GB2025212A - Demountable table - Google Patents

Abstract

A demountable table for use by vehicle passengers comprises one table element 10 having springy legs 14 adapted to straddle and grip the back-supporting portion of one or each of the front seats of the vehicle. The relative angular positions of said legs 14 and the table element 10 is adjustable and lockable (31, 33). In one embodiment, there are two such table elements 10, 11 hinged to one another (18) for folding flat, face-to-face. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Demountable table This invention relates to a demountable table.

Demountable tables for use in passenger vehicles are known but suffer from certain disadvantages.

Thus one such table at present on the market is specially shaped to fit over and engage the upper portion of the steering wheel of the vehicle so as to be suspended therefrom and to lie against the steering wheel. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that the entire table and its specially shaped support can slip in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction on the steering wheel and this could lead to food and drink being upset. Another disadvantage of this particular arrangement is that, in practice and particularly with a vehicle carrying its full complement of passengers, there is not really sufficient room for a reasonably sized table between the driver's midriff or rib cage and the steering wheel.Yet another disadvantage is that it is not capable of universal application throughout the vehicle because, being designed for suspension from the steering wheel, it cannot be made available for passengers in the rear seats by being suspended from the back-supporting portions of the front seats.

Another demountable table at present on the market makes use of the transmission tunnel as a means of support, and one disadvantage of such an arrangement is that there is relatively little room, in at least some models of cars, for the support of a demountabletable between the gear lever and the hand brake.

The object of this invention is to overcome at least some of these disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a demountable table for a passenger-carrying vehicle comprising an element having at least one planar surface which in use provides an article-supporting surface; mounting means pivotally connected to said element and adapted to effect a releasable mounting of the element upon the back-supporting portion of a vehicle seat; and at least one first locking means operable to secure said element and said mounting means to one another releasably in any one of a number of relative angular settings.

Said mounting means may be a bifurcated member adapted to straddle and grip the backsupporting portion of a vehicle seat. Preferably there will be two such bifurcated members spaced apart from one another.

Said first locking means may comprise a series of troughs and projections arranged alternately around the pivot axis not only on said element but also on said mounting means, the projections on the element extending into the troughs on the mounting means and vice versa, said first locking means further comprising a releasable fastening member which is operable to maintain the projections in the respective troughs. The fastening member will preferably be a screw which is easily rotatable in one direction to permit free angular movement of the element relative to the mounting means and in the opposite direction to inhibit such angular movement and therefore to maintain the selected relative angular setting.

Preferably, however, said first locking means comprises an externally threaded screw and an internally threaded nut or knob, said screw having a portion of its shank other than of circular cross- sectional shape and said portion lying within a complementarily shaped aperture in said element, the nut or knob being screwed onto said screw in order to clamp a part of said mounting means between the element and the nut or knob.

In a generally preferred embodiment of the demountable table according to the invention, said table includes a second element having at least one planar surface and being pivotally connected to the first mentioned element in such a manner as to be movable angularly relative thereto, said second element also having at least one second locking means operable to maintain a selected substantially horizontal attitude thereof. The second element may be so connected to the first locking means as to be capable at all times of pivotting freely about the first locking means.

Preferably, the first and second elements are interconnected by a cranked arm in such a manner that the two elements can be disposed one on top of the other, thereby facilitating storage of the demountable table when it has been demounted and is no longer required. Said second locking means will preferably be identical with said first locking means.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a diagrammatic perspective view of one embodiment of a demountable table in erected (ready for use) condition; and Figure 2 illustrates a detail view of a locking means.

In Figure 1 of said drawing, there is illustrated a demountable table which comprises two flat-topped elements 10, 11 of identical shape and configuration, preferably having shallow sides 12. Two opposite sides of each element 10, 11 are provided with an integral boss 13 (only one is visible in Figure 1) having a square section hole 30 therein which is illustrated in Figure 2.

A mounting means consists of two bifurcated members 14, each of which has two springy legs 15 which are joined to one another at corresponding ends by a bight portion from which there extends an apertured lug 16.

A releasable locking means is employed to con neck teach of the mounting means 14 to the element 10. Referring to Figure 2, each releasable locking means comprises an externally threaded screw 31 having a portion 32 of its shank of square crosssection, and a nut or knob 33 having an internal screw thread 34 matching that of the screw 31. In order to assemble the element 10, the two mounting means 14 and the locking means therefor, the screws 31 are caused to extend through the respective holes 30 so that the free ends oftheirthreaded shanks are located outside the sides 12 and so that the portions 32 thereof are accommodated within the respective holes 30.Thereafter, the apertured lugs 16 of the members 14 are placed on the respec tive screws 31, a spring washer (not illustrated) is also placed on each screw 31, and then the nuts or knobs 33 are screwed onto the threaded shanks of the respective screws 31. The more the nuts or knobs 33 are tightened up against the spring washers, the greater is the degree of clamping of the lugs 16 between said washers and the respective bosses 13; when the correct degree of clamping has been achieved, the relative positions of the element 10 on the one hand and the members 14 on the other hand will be maintained.

Two cranked arms 18 are pivotally connected at corresponding one ends thereof to the element 10 and are also connected to the bosses 13 of the element 11 by their corresponding other ends. Said corresponding one ends of the arms 18 are apertured either to allow the respective screws 13 to extend therethrough orto allow bosses 35 on the respective nuts or knobs 33 to extend therethrough. Said corresponding other ends of the arms 18 are also apertured in order to permit the screws 31 associated with the element 11 to extend therethrough.

Thus, the desired horizontal attitudes of the two elements can be obtained and maintained.

The element 11 is preferably always free to pivot about the aligned axes of the screws 31 which are associated with the element 10 and in order for this to be so said corresponding one ends of the arms 18 would need to be apertured so as to accommodate the respective bosses 35; alternatively, of course, said corresponding one ends can be so apertured that, when the nuts or knobs 33 are tightened up, the lugs 16 and the arms 18 will become clamped. If the arms 18 are always free to pivot about the screws 31 of the element 10 or if the clamping force is released, this will enable the two elements 10, 11 to be stowed one on top of the other.

In one embodiment of the demountable table according to the present invention, the lug 16 of each bifurcated member 14 is in the form of an angle bracket which is firmly secured (for example, by welding) to the bight portion; in such a case, when it is desired to collapse the table for storage in the boot of a car or elsewhere, the two bifurcated members 14 are brought approximately into alignment with the respective sides of the table.

In another and generally preferred embodiment of said demountable table according to the present invention, the lug 16 of each bifurcated member 14 consists of two hinged parts of which one is firmly secured (for example, by riveting) to the bight portion; in such a case, when it is desired to collapse the table for storage, said members 14 can be folded inwardly towards one another in order to lie flat against the underside of the element 10.

In use, the members 14 are used to engage the back-supporting portion of one front seat or of both of the front seats; in the latter case, the elements bridge the space between the front seats. Further more, the weight of the element 11 and of whatever is supported thereby is transmitted to said back supporting portion(s) either by the read edge 19 touching the seat(s) directly or by the arms 18 com ing into contact with the respective members 14 at positions indicated by the reference numeral 20.

The two elements 10 and 11 in one embodiment measure 11" x 9" and are made of ABS plastics material.

Claims (14)

1. A demountable table for a passenger-carrying vehicle comprising an element having at least one planar surface which in use provides an articlesupporting surface; mounting means pivotally connected to said element and adapted to effect a releasable mounting of the element upon the backsupporting portion of a vehicle seat; and at least one first locking means operable to secure said element and said mounting means to one another releasably in any one of a number of relative angular settings.

2. A table as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a bifurcated member adapted to straddle and grip the back-supporting portion of a vehicle seat.

3. Atable as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said mounting means consists of two such bifurcated members spaced apart from one another.

4. Atable as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein said first locking means comprises a series of troughs and projections arranged alternately around the pivot axis not only on said element but also on said mounting means, the projections on the element extending into the troughs on the mounting means and vice versa, said first locking means further comprising a releasable fastening member which is operable to maintain the projections in the respective troughs.

5. Atable as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said releasable fastening member is a screw which is easily rotatable in one direction to permit free angular movement of the element relative to the mounting means, and in the opposite direction to inhibit such angular movement and therefore to maintain the selected relative angular setting.

6. Atable as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to3, said first locking means comprises an externally threaded screw and an internally threaded nut or knob, said screw having a portion of its shank other than of circular cross-sectional shape and said portion lying within a complementarily shaped aperture in said element, the nut or knob being screwed onto said screw in order to clamp a part of said mounting means between the element and the nut or knob.

7. Atable as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said table includes a second ele ment having at least one planar surface and being pivotally connected to the first-mentioned element in such a manner as to be movable angularly relative thereto, said second element also having at least one second locking means operable to maintain a selected substantially horizontal attitude thereof of said second element.

8. Atable as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the sec ond element is so connected to the first locking means as to be capable at all times of pivotting freely about the first locking means.

9. A table as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the first and second elements are inter connected by a cranked arm in such a manner that the two elements can be disposed one on top of the other, thereby facilitating storage of the demountable table when it has been demounted and is no longer required.

10. A table as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein said second locking means is identical with said first locking means.

11. Atable as claimed in Claim 2 or in any Claim which is appended to Claim 2, wherein said bifurcated member includes a lug connected to a bight portion which joins corresponding one ends of two legs, said bight portion and said legs being made from springy material.

12. Atable as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the connection of the lug to the bight portion is a hinged connection.

13. Ademountabletablefor a passengercarrying vehicle, said table being constructed, arranged and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawing.

14. Any features of novelty, taken singly or in combination, of the embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing.