FR2792523A1 - Portable and foldable table, for massage or other types of medical treatment, has three-piece table-top resting on two boxes which may be folded flat - Google Patents

Abstract

The table top (3) has a narrow center leaf (12) hinged to two large end leaves (9). The table leaves overlap the sides (5a) and ends (6a) of the boxes (2). The ends have vertical hinges (8) in the center so that the boxes may be folded flat. The table to has ridges arranged on its underside to form grooves into which the top edges of the boxes fit.

Description

1 2792523 MASSAGE TABLE OR FOR ANY OTHER TYPE OF

  TREATMENT. FOLDABLE AND TRANSPORTABLE. Technical Field The present invention relates to the technical field of the treatment of a person, held in the lying position either directly against the ground, or at a

  raised level, to allow him to perform exercises or be manipulated and / or treated, for example during a massage operation.

  It relates more particularly to a new type of table, foldable and portable, consisting, in known manner, of a base and a tray intended for

  support the person in a lying position.

  In the following description, the new type of table conforms to

  the invention will be referred to as a "massage table", although it could

  possibly be used for other applications.

  Prior techniques In addition to conventional massage tables whose legs and table are permanently joined together, it has been proposed for a long time, for such use, to make foldable and transportable tables. Among the solutions proposed to date, we can cite those subject

  in particular French patents 2,611,123, 2,591,475 and 2,555,422.

  In all these installations which, in general, can be compared to the folding tables used in the leisure sector, the base is permanently fixed to the tray, and consists of uprights, possibly associated with crosspieces, articulated with respect to to the tray and can be folded against the latter, said tray also being made up of a plurality

  elements that can be folded together.

  Among these devices, the most attractive solution is that which is the subject of FR 2 555 422 in which the plate consists of two equal parts, articulated with respect to each other, and is equipped with folding feet, against 2 2792523 the back of said tray, which makes it possible to have, in the folded and closed state, a set

  substantially in the form of a suitcase.

  Such an embodiment is, however, relatively complex and, in use, wear can occur on the bearings supporting the hinge pins, which can go as far as breaking. In addition, if the fact of having feet allowing

  a height adjustment may seem attractive, this possibility goes to the detriment of the stability of the table and, the leveling is difficult to achieve since one must adjust independently of each other the eight legs that such a table10.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention aims to propose a new type of massage table, foldable and transportable, which not only is very simple, but also

  provides perfect stability during use.

  It also aims at a new type of table eliminating any risk of wear and breakage caused by the presence of articulation in previous solutions.

  Finally, it aims to achieve a structure such that the table top can not only be used in the normal way by being associated with a base, but

  which, moreover, can possibly be used by placing it directly on the ground, thus serving as an "exercise mat" for the user.

  In general, the new type of foldable and transportable table according to the invention therefore consists of a base intended to support a tray on which a person can rest in the lying position, and it is characterized in that: _ the base consists of at least one parallelepipedal block comprising only four vertical faces and forming a box open at its base and at its upper part, said vertical faces being articulated two by two with respect to each other along their edge common, two opposite faces also comprising at least one folding zone in their middle part; _ the plate has a length and a width greater than the bearing surface on the floor of the base and consists of at least two panels hinged with respect to each other, its lower face comprising means capable of s '' to embed on 3 2792523 the base by pressing around and against the peripheral edge of the box

forming said base.

  According to a simplest embodiment, the base consists of a single rectangular block whose long side faces have a plurality of folding zones. According to a preferred embodiment, said base preferably consists of two parallelepipedic blocks, which can be joined to one another,

  two opposite faces having a folding zone in their middle part.

  According to a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, the articulation between the two elements constituting the plate, is formed by a connecting strip on either side of which the elementary panels are connected so as to form two articulations, the width of said connecting strip being at least equal to the total thickness of the folded side walls of the box (es), the dimensions of the two elementary portions constituting said plate corresponding substantially to the height and width of the side faces not foldable of the elementary box (es) constituting the base. In such an embodiment, the central connection part comprises, on its underside, means capable of fitting inside the

  panels on either side of the juxtaposed faces of the two elementary boxes.

  As a material making it possible to produce the boxes forming the base, it is possible to use plates of densified cardboard, plastic material, so as to form, in the unfolded state, a structure of parallelepipedal shape articulated in its four angles, two opposite walls called < <front face "and" rear face "also comprising a folding zone over their entire height.30 Thanks to such a design, the two boxes can be folded, the two side faces trapping between them the front and rear faces of the box which are During transport, the boxes thus folded are arranged between the elementary panels constituting the tray, connected together by any suitable means such as a strap, so as to form a compact assembly which is easy to store.

and to transport.

4 2792523

  The plate is constituted for example by a plastic plate comprising, along its length, one or two folding zones, and covered on its face

  upper layer providing comfort to the user, for example a layer 5 of thermocompressed foam, in a way forming a carpet.

Brief description of the drawings

  The invention will however be better understood thanks to the concrete embodiment given below by way of indication but not limitation, and which is illustrated by the attached diagrams in which: _ Figure 1 schematically illustrates, in perspective, a preferred form massage table according to the invention during its use; _ Figures 2,3,4 and 5 illustrate, also in perspective, the different operating phases for disassembling, folding the different elements constituting such a table in order to group them (Figure 5) when one wishes to move it; _ Figure 6 illustrates a variant of the box to achieve the base of the table according to the invention; _ Figures 7 and 8 are respectively cross-sectional and longitudinal views of a table produced in accordance with the invention, and showing more particularly the manner in which the association of the table top is produced

  with its base; _ Figure 9 illustrates a simplified form of a variant of a folding base for making a table according to the invention.

  Manner of Carrying Out the Invention Referring to the appended diagrams, the invention therefore relates to a new type of table, designated by the general reference (1) which therefore consists

  a base, designated by the general reference (2) supporting a plate (3) on which a person can rest in the lying position.

  The base (2) consists of two parallelepipedic blocks designated by the same reference (4), open at their base and at their upper part and therefore comprising only four vertical faces (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b), articulated two to two 2792523 relative to each other along their common edge (7), both sides

  opposite (6a, 6b) having a folding zone (8) in their middle part.

  The plate (3) has a length and a width greater than the bearing surface on the floor of the base which is therefore constituted by the two boxes (Sa) joined to one another. This tray (3) consists of at least two panels (9)

  articulated with each other.

  The tray is covered on its upper face with a layer of material

  ensuring comfort for the patient.

  Its lower face (10) comprises means (11) able to be embedded on the boxes forming the base while being in abutment against the peripheral rim of the latter.15 In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the articulation between the two main elements (9) constituting the plate, is formed by a connecting strip (12) on either side of which the elementary panels are connected so as to form two articulations (13) .20 The underside of this connecting strip (12) is shaped in the form of a groove defined between two raised beads (14), which traps the two lateral faces (6a, 6b) of the two elementary boxes (see Figure 8) .25

  Such a tray is preferably made by thermoforming a plastic material.

  When the table top and the base are associated with each other, such as

  spring of Figures 1, 7 and 8, we obtain a table of perfect stability.

  To obtain an assembly that can be transported in a minimum space, the dimensions of the elementary boxes (4) are such that the surface

  side walls (5a, 5b) correspond to the surface of the panels (9) constituting the tray.

6 2792523

  Furthermore, the connection zone (12) has a width such that it is equal to approximately eight times the thickness of the side walls of the boxes.

  As an indication, for a massage table having a width of 69 cm and a total length of 180 cm, and in which the boxes forming the base are made from a material such as densified cardboard having a thickness of 1.5 cm, the side faces (5a, 5b) will have a height of 67 cm and a length of 82 cm, the width of the panel (6) being 63 cm, the dimensions of the elementary panels (9) corresponding to those of the side panels ( 5), and the area of

  junction (12) having a width of 14 cm.

  Thanks to such a design, it is possible, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, to easily disassemble said table, each box being folded so that the faces (6a, 6b) fold up around the vertical axis ( 8) and are held between the lateral faces (5a, 5b), the plate is itself also folded and is arranged on either side of the boxes (FIG. 4), the extreme edges of the plates

  then being interconnected by any suitable means, such as by means of a strap.

  The edges thus folded, all the elements constituting the table can

  therefore be easily stored and transported.

  When it is desired to mount said table, this operation is done very quickly by opening the fastener (10) (Figure 5), then unfolding the boxes (Figure 4) and the tray (Figure 3). The two boxes being placed side by side, we realize

  then the embedding of the inner face of said plate inside the base thus formed.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the concrete example of embodiment described and it could be envisaged, as is apparent from FIG. 6, to have additional boxes designed to receive transverse reinforcements, such as plates built into grooves provided in part

  upper side faces (5) of each box.

  In addition to its great ease of installation, such a table also has additional advantages by the fact that the side walls of the 7 2792523 base are full, it is possible to use them as an element support

decorative or advertising.

  In addition, additional means can be provided to keep the elementary boxes in the folded state, for example by providing hooking means of the "Velcro" type on the folded faces. Similarly, when the base is formed of two elementary boxes, the latter may have on the facing faces one of

  the other, also hooking means of the "Velcro" type.

  Finally, provision may be made for lateral orifices on the walls of the box (es) forming the base, orifices making it possible to maintain various accessories.

  Finally, as shown in Figure 9, the base can also be made from a single block of parallelepiped shape.

  In such an embodiment, the lateral faces will include

  folding zones (8), while the front and rear faces will be formed of rigid panels.

  As in the preferred example described above, it is therefore possible to fold the base which, in its folded form, therefore has a

  thickness corresponding to the total sum of the thicknesses of each element of the articulated walls.

  In such a case, the plate will preferably be produced as previously by including a central zone (12), thus making it possible to use this element for

  surround the base in the folded state.

8 2792523

Claims (8)

  1 / Foldable and transportable table composed of a base (2) intended to support a tray (3) on which a person can rest in the lying position, characterized in that: _ the base (2) consists of at least one parallelepipedal block comprising only four vertical faces and forming a box open at its base and at its upper part, said vertical faces being articulated two by two with respect to each other along their common edge, two opposite faces10 also comprising at least a folding zone in their middle part; _ the plate (3) has a length and a width greater than the bearing surface on the floor of the base and consists of at least two panels (9) articulated relative to each other, its underside comprising means capable of fitting on the base while being supported around and against the edge   peripheral of the box forming said base.   2 / foldable and transportable table according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper face of the tray is covered with a layer of material ensuring comfort for the patient.20   3 / Table according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the base (2) consists of a single box of parallelepiped shape whose   long side faces have a plurality of folding zones.   4 / Table according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the base (2) consists of two parallelepipedic blocks (4), adjoining one to   the other, two opposite faces (6a, 6b) having a folding zone (8) in their middle part.   5 / Table according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the articulation between the two elements (9) constituting the plate, is formed by a   connection strip (12) on either side of which the elementary panels are connected so as to form two articulations (13), the width of said connection strip (12) being at least equal to the total thickness of the walls folded sides of the box (es), the dimensions of the two elementary portions (9) constituting said plate corresponding substantially to the height 9 2792523 and to the width of the non-foldable side faces of the box (es) constituting the base.   6 / table according to claim 5, characterized in that the central connection part (12) comprises, on its underside, means (14) adapted to be embedded on and around the panels on either side of the faces juxtaposed with two elementary boxes.   7 / table according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the or   the box (es) forming the base (2) are made of plates of densified cardboard, plastic ...   8 / Table according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the plate (3) consists of a plate of thermoformed plastic material   covered on its upper face with a layer ensuring comfort for the user, such as a layer of thermocompressed foam, and comprises, on its face   lower, raised areas capable of fitting into the interior of the box (es) forming the base bearing against or around the walls of the latter (s).   DEPOSITOR: LPG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AGENT: LAURENT Cabinet