 and the remainder of the member 30 and receives in use an upstanding pivot post 46 (Fig. 4) provided in the upper part 18. In use, the pivot member 30 is located around the post 46 with the pivot arm 16 located over the pivot projection 32 in the recess whereby to provide for pivotal connection of the member 30 and arm 16 in the upper part 18.

It is a feature of the invention that the member 30 can be used in two conditions. In a first condition, the recess 34 is located on the in-use, upper most side of the member 30 wherein the linkage arm 16 is in a relatively high position. In a second condition, the recess 34 is on the in-use underside of the member 30 wherein the linkage arm 16 is in a relatively low position.

This enables similar, straight linkage arms 16a, 16b to be used to link between two bodies 12. The difference in the heights at which the linkage arms 16a, 16b are held between a member 30 in the first condition and the member 30 in the other body 12 in the second condition is substantially equal to the width of the linkage arms 16a, 16b, which enable the linkage arms 16a, 16b to

al be slidingly interconnected as shown in Fig. 2.

Each linkage arm 16a, 16b locates into the respective upper part 18 through an opening 48 in a side of the upper part 18 generally opposite to the side thereof at which projections 14a, 14b are located. The size of the opening 48 determines the degree of pivotal movement of the arms 1Ca, 16b.

The projections 14a, 14b extend upwardly from an upper surface 22 of each part 18. Each projection 14a, 14b has a first surface 24 against which an angled portion of a supported item I locates and a second surface 26 against which a substantially straight portion of a supported item I locates, as will be described. The first surfaces 24 of the projections 14a, 14b are generally mutually perpendicular to receive generally 90 corners of items, the second surfaces 26 are substantially mutually colinear, to both be locatable together along a straight edge.

The projections 14a, 14b are located generally to one side of the surface 22, such that in use the majority of the support body 12 is located beneath an item I locatably mounted thereon (Figs.15-18).

With reference to Fig. 6, it will be appreciated that the projections 14a, 14b are so shaped and located such that when the bodies 12 are located against an item I in use very little of the body 12 protrudes from beneath the item such that the apparatus 10, when in use presents little or no trip hazard around the item. The spaced projections 14a, 14b on each body 12 are arranged to locate in use against both an angled portion and a generally straight portion of an item I mounted on the support bodies 12, whereby in use, the projections 14a, 14b do not protrude significantly from the portion and thereby do not present a significant potential to trip a person walking around the item I. Raisers 50 (Figs. 13 and 14) are provided to enable selective adjustment

of the overall height of the bodies 12. The raisers 50 are of generally similar external profile to the upper part 18 whereby when attached they provide effectively a continuation of the profile of the upper part 18. The raisers 50 are generally hollow and comprise on the inner wall thereof, three resilient connectors 52 operable to co-operate from above with another raiser 50 to provide resilient and releasable attachment. Each connector comprises a tab 51 of resilient material, on the outside of which is a locating tooth 53 which locates against a receiving formation on the lower raiser. Openings 54 are provided in the wall 56 of the raiser 50 to provide for access to the connectors 52 for example using a tool or the tip of a finger. Urging the connectors 52 inward causes them to disconnect with the raiser 50 to which it is connected thereby allowing for selective disengagement.

Similar tabs 51 depend down from the underside of the upper part 18 to provide for connection to a raiser 50 therebeneath.

A plurality of raisers 50 can be connected to the underside of the respective upper parts 18. Three raisers 50a, sob, 50c are shown in location in Figs. 1 and 2. -= The raisers 50 therefore allow selective adjustment of the overall height of the support bodies 12 and thereby the height at which an item I is supported on the apparatus 10.

In use, the apparatus 10 can be used to raise the height of any suitable item, but the invention is particularly intended for use in raising the height of furniture, such as seating and beds.

A significant advantage of the present invention is that apparatus 10 can provide even and balanced support for items of furniture and such like whilst enjoying a cost effective and robust construction. This is particularly enabled -

by the provision of the pivot member which enables similar, straight linkage arms to interconnect one above the other with both support bodies held level

within the same plane.

With reference to Fig. 15, the apparatus 10 is shown supporting an item I at two corners. The linkage arms 16 are adjusted such that the apparatus 10 extends between the two corners C1 and C2. Once the correct length has been achieved, the bodies 12 can be pivoted about the respective pivot arrangement 28 until the respective projections 14a, 14b receive a corner C1, C2 therebetween. When the apparatus 10 is appropriately located, slidable adjustment between linkage arms 16a, 16b can be secured using securing means such as a threaded bolt and wing nut arrangement 57.

With reference to Fig. 16, the apparatus 10 can be adjusted such that it can support an item I at a corner C and also at a substantially straight portion generally along the length of an item I. In such use, the linkage arms 16a, 16b are adjusted such that the desired length of apparatus 10 is achieved. The first body 12 is located around the corner C such that the projections 14a, 14b receive the corner C. The second body 12 is then be pivotally manoeuvred until the projections 14a, 14b thereon locate against the straight side S of the item I. The linkage arms 16a, 16b can then be secured using the arrangement 57 It will be appreciated that the projections 14a, 14b on the second body are located close to the side S with the majority of the body 12 located beneath the item I. The apparatus 10, and in particular the projections 14a, 14b therefore do not significantly protrude from the side of the item I and therefore do not present any significant trip hazard around the item I. It will be appreciated that when locating the apparatus 10 for use in such circumstances, the relevant body 12 could be located against the side S followed by location of the other body around the corner C. It will also be appreciated that the apparatus 10 could be used to support

an item I along a single side S of an item I as shown in Fig. 17 or alternatively can be used to support an item along two straight portions which are angled relative to each other as shown in Fig. 18.

The pivotal arrangement 28 provides the necessary pivotal movement between the bodies 12 to enable positioning as described.

The raisers 50 enable the height of the furniture supported by the arrangement 10 to be adjusted as appropriate.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to

those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Height adjustment apparatus comprising two support bodies interconnected by a connecting arrangement one end of which locates with one of said bodies by a pivot arrangement having a pivot member selectively moveable between a first condition in which the said end locates at an in use relatively high position, and a second condition in which the end locates at a relatively low position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the pivot member is rotatably located on the support body and connected to the connecting arrangement for pivotal movement thereof on the body.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the pivot member is located within the support body.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the pivot member is pivotally located within a generally circular recess.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the pivot member comprises a formation arranged to receive said one end of the connecting arrangement for connection thereto.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the formation is located at a relatively high position when the member is in the first condition and at a relatively low position when the member is in the second condition.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, in which the formation comprises a recess and is located substantially above the mid-height position of the pivot member when in the first condition and therebelow when in the second condition.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the recess is in a surface of the pivot member.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8, in which the recess is shaped to receive the connecting arrangement and to hold the said end thereof against pivotal movement relative to the pivot member.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claims, in which the connecting arrangement comprises a pair of adjusting interconnected linkage arms, each arm connected to a respective support body.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which each arm is connected by a respective pivot arrangement.

12. Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 11, in which the height difference between the relatively high position and the relatively low position is substantially equal to the thickness of the linkage arm when measured in the direction of the height difference.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12, in which the pivot arrangement enables the linkage arm to be pivoted through at least 45 .

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, in which the pivot arrangement enables the linkage arm to be pivoted through at least 90 .

15. Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 14, in which the linkage arms are pivotally joined.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, in which the arms are pivotally joined to provide linear adjustment of the distance between the support bodies.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 or claim 16, in which there is provided further pivotal adjustment therebetween.

18. Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 17, in which the linkage arms are generally straight.

19. Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 18, in which the linkage arms locate one on the other when joined.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, in which the pivot member in one of said support bodies is in the first condition and the pivot member in the other member connected thereto is in the second condition to enable the linkage arm of the said one support body to locate directly above the linkage arm of the said other support body.

21. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which each support body comprises spaced projections thereon arranged to be locatable in use against both an angled portion and a generally straight portion of an item mounted on the support bodies.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, in which each projection has a first surface against which an angled portion of a supported item locates and a second surface against which a substantially straight portion of a supported item locates.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, in which the first surfaces are arranged to receive therebetween an angled portion of a supported item.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, in which the first surfaces are generally mutually perpendicular and in use receive a portion comprising a substantially 90 corner.

25. Apparatus according to any of claims 22 to 24, in which the second surfaces of the projections are in substantially spaced co-linear arrangement.

26. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 25, in which the projections locate against an item so as not to protrude significantly from the item, and in particular so as not to present a significant potential for tripping a person walking around a supported item.

27. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 26, in which the projections extend generally upwardly on a support body.

28. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 27, in which the projections extend from generally one side thereof, such that in use the majority of the support body is beneath an item locatably mounted thereon.

29. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the support body comprises height adjustment means to enable the height of the body to be selectively varied.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, in which the means comprises one or more i releasably attachable raisers. f

31. Apparatus according to claim 30, in which the raiser(s) are selectively attachable to the in-use underside of the body.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, in which the or each raiser comprises an attachment formation operable to co-operate with the underside of the body, or any raiser located under the body.

15.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32, in which the attachment formation cooperates by way of a snap fit arrangement.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33, in which the snap fit arrangement enables selective release of each raiser.

35. A pivot member substantially as defined in any of claims 1 to 34.

36. A support body substantially as defined in any of claims 1 to 34.

37. A raiser substantially as defined in any of claims 30 to 34.

38. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

39. A pivot member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

40. A support body substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

41. A raiser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the . accompanying drawings.

42. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.