EP1031737A2 - Arrangement de mobilier - Google Patents

Arrangement de mobilier Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1031737A2
EP1031737A2 EP20000301485 EP00301485A EP1031737A2 EP 1031737 A2 EP1031737 A2 EP 1031737A2 EP 20000301485 EP20000301485 EP 20000301485 EP 00301485 A EP00301485 A EP 00301485A EP 1031737 A2 EP1031737 A2 EP 1031737A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
edge
slot
slots
elongate
adjacent
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP20000301485
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Peter King
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whiterock Products Ltd
Original Assignee
Whiterock Products Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whiterock Products Ltd filed Critical Whiterock Products Ltd
Publication of EP1031737A2 publication Critical patent/EP1031737A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
    • A47B96/14—Bars, uprights, struts, or like supports, for cabinets, brackets, or the like
    • A47B96/145—Composite members, i.e. made up of several elements joined together
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B87/00—Sectional furniture, i.e. combinations of complete furniture units, e.g. assemblies of furniture units of the same kind such as linkable cabinets, tables, racks or shelf units
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B87/00—Sectional furniture, i.e. combinations of complete furniture units, e.g. assemblies of furniture units of the same kind such as linkable cabinets, tables, racks or shelf units
    • A47B87/002—Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a furniture arrangement, and in particular to a modular furniture arrangement in which adjacent furniture pieces or items may be connected to one another.
  • Modular furniture arrangements are known permitting adjacently arranged pieces or items to be connected together.
  • An improved arrangement has been devised, particularly suitable for connecting adjacently arranged framed items (such as tables) or the like.
  • the invention provides a furniture arrangement including first and second elongate edge elements arranged to extend in side by side relationship adjacent one another, the edge elements including respective longitudinally extending slots or grooves, at least one securing element being received in a slot or groove of one of the edge elements and extending to be received in a slot or groove of the other adjacently extending edge element so as to hold the edge elements extending in side by side relationship adjacent one another.
  • the slot in a respective elongate edge element desirably comprises a mouth portion and spaced substantially parallel sidewalls extending away from the mouth portion.
  • the mouth portion is preferably arranged to communicate with the interface between the adjacently arranged edge elements.
  • the mouth portion of a respective slot is preferably orientated substantially at or adjacent the mid-point of the width of the edge element.
  • the slot is preferably inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the respective elongate element.
  • a slot in one of the edge elements is preferably cooperatively aligned with a complementary slot in the adjacent edge element, such that one slot is substantially effectively a projection of the other across the interface between the adjacently extending edge portions.
  • the adjacently extending edge portions each include two slots, preferably inclined relative to one another and having a common mouth region (preferably such that, in section the slots are mutually reflected about an axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the respective edge element).
  • the slots form a "V" configuration (such that with the edge portions arranged side by side adjacent one another four slots in an "X" shaped configuration exist).
  • edge elements are formed from a pre-slotted standard section element.
  • edge elements are formed of plastics material.
  • the edge elements comprise extruded elements.
  • the securing elements advantageously comprise tab elements, preferably shaped and dimensioned to be a push or interference fit in the cooperatively aligned slots in the adjacent edge elements.
  • the securing elements preferably include one or more grip enhancement formations (preferably surface formations, such as ribs or other projections) arranged to enhance secure engagement in a respective slot.
  • grip enhancement formations preferably surface formations, such as ribs or other projections
  • the further securing means is preferably provided for enhancing the connection between the adjacently arranged edge elements.
  • the further securing means may comprise a detent mounted to one edge element and engageable with the other edge element.
  • the detent may be movably mounted to one of the edge portions such that it is movable from a stowed position (not engaging the adjacent edge element) to an operational position (engaging the adjacent edge element).
  • the adjacently extending edge elements preferably comprise respective edges of respective furniture pieces such as table structure edges.
  • Respective furniture pieces preferably comprise a plurality of edges having slots or grooves permitting modular connection of complementary furniture pieces in a plurality of adjacent edge connected configurations.
  • the invention provides two or more modular table structures, each structure having:
  • the respective elongate edge elements including the slots or grooves as defined may be provided around the entire periphery where for example table structures comprise square, rectangular, hexagonal or other geometric shapes. This permits for a variety of connected modular arrangements.
  • the invention provides a modular furniture arrangement comprising:
  • a first table including a pair of spaced leg structures can be connected (edge to edge) with a second table including a single leg structure, the single leg structure being positioned toward a distal edge of the second table, and the second table being connected, at a proximal edge to the first table.
  • edge element to edge element connection preferably corresponds to that described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.
  • Other preferred features correspond to preferred features described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.
  • a furniture arrangement in the form of a modular table arrangement (generally designated 1) comprising a first table structure 2 and a second table structure 3.
  • the first table structure includes a rectangular frame 4 including elongate plastics extruded frame elements 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d (of the transverse section configuration shown in Figure 2).
  • a table top 25 is secured to the frame 4, in order to provide a working surface.
  • a pair of spaced leg structures 5, 6 are pivotally connected to the frame 4 at longitudinally opposed ends thereof. Leg structures 5, 6 fold flat to the table surface 5 for storage and are held in position by stay 7, when fully extended.
  • Each leg structure 5, 6 includes downwardly depending struts 5a, 5b and 6a, 6b and respective transverse elements 5c, 6c upon which the table is supported on the ground surface.
  • Table structure 3 is generally similar in construction to table 2 (including substantially identical elongate frame edge elements 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d supporting a table surface 9). Table structure 3 is however provided with only one leg structure 10 at a distal end of the table from edge frame element 8d. Edge frame elements 8d and 4d engage and connect with one another such that the proximal edge of table 3 (adjacent frame edge 8d) is effectively supported by leg structure 6 of table 2.
  • the arrangement as described provides a convenient modular table construction enabling tables, provided with only one leg structure, to be supported by other table structures in the modular arrangement. This reduces the overall cost and complexity of the modular arrangement.
  • each edge section 4, 8 comprises an external face 11 provided with a pair of angled slots 12, 13 converging at a mouth 14 approximately on the mid point of the depth between the upper and lower limits of the respective edge elements 4, 8.
  • the slots 12,13 and mouth 14 run along substantially the entire length of the extruded edge element 4,8.
  • edge elements 4d, 8d are brought together such that their respective faces 11 are contiguous, slot 12 in edge element 8d aligns with slot 13 in edge element 4d and, correspondingly, slot 12 in edge element 4d aligns with slot 13 in edge element 8d.
  • a securing tab element 15 Prior to bringing edge elements 4d, 8d into abutment, a securing tab element 15 is inserted into one of the slots 12, 13 (slot 12 in Figures 2 and 3). Securing element 15 is shaped and dimensioned to be a secure push fit in the respective slot 12/13 (and typically provided with surface ribs to enhance the push fitting engagement in the respective slot). When received in one of the slots, the edge elements 4d, 8d are brought into abutment and the "free" edge of securing tab 15 enters and is received in push fitting engagement with the respective co-aligned slot (13 in Figure 3) in edge element 4d. In this way, edge elements 4d and 8d are effectively securely held (connected) relative to one or another. Typically, a plurality of tabs 15, are utilised spaced along the respective lengths of edge elements 4d, 8d to ensure good connection.
  • a particular advantage of the invention is that all the edge elements 4, 8, can be manufactured from the same extrusion section and, when placed in side by side abutment with one another, respective slots 12, 13 are effectively co-aligned. This minimises manufacturing costs and aids in ease of assembly.
  • the ⁇ V' shaped configuration of the slot arrangement of the extrusion is also particularly versatile, permitting the introduction and sliding along the slot of an inverted 'Y' shaped connection for a handle carry or support strap or the like. Such a ⁇ V' shaped slot with inverted 'Y' connection is particularly suitable for load bearing connection.
  • the modular arrangement of tables with edge connections at edge elements 4d, 8d can be simply disassembled, when required, by forcing apart the edge elements 4d, 8d causing disengagement of the securing tab 15 from one, or both, of the respective slots.
  • a securing bracket 20 may be provided having a pair of upstanding walls 21, arranged one either side of an edge element (4c in Figure 4) and having an integral spanning arm 22 extending across the interface between tables 2 and 3 and secured to an edge element of the other table (8c in Figure 4) by, for example, a screw 23. If not required for use, the brackets 20 can be pivoted to a stowed orientation about the axis of screw 23.
  • the bracket 20 is typically of plastics material, including arm 22 which thereby is resiliently deformable to 'snap' between stowed and in-use positions. In the in-use position, the edge element 4c is supported on spanning portion 26 of bracket 20, between upstanding walls 21.
  • the invention as described provides a convenient, lightweight construction for connecting furniture structures in a modular arrangement. It is believed that the invention is particularly suited for use in creating a modular table arrangement which is easily assemblable, and disassemblable and stowable.

Landscapes

  • Furniture Connections (AREA)
EP20000301485 1999-02-25 2000-02-25 Arrangement de mobilier Withdrawn EP1031737A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9904301A GB2347075A (en) 1999-02-25 1999-02-25 Table connectors
GB9904301 1999-02-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1031737A2 true EP1031737A2 (fr) 2000-08-30

Family

ID=10848452

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20000301485 Withdrawn EP1031737A2 (fr) 1999-02-25 2000-02-25 Arrangement de mobilier

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1031737A2 (fr)
GB (1) GB2347075A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10049853A1 (de) * 2000-10-09 2002-04-11 Stoll Sedus Ag Klapptisch
KR20180003885A (ko) * 2016-07-01 2018-01-10 주식회사 펀잇쳐스 조립식 책상 프레임

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU210633U1 (ru) * 2021-03-26 2022-04-22 Владислав Валерьевич Козлов Устройство для соединения столешниц

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2217588A (en) * 1987-12-23 1989-11-01 Design Resources Limited Furniture linkage
US5313893A (en) * 1991-05-13 1994-05-24 Kokuyo Co., Ltd. Desk
US5339747A (en) * 1992-07-27 1994-08-23 Epps Alan L Detachably interconnected work tables using panel sections of various geometric shapes
US5595126A (en) * 1995-08-10 1997-01-21 Yeh; Hsin-Ho Shape-changeable table
US5595427A (en) * 1996-02-13 1997-01-21 Transfer Flow International, Inc. Modular countertop

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10049853A1 (de) * 2000-10-09 2002-04-11 Stoll Sedus Ag Klapptisch
US6712009B2 (en) 2000-10-09 2004-03-30 Sedus Stoll Ag Table with folding legs
KR20180003885A (ko) * 2016-07-01 2018-01-10 주식회사 펀잇쳐스 조립식 책상 프레임
KR101865581B1 (ko) * 2016-07-01 2018-06-08 주식회사 펀잇쳐스 조립식 책상 프레임

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9904301D0 (en) 1999-04-21
GB2347075A (en) 2000-08-30

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