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(11) | EP 0 988 814 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Height-adjustable leg for supporting a table top or a like object Höheneinstellbares Bein für eine Tischplatte oder für ein ähnliches Objekt Pied réglable en hauteur pour plan de travail ou similaire |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The invention relates to a height-adjustable leg for supporting a table top or a like object as described in the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Such a leg is known by WO-A-972904, in particular by the figures 6 and 7 of this. These figures show a leg from which the inner leg portion is flexible and is clamped when it is mounted in the outer leg portion such that the slot, the opposite edges of which are provided with a toothing, is created and achieves its correct width. The knob housing is provided with a part which is received in the aperture present in the wall of the outer leg portion and with a part which is pressed against the inner surface of said wall by means of resilient protrusions which rest against the inner surface of the wall of the inner leg portion.
[0003] By said clamping effect and said protrusions moving the leg portions in respect of each other will not be easy. To overcome tilting of the knob housing two springs are mounted one above the other and guides for the toothed wedge are provided to prevent rotating of said wedge. Said guides are received between a pair of longitudinal lists on the inner surface of said inner leg portion.
[0005] The object of the invention is to remove these disadvantages and this is obtained by applying the features as indicated in the characterizing portion of claim 1.
[0006] The knob housing is fixed on the inner surface of the outer leg portion, which in particular will be done by bonding. Due to this, the exterior surface of the leg portion is not adversely affected.
[0007] Preferably, both leg portions will be manufactured by extrusion pressing, such as from aluminium or a like material, for example.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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 view of the inner leg portion of Fig. 1.
[0012] Fig. 1 shows part of a leg 1 consisting of the outer leg portion 2 and the inner leg portion 3.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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 engage certain recesses. The leg portions 2 and 3 will then be locked in relation to each other.
[0015] 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 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.
[0016] 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.
1. Height-adjustable leg (1) for supporting a table top or a like object, said leg comprising
an outer leg portion (2) in which an inner leg portion (3) is telescopically slidable,
means being present to lock the leg portions in respect to each other, said means
comprising a knob housing (5) engaging the inner surface (4) of said outer leg portion
(2) at a fixed place and accomodating a knob (6) which by means of a spring (9) is
pressed towards said inner surface (4) where an aperture (10) in the outer leg portion
(2) is present, which knob (6) can be pressed inwardly and is provided with a part
for cooperating with recesses (16) provided in opposite edges (15) of a slot (14)
in said inner leg portion (3), characterized in that said knob housing (5) is fixed to the inner surface (4) of said outer leg portion
(2), said knob (6) being received in the aperture (10) in the outer leg portion (2)
in such a way that the outer surface (11) of it coincides with the outer surface (12)
of the outer leg portion (2), said knob (6) being connected to a pin (7) provided
with a circular head (8) having a larger diameter than said pin (7) and located outside
the knob housing (5) and being pressed against this by said spring (9) being provided
on said pin (7), in which position said head (8) is located in two opposite recesses
(16) with a corresponding shape and located in a partition (13) in the interior of
the inner leg portion (3), through which slot the pin (7) can pass when the knob (6)
is pressed inwards so that the head (8) of the pin (7) will disengage said 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 the knob housing (5) is fixed on the inner surface (4) of the outer leg portion (2)
by means of bonding.
3. Leg according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a small clearance is present between the walls of said leg portions (2,3), a number
of spaced apart sliding blocks (20) of plastic bridging said clearance and being mounted
on the outer wall (19) of the inner leg portion (3).
1. Höhenverstellbares Tischbein (1) zur Unterstützung einer Tischplatte oder eines ähnlichen
Objekts, wobei das genannte Tischbein aus einem Außenteil des Beins (2) besteht, in
das ein Innenteil des Beins (3) teleskopisch hineingeschoben werden kann und an dem
Vorrichtungen vorhanden sind, mit denen die Beinteile gegeneinander verriegelt werden
können; zu diesen Vorrichtungen gehört ein Knopfgehäuse (5), das an einem bestimmten
Platz in der Innenfläche (4) des genannten Außenteil des Beins (2) einrastet und in
dem ein Knopf (6) angeordnet ist, der mittels einer Feder (9) gegen die genannte Innenfläche
(4) gedrückt wird, an der eine Öffnung (10) in dem Außenteil des Beins (2) vorgesehen
ist. Dieser Knopf (6) kann nach innen gedrückt werden und ist mit einem Teil ausgestattet,
das Vertiefungen (16) in den gegenüberliegenden Kanten (15) einer Rille (14) in dem
genannten Innenteils des Beins (3) entspricht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das genannte Knopfgehäuse (5) an der Innenfläche (4) des genannten Außenteils des
Bein (2) befestigt ist, wobei der genannte Knopf (6) in der Öffnung (10) im Außenteil
des Beins (2) so aufgenommen wird, dass seine Außenfläche (11) mit der Außenfläche
(12) des Aüßenteils des Beins (2) übereinstimmt; der besagte Knopf (6) ist mit einem
Stift (7) mit einem runden Kopf (8) verbunden, der einen größeren Durchmesser als
der genannte Stift (7) hat, außerhalb des Knopfgehäuses (5) angeordnet ist und durch
die genannte Feder (9) auf dem genannten Stift (7) gegen das Knopfgehäuse (5) gedrückt
wird. In dieser Position liegt der genannte Kopf (8) in zwei gegenüberliegenden, entsprechend
geformten Vertiefungen (16) in einem Abschnitt (13) des Inneren des Innenteils des
Beins (3); dabei kann der Stift (7) durch diese Rille gleiten, wenn der Knopf (6)
nach innen gedrückt wird, so dass der Kopf (8) des Stifts (7) aus den genannten Vertiefungen
(16) frei gesetzt wird, so dass die Beinteile (2, 3) dann gegeneinander verschoben
werden können.
2. Tischbein gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Knopfgehäuse (5) mit einem Haftmittel an der Innenfläche (4) des Außenteils des
Beins (2) befestigt ist.
3. Tischbein gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zwischen den Wänden der genannten Beinteile (2, 3) ein kleiner Zwischenraum vorgesehen
ist, der durch eine Reihe von im Abstand angeordneten, verschiebbaren Blöcken (20)
aus Plastik überbrückt wird, die auf der Außenwand (19) des Innenteils des Beins (3)
angebracht sind.
1. Pied à réglage en hauteur (1) pour supporter un plateau de table ou un objet similaire,
ledit pied comprenant une partie de pied extérieure (2) dans laquelle une partie de
pied intérieure (3) peut coulisser de manière télescopique, des moyens étant présents
pour verrouiller les parties de pied l'une par rapport à l'autre, lesdits moyens comprenant
un logement de bouton (5) s'engageant avec la surface intérieure (4) de ladite partie
de pied extérieure (2) à un endroit fixé et recevant un bouton (6) qui, au moyen d'un
ressort (9), est pressé contre ladite surface intérieure (4) lorsqu'une ouverture
(10) de la partie de pied extérieure (2) est présente, lequel bouton (6) peut être
pressé vers l'intérieur et est muni d'une partie agencée pour coopérer avec des cavités
(16) prévues dans des bords opposés (15) d'une fente (14) de ladite partie de pied
intérieure (3), caractérisé en ce que ledit logement de bouton (5) est fixé à la surface intérieure (4) de ladite partie
de pied extérieure (2), ledit bouton (6) étant reçu dans l'ouverture (10) de la partie
de pied extérieure (2) de telle manière que la surface extérieure (11) de ce dernier
coïncide avec la surface extérieure (12) de la partie de pied extérieure (2), ledit
bouton (6) étant relié à une broche (7) munie d'une tête circulaire (8) ayant un diamètre
plus large que ladite broche (7) et située à l'extérieur du logement de bouton (5)
et étant pressée contre celui-ci par ledit ressort (9), qui est prévu sur ladite broche
(7), dans laquelle position ladite tête (8) est située dans deux cavités opposées
(16) avec une forme correspondante et située dans une cloison (13) à l'intérieur de
la partie de pied intérieure (3), à travers laquelle fente la broche (7) peut passer
lorsque le bouton (6) est pressé vers l'intérieur se sorte que la tête (8) de la broche
(7) se dégage desdites cavités (16) et que les parties de pied (2, 3) peuvent coulisser
l'une par rapport à l'autre.
2. Pied selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le logement de bouton (5) est fixé sur la surface intérieure (4) de la partie de
pied extérieure (2) au moyen d'un collage.
3. Pied selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'un faible jeu est présent entre les parois desdites parties de pied (2, 3), un certain
nombre de patins de coulissement espacés (20) en matière plastique comblant ledit
jeu et étant montés sur la paroi extérieure (19) de la partie de pied intérieure (3).