Height adjustable furniture component

Abstract

A height adjustable furniture component has an elongate outer member and an elongate inner member. The outer member has a first end, a second end, and a shoulder at the first end. An inner member is telescopically received in the first end of the outer member to move longitudinally relative to the outer member. The inner member has at least two spaced apart grooves. A locking device in the form of a split ring is configured for selective engagement with the grooves of the inner member and configured such that when engaged with one of the grooves, a portion of the split ring projects from the periphery of the inner member to engage against the shoulder of the outer member to maintain the inner and outer members in their relative longitudinal positions.

1 . A height adjustable furniture component comprising: an elongate outer member having a first end, a second end, and a shoulder at the first end; an elongate inner member telescopically received in the first end of the outer member to move longitudinally relative to the outer member, the inner member having at least two grooves extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the inner member and which are spaced apart in the elongate direction of the inner member; and a split ring configured for selective engagement with the grooves of the inner member and configured such that when engaged with one of the grooves, a portion of the split ring projects from the periphery of the inner member to engage against the shoulder of the outer member to maintain the inner and outer members in their relative longitudinal positions.  
   
   
       2 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the split ring is made of a resilient material such that the resilience of the material biases the split ring into engagement with a groove of the inner member.  
   
   
       3 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the split ring is tapered and the shoulder of the outer member is tapered such that an inward force is provided on the split ring by the shoulder of the outer member to force the split ring into engagement with a groove of the inner member.  
   
   
       4 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the split ring comprises a portion which is generally wedge-shaped in cross section and a rib which extends inwardly from the generally wedge-shaped portion, which rib is configured for selective receipt in one of the grooves.  
   
   
       5 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the grooves of the inner member are annular grooves, and the wherein the rib of the split ring is an annular rib.  
   
   
       6 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the rib corresponds substantially to the cross-sectional shape of the grooves.  
   
   
       7 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the rib and grooves are substantially semi-circular in cross-section.  
   
   
       8 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the split ring has a width and a height, and wherein the width of the split ring is greater than the height of the split ring.  
   
   
       9 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the grooves are spaced substantially evenly along the inner member.  
   
   
       10 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer members are elongate tubular members.  
   
   
       11 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer member comprises a joining sleeve configured for attachment to a member to provide support to the furniture component, and the shoulder is part of the joining sleeve.  
   
   
       12 . A height adjustable furniture component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer member comprises a bush which provides a bearing surface against which the inner member can slide, and the shoulder is part of the bush.  
   
   
       13 . A height adjustable chair arm as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the grooves of the inner member are annular grooves.  
   
   
       14 . A height adjustable workstation comprising a worktop and one or more height adjustable components as claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       15 . A height adjustable chair arm comprising a height adjustable component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the inner and outer members is connected to a part of the chair, and the other of the inner and outer members supports an armrest.  
   
   
       16 . A height adjustable furniture component comprising: an elongate outer member having a first end, a second end, and a tapered shoulder at the first end; an elongate inner member telescopically received in the first end of the outer member to move longitudinally relative to the outer member, the inner member having at least two spaced apart annular grooves; and a split ring configured for selective engagement with the annular grooves of the inner member and configured such that when engaged with one of the grooves, a tapered surface of the split ring projects from the periphery of the inner member to engage against the tapered shoulder of the outer member which biases the split ring inwardly against the inner member and maintains the inner and outer members in their relative longitudinal positions.