WO1999052398A1

WO1999052398A1 - A frame structure for a supporting member, such as a table top

Info

Publication number: WO1999052398A1
Application number: PCT/DK1999/000207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik Almegaard Ohlsen
Original assignee: Sis International A/S
Priority date: 1998-04-14
Filing date: 1999-04-12
Publication date: 1999-10-21
Also published as: AU3026899A

Abstract

A pair of transversely spaced frame structures are used for supporting and adjusting the height of a table top (10). Each frame structure comprises a stationary frame part (13) and a pair of parallel, vertically spaced first links (16, 17) pivotally connected to the frame part (13) and to the table top (10) via a first connecting member (20), respectively. A second link (26) is pivotally connected to one of the first links (16, 17) and to the table top (10) via a second connecting member (28), respectively. The distance between the pivots (27 and 29) of the second link (26) is substantially the same as the distance between the pivotal connections (27) of the second link and one of the first links and any of the pivotal connections (18 and 21) of the said one first link (16). The pivotal connection (21) of said one first link (16) with the table top (10) and the pivotal connection (29) of the second link (26) with the table top are positioned at substantially the same horizontal level, and the first and second connecting members (20 and 28) are mutually moveable in a horizontal direction.

Description

1

A frame structure for a supporting member, such as a table top

The present invention relates to a frame structure for a supporting member allowing height adjusting movement of the supporting member along a substantially vertical line.

Such supporting structures are well known for example for supporting table tops. In this connection reference is made to SE-B-467,390, SE-C2-503,360, and SE-C2-504,292. These prior publications disclose various kinds of supporting structures for table tops allowing height adjusting movement of the table top in a direction which is completely vertical.

The present invention provides an improved frame structure which allows such vertical adjustment and which is more simple and reliable than the known structures mentioned above.

Thus, the present invention provides a frame structure of the type described above and comprising a stationary frame part, a pair of parallel, vertically spaced first links each extending between a first pivot for pivotally connecting the link to the stationary frame part and a second pivot for pivotally connecting the link to the supporting member via a first connecting member, the pair of first pivots and the pair of second pivots each defining a substantially vertical line, and a second link extending between a third pivot for pivotally connecting the second link to one of said parallel first links and a fourth pivot for pivotally connecting the second link to the supporting member via a second connecting member, the distance between the third and fourth pivots being substantially the same as the distance between the third pivot and any of the first and second pivots of said one first link, the second pivot of the first link to which the second link is pivotally connected and the fourth pivot being positioned at substantially the same horizontal level, and said first and second connecting members being moveable horizontally in relation to each other. 2

When the supporting member is moved in a vertical direction so as to adjust its vertical level the first links of the supporting structure remain parallel and the third pivot, the fourth pivot and the second pivot of the first link to which the second link is pivotally connected always define the vertices of an isosceles triangle, the fourth and the said second pivot always defining a substantially horizontal line. Thereby it is required that the supporting member may be moved up and down along a substantially vertical line.

The supporting member may be connected to a single supporting structure extending in a substantially vertical plane. However, in order to obtain an improved stability it is preferred to connect the supporting member to a pair of frame structures which may be arranged in a pair of vertical, transversely spaced planes, for example at opposite ends of the supporting member.

It should be understood that the frame structure according to the invention could be used for any kind of supporting member, for example for supporting articles in exhibitions. However, according to the invention the supporting member may be adapted to support a table top. In such case the table top is preferably mounted on a pair of frame structures, which are arranged at opposite ends of the table top.

Said second link, which is pivotally connected to one of the parallel first links, is preferably connected to the uppermost of the first links.

As mentioned above, the first and second connecting members must be moveable horizontally in relation to each other. This may be obtained by mounting each of the connecting members moveably in relation to the supporting member. In the preferred embodiment, however, the first connecting member is horizontally moveable in relation to the supporting member, and the second connecting member is rigidly connected to the supporting member. This may, for example, be obtained by arranging the first 3

connecting member such that it is moveable along a horizontally extending guide path defined at the bottom surface of the supporting member.

The frame structure according to the invention may be formed so as to allow vertical movement of the supporting member from a lower position in which the second link extends downwardly from the third pivot, via a position in which the second link and the first link pivotally connected therewith coextend horizontally, and into an upper position in which the second link extends upwardly from the third pivot. Thereby vertical adjustment of the supporting member within a vide range may be obtained.

The frame structure according to the invention may comprise releasable locking means for locking the supporting member in a desired vertical position. In order to prevent a sudden vertical movement of the supporting member when the locking means are released the frame structure may further comprise weight balancing means for at least partly balancing the weight of the supporting member and possible parts and objects supported thereby. As an example, the weight balancing means may comprise a gas spring arranged between the stationary frame member and one of the parallel first links.

The invention further provides a table frame comprising a pair of transversely spaced frame structures described above, the centres of said one first link of the transversely spaced frame structures being interconnected by a connecting bar, and each of the second links of the frame structures being pivotally connected to the connecting bar at said third pivot. When a table top is mounted on the spaced supporting members of the table frame the table top may be stably supported in a selected vertical position. The stability of the table frame may be further improved by rigidly interconnecting the stationary frame parts of the transversely spaced frame structures. 4

The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, wherein

Figs. 1 -3 is a diagrammatical side view of a table having a table frame according to the invention, the table top being shown in three different adjusted positions, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the table frame shown in Figs. 1 -3.

Figs. 1 -3 diagrammatically illustrate a table having a table top 1 0 supported by a supporting frame 1 1 which allows adjustment of the vertical position of the table top 1 0. As best shown in Fig. 4 the table frame comprises a pair of identical frame structures 1 2 which are arranged at opposite end of the table top 1 0.

The table frame 1 1 comprises a stationary frame part 1 3 having a pair of foot members or a horizontal base plate 14 and a pair of transversely spaced, vertical side plates 1 5. Each frame structure 1 2 has a pair of parallel, vertically spaced first links 1 6 and 1 7 which are pivotally connected to one of the side plates 1 5 at a pair of first pivots 1 8 and 1 9. The opposite ends of the parallel first links 1 6 and 1 7 are pivotally connected to a vertically extending part of a first connecting member 20 at second pivots 21 and 22. The opposite end of the connecting member 20 is connected to a supporting member 23 so as to be moveable in relation to the supporting member 23 along the horizontally extending guide track. The table top 10 is fastened to the supporting members 23 of the transversely spaced frame structures 1 2.

The centres 24 of the first links 1 6 are interconnected by a horizontally extending shaft or rod 25 as best shown in Fig. 4, and each of the frame structures 1 2 comprises a second link 26 having one end pivotally connected to the shaft 25 at a pivot 27. At its opposite end the link 26 is pivotally connected to a second connecting member 28 by a pivot 29. The second 5

connecting member 28 is rigidly connected to the supporting member 23, and the pivot 29 is positioned at the same vertical level as the pivot 21 . Furthermore, the pivots 1 8, 21 and 29 are positioned in the same distance from the pivot 27.

Locking means (not shown) may be provided from releasably locking the table top 1 0 in a selected, adjusted position, and the table frame may comprise gas springs or other weight balancing means (not shown) for balancing the weight of the table top 10 and possible objects placed thereon. When the locking means have been released, the table top 10 may be moved between a lowermost position illustrated in Fig. 1 and an uppermost position shown in Fig. 3. However, the table top 10 may be locked in any selected vertical position therebetween. It is understood that in any adjusted position of the table top 1 0 the pivots 21 and 29 are positioned in the same horizontal plane and the pivots 1 8, 1 9, and 29 are positioned in the same vertical plane. Consequently, the table top 10 is moved between the positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, respectively, along a path extending in a vertical direction without any horizontal components.

Claims

6CLAIMS

1 . A frame structure for a supporting member allowing height adjusting movement of the supporting member (23) along a substantially vertical line, said frame structure comprising

a stationary frame part (1 3),

a pair of parallel, vertically spaced first links ( 1 6, 1 7) each extending between a first pivot ( 1 8, 1 9) for pivotally connecting the link to the stationary frame part (1 3) and a second pivot (21 , 22) for pivotally connecting the link to a the supporting member (23) via a first connecting member (20), the pair of first pivots ( 1 8, 1 9) and the pair of second pivots (21 , 22) each defining a substantially vertical line, and

a second link (26) extending between a third pivot (27) for pivotally connecting the second link to one (1 6) of said parallel first links (1 6, 1 7) and a fourth pivot (29) for pivotally connecting the second link (26) to the supporting member (23) via a second connecting member (28), the distance between the third and fourth pivots (27 and 29) being substantially the same as the distance between the third pivot (27) and any of the first and second pivots ( 1 8 and 21 ) of said one first link ( 1 6), the second pivot (21 ) of the first link (1 6) to which the second link (26) is pivotally connected and the fourth pivot (29) being positioned at substantially the same horizontal level, and said first and second connecting members 20 and 28) being moveable horizontally in relation to each other.

2. A frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein the supporting member (23) is adapted to support a table top (10). 7

3. A frame structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second link (26) is pivotally connected to the uppermost (1 6) of the parallel first links (1 6, 1 7).

4. A frame structure according to any of the claims 1 -3, wherein the first connecting member (20) is horizontally moveable in relation to the supporting member (23), the second connecting member (28) being rigidly connected to the supporting member (23).

5. A frame structure according to claim 4, wherein the first connecting member (20) is moveable along a horizontally extending guide path defined at the bottom surface of the supporting member (23).

6. A frame structure according to any of the claims 1 -5, wherein the supporting member (23) is movable vertically from a lower position (Fig. 1 ) in which the second link (26) extends downwardly from the third pivot (27), via a position (Fig. 2) in which the second link (26) and the first link (1 6) pivotally connected therewith coextend horizontally, and into an upper position (Fig. 3) in which the second link (26) extends upwardly from the third pivot (27).

7. A frame structure according to any of the claims 1 -6, further comprising weight balancing means for at least partly balancing the weight of the supporting member and possible parts and objects supported thereby.

8. A frame structure according to claim 7, wherein the weight balancing means comprise a gas spring arranged between the stationary frame member ( 1 3) and one of the parallel first links (1 6, 1 7).

9. A table frame comprising a pair of transversely spaced frame structures (1 2) according to any of the claims 1 -9, the centres of said one first link (1 6) of the transversely spaced frame structures being interconnected by a connecting bar 8

(25), and each of the second links (26) of the frame structures (1 2) being pivotally connected to the connecting bar at said third pivot (27).

1 0. A table frame according to claim 9, wherein the stationary frame parts ( 1 3) of the transversely spaced frame structures (1 2) are rigidly interconnected.