Sliding-guide element and tabletop-fastening system for fastening a tabletop in a displaceable manner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9445663-B2
Application number	US-201314431637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2013
Priority date	Nov 8, 2012
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A sliding guide element for moveable fastening a tabletop on bearing struts of a table frame comprises a main body configured to fasten to the underside of a tabletop, comprising a guiding portion configured to insert into a guide slot in bearing struts and moveable in the guide slot wherein the guide portion includes lateral guide surfaces for lateral guidance in the guide slot. The sliding guide element further includes resilient snap-fit limbs arranged on mutually opposed sides of the main body of the sliding guide element and moveable between an under-engagement position and project laterally over the guide portion to engage under a wall of the bearing struts, and an insertion position in which the snap-fit limbs guide through the guide slot in the bearing struts. The sliding guide elements still further includes a resiliently flexible end stop damper on at least one end region of the sliding-guide element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sliding-guide element for moveably fastening a tabletop on bearing struts of a table frame, comprising:
a main body configured to fasten to the underside of a tabletop, the main body comprising a guide portion configured to insert into a guide slot in bearing struts and moveable in the guide slot, wherein the guide portion includes lateral guide surfaces for lateral guidance in the guide slot; and
resilient snap-fit limbs arranged on mutually opposed sides of the main body of the sliding-guide element moveable between an under-engagement position in which the snap-fit limbs project laterally over the guide portion to engage under a wall of the bearing struts, and an insertion position in which the snap-fit limbs guide through the guide slot in the bearing struts;
wherein the sliding-guide element includes a resiliently flexible end stop damper on at least one end region of the sliding-guide element.

2. The sliding-guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the main body of the sliding-guide element comprises a support portion positioned on the wall of the bearing struts and projecting laterally over the guide portion.

3. The sliding-guide element according to claim 2 , wherein the snap-fit limbs of the sliding-guide element include a guide web that engages in the guide slot determines the lateral position of the snap-fit limbs relative to the main body when in the under-engagement position.

4. The sliding-guide element according to claim 3 , wherein the snap-fit limbs extend obliquely upwards from a lower region of the main body.

5. The sliding-guide element according to claim 4 , wherein the snap-fit limbs are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sliding-guide element between a front fastening portion and a rear fastening portion ( 24 ) of the sliding-guide element.

6. The sliding-guide element according to claim 5 , wherein the front and rear fastening portions of the sliding-guide element are interconnected by a connecting web that includes a smaller width than the fastening portions thereby allowing swiveling in the snap-fit limbs.

7. The sliding-guide element according to claim 6 , wherein the end stop damper includes a resiliently flexible end region of the main body.

8. The sliding-guide element according to claim 7 , wherein the resiliently flexible end region of the main body includes a flexible end wall of the main body that extends over an adjoining cavity in the main body.

9. The sliding-guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the snap-fit limbs of the sliding-guide element include a guide web that engages in the guide slot determines the lateral position of the snap-fit limbs relative to the main body when in the under-engagement position.

10. The sliding-guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the snap-fit limbs extend obliquely upwards from a lower region of the main body.

11. The sliding-guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the snap-fit limbs are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sliding-guide element between a front fastening portion and a rear fastening portion ( 24 ) of the sliding-guide element.

12. The sliding-guide element according to claim 11 , wherein the front and rear fastening portions of the sliding-guide element are interconnected by a connecting web that includes a smaller width than the fastening portions thereby allowing swiveling in the snap-fit limbs.

13. The sliding-guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the end stop damper includes a resiliently flexible end region of the main body.

14. The sliding-guide element according to claim 13 , wherein the resiliently flexible end region of the main body includes a flexible end wall of the main body that extends over an adjoining cavity in the main body.

15. A tabletop fastening system for moveably fastening a tabletop on bearing struts of a table frame, comprising:
a main body configured to fasten to the underside of a tabletop, the main body comprising a guide portion configured to insert into a guide slot in the bearing struts and moveable in the guide slot, wherein the guide portion includes lateral guide surfaces for lateral guidance in the guide slot; and
resilient snap-fit limbs arranged on mutually opposed sides of the main body and that are moveable between an under-engagement position in which the snap-fit limbs project laterally over the guide portion to engage under a wall of the bearing struts, and an insertion position in which the snap-fit limbs guide through the guide slot in the bearing struts;
wherein the sliding-guide element includes a resiliently flexible end stop damper on at least one end region of the sliding-guide element;
wherein the bearing struts include on the upper side thereof the guide slots through which the guide portions of the sliding-guide elements are guided with a small lateral clearance and through which the snap-fit limbs are guided; and
wherein snap-fit limbs engage behind the wall of the bearing struts when in the under-engagement position, such that the tabletop is prevented from lifting off the table frame.

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Rutz Josef

Classifications

• A47B13/081 Primary

  Movable, extending, sliding table tops · CPC title

• A47B2021/062

  the worksurface moving forward to expose the wire gutter, e.g. up and forward · CPC title

• F16C2226/74

  with snap-fit, e.g. by clips · CPC title

• A47B21/06

  characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables · CPC title

• F16C29/02

  Sliding-contact bearings · CPC title