Support foot

Abstract

The invention relates to a support foot, in particular for support frames for showers and bathtubs, comprising a connecting piece (4) with a central bore (42) which has an internal thread (43) which engages with a threaded rod (31) which is connected to a support part (2), and a receiving piece (71) for connection with a support frame (7), characterized in that the connecting piece (4) has a retaining dome (41) which can be connected to a retaining bushing (72) arranged on the receiving piece (71) in a form-fit and / or force-fit manner.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a support foot, in particular for support frames for shower trays and bathtubs, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] For the installation of shower trays or bathtubs, support frames are often used. These frames consist of several interconnected profiles placed on height-adjustable support feet. The height adjustment of the support feet allows the support frame to be adapted to different bathtub heights and to compensate for uneven floors.

[0003] Given the wide range of shower and bathtub products, support frames of varying heights are used, which necessitates the need for support feet of varying heights. To minimize the inventory of such support feet, DE 295 14 312 U1 proposes a height-adjustable support foot for support frames that is suitable for both tall and short support frames. For this purpose, the support foot has a threaded rod that is held to a tapered section of an inner support body via a nut and a lock nut. The inner support body has an external thread that engages with an internal thread of an outer support body. This telescopic arrangement achieves an extended height adjustment range.

[0004] The disadvantage of the previously known support leg is that it usually has to be adjusted in height before being placed under the support frame during installation. Especially in inaccessible locations, subsequent height adjustment of the support leg by screwing the inner support body into or out of the outer support body is often not possible.

[0005] Against this background, DE 20 2020 100 612 U1 proposes a support foot comprising two essentially hollow-cylindrical support bodies which are threadably engaged with one another and are connected to one another in an axially movable manner. An adjusting ring is arranged which is rotatably mounted on the first support body and which has an actuating drive via which the first support body can be rotated relative to the adjusting ring. The actuating drive is formed by a worm shaft which engages with a worm gear toothing arranged externally on the first support body. The support foot thus enables height adjustment even in hard-to-reach places. The second support body has a receptacle for a C-profile of a support frame, which is formed by a hollow cuboid-shaped passage. This previously known support foot has proven itself in practice.Due to the actuator provided, this support leg is oversized for some installation situations, for example, where the support leg positions are easily accessible. Furthermore, with the proposed mounts, it is necessary to slide it onto a C-profile before assembling the support frame.

[0006] Further support feet of the above-mentioned type are disclosed in FR 2 819 574 A1, DE 10 2020 119261 and DE 10 2005 058106 A1.

[0007] This is where the present invention comes in. The invention is based on the object of providing a height-adjustable support leg that is simple in design and allows for easy connection to a support frame. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a support leg having the features of the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

[0008] The invention provides a height-adjustable support foot that is simply constructed and allows for easy connection to a support frame. Because the connecting piece has a retaining dome that can be positively and / or non-positively connected to a retaining bushing arranged on the receiving piece, easy assembly of the support foot is possible even after the frame has been completed. The receiving piece can be integrated into the support frame as a single piece or as a separate component or separate assembly, or can be positively and / or non-positively connected to it. For example, the receiving piece can be inserted into a U-, C-, or hat-shaped profile and clamped therein using clamping devices, or screwed or glued to it.

[0009] The retaining dome has an external thread that can be screwed into an internal thread in the retaining bushing. Preferably, two diametrically opposed free surfaces are provided in the external thread of the retaining dome and in the internal thread of the retaining bushing, extending axially over their entire length, whereby the retaining dome can be inserted into the retaining bushing in a defined rotational position. This enables particularly fast assembly. In a rotational position in which the threaded sections of the retaining dome and the retaining bushing are each in the area of the free surface of the other part, there is no thread engagement and the retaining dome can be easily inserted into the retaining bushing.Subsequently, by rotating the retaining dome over the connecting piece, a threaded engagement of the external thread sections of the retaining dome with the internal thread sections of the retaining bush can be achieved, whereby an axial fixation of the retaining dome in the retaining bush and simultaneous tightening of the connection takes place.

[0010] A displaceably, rotatably, and / or pivotably mounted securing part is arranged on the receiving piece. It has a projecting locking piece that can be moved into a recess in the connecting piece, thereby locking the connecting piece in at least one direction of rotation. This prevents unintentional release of the support foot. A sawtooth-shaped locking piece, for example, can allow rotation of the connecting piece in the tightening direction; rotation is only blocked in the loosening direction.

[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the securing part is a slider slidably mounted on the receiving piece, which has an axially projecting locking piece that can be inserted into a recess in the connecting piece. Alternatively, the securing part can also be designed in the form of a pivoting rocker or a rotatable lever.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the securing part with the locking piece is axially preloaded by a spring element into a position of the locking piece that protrudes beyond the receiving piece. This results in the locking piece automatically engaging the connecting piece. Preferably, a stop is provided against which the securing part rests in this position.

[0013] In a further development of the invention, at least one extension piece is provided, which has a retaining dome at one end that can be positively and / or non-positively connected to a retaining bushing arranged on the receiving piece, and which has a retaining bushing at its opposite end that can be positively and / or non-positively connected to the retaining dome of the connecting piece. This enables the extension piece to be coupled between the connecting piece and the receiving piece.

[0014] Preferably, the support dome of the extension piece is configured to correspond to the support dome of the connecting piece. Particularly preferably, the support bushing of the extension piece is configured to correspond to the support bushing of the receiving piece. By coupling one or more extension pieces together, the height of the support foot can be adjusted as desired. Advantageously, at least two extension pieces (5) are provided, each of which has a different length from the other.

[0015] In a further development of the invention, an engagement for receiving the locking piece of the slide of the receiving piece is arranged on the extension piece, axially offset and radially spaced from the retaining dome. This allows the extension piece to be locked in the direction of rotation on the connecting piece, thus preventing unintentional release of the support foot.

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, a displaceably, rotatably, and / or pivotably mounted securing part is arranged on the extension piece. This securing part has a projecting locking piece that can be moved into a recess provided in the connecting piece, thereby blocking the connecting piece in at least one direction of rotation. This prevents unintentional release of the connecting piece. Preferably, the securing part is a slider displaceably arranged on the extension piece, which has an axially projecting locking piece that can be inserted into a recess provided in the connecting piece.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the securing part with the locking piece is axially preloaded by a spring element into a position where the locking piece protrudes beyond the extension piece. This ensures that the locking piece automatically engages the connecting piece. Preferably, a stop is provided against which the securing part rests in this position.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, a spring element is formed on the securing part, preferably a slider, arranged on the connecting piece and / or the extension piece. This spring element preloads the securing part with its locking piece. This results in a reduced component depth, simplifying production. The securing parts of the connecting piece and the extension piece are preferably identical.

[0019] In a further development of the invention, the extension piece has a central through-bore that is aligned with the retaining bushing. Preferably, the smallest diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the internally threaded bore of the connecting piece. This allows the threaded rod to extend into the through-bore, enabling the use of longer threaded rods.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the threaded rod has a screw head at its end, which is provided with a convex, spherical segment-shaped curvature. The support part comprises a bearing cup, which has a cup base with a concave indentation in which the screw head rests with its spherical segment-shaped curvature. This allows the support part to be adjusted to different angles on the threaded rod, thus enabling the angle of the support foot to be compensated for relative to the ground.

[0021] Further developments and refinements of the invention are specified in the remaining subclaims. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and described in detail below. They show: Figure 1: the schematic representation of a support foot a) in side view; b) in partial longitudinal section; Figure 2: the detailed representation of the slider of the support foot from Figure 1a ) in release position (out of engagement with connecting part; b) in blocking position (in engagement with connecting part); Figure 3 the spatial representation of a support profile with arranged support foot according to Figure 1 in longitudinal section; Figure 4 the representation of the support foot from Figure 1 in exploded view with additional spatial component representation; Figure 5 the schematic representation of the support foot from Figure 1 with a second extension piece; a) in side view; b) in partial longitudinal section; Figure 6 shows the support foot from Figure 5in exploded view with additional spatial component representation; Figure 7 the schematic representation of the support foot from Figure 1 without extension piece; a) in side view; b) in partial longitudinal section; Figure 8 the representation of the support foot from Figure 7 in exploded view with additional spatial component representation.

[0022] The support foot 1 chosen as an embodiment comprises a support part 2 which receives the screw head 32 of a screw 3, the threaded rod 31 of which is in threaded engagement with the internal thread of a connecting piece 4, which is connected via a holding dome 41 to an extension piece 5, which in turn is connected via its holding dome 52 to the connecting block 71 of a frame profile 7.

[0023] The support part 2 essentially consists of a bearing cup 21 and a locking ring 23 which is fastened to the bearing cup 21, whereby the screw head 32 is held in the bearing cup 21 via a spring ring 24. The bearing cup 21 is essentially cup-shaped and has a concavely curved cup base 211. A circumferential groove 212 is formed on the outside of the wall of the bearing cup 21. The screw head 32 of the screw 3 is provided on its upper side facing the cup base 211 with a convex, spherical segment-shaped curvature 321 which corresponds to the concave cup base 211. Radially extending grooves 322 are arranged on the underside of the screw head 32, into which axially angled projecting fingers 241 arranged on the spring ring 24 engage. The screw head 32 is held between the cup bottom 211 and the spring ring 24 in a rotationally fixed manner, but with limited pivoting.

[0024] The connecting piece 4 is essentially cylindrical and has a circumferential collar 46 at one end. A bore 42 provided with an internal thread 43 is formed centrally in the connecting piece 4. A retaining dome 41 is formed at a distance from the collar 46 and is provided with an external thread 44 interrupted by two diametrically opposed flanks 45. An engagement 47 is arranged in the collar at a distance from each flank 45.

[0025] The extension piece 5 is essentially hollow-cylindrical and has a retaining dome 51 at one end, which, corresponding to the retaining dome 41 of the connecting piece 4, is provided with an external thread 44 interrupted by two diametrically opposed free surfaces 45. Radially and axially spaced from the retaining dome 51, the extension piece 5 has an engagement 55 for receiving the locking piece 62 of the slide 6 of the receiving piece.

[0026] At its end opposite the retaining dome 51, a retaining bushing 54 is arranged in the extension piece 5. The retaining bushing 54 has an internal thread 541 interrupted by diametrically opposed flanks 542. The width of the flanks is slightly larger than the width of the sections of the external thread 44 of the connecting piece 4. The sections of the internal thread 541 of the retaining bushing 54 formed by the flanks 542 are somewhat narrower than the flanks 45 of the retaining dome 41 of the connecting piece 4. A through-bore 52 is guided centrally through the extension piece 5 and opens into the retaining bushing 54. The smallest internal diameter of the bore 52 is selected to be slightly larger than the diameter of the threaded rod 31 of the screw 3.

[0027] A receptacle is formed on the outside of the extension sleeve 5, in which a slide 6 is guided for axial displacement. The slide 6 has a recess 61 at its end facing the connecting piece 4, through which a locking piece 62 is formed for engaging with the engagement 47 of the connecting piece 4. In the exemplary embodiment, the locking piece 62 is cuboid-shaped. To block only one direction of rotation, the locking piece can also be triangular in the shape of a sawtooth, for example. On the side opposite the locking piece 62, a spring element 64 is arranged on the slide 6, by means of which it is pretensioned against the collar 46 of the connecting piece 4. A handle part 63 is provided on the outside of the slide 6. In the exemplary embodiment, the slide 6, with the spring element 64 arranged thereon, is designed as a one-piece plastic injection-molded part.

[0028] In the exemplary embodiment, the receiving piece 71 is designed as an integral component of a supporting frame profile 7. The receiving piece 71 has a retaining bushing 72 for receiving the retaining dome 51 of the extension piece 5. The retaining bushing 72 is designed to correspond to the retaining bushing 54 of the extension piece 5 and has an internal thread 73 interrupted by two diametrically opposed flanks 74. The width of the flanks 74 is slightly larger than the width of the sections of the external thread 53 of the retaining dome 51 of the extension piece 5. The sections of the internal thread 73 of the retaining bushing 72 formed by the flanks 74 are somewhat narrower than the flanks 542 of the retaining dome 51 of the extension piece 5.

[0029] A slider 6, which is identical to the slider of the extension piece 5, is axially displaceably mounted on the outside of the receiving piece 71. The slider 6 is axially biased against the extension piece 5 by the spring element 64, whereby the locking piece 62 is automatically moved into the engagement 85 of the extension piece 5.

[0030] To assemble a support foot according to the invention, the screw 3, which is received by the support part 2 with its screw head 32, is screwed with its threaded rod 31, onto which a lock nut 8 is previously screwed, into the internal thread 43 of the connecting piece 4. The length of the screw 3 or its threaded rod 31 depends on the required height of the support foot. The connecting piece 4, with its holding dome 41, is then inserted into the holding bushing 54 of an extension piece, wherein the holding dome 42 is first brought into a rotational position in which the two sections of its external thread 44 are positioned on the free surfaces 542 of the holding bushing 54. In this process, the slider 6 of the extension piece 5 is displaced against the preload of the spring element 64.

[0031] Subsequently, the connecting piece 4 is rotated by approximately 90° so that the sections of the external thread 44 are brought into engagement with the internal thread 541 of the retaining bushing 54. In this case, the engagement 47 of the connecting piece 4 is brought into alignment with the locking piece 62 of the slide 6, which is moved into the engagement 47 by the preload of the spring element 64. The connecting piece 4 is thus connected to the extension piece 5 in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0032] Depending on the required height of the support foot, another extension piece of the same or different length can subsequently be connected to this extension piece 5 in the same way.

[0033] The (outer) extension piece 5 is then inserted with its retaining dome 51 into the retaining bushing 52 of the receiving piece 71 of the support frame profile 7, with the retaining dome 51 again previously being brought into a rotational position in which the two sections of its external thread 53 are positioned on the free surfaces 74 of the retaining bushing 72. In this process, the slider 6 guided on the receiving piece 71 is displaced against the preload of the spring element 64.

[0034] Subsequently, the extension piece 5 is again rotated by approximately 90°, so that the sections of the external thread 53 of the retaining dome 51 are brought into engagement with the internal thread 73 of the retaining bushing 72 and the engagement 55 of the extension piece 5 is brought into alignment with the locking piece 62 of the slide 6, which is moved into the engagement 55 by the pretension of the spring element 64. The extension piece 5 is thus connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the receiving piece 71 and thus to the support profile 7.

[0035] In the event that only a very small height is required, the connecting piece 4 can also be connected directly to the receiving piece 71 of the support frame, wherein its holding dome 41 is inserted into the holding bushing 72 of the receiving piece 71 in the manner described above and by turning it through 90° the external thread 44 of the holding dome 41 is brought into engagement with the internal thread 73 of the receiving piece 71, wherein the locking piece 62 of the slide 6 displaceably mounted on the receiving piece is moved into the engagement 47 of the connecting piece by the pretension of the spring element 64.

[0036] Fine height adjustment can be achieved by turning the support part 2, which is connected to the screw via the fingers 241 of the spring washer 24, which engage the radial grooves 322 of the screw head 32. By turning the support part 2, the screw 3 with its threaded rod 31 can be screwed out of or into the connecting piece 4. Once the desired height is reached, it can be fixed by tightening the counter screw 8.

[0037] To use a screw length or a threaded rod length for different heights, the receiving piece 71 can also be provided with a through-hole that opens into the retaining bushing 72. If the threaded rod is too long, it can protrude through the through-hole. The excess length can then be shortened if necessary.

Claims

1. Support foot, in particular for support frames for shower trays and bathtubs, comprising a connecting piece (4) with a central bore (42), which has an internal thread (43), which is in threaded engagement with a threaded rod (31), which is connected to a support part (2), and a receiving piece (71) for connection to a support frame (7), wherein the connecting piece (4) has a retaining dome (41), which can be connected in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner to a retaining sleeve (72) arranged on the receiving piece (71), wherein the retaining dome (41) has an external thread (44), which can be screwed into an internal thread (73) provided in the retaining sleeve (72), characterised in that a displaceably, rotatably and / or pivotably mounted securing part is arranged on the receiving piece (71), which has a projecting locking piece (62), which can be moved into an engagement (47) provided in the connecting piece (4), whereby the connecting piece (4) can be blocked in at least one rotational direction.

2. Support foot according to claim 1, characterised in that two free surfaces (45, 74) are provided diametrically opposite one another in the external thread (44) of the retaining dome (41) as well as in the internal thread (73) of the retaining sleeve (72), extending axially over the entire length thereof, whereby the retaining dome (41) can be inserted into the retaining sleeve (72) in a defined rotational position.

3. Support foot according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the securing part is a slider (6) displaceably arranged on the receiving piece (71), which has an axially projecting locking piece (62), which can be inserted into an engagement (47) provided in the connecting piece (4).

4. Support foot according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the securing part with the locking piece (62) is pretensioned axially via a spring element (64) into a position of the locking piece (62) projecting beyond the receiving piece (71), wherein preferably a stop is arranged, against which the securing part rests in this position.

5. Support foot according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one extension piece (5) is provided, which has at one end a retaining dome (51) which is preferably designed to correspond to the retaining dome (41) of the connecting piece (4), which can be connected in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner to a retaining sleeve (72) arranged on the receiving piece (71) and which has at its opposite end a retaining sleeve (54) which is preferably designed to correspond to the retaining sleeve (72) of the receiving piece (71), which can be connected in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner to the retaining dome (41) of the connecting piece (4).

6. Support foot according to claim 5, characterised in that an engagement (55) for receiving the locking piece (62) of the securing part of the receiving piece (71) is arranged on the extension piece (5) axially offset and at a radial distance from the retaining dome (51).

7. Support foot according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that a displaceably, rotatably and / or pivotably mounted securing part is arranged on the extension piece (5), which has a projecting locking piece (62), which can be moved into an engagement (47) provided in the connecting piece (4), whereby the connecting piece (4) can be blocked in at least one rotational direction.

8. Support foot according to claim 7, characterised in that the securing part is a slider (6) displaceably arranged on the extension piece (5), which has an axially projecting locking piece (62), which can be inserted into an engagement (47) provided in the connecting piece (4).

9. Support foot according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the securing part with the locking piece (62) is pretensioned via a spring element (64) into a position of the locking piece (62) projecting beyond the extension piece (5), wherein preferably a stop is arranged, against which the securing part rests in this position.

10. Support foot according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterised in that a spring element (64) is formed on the securing part arranged on the connecting piece (4) and / or the extension piece (5), preferably a slider (6), via which the securing part is pretensioned with its locking piece (62), wherein the securing parts of the connecting piece (4) and extension piece (5) are preferably of identical design.

11. Support foot according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterised in that the extension piece (5) has a central through bore (52), which is aligned in the retaining sleeve (54) and whose smallest inner diameter is preferably larger than the inner diameter of the bore (42) of the connecting piece (4) provided with an internal thread (43).

12. Support foot according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterised in that at least two extension pieces (5) are arranged, which differ in length from one another.

13. Support foot according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the threaded rod (31) has a screw head (32) at its end, which is provided with a convex, spherical segment-shaped curvature (321), wherein the support part (2) comprises a bearing cup (21), which comprises a cup base (211) with a concavely formed indentation, in which the screw head (32) rests with its spherical segment-shaped curvature (321).

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