Height-adjustable frame with foldable leg elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10349737-B2
Application number	US-201715786780-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2017
Priority date	Oct 20, 2016
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A height-adjustable frame for furniture, such as a worktable or desk, is disclosed. The frame includes first and second height-adjustable leg elements pivotable about first and second pivot axes between folded-out and folded-in positions. A rotatable shaft is arranged between the first and second leg elements to synchronously drive first and second height adjustment arrangements. The shaft includes a middle section and first and second end sections pivotable towards the middle section about respective first and second joint axes. A locking structure is included that locks the first and second leg elements in a folded-out position, when the first and second joint axes do not run approximately parallel to the first and second pivot axes, and that unlocks when the first and second joint axes run approximately parallel to the first and second pivot axes to permit the first and second leg elements to pivot into a folded-in position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A height-adjustable frame for a furniture such as a table comprising:
a first leg element with a first support section, a first foot section and a first height adjustment component, the first height adjustment component being attached to the first foot section;
a second leg element with a second support section, a second foot section and a second height adjustment component, the second height adjustment component being attached to the second foot section;
wherein the first support section and the first foot section are movable relative to each other when the first height adjustment component is actuated by a first height adjustment element,
wherein the second support section and the second foot section are movable relative to each other when the second height adjustment component is actuated by a second height adjustment element, and
wherein the first leg element is configured to be pivoted about a first pivot axis between a folded-out position and a folded-in position and the second leg element is configured to be pivoted about a second pivot axis between a folded-out position and a folded-in position;

a rotatable shaft disposed between the first leg element and the second leg element, the rotatable shaft being operably coupled to the first and second height adjustment components of the first and second leg elements by the first and second height adjustment elements to synchronously actuate the first height adjustment component and the second height adjustment component when the shaft is rotated,
wherein the rotatable shaft has a middle section, a first end section and a second end section, the first end section being connected via a first joint to the middle section to be pivotable towards the middle section about a first joint axis, and the second end section being connected via a second joint to the middle section to be pivotable towards the middle section about a second joint axis; and

a locking structure that is configured to selectively lock and unlock the first and second leg elements,
wherein the locking structure is configured to lock the first leg element and the second leg element in its folded-out position when the first and second joint axes of the first and second joints of the shaft do not run at least approximately parallel to the first and second pivot axes of the first and second leg elements or, in particular do not at least approximately coincide, and
wherein the locking structure is configured to unlock when the first and second joint axes of the first and second joints of the shaft run at least approximately parallel to the first and second pivot axes of the first and second leg elements and, in particular, at least approximately coincide, so that each of the first leg element and the second leg element is free to be pivoted into its folded-in position.

2. The frame according to claim 1 , further comprising a support element on which the first leg element is mounted pivotably about the first pivot axis, and on which the second leg element is mounted pivotably about the second pivot axis.

3. The frame according to claim 2 , wherein the support element has a transverse section on which the first leg element and the second leg element are mounted spaced apart from each other.

4. The frame according to claim 3 , wherein the shaft is disposed in an interior space of the transverse section of the support element.

5. The frame according to claim 1 , wherein the first leg element and the second leg element are respectively pivotable between the folded-in position and the folded-out position independently of each other.

6. The frame according to claim 1 , wherein the locking structure comprises a blocking component that can be actuated between a locking position, in which it blocks the pivoting of the first leg element and the second leg element, and a release position, in which the first leg element and the second leg element are released for pivoting.

7. The frame according to claim 6 , wherein the blocking component of the locking structure is actuatable by rotation of the shaft between the locking position and the release position.

8. The frame according to claim 7 , wherein the locking structure comprises an eccentric provided on the shaft, the eccentric being disposed to engage the blocking structure such that the blocking structure is moved between the locking position and the release position, depending on a rotation position of the shaft.

9. The frame according to claim 6 , further comprising a support element on which the first leg element is mounted pivotably about the first pivot axis, and on which the second leg element is mounted pivotably about the second pivot axis, wherein the blocking component of the locking structure comprises
a first locking pin which protrudes in the locking position into a first recess, the first recess being comprised of openings or depressions on the first leg element and the support element that are aligned when the first leg element is in its fold-out position, and
a second locking pin which protrudes in the locking position into a second recess, the second recess being comprised of openings or depressions on the second leg element and the support element that are aligned when the second leg element is in its fold-out position.

10. The frame according to claim 9 , wherein the first locking pin and the second locking pin are pressed in the locking position into the first recess and the second recess, and in the release position are moved out of the first recess and the second recess by respective eccentrics mounted on the rotatable shaft.

11. The frame according to claim 6 , wherein the blocking component of the locking structure is resiliently pretensioned in a direction of the release position.

12. The frame according to claim 1 , wherein the first joint is a first universal joint forming the first joint axis, the first universal joint being provided between the middle section of the shaft and the first end section of the shaft, and the second joint is a second universal joint forming the second joint axis, the second universal joint being provided between the middle section of the shaft and the second end section of the shaft.

13. The frame according to claim 1 , wherein the middle section of the shaft, the first end section of the shaft and the second end section of the shaft are each rod-shaped.

14. The frame according to claim 1 , further comprising a winder element operatively coupled with the shaft such that the shaft is put into rotation by rotating the winder element to thereby synchronously actuate the first height adjustment component and the second height adjustment component.

15. A table comprising:
a height-adjustable frame according to claim 1 ; and
a worktop or table top which is mounted on the frame.

16. The frame according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second height adjustment elements comprises a gear and each of the first and second height adjustment components comprises a rack or a spindle.

17. The frame according to claim 1 , wherein the locking structure is first and second locking structures that are configured to selectively lock and unlock the first and second leg elements, respectively,
wherein the first and second locking structures are configured to lock the first leg element and the second leg element in its respective folded-out position when the first and second joint axes of the first and second joints of the shaft do not run at least approximately parallel to the first and second pivot axes of the first and second leg elements or, in particular

Assignees

• Vitra Patente Ag

Inventors

• Keller Stefan
• Schütt Helmut

Classifications

• A47B9/00

  Tables with tops of variable height ({lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02}; seats with variable height A47C3/20) · CPC title

• A47B3/08

  with legs pivoted to top or underframe · CPC title

• A47B3/0812 Primary

  the resilient force of the elastic locking means acting in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the leg · CPC title

• A47B9/14 Primary

  with pins coacting with holes · CPC title

• A47B2003/0824

  the table legs being individually collapsible against the underside of the table top · CPC title