U.S. patent number 3,698,564 [Application Number 04/869,646] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-17 for supporting column.
Invention is credited to Hermann Muller.
United States Patent |
3,698,564 |
Muller |
October 17, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
SUPPORTING COLUMN
Abstract
A supporting column to which supporting members are attachable
which in turn support shelves, brackets, partitions and the like.
The column comprises at least one longitudinal member composed of a
sleeve provided therein with a lengthwise extending core having
radial ribs, the outer edges of which engage tightly the inner wall
of the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with at least one
circumferential groove of a radial depth which is equal to the wall
thickness of the sleeve so that the ribs on the core are exposed
and support members may be inserted into the spaces formed between
the radial ribs. The longitudinal member preferably is made of at
least two axially aligned and telescopically connected sleeves,
each having a core with radial ribs therein. One sleeve has its
core projecting from one of its ends to extend into the adjacent
end of other sleeve which at this end has a portion of its core
removed an axial distance which is shorter than the portion of the
core extending from the first mentioned sleeve, thereby forming a
groove between the two telescopically connected sleeves which
permits the attachment of supporting members to the exposed core
portion.
Inventors: |
Muller; Hermann (6330 Cham,
CH) |
Family
ID: |
4417048 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/869,646 |
Filed: |
October 27, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 4, 1968 [CH] |
|
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16401/68 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/119.003;
248/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C
3/32 (20130101); A47B 96/145 (20130101); E04G
7/308 (20130101); A47B 2087/0238 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
96/00 (20060101); A47B 96/14 (20060101); E04G
7/00 (20060101); E04C 3/30 (20060101); E04C
3/32 (20060101); E04G 7/30 (20060101); A47f
005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;211/57,86,175,176,177
;248/221,235,241,159 ;108/114,151 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Byers, Jr.; Nile C.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Supporting column to which supporting members may be attached,
comprising at least one longitudinal member composed of a sleeve
having disposed therein a lengthwise extending core having four
lengthwise extending radial ribs arranged at right angles to each
other, the outer longitudinal edges of which are fixedly secured
the inner wall of said sleeve, said sleeve being interrupted at
least at one place along said supporting column over its entire
circumference to expose said core for inserting into the spaces
formed between each two ribs of said core a supporting member
which, when inserted in said spaces, engages said ribs and extends
outwardly from said column.
2. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said
longitudinal member comprises at least two axially connected
sleeves each of which has a core fixedly secured therein, and one
of said sleeves having one of its ends telescopically and removably
inserted therein a portion of the core projecting from one end of
the other sleeve, said first mentioned sleeve projecting with its
other end axially beyond the end its core therein, the axial length
of the projecting part of the core on the other sleeve is greater
than the length of the portion of the sleeve which telescopically
engages said core.
3. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said sleeve at
least at one place is provided with a slot extending around the
entire periphery of said sleeve, and including a plate-shaped
supporting member inserted into said slot and into a space formed
between two of said ribs and in communication with said slot.
4. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said core
projects with one end axially beyond the end of the sleeve and a
cap on said projecting end of said core, the height of said cap
being smaller than the length of the projecting part of said core,
so that a space is formed between the lower edge of said cap and
the adjacent end of said sleeve.
5. Supporting column according to claim 1, in which said core
projects with one end axially beyond the end of the sleeve, a cap
on said projecting end of said core, the height of said cap being
smaller than the length of the projecting part of said core, so
that a space is formed between the lower edge of said cap and the
adjacent end of said sleeve, and means for locking said cap on said
core.
6. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said sleeve
has a circular cross-section.
7. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said sleeve
has a square cross-section.
8. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said
longitudinal member is made by a material molded by extrusion, said
material being selected from the group consisting of a light-weight
metal, a nonferrous metal and a plastic.
9. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said sleeve
and core constitute an integral part.
10. Supporting column, according to claim 1, in which said core is
press fitted into said sleeve.
Description
The invention relates to a supporting column for the reception of
supporting members attached thereto.
Known supporting columns or supporting rods consist of one single
piece of a round or square pipe or tube. Its transportation is
therefore complicated. Additionally its length may be adapted to
the requirements solely by shortening with a corresponding
expenditure of work and loss of material. Multi-part supporting
columns must be screwed together or keyed to one another, which
likewise requires a considerable expenditure of work and
additionally renders a disassembly difficult. Telescopically
adjustable supporting columns must likewise be secured by means of
screwing or connector bolts and have particularly in the latter
case, a low stability against buckling.
Furthermore, in the known supporting columns, the supporting
members, insofar as they are not connected to the supporting
columns by threaded connections or the like, are only attachable
with a low stability to the known supporting columns.
The object of the present invention is to prevent the disadvantages
indicated. In accordance with the invention, the supporting column
is characterized by at least one pipe element, which has a sleeve
and a core located in the interior of the sleeve, whereby the core
has radial ribs, the outer longitudinal edges of which are fixedly
connected with the inner wall of the sleeve, the sleeve at least at
one point along the supporting column is interrupted over its
entire circumference in order to be able to insert a supporting
member into the intermediary spaces (7, 8) produced at this point
and bordered each by two ribs.
In accordance with the invention, the supporting column is used for
the production of frame-type structures, which comprises several
supporting columns which are connected with each other horizontally
by supporting- or bracing-elements insertably in the intermediary
spaces.
The invention will be described in the following with reference to
the accompanying drawing.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment by way of example of a multi-part
supporting column;
FIG. 2 shows in cutaway portion a shelf provided with a supporting
member attached to the column of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a supporting member for the
supporting column of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the supporting column of FIG. 1 with
inserted shelf of FIG. 2 and a supporting member of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section of another embodiment of a supporting
column with inserted shelf and supporting member; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a supporting column provided with
longitudinal slots.
Referring to FIG. 1 the supporting column comprises two
telescopically connected pipe elements 1 and 2. Each pipe element
1, 2 has a cylindrical sleeve 3 or 4, respectively, and a core 5 or
6, respectively, which consists of two webs crossing one another
perpendicularly, whose edges are fixedly connected with the inner
wall of the sleeve 3 or 4, respectively, and which extend--with
exception of the ends of the pipe elements 1 and 2 over their
entire length. In the embodiment shown by way of example in FIG. 1,
a portion of the sleeve 3 is removed from the upper end of the
lower pipe element 1, so that its core 5 is exposed and projects
freely upwardly. The same is the case with the upper end of the
upper pipe element 2, so that its core 6 is exposed and projects
freely beyond the upper end of the sleeve 4.
From the lower end of the upper pipe element 2, a portion of the
core 6 is removed along a predetermined axial length. This permits
the upper pipe element 2 to be mounted on the core 5 of the lower
pipe element 1 in the manner shown. As the axial length of the
freely projecting core 5 of the lower pipe element 1 is longer than
the axial length of that part of the sleeve 4 of the upper pipe
element 2, in whose interior the core 6 is lacking, the result is
that between the two pipe elements 1 and 2, after their connection,
an intermediary space is formed which is divided into four segments
by the ribs on the core 5 for a purpose which will be explained in
the following.
In accordance with FIG. 1, the upper pipe element 2 is provided
between its ends with an annular recess 8 extending over the entire
radial thickness of the sleeve 4. This recess 8 forms an
intermediary space in the manner of a gap, which is subdivided by
the ribs of the core 6 and whose purpose likewise will be explained
in the following.
As upper closure of the supporting column is formed by a cap 9
which is mounted on the projecting core 6 of the upper pipe element
2, the axial length of said cap being smaller than the axial length
of the projecting part of the core 6. After the placement of the
cap 9 the upper end of the supporting column is also provided with
an intermediary space or chamber similar to the lower intermediary
space or chamber 7.
In order to prevent an unintentional removal of the cap 9, the
latter is provided with an inwardly extending pin 10, which after
placement of the cap 9 on the core 6 and rotation of the cap enters
into a corresponding recess 11 in the ribs of the core 6.
The previously mentioned intermediary spaces 7 are provided for the
purpose of receiving hook-shaped formed supporting members, which
form parts of supporting elements or stiffening elements, such as
horizontal or vertical plates, shelves, brackets, struts, or the
like, necessary for the construction of frame-like structures such
as supporting frames, book-shelves, framework-bases, podiums and
the like, which require several supporting columns. FIG. 2 shows by
way of example a cutaway section of a shelf structure.
The corner part of the shelf, shown in FIG. 2 has an upper
horizontal surface 12, namely, the supporting surface of the shelf,
which is provided with two downwardly directed side flanges 13 and
14. At the corner formed by the side flanges 13 and 14 is attached
a vertical angle-profile-member 15, whose vertical legs are tapered
towards its ends. The shelf and the angle-profile-member 15 are so
constructed, that the width of the flange of the
angle-profile-member 15 along the non-slanted part is equal to the
radial width of the ribs on the cores 5 and 6, while the height of
the flanges 13 and 14 of the shelf is equal to the vertical length
of the non-tapered portion of the angle-profile-member 15 and also
is equal to the axial length of the intermediary space 7. (FIG.
1).
The corner part of the shelf shown in FIG. 2 is now arranged in the
following manner on the supporting column of FIG. 1. In a core
sector of the lower pipe element 1, on which has not yet been
placed the upper pipe element 2, the lower part of the
angle-profile-member 15 is inserted until the lower horizontal edge
of the flange 13 of the shelf engages the upper end surface of the
sleeve 3. Then the upper pipe element 2 is placed on the core 3 and
simultaneously on the upper part of the angle-profile-member 15,
until the end surface of the sleeve 4 of the upper pipe element 2
engages the horizontal surface 12 of the shelf in which case the
cores 5, 6 of the two pipe elements 1, 2 abut one another. On
account of the similar widths of the ribs of the core 5 and of the
arms of the angle-profile-member 15, and in view of the tapered end
parts of the angle-profile-member 15, the latter is keyed between
the ribs of the core 5 and the sleeves 3 and 4 of the two pipe
elements 1 and 2, so that without any additional fastening
elements, such as screws or pins, a secure anchoring of the corner
part of the shelf is attained with the supporting column and
simultaneously a secure connection of the two pipe elements 1 and
2. All four corner parts of the shelf are constructed in the manner
shown in FIG. 2, so that the shelf may be secured to four
supporting columns arranged in spaced relation to one another.
In a simpler form of the invention, the angle-profile-member 15 may
project only from the lower or upper side of the shelf, that is, it
may extend either upwardly over the supporting surface 12 or
downwardly thereform, but beyond the lower edges of the flanges 13
and 14. A shelf provided with such angle-profile-members is then
anchored solely to one of the two telescoped pipe elements of the
supporting columns. For many uses, modified arrangement is
sufficient as regards strength and stability.
In place of the angle-profile-member, other supporting members may
be used. For example, the supporting member may be formed
integrally with the shelf of FIG. 2, in that the two flanges 13 and
14 adjacent the corner edge are provided with a vertical slot which
opens downwardly, so that the corner forms a lug. This lug can be
introduced into an intermediary space formed between two ribs of
the core of the supporting column (FIG. 1) and then may be pushed
downwardly into the pipe element 1, whereby the wall of the sleeve
3 enters into the slots.
Other supporting members may be constructed as bar pieces bent at
an angle of 90.degree., particularly formed as screw hooks. The
latter may serve the purpose of attaching horizontal board-shaped
members or vertical board-shaped partitions to the supporting
columns.
The pipe elements of the supporting columns or the supporting
members, respectively of the supporting- or stiffening-elements may
also be so constructed, that the axial length of the intermediary
chamber 7 (FIG. 1) of the supporting column, in which the sleeve 3
or 4, respectively, is lacking, is at least just as large as the
axial length of the supporting member, for example, of the
angle-profile-member 15 (FIG. 2). The supporting member in this
case may be introduced into the intermediary space and may be put
into the lower pipe element 1, if the upper pipe element 2 is
already disposed on the lower pipe element 1. The supporting column
may then consist of a single piece instead of two or more
telescoped pipe elements. Such a supporting column has a bar-shaped
core extending over its entire length and a sleeve enclosing the
core, which at predetermined points is removed to a predetermined
axial length, so that at these points the core is exposed.
The annular recess 8 shown in FIG. 1 is provided for the reception
of one or more supporting members 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3), which are
plate-shaped and have the form of a quarter sector of a circle. For
example in a frame structure with four vertical supporting columns,
each of the supporting columns may have a small supporting plate 16
arranged at equal height, so that a shelf may be laid on these
small supporting plates. In place of a small supporting plate, a
rail-shaped or angle-shaped supporting member may be pushed into a
part of the annular recess 8, whereby this supporting member may be
provided with a slot for the reception of a rib on the core.
The supporting column or each pipe element 1, 2, respectively,
shown in FIG. 1, may for example consist of a light-weight metal,
whereby the outer surface of the sleeve may be eloxadized. For the
production, core and sleeve may generally be produced by an
extrusion process. If the entire supporting column consists of one
piece, then in the range of the intermediary spaces 7 the material
of the sleeve 3, 4 is removed by means of a turning operation. If
the supporting column is made of several pipe elements 1, 2, then
at the ends of each pipe element, the sleeve or the
core,respectively, are removed by means of a turning operation.
Also the annular recesses 8 may be produced in simpler manner by
means of a turning operation performed on the supporting column or
on the pipe elements, respectively.
Alternatively, the supporting column or each pipe element,
respectively, may also be produced from a sleeve and a separate
core, in that the core profile is pressed into the sleeve.
In place of a sleeve with circular cross-section according to FIG.
1, it is also possible to employ a sleeve with a square,
rectangularly-shaped or other shaped cross-section. FIG. 4 shows a
horizontal section of the pipe element 2 of FIG. 1 with the sleeve
4 and a cross-shaped core 6, whereby the sector-shaped intermediary
space has attached thereto the shelf of FIG. 2 with the supporting
surface 12 and the angle-profile-member 15, while the annular
recess has inserted therein the small supporting plate 16 of FIG.
3. FIG. 5 shows in section the same arrangement with a pipe element
which has a square sleeve 17, within which a cross-shaped core 18
is located. A small supporting plate 19 has here likewise a square
shape. The square sleeve 17 of FIG. 5 has the advantage that
separated and subsequent telescoped core and sleeve do not require
a press fit in order to secure the two parts tightly into one
another. Rather the core 18 may be introduced into the sleeve 17
and then rotated so far until the ribs of the core are
perpendicular to the internal walls of the sleeve. In this
connection the ribs of the core are wedged in the interior of the
sleeve, so that a tight connection between the sleeve and the core
is attained.
The sleeve of the supporting columns may also be provided with
longitudinal slots 20, which permit the attachment of additional
constructural elements of a frame-type structure, such as
partitions and the like. FIG. 6 shows such a supporting column in
cross-section.
Obviously, each supporting column or each pipe element may have
intermediary chambers, recesses and slots of the described type in
the desired number and combination. Several supporting columns of
the described type may be provided with supporting elements which
are inserted or suspended from the same, such as shelves or strut
elements, or also as angle- or straight-elements, separating
plates, etc., to form frame-type structures of manifold
construction.
As compared with known supporting columns, the supporting column of
the invention has countless advantages. For one thing, whether it
is constructed in one piece or made of several pipe elements, it is
easily produced at nominal costs. The combination of several pipe
elements does not require special connecting elements or special
tools. A disassembly is easily possible, and does not cause any
damage to the pipe elements. The described supporting column may be
made by a selection of pipe elements of corresponding lengths and
recesses of any desired length and with intermediary spaces or
recesses, respectively arranged as desired for the arrangement of
supporting members. Likewise, the construction of the supporting
column is not limited to any dimensions such as outer diameter and
inside diameter of the pipe elements. Furthermore, the supporting
column described has a high stability, and particularly is stable
against buckling and permits of a play-free attachment of
supporting members or supporting elements, respectively. The
attachment of the supporting members to the supporting column does
not require additional special fastening elements and may be
accomplished without difficulty by unskilled workers.
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