Telescopic column with internal cable

Abstract

The present application relates to a telescopic column (1) comprising a lower part (10) having a first end constituting a first end (4) of the telescopic column, an upper part (20) telescopically moveable relative to the lower part and having a first end constituting a second end (5) of the telescopic column opposite said first end of the telescopic column, a drive mechanism (2) configured to provide telescopic movement between the lower part and the upper part, an cable (30) extending inside the telescopic column, and a cable guiding means (50) coupled to a tensioning device (52) arranged at the second end of the telescopic column. The tensioning device is configured to control the position of the cable guiding means in the telescopic column based on the telescopic extension of the column, and the cable extends through the column via the cable guiding means. The present application further relates to an adjustable furniture (100) comprising at least one telescopic column.

Claims

1. A telescopic column for adjustable furniture comprising a lower part having a first end constituting a first end of the telescopic column, an upper part telescopically moveable relative to the lower part and having a first end constituting a second end of the telescopic column opposite said first end of the telescopic column, a drive mechanism configured to provide telescopic movement between the lower part and the upper part, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a spindle, a cable extending inside the telescopic column, and a cable guiding means coupled to a tensioning device arranged at the second end of the telescopic column, wherein the tensioning device is configured to control the position of the cable guiding means in the telescopic column such that the cable guiding means is configured to be moved up or down inside the upper part by means of the tensioning device when the telescopic column is retracted or expanded, wherein the telescopic column further comprises a sheath through which the cable guiding means is moveable and wherein the sheath extends in parallel with the spindle but is separated therefrom, and wherein the cable enters the telescopic column at the first end of the column and extends through the column via the cable guiding means and inside the sheath and exits the column at the second end of the column.

2. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the cable guiding means comprises a pulley.

3. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the cable guiding means is suspended by means of a wire to the tensioning device.

4. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device is configured to provide a force on the cable guiding means directed towards the second end of the telescopic column.

5. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device comprises a spring.

6. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the cable extends from said first end of the telescopic column to the cable guiding means and further to a second end of the upper part, said second end facing the lower part.

7. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the cable is axially fixed at one end relative to the second end of the telescopic column and at another end relative to first end of the telescopic column.

8. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises an insulated tube.

9. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the cable extends from the first end of the telescopic column into the sheath to the cable guiding means, further through the sheath towards a second end of the upper part, which second end facing the lower part, and out of the sheath to further extend towards the second end of the telescopic column.

10. The telescopic column according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device is arranged outside of either of the upper part and the lower part.

11. The telescopic column according to claim 10, wherein the tensioning device is coupled to the cable guiding means via a wire.

12. An adjustable furniture comprising a telescopic column according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will in the following be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c are perspective views of a telescopic column according to embodiments of the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are perspective view of a telescopic column according to embodiments of the invention;

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b are cross-sectional views of a telescopic column according to embodiments of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a telescopic column according to an embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIGS. 5a and 5b are cross-sectional views of a telescopic column according to embodiments of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a telescopic column according to an embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIGS. 7a and 7b are perspective views of a telescopic column according to embodiments of the invention; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an adjustable furniture according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(10) The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

(11) FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a telescopic column 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The column 1 comprises a lower tube 10 and an upper tube 20 telescopically moveable relative to each other. At a first end 4 of the column 1 is a foot 3 arranged. At a second end 5 of the column 1 there is a drive housing 40. Through the column 1, a cable 30 extends. The cable 30 has a first end 37 entering the column 1 at the first end 4. At the first end 4 the cable 30 is fixed relative to the lower tube 10. The cable 30 exits the column 1 at the second end 5 through the drive housing 40 to a second end 36. The second end 36 of the cable is fixed relative to the second end 5 as it exits the column 1.

(12) FIG. 1c further illustrate an embodiment of the telescopic column 1 comprising three tubes. Between the lower tube 10 and the upper tube 20 is a middle tube 90 arranged. The cable 30 extends through all three tubes 10, 90, 20 on its way from the first end 4 towards the second end 5 of the column 1.

(13) FIGS. 2a and 2b further illustrate the column 1 in retracted and expanded state, wherein the tubes 10, 20 have been remove to view the parts inside. Inside the column 1 there is arranged a drive mechanism 2 attached to a drive unit 7 in the drive housing 40. The drive mechanism 2 comprises a nut member 9 and a spindle 8, rotatable by means of the drive unit 7.

(14) Inside the lower tube 10, the cable 30 extends from an attachment point 13 at the first end 4 of the column 1, towards the second end 5 of the column 1. When the column 1 is in its retracted state, a majority of the upper tube 20 is positioned inside the lower tube 10. The cable 30 thereby extends also inside the upper tube 10 towards the second end 5. Inside the upper tube 20, a cable guiding means is arranged. The cable guiding means is in the illustrated embodiment provided as a pulley 50 suspended in a wire 54. The wire is attached to a tensioning device 52 arranged at the second end 5. As seen in e.g. FIG. 2a, the tensioning device 52 is arranged in the drive housing 40. The interior of the column 1, having two or three tubes, is further illustrated in cross-sectional views in FIGS. 3-5. The cable 30 is arranged on the pulley 50 to be suspended thereon such that the cable 30 makes a U-turn around the pulley 50. The cable 30 extends further back towards the first end 4 until it reaches a bottom end 22 of the upper tube 20. At the bottom end 22 the cable has a turning point 34 at which it turns to extend further again towards the second end 5. When the cable 30 reaches the second end 5 it exits the upper tube 20 at a top end 21 of the upper tube 20. The cable 30 further extends into the drive housing 40. In the illustrated embodiments the cable 30 then proceeds out of the drive housing 40 to a second end 36. The second end 36 may be configured to be connected to a power unit (not shown) for the furniture which the column 1 is a part of. From the turning point 34 to the second end 5 of the column 1 an upper portion 32 of the cable 30 is stretched and fixed relative to the upper tube 20 and the drive housing 40.

(15) The tensioning device 52 is arranged in the drive housing 40. The tensioning device 52 may alternatively be arranged outside the drive housing 40 at the second end 5. The wire 54 extends from the tensioning device 52 into the upper tube 20 to suspend the pulley 50. The length of the wire depends on the expansion of the column 1, i.e. the relative telescopic positions of the lower and upper tubes 10, 20, and in the three tube embodiment also the middle tube 90. In the most retracted position of the column 1, the pulley 50 is located close to the second end 5 of the column, i.e. at the upper end 21 of the upper tube 20. When the column 1 is in its most expanded position, the wire 54 is extended such that the pulley 50 is located closer to the second end 22 of the upper tube 20. The pulley 50 is pulled towards the second end 22 of the upper tube 20 by the cable 30 when the column 1 expands from a retracted position towards the most expanded position. In the illustrated embodiments, a wire protection 56 is provided at the point the wire 54 exits the drive housing 40 and enters the upper tube 20. The wire 54 extends through a hole and the wire protection 56 is configured to protect the wire 54 as it moves back and forth through the hole.

(16) The tensioning device 52 is spring-loaded to apply a force on the pulley, via the wire 54, in a direction A towards the tensioning device, i.e. towards the second end 5 of the column 1. The tensioning device 52 comprises a spring, preferably a clock spring, which applies the force pulling the pulley 50. When the column 1 expands, the cable 30 provides a force on the pulley 50 towards the first end 4 of the column, in direction B, that exceeds the force in direction A that the tensioning device 40 applies to the pulley 50. The wire 54 thereby extends such that the pulley 50 moves inside the upper tube 20 in direction B relative to the upper tube 20. When the column 1 retracts, the force of the spring-loaded tensioning device 52 retracts the wire 54 such that the pulley 50 moves inside the upper tube 20 in direction A. The cable 30 is thereby, along its extension from the first end 4 towards the second end 5 via the pulley 50, always in a stretched state, which prevents damage to the cable 30 due to interference with other parts of the column, such as the spindle 8 of the drive mechanism 2.

(17) FIGS. 2c and 2d further illustrate the interior of three tube embodiment of the telescopic column 1. Besides the above described features of the two tube embodiment, the nut member 9 of the drive mechanism 2 in the three tube column comprises a first nut member 9a and a second nut member 9b. The first nut member 9a is configured to be attached to the middle tube 90, and provide the telescopic movement thereof. The second nut member 9b is configured to be attached to the lower tube 10, and provide the telescopic movement thereof. The second nut member 9b is attached to the foot 3 of the column 1. The two nut members 9a, 9b together with the spindle 8 are configured to provide the telescopic expansion and retraction of the column when the spindle 8 is rotated by the drive unit 7. The first nut member 9a may internally comprise a second spindle (not shown) configured to interact with the second nut member 9b.

(18) In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, the column 1 further comprises a sheath 60 arranged inside the upper tube 20. The sheath 60 is separated from the drive mechanism 2. The sheath 60 is further provided as a tube with open ends 61, 62. The pulley 50 is arranged inside the sheath 60 and arranged to move inside the sheath 60 during expansion and retraction of the column 1. The cable 30 extending from the first end 4 towards the pulley 50 enters into the sheath 60 at the end 62 of the sheath being adjacent the second end 22 of the upper tube 20. After having extended via the pulley 50, the cable 30 exits the sheath 60 at the same end 62. After turning at the turning point 34, the cable 30 extends in its upper portion 32 to the second end 5 and the drive housing 40. By moving inside the sheath 60, the pulley 50, being suspended in the wire 54, is prevented from interfering with the drive mechanism 2 and especially the spindle 8. The wire 54 extends from the tensioning device 52 in the drive housing 40 into the sheath 60 at its end 61 in the upper tube 20.

(19) At the turning point 34, the cable 30 could be attached or fixed to the end 62 of the sheath 60 in order to have the upper portion 32 of the cable 30 fixedly stretched.

(20) The sheath 60 is fixed to the upper tube 20 or to the drive housing 40, or both.

(21) FIGS. 4, 5b and 7b illustrate the three tube embodiment of the telescopic column 1 in cross section. Besides the above described for the two tube embodiment, the three tube embodiment of the column 1 comprises, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5b, a bearing 92, such as a sliding bearing, at a lower end of the middle tube 90. The bearing 92 provides a stable positioning and movement of the middle tube 90 relative to the lower tube 10. At the fully retracted position of the column 1, as seen in FIG. 4, the bearing 92 is located at the first end 4 of the column 1. The bearing 92 is provided with a bushing 94 for the cable 30. The cable 30 thereby extends through the bushing 94 on its way towards the second end 5 of the column 1.

(22) FIG. 8 illustrates an adjustable furniture as a height-adjustable table 100 comprising a table top 80 and two telescopic columns 1, 1. One of the telescopic columns 1 is provided with an internally extending cable 30 as presented above. The cable 30 extends from the telescopic column 1 to a control unit 70 which powers and controls the operation of the two columns 1, 1.

(23) In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.