FR2547614A1 - Multiple hinge for supporting uprights of folding furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

In folding furniture such as folding tables the overall size is reduced and the reliability is increased by using multiple coaxial hinges 7, 8, 9 made up in the usual way by hinge straps 3 articulated onto one another, except for the two end hinge straps, but which are equipped with means 12 so that this set of hinges, closed up on themselves and locked, assumes a stable polygonal position so that the uprights 4 fixed to each hinge strap 3, particularly the bent feet 6 possibly secured to tray support arms 5, can occupy two positions, one of them folded up into a plane, and the other unfolded in a star configuration about the hinges.

Description

 The subject of the present invention is a set of hinges articulated one after the other to form the support for folding furniture uprights, and in particular independent tray support arms and the legs of folding tables, screens, shelving and the like.

 In a previous patent FR 8 023 110 of October 29, 1980 with the same name, a folding table has been described comprising legs fixed to one end of radiating arms articulated at their other end on multiple coaxial hinges each constituted by hinges whose edges are joined by pins engaged in their knuckles, with the exception of the two end hinges which remain free to allow the folding of the hinges in a plane and consequently that of the arms and feet of the table; these end hinges are joined together and locked when the hinges have been folded with engagement of pins in the knuckles of these free hinges. The radiating arms are screwed or bolted to the hinge hinges.

 But we found that we could reduce the size of a piece of furniture folded back on itself, avoid the support of the feet by the radiating arms on which the trays are placed and remove even these arms in some cases, and improve the reliability of the piece of furniture by releasing the bottom table, using multiple coaxial hinges constituted in the usual way by hinges hinged to each other, with the exception of the two end hinges, but equipped with means so that this set of hinges closed on themselves and locked take a stable polygonal position so that the amounts fixed on each hinge hinge, in particular bent feet possibly integral with tray support arms, can occupy two positions, one folded in a plane, the other unfolded in a star around the hinges.

 The means for consolidating this set of hinges may consist of strips doubling the hinges of each of them and the edges of which are cut along a bevel such that these strips are abutted without play in the folded position of the hinges.

 This means can also consist of a polygonal disc integral with the hinge of a hinge and contacting the upper edges of the hinges once folded back on themselves.

 Two preferred embodiments of a folding table will be described in more detail below, by way of example and in no way limitative, with reference to the attached drawing in which.

 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding table according to the first embodiment.

 ta Figure 2 is a plan view of a multiple hinge unfolded flat, with the primer of the table support rods.

 Figure 3 is a corresponding top plan view.

 Figure 4 is a plan view from above of the hinge folded back on itself, with the start of the rods forming the radiating arms and the feet.

 Figure 5 is a view similar to the previous variant.

 Figure 6 is a view of the cabinet of Figure 1 in the folded position.

 The folding table shown as an example of folding furniture in Figure 1 comprises two multiple coaxial hinges 1, 2, namely in this example hinges with six hinges 3 on each of which is bolted (screwed or riveted or welded) a rod flat 4 angled square at its upper part to form the arms 5 tray supports and its lower part to form the feet 6.

 Each multiple hinge (fig. 2, 3, 4) comprises three simple hinges 7, 8, 9 assembled one after the other by pins 10 engaged in the knuckles It bordering each hinge 3. On these hinges are fixed, ^ by screws or bolts, towards the inside of the thick strips 12, the long edges of which are cut according to a bevel 13 such that when the hinges 7, 8, 9 are closed on themselves, they are correctly butted and locked by the engagement of a pin 14 on the knuckles 15 of the free edges of the end hinges of the hinges.

 Outside the hinges reinforced hinges are also fixed by bolts 19 (or screws, or rivets, or welding) the rods 4, here six in number.

 It suffices to remove the pin 14 locking this multiple hinge to allow the unfolding thereof in a plane, which causes the flap of the rods 4, arms 5 and feet 6 against each other. The size of the folded table is therefore considerably reduced, while the unfolding maneuver is easy (fig. 6).

 Of course the multiple hinges forming the axis of the arms and feet of the piece of furniture may include more than twelve hinges depending on the destination of the piece of furniture.

 According to an alternative embodiment (fig. 5) one of the hinges 3 is integral with a polygonal disc 16, here a six-sided disc, which serves to block the hinges 3 of each hinge, instead of the slats reinforcement 12 of the previous example. The rods 4 are bolted (or screwed) on these hinges as before.

 It should be understood that if the number of simple hinges constituting these multiple hinges can vary on demand, it is also possible to fix on these hinges the supports suitable for the furniture for which they are intended, without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, the number of hinges is preferably two coaxial, but could vary depending on the furniture for which they are intended. Casters can be provided at the base of the legs as well as retaining means, such as hooks or springs, for the table top on the arms.

Claims (5)

 - CLAIMS  1. Multiple coaxial hinges constituting the support for folding furniture, in particular by fixing on them rods forming radiating arms and feet, each of them comprising several simple hinges articulated one after the other, characterized in that the hinges ( 3) hinges (7, 8, 9) include stops for locking these hinges in their folded-back position in a circle on one another and end knuckles (15) for engaging the locking pins (14) .  2. Hinges according to claim 1, characterized in that these stops are constituted by thick reinforcing strips (12) fixed inside the hinges (3) and whose long edges are cut in a bevel such as in position folding hinges (7, 8, 9) on themselves, their hinges (3), are butted without play.  3. Hinges according to claim 1, characterized in that these stops are constituted by a polygonal disc (16) integral with a hinge (3) and the number of sides of which corresponds to that of the hinges (3) of the hinges which it locks in their folded position over each other.  4. Hinges according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that flat rods (4), suitably bent to form the radiating arms (5) and the feet (6), are fixed by screws, bolts, rivets or welding (19) outside the hinges (3) of the hinges (7, 8, 9).  5. Folding table according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat rods (4) bent to form the radiating arms (5) platform supports and the feet (6) are fixed by bolts, screws, rivets or welding, to the outside of the hinges (3) of the hinges (7, 8, 9) of the multiple hinge, provided with their reinforcement and positioning means (12, 16).