RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Â§371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2007/007110, with an international filing date of Aug. 10, 2007 (WO 2008/028554 A1, published Mar. 13, 2008), which is based on German Patent Application No. 20 2006 013 678.9 filed Sep. 6, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a stand, in particular for a standing desk or an occasional table.

BACKGROUND

To provide stable support for cameras, camera stands with three supporting legs are known, which are mounted foldably on a stand head and with their free ends form a stable multipoint support, the stand head comprising a mount for the attachment of a camera. In addition, camera stands of this type are known which comprise a stand head bearing a telescopic stand column, to the upper end of which a camera may be attached.

Another type of stand is known for example from DE 195 31 502 A1. The stand known from this publication comprises a stand column, which bears the stand head at its upper end and stands with its lower end on the floor. Moreover, this stand comprises two supporting legs, which are connected foldably to the stand column by means of a lockable revolute joint, such that the free ends of the supporting legs form a multipoint support together with the lower end of the stand column. The revolute joint is here fitted at floor-level at the lower end of the stand column, such that the supporting legs can be folded upwards so as to be able to store the stand in a space-saving manner. Furthermore, the inclination of the stand column and thus also of the stand head may be adjusted by changing the angle between the supporting legs and the stand column. A disadvantage of the known stand described above is, inter alia, the relatively high center of gravity, which has a negative effect on standing behaviour.

Another stand is known from DE 295 12 937 U1, in which the supporting legs are at a fixed angle to the stand column and may be displaced along the stand column by means of a prismatic joint. The inclination of the stand column may thus be varied in this case, by displacing the prismatic joint with the supporting legs along the stand column. However, this stand also has a relatively high center of gravity, which has a negative effect on standing behaviour.

SUMMARY

A counterweight is attached to the lower end of the stand column, so as to improve the standing behaviour of the stand. In one example, the center of gravity of the stand is thereby located below the joint for the supporting legs. The counterweight at the lower end of the stand column may, for example, have a mass of at least 4 kg, 6 kg, 8 kg or at least 10 kg. However, with regard to the mass of the counterweight, there is no restriction to the above-stated mass values, but rather other counterweight masses are also feasible.

Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the center of gravity of the stand lies above the standing surface, so that the stand does not tip over.

In one variant the joint for the supporting legs is a revolute joint, such that the supporting legs can be swiveled relative to the stand column, in order to adjust the inclination of the stand column.

In another variant, on the other hand, the supporting legs are hinged to the stand column by a prismatic joint. In this case the supporting legs are thus at a fixed angle relative to the stand column and may be displaced along the stand column with the prismatic joint, in order to adjust the inclination of the stand column.

In one example, the above-mentioned revolute joint for the supporting legs is not arranged at floor-level in the vicinity of the contact point of the stand column, but rather in the middle area of the stand column. The supporting legs are subjected substantially only to compression loading and not to bending stress, which allows a greater mechanical load carrying capacity or a lower material usage to achieve the desired load carrying capacity. The phrase â€œa middle area of the stand columnâ€ as used herein should be understood in general terms and serves only for differentiation relative to the above-described known stand according to DE 195 31 502 A1. In one example, however, the revolute joint for the supporting legs is arranged in the middle third of the stand column.

In one variant, the stand column is supported by a plurality of supporting legs, for example by two supporting legs. The free ends of the supporting legs then form together with the lower end of the stand column a multipoint support, so preventing the stand from tipping sideways.

In another variant, on the other hand, the stand column is supported by a single supporting leg. In this case, the supporting leg comprises a contact area which extends sufficiently sideways to prevent lateral tipping of the stand. For simplicity's sake, however, for illustration purposes the following hereinafter describe the example with a plurality of supporting legs.

Furthermore, the stand may also comprise an unlockable leg lock, which locks the supporting legs in a specific position relative to the stand column.

In one variant this leg lock is incorporated into the revolute joint of the supporting legs, such that the supporting legs are without connection between the revolute joint and the floor, i.e. do not comprise any further elements bracing them together with the stand column.

In another variant, on the other hand, the leg lock for the supporting legs comprises supporting struts resistant to tensile and/or compressive loads, with which the supporting legs rest against the stand column, to effect locking. In this variant the leg lock may likewise allow various angular positions, in that the supporting struts may be fitted for example in corresponding snap-in receptacles on the stand column.

In one example, the supporting legs may be swiveled back past the stand column, which allows a space-saving configuration for use of the stand as a standing table. The supporting legs may thus be swiveled over from one side of the stand column to the other side of the stand column.

Furthermore, the stand head of the stand according to one example comprises a further lockable revolute joint, to which a holding element for the object to be held in place is inclinably hinged. The holding element comprises a tray or a platform, on which for example sheet music, a speech script or a laptop or notebook computer may be placed. However, the example is not limited with regard to the holding element to a tray, but rather may in principle also be configured with other holding elements, which are known from conventional stands.

In an exemplary embodiment the supporting legs and/or the holding element may be folded into a storage or transport position, in which the supporting legs or the holding element extend parallel to the stand column. The stand in this example only takes up a small amount of space in the storage or transport position.

Furthermore, provision is made for the supporting legs to have a greater length from their axis of rotation to the floor than the stand column has from the axis of rotation of the supporting legs to the floor. The consequence of this is that, in the folded-up state, the stand legs project with their free ends beyond the lower end of the stand column and so form stable support points. This may be used where, as will be described in detail, rollers are fitted at the lower end of the stand column, since the free ends of the supporting legs projecting beyond the rollers then prevent the stand from rolling away.

The two revolute joints for the supporting legs and the holding element in this example have parallel axes of rotation, which extend at right angles to the stand column.

Furthermore, the revolute joint for the holding element and/or the revolute joint for the supporting legs comprise(s) an angular indexing means, which effects locking at particular index angles. The holding element or the supporting legs is/are thus not locked at continuously selectable locking angles, but rather at the index angles, which are predetermined by the angular indexing means.

The angular indexing means of the two revolute joints for the holding element and the supporting legs respectively are conformed to one another in such a way that each index angle of the revolute joint for the supporting legs is associated with one index angle of the revolute joint for the holding element, in which the holding element (e.g. a tray) exhibits a predetermined, in particular horizontal, angle of inclination.

Instead of an angular indexing means, however, it is possible for the revolute joints for the holding element and the supporting legs respectively to allow continuous, infinitely variable angle adjustment.

In addition, it is possible for the two revolute joints for the holding element and the supporting legs to be mechanically coupled. The effect of the coupling is that angle adjustment of the supporting legs effects a corresponding angle adjustment of the holding element, wherein the coupling may effect angle transmission. The angle transmission has the consequence that a specific angle adjustment Î± leads to a predetermined angle adjustment kÂ·Î± with a coupling factor k, wherein the coupling factor k is mechanically predetermined by the coupling. The coupling factor is fixed constructionally such that the holding element always adopts a horizontal position irrespective of the position of the supporting legs.

The revolute joint for the holding element and/or the revolute joint for the supporting legs may has/have just one degree of freedom and thus allow(s) only rotation or folding. This enables simple, stable construction of the revolute joints.

However it is alternatively possible for the revolute joint for the holding element and/or the revolute joint for the supporting legs to take the form of a ball-and-socket joint, which has several degrees of freedom.

In addition, an operating element is provided, which allows manual locking and unlocking of the revolute joint for the holding element and/or of the revolute joint for the supporting legs, the operating element being mounted for example on the holding element, so allowing comfortable operation. The operating element may effect locking via Bowden cables, for example.

It has already been mentioned briefly above that the stand column may comprise a roller at its lower end, which simplifies handling of the stand, since the stand may be rolled along during transportation. The roller is here rotatable about an axis of rotation which extends at right angles to the stand column and parallel to the axis of rotation of the holding element and/or the supporting legs. A roller is mounted on each side of the stand column, such that the two rollers together with the two supporting legs form a stable 4-point support.

Furthermore, the counterweight already mentioned above is formed by the roller, which, to achieve a heavy weight, may consist for example of cast iron.

It should also be mentioned that, in the case of the stand, the supporting legs and/or the stand column may have/has a fixed, non-telescopic length. However, there is no limitation to stands in which the supporting legs or the stand column have a fixed length, but may also be configured with conventional telescopic supporting legs or stand columns.

In addition, the length of the stand column from the revolute joint for the supporting legs to the stand head may be greater than the length of the stand column from the revolute joint for the supporting legs to the floor.

It should also be mentioned that the revolute joint for the holding element (e.g. a tray) and/or the revolute joint for the supporting legs may has/have a lockable angular range of at least 90Â°, 135Â°, 180Â°, 235Â° or even 270Â°, to allow many different configurations. The revolute joint for the supporting legs may even have an unlimited angular range, such that the supporting legs can be rotated freely into the desired angular position.

It should additionally be mentioned that the term â€œstand columnâ€ used for the purposes herein should be understood in general terms and is not limited to straight, elongate tubes. Instead, the stand column may also consist for example of a frame structure or a plate. It is also possible for the stand column to be straight or curved or to have bend points. Furthermore, the stand column may optionally have a hollow profile or be solid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view of a stand according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention configured as a standing desk,

FIG. 1B is a plan view of the stand according to FIG. 1A,

FIG. 2A is a side view of another configuration of the same stand, this configuration likewise serving as a standing desk,

FIG. 2B is a plan view of the configuration according to FIG. 2A,

FIG. 3A is a side view of the same stand configured as an occasional table,

FIG. 3B is a plan view of the configuration according to FIG. 3A,

FIG. 4A is a side view of the same stand in a transport and storage position and

FIG. 4B is a plan view of the stand according to FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The drawings show an exemplary embodiment of a stand 1 according to the invention, which may for example be used as a notebook computer stand and moreover has many different possible applications, for example as a music stand or occasional table, as will be described below in detail.

The stand 1 comprises an elongate stand column 2, which bears a rotatably mounted roller 3 at its lower end, with which the stand column 1 stands on a floor 4. The roller 3 has a plurality of functions, which will be described below.

On the one hand the roller 3 is rotatable about an axis of rotation 5, which extends at right angles to the stand column 2, such that the stand 1 can be rolled away on the roller 3, so simplifying handling.

On the other hand the roller 3 serves as a counterweight for improving the stability and therefore has a mass of 8 kg. The center of gravity of the stand 1 is thus below the revolute joint 6.

In addition, the roller 3 extends considerably sideways, which contributes to making the stand 1 stable, since the roller 3 helps to prevent the stand 1 from tipping over.

In the middle area of the stand column 2 there is located a revolute joint 6 for two supporting legs 7.1, 7.2, the supporting legs 7.1, 7.2 being rotatable or foldable relative to the stand column 2 about an axis of rotation 8. The axis of rotation 8 of the supporting legs 7.1, 7.2 likewise extends at right angles to the stand column 2 and parallel to the axis of rotation 5 of the roller 3.

The two supporting legs 7.1, 7.2 rest with their free ends on the floor 4, such that the two supporting legs 7.1, 7.2, together with the lateral ends of the roller 5, form a stable 4-point support.

The revolute joint 6 here opens up the possibility for the two supporting legs 7.1, 7.2 of an infinitely variable swivel range Î± of more than 270Â°, as is shown in the drawings by broken lines. This relatively large swivel range of the supporting legs 7.1, 7.2 advantageously makes possible many different configurations of the stand 1, as will be described in detail below.

At its upper end the stand column 2 bears a stand head 9 with a further revolute joint 10 for inclinable mounting of a tray 11, on which a notebook computer or a speech script may be placed, for example. The tray 11 is rotatable about an axis of rotation 12, the axis of rotation 12 being oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the stand column 2 and parallel to the two axes of rotation 5, 8.

The revolute joint 10 here opens up the possibility of an infinitely variable free swivel range Î² of more than 180Â°, as is shown in the drawings by broken lines. This relatively large swivel range of the tray 11 advantageously makes possible many different configurations for different purposes, as will be described in detail below.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show the same stand 1 in a different configuration, which likewise serves as a standing desk. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the above description. A particular feature of this exemplary embodiment is that the two supporting legs 7.1, 7.2 are folded over to the opposite side of the stand column 2 from the tray 11.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show a further possible configuration of the stand 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which serves as an occasional table. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore again made to the above description.

A particular feature of this exemplary embodiment is that the two supporting legs 7.1, 7.2 have been folded a long way towards the stand head 9 and form an obtuse angle of roughly 115Â° with the free lower end of the stand column 2 below the revolute joint 6.

Accordingly, the tray 11 has likewise been folded further upwards and is inclined horizontally relative to the floor 4, such that items may be set down on the tray 11.

Finally, FIGS. 4A and 4B show a transportation and storage position of the stand 1, in which the stand legs 7.1, 7.2 are folded up such that the stand legs 7.1, 7.2 are disposed parallel to the stand column 2. In this transportation and storage position the free ends of the supporting legs 7.1, 7.2 project beyond the roller 3 at the lower end of the stand column 2, such that the free ends of the supporting legs 7.1, 7.2 stop the stand 1 from rolling away.

Furthermore, the tray 11 is likewise folded so far downwards that the tray 11 is parallel to the stand column 2. In the transportation and storage position the stand 1 thus advantageously takes up little space.

The invention is not limited to the above-described preferred exemplary embodiments. Instead, many variants and modifications are possible, which also make use of the concept of the invention and thus fall within the scope of protection.