DE9001646U1 - Folding frame for supporting tables, tool boxes, etc. - Google Patents

Abstract

The top ends of collapsible legs (4, 5) which form an X-shaped cross and are connected like scissors are connected via connecting rods (7) to the underside of a box (3), a platform or the like which is to be supported, and can be locked in the uncollapsed state of the frame (3). <IMAGE>

Description

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EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS·''*····''··' MANITZ ₁ FINSTERWALD & ROTERMUND

Applicant:
Vladimir Rogic
Niedernauer Strasse 18
7000 Stuttgart-50

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GERMAN PATENT ATTORNEYS

DR. GERHART MANITZ · dipl.-phys.

MANFRED FINSTERWALD - dipl.-ins, dipl.-wirtsch.-ing.

HANNS-JÖRG ROTERMUND dipl-phys.

DR. HELIANE HEYN · dipl-chem.

WERNER 6RÄMKOW · Di»i..-msL<is30-:Ba3s

BRITISH. CHARTERED PATENT AC-^'T

JAMES U.MORGAN -e.sc>.--.Y5.j.D.MÄ

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S-VRSTi-K ÜEIM EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE

SEELBEHGSTRASSE ii. .5

D-7OOO STUTTGART 50 (BAD CANNSTATT)

TE ₁ -V. ON (0711)56 7261 TELEX 7254475paro

Fax 0711/569025

12 February 1990

Folding frame for supporting tables, tool boxes, etc.

The invention relates to a folding frame with X-shaped crossed and scissor-like foldable legs, which are arranged on the underside of a device to be supported, e.g. a table top, a tool box, another container, a frame or the like, and rest on the underside when folded.

Such folding frames are generally well known. However, they are often difficult to use, and what makes them even more difficult is that the operation is not very clear and therefore requires studying the instructions first.

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Deutsche B»»K AG 2I99I5 (BLZ 6&Ogr;&Ogr;7&Ogr;&Iacgr;7&Ogr;) Landesbank Stuttgart S 090 616 (Rl I. 60O ^r .'ll01) Cann.tatter Volhsbank 5OO Ø29 0O&euro; (BLZ 6OO 90&Lgr; O0) Pottgiroamt Stuttgaft 407 3&Lgr;-706 (BLZ 800 lOO 70)

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The object of the invention is to create a folding frame which is characterized by a particularly simple

& handling and, in addition, a price-

has a favorable construction.

$ This object is achieved according to the invention by

£ that the upper ends of the legs with; the bottom over

Handlebars are connected which - when viewed in the direction of the scissor axis - form mutually open angles with the associated legs and, when the legs are folded in or out, pivot about axes of the joints connecting these handlebars to the legs and the underside, which are parallel to the scissor axis, and that the handlebars can be locked in at least one position protruding downwards from the underside and associated with a position of use of the legs.

The folding frame according to the invention can be operated in a very simple and clear manner. To fold up the legs, the device to be supported, e.g. a worktop, only needs to be lowered to the floor after unlocking the handlebars; the legs then automatically rest against the underside of the device to be supported. To bring the legs back into the position for use, it is sufficient to lift the device to be supported, e.g. the tabletop, and let the legs fall down from the folded position - if necessary after activating a release; the position for use is then automatically reached.

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It is advantageous for the stability of the support that the feet of the legs can have a relatively large distance when they are unfolded - when viewed in the direction of the scissor axis. Nevertheless, the folding frame can be designed in such a way that the feet of the legs when folded up - when viewed in the direction of the scissor axis - only protrude slightly beyond the lateral ends of the underside; because the handlebars form open angles with the legs, the upper ends of the legs are each moved towards one end of the underside when folded up, while the respective legs approach the other end.

Furthermore, with regard to preferred features of the invention, reference is made to the claims and the following explanation of a particularly preferred embodiment based on the drawing.

In the drawing, the folding frame according to the invention is combined with a schematically shown tool container;

Fig. 1 a view of the folding frame in the unfolded position of use in the direction of its scissor axis,

Fig. 2 an intermediate position of the tilting frame between its position of use and its folded non-use position,

Fig. 3 another intermediate layer,

Fig. 4 the folded non-use position

of the folding gas part and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the joint between the upper ends of the legs and the associated handlebars.

A tool box 2 provided with handles 1 at its front ends is provided with a folding frame 3, which in its unfolded use position, which is shown in Fig. 1, enables the tool box 2 to be set up in an elevated position. To transport the tool box 2, the folding frame 3 can be brought into the transport or non-use position shown in Fig. 4, in which the tool box 2 can also be placed or used directly on the floor if necessary.

The folding frame 3 has legs 4 and 5 which are connected to one another in an X-shape and are arranged in pairs in such a way that - see also Fig. 5 - one leg 4 is arranged on one long side of the tool box 2 and one leg 4 is arranged on the other long side of the tool box 2. The same applies to the legs 5. Furthermore, the legs 4 on the one hand and the legs 5 on the other hand are connected to one another in a frame-like manner.

The legs 4 and the legs 5 are connected to each other by the scissor joint 6.

At the upper ends of the legs 4 and 5, links 7 are pivotably connected via joints 8. These links 7 are hinged with their other ends to bearing parts 9 on the underside of the tool box 2, in such a way that

that the links 7 form open angles «6 with the associated legs 4 and 5 when viewed in the direction of the axis of the scissor joint 6. The links 7 can therefore pivot relative to the legs 4 and 5 and relative to the tool box 2 about joint or bearing axes parallel to the axis of the scissor joint 6.

At the front ends of the tool box 2, further bearing parts 10 are arranged, on which levers 11 are pivotably mounted, which protrude with their free ends between two links 7 and are acted upon by springs (not shown) in such a way that the levers 11 each try to rest from above on the joint axes 12 of the joints 8 between the legs 4 and 5 and the links 7, as shown in Fig. 5.

As can be seen from Fig. 5, two levers 11 are connected to each other in a U-shape or frame-like manner. Furthermore, an arm 13 is attached to each pair of levers 11, the free end of which can be reached by a human hand grasping the adjacent handle.

On the longitudinal edges of the levers 11 facing the joint axes 12, there are preferably several recesses 14 aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the levers 11, which are open towards the aforementioned longitudinal edges and are dimensioned such that they can accommodate the joint axes 12.

The folding frame shown works as follows:

In the position of use of the legs and 5 shown in Fig. 1, the joint axes 12 of the joints 8 are each in accordance with

Fig. 5 in recesses 14 of the levers 11, so that the legs 4 and 5 are locked in the position of use. If necessary, the joint axis 12 of the legs 4 on the associated levers 11 can be accommodated in other recesses 14 than the joint axis 12 on the legs 5, provided that several recesses "!4 are arranged on each of the levers 11. This makes it possible to set up the tool box 2 at an angle relative to the ground, i.e. one end of the tool box has a greater distance from the ground than the other end.

If the folding frame 3 is to be brought into its transport or non-use position, the tool box is grasped by its handles 1 and slightly lifted; at the same time, the arms 13 are pushed away with the thumbs or fingers in the direction of arrow P from the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the levers 11 also pivot and the joint axes 12 of the joints 8 are released from the recesses 14 on the levers 11.

The tool box 2 can now be lowered, with the legs 4 and 5 successively passing through the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

As soon as the joint axes 12 of the ^joint 8 leave the area of the recesses 14 on the levers 11, the arms 13 of the levers 11 can be released. When the tool box 2 is lowered further, the lower ends of the levers slide over the facing longitudinal edges of the legs 4 and 5 or over sliding surfaces arranged on the legs 4 and 5 (not shown), so that the levers 11 are automatically pivoted towards the underside of the tool box 2.

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As soon as the transport or non-use position of the legs 4 and 5 shown in Fig. 4 is reached, the axis of the scissor joint 6 engages in a spring clip 15 arranged on the underside of the tool box 2.

If the folding frame is subsequently to be returned to its position of use as shown in Fig. 1, it is sufficient to lift the box 2 by its handles 1 and press slightly with your fingers on the feet of the legs 4 and 5 that protrude beyond the front ends of the box 2 until the axis of the scissor joint 6 disengages from the spring (15). The legs 4 and 5 then fall into their position of use, which is automatically locked by the spring-loaded levers 11 or the interaction of the recesses 14 on the levers 11 with the joint axes 12 of the joints 8.

Instead, it is also possible to first place the tool box 2 on the floor with the legs 4 and 5 in the transport or non-use position, press with the tips of your feet on the feet of the legs 4 and 5 that protrude beyond the front ends of the box 2 and then lift the box 2 by the handles 1 until the position of use of the legs 4 and 5 is reached.

Deviating from the embodiment shown in the drawing, instead of the levers 11, toggle lever arrangements can also be provided, which are arranged between the bearing parts and the joints 8 or their joint axes 12, i.e. the joints 8 or their joint axes 12 are connected to the bearing parts 10 by means of the toggle lever arrangements.

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The knee lever arrangements mentioned are designed in such a way that in their extended position, i.e. when they connect the joints 8 or their joint axes 12 and the bearing parts 10 in the view shown in Fig. t essentially in a straight line, they assume a position above the dead center which is stable against shear forces*.

the position of use of the folding frame 3 is also stably secured.

In principle, it is also possible to link the knee lever arrangements not to the joints 8 or the joint axes 12, but rather in their vicinity to the handlebars 7 or the legs 4 and 5.

It is also possible to design the levers 11 in the form of cubes, which are positively coupled to the joint axes 12 of the joints 8 in all positions of the legs 4 and 5.

Finally, 4 or 5 castors can be arranged on the feet of the legs in order to be able to easily move the toolbox 2, if necessary like a wheelbarrow.

Claims (9)

Rg 8 Claims: 1. Folding frame with X-shaped crossed and scissor-like connected foldable legs, which are arranged on the underside of a device to be supported - such as a table top, tool box, other containers, etc. - and in the folded state rest on or against the underside, dailyxch geiien..-*= * chnec, that the upper ends of the legs (4,5) are connected to the underside of the handlebars (7) which - when viewed in the direction of the scissors axis - form mutually open angles ( OC) with the associated legs (4,5) and when the legs (4,5) are folded in or out pivot about axes parallel to the scissors axis of the joints (8,9) connecting these handlebars (7) to the legs (4,5/ and the underside, and that the handlebars (7) can be locked in at least one position projecting downwards from the underside and associated with a position of use (Fig. 1) of the legs (4,5). 2. Folding frame according to claim 1, characterized in that levers (11) are arranged to lock the position of use, which support the upper ends of the legs (4, 5) or the lower ends of the handlebars (7) against the underside. 3. Folding frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the levers (11) are hinged on the underside to bearing parts (10) which - when viewed in the direction the scissor axis - are arranged offset to the side and outwards relative to the bearings (9) of the control arms (7). 4. Folding frame according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that recesses (14) open to one side are arranged on the levers (11) and which, in order to lock the position of use, receive the joint axes (12) of the joints (8) connecting the legs (4, 5) to the handlebars (7) or pins or the like arranged near the joint axes (12) on the legs (4, 5) or the handlebars (7). 5. Folding frame according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the recesses (14) are arranged on the long side of the levers (11) facing away from the underside, such that the levers (11) carry out a downward pivot to lock the position of use of the legs (4, 5). 6. Folding frame according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the links (11) are acted upon by springs which tend to force the links (11) into their position locking the links (4, 5) in the position of use. 7. Folding frame according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the links (11) are designed in the manner of clutches which captively receive the joint axes (12) of the joints (8) connecting the legs (4, 5) to the links (7) or the pins or the like arranged instead on the legs (4, 5) or the links (7). 8. Folding frame according to one of claims I to 7, characterized in that between the joints (8) connecting the legs (4, 5) with the handlebars (7) or the lower ends of the handlebars (7) or the upper ends of the legs (4, 5) and the bearing parts (10) attached to the underside, which - when viewed in the direction of the scissor axis - are arranged offset to the side in relation to the bearings (9) of the handlebars (7) on the underside, toggle lever arrangements are present, which have an extended position designed as an over-dead center position and assumed in the unfolded position of use of the legs (4, 5), in which thrust forces can be transmitted. 9. Folding frame according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that rollers are arranged on one of the legs (4 or 5).