EP0187922B1

EP0187922B1 - Prolongable table

Info

Publication number: EP0187922B1
Application number: EP85114847A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Estelio Bolzan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-12-18
Filing date: 1985-11-22
Publication date: 1989-10-11
Also published as: EP0187922A2; EP0187922A3; IT8459392V0; DE3573516D1; ATE47014T1

Abstract

Extensible table with rectangular extensible plane (8) sliding on a rectangular box under the table plane (6,6 min ) into which a table extension plane (9) is inserted; equipped with guide means in order to be extracted from the box under the table plane, after the shifting of the table plane (8), and shifted to the same plane of the table and rotated of 90 DEG horizontally to form the table extension plane; designed in a such a way that when the table plane is shifted in longitudinal direction towards the opposite end, leaving the extraction mechanism visible, so that it is possible: - to shift the above-mentioned extension panel (9), in longitudinal direction, - once the extension panel is extracted from the box: to rotate it of 90 DEG in order to have it positioned on the table box, so as to hook the extension panel to the table plane (8); in which the guide means meet the following requirements: - a tilting longitudinal guide bar (4) fixed at one end to an intermediate transversal bar support in the box under the table plane (7), being the guide bar inclinable downwards and upwards by means of an extremity two position support means (3) being the last one fixed inside the box (6) under the table plane opposite to said transversal bar support (7); - a pivoting flask (2) sliding longitudinally in said guide bar (4); - a hinging plate support (1) with hinging pin means (5) fixed under the table extension panel (9), to hinge said pivoting flask (2), so as to enable the shifting of said extension panel by means of: - longitudinal shifting of the panel (9) along the tilting guide bar (4), being this guide bar furtherly inclinable by means of the said two posion support means (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a one piece extensible table plane equipped with a system for the extraction, positioning and fixing of a whole extension panel at either longitudinal end of the table sliding plane, the table plane being longitudinally mobile on guides placed on a box under said table plane, see US-A-1 915 346 and the preamble of the annexed claim.
At the present state of the prior art, table extension systems of the type above mentioned are already known; namely systems equipped with a whole table plane sliding longitudinally on a box enabling an extension panel, articulated in order to be extracted and rotated from a housing position inside the box, to the extended plane position so as to realize the extension. One of these solutions is disclosed in Italian Patent Application No. 82505A/84 dated February 18th 1984 in the name of Montagner. This solution implies the use of a "U" shaped articulated arm placed upside-down inside the box, supporting a centrally hinged extension panel which can be rotated of 90° off the extension position. After shifting the above table plane the supporting "U" shaped articulated arm is turned over by lifting the extension plane over the box, and so placing it at the same level of the table plane. It is then rotated of 90° so as to be placed in the extension position. The table plane previously shifted is finally inserted by sliding and pushing it against the extension panel. As a result a table plane is extended on one end of it with no need to split it into two separate parts. This solution is successfully applied to rectangular table planes in order to extend them longitudinally with an additional extension plane on one end. However, the current used solutions are complex and can be hardly realized.
Further solutions with sliding plane are disclosed in US-A-1915346, but this solution provides the slidable plane divided in two parts and the respective prolongating device is placed in the intermediate position, the intermediate position being not easy to actuate.
One solution in which the prolongation device is placed at one end of the plane is disclosed in GB-A-345495, this solution not having the plane slidable, the extension flap of the prolongation structure being extractable at one end. This solution is difficult to actuate and the respective extension is not well supported when the extension is placed in prolongation.
The aim of this invention is to avoid said drawbacks.
The invention as claimed is intended to provide a remedy to the above-mentioned disadvantage. It solves the problem providing an extensible table with a rectangular table-top sliding on a rectangular box into which box an extension plate is inserted, the box and plate being equipped with guide means in order to allow extracting the extension plate from the box after the shifting of the table-top, and shifting the extension plate to the plane of the table-top and rotating it about a vertical axis through an angle of 90° to form the table extension plane; the table being designed in such a way that when the table-top is shifted in longitudinal direction towards the end, leaving the extraction mechanism visible, it is possible:

to shift the above-mentioned extension plate in longitudinal direction
once the extension plate is extracted from the box, to rotate it through an angle of 90° in order to have it positioned on the table box, so as to join the extension plate to the table-top;
characterized in that: the guide means comprise
a tilting longitudinal guide bar fixed at one end to an intermediate transversal support in the box under the table-top, the free end of the guide bar being inclinable downwards and upwards within support means fixed inside the box;
a carriage sliding longitudinally on said guide bar;
a plate support with a hinge pin fixed under the extension plate, on which pin said carriage hinges.

One way of carrying out this invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate some preferred embodiments, in which:-

Figures 1, 2 and 3, 4 show the table in a perspective view during its four phases necessary to perform the extension of the plane;
Figures 5, 6, 7 show a hinging plate which is fixed under the extension plate of the table, both in a plan and side view and in a transversal and longitudinal direction;
Figures 8, 9, 10 show a carriage "U" shaped, hinged to a plate support, respectively in a front, side and plan view;
Figures 11, 12, 13 a bar support means, in a front view from the interior of the box, in a side and plan view respectively, said support means being fixed to the head of the box in order to support and make mobile the head of the bar, so as to place it horizontally or inclined upwards to enable the extraction of the extension plane or its repositioning into the box;
Figure 14 shows a partial view of the table which is extended at the side of the extension in longitudinal axial section on the vertical plane.

According to the above figures and with reference to Fig. 14 it follows that:
Ref. 1 in Table 6/6 shows the plate support (1) equipped wiht a safety tooth (see detail in Fig. 5-7). The plate support (1) consists of a shaped plate bearing in the centre of it a hinging pin (5) and a safety tooth on one side. The above-mentioned hinging plate support (1) is fixed to the extension plate (9) by means of four lag screws.
In the same table the "U" shaped carriage (2) is shown (see detail in Fig. 14). Said carriage is drilled across the respective sides and centrally in its base to be hinged by said hinging pin (5) with the intermediation of said plate support (1) under the extension plate (9).
Ref. 3 in Fig. 14 shows the respective bar support means (see detail in Fig. 1113). Said support means which is shaped and drilled, is fixed on the right transversal side of the box (in Fig. 14) if the extension is intended from the left side. The function of this support means is to keep in guide the tubular guide bar shown at ref. 4 in Fig. 14 and to hook up the safety tooth of the hinging plate support (1). This last function enables to fix perfectly the extension once it is extracted.
Ref. 4 in Fig. 14 shows the guide bar of the machanism. The guide bar consists of a steel galvanized bar also in tubular shape of 8/10 mm. diameter, and of 500/520 mm. length, which is inserted between the two drilled sides of the "U" shaped carriage (2) the carriage (2) being rotatable into the hinging pin axis (5). The bar (4) has the function of keeping perfectly in guide the extension plate (9) of the table both when it is extracted and blocked and when it is reinserted.
Ref. 6 in Fig. 14 shows either the right or the left transversal side of the table box.
Ref 7 in Fig. 14 shows the transversal bar support of the guide bar 4. It is fixed to the two longitudinal sides of the table box.
Ref. 8 in Fig. 14 shows the table plane. The plane slides on two guides and enables the extraction of the extension.
Ref. 9 in Fig. 14 shows the extension plate sliding through the mechanism illustrated in section in Fig. 14 of Table 6/6. When the table is not extended, it looks like a surface with no slits, namely a common fixed table. On the contrary the extended table has a transversal slit only (see Fig. 4). The cost of this mechanism has been cut down to such an extent that can be now preassembled on all tables. As a result the production process is the same both for fixed and extensible tables. The whole side extension can be supplied only upon request. Whenever the plane is shifted on the guide, (see Fig. 2), the mechanism enables an extremely practical extraction of the whole extension panel which, after positioning, forms a single and steady body with the table plane.
Ref 5 in Fig. 14 shows the Seger cone. The Seger cone is positioned in the seat obtained in the central hinging pin of the hinging plate and its function is to prevent the hinged snap flask from slipping off the hinging plate. It is possible to fix steadily the connection between the extension and the hinging plate.
The main features of this new mechanism are: the guide bar 4 in Fig. 14 and its sliding and hooking system. The dynamic combination of these two basic features enables the whole mechanism to perform the extraction and repositioning of the extension in an extremely practical way. This simple mechanism preserves the utmost functionality and allows a considerable reduction of the manufacturing cost of the extension.

Claims

Extensible table with a rectangular table-top (8) sliding on a rectangular box (6, 6') into which box an extension plate (9) is inserted, the box and plate being equipped with guide means in order to allow extracting the extension plate from the box after the shifting of the table-top (8), and shifting the extension plate to the plane of the table-top and rotating it about a vertical axis through an angle of 90° to form the table extension plane; the table being designed in such a way that when the table-top (8) is shifted in longitudinal direction towards one end, leaving the extraction mechanism visible, it is possible:
to shift the above-mentioned extension plate (9) in longitudinal direction

once the extension plate is extracted from the box, to rotate it through an angle of 90° in order to have it positioned on the table box (6), so as to join the extension plate to the table-top (8);
characterized in that: the guide means comprise

a tilting longitudinal guide bar (4) fixed at one end to an intermediate transversal support (7) in the box (6, 6') under the table-top (8), the free end of the guide bar (4) being inclinable downwards and upwards within support means (3) fixed inside the box (6, 6'); a carriage (2) sliding longitudinally on said guide bar (4);

a plate support (1) with a hinge pin (5) fixed under the extension plate (9), on which pin said carriage (2) hinges.