(19)
(11) EP 0 473 632 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
13.07.1994 Bulletin 1994/28

(21) Application number: 90907192.0

(22) Date of filing: 10.05.1990
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5B25H 1/14
(86) International application number:
PCT/DK9000/119
(87) International publication number:
WO 9013/398 (15.11.1990 Gazette 1990/26)

(54)

WORKING TABLE

ARBEITSTISCH

ETABLI


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE FR GB LI NL SE

(30) Priority: 11.05.1989 DK 2303/89

(43) Date of publication of application:
11.03.1992 Bulletin 1992/11

(73) Proprietor: Sibola A/S
7120 Vejle Oest (DK)

(72) Inventor:
  • MICHAELSEN, Jens, Voldby
    DK-7100 Vejle (DK)

(74) Representative: Raffnsöe, Knud Rosenstand et al
Internationalt Patent-Bureau, 23 Höje Taastrup Boulevard
2630 Taastrup
2630 Taastrup (DK)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A- 0 172 049
DE-A- 2 522 150
DE-C- 142 745
CH-A- 558 708
DE-A- 3 630 628
   
       
    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).


    Description


    [0001] This invention relates to a working table with a table top the height and angle adjustment of which can be changed in that the supporting structure of the table top comprises two parallel telescopic legs (1, 2) and an element (3) having adjustable length and being operatively connected with the legs, electrically driven adjusting means being coupled with said legs and said element.

    [0002] Tables of this kind are known, e.g. from DE-A-3630628 for which the intention of the adjustability of the height and angle of the table top is to provide the user with a possibility of varying the strain of shoulders and back in the course of a working period by changing the height and inclination so that the strain is divided as equally as possible among the parts of the body mentioned.

    [0003] In the prior art working tables where change of the height or angle setting requires an operation by the user it is a problem, however, that the user forgets - or has not got the time to or knowledge of - making the necessary adjustments. As a matter of fact in connection with packing tables or cutting tables for use in slaughter houses or mounting tables examples have become known of users who have already contracted permanent work related injuries at the age of 40 or 50 because they have strained their shoulders or their back too one-sidedly.

    [0004] The object of the invention is to remedy this seriuos problem, and for this purpose the working table is, according to the invention, characterized in that a preferably electrical or electronic control device is provided for automatic control of said adjusting means for effecting a continous or intermittent operation-free variation of the height and/or angle adjustment.

    [0005] As a consequence of this automatic or operation-free variation of the height and angle setting of the table top, the strain of the shoulders and the back of the user will also vary, so that these parts of the body are relieved and thus spared periodically, which is particularly beneficial to the durability and well-being of the joints.

    [0006] An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the two telescopic legs are pivotably connected with the table top of its front edge and that the element having adjustable length is a third telescopic leg which is pivotably connected with the rear edge of the table top in such a way that the height and angle adjustments can be varied independantly of each other.

    [0007] The preferable electrical or electronic control device can be designed according to principles known per se corresponding to what is used e.g. in connection with robot control.

    [0008] In the following the invention is described in further detail, e.g. on the basis of an embodiment as shown in the drawing, Fig. 1 and 2 of which show a front view of a working table with three table legs and a side view, respectively.

    [0009] In Fig. 1 the two front table legs are designated 1 and 2, and the rear table leg is designated 3. The table top is designated 4.

    [0010] The height of table top 4 can be adjusted by means of the table legs 1 and 2 and the inclination of the table top can be adjusted by means of the leg 3, as the length of all three table legs 1-3, which are arranged telescopically in tubes 5-7, can be adjusted. They can be adjusted independently of each other, the legs 1 and 2 on one side, and the leg 3 on the other, so that the height setting of the table can be varied without influencing the angle setting, and vice versa. It is of course also possible to design the structure in such a way that the outer telescope tubes 5-7 are displaceable relative to the internal legs 1-3.

    [0011] The length of the legs can be varied continuously or intermittently during the entire working period in order to obtain the wanted variation of the strain of the back and shoulders of the user.

    [0012] The control of the variation of the table top settings 4 can take place in various ways, e.g. by means of electronic devices, which can be programmed to control the variation dependent on the personal needs of the user.


    Claims

    1. A working table with a table top (4) the height and angle adjustment of which can be changed in that the supporting structure of the table top comprises two parallel telescopic legs (1, 2) and an element (3) having adjustable length and being operatively connected with the legs, electrically driven adjusting means being coupled with said legs and said element characterized in that a preferably electrical or electronic control device is provided for automatic control of said adjusting means for effecting a continuous or intermittent operation-free variation of the height and/or angle adjustment.
     
    2. A working table as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the two telescopic legs (1, 2) are pivotably connected with the table top (4) of its front edge and that the element (3) having adjustable length is a third telescopic leg which is pivotably connected with the rear edge of the table top in such a way that the height and angle adjustments can be varied independently of each other.
     
    3. A working table as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said control device is programmable for adjusting variation parameters for the height and angle adjustments in dependance of the user's needs.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Arbeitstisch mit einer Tischplatte (4), deren Höhen- und Winkeleinstellung geändert werden können, indem die Unterstützungskonstruktion der Tischplatte zwei parallele teleskopische Beine (1, 2), ein mit den Beinen wirksam verbundenes Element (3) mit einstellbarer Länge, und mit den Beinen und erwähntem Element gekoppelte elektrisch angetriebene Einstellmittel umfaßt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine vorzugsweise elektrische oder elektronische Steuervorrichtung für automatische Steuerung der erwähnten Einstellmittel vorgesehen ist, um eine kontinuierte oder intermittierende bedienungsfreie Variation der Höhen- und/oder Winkeleinstellung auszuwirken.
     
    2. Arbeitstisch nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die zwei teleskopischen Beine (1, 2) mit der Tischplatte (4) bei ihrer Vorderkante drehbar verbunden sind, und daß das Element (3) mit einstellbarer Länge ein drittes teleskopisches Bein ist, das mit der Hinterkante der Tischplatte derart verbunden ist, daß die Höhen- und Winkeleinstellungen unabhängig von einander variiert werden können.
     
    3. Arbeitstisch nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß erwähnte Steuervorrichtung für die Einstellung der Variationsparameter für Höhen- und Winkelregelung abhängig von dem Bedarf des Benutzers programmierbar ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Etabli ayant un dessus de table dont l'ajustement de la hauteur et de l'angle peut être changé du fait que la structure portante du dessus de table comporte deux pieds parallèles et télescopiques (1, 2), et un élément (3) de longueur ajustable et opérativement lié aux pieds, et des moyens d'ajustage mus électriquement et accouplés auxdits pieds et audit élément, caractérisé en ce qu'un dispositif de commande préférablement électrique ou électronique est prévue pour une commande automatique desdits moyens d'ajustage afin d'effectuer, sans opération, une variation continue ou intermittente de l'ajustement de la hauteur et de l'angle.
     
    2. Etabli selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les deux pieds télescopiques (1, 2) sont reliés à pivotement avec le dessus de table (4) à son bord avant et que l'élément (3) de longueur ajustable est un troisième pied télescopique qui est relié à pivotement avec le bord arrière du dessus de table, si bien que les ajustements de la hauteur et de l'angle peuvent être variés indépendamment l'un de l'autre.
     
    3. Etabli selon les revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif de commande est programmable pour l'ajustement de paramètres de variation d'ajustage de la hauteur et de l'angle selon les besoins de l'utilisateur.
     




    Drawing