EP2928343A1

EP2928343A1 - Extendable table and method for generating an extendable table

Info

Publication number: EP2928343A1
Application number: EP13826564.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guy ROTTIERS; Tom HINDRYCKX
Original assignee: Capricorn
Current assignee: Capricorn
Priority date: 2012-12-10
Filing date: 2013-12-10
Publication date: 2015-10-14
Also published as: WO2014090810A1

Abstract

An extended table, comprising a first table (200, 220) and a second table (210, 230), removable connected to said first table, wherein the shape of said first table and said second table being generated from a same template, defined by a plurality of corner points lying on a virtual closed curve, whereby at least between the two corner points of said tables where said tables connect a non-straight line defines the boundaries of said tables, the orientation of said non-straight line being selected for each of said table such that the tables can be connected at least at the two respective corner points.

Description

EXTENDABLE TABLE AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AN EXTENDABLE

TABLE

Field of the invention The invention relates to extended or extendable tables and parts thereof, and further to (computer implemented) methods for designing such extended or extendable tables and parts thereof. The invention further relates to the entire ensemble of such tables and chairs and particular arrangements thereof. The invention further relates to (computer implemented) methods for designing the layout plan by using such extended or extendable tables and parts thereof.

Background of the invention

When creating an extended table surface from existing standard table elements, one easily finds out that part of the places around such extended table surface is not useful if one takes comfort criteria for the persons supposed to be sitting at such position into account.

Further equipping a substantially large room or environment with table elements requires table elements which can be easily placed. The same applies when an arrangement of tables and chair is needed.

Further even after having designed and manufactured table elements and related part, reuse thereof for different events and hence different rooms or environments might turn out to be difficult if not supported with technology.

Aim of the invention The aim of the invention is to provide an approach to create (an at least in principle) infinitely extendable table surface taking into account comfort criteria to thereby enhance the useful space around such table. Further the extendable table surface preferably can be extended along a predefined virtual line (more complex than a straight line), for instance determined by the shape of the place where the table should fit in and/or to form a wanted design, for instance one or more letters, or words or sentences. The approach further addresses the need for easy of placement and provides computer implemented methods for facilitating the testing of possible layouts.

Summary of the invention The invented approach provides for co-designed tables and elements, suitable for connecting into an extended table, and therefore provides method (which can be computer implemented or at least assisted by computer implemented methods) for (co-)designing those, in particular by describing a template for generating those tables and/or elements.

The various aspects of the invention are described in claims 1 to 17.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 demonstrates the use of a 6 corner template.

Figure 2 shows various tables generated from the Figure 1 template and resulting extended tables.

Figure 3 and 4 shows a more general template use.

Figure 5 shows a flow chart of the invented method.

Figure 6, 7, 8 and 9 show more extended uses of the invented method.

Figure 10 and 12 show additional element being of use in the extended table.

Figure 1 1 shows an alternative 5 corner template.

Figure 13 shows the table chair arrangement.

Figure 14 demonstrates the extendibility of the table chair arrangement.

Figure 15 shows an embodiment of the table support and chair fixing means

Figure 16 gives more details of the table chair arrangement. Detailed description of the invention

The invention recognizes that when faced with the problem of providing an extended table from existing tables (or parts thereof), or more generally of providing suitable tables (or parts thereof) and an outline for connecting those, in a comfortable manner, that one must select suitable table shapes and a related set of outlines (described in terms of orientations of said tables with respect to each other) in order to satisfy one or more comfort criteria. Indeed an extended table is only acceptable, if its underlying elements (tables), for instance for an extended table, comprising a first table; and a second table, which are removable connected to said first table, the first and second table, more in particular the shape of said first table and said second table and the orientation of said tables with respect to each other being selected in the (normally) equidistantly placed persons around the entire table experience (pair wise) a comfortable distance with respect to each other. Further one will realize that from practical and economical consideration one must constrain the design options even more.

The invented approach provides for co-designed tables and/or additional elements, suitable for connecting into an extended table, and therefore provides method (which can be computer implemented or at least assisted by computer implemented methods) for (co-)designing those, in particular by describing a template for generating those tables and/or elements.

The invention provides therefore an approach whereby an extended table is provided, comprising a first table; and a second table, removable connected to said first table, wherein the shape of said first table and said second table being generated from a same template (but not necessarily have entirely the same shape), defined by a plurality of corner points lying on a virtual closed curve. Further the invention elects the use of at least partially of non-straight lines as this satisfies the comfort criteria discussed above. More in particular the co-design of to be connected tables is presented whereby at least between the two corner points of said tables where said tables connect, a non-straight line defines the boundaries of said tables entirely (meaning the whole cross section), the orientation of said non-straight line being selected for each of said table such that the tables can be connected (without overlap between them) at least at the two respective corner points.

The invention provides a design method for tables and/or additional elements, suitable for connecting into an extended table, the design method supporting co-design of those tables and/or elements, in that compatibility criteria (the tables must fit together either pair wise or with the use of an additional element) are fulfilled. Further the design method narrows down the design space by enforcing the use of a template to generate the tables and/or additional elements. While still allowing a reasonable design freedom, the co- design with compatibility, provides a first design constraint. Further the selection to use non-straight boundaries between the tables (at least of a portion of their boundaries) reflects a further well considered design constraint, which results more often in satisfying the comfort criteria. While these first and/or second design criteria are present in the method, the designer, using the method, or using computer implemented methods assisting his design, might choose to further narrow down his design space by further detailing the template (or selecting one from an existing library of templates). Further the designer may be willing to store his final or temporarily design in a library of tables and/or additional elements, preferably in a database, showing their relationships such as co- designed and/or linked to the same generating template. As indicated the above design criteria still allow substantial design freedom, therefore further inspection on whether the comfort criteria is satisfied; is preferred, either visually or by using a computer implemented method for evaluating those comfort criteria along a part of the surface of the extended table. If the result is not satisfactory one might either redesign with the same template or decide to modify the template.

Figure 5 shows a flow chart of the invented design method.

As an example one might translate the above requirements by specifying that for at least one connection point of said first and second table, the first tangent defined with respect to the shape of the first table and the second tangent defined with respect to the shape of the second table define an angle in the direction where the person can sit which has to satisfy a minimum and a maximum. The invented design method therefore allows the designer to select the amount of flexibility he likes to retain. Either he uses the template based co-design method with the non-straight line technique as such (with its verification possibilities) or he further elects to use a template from a predefined set (amount of corner points, shape of the virtual curve on which the corner points must lie, the allowed set of non-straight lines).

For further practical considerations one might demand that the extended table has a first and second table having (substantially) the same shape.

For further practical considerations one might demandthat the extended table has a first and second table of which the shape of one or both said first and second table being symmetrical. Figure 1 shows a template for generating tables suitable for use in forming extended tables from such tables, more in particular an amount of corner points (here 6) lying on a predefined (closed) curve (here a circle) is shown wherein one can image a (regular) shape defined by straight lines (here a pentagonal) between said corner points. Further the template indicates that instead of a straight line one opts for at least (here all) one connection between the corner points a non-straight line, such as an arc (here a piece of a circle). From such template one can generate now a plurality of different table shapes. Indeed one may elect to use a table entirely defined by the inner part of the template (a). One may equally decide to have a table being defined by the inner part of the template (a) and one additional shape defined by the straight line and the non-straight line (b) or alternatively a one additional shape defined by the lines defined by the closed shape (c). Further one may create various further alternatives by selecting per pair of corner points either one of the shapes (a) or (b), up to ending up with the original (closed) curve. When designing such table, and more in particularly more of such tables, one recognizes that upon proper selection of the alternatives described before, that such tables are extremely well suited for creating an extended table, comprising two or more of such tables. Figure 2 shows various table shape alternatives and ways to combine them for creating an extended table. For example (100) and (1 10) are possible table shape generated from the template (in particular the extreme ones - the inner and entire outer part), which fit together to form an extended table. (120) shows an extended table, which can be formed by combining a few generated shapes. For example one may use an entirely round table in combination with the left shape wherein at least three straight lines are replaced by a circle connection turned inside. Alternatively the left shape might equivalently be a shape with just two internal arcs while the other right shape can be an entire circle, except for the portion connected to the left shape. (130) shows another combination (with some chairs (1 0)), actually representing three variants, depending to which table middle section (135) below (either left or right table) or it might even by a third independent element. Element (150) shows that with such table shape one can easily build long extended tables.

Figure 3 shows an extended table, comprising a first table (200); and a second table (210), removable connected to said first table, whereby the first and second table being generated from a same template, therefore their corner points (the amount, which is the same for both tables) lie on a same virtual (closed) curve. Here for one of the tables the straight line between two of its corner points is replaced by a non-straight line, arranged to the outside of the shape, while the other table has the same non-straight line but then arranged to its inside. Alternatively both tables (220) (230) their non-straight line can be arrange to their inside while an additional element (240) can be defined fitting the interior space defined when the two tables are placed together with the two respective corner points touching each other. Note that another variant of additional element (240) can be used with the non-straight lines being separated at the corner points, again with an arbitrary line, preferably two straight lines (Figure 17 left side shows such embodiment). This creates additional design flexibility and/or alleviates the problem of too sharp corners which may be vulnerable for breaking. More over the element (240) can be designed to combine different shapes (for instance having a different number of corners). (Figure 17 right shows such embodiment). A preferred embodiment is combining a regular 5 and regular 6 shape with such intermediate element.

Here the intermediate element is adapted in that the spacing between said first and second table is larger than the maximum space defined by the inside oriented non-straight lines. Note therefore the being generated from the same template does not imply having an entirely same shape, given the option to flip the non-straight line towards the inner- (ones or twice) or outside (once of course), and further the option to use an intermediate element filling the space in between or not. Further note that the orientation of the non- straight line does not necessarily has to be on one side as shown in Figure 4.

In an embodiment of the invention the first and second table shapes touch each other in two and only two distinct connection points.

In an embodiment of the invention the first and the second table have the same shape.

In an embodiment of the invention the shape of one or both of the first and second table are symmetrical.

In an embodiment of the invention the shape of one or both of the first and second table have more than 4 corner points, preferably 5 or 6, even more preferably 6.

In an embodiment of the invention the tables corner points lie on a circle or oval or an ellipsoid.

In an embodiment of the invention an intermediate element is used as part of the extended table, whereby the space defined between said first and second table if any is at least partly or entirely filled with said intermediate element.

Figure 6, 7, 8, 9 shows more extended uses of the invented method, in that respectively from the fifth corner template, respectively two, three, four or five of the sides are replaced by a non-straight line. Naturally the same uses are possible for shapes derived from a template with another amount of corner points, such as sixth corners.

Figure 10 shows a further extra element (400) that can be used with the tables as generated. Figure 1 1 shows the use of a fifth corner regular symmetric template.

Figure 12 shows a further extra element (500) that can be used with the tables as generated. Note that combinations of not the same templates but similar template for instance with a different amount of corner points are equally possible, as the obviously substantially increases the design and layout the invented computer implemented methods to support one or more steps of the method become more and more attractive and even necessary. The additional elements discussed above may be used to facilitate the connection of table elements originating from another template.

In accordance with an embodiment one hence ends up with a furniture element, with a shape in plane, defined by N converging concave sides, said converging concave sides being pair-wise merging together in a common edge, each of said concave sides being substantially 1/N of the circumference of a circle with radius R. Preferably N is being selected from the group of integers 4, 5, 6 or 7, preferably 5 or 6. Hence a table, comprising the above described furniture element can be made, possibly further comprising at least one first additional element, with a shape in plane, defined by 2 converging convex sides, merging together in two common edges, each of said convex sides being substantially 1/N of the circumference of a circle with radius R. Possibly the table further comprises at least one second additional element, with a shape in plane, defined by 1 converging convex side, merged together at its opposite sides with a straight line, the convex side being substantially 1/N of the circumference of a circle with radius R. As discussed the above elements are extremely suited for forming an extended table arrangement, comprising at least two of said furniture elements, connected to each other at two of said common edges, where possibly the space between the furniture elements being filled with a first additional element or two second additional elements.

Alternatively an extended table arrangement is provided, comprising at least one of said earlier defined furniture elements and connected to a third additional element, with a shape in plane, defined by 1 concave side, being substantially 1/4 of the circumference of a circle with radius R and two straight lines, each merged to an opposite side of said concave side, the two straight lines merging together orthogonally.

Alternatively extended table arrangement is provided, comprising at least one of said earlier defined furniture elements and connected to a fourth additional element, with a shape in plane, defined by a rectangular shape, wherein one side is replaced by 1 concave side, being substantially 1/2 of the circumference of a circle with radius R.

More generally speaking one can define additional furniture elements, with a shape in plane, defined at least one converging concave side, said concave side being substantially 1/M of the circumference of a circle with radius R, said concave side, being the side of another shape, where preferably M>4 and M<8. Further one can define additional furniture element, wherein the shape in plane is defined by two concave sides, said concave sides being substantially 1/M of the circumference of a circle with radius R, whereby M=2 or M=4. Alternatively an additional furniture element is defined, wherein the shape in plane is defined by 2 concave sides, 2 of said concaves side being substantially 2^*1/N of the circumference of a circle with radius R and 2 convex sides being substantially 1/N of the circumference of a circle with radius R. Note that in an embodiment of the invention the minimum space per person is defined as 60 cm, preferably 65 cm, up to maximum 70 cm.

The invention further provides the entire ensemble of such tables and chairs and particular arrangements thereof, in particular an arrangement wherein the one or more chairs (510) are attached to said table (520) as shown in Figure 13. One will appreciate that besides the layout of the upper part of the table also a suitable support thereof must be provided and given the use requirements of this type of concept a single support per table is selected as the most appropriate and preferably the one or more chairs are attached to said support of said table, preferably allowing some flexibility to move said chair position with respect to said table, for instance but not limited to rotate said chair around a fixed point (500) (not in the middle of the table, so positioned away from the center of the chair) such that said chair can be used for a table with an inner curve and a table with an outer curve or that the position can be selected by the user. One will further appreciate that the installing of the set-up must be easy and hence the attachment of said chairs, more in particular their support to the table support must be easy as well. Note that besides the attaching to the table, the support of the chair may also rest on the ground and may even have adjustable means to cope with variations in the underground wherein the arrangement is placed. Note that optionally one may also decide to add extra connections between the supports of said table to generate more stability. While this aspect may be beneficial, one must take into account the entire set-up, hence those extra connections must not disturb the users of the arrangement. Figure 13 and 14 demonstrates the use of the table chair arrangement in accordance with the invention.

The providing of adjustable means on the chair supports in combination with the not on a straight line extendibility of the table concept contributes to solving the technical problem of coping with ground variations of a certain degree. Moreover the connection of the tables and/or table and intermediate elements can in an embodiment of the invention be made in that rotation is the plane orthogonal on the table blade and parallel to the connection axis is possible (e.g. with a hinge), hence further contributing to solve ground variation issue even for variations of a larger degree. In an even more elaborated embodiment one may provide also the possibility that the connection of the tables and/or table and intermediate elements can ensure rotation in the plane orthogonal on the table blade and orthogonal with the connect axis (e.g. by using a single pen) to thereby allow for variations of the ground to an even larger degree.

In an alternative embodiment (combinable with the features discussed) the intermediate elements are shaped to ensure matching between the element and the table, in a preferred embodiment the shape is a conical shape.

In an embodiment of the invention the chair support (610) is arranged to be removable attached to the support (600) of the table (in Figure 15 illustrated by providing holes in the table support and providing the chair support with protrusions (620) fitting therein) and for subsequently fixing thereof just be putting the table top part (640) on its support (by providing that the lower part thereof touches line (650) being the top of the top protrusions) , which can be fixed with one or more fixing means like a screw. One may further provide extra elements like a sun or rain screen and one may arrange that use of the support thereon for fixing it also provide additional fixing of the chair supports. As such the above describes a per attached chair a single click attaching, followed finally with a single table top support fixing, optionally followed by the sun or rain screen. As such the method provides for an approach which can for a substantial part be executed by a single person, except for putting the table top part on its support.

The invention further relates to (computer implemented) methods for designing the layout plan by using such extended or extendable tables and parts thereof, including the chairs. Indeed after having designed and manufactured, one preferable wants to re-use one or more of the elements, again in a large amount for large rooms or environments. Before starting placement, one better generate a layout, taking into account the available elements, all the flexibility that those offer and the constraints of the room where those must be used. Hence the computer implemented methods and system will have means to input the above. Further the designer may be willing to store his final or temporarily layout in a library of layouts, preferably in a database. Moreover the computer implemented method may be available over the internet also. Moreover one does not necessarily have to work with readily available dimensioned elements. If one desires one may also play with the dimensions and upon final design order a customized set of elements also.

Again as indicated the above layout design criteria still allow substantial design freedom. Further inspection on whether the comfort or other criteria are satisfied; is preferred, either visually or by using a computer implemented method for evaluating those criteria, now along the entire layout. If the result is not satisfactory one might either redesign the layout. If the elements are not manufactured yet, a combined table design and layout approach can be used also.

Claims

1. An extended table, comprising a first table; and a second table, removably connected to said first table, wherein the shape of said first table and said second table are generated from a same or similar template, defined by a plurality of corner points lying on a virtual closed curve, whereby at least between the two corner points of said tables where said tables connect, a non-straight line defines the boundaries of said tables, the orientation of said non-straight line being selected for each of said tables such that the tables can be connected at least at the two respective corner points.

2. The extended table of claim 1 , wherein for at least one of said tables this non-straight line is oriented towards the inside.

3. The extended table of claim 1 or 2, wherein for both said tables this non-straight line is oriented towards the inside.

4. The extended table of claim 3, further comprising an intermediate element, wherein the space defined in between said first and second table is at least partly or entirely filled with said intermediate element.

5. The extended table of claim 4, wherein said intermediate elementis adapted in that the spacing between said first and second table is larger than the maximum space defined by the inside oriented non-straight lines.

6. The extended table of any of the preceding claims, wherein the shape of one or both said first and second table is symmetrical.

7. The extended table of any of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second table havesubstantially the same shape.

8. The extended table of any of the preceding claims, wherein the shape of one or both said first and second table has more than 4 corner points.

9. The extended table of any of the preceding claims, wherein said corner points lie on a circle or oval or an ellipsoid.

10. The extended table of any of the preceding claims, wherein said non-straight line is a portion of a circle.

1 1 . The extended table of any of the preceding claims, wherein the amount of corner points of the first and second table differs.

12. A first table, removably connectable to a second table to create an extended table, wherein the shape of said first table is generated from a template, defined by a plurality of corner points lying on a virtual closed curve, wherein at least betweentwo corner points of said first table a non-straight line defines the boundaries of said first table.

13. The table of claim 12, wherein this non-straight line is oriented towards the inside.

14. The table of claim 12 or 13, wherein the shape of the table has more than four corner points.

15. The table of any of claims 12to 14, wherein said corner points lie on a circle or oval or an ellipsoid.

16. The table of any of the preceding claims, wherein said non-straight line is a portion of a circle.

17. An intermediate element, removably connectable to a first and second table to create an extended table, wherein the shape of said first table and said second table is generated from a same template, defined by a plurality of corner points lying on a virtual closed curve, wherein at least between the two corner points of said tables where said tables connect a non-straight line defines the boundaries of said tables, the orientation of said non-straight line being selected for each of said tables such that the tables can be connected at least at the two respective corner points, the shape of the intermediate element being selected to fill at least partially the space between said first and second table.

18. A package, comprising of a plurality of tables as in claims 12 to 16.

19. The package of claim 18, further comprising corresponding intermediate elements as in claim 17.

20. A table-chair assembly, comprising a first table, removably connectable to a second table to create an extended table, wherein the shape of said first table is generated from a template, defined by a plurality of corner points lying on a virtual closed curve, whereby at least between two corner points of said first table a non-straight line define the boundaries of said first table; and one or more to up to the same amount of chairs as there are corner points, each being removably fixed to the support of said first table via their own support.

21 . The table-chair assembly of claim 20, wherein said fixing is achieved when the top part of the first table is attached to its support.

22. The table-chair assembly of any of claims20 or 21 , wherein said support of the first table is provided with a plurality of holes, each being suitable for engaging a protrusion of the support of a chair.

23. The table-chair assembly of any of claims 20 to 22, whereby the chair is attached to its support such that it can easily be moved closer or further from the table.

24. A computer implemented method for designing the table of any of claims 12 to 16 and/or the extended table of any of claims 1 to 1 1 and/or the intermediate element of claim 17, comprising the steps of loading said template on a computation engine; and iteratively performing the steps of selecting by the user parameters within said template, automatically generating said tables, extended table and/or intermediate elements in accordance with said template and selected parameters and displaying the corresponding tables, extended table and/or intermediate elements until a satisfactory result is achieved.

25. The method of claim 24, furthermore comprising the steps of loading constraints related to the environment in which the extended table must finally fit; and a step of computer assisted generating a layout plan using the generated tables, extended table and/or intermediate elements, whereby said layout plan must satisfy said constraints.

26. A computer program product, operable on a processing engine, for executing any of the computations of any of the steps of the methods 24 or 25.

27. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium storing the computer program products of claim 26.