EP2721950B1 - Folding bistro table - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a folding bistro table, the central leg system carries at the upper end a table top and four cantilevered feet at the bottom, two feet form a stationary pair of feet, while the other two feet are horizontally pivotable and the table top hinged about a horizontal pivot axis , wherein the leg system comprises an outer tube and an inner tube disposed therein, and the one tube is connected to the stationary pair of feet, while the other two feet are connected to a pivotable second pair of feet, which in turn is connected to the other tube and wherein the second Pair of feet with its associated tube about a vertical axis relative to the other pair of feet is pivotable, wherein the pivoting of the second pair of feet relative to the other foot pair is effected by a lever arranged under the table top, which is connected to said other tube.

Such a bistro table is through the WO 90/03132 known. In this case, the locking of the table top in its horizontal position by said lever. It carries at its free end a screw to be operated from below, which must be screwed after the pivoting of the two pairs of feet in a tapped hole on the underside of the tabletop, so that the table top can not tip. This screwing has to be done with horizontal table top and below the same and is therefore uncomfortable for the user.

Another bistro table is from the US 2,791,477 known. The leg system consists of four independent legs. These four table legs project radially at their upper portion to support the tabletop when it is folded to its horizontal position. Likewise, they also protrude radially at their lower ends to form feet.

If this table is to be folded out of the operating position with a horizontal tabletop, the user must know which of the four legs as first to pivot, because the other three legs are locked. The user has determined the correct leg and pivoted by 90 °, he can fold the table top on the side of the weggeschwenkten leg down, causing the first leg diametrically opposite second leg is released from its locking with the table top and then to the the two remaining legs can be swiveled around pair of legs.

Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is to simplify the known bistro table in terms of its operation. Furthermore, the table according to the invention should be characterized by low production costs and pleasing design. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a table equipped with castors is to be improved so that an unintentional rolling is excluded, even if the casters are not sitting in a saucer with raised edge and also have no built-in brake.

This object is achieved in terms of the first task according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

Although it is through the US 5,154,127 already a similar table with hinged table top and zusammenschwenkbaren foot pairs become known, in which the pivotable foot pair has at its upper end a magnet which cooperates with a horizontal table top with a mounted on the table top metal pin. As a result, the foot pairs are held in their unfolded position and the table top in its horizontal position by magnetic forces. A support of the table top in its folded-down vertical position is not provided on the folding table. Rather, this serves a separate stand in which the folded table is mounted.

In contrast, receives the lever for the pivoting of the pairs of feet in the present invention has a dual function in that it also serves for locking the table top in its unfolded horizontal position and in its folded-down vertical position.

Opposite the WO 90/03132 There is the advantage that the table top automatically locks when folded down into its horizontal position with the lever and thus locked in this position. The tedious threading a fastening screw in a arranged below the table top bore is thus unnecessary, so that the handling of the bistro table according to the invention is considerably facilitated.

Opposite the US 2,791,477 There is the advantage that, with the bistro table unfolded, the user sees only a single central table leg and no longer four table legs arranged next to one another. The table not only looks much more filigree and lighter, but also its construction is simplified because only one inner tube needs to be stored in a coaxial outer tube instead of quadruple bearings in two different heights as required in the prior art design.

On the other hand, the folding of the bistro table is made easier because the user no longer has to choose the right leg under four legs, but only needs to swing together any two adjacent pairs of feet together.

The lever for the pivoting of said second pair of feet relative to the stationary pair of feet is preferably positioned so that it runs approximately parallel and close to the folded table top when the pair of feet pivoted together. Thus, he is not in the way when folded tables are to be stored close together.

To simplify the construction, it is recommended that the stationary pair of feet connected to the inner tube, the pivotable pair of feet with the outer tube is and that the outer tube is pivotable by means of the lever. The table top is appropriately connected to the inner tube, so they do not have to join the pivoting movement.

Thus, the zusammengeschwenkten pairs of feet are held in this position, the lever that actuates them is useful locked in this position on the underside of the tabletop and / or on the table leg.

The pivot axis of the table top expediently runs approximately parallel to the pair of pivoted pairs of feet, in particular parallel to an angle bisector between the pivoted pairs of feet. This results in a particularly compact design when the table is folded.

Preferably, it is recommended that the foot pairs each have a caster at their lower ends, which is mounted with a vertically oriented axis of rotation.

Essentially, there are two alternatives: Either the table leg is slightly downwards relative to the castor, so that it only needs to be tilted slightly to bring the castor into contact with the ground and at the same time lift the lower end of the table leg off the ground , Or the caster forms the lower end of the table leg, so that the table is in its normal location on the entire circumference of the caster and therefore no torque can be exerted on the caster even on downhill. Only when the table is slightly raised on one side, so that its casters are only locally with their peripheral edge on the ground, it can be easily rolled into a new desired position and there brought back to its normal position.

In both cases, the previously required documents under the casters can be omitted and the installation of brakes is unnecessary.

A particularly advantageous development of the invention is not the casters laterally cantilevered, but to position in direct vertical extension of their table leg. Their outer circumference can pass flush into the table leg end adjoining above, so that the castor is optimally laminated and can not be recognized as such from the outside.

The construction according to the invention is therefore characterized by extremely successful design.

Appropriately, the caster is mounted on a plain bearing or roller bearing outer ring, while the bearing inner ring is fixed centrally under the table leg.

Figur 1

den erfindungsgemäßen Tisch in Standstellung;

Figur 2

eine Ausschnittvergrößerung im Bereich der Fußrolle als Vertikalschnitt;

Figur 3

ein Schrägbild des Tisches bei abgeklappter Tischplatte zu Beginn des Zusammenschwenkens der Fußpaare;

Figur 4

ein Schrägbild gemäß Figur 3, am Ende des Zusammenschwenkens der Fußpaare;

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht des Tisches gemäß Figur 4 nach dem Zusammenschwenken der Fußpaare bei zum Wegrollen abgekippter Stellung;

Figur 6

eine Ausschnittvergrößerung der Tischplattenlagerung;

Figur 7

die Vereinzelung der Fußpaare und ihrer Anschlussteile.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment and from the drawing; showing:

FIG. 1

the table according to the invention in the standing position;

FIG. 2

a detail enlargement in the area of the caster as a vertical section;

FIG. 3

an oblique view of the table with folded table top at the beginning of the pivoting together of the foot pairs;

FIG. 4

an oblique image according to FIG. 3 at the end of the pivoting of pairs of feet;

FIG. 5

a side view of the table according to FIG. 4 after swinging the pair of feet together when tilted to roll away position;

FIG. 6

a detail enlargement of the table top storage;

FIG. 7

the separation of pairs of feet and their connecting parts.

In the embodiment, the preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of a folding bistro table is shown, consisting of a central table leg 1, at its upper end a 90 ° pivotable table top 2 is mounted. At the lower end of the table leg with him rigidly connected pair of feet 1a is arranged with both sides radially projecting leg extensions. In addition, there is another foot pair 1 b arranged with both sides radially projecting leg arms, which is, however, mounted pivotably about a vertical axis on the table leg 1.

At the ends of the two pairs of feet 1 a and 1 b each casters 3 are mounted with a vertical axis of rotation. The structural details of these casters will be apparent from the enlarged sectional view in FIG. 2 ,

You can see there the outer end of one of the four leg extensions, here the foot pair 1 a. This outer end extends downwards in a horizontal end face 11a and carries there a round base plate 12a. Its diameter is dimensioned to correspond to the outer circumference of the underlying castor 3, thus resulting in a flush transition between these two parts.

The castor 3 consists of a rubber or plastic ring; which is connected to the outer ring of a ball bearing 4 and in the vertical direction has a narrow gap relative to the base plate 12a, so that it is freely rotatable together with the ball bearing outer ring relative to the base plate 12a.

The inner ring of the ball bearing 4, however, rotatably connected to the base plate 12a, preferably by a bottom of the ball bearing covering disc 5. This disc 5 is slightly stepped at its side facing the ball bearing so that it only presses against the inner ring of the ball bearing, the However, rotation of the ball bearing outer ring is not impaired.

You can look up from FIG. 2 easy to realize that the table, although it is directly on the casters 3, can not roll because the casters have a vertical axis of rotation and rest with their entire outer circumference on the ground.

Only then, when tilted by inclination of the table leg 1, the axis of rotation of the castor from the vertical, the caster is no longer with its entire circumference on the ground, but theoretically only selectively, in practice along a short peripheral region on the outer edge of the Castor 3, how to do this in FIG. 6 can clearly see. In this position, the table can then be conveniently rolled to a new position.

The FIGS. 3 to 7 show how the two pairs of feet 1 a and 1 b can be swung together and how the table top 2 can be folded from its horizontal normal position to the vertical.

You can see in FIGS. 3 and 4 in that not only the table top 2 is pivotably mounted at the upper end of the table leg 1, but that there is also arranged an approximately radially projecting lever 8, which is mounted pivotably on the table leg 1 about a vertical axis. This lever is connected within the table leg 1 a by a non-visible inner tube 9 with the one pair of feet 1b, which is also pivotally mounted on the table leg. The lever 8 has expedient a similar radial orientation as the pair of feet 1 b, so runs approximately parallel thereto. Now the lever 8, as in FIG. 3 indicated, pivoted in the direction of the arrow, so the movable pair of feet 1 b is pivoted against the stationary foot pair 1 a. This condition is in FIG. 4 shown.

It can be seen that with pivoted pairs of feet, the lever 8 almost rests against the underside of the table top 2 and thereby is not in the way when several such tables are to be stored next to each other standing.

In the FIG. 4 shown position is not only optimal for storing the tables, but also to tilt the tables sideways, so that they can be easily rolled away. The lever 8 can be easily detected by the operator and thus greatly facilitates the process of the table.

Thus, the foot pairs 1 a and 1 b in their zusammengeschwenkten position have a certain hold, the lever 8 in this position according to FIG. 4 locked. The locking can be done on corresponding attachments of the table top 2, expediently on the hinge parts 2a. You can see in FIG. 3 in that the hinge parts 2a carry on their side facing the lever 8 a projection which corresponds to the upper end face of the lever 8 and engages it in the FIG. 4 slightly stuck position shown. As a result, the moving parts of the table are well secured if it is to be tilted sideways to roll it away. FIG. 5 shows the table in such a tilted position.

FIG. 6 shows a further function of the lever 8 by this lever is not only used for the described pivoting together of the two pairs of feet, but also for locking the table top 2 in its horizontal normal position. For this purpose, the lever 8 has a snap element 8a, which corresponds to a snap element 2b mounted on the underside of the table top, expediently on the table top hinge 2a. These snap elements are expediently formed by a depression on the one hand and a projection which can be latched into this depression on the other hand. For this purpose, the average person skilled in various diverse designs that guarantee a stable fixation of the table top in its horizontal normal position on the lever 8.

FIG. 7 illustrates the pivot mechanism for the foot pairs. It can be seen that the table leg 1 consists of a visible outer tube and an inner tube 10 extending therein. While the outer tube is connected to the pivotable pair of feet 1 b and the lever 8, the inner tube 10 carries at its upper end the table top 2 and at its lower end of the foot pair 1 a. The connection between the inner tube 10 and the pair of feet 1a via a collar 10a, which is arranged at the lower end of the inner tube 10 and the two feet of Fußpaares 1a relative to the inner tube 10 slightly distanced, so that above the collar 10a, an annular gap remains free. In this annular gap, the lower end of the outer tube 1 is inserted during assembly of the table. Subsequently, the table top 2 is fastened with its hinges 2a on the inner tube 10.

In summary, the invention thus provides easy and reliable handling of the folding mechanism, a secure stand with easy roll-away possibility and at the same time a cost-effective and compact design, if several tables to be stacked next to each other.

Claims (12)

1. Collapsible bistro table, the central leg system (1) of which carries a tabletop (2) at its upper end and has four projecting feet (1 a, 1 b) at its lower end, wherein two feet form a fixed pair of feet (1a), while the two other feet (1 b) can be pivoted horizontally, and wherein the tabletop (2) can be folded down about a horizontal pivot axis, the leg system having an outer tube (1) and an inner tube (10) which is arranged therein, and the one tube (10) being connected to the fixed pair of feet (1a), while the two other feet are connected to form a pivotable second pair of feet (1b) which in turn is connected to the other tube (1), and wherein the second pair of feet (1b) with its associated tube (1) is pivotable about a vertical axis relative to the other pair of feet (1a), the pivoting of the second pair of feet (1 b) relative to the other pair of feet (1a) being effected by a lever (8) arranged under the tabletop (2), which lever is connected to the said other tube (1), wherein the tabletop (2) is lockable in its opened-up horizontal position by interlocking or force-based engagement with the lever (8), characterised in that the tabletop (2) is lockable in its folded-down vertical position by interlocking or force-based engagement with the lever (8).
2. Bistro table according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   when the pairs of feet (1a, 1b) are in a pivoted-together state, the lever (8) runs approximately parallel and close to the folded-down tabletop (2).
3. Bistro table according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the fixed pair of feet (1 a) is connected to the inner tube (10) and the pivotable pair of feet (1b) is connected to the outer tube (1), and the outer tube (1) is rotatable relative to the other tube by means of the lever (8).
4. Bistro table according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the inner tube (10) carries the tabletop (2).
5. Bistro table according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   when the pairs of feet (1 a, 1 b) are in a pivoted-together state the lever (8) is lockable against the underside of the tabletop and/or against the table leg (1).
6. Bistro table according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the pivot axis of the tabletop (2) runs approximately parallel to an angle bisector between the pivoted-together pairs of feet (1 a, 1 b).
7. Bistro table according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the pairs of feet (1 a, 1 b) each have at their lower ends a foot roller (3) which is mounted with a vertically aligned rotational axis.
8. Bistro table according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the pairs of feet (1 a, 1 b) project slightly downwards relative to their foot rollers (3).
9. Bistro table according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the foot rollers (3), on their outer periphery, make a flush transition into the end of the associated pair of feet (1 a, 1 b) adjoining at the top.
10. Bistro table according to claim 7,
    characterised in that
    the foot rollers (3) are mounted on their pairs of feet (1 a, 1 b) by means of plain or roller bearings (4).
11. Bistro table according to claim 10,
    characterised in that
    the foot rollers (3) are each mounted on an outer ring of a plain or roller bearing, and the inner rings of the bearings are fixed to the associated pairs of feet (1 a, 1 b).
12. Bistro table according to claim 10 or 11,
    characterised in that
    the plain or roller bearings (4) are each covered by a cover disc (5) on the underside.

Images