Supports – Stand – Standard type
Patent
1985-06-24
1987-04-07
Machado, Reinaldo P.
Supports
Stand
Standard type
248422, 108147, F16M 1100
Patent
active
046554262
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an adjustable leg for supporting a table top whereby the height of the table top can be raised or lowered. The expression table top is intended to include any substantially horizontal surface which can support objects such as various sorts of table, television tables, desk tops and other surfaces for supporting for example typewriters and computer terminals.
Tables and desks particular for use with computer terminals and other equipment which includes keyboards or other devices which require close attention and manual operation need to be adjusted acurately to the required height of the individual using the equipment. In view of the large increase in usage of of such equipment there has developed a particular demand for tables of this type with the need for a rapid and accurate adjustment of the height particularly of the table itself which may or may not carry associated equipment attached to the table.
Various prior arrangements have been proposed for adjustable table tops generally comprising a single leg which has a screw or rack which can be raised or lowered by operation of a suitable actuating mechanism.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 944,560 provides a height adjustment mechanism in the form of an extension portion carrying a rack which is raised and lowered relative to a leg by a pinion and a manually rotatable handle carried on the leg.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,783,661 and 3,030,073 provide an externally screw threaded extension portion with a pedestal on which is mounted a hand wheel which surrounds the screw threaded portion and can be manually turned to raise the screw threaded portion to raise the table top.
However these arrangements are complex and therefore expensive to manufacture and are visually unappealing. Furthermore in view of the large number of parts involved they tend to be somewhat unstable and prone to wear between the various parts whereby the desired smooth action and accurate control can be lost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved leg of this general type for raising a table top which is manufactured simply from a limited number of parts which are stably and accurately maintained in position and therefore provide an accurate and smooth movement.
According to the invention, therefore, there is provided a leg for supporting a table top the height of which can be varied comprising a support tube for mounting substantially vertically and defining an outer surface of the leg, an externally screw threaded rod mounted within the support tube for supporting on an upper end thereof the table top and arranged so as to be axially movable from a retracted position at least partially within the tube to an extended position to raise said table top, an opening in said tube extending over a part only of the periphery and length thereof, a toothed gear member having peripherally mounted axially extended teeth and mounted within said tube so as to surround said rod such that the teeth thereof over a part of the periphery thereof are exposed at said opening, said gear member including an internal screw thread for cooperating with said externally screw threaded rod, means for driving said exposed teeth for rotating said gear member and collar means within the tube surrounding the rod and including means for preventing rotational movement of said collar relative to said tube and relative to said rod while allowing said axial movement and arranged to retain said gear member against axial movement whereby said rotation thereof acts to move said rod axially to said retracted and extended positions.
According to a particularly preferred arrangement the toothed gear member provides a first portion and a second portion axially spaced from the first both of which present teeth at the opening with one of the portions being arranged for cooperation with a ratchet drive device and therefore has generally rectangular teeth and a second portion is arranged for cooperation with a gear wheel and the
REFERENCES:
patent: 1324721 (1919-12-01), Benedict
patent: 3927863 (1975-12-01), Polsky
patent: 4493469 (1985-01-01), Hofobaugh
patent: 4519236 (1985-05-01), Celette
patent: 4552403 (1985-11-01), Yindra
Herr Richard W.
von Dulong F. Olaf
Chin-Shue Alvin
Eutec Ltd.
Machado Reinaldo P.
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