The invention relates to a component for a telescopic support column for a piece of furniture, a telescopic support column as well as a piece of furniture.

Height adjustable furniture, in particular desks, are well known in the art. Typically, telescopic support columns are used having an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube is movable with respect to the outer tube, thus shortening or lengthening the height of the telescopic support column.

Any movement between the inner tube in the outer tube other than a movement in the height direction is noticed by a user of the furniture and is perceived as a defect or an annoyance.

It is known to use gliding elements between the inner tube and the outer tube forming a friction bearing and avoiding any unwanted movement. However, the inner tube, the other tube and also the gliding elements have manufacturing tolerances, making it very difficult to avoid unwanted movement.

To solve this problem, schemes for avoiding the unwanted movement are known, for example from EP 3 302 187 B1, in which gliding elements of different thicknesses are provided. However, this does not solve the problem completely.

Thus, there is a need to provide a piece of furniture that is height adjustable and still cost efficient to manufacture without allowing any unwanted movement between the tubes of the support column.

For this purpose, a component for a telescopic support column for a piece of furniture, in particular a desk, is provided. The component comprises an inner tube with an end face, a ring portion extending axially from the end face and a flexible portion axially adjacent to the ring portion, wherein the ring portion is fully closed along the circumference of the inner tube. The flexible portion comprises mounts for gliding elements and at least one cutout in a sidewall of the inner tube,.

By providing at least one cutout in the inner tube that has a large extension in the height direction, the flexible portion has an increased flexibility. This flexibility allows that the flexible portion may compensate any manufacturing tolerances that occur in either the inner tube, the outer tube or in the gliding elements. This improves the performance of the guiding system, any unwanted movement is prevented, without adding more parts and keeping the assembly of the guiding columns simple.

The cutout may be provided in one or both tube directions, irrespective of the shape of the tube.

In an aspect, the cutout has a length in the circumferential direction larger than half of the largest diameter of the cross-section of the flexible portion and/or the cutout has an extension in axial direction larger than in circumferential direction, further ensuring the necessary flexibility.

For a lightweight component, the ring portion and/or the flexible portion may be hollow. For increased flexibility, the mounts may extend into the cutout, particularly in the circumferential direction.

It is also conceivable that the mounts to not extend into the cutout.

In an aspect, the component comprises gliding elements fixed to the mounts, in particular wherein the gliding elements are stationary with respect to the inner tube, providing a friction bearing.

The gliding elements are in particular not rotatably mounted with respect to the flexible portion.

In an embodiment, the flexible portion has a rectangular cross-section and four sidewalls, or a circular cross-section, simplifying the design of the component.

The largest diameter of the cross-section may be the diagonal between opposite comers. The circumferential direction may extend along all of the four sidewalls, thus describing a rectangle perpendicular to the axial direction.

To further increase the flexibility, the at least one cutout may have a length of at least 80%, in particular of at least 90%, more particular of at least 95% of the length of the respective sidewall and/or the cutout may have a height in the axial direction smaller than three times, in particular smaller than two times the largest diameter of the flexible portion.

The length of the respective sidewall is in particular its extension in the circumferential direction.

In an aspect, the flexible portion comprises at least two cutouts provided in opposing sidewalls, leading to a uniform compensation of the tolerances.

To achieve a very uniform behavior of the component, each sidewall of the flexible portion may comprise at least one of the at least one cutout In an aspect, in each comer of the flexible portion a web is present extending in the axial direction, providing the necessary stiffness.

In an embodiment, the mounts extend from the webs, in particular wherein at least one of the mounts extends only from one of the webs and/or wherein at least one of the mounts extends from the ring portion and from one of the webs. By providing mounts that extend from the webs, the gliding elements may move without affecting the stability of the webs.

In an embodiment, four mounts are located on at least two of the sidewalls, in particular on each sidewall, in particular wherein each two of the four mounts form a pair, wherein the mounts of the same pair are located axially at the same height, leading to a stable guide for the inner tube in the outer tube.

In another embodiment, the flexible portion comprises a rib extending through the cutout, wherein the rib extends in the circumferential direction or in the axial direction. The rib increases the stability of the component, reducing unwanted movement.

The rib may be provided at each sidewall, wherein the ribs form a ring, further improving stability.

For example, the rib is located between the mounts in the axial direction or the circumferential direction, respectively, in particular between the pairs of mounts of the same sidewall, thus not affecting the movement of the mounts.

In an aspect, the cutout has a rectangular shape, an X-shape or a double-T- shape, providing a compromise between stability and flexibility for various applications.

For above mentioned purpose, a telescopic support column for a piece of furniture, in particular a desk, is further provided. The telescopic support column further comprises a component as described above and an outer tube, wherein the end face and the flexible portion of the inner tube are located within the outer tube.

The features and advantage discussed with respect to the component also apply to the telescopic support column and vice versa.

For example, the cross-section of the outer tube corresponds to the crosssection of at least the flexible portion of the inner tube and/or that the diameter of the outer tube is larger than the diameter of the flexible portion, leading to a good fit of the tubes.

For providing a friction bearing, the gliding elements of the component may contact the inner wall of the outer tube.

In particular, this is the only contact between the outer tube and the component

Further, for above mentioned purpose, a piece of furniture, in particular a desk, is provided. The piece of furniture comprises at least one mechanism for adjusting the height of the piece of furniture, the mechanism having at least one, in particular two telescopic support columns as described above.

The features and advantages discussed with respect to the component and/or the telescopic support column also apply to the piece of furniture and vice versa.

In order to provide an automatically height adjustable furniture, the piece of furniture may comprise an actuator for moving the inner tube relative to the outer tube of at least one of the telescopic support columns.

Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following description as well as the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture according to the invention, having a telescopic support column according to the invention with a component according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows the piece of furniture of Figure 1 schematically in a front view,

Figures 3, 4 show the component of Figure 1 in a perspective view and a side view, respectively,

Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the component of Figure 3,

Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the telescopic support column of

Figure 1,

Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of a component according to the invention of a telescopic support column of Figure 1,

Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of a component according to the invention of a telescopic support column of Figure 1,

Figures 9, 10, 11 show cross-sections of the inner tube of further embodiments of a component according the invention of a telescopic support column of Figure 1 ,

Figure 12 shows a fourth embodiment of a component according to the invention of a telescopic support column of Figure 1,

Figure 13 shows a fifth embodiment of a component according to the invention of a telescopic support column of Figure 1,

Figure 14 shows a sixth embodiment of a component according to the invention of a telescopic support column of Figure 1, and

Figures 15, 16 show a seventh embodiment of a component according to the invention of a telescopic support column of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture 10. Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-section of the piece of furniture 10. The piece of furniture 10 comprises a mechanism 12 for adjusting the height of the furniture and a leg 14.

In the shown embodiment, the piece of furniture 10 is a desk having two legs 14 and two mechanisms 12 for adjusting the height of the tabletop.

Each mechanism 12 comprises a controller 15, an actuator 16 and a telescopic support column 18 according to the invention.

The telescopic support column 18 comprises an outer tube 20 and a component 22 according to the invention having an inner tube 24.

The inner tube 24 is inserted in the outer tube 20 and is movable with respect to the outer tube 20.

As can be seen, the telescopic support column 18 may have more than two tubes.

For example, the actuator 16 is provided within the outer tube 20 and is designed to move the inner tube 24 relative to the outer tube 20 in the axial direction (labeled "A" in Figure 2).

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the component 22 in a perspective, side and cross- sectional view, respectively.

The component 22 comprises the inner tube 24 and several gliding elements 26 attached to the inner tube 24.

The inner tube 24 is made out of metal and/or the gliding elements 26 are made out of plastics.

The gliding elements 26 may all have the same thickness. In particular, the gliding elements 26 are identical to one another. In the shown embodiment, the inner tube 24 has a rectangular cross-section with four sidewalls 28 and an end face 30. The diameter D, in particular the largest diameter, being the diagonal from one comer to the opposite comer.

The inner tube 24 has several different portions, namely a ring portion 32 and a flexible portion 34.

The ring portion 32 and the flexible portion 34, and in particular all of the inner tube 24, are hollow.

The ring portion 32 is directly adjacent to the end of the inner tube 24 and forms thus the end face 30.

The ring portion 32 is fully closed along the second circumference of the inner tube 24, as can be seen in Figure 5.

It is conceivable that holes, for example for attaching a gliding element, are located in the ring portion 32.

The flexible portion 34 is directly adjacent to the ring portion 32 in the axial direction A. The ring portion 32 merges with the flexible portion 34 on the side opposite of the end face 30.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, in each of the sidewalls 28 a cutout 36 is located in the flexible portion 34.

It is conceivable that the flexible portion 34 only comprises two cutouts 36 provided in opposing sidewalls 28.

The cutouts 36 may have a rectangular cross section.

In any case, the cutouts 36 may extend from the ring portion 32 upwards and each cutout 36 has a height H that is smaller than three times, in particular smaller than two times the largest diameter D of the flexible portion 34. All of the cutouts 36 have the same height H and are aligned to one another in the axial direction A.

The height H of the cutouts 36 in the in the axial direction A is larger than the length L of each cutout 36 in the circumferential direction (labeled "C" in Figure 5), i.e. along the sidewalls 28 and orthogonal to the axial direction A.

For example, the cutouts 36 have a length L in the circumferential direction which is larger than half of the largest diameter D of the flexible portion 34.

As best seen in Figure 3, in the flexible portion 34 several webs 40 are formed by the cutouts 36.

The webs 40 are located in the comers of the flexible portion 34 and extend in the axial direction A.

For mounting the gliding elements 26 to the inner tube 24, the inner tube 24, in particular the flexible portion 34, comprises several mounts 42.

In the shown embodiment, at each of the sidewalls 28 four mounts 42 are provided, being grouped into pairs of mounts 42, namely an upper pair and a lower pair.

The mounts 42 of the upper pair, i.e. of the pair further away from the end face 30, are arranged at the same height in the axial direction A, thus at the same distance from the end face 30.

The lower pair of mounts 42 of each sidewall 28 is located closer to the end face 30. For example, the mounts 42 of the lower pair abut the ring portion 32.

At all sidewalls 28, the mounts 42 of the corresponding pairs of mounts 42 are arranged at the same height in the axial direction A, yielding to two different heights in which mounts 42 are arranged along the circumferential direction C of the inner tube 24, The mounts 42 of the upper pairs are formed as wings that extend from the respective web 40 into the cutout 36, for example solely in the circumferential direction C.

In particular, the mounts 42 form as a single piece with the respective web 40.

The mounts 42 may have a mounting hole 44 for inserting the gliding elements 26.

The mounts 42 of the lower pairs of mounts are located in the bottom comers of the cutouts 36 extending from the webs 40 in the circumferential direction C into the cutout 36 but also from the ring portion 32 upwards into the cutout 36.

The gliding elements 26 are attached to the mounts 42, wherein in Figure 3 only one gliding element 26 is shown for illustrative purposes.

Two gliding elements 26 may be connected on the outer side of the inner tube 24. The gliding elements 26 that are connected are located on different sidewalls 28.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section through the telescopic support column 18 in the assembled state through the outer tube 20 and the flexible portion 34 of the inner tube 24.

The gliding elements 26 are mounted in the mounts 42 of the inner tube 24 and are stationary with respect to the inner tube 24.

The shape of the cross-section of the outer tube 20 corresponds to the shape of the cross-section of tlie inner tube 24, at least to the cross-section of the ring portion 32 and of the flexible portion 34.

The cross-section of the outer tube 20 is larger than the cross-section of the inner tube 24. The inner tube 24 itself does not make contact with the outer tube 20. The gliding elements 26 are in physical contact with the inner side of the outer tube 20 and provide a friction bearing between the inner tube 24 and the outer tube 20.

Due to the cutouts 36, the flexible portion 34 is more elastic than the remaining portions of the inner tube 24. Thus, the mounts 42 and with that the gliding elements 26 are able to move, in particular in the radial direction. This movement compensates for manufacturing tolerances that occur at the inner tube 24, the outer tube 20 as well as the gliding elements 26. At the same time, the inner tube 24 is stiff enough to avoid unwanted movements of the inner tube 24 with respect to the outer tube 20.

Thus, the inner tube 24 and the outer tube 20 may be manufactured with larger tolerances and elaborate schemes for selecting the proper gliding elements 26 are not necessary. Overall, manufacturing costs are reduced.

Figure 7 to 16 show further embodiments of the component 22 according to the invention, which generally correspond to the first embodiment. In the following, only the differences are explained, and the same and functionally the same parts are labeled with the same reference signs.

Figure 7 shows a second embodiment. In difference to the first embodiment, the component 22 of the second embodiment comprises ribs 46 in the flexible portion 34. In each of the sidewalls 28, one rib 46 is provided, wherein each rib 46 extends in the circumferential direction C through the respective cutout 36.

The rib 46 extends from one of the webs 40 the other one of the webs 40 of the same sidewall 28. For example, the rib 46 extends only in the circumferential direction C. In the axial direction A, the rib 46 are arranged between the upper pair of mounts 42 and the lower pair of mounts 42.

The ribs 46 at all sidewalls 28 may be located at the same height, i.e. at the same distance to the end face 30. Thus, the ribs 46 together may form a ring which is fully closed along the circumference of the flexible portion 34. In particular, the ribs 46 are parallel to the ring portion 32.

By providing the ribs 46, the mechanical stability of the inner tube 24 is increased without compromising on the flexibility of the flexible portion 34.

Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of the component 22. In this third embodiment, two ribs 46 are provided, namely in two of the sidewalls 28.

The sidewalls 28 may be the larger ones of the four sidewalls 28 due to the rectangular cross section of the component 22.

The ribs 46 extend in the axial direction through the entire cutout 36. The ribs 46 may be arranged between the left hand pair and the right hand pair of the mounts 42 in the circumferential direction.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 show, similarly to Figure 5, cross sections of the component 22 of various alternative embodiments. The cross section may be rectangular as shown in Figure 9, circular as shown in Figure 10 (see also Fig. 12 - 14), or having two opposing flat sidewalls 28 and two opposing curved sidewalls 28 as shown in Figure 11 (see also Figs. 15, 16).

Figure 12 shows a fourth embodiment of the component 22. In this embodiment, the component 22 has a circular cross section.

The cutouts 36 are rectangular in the axial and circumferential direction.

The mounts 42 to not extend into the cutouts 36. For example, they are provided on the webs 40. Figure 13 shows a fifth embodiment of the component 22.

In this fifth embodiment, the cutouts 36 do not have the same shape. For example, two of the cutouts 36 have a rectangular shape and two of the cutouts 36 have an X-shape.

The extension of the cutout 36 having the X-shape in the axial direction is still larger than its extension in the circumferential direction.

As explained with respect to the fourth embodiment, the mounts 42 do not extend into the cutouts 36. It is possible, that the mounts 42 also extend into the X-shaped cutouts 36.

Figure 14 shows a sixth embodiment of the component 22. The cutouts 36 have a double-T-shape, meaning that the cutouts 36 have two outer portions 48 and a middle portion 50 located between the outer portions 48 in the axial direction. The outer portions 48 have an extension in the circumferential direction larger than the extension of the middle portion 50 in the circumferential direction, forming the double-T.

The extension of the cutout 36 having the double-T-shape in the axial direction is still larger than its extension in the circumferential direction.

It is also conceivable that the mounts 42 extend into the double-T-shaped cutouts 36.

Figures 15 and 16 show a seventh embodiment of the component 22.

In the seventh embodiment the component 22 has a cross section as shown and explained with respect to Figure 11.

The cutouts 36 have a double-T-shape, wherein in difference to the embodiment of Figure 14, the middle portion 50 is larger. The cutouts 36 on the flat sidewalls 28 are located lower, i.e. closer to the ring portion 32, than the cutouts 36 on the curved sidewalls 28.

Only on the curved sidewalls 28 the mounts 42 are present, namely four mounts 42 on each curved sidewall 28.

The mounts 42 on each curved sidewall 28 are each located at a different height. For example, the mounts 42 of the upper pair of mounts 42 are located at different heights and the mounts 42 of the lower pair of mounts 42 are located at different heights.

The features of the various embodiments may be combined with one another. For example, the cross section of the component 22, the shapes of the cutouts 36 as well as the location of the mounts 42 may be varied, in particular independently from one another.