ES2694230T3 - Chair with anti-panic table - Google Patents

Abstract

A chair (11) with an anti-panic table (10) comprising a flat support body (13) and a joint (14) that is at least partially embedded in said flat body (13) and has two movement units: - a unit (15) for inclining said flat body (13) from a substantially horizontal arrangement (A) to a substantially vertical arrangement (B) and vice versa, around an axis of inclination (17) that substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of an armrest (12) of said chair (11) to which said anti-panic table (10) is applied, - a unit (16) for the rotation of said flat body (13) around an axis of rotation (19) that is perpendicular there in which said rotation unit (16) comprises a cylindrical element (32) that is inserted into an opening (33) of said flat body (13) along said axis of rotation (19) around which said flat body (13) rotates, being provided laterally with a groove (37) to guide the rotation of said flat body (13), said inclination unit (15) being provided with first means (18) for closing the inclination of said flat body (13) according to said substantially horizontal arrangement (A) and said substantially vertical arrangement (B) and said rotation unit (16) being provided with second means (20) for closing the rotation of said flat body (13) according to at least two configuration positions defined in the same disposition plane, said tilting unit (15) comprising: -a pivot (21), to be integrally associated with said armrest (12) and extends along said axis of inclination (17), - an element (22) for the connection between said armrest (12) and said body plane (13), which can rotate around said pivot (21) and is provided with a sleeve-like portion (29) placed there, said first closing means (18) comprising an element (28) that is transverse to said pivot (21) and is integral there near one of its ends, and is adapted to abut against two walls of a cavity (31) of a head portion (30) of said connector element (22) during the rotation of the latter, said cylindrical element (32) is integral with said head portion (30).

Description

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Chair with anti-panic table.

The present invention refers to an anti-panic table, particularly for a conference room chair.

As is known, anti-panic tables are tables associated with the end of an armrest of a chair, typical but not exclusively for conference rooms, and act as a desk.

Such tables must be provided with a gravity anti-panic movement joint, that is, a joint capable of allowing the user to quickly and easily change the layout of the table from a position for use, according to which the table, ie , in particular the flat support body, is arranged horizontally in front of the user, to an inactive position, according to which the table is arranged vertically on the side of the chair.

In order to move from one position to the other, the union allows two types of movement: an inclination of the table from horizontal to vertical, and vice versa, and a rotation of the table on its own plane.

Currently, anti-panic tables are known which are provided with a joint with a movement unit made of aluminum associated with the armrest and a hinged movement unit for a support made of plastics or steel, to which the table is fixed by means of screws, optionally hidden by hoods.

Such a unit is typically made of plastics or laminated wood material or may be constituted by two semi-shells made of plastic material that are disposed one down and the other up when the table is in the position for use. In this last variation, the anti-panic table is constituted in this way mainly by four parts: the two movement units and the two half-shells.

Such anti-panic tables are not without drawbacks, among which it is necessary to point out the number of components, due in particular to the presence of the two half-shells and the fixing screws, the labor required for assembly and assembly in the armrest.

In addition, the anti-panic table constructed in this manner, being subject to numerous movements, has relatively high risks of wear and tear.

The references considered as relevant as state of the art useful for understanding the invention are cited below:

-US 6 073 997 A,

-US 2010/090504 A1.

The object of the present invention is to provide an anti-panic table to be associated with the armrest of the chair easily and quickly using a reduced number of components and fixing means.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an anti-panic table that is resistant to wear and tear.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-panic table with lower production costs than anti-panic tables of the known type.

Another object is to provide an anti-panic table that has a better aesthetic impact than tables of the known type.

According to the invention, a chair with an anti-panic table is provided as defined in the appended claims.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the anti-panic table according to the invention illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a conference room chair provided with an anti-panic table according to the invention in a position for use;

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Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the anti-panic table according to the invention, dissociated from the armrest of the chair;

Figure 3 is a view, taken from above with respect to the armrest, of the anti-panic table according to the invention in the horizontal position for use, opened in order to show some of its components that are internal to the flat body, the table being associated with an armrest;

Figure 4 is a view, taken from above with respect to the armrest, of the anti-panic table according to the invention associated with an armrest and in the position for use;

Figure 5 is a view, taken from the side with respect to the armrest, of the anti-panic table associated with an armrest and in an inactive and vertical intermediate position;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 4 taken along the line VI-VI;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 5 taken along the line VII-VII;

Figure 8 is a view taken from the front with respect to the armrest, of the anti-panic table according to the invention associated with an armrest and in the same position as in Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a view, similar to that of Figure 8, of the anti-panic table according to the invention associated with an armrest and in a vertical rest position;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 8 taken along the line X-X;

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 9 taken along line XI-XI.

With reference to the figures, the anti-panic table according to the invention is generally designated by the reference number 10.

The anti-panic table 10 is designed particularly, but not exclusively, to be associated with chairs of conference rooms 11 such as that shown in figure 1, obviously provided with armrests 12, one of which the anti-panic table 10. It is applied.

The anti-panic table 10 mainly comprises a flat support body 13 which acts substantially like a desk during use and a joint 14, at least partially embedded in the flat body 13, in a manner that will be better apparent below.

The joint 14 has 2 movement units, i.e., an inclining unit 15 and a rotation unit 16 which are described below,

The tilting unit 15 allows the position of the flat body 13 to be modified from a substantially horizontal arrangement A to a substantially vertical arrangement B and vice versa, around an inclining axis 17 substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the armrest 12 of the chair 11, to which the anti-panic table 10 is adapted to be applied.

As it is clearly visible in Figure 1, the horizontal arrangement A may coincide with the arrangement of the position for use of the anti-panic table 10, which acts as a desk or in general as a support surface. This position for use is the same as also shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4.

The vertical arrangement B in its place shown in figure 5 and in figure 8 in an intermediate inactive position and in figure 9 in the inactive position.

The inclining unit 15 is provided with first means 18 for closing the inclination of the flat body 13 along the horizontal arrangement A and along the vertical arrangement B.

The rotation unit 16 allows the position of the flat body 13 to be modified by rotating it around a rotation axis 19 that is perpendicular there, as indicated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

The rotation unit 16 is provided with second means 20 for closing the rotation of the flat body 13 according to two possible configuration positions defined in the same layout plane, for example to close the flat body 13 according to the intermediate vertical position or according to the position vertical rest,

With particular reference to the inclining unit 15, it mainly comprises a pivot 21, which is to be integrally associated with the armrest 12 and extends along the inclination axis 17 and a connector element 22 between the armrest 12 and the flat body 13 that can rotate around pivot 21.

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As indicated in the exploded view of Figure 2, the pivot 21 has an insertion portion 23 in the structure of the armrest 12 and a remaining portion 24 to be associated with the connector element 22, in which it is covered by two casings complementary with a convex portion 26 that prevents the exit of the pivot 21 from the structure of the armrest 12.

The connecting portion 24 has a correspondingly formed hole 27 in the cover of the housings 25 made in a radial direction with respect to the pivot 21 for the insertion of a transverse element 28 projecting from the pivot 21 and is integral there.

Some parts of the inclining unit 15 are also designated in the section views of Figure 6 and Figure 7.

The connector element 22 has a sleeve-like portion 29 positioned on the pivot 21 and has a head portion 30.

The first closing means 18 comprise the element 28 which is transverse to the pivot 21 which consists substantially of a screw to be screwed integrally to the pivot 21 near one of its ends and adapted to abut the head protruding from the pivot 21 against two walls of a cavity 31 of the head portion 30 of the connector element 22 during the rotation of the latter, in a manner shown in the two configurations with the sectional views of Figure 6 and Figure 7.

As for the rotation unit 16 of the anti-panic table 10, its components are indicated and clearly visible again in the exploded view of FIG. 2 and, in their interaction, in the section views of FIG. 10 and FIG. eleven.

Upon observing these figures, it can be noted that said unit comprises a cylindrical element 32 which is integral with the head portion 30 of the connector element 22, which is inserted into an opening 33 of the flat body 13 along the axis of rotation 19 around from which said body rotates.

In particular, the opening 33 is formed in a support structure 34 that is part of the flat body 13 together with a cover 35 that closes it. The support structure 34 is substantially the lower part of the flat body 13, relative to the position for use of the anti-panic table 10, while the cover 35 constitutes the resting surface during use.

In Figure 3, in which the flat body 13 is open, it is clearly visible that the support structure 34 also has stiffening ribs 36.

The cylindrical element 32 is laterally provided with a slot 37, clearly visible in FIG. 2, to guide the rotation of the flat body 13.

In fact, the second closing means 20 comprise:

. a rod 38 that is accommodated in the flat body 13 in a compartment 39 that is provided between the stiffening ribs 36 of the support structure 34 and rotates integrally with the flat body 13 about the axis of rotation 19 and is further adapted to slide with an end 40 in the slot 37 of the cylindrical element 32 along an arc of rotation which is delimited by two recesses 41 of the slot 37 in which the rod 38 is inserted with the end 40,

- means 42 to contrast the exit of the end 40 of the holes 41.

The contrast means 42 consists of a coil spring which is wound around the rod 38 and is coupled between two opposite walls 43 which are transverse to the rod 38.

One of the opposite walls 43 is interposed substantially between two stiffening ribs 36 while the other wall is part of a stability element 44 in which the rod 38 is inserted and which is designed to maintain it in the compartment 39.

Observing the cylindrical element 32, particularly in Figure 2, it can be noted that it is more precisely ring-shaped and is mounted in a single position on a rod 45 of the head portion 30, surrounding it, whereby the latter is inserted into the flat body 13.

The cylindrical element 32 is mounted in a single position and made integral with the connector element 22, having an internal cavity 46 that is formed complementary to the outer wall of the rod 45, which has a lateral flattening.

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As can be inferred, the tilting unit 15 and the rotation unit 16 are advantageously integrated in the joint 14 and are adapted to cooperate in the movement of the flat body 13.

In addition, a cover fixing element 47 is also present, as shown in Figure 2, to be superimposed on the cylindrical element 32 and on the rod 45, fixing it to the latter with two fixing screws 48, from the inner side of the support structure 34.

The majority of the described elements that make up the two movement units, that is, the inclination unit 15 and the rotation unit 16, are preferably made of die-cast aluminum. In particular, the connector element 22, the cylindrical element 32, the support structure 34 and the fixing element 47 are made of die-cast aluminum. The cover 35 in its place is preferably made of plastic material.

All components have been shown as parts of an anti-panic table with right-handed action; however, they can also be mounted in order to provide anti-panic tables with left-handed action, apart from the cylindrical element 32, which for this purpose must be provided in a substantially mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to the version shown.

In addition, the cylindrical element 32 may have two recesses 41 in a position such as to ensure a rotation about 180 °, such as that shown, or a different rotation according to the requirements.

The operation of the anti-panic table according to the invention is as follows.

In order to move the flat body 13 of the anti-panic table 10 from the position for use with horizontal arrangement A, shown in figure 4, to the intermediate inactive position, with vertical arrangement B as shown in the figure 5, the user has to tilt the flat body 13 vertically by rotating it around the inclination axis 17.

During this movement, the flat body 13 moves integrally with the connector element 22, which rotates about the pivot 21. The transverse member 28, which initially rests on a wall of the cavity 31 of the head portion 30, preventing the body plane 13 rotates downwards, abuts against the wall of the cavity 31 which is substantially opposite to the preceding one, preventing the flat body 13 from rotating beyond a right angle.

Subsequently, the user applies a rotation to the planar body 13 around the axis of rotation 19, in order to move the flat body 13 of the anti-panic table 10 from the vertical vertical position with vertical arrangement B shown in figure 8 to the inactive position shown in figure 9.

During this movement, the flat body 13 rotates around the cylindrical element 32 and with respect to the head portion 30, inserted therein, which remains integral with the pivot 21.

The end 40 of the rod 38 initially pushes against the cylindrical element 32 in a recess 41, the highest one with respect to the illustration of figure 10, by means of the contrast means 42.

When the anti-panic table 10 is forced to rotate, the rod 38 is pushed out of the joint 14, compressing the helical spring of the contrast means 42, releasing the recess 41.

The rod 38 then slides with its end 40 into the slot 37, during the rotation of the flat body 13, until it finds a second recess 41 (in the example shown in figure 11 it is the opposite with respect to the previous one) in which it is pushed by the spring of the contrast means 42.

The second closing means 20 then prevents the rod 38 from accidentally coming out with its end 40 from the recess 41 in which it is inserted.

The anti-panic table 10 can be sold already assembled ready to be installed in the armrest of a chair.

This operation does not require fixing screws; in fact, it is sufficient to place the jacket-like portion 29 of the connector element 22 in the association portion 24 of the pivot 21 (with the interposition of the two housings 25), inserted in the structure of the armrest 12.

It should be noted that the fact that the joint 14 is constituted by two motion units integrated therein and that is partially embedded in the flat body 13, causes the latter, particularly in the support structure 34, to be substantially part of the joint 14. , unlike previous known solutions, for which the flat support body was externally fixed to the joint.

In this way, the anti-panic table is no longer constituted mainly by four parts, but instead consists of three: the two units of movement and the cover 35.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended purpose and objects by providing an anti-panic table to be associated with the armrest of a chair easily and quickly, simply by placing the sleeve-like portion of the connector element on the pivot protruding from the armrest, without using fixing screws, since the connection is partially integrated into the flat body of the anti-panic table.

5 In this way the anti-panic table is more resistant to wear and deterioration than anti-panic tables of the type

known.

In addition, since there are no visible fixation means, the aesthetic impact is better than the known anti-panic tables.

Another advantage is that the production costs are reduced, due to the smaller number of components, since the support structure is substantially part of the joint and is not an associated component therein.

The invention conceived in this way is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of them being within the scope of the appended claims; all the details can also be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, provided that they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, can be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Where the technical elements mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by example by such reference signs.

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Claims (8)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty A chair (11) with an anti-panic table (10) comprising a flat support body (13) and a union (14) that is at least partially embedded in said flat body (13) and has two units of movement: - a unit (15) for tilting said planar body (13) from a substantially horizontal arrangement (A) to a substantially vertical arrangement (B) and vice versa, around an axis of inclination (17) substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of an armrest (12) of said chair (11) to which said anti-panic table (10) is applied, - a unit (16) for the rotation of said flat body (13) about an axis of rotation (19) that is perpendicular there wherein said rotation unit (16) comprises a cylindrical element (32) that is inserted in an opening (33) of said flat body (13) along said axis of rotation (19) around which said flat body (13) rotates, being laterally provided with a groove (37) to guide the rotation of said flat body (13), said inclining unit (15) being provided with first means (18) to close the inclination of said flat body (13). ) according to said substantially horizontal arrangement (A) and said substantially vertical arrangement (B) and said rotation unit (16) being provided with second means (20) to close the rotation of said flat body (13) according to at least two positions of configuration defined in the same layout plane, said inclining unit (15) comprising: - a pivot (21), which must be integrally associated with said armrest (12) and extends along said inclination axis (17), - an element (22) for the connection between said armrest (12) and said flat body (13), which can rotate around said pivot (21) and is provided with a shirt-like portion (29) placed there, said first ones closing means (18) comprising an element (28) that is transverse to said pivot (21) and is integral there near one of its ends, and is adapted to abut against two walls of a cavity (31) of a portion of head (30) of said connector element (22) during rotation of the latter, said cylindrical element (32) is integral with said head portion (30). The chair (11) with anti-panic table (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second closing means (20) comprise: a rod (38) that is accommodated in said flat body (13) rotates integrally with it in said axis of rotation (19) and is adapted to slide with an end (40) in said slot (37) along the an arc of rotation that is delimited by two recesses (41) of said slot (37) in which said wand (38) is inserted with said end (40), - means (42) to contrast the exit of said end (40) of said recesses (41). The chair (11) with anti-panic table (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said contrast means (42) consist of a helical spring that is wound around said rod (38) and is coupled between two opposite walls (43) that are transverse to said rod (38). The chair (11) with anti-panic table (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said cylindrical element (32) is substantially annular and is integrally mounted and in a unique position on a shank (45) of said head portion (30), said stem surrounding said head portion entering said flat body (13) with said stem. 5 . The chair (11) with anti-panic table (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that said cylindrical element (32) is integrally mounted and in a unique position on said shank (45), being provided with a cavity internal (46) which is formed complementary to the outer wall of said rod (45). The chair (11) with anti-panic table (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inclining unit (15) and said rotation unit (16) are integrated in said union ( 14). The chair (11) with anti-panic table (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said flat body (13) comprises a support structure (34) that is provided with said opening (33) and stiffener ribs (36), between which a compartment (39) is provided for the containment of said rod (38), and a cover (35) that closes said support structure (34) and constitutes the resting surface during the use of said anti-panic table (10). The chair (11) with anti-panic table (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inclining unit (15) and said rotation unit (16) are made at least partially of aluminum die-casting.