EP2664251B1 - Articulated mechanism for collapsible shelf - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to the field of folding shelves for fixed kitchen installations and equipment, such as kitchen worktops, or mobile, such as meal distribution trolleys. More particularly, this invention is concerned with an articulated mechanism for such a collapsible tablet.

It is well known to make collapsible tablets that can be selectively brought into a position of horizontal use, in particular located in the extension of a kitchen worktop, or in a retracted substantially vertical position, folded downwards against a fixed support. For this purpose, the tablet is connected to said fixed support by a more or less complex articulated mechanism, which moves the tablet between its horizontal use position and its vertical retracted position, and to keep the tablet in its position of use horizontal.

As examples of such articulated mechanisms, reference is made here to patents US 6,837,467 B2 , Canadian CA 792634 A and swiss CH 373278A , as well as to the patent application US 2011/0266403 A1 .

It is also known to use permanent magnets for such a folding shelf, or for a similar element such a folding seat, in order to keep it in its vertical retracted position - see patent documents US 2,916,339 and JP 2011-115 293 A .

With particular reference to the patent US 6,837,467 B2 the tablet has side trunnions, guided in inverted "L" grooves of two fixed lateral supports. These supports each have, on their upper edge, a notch adapted to receive a lateral finger of the tablet, in order to retain it in its horizontal position.

In upright position, the shelf is held by the stop of its lateral trunnions at the lowest point of the vertical part of the inverted "L" grooves.

• Pour passer de la position verticale à la position horizontale, il est nécessaire de déplacer la tablette en hauteur, en plus de son mouvement de rotation ; de plus, les doigts latéraux de la tablette doivent être engagés dans leurs encoches réceptrices par un mouvement volontaire et précis, et rien ne retient ensuite véritablement ces doigts dans lesdites encoches, par exemple dans le cas où la tablette subirait un choc par le dessous.
• En position verticale, la tablette est descendue dans son intégralité et ainsi il n'existe pas de continuité entre la face supérieure horizontale du plan de travail et la face arrière alors horizontale de la tablette rabattue, correspondant à l'épaisseur de cette tablette.
• En position verticale, la tablette se situe à une distance relativement importante de l'extrémité du plan de travail, ce qui engendre un espace libre important entre le plan de travail et l'arrière de la tablette rabattue.
• Rien n'est prévu pour immobiliser la tablette dans sa position verticale, de sorte que celle-ci peut osciller, compte tenu aussi de l'espace libre important (voir point précédent).
• Enfin, le mécanisme d'articulation de la tablette ne possédant aucun élément constituant jambe de force, la solidité reste faible et, en particulier, le soutien de la tablette en position horizontale est insuffisant, vis-à-vis des charges et efforts auxquels une tablette peut être soumise.

Such an embodiment retains various disadvantages:

• To move from the vertical position to the horizontal position, it is necessary to move the shelf height, in addition to its rotational movement; moreover, the lateral fingers of the tablet must be engaged in their receiver notches by a deliberate and precise movement, and nothing really retains these fingers in said notches, for example in the case where the tablet would suffer a shock from below.
• In the upright position, the tablet is lowered in its entirety and thus there is no continuity between the upper horizontal face of the worktop and the back then horizontal of the folded shelf, corresponding to the thickness of this tablet.
• In the vertical position, the shelf is at a relatively large distance from the end of the worktop, which generates a significant free space between the worktop and the back of the folded shelf.
• Nothing is planned to immobilize the tablet in its vertical position, so that it can oscillate, also taking into account the significant free space (see previous point).
• Finally, the hinge mechanism of the tablet having no strut component, the strength remains low and, in particular, the support of the tablet in horizontal position is insufficient, vis-à-vis the loads and efforts to which a tablet can be subject.

The present invention aims to avoid all these disadvantages, by providing an improved mechanism for effectively stabilizing the horizontal and vertical positions of the tablet, while facilitating manipulations for the passage from one position to another, and this in removing or greatly reducing the vertical and horizontal offset between the folded shelf and its fixed support, such as worktop.

• une pièce fixe de support avec un guide sensiblement vertical, dont l'extrémité supérieure forme un logement de retenue,
• une biellette dont une première extrémité est engagée de manière coulissante dans le guide de la pièce fixe, et dont l'autre extrémité est articulée à la tablette,
• un levier monté pivotant sur la pièce fixe autour d'un axe sensiblement horizontal, surmontant l'extrémité supérieure du guide de cette pièce fixe, la partie arrière de la tablette étant articulée autour d'un autre axe sensiblement horizontal sur la partie haute du levier tandis que la partie basse de ce levier constitue un doigt de déverrouillage apte à coopérer avec la première extrémité de la biellette, lorsque celle-ci est engagée dans le logement de l'extrémité supérieure du guide de la pièce fixe.

To this end, the invention relates to an articulated mechanism for folding shelf, the mechanism connecting a shelf to a support such as a fixed work surface or a carriage structure, and this mechanism being designed for the selective feeding of the tablet in a position of horizontal use or in a vertical retracted position, by a pivoting movement of said shelf, the articulated mechanism being essentially characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one assembly comprising, in combination:

• a fixed support part with a substantially vertical guide, whose upper end forms a retaining housing,
• a rod whose first end is slidably engaged in the guide of the fixed part, and whose other end is hinged to the tablet,
• a lever pivotally mounted on the fixed part about a substantially horizontal axis, surmounting the upper end of the guide of this fixed part, the rear part of the shelf being hinged about another substantially horizontal axis on the upper part of the lever while the lower part of this lever is an unlocking finger adapted to cooperate with the first end of the link, when it is engaged in the housing of the upper end of the guide of the fixed part.

Thus, the idea underlying the present invention is to articulate the rear part of the tablet on a part itself mobile, namely a lever mounted oscillating, so that the axis of rotation of the rear part of the tablet can describe a movement back and forth. The tablet can thus be sufficiently spaced from its fixed support, such as worktop, to pivot between its horizontal position and its vertical position without hitting obstacles, while being closely approximated to its fixed support both in position of use horizontally than in the vertical retracted position.

• dégagement de la partie arrière de la tablette, par suite de l'avancée de la partie haute du levier, et
• déblocage de l'extrémité inférieure de la biellette, avec sortie du logement situé à l'extrémité supérieure du guide, par suite du mouvement de recul de la partie basse du levier, formant doigt de déverrouillage.

To move from the horizontal use position to the vertical retracted position, the front of the shelf must be lifted and pulled forward, which has the primary effect of rotating the lever, with a double result:

• release of the rear part of the tablet, as a result of the advance of the upper part of the lever, and
• release of the lower end of the rod, with the housing outlet located at the upper end of the guide, as a result of the recoil movement of the lower part of the lever, forming unlocking finger.

Advantageously, the articulation of the rod to the shelf is equipped with spring means, in particular a torsion spring, which urge the rod in the direction of its insertion into the housing of the upper end of the guide of the fixed part. The first end of the rod is thus pushed towards the bottom of said housing, as long as it is not extracted by the action of the lower part of the unlocking finger lever.

According to a complementary feature of the invention, there are provided in the rear part of the tablet, on the lower face thereof, permanent magnets provided to cooperate with the adjacent edge of a worktop or other metallic upper part. of the support of the tablet, so as to maintain this tablet applied against said support in the vertical retracted position.

• Le déverrouillage de la tablette, nécessaire pour passer de la position horizontale à la position verticale, nécessite de lever la tablette et de la tirer vers soi. La sécurité est ainsi améliorée, car le seul mouvement de montée de la tablette, pouvant se produire accidentellement, n'autorise pas le déblocage de la tablette et son repliage vers le bas.
• En outre, la position horizontale de la tablette est sécurisée par le ressort associé à son articulation avec la biellette, ce ressort tendant à rappeler l'extrémité inférieure de la biellette dans son logement au sommet du guide formé sur la pièce fixe.
• L'articulation de la partie arrière de la tablette sur la partie haute du levier reste à une hauteur sensiblement constante, du fait que le débattement angulaire de ce levier reste faible. Ainsi, le rabattement de la tablette se fait sans descente de cette tablette, si bien que la face arrière de la tablette rabattue en position verticale se situe au même niveau que la face supérieure du plan de travail adjacent.
• Un jeu minimum, de quelques millimètres, subsiste entre le bord arrière de la tablette en position horizontale et l'extrémité adjacente du plan de travail.
• Egalement lorsque la tablette est en position verticale, le jeu entre cette tablette et le plan de travail est un jeu minimum, de quelques millimètres, cette valeur très réduite pouvant être maintenue grâce aux aimants qui rappellent la tablette contre le bord du plan de travail en fin de mouvement de rotation de la position horizontale vers la position verticale. La tablette rabattue se trouve ainsi positionnée et maintenue efficacement contre un bâti ou une autre structure, ce qui est avantageux en cas de déplacement ou de transport de l'ensemble.
• Grâce au ressort, la tablette se bloque par elle-même en position d'utilisation horizontale, lorsqu'elle est relevée depuis sa position escamotée verticale.
• En position d'utilisation horizontale, la biellette bloquée constitue une jambe de force soutenant solidement la tablette et lui permettant de supporter des charges ou des efforts importants.
• La structure du mécanisme articulé reste simple et économique, le nombre des éléments mobiles et des axes d'articulation restant très limité, et la manipulation de la tablette équipée de ce mécanisme reste elle aussi particulièrement simple et aisée.

In general, the articulated folding-table mechanism, which is the subject of the present invention, has the following advantages, in particular with respect to the state of the art according to the patent. US 6,837,467 B2 :

• Unlocking the tablet, necessary to move from the horizontal to the vertical position, requires lifting the tablet and pulling it towards you. The security is thus improved, because the only movement of the rise of the tablet, which can occur accidentally, does not allow the release of the tablet and its folding down.
• In addition, the horizontal position of the shelf is secured by the spring associated with its articulation with the link, this spring tending to recall the lower end of the link in its housing at the top of the guide formed on the fixed part.
• The articulation of the rear part of the tablet on the upper part of the lever remains at a substantially constant height, because the angular movement of this lever remains low. Thus, the folding of the tablet is done without descending the tablet, so that the rear face of the shelf folded in the vertical position is at the same level as the upper face of the adjacent work plan.
• A minimum clearance of a few millimeters remains between the back edge of the tablet in horizontal position and the adjacent end of the worktop.
• Also when the tablet is upright, the play between this tablet and the worktop is a minimum clearance of a few millimeters, this very small value can be maintained thanks to the magnets that remind the tablet against the edge of the worktop. end of rotational movement from the horizontal position to the vertical position. The folded shelf is thus positioned and effectively maintained against a frame or other structure, which is advantageous in case of movement or transport of the assembly.
• Thanks to the spring, the shelf locks itself in the horizontal use position, when raised from its retracted vertical position.
• In horizontal use position, the locked rod is a strut sustaining firmly the tablet and allowing it to withstand heavy loads or efforts.
• The structure of the articulated mechanism remains simple and economical, the number of movable elements and articulation axes remaining very limited, and the handling of the tablet equipped with this mechanism also remains particularly simple and easy.

• Figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective et par-dessus, d'une tablette repliable équipée du mécanisme articulé objet de l'invention, en position d'utilisation horizontale ;
• Figure 2 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective et par-dessous, de cette tablette en position horizontale ;
• Figure 3 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective, de la même tablette en cours de rabattement ;
• Figure 4 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective, de cette tablette en position escamotée verticale ;
• Figure 5 est une vue de côté du mécanisme articulé de la tablette des figures 1 à 4, en position horizontale ;
• Figures 6, 7 et 8 illustrant des positions successives de ce mécanisme articulé, au cours du passage de la position horizontale à la position verticale ;
• Figures 9 et 10 représentent le même mécanisme, dans la position verticale, respectivement avant et après « collage » des aimants.

In any case, the invention will be better understood from the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing, by way of example, an embodiment of this articulated mechanism for folding shelf.

• Figure 1 is an overall view, in perspective and above, of a folding shelf equipped with the articulated mechanism object of the invention, in horizontal use position;
• Figure 2 is an overview, in perspective and from below, of this tablet in a horizontal position;
• Figure 3 is an overview, in perspective, of the same tablet being folded;
• Figure 4 is an overview, in perspective, of this tablet in vertical retracted position;
• Figure 5 is a side view of the articulated mechanism of the tablet of Figures 1 to 4 in horizontal position;
• Figures 6 , 7 and 8 illustrating successive positions of this articulated mechanism, during the transition from the horizontal position to the vertical position;
• Figures 9 and 10 represent the same mechanism, in the vertical position, respectively before and after "gluing" of the magnets.

As shown by Figures 1 to 4 , the invention relates to a folding shelf 2, installed at one end of a support structure 3 itself fixed or movable, which comprises in particular a working plane 4 or other similar horizontal surface, in particular ferritic stainless steel . In general, the tablet 2 is movable between a horizontal use position ( figures 1 and 2 ) and a vertical retracted position ( figure 4 ), passing through inclined intermediate positions, such as the position shown on the figure 3 . In its horizontal position, the tablet 2 is in the direct extension of the work plane 4, at the same level as the latter. In its vertical position, the tablet 2 is folded down against the support structure 3, the rear face 5 of the tablet 2 then being at the same level as the upper face of the work plane 4.

On each side of the tablet 2 is provided an articulated mechanism, generally designated by the reference 6, which connects the tablet 2 to the support structure 3. The figures 5 and following show in detail the articulated mechanism 6, in various operating positions.

The articulated mechanism 6 comprises a fixed piece 7 in the form of a vertical plate, belonging to the support structure 3 or fixed thereto, in particular by means of screws 8. The fixed part 7 comprises a guide 9 in the form of a vertical groove, with a lower end 10 and an upper end 11. At its upper end 11, the guide 9 forms a bend facing forwards, and this guide 9 ends with a housing 12 in the form of a notch.

The articulated mechanism 6 also comprises a link 13, a first end 14 of which forms a finger which is slidably engaged in the guide 9 of the fixed part 7. The other end 15 of the link 13 is articulated to the tablet 2.

More particularly, this other end 15 of the rod 13 is hinged, about a horizontal axis A, to a yoke 16 or lug housed in a recess 17 dug in the underside of the shelf 2. The recess 17 receives a further torsion spring 18 which, wound around the hinge axis A of the link 13, urges the latter in the direction of the lowering of its first end 14.

The upper part of the fixed part 7 carries a horizontal axis of rotation 19, surmounting the upper end 11 of the guide 9. On the axis of rotation 19 is pivotally mounted a lever 20 which extends above and below of this axis 19.

The rear portion 21 of the tablet 2 is hinged, around another horizontal axis 22, on the upper part 23 of the lever 20. The lower part 24 of this lever 20 forms an unlocking finger 25, which extends downwards. up to the housing 12 present at the upper end 11 bent of the guide 9.

Finally, in the rear portion 21 of the tablet 2, the lower face of this tablet carries a series of permanent magnets 26, provided to cooperate (in a manner described in detail below) with the adjacent edge 27 of the work plane 4 in ferritic stainless steel.

The articulated mechanism 6 thus constituted operates as described below, starting from the horizontal use position of the tablet 2.

In this horizontal position, as shown in figure 5 , the first end 14 of the rod 13 is engaged and immobilized in the housing 12 located at the upper end 11 of the guide 9. The rod 13 occupies then a stable oblique position, and it supports the tablet 2 in a horizontal position, in the manner of a strut.

Simultaneously, being pushed forward, the unlocking finger 25 maintains the lever 20 in a substantially vertical position. The axis 22 is thus retracted, so that the rear face 5 of the tablet 2 is close to the adjacent edge 27 of the work plane 4.

It will be noted that, in this position of horizontal use, a very small clearance J1, typically of two to three millimeters, remains between the rear face 5 of the tablet 2 and the adjacent edge 27 of the worktop 4.

To bring the tablet 2 from its horizontal position to its vertical position, it is first necessary to slightly lift the tablet 2, by tilting a few degrees per rotation about the axis 22 - see figure 6 , arrow F1. The lifting of the tablet 2 pulls the rod 13 upwards, so that the first end 14 of this rod 14 is extracted from the housing 12 at the upper end 11 of the guide 9.

Then the raised shelf 2 is pulled forward, as indicated by an arrow F2 on the figure 7 . This traction moves the axis 22 forwards and pivots the lever 20 about the axis 19, in the direction of the arrow F3, on an angle for example equal to about 10 degrees. The pivoting of the lever 20 moves the unlocking finger 25 towards the rear, so that this finger 25 pushes the first end 14 of the link 13 backwards, up to the vertical portion of the guide 9.

The tablet 2 can thus initiate a pivoting movement downwardly about the axis 22. The first end 14 of the link 13 then sliding up and down in the guide 9, the tablet 2 continues its pivoting movement, as shown in FIG. illustrates the figure 8 (arrow F4), bowing gradually.

At the end of this movement, the tablet 2 reaches a vertical position, while the first end 14 of the rod 13 reaches the lower end 10 of the guide 9 - see figure 9 . At this stage, the clearance J2 between the rear face 5 of the tablet 2 and the adjacent edge 27 of the work plane 4 remains relatively large, typically of the order of one centimeter.

Finally, the vertical shelf 2 is pushed towards the support structure 3, so that the magnets 26 "stick" against the adjacent edge 27 of the worktop 4 - see figure 10 . The tablet 2 is thus immobilized, the final game J3 between the rear face 5 of this tablet 2 and the edge adjacent 27 of the worktop 4 becomes very small, typically from two to three millimeters, and one obtains a quasi-continuity between the top of the worktop 4 and the rear face 5 of the tablet 2.

Of course, the transition from the vertical retracted position to the horizontal use position of the tablet 2 is by the reverse kinematic sequence of that described above, without this requiring a detailed description.

It goes without saying, and as it follows from the foregoing, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this hinged collapsible shelf mechanism which has been described above, by way of example. It embraces, on the contrary, all the embodiments and applications, within the scope of the appended claims.

• en ayant recours à tous moyens équivalents, en particulier en réalisant le guide sous toute forme : rainure, fente, rail, etc., ou en remplaçant le ressort de torsion par tous moyens à ressort réalisant la même fonction ;
• en destinant ce mécanisme articulé à tout genre de tablette, pouvant prolonger un équipement fixe ou mobile de toute nature, dans le domaine de la cuisine ou de la restauration ou autre.

It is thus, in particular, that one would not move away from the scope of the invention:

• using any equivalent means, in particular by producing the guide in any form: groove, slot, rail, etc., or by replacing the torsion spring by any spring means performing the same function;
• by targeting this mechanism articulated to any kind of tablet, which can extend fixed or mobile equipment of any kind, in the field of cooking or catering or other.

Claims (3)

1. An hinged mechanism for a folding shelf, the mechanism (6) connecting a shelf (2) to a support (3, 4) such as a fixed worktop or a carriage structure, and this mechanism (6) being designed for selectively bringing the shelf (2) to a horizontal use position or to a vertical retracted position, by a pivoting movement of said shelf, said mechanism including at least one assembly comprising, in combination:

   - a fixed support part (7) with a substantially vertical guide (9), the upper end (11) of which forms a retaining housing (12),

   - a connecting rod (13), a first end (14) of which is slidably engaged in the guide (9) of the fixed part (7), and the other end (15) of which is intended to be hinged to the shelf (2),
   characterized in that the assembly further comprises:

   - a lever (20) pivotally mounted on the fixed part (7) about a substantially horizontal axis (19), surmounting the upper end (11) of the guide (9) of this fixed part (7), the rear portion (21) of the shelf (2) being intended to be hinged about another substantially horizontal axis (22) on the upper portion (23) of the lever (20) while the lower portion (24) of this lever (20) constitutes an unlocking pin (25) able to cooperate with the first end (14) of the connecting rod (13), when the latter is engaged in the housing (12) of the upper end (11) of the guide (9) of the fixed part (7).
2. The hinged mechanism for a folding shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge (A) of the connecting rod (13) to the shelf (2) is equipped with spring means (18), in particular a torsion spring, which biases the connecting rod (13) in the direction of its insertion in the housing (12) of the upper end (11) of the guide (9) of the fixed part (7).
3. The hinged mechanism for a folding shelf according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that are provided, in the rear portion (21) of the shelf (2), on the lower face thereof, permanent magnets (26) provided to cooperate with the adjacent edge (27) of a worktop (4) or another upper metal portion of the support (3) of the shelf (2), so as to maintain this shelf (2) pressed against said support (3) in a vertical retracted position.

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