TELESCOPIC COLUMN FOR A HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE TABLE AND HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE TABLE HAVING SUCH A TELESCOPIC COLUMN

Abstract

A telescopic column for a height-adjustable table comprises a cylindrical outer column, a cylindrical inner column at least partially arranged within the outer column, several balls, and a tube-shaped ball cage retaining the balls at positions relatively determined with respect to one another. The outer column comprises, along its longitudinal direction on its inside, an outer column running surface section configured such that the balls roll over thereon, the inner column comprises, along its longitudinal direction on its outer cross-section, an inner column running surface section configured such that the balls roll over thereon, and the inner column and the outer column are configured such that the balls, during an adjustment of a length of the telescopic column, roll over in an almost backlash-free manner on the outer column running surface section and the inner column running surface section in a predefined range of motion of the balls in order to guide the inner column in the outer column.

Claims

1. A telescopic column for a height-adjustable table, wherein the telescopic column comprises: a cylindrical outer column, a cylindrical inner column at least partially arranged within the outer column, several balls, and a tube-shaped ball cage configured to retain the balls (4) at predetermined positions, wherein the outer column, along its longitudinal direction on its inside, comprises an outer column running surface section configured such that the balls roll over thereon, the inner column, along its longitudinal direction on its outer cross-section, comprises an inner column running surface section configured such that the balls roll over thereon, and the inner column and the outer column are configured such that the balls roll over in an at least almost backlash-free manner on the outer column running surface section and the inner column running surface section during an adjustment of a length of the telescopic column in a predefined range of motion of the balls in order to guide the inner column in the outer column.

2. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the outer column running surface section comprises, along the longitudinal direction of the outer column and distributed on its circumference, at least two longitudinal grooves respectively configured such that the balls can roll over in the longitudinal grooves during the adjustment in the range of motion.

3. The telescopic column according to claim 2, wherein a shape and dimensions of the longitudinal grooves within the range of motion of the balls as well as a diameter of the balls are configured such that, during the adjustment of the length of the telescopic column, one of the balls contacts one of the longitudinal grooves at two points.

4. The telescopic column according to claim 2, wherein the inner column comprises at least one guiding element configured such that it engages into one of the longitudinal grooves in an at least almost backlash-free manner during the adjustment of the length of the telescopic column along the adjustment stroke of the telescopic column in order to align the inner column with respect to the outer column.

5. The telescopic column according to claim 4, wherein several guiding elements configured such that they engage into at least one of the longitudinal grooves in an at least almost backlash-free manner during the adjustment along the adjustment stroke are provided.

6. The telescopic column according to claim 5, wherein the several guiding elements are integrally connected to one another and they are configured to form a guiding ring.

7. The telescopic column according to claim 6, wherein the inner column comprises a recess, the guiding ring comprises a radial protrusion, and the recess and the radial protrusion are configured such that they engage into one another.

8. The telescopic column according to claim 7, wherein the guiding ring comprises an at least partially circumferential, radially protruding rim, and the guiding elements are integrated in the rim.

9. The telescopic column according to claim 8, wherein the the telescopic column is configured such that the rim of the guiding ring abuts against an end face of the inner column, and the radial protrusion comprises a snap-in nose configured such that it engages with the recess of the inner column such that the guiding ring is positively retained in the longitudinal direction of the inner column by means of the rim and the snap-in nose.

10. The telescopic column according to claim 9, wherein the inner column comprises a further recess, the guiding ring comprises a further radial protrusion additionally to the radial protrusion, and the further recess and the further radial protrusion are configured such that they engage into one another in order to positively align the guiding ring with respect to the inner column.

11. The telescopic column according to claim 8, wherein the telescopic column is configured such that the ball cage can abut against the rim when the length of the telescopic column is increased.

12. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the telescopic column further comprises a tube-shaped cover element provided separately or, preferably, combined with the ball cage, and which cover element is configured to cover the inner column running surface section in an extracted state of the telescopic column.

13. The telescopic column according to claim 12, wherein the cover element and the ball cage are formed as being an integral part.

14. The telescopic column according to claim 13, wherein the cover element and the ball cage are made of the same material.

15. A height-adjustable table comprising a telescopic column according to claim 1.

16. The telescopic column according to claim 3, wherein the inner column comprises at least one guiding element configured such that it engages into one of the longitudinal grooves in an at least almost backlash-free manner during the adjustment of the length of the telescopic column along the adjustment stroke of the telescopic column in order to align the inner column with respect to the outer column.

17. The telescopic column according to claim 16, wherein several guiding elements configured such that they engage into at least one of the longitudinal grooves in an at least almost backlash-free manner during the adjustment along the adjustment stroke are provided.

18. The telescopic column according to claim 17, wherein the several guiding elements are integrally connected to one another and they are configured to form a guiding ring.

19. The telescopic column according to claim 18, wherein the inner column comprises a recess, the guiding ring comprises a radial protrusion, and the recess and the radial protrusion are configured such that they engage into one another.

20. The telescopic column according to claim 19, wherein the guiding ring comprises an at least partially circumferential, radially protruding rim, and the guiding elements are integrated in the rim.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Subsequently, the invention is elucidated by means of embodiments referring to the attached drawings.

[0042] In particular,

[0043] FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional illustration of a telescopic column according to the invention in an extracted state;

[0044] FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional illustration of the telescopic column according to the invention in a retracted state;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a view of a section of a circumference of the telescopic column;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a guiding ring;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a lower section of the inner column with the mounted guiding ring; and

[0048] FIG. 5 shows an integral part having a ball cage and a tube-shaped cover element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a telescopic column 1 according to the invention for a height-adjustable table (not shown). In FIG. 1A, a cross-sectional illustration of the telescopic column 1 in an extracted state is shown and, in FIG. 1B, a cross-sectional illustration of the telescopic column 1 in a retracted state is shown.

[0050] The telescopic column 1 comprises a cylindrical outer column 2 and a cylindrical inner column 3 which is at least partially arranged within the outer column 2. The outer column 2 and the inner column 3 respectively have a circular outer cross-section in which, as the case may be, orifices can be provided. In the inner column 3, a lockable gas spring is provided as drive 20. In alternative embodiments, other kinds of drives, e.g., an electric linear drive, can be provided.

[0051] Further, the telescopic column 1 comprises several balls 4. Due to clarity, not all of the balls 4 are provided with a reference sign.

[0052] Moreover, the telescopic column 1 comprises a tube-shaped ball cage 5 as being an integral element 17 which is integrally formed with a tube-shaped cover element 6. The ball cage 5 retains the balls 4 at positions predetermined relatively with respect to one another. Basically the ball cage 5 retains the balls 4 at a predefined distance in a longitudinal direction of the telescopic column 1. This distance has to be maintained in order to maintain a sufficient supporting distance between the balls 4, wherein a stiffness of the telescopic column 1 is ensured. Moreover, the balls 4 are retained at predefined positions on the circumference of the tube-shaped ball cage 4 in order to roll over in running surface sections described below. The running surface sections are predefined ranges of motion of the balls 4 of the outer column 2 and of the inner column 3 where the balls 4 roll over during the motion of the inner column 3 with respect to the outer column 2 from the extracted state to the retracted state and back.

[0053] Except from that, in FIG. 1, it can be seen that, upon a displacement stroke S of the inner column 3 from the retracted state to the extracted state of the telescopic column 1, the integral element 17 travels a distance S′ which theoretically is the half of the displacement stroke S. The distance S′ corresponds to a range of motion in which the balls 4 are moved on the outer column 2 and the inner column 3 in order to guide the inner column 3 in the outer column 2 for the displacement stroke S.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a section of a circumference of the telescopic column 1. Thereby, a section of a circumference of the outer column 2 and of the inner column 3 are illustrated. Further, a section of a circumference of the tube-shaped ball cage 5 is illustrated, wherein, it is also shown that one of the balls 4 is retained at a predetermined position.

[0055] In this illustration, it can also be seen that, along its longitudinal direction on its inside, the outer column 2 has an outer column running surface section 7 in the form of a longitudinal groove. Since only a portion of the circumference of the telescopic column 1 is shown here, only one longitudinal groove can be seen. Actually, in this embodiment, sixteen longitudinal grooves are provided. Here, the longitudinal groove has a shape of almost a segment of a circle, wherein a diameter of the segment of the circle is different from a diameter of the ball 4, in particular, it is smaller, so that the ball 4 contacts the longitudinal groove at two contact points P1, P2 and rolls over on the outer column running surface section 7 in the range of motion of the ball 4 during an adjustment of the length of the telescopic column 1. In alternative embodiments, the longitudinal groove has such cross-section, namely a cross-section having a larger diameter, that the ball 4 contacts the longitudinal groove only at one contact point, or such that a line contact exists, namely, when the diameters are equal. In further alternative embodiments, the longitudinal groove can also have another cross-section than the cross-section of the segment of the circle, wherein, nevertheless, the ball 4 contacts the longitudinal groove at one contact point or at two contact points. In yet further alternative embodiments, not sixteen longitudinal grooves are provided as being the outer column running surface section 7 but another suitable quantity, wherein at least two longitudinal grooves are provided.

[0056] Further, it can be seen in this illustration that, along its longitudinal direction on its outer cross-section, the inner column 3 comprises an inner column running surface section 8 which is formed by the outer surface of the inner column 3. The shown ball 4 contacts the inner column running surface section 8 at one point P3 and rolls over thereon in a backlash-free manner in the range of motion of the shown ball 4 during the adjustment of the length of the telescopic column 1. The characteristic that the balls 4 roll over in a backlash-free manner on the inner column running surface section 8 and also on the above-mentioned outer column running surface section 7 means that, within the tolerances, the balls 4 maximally have a backlash which cannot or can hardly be recognized during moving a tabletop of the height-adjustable table without jamming of the balls 4 between the outer column running surface section 7 and the inner column running surface 8. Thereto, the outer column running surface section 7 and the inner column running surface section 8 comprise a surface, the roughness thereof is such low that the balls can smoothly roll over thereon, wherein a hardness of the surface is chosen such that the balls do not dent, e.g., when a rotary moment due to a load on the tabletop is exerted, however, slight wear traces of the balls 4 can be visible after a certain time of operation. Furthermore, the outer column running surface section 7 and the inner column running surface section 8 are aligned in parallel in a tolerance range which is chosen such that, during the adjustment of the length of the telescopic column 1, a force onto the balls in an unloaded state is almost equal.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a guiding ring 9 having twelve guiding elements 10, wherein, due to clarity, not all of the guiding elements 10 are provided with a reference sign. In alternative embodiments, another quantity of guiding elements 10 is provided, wherein at least one guiding element 10 has to be provided.

[0058] The guiding elements 10 engage into one of the longitudinal grooves in an almost backlash-free manner during the adjustment along the adjustment stroke of the telescopic column 1 in order to align the inner column 3 with respect to the outer column 2. The longitudinal grooves have to have form features which ensure the almost backlash-free characteristic of the guiding elements 10 in the region in which the guiding elements 10 move. Here, the almost backlash-free characteristic refers to a backlash in the circumferential direction of the telescopic column 1 since the alignment is ensured by a contact of the side surfaces of the guiding elements 10 with flanks of the longitudinal grooves. Also in this case, the almost backlash-free characteristic means that maximally such a backlash exists that twisting of the inner column 3 with respect to the outer column 2 is scarcely perceptible and without jamming of the guiding elements 10 in the longitudinal grooves.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 3, the guiding elements 10 are integrally connected with one another and form the guiding ring 9. In alternative embodiments, in particular, if only one guiding element 10 is provided, the guiding element 10 is directly connected to the inner column 3.

[0060] The guiding ring 9 comprises four radial protrusions 11 respectively provided with a snap-in nose 12, the function of which is described below. Moreover, the guiding ring 9 comprises four further radial protrusions 13. In alternative embodiments, another suitable quantity of the radial protrusions 11 and of the further radial protrusions 13 is provided, wherein the radial protrusions 11 and the further radial protrusions 13 are not imperatively provided if their function described below can be fulfilled in another manner.

[0061] Finally, the guiding ring 9 comprises a circumferential, radially protruding rim 14. On the rim 14, the guiding elements 10 are provided on its circumference. In alternative embodiments, the rim 14 is not provided in a circumferential manner but only in angle sections on the circumference of the guiding ring 9 or no rim 14 is provided and, as the case may be, the guiding elements 10 takeover the function described later of the rim 14.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a lower section of the inner column 3 with a mounted guiding ring 9.

[0063] Distributed along its circumference, the inner column 3 comprises four recesses 15. The radial protrusions 11 of the guiding ring 9 engage into the recesses 15. By the engaging of the radial protrusions 11, in particular, by the engaging of the snap-in noses 12, into the recesses 15, the guiding ring 9 is fastened to the inner column 3. The fastening is particularly done such that the rim 14 of the guiding ring 9 abuts against one end face of the inner column 3 in the axial direction of the inner column 3 and the snap-in nose 12 of the radial protrusion 11 comes in engagement with the recess 15 such that the guiding ring 9 is positively retained in the longitudinal direction of the inner column 3 by means of the rim 14 and the snap-in nose 12.

[0064] Further, distributed along its circumference, the inner column 3 comprises four further recesses 16. The further radial protrusions 13 of the guiding ring 9, also shown in FIG. 3, engage with the further recesses 16 in order to positively align the guiding ring 9 with respect to the inner column 3.

[0065] In alternative embodiments, another quantity of the recesses 15, the further recesses 16, the radial protrusions 11, and the further radial protrusions 13 is provided, wherein at least one of the recesses 15 and the further recesses 16 and one of the radial protrusions 11 and the further radial protrusions 16 is respectively provided. In the shown embodiment, the functions of the alignment of the guiding ring 9 with respect to the inner column 3 and the retaining of the guiding ring 9 on the inner column 3 is respectively divided to the combinations “radial protrusions 11/recesses 15” and “further radial protrusions 13/further recesses 16”. In alternative embodiments, these functions can, for example, also be realized by the combination “radial protrusions 11/recesses 15” or, further alternatively, in another manner so that the radial protrusions 11, the further radial protrusions 13, the recesses 15, and the further recesses 16 are not provided.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows the integral part 17 comprising the tube-shaped cover element 18 integrally connected with the ball cage 5. The tube-shaped cover element 18 has an inner diameter which is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the inner column 3 so that it can move with respect to the inner column 3. Further, the tube-shaped cover element 18 has a length so that, in an extracted state of the telescopic column 1, the cover element 18 covers at least the inner column running surface section 8, therefore, the predetermined range of motion of the balls 4. For the integral part 17, the ball cage 5 and the tube-shaped cover element 18 are made of the same material, particularly of metal, more particular, of a plastic-coated aluminum continuous casting, in one piece. In alternative embodiments, the ball cage 5 and the tube-shaped cover element 18 can be made of different materials which, then, are combined to the integral part 17, for example, welded or bonded. In further alternative embodiments, the ball cage 5 and the tube-shaped cover element 18 are separate parts which are then combined to one another by, e.g., clipping on. In other alternative embodiments, the integral part is not covered with plastic but it is entirely made of plastic.

[0067] The portion of the integral part 17 forming of the ball cage 5 comprises a tube-shaped cross-section. Further, it comprises orifices 19 in which the balls 4 are arranged such that they project on the inside as well as on the outer side of the ball cage 5. By the orifices 19, the balls 5 are retained at a defined distance in a longitudinal direction of the tube-shaped ball cage. Furthermore, the positions of the orifices 19 are chosen such that the balls 4 roll over on the outer column running surface section 7 and the inner column running surface section 8 in the mounted state of the ball cage 5.

[0068] As already can be seen in FIG. 2, the ball cage 5 has an inner diameter which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the inner column 3 and an outer diameter which is smaller than an inner longitudinal hole of the outer column 2 and it is arranged in a gap between the outer column 2 and the inner column 3 so that it can move between the inner column and the outer column. These features are also valid for the column-shaped cover element 18. Since, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the outer diameter of the protruding rim 14 of the guiding ring 9 is larger than the outer diameter of the inner column 3, the guiding ring 9 projects into the gap shown in FIG. 2.

[0069] In use, the telescopic column 1 is moved from the retracted state (FIG. 1B) to the extracted state (FIG. 1A) by means of the drive 20. During the relative motion of the inner column 3 with respect to the outer column 2, the inner column 3 is guided in the outer column 2 in a backlash-free manner by the balls 4. By the rolling over of the balls 4 on the outer column running surface section 7 and the inner column running surface section 8, also the balls 4 move in the direction of motion of the inner column 3, however, due to the simultaneous rolling over of the balls 4 on the outer column running surface section 7 and the inner column running surface section 8, only with half the speed of the inner column 3 with respect to the outer column 2 and about the distance S′, namely, half of the adjustment stroke S. Since, thereby, also the ball cage 5 and, therefore, the integral element 17 with also the cover element 18 are moved in the same direction as the inner column 3, nevertheless, half of the adjustment stroke S, on the one hand, the integral part 17 guides the balls with its ball cage 5 and retains them at a defined distance and, on the other hand, the integral part 17 with the cover element 18 covers the inner surface running surface section 8.

[0070] During the relative motion of the inner column 3 with respect to the outer column 2 from the extracted state (FIG. 1A) to the retracted state (FIG. 1B), the balls 4 then move together with the ball cage 5, therefore, with the integral element 17 again at half the speed about the half of the adjustment stroke S in the direction towards the retracted state of the telescopic column 1.

[0071] When, due to the slip of the balls 4 caused, for example, by the gravity force, the balls 4 together with the ball cage 5, therefore, with the integral element 17, do not travel the half of the adjustment stroke S, there is the risk that also the cover element 18 does not travel the necessary stroke so that the inner column running surface section 8 is not completely covered. This is prevented thereby that the ball cage 5 and, therefore, also the integral element 17 with the cover element 18 can abut against the radial rim 14 of the guiding ring 9 fastened to the inner column 3 when the length of the telescopic column 1 is increased and, therefore, the cover element 18 is forcedly brought into the necessary position so that the inner column running surface section 8 is completely covered.

[0072] Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain features and embodiments, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The description and the drawings are accordingly to be considered merely as an illustration of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and are intended to cover all of the modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents which fall within the scope of the present invention.