ES2693228T3 - Folding table with means that avoid the involuntary inclination of the desktop - Google Patents

Abstract

A table (1; 100) that includes: - a desktop (2; 102) associated with a shaped frame (3; 30), said shaped frame being connected to a support structure (4; 40) through pivot means (5) defining a rotation axis (X) configured to rotate said desktop (2; 102) from a horizontal operating position (A) to a vertical resting position (B), and vice versa; - at least one engagement tooth (7; 70) belonging to said support structure (4; 40) or to said shaped frame (3; 30) and at least one engagement surface (8; 80) belonging to said frame (3; 30) formed or to said support structure (4; 40) and configured to cooperate with said engagement tooth (7; 70) to secure said desktop (2; 102) in said horizontal operating position (A), characterized by which includes: - at least one safety tooth (11; 110) belonging to said support structure (4; 40) or to said shaped frame (3; 30) and at least one safety surface (12; 120) belonging to said frame (3; 30) formed or to said support structure (4; 40) and is configured to cooperate with said security tooth (11; 110) when an incipient rotation of said desktop (2; 102) around said means pivot (5), from said horizontal operating position (A), separates said engagement tooth (7; 70) from said s hitch surface (8; 80), said at least one coupling tooth (7; 70) and at least one safety tooth (11; 110) belonging to a single coupling body (20; 200) associated with said support structure (4; 40) through a rotation pivot (21; 210), said at least one engagement tooth (7; 70) being engaged in its corresponding engagement surface (8 80) and said at least one safety tooth (11 ; 110) separated and removed from said security surface (12; 120), when said desktop (2; 102) is arranged in said horizontal operating position (A).

Description

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

DESCRIPTION

Folding table with means that avoid the involuntary tilting of the table

The invention relates to a table with a foldable table top, which is hinged to a support structure and provided with a safety device designed to prevent accidental overturning of the table top when it is in its horizontal operative position.

As is known, there are tables available in the market in which the table top is articulated to a support structure and can be arranged in the horizontal operative position where it is kept stable by means of latching means.

When, on the other hand, the table is not used, the table top is arranged in a basically vertical position and is aligned to the side of the support structure, after the latching means have been manually released.

The tables of this type are, particularly, useful since they occupy a limited space when they are not in use and can be stored in places that, generally, are not used.

However, said tables have the known drawback that, when the table top is arranged in its horizontal operative position, it can suddenly overturn, for example, if it is affected by a thrust acting in the direction of its rotation, which causes the opening of the hooking means.

This happens, for example, when a person leans strongly against the edge of the tabletop on the side where it rotates, when it is arranged in its vertical position.

It is easy to understand how this event can cause some damage, even serious, to both people and objects.

There are known tables with a folding table, for example, the tables described in patent documents FR 774 904 A and FR 2 866 792 A1, each of which is provided with two latching elements that intervene to keep the tabletop stable in the horizontal operative position when they come into contact with their respective counterweight hooks.

As for the table described in the patent document FR 774 904 A in particular, the coupling elements consist of adjustable screws and the respective counterweight hooks consist of incisions and, to ensure the table top in its stable horizontal position, it is necessary to tighten the screws in the corresponding incisions.

Therefore, the tables of the type described above have the disadvantage that their stability in the horizontal position is guaranteed only by the degree of tightening of the screws and, therefore, is committed to the ability and precision with which the user Tighten these screws.

On the other hand, with respect to the table described in the patent document FR 2 866 792 A1, the coupling elements consist of two tooth-shaped elements arranged opposite each other and associated with elastic means that are hooked in the corresponding seats when the table is arranged in its horizontal operative position.

Therefore, in both patent documents the problem of guaranteeing the stability stability of the table top when it is in its horizontal operative position is not raised or solved.

In fact, the disadvantage presented by both tables described consists in the fact that they are not equipped with safety means designed to be operative when the table top is arranged in its horizontal operative position with the active coupling means and, vice versa, as to intervene in the event that accidental causes may cause the separation of one or both of said means of attachment.

The present invention has the objective of eliminating said eventuality.

Therefore, the object of the invention is to create a table of the type with a folding table, which is provided with latching means designed to prevent accidental and accidental overturning of the table, when it is arranged in the horizontal operative position.

The objective is achieved by a table whose characteristics are described in the main claim to which reference is made.

Other features of the table of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

Advantageously, the table of the invention retains all the characteristics of convenience and simplicity of use, which are typical of the tables with a folding table top of the known technique, with the addition of presenting a greater degree of security while being used, when the table top it is arranged in its horizontal position.

The objective and the advantages enumerated together with others will be better specified in the description of some preferred embodiments of the table of the invention, which are given below by way of non-limiting examples, and which refer to the attached tables of the drawing, in the one that:

- Figure 1 represents an isometric view of the table of the invention arranged in its operative position;

- figure 2 represents the table of figure 1 arranged in its rest position;

- figure 3 represents an enlarged isometric view of an exploded detail of figure 1;

- Figures 4 to 7 represent isometric views of the detail of Figure 3, assembled and in different

operational positions;

- the figures from 4a to 7a represent enlarged details of the figures from 4 to 7;

- the figures from 8 to 13 represent different longitudinal cross sections of the table of the invention in different operative positions;

- the figures from 8a to 13a represent enlarged details of the corresponding figures from 8 to 13;

Figures 14 and 15 represent two isometric views of a variant embodiment of the invention in two different operative positions;

Figures 16 and 17 represent cross-sectional views of enlarged details of Figures 14 and 15.

The table of the invention, indicated in conjunction with 1, is represented in two different embodiments in figures 1 and 2.

It can be seen that it includes a table top 2 combined with a shaped frame 3 and a supporting structure 4 to which the frame 3 formed via the pivot means 5 is connected.

The pivoting means 5 define an axis of rotation X of the table top 2 which, therefore, can be rotated from a horizontal operative position A, visible in figure 1, to a substantially vertical rest position B, visible in the figure 2, and vice versa. As regards the table top 2, it can be made of any material, in any shape and of any dimension, and can be connected to the frame 3 formed through fixing means of any type, such as screws, for example.

As regards the support frame 4, it includes a pair of column struts 4a, complete with support feet 4b, and can also be made in any form different from that described and illustrated.

As can be seen in figures 3 to 7 and in its details, a hook tooth 7 is associated with the support frame 4 and, as can be seen in the same figures, a hook surface 8 is associated with the frame 3 formed, said engaging surface being configured to cooperate with the engaging tooth 7.

The engaging tooth 7 and the engaging surface 8 are also visible in the enlarged cross-sections shown in Figures 8a, 10a and 11a, which represent different operating configurations of the engaging tooth 7 and the corresponding engaging surface 8, shown in FIG. a cross section according to the section plane Y, shown in figures 4a and 5a, which represent them in isometric views.

In particular, when the engaging tooth 7 and the engaging surface 8 are arranged in contact with each other as in the configuration that can be seen in the isometry of Figure 4a and in the cross section of Figure 8a, they hold the table top 2 stable in its horizontal position, which can be seen in figure 8 and also in figure 1.

According to the invention, the table also includes a safety tooth 11 corresponding to the support structure 4 and a safety surface 12 belonging to the shaped frame 3, in which the safety surface 12 is configured to cooperate with the tooth safety 11 when an incipient rotation of the table top 2 around the pivot means 5, starting from the horizontal operative position A, separates the hook tooth 7 from the hook surface 8.

The safety tooth 11 and the safety surface 12 are also visible in the isometric figures from 3 to 7 and in the enlarged cross sections shown in Figures 9a, 12a and 13a, representing different operative positions of the safety tooth 11. and of the corresponding safety surface 12, represented in a cross section according to the section plane Z indicated in the same figures 4a and 5a which represent them in isometric views.

The embodiment of the table of the invention that is described, as can be seen in the isometric representation in exploded view of Figure 3, involves the presence of two latching teeth 7 with two corresponding latching surfaces 8 and two safety teeth. 11 with two safety surfaces 12

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

correspondingly arranged symmetrically between each other in the shaped frame 3 and in the support structure 4.

It will be noted that the teeth and the engaging surfaces 7 and 8 respectively, as well as the teeth and the safety surfaces 11 and 12 respectively can vary in number and this number will be chosen by the manufacturer as a function of the dimensions and the shape of the frame. 3 formed and of the support structure 4.

In any case, the presence of a single hooking tooth 7 with a single engaging surface 8 and a single safety tooth 11 with a single corresponding safety surface 12 is sufficient to guarantee the stability of the table top 2 in its position horizontal operative A so that embodiments that provide the presence of a different number of teeth and surfaces are only preferred embodiments of the same idea of solution that is the object of the invention.

Furthermore, it will be noted that each engaging tooth 7 and each securing tooth 11 can belong to the shaped frame 3 instead of the supporting structure 4 and, as a consequence, each engaging surface 8 and each securing surface 12 will belong to the support structure 4 instead of the shaped frame 3.

With reference to figures 8a, 10a and 11 a, it can be seen that the hooking surface 8 defines a direction 9 which is arranged inclined with respect to the table top 2 and which impacts said table top 2 in the direction 9a as along said direction 9 towards a reference plane and orthogonal to the table top 2 and passing through the axis of rotation X.

Similarly, with reference to Figures 9a, 12a and 13a, it can be seen that the safety surface 12 defines a direction 13 that is also inclined with respect to the table top 2, but impacts said table top 2 according to the direction 13a a along said direction 13 away from the same reference plane and orthogonal to the table 2 and passing through the axis of rotation X.

The manner of construction of the teeth and their corresponding surfaces is such that, when the engaging tooth 7 engages with its corresponding engaging surface 8, as can be seen in Figure 8a, the safety tooth 11 is separated and removed above the safety surface 12, as can be seen in figure 9a.

It will also be noted, with special reference to FIG. 3, that the engaging teeth 7 and the safety teeth 11 belong to a single engagement body 20, associated with the support structure 4 through a rotation pivot 21 which defines a direction of rotation X1 parallel to the axis of rotation X of the table top 2.

In particular, two coupling cores 22, separated from each other, are identified in the hook body 20, in each of which a hook tooth 7 and a safety hook 11 are obtained, in which said teeth are disposed one next to each other.

Furthermore, the presence of an elastic body 23 can be observed, which in the specific case consists of a spring, which is placed between the support structure 4 and the hook body 20.

Therefore, the hook body 20 can rotate elastically in the clockwise direction around the pivot of rotation 21 defining the direction of rotation X1, when it is pushed by a force F, as can be seen in figures 5 and 7.

With reference to the same figure 3, it can also be seen that the hooking surfaces 8 and the safety surfaces 12 are arranged in two shaped areas 32 of the shaped frame 3 spaced apart from each other, in each of which a hooking surface 8 and a safety surface 12 are present, said surfaces being arranged side by side.

In addition, the presence of a handle 33 belonging to the frame 3 formed and placed between the shaped areas 32 can be observed, this handle being useful for transporting the table 1, when the table top 2 is in its rest position, parallel to the structure of support 4, as can be seen in figure 2.

Operationally, to configure the table 1 in its operative position that is observed in figure 1 from its rest position that is observed in figure 2, it is necessary that the operator rotates the table 2 around the axis of rotation X until the engaging teeth 7 are positioned in contact with the engaging surfaces 8 in the configuration that can be seen in figure 4a and in figures 8 and 8a.

In said configuration, the stability of the table top 2 in its horizontal position is ensured by the contact of the engaging teeth 7 with their corresponding engaging surfaces 8 due to the thrust that the elastic body 23 exerts against the hook body 20 in the position Observed in Figure 8a.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

In fact, as can be seen by observing said figure, the thrust S exerted by the elastic body 23 has the tendency to cause the engaging body 20 to rotate counterclockwise V1 around the rotation pivot 21, which defines the direction of rotation X1, for forcing each engaging tooth 7 against its corresponding engaging surface 8.

When the engaging teeth 7 are arranged in the configuration shown in FIG. 8a, the safety teeth 11, as already mentioned, are disposed apart from their corresponding safety surfaces 12, as can be seen in FIG. 9 a. When the table is used, if a person, as in the example represented in figure 10, leans strongly against the edge of the table top 2, thereby exerting a force F2, which tends to cause it to rotate in the opposite direction to the clockwise V1 around the axis X, at the level of each corresponding hook surface 8, a horizontal thrust component F3 will be generated facing each hook tooth 7 and will stimulate the hook body 20, as can be seen in figure 10a , since the hooking surface 8 is inclined, as explained above.

If said thrust F3 exceeds the thrust S exerted by the elastic body 23, the hook body 20 rotates clockwise V2 about the axis of rotation X1 until it disengages from the hooking surface 8, as can be Observe in figure 11a.

In this situation, the desktop 2, which is no longer secured, begins an incipient rotation in a counterclockwise direction V1 around the pivoting means 5 along the axis of rotation X, as can be seen in Figure 11a, and it is locked in the position that can be seen in Figure 12a, due to the interference of the safety tooth 11 against its corresponding safety surface 12.

In such a configuration, the table top 2 remains firmly secured by the interference of each safety tooth 11 against its corresponding safety surface 12.

Since the safety surface 12, as mentioned above, converges towards the table top 2 in the direction of its removal from the axis X of rotation of the table itself 2, even if the force F2 increases its value, there is no tendency to the component of push to make the latch body 20 rotate clockwise V2 and to separate each safety tooth 11 from its corresponding safety surface 12 is generated in the safety tooth 11.

Therefore, the table top 2 remains firmly secured in the position it has reached and, therefore, the possibility of tipping over is avoided.

Therefore, the object of the invention is achieved.

If the user tries to fold the table top 2 again from this position to the vertical position, as can be seen in figure 2, it is sufficient to manually apply a push F4 in the hook body 20, as can be seen in figure 13a , to separate the safety tooth 11 from the safety surface 12, to cause the table top 2 to rotate to the vertical position shown in figure 2.

A different embodiment of the table of the invention, indicated in conjunction with 100, is represented in figures from 14 to 17 and differs from the embodiment already described only in that it includes a single hook tooth 70 and a single safety tooth 110, both belonging to a single hook body 200, which is associated with the support structure 40 through a pivot pin 210 whose safety tooth 110 belongs to the hook tooth 70 and is arranged projecting on the hook tooth 70 itself.

Furthermore, the presence of a single hooking surface 80 and of a single safety surface 120 can be observed, both belonging to the shaped frame 30 supporting the table top 102, where the safety surface 120 is toothed on the hooking surface 80, to which it belongs, so that it is disposed at a level below the surface 80a of the engagement surface 80 itself.

Also, in this embodiment of the invention as can be seen in figure 16, when the engaging tooth 70 interferes with the engaging surface 80, the safety tooth 110 will be separated from its corresponding safety surface 120 with which it will interfere, as can be seen in figure 17, if an incipient rotation of the table top 102 decouples the hook tooth 70 from the hooking surface 80.

On the basis of what has been described, it is easy to understand that the table of the invention, in both described embodiments, achieves the objective of avoiding accidental unintentional overturning of the table, when this is arranged in the horizontal operative position of the table. table. Therefore, this also allows to obtain the advantage of greater security of use, together with the other characteristics of practicality and simplicity of use intrinsic in the tables with a collapsible table top of the known technique.

Claims (10)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 1. A table (1; 100) that includes: - a table top (2; 102) associated with a shaped frame (3; 30), said shaped frame being connected to a support structure (4; 40) through pivoting means (5) defining an axis of rotation ( X) configured to rotate said table top (2; 102) from a horizontal operative position (A) to a vertical rest position (B), and vice versa; - at least one hooking tooth (7; 70) belonging to said support structure (4; 40) or said shaped frame (3; 30) and at least one hooking surface (8; 80) belonging to said frame (3; 30) shaped or said supporting structure (4; 40) and configured to cooperate with said engaging tooth (7; 70) to secure said table top (2; 102) in said horizontal operative position (A), characterized by that it includes: - at least one safety tooth (11; 110) belonging to said support structure (4; 40) or said shaped frame (3; 30) and at least one safety surface (12; 120) belonging to said frame (3; 30) shaped or said support structure (4; 40) and is configured to cooperate with said safety tooth (11; 110) when an incipient rotation of said table top (2; 102) about said pivoting means ( 5), from said horizontal operative position (A), separates said hooking tooth (7; 70) from said hooking surface (8; 80), both the at least one hooking tooth (7; 70) belonging to both said at least one safety tooth (11; 110) to a single engagement body (20; 200) associated with said support structure (4; 40) through a rotation pivot (21; 210), said at less a hook tooth (7; 70) hooked on its corresponding hook surface (8; 80) and said at least one safety tooth (11) being ; 110) separated and removed from said safety surface (12; 120), when said table top (2; 102) is disposed in said horizontal operative position (A). 2. A table (1; 100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one hooking tooth (7; 70) and said at least one safety tooth (11; 110) both belong to said supporting structure ( 4; 40) and said engagement surface (8; 80) and said safety surface (12; 120) both belong to said shaped frame (3; 30). 3. A table (1; 100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said engagement tooth (7; 70) engages said engagement surface (8; 80) when said safety tooth (11; 110) it is separated from said safety surface (12; 120). 4. A table (1; 100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that on said hook surface (8; 80) a direction (9) is defined, which is inclined and falls on said table top (2; 102) according to the direction (9a) towards the reference plane (y) orthogonal to said table top (2; 102) and passing through said axis of rotation (X) and because in said safety surface (12; defines a direction (13), which is inclined and incident in said table (2; 102) according to the direction (13a) that moves away from the reference plane (y) orthogonal to said table (2; 102) and that passes through of said axis of rotation (X). 5. A table (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes two latching teeth (7) and two safety teeth (11) belonging to a single hook body (20) associated with said support structure (4) through at least one rotation pivot (21), said engagement body (20) including two latching cores (22) spaced apart from each other, one of said latching teeth (7) and one of said teeth being of security (11) present in each of said coupling cores (22), said teeth (7, 11) being arranged side by side. 6. A table (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes two hooking surfaces (8) and two safety surfaces (12) belonging to said shaped frame (3) and are arranged in two areas (32). ) formed from said frame (3) formed spaced apart from each other, in each of said areas (32) formed by being one of said engagement surfaces (8) and one of said safety surfaces (12) present, said surfaces (8) being , 12) arranged side by side. A table (100) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it includes a single hooking tooth (70) and a single safety tooth (110), both belonging to a single hooking body (200) associated with said supporting structure (40) through at least one pivot of rotation (210), said safety tooth (110) belonging to said engaging tooth (70) and being arranged projecting on said engaging tooth (70) . A table (100) according to any of claims 1 to 4 and 7, characterized in that it includes a single hooking surface (80) and a single safety surface (120), both belonging to said shaped frame (30) said safety surface (120) being placed at a lower level in relation to the surface (80a) of said engagement surface (80). A table (1; 100) according to any of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that it includes at least one elastic body (23) disposed between said support structure (4; 40) and said engagement body (20; 200). A table (1; 100) according to any of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that it includes at least one handle (33) belonging to said shaped frame (3; 30).