[0001] The invention relates to a height-adjustable leg for supporting a table top or a
like object, said leg comprising two telescopically slidable leg portions and means
for locking them in relation to each other.
[0002] Such legs are known in many embodiments. For example, a screwed rod mounted in the
interior of the leg is employed, which causes the leg portions to slide in relation
to each other when rotating. However, operating means protruding outwards, thus being
visible, are necessary there. Possibly, an electric motor mounted in the leg could
be employed for rotating the screwed rod so that only electric wires extend outward
from said leg. Then, means providing for that the legs of a table can be moved across
an equal distance must be present. Thus, a continuously variable adjustment of the
legs can be obtained. However, in many cases, this is unnecessary and naturally such
a system involves considerable costs.
[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a height-adjustable leg being of simple
construction and its operating means being hardly visible from the outside so that
an esthetical entity is obtained.
[0004] According to the invention, this is achieved in that a knob housing is fixed on the
inner surface of the outer leg portion, which housing accommodates a knob which is
pressed out through an aperture in the outer leg portion by a spring, in such a way
that the outer surface of the knob coincides with the outer surface of the leg portion,
said knob being connected to a pin provided with a head having a larger diameter located
outside the knob housing, said head being pressed against the knob housing by said
spring and being located in a recess, a number of said recesses being arranged in
a row extending in longitudinal direction of said leg, in the opposite edges of a
slot being located in a partition in the interior of the inner leg portion, through
which slot the pin can pass when the knob is pressed inwards so that the head of the
pin will end up beyond the recesses and the leg portions can be slid in relation to
each other.
[0005] Thus, only the knob is visible from the outside, although it is in one plane with
the outer surface of the outer leg portion so that it does not disturb the esthetic
appearance of the leg.
[0006] It will be obvious that a slot must be provided in the wall of the inner leg portion
in order to be able to pass the knob housing. However, said slot and the knob in the
outer leg portion can be positioned such, that the slot in the inner leg portion,
will not be visible in the positions of the leg portions in relation to each other.
[0007] The knob housing can be fixed on the inner surface of the outer leg portion. However,
in particular this will be done by bonding. Due to this, the exterior surface of the
leg portion is not adversely affected.
[0008] Preferably, both leg portions will be manufactured by extrusion pressing, such as
from aluminium or a like material, for example.
[0009] Then, an interior wall in the inner leg portion can be obtained in a simple way.
In this wall, the slot having the recesses can be mounted in particular after removing
a part of the outer wall of the leg portion.
[0010] In order to enable a smooth sliding movement of the leg portions in relation to each
other, there will be a small clearance between the walls of the leg portions and a
number of spaced apart sliding blocks of plastic, bridging the clearance, will be
mounted on the outer walls of the inner leg portion.
[0011] As a result of this, only the plastic sliding blocks will be in engagement with the
inner wall of the outer leg portion and both leg portions will be able to slide easily
in relation to each other.
[0012] The invention is explained further by way of an embodiment, shown in the drawing,
in which:
Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section across a part of a leg according to the present
invention;
Fig. 2 shows a cross-section across the leg according to the line II - II of Fig.
1 on an enlarged scale; and
Fig. 3 shows a side via of the inner leg portion as seen in the direction of the arrow
III of Fig. 1.
[0013] Fig. 1 shows part of a leg 1 consisting of the outer leg portion 2 and the inner
leg portion 3.
[0014] A knob housing 5 is fixed on the inner surface 4 of the outer leg portion 2 by means
of bonding. The knob 6 being connected to a pin 7 being provided with a head 8 is
located within the knob housing 5. The head 8 is pressed against the knob housing
5 by means of a spring 9. There, the knob 6 is located in an aperture 10 in the wall
of the leg portion 2 and the outer surface 11 of the knob 6 will be in one plane with
the outer surface 12 of the leg portion 2.
[0015] In the inner leg portion 3, there is a partition 13 which is connected to the walls
of said leg portion 3 by means of parts not further indicated. A slot 14 having its
edges provided with recesses 16 is arranged in said partition 13. The head 8 connected
to the knob 6 can be received in two recesses 16 opposite each other. When the knob
6 is pushed sufficiently, the head 8 can be brought beyond the recesses 16 and the
inner leg portion 3 can be slid in relation to the outer leg portion 2 since the pin
7 connected to the knob 6 can move through the slot 14 and into the partition 13.
When the desired position of the leg portions 2 and 3 in relation to each other is
reached, the knob 6 can be released and the head 8 will fall into certain recesses.
The leg portions 2 and 3 will then be locked in relation to each other.
[0016] In order to enable sliding movement of the leg portions 2 and 3 in relation to each
other, a slot 18 is provided in the wall 17 of the inner leg portion 3 so that said
leg portion 3 can pass in the knob housing 5. Fig. 1 illustrates the position in which
the leg portions have been slid apart across the greatest distance. As it appears,
in any position of the leg portions 2 and 3, the slot 18 in the leg portion 3 will
be situated within the leg portion 2 thus will not be visible.
[0017] Obviously, the shape of the cross-section of the leg portions 2 and 3 can be changed.
In order to enable a smooth sliding movement of the portions in relation to each other,
a number of plastic sliding blocks 20 bridging the clearance between both portions
2 and 3 have been mounted on the outer surface 19 of the inner leg portion 3. Owing
to this, the portions 2 and 3 will not be able to perform any transverse movement
in relation to each other.
[0018] The upper end of the leg portion 2 will, in a way not described further, be provided
with means for securing it to a table top or a like object. The lower end of the leg
portion 3 can be provided with a closing member 21 so that the leg can be slid easily.
[0019] It will be obvious, that only one possible embodiment of an adjustable leg according
to the invention has been illustrated in the drawing and described above and that
many changes can be made without leaving the inventive idea, as it has been indicated
in the appended claims.
1. Height-adjustable leg (1) for supporting a table top or a like object, said leg comprising
two telescopically slidable leg portions (2, 3) and means for locking them in relation
to each other, characterized in that a knob housing (5) is fixed on the inner surface
(4) of the outer leg portion (2), which housing accommodates a knob (6) which is pressed
out through an aperture (10) in the outer leg portion (2) by means of a spring (9),
in such a way that the outer surface (11) of the knob (6) coincides with the outer
surface (12) of the leg portion (2), said knob (6) being connected to a pin (7) provided
with a head (8) having a larger diameter located outside the knob housing (5), said
head (8) being pressed against the knob housing (5) by said spring (9) and being located
in a recess (16), a number of said recesses being arranged in a row extending in longitudinal
direction of said leg, in the opposite edges (15) of a slot (14) being located in
a partition (13) in the interior of the inner leg portion (3), through which slot
(14) the pin (7) can pass when the knob (6) is pressed inwards so that the head (8)
of the pin (7) will end up beyond the recesses (16) and the leg portions (2, 3) can
be slid in relation to each other.
2. Leg according to claim 1, characterized in that a slot (18) is provided in the wall
(17) of the inner leg portion (3), said slot (18) and knob (6) in the outer leg (2)
being positioned in such a way, that the slot (18) will not be visible in any position
of the leg portions (2, 3) in relation to each other.
3. Leg according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knob housing (5) is fixed
on the inner surface (4) of the outer leg portion (2) by means of bonding.
4. Leg according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both leg portions
(2, 3) are produced by extrusion pressing, such as from aluminium or a like material,
for example.
5. Leg according to claim 4, characterized in that there will be a small clearance between
the walls of the leg portions (2, 3) and that a number of spaced apart sliding blocks
(20) of plastic, bridging said clearance, have been mounted on the outer walls (19)
of the inner leg portion (3).