US3174443A

US3174443A - Table of adjustable height

Info

Publication number: US3174443A
Application number: US187135A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rothenbuhler Alfred Jean
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-04-13
Filing date: 1962-04-13
Publication date: 1965-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 1982-03-23

Description

March 23, 1965 F. EGGER TABLE OF ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT Filed April 13, 1962 Haan-r United States Patent 3,174,443 TABLE 0F ADIUS'IABLE HEIGHT Fridolin Egger, deceased, late of Ottenbach, Zurich, Switzerland, by Alfred lean Rothenbiihler, legal representative, Landshutstrasse 12, Bern, Switzerland Filed Apr. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 187,135 3 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 117) The present invention relates to a table with a vertically adjustable table top carried by a frame which is collapsible in shear-like fashion and is lockable in various positions, its crossed legs being pivotally interconnected through resilient means which oppose spreading apart of the legs to such extent that the table when unloaded remains standing at any selected elevation of the table top.

The table according to the invention differs from known tables of this kind in that the table top is carried by a single pair of crossed legs which are articulatedly joined to each other at least approximately in the middle of their f length and are arranged at least approximately in the vertical longitudinal central plane of the table, and further in that the two legs are provided on each of their ends with an extension in the form of a transverse rod, the lower transverse rods forming the feet of the table while the upper transverse rods engage with their ends in parallel guide rails which are secured to the underside of the table top and form, together with the table top, a slide which is movable linearly on the upper transverse rods within two stops.

The table according to the invention ensures, in comparison with known tables of this kind, complete leg freedom, that is to say all round the table beneath the top suicient space to accommodate the legs of persons sitting at the table so that they are in no way hindered by table legs.

A further advantage of the table according to the invention then consists in that the table top can be shifted on the upper transverse rods of its intersecting legs wherebythe stability of the table is ensured in that it is possible to shift the axis of gravity of the table top and of the load carried thereby in such fashion that it passes at least approximately through the common point of articulation of the legs.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. l shows an elevation of the table;

FIG. 2 shows a lateral view thereof in the direction of the arrow Il in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 shows a detail in plan view; and

FIG. 4 is another detail view, partly in section.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, 1 and 2 designate two profiled rods which are articulatedly interconnected approximately in the middle of their lengthV after the fashion of shear members by a horizontal bolt 3. The scissor-like framework thus formed carries at each end of its members a

transverse rod

1a and 2a, 1b and 2b, disposed parallel with the horizontal pivotal axis 3, the lower transverse rods 1b and 2b at the same time forming the table feet while the upper

transverse rods

1a and 2a serve as supports for the table top 4. On the underside of this table top there are secured two U-profiled rails 5 in such fashion as to be parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the table top with the lateral recesses of their profile facing each other. In these proile recesses there engage the upper transverse rods 1a and Za, serving as supports for the table top with their ends so that the table top cannot be lifted away from the

supports

1a and 2a but can be shifted in the horizontal direction transversely of the pivotal axis 3 in relation to the collapsible frame 1, 2.

Between the two scissor legs 1 and 2 there is arranged a contractile spring 6 acting on the two

horizontal supports

1a and 2a and seeking to hold the legs 1, 2 in the position corresponding to the greatest table height and to oppose the collapse of the table under the weight of the table top. For the actual fixing of the table or of the supporting frame there is provided a special arresting device. The latter comprises a rod 7 which is articulated at one end 8 to one leg 1 and is operatively connected with a clamping device arranged on the other leg 2. This clamping device includes a bolt 9 which is axially movably guided in the associated leg 2. On one side of the leg 2 the bolt 9 merges into a lthreaded spindle 9a with a threaded nut 10 mounted thereon, which is provided with a tommy bar 11 for better handling. On the other side of the leg 2 the bolt 9 is pierced by the rod lodged in a transverse bore 9b thereof.

The lowering of the table is effected by pressure upon the table top 4. The tensioning or initial stress of the spring 6 should be so selected that its contractile force balances at least approximately the torque G-l excited by the weight of the table top on the legs 1 and 2, so that, taking into consideration the friction between the feet 1b and 2b and the oor, the table remains standing in any selected elevational position. Conversely, the raising of the table top 4 takes place by traction from above, which can be brought about relatively easily since the lifting action is supported by the spring 6. The frame 1, 2 is arrested at its desired elevation by tightening the nut 10 in its position. The bolt 9 is thus drawn into the leg 2 and the rod 7 is clamped in the bolt bore 9b.

The horizontal mobility of the table top 4 in the direction A or B transverse to the pivotal axis 3` renders it possible to bring the table top, in any spread-apart position of the frame 1, 2, into such a position that the vertical line S through the center of gravity of the table top and of the load resting thereon extends as closely as possible through the axis 3, or in any case between the frame feet 1b and 2b forming the tilt edges. Thus good stability of the table is ensured.

In order, however, to prevent excessively easy shifting of the table top, for example in the case of a slight push, a compression spring 12 can be provided, as shown in FIG. 4, at least in one tubular upper transverse support 2a, the spring 12 pressing against the two U-prole rails 5 at either or both ends through a buffer 13 and in doing so exerts a braking action upon the confronting rail surfaces. The buffers 13 advantageously consist of a strongly adhesive material with high coeicient of friction, for example, of wood, leather, etc. The supporting of the table top by a single pair of intersecting leg arranged in the longitudinal central plane of the table is of special advantage in affording maximum leg room so that users can be placed all round the entire table without any hindrance whatever of the freedom of mobility of their legs.

According to need the transverse rods 1b and 2b forming the frame feet can be provided either on their entire length or only at certain points, for example at their ends, with a friction-increasing covering, e.g., in the form of caps 14.

In place of the threaded spindle 9a and the threaded nut 10 an eccentric lever could also be provided for clamping the rod 7 fast. It is expedient to close the guide rails 5 at their ends after the assembly of the table, in order to render it impossible for the horizontal supports la and 2a to escape from the guide rails on a shifting of the table top.

What I claim is:

l. In a table of adjustable height, in combination, a table top provided on its underside with a pair of parallel rails, a pair of crossed legs supporting said table top, said legs being pivotally interconnected substantially at their centers and being provided at their tops with transverse extensions slidably received in said rails on opposite sides of said legs for sliding displacement in a direction transverse to the pivotal axis of said legs, said legs having lower extremities slidably resting on a supporting floor whereby said extremities and said extensions move closer together upon a raising of said table top and are spread apart upon a lowering thereof, contractile spring means anchored to said extensions under a tension suicient to balance substantially the weight of said table top, frictional means on said legs tending to maintain said table top at a selected elevation by resisting relative motion of said legs, and clamping means on said legs for releasaoly locking them in a selected relative position, said rails having surfaces confronting the ends of said extensions in every position of adjustment thereof, said frictional means including spring-urged means in at least one of said extensions bearing upon said confronting surfaces.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said 4- extremities are provided with transverse rods, said frictional means further including a floor-engaging covering on said rods.

3. The combination dened in claim 2 wherein Said covering forms end caps on said rails.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 136,357 Belford Mar. 4, 1873 631,556 Bushnell Aug. 22, 1899 867,816 Garret Oct. 8, 1907 1,881,047 Doman Oct. 4, 1932 1,895,290 Lobel Ian. 24, 1933V 1,897,321 Mitchell et al Feb. 14, 1933 2,546,097 Hild Mar. 20, 1951 2,692,807 Cordola Oct. 26, 1954 2,829,936 Anderson Apr. 8, 1958 2,916,340 Jackson Dec. 8, 1959 FORElGN PATENTS 108,985 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1917

Claims

1. IN A TABLE OF ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT, IN COMBINATION, A TABLE TOP PROVIDED ON ITS UNDERSIDE WITH A PAIR OF PARALLEL RAILS, A PAIR OF CROSSED LEGS SUPPORTING SAID TABLE TOP, SAID LEGS BEING PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED SUBSTANTIALLY AT THEIR CENTERS AND BEING PROVIDED AT THEIR TOPS WITH TRANSVERSE EXTENSIONS SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID RAILS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID LEGS FOR SLIDING DISPLACEMENT IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE PIVOTAL AXIS OF SAID LEGS, SAID LEGS HAVING LOWER EXTREMITIES SLIDABLY RESTING ON A SUPPORTING FLOOR WHEREBY SAID EXTREMITIES SLIDABLY RESTING ON A SUPPORTING FLOOR TOGETHER UPON A RAISING OF SAID TABLE TOP AND ARE SPREAD APART UPON A LOWERING THEREOF, CONTRACTILE SPRING MEANS ANCHORED TO SAID EXTENSIONS UNDER A TENSION SUFFICIENT TO