FR3121022A1 - Flip-up table mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

Lift-up table mechanism allowing the conversion of a coffee table into a high table and vice versa. The invention relates to the mechanism allowing the ascent and descent of the top of a table with less effort, conferring a double functionality to the same table. This consists of two half-plates (1) and (8) which translate thanks to the pairs of crosspieces (5) and (7) mounted on slides. Each half-plate is connected by its crosspieces to the pair of upper legs opposite it (10) and (12). When the table is in the low position, the upper legs (10) and (12) are retracted into the seat legs (13). The lifting of the end of the half-plates (1) and (8) and of the pair of upper legs supporting them (12) and (10) is made possible by bringing together the two pairs of upper legs (10) and ( 12) and consequently the spacing of the two half-plates (1) and (8). The conversion is assisted by two gas struts (4). The ascent kinematics is ensured by the entire mechanism integrated into the table. The descent works on the inverse kinematics. Thus when the table is in the high position, the upper legs (10) and (12) are placed on the support legs of the seat legs (13). The mechanism according to the invention is particularly intended for use as a lifting table, giving a double function to the same table, ideal for small living spaces. Figure for abstract: [Fig 3]

Description

Lift-up retractable table mechanism

The invention relates to the mechanism allowing the ascent and descent of the top of a table with less effort, allowing the use of the same table in high or low position.

State of the prior art

The height of a table top is traditionally defined by the height of the legs and possibly the crosspieces. Each table is therefore dedicated to a use made unique by the height of the top: coffee table in the living room or high table in the dining room, which generally requires the use of two separate tables depending on their use.

There are various lifting table mechanisms of the "ironing board" type, with rack or mechanisms that allow only part of the tabletop to be raised.

However, these solutions have drawbacks of stability, speed of conversion, load limit or simply ergonomics. Lift-up tables of the “ironing board” type offer low stability in the high position, lift-up tables with racks require multiple movements to operate the rack, which makes conversion difficult and time-consuming

Allowing the height of the top to be easily changed, the mechanism according to the invention makes it possible to double use a table, as a low or high table, offering stability, high load and ease of conversion.

The modular approach allowed by this mechanism therefore combines two uses at the same table. This modularity saves space in a reduced living space.

• La partie supérieure, mobile, qui comporte les deux demi-plateaux, deux traverses transversales, deux paires de traverses longitudinales coulissantes ainsi que deux paires de pieds supérieurs.
• La partie inférieure, fixe, qui contient quatre pieds d’assise, une traverse longitudinale, deux traverses transversales ainsi que quatre pattes de supports situées en haut de chaque pied d’assise.
• Deux vérins à gaz montés sur quatre supports de chape qui relient la partie inférieure a la partie supérieure de la table.

According to the invention, the lifting table mechanism is made up of 3 sets:

• The upper part, mobile, which comprises the two half-plates, two transverse crosspieces, two pairs of sliding longitudinal crosspieces as well as two pairs of upper feet.
• The lower part, fixed, which contains four seat legs, a longitudinal crosspiece, two transverse crosspieces as well as four support legs located at the top of each seat leg.
• Two gas springs mounted on four clevis supports which connect the lower part to the upper part of the table.

When the table is in the low position, the half-plates are in the closed position. The upper part rests on the seat and the upper legs are retracted into the seat legs.

When the table is in the high position, the half-plates are in the closed position. The upper legs rest on the support legs of the seat legs.

The conversion mechanism is based on the kinematics of the upper part in the lower part. The ascent of the upper part is carried out in two stages. The user raises one of the half-plates, until the pair of upper feet which support it rests on the support legs, then lifts the other half-plate also until the pair of feet which supports it rests on the corresponding support legs. With a one-piece platter, the arc of a circle described by the upper feet when climbing one side of the platter does not make this kinematic possible. By allowing the pairs of upper legs to come together, the mechanism according to the invention makes it possible to raise the upper part. The descent of the upper part follows the inverse kinematics. The jacks assist the ascent of the upper part and hold its descent, preventing it from falling.

Except for the cylinders and slides, the entire table including the mechanism can be made of solid wood assembled by “domino” type assembly and gluing. Of course, other materials and other assembly devices can be used to make the mechanism.

There is a perspective view of a lifting table housing the mechanism.

There is a section in the longitudinal / vertical plane of the mechanism of a lifting table in the lower position.

There is a section in the longitudinal/vertical plane of the mechanism of a lifting table during the ascent: left side at the end of its travel.

There is a section in the longitudinal/vertical plane of the mechanism of a lifting table being assembled: left side on the support legs.

There is a section in the longitudinal / vertical plane of the mechanism of a table that can be lifted in the high position.

detailed description

• Le plateau supérieur est séparé transversalement en deux parties égales, appelées demi-plateaux (1) et (8).
• Les traverses longitudinales (5) et (7) relient chaque demi-plateau aux paires de pieds supérieurs (10) et (12) qui lui sont opposés. Le demi-plateau de gauche (1) est ainsi relié à la paire de pieds supérieurs de droite (10) et le demi-plateau de droite (8) est relié à la paire de pieds supérieurs de gauche (12).

Ainsi lorsque l’on écarte les deux demi-plateaux (1) et (8), les pieds supérieurs (10) et (12) ont tendance à se rapprocher.The upper part is characterized as follows:

• The upper plate is separated transversely into two equal parts, called half-plates (1) and (8).
• The longitudinal crosspieces (5) and (7) connect each half-plate to the pairs of upper legs (10) and (12) which are opposite it. The left half tray (1) is thus connected to the pair of upper right legs (10) and the right half tray (8) is connected to the pair of upper left legs (12).

Thus when the two half-plates (1) and (8) are separated, the upper feet (10) and (12) tend to approach each other.

• Elles ont pour rôle de supporter les paires de pieds supérieurs (10) et (12) de la table, autant en position basse qu’en position haute.
• Elles servent de butée lorsque les paires de pieds supérieurs (10) et (12) viennent glisser sur celles-ci lors du levage de la table, comme illustré figure 3

The pairs of support legs (2) and (16) have a dual function:

• Their role is to support the pairs of upper legs (10) and (12) of the table, both in the low position and in the high position.
• They serve as a stop when the pairs of upper feet (10) and (12) slide on them when lifting the table, as shown in Figure 3

The four seat legs (13) have an L-shape in their height, which allows them to retract and hide the pairs of upper legs (10) and (12) when the table is in the low position.

Advantageously, there is only one longitudinal seat crosspiece (11). In the central position, this frees up space for the users' legs. This longitudinal crosspiece has a structural function on the seat, it also serves as a support for the cylinder yokes (6).

• Ils assistent l’utilisateur lors de la montée des demi-plateaux (1) et (8). La résultante verticale des forces aide à vaincre la pesanteur et « pousse » les demi-plateaux vers le haut.
• Ils accompagnent l’utilisateur lors de la descente des demi-plateaux (1) et (8). La résultante verticale des forces « retient » les demi-plateaux et évite une descente soudaine.
• Ils permettent aux deux demi-plateaux (1) et (8) d’être en position fermée lorsque la table est en position haute ou basse. Les résultantes longitudinales des forces ont tendance à écarter les deux traverses transversales supérieures (3) et (9), ce qui a pour effet de rapprocher les deux demi-plateaux (1) et (8).
• Ils permettent également de maintenir les paires de pieds en contact avec leur paire de pattes de support respectif durant l’ascension et la descente des demi-plateaux (1) et (8).

The cylinders (4) and (15) connect the transverse crosspieces (3) and (9) of each half-plate to the longitudinal crosspiece (11) of the seat. They are each characterized by a force of 75N (Newton). This force is defined by the mass of the upper part; the heavier it is, the more the force of the gas struts will have to be increased. The clevis supports (6) of these cylinders having an axis of rotation along the transverse axis of the table allow freedom of translation of the vertical and longitudinal upper plate. These cylinders (4) and (15) perform the following functions:

• They assist the user when raising the half-plates (1) and (8). The vertical resultant of the forces helps to overcome gravity and “pushes” the half-plates upwards.
• They accompany the user during the descent of the half-plates (1) and (8). The vertical resultant of the forces “holds” the half-plates and avoids a sudden descent.
• They allow the two half-plates (1) and (8) to be in the closed position when the table is in the high or low position. The longitudinal resultants of the forces tend to separate the two upper transverse crosspieces (3) and (9), which has the effect of bringing the two half-plates (1) and (8) closer together.
• They also make it possible to keep the pairs of feet in contact with their respective pair of support legs during the ascent and descent of the half-plates (1) and (8).

Methods of realization

The user who wants to change the low level table as shown in at high level as shown in must be positioned at the end of one of the half-plates (eg: left side (1)) Lifting one of the half-plates (1) by its end activates the mechanism.

Being in abutment against the pair of support legs (2) and due to their oblique shape, the pair of raised upper legs (12) tends to approach the center of the plate, which is made possible by the sliding connection linking the two upper half-parts.

The table therefore tilts as shown , the two upper half-parts slide and the half-plates (1) and (8) separate.

The ascent takes place until the sliding stroke of the pair of feet (12) supporting the raised half-plate (1) is maximum. The pair of feet (12) comes to rest on the pair of corresponding support legs (2) as illustrated in .

The pair of feet (12) comes to rest by itself on the pair of support legs (2) because the longitudinal resultant of the force of the cylinder (4) pushes the pair of feet (12) which comes to rest naturally on their pair of support legs (4).

When a half tray (1) is on its corresponding support legs (2), the user goes to the end of the other half tray (ex: right side (8))

Lifting the other half tray (8) also slides the pair of legs (10) onto their corresponding pairs of support legs (16) until the lift is complete.

Again, the pair of feet (10) comes to rest by itself on the corresponding pair of support legs (16) because the longitudinal resultant of the force exerted by the jack (15) pushes the pair of feet (10 ) supporting the raised half-tray (8) on the pair of support legs (16) when the stroke of the sliding of the feet is maximum.

Thus the two pairs of feet (10) and (12) are placed on their pair of respective support legs (16) and (2). The table is thus in the high position as illustrated in .

The user who wishes to move the table from the high level to the low level must again position himself at the end of one of the half-plates (e.g. left side (1)).

The user pulls the half-plate (1) towards him, the opposite feet (10) thus leave their respective support tabs (16) and no longer provide support for the upper part. The half-plates (1) and (8) tilt, the pair of opposite legs (10) slide on the pair of support legs (16). The user exerts a force by pushing the center of the half-plate (1) downwards, which compresses the cylinder (15) and accompanies the descent of the opposite half-plate (8) until reaching its low position, as illustrated in .

Always in the same place, the user pushes the transverse upper crosspiece facing him (3). The pair of feet (12) supporting the half-plate (1) moves, thus leaving the pair of support legs (4) and no longer providing support for the plate (1) as illustrated in .

The user accompanies the upper half-plate in its descent until it reaches the low position as illustrated in .

The mechanism as described is particularly intended for the manufacture and marketing of lifting tables. This lifting table can be advantageously used by the occupant of a house with limited space, who wishes to enjoy the two uses of the same table with a reduced footprint.

Claims (8)

Lift table conversion mechanism characterized in that it comprises a seat provided with four legs (13) each comprising a support leg (2) and (16), two upper half-plates (1) and (8), their crosspieces (5), (7), (3), (9) and their corresponding upper legs (10) and (12), a pair of jacks (4) and (15) the assembly being configured to allow ascent and the descent of the half-plateaus. Mechanism according to Claim 1, in which each upper half-plate (1) and (8) is linked by two pairs of longitudinal crosspieces (5) and (7) to the pair of upper legs (10) and (12) which adjoin it. is opposite. Mechanism according to Claims 1 and 2, in which two slides connecting the pairs of upper longitudinal crosspieces (5) and (7) allow the two half-plates (1) and (8) to separate, when lifting a half-plate upper (1) or (8), the pairs of upper feet (10) and (12) tend to come together following their sliding abutment on the support legs (2) and (16). Mechanism according to Claim 1, in which the cylinders (4) and (15) exert a longitudinal force, making it possible to maintain the half-plates (1) and (8) closed in the low or high position and to maintain the upper legs (10 ) and (12) in contact with the corresponding support leg pair (2) and (16) during ascent/descent. Mechanism according to Claims 1 and 4, in which the cylinders (4) and (15) exert a vertical upward force assisting the ascent of the half-plates and restraining their descent. Mechanism according to Claim 1, in which the pairs of upper legs (10) and (12) retract into their respective seat leg (13) when the half-tops are lowered, the legs being completely retracted when the table is in the down position. Mechanism according to Claim 1, in which four support legs (2) and (16) are fixed to the inside of each seat leg (13) allowing the support of the pairs of upper legs (10) and (12) in position. low and high position. Liftable table using the kinematics made possible by the mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims.