Supports – Stand – Understructure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-14
2001-09-04
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Stand
Understructure
C074S089170, C248S188500, C297S362000, C297S362110, C297S330000, C297S344120, C297S344180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283422
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a drive for mechanically displacing and positioning two profile parts relative to each other. The invention also relates to a piece of furniture incorporating such a drive and to a profile part for assembly with the drive. Finally, the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a profile part according to the invention.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many solutions are known for height adjustment of objects, such as for instance tables, beds, machines and so on. Many of the applied constructions comprise one or more telescopic legs, the length of which is adjustable using for instance a screw spindle or toothed belt. A drawback of the existing mechanized drives for adjustment of the telescopic legs is that these are complex and therefore costly. An additional drawback is that the existing drives are generally bulky.
The present invention has for its object to provide a drive for displacing and positioning two profile parts relative to each other with which inter alia telescopic legs are adjustable without the above stated drawbacks of the prior art. The invention also has for its object to provide a relatively low-noise drive. In addition, the invention has the object of providing a piece of furniture provided with at least one such drive, a profile part for assembly with the drive and a method for manufacturing a profile part with which a compact, inexpensive and low-noise application of the drive is possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides for this purpose a drive for mechanically displacing and positioning two profile parts relative to each other, comprising: at least one tooth path connected to a first profile part, at least one toothed wheel connected rotatably to a second profile part for engaging on the tooth path, drive means and a transmission mechanism for transmitting to the toothed wheel the power produced by the drive means, wherein the transmission mechanism is provided with at least one right-angled transmission. The drive preferably comprises at least two tooth paths and at least two toothed wheels, wherein the toothed wheels are placed substantially parallel to each other, are rotatable in opposing directions and on opposite longitudinal sides of the profile part engage on respective tooth paths of the first profile part. A tooth path connected longitudinally to the profile part is also described as a gear rack. Through the engagement of the toothed wheel on the tooth path the drive provides rigidity to an assembly of profile parts in which the drive is incorporated. This extra rigidity is obtained particularly when the drive engages on a tooth path on both sides of the second profile part. In addition, the transmission can take a compact form; long elements such as screw spindle or drive belt are after all unnecessary. The component which is longer, the tooth path, is already integrated into the first profile part. An additional advantage thereof is that the length range over which adjustment is possible is limited to only a small extent by the construction height of the drive. The use of the right-angled transmission in the transmission mechanism has the advantage that a load on the transmission mechanism is taken up without this resulting in loading of the drive means. The transmission can hereby also be compact and inexpensive; separate measures for fixation of the transmission are unnecessary without this resulting in a considerable limitation of the efficiency of the transmission. A consequence hereof is that the drive means can also be kept compact, this furthermore being advantageous from considerations of cost and in respect of the noise produced by the drive.
The drive means, the transmission mechanism and the toothed wheel are preferably located substantially within the outer periphery of the second profile part and the second profile part is preferably also telescopically movable in and out of the first profile part. The drive can thus be fitted entirely into a profile part. In addition to efficient use of the generally unused inside of a profile, this also has the advantage of resulting in a further sound-damping on the outside of the profile part. This advantage is further reinforced when the second profile part is enclosed by the first profile part.
In another preferred embodiment the first profile part is provided with at least two tooth paths which are located substantially opposite and parallel to each other. This enables the drive to engage on the first profile at mutually opposite positions. This provides additional rigidity and results in a limited load on toothed wheels and tooth paths.
The drive means can comprise an electric motor which is widely available at limited cost. It is however also possible to provide the drive with pneumatic drive means, hydraulic drive means etc., subject to the use of the drive. For operation of the drive means these are provided with operating means, for instance in the form of a control panel with or without wiring for use remotely of the drive. The transmission mechanism is preferably provided with a reductor formed by tooth wheels and chains so that small electric motors with a relatively high rotation speed can be applied for adjustment of heavily loaded profile parts.
The invention also provides a piece of furniture provided with at least one leg comprising two telescopically co-acting profile parts provided with a drive as described above. In a preferred application the piece of furniture has at least two length-adjustable legs, wherein the drives of the individual legs are synchronized. There is a particular need for adjustability of furniture legs. For ergonomic and aesthetic reasons among others, little space is available for placing of a drive. Particularly, though not exclusively, envisaged is the use in office furniture such as tables, desks, chairs and so on.
The piece of furniture is preferably provided with a drive which engages on the first profile part such that the toothed wheels are placed under bias between two tooth paths of the first profile part. This results in the absence of permanent play between first profile part and drive. The drive can also be connected in simple manner without play to the second profile part. This increases the rigidity of an assembly of first profile part, drive and second profile part.
The invention also provides a profile part for assembly with the drive as described, provided with at least one longitudinally arranged tooth path, which tooth path is pressed without machining into the profile. The profile part is preferably provided with two internal tooth paths located substantially opposite and parallel to each other. Such a profile part can be manufactured from aluminium or an aluminium alloy. It is found to be financially advantageous to press or roll a tooth path into the profile part. This deformation can be performed cold or hot depending on the material used. While the quality of the pressed tooth path will generally be inferior to that of a machined (for instance mortised or milled) tooth path, in the application according to the invention a deformed tooth path already provides sufficient functionality.
Finally, the invention provides a method for manufacturing a profile part as described in the foregoing by the successive steps of: A) extruding the profile, B) pressing at least one tooth path without machining into the profile, and C) curing the profile with tooth path. The tooth path is herein preferably pressed into the profile in a single production cycle. A tooth path can thus be arranged in the profile in very economic manner.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3673877 (1972-07-01), Lebre
patent: 4254928 (1981-03-01), Huempfner
patent: 4627591 (1986-12-01), Heckmann
patent: 4757725 (1988-07-01), Beugin
patent: 5140760 (1992-08-01), Mannbro
patent: 5234187 (1993-08-01), Teppo et al.
patent: 5836205 (1998-11-01), Meyer
patent: 6070840 (2000-07-01), Kelley et al.
patent: 3719012 (1988-12-01), None
patent: 4417337 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 426837A1 (19
Actuall B.V.
King Anita
Sy Holly N.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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