EP0988813A1 - Additional shelf - Google Patents

Abstract

The extra flap (1) forms a complementary surface which extends the main table top (3). It comprises fixings (MF) enabling the complementary shelf to be fitted as an extension to the table top.

Description

The present invention relates to an auxiliary tablet intended for allow the extension of the table top.

In catering in particular, many dishes and specialties require a considerable amount of space on the table and cause maximum congestion thereof; this is the case by example for raclette or seafood. tables makes client service tricky for the server and sometimes requires grouping multiple tables together to allow to deposit all dishes and accessories without overloading Table. Such a grouping of tables provokes for the restaurateur the use of additional tables and therefore the deadweight loss of several covers when the crowds are high, which decreases including its turnover.

Some tables, to remedy this type of inconvenience, have extension devices which are either retracted under the table, or intended to be inserted between two table parts by example. However, such extension devices do not give whole satisfaction, they are most often impractical and their implementation is long and often difficult to use and implement especially in the context of restoration.

Therefore, the invention aims to solve the problems aforementioned using simple, reliable, inexpensive and easy to enforce. It is intended to allow the extension of the tray of a classic table with a simple and fast implementation in order to be able to deposit all dishes and accessories there example, in order to avoid grouping tables or long and tedious handling of extension devices of the type classic.

Thus, according to its main characteristic, the auxiliary tablet according to the invention which is formed of an additional plate intended for extend the main table top is characterized in that it includes fixing means allowing the fixing of the plate complementary in the extension of the main platform so as to position the respective upper faces of each of the plates in the same horizontal reference plane.

According to an additional characteristic, the auxiliary shelf is characterized in that the fixing means are removable and allow the installation and removal of the auxiliary shelf.

According to another characteristic of the auxiliary shelf according to the invention, this is characterized in that the fixing means have at least one upper bearing surface intended to come in support against the upper face of the main table top and less a lower abutment surface intended to bear against the underside of the main tray.

According to the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary tablet, it has two upper bearing surfaces and two stop surfaces lower integral with the complementary tray and it has two fasteners each carrying an upper bearing surface and a lower stop surface.

According to another characteristic of the auxiliary shelf according to the invention, the upper bearing surfaces and the abutment surfaces lower are carried by fasteners arranged on the complementary tray movably between an active position of attachment and a passive storage position where said organs are retracted under the complementary tray.

According to an alternative embodiment of the auxiliary shelf, the upper bearing surfaces and the lower stop surfaces are provided with damping means intended to protect the platform from main table.

In addition, according to an additional characteristic of the tablet make-up according to the invention, this comprises adjustment means to adjust the height separating the upper bearing surfaces and the lower stop surfaces.

According to another characteristic of the auxiliary shelf according to the invention, this one is characterized in that the bearing surfaces are located in the horizontal reference plane which contains the upper face of the complementary plate, the adjustment means being arranged on the lower stop surfaces.

According to an alternative embodiment of the auxiliary shelf, it has a shape with a straight edge and a curved portion connecting the ends of the straight edge.

According to this variant, the auxiliary shelf has a shape in portion of a circle whose length of the right edge is equal to that of the square inscribed in the circle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

Figures 1 to 8 illustrate an embodiment of the tablet according to the invention and alternative embodiments.

The figure illustrates in perspective the extra shelf placed on the main table.

Figure 2a shows in cross section the installation of the extra shelf.

Figure 2b illustrates in a similar view the auxiliary shelf attached to the main table.

FIG. 2c illustrates in a similar view the auxiliary shelf fixed on a main table provided with a ledge.

Figure 3 illustrates in perspective the auxiliary shelf and its fixing means.

FIG. 4 represents a view from below of the auxiliary shelf and its fixing means in the active fixing position.

Figure 5 illustrates in detail a fixing member.

Figure 6a shows a view from below of the sliding of the fasteners to their passive position.

Figure 6b shows a side view of the auxiliary shelf and its fixing means in passive position.

Figure 7a shows a top view of a main table square equipped with four auxiliary shelves making it circular.

Figure 7b illustrates a top view of a main table rectangular with extra shelves making it oval.

Figure 8 shows in side view an alternative embodiment of the fixing element of the auxiliary shelf.

According to the invention, the auxiliary tablet bearing the reference general (1) is formed by a complementary plate (2) intended to extend the main tray (3) by a table (4) on which the shelf booster (1) is intended to be installed as shown in the figure 1. It includes fixing means (MF) allowing its fixing to the table (4) so that the complementary plate (2) is located in the extension of the main plate (3).

According to the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary shelf (1), the fixing means (MF) make it possible to position the plate complementary (2) edge to edge with the main plate (3) and allow positioning the respective upper faces (2a, 3a) of each of the plates (2, 3) in the same horizontal reference plane (H). Thus, the extra shelf has no height offset with the main plate (3) of the table (4) on which it is placed place as shown in Figures 2a and 2b.

According to the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary shelf (1), this is intended to be fixed to a table (4) of the type comprising a straight edge (6), that is to say essentially shaped tables rectangular, square or any other polygon with a straight edge through example. To do this, the complementary tray (2) of the tablet support (1) has at least one straight or straight edge (5) intended to cooperate with the right edge (6) of the table (4) coming to bear against this one. Note that according to the illustrated embodiment, the shape of the side table is rectangular, however it could be otherwise and it could only have a straight edge and have the shape of a semicircle for example, without leaving the protective field of the invention.

In addition, note that the extra shelf could be intended to be fixed on a round or oval table for example. In this case, the shape of the extra shelf has an edge whose shape and the dimensions are complementary to those of the edge on which it is intended to come to position. So the shape of the extra shelf can be crescent or rectangular with one side in an arc example without departing from the scope of the invention.

According to the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary shelf (1), the fixing means (MF) are of the removable type and allow it to be put removably in place on the main table (4). In order to allow quick and easy installation and removal execute, the fixing means (MF) of the auxiliary shelf (1) are constituted by a set of bearing and abutment surfaces (10, 11) integral with the complementary plate (2) and intended to come to bear against the upper face (3a) of the main plate (3) and against the face lower (3b) of said plate as shown in Figure 2a.

According to the invention, the fixing means (MF) comprise at less an upper bearing surface (10, 10a, 10b) and at least one lower stop surface (11, 11a, 11b). Note that we hear also by bearing surface or abutment surface of type supports point or even linear as illustrated in the embodiment of the extra shelf.

According to the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary shelf (1), the upper bearing surfaces are constituted by two supports point (10a, 10b) while the lower stop surfaces are also obtained by two point supports (11a, 11b). The surfaces upper supports (10a, 10b) are arranged so as to present laterally a space (L) between them, so as to prevent the pivoting of the auxiliary shelf around a transverse axis perpendicular to the straight edges (5, 6) of the tables (1, 4). The surfaces of lower stops (11a, 11b) associated with the bearing surfaces (10a, 10b) are advantageously arranged on the transverse axes (Y1, Y'1) (Y2, Y'2) which comprise said bearing surfaces (10a, 10b) and are advantageously located at a distance (D1) from the right edge (5) greater than the distance (D2) between the upper bearing surfaces (10a, 10b) and the straight edge (5) as shown in Figure 4.

Thus, the lateral spacing (2) between the bearing surfaces (10a, 10b) or between the stop surfaces (11a, 11b) prevents the table from pivot around a transverse axis perpendicular to the straight edge (5), while the transverse spacing between the upper bearing surfaces (10a, 10b) and the respective bottom stop surfaces (11a, 11b) prevents tilting or tilting of the auxiliary shelf (1) around a longitudinal axis in the direction (R) illustrated in Figure 2b. It is important to note that the bearing and abutment surfaces (10, 10a, 10b, 11, 11a, 11b) are arranged at a distance (D1, D2) from the right edge (5) greater than 5 cm in order to bear respectively on the faces upper and lower (3a, 3b) of the main plate (3) even when the main table (4) has a table edge (12) as shown Figure 2c.

According to the invention, the height (h) separating the bearing surfaces upper (10, 10a, 10b) and the lower stop surfaces (11, 11a, 11b) is adjustable by means of adjustment means (MR) of to allow the extra shelf (1) to adapt to any what thickness of the main plate (3).

According to the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary shelf (1), the upper bearing surfaces (10, 10a, 10b) are positioned fixed way, so as to lie in the horizontal reference plane (H) which contains the upper face (2a) of the complementary plate (2). The adjustment means (MR) are advantageously arranged on the lower abutment surfaces (11, 11a, 11b) so as to allow the adjustment of their height positioning in relation to the plane of horizontal reference (H) and therefore relative to the bearing surfaces upper (10).

According to the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary shelf (1), the fixing means (MF) consist of two fixing members (9) each provided with an upper surface (10) and a stop surface lower (11). These organs (9) are formed, for example, by a portion of curved tube whose two ends constitute the respective bearing and abutment surfaces (10a, 10b, 11a, 11b).

Note that the fixing members (9) can be made in metal tube or any other material capable of supporting various charges deposited on the auxiliary shelf (1).

According to the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary shelf (1), the ends (10, 11) of the tube portions are advantageously provided damping means such as caps or feet (13, 14) rubber or other. These caps (13) are intended, on the one hand, to constitute protective means to avoid damaging the faces upper and lower of the table top (3) of the table (4) and, on the other hand, to dampen the connection between the auxiliary shelf (1) and the table (4) to avoid too much rigidity of the assembly.

According to the preferred embodiment of the auxiliary shelf (1) and as shown in Figure 5, the end of the tube portion lower (11) intended to serve as a lower stop surface is provided an adjustable support or foot (14). The feet (14) are the means of aforementioned adjustment (MR), their adjustment being able to be carried out by means of a thread (20) of the portion of tube into which are screwed or unscrewed the said feet (14). Note, moreover, that the curvature of the portions of lower tube of the fixing members (9) advantageously allows bypass the edges of certain tables to settle on their platform using the support and stop surfaces.

According to one embodiment of the auxiliary tablet (1), the latter comprises two fixing members (9) as previously described, these having an upper tube portion (9a) which extends above the horizontal plane (H) to bring its support surface (10) located at the end of its curvature in said plane and a portion lower (9b) which extends below the plates and presents the foot adjustable (14) at its end; these fixing members (9) can be fixedly mounted on the complementary plate (2).

However, according to an alternative embodiment, the fixing members (9) can be arranged on the complementary plate (2) so mobile in order to be positioned either in the active position of fixing (A) where they are positioned in transverse planes orthogonal to the reference plane (H) as previously described, ie in passive storage position (B) where they are placed under the lower face (2b) of the complementary plate (2) in a parallel plane to the horizontal reference plane (H) as shown in Figures 6a and 6b.

According to this embodiment, the two tube portions curved (9a, 9b) which carry the bearing and abutment surfaces (10, 11) are carried by a portion of rectilinear tube (9c) mounted mobile in sliding along the transverse axes (Y1, Y'1) (Y2, Y'2) with respect to to the table top (2) (1). In addition, the fixing members (9) are also mounted so that they can pivot around said axes transverse (Y1, Y'1), (Y2, Y'2) to pass from a plane substantially horizontal (H) in a transverse plane orthogonal to the plane (H). Note that in order to immobilize the fasteners (9) once they are arranged in their respective transverse planes, housings (25) are provided at this effect in the straight edge (5) of the auxiliary shelf (1) such as illustrated in figure 5.

Note that there may be provided elastic means such as springs (21) intended to stress the fixing member and more particularly its upper tube portion in its housing (25) respective. These springs can be arranged on the fixing members of so as to work in compression as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b or so as to work in traction as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Thus, as shown in Figures 6a and 6b, the organs of fixing (9) can be retracted under the underside (3b) of the tray complementary (3) to allow the storage of additional shelves.

It goes without saying that the configuration of the fixing means could be different without going outside the protective field of the invention, the upper and lower bearing and abutment surfaces can be performed in an equivalent manner by fasteners of different shape.

It goes without saying that one could add a retractable or telescopic foot to ensure better resistance in the case of a heavily loaded or very large tablet. It also goes from you could have the extra tablet of the invention between two tables, said tablet possibly comprising second fastening means.

According to an alternative embodiment, the auxiliary shelf (1) has a straight edge (5) and a curved edge (22) connecting the two ends of the straight edge. In addition, the tablet (1) may have a shape representing a portion of a circle whose length of the right edge (5) is equal to that of the square inscribed in the circle. So a set of four side shelves identical (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) allows you to modify the configuration of a square table (3) for transforming it into a round table as shown in Figure 7a. It goes without saying that we could also make a set of four side tables (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) identical two by two whose shape and the dimensions allow to transform a main table rectangular in an oval table as illustrated in figure 7b or in a table round.

According to an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the organs of fixing (9) have a generally curved shape between their surface lower stop (11a) and their upper bearing surface (10a) and are obtained by a portion of curved tube (9d) integral with the portion of sliding straight tube (9c). It can be noted that the upper part of the portion of curved tube (9d) located above the reference plane (H) trays (1, 3) is provided with a decoration member or a support (20) such as a candle holder, a dish, a bottle holder, a holder towel, or any similar object likely to be used in the catering especially to decorate a table, In addition, the party bottom of the curved tube portion (9d) can be fitted with a cover advantageously made of wood for example.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of realization described and represented as examples, but it includes also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (10)

Additional shelf (1) formed by a complementary tray (2) intended to extend the main plate (3) of a table (4), characterized in that it includes fixing means (MF) allowing the fixing of the additional plate (2) in the extension of the plate main (3) so as to position the upper faces (2a, 3a) respective of each of the plates (2, 3) in the same plane of horizontal reference (H). Side table (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means are removable and allow the setting place and removal of the extra shelf. Extra shelf (1) according to any one of previous claims, characterized in that the fixing means (MF) have at least one upper bearing surface (10, 10a, 10b) intended to bear against the upper face (3a) of the plate main (3) of the table (4) and at least one lower abutment surface (11, 11a, 11b) intended to bear against the underside (3b) of the main plate (3). Side table (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it has two upper bearing surfaces (10a, 10b) and two lower abutment surfaces (11a, 11b) integral with the plate complementary (2) and in that it comprises two fixing members (9) each carrying an upper bearing surface (10) and a surface for lower stop (11). Extra shelf (1) according to any one of Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the bearing surfaces upper (10, 10a, 10b) and lower stop surfaces (11, 11a, 11b) are carried by fasteners arranged on the plate complementary (2) movably between an active position of attachment (A) and a passive storage position (B) where said members are retracted under the complementary plate (2). Extra shelf (1) according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the bearing surfaces upper (10) and the lower stop surfaces (11) are provided with damping means intended to protect the table top (3) main (4). Extra shelf (1) according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that it includes means for adjustment (MR) to adjust the height (h) separating the surfaces upper support (10, 10a, 10b) and the lower stop surfaces (11, 11a, 11b). Side table (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the upper bearing surfaces (10, 10a, 10b) are located in the horizontal reference plane (H) which contains the upper face of the additional plate (2), the adjustment means (MR) being arranged on the lower stop surfaces (11, 11a, 11b). Extra shelf (1) according to any one of previous claims characterized in that it has a form which has a straight edge (5) and a curved portion (22) connecting the ends of the straight edge. Side table (1) according to claim 9 characterized in what it has a shape in portion of a circle whose length of straight edge (5) is equal to that of the square inscribed in the circle.

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