Telescopic legs and tables

Abstract

A telescopic leg has a housing with a lift cylinder or mechanical screw jack type lift and an external track for adjustably coupling to a member. Such telescopic legs can be used to define a variety of table base configurations by providing multiple angularly aligned tracks in each leg for receiving cross supports which can be selectively coupled to a desired location along the tracks.

1 . A telescopic leg comprising: 
 an elongated leg defined by a housing having a generally cylindrical bore for receiving a lift member therein, at least one elongated track integrally formed in said housing externally to said bore, said track extending in parallel spaced relationship to the axis of said cylindrical bore and adapted to receive a fastener for coupling said leg to another member at a selected location along said track; and    a piston-actuated lift member mounted in said bore.    
   
   
       2 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 1  wherein said track is a generally T-shaped slot.  
   
   
       3 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 1  wherein said leg includes at least two elongated tracks extending in angular relationship with respect to each other and each including a generally T-shaped slot facing outwardly from the axis of the bore.  
   
   
       4 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 2  wherein said lift member is a hydraulic lift.  
   
   
       5 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 2  wherein said lift member is a screw jack.  
   
   
       6 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 1  wherein said leg is extruded.  
   
   
       7 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 6  wherein said leg is extruded of an aluminum material.  
   
   
       8 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 1  wherein said track is a T-shaped slot adapted to receive a T-shaped nut and wherein said leg includes a pin extending across said slot at a predetermined location to limit the motion of said nut in said slot.  
   
   
       9 . A telescopic leg comprising: 
 an elongated stationery leg defined by an extruded housing having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said lower end of said housing has an opening, said housing also including a generally cylindrical bore for receiving a lift member therein; said housing further including at least one elongated track integrally formed in said housing externally to said bore, said track extending in parallel spaced relationship to the axis of said cylindrical bore and facing outwardly for receiving a fastener for coupling said leg to another member at a selectable location along said track;    a lift member mounted in fixed relationship within said housing, said lift member including a piston actuated cylinder including a piston rod and a leg coupled to said piston rod for extending outwardly from said bore through said opening at said lower end of said housing, said lift member further including a mounting head at an end opposite said leg; and    a coupling member extending between said mounting head of said lift member and said housing for securing said lift member within said bore.    
   
   
       10 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 9  wherein said coupling member is a snap ring.  
   
   
       11 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 10  wherein said track is a generally T-shaped slot.  
   
   
       12 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 9  wherein said track is a T-shaped slot adapted to receive a T-shaped nut and wherein said leg includes a pin extending across said slot at a predetermined location to limit the motion of said nut in said slot.  
   
   
       13 . A telescopic leg comprising: 
 an elongated leg defined by an extruded housing having an upper end and a lower end, said housing including a generally cylindrical bore for receiving a lift member therein; said housing further including at least one elongated track integrally formed in said housing externally to said bore, said track extending in parallel spaced relationship to the axis of said cylindrical bore and facing outwardly for receiving a fastener for coupling said leg to another member at a selectable location along said track;    a lift member including a piston actuated cylinder mounted within said bore, said lift member including a piston rod and a leg coupled to said piston rod for extending outwardly from said bore at said lower end of said housing, said lift member further including a mounting head at an end opposite said leg;    a snap ring coupled to said upper end of said housing and to said mounting head of said lift member for securing said lift member within said bore; and    a cylindrical bushing extending between said bore and said leg at said lower end of said housing.    
   
   
       14 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 13  wherein said track is a T-shaped slot adapted to receive a T-shaped nut and wherein said leg includes a pin extending across said slot at a predetermined location to limit the motion of said nut in said slot.  
   
   
       15 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 13  and further including a glide adapter coupled to a lower end of said leg and to an end of said piston rod.  
   
   
       16 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 15  and further including a glide adjustably coupled to said glide adapter.  
   
   
       17 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 13  wherein said lift member is a hydraulic lift.  
   
   
       18 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 13  wherein said housing is extruded of an aluminum material  
   
   
       19 . The telescopic leg as defined in  claim 13  wherein said housing includes at least two elongated tracks extending in angular relationship with respect to each other and each including a generally T-shaped slot facing outwardly from the axis of said bore.