EP0577510A1 - Plastic table - Google Patents

Abstract

The table comprises on the one hand a flat top (1) having a descending skirt (20) around its perimeter, and on the other hand a supporting structure (2) comprising an eccentric belt (3) of constant cross-section projecting downwards and defining an upwardly-open recess, the flat top being held in position on the supporting structure, so as to form a surface, by means of attachments engaging with the supporting structure (2) whose eccentric belt (3) is provided with legs (19). According to the invention, the supporting structure (2) is a network of integral members of constant cross-section (3 to 6, 8 to 11, 27) without connecting webs, such that the top rests (1) solely on the edges of said members; moreover said structure (2) comprises a peripheral belt (4) with which the abovementioned attachments engage, this peripheral belt (4) and the skirt (20) of the top thus forming a thick element providing purchase for the hand on the table when moving it. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a plastic table preferably for the outdoors.

French Patent No. 1,442,480 describes such a table which comprises a flat upper plate resting on a support structure, the plate and the structure being made of preferably reinforced synthetic resin.

The supporting structure is a plate on which protruding downwardly U-shaped profiles are formed, open at the top of the side of the plate. These sections constitute an eccentric belt having in plan a rectangular outline and crosspieces connecting the long sides of this belt are connected by crosspieces.

The tray and the structure have peripheral edges spaced from the aforementioned belt and fitted one into the other.

The attachment of the plate to the structure can be carried out by gluing or by means of clamps or other locking elements connecting the edges together.

Feet are attached to the eccentric belt of the supporting structure.

This known table has the advantage of being robust and non-deformable, but the disadvantage of being relatively expensive due to the nature of the materials used, their weight, the existence of the plate and for carrying out the bonding. Another disadvantage lies in the fact that the grip of the hands to move the table is carried out on thin edges giving the impression of fragility.

The present invention aims to lighten the table to reduce the cost and give this table an impression of comfort by "giving it a hand", that is to say by sizing it so that all the parts to take are relatively thick.

It also aims to make it possible to produce at least two tables of different sizes above, by only changing the upper plate.

Finally, it aims to allow the transformation in a simple way, of a monobloc table into an extending table, simply by cutting the monobloc table into two halves and equipping it with slides and clamping devices making it possible to lock the table with or without extension.

• la structure porteuse est un réseau de profilés faisant corps entre eux et exempt de voile de liaison, de sorte que le plateau repose uniquement sur les bords desdits profilés,
• et ladite structure comporte une ceinture périphérique avec laquelle les éléments de clipsage précités coopèrent, cette ceinture périphérique et la jupe du plateau formant ainsi un élément épais donnant de la main pour la prise de la table lors de son déplacement.

To achieve this object, the present invention proposes to use the following means in the known table: on the one hand, a flat plate provided in the margin a downward skirt and, on the other hand, a supporting structure having an eccentric profiled belt projecting downward and delimiting a hollow open upwards, the flat plate being held on the supporting structure so as to constitute a top by clip elements cooperating with the support structure, the eccentric belt of which is provided with feet,
and in accordance with the invention:

• the supporting structure is a network of profiles which are integral with each other and free of connecting veil, so that the plate rests only on the edges of said profiles,
• and said structure comprises a peripheral belt with which the aforementioned clip elements cooperate, this peripheral belt and the skirt of the plate thus forming a thick element giving the hand to grip the table during its movement.

According to a first particularly advantageous embodiment, the supporting structure is capable of cooperating with a plate having the same contour as the peripheral profiled belt or with at least one larger plate having, in addition to the above-mentioned skirt, a marginal skirt projecting under the overhanging marginal part of this large plateau.

The void between the two skirts of the tray is filled by sections of U-shaped profiles placed end to end and open at the top, clipping elements ensuring the fixing of the peripheral skirt with the outer wing of said added profiles, to give hand.

The eccentric belt has a rectangular outline in plan and is connected to the peripheral belt by bracing profiles, the longitudinal profiles of said eccentric belt being interconnected by at least one median profiled cross member and with the latter as well as with the transverse profiles of this belt by profiles arranged in a cross.

According to a second embodiment, the top is divisible into two halves capable of being placed end to end or against at least one extension; a tubular slide is then mounted in the two halves of each longitudinal profile of the eccentric belt to support an extension when the top halves are spaced from each other, the wings of each half of the longitudinal profile cooperating with a device tightening tending to bring them together to immobilize by pinching the corresponding slide.

Various other characteristics and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the detailed description which follows.

Embodiments of the subject of the invention are shown, by way of nonlimiting examples, in the accompanying drawing.

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des plans vus de dessous illustrant une première forme de réalisation respectivement d'une petite table monobloc et d'une grande table monobloc, conformes à l'invention,
• la figure 3 est un plan vu de dessus montrant une deuxième forme de réalisation de la grande table selon la figure 2 pour qu'elle puisse être équipée d'une rallonge,
• la figure 4 est une vue agrandie du détail cerclé sur la figure 2 et désigné par la flèche F,
• la figure 5 est une section prise suivant la ligne V-V de la figure 4,
• les figures 6 à 8 sont des sections prises à la même échelle que la figure 5 suivant les lignes VI-VI à VIII-VIII respectivement de la figure 2.
• la figure 9 est une vue analogue à la figure 8 prise à la même échelle suivant la ligne IX-IX de la figure 2 lorsque la table est transformée pour devenir une table à rallonge conforme à la figure 3,
• les figures 10 et 11 sont des schémas analogues à la figure 9, mais à plus petite échelle montrant le verrouillage d'une table à rallonge,
• la figure 12 est une vue analogue à la figure 5, mais à échelle différente, représentant une troisième forme de réalisation de la table selon la figure 1 ou 2.
• la figure 13 est une vue analogue à la figure 12, se rapportant à une variante de réalisation.

On this drawing :

• FIGS. 1 and 2 are plans seen from below illustrating a first embodiment respectively of a small one-piece table and a large one-piece table, in accordance with the invention,
• FIG. 3 is a plan seen from above showing a second embodiment of the large table according to FIG. 2 so that it can be equipped with an extension,
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the detail circled in FIG. 2 and designated by the arrow F,
• FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line VV of FIG. 4,
• Figures 6 to 8 are sections taken on the same scale as Figure 5 along lines VI-VI to VIII-VIII respectively of Figure 2.
• FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 taken on the same scale along the line IX-IX of FIG. 2 when the table is transformed to become an extending table in accordance with FIG. 3,
• FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams similar to FIG. 9, but on a smaller scale showing the locking of an extension table,
• FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but on a different scale, showing a third embodiment of the table according to FIG. 1 or 2.
• Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12, relating to an alternative embodiment.

Two tables of different dimensions are shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 8 to illustrate a first embodiment.

Each of these monoblock tables has a top formed by a flat tray 1 moldable without defect and by a supporting structure 2 concealed by the tray which rests on it. The plate and the structure are made of plastic, such as polypropylene, a polyacrylonitrile butadiene styrene known in the trade ABS and are molded in one piece.

Structure 2 is a network of profiles open at the top and closed at the bottom, which gives this network great comfort, because it "gives a hand" for the grip and gives the impression of a solid and resistant mass.

• une ceinture excentrique 3 ayant un contour rectangulaire,
• une ceinture périphérique 4 ayant un contour oval dont les longs côtés sont parallèles à ceux de la ceinture excentrique 3,
• des profilés d'entretoisement 5 reliant lesdites ceintures entre elles,
• une traverse médiane 6 (figure 1) ou deux traverses médianes 7 (figure 2) s'étendant parallèlement aux profilés transversaux 8 ou petits côtés de la ceinture excentrique 3 et reliant les profilés longitudinaux 9 ou grands côtés de celle-ci,
• des profilés 10 et 11, disposés suivant deux croix dans les cases de la ceinture excentrique 3 séparées par le ou les traverses médianes 6 ou 7.

These profiles constitute:

• an eccentric belt 3 having a rectangular outline,
• a peripheral belt 4 having an oval contour whose long sides are parallel to those of the eccentric belt 3,
• bracing profiles 5 connecting said belts together,
• a middle cross member 6 (FIG. 1) or two middle cross members 7 (FIG. 2) extending parallel to the transverse sections 8 or short sides of the eccentric belt 3 and connecting the longitudinal sections 9 or long sides thereof,
• profiles 10 and 11, arranged in two crosses in the boxes of the eccentric belt 3 separated by the middle cross member (s) 6 or 7.

All of these profiles are integral with one another and have come from molding together to form a one-piece structure 2. Thus, there are voids between the profiles and the structure 2 is thus free of veil capable of connecting said profiles.

The eccentric belt 3 is constituted by relatively high omega sections 8 and 9, illustrated by FIGS. 8 and 9 to 11, so that the plate 1 rests on flanges 12 of these sections.

The peripheral belt 4 is constituted by a semi-omega profile, lower than the outer wing 15, the whole also being less high than the profiles 8 and 9 above. The plate 1 then rests on the rim 14 and on partitions 16 (FIGS. 4 and 6) coming from molding with this profile 4.

The partitions delimit, moreover, in pairs, housings 17 (FIGS. 4 to 6) intended to cooperate with clipping members described in the following.

The sections 10 and 11 of the crosses are extended beyond the angles of the peripheral belt 4 by wider and thick sections 18 intended for fixing the feet 19 by any suitable means: axial interlocking and clip, interlocking on one side by pivoting with fixing on the other side by screws or others.

The plate 1 is provided on the fringe of a descending skirt 20 fitted onto the peripheral belt 4 of the structure 2. It is normally fixed to the latter by clipping lugs 21 which are molded and intended to cooperate with the abovementioned housings 17 . For the locking of the legs by elastic deformation of the skirt 20, these legs have inclined ramps 22 capable of cooperating with conjugate inclined ramps 24 (Figure 15) come with the bottom 23 of the housings 17. When the plate 1 rests on the structure 2, all the lugs 21 of one are engaged in the housings 16, the bottoms 23 of which prevent any untimely release.

The large table illustrated in Figure 2 differs from the small one by the number and distribution of the bracing profiles 5, by the presence of two cross members 7 instead of a single cross member 6 and by the particular arrangement of sections 25 and 26 instead of 27 for strengthening crosses 10, 11.

The large monobloc table according to FIG. 2 can very easily become an extending table according to FIG. 3. It suffices to divide the top 1, 2 along the plane P by a slight adaptation of the mold or by cutting off the molded parts. We then obtain two halves 28 and 29 between which can be interposed at least one extension 30 (Figure 3). Of course an adaptation is necessary to connect the halves, possibly supporting the extension (s) and locking the table with or without extension.

It is then a second embodiment of the table, the adaptation means of which are illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11. These comprise two tubular slides 31 slidably mounted each in the two aligned halves of the corresponding longitudinal profile. 9 of the eccentric belt 3.

Advantageously, each slide 31 has a rectangular section adapting with a slight clearance in the profile 9. To promote sliding, at least one rib 32 forming a sliding path has come from molding with the bottom of the profile 9.

Furthermore, means for locking the table in the open or closed position are provided and proceed by bringing the wings of the profiles 9 closer together to pinch the slides or by spacing these wings to release said slides. In the first case, the table is locked with or without extension. In both cases, the halves are free and can be moved away or closer to each other.

Each locking means (Figure 9) comprises a pin 33 provided with an operating handle 34 at one end and a helical thread 35 at the other end. The pin has, near the handle, a cylindrical seat 36 whose diameter is at least equal to the outside diameter of the thread 35 and which ends on a shoulder 37. The seat 36 passes through a hole 38 forming a bearing and formed in a wing of the profile 9 corresponding, while the thread 35 cooperates with a threaded hole 39 of the other wing or the helical edge of a hole. When the locking means is in place, by screwing the trunnion, it causes, as soon as the shoulder 37 abuts against one wing of the profile, the bringing together of the other wing and thus the tightening of the slide 31; by unscrewing the pin, the wings of the profile are moved away from each other and the slide is loosened.

If the slide 31 is mounted free in the two halves 28 and 29, a pin 33 must be placed on each half of the profile 9. On the other hand, if the slide is fixed in one half of the profile and left free in the other, a only one pin is necessary per slide and it is then placed on the half of profile 9 in which said slide is free.

A third embodiment is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 12 and 13. The same support structure 2 with its feet 19 can be used either with a plate 1 of the same outline (FIGS. 1 and 5) or with a larger plate 40 (FIGS. 12 and 13) which extends beyond the skirt 20 and has downwardly projecting a marginal skirt 41 spaced from the previous one by a substantially constant distance "d".

The skirt 20 is provided with clipping lugs 21 which make it possible to lock the plate 1 on the supporting structure 2. The skirt 41 can remain unmolded but it seems more advantageous, always to improve comfort and give the hand, equip this wider plate 40 with a filling giving the impression that the skirt 41 is thick.

Such a filling can advantageously be of the type shown. It consists of a section 42 similar to section 4 of the structure 2 and therefore comprising housings 43 intended to cooperate with tabs 44 of the skirt 40, these housings 43 and tabs 44 being similar to those 17 and 21 of said section 9.

The profile 42 is preferably molded into several pieces placed end to end. To keep them in place, it may be advantageous to position the inner flange 45 of these profile pieces 45 relative to the peripheral skirt 20 of the plate. To this end, lugs 46 or other interlocking elements protrude from the aforementioned wing 45 and are engaged, during the interlocking bias of said profile pieces in conjugated holes 47 of said skirt 20.

In the example shown, the "hand" is given over a relatively large width by all of the sections 42 and 4. If one wishes to reduce this width, it suffices to provide a free space between said sections to put your fingers. In this case, the lugs 46 can be replaced by spacers.

Claims (9)

1.- Molded plastic table comprising on the one hand a flat plate (1, 40) provided on the margin with a descending skirt (20) and, on the other hand, a supporting structure (2) having an eccentric profiled belt (3) projecting downwards and delimiting a hollow open upwards, the flat plate being held on the support structure in order to constitute a top, by clipping elements (21) cooperating with the support structure (2), the eccentric belt (3) is provided with feet (19),
characterized in that the supporting structure (2) is a network of profiles (3 to 11, 18, 25 to 27) which are integral with each other and free of connecting veil, so that the plate (1) rests only on edges said profiles,
and in that said structure (2) comprises a peripheral belt (4) with which the aforementioned clip elements (21) cooperate, this peripheral belt (4) and the skirt (s) (20, 41) of the plate thus forming an element thick giving hand for the grip of the table when moving. 2.- Table according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting structure (2) is capable of cooperating with a plate (1) of the same contour as the peripheral profiled belt (4) or with at least one larger plate (40 ) projecting, in addition to the aforementioned skirt (20), a marginal skirt (41) projecting under the projecting marginal part of this large plate. 3.- Table according to claim 2, characterized in that the gap between the two skirts of the tray is filled by sections of a U-shaped section (42) placed end to end and open at the top, clipping elements (44 ) ensuring the attachment of the marginal skirt (41) with the outer wing of said sections of sections (42) added to give hand. 4.- Table according to claim 3, characterized in that interlocking elements (46) ensure the positioning of the inner wing (45) of the sections of sections (42) reported, relative to the peripheral skirt (20) of the tray (40). 5.- Table according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the clipping elements are legs (21, 44) projecting inside and capable of penetrating, by elastic deformation of the corresponding skirt ( 20, 41) due, during nesting, to contact with inclined ramps (22, 44), in housings (17, 43) formed in the peripheral belt (4) or the sections of the filling profile (42). 6.- Table according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the eccentric belt (3) has in plan a rectangular outline and is connected to the peripheral belt (4) by bracing profiles (5) the longitudinal sections (9) of said eccentric belt (3) being interconnected by at least one central profiled crosspiece (6, 7) and with the latter as well as with the transverse sections (8) of this belt by sections (10, 11) arranged in a cross. 7.- Table according to claim 6, characterized in that the top is divisible into two halves (28, 29) capable of being placed end to end or against at least one extension (30), and in that a slide tubular (31) is mounted in the two halves (28, 29) of each longitudinal profile (9) of the eccentric belt (3), to support an extension (30) when the top halves are separated from one other, the wings of each half of the longitudinal section cooperating with a clamping device (33 to 39) tending to bring them together to immobilize by clamping the corresponding slide (31). 8.- Table according to claim 7, characterized in that the clamping device considered is a pin (33) provided with an operating handle (34) and passing through the corresponding half of the longitudinal section (9), a first end ( 36) of the journal being rotatably mounted in a wing of the profile and provided with a shoulder (37) of axial stop, while the second end of the journal has a helical thread (35) cooperating with the edge of a hole (38) on the other wing of the profile. 9.- Table according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the profiles of the eccentric belt (3) having an omega section and those of the peripheral belt (4), a semi-omega section of so that the flat plate (1) rests on flanges (12, 14) of said profiles, at least some of the other profiles having a U-shaped section.

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