Chair height adjustment mechanism

• US 5,234,187 A
• Filed: 06/02/1992
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Holdredge, Russell T., Teppo, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US07/892,353
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 248/161, 248/157, 248/404, 248/422, 297/345, 267/64.12
• US Class Current: 248/161
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2009/065 having rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/06 with vertical toothed rack
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/265 with rack-and-pinion gearing
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/30 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder

Abstract

An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of a chair seat, table top or other item includes telescoping outer, intermediate and inner tubes. The outer tube is attached to a base. The inner tube is attached to a chair seat or other load. A drive extends the telescoping tubes to adjust the height of the load. In one form, the drive includes a flexible, substantially nonelastic tape having an end fixed to the inner tube and an end fixed to the outer tube. The tape engages or rides over a sheave supported on the intermediate tube. In another form, the drive includes a pair of racks and a pinion. A piston cylinder actuator is disposed within the inner tube. The actuator includes an extensible rod which causes relative movement between the inner and intermediate tubes and extension of the intermediate tube relative to the base through the drive tape or rack and pinion.

Claims

1. A telescoping adjustment mechanism, comprising:

an outer tube;

an intermediate tube having upper and lower ends telescopingly received within said outer tube;

an inner tube having upper and lower ends telescopingly received within said intermediate tube;

drive means interconnecting said tubes for translating relative movement of said inner and intermediate tubes into relative movement between said intermediate and said outer tubes; and

actuator means within said inner tube and having relatively moveable elements connected to said inner tube and said intermediate tube for extending and retracting said inner and intermediate tube with respect to said outer tube.

2. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises:

a sheave member connected to one of said ends of said intermediate tube; and

an elongated, flexible substantially nonelastic tape member extending over said sheave member and having a first end fixed to said inner tube and a second end fixed to said outer tube.

3. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 2 wherein said sheave member is connected to the lower end of said intermediate tube.

4. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 3 wherein said tape extends from said first end thereof downwardly and over said sheave member and then upwardly between said intermediate tube and said outer tube with said second end thereof fixed adjacent the upper end of said outer tube.

5. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 4 further comprising an outer bearing between said intermediate tube and said outer tube.

6. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 5 further comprising an intermediate bearing between said intermediate tube and said inner tube.

7. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 2 wherein said actuator means comprises a piston/cylinder actuator including a cylinder and a piston rod extending from said cylinder, said cylinder and said rod comprising said relatively moveable elements.

8. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 7 wherein said cylinder is fixed to said sheave member and said rod is fixed to said inner tube.

9. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 2 further including an outer extend column tube having an open lower end and an upper cup-like end, said inner tube being inserted within said extend column tube.

10. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 9 further including a rotary bearing positioned between said cup-like end of said extend column tube and said upper end of said inner tube so that said extend column tube can rotate with respect to said outer tube.

11. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 10 wherein said actuator means comprises a gas spring including a cylinder and a piston rod extending from said cylinder, said cylinder and said rod comprising said drive elements.

12. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 11 wherein said cylinder is fixed to said sheave member and said rod is fixed to said inner tube.

13. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 11 wherein said sheave member is connected to the lower end of said intermediate tube.

14. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 13 wherein said tape extends from said first end thereof downwardly and over said sheave member and then upwardly between said intermediate tube and said outer tube with said second end thereof fixed adjacent the upper end of said outer tube.

15. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 14 further comprising an outer bearing between said intermediate tube and said outer tube.

16. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 15 further comprising an intermediate bearing between said intermediate tube and said inner tube.

17. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises:

a rack on an inner surface of said outer tube;

another rack on an outer surface of said inner tube; and

a pinion rotatably mounted on said intermediate tube and engaging said racks so that relative movement of said inner tube with respect to said intermediate tube translates into relative movement between said intermediate tube and said outer tube.

18. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 17 wherein said actuator means comprises a piston/cylinder actuator including a cylinder and a piston rod extending from said cylinder, said cylinder and said rod comprising said drive elements.

19. A telescoping mechanism as defined by claim 18 wherein said cylinder is fixed to said inner tube and said piston rod is connected to said intermediate tube.

20. A height adjustment mechanism for a chair, said mechanism comprising:

an elongated, generally tubular base;

an elongated middle column telescopingly received within said base;

an elongated extend column telescopingly received within said middle column; and

extension and retraction drive means interconnecting said base, said middle column and said extend column for extending and retracting said intermediate column and said extend column with respect to said base, said drive means including means for transmitting relative motion of said extend and middle columns to relative motion of said middle column and said tubular base.

21. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 20 wherein said extension and retraction means includes:

an elongated, flexible and substantially nonelastic force transmission member engaging said middle column and having an end connected to said extend column and another end connected to said base.

22. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 21 wherein said drive means further comprises a sheave defining a curved outer surface, said sheave being connected to a lower end of said middle column.

23. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 22 wherein said force transmission member is an elongated ribbon which rides on said curved outer surface of said sheave.

24. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 23 wherein said ribbon extends downwardly from said extend column over said sheave and upwardly between said middle column and said base.

25. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 24 wherein said drive means further includes an actuator having first and second members, each connected to one of said middle and extend columns.

26. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 24 wherein said drive means further includes a piston/cylinder actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod each connected to one of said middle and extend columns.

27. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 26 wherein said cylinder is connected to said middle column and said rod is connected to said extend column.

28. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 26 wherein said extend column includes an inner tube within which said actuator is positioned, an outer extend column tube receiving said inner tube and a rotary bearing between said inner tube and said outer extend column tube.

29. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 28 further including a base sleeve bearing between said base and said middle column.

30. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 29 further including a middle sleeve bearing between said middle column and said extend column.

31. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 30 wherein said piston/cylinder actuator is a gas spring.

32. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 20 wherein said extension and retraction means comprises:

a rack on said base;

another rack on said extend column; and

a pinion rotatably mounted on said middle column, said pinion engaging said racks.

33. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 32 wherein said drive means further includes a piston/cylinder actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod each connected to one of said middle and extend columns.

34. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 33 wherein said cylinder is connected to said extend column and said rod is connected to said middle column.

35. A height adjustment mechanism as defined by claim 34 wherein said piston/cylinder actuator is a gas spring.