EP1108380B1 - Fixing element for childrens playing board, and playing board for children equipped with such an element - Google Patents

Abstract

Holding element (22) for a playing-board (2) is fixed on a frame (6) and can be temporarily linked with the other frame (4). The holding element comprises as well an interior storing volume which can be closed by a sliding cover (60). An Independent claim is also included for the game-board itself.

Description

The present invention relates to a holding element for children's play board, as well as a play board for children provided with such an element.

Usually, a play board for children includes two U-shaped tubular frames, the wings of which constitute feet intended to rest on the ground. It is provided a hinge of articulation between the two souls of the U, which makes it possible to confer a variable inclination to these two frames.

This table is provided with at least one writing face, carried by at least one of its constituent frames. He understands in addition a holding element, making it possible to secure the two aforementioned frames.

We know from US-A-4,123,127 such an element of support, which consists of a paint box, likely to cooperate with an easel. This box has two positions, namely an open position in which it keeps the bridge in its position work, as well as a closed position. The fixing of the box paint on the feet of the easel is provided, in the above-mentioned open position, by means of screws and hooks.

This known solution however presents certain disadvantages. Indeed, the holding element, mentioned above, makes mounting and dismounting the easel particularly tricky.

GB-A-2 156 668, which describes all the features the preamble of claim 1, and US-A-3,145,966, disclose three-legged easels, on which be screwed from the accessory storage trays.

In order to overcome these various drawbacks, the invention proposes to make a holding element which, while ensuring reliable support of the two picture frames that it team, guarantees assembly and disassembly operations of this table, whose speed and simplicity are increased in comparison with the prior art.

For this purpose, it relates to a holding element for a children's play board, according to claim 1.

Within the meaning of the invention, the retaining means are independent of attachment areas, in that they are suitable for being operated independently of these areas of fixation. In other words, the game board equipped with the holding element can have several configurations. Thus, the holding element can be fixed to the board, any ensuring either the closing of the interior volume, or accessibility to the latter. These last two possibilities are also insured in the event that at least one of the zones fixing element is separated by compared to the game board.

This independent character of the fixing zones is particularly advantageous, insofar as it confers a notable ease of use on the game board equipped with a such a holding element. So when the array is in its position of use, the holding element ensures reliably the stability of this array, while being likely to receive accessories in its volume inside. Furthermore, in this working position, access to this interior volume can be prevented, without modifying the arrangement of the game board. This can for example prohibit young children to grab sharp accessories or toxic which avoids any danger of injury or contamination.

In addition, when the user wishes to carry out a dismantling operation of the switchboard, it can activate the retaining means, so as to give them a position closing the interior volume. User proceeds then to the corresponding operation, without having to worry the inclination of the holding element, since the accessories housed there can not come out. this allows therefore to get rid of any manual holding operation accessories.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, each removable fixing zone is suitable for pivot relative to the frame on which it can be fixed. Such pivoting is for example ensured by providing two fixing notches on a crossbar of a frame corresponding. This measure is advantageous, since the assembly and disassembly of the switchboard are made particularly Easy. Thus, this disassembly consists in separating a ends provided with these notches. In this way, the holding element, which is then retained in the table only by the other of these ends, pivots by gravity with respect to to the frame, until it extends substantially vertically. This eliminates any tedious mechanical operation, using, for example, fixing means by screwing.

The invention also relates to a game board for child, comprising first and second frames comprising each two feet, at least one writing surface carried by the or each frame, and means of articulation of these frames, said array further comprising at least one element of holding, fixed on each of these frames, this element of support being removably attached to at least one of these frames, characterized in that the or each holding element is as defined above.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the or each holding element is fixed on two transverse bars with frames, each crossbar extending between the two feet of the same frame.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un tableau de jeu pour enfant conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective, à plus grande échelle, illustrant un élément de maintien du tableau de jeu de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne III-III à la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective, analogue à la figure 1, illustrant le démontage du tableau de la figure 1 ; et
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective illustrant une variante de réalisation de l'élément de maintien du tableau de jeu de la figure 1.

The invention will be described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given only by way of nonlimiting examples and in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game table for children according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, illustrating a holding element of the game board of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 1, illustrating the disassembly of the table of Figure 1; and
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the holding element of the game board of FIG. 1.

Figure 1 shows a game board, designated in as a whole by reference 2, which includes two frames 4, 6, which are formed of metal tubes or are made of plastic material.

Each of the frames 4, 6 has a U shape, the wings form feet 8, 9, 10 and 11 resting on the ground surface S assumed to be flat and horizontal.

The souls of the U constituting the frames 4, 6 are mutually articulated around a horizontal axis, by means a hinge not shown. In this way, the spacing angle of the frames resting on the ground is variable.

Each frame 4, 6 is provided with a writing face corresponding 14, 16. However, only one face writing can be expected. Each frame 4, 6 is further provided with a transverse bar 18, 20, extending between the two legs 8, 9 and 10, 11 of the same frame 4, 6.

Table 2 also includes a holding element intended to secure mutually frames 4, 6 in a predetermined position. As more specifically the FIGS. 2 and 3, this holding element is a pen tray 22, made for example of synthetic resin.

This pen tray 22, which has a shape overall rectangular, has two lateral regions 24, 26, which form attachment zones on the frames 4, 6. Each of the regions 24, 26 is hollowed out with a longitudinal notch 28, 30 intended to cooperate, by elastic snap-fastening, with each crossbar 18, 20. Alternatively, only one of these regions can be fixed removably, the other being fixed permanently on the corresponding bar.

The central part 32 of the pen tray 22 comprises two recesses, which form hollow compartments 34. These last, which are separated by a crosspiece 36, form the internal volume of pen tray 22, volume in which can be housed with accessories, such as pencils allowing writing on the faces 14, 16.

Each compartment 34 is bordered by side walls 38 and an end wall 40, opposite the crosspiece 36. The upper end of each side wall 38 forms a area 42 surmounted by a longitudinal edge 44 of which is provided with the central part 32. Each range 42 defines, with the section of the rim 44 which surmounts it, a slide lateral 46.

Furthermore, the end wall is provided with a projection 48 curved, extending opposite the cross-member 36. This projection 48 defines, with an edge 50 connecting the bottom 52 at the top of the pen tray, an end slide 54. The bottom 52 of the pen tray extends away from a wall lower 56 of compartment 34, so as to define a lower slide 58.

The pen tray 22 is provided with a curtain 60, mounted sliding in the side rails 46 respectively, at the end 54 and lower 58. This curtain 60 comprises a succession of transverse blades 62, articulated two by two. The final blade 62 ', adjacent to the crosspiece 36 when the curtain 60 closes the compartment 34, is provided with a tongue 64 ensuring the gripping the curtain 60.

This final blade 62 ′ is furthermore provided, opposite to the tongue 64, of a not shown lug adapted to be fixed removably, by elastic snap-in, in one cavities 66 with which the crosspiece 36 is provided. Since the tongue 64 projects upwards relative to the final blade 62 ', it retains the curtain 60, in the sense that it prevents it from fully engaging the slides outer 54 and lower 58.

The operation of the game board 2 will now be explicit.

In the position of use of table 2, illustrated in Figure 1, the holding element 22 is secured to two cross bars 18, 20, so that table 2 is perfectly held in place. In this configuration, it is possible to slide the curtains 60, so to bring them in a position allowing access to compartments 34 forming the interior volume of the pen tray 22.

In this accessible position, each curtain extends into the outer slide 54 and at least partially in the lower slide 58, and it is possible to place accessories in each compartment 34 or remove it. Curtains 60 can be kept in this position of accessibility to the interior volume, since the pen tray 22 is substantially horizontal, so that the accessories cannot escape by gravity from the compartments 34.

If we want to fold table 2, for its storage, each curtain 60 is closed, by cooperation of its lug with the corresponding cavity 66, so as to place each curtain in a closed compartment position 34. In this position, each curtain forms a means of retention of accessories housed in a corresponding compartment.

Then, as shown in particular in Figure 4, we separate one 24 of the pen tray 22 lateral regions relative to to the crossbar 18, receiving it initially. The pen tray 22 is then linked to a single crossbar 20, so that, due to gravity, it falls according to the arrow F, until it extends substantially vertically. We then bring the two frames 4, 6 together, according to arrow F ', so as to give table 2 a space requirement minimal, which is advantageous for its storage.

During disassembly and during the storage phase, made of the presence of curtains 60, the accessories placed in compartments 34 cannot escape.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the holding element. In this figure, the elements mechanical similar to those of the previous figures are assigned the same reference numbers, increased by 100.

The pen tray 122 is provided with two compartments 134 separated by a central crosspiece 136. Hinges 168 are provided on each of the longitudinal edges 138 of the compartments 134, these edges 138 being opposite to the cross-member 136. These 168 hinges allow reception, by snap-fastening elastic, of an axis 170 of a flap 172, pivoting around this axis 170.

Each flap 172, of roughly square shape, is provided a handle 174 and a lug 176 intended to cooperate with one of the cavities not shown, similar to those 66, formed in the upper face of the cross-member 136. Each flap 172 is movable between a position of accessibility to a corresponding compartment 134, illustrated on the left side of this figure 4, and a closed position of this compartment, illustrated on the right side of this figure.

The functioning of the pen tray 122, forming an element of maintenance of the table, is similar to that of the pen tray 22 described above. When you want to have accessories in one of the compartments 134, or remove them, the corresponding flap 172, by action on its handle 174, of so as to bring it into its accessible position. Then, we closes the shutter 172, by cooperation of the lug 176 with the cavity 166, so as to bring it into its position of closing of compartment 164. During disassembly and table storage, each flap 172 is kept in the above closing position, so as to retain the accessories in each compartment 134, in order to avoid their fall by gravity.

Claims (12)

1. Retention element (22; 122) for a child's play board (2), the said board (2) comprising first (4) and second (6) frames, at least one writing surface (14, 16) which is supported by the or each frame, and means for articulation of the said frames, the said retention element (22; 122) comprising first (24) and second (26) areas of securing to the first (4) and second (6) frames, at least one of these areas being designed to be secured in a detachable manner to a corresponding frame, and an inner volume (34; 134) for storage of accessories, characterised in that the said retention element (22; 122) comprises means (60; 172) for retention of the said accessories, which are independent from the securing areas (24, 26), these retention means being mobile between a position of closure of the said inner volume (34; 134) and a position of accessibility to the said inner volume, and in that at least one detachable area of securing (24, 26) on a corresponding frame is provided with means (28, 30) for securing by resilient snapping onto a transverse bar (18, 20) which connects the two feet (8, 9 and 10, 11) belonging to a single frame (4, 6).
2. Element according to claim 1, characterised in that the means for securing by resilient snapping on comprise a notch (28, 30) for securing to the said transverse bar (18, 20).
3. Element according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the retention means (60; 172) comprise detachable means for securing (176), in their position of closure of the inner volume (34; 134), and in particular means for securing by resilient snapping on.
4. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the retention means (60; 172) are provided with gripping means (64; 174).
5. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the retention means comprise at least one sliding screen (60).
6. Element according to claim 5, characterised in that in that, in the position of accessibility to the inner volume (34), the sliding screen (60) is retracted at least partially in a slide (58) which extends in the vicinity of the base (52) of the said retention element (22).
7. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the retention means comprise at least one pivoting shutter (172).
8. Element according to claim 7, characterised in that two pivoting shutters (172) are provided, fitted onto two hinges (168) which are disposed on opposite edges (138) of the inner volume (134).
9. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that each detachable area of securing (24, 26) can pivot relative to the frame (4, 6) to which it can be secured.
10. Element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that two detachable securing areas (24, 26) are provided, formed by two opposition lateral regions of the said element.
11. Child's play board, comprising first (4) and second (6) frames, at least one writing surface (14, 16) which is supported by the or each frame, and means for articulation of these frames, the said board (2) additionally comprising at least one retention element (22) which is secured to each of these frames (4, 6) this retention element being secured in a detachable manner to at least one of these frames, characterised in that the or each retention element (22) is in conformity with any one of the preceding claims.
12. Table according to claim 11, characterised in that the or each retention element (22) is secured to two transverse bars (18, 20) with which the frames (4, 6) are provided, each transverse bar extending between two feet (8, 9 and 10, 11) of a single frame (4, 6).

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