Lifting structure with adjustable bearing capacity
09857020 ยท 2018-01-02
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F16M11/30
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16M11/046
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16M11/18
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16M2200/048
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16M11/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16M2200/047
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F16M11/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16M11/18
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16M11/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16M11/30
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A lifting structure with adjustable bearing capacity is provided. The lifting structure comprises a main body, a carrier, a main constant force spring, and at least one auxiliary constant force spring. The main body comprises at least one slide and at least one actuating module. The main constant force spring connects to the carrier. The actuating module is able to be selectively switched between a non-actuating position and an actuating position. When the carrier is driven from the top of the lifting structure along the slide, at least the main constant force spring provides a constant force to the carrier.
Claims
1. A lifting structure with adjustable bearing capacity for supporting a variety of displays, comprising: a main body comprising at least one slide; a carrier connected to the slide and being able to move along the slide for supporting the display; a main constant force spring connected to the carrier for constantly providing a main elastic force; at least one linkage module including a column body, an upper element, and a lower element, wherein the column body passes through the upper element and has two end portions in which one is connected to the carrier and the other one is connected to the lower element; and at least one auxiliary constant force spring comprising a main portion and a fixed end for providing an auxiliary elastic force, wherein the fixed end and the main portion of the auxiliary constant force spring are secured to the upper element and the lower element respectively, and the fixed end is driven by the upper element to move along the column body; wherein the main body further comprises at least one actuating module being able to be selectively switched between a non-actuating position and an actuating position; and both the main portion and the fixed end of the auxiliary constant force spring simultaneously move along with the carrier when the actuating module is at the non-actuating position so that the auxiliary constant force spring fails to provide the auxiliary elastic force to the carrier; and wherein only the main portion of the auxiliary constant force spring simultaneously moves along with the carrier and the fixed end of the auxiliary constant force spring is abutted to the main body when the actuating module is at the actuating position so that the auxiliary constant force spring provides the auxiliary elastic force to the carrier.
2. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a releasing module which includes a releasing element and a first return spring connected to the releasing element, wherein the first return spring pushes the releasing element in a first direction; and wherein the actuating module drives the releasing module to overcome an elastic force provided by the first return spring and to move along the first direction when the actuating module switches from the non-actuating position to the actuating position.
3. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuating module comprises an actuating block and a second return spring connected to the actuating block to push the actuating block in a second direction; and wherein the actuating block is able to move along the second direction and selectively abuts against the releasing element or the upper element when the actuating block is driven to overcome an elastic force provided by the second return spring.
4. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the upper element, the lower element, and the auxiliary constant force spring simultaneously move along with the column body in which the auxiliary constant force spring maintains in an original state when the actuating block is at the non-actuating position and the column body is driven by the carrier which is originally located at a top portion of the lifting structure; and wherein the upper element is restricted by the actuating block, and the lower element and the main portion of the auxiliary constant force spring simultaneously move along with the column body when the actuating block drives the releasing element to overcome the elastic force provided by the first return spring and moves to the actuating position, and the column body is driven by the carrier which is originally located at the top portion of the lifting structure, so that the elastic force provided by the auxiliary constant force spring is transferred to the carrier.
5. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein an upper protrusion extends from the upper element, a release protrusion extends from the releasing element, and a first protrusion and a second protrusion extend from the actuating block, in which the first protrusion and the upper protrusion are able to relatively abut against or slide against each other, and the second protrusion and the release protrusion are able to relatively abut against or slide against each other.
6. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first protrusion has a first propped surface and a first inclined surface; the second protrusion has a second propped surface and a second inclined surface; the upper protrusion has a third propped surface and a third inclined surface; and the release protrusion has a fourth propped surface and a fourth inclined surface.
7. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the actuating block is at the non-actuating position, the upper protrusion and the first protrusion are not overlapped in the first direction.
8. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second inclined surface and the fourth inclined surface slide relatively against each other so as to drive the release protrusion to overcome the elastic force provided by the first return spring when the actuating block is driven from the non-actuating position to the actuating position; once the second protrusion and the release protrusion are no longer overlapped in the first direction, the releasing element is returned by the first return spring, and the second propped surface and the fourth propped surface abut against each other due to the second return spring.
9. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first propped surface and the third propped surface contact and abut against each other to restrict the upper element when the actuating block is at the actuating position.
10. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the actuating block is driven by the second return spring to return to the non-actuating position when an external force is applied to the releasing element to overcome the elastic force provided by the first return spring and to drive the releasing element to move to an extent that the release protrusion and the second protrusion are no longer overlapped in the second direction.
11. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the actuating block is at the non-actuating position and the carrier departs from the top portion of the lifting structure to drive the upper element, the lower element, and the auxiliary constant force spring to move simultaneously along with the column body in advance, and when the actuating block is subsequently driven to switch from the non-actuating position to the actuating position and the column body subsequently drives the upper element, the lower element, and the auxiliary constant force spring to return, the first inclined surface and the third inclined surface contact with and relatively slide against each other so as to drive the actuating block to overcome the elastic force provided by the second return spring until the first protrusion and the upper protrusion are no longer overlapped in the first direction, and then the second return spring drives the actuating block returning back to the actuating position.
12. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the releasing element further comprises a releasing button, so that the releasing element is able to move along the first direction when the releasing button is pressed to overcome the elastic force provided by the first return spring.
13. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one slide comprises two slides, the at least one linkage module comprises two linkage modules, the at least one actuating module comprises two actuating modules, and the at least one auxiliary constant force spring comprises two auxiliary constant force springs disposed respectively at two opposing sides of the lifting structure.
14. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting structure is applied in a supporting device which comprises a base and a joint plate, wherein the main body of the lifting structure further comprises a column connected to the base, and the carrier of the lifting structure is connected to the joint plate.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
(23) With reference to
(24) Please refer to
(25) The slides 10 are separately disposed on the rear plate 902 of the column 90, the carrier 2 is disposed between the slides 10, and the central column 80 is disposed through the carrier 2, so that the carrier 2 may move along the central column 80 and the slides 10. The carrier 2 is connected to the joint plate 400 (the front plate 901 is only an outer covering, which is not physically connected to the carrier 2 or the joint plate 400 but has a slot for the carrier 2 to move therethrough). As illustrated, the base substrate 70 and the central column 80 are fixed to the column 90, wherein the base substrate 70 is fixed to the protrusion portion at the middle of the rear plate 902. The main constant force spring 3 is disposed on the top portion of the rear plate 902 of the column 90 and is connected to the carrier 2, wherein the main portion of the main constant force spring 3 is disposed on the main body 1 and is connected to the carrier 2 with a free end thereof to constantly provide a main elastic force. That is, the main constant force spring 3 is stretched to provide a constant main elastic force to pull up the carrier 2 when the carrier 2 moves along the slides 10.
(26) The description of the following paragraph is directed to one group of the column body 41, the upper element 42, the lower element 43, and the auxiliary constant force spring 4. A top portion of the column body 41 is connected to the carrier 2, the column body 41 extends through the upper element 42 and is connected to the lower element 43 with a corresponding bottom portion so that the upper element 42 is able to slide on the column body 41. The auxiliary constant force spring comprises a main portion 4a and a fixed end 4b extending from the main portion 4a. The main portion 4a is fastened to the lower element 43 (e.g., attached to the bottom of the lower element 43) and is driven by the lower element 43. The fixed end 4b is connected to the upper element 42 so that the fixed end 4b may be driven by the upper element 42 to move along the column body 41. Apparently, the main body 1 and the fixed end 4b simultaneously move along with the carrier 2 when the fixed end 4b is not connected to the main body 1 so that the auxiliary constant force spring 4 fails to provide the auxiliary elastic force to the carrier 2. When the fixed end 4b is fixed to the main body 1, only the main portion 4a of the auxiliary constant force spring 4 simultaneously moves along with the carrier 2 so that the auxiliary constant force spring 4 provides the auxiliary elastic force to the carrier 2.
(27) Specifically, when the upper element 42 and the lower element 43 move simultaneously, the auxiliary constant force spring 4 maintains in an original state without being stretched and thus moves simultaneously with the carrier 2, the column body 41, the upper element 42, and the lower element 43. At this point, the auxiliary elastic force provided by the auxiliary constant force spring 4 closely fit the upper element 42 on the lower element 43. On the other hand, when the upper element 42 maintains still and only the lower element 43 moves downwards (that is, the upper element 42 departs from the lower element 43 gradually), the auxiliary constant force spring 4 may be stretched since the fixed end 4b of the auxiliary constant force spring 4 is connected to the upper element 42 while the main portion 4a moves with the carrier 2, the column body 41, and the lower element 43. At this moment, the auxiliary elastic force provided by the auxiliary constant force spring 4 is transferred to the carrier 2 through the lower element 43 and the column body 41. In brief, at least the main portion 4a of the auxiliary constant force spring 4 will move with the carrier 2 when the carrier 2 moves downwards from the top portion of the lifting structure 100 of the present invention; whereas the movement of the fixed end 4b will be determined by whether the upper element 42 is restricted or not.
(28) The releasing module 50 is described as follows. Please refer to
(29) The actuating module 60 is described as follows. With respect to
(30) The fixed end 4b of the auxiliary constant force spring 4 is secured to the main body 1 when the actuating module 60 is at the actuating position; and the main portion 4a and the fixed end 4b of the auxiliary constant force spring 40 simultaneously move along with the carrier 2 when the actuating module 60 is at the non-actuating position. Please refer to
(31) With reference to
(32) It is known by comparing
(33) A detailed description of the switching process of the actuating module 60 from the non-actuating position to the actuating position which is driven after the actuating button 615, protruding from the bottom surface of the base substrate 70, was pressed by the user will be described in the following paragraph. Please refer to
(34) The actuating block 61 must overcome the elastic force provided by the second return spring 65 so that the second return spring 65 is compressed while a force is applied to the actuating block 61 and drives the actuating block 61 to move along the second direction D2. At this point, the first protrusion 611 and the upper protrusion 421 are partially overlapped in the first direction D1. On the other hand, the second inclined surface 6123 of the second protrusion 612 and the fourth inclined surface 5123 of the release protrusion 512 slide relatively against each other so that the release protrusion 512 is upwardly thrusted. Therefore, the external force being applied to the actuating block 61 should also drive the releasing element 51 to overcome the elastic force provided by the first return spring 55.
(35) It is shown in
(36) Specifically, the second return spring 65 is compressed when the actuating block 61 moved to the actuating position, therefore, the second propped surface 6121 of the second protrusion 612 and the fourth propped surface 5121 of the release protrusion 512 closely abut against each other due to the force provided by the second return spring 65 being continuously applied to the actuating block 61 in the second direction D2 when the releasing element 51 is retrieved by the first return spring 55. Please refer to
(37) More specifically, since the fixed end 4b of the auxiliary constant force spring 4 is connected to the upper element 42 which is restricted by the actuating block 61, the fixed end 4b of the auxiliary constant force spring 4 is secured to the actuating block 61 of the main body 1 through the upper element 42. When the column body 41 is driven by the carrier 2 which is originally located at the top portion of the lifting structure 100 and moves downwards from the top portion, only the lower element 43 and the main portion 4a of the auxiliary constant force spring 4 simultaneously move along with the carrier 2 and the column body 41. Accordingly, the auxiliary constant force spring 4 is stretched and the auxiliary elastic force provided thereby is transferred to the carrier 2 through the column body 41. In addition to the main elastic force, a display with greater weight (M2, wherein M2>M1) may be equipped to the lifting structure 100 and may be stopped at any height on the supporting device.
(38) The following paragraph will describe the relative technical features of pressing the releasing button 515 to unload the auxiliary constant force spring 4 when the auxiliary elastic force in no longer needed. In the case that the releasing button 515 is exposed at the bottom surface of the base substrate 70 in the present embodiment, the releasing button 515 is uplifted along the first direction D1 when the releasing button 515 is pressed by the users. Specifically, as illustrated in
(39) Since the second propped surface 6121 of the second protrusion 612 and the fourth propped surface 5121 of the release protrusion 512 fail to abut against each other as they are no longer overlapped, the elastic force from the second return spring 65 is subsequently released and driving the actuating block 61 to retrieve to the non-actuating position. At this point, the configuration of the upper protrusion 42, the actuating block 61 and the releasing element 51 return to the original state as illustrated in
(40) The auxiliary constant force spring 4 would be correctly actuated by pressing the actuating button 615 when the carrier 2 is located at the top portion of the lifting structure 100. Therefore, another embodiment of the present invention shows the relocating process in the case that the actuating button 615 is pressed when the carrier 2 is not located at the top portion of the lifting structure 100, and thereafter the carrier 2 is driven back to the top portion of the lifting structure 100 without structural conflict. The auxiliary constant spring 4 is able to be actuated correctly when the carrier 2 move downward again from the top portion of the lifting structure 100. Accordingly, the lifting structure 100 of the present invention is also characterized in fool proof.
(41) Specifically, as illustrated in
(42) The process of adjusting the carrier 2 to return to the top portion of the lifting structure 100 is shown in
(43) While the first protrusion 611 and the upper protrusion 421 are no longer overlapped with each other in the first direction D1, the third inclined surface 4213 of the upper protrusion 421 has completely passed through the first inclined surface 6113 of the first protrusion 611 and terminates the slide therebetween. Therefore, the actuating block 61 is subsequently driven by the second return spring 65 to retrieve to the actuating position. The configuration of the components of the lifting structure 100 is shown in
(44) Accordingly, if the user inadvertently misuses the lifting structure 100, the structural conflict between the components will be automatically excluded when retrieving to its original state. Besides, the actuating block 61 is still at the actuating position driven by the actuating button 615 which is previously pressed by the users.
(45) The aforementioned embodiments mainly described the actuating module 60, the column body 41, the upper element 42, the lower element 43 and the auxiliary constant force spring 4 on the single side of the lifting structure 100, however, the both sides of the lifting structure 100 are configured correspondingly as mentioned in the aforementioned paragraphs and figures, and may be operated separately as needed. Furthermore, two auxiliary constant force springs 4 may be springs with different types and capabilities having a first auxiliary elastic force and a second auxiliary elastic force respectively. As a result, the lifting structure 100 may provide four different bearing capacities for users to choose according to their needs, wherein the four different bearing capacities are: (1) main elastic force only, (2) the accumulated force of the main elastic force and the first auxiliary elastic force, (3) the accumulated force of the main elastic force and the second auxiliary elastic force, and (4) the accumulated force of the main elastic force, the first auxiliary elastic force, and the second auxiliary elastic force.
(46) In summary, in addition to a basic bearing capacity, the users may selectively actuate the auxiliary elastic elements to adjust the bearing capacity of the lifting structure of the present invention to meet their requirements. The lifting structure also has a fool proof design for preventing the structural damages caused by false operation, and each of the components of the lifting structure may smoothly retrieve without interferences.
(47) The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including configurations, materials and/or designs of the attaching structures. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.