Telescopic column, preferably for furniture

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Solution Overview

Problem

The proliferation of cables in electrically-driven lifting columns for tables and hospital beds leads to accidents, cable damage, and potential short-circuits due to entanglement and compression, as existing solutions primarily focus on guiding a single cable and do not effectively manage multiple cables.

Innovation Solution

A telescopic cable guiding device is integrated into the lifting column, using telescopic rods or tubes to securely guide cables, which can be placed inside or outside the column, allowing for flexible assembly and easy connection via plug modules, reducing the complexity and risk of cable management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cables are connected to the lifting column for power supply and equipment connections, then the functionality and connectivity of the system is improved, but the risk of cable entanglement, damage, and short-circuits increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconnectivityVSAvoidcable safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cable management system is segmented into multiple independent cable guides (23, 24, 25) that are telescopically arranged. Each cable guide independently channels a specific cable, preventing entanglement while maintaining multiple connections. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple cables without increasing the risk of damage or short-circuits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If existing cable guiding solutions are used, then single cable guidance is achieved, but multiple cable management remains problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable guiding simplicityVSAvoidmulti-cable capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cable guides are constructed as nested telescopic tubes (23, 24, 25) where smaller tubes are positioned within larger ones. This nested structure enables multiple cables to be guided simultaneously through a compact arrangement, maintaining the simplicity of individual cable guidance while achieving multi-cable management capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If cables are placed outside the lifting column, then cable accessibility is improved, but cable protection and organization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable accessibilityVSAvoidcable damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic cable guides act as intermediary structures between the internal lifting column mechanism and external cable connections. The guides extend outward to provide accessible cable exit points while simultaneously protecting cables from external damage, compression, and entanglement risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9675170B2Telescopic column, preferably for furniture

Publication Date: 2017.06.13 LINAK AS

AI summary

A telescopic lifting column (1) preferably for furniture, such as height adjustable tables and beds, and comprising at least two mutually telescopic members (2, 3, 4) and an electric drive unit (5, 10; 41, 42) for adjusting the telescopic members. The lifting column comprises a telescopic cable guiding device (22; 45, 58, 80, 103) for guiding at least one electric cable (29), where the telescopic cable guiding device extends between or in all essentials between the lower and upper end of the lifting column and is connected thereto so that the telescopic cable guiding device collaborates in the telescopic adjustment of the lifting column. Thus the cables may be guided in a protected manner.