RU2352234C2 - Table support structure - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: furniture industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention is related to table support structure, to stabilising table structure and to the table itself with above mentioned support and stabilising structures. Table support structure comprises extended support element for connection of table top equipped with the first pair of legs that are installed on or together with lower end of support structure, and extended guide element fixed in support element. Guide element protrudes beyond lower end of support element, at that movable support element is equipped with the second pair of legs on or together with its lower end so that line passing between legs of the first pair crosses the line passing between legs of the second pair. Self-stabilising structure for table comprises the first support component, having leg at every end, which protrudes in one direction, guide pin fixed to the first support component and located centrally relative to it, and the second support component, which has leg at every end, which protrudes in the same direction as the legs of the first support component, and at least one pull part for pulling of the second support component from the first support component. Table comprises top fixed to table support structure or to the first structure component of self-stabilising structure.

EFFECT: improved manufacturability of stabilising tables production.

21 cl, 5 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to tables. In particular, the invention relates to a supporting table structure, to a stabilizing table structure and to the table itself.

State of the art

U.S. Patent 4,712,758 (Cuschera) discloses a furniture stand with arms that diverge from a central load transfer unit to castors or other floor-contacting components. The stand is divided essentially into two linear base parts. A node is defined by its elements, each of which has a pair of levers directed in the opposite direction. The individual components can be arranged so that they occupy a relatively small space, which facilitates the packaging, transportation and storage of the stand. Assembly can be easily done by placing one component at right angles to the other and combining the nodal element of one with the nodal element of the other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a table support structure that includes:

an elongated table support element for attaching to its upper end of the table cover, the first pair of legs of which is located on or adjacent to the lower end of the support element;

an elongated guide element mounted on a table support element, this guide element protrudes from the lower end of the support structure;

a movable support element that has a second pair of legs on or adjacent to its lower end so that a line drawn between the legs of the first pair crosses across a line drawn between the legs of the second pair;

the movable support element engages with the guide element so that it slides along a rectilinear predetermined path of movement that crosses across the lines respectively drawn between the aforementioned pairs of legs, the engagement of the movable support element with the guide element is such that the movable support element automatically enters the engagement by forces friction with a guiding element in response to the rotation of the movable support element about the axis of rotation, which crosses the predetermined trajectory of the movable of the support element to completely stop due to the friction forces of the movable sliding support member relative to the guide element and

at least one squeeze part for pressing the second support component from the first support component.

The movable support element will thus slide along its predetermined motion path when, in essence, there is no moment of force with respect to the movable support element around any pivot axis that is transverse to the given motion path and which intersects the guide element to bias the second pair of legs linearly relative to the first pair of legs, while the linear movement of the movable support element along a given trajectory of the movement of force is automatically limited by the friction forces of the rolling element ment of the support with a guide element in response to the application of a moment of force to the movable support element relative to any such axis of rotation.

Typically, the guide element is an elongated guide pin that projects downward from the table support element, the legs of the second pair are located with the same radial gap from the guide pin so that the movable support element linearly slides along the guide pin when the same forces act on the legs of the second pair in the longitudinal direction of the guide pin.

Preferably, the table support element has only four legs, the legs of each of the aforementioned pairs are diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the guide pin, and the legs are arranged circumferentially at the same distance from the guide pin so that the lines drawn between the respective legs of the pair intersect on the guide pin and are perpendicular to each other to a friend.

The table support element may include an elongated vertical post and a cross secured to the lower end of the post, the cross includes four radial crossbars (20), which are located at an angle of 90 ° to each other in a row diverging in a circle, each bar has a groove open downward, and a movable support element in the form of a lever, which enters into a pair of crossbars located in a line, located along the aforementioned pair.

The movable lever may have a guide hole passing through it, mated in shape and size with the guide pin so that the guide pin enters the guide hole with an annular working gap.

In one embodiment of the invention, the guide hole is lined with a cylindrical sleeve, the guide pin is a sliding friction insert into the sleeve. Instead, the movable arm may include a pair of axially spaced cylindrical bushings lining a portion of the cylindrical wall of the guide hole.

Usually, as mentioned above, there is at least one squeeze part or a pair of compressed springs between the movable support element and the support element, the springs are placed with equal radial gaps on the diametrically opposite sides of the guide element.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a self-stabilizing table design is provided that includes:

a first support component having at each end a leg protruding in one direction;

a guide pin fastened to the first support component, centrally positioned with respect to the first support component and protruding in the same direction as the legs of the first support component;

the second component of the support, which is mounted on a pin to ensure sliding and which at each end has a leg protruding in the same direction as the legs of the first component of the support,

at least one squeeze part for pushing the second component of the support from the first component of the support.

Preferably, the second component of the support is fixed in the middle on the pin so that the pin enters the mating guide hole of the second component of the support, the guide hole is in the middle of the second component of the support.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first support component and the second support component are orthogonal, for example, elongated and arranged so that the aforementioned support parts in the longitudinal direction are normal with respect to each other. The stabilizing structure in this case includes a placement device to hold the parts in the above straight contact. In one embodiment of the invention, the accommodation device includes a pair of in-line rungs that diverge radially from a guide pin fastened to the first leg component and the rungs together form a groove extending along the rungs in a line, the second leg component fits into the aforementioned groove so that the bars prevent or limit the rotation of the second component of the support around the guide pin.

The guide pin, on the one hand, and the guide hole of the second support component, on the other hand, can be profiled and sized so that there is a limited gap between the guide pin and the second component of the support, so that there is automatic friction locking of the second component of the support on the guide pin when a pair or moment of force relative to the guide pin is applied to the second component of the support.

As mentioned above, there is at least one squeeze part or a pair of compressed springs acting between the first component of the support and the second component of the support, the springs are located at an equal distance on opposite sides from the guide pin.

The invention also relates to a table, which includes a table support structure or a self-stabilizing structure, as defined above, and a table cover fixed to a support structure or a self-stabilizing structure.

A brief description of the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic, partial, three-dimensional image of a table according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic, partial side view in section of the table of figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic, partial view at the bottom of the table of figure 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the movement restricting mechanism, which is a detail of the table of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view, in accordance with FIG. 4, of an additional embodiment of a table according to the invention.

Description of the invention

In FIG. 1 to 4, reference number 10 denotes a table as a whole according to the invention. The table includes a table top 12 mounted on the table support element 14. The table support element 14, in turn, includes a vertical post 16 having a longitudinal axis 17 and a spider 18, which consists of four radial rungs 20 forming equal angles that are attached to the lower end 22 of the strut 16. The crosspiece 18 is shaped so that the plane formed by the lower edges of the crossbars 20 is a normal longitudinal section of the strut 16.

Detail for mounting 24 is installed on the upper end 26 (figure 2) of the rack 16, this part for mounting 24 includes a set of four angled mounting flanges 28 (figure 2). Each mounting flange 28 has a pair of holes (not shown) through which bolts (not shown) pass, these bolts are screwed into the table cover 12 to secure the table cover 12 to the supporting element of the table 14.

Each bar 20 has a groove that is open from below, thus having a wide U-shaped cross section.

The movable support part in the form of an elongated movable arm 30 is included in the first pair of crossbars located in a line, located along the above-mentioned pair of crossbars 20.

The movable arm 30 forms a second support component having a leg protruding downward at each of its ends.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, the crossbars 20 of the other, second, pairs are located in the line of the crossbars 20, that is, the crossbars 20, which are directed perpendicular to the lever 30, both are equipped with a head protruding from below at the end far from the center, each head forms a fixed leg 50.

The second pair of rungs forms the first component of the support.

The spider 18 forms a placement device for holding the movable arm 30 perpendicularly to another pair of bars 20 by limiting the rotational displacement of the movable arm 30 around the guide pin 38.

The lever 30 has a circular guide hole 34 extending perpendicularly through it, this hole is lined with a cylindrical sleeve 36.

The lever 30 is made of cast iron, and the sleeve 36 of machined mild mild steel. The hole 34 has a longitudinal axis (not shown).

The guide element in the form of a guide pin 38 protrudes below the lower end 22 of the rack 16 inside the hole formed by the crosspiece 18, the guide pin 38 is mounted coaxially with the rack 16. The guide pin 38 slides into the hole 34. The guide pin 38 is machined to this size, which has a sliding friction fit in the sleeve 36, while there is a small annular working clearance between the sleeve 36 and the pin 38. The sleeve 36 and the pin 38 are machined to a relatively tight tolerance, in this case processed to a tolerance of m between 5 and 15 microns. It is estimated that the lever 30 thus linearly slides along the pin 38 until the hole 34 is aligned coaxially with the pin 38, however, the sleeve 36 is automatically engaged by friction forces with the pin 38 when the lever 30 deviates from the axis of rotation, which is perpendicular to the guide pin 38, that is, when the longitudinal axis of the pin 38 and the longitudinal axis of the hole 34 are not parallel.

The pin 38 has a blind threaded hole 40 at each end, this hole 40 closes in the strut 16, being engaged with a tension rod that extends longitudinally along the hollow interior of the strut 16. The tension rod 42 extends at one end through a mating hole in the part for fasteners 24, the lock nut 44 is threaded to the upper end of the rod 42. Thus, the pin 38 serves as a nut, so that the tightening of the pin 38 causes tension of the rod 42, pressing the fastener 24 against the upper end 26 of the rack and clamp May crossbar 18 to the lower end 22 of the rack 16.

The thrust washer 46 is fixed to the lower end of the pin 38 with a bolt 47, which is screwed into the threaded hole 40 at the lower end of the pin 38, the thrust washer has a diameter larger than the diameter of the hole 34, so that the washer 46 limits the sliding displacement of the lever 30 along the pin 38 by the stop of the lever 30 on the washer 46. The hole 34 may be stepped, slightly widened at its lower end, with an external protrusion in which the washer 47 abuts, so that the washer 46 and the head of the bolt 47 are within the hole.

Table 10 includes a pair of coil springs 48 (only one is shown in FIG. 2), under the influence of compression, the springs 48 act between the spider 18 and the lever 30 to push the lever 30 down from the spider 18, the springs are in a compressed state, even when the lever touches the thrust washers 46. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the springs are located at the same radial distance from the guide pin 38 and are diametrically opposed to the pin 38.

In use, the table support member 14 supports the table cover 12 on a support surface, such as ground (not shown). When the surface is uneven, the supporting element of the table 14 automatically moves the lever 30 with respect to the crosspiece 18 so that all four legs 50, 32 rest on the supporting surface.

For example, when the surface is uneven, so that both fixed legs 50 rest on the surface, but only one of the movable legs 32 touches the surface at one point in time, the movable arm 30 is pushed down relative to the spider 18 until both movable legs 32 are supported to the surface. It is estimated that the movable arm 30 slides along the guide pin 38 when the same forces act on the legs 32. When the legs 32 are subjected to different forces, the lever 30 rotates around a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide pin 38, and the sleeve 36 automatically engages by friction forces with the guide pin 38, thereby locking the lever on the pin, tightly blocking its longitudinal sliding along the pin 38.

Thus, in the case described above, the table 10 will tend to tilt due to the rotation of the spider 18 around an axis oriented along the line connecting the fixed legs 50. During this tilt, the movable arm 30 is pressed down by the springs 48 when both legs 32 do not touch the surface, that is, when there are no external forces acting on the legs 32, the lever 30 is automatically locked in position on the guide pin 38, as soon as one of the legs 32 rests on the surface. The movable arm 30 thus automatically finds a position where both of its legs 32, as well as the fixed legs 50, rest on the surface.

In cases where the surface is uneven, so that both movable legs 32 and only one of the fixed legs 50 rest on the surface, the lever 30 moves upward along the guide pin 38 until both fixed legs 50 rest on the supporting surface. It is estimated that in order for the lever 30 to be in equilibrium, the upward forces with which the surface acts on the movable legs 32 must be equal to each other, the legs 32 are located at the same distance from the guide pin 38, and these are the same forces directed up, cause the lever 30 to move up against the action of the springs 48 until the supporting element of the table 14 reaches a stable, static position.

As soon as all four legs 32, 50 abut against the surface, the table 10 will remain in a stable position, since the lever 30 and, therefore, the legs 32 are effectively locked in their position. This is because any attempt to tilt the table 10 will lead to the effect of unequal forces on the legs 32, automatically causing immediate blocking by the friction forces of the lever 30 on the guide pin 38.

FIG. 5 shows an additional embodiment of the table according to the invention, with the same reference numbers as in FIG. from 1st to 4th. Table 60 in FIG. 5 corresponds to table 10 of FIG. 1-4, the main difference is that the sleeve 36 of the table 10 is replaced by a pair of cylindrical springs 62 spaced along the axis.

An advantage of the table 10, 60, as described with reference to the drawings, is that the movable arm 30 and the guide pin 38 can be connected to the crosspiece 18 used in the manufacture of conventional, non-stabilizing table support structures. This allows the production of stabilizing tables, as described, without large-scale changes in machinery, such as dies and molds, used to make conventional tables. Moreover, the guide pin 38 and the movable arm 30 can be mounted on existing tables, upgrading them to a self-stabilizing table.

Claims (21)

1. The supporting structure of the table, including an elongated supporting element (14) for attaching to its upper end of the table cover (12), provided with a first pair of legs (50) located on or adjacent to the lower end of the supporting structure, an elongated guide element (38), mounted on a support element, the guide element protruding beyond the lower end of the support element, a movable support element (30) provided with a second pair of legs (32) on or adjacent to its lower end so that the line drawn between the legs of the first pair crosses across the line w, held between the legs of the second pair, and the movable support element enters into engagement with the guide element so that it slides along a rectilinear predetermined path of movement that crosses across the lines drawn between these pairs of legs, and the engagement of the movable support element with the guide element is such that it automatically, due to the frictional forces, engages with the guide element in response to the rotation of the movable support element about the axis of rotation, which crosses across a predetermined the motion path of the movable support element to secure the movable support element against sliding relative to the guide element, and at least one squeeze part (48) for pushing the movable support element from the support element. 2. The supporting table structure according to claim 1, in which the second pair of legs is located at the same distance from the longitudinal axis of the guide element. 3. The table support structure according to claim 2, wherein the first pair of legs is located at the same distance from the longitudinal axis of the support element as the second pair of legs is located from the longitudinal axis of the guide element. 4. The supporting table structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the line between the legs of the first pair and the legs of the second pair are at right angles to each other. 5. The table support structure according to claim 4, wherein the support element comprises an elongated vertical strut (16) and a cross (18) attached to the lower end of the strut, the crosspiece containing four radial crossbars (20), which are located at 90 ° to each other round to each other, and each crossbar has an open groove downward. 6. The supporting table structure according to claim 5, in which the first pair of rungs has a leg (50) at its end. 7. The table support structure according to claim 6, in which the movable support element includes a lever (30), which enters another pair of bars, located along them, and at each end of the lever there is a leg (32). 8. The table support structure according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is a guide pin (38) that projects from the lower end of the support element, and the support element has a guide hole located in the middle in which the pin is located. 9. The table support structure of claim 8, wherein the guide hole is mated in shape and size with the guide pin so that the guide pin enters the guide hole with an annular working gap. 10. The supporting table structure according to claim 9, in which the guide hole is lined with a cylindrical sleeve. 11. The supporting table structure according to claim 9, in which the supporting element has a pair of spaced apart along the axis of the cylindrical bushings (62), which are lined with a portion of the cylindrical wall of the guide hole. 12. The table support structure according to claim 1, in which at least one squeeze part includes a pair of compressed springs acting between the movable support element and the support element placed at the same distance on opposite sides of the guide element. 13. A self-stabilizing table structure comprising a first support component (20) having at each end a leg (50) protruding in one direction, a guide pin (38) fastened to and centrally located with respect to the first support component, and the second component of the support, which is mounted on a pin with the provision of sliding, which at each end has a leg protruding in the same direction as the legs of the first component of the support and at least one squeeze part to wring the second component of the support from the feather of the support component. 14. The self-stabilizing structure of claim 13, wherein the second support component has a centrally located guide hole (34) into which the pin (38) is inserted. 15. The self-stabilizing structure of claim 14, wherein the first support component and the second support component are orthogonal. 16. The self-stabilizing structure according to item 13, which further includes an arrangement element (18) holding the components in a given relative configuration. 17. The self-stabilizing construction according to clause 16, in which the arrangement element includes a pair of horizontal bars (20) arranged in a line, which are fastened to and protrude from the first component of the support, the crossbars having a groove in which the second component of the support is located. 18. The self-stabilizing structure of claim 14, wherein the guide pin and the guide hole in the second support component are profiled and sized so that there is a limited clearance between the guide pin and the wall of the guide hole so that the second component of the support is automatically locked in friction guide pin when a moment of force relative to the guide pin is applied to the second component of the support. 19. Self-stabilizing structure according to any one of paragraphs.13-18, in which at least one squeeze part includes a pair of compressed springs (48) acting between the first component of the support and the second component of the support, the springs being equally spaced at opposite sides of the guide pin. 20. The table, including the supporting structure of the table according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and the table cover, attached to the supporting structure of the table. 21. The table, including the self-stabilizing structure according to any one of paragraphs.13-19 and the table cover, attached to the first component of the support of the self-stabilizing structure.

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