EP1250868A1

EP1250868A1 - Drop-leaf table particularly for modular kitchens

Info

Publication number: EP1250868A1
Application number: EP02007359A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maurizio Pianegonda
Original assignee: Arredamenti Mmp Di Pianegonda Maurizio & C SNC
Current assignee: Arredamenti Mmp Di Pianegonda Maurizio & C SNC
Priority date: 2001-04-19
Filing date: 2002-04-08
Publication date: 2002-10-23
Also published as: ITPD20010032U1

Abstract

A drop-leaf table particularly for modular kitchens, comprising a wheeled frame (14) for supporting a folding top (15) to be arranged, in the closed configuration, inside a recess that is deeper than wide and is present between the units of a modular kitchen; the top comprises a central portion (16), which is arranged above the frame and to which at least one lateral top portion (17a, 17b) is hinged, the top portion being meant to be arranged horizontally when the table is in the open configuration and vertically when the table is in the closed configuration, the table comprising retractable supporting means (20a, 20b) for the at least one lateral top portion.

Description

The present invention relates to a drop-leaf table particularly for modular kitchens.
The use of modular kitchens is increasingly widespread for furnishing homes, especially when the space available is limited.
Modular kitchens in fact allow to optimize occupation of available spaces by designing dedicated solutions for every environment.
Despite their high flexibility, a limitation is linked to the fact that the units and electrical appliances have standardized dimensions, with particular reference to width, which is usually 60 and 45 centimeters.
For this very reason, free recesses between units or between a unit and the electrical appliance are often available to an interior decorator; these recesses are usually approximately 15 centimeters wide.
Such recesses are usually occupied, in the best of cases, by pull-out trolleys or simply covered with a panel that at least gives an effect of continuity with the surface formed by the units and the electrical appliances.
The aim of the present invention is to solve or substantially reduce the problems related to optimization of the spaces occupied by modular kitchens, with particular reference to the use of those small recesses that are formed between units or between units and electrical appliances.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a drop-leaf table that can be inserted easily in an unused recess in modular kitchens.
Another object is to provide a drop-leaf table that has a simple structure.
Another object is to provide a drop-leaf table that is easy to use.
Another object is to provide a drop-leaf table that has a low cost.
This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a drop-leaf table particularly for modular kitchens, characterized in that it comprises a wheeled frame for supporting a folding top to be arranged, in the closed configuration, inside a recess that is deeper than wide and is present between the units of a modular kitchen, said top comprising a central portion, which is arranged above said frame and to which at least one lateral top portion is hinged, said top portion being designed to be arranged horizontally when the table is in the open configuration and vertically when the table is in the closed configuration, said table comprising retractable supporting means for said at least one lateral top portion.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings and figures, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table according to the invention in the closed configuration;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a table according to the invention in the closed configuration, associated with a modular kitchen;
Figure 3 is a side view of the table of Figure 1;
Figures 4 and 5 are two different perspective views of the table in the open configuration;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a component of the table shown in the preceding figures;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the component shown in Figure 6.
With reference to the figures, a drop-leaf table particularly for modular kitchens, according to the invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
The table 10 is particularly suitable to be inserted removably in a recess 11 formed between the units 12 of a modular kitchen, generally designated by the reference numeral 13.
The table 10 comprises a wheeled frame 14 (see Figure 6) for supporting a folding top, designated by the reference numeral 15.
The folding top 15 comprises a central portion 16, to which a first lateral portion 17a and a second lateral portion 17b are hinged laterally along horizontal axes orientated in the direction of the depth of the recess 11.
The wheeled frame 14 comprises a base 18 which is provided with wheels 19 in a downward region and from which a rear post 20a and a front post 20b rise; such posts are joined in an upward region by a cross-member 21 that is parallel to the base 18.
The cross-member 21 is provided with first fixing brackets 22 for the central portion 16 of the top 15.
The table 10 furthermore comprises legs 23a and 23b, which are designed to support respectively the lateral portions 17a and 17b of the top 15 when they are arranged horizontally, so as to provide a continuous surface with the central portion 16.
The legs 23a and 23b are identical and are arranged mutually opposite with respect to the wheeled frame 14; therefore only the leg 23b is described for the sake of simplicity.
The leg 23b is constituted by two posts 24a and 24b, which are joined in an upward region and in a downward region by cross-members 25a and 25b.
In particular, the post 24a is hinged about a vertical axis to the rear post 20a of the wheeled frame 14, while the post 24b has a lower portion 26 that continues so as to form a floor support.
The upper cross-member 25a forms a support for the lateral portion 17a of the top 15 when said portion is arranged horizontally.
The base 18 is further provided, in a downward region, with two arms 27a and 27b, which are hinged thereto at one of their ends about vertical axes.
The arms 27a and 27b support wheels, respectively designated by the reference numerals 28a and 28b, at the end that lies opposite the pivoting end.
Moreover, the arms 27a and 27b can be associated with elastic means that normally push them into the open configuration so as to be arranged in a substantially V-like shape outside the dimensions of the base 18, so as to form a stable support for the table 10 when it is arranged outside the recess 11.
The front post 20b of the wheeled frame 14 is provided with corresponding second fixing brackets 29 for a panel 30, which is provided with a handle 31 that is available to the user and is suitable to close the recess 11 like a cover, when the table 10 is inserted therein, and consequently form a continuous wall with the units 12 arranged adjacent to the recess 11.
The base 18 is further provided, at the front, with a third bracket 32, which supports a panel 33 that is suitable to provide a continuous surface with the baseboard or panel 33 of the kitchen 13.
In particular, the third bracket 32 is mounted on a rod 35 which can slide on a guide 34 that is rigidly coupled to the base 18 and allows to adjust its depth, by means of a retention screw 36, and therefore allows to adapt it to kitchens having different dimensions, or rather to kitchens whose baseboards are at different depths with respect to the corresponding front planes formed by the units.
As regards operation, it is thus evident that the table 10 can be arranged in the open configuration outside the recess 11 and in the closed configuration inside the recess 11.
In particular, when the table 10 is in the closed configuration, it occupies a space that is substantially equal to the space occupied by the base 18 and by the front panel 30, with the supporting legs 23a and 23b arranged adjacent to the wheeled frame 14, and with the lateral portions 17a and 17b of the top 15 arranged vertically and adjacent to said supporting legs 23a and 23b.
When it is arranged in this manner, the table 10 can be inserted within the recess 11, and during insertion the arms 27a and 27b, by resting on the inside walls of the units 12 arranged adjacent to the recess 11, are arranged, with an action that contrasts the elastic means, within the dimensions of the base 18, in a substantially mutually parallel configuration.
When instead the table 10 is arranged in the open configuration, outside the recess 11, the lateral portions 17a and 17b can be arranged horizontally so that they form a continuous surface with the central portion 16 and are supported by the supporting legs 23a and 23b, which are turned about their vertical pivoting axis and are arranged in the open configuration.
Moreover, in the open configuration, the arms 27a and 27b are arranged in a substantially V-like shape, giving greater stability to the table 10.
In practice it has been found that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects.
A drop-leaf table has in fact been provided which can be inserted in the closed configuration within a recess formed between the units of a modular kitchen.
In this manner it is possible to utilize a space that usually remains unused or whose potential in any case is not utilized fully.
The table can also be adapted to kitchens having different dimensions.
The technical details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
The materials, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. PD2001U000032 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A drop-leaf table particularly for modular kitchens, characterized in that it comprises a wheeled frame for supporting a folding top to be arranged, in the closed configuration, inside a recess that is deeper than wide and is present between the units of a modular kitchen, said top comprising a central portion, which is arranged above said frame and to which at least one lateral top portion is hinged, said top portion being designed to be arranged horizontally when the table is in the open configuration and vertically when the table is in the closed configuration, said table comprising retractable supporting means for said at least one lateral top portion.
The table according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame comprises a wheeled base from which a front post and a rear post rise, said posts being joined in an upward region by a cross-member that is parallel to said base.
The table according to claim 2, characterized in that said cross-member is provided with first brackets for fixing said central portion of the top.
The table according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said top comprises a central portion that substantially has the same dimensions as said base of the frame and to which a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion are laterally hinged about two horizontal axes that are orientated in the direction of the depth of said recess.
The table according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said retractable supporting means for each lateral portion are constituted by two vertical posts joined by cross-members, the first post being hinged about a vertical axis to the rear post of said frame, the second post having an extended lower end that rests on the floor.
The table according to claim 5, characterized in that the upper cross-member is designed to support the corresponding lateral portion of the top when it is arranged in the horizontal configuration.
The table according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two arms that are hinged at one end in a downward region with respect to said base of the frame and support wheels at the opposite end.
The table according to claim 7, characterized in that said arms are associated with elastic means that normally push them so that they are arranged in a substantially V-like shape outside the dimensions of said base.
The table according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said front post of said frame supports second fixing brackets for a panel that is suitable to close, like a cover, said recess when the table is arranged inside it, and to form a continuous wall together with the adjacent units of the kitchen.
The table according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base supports, at the front, a third fixing bracket for a panel that is suitable to form a continuous surface together with the baseboard of the kitchen.
The table according to claim 10, characterized in that said third bracket is mounted on a rod that can slide on a guide and is rigidly coupled to said base for depth adjustment, a retention screw for said rod being engaged on said guide.
The table according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said legs, said lateral portions of the top and said wheeled arms arrange themselves, when the table is in the closed configuration, within the dimensions formed substantially by said front panel and said base of the frame.