SUPPORT OR LEG PROVIDED WITH A LEVELLING MEMBER, AND TABLE, CHAIR, LADDER OR SCAFFOLD PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE SUCH SUPPORT OR LEG

The invention relates to a support or leg provided with a levelling member, comprising a rod-like member which can slide in an opening arranged in the support or leg and arresting means for arresting the rod-like member. Such a support or leg is known as part of a table. The arresting means are then formed by a clamping member which can be released manually, after which the rod-like member can be pushed into the opening until the table is standing level and/or can no longer wobble. The drawback here is that levelling of the table requires a certain amount of skill. It is also the case that levelling is relatively time-consuming, for instance when setting up a number of tables on a terrace.

The support or leg according to the invention has the feature that the arresting means comprise a tongue which is placed at least substantially perpendicularly of the rod-like member and which in a position of use allows a displacement of the rod-like member in one direction. This can be realized for instance by providing the tongue with a sharp edge. If the tongue is now rotated slightly, the rod-like member can then only slide downward. During the levelling the rod-like member then moves downward until it touches the ground, after which it can no longer move back, whereby the levelling takes place almost automatically.

An advantageous embodiment of the support or leg has the feature that the levelling member is provided with reversing means for reversing a direction in which the rod-like member can be displaced. For instance at the moment that the table is being placed the rod-like member is pressed inward, after which the direction in which the rod-like member can be displaced is reversed. The rod-like member then moves downward under the influence of the force of gravity, and the table is levelled.

A favourable embodiment in which the reversal takes place automatically has the feature that the reversing means comprise a first narrowing and a second narrowing of the rod-like member, for instance in the form of a first groove arranged around the rod-like member and a second groove arranged around the rod-like member. When the tongue reaches a narrowing or groove, it can then take up a neutral position relative to the rod-like member and a displacement in the reverse direction

is possible. The levelling member moreover preferably comprises two end stops which are arranged such that the tongue is always positioned at the location of the first narrowing or at the location of the second narrowing, or between the first and the second narrowing, whereby the tongue can be moved reciprocally between the two narrowings or grooves.

A further favourable embodiment with which a very high load-bearing capacity of the levelling member can be realized has the feature that, at least between the first narrowing and the second narrowing, the rod-like member is provided with a screw thread or with a system of relatively fine grooves.

A further favourable embodiment which can take a very compact form has the feature that the tongue is mounted resiliently on the support or leg.

A favourable alternative embodiment has the feature that the tongue is mounted pivotally on the support or leg. The levelling member is preferably provided here with spring means for the purpose of placing the tongue in a neutral position when it is situated at the position of the first or second narrowing.

A further favourable embodiment has the feature that the levelling member is provided with blocking means for blocking a movement of the rod-like member in the opening. In the case of for instance a ladder, the rod-like members can be blocked in the highest position during normal use. The rod-like member of a leg which must be extended can then be unblocked while the ladder is held in the desired position. The leg then moves downward until it touches the ground, after which the ladder is levelled.

The invention also relates to a support or leg as specified in the foregoing paragraphs, suitable for mounting on a table, chair, ladder, scaffold or on a household or industrial machine such as for instance a washing machine or a refrigerator.

The invention also relates to a table, chair, ladder or scaffold provided with a support or leg as specified in the foregoing paragraphs.

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a support or leg according to the invention; Fig. 2A shows this support or leg in the highest position; Fig. 2B shows this support or leg in the lowest position; Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a support or leg according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a further alternative embodiment of a support according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a support or leg 1 according to the invention, consisting of a metal tubular part 2 in which a metal rod-like member 3 can slide. Mounted in tubular part 2 is a steel tongue 4 which is dimensioned such that is must bend slightly to allow passage of rod-like member 3. In the figure steel tongue 4 is curved slightly upward. As a result rod-like member 3 can only be pushed upward, since steel tongue 4 prevents rod-iike member 3 sliding downward. If rod-like member 3 is displaced so far upward that steel tongue 4 comes to rest in a first groove 5, steel tongue 4 can then straighten, after which rod-like member 3 can be displaced downward. Steel tongue 4 here curves downward and thus prevents rod-like member 3 sliding downward. If rod-like member 3 is pushed so far downward that steel tongue 4 comes to rest in a second groove 6, steel tongue 4 can then straighten, after which rod-like member 3 can be displaced upward again.

Fig. 2A shows this support or leg 1 in the highest position, wherein steel tongue 4 protrudes into second groove 6. In order to prevent rod-like member 3 being pushed further downward, rod-like member 3 is provided with an end stop formed by a plate 7 mounted on rod-like member 3 and a protrusion 8 in tubular part 2.

Fig. 2B shows this support or leg 1 in the lowest position, wherein steel tongue 4 protrudes into first groove 5. In order to prevent rod-like member 3 being pushed further upward, rod-like member 3 is provided with an end stop formed by a baseplate 9 which in the end position rests against tubular part 2. Baseplate 9 further enables a steady placing on a ground surface. Support or leg 1 can for instance form part of a table leg. Tubular part 2 is then for instance the actual leg, which is given a slightly shorter form than the other legs. The table is positioned and rod-like member 3 is pressed so far inward that steel tongue 4 rests in second groove 6. Rod-like member 3 is then lowered until baseplate 9 touches the ground. Because the rod-like member cannot slide upward, the table is stable.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a support or leg according to the invention, consisting of a metal tubular part 2 in which a metal rod-like member 3 can slide. In tubular part 2 a steel tongue 10 is mounted rotatably around a shaft 11 and is dimensioned such that it must lie obliquely upward or obliquely downward to some degree to allow passage of rod-like member 3. In the figure steel tongue 10 is rotated slightly upward. The result is that rod-like member 3 can only be displaced upward since steel tongue 4 prevents rod-like member 3 sliding downward. In the embodiment shown here rod-like member 3 is provided with a fine screw thread, which significantly increases the load-bearing capacity of the support or leg. If rod- tike member 3 is displaced so far upward that steel tongue 10 comes to rest in a first narrowing 12, steel tongue 10 will then take up a neutral position under the influence of a spring 13 arranged for this purpose in tubular part 2, after which rod- like member 3 can be pushed downward. Steel tongue 10 herein rotates downward to some extent and thus prevents rod-like member 3 sliding downward. If rod-like member 3 is pushed so far downward that steel tongue 10 comes to rest in a second narrowing 14, steel tongue 4 can then take up the neutral position again, after which rod-like member 3 can once again be pushed upward. The embodiment shown here can advantageously be utilized as leg of for instance a ladder or a scaffold part. Rod-like member 3 is here placed beforehand in its highest position and, if desired, fixed using a plastic bolt 15. If the leg is too short, plastic bott 15 is then loosened, after which rod-like element 3 descends until baseplate 9 touches the ground. The leg can then be directly loaded.

Fig. 4 shows a further alternative embodiment of a support according to the invention, consisting of a metal tubular part 2 in which a metal rod-like member 3 can slide. Mounted rotatably around a shaft 11 in tubular part 2 is a steel tongue 10 which is dimensioned such that it must lie obliquely upward or obliquely downward to some degree to allow passage of rod-like member 3. In the figure steel tongue 10 is rotated slightly upward. The result is that rod-like member 3 can only be pushed upward, since steel tongue 4 prevents rod-like member 3 sliding downward. In the embodiment shown here rod-like member 3 is provided with a fine screw thread, which significantly increases the load-bearing capacity of the support or leg. If rod- like member 3 is pushed so far upward that steel tongue 10 comes to rest in a first narrowing 12, steel tongue 10 will then take up a neutral position under the influence of a spring 13 arranged for this purpose in tubular part 2, after which rod- like member 3 can be pushed downward. Steel tongue 10 here rotates slightly downward and thus prevents rod-like member 3 sliding downward. If rod-like

member 3 is pushed so far downward that steel tongue 10 comes to rest in a second narrowing 14, steel tongue 4 can then take up the neutral position again, after which rod-like member 3 can once again be pushed upward. The embodiment shown here can advantageously be utilized as a support, for instance for a table leg 16 of a terrace table 17. During placing the terrace table 17 is pushed wholly downward close to table leg 16 and then lifted to the desired level, after which the table can be directly loaded.