EP0865528A1

EP0865528A1 - Pivotal support and foldaway wings

Info

Publication number: EP0865528A1
Application number: EP96922691A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gary William Allen
Original assignee: Gisma Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Intellec Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1995-07-14
Filing date: 1996-07-15
Publication date: 1998-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-15
Also published as: WO1997004159A1; EP0865528B1; DE69626843T2; EP0865528A4; DE69626843D1

Abstract

A hinge for wings such as ironing board supports the board off a support (3) on pairs of links (2, 3) which engage (29, 30) to limit angular movement beyond a working disposition. The board (24) may be folded and collapsed into a wall mounted cover (28). The wall mounted unit might be fitted to a height adjustment mechanism (118). The links (2, 3) may be combined with a means (63) increasing the angular extent of the folding action to collapse the folded board (80) into a drawer unit (84). The board may be mounted to a turntable (101) to allow for angular movement. The board (24) may be supported on supports (35) attached to sliding tracks (34) to enable movement to a storage position in a cabinet (32).

Description

TITLE; "PIVOTAL SUPPORT AND FOLDAWAY WINGS"

TECHNICAL FIELD

THIS INVENTION relates to a hinge mechanism applicable

to angularly movable wings such as a foldaway ironing board assembly

and to assemblies employing the hinge mechanism such as a foldaway

ironing board assembly mounted to a support structure such as a wall,

kitchen unit, cupboard bench support, mobile cabinet or drawer.

BACKGROUND ART

Many different mechanisms are employed in establishing items such as foldaway ironing board assemblies which save space and

offer advantages over more conventional portable ironing boards which

are supported from the ground by scissor action legs. These conventional portable ironing boards are not always easy to erect and stow and they are therefore considered inconvenient. In contrast foldaway ironing board

assemblies mounted to a support structure are usually more convenient

than portable ironing boards. They can be easier to move from a stored

position to an operative position depending on the nature of the mechanism by which they are mounted.

When in a stored position the above foldaway ironing board

assemblies are located against, for example, a wall in which the longitudinal axis of the board is positioned vertically. When moved between the stored and an operative position the longitudinal axis pivots

about a vertical axis and therefore the length of the ironing board protrudes out into a room. This therefore limits the type of room such foldaway ironing boards can be practically used in. Furthermore, the protruding tapered end of the ironing board is substantially unsupported

and excessive pressure on this end may damage supporting struts

extending from the wall to the underside of the ironing board.

US 5369898 (Sorensen) is a wall mounted board, pivoted down from a vertical storage position to a working disposition whereat the board rests on a bracket acting against further downward angular

movement.

GB 2271360 (Burke) is a similar board to that of Sorensen

above, mounted inside a cabinet with a height adjustment. These styles

are hinged at their end and extend outwardly perpendicularly from the wall behind them.

US 4961388 (Simpson) provides its board on a mechanism

which pivots and rotates out of its storage position.

US 4480556 (Wilson et al) provides its board with a mechanism for

swivelling the board between two horizontal positions at different heights

on a tumtable mounting locked by a ratchet.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a

mechanism for pivoting a member which mechanism shifts the centre of

angular movement of the member off the support to the member enabling

more compact structures. It is a further object of the invention to enable the pivoting of

wings out of storage compartments which are more compact than has

hitherto for been possible.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an ironing

board able to be folded out of a compact storage space into a working

disposition.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention achieves its object in the provision of a

mounting assembly for a member by which the member is angularly movable from a storage position to a working position comprising: a first link adapted for pivotal mounting to a support at a first

end and said member at a second end;

a second link adapted for pivotal mounting to the support at

a first end and at a point thereat below the connection point of the first link and said member at a second end;

said second link being abutted, in use, at the working position of the member against a stop means or limit means on said first

link to prevent angular movement of the member past the working position. In a particular variation of the mounting assembly it is

associated with an intermediate pivotal plate interconnected with the links

and the member via a slotted plate introducing an extra degree of relative

angular movement of the member. Advantageously two of the above defined mounting

assemblies are used to mount on angularly movable wing to a supporting

surface enabling the wing to move between a storage and working

position. The wing may support an angularly movable planar element

thereover providing a working surface at the working position. Ideally the

planar element might be in two hinged parts able to be folded together to

reduce their area in a storage means.

Ideally the above described angularly movable wing is an

ironing board. The board may be stored vertically and lowered angularly

to a horizontal disposition. The board may be stored vertically on the side

of a linearly translatable frame, being raised thereover to its working position. The board may be stored collapsed into a flat pack in a drawer

unit, able to be drawn therefrom and extended horizontally outwardly. By

these means the board may be mounted into a wall cabinet, which can be

vertically adjustable; a cupboard from which the board can be drawn and then rotated upwardly; or located in a drawer unit of a cabinet, cupboard,

or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be readily understood and

put into practical effect, references will now be made to preferred

embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a support means;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the support means of FIG. 1 when in a stored position;

FIGS. 3 to 6 are perspective views of a foldaway ironing

board assembly including the support means of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 7 to 10 are perspective views of a second preferred

5 embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred

embodiment of a support means;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are side views of the support means of

FIG. 11 when rotated from the position of FIG. 11 through 90° and 180° l o respectively;

FIGS. 14 to 18 are perspective views of a third embodiment

of the invention including the support means of FIGS. 11 to 13;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a hinge used to fold an

ironing board member as used in the invention; 15 FIGS. 20 to 22 illustrates a pivot means which can be used in the invention;

FIG. 23 illustrates a perspective view of a height adjustment

means; and

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an adjustable mount.

20 PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a mounting assembly or cantilevered support means 1 having a first link or support

member 2, second link or support member 8, and movable member or support 13.

First link or support member 2 can be pivotally mounted to

an upright support structure in the form of a mounting plate 3, pivoted

about a first horizontal axis A. A pivot pin 4 can be inserted through

apertures 6,7 and washer 5 to provide the pivotal mounting of the first link

at a first end thereof about horizontal axis A.

Second link or support member 8 can be pivotally mounted

to plate 3 about a second horizontal axis B. A pivot pin 9 can be inserted

through apertures 11 , 12 and washer 10 to provide the pivotal mounting of

the second link at a first end thereof about horizontal axis B.

Angularly movable member 13 can be pivotally mounted to first support member 2 at a second end thereof about a third horizontal

axis C. Again a pivot pin 14 can be inserted through apertures 16, 17 and

a washer 15 can provide a pivotal mounting about horizontal axis C.

Member 13 can be pivotally mounted to second support member 8 at a

second end thereof about a horizontal axis D by a pivot pin 18 inserted through apertures 20, 21 and washer 19.

When pins 4, 9, 14 and 18 have been inserted as described

above they may be fixed against being removed by their inserted ends being peened by any known method.

First support member 2 may have a heel portion as shown

which can provide a female engagement means or concavity 29 which

can be engageable with an end of second support member 8 which provides a complementary male engagement means or convex end 30.

Plate 3 may be provided with slotted apertures 22 for

mounting to a wall or other support structure. When disposed as in FIG.

1 the member 13 is in an operative or working position in which the lock,

limit, stop or engagement means 29 and 30 may engage with each other.

FIG. 2 illustrates the disposition of the support member 2 when in a stored

position in which engagement means 29 and 30 are dis-engaged.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6 there is illustrated a foldaway

ironing board assembly 23 which is supported from an upright support

structure such as a wall to which plate 3 is mounted by screws passing

through slotted apertures 22. Foldaway ironing board assembly 23 can include an elongate ironing board member 24, mounted to a generally U-

shaped bent tubular bar whose arms can provide two spaced apart

angularly movable members 13 of two support means 1 each of which

can be mounted to opposite ends of plate 3 as described above. Ironing board member 24 preferably includes a frame 25 and a planar ironing surface, ideally formed from an expanded metal grid 26. Ironing board member 24 is ideally foidable about at least one transverse axis T1 and

preferably a cushioned cover 27 may cover grid 26. A storage cover 28

can also be provided and is preferably pivotally mounted to one end of

parallel arms 31 , the other end of arms 31 being pivotally mounted to

plate 3.

When in a stored position, shown in FIG. 3, foldaway ironing board assembly 23 is covered by storage cover 28 which may have a

magnetic catch (not shown). When foldaway ironing board assembly 23 is

desired to be used, storage cover 28 is moved to the position as shown

in FIGS. 4 to 6. Ironing board member 23 is then pulled down from a

vertical stored position shown in FIG. 4 to a horizontal position as shown

in FIG. 5. In this regard both support means 1 move from the position as

shown in FIG 2 to the position shown in FIG. 1 and thereby engagement means 29 and 30 become engaged thereby restraining movement of

support means 1. Ironing board member 24 may then be unfolded about

pivotal axis T1 to an operative position in which a longitudinal edge 32 is

in close proximity to plate 3 and a portion of support means 1 extends between longitudinal edge 32 and the plate 3. When ironing board

assembly 23 is no longer required to be used it can be stored by a

reverse operation to that as described above.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10 there is illustrated a second

embodiment of a foldaway ironing board assembly 32. To avoid repetition

the only differences between the above first embodiment will be

described.

A retractable cantilevered support means 34 can include

support members 2,8 and plate 35 preferably mounted at unsupported

ends of two telescopic arms 36 slidably mounted to respective runners 37

ideally located inside a support structure, which in this embodiment is an

upright wall 39 of a storage area under a bench top 38. A further plate 35 can be mounted intermediate the ends of arms 36 and they are preferably

pivotally mounted to each plate 35 on pairs of links or support members 2,

8. Member 40 of support means 34 is pivotally mounted to links 2,8. Also

ideally mounted to the outermost angularly movable support member 40 is

5 a threaded locking pin 41 for releasable engagement with a threaded

aperture 42 on outer plate 35.

Ironing board member 24 can be mounted to each angularly

movable support member 40 such that when in the operative position

shown in FIG. 10, longitudinal edge 32 is in close proximity to the support

o structure upright wall 39 and a portion of support means 34 (i.e. a portion

of arms 36) extends between upright wall 39 and longitudinal edge 32. When the board which is shown in FIG. 7 is desired to be used, the

foldaway ironing board assembly 32 and the telescopic arms 36 are

extended as shown in FIG. 8 . Ironing board member 24 is then rotated to

5 through 90° as shown in FIG. 9 in which engagement means 29, 30 move from a disengaged relationship to an engaging relationship. Locking pin 41 may then be screwed into aperture 42 to provide a positive

locking of ironing board assembly 32. The ironing board member 24 can

be unfolded ready for use. When it is no longer required to be used

o assembly 33 can be stored by a reverse operation to that as described.

Referring to FIG. 11 , there is illustrated a further

embodiment of a support means 50 which can include a first support

member 51 , second support member 57, third support member 62, fourth support member 63 and a retractable telescopic arm 52.

First support member 51 is preferably pivotally mounted to retractable telescopic arm 52 about a first horizontal pivotal axis F. Pivot

pin 53 inserted through apertures 55, 56 and washer 54 provides the

pivotal mounting about horizontal axis F. Second support member 57 can

be pivotally mounted to arm 52 about a second horizontal axis G. Pivot pin 58, inserted through apertures 60, 61 and washer 59 provide the

pivotal mounting about horizontal axis G. First, third and fourth support

members 51, 62, 63 are ideally pivotally mounted about a common

horizontal axis H by pivot pin 64 inserted through apertures 65, 66, 67 and

washers 68. Further, fourth support member 63 is ideally pivotally

mounted to second support member 57 about a horizontal axis I by pivot pin 69 inserted through apertures 70, 71 and washer 72. When pivot pins

53, 58, 63, 69 have been inserted as described, they may be fixed against

being removed when their ends are peened.

Fourth support member 63 has an arcuate slot 73 which can receive a pin 74 protruding from third support member 62. Furthermore

first support member 51 can have a female engagement means 75 for

engagement with a male engagement means 76 located at one end of

second support member 57.

FIG. 11 shows the assembly in an operative position in

which pin 74 limits movement of third support member 62 by abutting end

of arcuate track 73. Referring to FIG. 12, third support member has been rotated through 90° and therefore pin 74 has moved along arcuate track

73 to its end 73b . Accordingly, further rotation of third support member

dis-engages engagement means 75, 76 as shown in FIG. 13 which

thereby allows third support member to be rotated through another 90° resulting in 180° rotation in total.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 18, there is illustrated a further

embodiment of a foldaway ironing board assembly 77 which can be

supported from a support structure such as supporting walls 78 of a

sliding drawer assembly. Two retractable telescopic arms 52 of a

respective cantilevered support means 50 are ideally slidably mounted to

runners associated with a respective upright supporting wall 78.

Foldaway ironing board assembly 77 can include an ironing board member 80 identical to that of FIGS. 3 to 6 and therefore to avoid

repetition is not described again. Ironing board member 80 can be

mounted to a bent tubular bar 81 with a handle 82 mounted thereto.

Tubular bar 81 can be used to provide two third support members 62. Accordingly, foldaway ironing board assembly 77 has two support means 50 as described in FIGS. 11 to 13. When foldaway ironing board

assembly 77 is desired to be used a handle 83 mounted to front drawer

wall 84 which is mounted to ends of telescopic arms 52 is used to pull

arms 52 to the extended position shown in FIG. 14 when in this position each of support means 50 is in the position shown in FIG. 13. Handle 82

may then be used to rotate board member through 180° as shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 in which 90° corresponds to the position shown in

FIG. 12. Due to the arrangement of support means 50, lifting of board

member 80 causes it to be raised to clear drawer wall 84. After board

member 80 has been pivoted through 180° it is unfolded into an operative position ready for use as illustrated in FIG. 18. When in this position a

longitudinal edge 32 is in close proximity of support structure 85. When it

is no longer required to be used, assembly 77 can be stored by a reverse

operation to that as described.

Referring to FIG. 19, a double hinge 90 is illustrated which

can be mounted to board member 24 to provide pivotal movement about

adjacent transverse axes T1 and T2. This therefore allows a space 91 to

accommodate a cushioned cover 28 (not shown in FIG. 19) when

sandwiched by board member 24 when in the folded position as shown. Further, there are tabs 92 protruding from frame 25 for engaging and holding cushioned cover 28 and protrusions 93 ensure a planar ironing

surface is provided when board member 24 is unfolded to the operative

position.

Referring to FIGS. 20 to 22, there is illustrated a pivot

means 95 for selectively allowing limited rotation of board member 24

about a vertical axis J. Therefore board member 24 can be selectively

rotated as illustrated by the arcuate arrowed line to positions other than

edge 32 being parallel to support structure 96 The pivot means as includes ball bearings 97 biassed by springs 98 mounted in an arcuate track 99 which is part of a base plate 100 mounted to , for example, the

links of the above described mounting mechanism. ^'Pivotally attached

about vertical axis J is a rotatable plate 101 with an arcuate track 102

having apertures 103 therein for engagement with ball bearings 97. Bolts

104 allow for mounting of ironing board member 24 ( of FIG. 19) to

rotatable plate 101 and selective positioning about vertical axis J of board

member 24 is provided by rotation of plate 101 relative to base plate 100.

During this rotation ball bearings 97 engage apertures 103 to restrict

pivotal movement when a desired position has been obtained. Referring to FIG. 23, there is illustrated a height adjustment means 105 comprising a mounting plate 106 with a slot 107 punched

therein. Along one longitudinal edge of slot 107 are a plurality of female

engagement means in the form of recesses 109.

Height adjustment means 105 can also include a moveable

plate 110 which is held captive in slot 107 by tabs 111. At a lower end of

plate 110 is a male engagement means in the form qf protrusion 112 for

engaging with one of recesses 109. Height adjustment means 105 can replace, for example, plate 3 as described in FIG. 1. Accordingly, first support member 2 and second support member 8 are pivotally mounted

to plate 110 and height adjustment is effected by selective engagement of

protrusion 112 with one of recesses 109. Once engaged the weight of

ironing board member 24 assists in maintaining engagement of protrusion

112 in one of recesses 109. Referring to FIG. 24, there is illustrated an adjustable mount

115 for the foldaway ironing board assembly 23 illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6.

Mount 115 includes wall mounting means in the form of two pairs of

spaced apertured plates 116 and two parallel upright tracks 117 each being mounted at its ends to one of plates 116. Mount- 115 also includes an ironing board mounting means in the form of an apertured frame 118

slidably mounted to tracks 117. To selectively limit movement of frame

118 relative to tracks 117 a lock 119 is pivotally mounted to frame 118. Lock 119 has a handle 120 biased by spring 121 to a locked position in

which lock 119 grips tracks 117. To release frame 118 from the locked

position handle 120 is pushed downwards and allows frame 118 to slide

along tracks 117 to provide height adjustment of foldaway ironing board

assembly 23 when mounted to frame 118. Collars 122 are fixed to respective tracks 117 and between an upper slidable frame mount 123

and a respective collar 122 there is mounted a spring 124 for biasing

frame 118 to upper ends of tracks 117. In use, mount 115 allows height

adjustment of a mounted foldaway ironing board assembly 23 which is

beneficial for a household of people with different heights in which one or more of the people may be confined to a wheelchair.

Although the invention has been described with reference to

preferred embodiments it is to be understood that the invention is not

limited to the specific embodiments described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mounting assembly for a member by which the member is

angularly movable from a storage position to a working position comprising

a first link adapted for pivotal mounting to a support at a first

end and said member at a second end ;

a second link adapted for pivotal mounting to the support at

a first end and at a point thereat below the connection point of the first link and said member at a second end; and said second link being abutted, in use, at the working

position of the member against a stop means or limit means on said first

link to prevent angular movement of the member past the working position.

2. A mounting assembly for a member as claimed in Claim 1

wherein said first link is pivoted together with a plate at its second end, said plate having an arcuate slot therein concentric with the pivot at the second end of the first link, the second link being pivotally connected at its

second end with said plate at a point adjoining the end of said slot, said

member being fitted with a pin captured in said slot.

3. A wing with an edge about which it pivots, said wing being mounted at respective ends of said edge by a pair of mountings as

claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2.

4. A wing as claimed in claim 3 wherein the support to the pair

of mountings is mounted on sliding tracks for translation from the working

position prior to rotation into the working position.

5. A wing as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the wing supports

thereon a rotatably mounted planar element.

6. A wing as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the planar element is

in two segments one hinged to the other for movement from a folded

position to a co-planar disposition.

7. An ironing board

comprising

a planar element adapted to provide an ironing surface;

mounting means by which the planar element is able to be moved from a storage position to a working position; said mounting means comprising a pair of spaced apart

pivotal linkages, each said pair having first and second links connected at

respective spaced apart first ends to a support and respective spaced

apart second ends to the planar element;

at least one of said first and second links engaging a stop or

limit means restricting angular movement of the ironing surface past the

working position.

8. An ironing board as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the stop or

limit means is mounted to the first linkage and engages at the working

position with that end of the second linkage which attaches to the ironing surface said engagement involving a convex surface nested in a

complementary concavity on the respective engaging parts.

9. An ironing board as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the storage

position is vertically in a wall mounted cabinet, the first and second

linkages extend from the back of the cabinet standing the planar element

thereoff, the first or second linkages enabling angular movement to a

generally horizontal working disposition projected forwardly of the cabinet.

10. An ironing board as claimed in claim 7 wherein the storage

position is in a cabinet where the support is a frame on tracks, able to be drawn from within the cabinet to a position whereat the board can be moved angularly to the working position.

11. An ironing board as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the ironing

surface is stored off the links on support arms permitting the ironing

surface to be moved over the frame to a generally vertical storage

position at the rear thereof.

12. An ironing board as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the storage

position is in a drawer unit and the planar element is mounted to the floor thereof via said first and second links and an intermediate pivotal plate

pivotally connected with the second end of the first link at the planar

element with an arcuate slot therein concentric therewith, said plate being

pivotally connected with the second end of the second link and said

planar element having a pin thereon engaged in said slot whereby to

enable the planar element to lie in a storage position in said drawer unit and be drawn upwardly therefrom to a working position extend outwardly

of the drawer unit.

13. An ironing board as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the planar

element is fitted with a tumtable on which is disposed a two part hinged

together board adapted to form the ironing surface being foidable to

collapse into said drawer unit when being stored.