EP1985201A1 - Piece of furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

The furniture has a table top (1) resting on a C shaped support element constituted by a flexible and deformable plate (2) that is folded in a form of C and maintained in a folded service position by two tie-bars or cables (4), where the tie-bars or cables are adjustable in length. The tie-bars or cables are provided with stops (5) at their ends connecting free ends (3) of the plate. The support element has a U shaped rigid angle-iron (6) surrounding the free ends (3) of the plate. The length of the tie-bars or cables is adjusted to adjust the height of the plate with respect to the ground.

Description

The present invention relates to an adjustable and removable furniture such as a table, bookshelf or bookcase for example, which is easy to assemble, compact to store and an original design. The furniture object of the present invention is distinguished by the features listed in claim 1.

• La figure 1 illustre une table basse selon l'invention en position montée et assemblée.
• La figure 2 est un détail à plus grande échelle de la figure 1.
• La figure 3 illustre une étagère selon l'invention en position montée et assemblée.
• La figure 4 illustre en coupe un organe de fixation.
• Les figures 5 à 9 illustrent différentes variantes de table réalisées avec des supports selon l'invention et des plateaux.

The accompanying drawing illustrates schematically and by way of example an embodiment of the furniture according to the invention.

• The figure 1 illustrates a coffee table according to the invention in assembled and assembled position.
• The figure 2 is a larger-scale detail of the figure 1 .
• The figure 3 illustrates a shelf according to the invention in assembled and assembled position.
• The figure 4 illustrates in section a fastener.
• The Figures 5 to 9 illustrate different table variants made with supports according to the invention and trays.

The coffee table, according to the invention illustrated in figures 1 and 2 , comprises a plate 1 carried by two supports disposed on two opposite sides of the plate 1. Each support is formed by a flexible plate 2 of rubber, neoprene, thin sheet or plastic folded C-shaped and whose free ends 3 , which are located one above the other in folded service position, are connected by means of two or more tie rods, ropes or cables 4 passing through the thickness of the plate and whose ends are provided with stops 5 secured by threads or screws to said tie rods or cables 4.

In the example shown in figures 1 and 2 the free ends of the flexible plates 2 are arranged in a metal bracket 6 or U-shaped rigid plastic material.

On the median line of each flexible plate 2, equidistant from its free ends 3, fixing members 7 are formed by a head which can be split to receive a slice of the plate 1, a threaded rod passing through the flexible plate and a bolt screwed onto this threaded rod and rigidly fixing the fixing member on the flexible plate 2.

By arranging two C-shaped supports facing each other, their fasteners 7 facing one another, a plate 1 can be inserted into the slot of the split heads of the fasteners so as to hold the plate 1 in a horizontal position above the ground.

In a variant, a second plate can be placed on the upper stops 5 to form a table with two trays.

Of course by varying the length of the tie rods or cables 4 can adjust the height of the tray 1 relative to the ground to some extent.

To dismount the table simply release one of the stops 5 of each cable 4 and separate the panel 1 of the fasteners 7 by removing the supports. Each support resumes a flat shape and everything can be stored flat in a small space. The manipulations are simple, fast and do not require special tools.

Each support has at least two tie rods or cables 4 but depending on the depth of the piece of furniture it may have 3 or more.

The rigid angles 6 make it possible to avoid unwanted deformation of the flexible plates 2, but they may be omitted in certain variants when the dimension of the plates 2 of the supports and in particular their thickness or the material in which they are made allows it.

The figure 4 illustrates by way of example in section an embodiment of a fastener 7 comprising a slotted head 7a, a threaded rod 7b and a bolt 7c. In variants, the head of these fasteners could be full and serve as simple supports to a plate 1 placed on this head.

To create a shelf or bookcase multiple media can be created using flexible plates 2 folded C-shaped and superimposed on each other, cables or tie rods 4 longer maintain these stacks of plates folded to form a multiple lateral support as shown to the left or right of the figure 3 . Between two of these multiple lateral supports it is possible to have several superposed tray 1 thus forming a shelf or library.

We also see on the figure 3 that it is possible to create multiple central supports using for each level two flexible plates 2 whose free edges 6 overlap. Trays 1 can then be arranged on either side of such a central support for making furniture with several trays 1 arranged at the same level. Such furniture may comprise a single level or, on the contrary, as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 several levels.

In general it is possible using plates 2 and tie rods 4 of suitable length to create single supports, lateral or double, central, as well as multiple lateral and multiple central supports for making furniture at one or several levels and to one or more trays 1 at each level.

The fasteners are fixed on each plate 2 supports along a center line thereof extending parallel and equidistant to the superimposed lateral edges of these plates.

In its simplest version a piece of furniture according to the invention comprises a plate 1 and two simple supports 2.4.

1. 1. facilité de montage et démontage.
2. 2. facilité de stockage et de transport du fait du faible encombrement.
3. 3. Possibilité de réglage en hauteur du ou des plateaux du meuble par simple réglage de la longueur des tirants 4 des supports 2,4,5.
4. 4. Souplesse et flexibilité du meuble qui en cas de choc peut se déformer et absorber ceux-ci.
5. 5. Amortissement des bruits dus à des chocs ou au déplacement des meubles.
6. 6. Possibilité de construire de nombreux meubles différents à l'aide des même composants de base.

The main advantages of this piece of furniture are:

1. 1. ease of assembly and disassembly.
2. 2. ease of storage and transportation due to the small footprint.
3. 3. Possibility of height adjustment of the tray (s) of the cabinet by simply adjusting the length of the tie rods 4 2.4.5 supports.
4. 4. Flexibility and flexibility of furniture that in the event of impact can deform and absorb them.
5. 5. Amortization of noise due to shocks or moving furniture.
6. 6. Ability to build many different furniture using the same basic components.

Numerous furniture and in particular various coffee tables can be made very simply by assembling or juxtaposing one or more supports with one or more trays.

The figure 5 illustrates a coffee table having two supports 3,4, the first resting on the ground by its four stops 5 and the second inverted resting on the ground by its two fasteners 7, A plate 1 formed for example by a glass plate is placed on the fasteners 7 of the first support and on the stops of the second support.

The figure 6 illustrates a low table formed of two supports 2,4,5 resting on the ground by one of their side edge, a glass tray 1 being placed on their upper edge. In this case, the supports are not provided with fastener 7.

One can, as illustrated by way of example to the figure 7 , making high tables forming supports by assembling two or more C-shaped elementary support members.

In the example shown on this figure 7 one of the supports is formed of two elementary support elements connected along their dorsal midline by fixing elements. This assembly rests on the ground by feet 8 integral with the bracket 6 of one of the elementary supports while similar feet 8 of the other elementary support serve as support for a plate 1.

The other support is also formed of superimposed C-shaped elementary supports, one resting on the ground by its fixing elements, and the other serving as support for the plate 1.

The figure 8 illustrates a piece of furniture with two levels. Their elementary lower support elements 2,4 rest on the ground by feet 8 fixed on their brackets 6 and serve as supports for a first plate 1a.

One of these lower elementary supports is fixed to a third support element 2,4 by their fastening elements 7 and this third support element comprises feet 8 fixed on its brackets 6 serving to support a second plate 1b . A vertical panel 9 is fixed at its lower edge to the fastening elements 7 of the other lower support. The upper edge of this vertical panel 9 serves to support the second plate 1b.

The figure 9 illustrates a coffee table having a tray 1 resting on three support elements. Two of these support elements rest on the ground by their fasteners 7 while the third support element rests on the ground by feet 8 fixed on its angles 6. The plate 1 rests on the feet 8 of the first two elements of support and on the fastening elements 7 of the third support member.

As seen by these examples a multitude of different furniture can be achieved using C-shaped support elements and trays 1.

The C-shaped support elements are made of flexible plates 2 of thin sheet, neoprene, plastic or other material, held in their service position by tie rods 4.

According to the envisaged embodiments, these support elements 2,4 comprise on the median dorsal line one or more fixing elements 7 allowing either the assembly of two support elements, or of a plate 1.

For other embodiments these support elements 4,5 may be provided with angle 6 along their rectilinear free edges, these angles being able to be provided with feet 8.

The length of the tie rods 4 can preferably be adjusted and adjusted by means of stops 5 fixed or screwed on the ends of these tie rods 4.

In all cases the plates 2 of these support elements can be reset once the rods 4 disassembled, which facilitates the transport and storage of these elements.

Claims (8)

Furniture characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one plate (1) resting on at least one support member consisting of a plate (2) flexible and deformable folded on itself C-shaped and maintained in this service position by at least two tie rods or cables (4) provided with stops (5) at their ends connecting the free ends (3) of this plate. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (2) of the support element resumes its flat shape when removing the tie rods (4), under the effect of its own elasticity. Furniture according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the support element comprises a U-shaped bracket (6) enveloping the free ends (3) of the plate (2). Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tie rods (4) are adjustable in length. Furniture according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the angles (6) comprise feet (8). Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element or elements comprise fastening members (7) arranged along a median dorsal line of the plate (2) curved in a C-shape. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of support elements (2,4) and a single plate (1). Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of support elements (2, 4) and a plurality of trays (1).

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