Telescopic support
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A telescopic support capable of transitioning between an extended position and a retracted position, the telescopic support comprising:
- an outer support tube having an interior wall extending along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic support, the interior wall defining an interior space;
an inner support receivable within the interior space of the outer support tube, wherein, in a fully retracted position of the telescopic support, a greater portion of the inner support is within the interior space than in a fully extended position of the telescopic support such that a longitudinal length of the telescopic support in the fully retracted position is less than the longitudinal length of the telescopic support in the fully extended position;
at least three bearing sets respectively disposed on one of the outer support tube or the inner support, the at least three bearing sets respectively interface with a race set of the other of the outer support tube or the inner support to aid in maintaining alignment of the inner support and the outer support tube along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support;
wherein each of the at least three bearing sets includes at least two roller bearings spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support, each of the at least two roller bearings having a rotational axis substantially directed toward the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support; and
a guide plate affixed to an end of the inner support receivable within the interior space of the outer support tube, the guide plate configured to interface with at least two opposing surfaces of the interior wall of the outer support tube to enhance stability between the inner support and the outer support tube along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telescopic support having an outer support tube and an inner support that move with respect to each other along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic support. At least three bearing sets having roller bearings are affixed to one of the outer support tube or the inner support. The roller bearings of a bearing set may be spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and may be configured such that a rotational axis of each of the roller bearings is substantially directed toward the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A telescopic support capable of transitioning between an extended position and a retracted position, the telescopic support comprising:
-
an outer support tube having an interior wall extending along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic support, the interior wall defining an interior space; an inner support receivable within the interior space of the outer support tube, wherein, in a fully retracted position of the telescopic support, a greater portion of the inner support is within the interior space than in a fully extended position of the telescopic support such that a longitudinal length of the telescopic support in the fully retracted position is less than the longitudinal length of the telescopic support in the fully extended position; at least three bearing sets respectively disposed on one of the outer support tube or the inner support, the at least three bearing sets respectively interface with a race set of the other of the outer support tube or the inner support to aid in maintaining alignment of the inner support and the outer support tube along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support; wherein each of the at least three bearing sets includes at least two roller bearings spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support, each of the at least two roller bearings having a rotational axis substantially directed toward the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support; and a guide plate affixed to an end of the inner support receivable within the interior space of the outer support tube, the guide plate configured to interface with at least two opposing surfaces of the interior wall of the outer support tube to enhance stability between the inner support and the outer support tube along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An overbed table having an adjustable height, the overbed table comprising;
-
a base adapted to support the overbed table on a floor; a table top having a top table surface and a bottom table surface, the bottom table surface opposite the top table surface, the bottom table surface of the table having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first and second ends define a table axis of the overbed table; and a telescopic support coupled to the base and the bottom table surface of the table top, the telescopic support having an outer support tube with an upper end affixed to the table top, the telescopic support having an inner support with a lower end affixed to the base, the inner support being receivable within an interior space of the outer support tube such that the telescopic support is capable of extending and retracting, wherein the telescopic support is coupled to the bottom table surface proximate the first end such that the overbed table is a cantilevered table about the table axis; wherein the telescopic support includes only three bearing sets respectively disposed on the outer support tube, the three bearing sets respectively interface with three race sets of the inner support to aid in maintaining alignment of the inner support and the outer support tube along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic support; wherein each of the three bearing sets includes at least two roller bearings spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support, each of the at least two roller bearings having a rotational axis substantially directed toward the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support; and wherein the three bearing sets include a first bearing set, a second bearing set and a third bearing set, and wherein each of the first and second bearing sets is disposed with the rotational axes of the at least two roller bearings being substantially transversely aligned with the table axis, and the third bearing set is disposed with the rotational axis of the at least two roller bearings being substantially aligned in parallel with the table axis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An inner member of a telescopic support, the telescopic support having an outer support tube and a longitudinal axis, the inner member comprising:
-
a first end receivable within an interior space of the outer support tube; a second end moveable relative to the outer support tube; an exterior wall between the first end and the second end, the exterior wall being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support; at least three race sets parallel to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support, each of the at least three race sets including a medial channel face and two laterally opposed race surfaces, wherein the medial channel face is configured to face an interior wall of the outer support tube, and wherein the two laterally opposed race surfaces substantially face each other; and a guide plate affixed to the first end of the inner support receivable within the interior space of the outer support tube, the guide plate configured to interface with at least two opposing surfaces of an interior wall of the outer support tube to enhance stability between the inner support and the outer support tube along a longitudinal axis shared by the inner member and the outer support tube. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification