DE20118182U1 - table tennis table - Google Patents

Description

Dipl.-Chem. E.L. FRITZ Dr. Dipl.-Phys. R. BASFELD Patent attorneys Wl. HOFFMANN

B. HEIN Lawyers

Ostentor 9 59757 Arnsberg

GM 01/102 06.11.2001/BA/SE

Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstrasse 28

59469 Ense

"Table tennis table"

■ -1-

The present invention relates to a table tennis table comprising a base frame and two playing surface plates, wherein the base frame in the middle region of the table tennis table across the width of the table tennis table comprises vertical struts that are opposite one another and serve as support elements, as well as vertical guide means on which guide parts of fastening units attached to the playing surface plates can be moved up and down, so that the playing surface plates can be transferred from a first position in which the playing surface plates are aligned vertically and the guide parts are arranged in a lower position, to a second position in which the playing surface plates are aligned horizontally and the guide parts are arranged in an upper position.

A table tennis table of the aforementioned type is known from DE 299 01 458 U1. The table tennis table described therein can be transferred from a transport position, in which the playing surface panels are aligned vertically, to a playing position by folding the playing surface panels from the vertical position to the horizontal position. Furthermore, the table tennis table has roller feet arranged in the middle area, with which the table tennis table can be easily transported in the transport position. In addition, this table tennis table also has fold-out support struts enclosed by the base frame, which can also be supported by cross struts.

A disadvantage of state-of-the-art table tennis tables is that the vertical guide means are designed as separate vertical guide tubes. This design is relatively complex and associated with corresponding costs in terms of manufacturing.

The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a table tennis table of the type mentioned above which is simpler in construction and can be manufactured more cost-effectively.

This is achieved according to the invention in that the guide means are formed on the vertical struts that serve as support elements. This measure makes it possible to save on the separate guide tubes.

The vertical struts can have a substantially U-shaped or C-shaped cross-section. The U-profile or C-profile of the vertical struts can be manufactured as a simple bent sheet metal part, for example, so that the production of the vertical struts is extremely cost-effective. Furthermore, the U-profile or C-profile of the connecting struts can cover the internal moving parts of the vertical guides towards the user, so that on the one hand greater operating safety and on the other hand an extremely attractive appearance can be achieved.

In particular, the cross-section of the vertical struts can each have a U-leg and outer legs extending essentially vertically away from these, wherein the outer legs can have a bent edge at their end facing away from the U-leg. The bent edge can extend vertically away from the respective outer leg. The bent edges can each extend from the outer legs away from each other or towards each other.

According to the invention, it is further provided that the guide part has at least one contact section which rests against one of the side surfaces of one of the outer legs.

· ■ ·

The construction according to the invention offers the advantage that sufficient stability is ensured due to the U-shaped or C-shaped design of the vertical struts. On the other hand, the outer legs of the vertical struts can serve as contact surfaces for the corresponding contact sections of the guide parts.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide parts can each have two contact sections that rest on the opposite side surfaces of one of the outer legs. This achieves secure vertical guidance of the guide parts.

Advantageously, the guide part can grip around the bent edge of the corresponding outer leg. This ensures that even if the active connection between the guide part and the outer leg is subjected to strong external stress, the guide part cannot be pulled off the outer leg. This ensures that even if the folding mechanism of the table tennis table is handled improperly, the guide part cannot be pulled off the corresponding outer leg of the vertical strut.

According to the invention, a guide part of a fastening unit can be provided on each of the outer legs of both vertical struts. Furthermore, the fastening units can each comprise an attachment part that is attached to the underside of one of the playing surface panels.

Preferably, the vertical struts are each attached to a connecting strut, which can connect individual roller base units arranged next to one another.

-4-

Advantageously, the table tennis table can have a support means on the inside of each of the vertical struts in the lower area thereof, on which the inside end faces of the playing surface panels can be supported in their vertical positions, wherein the support means is preferably designed as a support angle attached to the vertical strut. This support means ensures that when a force is exerted on the playing surface panel or panels in the vertical position from above, the load is placed on the support means rather than on the guide mechanism, i.e. in particular not on the fastening units with the guide part, so that damage to the guide mechanism can be largely prevented by the support means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible for the table tennis table to further comprise two upper and two lower safety levers on each of the vertical struts, which are pivotably arranged on the vertical struts and have locking surfaces which, in a first position of the safety levers, enable the guide part(s) to move up and/or down and which, in a second position of the safety levers, prevent the guide parts from moving up and/or down. The safety levers can prevent a table tennis table in a vertical position from being accidentally folded out of this position or a table tennis table in a horizontal position from being accidentally folded upwards.

· Preferably, it can be provided that actuating levers for pivoting the safety levers are provided on the upper safety levers, whereby the upper safety levers

ti «; · &ogr; ·-·

ti'» · * «13

-5-
and the lower safety levers are connected to one another so that a pivoting movement of the upper safety levers causes a corresponding pivoting movement of the lower safety levers, the connection between the respective upper and lower safety levers preferably being made via a substantially vertically aligned transmission rod. By connecting the upper and lower safety levers, the lower operating levers can be dispensed with, so that the user can also fold the playing surface panels out of the vertical into the horizontal position, in particular by operating the ergonomically arranged upper operating levers.

Advantageously, it can also be provided that the upper safety levers on each of the vertical struts are connected to one another by means of a spring means, so that when the operating lever is not actuated, the spring means pivots the upper safety means into a position in which the locking surfaces prevent the guide parts from moving up and/or down. By providing such spring means, the operating safety of the table tennis table according to the invention is thus further increased, because when the operating lever is not actuated, the table tennis table is automatically in a state in which the playing surface panels cannot be folded.

■■■■'.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a

Table tennis table according to the invention with playing surface folded up on one side;

Fig. 2 a perspective detailed view of the table tennis table

according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-section through a vertical strut of the table tennis table according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view from the inside of

a vertical strut of the table top according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a schematic side view from the inside of a

Vertical strut and parts of the construction of another

Embodiment of a table tennis table according to the invention.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, a table tennis table according to the invention comprises two playing surface plates 1, which can be made of wood, aluminum or plastic, for example, and can be folded up separately from one another. The playing surface plates 1 are either held for transport or supported in a horizontal position for playing by means of a base frame 2, which is also included in the table tennis table according to the invention.

-&Igr;&Oacgr; as- Subframe 2 comprises, on the one hand, in its outer areas, i.e.

i.e. vertical support struts 3 on the front sides of the playing surface panels 1 and also approximately in the middle area four roller base units 4, each consisting of two wheels and each connected in pairs to a connecting strut 5 that extends a little way upwards from the roller base units 4 and then runs horizontally. The base frame 2 thus comprises two connecting struts 5, which are arranged approximately centrally on opposite sides of the table tennis table. Two vertical struts 6 extend upwards from the connecting struts 5, which support the playing surface panels 1 in the middle area of the table tennis table in the position of use in a manner described in more detail below.

For better stabilization of the playing surface plate 1, the base frame 2 further comprises cross braces 14 in the conventional manner, which are hinged to the connecting braces 5, the support braces 3 and the undersides of the playing surface plates 1.

Fig. 3 shows a vertical strut 6 in section. The vertical strut 6 essentially has a U-shaped or C-shaped cross-section with a central U-leg 7, which at both ends merges into outer legs 8, which extend essentially perpendicularly away from the U-leg 7, inwards in the direction of the opposite vertical strut 6. The outer legs 8 have a bent edge 9 at their ends facing away from the U-leg 7, which extends essentially perpendicularly away from the outer legs 8, in outwards when the vertical strut 6 is installed, i.e.

i.e. to the front sides of the playing surface panels 1. However, according to the invention it is also possible for the bent edge 9 to extend inwards so that both bent edges 9 extend towards each other.

Guided fastening units 10 interact with this essentially U-shaped or C-shaped vertical strut 6, two of which are arranged approximately in the area of the mutually facing lower inner sides of the playing surface panels 1. The fastening units 10 comprise, on the one hand, an attachment part 11, which is screwed, for example, under the playing surface panel 1. On the other hand, the fastening units 10 comprise a guide part 12, which in each case encompasses one of the outer legs 8 together with the bent edge 9 arranged thereon. In particular, the guide part 12 has two contact sections 13, which rest on opposite sides of the corresponding outer leg 8. Due to the fact that the bent edge 9 is also encompassed by the guide part 12, the fastening unit 10 is securely attached to the vertical strut 6.

In order to fold one of the playing surface panels 1, for example the playing surface panel 1 shown on the right in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 2, from the vertical position into the horizontal position, the guide part 12 of the fastening unit 10 on the outer leg 8 of the vertical strut 6 is moved upwards by exerting a force on the upper end of the playing surface panel 1 to the right in Fig. 1. When the guide part 12 has reached the upper edge area of the vertical strut 6, the playing surface panel 1 is in the horizontal position for use.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the inside of one of the two vertical struts 6. Fig. 4 also shows the two guide parts 12, which can slide up and down on the two outer legs and on the bent edge 9 of these outer legs 8. Fig. 4 also shows that two upper and two lower safety levers 15 are arranged on the vertical strut 6. The safety levers 15, 16 serve to

-9-

to prevent unwanted movement of the guide parts 12 upwards or downwards.

The two upper safety levers 15 are attached to the vertical strut 6 in the area of a rotation axis 17. One leg of the upper safety lever 15 extends upwards from the rotation axis 17, with this leg having an actuating lever 18 at the end and a locking surface 19 which rests or can be placed on the leg 8 of the vertical strut 6. In the case of the left-hand safety lever 15 in Fig. 4, the locking surface 19 rests against the leg 8, whereas in the case of the upper right-hand safety lever 15 in Fig. 4, the locking surface 19 is pivoted away from the leg 8, so that the guide part 12 attached to the right-hand leg 8 and the edge 9 connected to it can slide downwards past the locking surface 19. In contrast, a guide part 12 mounted above the left upper safety lever 15 could not be moved downwards due to the locking surface 19 in contact with the outer leg 8.

To release the downward movement of the guide part 12, a user can move the actuating lever 18, which as can be seen in Fig. 2 protrudes outwards through openings in the vertical strut 6 and can thus be gripped from the outside, inwards. For example, the upper left safety lever 15 in Fig. 4 could be pivoted a little way clockwise around the rotation axis 17 by moving the actuating lever 18 to the right so that the locking surface 19 is pivoted away from the leg 9, as is shown in Fig. 4 at the top right with the upper right safety lever 15.

From Fig. 4 it is also clear that the two safety levers 15 are connected to each other by means of a spring 20. This spring 20 acts on a second leg of the safety lever 15, which

•♦ · ·

extends downwards from the rotation axis 17. The spring 20 causes the two second lower legs of the safety lever 15 to be pulled towards each other after the user releases the operating lever 18. By pulling the lower legs together in this way, the upper legs of the safety lever 15 are simultaneously moved outwards away from each other. This then causes the locking surfaces 19 to rest against the outer legs 8. By providing the spring 20, a downward movement of the guide part 12 is automatically prevented by the locking surface 19 resting on the outer leg 8. This blocking by the locking surface 19 can be released by the user by moving the operating lever(s) 18 inwards. The locking surfaces 19 are attached to the safety levers 15 in such a way that even if additional force is applied to the guide parts 12, for example by exerting pressure on the playing surface panels 1, the locking surfaces cannot pivot inwards because the guide parts 12 rest on the locking surfaces 19 in an area that is further out or closer to the legs 8 than the rotation axes 17 of the safety levers 15 arranged somewhat further down. This results in a good securing of the upper positions of the guide parts 12 and thus of the playing surface panels 1 using simple means.

From Fig. 4 it is also apparent that the lower safety levers 16 are also attached to the vertical strut 6 in the area of the pivot axes 21. From these pivot axes 21, a leg of the safety lever 16 extends downwards, ending in a locking surface 22. The locking surface 22 on the left side of Fig. 4 in turn rests against the outer leg 8, and thus prevents the guide part 12 from moving upwards in Fig. 4. The locking surface 22 on the lower right side in Fig. 4 is pivoted away from the outer leg 8, so that a guide part 12 located below the safety lever 16 can be pushed upwards on the

**

-11- Safety lever
16 could be guided past. The locking surfaces 22 and the safety lever 16, like the locking surfaces 19 of the safety lever 15, are arranged further out or closer to the legs 8 than the corresponding axes of rotation 21, so that when force is applied to the guide parts 12, these cannot be moved upwards when the locking surfaces 22 are in contact with the legs 8.

It can also be seen from Fig. 4 that the upper and lower safety levers 15, 16 arranged on one side are connected to one another by a transmission rod 23. This transmission rod 23 engages the lower leg of the upper safety lever 15 or an upper leg of the lower safety lever 16 extending upwards from the rotation axis 21. The transmission rod 23 ensures that by moving the actuating lever 18, not only the corresponding upper left or right safety lever 15, but also the lower safety lever 16 connected to it via the transmission rod 23 is pivoted in accordance with the movement of the actuating lever 18. For example, by moving the actuating lever 18 of the upper left safety lever 15 to the right in Fig. 4, the attachment point of the transmission rod 23 on the safety lever 15 could be moved upwards. However, this also causes the attachment point of the transmission rod 23 on the lower left safety lever 16 to move upwards and to the left in Fig. 4, whereby the lower safety lever 16 is pivoted counterclockwise so that the locking surface 22 is moved away from the leg 8. The end position of this pivoting movement is shown on the right-hand side in Fig.

4, where both the operating lever 18 of the upper right safety lever 15 is moved completely inwards or to the left, and both locking surfaces 19, 22 of the right safety levers 15, 16 are pivoted away from the leg 8.

By operating the operating lever 18, both the upper and the lower corresponding safety lever 15, 16 arranged on this side can be pivoted so that the movement of the guide part 12 is released.

The opposing operating levers 18 are not connected to one another, so that in order to fold a playing surface panel, the opposing operating levers 18 must be operated one after the other.

. -

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of a table tennis table according to the invention. In this further embodiment, instead of a connecting strut that extends a little way upwards and then runs horizontally, a connecting strut 24 that only extends horizontally is provided. The vertical strut 6 that extends upwards from this is attached directly to this connecting strut 24. Furthermore, Fig. 5 also shows at least part of the safety levers 15, 16 and the transmission rod 23 that connects them. The upper safety lever 15 is shaped slightly differently than the one shown in Fig. 4, but is functionally constructed in the same way.

In addition to the elements shown in Fig. 4, the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 also has a support means 25, which is attached to the lower part of the vertical strut 6 and extends inwards and is designed as a support angle, which has two support pads 26 on its upper side for supporting the inner end faces of the playing surface panels 1. The support angle ensures that when a force is exerted on the playing surface panel 1 in the vertical position (see right-hand side in Fig. 5) from above, it is not the guide mechanism, i.e. in particular the fastening units 10 with the guide part 12, but the support angle that absorbs this force, so that no damage to the

■*:·■!

-13- guide mechanism. Such a support angle can of course also be used in accordance with the invention in the embodiments according to Fig. 1 to Fig.

Vi Ix i >&Ggr;/ \ &Pgr;

&Ggr;;::· &Ogr;Vi Ix i

Claims (15)

1. Table tennis table comprising a base frame ( 2 ) and two playing surface plates ( 1 ), wherein the base frame ( 2 ) in the middle region of the table tennis table ( 2 ) across the width of the table tennis table comprises vertical struts ( 6 ) serving as support elements, which are opposite one another, as well as vertical guide means, on which guide parts ( 12 ) of fastening units ( 10 ) attached to the playing surface plates ( 1 ) can be moved up and down, so that the playing surface plates ( 1 ) can be transferred from a first position, in which the playing surface plates ( 1 ) are aligned vertically and the guide parts ( 10 ) are arranged in a lower position, to a second position, in which the playing surface plates ( 1 ) are aligned horizontally and the guide parts ( 12 ) are arranged in an upper position, characterized in that the guide means are formed on the vertical struts ( 6 ) serving as support elements. 2. Table tennis table according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical struts ( 6 ) have a substantially U-shaped or C-shaped cross-section. 3. Table tennis table according to claim 2, characterized in that the cross section of the vertical struts ( 6 ) each has a U-leg ( 7 ) and outer legs ( 8 ) extending essentially perpendicularly away from this, wherein the outer legs ( 8 ) have a bent edge ( 9 ) at their ends facing away from the U-leg ( 7 ). 4. Table tennis table according to claim 3, characterized in that the bent edge ( 9 ) extends perpendicularly away from the outer legs ( 8 ). 5. Table tennis table according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the bent edges ( 9 ) extend from the outer legs ( 8 ) away from each other or towards each other. 6. Table tennis table according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the guide part ( 12 ) has at least one contact section ( 13 ) which rests against one of the side surfaces of one of the outer legs ( 8 ). 7. Table tennis table according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the guide part ( 12 ) has two contact sections ( 13 ) which rest on the opposite side surfaces of one of the outer legs ( 8 ). 8. Table tennis table according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the guide part ( 12 ) engages around the bent edge ( 9 ) of the corresponding outer leg ( 8 ). 9. Table tennis table according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that a guide part ( 12 ) of one of the fastening units ( 10 ) engages each of the outer legs ( 8 ) of both vertical struts ( 6 ). 10. Table tennis table according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the fastening units ( 10 ) each comprise an attachment part ( 11 ) which is fastened to the underside of one of the playing surface plates ( 1 ). 11. Table tennis table according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the vertical struts ( 6 ) are each fastened to a connecting strut ( 5 ) which connects the roller base units ( 4 ) to one another. 12. Table tennis table according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the table tennis table has on the inside of each of the vertical struts ( 6 ) in its lower region a support means ( 25 ) on which the inside end faces of the playing surface plates ( 1 ) can be supported in their vertical positions, wherein the support means ( 25 ) is preferably designed as a support angle attached to the vertical strut ( 6 ). 13. Table tennis table according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the table tennis table further comprises two upper and two lower safety levers ( 15 , 16 ) on each of the vertical struts ( 6 ), which are pivotably arranged on the vertical struts ( 6 ) and have locking surfaces ( 19 , 22 ) which, in a first position of the safety levers ( 15 , 16 ), enable an up and/or down movement of the guide part(s) ( 12 ) and which, in a second position of the safety levers ( 15 , 16 ), prevent an up and/or down movement of the guide parts ( 12 ). 14. Table tennis table according to claim 13, characterized in that actuating levers ( 18 ) for pivoting the securing levers ( 15 , 16 ) are provided on the upper securing levers ( 15 ), wherein the upper securing levers ( 15 ) and the lower securing levers ( 16 ) are connected to one another so that a pivoting movement of the upper securing levers ( 15 ) causes a corresponding pivoting movement of the lower securing levers ( 16 ), wherein the connection between the respective upper and lower securing levers ( 15 , 16 ) preferably takes place via a substantially vertically aligned transmission rod ( 23 ). 15. Table tennis table according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the upper securing levers ( 15 ) on each of the vertical struts ( 6 ) are connected to one another by means of a spring means, so that when the actuating lever ( 18 ) is not actuated, the spring means pivots the upper securing means ( 15 ) into a position in which the locking surfaces ( 19 , 22 ) prevent the guide parts ( 12 ) from moving up and/or down.